Thursday, July 23, 2020

Know Money, Win Money! Chicago Auto Show (Part 2)

Know Money, Win Money! Chicago Auto Show (Part 2) Know Money, Win Money! Chicago Auto Show (Part 2) Know Money, Win Money! Chicago Auto Show (Part 2)You didn’t think the Know Money, Win Money road trip was over, did you? Well, it’s not exactly a road trip. More of a train ride over to the convention center where the auto show was taking place. But once we were there, we started revving our engines!And by revving our engines, we mean walking around and asking people questions about the financial side of cars and then giving them money if they answer those questions correctly. Now buckle up, and let’s put the pedal to the metal!Cars vary in price from expensive to ridiculously expensive. But how expensive was the most expensive car ever sold at auction? One million dollars? Two million dollars? Three million dollars? We’ll save you some time and just let you know that it was a measly 38 million dollars. If you just cut that expensive Starbucks latte out of your budget, you’d be able to afford this car in only 7,600,000 daysâ€"or just a little under 20,822 years. And if youâ €™re wondering No, it wasn’t some sort of magic flying car. It was a 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO, which, while really pretty, might not be your most affordable auto option.Our other question on this particular outing concerned miles. No, not the landmark jazz musician Miles Davis. The measurement of distance! Specifically, do you know how many miles the average American drives each year? It’s 13,500. That’s around half the distance it would take to drive around the Earth at the equator. Assuming you had a car that could also be a boat and drive over mountains. Or through mountains. Maybe the 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO can drive through mountains!We just checked, and not only can it not, but we now owe 38 million dollars. Whoops!Anyway, keep your tank full, because we’ll be bringing you another Know Money, Win Money before you know it!In the meantime, check out some of our other recent episodes:Episode 17: Winter Brewfest (Part 2)Episode 16: Chicago Auto ShowEpisode 15: Con Alt Delete (P art 2)Where would you like to see us go in future episodes? We want to hear from you! You can  email us, or you can find us on  Facebook  and  Twitter

