Hackers :: social issues

Hackers â€Å"...they are still hardly criminal in nature. The intention of most of these individuals is not to destroy or exploit systems but to learn in minute detail how they are used and what they are used for. The quest is purely intellectual, but the drive to learn is so overwhelming that any obstacle blocking its course will be circumvented. Unfortunately the obstacles are usually state and federal laws on unauthorized computer access...† This is a quote from Chris Goggans who was once a member of the hacker Legion of Doom club. On-line he was known as â€Å"Erik Bloodaxe†.1 The term â€Å"hacker† was first used in the nineteen sixties to describe college students at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The students were given this title because of their obsession with computers. They couldn’t get enough of computers. â€Å"Hacker† was a label of pride to these students. These first hackers did things such as probe systems to find out how they worked and how to make it give out secrets just as hackers do today. They believed computer time and software should be free and freely shared and resented those who protected ownership. A surprising aspect of hackers is that they actually had rules of their own of what they could do to others files and what they could not do. These rules said no one was to erase, damage, or change anyone’s files. One last rule that they had was no using any one system for personal gain. Surprisingly, most of the hackers followed these guidelines.. Now over the years, â€Å"hacker† is a label stating competence and knowledge to meaning someone who breaks into computers. With this information we now have the knowledge that hackers are older and do not have ethics and morals as they used to. The old rules have been forgotten and the FBI has made it’s own definition of a typical hacker: 1. Eighteen to thirty-five years old. 2. Usually male. 3. Bright and highly motivated. 4. The first workers on the job in the morning. 5. The most trusted employees on the job. There is an operation known as â€Å"salami slicing†. This is a form of data diddling that occurs when an employee steals small amounts from a large number of sources through the electronic changing of data. Just like slicing thin pieces from a roll of salami. Some hackers fall upon their information on accident.

Frostbite Chapter 14

FOURTEEN TWO GUYS I'D NEVER MET before were squaring off against each other. They looked to be in their twenties, and neither noticed me. The one who'd bumped into me shoved the other one hard, forcing him to stagger back considerably. â€Å"You're afraid!† yelled the guy by me. He had on green swimming trunks, and his black hair was slicked back with water. â€Å"You're all afraid. You just want to hole up in your mansions and let the guardians do your dirty work. What are you going to do when they're all dead? Who'll protect you then?† The other guy wiped the blood off his face with the back of his hand. I suddenly recognized him- thanks to his blond highlights. He was the royal who'd yelled at Tasha about wanting to lead Moroi to battle. She'd called him Andrew. He tried to land a hit and failed; his technique was all wrong. â€Å"This is the safest way. Listen to that Strigoi-lover, and we'll all be dead. She's trying to kill our whole race off!† â€Å"She's trying to save us!† â€Å"She's trying to get us to use black magic!† The â€Å"Strigoi-lover† had to be Tasha. The non-royal guy was the first person outside of my little circle whom I'd ever heard speak in her favor. I wondered how many others out there shared his view. He punched Andrew again, and my base instincts- or maybe the punch- made me leap into action. I sprang forward and wedged myself between them. I was still dizzy and a bit unsteady. If they hadn't been standing so close, I probably would have fallen over. They both hesitated, clearly caught off guard. â€Å"Get out of here,† snapped Andrew. Being male and Moroi, they had greater height and weight than I, but I was probably stronger than either one alone. Hoping I could make the most of that, I grabbed each of them by the arm, pulled them toward me, and then shoved them away as hard as I could. They staggered, not having expected my strength. I staggered a little too. The non-royal glared and took a step toward me. I was counting on the fact that he'd be old-fashioned and not hit a girl. â€Å"What are you doing?† he exclaimed. Several people had gathered and were watching excitedly. I returned his glare. â€Å"I'm trying to stop you guys from being any more idiotic than you already are! You want to help? Stop fighting each other! Ripping each other's heads off isn't going to save the Moroi unless you're trying to thin stupidity out of the gene pool.† I pointed at Andrew. â€Å"Tasha Ozera is not trying to kill everyone off. She's trying to get you to stop being a victim.† I turned to the other guy. â€Å"And as for you, you've got a long ways to go if you think this is the way to get your point across. Magic- especially offensive magic- takes a lot of self-control, and so far, you aren't impressing me with yours. I have more than you do, and if you knew me at all, you'd know how crazy that is.