Kymograph is an electrical device used in preclinical medical research to record the biological responses (muscular motion, change in BP, and other physiological phenomena) of various tissues. It was invented by Carl Ludwig (1847) to record the change in arterial BP. It consists of an electrically driven gear box with a vertical spindle carrying a drum, and is disengaged before changing the gear box or moving the drum manually By convention, the drum rotates in the clockwise direction, so all kymograph records should be read from left to right.
What is the source of allethrin?
Allethrins are compounds used in household insecticides like mosquito coils because they have low toxicity for humans. They are sourced from chrysanthemum flowers, found in Asia and eastern Europe. These plants, which have large white, yellow, pink or red flower heads, are cultivated for ornamental, culinary or insecticidepreparation purposes. The flowers are pulverized and the allethrin compounds found in the seed cells are extracted and sold to insecticide makers.
What is xenotransplantation?
Xenotransplantation is the use of non-human animal cells, tissues and organs in human patients. These cells can be implanted or enclosed in a device used outside the body. The tissue is harvested from animals already being butchered. Immune rejection remains the biggest challenge for a xenotransplant. Cross-species transplants are more likely to produce host-vs-graft problems. A worrisome element of xenotransplant is the potential for infectious disease from donor animals which is called xenozoonosis.
What is gradenigo's syndrome?
Gradenigo, an Italian otolaryngologist from the University of Naples, described this syndrome in 1904, Painful anaesthesia in the first division of the fifth cranial nerve supplying the forehead with sixth cranial nerve palsy occurs in this syndrome. It happens as a result of a lesion at the apex of petrous temporal bone outside the dura mater. It may be due to infection, trauma or infiltration of the nasopharyngeal cancer. Additionally, the patient may have deep retro-orbital pain and swelling of the same side of face and scalp. The syndrome may be associated with vertigo and hearing loss. An MRI is better than CT scan for early diagnosis.
Who were the hobbits?
Most know hobbits as the fictional dwarf-like creatures from JRR Tolkein's 'The Lord of the Rings' trilogy. But scientists discovered the fossilized remains of hobbit like creatures in a remote island in Indonesia. They believed them to be a separate species and called them Homo florsiensis or Man of Flores. However, some anthropologists refuted the claim that they were a separate species and said the diminutive size of the hobbit-like cave dwellers was probablydue to an iodine deficiency during pregnancy due to which their growth was stunted.
What is a nocebo?
Nocebo is an inert drug which when administered to a patient causes harmful effects in her, not because of any inherent chemical characteristics, but because she has negative feelings about it. It's the opposite of a placebo, a sugar pill supposed to produce a therapeutic effect because the patient has faith in the drug or doo.tor administering it. In Latin, 'nocebo'' means 'I will harm' and Walter Kennedy chose the term in 1961. Although the effect of a nocebo or placebo is not scientifically, established, many people believe that —they work by their power of suggestion. They are used for control groups in clinical trials, and in drug-related experiments.
How is buffalo mozzarella made?
First of all, raw buffalo milk stored in big steel containers is given thermo treatment and then it is poured into a cream separator where curdling is done by induction of natural whey The curd is stored in tubs to reduce acidification processes till it reaches a pH value of nearly 4.95. Then, hot water is poured on it in order to soften it after which shaping is done with special shapers. These are then immersed in cold water and then in pickling tubs containing original whey at last, packaging is done in special films.
What is nomophobia?
It's the fear of being out of mobile phone contact. According to a study nomophobia is plaguing our 24/7 life — running out of battery, credit or losing one's handset, About 53% of users surveyed are affected by not having network coverage. The survey revealed that men suffer more than women, with 48% of females and 58% of males admitting to feelings of anxiety Many respondents said they never switched off their mobile phones.
What is the alexander technique?
It is a technioue developed by F M Alexander, who utilized the self-observation and reasoning methods to enhance the physical performance of human body like sitting, standing, walking and speaking. It is utilized to overcome unwanted physical habits developed over the years through refined strategies borne out of empirical reasoning. It is a helpful tool, for traditional methods of medication.
How did the polar bear evolve?
Zoologists believe that the polar bear evolved from a species of brown bears in Siberia, making polar bears the eighth species of bears. With the shifting of polar, ice caps and glaciers, the brown bear species native to that area was forced to adapt to the new environment, undergoing physical body changes to keep warm in the brutally cold weather. Their fur thickened and eventually turned white. Over time, the next few generations evolved with even thicker fur, a more rounded pointy face, larger teeth and claws, bigger feet with a patch on the bottom to help them keep their grip, while walking on the ice and sharper senses. Today, polar bears live in the Arctic, Alaska, Greenland, Canada and Norway Their habitat is snow-covered mountains, mostly frozen bodies of water and where seals are found in abundance. Besides seals, polar bears eat walruses and even whales. The snow helps them blend into their environment for safety, even though man is their only predator.
What is macrobiotics?
The word macrobiotic originates from the Greek word meaning 'great or larger than life'. It is based on The Yellow Emperor's Classic of Internal Medicine, the oldest-known book of Chinese medicine. It is attributed to Huang Ti, the legendary Yellow Emperor (2704 BC), but was probably not written until about 500 BC. Macrobiotics is a healthy, holistic way of living a balanced lifestyie. It is a vast subject, but basically comes down to the fact that the world (the Earth and all thereon) is a constantly changing holistic system that is ever striving for balance. It not only covers diet, but balance in body, soul and spirit. Foods that help us remain centred are whole grains, vegetables, vegetable protein, nuts, seeds, sea vegetables, miso, pickles etc.
Which is the world's first oceanarium?
The word oceanarium could mean two things. It can either mean a marine mammal park, which is a commercial theme park where dolphins, Beluga whales, and sea lions are kept within water tanks and displayed to the public in special shows. It could also mean a largescale aquarium such as the Lisbon Oceanarium, which is a vivarium consisting of at least one transparent side in which water-dwelling animals and plants are kept, presenting an ocean habitat with marine animals, especially large fish such as shark. Marineland of Florida, one of Florida's first theme parks is the world's first oceanarium. With the passage of time, oceanarium gradually took the term of largescale aquariums like the kind we see today. Marine land was founded in 1937, and mainly focused on dolphin shows. In 1999, Hurricanes Floyd and Irene forced the park to close for two months. In 2004, the park closed completely for renovations, and re-opened oh March 4, 2006. The park is now a Dolphin Conservation Center, where; guests can interact and swim with the dolphins.