Friday, May 22, 2020

Classism Does Not Have A Standard Definition, It Is A Bias

Classism does not have a standard definition, it is a bias. Different segments of society will give you varied answers. We classify those around us in multiple ways. By genealogy, economic status, culture, language, gender, race and influence to name a few. Our country was founded on escaping from a ruling class. It has become apparent that no matter how hard we work to get rid of class structure, we will always have it in our society. One way to look at it is â€Å"Class may be correctly referred to as the status an individual or group achieves by virtue of its economic strength, the influence among other groups, and the power to affect change in its community of choice.† (Brantley, et.al., 2003) In every segment of society there are different classes of people. We are put into categories by those in different class groups. There would not be a bias if we could all learn to accept everyone at face value. Not discriminate because of salary, dress and education. Our constitutio n states we are all created equal, in America, we are well aware that this is not the case. At the top of the pyramid we have the very rich, one percent, who controls the financial sector. This class consists of financiers and industrialists, which live lavish lifestyles. They are far removed from what we call the working poor or working class. President Obama falls into this category of wealth and privilege. Our government is a long way from what we originally started with. History teaches us that theShow MoreRelatedClass Essay : Class And Classism1514 Words   |  7 PagesClass and Classism My gender, having a military parent, our type of society and being a middle-class family is the biggest influences in terms of my own biases. Lareau states the best example of the next influence, which is how a person’s class affects their growth and development in Unequal Childhoods (2003). She talks about how the class of a child gives them more opportunity for growth and advancement. In society today we perceive the rich getting richer and the poor getting poorer. ThroughoutRead MoreTo Kill A Mockingbird Social Class Analysis1809 Words   |  8 Pagesare the most advanced beings on this Earth. Since we are the dominant creature, we are the best creature. We can do astounding things, like what I’m doing right now. It’s pretty cool to have the brain of a human. Right? Debatably. In the book To Kill a Mockingbird, Scout and Jem experience classism and implicit bias. From this, they learn to empathize. These impeccable brains of ours cause competitiveness. Collectively we dont want to be the best, but singularly we do. We split ourselves up intoRead MoreThe American Dream And The Trouble With Diversity By Walter Benn Michaels2068 Words   |  9 Pages In the last few decades, the American have become proud of the American Dream, which they believe in coming true, as one working hard now will have a glossy life in the future. However, there is a wonder whether the American is living in the American Dream while the inequality still exists in American society. To get the answer, there are two helpful articles: â€Å"What Ever Happened to Upward Mobility?† by Rana Foroohar and â€Å"The Trouble with Diversity† by Walter Benn Michaels. These articles talk aboutRead MoreChristian Worldview and Multiculturalism3014 Words   |  13 Pagesfood, religious beliefs, and other cultural manifestations. An influential group calling itself NAME, or the National Association for Mul ticultural Education, includes in its philosophy statement the following: Xenophobia, discrimination, racism, classism, sexism, and homophobia are societal phenomena that are inconsistent with the principles of a democracy and lead to the counterproductive reasoning that differences are deficiencies.(name). NAME is a powerful organization composed of educators fromRead MoreSubstance Abuse in Pregnant Women Essay1860 Words   |  8 Pagesthe breadth of forces that lead to drug use in pregnant women have a prevalent cultural and social foundation that the proponents for deterrence and retribution ignore in favor of strict scrutiny. This conflict between women’s rights and fetal rights has caused a paradigm in the prosecution of pregnant drug users as the interpretation of criminal sanctions argues over the definition of ‘child’ as encompassing fetuses in the definition would then lay the foundation for punishment for a woman’s conductRead MoreFeminism And T he First Wave Feminism2028 Words   |  9 PagesWhile some acts may have been passed, the feminist movement did not truly start until 1848 with the Seneca Falls Convention. In the early 1800s there were some reforms but not as much as the aftermath of the Seneca Falls Convention. Only one university, which was Oberlin College, had changed its rules to allow a co-educational student population. Iowa made it legal for the mother of a child to take full sole custody if she were to divorce. Kentucky was the first state to have a smaller renditionRead MoreBlack Feminism : A Profound Effect On Society s History3616 Words   |  15 PagesIntroduction Black Feminism has proven to have a profound effect on society’s history, and is now beginning to impact even more this day and age. Black feminism is broader than what comes to mind. It is an essential component of black struggle against oppression and authority. Generally Black feminism is used to empower and liberate black women. Throughout the years many liberals have tried to exclude and silence black feminist. Black feminist have demanded for social, economic and political equalityRead MoreEpekto Ng Polusyon19213 Words   |  77 Pages Researcher: Carole Le Darcy Supervisor: Dr Sue Becker Acknowledgements I would like to express my sincerest thanks and gratitude to all of the exceptionally strong women that participated in this research that have freely given not only some of their precious and valuable time but have also revealed that which is sadly all too often concealed; the remarkable, courageous and often very moving accounts of their experiences, journey and exit from abusive and violent relationships. Thanks also to Pat

