Prelims Focus – 20th April 2024

Sugar Levels in Baby Food

Recent News:

A recent report by the Swiss NGO, Public Eye, and the International Baby Food Action Network (IBFAN) reveals significant differences in the sugar content of Nestle’s Cerelac baby food across global markets.

Details:

• Key points: While Cerelac sold in the UK and Germany boasts no added sugars, samples from India contain approximately 2.7 grams per serving. 
  • The report also exposes instances, such as in the Philippines, where sugar content reaches a concerning 7.3 grams per serving without packaging declaration.
• Nestle’s Response: Nestle India emphasises its efforts to reduce added sugars in its infant cereal, claiming a 30% reduction over five years. They assert adherence to CODEX standards and local regulations regarding nutrient content, including sugar.
• Health Concerns: High sugar content in baby food poses risks such as obesity, diabetes, and dental issues, as recommended by the WHO. Excessive sugar intake may also lead to nutrient deficiencies in infants.
• Indian Regulations: Despite WHO guidance, Indian regulations allow limited sucrose and fructose in baby foods, lacking specific sugar limits.

Men5CV Vaccine 

Recent News:

Nigeria’s achievement as the first country to introduce the Men5CV vaccine, recommended by the WHO, signifies a breakthrough in meningitis prevention.

Details:

• • Role of Nigeria: The rollout sets a precedent globally, potentially leading to widespread adoption.
    • Nigeria’s introduction of the Men5CV vaccine marks a significant advancement in global health, offering hope for enhanced meningitis prevention and control efforts worldwide.
  • Meningitis Eradication Goal: Aligning with WHO’s objective to eliminate meningitis by 2030, Men5CV could prevent future outbreaks.
  • Enhanced Protection: Men5CV’s broad spectrum shields against multiple meningococcal strains, crucial for regions like the African meningitis belt.
  • Outbreak Reduction: Accessible Men5CV, funded by Gavi, holds promise in curbing future meningitis outbreaks.

• Understanding Meningitis:

• • Overview: Meningitis, characterised by inflammation of the brain and spinal cord membranes, stems from various infections or noninfectious factors.
  • Types: Bacterial, Viral, Fungal, and Non-Infectious, each necessitating specific management approaches.
  • Causes and Transmission: From respiratory droplets to fungal spores, diverse factors contribute to meningitis transmission.
  • Prevention Measures: Vaccination, hygiene practices, and prophylaxis are essential in preventing meningitis transmission.

Skytrax World Airport Awards-2024

In News: Recently Hamad International Airport in Doha has been named as the best airport in the world according to the research firm Skytrax.

• • The Skytrax World Airport Awards have been passed out Since 1999 and are based totally on surveys of passenger reviews in numerous areas, such as arrivals, test-in, immigration, purchasing, transfers, protection, and departure.

• Global Scenario

• • • Changi Airport in Singapore ranked second and Incheon Airport in Seoul was offered the best family-friendly airport for 2024 and ranked 3rd number.
    • Tokyo’s dual centers of Haneda and Narita took 4thand 5th spots.

• Indian Scenario

• • Four airports in India have been covered in the top listing.
  • The Delhi airport remained 36th in the list, even as the Mumbai airport slipped to 95th. 
  • Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA), Hyderabad airport moved up to 61st vicinity and Bengaluru airport pushed ten spots, moving up to 59.
  • RGIA clinched the ‘Best Airport Staff in India & South Asia 2024’.

Voice Swap Technology

In News: There has been an increased number of disinformation and manipulated media online using Voice swap technology.

• It refers to the technique of the use of an AI set of rules to either modify or mimic an individual’s voice. 
• The technology also lets the creators change the characteristics of a voice, consisting of accent, tone, pitch, and speech patterns to make the films more realistic.
• Currently, there are numerous easy-to-use AI voice swap tools available at no cost. 
• The creator has to simply add or document the audio sample that she desires to replace, after which personalize the settings to make the uploaded pattern sound as sensible as possible.

Nitroplast

In News: An international team of researchers has recently discovered the “nitroplast” — first known nitrogen-fixing organelle within a eukaryotic cell.

• This finding challenges the long-held perception that only bacteria can fix nitrogen.
  • Nitrogen fixation is the system by which nitrogen is taken from its molecular form (N2) in the environment and converted into nitrogen compounds beneficial for other biochemical techniques.
• The nitroplast organelle discovery marks the fourth instance of primary endosymbiosis in records, a manner in which a prokaryotic cell is engulfed by a eukaryotic cell and evolves into an organelle.
• A symbiotic dating in which one organism lives in the other is referred to as endosymbiosis.
• Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic Cells: The cell is the primary unit of life and forms the building blocks of all living organisms. It was discovered by Robert Hooke In 1665.
  • Some cells have membrane-bound organelles and a few do not. Depending upon the internal shape of the cellular, sizes of cells are observed in an organism namely Eukaryotic and Prokaryotic.
  • Prokaryotic cells are less complicated and smaller in size, whilst eukaryotic cells are more complicated and larger. 
• These findings display that Candidatus Atelocyanobacterium thalassa UCYN-A has advanced from a symbiont to a eukaryotic organelle for nitrogen fixation—the nitroplast—thereby expanding a function that was idea to be solely finished through prokaryotic cells to eukaryotes.

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