How is a stallion different from a gelding?
Gelding is a castrated male horse while a stallion is a male horse that isn't castrated. Geldings are calmer and better behaved, making them potentially more suitable as an everyday working animal. Also, geldings eliminate conflicts within domestic horse herds. Stallions are male horses used for mating and are normally the finest ones. They have a good muscular physique and are aggressive but can be controlled if trained well. They are used for horse racing, horse shows etc.
What is genetic drift?
The random changes in gene frequencies occurring by chance and not under the control of natural selection are called genetic drift or random genetic drift or sampling error. This theory was advocated by geneticist Sewall Wright in 1930. It explains the change in gene frequency and hence evolution. It is caused due to sampling error. A new generation arises from a sample of sex cells, randomly taken from the gene pool (or gametes) of the preceding generation. Now, when a sample is drawn in a large population randomly, chances that the sample will contain nearly the same gene frequency that is present in the gene pool are very high. But in a small population (and hence a small gene pool), chances that the sample drawn at random will contain an altered gene frequency are very high.
What is ophidiophobia?
Ophidiophobia is a Greek term which is a combination of 'ophis" meaning snake and phobia meaning fear. Ophidiophobia refers to the fear of snakes, alternatively termed as herpetophobia. This kind of phobia is quite distinct from the fear of venom. An ophidiophobiac is usually afraid of snakes, not only when they come in contact with one but even when they think of snakes or see them on TV or in a magazine. One of the remarkable characteristics of the fictional character Indiana Jones is that he is an ophidiophobiac.
What is the yuppie flu?
Yuppie flu, which is also called the shirkers' syndrome, is a term cynically applied to those suffering from chronic fatigue syndrome. Earlier, doctors and others believed symptoms of chronic fatigue such as sleep disorders and other severe problems to be imagined. But now, scientists are linking the yuppie flu to gene mutations, and medical professionals around the world largely agree that the syndrome is actually real.
What are sciophytes?
Sciophytes are shade-loving trees or plants. These plants have larger photosynthetic units than sun plants or heliophytes. Sciophytes are also known as photophobous plants and they reach their saturation level in only 20% sunlight. Shade-plants essentially follow strategies of optimum use of available energy and conservation of energy. Adaptation to achieve these strategic goals include thinner leaves with a relatively higher chlorophyll content per unit leaf volume; lens-shaped epidermal cells that focus incoming light into and within the mesophyll; a red-cell layer that reflects outgoing light back into the mesophyll, and greater allocation of available energy to defencemechanisms against herbivory
What are ground antbirds?
Ground antbirds are tropical birds belonging to the family Formicariidae. They follow army ants and feed on insects, frogs, and lizards disturbed by the ants. They are native to South America.
Who was typhoid mary?
Mary Mallon (September 23,1869 - November 11,1938), also known as Typhoid Mary, was the first person in the US to be identified as a healthy carrier of typhoid fever. She worked as a cook in New York City She was an Irish girl who'd migrated to the US for a better life. She infected nearly 53 people, three of whom died. At first, when a health inspector found her to be a carrier, she was isolated for three years at a hospital and after that she was released on the condition that she would not work with food. But, she found work as a cook in a hospital, this time under the name Mary Brown. This time, health inspectors quarantined her for life. Mary died of pneumonia; an autopsy found evidence of live typhoid bacteria in her gall bladder. Now, Typhoid Mary has become a generic name for those carrying any dangerous disease without showing of anysymptom of it. There were nearly 200 healthy carriers working in and around kitchens of "New York at that time. So, some question why only Mary Mallon was quarantined.
What is iminunohistochemistry?
Immunohistochemistry is the process of localising proteins in cells of a tissue section exploiting the principle of anti-bodies binding specifically with antigens in biological tissues. It takes its name from the roots 'immuno', in reference to anti-bodies used in the procedure, and 'histo' meaning tissue. Immunohistochemistry is widely used in the diagnosis of abnormal cells such as those found in cancerous tumours.
What is parthenocarpy?
The term parthenocarpy originates from the Greek words 'parthenos' meaning virgin and 'karpos' meaning fruit. It refers to the production and development of seedless fruits. It has become increasingly important because: 1. Seeds are irritants when eating fruits. 2. Processing fruits requires removal of seeds; hence seedless fruits are desired. Parthenocarpy is of two types. Vegetative parthenocarpy: when seedless fruits develop even without stimulus of pollination, e.g. pear. Stimulative parthenocarpy is when pollination is required without the actual process of fertilisation, e.g. grapes.
What is the difference between creepers and climbers?
Both creepers and climbers are weak-stemmed plants and, hence, cannot grow erect without support. The difference is that creepers spread horizontally along the soil. At the nodal regions — where leaves grow — they produce fibrelike roots arising from the base of the stem, which get fixed and grow further. Such weak stems in creepers are called prostrate stems. Climbers take the support of an object for climbing. Some climbers simply twine around certain supporting plants in a spiral manner; some of them produce hooks to climb, and some others produce special roots serving as holdfasts to climb.
What's the giri raja chicken?
It's a breed of chicken developed in Bangalore that can be used to produce both meat and eggs. Typically, poultry is reared specifically for one of these purposes. Animal-welfare experts believe that using this breed will be more humane, since the birds won't develop health problems because of intensive breeding. Also, male laying birds needn't be slaughtered since this breed can be used to produce both eggs and meat.
What is gene doping?
Gene doping involves modifying an athlete's DNA, or having him inject or inhale foreign DNA, to make him bigger, stronger and faster. It's harder to detect than most drugs, which makes it all the more desired by cheaters looking to prosper. It is suspected that gene doping is already happening and is being done unethically and with immature technology, thereby, making it inherently dangerous. However, work is on to develop market-place testing procedures to detect gene doping.
What is the alphabet of genetics?
The alphabet of genetics consists of four letters ATC and G each representing the corresponding nitrogenous base, e.g., A for adenine, T for thiamine, C for cytosine and G for guanine (in case of RNA, T is replaced by U which stands for uracil). These are constituents of a nucleotide monomer along with pentose sugar and phosphoric acid. In the double helical structure of the DNA, the two nucleotide polymer chains are linked by H-bondings between these bases. These four letters constitute all kinds of genetic codes in the entire biological world.
