Free Essays on Mechanical Equivalent Of Heat

Mechanical Equivalent of Heat [Abstract / Introduction] Long before physicists recognized that heat is a form of energy transfer resulting from the random microscopic motion of atoms, they defined heat in terms of the temperature changes it produces in a body. The traditional unit of heat is the calorie (cal), which is the amount of heat needed to raise the temperature of 1 g of water by 1 ¢Ã‚ ªC. The kilocalorie is 1000 cal: 1 kcal = 1000 cal. Incidentally, the calories marked on some packages of food in grocery stores are actually kilocalories, sometimes called large calories. The heat necessary to raise the temperature of 1 kg of a material by 1 ¢Ã‚ ªC is called the specific heat capacity, or the specific heat, usually designated by the symbol c. Thus, by definition, water has a specific heat of: c = 1 kcal/kg ¢Ã‚ ªC. Specific heat varies from substance to substance (see Appendix A, Table A4), and varies with temperature. For example, the specific heat of water varies by about 1% between 0 ¢Ã‚ ªC and 100 ¢Ã‚ ªC, reaching a minimum of 35 ¢Ã‚ ªC. This variation must be taken into account for a precise definition of the calorie: a calorie is the heat needed to raise the temperature of 1 g of water from say, 14.5 ¢Ã‚ ªC to 15.5 ¢Ã‚ ªC. Finally, the specific heat depends on the pressure to which the material is subjected during the heating. Since specific heat is defined as the amount of heat required to increase the temperature of 1kg of a given substance by 1 ¢Ã‚ ªC, the amount of heat Q required to increase the temperature of a mass m by  ¥Ãƒâ€žT is proportional to m and to  ¥Ãƒâ€žT and can be found by the equation: Q = m c  ¥Ãƒâ€žT. This merely says that a large mass or a large temperature change requires more heat, in proportion to the mass and to the temperature change. Incidentally, work is defined as a force applied through a distance. For rotational motion, work is equal to the torque applied through an angular displacement, ... Free Essays on Mechanical Equivalent Of Heat Free Essays on Mechanical Equivalent Of Heat Mechanical Equivalent of Heat [Abstract / Introduction] Long before physicists recognized that heat is a form of energy transfer resulting from the random microscopic motion of atoms, they defined heat in terms of the temperature changes it produces in a body. The traditional unit of heat is the calorie (cal), which is the amount of heat needed to raise the temperature of 1 g of water by 1 ¢Ã‚ ªC. The kilocalorie is 1000 cal: 1 kcal = 1000 cal. Incidentally, the calories marked on some packages of food in grocery stores are actually kilocalories, sometimes called large calories. The heat necessary to raise the temperature of 1 kg of a material by 1 ¢Ã‚ ªC is called the specific heat capacity, or the specific heat, usually designated by the symbol c. Thus, by definition, water has a specific heat of: c = 1 kcal/kg ¢Ã‚ ªC. Specific heat varies from substance to substance (see Appendix A, Table A4), and varies with temperature. For example, the specific heat of water varies by about 1% between 0 ¢Ã‚ ªC and 100 ¢Ã‚ ªC, reaching a minimum of 35 ¢Ã‚ ªC. This variation must be taken into account for a precise definition of the calorie: a calorie is the heat needed to raise the temperature of 1 g of water from say, 14.5 ¢Ã‚ ªC to 15.5 ¢Ã‚ ªC. Finally, the specific heat depends on the pressure to which the material is subjected during the heating. Since specific heat is defined as the amount of heat required to increase the temperature of 1kg of a given substance by 1 ¢Ã‚ ªC, the amount of heat Q required to increase the temperature of a mass m by  ¥Ãƒâ€žT is proportional to m and to  ¥Ãƒâ€žT and can be found by the equation: Q = m c  ¥Ãƒâ€žT. This merely says that a large mass or a large temperature change requires more heat, in proportion to the mass and to the temperature change. Incidentally, work is defined as a force applied through a distance. For rotational motion, work is equal to the torque applied through an angular displacement, ...

