[DAY 23] 60 DAY RAPID REVISION (RaRe) SERIES for UPSC Prelims 2024 – SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, CURRENT AFFAIRS & CSAT TEST SERIES!

Solution (d)

Researchers have used AlphaFold — the revolutionary artificial intelligence (AI) network — to predict the structures of more than 200 million proteins from some 1 million species, covering almost every known protein on the planet.

The data dump is freely available on a database set up by DeepMind, the London-based AI company, owned by Google, that developed AlphaFold, and the European Molecular Biology Laboratory’s European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL–EBI), an intergovernmental organization near Cambridge, UK.

Solution (b)

A new copper coating that kills bacteria quicker and in greater amounts than current formulations could soon be available for hospitals and other high-traffic facilities. A team of UBC researchers have designed a Nano-copper coating that includes bacteria-killing Nano scale features and zinc. The Nano scale features are tiny bumps that can kill bacteria by rupturing their cell wall. Zinc, which is also antibacterial, selectively oxidizes in the presence of copper and helps kill bacteria more quickly compared to pure copper alone.

Solution (c)

Solution (d)

Solution (a)

Solution (c)

Solution (b)

Solution (c)

Solution (c)

Solution (a)

Solution (d)

• AI is the ability of a computer, or a robot controlled by a computer to do tasks that are usually done by humans because they require human intelligence and discernment.
• Although there is no AI that can perform the wide variety of tasks an ordinary human can do, some AI can match humans in specific tasks.
• The ideal characteristic of artificial intelligence is its ability to rationalize and take actions that have the best chance of achieving a specific goal.

Applications of AI in Different Sectors

• Healthcare: It aims to enhance diagnosis accuracy, enable personalized treatment, improve patient outcomes, streamline healthcare operations, and accelerate medical research and innovation.
  • Recently, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) issued a guiding document- “The Ethical Guidelines for Application of AI in Biomedical Research and Health care”, which outlines 10 key patient-centric ethical principles for AI application in the health sector.
• Trade and commerce: AI in the business sector helps optimize operations, enhance decision-making, automate repetitive tasks, improve customer service, enable personalized marketing, analyze big data for insights, detect fraud and cybersecurity threats, streamline supply chain management, and drive innovation and competitiveness.
• Education: AI could open new possibilities for innovative and personalized approaches catering to different learning abilities.
  • IIT Kharagpur has collaborated with Amazon Web Services to develop the National AI Resource Platform (NAIRP), the future possibilities of which include monitoring eye movement, motion and other parameters for better teaching and learning.
  • As demonstrated by ChatGPT, Bard and other large language models, generative AI can help educators and engage students in new ways.
• Judiciary: It is used to improve legal research and analysis, automate documentation and case management, enhance court processes and scheduling, facilitate online dispute resolution, assist in legal decision-making through predictive analytics, and increase access to justice by providing virtual legal assistance and resources.
  • SUVAS (Supreme Court Vidhik Anuvaad Software): It is an AI system that can assist in the translation of judgments into regional languages.
  • This is another landmark effort to increase access to justice.
  • UPACE (Supreme Court Portal for Assistance in Court Efficiency): It was recently launched by the Supreme Court of India.
• Cybersecurity/Security: It is used in security and cybersecurity to detect and prevent cyber threats, identify anomalous activities, analyze large volumes of data for patterns and vulnerabilities, enhance network and endpoint security, automate threat response and incident management, strengthen authentication and access control, and provide real-time threat intelligence and predictive analytics for proactive defense against cyber-attacks.

Hence (d) is the correct answer.

Solution (b)

• Nanomicelles are ultramicroscopic (size 10 – 100 nm) structures used in the treatment of disease.
• They have a hydrophilic outer shell and a hydrophobic exterior, making them capable of delivering poorly water-soluble drugs and protecting drug molecules.
• Intensive research has shown that nano micelles could be used in a variety of medico pharmacological instances to catalyze drug effects or improve treatment.
• Studies postulate that nanomicelles are helpful in facilitating therapeutic solutions that involve protein and peptide delivery.