Why are acentric chromosomes genetically inactive?
Acentric chromosomes are formed as a result of inversion of genes in one of the chromosomes in a homologous pair. This is a type of chromosomal aberration. Homologous loci are paired at meiosis. The meiotic anaphase will contain a chromatid connecting the two centromeres, called a chromatid bridge; a chromatid lacking a centromere altogether is called an acentric fragment. Neither of these behaves normally in cell division and both are eventually lost. The only viable products of meiosis in inversion heterozygotes are the chromatids that underwent no crossing over within the inverted section. Thus, the acentric chromosomes are genetically inactive due to absence of centromere.
How is an amur tiger different from a bengal tiger?
An Amur tiger lives in the Siberian plateau covered with snow, while the Bengal tiger, lives in marshes and grasslands of the Indian subcontinent. The Amur tiger is much fatter than the Bengal tiger. It also has more fur than its Bengal cousin to keep it warm. Owing to its weight, the Amur tiger can't run faster than the Bengal tiger. The Bengal tiger's coat is more golden, while the Amur tiger's coat on its belly is more white and its stripes are paler. Both belong to the Panthera group of cats. The Bengal tiger is Panthera tigeris while the Amur tiger is Panthera tigeris altaica.
Why do we blink when a hammer strikes metal?
Blinking is a reflex action and happens automatically as soon as the brain perceives a threat. The striking of hammer is taken as a threat by the brain. There are multiple muscles that control the reflex action of blinking.
What is tongue grafting?
It is a term used in grafting of plants. For the whip and tongue graft, similar cuts are made on the stock and scion. The cuts are made with a single draw of the knife and have a smooth surface so the two can develop a good graft union.
What is the 'six degrees of separation'theory?
The theory was the brainchild of psychologist Stanley Milgram. So in the 1960s, he conducted an experiment by mailing a packet to 160 people in and around Omaha, Nebraska, that needed to reach a broker in Boston. The findings showed that these letters reached the broker in five to six steps. Also, there are a few set of people who are linked to a lot of people and form the main link.
What is rhinology?
Rhinology is the study of the nose, including the sinuses, and is concerned with medical and surgical diseases of the nasal passages and paranasal sinuses. It is becoming more important after the introduction of nasal endoscopes.
What is ambergis?
Ambergis is a solid, waxy material produced in the sperm whale and in the pygmy sperm whale. It is formed in the rectum of the whale by indigestible objects from animals on which it feeds. The ambergris is usually released when the whale dies. When released, it is pale white and soft with a strong smell. Over time, ambergis oxidizes and loses its unpleasant odour. It is used in the manufacture of perfume.
What is bruxism?
Bruxism is the involuntary gnashing of teeth. Some people with bruxism — originating from the Greek word 'brychein' — clench their teeth during the day when they are tense. This is different from tooth grinding or clenching that occurs at night, which is called sleep bruxism. Mild bruxism may not require treatment, but in severe cases, can lead to jaw disorders, headaches, damaged teeth and other problems.
What is presbyopia? Which lens is used to correct it?
An eye that suffers from myopia as well as from hypermetropia is said to suffer from presbyopia. A person with this defect cannot see objects distinctly placed at any distance from him. To correct this defect, a person is prescribed bifocal lens that has both types of lenses — convex and concave.
What is apomixis?
Apomixis is asexual reproduction without fertilisation — developing or producing without sexual union. This is a botanical term used with respect to many plants.
What is microtomy?
Microtomy is the technique of cutting tissues in very small sections. This technique is used for histological and pathological studies.
What is a fish pedicure?
Fish pedicure is performed by a special kind of fish known as garra rufa or doctor fish. Feet are immersed in a tub of warm water comprising several of these tiny fish. They nibble on the toes and eat away dead skin making the feet clean and smooth. Yvonne Hair and Nails Salon was the first to offer this treatment in Washington DC, but the origin lies in Turkey from where it spread to Asia. These are very expensive and delicate fish.
What's special about the puli?
The Puli is a medium to smallsized breed of Hungarian dog known for its long, corded coat. Pulis are intelligent, acrobatic dogs. They make very good watchdogs and herding dogs.
What is the medicinal value of eel?
In China and Japan eel is not only eaten as food but is also known for its medicinal properties. Ancient Koreans believed eel helped relieve fatigue and sexual debility
What is the peking man?
A homo erectus species, Peking Man fossils were discovered between 1929 and 1937 in the Lower Cave at the Peking Man site at Zhoukoudian, near Beijing, ^ Jm China. They included 14 partial craniums, 11 lower jaws, teeth, some skeletal bones and many stone tools. Archaeologists date them between 500,000 and 300,000 years old. A number of fossils of modern humans were also discovered in the Upper Cave at the same site in 1933. The most complete fossils were braincases or skullcaps, and were studied by Davidson Black, and later, Franz Weidenreich. The original fossils disappeared in 1941 while being shipped to the US for safety during World War II. Though the Peking Man fossils are believed to be those of apes recent research claims they were humans.
What are red tides?
Red tides are a natural phenomenon caused by high concentration of microscopic algae that are poisonous. The organism produces a toxin that affects the central nervous system of fish, paralyzing them. As a result, dead fish are washed ashore. They can cause human illness and deaths too, following consumption of toxic fish. When red tide algae reproduce in dense concentrations or 'blooms', they are visible as patches, often reddish. They occur due to temperature, salinity, and nutrients reaching certain levels, besides lack of wind and rainfall and cannot be controlled by humans.
Why do we get cramps mainly in the calf muscles?
A muscle cramp occurs when your muscle tightens and shortens causing sudden severe pain. It generally results from overexertion and dehydration. Cramps may also occur after inactivity.
What is similia similibus curantur?
'Similia similibus curantur' is a phrase coined by Dr Samuel Hahnemann, the founder of homeopathy Nearly 180 years ago, he did an experiment with a drug decoction made from the bark of the chincona tree, known for its curative properties in the treatment of malaria. He drank the decoction, though he was healthy and developed the symptoms of malaria. This made him believe that a drug which possesses the property of curing an ailment can create symp toms of the disease in a healthy person who takes the drug in large doses.