What contribution does human resource management brings towards its Literature review

What contribution does human resource management brings towards its employee related performance - Literature review Example Properly designing and measuring performance is one of the basic and decisive steps that HR can do to affect performance. Performance can also be effectively raised by considering the intersections between individual, team, and organisational motivations. Some studies agree that HR can influence performance, primarily through affecting employee attitudes and behaviour (Tsai, Edwards, & Sengupta 2010), but the causal relationship between the two is said to be more complex (Nishii, Lepak, Schneider 2008). Niishi et al. (2008) explore the right interpretation of HR efforts from the individual perspectives of employees, in order for the target attitudinal and behavioral changes to be achieved. This paper seeks to explore how HR affects employee performance. After carefully reviewing literature, findings showed that HR practices can impact individual performance through an effective performance management system and it can raise team and organisational performance through mediating factor s, such as performance management, emotional intelligence building, collaboration, and affecting organisational culture and employee engagement and satisfaction. Performance of the individual, teams, and the whole organisation Human resource management has evolved to strategic HRM, which designates HR manager as strategic allies to managing performance (Zink 2008). In particular, it is engaged in management development, organisational culture, appraisal system, discipline, environmental issue, diversity, culture, and HR policy dimension (Nemiro et al 2008). Though some still assert that HR should only focus on human resource performance, there is growing evidence that HRM can directly affect performance across different levels, by creating different systems that can impact organisational performance (Tsai et al. 2010; Nishii et al. 2008). Sources argue that HR practices can impact individual performance through mediating effects on perceptions of the connection between reward and pe rformance and management skills. Properly designing and measuring performance is one of the basic and critical steps of performance management. HR can create an effective performance management system to impact individual, team, and organisational performance (Chuang & Liao 2010). Tsai, Edwards, and Sengupta (2010) build on and test an alternative view of the association between HR and organisational performance. Their model argues that organisational performance affects employee attitudes and that the performance-attitude relationship is mediated by HRM practices. To test their model, they conducted management interviews and employee surveys for thirty-two small firms in the Midlands of England that come from diverse industries. Findings showed that HRM practices are directly related to two measurements of employees' attitudes: â€Å"perceptions of management skills and the perceived link between reward and performance† (Tsai et al. 2010, p.15). This provides evidence that H RM can impact links between reward and performance. Chuang and Liao (2010) and Zhang and Li (2009), however, specifically argued for the importance of high-performance HR practices, which focus on concern for internal and external customers to achieve better market performance. In improving team performance, the rewards system must rationally inspire team performance measures (Nemiro et al. 2008). An appropriately-designed reward and pay system can motivate individual members to work as a team (Nemiro et al. 2008, p.63). This means that HR performance management efforts and tools must promote collectivity among individual members, so that each member values and respects each other’s impact on the total team performance. Rajagopal and Rajagopal (2008) investigate team performance in the article, â€Å"Team performance and control process in sales organizations.† The researchers observe that the main characteristics of a good team are that they

Interpretation of the picture Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Interpretation of the picture - Assignment Example If viewed from another perspective, the green background can represent the humanity during the era of least civilization. However, as the picture extends further, there is a bright light in form of an ocean that opens up into a bright background. Therefore, this bright background can be compared to how civilization has changed the world into a better place. In this regard, the picture teaches humanity the importance of civilization because the character holding the arrow and the bow are wearing a dark-brown outfit that can be linked to the clothing of humanity before civilization. As such, the picture teaches a man to appreciate civilization because it has made life bright like the bright watery background. On the other hand, the picture shows the tremendous developments that man has gone through since the onset of civilization because the two backgrounds compare the bleak and dull lived in the olden days to the modern bright and exciting life that is also enjoyable and fun. The assu mption on the differences in life existing in the dark-green and the bright backgrounds is also indicated by the facial expression of the character. Although he may give an impression of a relaxed hunter, his overall expression is that of a dull person with no other things cheer him up except for the hunting. Therefore, from the picture, mankind can learn to appreciate civilization that has brought liveliness, brightness as opposed to the dark days when a man only co-existed with the wild animals and only found fun hunting in the bush.

