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.