Current Affairs-GK January 18, 2016

Chinese scientists develop new bio-artificial liver

>> Chinese scientists have developed a new bio-artificial liver that can help patients to survive from liver failure long enough for an organ transplant.

>> Developed by team of researchers from the Shanghai Institute for Biological Sciences and doctors from Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital.

>> The bio-artificial liver is based on human liver cells and has been designed to be attached outside a patient’s body.

>> This liver device is based on cells taken from human fat, skin or other tissues and is reprogrammed into liver cells. It can help to prolong lives of patients with liver failure by recovering patients’ liver functions till suitable donor livers for a transplant is found.

IMD launches a system to monitor aerosols and black carbon in atmosphere

>> The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has launched a System of Aerosol Monitoring and Research (SAMAR).

>> It will help the country in studying concentration of black carbon in atmosphere due to air pollution and its impact on climate.

>> Aerosols are a subset of air pollution that contains gases, fumes and dust in harmful proportion.

>> Aerosols particles can be both solid and liquid which also affects environmental visibility.

>> The system was launched by the Union science and technology minister Harsh Vardhan on the IMD’s 141st foundation day.

IIT Kharagpur launches innovation centre

>> IIT Kharagpur has launched an innovation centre to promote the culture of innovation among its undergraduate students right from their first year.

>> The centre is named after its alumnus and former faculty, The MN Faruqui Innovations Centre was launched with seed-funding by another alumnus Arjun Malhotra, co-founder of HCL Technologies.

>> Centre would promote the culture of innovation among a wide cross section of students and faculty with support from its alumni and the industry.

>> The Innovations Centre comprises a Design Facility and Tinkering Laboratory.

Former Sikkim Governor Ventrapragada Rama Rao passes away

>> Former Sikkim Governor and senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Ventrapragada Rama Rao passed away in Hyderabad, Telangana following an illness at the age of 81.

>> Rao was one of the founders of Jana Sangh (later became BJP) in Andhra Pradesh. He was also Andhra Pradesh BJP president during 1993 and 1997.

Union Government held first National stakeholder consultation on BIOFIN project

>> Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change held the first National stakeholder consultation meeting on the BIOFIN (Biodiversity Finance Initiative).

>> The meeting was organized to understand the BIOFIN project and to seek professional inputs from experts of various fields in strengthening the biodiversity conservation efforts in the country.

>> BIOFIN is a global partnership seeking to address the biodiversity finance challenge in a comprehensive manner.

>> Aim of BIOFIN project is to mobilise resources for biodiversity and sustainable development across the world.

Somnath Temple to invest in Gold Monetisation Scheme

>> The Somnath Temple is all set to become Gujarat’s first temple to deposit its idle gold in the Gold Monetisation Scheme as its trustees including Prime Minister Narendra Modi have given their nod to invest the yellow metal reserves in the scheme.

>> The trust has around 35 kg of gold and will deposit the gold which is not in day-to-day use of the temple.

Government to introduce new category of award –Most Film Friendly State/UT

>> Secretary I&B, Shri Sunil Arora, has said that as part of the Government’s effort to promote the Indian film industry and India’s “Soft Power” it has been decided to institute a new award category under the National Film Awards titled “The Most Film Friendly State/UT”. 

>> This award will be conferred for the first time at the 63rd National Film Awards to be held on 3rd May 2016.

First infected case of mosquito-borne Zinka virus recorded in the US

>> A mosquito-borne virus called Zinka was in news in the third week of January 2016. It was found that the virus is spreading rapidly through the American continent.

>> The first case was confirmed in Texas, USA in January 2016 when a traveler returning from Latin America.

>> The disease caused by this virus is not fatal and lasts up to a week, but it was identified that there is a possible link between the virus and a birth defect called microcephaly that causes babies to be born with abnormally small heads and potential developmental problems.