What is the domino damsel fish?
Domino damsel fish is a blackcoloured fish found in the Indo- West Pacific from eastern Africa and the Red Sea to the islands of Oceania. It is also known as the three-spot damsel fish or three-spot dascyllus due to the three white spots on its black body, and can grow up to 4.3 inches.
What is a gluten-free diet?
Gluten is a protein found in wheat, rye and barley In some genetically predisposed children, food containing gluten causes small-bowl mucusal damage resulting in a disease called gluten-sensitive enteropathy or celiac disease. The treatment is a strict gluten-free diet i.e. elimination of wheat, rye and barley products from the diet.
What is the mind's clock?
A group of 20,000 cells in the hypothalamus, called the suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN), that determines an organism's internal rhythm is referred to as the mind's clock. Research led by Richter showed that these cells are situated in the frontal part of the hypothalamus and control the rhythmic circadian behaviour. This tiny speck, its volume only onethird of a cubic millimetre, was called the "mind's clock".
What is capnography?
The activity of measuring the concentration of carbon dioxide (COg) in respiratory gases during the respiratory cycle of a patient is called capnography The equipment used in capnography usually plots the partial pressure of CO^ in the exhaled breath as a wave form, with time on the x-axis and pressure of carbon dioxide on the y-axis.
Why are mosquitoes attracted to the colour black?
Mosquitoes are attracted to dark colours, not only black, because dark colours absorb heat and lighter colours tend to reflect heat. Since mosquitoes have sophisticated heat sensors, they tend to be more attracted to darker clothes.
What is pesticide peril in vegetables?
Pesticide remains in vegetables can cause neurological and blood disorders, lung ailments and affect the reproductive system of women. Prolonged exposure to raw pesticides or consumption of pesticide-infected vegetables can result in many disorders.
What are warm holes in physics?
Wormhole (not warm hole) is a hypothetical feature of the universe and is basically a shortcut through space and time. The name wormhole is derived from the analogy that a worm on the circumference of an apple can either go all around it or dig its way through to get to the other side. As is obvious, by digging through, the worm will take lesser time. The universe is assumed to be made up of a curved fabric — the space-time continuum. In a place where this fabric is so curved that it overlaps itself, a wormhole is formed. It consists of a black hole, a throat and a white hole. The black hole sucks matter into the throat and the white hole throws the matter out of the throat. Wormholes can help traverse very large distances in space in an instant. But they are only valid, theoretical solutions of general relativity. There is no proof of their existence, except in science fiction movies and novels, like Star Trek. —
What are warm holes in physics?
There are warm holes in Physics — semiconductor physics. The absence of an outer shell electron in a semiconductor lattice, formed as a result of covalent bonding of semiconductor atoms with an introduced trivalent impurity, is termed as a hole. A warm hole is supposed to exist at some stage.
What is the plato scale?
The Plato scale, developed in 1843 by German scientist Karl Balling and improved by Fritz Plato, is a hydrometer scale that measures the amount of malt sugars, or sucrose, in unfermented beer. The measure of sugar in any solution is known as specific gravity The unfermented beer or beer wort has a higher specific gravity than its derivative, the fermented beer, as heavy sugars are converted into lighter carbon dioxide and alcohol during fermentation. The higher the specific gravity or sugar content of the final fermented beer, the more body and richness it possesses. Professional brewers usually use the Plato scale, rather than the traditional specific gravity scale, to measure the sugar levels.
What is raman scattering?
Raman Scattering or Raman Effect is the inelastic scattering of a photon. This was first reported by CV Raman for which he was awarded the Nobel prize in 1930. When light is scattered from an atom or a molecule, most photons scatter elastically However, a very small fraction (1 in a million) is scattered inelastically. The frequency of these photons changes, usually becomes lower than that of the incident light. Therefore, because of Raman Scattering, the energy of photons decreases.
Why pig iron is called so?
Pig iron is the intermediate product of smelting steel ore with coke and resin. Pig iron has a very high carbon content, typically 3.5-4.5%, which makes it very brittle and not useful directly as a material except for limited applications. The traditional shape of moulds used for these ingots was a branching structure formed in sand, with many individual ingots at right angles to a central channel or runner. Such a configuration is similar in appearance to a litter of piglets suckling on a sow. When the metal had cooled and hardened, the smaller ingots (the pigs) were simply broken from the much thinner runner;(the sow), hence the name pig iron.
What is a gyroscope?
A gyroscope is any rotating body that exhibits two fundamental properties: gyroscopic inertia or rigidity in space and precession or the tilting of the axis at right angles to any force tending to alter the plane of rotation. These properties are inherent in all rotating bodies, including the Earth itself. The term gyroscope is commonly applied to spherical, wheel-shaped or disk-shaped bodies universally mounted to be free to rotate in any direction. They are used to demonstrate these properties or to indicate movements in space. A gyroscope constrained from moving around one axis other than the axis of rotation is sometimes called a gyrostat.
What does rapd stand for?
RAPD stands for Random Amplification of Polymorphic DNA, RAPD reactions are PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) reactions but they amplify segments of DNA which are essentially unknown to the scientists as they are random.
How do you test the presence of methanol?
Methanol does not respond to the iodoform test (Open Space, Apr. 6). In fact, the test is given by ethanol and those alcohols which possess -hydroxymethyl group or -CH(OH)- group or carbonyl compounds having acetyl functionality Methanol can be detected by the Oil of wintergreen test. In this test, 1-2 ml of methanol along with few crystals of salicylic acid are treated with concentrated sulphuric acid in a test tube which is then gently heated. A characteristic smell of oil of wintergreen. (lodex type) is obtained due to the formation of methyl salicylate.
What is singularity in physics?
In Physics and Mathematics, sigularity is defined as a point at which a complex function is undefined because it is neither differentiable nor single-valued while the function is defined in every neighbourhood of the point. Specifically, a quantity which approaches infinity as another parameter goes to zero Like 1/x when x approaches zero. In astronomy, singularity is a hypothetical region in space in which gravitational forces cause matter to be infinitely compressed and space and time to become infinitely distorted.
How do you test the presence of methanol?
Methanol can be detected by using the iodoform test. Mix sodium hydroxide (NAOH) and iodine (12) in methanol. A yellow precipitate of CHI3 (iodoform) will indicate the presence of methanol. This test is used for those alcohol in which there is a _CH3 group is attached to the functional group.
