Why is it in the News?

Recently, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully tested a liquid rocket engine made with the help of additive manufacturing technology — commonly known as 3D printing.

About PS4 Engine:

• ISRO has successfully conducted a long-duration test of its PS4 engine, re-designed for production using cutting-edge additive manufacturing (AM) techniques, also known in common parlance as 3D printing, and crafted in the Indian industry.
• The PS4 engine is the uppermost stage of the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV), comprising two Earth-storable liquid engines.
• The engine uses the earth-storable bipropellant combinations of Nitrogen Tetroxide as oxidiser and Mono Methyl Hydrazine as fuel in pressure-fed mode.
  • It was developed by ISRO's Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC).
    • LPSC redesigned the engine making it amenable to the Design for Additive Manufacturing (DfAM) concept thereby gaining considerable advantages.
• The manufacturing of the engine was done by the Indian industry partner, Wipro 3D, and the engine was hot tested at ISRO Propulsion Complex, Mahendragiri, Tamil Nadu.

Why did ISRO use 3D printing to build the PS4 engine?

• The technology helped ISRO bring down the number of parts in the engine from 14 to a single piece.
• The space agency was able to eliminate 19 weld joints and saved 97% of the raw material.
• It also reduced the overall production time by 60%.

What is 3D Printing?

• 3D printing is a process that uses computer-created design to make three-dimensional objects layer by layer.
• It is an additive process, in which layers of a material like plastic, composites or bio-materials are built up to construct objects that range in shape, size, rigidity, and colour.

How is 3D printing done?

• To carry out 3D printing, one needs a personal computer connected to a 3D printer.
  • All they need to do is design a 3D model of the required object on computer-aid design (CAD) software and press ‘print’.
  • The 3D printer does the rest of the job.
• 3D printers construct the desired object by using a layering method, which is the complete opposite of the subtractive manufacturing processes.
• The (3D) printers act generally the same as a traditional inkjet printer in the direct 3D printing process, where a nozzle moves back and forth while dispensing a wax or plastic-like polymer layer-by-layer, waiting for that layer to dry, then adding the next level.
• It essentially adds hundreds or thousands of 2D prints on top of one another to make a three-dimensional object.
• Notably, these machines are capable of printing anything from ordinary objects like a ball or a spoon to complex moving parts like hinges and wheels.
• We can print a whole bike, handlebars, saddle, frame, wheels, brakes, pedals and chain–ready assembled, without using any tools.
•  It’s just a question of leaving gaps in the right places.

Why is it in the News?

The Union Health Ministry has issued standardised guidelines for confirming heatstroke and heat-related deaths in the country.

What is a Heatstroke?

• Heatstroke, also known as sunstroke, is a medical emergency resulting from the body overheating due to exposure to high temperatures and humidity or prolonged physical exertion in hot conditions.
• Individuals experiencing heat exhaustion may exhibit symptoms such as fatigue, dizziness, headache, nausea, vomiting, low blood pressure, and increased heart rate.

Criteria for Heatstroke:

• Heatstroke is characterized by body temperatures of 40°C (104°F) or higher, accompanied by delirium, seizures, or coma, posing a potentially fatal condition.

Heatstroke Deaths in India:

• According to analysis of data from the National Crime Records Bureau, over 11,000 people in India died due to heatstroke between 2012 and 2021.

Government Initiatives:

• The Health Ministry released a National Action Plan on Heat-Related Illness in July 2021, outlining strategies to address health challenges posed by heat waves.
• The India Cooling Action Plan (ICAP) aims to mitigate heat impacts by ensuring sustainable cooling and thermal comfort for all by 2037-38.

First Aid Measures for Heatstroke:

• • Move the affected person to a cool, shaded area.
  • Offer water or a rehydrating drink if the person is conscious.
  • Fan the person to promote cooling.
  • Seek medical attention if symptoms worsen, persist, or if the person loses consciousness.
  • Avoid giving alcohol, caffeine, or carbonated beverages.
  • Apply a cool, wet cloth to the person's face or body.
  • Loosen clothing to improve ventilation.

