Scientists tag Loggerhead sea turtle off the US west coast

Author(s): DTE Staff @ 

Adult turtles have been tagged earlier. Small transmitters have been recently made so that they can be attached to juveniles also

Tagging a sea turtle reveals its migratory pattern (Photo: US Fish and Wildlife Service Northeast Region/Flickr)

For the first time, US scientists successfully attached a satellite transmitter to a juvenile Loggerhead sea turtle last month.

This was done by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries scientists. Formally known as the National Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA Fisheries is responsible for protecting and preserving marine resources.

Two NOAA scientists—Tomo Eguchi and Jeff Seminoff—lowered the juvenile turtle in the blue sea, about 80 km from San Diego, California.

The turtle was the first-of-its-kind ever released off the US west coast with a satellite transmitter attached on its body.

How will the transmitter work?

After being released in the water, the turtle began its long journey. It has been beaming back its location ever since, scientists say.

The location data will help scientists answer important questions about this endangered species.

“We know that there are juvenile Loggerheads in this part of the Pacific, but they’re small and very hard to spot,” Eguchi was quoted by the media as saying.

Though scientists have been tagging adult turtles, small transmitters have been recently made so that they can be attached to juveniles also.

At present, new tagging methods are revealing the early years of a sea turtle’s life whereas their migration pattern was mostly unknown previously.

Juvenile Loggerheads sometimes use the same habitat as swordfish, especially when the sea water becomes warm. This was realised when Loggerheads were occasionally caught in gillnets used by fishermen looking for swordfish.

Following the turtle

To protect turtles, NOAA Fisheries has created the Pacific Loggerhead Conservation Area off the coast of Southern California.

After being taken out of the ocean, the juvenile turtle was brought to the Aquarium of the Pacific, a public aquarium in California, for medical attention. However, veterinarians soon decided that the turtle was healthy and could be released in the water again.

According to the scientists, the tag should stay on the turtle for four to five months. As long as the tag is attached, people can follow its travels on a map, which is updated several times a day.

The turtle has travelled more than 200 km so far, though it’s still unclear whether it is actively swimming or just drifting about. Scientists hope to find an answer as more data come in.

Emissions from peatlands under dry conditions may be less than previously thought

Author(s): Shreeshan Venkatesh @ 

Trees and shrubs and presence of chemicals can slow down the drying process of such lands

In Indonesia, large swathes of swamplands have been burnt to make way for palm plantations (Photo: US Department of Agriculture)

A new study shows that carbon emission from peatlands can be slowed down, reducing the release of carbon dioxide (CO2) into the atmosphere.

Drying of peatlands, sometimes due to burning and droughts, speeds up global warming. This happens when carbon stored in peatlands gets oxidised and turns into CO2, a super greenhouse gas.

Environmentalists fear that intensification of droughts can cause the stored carbon in peatlands to undergo oxidation and subsequently release CO2 and possibly methane into the atmosphere.

The study published in the journal, Nature, was carried out by US-based Duke University scientists. Peatlands are marshy lands made up of dead and decaying plant matter. They store up large amounts of carbon.

Ways to reduce emission

Researchers, led by Curtis J Richardson and Hongjun Wang, describe a process by which carbon emissions from peatlands can be reduced during droughts.

This can be done in two ways. The first is to plant trees and shrubs that slow down the drying process. The second method is to introduce naturally-occurring plant-based decay-retarding compounds into peatlands.

Global carbon reserves

Globally, an estimated 400 million hectares of land are classified as peatlands which amounts to just three per cent of the Earth’s total land surface.

Peatlands have been formed over thousands of years and hold about 30 per cent of soil carbon. They have been classified under four categories—tropical, sub-tropical, temperate and boreal according to their geographical location.

Peatlands are mainly found in the northern hemisphere in North America (43.54 per cent), Europe (24.02 per cent) and Asia (28.08 per cent).

Asia has the largest peat reserve. The global peat reserve amounts to about 250 gigatonnes in dry weight.

Natural adaptive technique

Till recently, scientists feared that carbon emissions from peatlands can trigger global warming. But the study shows that peatland soils have a natural adaptive technique which can lessen the drying up process and curb oxidation.

Carbon has been locked up in peatland soil for over thousands of years. Too much emission of carbon can have a tremendous impact on global temperature worldwide with peatlands turning into carbon sources rather than carbon sinks.

Scientists allay emission fears

The study, however, mitigates this apprehension to a certain extent by describing a mechanism through which peatlands can slow down decay. This was carried out during experimentation.

