Science and Technology MCQ Set 14
Showing question 66 to 70 of total 301 MCQs
MCQ Set: 14
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Question No: 66
A drug to treat which virus infection by IIT Roorkee scientists shows promise?
- Ebola
- Dengue
- SARs
- Chikungunya
Answer and Explanation
Answer: D
Explanation
A drug to treat chikungunya virus infection is in the offing, and in vitro studies carried out by a team of researchers from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Roorkee show promise.
Currently, there is no cure for the disease and treatment is focused more on relieving the symptoms.
Since the team led by Prof. Shailly Tomar from the Department of Biotechnology at IIT Roorkee used an existing drug piperazine, safety of the drug is already known and hence the trials on animals and humans will be more to understand the efficacy of the drug in treating chikungunya infection.
Piperazine is used for the treatment of worm infections.
The antiviral drug indinavir used for treating HIV positive people is a piperazine-based molecule.
The derivatives of piperazine are used as anti-histamines and anti-depressants drugs too.
Based on crystal structure, the researchers ascertained that the drug molecule binds to the hydrophobic pocket of capsid protein of Aura virus.
Drug binding studies were also carried out using chikungunya virus and it was found that the binding of the drug at the caspid protein was better in the case of chikungunya virus.
The function of capsid protein is essential for the virus budding and replication of virus.
On studying the antiviral activity of piperazine molecule against chikungunya, it was found that the molecule inhibits virus replication.
In the presence of this drug, the amount of virus released by infected cells is less. The drug showed very good antiviral activity.
Chikungunya viral load reduces significantly when treated with 3 millimolar (mM) of piperazine and has “barely detectable cell toxicity” when the dosage is doubled to 6mM.
Compared with controls, the inhibition of the virus replication was nearly 98% when 6mM of the drug was used.
Once the drug binds to the target, the capsid protein’s interaction with the enveloped protein of virus is inhibited and hence the virus release from infected cells is affected.
Virus replication and budding are correlated. The monkey cell lines were infected with very low virus concentration and then allowed to grow.
After 24 hours, the number of virus being released by the infected cells was studied. If the virus is able to replicate then should find more virus, which was not the case.
The chikungunya viral load had reduced by 98% at the end of 24 hours but increases at 48 hours indicating that inhibition of virus replication becomes less at the end of 48 hours compared with 24 hours.
This could be because the drug does not kill all the virus at the end of 24 hours and the drug supplied initially is already bound to the capsid protein target in the virus.
So when the virus reinfects nearby cells and replicates, there is not enough drug to bind to the new capsid protein molecules being produced.
The researchers are planning to carry out trials on animals.
Since the drug is already approved for use in humans, toxicity studies in animals will not be needed. But studies on animals to evaluate the antiviral activity and, hence, the efficacy has to be carried out.
Question No: 67
What is a perovskite solar cell?
- A solar cell that includes perovskite structured compounds like hybrid lead or tin halide as a light harvesting layer
- Photovoltaic solar cells
- A solar cell that is based on perovskite
- Both a and c
- All the above
Answer and Explanation
Answer: D
Explanation
These cells represent the most exciting approach to build solar cells that are inexpensive and highly efficient.
A perovskite solar cell is one that includes a perovskite-structured compound, most commonly a hybrid organic-inorganic lead or tin halide-based material, as the light-harvesting active layer.
The terms “perovskite” and “perovskite structure” are often used interchangeably.
Technically, a perovskite is a type of mineral that was first found in the Ural Mountains and named after Lev Perovski who was the founder of the Russian Geographical Society.
A perovskite structure is any compound that has the same structure as the perovskite mineral. A perovskite is a material that has the same crystal structure as the mineral calcium titanium oxide, also known as Perovskite.
Generally, perovskite compounds have a chemical formula ABX3, where ‘A’ and ‘B’ represent cations and X is an anion that bonds to both.
Because of their unique crystal make-up, perovskites often display a number of interesting properties, including superconductivity, giant magnetoresistance, and ferroelectricity. It has only been recently that their applications to clean energy have drawn scientific attention.
Within the last several years, perovskite solar cells have outpaced all other third-generation solar technologies in terms of efficiency.
Question No: 68
What is the Virgo detector?
- Underground L-shaped instrument that tracks gravitational waves
- Laser light and space based G-wave instrument
- A satellite project for planet Venus
- Only a and b
Answer and Explanation
Answer: D
Explanation
A fourth gravitational wave has been detected - this time with help from Italy-based equipment - after two black holes collided, sending ripples through the fabric of space and time.
Gravitational waves were predicted by Albert Einstein a century ago as part of his theory of general relativity, but the first hard evidence of their existence came only in 2015, when two U.S. detectors found the first such signal.
The latest space-time ripples were detected on August 14, 2017 at 10.30 a.m. GMT (4 p.m. IST) when two giant black holes with masses about 31 and 25 times the mass of the Sun merged about 1.8 billion light-years away.
The newly produced spinning black hole has about 53 times the mass of our Sun.
While this new event is of astrophysical relevance, its detection comes with an additional asset: this is the first significant gravitational wave signal recorded by the Virgo detector.
The Virgo detector - an underground L-shaped instrument that tracks gravitational waves using the physics of laser light and space - recently underwent an upgrade, and while still less sensitive than its US counterparts, it was able to confirm the same signal.
Known as interferometers, these high-tech underground stations do not rely on light in the sky like a telescope does, but instead sense vibrations in space and can pick up the “chirp” created by a gravitational wave.
The space-time ripple was picked up by all three detectors at nearly the same time, in a first.
Previously, gravitational waves have been found using two U.S.-based detectors, which are the most sophisticated in the world - known as the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) detectors in Livingston, Louisiana, and Hanford, Washington.
