Exercise-Induced Liver Protein Reverses Memory Loss in Mice IRCTC Expands AI-Based Food Quality Monitoring System Daraxonrasib: New Hope Against Pancreatic Cancer New Result Pushes Bounds of How Small a Liquid Can Be How India Scaled Its Startup Industry from 2016 to 2025

1.Exercise-Induced Liver Protein Reverses Memory Loss in Mice

Source: Cell JournalSubject: Science & Technology / Biotechnology

Why in News?

A recent study published in Cell has identified GPLD1, a liver protein released during exercise, that reversed age-related memory loss and improved cognitive function in aged mice and Alzheimer’s disease models. The findings highlight a promising new pathway for treating neurodegenerative disorders.

Key Highlights

• Researchers identified GPLD1 (Glycosylphosphatidylinositol-specific Phospholipase D1) as a key exercise-induced protein (exerkine).
• Higher GPLD1 levels improved memory and learning in aged mice.
• The protein repaired the Blood-Brain Barrier (BBB), whose deterioration is linked to aging and Alzheimer’s disease.
• GPLD1 reduced levels of TNAP (Tissue Non-Specific Alkaline Phosphatase), an enzyme that accumulates in brain blood vessels with age.
• In Alzheimer’s mouse models, GPLD1 improved BBB integrity, reduced amyloid plaque accumulation, and enhanced cognitive performance.

How Does GPLD1 Work?

Exercise stimulates the liver to release GPLD1 into the bloodstream.

With aging, TNAP accumulates in the blood-brain barrier, causing it to become leaky. This allows inflammatory molecules to enter the brain and hampers the clearance of toxic proteins such as amyloid-beta plaques, contributing to cognitive decline.

GPLD1 breaks down excess TNAP, thereby:

• Restoring blood-brain barrier integrity.
• Reducing neuroinflammation.
• Improving nutrient and molecular transport to the brain.
• Facilitating clearance of toxic protein aggregates.
• Enhancing memory and learning functions.

What are Exerkines?

Exerkines are bioactive molecules released into the bloodstream during physical exercise.

They are produced by organs such as:

• Liver
• Skeletal muscles
• Heart
• Adipose tissue

These molecules mediate many systemic benefits of exercise, including improvements in metabolism, cardiovascular health, immune function, and brain health.

GPLD1 is one of the most promising exerkines identified so far for cognitive protection.

Significance of the Study

New Understanding of Exercise and Brain HealthThe study demonstrates that some cognitive benefits of exercise are mediated through liver-brain communication rather than direct effects on the brain alone.Potential Alzheimer’s TherapyBy restoring BBB function and reducing amyloid accumulation, GPLD1 could emerge as a potential therapeutic target for Alzheimer’s disease and other neurodegenerative disorders.Biomarker for Healthy AgingGPLD1 levels may serve as a biomarker for assessing healthy aging and cognitive resilience.Improving Future TreatmentsA healthier blood-brain barrier may also improve the effectiveness of existing Alzheimer’s drugs, many of which are limited by BBB dysfunction.

Challenges

• Findings are currently limited to animal models.
• Human clinical validation is still required.
• Exercise produces numerous beneficial molecules; a single protein may not replicate all exercise-related benefits.
• Long-term safety and effectiveness of GPLD1-based therapies remain unknown.

Value Addition

Blood-Brain Barrier (BBB)The BBB is a highly selective protective barrier formed by specialised blood vessels that regulate the movement of substances between the bloodstream and the brain.Functions:Protects the brain from toxins and pathogens. Maintains a stable neural environment. Regulates transport of nutrients and waste products. Alzheimer’s DiseaseA progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterised by:Memory loss Cognitive decline Accumulation of amyloid-beta plaques and tau protein tangles Progressive impairment of daily functioning

2.IRCTC Expands AI-Based Food Quality Monitoring System

Why in News?

IRCTC has expanded its Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based food monitoring system to over 800 railway kitchens across India. The initiative aims to improve hygiene standards, reduce passenger complaints, and strengthen quality control in railway catering services.

Key Features of the AI Monitoring System

The system currently operates through 2,394 cameras installed across railway kitchens and food preparation units.

Using AI-powered video analytics, it can identify nine categories of hygiene violations, including:

• Absence of hairnets and gloves
• Improper food handling
• Staff hygiene violations
• Pest and rodent presence
• Kitchen cleanliness issues

The system generates nearly 350 alerts daily. If corrective action is not taken within two hours, the alert is automatically escalated to higher authorities.

During the last month alone, the system generated around 13,550 violation tickets.

Why Was This Needed?

Food quality remains one of the most frequent sources of passenger complaints.

• Indian Railways served nearly 60 crore meals in 2025–26.
• More than 19,000 food-related complaints were received over the last five years.
• These complaints resulted in 3,137 penalties and fines on vendors.
• Recently, the Railway Ministry imposed a ₹10 lakh penalty on IRCTC over poor food quality on a Vande Bharat Express.