While studying the 5,000-year old pocosin bog peatlands of North Carolina, researchers found that the soil contained complex plant-derived compounds that helped the land to gradually adapt to droughts.

According to the study, complex plant compounds in the soil regulate the accumulation of phenolics (a type of aromatic carbon compound) and protect the stored carbon by mitigating oxidation during short-term droughts.

Scientists also found out that the vegetation cover on peatlands is responsible for the rate of oxidation. Vegetation with low phenolic content such as sphagnum moss, ferns and sedges are not that good in mitigating carbon emissions than certain types of shrubs and trees, which are better in retarding soil decomposition.

“Our research clearly shows that the amount of phenolics is driven directly by the type of vegetation on peatlands. Many species are low in phenolic compounds (sphagnum moss, grasses, ferns) while many ericaceous shrubs and tree species found at our sites in North Carolina (wax myrtle, magnolia fetterbush and even sawgrass) in the Everglades have high phenolics which slow down decomposition,” Richardson, a professor of resource ecology at Duke University, said.

“If you denude the sites of vegetation, especially native shrubs and trees and leave it drained, then our site is invaded by ferns and grasses which have low phenolics and produce new peat that is not very resistant to decay,” the author told Down To Earth.

Human activity is also to be blamed for drying out of peatlands. In Indonesia large swathes of swamplands have been burnt to make way for palm plantations.

This poses a threat as it can liberate stored carbon into the atmosphere by means of oxidation. According to Richardson, “It is quite possible that tropical peatlands with high phenolics can resist further losses after fire, but a deep peat fire results in massive losses of carbon.

India’s food safety authority halts sale of Monster Energy drinks

Author(s): Ananya Tewari @ 

The drinks contain ingredients which are either not permitted under food safety regulations or for which the proof of permission is missing

Photo: Mike Mozart/Flickr

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) recently withdrew the No Objection Certificate (NOC) of Monster Energy and Monster Energy Zero products, putting an immediate stop to their manufacturing, sale, distribution and import. These drinks are produced and marketed by Monster Energy India Private Limited which is part of US-based Monster Beverage Corporation.

The authority’s scientific panel observed an irrational combination of ginseng and caffeine in Monster Energy, which it said would have an “opposing effect” on the human body. The energy drink projects the rationale for combination of ginseng primarily as flavouring agent, but it is not listed in the Food Safety and Standards Regulations-approved list. The panel also found the title of the product misleading.

One can (475 ml) of Monster Energy Zero was found to contain vitamins B2, B3, B6 and B12 in excess of the recommended daily intake.

Apart from ginseng and caffeine, the product also contains Taurine and L Carnitine, two amino acids, in violation of section 22 of the Food Safety and Standards (FSS) Act, 2006. The use of L Carnitine and ginseng has to be specifically approved by FSSAI for use in such energy drinks. Documents supporting the approval of these ingredients were also missing.

FSSAI was to issue the letter withdrawing the NOC in September 2014. But the company managed to secure interim relief from the Bombay High Court in the same month. FSSAI challenged the interim relief in Supreme Court and the apex court finally issued the letter of withdrawal of NOC on May 8, 2015. This is not the first time that concerns have been raised about the ingredients in an energy drink. NOCs for energy drinks such as Cloud 9 and Tzinga Energy were also withdrawn on similar grounds in November 2014 and April 2015 respectively.

Energy drinks have also been at the centre of a controversy due to their high caffeine content, a strong psycho-stimulant which is marketed as an instant source of energy.

High caffeine content can have life-threatening impact on blood pressure, heart and brain functions. The energy rush after consuming such drinks come from the sugars present in it, while caffeine only gives the impression of feeling energetic.
 
A study was conducted by Delhi-based non-profit Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) in 2011 on the safety of energy drinks such as Red Bull, Coca-Cola’s Burn, Cloud 9, Hector Beverages’ Tzinga, Monster Energy Ltd's Monster Ripper and three of JMJ group’s XXX energy drink brands—Rejuve, Nicofix and Minus.

Results revealed that 44 per cent of the samples breached the caffeine limit of 145 ppm set for carbonated beverages. Thirty-eight per cent of the samples breached the limit mentioned on the label and 25 per cent did not mention the caffeine content on the label.

As of now, India has not declared any standards limiting the caffeine content in energy drinks to be followed by the industry. As per a 2009 amendment in Rule 37-A (2) of the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1954, “energy” drinks were to follow the caffeine cap of 145 ppm, as is applicable to carbonated beverages. A stay order was placed on the amendment in 2010 which led the industry to be largely unregulated.