Solution (c)

Solution (a)

• Every element exhibits specific properties, usually determined by the number of electrons in its atoms and the distribution of these electrons around the nucleus. Also, every piece of a pure element exhibits exactly the same properties, regardless of its size. This is one of the fundamental facts of chemistry.
• The deviant behaviour of small nanoparticles arises because of the emergence of quantum effects. The motion and behaviour of very small particles, like electrons, are radically different, and strange, when compared with any familiar object in normal human experience. Such strange behaviour at the sub-atomic level is described by the hugely successful Quantum Theory, developed by physicists 100 years ago. (Hence statement 1 is correct)
• But nanoparticles are much larger compared with atoms. Depending on the size of the atom, a nanoparticle can pack in thousands to millions of atoms. (Hence statement 2 is incorrect)
• Nano-sized particles that behaved slightly differently than larger particles of the same element. These nanoparticles with special properties were called quantum dots

Solution (c)

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs)

• Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are cylindrical molecules that consist of rolled-up sheets of single-layer carbon atoms (graphene).
• They can be single-walled (SWCNT) with a diameter measured to less than 1 nanometer (nm).
• They are very lightweight, almost 1/6th of the steel with a mechanical tensile strength of almost 400 times that of steel.

Applications of Carbon nanotubes (CNTs)

• Carbon Nanotubes can be used as carriers of drugs and antigens in the human body.
• The main applications of CNTs in pharmacy and medicine include drug, biomolecule, gene delivery to cells or organs, tissue regeneration, and biosensor diagnostics and analysis.
• Because carbon nanotubes have such a high surface area and they go into the cell by the millions, you can have a very high efficiency of delivery to a specific cell.
• Carbon Nanotubes can be made into artificial blood capillaries for an injured part of human body as they are promising drug delivery platforms that can be functionalized with a variety of biomolecules, such as antibodies, proteins, or DNA.
  • CNTs can be used as drug carriers to treat tumors.
• It is expected that this enabling technology would facilitate the making of nanodevices using these blood-compatible nanomaterials as building blocks for biomedical applications such as artificial implants, including structural tissue replacements, that is, artificial blood vessels, or functional devices such as drug delivery matrixes.
• Carbon nanotubes are biodegradable.
  • Bacteria, fungi and other multiple types of microbes have the ability to degrade carbon nanotubes (CNTs), graphene (GRA), and their derivatives and in the future more species with this ability will be found

Hence all the statements are correct.

Solution (c)

Humanoid robot with its body shape built to resemble the human body. Vyommitra, a half-humanoid is being developed by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) for an unmanned space mission later in 2020. Hence, statement 1 is true.

Sophia is a social humanoid robot developed by Hong Kong-based company Hanson Robotics. Sophia was activated on February 14, 2016, and made her first public appearance at South by Southwest Festival (SXSW) in mid-March 2016 in Austin, Texas, United States. Hence, statement 2 is false.

Solution (a)

• Quantum entanglement allows particles to be correlated in such a way that the state of one particle can influence the state of another, regardless of the distance between them. (Hence statement 1 is incorrect)
• Heisenberg’s Uncertainty Principle is a fundamental concept in quantum mechanics, stating that the more precisely you know the position of a particle, the less precisely you can know its momentum (and vice versa). This is not a limitation due to measurement devices but is inherent in the nature of quantum systems.
• Quantum superposition is a concept where a particle can exist in multiple states simultaneously until a measurement is made, at which point it ‘collapses’ into one of the possible states. This is a fundamental aspect of quantum mechanics.
• Quantum tunneling is a real phenomenon in quantum mechanics where particles can pass through energy barriers that classical physics would consider impenetrable. This occurs due to the probabilistic nature of quantum states, allowing particles to ‘tunnel’ through barriers they wouldn’t be able to overcome classically.

Solution (a)

Augmented Reality (AR) overlays digital content onto real-life environments and objects. AR works by superimposing digital information onto real-world objects to create a 3D experience that allows users to interact with both the physical and digital worlds. Hence, statement 1 is true.

AR content can also be shown on projectors. Hence, statement 2 is false.

Solution (a)

Graphene is a one-atom-thick sheet of carbon atoms arranged in a honeycomb-like pattern. Graphene is considered to be the world’s thinnest, strongest. Hence, statement 1 is true.

It is the most conductive material – of both electricity and heat. Hence, statement 2 is false.

It is 200 times stronger than steel. Hence, statement 3 is true.

