This Week I Learned - Week #5 2022

This Week I Learned -

* Leaflet is an open-source JavaScript library for mobile-friendly interactive maps, weighing just about 39 KB of JS.

* Perspectives on how to estimate on an Agile project [PDF]

* The term Ct value in a RT-PCR report stands for Cycle Threshold, a vital test parameter. It refers to the number of cycles needed in the test, after which the virus in the sample reaches a detectable level. The Ct value is inversely proportional to the amount of viral load in the human body. For instance, lower the value, higher will be the viral level in the sample collected as the virus was detected only after a few cycles, and vice-versa. The value can differ from one kit to another and the viral load does not have much role in patient management. Doctors may advise CT Scan if a patient does not get cured of fever or cough after medicine. A CT scan score of 5 out of 25 is considered normal. If the score is more than that, then the doctor may advise to get hospitalised. But sometimes, even if a patient has a higher CT Scan score, he or she may not have any inconvenience. One CT scan is equivalent to 300 to 400 chest x-rays, Dr Guleria said adding that people with mild covid-19 and normal oxygen saturation should not do CT scan.

* The risk of reinfection with Omicron to be 5.4 times higher than with the Delta variant. It means Omicron appears significantly more likely to evade the natural immunity people build up from past infections. - ABC NEWS

* Coconut water might lower blood pressure

* Parabolic microphones have great sensitivity to sounds in one direction, along the axis of the dish, and can pick up distant sounds. Typical uses of this microphone include nature sound recording such as recording bird calls, field audio for sports broadcasting, and eavesdropping on conversations, for example in espionage and law enforcement. Parabolic microphones were used in many parts of the world as early as World War II, especially by the Japanese.

* The presentation of choices can influence people. Many of us go through life making choices or offering choices to others without realizing that the manner in which choices are presented regularly shapes how people think. - Hidden Brain

* Since 1928, US Dollars are all the same size, irrespective of denomination. Dimensions: Width 2.61 inches x length 6.14 inches. Thickness: 0.0043 inches. U.S. currency is produced at U.S. Treasury locations in Washington, D.C., and in Fort Worth, Texas. 

* Lenskart was founded in Nov. 2010 with a purpose of transforming the way people see and experience the world. Its co-founder Peyush Bansal was a Program Manager at Microsoft prior to that. 

* The share of MPs with criminal and serious criminal cases increased to 43% and 29%, according to an analysis of 539 winners in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. In 2019, candidates with declared criminal cases against them had a 15.5% chance of winning compared to 4.7% for candidates without such cases against them. According to a researcher, voters actually find value in supporting ‘strongman’ candidates as they are more capable of delivering on voters’ expectations of navigating the local institutions.

* Assets under management (AUM) of NPS and combined APY stood at ₹6.67 trillion at the end of September 2021, against ₹4.95 trillion at the end of September 2020, up 34.8%.

* Tatas now have three airlines under their management control — Air India, Air Asia, and Vistara. Probably the only country in the world where one promoter owns three airlines, and all under heavy losses. - MoneyControl

* Public universities are supported by the Government of India and the state governments, while private universities are mostly supported by various bodies and societies. Universities in India are recognised by the University Grants Commission (UGC), which draws its power from the University Grants Commission Act, 1956. As of July 2021, there are 1013 universities of which 54 are Central universities, 438 are State universities, 126 are Deemed universities and 395 Private universities.

* Institute of National Importance (INI) is a status that may be conferred on a premier public higher education institution in India by an act of Parliament of India, an institution which "serves as a pivotal player in developing highly skilled personnel within the specified region of the country/state". Institutes of National Importance receive special recognition, higher autonomy and funding from the Government of India. As of 27 July 2021, there are 161 Institutes of National Importance under various Acts of Parliament. These INIs include 23 IITs; 15 AIIMSs; 20 IIMs; 31 NITs; 25 IIITs; 7 IISERs, 7 NIPERs; 5 NIDs; 3 SPAs; 2 NIFTEMs 5 central universities; 4 medical research institutes, and 14 other specialized institutes. Among these, Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research founded in 1823 is the oldest. The erstwhile French India established the Ecole de Medicine de Pondichery to train French citizens in Pondichéry. It was one of the earliest institutions of tropical medicine and the teaching staff consisted of surgeons and doctors of the French navy and troupes colones. 

* Siddha medicine is a traditional medicine originating in South India. It is one of the oldest systems of medicine in India. The Ministry of Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy of the Government of India regulates training in Siddha medicine and other traditional practices grouped collectively as AYUSH. The Indian Medical Association regards Siddha medicine degrees as "fake" and Siddha therapies as quackery, posing a danger to national health due to absence of training in science-based medicine. Practicing Siddha medicine and similar forms of rural alternative medicine in India was banned in the Travancore-Cochin Medical Practitioners' Act of 1953. In a 2018 judgement, the Supreme Court of India stated that "A number of unqualified, untrained quacks are posing a great risk to the entire society and playing with the lives of people....The right to practice any profession or to carry on any occupation, trade or business is no doubt a fundamental right guaranteed under the Constitution. But that right is subject to any law relating to the professional or technical qualification necessary for practicing any profession or carrying on any occupation or trade or business. The regulatory measures on the exercise of this right both with regard to the standard of professional qualifications and professional conduct have been applied keeping in view not only the right of the medical practitioners but also the right to life and proper health care of persons who need medical care and treatment."

* The Economist cites a study from 2010 that says 93 per cent of board members in India come from “forward” castes. Of them, 46 per cent are Vaishyas or Baniyas. ‘Agarwal’ and ‘Gupta’ are the most common surnames of corporate board members. Unlike the US and European countries, Indian corporations do not follow any affirmative action or diversity programme. 

* The scheme of reservation of seats for SC/ST students in the Indian Institute of Technology was introduced in 1973. OBC reservation in IITs was introduced in 2008. 

* Having a tradition of education in a family puts a person in an advantageous position. This advantage is popularly known as ‘cultural capital’.

* “In this world there are only two tragedies. One is not getting what one wants, and the other is getting it. The last is much the worst, the last is a real tragedy!” - Oscar Wilde