Part B

Endurance of High-Pressure Systems: The Cerberus Heatwave

High-pressure systems tend to be slow moving, which is why they persist for days, or even weeks at a time. They often become semi-permanent features over large areas of land. When high pressure systems form over hot land, in regions like the Sahara, the stability of the system generates even hotter temperatures because the already warm air is heated even more. Eventually, the anticyclone will weaken or break down and the heatwave will come to an end. According to the Italian Meteorological Society, the Cerberus heatwave is expected to persist for around two weeks.

Question no 21. What is the primary reason for the intensification of temperatures during high-pressure systems forming over hot land areas, such as the Sahara?

Policy Reminder: Collecting Collateral Information

Policy Reminder: Collecting Collateral Information Collateral information is an important factor in determining appropriate disposition for psychiatric patients in the Emergency Department. Often, patients with psychiatric complaints are unable to accurately or thoroughly describe their medical history, baseline condition, or events leading up to their arrival at the hospital. Thus, it becomes imperative to contact those who might

know the patient best or were in the patient’s company prior to their arrival. Contact information can be obtained from the patient themselves, persons accompanying the patient, or the medical record. When initiating contact, confirm the other person’s

identity before revealing the patient’s name or the reason you are speaking with them. If you reach voicemail and the answering machine does not clearly identify the person you are looking for, do not reveal any information about the patient – simply state your name, number, position, and whom you are requesting a callback from.

Question no 22. The policy document on collateral information offers advice to staff about how to

Exploring the Performance-Enhancing Potential of Ketones: Fact or Fiction?

The stories of Asterix and his friend Obelix introduced us to a magic potion that comes in a small bottle and doesn’t taste good, but dramatically increases strength and fitness. Sports nutrition scientists have been trying to find or develop a compound with such characteristics for a long while.

Many supplements have been proposed, but few actually work.

The latest supplement receiving lots of attention is ketones. They come in small bottles and their taste is – to put it bluntly – horrible. Because of their high price and claimed improvement gains, many called for their ban. But do they really improve performance?

Question no 23

Based on the information provided in the passage, what is the general sentiment regarding the effectiveness of the proposed supplements for enhancing strength and fitness?

The Deadly Threat of Fungal Infections: A Closer Look at Human Vulnerability

In the 2023 American post-apocalyptic drama television series The Last of Us, humans are plunged towards extinction as a fungal infection of the brain zombie-fies most of the species. This may seem far-fetched but fungi can, and do, infect human brains.

Fungi are present everywhere in our environment: in the air, in the soil, in decaying plant material, on our skin, and even in the gut as part of our natural flora.

Microscopic, disease-causing fungi can invade various parts of the body, leading to a range of symptoms and health problems. In fact, fungal infections contribute to about 1.5 million deaths every year.

Que: 24 Based on the passage, where can fungi be found in the human body?

Rising Threat: The Evolving Landscape of Fungal Infections

For the greater part of the history of humankind, fungal infections were never a threat to human health. This is mainly because most fungi cannot survive the warm human body temperature of 37°C. However, climate change and other environmental pressures have led to the emergence of species of fungi that are capable of surviving at human body temperatures.

Even then, our immune systems are quite capable of fighting against fungal infections. For instance, our bodies can create localised acidic environments, limit micronutrient availability and release antimicrobial agents.However, when the immune system is weakened, fungi are able to evade the body’s defences and avoid detection. They can generate bioactive agents which help them evade or adjust to the host immune response. Some adapt to survive in hostile, low-nutrient and low-oxygen environments.

QUE: 25 what factors have contributed to the emergence of fungal species capable of surviving at human body temperatures?

Personalized Medicine: Tailoring Doses for Individual Needs

For a long time, medicines have been produced with what you might call a “one-size-fits-all” approach, whereby tablets and capsules come in only a set number of doses. But what if those exact doses don’t work for you?

Taking too much or too little of your medication can be hard to avoid when it only comes in set doses. This can have serious consequences when taking important medications such as antidepressants that trigger side effects when the dose is changed too quickly.

Que 26. What is the primary issue with medications that come in set doses?