† The two guys stared at me, stunned. I was apparently more effective than a taser. Well, at least for several seconds I was. Because once the shock of my words wore off, they went at each other again. I got caught in the crossfire and shoved away, nearly falling in the process. Suddenly, from behind me, Mason came to my defense. He punched the first guy he could- the non-royal. The guy flew backward, falling into one of the pools with a splash. I yelped, remembering my earlier fear about skull-cracking, but a moment later, he found his feet and rubbed water out of his eyes. I grabbed Mason's arm, trying to hold him back, but he shrugged me off and went after Andrew. He shoved Andrew hard, pushing him into several Moroi- andrew's friends, I suspected- who seemed to be trying to break up the fight. The guy in the pool climbed out, fury written all over his face, and made moves toward Andrew. This time, both Mason and I blocked his way. He glared at all of us. â€Å"Don't,† I warned him. The guy clenched his fists and looked as though he might try to take us on. But we were intimidating, and he didn't appear to have an entourage of friends here like Andrew- who was shouting obscenities and being led away- did. With a few muttered threats, the non-royal backed off. As soon as he was gone, I turned on Mason. â€Å"Are you out of your mind?† â€Å"Huh?† he asked. â€Å"Jumping into the middle of that!† â€Å"You jumped in too,† he said. I started to argue, then realized he was right. â€Å"It's different,† I grumbled. He leaned forward. â€Å"Are you drunk?† â€Å"No. Of course not. I'm just trying to keep you from doing something stupid. Just because you have delusions of being able to kill a Strigoi doesn't mean you have to take it out on everyone else.† â€Å"Delusions?† he asked stiffly. I started to feel kind of nauseous just then. My head spinning, I continued toward the side room, hoping I didn't stumble. But when I reached it, I saw that it wasn't some kind of dessert or drink room after all. Well, at least not in the way I'd been thinking. It was a feeder room. Several humans reclined on satin-covered chaise lounges with Moroi by their sides. Jasmine incense burned in the air. Stunned, I watched with an eerie fascination as a blond Moroi guy leaned forward and bit into the neck of a very pretty redhead. All of these feeders were exceptionally good-looking, I realized just then. Like actresses or models. Only the best for royalty. The guy drank long and deep, and the girl closed her eyes and parted her lips, an expression of pure bliss on her face as Moroi endorphins flooded into her bloodstream. I shivered, taken back to when I too had experienced that same kind of euphoria. In my alcohol-hazed mind, the whole thing suddenly seemed startlingly erotic. In fact, I almost felt intrusive- like I was watching people have sex. When the Moroi finished and licked the last of the blood away, he brushed his lips against her cheek in a soft kiss. â€Å"Want to volunteer?† Light fingertips brushed my neck, and I jumped. I turned around and saw Adrian's green eyes and knowing smirk. â€Å"Don't do that,† I told him, knocking his hand away. â€Å"Then what are you doing in here?† he asked. I gestured around me. â€Å"I'm lost.† He peered at me. â€Å"Are you drunk?† â€Å"No. Of course not†¦but †¦Ã¢â‚¬  The nausea had settled a little, but I still didn't feel right. â€Å"I think I should sit down.† He took my arm. â€Å"Well, don't do it in here. Someone might get the wrong idea. Let's go somewhere quiet.† He steered me off into a different room, and I looked around with interest. It was a massage area. Several Moroi lay back on tables and were getting back and foot massages from hotel staff. The oil they used smelled like rosemary and lavender. Under any other circumstances, a massage would have sounded great, but lying on my stomach seemed like the worst idea just now. I sat down on the carpeted floor, leaning back against the wall. Adrian walked away and returned with a glass of water. Sitting down as well, he handed it to me. â€Å"Drink this. It'll help.† â€Å"I told you, I'm not drunk,† I mumbled. But I downed the water anyway. â€Å"Uh-huh.† He smiled at me. â€Å"You did nice work with that fight. Who was the other guy that helped you?† â€Å"My boyfriend,† I said. â€Å"Sort of.† â€Å"Mia was right. You do have a lot of guys in your life.† â€Å"It's not like that.† â€Å"Okay.† He was still smiling. â€Å"Where's Vasilisa? I figured she'd be attached to you.† â€Å"She's with her boyfriend.† I studied him. â€Å"What's with the tone? Jealous? You want him for yourself?† â€Å"God, no. I just don't like him.† â€Å"Does he treat her badly?† he asked. â€Å"No,† I admitted. â€Å"He adores her. He's just kind of a jerk.† Adrian was clearly enjoying this. â€Å"Ah, you are jealous. Does she spend more time with him than you?† I ignored that. â€Å"Why do you keep asking about her? Are you interested in her?† He laughed. â€Å"Rest easy, I'm not interested in her in the same way I am you.