CURRENT-AFFAIRS

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• Wildlife officials in Assam reported that a team of herpetologists recently discovered the striped caecilian (Ichthyophis spp) for the first time in Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve during a rapid survey of the area.
• Here are some facts about Caecilians:
  • Caecilians are elongated, segmented, limbless amphibians classified in the order Gymnophiona or Apoda ("without legs").
  • They belong to the same group as frogs and salamanders.
  • Due to their lack of limbs, caecilians resemble earthworms or snakes in appearance.
  • The name "Caecilian" means "blind"; some species are eyeless, while others have small eyes hidden under their skin.
  • There are approximately 200 known species of caecilians.
• Habitat:
  • Most caecilians inhabit moist tropical and subtropical regions in South and Central America, South and Southeast Asia, and Sub-Saharan Africa.
  • They are primarily terrestrial and spend much of their lives underground.
  • Caecilians burrow in forests, grasslands, savannas, shrublands, and wetlands.
• Other Features:
  • Smaller caecilians measure less than three inches, while the largest species (such as Caecilia thompsoni from Colombia) can grow to almost five feet long.
  • They have a hard, thick skull with a pointed snout that helps them move effectively through dirt or mud.
  • Their shiny skin is ringed with folds called annuli and typically comes in shades of gray, brown, black, orange, or yellow.
  • Some species have tiny, fishlike scales within these rings.
  • Caecilians have short, sensory tentacles located between their eyes and nostrils that assist in exploring their environment and finding prey.

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• A team from the Indraprastha Institute of Information Technology, Delhi (IIIT-Delhi), has achieved joint second place in Trinity Challenge’s latest competition focused on combating the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
• Here's an overview of The Trinity Challenge (TTC):
  • TTC is a charitable initiative dedicated to fostering data-driven solutions that safeguard against global health crises.
  • It operates through a coalition of more than 40 prominent organizations spanning private, public, and social sectors.
  • The partnership aims to leverage data and advanced analytics to drive inclusive innovations and enhance global readiness for health emergencies.
  • Launched in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, TTC's inaugural challenge sought innovations in data-driven approaches to predict, respond to, and recover from pandemics.
  • The initiative awarded £5.7 million to teams pioneering tools and strategies for improved pandemic preparedness and response.
  • Building on this success, the second Trinity Challenge focused on addressing antimicrobial resistance (AMR), calling upon the world's top minds to develop data-driven solutions preserving the efficacy of antibiotics.
  • IIIT-Delhi's project, titled 'AMRSense: Empowering Communities with a Proactive One Health Ecosystem,' led by IIIT-Delhi in collaboration with CHRI-PATH, 1mg.com, and ICMR, stands out in the second challenge:
  • 'AMRSense' tackles the complexities of engaging, motivating, and training community health workers (CHWs) in AMR surveillance and management.
  • It addresses the absence of a comprehensive data ecosystem and analytics capabilities crucial for effective AMR management.

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• The Maharashtra government faced criticism from the Bombay High Court recently for its inadequate implementation of mechanisms, including the absence of a proper medical board, to enforce living wills.
• Here's an overview of Living Wills:
  • A Living Will, also known as an Advance Medical Directive, outlines a person's preferences for medical treatment in case they are unable to communicate or make decisions due to unconsciousness or coma.
• Legality of Living Will in India:
  • Until 2018, living wills were not legally recognized in India.
  • However, in the landmark case of Common Cause vs. Union of India (2018), the Supreme Court acknowledged the validity of advance medical directives, allowing terminally ill patients or those in a persistent vegetative state to refuse medical treatment, thus sanctioning passive euthanasia.
• Who Can Draft an Advance Medical Directive/Living Will?
  • An adult of sound mind who comprehends the purpose and implications of the document can create a living will.
  • The decision must be voluntary and clearly articulated.
• Elements of a Living Will:
  • It must be written and explicitly state under what conditions medical treatment may be withheld or if specific treatments delaying death should be administered.
  • Instructions should be unambiguous and clear.
  • The document should specify whether the patient can revoke the directive and designate a guardian or close relative authorized to make medical decisions if the patient becomes incapable.
• Recording of Living Will:
  • The living will must be signed by the patient in the presence of two witnesses, preferably independent.
  • It should be countersigned by a Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) designated by the district judge, who ensures copies are distributed to relevant authorities and family members of the executor.

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• Researchers have identified a new genus of Gomphonemoid diatom thriving in the pristine rivers of the Eastern Ghats, naming it Indiconema to honor its restricted distribution within India.
• Characteristics of Gomphonemoid Diatoms:
  • These organisms are photosynthetic, single-celled algae crucial to the aquatic food web.
  • They are microscopic and exceptionally sensitive to changes in water chemistry, making them valuable indicators of aquatic ecosystem health.
  • Gomphonemoid diatoms are widespread in both freshwater and marine environments, constituting a significant portion of phytoplankton.
• Unique Features of Indiconema:
  • Indiconema sets itself apart by possessing pore fields at both the head and foot poles, a distinction from related species.
  • Researchers have documented one species of Indiconema in the Eastern Ghats and another in the Western Ghats, mirroring patterns observed in other endemic-rich groups like reptiles across these mountain systems.
  • Morphologically, Indiconema shows similarities to Afrocymbella, a genus native to East Africa, suggesting a close evolutionary relationship.
• Importance:
  • Diatoms, with their silica-based cell walls and distinct frustule patterns, play a vital role in global oxygen production, contributing up to 50% annually.
  • The discovery of Indiconema underscores the ecological richness of India's water bodies and highlights the Eastern Ghats as a haven for unique and often endemic aquatic species.