Science and Technology MCQ Set 33
Showing question 161 to 165 of total 301 MCQs
MCQ Set: 33
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Question No: 161
Which molecule can be used as a potential drug to fight Zika?
- An antibiotic compound
- An allopathic compound
- An Ayurveda compound
- A herbal compound
Answer and Explanation
Answer: B
Explanation
Researchers from a southeastern Spanish university announced the discovery of a molecule that could be used as a potential drug to fight the effects of a Zika virus infection.
San Antonio Catholic University of Murcia said that scientists belonging to its Bioinformatics and High-Performance Computing research group had found that a compound previously used as an antibiotic countered the symptoms of the mosquito-borne disease.
It’s a drug that had been withdrawn from the market because it had lost its potency as an antibiotic, but we know it can be administered to humans.
The molecular structure of the proteins involved in the Zika virus’ replication process was first described only a year ago.
Zika: Know More
Zika virus is a member of the virus family Flaviviridae.
It is spread by daytime-active Aedes mosquitoes, such as A. aegypti and A. albopictus.
Its name comes from the Zika Forest of Uganda, where the virus was first isolated in 1947.
Scientific name: Zika virus
Higher classification: Flavivirus
Rank: Species
Did you know: Serological tests, including immunofluorescence assays and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays may indicate the presence of anti-Zika virus IgM and IgG antibodies, according to WHO.
Question No: 162
Which is the sun’s closest star neighbour?
- Proxima Centuari
- Proxima Alpha
- Proxima Astrosat
- Andromeda
Answer and Explanation
Answer: A
Explanation
The Sun’s closest star neighbour, Proxima Centauri, a cool dwarf star situated a little over four light years away, may not be inclined to harbour habitable planets, if its temperament is anything to go by.
AstroSat, along with other space and earth-based observatories, has detected a powerful solar flare sent out by this star.
At an energy of 10-raised-to-30 ergs, this explosion is about 100 times a typical flare.
If such a flare occurs in our Sun, it might have a devastating effect on power grids, interrupt broadcasts and electricity, affect electronic instruments, and cause excess UV radiation in space.
On 31 May 2017, three space-based observatories, the Astrosat, Chandra and Hubble Space Telescope, and the ground-based High Accuracy Radial velocity Planet Searcher (HARPS) observatory, participated in a multi-wavelength simultaneous observation campaign.
The mission teams of all satellites agreed to point to this star and spend a whole day watching this particular star.
Also, AstroSat is sensitive enough to easily catch a flare from a star that is so close to us, if it happens during the night time of the satellite and if the telescope is pointed towards this star, as was the case here.
Last year’s discovery of Proxima Centauri b - a planet orbiting Proxima Centauri and, more importantly, lying in its habitable ‘Goldilocks’ zone - had set everyone wondering if it could host life.
Question No: 163
UIDAI has launched which app that permits Aadhaar card holders to carry aadhar details in their smartphones?
- mAadhaar
- eAadhaar
- mobileAadhaar
- onlineAadhaar
Answer and Explanation
Answer: A
Explanation
The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has launched the mAadhaar app, a digital tool that allows holders of Aadhaar numbers to carry their in their smartphones.
The app syncs all information available on your Aadhaar, such as demographic details, name, date of birth, gender, postal address and photograph, after you link your Aadhaar with the app.
Now that is a convenient way to carry Aadhaar everywhere, all the time.
The app also allows you to lock and unlock your biometric data–a feature that was earlier possible only through the UIDAI web portal.
For safety and security reasons, the mAadhaar app uses a two-layer authentication.
The app has a Google Authenticator-like one-time password generation tool within the app for this purpose.
The OTPs generated by the tool are read by the app automatically; there is no way to enter them manually.
The app allows you to update your profile using the app, and the change reflects in the app once they are approved.
The mAadhaar app APK file is already available for download on Google Play marketplace, and has been launched only for Android users only for now; however, it might be released for iOS soon as well.
However, the app is currently in beta stage, notes UIDAI in its announcement tweet, and some of the features will be made available post future updates.
Notably, the app allows users to lock or unlock biometrics data.
Once a resident enables Biometric Locking system their biometric remains locked till the Aadhaar Holder chose to either Unlock it (which is temporary) or Disable the Locking system.
Interestingly, the mAadhaar app also comes with "Time-based One-Time Password (TOTP)" feature that can be used instead of SMS-based OTP.