† â€Å"But you are interested.† â€Å"I just want to talk to her.† He left to fetch me more water. â€Å"Feeling better?† he asked, handing the glass to me. It was crystal and intricately carved. It seemed too fancy for plain water. â€Å"Yeah †¦ I didn't think those drinks were that strong.† â€Å"That's the beauty of them,† he chuckled. â€Å"And speaking of beauty †¦ that's a great color on you.† I shifted. I might not have been showing as much skin as those other girls, but I was showing more than I really wanted to with Adrian. Or was I? There was something weird about him. His arrogant manner annoyed me†¦but I still liked being around him. Maybe the smartass in me recognized a kindred spirit. Somewhere in the back of my drunken mind, a light clicked on. But I couldn't quite get to it. I drank more water. â€Å"You haven't had a cigarette in, like, ten minutes,† I pointed out, wanting to change the subject. He made a face. â€Å"No smoking in here.† â€Å"I'm sure you've made up for it in punch.† His smile returned. â€Å"Well, some of us can hold our liquor. You aren't going to be sick, are you?† I still felt tipsy but no longer nauseous. â€Å"No.† â€Å"Good.† I thought back to when I'd dreamed about him. It had been just a dream, but it had stuck with me, particularly the talk about me being surrounded in darkness. I wanted to ask him about it†¦ even though I knew it was stupid. It had been my dream, not his. â€Å"Adrian†¦Ã¢â‚¬  He turned his green eyes on me. â€Å"Yes, darling?† I couldn't bring myself to ask. â€Å"Never mind.† He started to retort, then tilted his head toward the door. â€Å"Ah, here she comes.† â€Å"Who- â€Å" Lissa stepped into the room, eyes scanning around. When she spotted us, I saw relief break over her. I couldn't feel it, though. Intoxicants like alcohol numbed the bond. It was another reason I shouldn't have taken such a stupid chance tonight. â€Å"There you are,† she said, kneeling beside me. Glancing at Adrian, she gave him a nod. â€Å"Hey.† â€Å"Hey yourself, cousin,† he returned, using the family terms royals sometimes used around each other. â€Å"You okay?† Lissa asked me. â€Å"When I saw how drunk you were, I thought you might have fallen in somewhere and drowned.† â€Å"I'm not- † I gave up trying to deny it. â€Å"I'm fine.† Adrian's usual expression had turned serious as he studied Lissa. It again reminded me of the dream. â€Å"How'd you find her?† Lissa gave him a puzzled look. â€Å"I, um, checked all the rooms.† â€Å"Oh.† He looked disappointed. â€Å"I thought you might have used your bond.† Both she and I stared. â€Å"How do you know about that?† I demanded. Only a few people at school knew about it. Adrian had spoken about it as casually as he might have my hair color. â€Å"Hey, I can't reveal all my secrets, can I?† he asked mysteriously. â€Å"And besides, there's a certain way you two act around each other †¦ it's hard to explain. It's pretty cool†¦ all the old myths are true.† Lissa regarded him warily. â€Å"The bond only works one way. Rose can sense what I'm feeling and thinking, but I can't do it back to her.† â€Å"Ah.† We sat in silence a few moments, and I drank more water. Adrian spoke again. â€Å"What'd you specialize in anyway, cousin?† She looked embarrassed. We both knew it was important to keep her spirit powers secret from others who might abuse her healing, but her cover story of not having specialized always bothered her. â€Å"I haven't,† she said. â€Å"Do they think you're going to? Late bloomer?† â€Å"No.† â€Å"You're probably higher in the other elements, though, right? Just not strong enough to really master any?† He reached out to pat her shoulder in an exaggerated show of comfort. â€Å"Yeah, how'd you- â€Å" The instant his fingers touched her, she gasped. It was as though a bolt of lightning had struck her. The strangest look crossed her face. Even drunk, I felt the flood of joy that came pouring through the bond. She stared at Adrian in wonder. His eyes were locked onto hers too. I didn't understand why they were looking at each other like that, but it bothered me. â€Å"Hey,† I said. â€Å"Stop that. I told you, she has a boyfriend.† â€Å"I know,† he said, still watching her. A small smile turned his lips. â€Å"We need to have a chat someday, cousin.† â€Å"Yes,† she agreed. â€Å"Hey.† I was more confused than ever. â€Å"You have a boyfriend. And there he is.† She blinked back to reality. All three of us turned toward the doorway. Christian and the others stood there. I suddenly had a flashback to when they'd found me with Adrian's arm around me. This wasn't much better. Lissa and I were sitting on either side of him, very close. She sprang up, looking mildly guilty. Christian was regarding her curiously. â€Å"We're getting ready to leave,† he said. â€Å"Okay,† she told him. She looked down at me. â€Å"Ready?† I nodded and started to clamber to my feet. Adrian caught my arm as I did and helped me up. He smiled at Lissa. â€Å"Nice talking to you.† To me, he murmured very quietly, â€Å"Don't worry. I told you, I'm not interested in her in that way. She doesn't look as good in a bathing suit. Probably not as good out of one either.