Thursday, May 7, 2020

Fedex E-Commerce - 3560 Words

SenseAware information service unveiled by FedEx TELECOMWORLDWIRE-17 November 2009-SenseAware information service unveiled by FedEx(C)1994-2009 M2 COMMUNICATIONS http://www.m2.com Transportation, e-commerce and business services provider FedEx Corp (NYSE:FDX) announced on Tuesday the introduction of SenseAware powered by FedEx, a next generation information service that combines a GPS sensor device and a web-based collaboration platform. According to the company, the solution, developed by the FedEx innovation team, is an open, adaptive sensor information sharing platform. It will serve customers who need near real-time visibility and insight into their shipment and enable business decision makers to easily collaborate on many types of†¦show more content†¦In February 2004 Kinko s was bought by FedEx for $2.4 billion and then became known as FedEx Kinko s Office and Print Centers. Currently, Brian Phillips is the President and Chief Executive Officer, following Ken May s departure on March 7, 2008.[3][4] Locations of FedEx Office centers include Australia, Canada, China, Japan, Korea, Kuwait, Mexico, Netherlands, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, and the United States of America. FedEx Office s primary competitors include The UPS Store, OfficeMax, AlphaGraphics, Staples, Sir Speedy, and VistaPrint. On June 2, 2008, FedEx announced that they were rebranding FedEx Kinko s to be FedEx Office, with the intent that it would more accurately represent the broader role the company envisioned for the company. With this change, FedEx Office has become the retail branch of the FedEx Corporation. As of late 2009, some stores and branding still show FedEx Kinko s. FedEx Office offers the same services that FedEx Kinko s Office and Print Center locations did previously. Services FedEx Office offers a wide variety of production and finishing services, as well as FedEx shipping; however they are best known for making photocopies. Most centers have three distinct sections: self-service, shipping, and production. FedEx Office also offers signs and banners. The pricesShow MoreRelatedSwot Analysis Of Fedex And Ups993 Words   |  4 Pageschain management, logistics, and financial services. The industry offers two basic products that are air and ground deliveries. Three major competitors, FedEx, UPS and USPS, rule both of the product lines. In this comparison we will only be comparing FedEx and UPS because the companies have a strong brand names and are highly competitive. FedEx on the other hand is a $17 billion global transportation and logistics company, with an operating philosophy to â€Å"operate independently and compete collectivelyRead MoreThe Fedex Corporation : An American Based Worldwide Courier Delivery Service Company Essay1532 Words   |  7 PagesThe FedEx Corporation, conceived as Federal Express, is an American-based worldwide courier delivery Service Company. It provides strategic and logistical support for a variety of operating divisions, currently known as FedEx Express, FedEx Ground, FedEx Freight, and FedEx Services. These companies operate independently, compete collectively and manage collaboratively (Amsler et al., 2010). For the purpose of this report, focus will be on FedEx Express operations. The company is currently the globalRead MoreSwot Analysis Of Fedex And Ups1028 Words   |  5 Pagesservices. The industry offers two basic products that are air and ground deliveries. Both of the product lines are highly developed and ruled by three major competitors, FedEx, UPS and USPS. In this comparison we will only be comparing FedEx and UPS because the companies have a strong brand names and are highly competitive. FedEx on the other hand is a $17 billion global transportation and logistics company, with an operating philosophy to â€Å"operate independently and compete collectively. Pg 3 UPSRead MoreE Commerce Business At The Golfing Industry, While Being Cost Effective For The Client741 Words   |  3 PagesAs an intern the following assignment was proposed as a means of establishing an E-Commerce business in the golfing industry, while being cost effective for the client. Project Assignment: Harrison Kirby, the owner of a small golf shop, has asked to have a report provided on moving his golf shop to an e-commerce interface that is user friendly, easy to manage, will provide online sales with payment options, tee-time scheduling with group play, inventory selection of 150 items with in-store pick-upRead MoreIndividual Case Study Report : Fedex1125 Words   |  5 Pages4234756 Individual Case Study Report: FedEx Delivering goods such as gifts, files, and documents has always been essential for businesses and personal purposes. Before internet marketing and technological innovations, sending parcels to another location wasn t so simple. However now days, there is a constant increase of internet users which according to The World Bank, around 38.1 billion people surf on the cyberspace. This boosts online shopping and services increasing companies to aim to sendRead MoreEssay on Fedex Company Profile746 Words   |  3 PagesFedEx is a leading global provider of transportation, e-commerce and supply chain management services. FedEx companies offer following services: worldwide express delivery, ground small-package delivery, less-then-truckload freight delivery, global logistics and customs brokerage. Other services include trade facilitation and electronic commerce solutions. All of the above services are provided through a portfolio of operating companies: Federal Express Corporation (world largest expressRead Morefitter snacker erp case1742 Words   |  7 Pagesqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwe rtyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyui opasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopa sdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfg Computer Applications In Business 1 hjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklz FedEx Corporation xcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcv OCTANE bnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnm qwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwe yuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuio pasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopas dfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfgh Komal Sarwar(4172) Mehwish Fareed(4266) jklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghdjklz Javeria Fawad() Read MoreFedex : A Successful Global Company Essay948 Words   |  4 Pagesmight need to be met. FedEx is an outstanding company that displays their success globally. In 1973, Frederick W. Smith opened a company with the mindset of having the ability to ship packages overnight. He named the company Federal Express, known as FedEx, looking for a patriotic meaning that would represent a possible nationwide trade and industry movement (FedEx, 2015). FedEx’s main line of business consists of express delivery, e-commerce, and pickup of parcels. In 1975, FedEx set the standard forRead MoreBusiness Press Article And An Executive Summary Essay1512 Words   |  7 PagesBusiness Press Article and an Executive Summary Amazon currently has the objective to form a strategic move focused on growing business with UPS, U.S. Postal Service, FedEx, and obtain better prices for shipping. Bezos has given a statement clarifying that Amazon is creating a delivery network that added to—and did not replace—those of FedEx, UPS, and the U.S. Postal Service. In an interview he said, â€Å"It’s not that we are trying to take over. No, in fact what we want †¦ Well, we’d always like better prices†Read MoreFederal Express s Value Creation Frontier1667 Words   |  7 Pagescompetitive advantage over its rivals, and earn above-average profitability. In the small package express delivery industry, Federal Express (FedEx) is an example of a company that has been able to reach the value creation frontier. FedEx has reached this frontier through a combination of the four building blocks of competitive advantage. According to Morris (2009), FedEx is not just noted for its revolutionary idea of overnight delivery, or for its innovation through technology, or for its reputation as

