Prelims Focus- 8th December 2023

1.GEMINI: AI Model developed by Google

Context:Google has introduced Project Gemini, which is their biggest and most advanced artificial intelligence model.

About:

• This is an AI developed by Google that combines multiple modes of communication and has a large language model.
• The Multimodal AI model can process various types of information such as text, audio, images, and video. 
• It is extremely powerful and outperforms human experts in different tasks, making it the most advanced AI model so far. 
• There will be three versions of this model available: Ultra for complex tasks, Pro for a wide range of tasks, and Nano for tasks performed on devices. 
• The Nano and Pro models will be integrated into Google’s AI chatbot Bard right away, while the Ultra model will be released in the following year.

2.Lobbying

Context: The COP28 conference in Dubai has received attention because it has seen a high number of fossil fuel lobbyists in attendance.

Details:

• The act of individuals or groups trying to influence government officials or lawmakers by promoting policies, supporting or opposing legislation, or advocating for specific interests.
• According to Kick Big Polluters Out, there were 2,456 fossil fuel lobbyists listed as potential participants in COP28, which is more than seven times the number of official indigenous representatives.
• In 2023, even though it was the hottest year ever recorded, lobbyists were given more access than the ten countries most impacted by climate change combined. 
• Additionally, the number of lobbyists outnumbered official indigenous representatives by more than seven times.

3.Garba dance of Gujarat

In News: Garba, a traditional Gujarati dance form, has recently been inscribed on UNESCO’s list of Intangible Cultural Heritage.

• • The popular dance form Garba is the 15th cultural artifact of India to be inscribed on the UNESCO list. 
  • 14 other elements of India are: 
    • Ramlila; yoga; Vedic Chanting; Kutiyattam, Kerala Sanskrit Theatre; Ramman, a Garhwal Himalayan religious festival and ritual theater; Mudiyettu, the ritual theater and dance drama of Kerala; Rajasthani Kalbelia folk songs and dances; Chhau dance from East India; Buddhist Ladakh Chanting; Sankirtana, Manipuri ritual song, drum and dance; traditional production of  brass and copper tools in Punjab; Nowruz; Kumbh Mela and Durga Puja in Kolkata.  

• Garba 

• • Garba is celebrated for nine days during Navratri festival. 
  • Garba is a unique expression of worship of the divine feminine energy or Shakti – the primordial goddess. 
  • The cultural, performance and visual expressions of this feminine energy are expressed through Garba dance.  
  • The resulting and visual celebration of Garba takes place in homes and temple courtyards, in the public spaces of villages and cities. 
  • There are different types of Garba like Mataji Garba, Krishna Garba and Lok Garba.

4.Pompe Disease

In News: About 50 individuals in India who currently suffer from Pompe disease.

• Pompe disease is a rare genetic disorder caused by mutations in the gene that produces an enzyme called acid alpha-glucosidase (GAA). 
• The body uses GAA  to break down glycogen, a storage sugar used for energy. 
• Glycogen is converted to glucose in lysosomes. 
• In Pompe disease, mutations in the GAA gene reduce or eliminate this important enzyme that leads to the accumulation of glycogen in cells, especially muscles. 
• There is no cure, but there is treatment to relieve the symptoms. 
• Enzyme replacement therapy can help improve muscle tone and reduce glycogen stores in patients with Pompe disease.

5.Miyawaki Plantation Method

In News: South Eastern Coalfields Ltd (SECL) uses ‘Miyawaki’ Plantation Method to Enhance Green Cover in the Gevra mine coal belt region of Chhattisgarh.

• It is a Japanese method of creating a dense urban forest in a small area and  a dense canopy of tall trees.  
• It was developed in the 1970s and named after Japanese botanist Akira Miyawaki.  
• It plants native trees, shrubs and ground cover plants on every square meter and creates fast-growing, dense and diverse plant species 20 times faster than usual.  
• The species chosen for the Miyawaki plantation can survive harsh weather  conditions and lack of water and grow quickly under existing conditions, creating a thick  green cover.

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