Later, FSSAI notified a draft regulation on April 18, 2013, with standards for total caffeine in caffeinated beverages to be not less than 145 mg/l and not more than 320 mg/l. As per the draft, energy drinks were to be categorised as caffeinated beverages.

It proposed that product labels must display a message recommending that the daily intake must not exceed two cans per day. It also required labelling to have a prominent display of caution, warning against consumption by children, pregnant and lactating women. It recommended packaging of energy drinks in 250 ml containers with no health and enhanced function claims. 

Till date, there has been no action nor has there been any update on the status of these draft regulations.
Detractors claim that consuming caffeine through tea and coffee is similar to that consumed through energy drinks.

But it is important to note that tea and coffee are consumed in smaller quantities and more slowly.

A pack of energy drink cans, on the other hand, has more caffeine and is consumed in higher quantity. When these are taken in one go, it is likely to cause sudden chemical burden on the body. It is, therefore, recommended that energy drinks follow a caffeine limit of 145 ppm.

Apart from their high caffeine content, concerns have also been raised about the consumption of these drinks with alcohol to counter drowsiness. However, scientific evidence shows that such consumption can impair cognitive function, increase probability of alcohol dependence and can affect other organs in the body.

India has no set standards for energy drinks till date. Food safety researchers have been waiting for concrete regulations to be set and implemented.

CURRENT AFFAIRS MAY/13/2015

CURRENT AFFAIRS MAY/13/2015

• 
  
• 1. Dr. Sivanadane (Siva) Mandjiny an Indian-American professor wins award for excellence in teaching
  • Chemistry professor Sivanadane Mandjiny was named UNC Pembroke's recipient of the UNC Board of Governors 2015 Award for Excellence in Teaching
  • Annually, the Board of Governors names one professor at each of the 17 UNC campuses to receive the award.
  • Announcing the award, UNC Pembroke Chancellor Kyle R. Carter praised Mandjiny's dedication to teaching and mentoring students
  About Dr. Sivanadane (Siva) Mandjiny :-
  • Dr. Sivanadane (Siva) Mandjiny is native of Tamil Nadu, India, he earned a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering from the University of Madras and a master's degree in biochemical engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology.
  • He did a second master's degree in chemical engineering from the University of Toronto and a PhD from the Universite de Technologie de Compiegne in France.
  • Mandjiny studied in three languages, Tamil, English and French, and he taught himself Hindi Hard work, determination and a strong wife fueled his educational achievements.
• 2. 43 killed 13 other wounded as gunmen open fire on bus in Karachi
  • At least 43 people have been killed when gunmen  on motorcycles attacked on a bus in Pakistan's southern city of Karachi the people who have died are belived to be from minority Shia Ismaili community.
  • Six armed men on motorcycles opened fire on a bus at Safoora Chorangi, Gulistan-e-Johar area of Karachi, killing at least 43 passengers
  • The gunmen stopped the overloaded bus, entered inside it and open fire indiscriminately, the police said. 
  • The death toll could further rise as about 20 others are seriously injured.The injured and dead were shifted to various hospitals by rescue workers. 
  • Taliban have claimed responsibility of the attack. 
  • Pakistan’s Shia minority has been repeatedly targeted by extremists over the past few years. Scores have died in these attacks
• 3. Over 60 killed in yesterday's earthquake in Nepal; 44 in India
  • People's life was returning to normalcy in cities and quake-affected people in several villages trying to build temporary shelter,another strong tremor hit parts of Nepal and several parts of India which killed more than 60 people and about 1100 injured
  • Prime Minister Sushil Koirala appealed his people to come together to face this big crisis.
  • The April quakes have so far killed over 8,000 people and left more than 17,000 injured.
• 4.  Google to set up Rs 1000 cr campus in Hyderabad
  • Google Inc. will build its biggest campus outside the US in Hyderabad at an investment of Rs.1,000 crore.
  • The 2 million square feet facility, the Internet giant’s first company-owned campus in Asia, will house 13,000 employees when it is ready in 2019.
  • Telangana information minister K.T. Rama Rao, who is on an official visit to the US, signed the agreement with Google Inc. at its headquarters at Mountain View, California
  • State government will allocate the company 7.2 acres in Hyderabad’s Gachibowli locality.
  • The offices of Microsoft, Cap Gemini SA, CA Inc., Infosys Ltd, Wipro Ltd and Deloitte are also based in Gachibowli locality.
• 5. South Central Railway to operationalise 17 automatic ticket vending machines in AP
  • Southern Central Railway will operationalise 17 automatic ticket vending machines in Vijayawada, Nellore, Tenali and Rajahmundry railway stations from today
  • passengers have to purchase a smart card for 50 rupees initially which will be valid for one year from the date of purchase.
  • The smart card is valid for the purchase of unreserved tickets and platform tickets
  • The passengers can re-charge the required amount up to five thousand rupees and use to purchase tickets through the ticket vending machines.
• 6. Third Secular blogger hancked to death in Bangladesh
  • A masked gang wielding machetes hacked a secular blogger to death on Tuesday in north-eastern Bangladesh  it was third such deadly attack since the start of the year
  • They chased him down the street and first attacked his head with their machetes and then attacked him all over his body after the attackers fled into the crowds, Das was rushed to hospital but declared dead on arrival
  • Ananta Bijoy Das was murdered in broad daylight he was a blogger who regularly blogged for Mukto-Mona.
  • The website used to be moderated by Roy, a Bangladeshi-born US citizen who was hacked to death in the capital Dhaka in February.
  • Officially Bangladesh is an secular country but more than 90 percent of its 160 million population are Muslims.
  • Since 2013, at least five bloggers have been attacked by Islamists after another hardline group, Hefazat-e-Islam
• 7. Hyderabad to host global pharma summit 2015 from July 23
  • Hyderabad will host four-day global pharma expo and summit from July 23.
  • The theme for global pharma expo and summit 2015 will be ‘Innovation and Advances'
  • The summit will deliberate on a range of issues, from pharmaceutical technology to education, indigenous drugs and drug regulatory affairs, besides serving as a platform for joint ventures and project collaboration
• 8. Retail inflation falls to 4.87% in April;rate cut hope brightens, factory output slows to 2.1% in March
  • Consumer Price Index, CPI, fell to 4.87 percent in the month of April 2015 as against 8.48 percent in April last year prices of food items, vegetables and fruits turned cheaper.
  • Data released by Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation mentioned that Inflation in food items like pulses and products was recorded at 12.52 percent highest in the category. Milk and its products registered a price hike of 8.21 percent , spices at 8.7 percent. Whereas the inflation in vegetables and meat stood at 6.63 percent and 5.50 percent.
  • On the other hand, factory output, as measured by the Index of Industrial Production (IIP), contracted by 0.5 per cent in March 2014
  • The ministry said that the rural inflation stood at 5.37 percent whereas urban centres registered CPI of 4.36 percent. 
• 9. Cabinet approves flagship 'Namami Gange' programme
  • The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi today approved the flagship “Namami Gange” Program which integrates the efforts to clean and protect the Ganga river in a comprehensive manner
  • The program has a budget outlay of Rs. 20,000 crore for the next 5 years. This is a significant four-fold increase over the expenditure in the past 30 years
  • Marking a major shift in implementation, the Government is focusing on involving people living on the banks of the river to attain sustainable results.
  • Learning from the unsatisfactory results of the earlier Ganga Action Plan, the Centre now plans to provide for operation and maintenance of the assets for a minimum 10 year period, and adopt a PPP/SPV approach for pollution hotspots.
  • In an attempt to bolster enforcement the Centre also plans to establish a 4-battalion Ganga Eco-Task Force, a Territorial Army unit, apart from contemplating on a legislation that aims to check pollution and protect the river.