Key Points from the Guidelines:

• Rationale for the Guidelines: Between 2013 and 2022, there was an 85% increase in estimated annual heat-related mortality compared to 1991–2000, driven by global warming and changing demographics.
• Without significant adaptation progress, annual heat-related deaths could surge by 370% by mid-century if global temperatures continue to rise towards 2°C above pre-industrial levels.
• In light of these projections, enhancing our understanding and surveillance of heat-related health issues is imperative.

Preparation and Authorship:

• The guidelines were developed by the National Programme on Climate Change and Human Health (NPCCHH) in collaboration with the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).

Objective:

• The guidelines aim to assist hospitals in identifying criteria for categorizing deaths as heat-related or due to heat stroke, promoting evidence-based medical decision-making.

Autopsy Considerations:

• Decisions regarding autopsy should be based on factors such as the circumstances of death, the age of the deceased, and available resources.
• Where feasible, collecting blood, urine, etc., for toxicological examination is recommended, contingent on the condition of the body.

Challenges in Diagnosing Heat-Related Deaths

• Diagnosing heat-related deaths post-mortem presents several challenges, including:
• Frequently unavailable pre-terminal or terminal body temperatures.
• Non-specific autopsy findings vary based on the duration of survival after heat exposure.
• Reliance on-scene investigation for diagnosing hyperthermia, a condition resulting from the body's inability to regulate heat.
• Consideration of circumstances of death and exclusion of alternative causes.
• It's noted that autopsies are not mandatory for heat-related deaths.

Why is it in the News?

The Inter-Services Organisations (Command, Control and Discipline) Act has been notified in a gazette and has been enforced with effect from May 10, the Defence Ministry said recently.

About Inter-Services Organisations (ISOs) (Command, Control, and Discipline) Act:

• During the Monsoon Session of 2023, both houses of Parliament passed a bill aimed at enhancing the operational efficiency and coordination of Inter-Services Organisations (ISOs).
• These organisations comprise personnel from the Army, Air Force, and Navy, such as joint training institutions like the National Defence Academy, National Defence College (NDC), Defence Services Staff College (DSSC), and the Andaman and Nicobar Command (ANC).

Key Provisions of the ACT:

• Inter-Services Organisation Establishment: Existing Inter-Services Organisations will be considered constituted under the Act.
  • The central government may establish an Inter-Services Organisation comprising personnel from at least two of the following services: the Army, Navy, and Air Force.
• Control of Inter-Services Organisations: The Act empowers the Commander-in-Chief or Officer-in-Command of an Inter-Services Organisation to exercise command and control over its personnel.
  • They are responsible for maintaining discipline and ensuring the proper discharge of duties by service personnel.
  • Supervision of an Inter-Services Organisation will be under the purview of the central government.
• Commander-in-Chief Eligibility: Officers eligible for appointment as Commander-in-Chief or Officer-in-Command include:
  • A General Officer of the regular Army (rank above Brigadier),
  • A Flag Officer of the Navy (rank of Admiral of the Fleet, Admiral, Vice-Admiral, or Rear-Admiral), or
  • An Air Officer of the Air Force (a rank above Group Captain).
• Commanding Officer Appointment: The Act establishes a Commanding Officer responsible for leading a unit, ship, or establishment within the Inter-Services Organisation.
  • The Commanding Officer carries out duties assigned by the Commander-in-Chief or Officer-in-Command.
  • They have the authority to initiate disciplinary or administrative actions for personnel within the Inter-Services Organisation.

Need for the Act:

• Theaterisation Drive: The enactment aligns with the ongoing push for theaterisation, a vital military reform aimed at optimizing resources for future combat scenarios.
• Existing Framework Challenges: Currently, armed forces personnel are governed by separate laws— the Air Force Act, 1950, the Army Act, 1950, and the Navy Act, 1957—resulting in disjointed disciplinary powers.
  • Under the current setup, only officers from the same service possess disciplinary authority over personnel governed by the respective Act, leading to command, control, and discipline challenges.
• Financial Implications: The present framework entails time-consuming processes and financial expenditures for personnel transfers.
  • The proposed legislation seeks to remedy these challenges by enhancing discipline enforcement, expediting case resolutions, and potentially saving public funds.

Why is it in the News?

