Rapid Fire
Rapid Fire Current Affairs
- 14 Sep 2023
- 5 min read
Natural Polyphenols to Combat Alzheimer’s Disease
Researchers at Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR), an autonomous institute of the Department of Science and Technology (DST) have discovered that naturally occurring plant-based polyphenols (beneficial plant compounds with antioxidant properties), like tannic acid found in Chestnut and Oak twigs, can modulate the ferroptosis-AD axis to yield a safe, cost-effective strategy for combating Alzheimer’s disease (AD).
- AD is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by memory and cognitive decline.
- Ferroptosis is a type of programmed cell death that is dependent on iron and is linked to the development of AD.
- AD aligns with characteristics of ferroptosis, including abnormal iron build-up, and reduced activity of the antioxidant enzyme glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4).
- Tannic acid activates and enhances GPX4, offering a comprehensive approach to combat AD.
Read more: Alzheimer’s disease
India and WOAH Collaborate for Pandemic Preparedness
- Recently, the Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying, in partnership with the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH), organized a multi-sectoral workshop "Risk-based management of spillover events in wildlife in India" at Hyderabad.
- The workshop aimed at enhancing stakeholder knowledge about wildlife-origin disease risk analysis.
- Discussions emphasized the significance of a One Health approach, cross-sectoral collaboration, and pandemic preparedness.
- The "One Health" approach, which recognizes the interconnectedness of wildlife, domestic animals, and human health, remains crucial for a sustainable future.
- The WOAH is an intergovernmental organization that was founded in 1924 to improve animal health worldwide.
- WOAH aims to control and prevent the spread of epizootic diseases.
- WOAH has 182 member countries, including all EU Member States.
- The WOAH headquarters is in Paris, France, and Regional Commissions are maintained in each region of the world.
Read more: One Health Concept
Operation Polo
On 13th September, 1948, India's military action known as "Operation Polo" was launched to integrate the princely state of Hyderabad, a significant event in Indian history.
- The Nizam of Hyderabad, Mir Osman Ali Shah, had hesitated to join India or Pakistan after Independence, capitalizing on the Indian government's preoccupation with the Kashmir conflict.
- A standstill agreement signed in November 1947 maintained the status quo between Hyderabad and India for a year, allowing the Nizam to continue governing independently.
- However, escalating tensions, cross-border raids, and intentions to establish an independent state, prompted India to act.
- The operation saw well-planned military thrusts from multiple directions, ultimately leading to the surrender of the Hyderabad state forces.
- This pivotal campaign, carried out under the watchful eye of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, culminated in a ceasefire declaration on 17th September, 1948 effectively placing Hyderabad under Indian control by 18th September, 1948.
Read more: Hyderabad Liberation Day
Hindi Diwas
Hindi Diwas, celebrated annually on 14th September, holds immense historical significance as it commemorates the adoption of Hindi as one of India's official languages.
- Its roots extend back to the early days of India's struggle for independence when a group of committed Hindi scholars and activists formed the Hindi Sahitya Sammelan (Hindi Literary Conference) in 1918 to champion Hindi as a national language.
- The turning point arrived on 14th September, 1949, when the Constituent Assembly of India officially embraced Hindi as the nation's official language, envisioning it as a unifying element among India's diverse linguistic and cultural regions.
- Today, Hindi stands as one of the two official languages of the Union government along with English and is one of the 22 scheduled languages of India.
- World Hindi Day is observed on 10 January. It commemorates the anniversary of the first World Hindi Conference held in Nagpur on 10th January, 1975.
Read more: Hindi Diwas