What is the fermi problem?
The Fermi Problem, named after the Italian physicist Enrico Fermi, is about a formula regarding how to think about what assumptions we make, how to make them as realistic as possible, how to estimate well, and how to put all these in the service of a straightforward mathematical calculation in order to come up with an answer.
What are squids in physics?
The Superconducting Quantum Interference Device, or SQUID, is an extremely sensitive magnetic flux-to-voltage transducer. The SQUID may be the most sensitive detector of any physical quantity, with an energy resolution that approaches the quantum limit. The extreme sensitivity of the SQUID has caused it to be incorporated into a great variety of systems. SQUIDs have been used to measure cortical activity in the human brain and to search for gravity waves.
What is a persuasive mirror?
It's a technology that enables people to see how they would look like in the future, based on their habits. Users will have to fill out a questionnaire detailing their lifestyle and upload their images. Based on the information provided, the technplogy will digitally age the person and show how she will appear six months later.
What is a datum line in geography?
A datum (plural datums or data) is a reference point from which measurements are made. In surveying and geodesy, a datum is a set of reference points on the Earth's surface against which position measurements are made. Horizontal datums are used for describing a point on the Earth's surface in latitude and longitude or another coordinate system. Vertical datums measure elevations or depths.
What is the fifth dimension?
In physics, the fifth dimension is a hypothetical extra dimension beyond the usual three spatial and one-time dimensions. Some scientists have speculated that the graviton, a particle thought to carry the force of gravity, may leak into the fifth or higher dimensions, which would explain how gravity is significantly weaker than the other three fundamental forces. M-theory (the mother of all theories underlying string theories) suggests that space-time has eleven dimensions, seven of which are 'rolled up' to below sub-atomic level. Scientist Hooft speculated that the fifth dimension is really the spacetime fabric. It has occasionally been stated that the fifth dimension refers to probability, meaning that it is the full amount of possibilities that could happen or, in other words, alternative realities.
What are eddy currents?
Eddy currents may be defined as currents induced in a thick conductor when it is placed in a changing electric field. Consider a metallic block placed in a continuously changing magnetic field by keeping the block fixed and changing the magnetic field with the help of an alternating current. Due to the continuous change of magnetic flux linked with the block, induced currents will be set up in the body of the metal block. These currents assume a circular path and the direction is such that it opposes the change producing it (according to ' Lenz's Law). These currents look like whirlpools in a fluid, and hence called eddy currents. Generally, they are quite large in magnitude and produce a heating effect.
What's geometric in geometric progression?
In mathematics, a geometric progression, also known as a geometric sequence, is a sequence of numbers in which each term after the first is found by multiplying the previous one by a fixed non-zero number called the common ratio. Books vm and DC of Euclid's Elements analyze geometric progressions and give several of their properties. A geometric progression gains its geometric character from the fact that the areas of two geometrically similar plane figures are in duplicate ratio to their corresponding sides. Further the volumes of two similar solid figures are in triplicate ratio of their corresponding sides. For example, if two squares' sides have the ratio 2 to 3, then their areas will have the ratio 4 to 9; we can write 2/3 as 4 to 6 and 6 to 9 and notice that the ratios of 4 to 6 and 6 to 9 both equal 2 to 3; so by using the side ratio 2 to 3 in duplicate we obtain the ratio 4 to 9 of the areas, and the sequence 4, 6, 9 is a geometric sequence with common ratio 3/2.
What is bio-amplification?
It's the concentration of pollutant-like chloromethyl mercury in the food chain. It occurs when concentrations of toxins are passed on from smaller prey to larger predators.
What is panda porn?
Thailand zoo officials, in an attempt to get pandas to mate, used videos of other pandas mating and 'sexercise' to teach them the ropes. The pandas were an import from China, where officials devised these methods to help its national animal reproduce. Zookeepers are putting pandas, especially males, at the Chengdu Panda Breeding and Research Centre in Sichuan province through a rigorous programme to improve mating.
Why doesn't distilled water conduct electricity?
Distilled water does — but very little compared to piped, well or salt water. Liquid conducts electricity by the positively or negatively charged ions that are actually moving from one of the electrodes to the other, carrying charge (electricity) with them. Salt water has salt in it, NaCI, which readily ionizes to ions of Na+ and Cl- that can conduct electricity. Distilled water is water that was boiled to steam and recondensed to water. This leaves no salt in it. Water can ionize to H+ and OH- like salt does, but it does so to a far lesser degree and is very resistant to conducting electricity
Of all metals, why does mercury have the lowest melting point?
A metallic bond is characterized by free electrons and generally forms a specific geometric pattern of compact arrangement of atoms. All metals (except mercury) thus exist in a solid state at room temperature. Mercury belongs to the zinc group of elements. These have completely filled-up atomic orbitals. It becomes difficult to knock out these electron(s) from their orbitals and form metallic bonds. Therefore, mercury does not have a specific crystal structure and is the only metal that is liquid.
At what speed does electricity travel compared to light?
Electrical fields in theory do transmit at the speed of light. In real systems, wires have capacitance and other effects that slow the propagation. Typical propagation speeds are 0.3 to 0.7 times the speed of light.
What is riemann hypo thesis?
Riemann Hypothesis is an important result in Mathematics whose truth or otherwise is not yet known. This was conjectured by the German mathematician Gerhard Riemann in 1859. A lot of results have been proved on the assumption that the Riemann Hypothesis is true. They,would all stand or fall based on whether the hypothesis is proved or disproved.
Why does a magnet attract iron?
Before a piece of iron enters the magnetic field of a magnet, the polarization of the iron's atoms is random. When exposed to a magnetic field, the atoms begin to align their electrons with the flow of the magnetic field, which makes the iron magnetized as well.
What is a solar balloon?
The solar balloon is designed to trap solar energy using an inflatable plastic thin-film balloon called a solar concentrator. Half the balloon is transparent. When inflated, sunlight falls on it and focuses on a photovoltaic cell placed at its centre. This design reflects sunlight, producing 400 times the electricity that a solar cell would create without the concentrator and has been created by a company called Cool Earth. The film is abundant and cheap and does away with large expensive solar panels or costly concentrating mirrors. It can trap 500 watt to 1 kilowatt of solar energy
What is the packbot?