Wednesday, May 6, 2020

Richards Story Free Essays

Apart from disfigurement, other psychosocial issues Richard might face include but are not limited to sleep disorder, fear and anxiety around open flames, depression, loose of self-esteem and PTSD. Additional precaution needs to be taken to make sure Richard maintains some functions in his burnt fingers. Some of these precautions should be occupational therapy and physical therapy. We will write a custom essay sample on Richards Story or any similar topic only for you Order Now Due Richard was burnt in the face, other systems may be compromised. The systems that could be affected are the respiratory system (because his nose could be burnt), the digestive system (because if his mouth is affected, then his ability to eat, chew or drink might be impeded. ) and ofcourse his nervous system as the nerves in his face will be dead. Based on the fact that Richard is losing a lot of body fluid his nutritional needs are high protein food, water, high calorie drinks, fruits and vegetable, and fatty food because fat is a readily available source of energy. Partial thickness burn is extremely painful because most of the nerve endings which detect and interpret pain and sensation are located in the dermis where partial thickness burn occurs. Partial thickness burn would heal faster because it is not as deep into the skin and therefore skin rejuvenation is more possible. Functions compromised by the burn on Richard’s skin are the ability to secret sweat, the ability to convert sun to vitamin D, ability to protect against infection, ability to regulate temperature and the ability to protect against infection. Other skin functions that should be a concern to the medical staff is that Richard’s skin will lose the ability to store blood and there will be no tissue growth. His skin will also lose the ability to maintain water and salt balance. It is unlikely for Richard to grow hair to cover the scars on his chest because his hair follicles in the burnt area are damaged and there can be no more hair growth because of this. Also the scar tissue is covering the pores from which hair sprouts. During the first phase of wound healing, inflammation takes place first. Blisters orm on the outer edges of the burns as the wounds begin to form scabs. Formation of granulation tissue will not lead to normal appearing/ formation of skin as Richard heals. This is because granulation tissue is scar tissue and scar tissue does not appear normal or allow hair growth or normal skin function. Some long term consequences include the inability to regulate temperature and feel pain because of the dead nerve endings at the site of the burn. Numbness may occur, his body will not be able to secret sweat and he might gain weight because of this. How to cite Richards Story, Papers

