{"id":12328,"date":"2021-08-03T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2021-08-03T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/current_affairs\/uncategorized\/03-08-2021\/facts-in-news-34\/"},"modified":"2021-08-03T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"2021-08-03T00:00:00","slug":"facts-in-news-34","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/current-affairs\/03-08-2021\/facts-in-news-34","title":{"rendered":"Facts in News"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Facts in News<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

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Minervarya Pentali<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n

\n\t\t\t\u00a0<\/td>\n

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Scheme for Promotion of Culture of Science (SPOCS)<\/span><\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n<\/td>\n

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  • The Scheme for Promotion of Culture of Science (SPOCS)<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> is operated by the <\/span><\/span><\/span>Ministry of Culture<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
  • Aim: <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>To set up <\/span><\/span><\/span>Science Cities and Science Centres<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> in all the <\/span><\/span><\/span>States <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>of the country subject to the availability of funds for the purpose.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
  • States willing to avail of this Scheme have to<\/span><\/span><\/span> provide land and share the cost of setting up of facility and corpus<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> for upkeep and maintenance.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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    • Currently, <\/span><\/span><\/span>25 Science Museums\/Science Centre<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>s in the country are functioning under the administrative control of the National Council of Science Museums (NCSM), an autonomous organization under the Ministry of Culture.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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Purchasing Managers\u2019 Index<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n<\/td>\n

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  • The IHS Markit Manufacturing Purchasing Managers\u2019 Index (PMI) rose to 55.3 in July from 48.1 in June, well above the 50-level separating growth from contraction.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n
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    • Factory activity in June had slipped into contraction for the first time in 11 months.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      Purchasing Managers\u2019 Index (PMI)<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

      About<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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      • It is an<\/span><\/span><\/span> indicator of business activity<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> both in the <\/span><\/span><\/span>manufacturing and services sectors.<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
      • The data is <\/span><\/span><\/span>calculated separately<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> for the<\/span><\/span><\/span> manufacturing and services sectors<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> and then a composite index is constructed.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
      • It is a <\/span><\/span><\/span>survey-based measure<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> that asks the respondents about changes in their perception of some key business variables from the earlier month.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
      • It is derived from a series of <\/span><\/span><\/span>qualitative questions<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> usually released at the start of the month.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

        Purpose:<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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        • It aims to<\/span><\/span><\/span> provide information<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> about <\/span><\/span><\/span>current and future business conditions<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> to company decision-makers, analysts and investors.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
        • It is compiled by <\/span><\/span><\/span>IHS Markit for more than 40 economies worldwide.<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>\n
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          • IHS Markit is a London based global leader in information, analytics and solutions for the major industries and markets that drive economies worldwide.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

            Calculation of PMI:<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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            • It is indicated by a number from<\/span><\/span><\/span> 0 to 100.<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>\n
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              • A print above 50 means expansion while a score below 50 denotes contraction.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
              • A reading at 50 indicates no change.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
              • If the previous month PMI is higher than the current month PMI, it represents that the economy is contracting.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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Kuthiran Tunnel<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n<\/td>\n

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  • The Kuthiran Tunnel is the <\/span><\/span><\/span>first road tunnel<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> in Kerala.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
  • It is a <\/span><\/span><\/span>twin-tube tunnel<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>, with three lanes in each tube, located at Kuthiran in Thrissur district of Kerala.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
  • It is located on <\/span><\/span><\/span>National Highway 544<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>, owned and operated by the National Highways Authority of India.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
  • The 1.6 km long tunnel is designed through<\/span><\/span><\/span> Peechi- Vazhani wildlife sanctuary.<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
  • The move will help <\/span><\/span><\/span>improve connectivity<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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Skyglow<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n

\n\t\t\t\u00a0<\/td>\n

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  • Researchers have been able to prove that city lights limit the <\/span><\/span><\/span>ability of nocturnal animals<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> to navigate by natural light in the night sky.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
  • Instead, they are forced to <\/span><\/span><\/span>use street lamps, neon lights or floodlights<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> to orient themselves.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    About<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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    • Findings confirm that <\/span><\/span><\/span>beetles exposed to light pollution (direct light and skyglow)<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> are forced to change strategy. They <\/span><\/span><\/span>abandon their sky compass <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>and rely instead on earthbound artificial lights as beacons.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      Skyglow Phenomenon<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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      • Globally, nights are becoming ever brighter. This light floods directly into the eyes of animals that are active at night and also into the skies.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
      • There a proportion of it is redirected back downwards towards an earthbound observer. This is known as \u2018skyglow\u2019, an <\/span><\/span><\/span>omnipresent sheet of light across the night sky<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> in and around cities that can block all but the very brightest stars from view.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

        Impact of Light Pollution<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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        • Disrupting the ecosystem and wildlife<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n
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          • Many species that <\/span><\/span><\/span>rely on compass references<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> also suffer from the loss of the stars like <\/span><\/span><\/span>Migratory birds have a magnetic compass<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>, with which they check latitude and magnetic North, but use their sky compass to calibrate their magnetic compass to geographic North.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
          • Wasting energy has <\/span><\/span><\/span>huge economic and environmental consequences.<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

            Reasons<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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            • Increasing urbanisation and the installation of new streetlights, security floodlights and outdoor ornamental lighting.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

              Solutions\u00a0<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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              • Turning off unnecessary lights at night.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
              • Shielding where lights cannot be turned off.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
              • International Dark-Skies Association has certified more than 130 \u2018International Dark Sky Places\u2019, where artificial lighting has been adjusted to reduce skyglow and light trespass.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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Zika Virus<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n<\/td>\n

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  • The Union Health Ministry has rushed a multidisciplinary team to Maharashtra to monitor the Zika virus situation and support the State government in management of infections.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
  • Recei, a case of Zika has been reported in Pune district.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    Zika Virus<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

    About:<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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    • Mosquito-borne virus transmitted by <\/span><\/span><\/span>Aedes aegypti mosquitoes<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> which also transmit 3 other vector-borne diseases \u2013 Chikungunya, dengue and yellow fever.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
    • It also spreads through blood transfusion and sexual contact.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
    • First identified in 1947 in Zika Forest, Uganda from where it derives its name.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      Symptoms:\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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      • They are similar to other viral infections such as dengue.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

        Threats:<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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        • Pregnant women infected with Zika virus may give birth to babies with severe <\/span><\/span><\/span>brain damage or serious birth defects<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> i.e. neurological disorders and foetal deformation known as <\/span><\/span><\/span>Microcephaly<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> in which infants are born with abnormally small heads.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
        • Besides there is also possible link between virus and <\/span><\/span><\/span>Guillain-Barr\u00e9 syndrome<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> (a condition in which the body\u2019s immune system attacks part of the nervous<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
        • system) is also suspected.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

          Treatment and Prevention:\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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          • There is <\/span><\/span><\/span>no specific treatment <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>or vaccine currently available to treat Zika.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
          • WHO declared the Zika virus and its suspected link to birth defects as an international public health emergency.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

            Facts in News Minervarya Pentali \u00a0 Recently, Delhi University researchers discovered a new frog species in the Western Ghats and named it after former DU Vice-Chancellor and plant geneticist Deepak Pental. Key Points The new frog species, Minervarya Pentali, was discovered from the Western Ghats biodiversity hotspot, extending along the southwest coast of the Indian […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":12329,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[21],"tags":[76],"class_list":["post-12328","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-current-affairs","tag-gs"],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2023\/07\/1211688current-affairs.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12328","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=12328"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12328\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/12329"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=12328"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=12328"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=12328"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}