The PackBot Tactical Robot is deployed by the US in wars. It was first used by US ground troops in Afghanistan in 2002 to help clear caves and bunkers, search buildings and cross live minefields. They were also used in 2003 in Iraq in urban warfare and to search vehicles. By 2007, more than 800 PackBot robots were in operation in Iraq, Afghanistan and around the world. It is controlled by a Pentium-based computer, is tough, can survive falls and being submerged in water.
What is captured rotation?
When a satellite, natural or artificial, is orbiting its parent planet (or primary) under some conditions, the satellite revolves around itself quite fast relative to its period of rotation around the primary, both the periods coincide, this leads to the satellite facing the primary always with the same side, and is called captured rotatio or synchronousrotation. It occurs especially when the satellite is much smaller than the primary, and the two are separated by a relatively short distance.
What is an emulsifier?
A colloidal system involving one liquid dispersed in another is known as emulsion. Any two immiscible liquidscan form an emulsion, like oil and water. An emulsifier is an agent that stabilizes the emulsion by lowering the interfacial tension between the constituents of the emulsion. Examples of emulsifiers are soaps, detergents and gelatine.
What is olbers' paradox?
Modern theories of the universe begin with the simplest of observations — that the night sky looks dark. This darkness implies that the universe is not infinitely old, as scientists once thought. If it were, starlight would already have seeped into all corners of space, thus giving a hot and uniform glow across the sky This insight is known as olbers' paradox, after the 19th century German astronomer Welhelm Olbers.
Can sunlight be stored?
Plants take in sunlight and combine it with carbon dioxide from the air and water and minerals from the ground. The energy of sunlight is stored in the leaves. Some of the sunlight gets stored underground. This stored sunlight is in the form of fossil fuels like coal and petroleum.
What is albedo?
The albedo of an object is the extent to which it diffusely reflects light from the Sun. It is a more specific form of reflectivity. Albedo is the ratio of the diffusely reflected to incident electromagnetic radiation. It is a unitless measure indicative of a surface's or a body's diffuse reflectivity.
Is it possible to conduct electricity without wires?
Wireless electric power transfer is theoretically possible and it's in the R&D phase of many leading research labs in the world. Nasa hopes to power its Mars Rover wirelessly in future missions. The basic technology is simple: rectify the received microwave signal using a microwave low-pass filter and a diode.
What is green oil?
Green oil is a lubricant which is non-toxic, biodegradable, petroleum-free and less expensive. The greenwood chain saw oil was first blended by the Green Oil Company in 1992. These days, in addition to chain saw oil, it is blended with environmentally-safe hydraulic fluids including greases and bicycle oils.
Can there be light without heat?
Yes, we can have light without heat. The light from such reactions is called cool light. Many chemical reactions produce poth light and heat. It is much less common for a chemical reaction to produce light without heat. Such chemical reactions are called chemiluminescent reactions, the most familiar of which occur in living organisms. Fireflies produce light without heat through this reaction.
What is loop quantum cosmology?
It is the theory on which the concept of the recycled universe is based. Loop Quantum Cosmology (LQC) has been teasing physicists since 2003 with the idea that our universe could conceivably have emerged from the collapse of a previous universe. It theorises that our universe expands and then contracts over and over again, rebirthing for infinity.
Is it possible to slow down or speed up time?
Yes, it is. The theory of relativity treats time as the fourth dimension, which has a barrier as any other force. It is also stated that time barrier ean be broken only if we achieve the speed of light. But there is a catch. According to the theory to achieve the speed of light, you need to have infinite amount of energy But it is possible to slow down time; this is called time distortion where it is said that the closer you travel to the speed of light, the speed of time in the ship is slower compared to the speed of time outside the ship.
Who came up with the concept of vacuum?
In earlier civilisations, there was much doubt about whether vacuum can exist. In the mediaeval Islamic world, physicist Ibn al-Haytham supported the existence of a void or vacuum. He mathematically demonstrated that vacuum is the imagined three-dimensional void between the inner surfaces of a containing body
What is the unit of magnetic power?
Earlier, the power of a magnet was only measured in units of gauss. Today, it is measured in gauss-oersted energy units. While gauss refers to the number of lines of flux emitted from a magnet, oersted is the unit of measurement that defines the distance of the power of the flux which extends from the surface.
What is the cause of the earth's magnetic field?
Originally, it was thought that the centre of the earth has magnetized iron deposits, which caused it to act like a huge permanent bar magnet. However, the theory failed to explain how the magnetic field had sustained itself for long, because even if there was magnetized iron in the core earlier, the core of the earth is so hot that any permanent magnet would lose its magnetism. According to the currently accepted dynamo theory, earth's magnetism is caused mostly by the rotating liquid outer core of the earth.
What is hydrocracking in petroleum refining?
Hydrocracking technology is an important conversion technology for producing high-value naphtha or distillate products from refinery feedstocks. It is a two-stage process combining catalytic cracking and hydrogenation, where heavy feedstock is cracked in the presence of hydrogen. The process employs high pressure, high temperature, a catalyst and hydrogen.
What is administratium?
It is a spoof on administration. Its official definition: Administratium is the heaviest element known to science and was recently discovered at a major US research university The element has no protons or electrons and thus, has the atomic number 0. However, it does have one neutron, 125 assistant neutrons, 75 vice-neutrons and 111 assistant vice-neutrons, which gives it an atomic mass of 312. These 312 particles are held together by a force that involves the continuous exchange of meson-like particles called morons. Since it has no electrons, administratium is inert. However, it can be detected chemically as it impedes every reaction it comes in contact with.
What is a 'nano-factory'?
Researchers in Japan have invented a tiny brain which can act as a remote control for swarms of nano-machines. They simultated eight such nano-machines to create a 'nano factory'. According to experts; nano-machines could also be used to boost the processing power of future computers. They also have high hopes for nano-machines in treating diseases. The machine is made from 17 molecules of the chemical duroquinone. Each one is known as a 'logic device'.
What is cybersquatting?