† I pulled my arm away. â€Å"Well, you'll never find out.† â€Å"It's okay,† he said. â€Å"I have a good imagination.† I joined the others, and we headed back toward the main part of the lodge. Mason gave me as strange a look as Christian had given Lissa and stayed away from me, walking toward the front with Eddie. To my surprise and discomfort, I found myself walking beside Mia. She looked miserable. â€Å"I†¦ I'm really sorry about what happened,† I said finally. â€Å"You don't have to act like you care, Rose.† â€Å"No, no. I mean it. It's horrible†¦I'm so sorry.† She wouldn't look at me. â€Å"Is†¦that is, are you going to see your dad soon?† â€Å"Whenever they have the memorial,† she said stiffly. â€Å"Oh.† I didn't know what else to say and gave up, instead turning my attention to the stairs as we climbed back up to the lodge's main level. Unexpectedly, Mia was the one who continued the conversation. â€Å"I watched you break up that fight †¦Ã¢â‚¬  she said slowly. â€Å"You mentioned offensive magic. Like you knew about it.† Oh. Great. She was going to make a play at blackmail†¦or was she? At the moment, she seemed almost civil. â€Å"I was just guessing,† I said. No way was I going to bust Tasha and Christian. â€Å"I don't really know that much. Just stories I've heard.† â€Å"Oh.† Her face fell. â€Å"What kind of stories?† â€Å"Um, well†¦Ã¢â‚¬ I tried to think of something neither too vague nor too specific. â€Å"Like I told those guys†¦the concentration thing is big. Because if you're in a battle with Strigoi, all sorts of things can distract you. So you've got to keep control.† That was actually a basic guardian rule, but it must have been new to Mia. Her eyes widened with eagerness. â€Å"What else? What kind of spells do people use?† I shook my head. â€Å"I don't know. I don't really even know how spells work, and like I said, these are just†¦stories I've heard. My guess is you just find ways to use your element as a weapon. Like †¦ fire users really have an advantage because fire'll kill Strigoi, so it's easy for them. And air users can suffocate people.† I'd actually experienced that last one vicariously through Lissa. It had been horrible. Mia's eyes grew wider still. â€Å"What about a water user?† she asked. â€Å"How could water hurt a Strigoi?† I paused. â€Å"I, uh, never heard any stories about water users. Sorry.† â€Å"Do you have any ideas, though? Ways that, like, someone like me could learn to fight?† Ah. So that's what this was about. It actually wasn't all that crazy. I remembered how excited she'd looked at the meeting when Tasha had talked about attacking Strigoi. Mia wanted to take revenge on the Strigoi for her mother's death. No wonder she and Mason had been getting along so well. â€Å"Mia,† I said gently, catching hold of the door to let her pass. We were almost at the lobby now. â€Å"I know how you must want to †¦ do something. But I think you're better off just sort of letting yourself, um, grieve.† She reddened, and suddenly, I was seeing the normal and angry Mia. â€Å"Don't talk down to me,† she said. â€Å"Hey, I'm not. I'm serious. I'm just saying you shouldn't do anything rash while you're still upset. Besides †¦Ã¢â‚¬  I bit off my words. She narrowed her eyes. â€Å"What?† Screw it. She needed to know. â€Å"Well, I don't really know what good a water user would be against a Strigoi. It's probably the least useful element to use on one of them.† Outrage filled her features. â€Å"You're a real bitch, you know that?† â€Å"I'm just telling you the truth.† â€Å"Well, let me tell you the truth. You're a total idiot when it comes to guys.† I thought about Dimitri. She wasn't entirely off base. â€Å"Mason's great,† she continued. â€Å"One of the nicest guys I know- and you don't even notice! He'd do anything for you, and you were off throwing yourself at Adrian Ivashkov.† Her words surprised me. Could Mia have a crush on Mason? And while I certainly hadn't been throwing myself at Adrian, I could see how it might have looked that way. And even if it weren't true, that wouldn't have stopped Mason from feeling hurt and betrayed. â€Å"You're right,† I said. Mia stared at me, so astonished I'd agreed with her that she didn't say anything else for the rest of the walk. We reached the part of the lodge that split off into different wings for guys and girls. I grabbed a hold of Mason's arm as the others walked off. â€Å"Hang on,† I told him. I badly needed to reassure him about Adrian, but a tiny part of me wondered if I was doing it because I actually wanted Mason or because I just liked the idea of him wanting me and selfishly didn't want to lose that. He stopped and looked at me. His face was wary. â€Å"I wanted to tell you I'm sorry. I shouldn't have yelled at you after the fight- I know you were just trying to help. And with Adrian†¦nothing happened. I mean it.† â€Å"It didn't look that way,† Mason said. But the anger on his face had faded. â€Å"I know, but believe me, it's all him. He's got some kind of stupid crush on me.† My tone must have been convincing because Mason smiled. â€Å"Well. Hard not to.