Monday, April 27, 2020

The Most Famous Classical Musicians free essay sample

Being famous is subjective to what the people want and what they people understand and/or know. I gathered eleven surveys and averaged out their numbers to get the most famous composers. They are in order from 1st to 5th. As the first-most famous composer, Johann Sebastian Bach was consistently first place in online surveys. Johann Sebastian Bach was a German composer who lived from 1685-1750, part of the Baroque Period. Bach wrote hundreds of pieces for organ, choir, as well as many other instruments. He spent most of his life as a church organist and a choir director.Even Bach, one of the famous 3 ads was inspired by other musicians. HIS music combines profound expression with clever musical- mathematical feats, like fugues and cannons in which the same melody is played against it self in various ways. Famous for their intellectual depth, Bach+s pieces and compositions have inspired many musicians such as Mozart. We will write a custom essay sample on The Most Famous Classical Musicians or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Mozart, one of the most famous musicians ever, was greatly inspired by Bach. He even once said Now, here is something one can learn from! . Bach is often compared to the original classical artist is terms of adequacy.Beethoven was also inspired by Bach, referring to him as the Ravager deer Harmonies (original father of harmony) and niche Bach, senders Mere (not a stream but a sea, punning on the literal meaning of the composers name). Bach also Inspired Chopin. A not so famous. But prominent figure. Composers such as Mozart, Beethoven, Robert Schumann, and Felix Mendelssohn began writing in a more contrapuntal style after being exposed to Bachs music. At the end of his lifetime, his music was considered old-fashioned compared to the emerging new classical style.His reputation weakened as a composer, but people today still hear his melodies as inspirational works of art and as theme songs. Three pieces of Bachs work were Included onboard the Voyager spacecrafts In the form of golden records that were meant to represent our hope and our determination and our goodwill. He revolutionized music in the respect that he changed the lives and songs of many who have heard his music. Many pieces of music we hear today are mixed with Bachs concertos. Ludwig van Beethoven was a close second on the list. Ludwig van Beethoven was born in the German town of Bonn on the 16th of December 1770.He lived from 1770 to 1827. He, at an early age, discovered he had a hearing disorder that got worse as he grew older. It eventually got to the point where Beethoven could not hear, becoming deaf. This hearing disorder seems to have affected his social life to a great extent. He became difficult to handle in social Interactions and could suddenly burst Into outbreaks of anger and show bad temper where he usually insulted someone, usually apologizing later. After he became deaf, his work became less creative and instead of dramatic, more introvert, showing the signs of an aged, mature genius.During his life, he was an Innovator, widening the casual knowledge of sonata, symphony, concerto, and quartet, and combining vocals and Instruments in a new way. He is widely known as one of the greatest composers wonderful music that all enjoy to hear. His art reaches out to embrace the spirit of human heart and loyalty to a persons nation. He expressed this in the works of Goethe and Frederica von Schaller, his elder contemporaries in the world of literature, the convincing moral imperatives of Kant, and the ideals of the French Revolution, with passionate concern for the freedom and dignity of the people he wrote to.He revealed more expressively than any of the mu sicians before him that emotions and stories could be played strongly through music rather than words of an opera or a song. Certain compositions show the strongest form of the human will in music, perhaps even in art. He painted the pathway for many Romantic period composers, who used his music to characterize most of their music. Franz Peter Schubert was surprisingly before Brahms. I had expected for the famous three Bis, Bach, Beethoven and Brahms, to be the first three composers on this list. Schubert came in third place.Franz Peter Schubert was a Austrian composer who lived from 1797 1828, dying at the age of thirty-one. Schubert wrote opera and incidental music for the theater. The love for his music during his lifetime was limited, but his reputation steadily inclined after death. Today, Schubert is seen as one of the leading composers of the Romantic period in music. He remains one of the most frequently performed composers. Schubert remarkably wrote 1,000 pieces in his lifetime. Over 600 of these are romantic songs as well as many operas, symphonies, sonatas and many other works.Schubert music is different from any other music. It was written during the change from the period of Viennese Classical style and the Romantic period. It is very expressive, but it lacks the creativity of early musicians such as Bach and Beethoven. Today, with his lyrical and melodically style, he is counted as one of the most gifted composers of the 19th century. Enhances Brahms made fourth place, very close to Schubert. Enhances Brahms was a German composer born in Hamburg. Brahms was considered to be the successor to Beethoven by many.He admired two famous imposers, Beethoven and Schubert, modeling some of his music after their pieces and works. His very first symphony was nicknamed as Beethovens tenth symphony, as first described by Hans von Bowwow. (This nickname is still used in today modern music). Like Beethoven, Brahms had a gruff and pompous attitude, but the people who admired him for his genius, let it pass. He is often considered as both a traditionalist and an innovator, his music is rooted in Baroque and Classical masters. He blended these two styles of music together, blowing away most competition.He as a master of counterpoint, a method of composition in which Bach is famous, and also of development, in which many good composers are famous for such as Joseph Haydn, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Ludwig van Beethoven. Brahms created bold new approaches to harmony, melody and, especially, rhythm. While many people found his music too inexpressive and old-fashioned, he greatly contributed to the style of music. The highly constructed nature of Abrahams works was a starting point and an inspiration for many composers for many generations.George Frederic Handel was a German composer in the Baroque period, born in 1685, he same year as Bach. He is regarded as one of the greatest composers of all time, and not Just for his Water Music, and Music for the Royal Fireworks. Interest in Handle;s work had grown over time, becoming one of the most famous classical composers in todays time since the sasss. Handel composed forty operas in about thirty years. Some of these operas are considered great works, famous for their arias. His operas are famous for their emotional stories, mostly love, by a composer who had never had such experiences. Handel lived in the time of Bach and avoided doing he same type of music as him, trusting in his own musical ability to rise to the top. Ere music of both composers, however, sums up the age in which they lived. After them, opera changed from the Baroque style, leaving Bach and Handel as the two leading composers of Opera. Thus, their influence cannot be found in specific examples. Rather, his dramatic and beautiful works leaves Handel+s mark on the Nor. His ability to build large scenes around a single character was further extended in the dramatic scenes of a composer such as Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.Handels greatest gift to posterity was the creation of the dramatic oratorio genre, partly out of existing operatic traditions and partly by his own musical imagination. Ere works of both the composer Joseph Haydn and the composer Felix Mendelssohn owe a large debt to the works of Handel. Ere compositions and genius of all of these composers shaped and modeled the music we have today. They have inspired some of the most famous and amazing artists of all time. Even today we hear their music, in TV commercials, and in video games. They are still inspiring people today. For these composers, have all revolutionized music.

