World’s biggest dam over Brahmaputra

Context:

  • China says its world’s biggest dam over Brahmaputra will not impact water flows to India

News:

  • China reiterated its plan to build the world’s biggest dam over the Brahmaputra River in Tibet near the Indian border, saying the planned project has gone through rigorous scientific verification and will not have any negative impact on downstream countries – India and Bangladesh.

More info:

  • The project is located in the ecologically fragile Himalayan region along a tectonic plate boundary where earthquakes occur frequently.
  • On the hydropower project in the lower reaches of the Yarlung Zangbo River, China has made its position clear.
  • The decision to build the project was made after rigorous scientific evaluation and the project will not have a negative impact on the ecological environment, geological conditions and the rights and interests related to water resources of downstream countries – Chinese Foreign Ministry
  • Last month, China approved plans to build a dam over the Brahmaputra River called Yarlung Zangbo in Tibet close to the Indian border.
  • As per the plan, the massive dam will be built at a huge gorge in the Himalayan reaches where the Brahmaputra makes a huge U-turn to flow into Arunachal Pradesh and then to Bangladesh.
  • India urged China to ensure that the interests of downstream states of the Brahmaputra are not harmed by activities in upstream areas.
  • As a lower riparian state with established user rights to the waters of the river, we have consistently expressed, through expert-level as well as diplomatic channels, our views and concerns to the Chinese side over mega projects on rivers in their territory – External Affairs Ministry
  • China will continue to maintain communication with countries at the lower reaches through existing channels and step up cooperation on disaster prevention and relief for the benefit of the people by the river.
  • China’s hydropower development in the lower reaches of the Yarlung Zangbo River aims to speed up the development of clean energy and respond to climate change and extreme hydrological disasters – Chinese Foreign Ministry

           

Cowpea sprouts unveil first leaves in space

News:

  • A batch of cowpea seeds which were taken into orbit by an Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) mission and which recently sprouted has unveiled their first leaves.

More info:

  • Leaves have emerged! VSSC’s CROPS (Compact Research Module for Orbital Plant Studies) aboard PSLV-C60 POEM-4 achieves a milestone as cowpea sprouts unveil their first leaves in space. – ISRO
  • It can be recalled that the cowpea seeds had a couple of days ago successfully sprouted in space.
  • The CROPS payload, developed by the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), is envisioned as a multi-phase platform to develop and evolve ISRO’s capabilities for growing and sustaining flora in extra-terrestrial environments.
  • Designed as a fully automated system, a five to seven-day experiment is planned to demonstrate seed germination and plant sustenance until the two-leaf stage in a microgravity environment. – ISRO
  • The experiment plans to grow eight cowpea seeds in a closed-box environment with active thermal control.
  • The CROPS payload was part of the 24 payloads flown on the PSLV-C60 SpaDeX mission’s PS4-Orbital Experiment Module (POEM-4) on December 30, 2024.

Background:

  • Ground-based trials found Cowpea seeds better-suited for a short-term plant growth experiment in orbit.
  • The Compact Research Module for Orbital Plant Studies (CROPS), a payload developed by the VSSC – ISRO’s lead facility for launch vehicles here at Thumba – has eight cowpea seeds in a closed-box environment.
  • Their growth in a microgravity environment will be studied over five to seven days.

ISRO’s first:

  • The experiment, ISRO’s first in this area, is designed to demonstrate seed germination and plant sustenance up to the two-leaf stage.
  • The ability to grow vegetables while in space is regarded as vital in the context of India’s plans for its own space station, the Bharatiya Anthariksh Station, and future deep space explorations.
  • CROPS is one of 24 smaller payloads arranged aboard the PS4-Orbital Experiment Module (POEM).
  • The POEM platform is the spent fourth stage of the PSLV which will remain in orbit for several weeks after the main mission for microgravity experiments.

Why cowpea:

  • VSSC’s Control Actuation Systems Group, responsible for CROPS, selected cowpea over other plants given its relatively fast growth rate and robust root and stem structure.
  • It can grow to a height of, say, 100 mm or more reaching the two-leaf stage in five to seven days.
  • VSSC carried out ground trials with different seeds before picking cowpea.
  • Planted inside a small, closed steel chamber, the eight seeds will have all the ingredients, including oxygen and carbon dioxide, for growth.
  • The chamber also has LED lamps at the right wavelength for photosynthesis.
  • ISRO describes CROPS as a ‘Multi-phase automated platform for acquiring the capability to achieve seed germination.’
  • “Passive measurements, including camera imaging, oxygen and carbon dioxide concentrations, relative humidity, temperature, and soil moisture monitoring, are available (inside the chamber) for plant growth and monitoring,” according to the space agency.
  • Future missions will see more advanced experiments in this area.