† â€Å"I'm not interested in him,† I continued. â€Å"Or anyone else.† It was a small lie, but I didn't think it mattered just then. I was going to be over Dimitri soon, and Mia had been right about Mason. He was wonderful and sweet and cute. I would be an idiot not to pursue this †¦ right? My hand was still on his arm, and I pulled him toward me. He didn't need much more of a signal. He leaned down and kissed me, and in the process, I found myself pressed up against the wall- very much like with Dimitri in the practice room. Of course, it felt nothing like how it had with Dimitri, but it was still nice in its way. I put my arms around Mason and started to pull him closer. â€Å"We could go †¦ somewhere,† I said. He pushed back and laughed. â€Å"Not when you're drunk.† â€Å"I'm not†¦ that†¦ drunk anymore,† I said, trying to pull him back. Giving me a small kiss on the lips, he stepped back. â€Å"Drunk enough. Look, this isn't easy, believe me. But if you still want me tomorrow- when you're sober- then we'll talk.† He leaned down and kissed me again. I tried to wrap my arms around him, but he broke away once more. â€Å"Easy there, girl,† he teased, backing toward his hallway. I glared at him, but he only laughed and turned around. As he walked away, my glare faded, and I headed back to my room with a smile on my face.

History of Economic Thought Essay

(1) In the article of Allen et al. â€Å"The Foundations of Free Enterprise,† the three types of economic system were discussed. In a traditional economic system, the allocation of resources is based on social customs, culture, and to some extent, religious traditions. The distribution of the fruits of production is dictated by traditional criteria such as age, sex, and other individual qualities that are not essentially related to personal productivity. Primitive, agrarian, and less-developed societies mostly fall on this category. Many traditional economies progressed into a market economic system, wherein the allocation of resources is controlled by private individuals and businesses. The individuals make independent decisions that reflect their best interest, affecting the market demand, product supply, the price of products, and the kinds of goods and services produced. Business competition could be tight, causing some businesses to close down and unemployment to rise. Meanwhile, the government has only minimal control over the individual and business decisions, interfering only when needed. This often results in unequal distribution of resources, which causes poverty to emerge. Conversely, in a command or authoritative economic system, the allocation of resources is directed by the government. The government operates all the industries, determines what goods and services to be produced, how they will be to produced, how they will be divided among the people, and decides how to utilize the talents and skills of its workers. Hence, equal distribution of resources is enforced at the expense of individual freedom. 2) The Quantity Theory of Money (QTM) was developed during the 16th century in an attempt to explain why gold and silver inflow into the U. S. and Europe caused the price levels to increase. Schenk, in his article on money, reports that after minting the large amounts of gold and silver from the Aztec and Incan empires which were brought back to Spain by the conquistadors, the amount of money in circulation went up. The price levels, at the same time, gradually started their slow, century-long rise. Economists such as Henry Thornton were led to assume that â€Å"more money equals more inflation and an increase in money supply does not necessarily mean an increase in economic output† (cited in the article of Heakal on What is the Quantity Theory of Money). Thus, a direct relationship was established between the quantity of money in an economy and the price levels of goods and services. For instance, when the amount of money in circulation doubles, price levels also double, which causes inflation, i. e. the rate at which the price level escalates. This means that the consumer pays twice as much for the same amount of the good or service. (3) Christianity taught faith in reason as the greatest gift of God to man. This stimulated the pursuit of science and democratic practice which gave rise to capitalism. Christian theologians also theorized about the nature of equality and individual rights, which is a feature of capitalism. Christianity also fostered actual progress in ter ms of technical and organizational innovations. During the medieval times, the church was the largest landowner in Europe, and much of the profit went to the religious orders to pay for liturgical services. The rapid innovation in agricultural technology yielded large profits, causing the church to reinvest profits to increase production and diversified. It also led the church to hire more labor force. Hence, based on this information, it is safe to conclude that the church has largely contributed to the rise of capitalism during the medieval period (Stark, B11).

