Rajya Sabha TV – Science Monitor (31 Jan 2015)

Weekly update on all the happening in Science & Technology, in and around the nation;

Headlines

1. New Indo-US Collaboration – Clean Energy & Climate Change

‘Shared Effort; Progress for all’

-          Joint declaration of Intent between USAID & HRD-Ministry – Technical Support to Indian Institute of  Technology starting with IIT Gandhi Nagar  - to strengthen research, entrepreneurship capabilities;

-          Support India in reducing its carbon footprint – by supporting in expanding, Research, development & deploying the Clean Energy; Additional funding, investment for research in clean energy resources, Bio-fuels; Joint initiatives in renewable energy, space cooling, super-efficient appliances, smart grids; 

-          Need to enhance bilateral cooperation on adaptation measures as well as joint research, development & technology innovation – to mitigate climate change;

-          Air Quality Cooperation launched – US to implement EPA’s AIRNow Program with megacities partnerships – help urban residents reduce exposure to air pollution – helping urban policy planners to improve ambient air quality;

-           Higher resolution climate model for Indian Sub-continent; Researchers studying Indian Monsoon Rainfall in Bay of Bengal;

-          Department of Atomic Energy & Department of Science & Technology in collaboration with US Department of Energy – enable science collaboration in Particle accelerator and High energy physics;

2. Padma Awards for Science (Instituted in 1954 – highest civilian award – Vibhushan, Bhusan, Shri)

For the year 2015 – total 10 Padma Awards has been given under Science & Engineering Category;

a.       Prof. Malur Ramaswamy Srinivasan – Nuclear Scientist & Engineer – designing India’s Nuclear power programme & developing indigenous PHWR;

Padma Bhusan

b.      Dr. Vijay Bhatkar, Maharashtra

c.       Dr. Kharag Singh Valdiya, Karnataka

d.      Prof. Manjul Bhargava, NRI settled in USA

Padma Shri

e.       S.Arunan, Vasant Shastri and SK Shivkumar, Karnataka

f.       Dr.N Prabhakar, Delhi

g.      Dr Prahalada, Maharashtra;

h.      Prof.Jacques Blamont, France (Under Foreigner category)

3. Japanese Flood forecast Model – to help India

Monsoon fed countries – floods are very common – Kashmir Flood in 2014 affected India & Pakistan; New forecast model –based on hydrological – use rainfall & snowfall data along with the satellite data of three countries located near Indus & Mekong river basin – Asian Water Cycle Initiative project part of Global Earth Observation system of the systems consortium; Understanding Water Cycle – for better management of the water resources and also to tackle water related disaster; As Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) assessment report  (4 & 5) – frequency of heavy rainfall is rising in south Asian region; Comprehensive warning system is need of the hour;

4. New Approach to combat TB

Despite the DOTS programme – MDR & XDR TB (Drug Resistant strains) are health burden particularly developing countries like India – demand new drugs – re-profiling, repurposing existing drugs; Molecules with anti-TB property identified – by researchers at IISc – two small molecules – Imipramine & Nor clomipramine – these molecules arrest the growth of the bacteria;  More Medicines for TB (MM4TB) international consortium assembled by EU;

5. Energy generating Shoes (Tech You Can Use)
6. Swine Flu – Symptoms & Cure (IN FOCUS)

Plague, TB, AIDS, SARS, Ebola, and Avian & Swine flu – for centuries affected human life – originated in animals – Zoonotic diseases (Zoonosis); 

Battling the Swine Flu epidemic also known as Pig Influenza, Hog Flu, Pig Flu; it first appeared in 1918 – caused by H1N1 strain of Virus – WHO declared global pandemic in 2010 – first transmitted to humans via pigs – Swine Influenza Virus (SIV)- Types (Influenza C & Influenza A<H1N1, H1N2, H2N1, H3N1, H3N2, H2N3>) - H1N1 virus infects respiratory tract; Communicable disease, infection through contact – infected person contagious for up to 10 days; Current treatments: Tamiflue & Relenza; Symptoms: Fever, Cough, Sore throat, Runny/stuffy nose, Body-ache, Headache, Chills, Fatigue; Precautions: cover nose & mouth when sneezing, take precautions when dealing with sick people, Animal farmer must follow strict hygiene;

7. History of Science

Jean Baptiste – Born in Feb 1802 – discovered Iodised salt – used to treat goiter;

Hudson Maxim – Born in Feb 1853 – invented explosives used in WW1 – 50% more deadly than Dynamite;

Elizabeth Blackwell – Born in Feb 1821- First woman to receive medical degree;

American Astronomer Clyde William Tombaugh – Born in Feb 1906 – discovered Pluto and many other asteroids & comets;

Robert Hofstadter – Born in Feb 1915 - discovered Neutrons, Proton inside Nucleus of atom; Joint Noble prize (1991) for Nuclear structure; 

8. S & T activities across the world

-          National Council for Science & Technology communication – National awards – Science popularization & communication – Print media, Electronic Media;