Thursday, March 19, 2020

Gram Positive vs. Gram Negative Bacteria

Gram Positive vs. Gram Negative Bacteria Most bacteria are classified into two broad categories: Gram positive and Gram negative. These categories are based on their cell wall composition and reaction to the Gram stain test. The Gram staining method, developed by Hans Christian Gram, identifies bacteria based upon the reaction of their cell walls to certain dyes and chemicals. The differences between Gram positive vs Gram negative bacteria are primarily related to their cell wall composition. Gram positive bacteria have cell walls composed mostly of a substance unique to bacteria known as peptidoglycan, or murein. These bacteria stain purple after Gram staining. Gram negative bacteria have cell walls with only a thin layer of peptidoglycan and an outer membrane with a lipopolysaccharide component not found in Gram positive bacteria. Gram negative bacteria stain red or pink after Gram staining. Gram Positive Bacteria The cell walls of Gram positive bacteria differ structurally from the cell walls of Gram negative bacteria. The primary component of bacterial cell walls is peptidoglycan. Peptidoglycan is a macromolecule composed of sugars and amino acids that are assembled structurally like woven material. The amino sugar component consists of alternating molecules of N-acetylglucosamine (NAG) and N-acetylmuramic acid (NAM). These molecules are crosslinked together by short peptides which help give peptidoglycan strength and structure. Peptidoglycan provides protection for bacteria and defines their shape. This image shows the cell wall composition of Gram positive bacteria. CNX OpenStax/Wikimedia Commons/CC BY-SA 4.0 The Gram positive cell wall has several layers of peptidoglycan. The thick layers of peptidoglycan help to support the cell membrane and provide a place of attachment for other molecules. The thick layers also enable Gram positive bacteria to retain most of the crystal violet dye during Gram staining causing them to appear purple. Gram positive cell walls also contain chains of teichoic acid that extend from the plasma membrane through the peptidoglycan cell wall. These sugar-containing polymers assist in maintaining cell shape and play a role in proper cell division. Teichoic acid helps some Gram positive bacteria to infect cells and cause disease. Some Gram positive bacteria have an additional component, mycolic acid, in their cell walls. Mycolic acids produce a waxy outer layer that provides additional protection for mycobacteria, such as Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Gram positive bacteria with mycolic acid are also called acid-fast bacteria because they require a special staining method, known as acid-fast staining, for microscope observation. Pathogenic Gram positive bacteria cause disease by the secretion of toxic proteins known as exotoxins. Exotoxins are synthesized within the prokaryotic cell and released into the exterior of the cell. They are specific to certain bacterial stains and can cause serious damage to body organs and tissues. Some Gram negative bacteria also produce exotoxins. Gram Positive Cocci Gram positive cocci refer to Gram positive bacteria that are spherically shaped. Two genera of Gram positive cocci noted for their role as human pathogens are Staphylococcus and Streptococcus. Staphylococcus are spherical in shape and their cells appear in clusters after they divide. Streptococcus cells appear as long chains of cells after division. Examples of Gram positive cocci that colonize the skin include Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcus aureus, and Streptococcus pyogenes. Staphylococcus aureus is a Gram-positive coccus (round) bacteria that is found on the skin and mucous membranes of humans and many animals. The bacteria are usually harmless, but infections can occur on broken skin or within a blocked sweat or sebaceous gland, resulting in boils, pustules and abscesses. Paul Gunning/Science Photo Library/Getty Images While all three are part of the normal human microbiota, they can cause disease under certain conditions. Staphylococcus epidermidis form thick biofilms and can cause infections associated with implanted medical devices. Some Staphylococcus aureus