Adaptive Culture and Cultural Artifacts Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Adaptive Culture and Cultural Artifacts - Essay Example While the organization needed to know every accurate detail about its stakeholders, the latter also needed to provide an honest and realistic output of needs or wants that are to be fulfilled. In other words, information is the framework of those mentioned requisites; its timing and accuracy significantly determine the capability of the organization to process and integrate it with the organizational processes and practices. Moreover, all other aspects that serve to shape an organizational culture has to be taken into consideration -- its level of impact on organizational culture should determine its ability to be incorporated in the whole adaptive culture-framework. While in general, these aspects are conveniently referred to as processes and practices, in specific it includes policies, competencies, reinforced norms, et cetera. A more binding reinforcement for an organization aspiring an adaptive culture is the top management’s commitment. Additionally, the organization†™s people should be tirelessly reminded of the purpose of such adaptive culture. Both commitment and purpose are consistent ‘reinforcers’ of any desired organizational culture, and adaptive culture is no exception. I think that our organization has a relatively strong culture. First, because everybody knows what and who we do for; more than just profit or bonuses, we serve people. Every business unit, whether directly or indirectly involved, recognized its part in the whole value chain. In other words, each of us, from top to the bottom level, could identify ourselves in the organization’s collective mantra. Moreover, this recognition is reinforced through the individual integration of our own task to the company’s core task. Second, our Human Resource Recruitment filters the entrant workers; they make sure that the individual’s goals are well aligned or approximately paralleled with the company’s. Moreover, the HR people look at the

Rise of Consumer Culture Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Rise of Consumer Culture - Essay Example This linking culture Snow suggested in the second edition of his book in 1963, calling it a "third culture" where literary intellectuals lived in harmony with scientists, communicating ideas among each other and with the public. Brockman borrowed Snow's terminology of the third culture in his book (1995) of the same title as he daringly predicted that scientists and engineers at the cusp of what would soon become the dot.com boom will dominate this third culture. The boom came, but soon after followed the bust, and Brockman's third culture never materialised as he had hoped. What Snow and Brockman never realised was that a third culture had been moving quietly alongside these two cultures over the last half of the 20th century, one that combined the power of postmodernist intellectual thought and the energy of scientific innovation, helped along by the emergence of a capitalist society of excess wealth and prosperity. This third culture is the consumer culture, characterised by what we can describe as a body-centric attitude of consumption, where almost every conceivable commercial product is available to satisfy every craving or desire, fulfil any dream, and where reality can be reduced to one's identification with ideals created and circulated by the mass media. Essentially a perfect combination of Snow's two cultures - the romantic and the scientific - the consumer culture now defines who and what we are. The Marketable Self This is the scenario where Featherstone and other sociologists situate the body, the consuming subject, which is nothing more than the agent responsible for capturing and defining reality. Straddling the romantic-idealistic literary and the sensual-measurable scientific worlds, the consumer culture entices the human body to know and love it, to be a part of it, and to recognise that that is where its happiness and fulfilment lie. As the consuming subject (the body) attempts to capture - buying, eating, dressing up, or simply experiencing - reality in this consumer culture, it is the body that ends up becoming captive. It is in this context that we can analyse Featherstone's words (1991) that "the consumer culture constructs the marketable self." A main feature of this culture is a powerful popular media that helps in defining who and what we are. In his book (1999) Selling Dreams: How to Make Any Product Irresistible, Ferrari CEO Gian Luigi Longinotti-Buitoni (p. 193) describes the people of the consumer culture as bodies where product creators create a masterpiece the way a Picasso creates a painting on canvas, and where the media play the role of the artist's brush and oil. The body as a canvas Yes. In the consumer culture, "every instrument of the popular media - advertisements, television, and film to the press - provides a proliferation of stylised images of the body and emphasises the cosmetic benefits of body maintenance" (Featherstone, 1991). This strategy makes good business sense. After all, the physical perfection of the body or its idea of eternal youth has been one of our most cherished dreams. Beauty being a subjective judgment of a state of perfection, and the natural forces of aging, weight gain, and biological deterioration seemingly designed to halt our achieving that state, the possibilities for its definition are endless. The

Brief History of Microbiology

