Science and Technology MCQ Set 59
Showing question 291 to 295 of total 301 MCQs
MCQ Set: 59
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Question No: 293
Which plant have BARC scientists discovered anti-cancer medicines from?
- Tulsi
- Neem
- Papaya
- Rampatri
Answer and Explanation
Answer: D
Explanation
BARC scientists have developed two anti-cancer medicines from the fruit extract of the Rampatri plant, which may help destroy tumours and revive cells damaged by radiation.
Rampatri plant, which is used as a spice in foods, belongs to the Myristicaceae family and is found in western coastal region of the country.
Scientists at Bhabha atomic Research Centre (BARC) based in Anushaktinagar, Mumbai tested the medicines made from this plant on mice and found that they may help in treating lung cancer and neuroblastoma, a rare cancer found in children.
In neuroblastoma, cancer cells grow in nerve cells of adrenal glands, neck, chest and spinal chord.
The medicines were developed by Dr B Shankar Patro, scientist of Radiation Biology and Health sciences at BARC.
The molecules of Rampatri fruit may destroy the cancer cells.
Medicines developed from these molecules may also help in reviving cells destroyed due to radiation.
The research centre was working for many years to develop cancer medicines from herbal plants.
They have also developed BARC Radio Modifier and BARC Radio Protector.
From June this year, Tata Memorial Centre in Mumbai may begin clinical trial of Radio Modifier medicine.
Radio Modifier helps to protect healthy cells during radiation therapy and if this medicine is given within four hours in case of any nuclear accident, life of the affected person may be saved.
BARC: Know More
Director: K.N. Vyas
Location: India
Headquarters: Mumbai
Founder: Homi J. Bhabha
Founded: 3 January 1954
Budget: 31.59 billion INR (US$470 million, 2015–2016)
Purpose: Nuclear physics
Question No: 294
What are x-ray binaries?
- Pair of stars orbiting each other
- Black hole or neutron stars orbiting less compact stars
- Pair of planets orbiting each other
- Both a and b
- None of the above
Answer and Explanation
Answer: D
Explanation
A team of scientists from Raman Research Institute, Bengaluru and University of Delhi for the first time have seen indications of a massive planet orbiting a low mass X-ray binary star system.
The system MXB 1658-298 is an X-ray binary and a part of the constellation Ophiuchus (serpent bearer).
It is nearly 30 thousand light years away and the planet is expected to be nearly 8 thousand times as massive as the earth.
X-ray binaries consist of a pair of stars orbiting each other of which one is compact such as a black hole or a neutron star.
In this case it is a neutron star which draws matter from its less-massive companion and generates X-rays which are detected by detectors placed in satellites in space.
This discovery is made with a new technique, X-Ray observation by measuring periodic delays in X-ray eclipses.
It is a new technique of detecting exoplanets and observations are done from space observatories.
In X-ray binaries, the time in-between eclipses of the source can increase, decrease and also shows abrupt changes.
But in MXB 1658-298, time between the eclipses increases and decreases periodically.
Question No: 295
Which nation's armed forces on April 1, 2017 launched a cyber command with status of army, air force and navy?
- Germany
- France
- Britain
- Scotland
Answer and Explanation
Answer: A
Explanation
p>Germany's armed forces on April 1, 2017 launch a cyber command, with a status equal to that of the army, navy and air force, meant to shield its IT and weapons systems from attack.
Military planners fear that wars of the future will start with cyber attacks against critical infrastructure and networks, extensive online espionage and sabotage.
The Bundeswehr's new Cyber and Information Space (CIR) Command, based in the former West German capital of Bonn, will start off with 260 IT specialists.
It will grow to 13,500 military and civilian personnel by July.
With the new digital force, Germany is taking a leading role among NATO allies, its new commander, Lieutenant General Ludwig Leinhos, announced.
The main tasks would be to operate and protect the military's own IT infrastructure and computer-assisted weapons systems, as well as surveillance of online threats.
Centre would also develop and war-game offensive capabilities.
However, any full-scale cyber attacks abroad would have to be approved by the German parliament, just like any other military mission.
The security of national and government IT systems, meanwhile, remains the responsibility of the interior ministry which oversees the domestic security agency that handles counterespionage.
The German government has been sensitised to cyber security since the parliament was attacked last year, with security sources suspecting Russian hackers behind the attack.
Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen had announced the creation of the cyber command two years ago to protect the military from increasing numbers of online attacks.
IT systems of the Bundeswehr had been targeted more than 280,000 times up till now.
Question No: 291
What was the theme of 2nd NPDR
- Mainstreaming DRR in Development: From Risk to Resilience'.
