20-05-21 Daily -Goa- GPSC Current Affairs

A significant decrease in navigational and industrial activities along the river bank brought down the level of coloured dissolved organic matter (CDOM) and nutrients in theMandoviestuary during the lockdown last year.

A study by Albertina Dias and other scientists of theNational Institute of (NIO), which involved sampling of water in the estuary during May 2020, showed that CDOM was low at two stations between the Mandovi bridge and Ribander as compared to the previous five years Average, from 2014 to 2018.

With restrictions in place during the Covid-19pandemic, operation of pleasure cruises, water transport systems such as barges and shipbuilding activities came to a standstill.

Relieved of anthropogenic stressors, the water quality improved due to penetration of more Light in the water column and aquatic biota in the estuary benefitted from it.

Sunlight facilitates production of phytoplankton, the algae which are fed on byzooplankton, which in turn are consumed by small fishes in the food chain.

But, if the CDOM is too low, it allows penetration of ultra violet light to greater depth and can affect the marine biota adversely. On the other hand, CDOM occurs not only due to anthropogenic factors, but also natural ones, like decay of phytoplankton also releases CDOM into the system.

Exhibition and conference centres have been given ‘ status by the Finance Ministry. The move is expected to make it easier for banks to finance such projects.

The harmonised master list of infrastructure sub-sectors includes the Exhibition-cum-Convention Centre.

A new item has been added to the category of Social and Commercial Infrastructure to reflect this.

These advantages will be applicable only to projects with a minimum built-up floor area of 1,00,000 sq. m. of exclusive exhibition space, or conference space, or both coimbined.

The main projects being carried out in this field so far are: International Exhibition and Conference Centers in Dwarka and Pragati Maidan in New Delhi.

The infrastructure tag does not involve major tax deductions.

The tag would make it easier for such projects to obtain bank funding.

A research team from the Carle Illinois College of Medicine invented SPOT

In thirty minutes, the SPOT provides COVID-19 test results. The cost of the equipment is $78.

In addition, the cost of these reagents and other test equipment is estimated to be 6 to 7 dollars.

Anyone with a minimal amount of training can use the equipment.

The test is very similar to RT-PCR. However, Reverse Transcriptase Loop Mediated Isothermal Amplification is used (RT-LAMP).

However, it does not require complex machinery or expertise. It can be done quickly and more accurately.

The United Nations has designated May 20 as “World Bee Day.” Theme of the year 2020 is Bee engaged: Build Back Better for Bees.

Bee day is celebrated to create awareness of the importance of pollinators and the threats they face and their contribution to . The main aim is to strengthen measures aimed at protecting bees and other pollinators, which will greatly help solve problems related to global food supply and eliminate hunger in developing countries.

Every year on May 20th, World Metrology Day is held all over the world.

On this day, many countries have carried out international cooperation to raise people’s awareness of metrology and its progress in their respective fields. The theme of World Metrology Day in 2021 is Health metrology.

The purpose of choosing this topic is to make people realize the important role of measurement in health and thus play an important role in the well-being of each of us. World Metrology Day is an annual celebration of the signing of the Metrology Convention on May 20, 1875 by representatives of 17 countries/regions in Paris, France. The World Metrology Day project is jointly implemented by the International Organization for Legal Metrology (OIML) and the International Bureau and the Bureau of Physical Measurement (BIPM).

Six sites have been added to the tentative list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in India.

The sites was submitted by the of Archaeological Survey of India.

Six of the nine sites have been included in the tentative list by UNESCO.

It must be added to the tentative list before any sites are finally nominated.