Brief History of Microbiology 1- How Can Microbes Be Classified? Fungi, Protozoa, Algae, Prokaryotes and other organisms of importance to microbiologists B- The Golden Age of Microbiology 1- Is Spontaneous Generation Of Microbial Life Possible? Redis Experiment, Needhams Experiment, Spallanzanis Experiment, Pasteurs Experiment. CHAPTER (1): A BRIEF HISTORY OF MICROBIOLOGY Microbiology is the study of organisms and agents too small to be seen clearly by the naked eye. It is the study of microorganisms, or germs or microbes. However, some of these microorganisms are large and visible by our naked eye such as mushrooms, brown algae, and lichens. Viruses, bacteria, algae, fungi, and protozoa belong to microorganisms. Life would not exist without microorganisms. Plants depend on microorganisms to help them obtain their nitrogen they need from air. Animals such as cows and sheep need microorganisms in order to digest the cellulose in their diets. Our ecosystem rely on microorganisms to enrich soil, degrade wastes and supports life. Without microbial recyclers, the world would be buried under dead organisms. We use beneficial microorganisms to make our food such as cheese, yoghurt, bread, to develop our vaccines, hormones, vitamins and antibiotics. The human body is home to billions of microorganisms, many of which help keep us healthy. Microorganisms are not only an essential part of our lives; they are quite literally a part of us. Microorganisms can be both beneficial and harmful (infectious disease agents) to humans, animals and plants. Some harmful microorganisms also do cause diseases, from the common cold to AIDS. The threats of bioterrorism and new or re-merging infectious diseases are real problem. We will explore all the roles (both harmful and beneficial) that microorganisms play in our lives in this fascinating course. Importance of bacteria Bacteria can be categorized into harmful and useful bacteria, while some bacteria are non harmful-non useful. Harmful bacteria Bacteria cause some major diseases to humans, animals and plants. Among these diseases: cholera, typhoid, tetanus, pneumonia, tuberculosis and meningitis. Some pathogenic bacteria produce poisonous chemicals called toxins which affect certain parts of the host body. In food industry, bacteria cause spoilage of food and food poising. Useful bacteria Bacteria produce antibiotics which for the treatment of diseases. Bacteria provide enzymes for biological washing powders. Bacteria are used as microbial insecticides protecting crops from insect pests. Bacteria are used to leach out metals from some low grade ores such as copper and gold. Bacteria contribute greatly to food industry (butter, cheese, and yogurt). Certain bacteria are used to convert lactose (milk sugar) into lactic acid. Certain bacteria are used to convert alcohol into vinegar. Â  Bacteria have an essential role in the natural cycles of matter. In the soil, bacteria affect fertility, structure and productivity of corps. One of the most important roles of bacteria is the breakdown of dead organisms and organic wastes into its basic inorganic parts. Carbon dioxide, water, nitrogen, and sulfur are some of the most important materials returned to the soil and atmosphere. Such cycling of materials could not occur in the absence of certain bacteria. 9. As a source of food (single cell protein (SCP). Bacteria are a good source of (SCP) with plenty of food and space. (SCP can be produced using bacteria growing in waste paper, pollutants or any food waste product). The Early Years Of Microorganisms The early years of microbiology brought the first observations of microbial life, and the initial efforts to organize them into logical classification. Early investigators suspected the existence of microorganisms and their role in disease development even before microorganisms were detected. The first person observed and described microorganisms was Antony van Leeunwenhoek (The Father of Bacteriology and Protozoology) (Dutch) in 1674. He was a tailor and a lens grinder. He used to manufacture lenses to examine the quality of the clothes. He invented simple microscope in 1674 and he observed, drew, and measured large numbers of minute living organisms including bacteria and protozoa in pond water. He also described the motion, morphology and diversity of bacteria and protozoa. How Can Microbes Be Classified? Shortly after Leeunwenhoek made his discoveries, the Swedish botanist Linnaeus developed a taxonomic system-that is a system for naming plants and animals and grouping similar organisms together. Linnaeus and other scientists of that period grouped all organisms into either animal kingdom or the plant kingdom. Today biologists use the five kingdoms classification system and the three kingdoms classification system. The microorganisms that Leeunwenhoek described can be grouped into five basic categories: fungi, protozoa, algae, prokaryotes and small animals. The only microbes not described by Leeunwenhoek are viruses which are too small to be seen without an electron microscope. Cells are of two types: 1- Prokaryotic cells (pro = before, karyon = nut or kernel). Example: Bacteria (i) Organisms very simple in shape. (ii) The cells lack true membrane delimited nucleus. 