According to IRCTC officials, hairnet non-compliance is currently the most common violation detected by the AI system.

Challenges in Railway Catering

Maintaining food quality across a vast railway network remains difficult because of:

• Large-scale meal production
• Seasonal weather variations affecting food preservation
• Human errors in food handling
• Hygiene compliance across multiple catering contractors

IRCTC notes that the AI system has an effective error rate of about 10%, occasionally flagging minor deviations as violations. Nevertheless, it provides continuous monitoring that is impossible through manual inspections alone.

Significance

The initiative reflects the increasing use of Artificial Intelligence in public service delivery.

It helps in:

• Real-time hygiene monitoring
• Faster grievance redressal
• Improved food safety standards
• Greater accountability of catering contractors
• Data-driven inspection and enforcement

The project also supports the broader goal of leveraging technology to improve citizen-centric public services.

Quick Facts

IRCTCIndian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation. A Mini Ratna PSU under the Ministry of Railways. Responsible for railway catering, tourism, and online ticketing services. Computer VisionAI technology that enables machines to analyse images and video feeds and automatically detect objects, activities, or violations.

Way Forward

The expansion of AI surveillance should be complemented by regular physical inspections, staff training, stricter vendor accountability, and modern food safety protocols. Combining technology with human oversight can help Indian Railways ensure safe, hygienic, and reliable catering services for millions of passengers every day.

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3.Daraxonrasib: New Hope Against Pancreatic Cancer

Why in News?

An experimental oral drug called Daraxonrasib has shown promising results in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer. Clinical trial findings presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) indicate that the drug nearly doubled survival among patients whose disease had progressed despite previous treatment.

Key Findings

• Daraxonrasib increased median survival to 13.2 months, compared to 6.7 months under standard chemotherapy.
• Progression-free survival improved from 3.6 months to 7.2 months.
• The drug targets the KRAS gene mutation, which is responsible for nearly 80% of pancreatic cancers.
• It is the first drug in its class capable of broadly inhibiting RAS signalling across multiple mutation subtypes.
• Currently, it is intended for patients with advanced pancreatic cancer who have already undergone chemotherapy.

Why Pancreatic Cancer Is Difficult to Treat

Pancreatic cancer is among the deadliest cancers worldwide.

• Around 70–90% of patients are diagnosed at advanced stages.
• Median survival has historically remained only 9–12 months.
• The disease often shows poor response to conventional targeted therapies and immunotherapy.
• A dense tissue layer (tumour stroma) surrounding pancreatic tumours acts as a barrier to drugs and immune cells.
• Late diagnosis and rapid disease progression further worsen outcomes.

How Daraxonrasib Works

The KRAS gene normally regulates cell growth and division. When mutated, it remains permanently switched on, causing uncontrolled multiplication of cancer cells.

Daraxonrasib works by:

• Targeting the active (“ON”) state of the KRAS/RAS pathway.
• Blocking cancer-growth signals inside the cell.
• Slowing tumour growth and disease progression.

The drug represents a major advance in precision oncology, where treatments are designed according to specific genetic mutations driving the disease.

Significance and Future Prospects

• It Offers a potential breakthrough for one of the most difficult-to-treat cancers.
• It Demonstrates the growing importance of gene-targeted cancer therapies.
• It May improve treatment outcomes in other RAS-driven cancers, including lung and colorectal cancers.
• It Could complement future therapies aimed at improving survival and quality of life for cancer patients.

Quick Facts

KRAS GeneOne of the most commonly mutated cancer-causing genes (oncogenes). Mutations are frequently found in pancreatic, lung and colorectal cancers. Precision OncologyApproach that tailors treatment based on an individual’s genetic and molecular profile rather than using a uniform treatment strategy.

Way Forward

While Daraxonrasib is not yet approved for routine clinical use and further studies are required to assess long-term safety and effectiveness, the results mark a significant step towards targeted therapies for pancreatic cancer. Expanding genomic screening, improving early diagnosis, and developing mutation-specific drugs will be crucial for reducing the global burden of cancer.

4.New Result Pushes Bounds of How Small a Liquid Can Be

Why in News?

Scientists working at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) have observed the smallest known droplet of Quark-Gluon Plasma (QGP) exhibiting fluid-like behaviour. The discovery, published in Physical Review Letters, was made using oxygen-oxygen collisions and helps determine the minimum size at which matter can behave like a liquid rather than a collection of individual particles.

Key Highlights

• Researchers created QGP using collisions of oxygen nuclei, which are much lighter than the lead nuclei traditionally used.
• The study identified the smallest fluid-like droplet of matter ever observed.
• Results indicate that a strongly interacting medium can form even in relatively small collision systems.
• Scientists detected jet suppression (jet quenching), a signature of dense QGP formation.
• Findings help identify the transition point between a gas of particles and a fluid-like state of matter.

