About Coronary Artery Disease (CAD):

• It is a common type of heart disease. CAD also may be called coronary heart disease.
• It affects the main blood vessels that supply blood to the heart, called the coronary arteries.
• In CAD, there is reduced blood flow to the heart muscle.
• What Causes CAD?
  • A buildup of fats, cholesterol and other substances in and on the artery walls, a condition called atherosclerosis, usually causes CAD.
  • The buildup, called plaque, makes the arteries narrow.
  • CAD often develops over many years.
• Symptoms:
  • Symptoms are from the lack of blood flow to the heart.
  • They may include chest pain and shortness of breath.
  • A complete blockage of blood flow can cause a heart attack.
  • Common heart attack symptoms include:
    • Chest pain that may feel like pressure, tightness, squeezing or aching.
    • Pain or discomfort that spreads to the shoulder, arm, back, neck, jaw, teeth or sometimes the upper belly.
    • Cold sweats.
    • Fatigue.
    • Shortness of breath.
    • Lightheadedness or sudden dizziness.
  • Treatment:
    • Treatment for CAD may include medicines and surgery.
    • Eating a nutritious diet, getting regular exercise and not smoking can help prevent CAD and the conditions that can cause it.

About Lake Turkana:

• Lake Turkana, formerly Lake Rudolf, is a vast, shallow lake located in the arid part of northern Kenya, with its northern end extending into Ethiopia.
• It lies along the Eastern Rift Valley, separated from Lake Logipi on the south by a group of young volcanoes known as the Barriers.
• The three main rivers flowing into the lake are Omo, Kerio, and Turkwel, with the Omo River contributing about 90% of the inflow
• It is Africa’s 4th largest lake by surface area and the world’s largest permanent desert lake.
• It has a surface area of 6,405 sq.km.
• It is 248 km long, only 16–32 km wide, and relatively shallow, its greatest recorded depth being 240 feet (73 meters).
• It is designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site and is renowned for its unique biodiversity and cultural significance.
• It is lying in a hot, arid, and remote region and provides resources for communities on the lakeshore and surrounding areas.
• It is the most saline lake in East Africa, full of brackish water with high levels of fluoride that make it largely unsuitable for drinking.
• Sudden storms are frequent, rendering navigation on the lake treacherous.

What is Ferromagnetism and Antiferromagnetism?

• Magnetism has long been categorised into two primary types: ferromagnetism and antiferromagnetism.
• Ferromagnetism is responsible for the behaviour of materials like iron and nickel, where all magnetic moments align in the same direction, producing strong magnetisation – such as the force that makes fridge magnets stick.
• Antiferromagnetism occurs when magnetic moments align in a regular pattern but point in opposite directions, cancelling each other out and resulting in no external magnetic field.

About Altermagnetism:

• Altermagnetism is a type of magnetism where magnetic moments (tiny magnetic fields created by electrons) align in opposite directions but follow a distinct rotated pattern.
• This unique arrangement creates properties that combine key elements of both ferromagnets and antiferromagnets.
• Like antiferromagnets, altermagnets have magnetic moments that align in opposite directions, cancelling out any overall magnetisation.
• However, like ferromagnets, altermagnets still allow spin-polarised currents. In ferromagnets, spin-polarised currents can only occur because all electron spins or moments align in one direction (producing a magnetic field).
• The key distinction in altermagnets is that the larger, crystal-like structures holding these magnetic moments are rotated relative to each other, creating distinct electronic behaviours.
• It is the rotation of these larger structures that allows for spin-polarised currents to still occur in altermagnets.
• This makes altermagnets potentially valuable for a variety of applications, particularly in electronics and data storage.
• They eliminate the possibility of stray magnetic fields while still allowing for a spin-polarised current – a highly useful combination for modern electronics.