2- Eukaryotic cells (Eu = true, karyon = nut or kernel). Examples: Algae, fungi, protozoa, higher plants and animals. (i) Morphologically more complex than prokaryotes and larger in size. (ii) Organisms with true nucleus. They have a membrane enclose nucleus. . Biologists have divided living organisms into five kingdoms: Kingdom Monera or Prokaryote: includes prokaryotic organisms (Bacteria and archea) and Cyanobacteria (the blue-green bacteria, formerly called blue-green algae). Kingdom Protista: Include either unicellular or colonial eukaryotic organisms that lack true tissues (Protozoa, small algae, and lower fungi). Kingdom Fungi: Includes eukaryotic organisms with absorptive nutrition and often multinucleate. Fungi includes moulds (filamentous fungi) and yeasts (unicellular fungi). Kingdom Animalia: Multicellular animals with ingestive nutrition (Vertebrates and invertebrates). Kingdom Plantae: Multicellular plants with walled eukaryotic cells and photosynthetic ability. Viruses do not fit into the classification of living organisms (five kingdoms classification system) because they are dependent on other cells for their reproduction (obligate parasites). Nevertheless viruses are also studied by microbiologists. The recent classification divided organisms into 3 kingdoms based on the analysis of the 16S RNA. Bacteria (True bacteria or Eubacteria). Archaea (Archaeobacteria). Eukarya (All eukaryotic organisms). Fungi (Mycology) Fungi are organisms whose cells are eukaryotic with a true nucleus surrounded by a nuclear membrane. Fungi differ from animals by having cell walls. Fungi are different from plants because they are heterotrophic (obtain their food from other organisms which is different from plants (obtain their food by themselves through photosynthesis i.e. autotrophic). Microscopic fungi include molds (filamentous fungi) and yeasts (unicellular fungi). Molds are multicellular organisms that are grow as long filaments called hyphae that intertwine to make up the body of the mold. Molds reproduce by sexual and asexual spores which produce new individuals. Yeasts are unicellular and they reproduce by budding. Many types of fungi are beneficial and some are also very harmful to humans causing many diseases. Mushroom is a typical example of macroscopic fungi. Some mushrooms are also poisonous and can cause death. Protozoa (Protozoology or Parasitology) Protozoa are single celled eukaryotic microorganisms with true nucleus that are similar to animals in their nutritional needs and cellular structure. The suffix protozoa in Greek mean (the first animals). Most protozoa are capable of locomotion through pseudopodia, cilia or flagella. Protozoa typically live freely in water, but some live inside animal hosts, where they can cause diseases. Most protozoa reproduce asexually, however some can reproduce sexually. Algae (Phycology) Algae are unicellular or multicellular photosynthetic autotrophic organisms. Algae are categorized on the basis of their pigmentation, storage products and their cell walls. Large algae commonly called seaweeds and kelps are common in the oceans. Unicellular algae are common in freshwater ponds, streams and lakes and in the oceans as well. They are the major food source of small aquatic and marine animals and provide most of the worlds oxygen as a by-product of photosynthesis. Prokaryotes (Bacteriology) Prokaryotic microorganisms are unicellular microbes that lack nuclei. There are two kinds of prokaryotes: true bacteria (Eu-bacteria) and archaea (Archaeobacteria). Bacterial cell walls are composed of a polysaccharide called peptidoglycan, although some bacteria lack cell walls. Bacteria without cell walls are called mycoplasma. The cell walls of archaea lack peptidoglycan and instead are composed of other polymers. Most bacteria and archaea are much smaller than the eukaryotic microorganisms. True bacteria are found in all environments, however, archaea are only found in extreme environments (Difficult or harsh environments) (e.g. High or low temperature, high or low pH, high salinity, high pressure). Other Organisms Of Importance To Microbiologists Microbiologists also study parasitic worms which range in size from microscopic forms to adult tapeworms over 7 meters in length. The only type of microbes that remained hidden from Leeunwenhoek and other early microbiologists are viruses, viroids and prions which are much smaller than the smallest prokaryotic microorganisms and are not visible by light microscopy. Viruses could not seen until the electron microscope was invented in 1932. All complete viruses are acellular (not composed of cells) obligatory parasites composed of small amounts of genetic material (genome) (RNA or DNA never both) surrounded by a protein coat. The incomplete virus (Prions) consists only of protein coat and there is no nucleic acid and only attacks human and animals. While the incomplete virus (Virioid) consists only of nucleic acid and there is no protein coat and only attacks plants. Leeunwenhoek fist reported the existence of microorganisms in 1674, but microbiology did not develop significantly as a field of study for almost two centuries. There were a number of reasons for this delay. First, Leeunwenhoek was a suspicious and secretive man. Though he built over than 400 microscopes, he never trained an apprentice, and he never sold or gave away a microscope. When Leeunwenhoek died, the secret of creating superior microscope was lost. It took almost 100 years for scientists to make microscopes of equivalent quality. Another reason that microbiology was slow to develop as a science is that scientists in the 1700s considered microbes to be curiosities of nature and in-significant to human affairs. But in the late 1800s, scientists began to adopt a new philosophy, one that demand experimental proof rather than mere acceptance of traditional knowledge. This fresh philosophical foundation, accompanied by improved microscopes, new laboratory techniques, and a drive to answer a series of important questions, propelled microbiology to the forefront as a scientific discipline. The Golden Age of Microbiology For about 50 years during what is now called The Golden Age of Microbiology, scientists were driven by the search for answers o the following 4 questions: Is spontaneous generation of microbial life possible? What causes fermentation? What causes diseases? How can we prevent infection and disease? Competition among scientists, who were striving to be the first to answer these questions, drove exploration and discovery in microbiology during the late 1800s and early 1900s. These scientists discoveries and the fields of study they initiated continue to shape the course of microbiological research today. 