About Quark-Gluon Plasma (QGP)

• QGP is an extreme state of matter believed to have existed during the first few microseconds after the Big Bang.
• It consists of free quarks and gluons, which are normally confined inside protons and neutrons.
• It forms at temperatures exceeding two trillion Kelvin, making it the hottest matter ever produced in laboratories.
• QGP behaves like an almost perfect fluid with extremely low viscosity rather than as a conventional gas.
• It is recreated experimentally through high-energy heavy-ion collisions at facilities such as:
  • Large Hadron Collider (Switzerland)
  • Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (USA)

Significance

• Improves understanding of the earliest stages of the Universe immediately after the Big Bang.
• Tests predictions of Quantum Chromodynamics (QCD), the theory describing the strong nuclear force.
• Establishes a new lower limit for the size at which matter can exhibit collective fluid behaviour.
• Provides insights into extreme states of matter that may exist inside neutron stars.
• Advances experimental high-energy physics and our understanding of fundamental particles.

Key Terms

• Quarks: Fundamental constituents of protons and neutrons.
• Gluons: Particles that mediate the strong nuclear force and bind quarks together.
• Jet Quenching: Energy loss of high-energy particles while passing through QGP, indicating the presence of a dense medium.
• Viscosity: Resistance of a fluid to flow; QGP has exceptionally low viscosity.
• Asymptotic Freedom: Property of the strong force whereby quarks interact weakly at extremely high energies.

Way Forward

• Conduct experiments with other light nuclei to identify the precise threshold for fluid formation.
• Improve theoretical models describing the transition from particle-like to fluid-like behaviour.
• Use future collider experiments to better understand QGP properties and the evolution of the early Universe.

5.How India Scaled Its Startup Industry from 2016 to 2025

Why in News?

A recent government assessment highlighted the remarkable expansion of India’s startup ecosystem between 2016 and 2025. During this period, India emerged as one of the world’s leading startup hubs, driven by policy support, increased funding, digital infrastructure, and growing entrepreneurship across Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities.

Key Highlights

• The number of startups increased from nearly 10,000 in 2016 to about 2.5 lakh in 2025, representing a 25-fold expansion.
• Funded startups rose from around 2,000 to 75,000, reflecting growing investor confidence.
• DPIIT-recognised startups increased from just 3% of total startups in 2016 to 77% in 2025.
• Startup activity expanded beyond metropolitan cities, with Tier-3 towns accounting for nearly 71% of new startups in 2025.
• Women-led startups recorded a faster growth rate than male-led startups, highlighting increasing participation of women entrepreneurs.
• India is now among the top four startup ecosystems globally.

Startup India Initiative: Background

The growth of India’s startup ecosystem is closely linked to the Startup India Initiative, launched on 16 January 2016 by the Government of India. The programme aims to promote innovation, support entrepreneurship, generate employment, and transform India into a nation of job creators.

The initiative is implemented by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

Major provisions include:

• DPIIT recognition for eligible startups.
• Self-certification under selected labour and environmental laws.
• Fast-track patent examination and IPR support.
• Tax incentives and easier compliance procedures.
• Access to funding through the Fund of Funds for Startups (FFS) and the Startup India Seed Fund Scheme (SISFS).
• Promotion of incubation, mentorship, and industry-academia collaboration through initiatives such as the Atal Innovation Mission (AIM).

Factors Driving Startup Growth

Several factors contributed to the rapid expansion of India’s startup ecosystem during the last decade:

• Strong policy support through Startup India, Digital India, Make in India, and ease-of-doing-business reforms.
• Expansion of digital public infrastructure such as UPI, Aadhaar, and DigiLocker.
• Growing availability of venture capital and private equity funding.
• Rising internet penetration and smartphone adoption.
• Increased entrepreneurial activity among youth and women.
• Emergence of innovation-driven sectors such as fintech, healthtech, agritech, edtech, AI, deep-tech, and SaaS.

Significance

The growth of startups has strengthened India’s position as a global innovation hub and contributed significantly to employment generation, technological advancement, and economic diversification.

The increasing participation of Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities has helped decentralise economic opportunities and promote balanced regional development. The startup ecosystem has also improved India’s innovation capacity and enhanced its competitiveness in emerging technologies.

Challenges

Despite impressive growth, several challenges remain:

• Limited access to early-stage capital in smaller cities.
• High failure rates among new ventures.
• Dependence on foreign venture capital funding.
• Regulatory and compliance bottlenecks in certain sectors.
• Need for stronger research, development, and deep-tech capabilities.
• Skill gaps and difficulties in commercialising innovation.

Way Forward

• Expand domestic venture capital and startup financing mechanisms.
• Strengthen incubation and mentorship networks across smaller cities.
• Promote deep-tech sectors such as semiconductors, AI, biotechnology, and quantum technologies.
• Enhance industry-academia collaboration and R&D investment.
• Increase support for women entrepreneurs and rural innovator

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