About Cornea:

• The cornea is the clear outer layer at the front of the eye.
• It covers the pupil (the opening at the center of the eye), iris (the colored part of the eye), and anterior chamber (the fluid-filled inside of the eye).
• Viewed from the front of the eye, the cornea appears slightly wider than it is tall. This is because the sclera (the "white" of the eye) slightly overlaps the top and bottom of the anterior cornea.
• The cornea’s main function is to refract, or bend light. The cornea is responsible for focusing most of the light that enters the eye.
• As light passes through the cornea, it is partially refracted before reaching the lens.
• The curvature of the cornea, which is spherical in infancy but changes with age, gives it its focusing power.
• The cornea provides approximately 65 to 75 percent of the focusing power of the eye.
  • The remainder of the focusing power of the eye is provided by the crystalline lens, located directly behind the pupil.
• Cornea’s specific shape plays a key role in how your eyesight works and filters some ultraviolet (UV) rays.
• Except at its margins, the cornea contains no blood vessels, but it does contain many nerves and is very sensitive to pain or touch.
• Since there are no nutrient-supplying blood vessels in the cornea, tears and the aqueous humor (a watery fluid) in the anterior chamber provide the cornea with nutrients.
• Most refractive errors — nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism — are due to a less-than-optimal curvature or symmetry of the cornea.
• The cornea is incredibly sensitive, helping you instinctively and immediately react to stop anything from harming your eyes further.
• Because corneas are the first line of defense for the surface of your eye, they’re also prone to injuries and damage.
• The cornea tends to repair itself quickly from minor abrasions.
• However, deeper abrasions may cause scars to form on the cornea, which causes the cornea to lose its transparency, leading to visual impairment.

About Improvised Explosive Device (IED)

• An IED is a type of unconventional explosive weapon that can take any form and be activated in a variety of ways.
• IEDs are used by criminals, vandals, terrorists, suicide bombers, and insurgents.
• Because they are improvised, IEDs can come in many forms, ranging from a small pipe bomb to a sophisticated device capable of causing massive damage and loss of life.
• The extent of damage caused by an IED depends on its size, construction, and placement and whether it incorporates a high explosive or propellant.
• IEDs can be carried or delivered in a vehicle; carried, placed, or thrown by a person; delivered in a package; or concealed on the roadside.
• The term IED came into common usage during the Iraq War that began in 2003.
• IEDs are inexpensive and can be easily manufactured, concealed and detonated.
• Further, IEDs can be manufactured by using commonly available material or chemicals.
• Elements of an IED:
  • It consists of a variety of components that include an initiator, switch, main charge, power source, and container.
  • IEDs may be surrounded by or packed with additional materials or “enhancements” such as nails, glass, or metal fragments designed to increase the amount of shrapnel propelled by the explosion.
  • An IED can be initiated by a variety of methods depending on the intended target.
• Materials Used as Explosives in IEDs:
  • Many commonly available materials, such as fertilizer, gunpowder, and hydrogen peroxide, are used as explosive materials in IEDs.
  • Explosives must contain a fuel and an oxidizer, which provides the oxygen needed to sustain the reaction.
  • A common example is ANFO, a mixture of ammonium nitrate, which acts as the oxidizer, and fuel oil (the fuel source).

About Booker Prize:

• It is the world’s leading literary award for a single work of fiction.
• It was founded in the UK in 1969, the Booker Prize initially rewarded Commonwealth writers and now spans the globe: it is open to anyone regardless of origin.
• It aims to promote the finest in fiction by rewarding the best novel of the year written in English.
• Eligibility for Booker Prize
  • The Booker Prize awards any novel originally written in English and published in the UK and Ireland in the year of the prize, regardless of the nationality of their author.
  • The novel must be an original work in English (not a translation)
  • It must be published by a registered UK or Irish imprint; self-published novels are not eligible.
  • The winner receives £50,000 and each of the shortlisted authors will be given £2,500.

Booker Prize Laureates from India and Indian-origin writers 

• VS Naipaul for Free State
• Salman Rushdie for Midnight’s Children
• Arundhati Roy for The God of Small Things
• Kiran Desai for The Inheritance of Loss (2006),
• Aravind Adiga for The White Tiger (2008).