1 Is Spontaneous Generation Of Microbial Life Possible? In the ancient times, many peoples believed that living organisms could develop from non-living matter, and they named this phenomenon as spontaneous generation (abiogenesis). Aristotle believed that simple invertebrates could arise by spontaneous generation. He also believed that frogs and shrimps could arise from mud, insects from the morning dew and maggots from decaying meat. The validity of this theory came under challenge in the 17th century. Redis Experiment (1626-1697). The spontaneous generation conflict was finally challenged by the Redi (1688), who carried out a series of experiments using decayed meat and he studies the ability of meat to produce maggots spontaneously. He concluded that maggots do not arise by spontaneous generation. In unsealed flask: The maggots covered the meat within few days. In the sealed flasks: The flies were kept away and no maggots appeared on the meat. In the gauze-covered flask: The flies were kept away and no maggots appeared on the meat, although a few maggots appeared on the top of the gauze. Needhams Experiment (1713-1781). He boiled beef broth in a sealed flask. Some days later he demonstrated that many of these flasks became cloudy and contained microorganisms. He thought that the organic matter in the meat contained a vital force that could give the properties of life from non-living matter. Since he heated the flasks he thought that the microorganisms is coming from the non living beef broth. Spallanzanis Experiment (1729-1799). Spallanzanis in 1799 reported results that contradicted Needhams findings. Spallanzani boiled some infusions for one hour and sealed the vials by melting their slender necks closed. His infusion remained clear, unless he broke the seal and exposed the infusion to air, after which they became cloudy with microorganisms. He concluded three things: Needham had either failed to heat his vials sufficiently. Microorganisms exist in the air and can contaminate the experiments. Spontaneous generation of microorganisms does not occur. All living things arise from other living things. Criticisms of Spallanzanis work were: The sealed vials did not allow enough air for organisms to survive. The prolonged heating for long time (one hour) destroyed the Life force. The debate continued until the French chemist Louis Pasteur conducted experiments that finally solved the theory of spontaneous generation to rest. Pasteurs Experiment (1822-1895). In 1861, Pasteur (The Father of Microbiology) solved the spontaneous generation conflict. The Swan Neck Experiment Pasteur placed nutrient solutions in flasks heated their necks in a flame and drew them out in a variety of curved shapes, and he kept the ends of the neck open to the air. He then boiled the nutrient solutions for a few minutes and allowed them to cool. No microbial growth was observed; even the flask contents were exposed to the external air currents. Pasteur pointed out that no growth was observed because dust and germs had been collected on the walls of the curved pre-heated necks. If the necks were broken, microbial growth appeared. The results obtained by Pasteur were against the spontaneous generation theory. 2- What Causes Fermentation? Pasteur developed the pasteurization a process of heating the grape juice just enough to kill most contaminating bacteria without changing the juice backs qualities so it could then be inoculated with yeast to ensure that alcohol fermentation occurred. Pasteur thus began the field of industrial microbiology or biotechnology in which microbes are used to manufacture beneficial products. Today pasteurization is used routinely on milk to eliminate pathogenic bacteria that cause tuberculosis and is also used to eliminate pathogenic bacteria and fungi in juices and other beverages. Because of Pasteur many significant accomplishments in working with microbes, Pasture is considered the Father of Microbiology. 3- What Causes Diseases? Robert Koch (German Doctor) (the golden age of microbiology 1880-1920) was the first person to demonstrate the role of bacteria in causing anthrax disease in 1876. Kochs proof that Bacillus anthracis caused anthrax. Koch discovered that bacteria are responsible for causing a disease. This was called the germ theory of disease. The science of etiology (the study of causation of diseases) was dominated by Robert Koch. Koch established criteria for proving the causal relationship between a microorganism and a specific disease. These criteria are known as Koch postulates, and it can be summarized as follows: (i)- The organism should be constantly present in animals or plants suffering from the disease and should not be present in healthy individuals. (ii)- The organism must be cultivated in pure culture away from the animal or plant body. (iii)- Such a culture when inoculated into susceptible animals or plants should initiate the characteristic disease symptoms. (iv)- The organism should be re-isolated from these experimental animals or plants and cultured again in the laboratory, after which it should still be the same as the original organism. Koch also developed media suitable for the isolation of pure bacterial cultures from human body. He developed nutrient broth and nutrient agar media. In 1882 Koch has used these methods to isolate the bacteria that cause tuberculosis. During Kochs studies on bacterial pathogens, it became necessary to isolate suspected bacterial pathogens. At first, he cultured bacteria on sterile surfaces of cut, boiled potatoes. This was unsatisfactory because bacteria would not always grow well on potatoes because of