About Cowpea:

  • Cowpea is one of the most popular grain legumes in Africa as well as in some regions of America and Asia.
  • Cowpea is often called “black-eyed pea” due to its black- or brown-ringed hylum.
  • Cowpea is called the “hungry-season crop” because it is the first crop to be harvested before the cereal crops.
  • Its fresh or dried seeds, pods and leaves are commonly used as human food.
  • Since they are highly valuable as food, cowpeas are only occasionally used to feed livestock but the hay and silage can be an important fodder.
  • Cowpea has great flexibility in use: farmers can choose to harvest them for grains or to harvest forage for their livestock, depending on economical or climatological constraints.
  • Cowpea is native to Central Africa.
  • It is widespread throughout the tropics and most tropical areas between 40°N to 30°S and below an altitude of 2000 m.
  • Cowpea is grown in over 2/3 of the developing world as a companion or relay crop with major cereal.
  • Cowpea grows in savannah vegetation at temperatures ranging from 25°C to 35°C and in areas where annual rainfall ranges from 750 mm to 1100 mm.
  • Cowpea is tolerant of shading and can be combined with tall cereal plants such as sorghum and maize.
  • Cowpea grows on a wide range of soils provided they are well drained.
  • It is sensitive to waterlogging, though less than other legumes.
  • High moisture may hinder cowpea crops in the sub-humid tropics due to the many diseases they are susceptible to.

 

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

Context:

  • The provincial government of northwest Pakistan’s Khyber Pukhtunkhwa has imposed section 144 for two months in the violence-torn Kurram district to restore peace following an attack on a government convoy.
  • It was in a bid to restore peace and harmony in the sectarian-violence-hit Kurram district.
  • The attack came days after a peace agreement was reached between warring Alizai and Bagan tribes following sectarian clashes.

About Khyber Pakhtunkhwa:

  • Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, northernmost province of Pakistan.
  • It is bounded by Afghanistan to the west and north, Gilgit-Baltistan (the Pakistani-occupied areas of the Kashmir region) to the east and northeast, Punjab province to the southeast, and Balochistan province to the southwest.
  • On the western boundary of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, along the Afghan border, are the areas formerly known as the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), a series of areas that are ethnically homogeneous with the province but were semiautonomous until 2018.
  • Peshawar is the provincial capital.

 

 

 

Norovirus

What is the ‘vomiting bug’ norovirus?

Introduction:

  • Even as India comes to term with the human metapneumovirus (HMPV) and doctors urge calm among citizens, the United States is grappling with outbreaks of another viral illness — norovirus.
  • Media reports indicate that cases of this highly-contagious ‘vomiting bug’ have spiked this winter.

Norovirus:

  • Norovirus is a common group of viruses that cause vomiting and diarrhoea.
  • It belongs to the Caliciviridae family of viruses that cause inflammation of your stomach and intestines.
  • There are many different strains of norovirus.
  • The virus was first identified in samples collected after a gastroenteritis outbreak at a school in Ohio in 1968.
  • It is, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the leading cause of vomiting and diarrhea, and food-borne illness in the United States.

Signs and symptoms of norovirus:

  • Stomach pain, nausea, diarrhoea and vomiting are the most common symptoms.
  • Symptoms usually set in within 12 to 48 hours of exposure to the virus and usually last one to three days.
  • Some people may also have muscle pain, headaches and fever.
  • Several bouts of vomiting or diarrhoea could also lead to dehydration, the symptoms of which include, dry mouth and throat, decreased urination and feeling dizzy when getting up.
  • According to the CDC anyone who consumes raw shellfish is at risk of contracting norovirus.
  • Children younger than five, older adults, and people with weakened immune systems are more likely to develop severe infections.

Virus spread:

  • Norovirus is extremely contagious.
  • It can spread through contaminated food or water, contaminated surfaces or close contact with someone who has the virus.
  • A person is most contagious when they have symptoms of norovirus, especially vomiting, but continues to remain contagious for a few days after they get better.
  • The infection occurs most frequently in closed and crowded environments.

Treatment:

  • Norovirus can usually be treated at home with rest and taking a lot of fluids.
  • There are no specific medicines to treat norovirus.
  • Patients must ensure they do not get dehydrated.
  • Oral rehydration fluids can help with dehydration.

Preventive measures:

  • Washing your hands with soap and water frequently and thoroughly is one of the best preventive measures.
  • Hand sanitisers are not effective against norovirus.
  • In addition, wash all fruits and vegetables before cooking or consuming them.
  • Cook seafood thoroughly.
  • Disinfect contaminated surfaces.
  • Wash your laundry in hot water and stay at home for 48 hours if you are sick.
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