About Indian Laburnum:

• Indian laburnum (Cassia fistula) is called “amaltas” in northern India and “kanikonna” in south
• It is a species of flowering plant in the Fabaceae family.
• It is also known as Golden Shower Tree, Amaltas, Purging Fistula, Pudding-pipe tree.
• It is native to India and is the State tree of Kerala and Delhi.
• Appearance: It is a medium to large deciduous tree that can reach heights of up to 10 to 20 meters (approximately 30 to 65 feet).
• Distribution: It is native to the Indian subcontinent, but it is also found in other parts of Asia, including Southeast Asia and the Middle East.
• Features of Indian laburnum
  • It is a medium-sized deciduous tree that is leafless only for a brief time, between March and May. 
  • The new leaves are glossy, a trait that they lose on maturing, and are mostly bright green, though sometimes a rich copper too.
  • It produces clusters of pendulous, cylindrical, yellow flowers that hang from the branches and bloom in abundance during the flowering season.
  • It is commonly cultivated as an ornamental tree in tropical and subtropical regions worldwide.
• Uses of Indian laburnum
  • Its extracts from the bark, leaves, flowers, and seeds have been used to treat a variety of ailments, including constipation, skin conditions, digestive issues, and respiratory problems.
  • Its bark is used to make dye and the pulp in the fruit pod also serves as a strong purgative agent, which helps animals that feed on it.

About Molasses:

• It is a byproduct which comes from crushed sugar cane or sugar beets.
• It is a dense, viscous liquid of dark brown tint, rich in sugars, and containing a small percentage of water. 
• It contains more vitamins and minerals than other sweeteners but is still high in sugar.
• The different types of molasses vary in color, consistency, flavor, and sugar content.
  • Light molasses: This is the syrup that results from the first boiling of the sugar syrup. It has the lightest color and the sweetest taste. People commonly use it in baking.
  • Dark molasses: It results from the second boiling. It is thicker, darker, and less sweet.
  • Blackstrap molasses: This is the syrup that results from the third boiling. It is the thickest and darkest type of molasses and tends to have a bitter taste.
• Applications of Molasses:
  • It is traditionally used in animal feed and for the production of ethanol, yeast, and lactic acid.
  • Molasses is also used in the production of ethyl alcohol and as an additive in livestock feed.

About Exercise MITRA SHAKTI-2025:

• It is the eleventh edition of joint military exercise between India and Sri Lanka.
• Aim: To jointly rehearse conduct of Sub Conventional Operations under Chapter VII of United Nations Mandate.
• Participating Forces from India: The Indian contingent is being represented mainly by troops from the RAJPUT Regiment and personnel from the Indian Air Force are also participating in the exercise.
• Key Highlights of Exercise MITRA SHAKTI – 2025
  • The scope of the exercise includes synergising joint responses during counter-terrorist operations.
  • Both sides will practice tactical actions such as raid, search and destroy missions, heliborne operations, etc.
  • It will also involve employment of Drones and Counter Unmanned Aerial Systems besides helicopters.
  • It also involves drills to secure helipads and undertake casualty evacuation during counter-terrorist operations will also be rehearsed jointly by both sides.
  • Both sides will exchange views and practices of joint drills on a wide spectrum of combat skills.
• Significance: Sharing of best practices will further enhance the level of defence cooperation between Indian Army and Sri Lankan Army.

About Rift Valley Fever:

• It is caused by a Phlebovirus belonging to the Phenuiviridae family.
• It primarily affects animals such as sheep, goats, cattle, and camels.
• Humans become infected through close contact with infected animals or by the bite of infected mosquitoes.
• The virus has not been shown to spread from person to person.
• Origin and History of Rift Valley Fever
  • It derives its name from Kenya’s Rift Valley, where the disease was first recognised in the early 1930s.
  • Since then, the infection has appeared across sub-Saharan Africa.
  • In 1977, it spread northwards to Egypt, and by 2000, it had crossed the Red Sea into Saudi Arabia and Yemen, marking its first confirmed appearance outside the African continent.
• Transmission: Multiple mosquito species can transmit the Rift Valley fever virus, and the predominant vector differs from one region to another.
• Symptoms of Rift Valley Fever
  • In about 90 % of cases, RVF presents as a mild, flu-like illness that begins two to six days after infection.
  • The onset is marked by high fever, muscle and joint pain, headache, weakness, and backache, sometimes accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light.
  • In a small proportion of patients, disease progresses to a severe form affecting the eyes, brain, or liver. 
• Treatment: Currently, there is no specific antiviral treatment. Medical care is primarily supportive.