strains, such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), have become resistant to antibiotics and can lead to the development of serious illness. Streptococcus pyogenes can cause strep throat, scarlet fever, blood poisoning, and flesh-eating disease. Gram Negative Bacteria Like Gram positive bacteria, the Gram negative bacterial cell wall is composed of peptidoglycan. However, the peptidoglycan is a single thin layer compared to the thick layers in Gram positive cells. This thin layer does not retain the initial crystal violet dye but picks up the pink color of the counterstain during Gram staining. The cell wall structure of Gram negative bacteria is more complex than that of Gram positive bacteria. Located between the plasma membrane and the thin peptidoglycan layer is a gel-like matrix called periplasmic space. Unlike in Gram positive bacteria, Gram negative bacteria have an outer membrane layer that is external to the peptidoglycan cell wall. Membrane proteins, murein lipoproteins, attach the outer membrane to the cell wall. This image shows the cell wall composition of Gram negative bacteria. CNX OpenStax/Wikimedia Commons/CC BY-SA 4.0 Another unique characteristic of Gram negative bacteria is the presence of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) molecules on the outer membrane. LPS is a large glycolipid complex that protects bacteria from harmful substances in their environment. It is also a bacterial toxin (endotoxin) that can cause inflammation and septic shock in humans if it enters the blood. There are three components of the LPS: Lipid A, a core polysaccharide, and an O antigen. The lipid A component attaches the LPS to the outer membrane. Attached to the lipid A is the core polyssaccharide. It is located between the lipid A component and the O antigen. The O antigen component is attached to the core polyssaccharide and differs between bacterial species. It can be used to identify specific strains of harmful bacteria. Gram Negative Cocci Gram negative cocci refer to Gram negative bacteria that are spherically shaped. Bacteria of the genus Neisseria are examples of Gram negative cocci that cause disease in humans. Neisseria meningitidis is diplococcus, meaning that its spherical cells remain in pairs after cell division. Neisseria meningitidis causes bacterial meningitis and can also cause septicemia and shock. Neisseria meningitidis are spherical, Gram negative bacteria which cause meningitis in humans. The bacteria are typically seen in pairs, each one concave on the side facing its partner. Health Protection Agency/Science Photo Library/Getty Images Another diplococcus bacterium, N. gonorrhoeae, is the pathogen responsible for the sexually transmitted disease gonorrhea. Moraxella catarrhalis is a Gram negative diplococcus that causes ear infections in children, upper respiratory system infections, endocarditis, and meningitis. Gram negative coccobacillus bacteria have bacterial shapes that are in between spherical and rod shaped. Bacteria of the genus Haemophilus and Acinetobacter are coccobacilli that cause serious infections. Haemophilus influenzae can cause meningitis, sinus infections, and pneumonia. Acinetobacter species cause pneumonia and wound infections. Key Points: Gram Positive vs. Gram Negative Bacteria Most bacteria can be broadly classified as Gram positive or Gram negative.Gram positive bacteria have cell walls composed of thick layers of peptidoglycan.Gram positive cells stain purple when subjected to a Gram stain procedure.Gram negative bacteria have cell walls with a thin layer of peptidoglycan. The cell wall also includes an outer membrane with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) molecules attached.Gram negative bacteria stain pink when subjected to a Gram stain procedure.While both Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria produce exotoxins, only Gram negative bacteria produce endotoxins. Sources Silhavy, T. J., et al. The Bacterial Cell Envelope. Cold Spring Harbor Perspectives in Biology, vol. 2, no. 5, 2010, doi:10.1101/cshperspect.a000414.Swoboda, Jonathan G., et al. Wall Teichoic Acid Function, Biosynthesis, and Inhibition. ChemBioChem, vol. 11, no. 1, June 2009, pp. 35–45., doi:10.1002/cbic.200900557.