- 'Disaster Risk Reduction for Sustainable Development: Making India Resilient by 2030'
- Reducing Disaster : Partnering Technology
- None of the above
Answer and Explanation
Answer: B
Explanation
The Union Minister of State for Home Affairs, Shri Hansraj Gangaram Ahir launched the website, http://npdrr2-mha.net.in, for the ensuing 2nd meeting of National Platform on Disaster Risk Reduction (NPDRR).
This is an exclusive website to share all information related to the NPDRR and keep updating delegates on daily basis about the meeting.
The 2nd meeting of the NPDRR will be held in the last week of April this year in New Delhi on the theme 'Disaster Risk Reduction for Sustainable Development: Making India Resilient by 2030'.
The first meeting of NPDRR was held during May 13 -14, 2013 in New Delhi on the theme 'Mainstreaming DRR in Development: From Risk to Resilience'.
The NPDRR is a multi-stakeholder National Platform headed by the Union Home Minister.
It consists of representatives from Central Government, State Governments, Local Self Governments, Parliament, Specialised agencies dealing with disaster, Institutions of National Importance, Industry, Media, Civil Society Organizations and International Organizations.
The NPDRR promotes participatory decision making in disaster management and strengthens federal policy of our country.
National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM) are organizing 10 pre-events on different aspect of DRR in collaboration with their partner organizations as a build up to this 2nd meeting of NPDRR.
A national level slogan competition on "Role of NPDRR in disaster management" has been launched on March 31, 2017 to enhance citizen's involvement in Disaster Management.
Question No: 292
What does GARV stand for?
- Grameen Vidyutikaram
- Gram Vidyutikaran
- Gaon Vidyutikaran
- None of the above
Answer and Explanation
Answer: A
Explanation
Grameen Vidyutikaran (GARV) App has been upgraded for monitoring the villages and households electrification in the country.
GARV-II includes monitoring of electrification of habitations as well as households. It also provides an interactive platform for feedback and would help in expediting electrification works.
Government of India has launched Deendayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana (DDUGJY) with total investment of Rs.43,033 crore in the country in December, 2014 with the objectives of, inter-alia,
(i) Village Electrification;
(ii) Providing access to households;
(iii) Feeder Separation;
(iv) Strengthening of sub-transmission and distribution network and
(v) Metering.
Under DDUGJY, projects of an amount of INR.42553.17 crore have been sanctioned for rural electrification works which include village electrification, access to households, feeder separation, metering and system strengthening.
Initiatives to Improve Efficiency of Coal Plants: Know More
The Government has taken several steps to modernize and improve the efficiency of coal based thermal power plants and to reduce the pollution level of coal based thermal power plants in the vicinity of these plants.
Supercritical technology has already been adopted for thermal power generation.
The design efficiency of Supercritical units is about 5% higher than that of typical 500 MW subcritical units and these (supercritical) units are likely to have correspondingly lower fuel consumption and CO2 emissions in ambient air.
A capacity addition of 39,710 MW power based on supercritical technology has already been achieved and 48,060 MW of supercritical technology is in the pipeline.
All Ultra Mega Power Projects (UMPPs) are required to use supercritical technology.
Coal based capacity addition during the 13th Plan period shall be through super-critical units.
Indigenous research is being pursued for development of an Advanced Ultra Supercritical Technology (A-USC) with targeted efficiency improvement of about 10% over supercritical unit.
Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research (IGCAR), NTPC Ltd. and BHEL signed an MoU, in August 2010, for development of 800 MW A-USC indigenous demonstration plant with main steam pressure of 310 kg/cm2 and temperature of 710/ 720 deg C.
A capacity of about 7751.94 MW of old and inefficient unit has already been retired till date.
To facilitate State Utilities/IPPs to replace old inefficient coal based thermal units with supercritical units, Ministry of Coal, Government of India has formulated a policy of automatic transfer of Letter of Assurance (LOA)/Coal linkage (granted to old plants) to new (proposed) super-critical units.
Perform Achieve and Trade (PAT) Scheme under National Mission on Enhanced Energy Efficiency is under implementation by BEE (Bureau of Energy Efficiency). In PAT cycle–II, individual target for improving efficiency has been assigned to 154 thermal power stations.
High efficiency Electrostatics Preceptor (ESP) are installed to capture Particulate Matters from Flue gases.
Low NOX burners are installed for reducing NOx emission from flue gases.
SO2 emission control is achieved through dispersion of flue gases through tall stacks (275 metres) to reduce the concentration of polluting gases at ground level.