News in Shorts-1st July

Meningoencephalitis

• Recently, death of a 13-year-old girl from Kannur while undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Kozhikode has been ascribed to amoebic meningoencephalitis. 

Amoebic meningoencephalitis:

• About: Amoebic meningoencephalitis is a rare and fatal infection of the brain and its surrounding tissues caused by Naegleria fowleri.

Naegleria fowleri.

• About: Naegleria fowleri is a free-living, single-celled amoeba that can lead to a rare brain infection called Primary Amoebic Meningoencephalitis (PAM).
• Type of Habitat: It inhabits warm freshwater and soil, infecting individuals when it enters the body through the nose. 
  • From there, it moves to the brain, causing swelling and damaging brain tissue.
  • This amoeba is found in warm freshwater environments, including lakes, rivers, swimming pools, splash pads, surf parks, and other recreational areas that are poorly maintained or have low chlorine levels.
• Symptoms of the Infection: Symptoms typically begin with headaches, fever, nausea, and vomiting. As the infection progresses, the individual may develop a stiff neck and exhibit confusion, seizures, hallucinations, and potentially lapse into a coma.
• Casualties: The majority of individuals affected by PAM succumb within 1 to 18 days from the onset of symptoms, often resulting in coma and eventual death approximately 5 days after symptoms appear.
• Treatment: Currently, no definitive treatment for the disease exists. It is managed using a combination of medications such as amphotericin B, azithromycin, fluconazole, rifampin, miltefosine, and dexamethasone.

Supercapacitors

• Researchers have devised a technique to manufacture environmentally friendly supercapacitors using activated carbon sourced from coconut husks, an abundant agricultural waste material.

Coconut Husks:

• About: Coconut husks, a residual from the coconut industry, are recognized as a viable source material for producing activated carbon used in supercapacitor electrodes.
  • Due to their abundance, renewability, and biodegradability, coconut husks are well-suited for environmentally friendly energy storage applications.

Conversion Process:

• Carbonization: It involves subjecting coconut husks to a pyrolytic process. This process heats the material at high temperatures with limited oxygen supply, burning off volatile gases and leaving behind carbonaceous material.
• Activation: It involves treating the carbonized material with chemical agents such as potassium hydroxide (KOH) or phosphoric acid (H3PO4). 
  • This process enhances the surface area and porosity of the carbon, which is beneficial for energy storage in supercapacitors.

Supercapacitor:

• About: A supercapacitor, also referred to as an ultracapacitor, is an advanced energy storage device known for its high-power density, extended durability, and rapid charging capabilities compared to conventional capacitors and Lithium-Ion batteries (LIB).
• Composition: Its key elements comprise an electrode, electrolyte, separator, and current collector.

Chief of Army Staff

• General Upendra Dwivedi on recently  took over as the 30th chief of the Indian Army. 

Chief of the Army Staff (COAS):

• About: The Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) is the highest-ranking officer in the Indian Army, appointed by the Appointments Committee of Cabinet. 
• Function: The COAS functions as the army’s head, providing advice to the Defence Ministry on army affairs, and acts as the principal military advisor to the President of India.
• Retirement:  Retirement occurs after three years in office or upon reaching the age of 62, whichever comes first.

Rail link for Chabahar-Zahedan

• India and Iran plan to fasttrack the development of a new rail connectivity route between the Chabahar port and Zahedan city.

Chabahar Port:

• About: Located in Iran’s Sistan-Baluchistan province, this deep-water port sits at the Gulf of Oman’s entrance to the Strait of Hormuz.
• Sections:  It is Iran’s sole port with direct access to the Indian Ocean, comprised of two distinct sections named Shahid Beheshti and Shahid Kalantari. 
• Strategic Position: Its strategic position near Afghanistan, Pakistan, and India, coupled with its role as a pivotal transit point along the emerging International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC), positions it for significant growth as a key commercial hub in the region.

International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC):

• Connectivity & Length: Spanning 7,200 kilometers, this multi-modal transport corridor integrates road, rail, and maritime routes, linking Russia and India through Central Asia and Iran.
  • It connects the Caspian Sea to the Indian Ocean via the Persian Gulf, extending onward to Russia and Northern Europe. 
  • Renowned for its efficiency, it provides the most direct route between India and Russia.
• ​​Components:
  • Northern and Western Europe via the Russian Federation
  • Caucasus to the Persian Gulf (Western route)
  • Central Asia to the Persian Gulf (Eastern route)
  • Caspian Sea through Iran to the Persian Gulf (Central route)

Artificial Intelligence Preparedness Index (AIPI)

• Recently, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) launched an Artificial Intelligence Preparedness Index (AIPI) Dashboard.

 Artificial Intelligence Preparedness Index (AIPI)

• About: It evaluates the AI readiness of 174 countries based on four key areas: digital infrastructure, human capital and labour market policies, innovation and economic integration, and regulation and ethics.
• Classification: The Index classifies countries into three categories: Advanced Economies (AE), Emerging Market Economies (EM), and Low-Income Countries (LIC). 
  • Singapore (0.80), Denmark (0.78), and the United States (0.77) are among the top-rated Advanced Economies.
  • India is categorized as an Emerging Market with a rating of 0.49, ranking 72 out of 174 countries. 
  • Bangladesh (0.38) ranks 113th, Sri Lanka (0.43) ranks 92nd, and China (0.63) ranks 31st.

Pride Month

• June is observed as ‘Gay Pride Month’ in various regions worldwide, dedicated to celebrating the LGBTQ community and their efforts against discrimination and social exclusion.

Pride Month:

• Commemoration: June is globally recognized as LGBTQ+ Pride Month, commemorating the anniversary of the Stonewall riots at Stonewall Inn in New York City—a historic gathering place for the LGBTQ+ community during the 1960s.
• History: LGBTQ+ Pride Month serves as a source of role models, fosters community solidarity, and symbolises a civil rights declaration acknowledging the contributions of the LGBTQ+ community. 
  • This month is observed in the United States, United Kingdom, and Canada. Originating in the United States, LGBTQ+ History Month was initially celebrated in 1994.