Solution (b)

Uses of Nanotechnology in Health Care:-

Nanotech detectors for heart attack.

Nanochips to check plaque in arteries. Hence, statement 1 is true.

Nanocarriers for eye surgery, chemotherapy etc. Hence, statement 2 is true.

Solution (b)

The provisions of the MTP Amendment Act of 2021:

• In the case of failure of contraceptive method or device, a pregnancy may be terminated up to 20 weeks by a married woman. Hence statement 1 is correct.
• It allows unmarried women to also terminate a pregnancy for this reason.
• Opinion of one Registered Medical Practitioner (RMP) for termination of pregnancy up to 20 weeks of gestation.
• Opinion of two RMPs for termination of pregnancy of 20-24 weeks of gestation.
• The opinion of the State-level medical board is essential for a pregnancy to be terminated after 24 weeks in case of substantial foetal abnormalities. Hence statement 2 is incorrect.
• It increases the upper gestation limit from 20 to 24 weeks for special categories of women, including survivors of rape, victims of incest, and other vulnerable women (differently abled women, minors, among others). Hence statement 3 is correct.
• The “name and other particulars of a woman whose pregnancy has been terminated shall not be revealed”, except to a person authorised in any law that is currently in force.

Solution (b)

• Global Maritime India Summit is organized by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways. Hence statement 1 is incorrect.
• It aims to boost the Indian maritime economy by promoting global and regional partnerships and facilitating investments.
• The first Maritime India Summit was held in 2016 in Mumbai while the Second Maritime Summit was held virtually in 2021. The Third Maritime India Summit was held in 2023.
• Amrit Kaal Vision 2047 is a 25-year blueprint for the Indian maritime blue economy. Hence statement 2 is correct.
• It outlines strategic initiatives aimed at enhancing port facilities, promoting sustainable practices, and facilitating international collaboration.

Solution (b)

• Jageshwar Temples were built between the 7th and 14th centuries in the Nagara style of architecture by the Katyuri dynasty. Hence statement 1 is incorrect.
• It is a Hindu pilgrimage town in the Almora district of Uttarakhand. These temples are dedicated to various deities with many honouring Lord Shiva.
• The temples are characterized by intricately carved stone structures and tall shikhara.
• The engravings and sculptures on the temple walls depict various deities and mythological narratives, offering a glimpse into the rich cultural heritage of the region.
• Parvati Kund located in Uttarakhand is believed to be the location where Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati engaged in meditation. Hence statement 2 is correct.

Solution (c)

Lymphatic filariasis commonly known as elephantiasis is a neglected tropical disease. It occurs when filarial parasites are transmitted to humans through mosquitoes. It involves asymptomatic, acute, and chronic conditions. In chronic conditions, it leads to lymphoedema (tissue swelling) or elephantiasis (skin/tissue thickening) of limbs and hydrocele (scrotal swelling). It is caused by infection with parasites classified as nematodes (roundworms) of the family Filariodidea. There are 3 types of these thread-like filarial worms:

• Wuchereria bancrofti, which is responsible for 90% of the cases.
• Brugia malayi, which causes most of the remainder of the cases.
• Brugia timori, which also causes the disease.

Hence option c is correct.

Solution (c)

The following reports are released during the sixth assembly of the International Solar Alliance:

• World Solar Technology Report 2023: It focuses on solar photovoltaics (solar PV) and specifically highlights advancements in crystalline silicon technology.
• World Solar Investment Report 2023: It shows that investment in solar power went up a lot in 2022, to more than $300 billion.
• World Solar Market Report 2023: It looks at how the solar power market has changed over time. It started in Europe but now the Asia-Pacific region is leading.

Hence option c is correct.

Solution (b)

• Tilapia parvovirus (TiPV) is a small, nonenveloped, single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) virus. Hence statement 1 is incorrect.
• The virus affects Tilapia, a freshwater fish species. The virus was first reported in China in 2019 and Thailand in 2021. India is the third country to report the occurrence of TiPV. It has a mortality rate ranging from 30 to 50% in the farm and 100% mortality in the laboratory.
• Tilapia are mainly freshwater fish that inhabit shallow streams, ponds, rivers, and lakes. Hence statement 2 is correct.
• Mozambique tilapia was introduced to Indian freshwater bodies in the 1950s and it is called Jilabi in Tamil. It is capable of surviving in low oxygen levels in the water. The fish has turned invasive across the country.
• Nile tilapia was introduced in the 1970s. It is a little bigger and is cultured on a large scale.
• Among the tilapia species, the Indian government had authorized the import of only Oreochromis niloticus in 1970 and red hybrids because of their fast growth and market demand.