Cybersquatting is registering a website in the names of popular brands. The word squatting in this context means unauthorised occupation of someone else's property In the internet domain, techsavvy entrepreneurs register websites in the names of popular brands, whose owners do not have websites of their own. This can lead to misrepresentation in the internet media about the products or services the brand sells in the market. The brand owners naturally would like to buy the domain either to give authentic information about products and services or to stem the ill-effects of such misrepresented sites. The person who first registered the brand name sells the site and makes a profit. The ethical and legal aspects of such practice are ambiguous as the intention of the original owner of the site can either be genuine or fraudulent.
What is mysql?
MySQL (pronounced'my-ess-cueel') is an open source, true multiuser, multi-threaded relational database management system (RDBMS), that uses Structured Query Language (SQL). MySQL was developed by two Swedes and a Finn — David Axmark, Allan Larsson and Michael Widenius. It was written in C, C++, and was first released in 1995. Currently, MySQL has more than 11 million installations. MySQL is fast and flexible enough to allow storing logs and pictures in it. Its main goals are speed, robustness, and ease of use. MySQL is open source, 100% GPL (General Public License) database. This provides a great opportunity for the open source cornmunity and for those who are developing open source software.
What is sonet with reference to an optical network?
Sonet (Synchronous Optical Network) is a high-speed, physical layer network designed to carry large volumes of traffic over relatively long distances on fiber optic cabling using lasers or lightemitting diodes (LEDs). It provides a standard interface for communications carriers to connect networks based on fiber optic cable to handle multiple data types (voice, video, and so on). Sonet defines a technology for carrying many signals of different capacities through a synchronous, flexible, optical hierarchy This is accomplished by means of a byteinterleaved multiplexing scheme. Byte-interleaving simplifies multiplexing and offers end-to-end network management. Sonet was proposed by Bellcore in the mid-'80s arid now an ANSI standard. It is a successor to other wellknown communication technology implemented on fiber optics network called PDH (Plesiochronous Digital Hierarchy). It possesses several characteristics that make it good for the internet today: It defines clear interoperability standards between different vendors' products. It can carry nearly any higher-level protocol (including IP), and includes built-in support for ease of management and maintenance. Sonet has emerged as a powerful protocol which is extensively used for large and high performance networks.
What is a semaphore?
A semaphore (pronounced as sehm uh fawr, invented by Edsger Dijkstra) in computer science is a classic way of protecting shared resources to multi-programming environments like Unix systems, semaphores are a technique for coordinating or synchronising activities in which multiple processes compete for the same operating system resources. A process needing the resource checks the semaphore to determine the resource's status and then decides how to proceed. Depending on the value found, the process can use the resource or will find that it is already in use and must wait for some time before trying again, thus avoiding deadlocks.
How does a laser mouse work?
A laser mouse is a type of optical mouse. It uses a laser beam which is invisible, or nearly invisible, to the human eye. The beam emitted by the laser mouse moves with the user's hand, triggering an optical sensor system. It works in tandem with a system which tracks how far the mouse has moved by bouncing hundreds of images every second, constantly updating the position of the mouse and the subsequent position of the cursor on the screen.
Who invented the pen drive?
A pen drive is another term for USB (Universal Serial Bus) flash drive and is basically a data storage device. The pen drive was invented in 1998 by IBM, with the intention of replacing the floppy drive in its ThinkPad line of products. The first flash drive was manufactured by M-systems under contract with IBM and was called the disgo. The disgo came in various sizes: 8 MB, 16 MB, 32 MB and 64 MB. Following the launch of disgo, a number of pen drives of different sizes, types and brands came into the market. Today pen drives are used in a range of devices such as mobile phones, video-game consoles and digital music players.
What is the beer google effect?
The Beer Google effect refers to the tendency to google information on someone we meet for the first time. This generally happens when one consumes alcohol, and under its influence, he looks up the person on the internet. For example, I met Geeta at ABC bar for the first time and she tells me that she works for XYZ Inc. Immediately on returning home, I beer-google her using the search string 'Geeta XYZ Inc'.
Which is the earliest social networking site?
The earliest social networking site was classmates.com which was established in 1995. It introduced the concept of user profiles and of short messages sent and received by friends on the website. The basic purpose was to keep in touch with old friends. Sixdegrees.com which came in 1997 is considered to be the first social networking website to have all features in one complete package.
What are applets?
An applet is a little application. Prior to the World Wide Web, the built-in writing and drawing programmes that came with Windows were sometimes called applets. On the Web, using Java language, an applet is a small programme that can be sent along with a Web page to a user. Java applets can perform interactive animations, immediate calculations, or other simple tasks without having to send a user request back to the server.
What does bloatware refer to?
Bloatware, also called junkware, adware and demoware, refers to pre-installed software and trial software that come with Windows computers. While it's a ploy to get consumers to buy the software, most users regard it as junk and get confused by various icons or toolbars that pop up on their computers. Bloatware can also clog up the system and slow it down.
Why is blu-ray disc black on top?
The Blu-ray disc uses a blue technically violet) laser operating at a wavelength of 405 nanometre (nm) to read and write data. Conventional DVDs and CDs use red and near infrared lasers, at 650 nm and 780 nm respectively. Because the Blu-ray disc data layer is closer to the surface of the disc, compared to the DVD standard, it was at first more vulnerable to scratches. The first discs were housed in cartridges for protection. Now, the rewritable media are spin-coated with a scratch resistant and antistatic coating, which gives the surface of the disc its black colour.
What is a google bomb?
A google bomb is an effort to inflate a website's search ranking for a particular term. Google gives importance to pages linking to a particular page for ranking purposes. In case of Google bombing, pranksters use a phrase to link to a particular page from their sites multiple times, to push that page to the top of search results.
What is grid computing?
Grid computing is a parallel processing architecture in which CPU resources are shared across a network, and all machines function as one large supercomputer. A wellknown example is the ongoing Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence in which thousands of people share the unused processor cycles of their PCs in the vast search for signs of rational signals from outer space.
What is bluejacking?
Bluetooth is a radio wireless technology that allows computers, cell phones, laptops, etc. to talk to each other in a limited range. Bluejacking is the term based on two words — bluetooth and hijack. It refers to sending unnecessary and anonymous messages by using bluetooth enabled devices as a contact.
What does pharming refer to?
Pharming involves rerouting the traffic of a particular website to a bogus one. This is done by exploiting the weaknesses of the site's Domain Name System server. Pharming poses major concerns to corporates and e-commerce sites.
