Prelims Focus 6th May 2025
Pwani Molecular Form
In News: The Pwani molecular form is a newly discovered, genetically distinct mosquito species within the Anopheles gambiae complex, found only along the coastal regions of Tanzania and Kenya.
Key Characteristics
- Genetic Distinction: The Pwani molecular form is genetically divergent from other known members of the Anopheles gambiae complex, based on whole-genome sequencing.
- Geographical Restriction: It is only found in the coastal areas of Tanzania and Kenya.
- Insecticide Resistance Profile: Unlike other malaria vectors in the region, the Pwani form lacks common genetic markers for insecticide resistance. This suggests it may either be more vulnerable to insecticides or has developed resistance through unknown mechanisms.
- Potential Role in Malaria Transmission: While it is not yet confirmed whether the Pwani mosquito transmits malaria, its close relation to known vectors and presence in endemic regions make it a high-priority subject for further research.
Why is it significant?
- It shows clear genetic divergence from other Anopheles gambiae complex members, suggesting unique ecological or behavioral adaptations.
- This mosquito may play a role in sustaining malaria transmission during the dry season, when other vectors are less active, potentially explaining persistent malaria cases in these areas despite widespread use of bed nets and indoor spraying.
Shear-wave splitting
In News: A new study by University of Oxford scientists proposes using shear-wave splitting – a seismic phenomenon where waves split into polarized components due to rock fractures – to improve eruption monitoring at Japan’s Mount Ontake.
- Shear-wave splitting is a seismic phenomenon where shear (S) waves traveling through the Earth split into two polarized waves that move at different speeds when passing through rocks with aligned cracks or fractures.
- This effect is most pronounced in anisotropic materials-rocks whose properties vary with direction due to features like cracks or stress alignment.
Key findings from the 2007 and 2014 eruptions:
- During the small 2007 eruption, shear-wave splitting remained constant.
- Before the deadly 2014 eruption (VEI 3), splitting doubled as stress from magma movement aligned fractures, increasing seismic anisotropy from 3% to 20%.
ECINET App
In News: The Election Commission of India (ECI) has introduced a single-factor App ECINET for electorate and other stakeholders such as election officers, political parties and the civil society.
- Purpose: A one-prevent platform with a view to combine and streamline over 40 of the EC’s present mobile and web apps in a single and consumer friendly platform, easing navigation by eliminating the need for a couple of logins.
- To ensure that statistics are as accurate as viable, ECINET information may be entered solely by authorised EC officers.
- Key Apps Being Merged: Voter Helpline, Voter Turnout, cVIGIL, Suvidha 2.0, ESMS, Saksham, and KYC – with over 5.5 crore overall downloads.
- Development Process: Envisioned by the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar.
- Reach: The new initiative is predicted to advantage nearly one hundred crore electors and the whole electoral management.
Stratospheric Airship Platform
In News: Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) efficiently conducted the maiden flight-trial of a Stratospheric Airship Platform at Sheopur, Madhya Pradesh.
- It is developed by DRDO’s Aerial Delivery Research and Development Establishment in Agra
- The airship was launched with an instrumental payload and reached an altitude of around 17 km.
- The total flight duration was 62 minutes.
- Onboard sensors provided precious records for the improvement of high-constancy simulation models for future high-altitude airship flights.
- Envelope strain manage and emergency deflation systems were tested at some stage in the flight, and the system changed into recovered for similar research.
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