Solution (d)

• The Air Quality Index (AQI) is a number used by government agencies to measure air pollution levels and communicate it to the population.
• There are six AQI categories, namely Good, Satisfactory, moderately polluted, Poor, Very Poor, and Severe.
• As the AQI increases, it means that a large percentage of the population will experience severe adverse health effects.
• AQI has been developed for eight pollutants viz. PM2.5, PM10, Ammonia, Lead, Nitrogen oxides, Sulphur dioxide, Ozone, and Carbon monoxide. Hence option d is correct.

Solution (c)

Hence option c is correct.

Solution (b)

• Shri Ambaji Mata Temple is considered one of the 12 major Shakti Peethas in Hinduism located in Gujarat. Hence statement 1 is incorrect.
• It is a famous pilgrimage place of Gujarat in India and is situated on the border of the States of Gujarat and Rajasthan.
• There are 12 main Shakti Peetha Tirth, significant places of pilgrimage for the worship of Shakti, namely, Ma Bhagwati Mahakali Maha Shakti at Ujjain, Ma Kamakshi at Kanchipuram, Mata Bramaramba at Srisailam, Shri Kumarika at Kanyakumari,Mataji Ambaji at Gujarat, Mata Mahalaxmidevi at Kolhapur, Devi Lalita at Prayag, Vindhya Vasini at Vindhya, Vishalakshi at Varanasi, Mangalavati at Gaya and Sundari at Bangal and Guhyeshwari Temple in Nepal.
• It was constructed by the Suriyavan Emperor Arun Sen in the 4th Century AD. Hence statement 2 is correct.
• It is best known for its festivals like Navratri and Diwali, celebrated with joyous ceremonies and poojas.
• The main temple complex houses the revered Shree Visa Yantra, which many believe symbolizes divine power and grace.

Solution (b)

Oman shares a land border with Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen while sharing maritime borders with Iran and Pakistan. The capital and largest city is Muscat. Hence option b is correct.

Image Source: World Atlas

Solution (c)

1² + 2² + 3² + …….. + 10² + 11² + 12² = 650

According to the question, we have to find out:

5 + 20 + 45 + …… + 500 + 605 + 720

5(1 + 4 + 9 + …… + 100 + 121 = 144)

5 (1² + 2² + 3² +……+ 10² + 11² + 12²)

5*650

3250

Solution (d)

7⁶ⁿ−6⁶ⁿ

= 7⁶−6⁶

= (7³)²−(6³)²

= (7³−6³)(7³+6³)

= (343−216)×(343+216)

= 127×559

= 127×13×43

Clearly, it is divisible by 127, 13 as well as 559

Solution (c)

5 students can be seated out of 10 students in ¹⁰C₅ ways

Remaining 5 will be seated in,

= ⁵C₅ ways

Students of each row can be arranged as,

= 5! × 5! ways

Two sets of paper can be arranged themselves in,

= 2! ways

Thus, Total arrangement,

= ¹⁰C₅ × 5! × 5! × 2

= 7257600

Solution (a)

Let total teams playing be x

Total matches played=153

Total matches played with 2 Teams with each other is 1.

Therefore total matches = x(x−1) /2=153

x(x−1)=306

x ^2 −x−306=0

x=18

Solution (c)

In this type of problem we find the difference of divisors and their remainders.

Here difference,

32 – 10 = 22

40 – 18 = 22

72 – 50 = 22

Here, in each case difference is same i.e. 22

Then required number of pebbles is given by

[(LCM of 32, 40, 72) -22]

32 = 2 × 2 × 2 × 2 × 2

40 = 2 × 2 × 2 × 5

72 = 2 × 2 × 2 × 3 × 3

Hence,

LCM = 2 × 2 × 2 × 2 × 2 × 3 × 3 × 5 = 1440

Thus,

Required number of pebbles,

= 1440 – 22

= 1418