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Prelim Bits 23-04-2019

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April 23, 2019

Mosquirix

  • Mosquirix is the world’s first vaccine against a parasitic disease, Malaria.
  • Malaria is caused by the infectious Plasmodium female Anopheles mosquitoes deposit parasite sporozoites into the skin of a human host.
  • Each year there are 430,000 malaria-related deaths worldwide according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
  • Mosquirix vaccine has been recommended by WHO for pilot introduction in selected areas of 3 African countries- Ghana, Kenya and Malawi.
  • African Nation, Malawi will be undertaking large scale pilot tests for this world’s most advanced experimental malaria vaccine in a bid to prevent the disease.

AJIT

  • Indian Institute of Technology at Bombay has indigenously-produced microprocessor named AJIT, which will cost around 100 Indian Rupees.
  • AJIT is aimed at larger systems like robots, automation systems, appliances, and in the future perhaps even servers and workstations.
  • AJIT will be used in India's satellites like NAVIC or IRNNS (The Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System).
  • SAMEER (Society for Applied Microwave Electronics Engineering & Research), an independent lab under MeitY is also planning to use AJIT in various satellite receivers.

Bronze-Cuckoo

  • Horsfield’s Bronze Cuckoo is a native of Australia and New Guinea.
  • It is distinguished by the green and brown plumage on its back and known for it's repeated, loud and piercing whistle.
  • Recently the bird has been sighted for the first time in India at Great Nicobar Island of the Andaman and Nicobar island chain.
  • The Zappey’s Flycatcher a songbird from China and Javan Pond Heron from Thailand was also recorded for the first time in India in 2018.
  • These birds also use Andaman and Nicobar Islands for a few weeks rests before they can fly along the East Asian-Australasian Flyway (EAAF).

                                   

EAAF

  • The routes that migratory waterbirds traverse on an annual basis are known as ‘flyways’ and there is nine major flyway around the world.
  • The major flyways are as follow
  1. East Atlantic Flyway
  2. Black sea/ Mediterranean Flyway
  3. Mississippi Americas Flyway
  4. Atlantic Americas Flyway
  5. Pacific Americas Flyway
  6. West Pacific Flyway
  7. East-Asian Australian Flyway
  8. Central Asian Flyway
  9. West Asian- East African Flyway.
  • India comes under the Central Asian Flyway and East Asian Flyway.
  • EAAF which extends from Arctic Russia and North America to the south Australian boundaries and includes the most of the East Asian regions including Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
  • During migration, waterbirds rely on a system of highly productive wetlands to rest and feed, building up sufficient energy to fuel the next phase of their journey.

Garia Festival

  • Garia Puja is an important festival for the Tripuri tribal community of the state.
  • The Garia dance is very popular among the Tripuris and the Reangs during the festival.
  • Symbolic of the worship of deities as well as of the socio-economic activities of the households, these dances represent hunting, fishing, food-gathering and various other activities.

 

Source: The Hindu, Indian Express, Indian Express

 

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