the acidity of the potato tissues. He then tried to solidify regular liquid medium by adding gelatin. Separate bacterial colonies developed after the surface had been streaked with a bacterial sample. When the gelatin medium hardened, individual bacteria produced separate colonies. Despite its advantages, gelatin was not an ideal solidifying agent because it was digested by many bacteria and melted when the temperature rose above 28ÂÂÂ °C. Fannie Hesse suggested a better alternative. She suggested the use of agar as a solidifying agent. Agar is derived from red algae. Agar was not attacked by most bacteria and did not melt until reaching a temperature of 100ÂÂÂ °C unlike gelatin. Richard Petri developed the Petri dish (Plate) in 1887, a container for making solid culture media. This development made possible the isolation of pure cultures that contained only a single microorganism. Koch and his colleagues are also responsible for many other advances in laboratory microbiology, including the following: Simple staining techniques for bacterial cells and flagella. The first photomicrograph of bacteria. The first photograph of bacteria in diseased tissues. Techniques for estimating the number of bacteria in a solution based on the number of colonies that form after inoculation onto a solid surface. The use of steam to sterilize growth media. The use of Petri dishes to hold solid growth media. Aseptic laboratory techniques such as transferring bacteria between media using platinum wire that has been sterilized in a flame. Koch hypothesized that each bacterial colony consisted if the progeny of a single cell. Koch use laboratory animals to inject bacteria and study disease development. For these achievements, Koch is considered as the Father of the Microbiological laboratory. Grams stain Although Koch reported a simple staining technique in 1877, the Danish scientist Gram developed a more important staining method in 1884. His procedure which involves the application of series of dyes made some microbes blue and others red. The blue cells are called the Gram positive and the red cells are called the Gram negative. We now use Gram Stain to separate bacteria into these two large groups. The gram stain is still the most widely used staining technique. It is one of the first steps carried out in any laboratory where bacteria are being identified. 4 How Can We Prevent Infection And Disease? 1 Semmelweis and Hand washing Semmelweis was a physician began requiring medical students to wash hands with chlorinated lime water. 2 Listers Antiseptic Technique Joseph Lister (1867), an English surgeon found indirect evidence that microorganism were agents of human disease. He worked on the prevention of wound infection. He developed a system of antiseptic surgery designed to prevent microorganism from entering wounds. Instruments were heat sterilized and phenol was used on surgical dressings and sprayed over the surgical area. He provided a strong evidence for the role of microorganisms in disease development because phenol which killed bacteria also prevented wound infections. 3 Nightingale and Nursing Nightingale was an English nurse and she is the founder of modern nursing and she introduced cleanliness and antiseptic techniques into nursing practices. 4 Snow and Epidemiology John Snow an English physician plays a key role ion setting standards for good public hygiene to prevent the spread of infectious diseases. His study was the foundation for two branches of microbiology (infection control) and epidemiology (study of the occurrence, distribution and spread of disease in humans). 5 Jenners Vaccine On 1796, Edward Jenner used cowpox-infected material to successfully vaccinate people against human small pox. He names the process vaccination after Vaccinia, the virus that causes cowpox. Jenner invented vaccination or immunization. In honor of Jenners work with cowpox, Pasteur used the term vaccine to refer to all weakened protective strains of pathogens. 6 Ehrlichs magic bullets and Chemotherapy Ehrlich found that chemicals could be used to kill microorganisms. He discovered chemicals active against trypanosomes the protozoan that causes sleeping sickness and against Treponema that cause syphilis. His discoveries began the branch of chemotherapy. The Modern Age of Microbiology 1 How Do Genes work? Over the past 40 yeasts, advances in microbial genetics developed into several new disciplines that are among the faster growing areas of scientific research today; including: Molecular biology A Molecular Biology Molecular biology combines aspects of biochemistry, cell biology and genetics to explain cell function at the molecular level. Molecular biologists are concerned with genome sequencing. A full understating of the genomes of organisms will result in practical ways to limit disease, repair genetic defects and enhance agricultural yield. B Recombinant DNA technology Molecular Biology is applied in recombinant DNA technology, commonly called genetic engineering which was first developed using microbial models. This includes the production of human insulin in genetically engineered bacteria. C Gene therapy An exciting new area of study is the use of recombinant DNA technology for gene therapy. This is a process that involves inserting a missing gene or repairing a defective gene in human cells. This procedure uses harmless viruses to insert a desired gene into host cells where it is incorporated into a chromosome and begins to function normally. 2 What Roles Do Microorganisms Play in the Environment? The study of microorganisms in their natural environment is called environmental Microbiology or microbial ecology. 3 How We Defend Against Disease? Advancements in chemotherapy were made in the 1900s with the discovery of numerous substances such as penicillin and sulfa drugs that inhibit bacteria. 