7 Facts About Bacteriophages

7 Facts About Bacteriophages Bacteriophages are bacteria eaters in that they are viruses that infect and destroy bacteria. Sometimes called phages, these microscopic organisms are ubiquitous in nature. In addition to infecting bacteria, bacteriophages also infect other microscopic prokaryotes known as archaea. This infection is specific to a specific species of bacteria or archaea. A phage that infects E. coli for instance, will not infect anthrax bacteria. Since bacteriophages do not infect human cells, they have been used in medical therapies to treat bacterial diseases. Bacteriophages have three main structure types. Since bacteriophages are viruses, they consist of a nucleic acid (DNA or RNA) enclosed within a protein shell or capsid. A bacteriophage may also have a protein tail attached to the capsid with tail fibers extending from the tail. The tail fibers help the phage attach to its host and the tail helps to inject the viral genes into the host. A bacteriophage may exist as: viral genes in a capsid head with no tailviral genes in  a capsid head with a taila filamentous or rod-shaped capsid with circular single-stranded DNA. Bacteriophages pack their genome How do viruses fit their voluminous genetic material into their capsids? RNA bacteriophages, plant viruses, and animal viruses have a self-folding mechanism that enables the viral genome to fit within the capsid container. It appears that only viral RNA genome have this self-folding mechanism. DNA viruses fit their genome into the capsid with the help of special enzymes known as packing enzymes. Bacteriophages have two life cycles Bacteriophages are capable of reproducing by either the lysogenic or lytic life cycles. The lysogenic cycle is also known as the temperate cycle because the host is not killed. The virus injects its genes into the bacterium and the viral genes are inserted into the bacterial chromosome. In the bacteriophage lytic cycle, the virus replicates within the host. The host is killed when the newly replicated viruses break open or lyse the host cell and are released. Bacteriophages transfer genes between bacteria Bacteriophages help to transfer genes between bacteria by means of genetic recombination. This type of gene transfer is known as transduction. Transduction can be accomplished through either the lytic or lysogenic cycle. In the lytic cycle, for example, the phage injects its DNA into a bacterium and enzymes separate the bacterial DNA into pieces. The phage genes direct the bacterium to produce more viral genes and viral components (capsids, tail, etc.). As the new viruses begin to assemble, bacterial DNA may inadvertently become enclosed within a viral capsid. In this case, the phage possesses bacterial DNA instead of viral DNA. When this phage infects another bacterium, it injects the DNA from the previous bacterium into the host cell. The donor bacterial DNA then may become inserted into the genome of the newly infected bacterium by recombination. As a result, the genes from one bacterium are transferred to another. Bacteriophages can make bacteria harmful to humans Bacteriophages play a role in human disease by turning some harmless bacteria into agents of disease. Some bacteria species including E. coli, Streptococcus pyogenes (causes flesh-eating disease), Vibrio cholerae (causes cholera), and Shigella (causes dysentery) become harmful when genes that produce toxic substances are transferred to them via bacteriophages. These bacteria are then able to infect humans and cause food poisoning and other deadly diseases. Bacteriophages are being used to target superbugs Scientists have isolated bacteriophages that destroy the superbug Clostridium difficile (C. diff). C. diff typically affects the digestive system causing diarrhea and colitis. Treating this type of infection with bacteriophages provides a way to preserve the good gut bacteria while destroying only the C. diff germs. Bacteriophages are seen as a good alternative to antibiotics. Due to antibiotic overuse, resistant strains of bacteria are becoming more common. Bacteriophages are also being used to destroy other superbugs including drug-resistant E. coli and MRSA. Bacteriophages play a significant role in the world's carbon cycle Bacteriophages are the most abundant virus in the ocean. Phages known as Pelagiphages infect and destroy SAR11 bacteria. These bacteria convert dissolved carbon molecules into carbon dioxide and influence the amount of available atmospheric carbon. Pelagiphages play an important role in the carbon cycle by destroying SAR11 bacteria, which proliferate at a high rate and are very good at adapting to avoid infection. Pelagiphages keep SAR11 bacteria numbers in check, ensuring that there is not an overabundance of global carbon dioxide production. Sources: Encyclopà ¦dia Britannica Online, s. v. bacteriophage, accessed October 07, 2015, britannica.com/science/bacteriophage.Norwegian School of Veterinary Science. Viruses Can Turn Harmless E. Coli Dangerous. ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 22 April 2009. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/04/090417195827.htm.University of Leicester. Bacteria-eating viruses magic bullets in the war on superbugs. ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 16 October 2013. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/10/131016212558.htm.Oregon State University. A war without end, with Earths carbon cycle held in the balance. ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 13 February 2013. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130213132323.htm.