-          NASA – Solar Dynamics Observatory – four telescope – detail images of solar eruption;

-          Snake evolution millions of year old

-          National Botanical Research, Lucknow;

Watch it here

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=POlBjOEktVE&index=2&list=PLVOgwA_DiGzpd3_Iz7J-81Vh4QqU-ZGA9

Also Read

Zoonoses and the Human-Animal-Ecosystems Interface (by WHO)

http://www.who.int/zoonoses/en/

GIST:

Diseases – naturally transmissible from vertebrate animals to humans & Vice-versa – management & reduction of these risks must consider the complexity of interactions;

Agents of Zoonosis:

• Bacteria – causes Fever, Diarrhoea, Nausea, Anthrax, Brucelosis, Plague, Q fever
• Parasites - causes Taeniasis, seizures
• Virus – causes Rabies, Avian Influenza, Congo Hemorrhagic fever, Ebola, Rift Valley Fever
• Fungi – mycoses/mycotic infection, sporotrichosis
• Unconventional agents – vCJD (variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease) – degenerative neurological disease

GOARN (Global Outbreak Alert & Response Network) – developed by tripartite collaboration of FAO-OIE-WHO and now developed into GLEWS (Global Early Warning & Response System)

Note: (FAO – Food & Agriculture Organization, OIE – World Organization for Animal Health, WHO – World Health Organization)

Strengthening collaboration and coordination between the Public health & Animal Health – assess global public health risks posed by endemic, epidemic & potential pandemic events;

WHO also focus on Cross-Sectoral Activities to reduce health threats at the Human-Animal-Ecosystems Interface – Obligation under WHO International Health Regulation (IHR 2005); 

Envisioned to establish a standard system for joint risk assessment at the international level; Assist additional countries in building sustainable national mechanisms for collaboration for improving public health & animal Health;

All India Radio – News Analysis

Awareness and Preventive measures of Cancer

04 Feb 2015

Participants: Dr.Meenuupalyay, oncologist, and Aditidandan, Special correspondent

Transcription:

Burden of Non communicable disease (NCD) in India – warned continuously by WHO; In 2012 - 38 Mn lives lost due to NCD – World Cancer day 4^th Feb 2015; 6-8 Lakh death annually due to cancer in India;

Elderly population affected by this earlier – now it young people – Infrastructure facility for Health care is inadequate;

Cancer Cure Institute – out of 18 institutes only 4 are Govt. Institutes; Choices for the poor people is very limited;  

Diagnosing at the Adverse stages – high mortality, morbidity; Aggressive screening programme is essential; Constructing preventive mindset with the people; Mortality of breast cancer reduced due to the introduction of Mammography (using low energy X rays);

Cancer testing for laymen?

Screening testing is available at the most of the centre at affordable cost – Problem is the lack of awareness;

Preventive steps?

Healthy life style – cutting alcohol, cigarette, Tobacco;

WHO – Global target of reducing NCD by 25% before 2030? Food – Trans-fat – also cause for these cancer?

Stringent control in Food & Drug Adulteration; Colouring agent, Preservative – carcinogenic;

Higher Taxation on Tobacco & Cigarette – banning loss cigarette sales;

Schools at their transition stage – boys & girls gets addicted – later even after understanding ill-effect, it is getting difficult for de-addiction;

Burden of cancer – inadequacy in India’s Cancer Registration system – most of the place it is under reported;

Spread of Swine Flu and Preventive measures

06 Feb 2015

Participants: Subothkumar Sharma, Director, Health Services, Delhi Govt. and Aditidandan, Special correspondent

Transcription:

Incidents & cases of Death – Across India – 2000 cases of Swine-flue & 195 reported death; what is the virus all about?

Influenza Virus – ‘Swine’ Pig Misnomer – spread from human to human (cough, sneezing) – Active even after 2 hours outside the host organism;

Method to Detect Swine Flu?

Symptoms: Fever, Cough, Sore throat, Runny/stuffy nose, Body-ache, Headache, Chills, Fatigue;

No need to diagnosis – Health person – immunity will prevent it in 7 days; Fever of 102 F and Pain in Chest;

Chain of Treatment?

400 PHC (include 260 dispensaries) – 3 out of 10 labs are Govt. in Delhi;

Helpline or Websites?

24/7 22307145 (Control Room);

1075 (National Level Toll-Free)

1800-11-4377 (Toll-Free for all Endemic diseases)

Drug availability?

Virus self-defeating disease – don’t require any vaccine – Tamiflu is an Anti-viral Drug, develop Drug resistivity; 

Mortality figures?

2012 – 5000 cases and 405 deaths.

2014 – 937 cases and 238 deaths.

2009 – WHO declared it as Pandemic – WHO issued statement – warning the disease is to be developed as Endemic in few countries;

Long winter – let to the proliferation of the virus;                                                                            

Health Infrastructure facilities must be improved;