The first was found in September 2015 and announced to the public in early 2016, a historic achievement that culminated from decades of scientific research.
LIGO is funded by the National Science Foundation and operated by the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
Virgo Collaboration: Know More
The Virgo collaboration includes more than 280 physicists and engineers belonging to 20 different European research groups.
This is just the beginning of observations with the network enabled by Virgo and LIGO working together
With the next observing run planned for Fall 2018 we can expect such detections weekly or even more often.
Question No: 69
India has declared 2010-2020 as the decade of _________.
- Modernisation
- Innovation
- Invention
- Inspiration
Answer and Explanation
Answer: B
Explanation
India has made significant strides in scientific and technological development by also becoming the first nation to reach Mars in its maiden attempt.
India is facing various challenges and opportunities. Some of these important challenges are in the key sectors of clean water & energy, food, environment, climate, and healthcare.
This goal can be achieved, through developing scientific temper among the masses and by strengthening India’s science and technology institutions & furthering their basic research.
Emphasizing the role of technologies and innovation, India has declared 2010-20 as the ‘Decade of Innovation’.
The Ministry of Science and Technology, Ministry of Earth Sciences, and Vijnana Bharati (VIBHA) have come together to organize The India International Science Festival (IISF) every year, since 2015 to encourage scientific temper among the masses and showcasing Indian contribution in the field of S&T over the years.
The 3rd edition of IISF 2017 will be held in Chennai during 13-16 October, 2017 at various venues which include Anna University, Central Leather Research Institute (CLRI), Structural Engineering Research Centre (SERC), National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT) and IIT-Madras.
The prime objective of the festival is to instil scientific temper among the masses and showcasing India’s contribution in the field of S&T over the years.
It aims to build a strategy for rural India through the advancement of Science and Technology. Further, the science festival also intends to make innovation beneficial for the people and develop technology that is affordable to the masses.
Major Activities during the Festival will be:
1. Special Thematic Session on 'Deep Ocean Research'
2. Science & Technology Minister’s Conclave
3. Sensitizing Youth to Flagship Programs of Government (SYPOG)
4. Science Village: Parliament to Panchayat’’
5. National Meet on ‘Social Organisations and Institutions’: ‘Transforming India through Science & Technology’
6. Women Scientists & Entrepreneur’s Conclave
7. National Science Teachers Workshops (Focusing North East States)
8. Industry Academia Interaction
9. Mega Science, Technology & Industry Expo
10. India International Science Festival
11. Grassroots Innovators Summit
12. National Start-up Summit
13. Round Table Meet on Mass Communication
14. World Record attempt will be made in “Largest Biology Lesson”
15. National Level Competitions—Ideas for Bharat Nirman
16. Outreach Programme in R&D Labs
17. Satellite Seminars
18. Cultural Events
The Govt of India is launching a National Mission on Deep Ocean Research which will bring in huge economic benefits by harnessing the ocean resources (water, energy and minerals).
A special thematic session on Deep Ocean Research will be held.
‘Science for New India’ aims to provides a platform to young students, scientists and technocrats from across India for the exchange of knowledge & ideas in the line of flagship programs like 'Swachh Bharat Abhiyan', ‘Swasth Bharat Abhiyan’, 'Make in India', 'Digital India’, ‘Smart Villages’, 'Smart Cities’, 'Namami Gange', 'Unnath Bharath Abhiyan', etc.
An important event of the IISF-2017 is the Science Village program which is linked with the Pradhan Manthri Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojana to reach out to the rural masses and propagate science to the extent of seeking scientific solutions to the diverse challenges facing our society, particularly rural India..
As a unique programme of IISF 2017, a Women Scientists & Entrepreneur’s Conclave titled “Game Changers Driving Science for New India” would be organized to promote and encourage science education and entrepreneurship among the women.
The aim of the programme is to develop new entrepreneurship and also explore new vistas of opportunities in the field of science and technology among the women.
National Innovation Foundation (NIF) will be organising the ‘Innovation Exhibition’ as a part of the Grassroots Innovators Summit, which aims at providing a common platform for various stakeholders—from innovators, students, researchers to policy makers.
The Round Table Meet on Mass Communication will address the various methods and techniques to popularize science and its applications.
In the International Science Film Festival, Films on science focusing on science fiction from India and abroad will be screened.
IISF: Know More
World record attempts have been a key part of IISF since 2015; in IISF 2015, students took a successful shot at the Guinness world record for the World's Largest Science Lesson at IIT Delhi.
In IISF 2016, at NPL, Pusa, a group of 550 students attempted the world record for Largest Gathering of People Dressed as Nobel Prize-winning scientist Albert Einstein.
In IISF 2017, a World Record attempt will be made in “Largest Biology Lesson”. 1000 students from Class 9th & 10th will be gathering at the venue in Chennai for this attempt.
The IISF is not only a celebration of science and technology through exhibitions
Question No: 70
Indian railways is working with which organisation to make trains safer?
- DRDO
- ISRO
- NALSAR
- ICAR
Answer and Explanation
Answer: B
Explanation
Indian Railways is working with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) to devise safety mechanisms to make travel by trains more safer.
There have been a slew of train derailment incidents last month which saw the exit of Suresh Prabhu as the railway minister in the Cabinet reshuffle in Sept 2017.
Indian railways has been an early adopter of computers which could have been also expanded for various operational processes like safety.
Way back in 1960s, railways started using computers in a small way and by 1985 passenger reservations system were all computerised.
Modern technologies like artificial intelligence and machine learning are going to change the world works and India has opportunity to look at what is latest across the world and bring it to the country.
Round the clock access of connectivity and electricity is dream of billions of Indians and the government is making efforts to achieve it.