4 The Scope And Relevance of Microbiology Microbiology has both basic aspects and applied aspects. A scientist working in the field of microbiology is called a microbiologist. Many microbiologists are interested in the biology of microorganisms. They may focus on a specific group of microorganisms and are called: Virologist (Virology is the study of viruses), Bacteriologist (Bacteriology is the study of bacteria), Phycologist (Phycology is the study of algae), Mycologist (Mycology is the study of fungi), and Protozoologist (Protozoology is the study of protozoa). Other microbiologist work in other fields such as microbial physiology, microbial cytology, microbial ecology, and microbial taxonomy. Other microbiologists have more practical applied fields such as medical microbiology, food and dairy microbiology, and public health microbiology. Medical Microbiology: Deals with human and animal diseases. Agricultural Microbiology: Deals with the application of microorganisms in agriculture. Public health Microbiology: Deals with the control of the spread of diseases. Food and dairy Microbiology: Deals with the application of microorganisms by man to make foods such as cheese, bread, and other important products. Industrial Microbiology: Deals with the industrial application of microorganisms such as the production of vaccines, antibiotics, vitamins and enzymes. Microbial Ecology or Environmental microbiology: Deals with the relationship between microorganisms and their environments. Microbial physiology and Biochemistry: Deals with the study with physiology of microorganisms and the effects of physical and chemical agents on the survival of microorganisms. 6 What Will The Future Hold? What will microbiologists discover next? Among the questions for the next 50 years are the following: What is the physiology of life forms that can not be grown in laboratory and only known to us now by their nucleic acid sequences? Does life exist beyond planet Earth, and if so, what are its features? How can we reduce the threat of infectious diseases, especially those that can be used by bioterrorists?

Copyright Laws in India Essay -- Technology Computers Essays

Copyright Laws in India This document is intended to give a brief overview of the patent and copyrights laws in India and a brief analysis on global issues related to these laws. India has progressed enormously in the field of technology and is ranked tenth in the pool of scientific and technical personnel in the world. There may be hundreds of economical, legal, ethical issues that might have global impact but discussing all of them here is almost impossible. Only the key issues are focused in this paper. India is quickly growing as leading world software producer. It has occupied a secured place in information technology arena by producing high quality software products and software professionals. India also has a fairly well developed system of infrastructure facilities like power, transport, communication and banking. Government of India has recently adopted an increasing liberal approach towards joint venture and import of technology. The country has also revised its patents Acts after a number of foreign companies brought suit against local firms for breach of patents. While computer programs are not currently patentable in India, the country is not without software protection. The Indian Copyright Law explicitly defines the software as a literary work, which can be protected. The statute gives the Indian Central Govt. power to extent copyright protection to foreign works if needed. With the protective necessary statute in place, India has only to enforce them. Enforcement in Ind ia, as in Mexico, indeed seems to be weak spot in controlling intellectual property. We will discuss the details of patens and copyrights issues of India in following sections of this paper. Overview of Patent laws in India The Indian Patent Law does not contain any specific provision regarding the protection of computer programs. Computer programs are not patentable per se, however a claim to a manner of manufacture, which results in a tangible product that requires the application of an algorithm or a particular computer program, may be patentable. Under Section 3(k) of the Patents (Second Amendment) Bill 1999, "a mathematical or a business method or a computer program or algorithms" is not a patentable invention. It appears that computer programs capable of bringing about a technical effect might be allowed, in pursuant to the recommendations made by the... ... of the program to be free software as well.) would prohibit it. Conclusion Software is special . Neither it can be compared to a copyrighted novel nor to a hardware or machinery. Software should be considered as a special case as it forms a unique nexus between the intangible world of abstract concepts and the concrete world of machinery. New discoveries and inventions are taking place everyday in this field. As we discussed above, there are many ethical issues if we protect the software as any other engineering process and there are many issues if we do not protect them. Being a responsible software engineer, I believe that software should be considered as a separate entity (different from other engineering processes or literary work) and new laws should be defined only applicable to software. References i. The patent and copyrights law in India, http://www.singhania.com/ip/contents.html ii. The Danger of Software Patents - by Richard M. Stallman, http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/stallman-mec-india.html iii. Philosophies of Free Software and Intellectual Property - by Brett Watson, http://www.ram.org/ramblings/philosophy/fmp/free-software-philosophy.html