The night sky was lit up by northern lights, or aurora borealis, at Hanle village in Ladakh early Saturday morning.

What are Auroras?

• Auroras are essentially natural lights that appear as bright, swirling curtains in the night sky and can be seen in a range of colours, including blue, red, yellow, green, and orange.
• These lights primarily appear near the poles of both the northern and southern hemispheres all year round but sometimes they expand to lower latitudes.
  • In the north, the display is called the Aurora Borealis
  • In the south, it is known as the Aurora Australis

Why do auroras occur?

• It is due to activity on the surface of the Sun.
• The star continuously releases a stream of charged particles, mainly electrons and protons, and magnetic fields called the solar wind.
• As the solar wind approaches the Earth, it is deflected by the planet’s magnetic field, which acts like a protective shield.
• However, some of the charged particles are trapped in the magnetic field and they travel down the magnetic field lines at the north and south poles into the upper atmosphere of the Earth.
• These particles then interact with different gases present there, resulting in tiny flashes that light up the night sky.
  • When solar wind particles collide with oxygen, a green colour light is produced.
  • Interaction with nitrogen produces shades of blue and purple.
• Auroras expand to midlatitudes when the solar wind is extremely strong.
• This happens when the activity on the Sun’s surface goes up, leading to solar flares and coronal mass ejections (CMEs), which are essentially extra bursts of energy in the solar wind.
• In such cases, the solar wind is so intense that it can result in a geomagnetic storm, also known as a magnetic storm, a temporary disturbance of the Earth’s magnetic field.
  • It is during a magnetic storm that auroras can be seen in the mid-latitudes.

Why is it in the News?

Homegrown generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) platform Hanooman went live in 98 global languages, including 12 Indian languages recently.

What is the ‘Hanooman’ Platform?

• Hanooman is India's Gen AI platform, launched in 98 languages including 12 Indian languages such as Hindi, Marathi, Gujarati, Bengali, Kannada, Odia, Punjabi, Assamese, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, and Sindhi.
• Abu Dhabi-based AI investment firm 3AI Holding Limited and SML India have built this indigenous platform.
• Named after the revered Hindu deity Hanuman, known for his unparalleled strength, wisdom, and devotion, Hanooman embodies the core principles of intelligence, agility, and resilience.
• The development of Hanooman was driven by a vision to create an AI platform that combines human-like intelligence with advanced machine-learning capabilities to tackle complex problems and drive innovation across diverse domains.

Key Features and Capabilities:

• Natural Language Understanding (NLU): Hanooman boasts advanced NLU capabilities that enable it to understand and interpret human language with remarkable accuracy.
  • Whether it's processing text, speech, or multimedia content, Hanooman can analyze and extract meaningful insights to facilitate intelligent decision-making.
• Contextual Awareness: Hanooman is equipped with contextual awareness technology that allows it to understand the context of a given situation and adapt its responses accordingly.
  • This enables Hanooman to provide personalized recommendations, anticipate user needs, and deliver tailored experiences across various applications and interfaces.
• Deep Learning and Neural Networks: Leveraging state-of-the-art deep learning algorithms and neural networks, Hanooman is capable of learning from vast amounts of data and continuously improving its performance over time.
  • This enables Hanooman to tackle complex problems, such as image recognition, natural language processing, and predictive analytics, with unparalleled accuracy and efficiency.
• Multi-Modal Learning: Hanooman supports multi-modal learning, allowing it to process and integrate information from multiple sources, including text, images, and audio.
  • This enables Hanooman to understand and analyze complex data sets more comprehensively, leading to more informed decision-making and actionable insights.

Applications and Uses:

• Healthcare: Hanooman can be used to analyze medical imaging data, diagnose diseases, and develop personalized treatment plans based on individual patient profiles.
• Finance: It can analyze market trends, predict financial risks, and optimize investment strategies to maximize returns and minimize losses.
• Manufacturing: It can optimize production processes, detect anomalies in manufacturing equipment, and improve quality control measures to enhance operational efficiency and reduce downtime.
• Retail: It can analyze customer data, personalize marketing campaigns, and optimize inventory management to drive sales and increase customer satisfaction.