Tuesday, March 3, 2020

The Greek Colony of Miletus

The Greek Colony of Miletus Miletus was one of the great Ionian cities in southwestern Asia Minor. Homer refers to the people of Miletus as Carians. They fought against the Achaeans (Greeks) in the Trojan War. Later traditions have Ionian settlers taking the land from the Carians. Miletus itself sent off settlers to the Black Sea area, as well as the Hellespont. In 499 Miletus led the Ionian revolt that was a contributing factor in the Persian Wars. Miletus was destroyed 5 years later. Then in 479, Miletus joined the Delian League, and in 412 Miletus revolted from Athenian control offering a naval base to the Spartans. Alexander the Great conquered Miletus in 334 B.C.; then in 129, Miletus became part of the Roman province of Asia. In the 3rd Century A.D., Goths attacked Miletus, but the city continued, waging an ongoing fight against the silting of its harbor. Early Inhabitants of Miletus The Minoans abandoned their colony in Miletus by 1400 BC. Mycenaean Miletus was a dependency or ally of Ahhiwaya though its population was mostly Carian. Shortly after 1300 BC, the settlement was destroyed by fire- probably at the instigation of the Hittites who knew the city as Millawanda. The Hittites fortified the city against possible naval attacks by the Greeks. Age of the Settlement at Miletus Miletus was regarded as the oldest of the Ionian settlements, though this claim was disputed by Ephesus. Unlike its near neighbors, Ephesus and Smyrna, Miletus was protected from landward assaults by a mountain range and developed early as a sea power. During the 6th century, Miletus contested (unsuccessfully) with Samos for possession of Priene. In addition to producing philosophers and historians, the city was famous for its purple dye, its furniture, and the quality of its wool. The Milesians made their own terms with Cyrus during his conquest of Ionia, though they joined in the rebellion of 499. The city did not fall to the Persians until 494 at which time the Ionian Revolt was considered to be well and truly over. Rule of Miletus Though Miletus was originally ruled by a king the monarchy was overthrown early on. Around 630 BCE a tyranny evolved from its elected (but oligarchic) chief magistracy the prytaneia. The most famous Milesian tyrant was Thrasybulus who bluffed Alyattes out of attacking his city. After the fall of Thrasybulus there came a period of bloody stasis and it was during this period that Anaximander formulated his theory of opposites. When the Persians finally sacked Miletus in 494 they enslaved most of the population and deported them to the Persian Gulf, but there were enough survivors to play a decisive part in the battle of Mycale in 479 (Cimons liberation of Ionia). The city itself, however, was completely razed. The Port of Miletus Miletus, though one of the most famous ports of antiquity is now marooned in an alluvial delta. By the middle of the 5th century, it had recovered from Xerxes attack and was a contributing member of the Delian League. The 5th-century city was designed by the architect Hippodamas, a native of Miletus, and some of the extant remains date from that period. The present form of the theater dates to 100 A.D., but it had existed in an earlier form. It seats 15,000 and faces what used to be the harbor. Source Sally Goetsch of Didaskalia provided notes for this article. Percy Neville Ure, John Manuel Cook, Susan Mary Sherwin-White, and Charlotte Rouechà © Miletus The Oxford Classical Dictionary. Simon Hornblower and Anthony Spawforth. Oxford University Press (2005).