indias earthquake essays

indias earthquake essays Residents in the Gujarat State of western India spent the night outside Friday, too fearful to go back into their damaged homes after India's most powerful earthquake in half a century. The 7.9 magnitude earthquake killed as many as 2,000, injured at least 2,000, and left 4,000 missing. Most of the missing are thought to be buried under rubble, and rescue workers dug frantically with bulldozers, shovels, sticks even bare hands trying to find them. "The earthquake is a calamity of national magnitude," said Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who planned a trip to the area to survey damage. "We have decided to meet the emergency on a war footing," he said. "This is the time for people to rally around." The temblor shook high-rise towers 600 miles away in the capital, New Delhi. The quake could be felt as far as 1,200 miles away in Calcutta and coastal Bangladesh. The quake struck at 8:46 a.m. as many cities were beginning celebrations for India's 51st Republic Day, which commemorates the adoption of the country's constitution. In Ahmadabad, Gujarat's commercial capital and a sprawling city of 4.5 million, helmeted rescue workers used iron rods to pry slabs of concrete and metal, searching for survivors. Women wept and rocked back and forth, watching as the few available bulldozers and cranes pushed through the piles of stone that once had housed families and shops. Beds, children's toys and clothes lay abandoned in the debris, lamp posts and electric pylons were twisted and many buildings were left leaning precariously. After night fell, with temperatures at 55 degrees, survivors spread blankets and huddled around campfires. "There is a great panic among the people and they have spilled out onto the streets," said Haren Panya, home minister of Gujarat. Because of the aftershocks, "We have asked people to move out of old buildings." Corpses were piled up on the verandah of the N.S. Hospital,...

Top-25 Chemistry Features and Articles

Top-25 Chemistry Features and Articles What are visitors reading? ThoughtCo. has you covered with this handy list of all of the top chemistry topics readers are perusing. Included in this top-25 listing are brief explanations of what youll find if you click the links. Using the periodic table  - The periodic table of the elements contains a wide variety of information. Most tables list element symbols, atomic number, and atomic mass at a minimum. The periodic table is organized so you can see trends in element properties at a glance.Chemical and physical changes  -  Chemical and physical changes are related to  chemical and physical properties.  Chemical changes take place on the molecular level. A chemical change produces a  new substance, as this article explains.Printable periodic tables  - Sometimes its nice to have a paper version of the periodic table of the elements that you can refer to when working problems or doing experiments in the lab. This is a collection of periodic tables that you can print and use. Additional specialty tables are also available.Chemistry glossary  - Find the definitions to terms in this ever-expanding glossary.  The comprehensive glossary offers definitions for terms which are commonly used in ch emistry and chemical engineering. Printable chemistry worksheets  - Print worksheets to practice chemistry problems.  The collection of chemistry worksheets is available in PDF format.Facts about acids and bases - Learn the essential about acids, bases and pH. The link provides the top 10 facts ranging from definitions to the  common test of whether an unknown is an acid or a base.Baking soda vs. baking powder  - Baking powder contains baking soda, but the two substances are used under different conditions.  Learn about the difference between the two and how to make substitutions while baking.Can you drink too much water?  - In a word, yes.  Learn whether its possible to drink too much water, how much it takes, and what happens.Chemistry problems  - Learn how to work problems by using examples.  This collection contains worked general chemistry and introductory chemistry problems, listed in alphabetical orderCrystal meth  - The chemical n-methyl-1-phenyl-propan-2-amine is called methamphetamine, m ethylamphetamine or desoxyephedrine. The shortened name is simply meth.  Learn about the chemistry of this well-known illegal drug. How to write a lab report  - Lab reports are an essential part of all laboratory courses and usually a significant part of your grade.  Here are step-by-step instructions on how to prepare a lab report for chemistry.List of elements  - This is a list of all the known chemical elements.  The names and  element symbols  are provided in this comprehensive list.How to calculate concentration  - Calculating the  concentration  of a chemical  solution is a basic skill all students of chemistry must develop early in their studies.  Learn how to determine the concentration of a chemical solution.Heterogeneous vs. homogeneous  - Heterogeneous  and  homogeneous  refer to mixtures of materials in chemistry.  Find out the difference between heterogeneous and homogeneous mixtures and get examples.How to balance equations  - A chemical equation describes what happens in a chemical  reaction.  Learn how to set up a balanced equation.Acid-base indicators  - An   acid-base indicator  is a weak acid or a weak base.  