With the mAadhaar app, users will be able to get the updated view of the profile upon completion of the update request and they will even be able to share QR code and password protected eKYC data to retrieve accurate demographic information from it instead of manual entry.
To recall, a new amendment to the tax proposals in the Finance Bill for 2017-18 made it mandatory from July 1 for anyone who has a PAN card to provide their Aadhaar number to the principal director general of income tax (systems) or DGIT (systems).
Question No: 164
Who is the first child in the world to undergo double hand transplant successfully in July 2017?
- Zion Harvey
- Bryan Harvey
- Dion Harvey
- Tyran Harvey
Answer and Explanation
Answer: A
Explanation
The first child in the world to undergo a double hand transplant is now able to write, feed and dress himself, doctors have said, declaring the ground-breaking operation a success after 18 months.
10-year old Zion Harvey, who underwent surgery to replace both hands in July 2015 is now even able to play baseball.
Eighteen months after the surgery, the child is more independent and able to complete day-to-day activities.
He continues to improve as he undergoes daily therapy to increase his hand function, and psychosocial support to help deal with the ongoing demands of his surgery.
Harvey had his hands and feet amputated at the age of two, following a sepsis infection. He also had a kidney transplant.
Harvey was already receiving drugs to suppress any immune reaction to his kidney, which was a key factor in his selection for the 10-plus hour hand transplant surgery.
Immunosuppressive drugs must be taken continuously to prevent a patient’s body from rejecting the transplant.
These drugs carry risks, including diabetes, cancer and infections.
The child has “undergone eight rejections of the hands, including serious episodes during the fourth and seventh months of his transplant.
All of these were reversed with immunosuppression drugs without impacting the function of the child’s hands.”
Harvey continues to take four immunosuppression drugs and a steroid.
Before the double hand transplant, Harvey had limited ability to dress, feed and wash himself through adapted processes, using his residual limbs or specialist equipment.
The donor hands became available in July 2015 from a deceased child.
Within days of the surgery, Harvey discovered he could move his fingers, using the ligaments from his residual limbs.
Eight months after the operation, Harvey was using scissors and drawing with crayons.
Within a year, he could swing a baseball bat using both hands. He also threw out the first pitch at a Baltimore Orioles game last August.
Regular meetings with a psychologist and a social worker were part of the recovery process, aimed at helping him cope with his new hands.
Scans have shown his brain is adapting to the new hands, developing new pathways to control movement and feel sensations.
The world’s first double hand transplant in a child has been successful under carefully considered circumstances.
The first successful hand transplant in an adult was carried out in 1998.
Question No: 165
What is SOHUM?
- A low cost hearing screening device for newborns
- A low cost hearing screening device for elderly
- A contraception initiative for women
- A birth control programme for India
Answer and Explanation
Answer: A
Explanation
The Union Ministry of Science and Technology has launched SOHUM, an indigenously developed low-cost hearing screening device for newborns.
The innovative medical device has been developed by the School of International Biodesign (SIB) startup Sohum Innovation Labs India Pvt Ltd under Department of Biotechnology (DBT) supported (SIB).
The Sohum aims to make this battery-operated non-invasive screening device available across the country to minimise or reverse the hearing loss damage.
It is a low cost portable device which uses brain-stem auditory evoked response, a best screening choice recommended by the American Association of Pediatrics and National Health Services of UK.
It measures auditory brain waves via three electrodes placed on the baby’s head. When stimulated, electrodes detect electrical responses generated by the brain’s auditory system.
If there is no response, it indicates child cannot hear.
Once it is detected at quite an early age, measures can be taken to prevent other problems such as impaired communication skills and even possible mental illness.
It is battery operated device and is non-invasive, it doesn’t require babies to be sedated, which is risky, testing in process at present.
It has in-built algorithm that filters out ambient noise from the test signal. This is important because health clinics can be crowded and noisy.
SIB: Know More
School of International Biodesign SIB is a flagship Program of the DBT aimed to develop innovative and affordable medical devices as per India’s unmet clinical needs and to train the next generation of medical technology innovators in India.
It is implemented jointly at All India Institutes of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) and IIT Delhi in collaboration with International partners.
Biotech Consortium India Limited manages techno-legal activities of the Program.
It serves as a valuable contribution to the Make in India campaign of the Government.