SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Artificial Bio Organs
Context
- A Workshop on Artificial Bio Organs held in Visakhapatnam.
- To strengthen Indo-Australian Cooperation and achieve development of 3D printing industry in both the countries a workshop on Organ Bio Printing was organized at the Kalam Convention Center, AMTZ Campus in Visakhapatnam.
- The workshop explored 3D printing, an innovative technology that covers all medical disciplines and offers new opportunities in diagnostics and therapy.
What are the Artificial Bio Organs?
- An artificial bio-engineered organ is an engineered device or tissue that is implanted or integrated into a human, in order to replace a natural organ, to duplicate or augment a specific function so the patient may return to a normal life as soon as possible.
- The technology behind bioengineered organs involves obtaining complex three-dimensional (3D) scaffolds that allow cells to develop and function properly, and represents a promising, innovative approach to potentially manufacture an unlimited source of donor organs for transplantation.
What is 3D Bio-printing?
- Bio-printing basically means “biological printing.”
- Bio-printing is a new area of scientific and medical research that involves “printing” biological matter and material for use in prosthetics, replacement organs, veins and human tissues.
- Bioprinters work on the same concept as 3D printers.
- The key difference between the two is that bioprinters deposit layers of biomaterial instead, which may include living cells, to build complex structures like blood vessels or skin tissue.
- To do this the required cells are taken from the patient and then cultivated until there are enough to create the bio-ink, which is then loaded into the printer.
- Most bioprinters also deliver organic or synthetic dissolvable gel, which acts as a support to which cells can attach to and grow.
- This allows them to stabilise into the correct form. However, some cells can assume the correct positioning by themselves with no extra support.
- They then use their own inherent properties to seek similar cells to join with, knowing where they are needed, in exactly the same way as cells in an embryo develop in the womb.
- Scientists are also able to control the shape using the printer and building the final structure.
- Because this technology is relatively new, there are several different printers undergoing testing, and therefore methods for delivering these cells and biomaterials differ.
- Researchers predict that the final printer will be the combination of several of these techniques that will provide the most significant advancements in bioprinting.
- Developments in 3D bioprinting
- Scientists from ETH Zurich in Switzerland have developed a 3D-printed soft silicone heart that closely resembles and functions like the human organ.
- It is not exact biological replica of the actual, but can help to save lives of people who suffer from cardiac failure.
- The 3D bioprinting technology allows the creation of microstructures that can be customized for disease models.
- To overcome the challenges, such as, Hardened blood vessels associated with cardiovascular disease and engineering a solution for viable artery and tissue replacement, researchers found a unique way to take advantage of oxygen’s role in setting the final form of a 3D-printed structure.
- By keeping tight control over oxygen migration and its subsequent light exposure, researchers have the freedom to control which areas of an object are solidified to be harder or softer all while keeping the overall geometry the same.
- This is an encouraging first step towards the goal of creating structures that function like a healthy cell should function.
- The continuous research and findings could lead to better, more personalized treatments for those suffering from organ failure and related diseases.
3D Bio-printing in India
- Despite attempting for the last 30 years, scientists across the world have not been able to produce in the lab cartilage-like tissues that are functionally and structurally similar to cartilages seen in human knees and have load-bearing capacity.
- In a first for India, a team of scientists from IIT-Delhi has developed a 3D bioprinted cartilage that is remarkably similar to the natural ones seen in human knees.
- While scientists attempting to tissue-engineer cartilage have focussed on growing cells on porous scaffolds, in a paradigm shift, a team from IIT Delhi has been successful in 3D bioprinting of cartilage using a bioink.
- The bioink has high concentration of bone-marrow derived cartilage stem cells, silk proteins and a few factors.
- The chemical composition of the bioink supports cell growth and long-term survival of the cells.
- The cartilage developed in the lab has remained physically stable for up to six weeks. The results of the study were published in the journal Bioprinting.
- This advancement also opens up platforms to use 3D bioprinted cartilage on in vitro model system for assessing drug delivery and pharmaceutical studies.
ECONOMY
SPARROW-CBIC
- Context
- Online writing of APARs in SPARROW for IRS (C&CE) Officers has been implemented.
- As part of CBIC’s constant endeavor for better HR management, online writing of APARs in SPARROW has now been launched for Group B & C officers of CBIC, working in its various formations all across the country.
What is the SPARROW-CBIC?
- The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) had started online writing of annual performance appraisal report (APARs) in SPARROW (Smart Performance Appraisal Report Recording Online Window) for Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officers in Customs and Central Excise in 2016-17.
How it is useful?
- This project leverages modern technology for enhancing the overall efficiency and morale of the huge workforce working in Central GST and Customs formations of CBIC.
- The project is an important milestone in the journey towards digitisation and paper less working.
INDIA’S FOREIGN TRADE: APRIL 2019
Context
- India’s overall exports (Merchandise and Services combined) in April2019 is estimated to be USD 44.06billion, exhibiting a positive growth of 1.34per cent over the April 2018. Overall imports in April2019 is estimated to be USD 52.83billion, exhibiting a positive growth of 4.53 per cent over April 2018.
Foreign trade of India
- Foreign trade in India includes all imports and exports to and from India. At the level of Central Government it is administered by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
Current scenario of India’s Foreign trade
- MERCHANDISE TRADE
EXPORTS
- Exports in April 2019 exhibited a positive growth of 0.64per cent in USD.
- In Rupee terms, exports registered a positive growth of 6.45per cent.
- In April 2019, major commodity groups of export showing positive growth over the corresponding month of last year are Non-petroleum and Non Gems and Jewelry.
IMPORTS
- Imports in April 2019 were 4.48per cent higher in dollar terms and 10.52per cent higher in Rupee terms over imports in April 2018.
- Major commodity groups of import showing negative growth in April 2019 over the corresponding month of last year are Crude Oil and Non-Oil Imports.
- Oil imports in April 2019 were 9.26percent higher in dollar terms and 15.58 percent higher in Rupee terms, compared April 2018.
- Non-oil imports in April 2019 were 2.78 per cent higher in dollar terms and 8.71percent higher in Rupee terms, compared to April 2018.
- Non-Oil and Non-Gold imports were in April 2019, recording a negative growth of 2.19 per cent, April 2018.
- . TRADE IN SERVICES
EXPORTS (Receipts)
- As per the latest press release by RBI dated 15th May 2019, exports inMarch2019 registered a positive growth of 6.59 per cent in dollar terms, vis-à-vis March 2018.
- IMPORTS (Payments)
- As per the latest press release by RBI dated 15th May 2019, imports inMarch2019 were registering a positive growth of 10.55 per cent in dollar terms,vis-à-vis March 2018.
- TRADE BALANCE
MERCHANDISE
- The trade deficit for April 2019 was estimated at USD15.33billion as against the deficit of USD13.72billion in April 2018.
SERVICES
- As per RBI’s Press Release dated 15th May 2019, the trade balance in Services (i.e. Net Services export) for March, 2019 is estimated at USD6.58billion.
OVERALL TRADE BALANCE
- Taking merchandise and services together, overall trade deficit for April2019 is estimated at USD8.78 billion as compared to USD7.07billion in April 2018.
