Tuberculosis

Tuberculosis

(C => Pg-8)

Tuberculosis

General Information

  • Causative Agent: Mycobacterium tuberculosis
  • Affected Region: Lungs
  • Transmission: During coughs and sneezes via air
  • Vulnerability: People with weak immune systems are more vulnerable than those with stronger immune systems

Prevention

  • Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine helps reduce the severity of infection in children

Symptoms

  • Coughs
  • Chest pain
  • Coughing up blood or phlegm
  • Fatigue
  • Weight loss
  • Fever
  • Night sweats

Cure

  • Using antibiotics like isoniazid, bedaquiline, rifampin, pyrazinamide, and ethambutol

Steps taken by the Indian government

National Strategic Plan for Tuberculosis Elimination (2017)

  • Aim:
    • Rapid decline in TB-related deaths
    • 2025 – TB free India
  • Strategy: Detect, Treat, Prevent, and Build

Ni-kshay Mitra initiative

  • Portal to connect TB patients with potential donors
  • Support offered: Nutritional, diagnostic, and vocational

Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan

  • Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
  • Additional patient support provided by involving stakeholders
  • CSR activities roped in to extend support

TB Harega Desh Jeetega Campaign

  • To increase the reach of TB care services
  • Spread awareness
  • Nudge people with symptoms to seek medication

TB Vaccine

  • VPM (Vaccine Projekt Management) 1002 and MIP (Mycobacterium Indicus Pranii)

Nikshay Poshan Yojna

  • Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
  • Nutrition support: Rs 500 per month through direct benefit transfer

Practice Question

Q. How many of the following statements about tuberculosis are correct:

  1. Multidrug-resistant Tuberculosis (MDR-TB) is a form of TB caused by bacteria that do not respond to first-line anti-TB drugs.
  2. Extensively drug-resistant Tuberculosis (XDR-TB) is a form of TB caused by bacteria that do not respond to second-line anti-TB drugs.
  3. The country with the largest share of incident cases of MDR-TB in 2021 was India.

Choose one of the following options:

  • a) Only one.
  • b) Only two.
  • c) All three.
  • d) None.

Ganganyaan Mission Successfull

(C,B,D,H,T => Pg-1)

Ganganyaan Mission

Key Details

  • Crewed Spacecraft: Gaganyaan
  • Launch Vehicle: GSLV Mk III
  • Training Facilities: Details not specified

Components

  • Orbital Module:
    • Astronauts stay in the orbital module during most of the mission
    • It serves as the living and working space for astronauts
  • Service Module:
    • Provides support to the crew module
    • Includes thermal systems, propulsion systems, power systems, avionics systems, and deployment mechanisms
  • Crew Module:
    • Designed for re-entry into Earth's atmosphere

Practice Question – Prelims

Q. Which of the following statements accurately describes the concept of "microgravity" as experienced by astronauts in Earth's orbit?

  • (a) Microgravity is the absence of gravity, resulting in complete weightlessness.
  • (b) Microgravity is a state in which gravitational forces are significantly reduced, but not entirely absent, resulting in a condition often described as "free fall."
  • (c) Microgravity refers to a state in which gravitational forces increase, leading to heightened gravitational pressure on the astronauts.
  • (d) Microgravity is a term used to describe the gravitational forces experienced by astronauts on the moon.

Fast Radio Bursts

D-H => Pg-11)

Fast Radio Bursts

Fast Radio Bursts (FRBs) are highly energetic and brief bursts of radio wave signals emanating from various parts of the universe. They were first discovered in 2007 and exhibit unique characteristics:

Overview

  • Bright bursts of radio wave signals.
  • Discovered - 2007.
  • Look like flickering stars but not stars.
  • Lasts only for milliseconds.
  • Difficult to detect and determine position.

Origin of FRB

  • Spotted in various parts of the universe.
  • Origins are unknown and highly unpredictable.

Defining Property of FRB

  • Dispersion - produce a spectrum of radio waves.
  • FRB travel through matter - disperse at higher radio frequencies.
  • Detected earlier at the telescopes than those at lower frequencies.

Use of Dispersion

  • Analyze matters passed by radio bursts.
  • Used for knowing the missing matters of the Universe.
  • By measuring dispersion, indirectly determine the distance between astronomical objects.

Significance of FRB

  • Detect ionized material between galaxies, providing insights into this ionized matter.
  • By using frequencies, gain understanding of the structure of the Universe.

Practice Question – Prelims

Q. Consider the following statements about Fast radio bursts.

  1. They are radio wave signals lasting for only micro-seconds.
  2. They are stars known for their unique flickering.
  3. Recently, CHIME telescope of Canada revealed the origin of Fast radio bursts.

How many of the statements given above is/are correct:

a) Only one

b) Only two

c) All three