How much data does the internet contain?
Estimating the data the Internet contains is complicated but there are a few estimates. According to one, the quantity is approximately equal to 500 crore pages. Another assesses the total amount of digital data in the world by 2010 would amount to 12 piles of pages, each of which would be twice as long as the distance between the Sun and Pluto.
What is viral mail?
A viral email is an online chain letter, which is sent from person to person, almost like ancient talking drums. The term 'viral' comes from virus, meaning pass-along. Viral mails are generally humourous in nature, which a person can forward to friends or they can be used to spread a socially important message that can reach across the world rapidly These mails are also used for commercial purposes — called viral marketing or advertising.
What is the difference between a computer screen and a gaming console?
The primary device for the PC is a keyboard and mouse, while all console systems come with game pads used to control movement within the game. Technically, a computer game can be thought of as one composed of a computer-controlled virtual universe. A video game is a computer game where a video display is the primary feedback, which is displayed on a television screen.
When did commentary make its debut in cricket?
The first cricket game to be covered on radio between two teams from New South Wales was a charity game in Australia in 1922. Len Watt was the man behind the mike. The first ballby-ball commentary started in England by F H Gillingham, who covered a county game. Since 1930, cricket commentary on radio became commonplace.
Who is a scrum-half?
The scrum-half in rugby, also known as inside-half and halfback, is an all-rounder, an excellent passer of both hands, an effective kicker with both feet, a good defender around the fringes and in the cover, and a nimble runner who can sniff a gap and 'snipe' from both set and broken play. He is the lynchpin of a rugby team and is always looking for a fight.
What is rbi baseball?
RBI Baseball is a baseball video game for the Nintendo Entertainment System. It was produced by Tengen and originally released in 1987.
What is jeu de pamne?
Jeu de Paume is also called 'real tennis' or 'court tennis'. It is the precursor of modern tennis and was a rage in Renaissance Europe. Jeu de Paume traces its history to the llth century when French monks played the sport using their bare hands to volley cloth bags of hair or cork.,
What is a soft dismissal in cricket?
It is a dismissal in which a cricketer who is good at play ing a particular stroke gets out on that stroke very early V.V S Laxman, for instance, is good at playing the leg stroke. But if he gets out early while playing it, it's called a soft dismissal.
Why are hats a rage at the races?
Fascinating hats are worn in Royal enclosures at Ascot and other horse races during Ladies' Day when women come out in force and the venue turns into a fashion ramp. History shows that popularity of hats and kerchiefs dates back to early 1800s.
What is the calcutta cup?
On Christmas Day in 1872, a game of rugby between 20 players representing England on one side and 20 representing Scotland, Ireland and Wales on the other, was played in Calcutta. The match was such a success that it was repeated a»week later. These matches led to the formation of the Calcutta Football Club in January 1873. The Calcutta Club joined the Rugby Football Union in 1874, and since then it is called the Calcutta Cup.
Who are the youngest and oldest captains to win the soccer world cup?
The youngest captain was Cafuaka Marcos Evangelista de Moraes from Brazil. Born on June 7,1970, he won the World Cup in 1994 and 2002. The oldest captain is Dino Zoff from Italy born on February 28,1942. He won the World Cup in 1982.
What is the superman seat-grab?
In freestyle motocross, when the rider is in the air, it is termed 'Big Air'. Superman seat-grab is considered a regular trick in which, when the rider is in the air (18 m is the minimum suitable height for performing this trick), puts ne hand on the handle bar and other grabs the seat of the bike, and extends the lower body up in the air.
What is the agricultural shot in cricket?
The agricultural shot is the wild slog of the ball, usually over mid-wicket or over square leg. It is executed by a swing of the bat across the line of the ball played in a crude manner, and without much technique. This may also sometimes result in some earth being scooped out when the bat hits the ground. '
What are 'first serve' and 'second serve' in tennis?
In tennis, there is a specified boundary marked on the court behind which the ball should fall as a player serves. So, if the ball hits the net and falls back to the server's court or goes beyond the marked boundary on the opponent's court, it is a wrong serve. As a rule, a player is allowed to serve again if the 'first serve' is wrong; this serve is called 'second serve'.
What is a stalemate in chess?
When a player has no legal moves, it is not possible to proceed further in the game. This results in a stalemate, provided his king is not in check. The game is declared a draw when such a situation arises, no matter what advantage one side has over the other.
What is a progressive score in chess?
In chess tournaments, when two players end up with the same score on the final round, the tie needs to be broken for ranking purposes. Different systems of rating follow different rules for such tiebreaking, and the FIDE (Federation Internationale des Echecs) or the Worldwide Chess Federation system uses the cumulative progressive score. Progressive score in a round is the points obtained for the result in the current round plus the progressive score of the previous round if any In general, the system tends to reward early wins rather late wins.
In which year was billiards first played?
Though the origin of billiards is lost in history, an account by the Greek traveller Anacharsis suggests that a rudimentary version was played by Egyptians around 400 BC. This form was adopted by the Greeks. The word 'billiard' has its roots in the French words 'billart' meaning stick, and 'bille' meaning ball. In 1470, the first billiards table was found among the possessions of French king Louis XI. The earliest record of how the game was played was made in the 15th century It started as an indoor version of croquet. The Spaniards introduced billiards to the Americans in 1565. Shakespeare's use of the word 'billiards' in his playAnthony and Cleopatra shows that this sport was well known to the Elizabethans.
What's special about europass football?
The EuroPass is the official football for UEFA Euro 2008. The adidas EuroPass combines tradition with modernity It has a new surface structure which allows players to have more control over the ball and direct it perfectly in all weather conditions. The PSC-Texture, which consists of fine structures on the outer surface, guarantees optimum grip between the ball and boot. The 12 black dots on the ball contain individual graphic elements which stand for passion, friendship, action, training, fans and winning goal. The name EuroPass symbolises the connection between Austria and Switzerland, the host countries of the tournament.
When was the first twenty20 match played?
Twenty20 cricket was first played in English domestic cricket in 2003, between England and Wales Cricket Board. The first international Twenty20 cricket match was played between Australia and New Zealand, on February 17, 2005 at Eden Park, Auckland. Australia defeated New Zealand by 44 runs.
When was chess first played as an international game?
Chess wa
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