CURRENT AFFAIRS MAY/12/2015

CURRENT AFFAIRS MAY/12/2015

1. PRANAB MUKHERJEE INAUGURATED NAMASTE RUSSIA FESTIVAL:

i.  President of India, Pranab Mukherjee Inaugurated Namaste Russia Festival in Moscow.

ii. It is celebrated to showcase Indian Culture in Russia.

2.   ADVANCED VERSION OF BRAHMOS MISSILE SUCCESSFULLY TEST-FIRED:

i.    India has successfully test fired advanced version of Brahmos Supersonic Cruise Missile.

ii.  Test-fired was conducted at Nicobar Islands in Andaman and Nicobar.

iii. Brahmos-III has a range of 290 km and can carry weight upto 300 kg.

3. NATIONAL TECHNOLOGY DAY OBSERVED ACROSS THE COUNTRY:

i. National Technology day was observed across the country on 11^thMay.

ii. National Technology Day is celebrated to memorize the anniversary of Shakti, the Pokhran Nuclear Test held on 11^thMay 1998.

4. K V KAMATH APPOINTED AS BRICS BANK PRESIDENT:

i. Eminent Banker K V Kamath is appointed as the president of the New Development Bank set up by the BRICS

ii. K V Kamath is appointed on a 5 year term.

Note:       B – Brazil

                       R – Russia

                       I – India

                       C – China

                       S -  South Africa

Headquarter of New Development Bank – Shanghai, China