Information in this article includes common indicators, with a table showing pH ranges, quantities and colors. How to calculate theoretical yield  - Before performing chemical reactions, it is helpful to know how much product will be produced with given quantities of reactants.  Learn how to calculate the theoretical yield of a chemical reaction.What is borax?  - Borax is a natural mineral with a chemical formula Na2B4O7   10H2O.  Find out what borax is and how it cleans and kills bugs. Learn whether its safe to use.Independent vs. dependent variables  - The two main variables in an experiment are the independent and dependent variable. Learn to understand the difference between independent and dependent variables in a scientific experiment.Firework colors  - Creating firework colors is a complex endeavor, requiring considerable art and application of physical science.  Learn how the colors are formed with a table of common colorants.Periodic table quiz  - Use information about the elements found using a periodic table to answer the questions to this multiple-choice quiz.Nat ural mosquito repellents  -  You can avoid being bitten by making sure you arent attracting mosquitoes by using a repellent and avoiding actions that diminish the effectiveness of the repellent.  Find natural alternatives to help repel mosquitoes and other insects. Chemistry quizzes  - Look here for all of the quizzes and self-tests and for links to quizzes at other sites.  This collection of chemistry test questions is grouped according to subject.  Home experiments  - Whether you are homeschooling or simply looking for chemistry activities that you can do with everyday materials, this link will help. The link includes everything from holiday-themed experiments to steps for building a volcano.Science fair experiments  - Get instructions for setting up your own project.  This list of science fair project ideas is grouped according to topic and educational level. Learn how to make a poster and give a presentation judges will love.

CROSS CULTURAL MANAGEMENT - HR Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

CROSS CULTURAL MANAGEMENT - HR - Essay Example Communication problems arising owing to cultural diversity can damage the team relationships in a business organization. In the case study under consideration, the French company Lemma is facing such problems owing to the differences between its organizational culture and the cultural makeup of the Anglo-Saxon companies it has acquired. There exist distinct differences between the French and Anglo-Saxon cultural values. The organizational culture at Lemma had its basis in the French cultural and social values, which made it difficult for the company to face the global integration – local adaptation dilemma. As per the Hofstede cultural dimensions, France has a high Power Difference Index. This means that the French managers tend to be autocratic in their approach towards administration and business. They prefer a hierarchical form of organization, where the senior administrators and managers do retain a certain distance from their subordinates. The French tend to prefer a cent ralized form of administration and expect their subordinates to obediently endorse the decisions taken by them. French are collectivist in their business and social interactions. The teams tend to be closely integrated in their approach and composition and there exist strong bonds between the colleagues in an organization that are to a great extent determined by status and hierarchy. The managers tend to support and protect their subordinates in exchange for unquestioning loyalty. The companies operate like a large family that is usually hierarchical in its constitution. The French culture is an essentially feminine culture. Personal relationships and bonds stand above anything else. Team members prefer to be modest and caring in their approach and preference is given to arriving at mutually acceptable decisions through consensus, rather than through direct confrontation. France has a high Uncertainty Avoidance Index, meaning that the French managers have a high intolerance for unce rtainty and ambiguity and are uncomfortable with contrary opinions and ideas. Hall facilitates another set of cultural dimensions, which offer more insight into the French cultural values. According to Hall, the French culture is a High Context Culture. Much is taken for granted and people believe in instinctive and contextual understanding rather than resorting to detailed explanation. There exists a strong distinction between in-group and out-group. The bonds between team members are very strong and interpersonal relationships play a crucial role in career development. There is high preference for long term relationships and people are very flexible with time. These premises are supported by the theory of Dutch scholar Trompenaars, as per whom the French culture is affiliated to particularism with highly collectivist tendencies. The French tend to be specific in their approach to relationships, depending too much on custom and protocol. It is an ascription culture, where status is governed more by traditional norms and less by individual achievement. In that context, the term ‘Anglo-Saxon’ primarily refers to the cultural values and norms of the Lemma’s non-French employees, who are primarily North Americans. The cultural values of these employees are in sharp contrast to Lemma’s specifically French values. The ‘Anglo-Saxon’ cultural values lean in the favour of a low Power Distance Index in the sense that Lemma’s Anglo-Saxon employees and managers are not accepting