GarGoyles On The Square

Global Warming

2010-01-18T00:40:00.000-08:00

Global warming is the phenomenon of a gradual overall increase in the average temperature of the Earth’s atmosphere due to the accumulation of certain gases. The Earth’s atmosphere is made up of major gases namely, oxygen and nitrogen, and minor constituents such as water vapour and carbon dioxide. These gases play a crucial role in moderating the Earth’s temperature. This is because these gases are relatively transparent to incoming visible light from the sun, but absorb the heat radiation given off by the ground and objects exposed to the sun. As a result they produce a heating of the atmosphere by what is known as the “green-house effect”. Without the “green-house gases” in the atmosphere and the resulting green-house effect’ the Earth’s average surface temperature would be as low as -20 degree Celsius.

But what is of concern today is the ever increasing level of carbon dioxide and certain other greenhouse gases in the atmosphere during the past several decades. Estimates suggest that by the middle of the 21^st century the Earth may be 2 degree to 9 degree Celsius warmer. This warming will result in large scale inundation of coastal areas as a result of rising sea levels due to the melting of polar ice caps. Widespread climatic changes are also forecast due to this global warming.Already the world has started feeling the heat of human Errors and this one just gets added to the list

Genetic Engineering

2010-01-10T00:39:00.000-08:00

Genetic engineering is a technique of manipulating the DNA in cells to endow an organism with qualities it did not naturally possess. The technique is also called gene manipulation. It entails a number of steps the first of which is the constitution of DNA segment from nucleic acid molecules in a test tube. The length of DNA so made is inserted into a virus or some other suitable vector that can serve as a molecular ferry to carry it into the host organism. The crucial factor here is ability of the inserted DNA molecule to express itself and also to multiply. Bacteria and even higher animals may be genetically engineered to produce foreign proteins of interest by inserting a copy or multiple copies of the gene coding for the protein into them. Several important products of medical use such as insulin and the human growth hormone are now being produced commercially using genetically engineered bacteria. The crucial factor here is ability of the inserted DNA molecule to express itself and also to multiply. ‘Tracy’, a genetically engineered sheep produces the pharmaceutically important protein called Alpha-1 antitrypsin in her milk. Genetic engineering may be used to boost growth, alter resistance to factors such as drugs, heat, cold and salinity in both animals and plants.

Gene Therapy

2010-01-01T00:35:00.000-08:00

Gene therapy is a new and as yet largely experimental branch of medicine that incorporates techniques of genetic engineering to correct inherited disorders or inborn errors of metabolism. The idea of curing a genetic disorder by repairing or replacing a faulty gene or gene product (protein) first occurred to Dr. W. French Anderson now recognized as the father of gene therapy.

In gene therapy the flawed gene is identified and copies of its normal version are produced in the laboratory by cloning. Then suitable host cells are selected from the patient’s body and genetic engineering is used to transfer copies of the normal version of the gene into it. The doctored cells are then returned to the body by injection.The idea of curing a genetic disorder by repairing or replacing a faulty gene or gene product (protein) first occurred to Dr. W. French Anderson now recognized as the father of gene therapy. The introduced genes are incorporated into the chromosomes of the patient’s cells and propagate with each cell division. Since the introduced genes work normally and produce the protein that was previously either absent or malformed, the error is corrected in the victim who gets cured of the symptom. However, since gene therapy is not approved for genetic manipulation of the germ or reproductive cells, the cure cannot be passed on to future generations of the cured victims.

Mutation

2009-12-28T04:40:00.000-08:00

Mutation are nothing but changes in DNA sequence of cell’s genome which are caused by radiation, mutagenic chemicals, viruses and transposes and also by faults prevails during meiosis. A change in the structure of a gene resulting in an altered gene product, that is a protein, is called mutation. Most mutations have harmful effects in an organism better adapted to its environment. In that case, natural selection acts to increase the frequency of the advantageous trait leading to evolution.

This change in the structure of a gene or the genetic material DNA may be just a single base obstruction or that involving a few or more bases. A segment of DNA may be deleted in a gene or addition of a few bases in a gene may result in mutation.

Mutation can be either spontaneous or induced. The former occur due to unknown mutagenic agents present in the environment. Induced mutations are produced at will by subjecting the genetic material to a variety of known mutagens like X-rays, UV rays or some chemicals. Mutations lead to several disorders in humans which are inheritable. There are over 3000 diseases that are due to defects in single genes. But agricultural scientists make use of mutation to develop new improved varieties.

.Find heresome of the most interesting websites

2009-12-21T22:27:00.000-08:00

.Find heresome of the most interesting websites that you will like toread, the subjects vary widely but the content is worth reading and the way they have presented things is awesome.

here goes the first site. the rest will follow soon

http://www.appanoosecountycourthouse.com/

Geostationary Satellite

2009-12-20T04:16:00.000-08:00

A geosynchronous satellite will have its orbital track on the earth which will repeat frequently over points on the earth by time. If a satellite’s orbit like this lies over equator and orbit is circular, then it is called geostationary satellite. The orbits of these satellites are called as geostationary satellite or geosynchronous satellite. The further type of geosynchronous orbit is the Tundra elliptical orbit. A geosynchronous satellite will have communication network usually based on communication with or via geosynchronous satellite. A satellite that appears to be stationary in the sky is said to be in ‘geostationary’ orbit. It is launched in such a manner that it orbits the earth directly over its equator at a height of 36,000 kms. At that height, its orbital speed is such that it completes one orbit in 24 hours. Since the earth also completes one rotation around its axis in 24 hours, the satellite appears stationary in the sky from earth.

The advantage of this is that ground based communication antennas can remain ‘fixed’ pointing to the satellite and need not be turned to follow the satellite in the sky. For communication, geostationary satellites have on board transponders which receive signals from ground antennas, amplify them and send these back to be received by satellite dish antennas on ground. Power is provided on board by solar panels.

Endoscopy

2009-12-10T04:12:00.000-08:00

The word Endoscopy means looking inside and in general refers to looking into the human body for medical treatment using a device called endoscope. This instrument will be useful at the time of impossibility of direct line of sight observation. Endoscopy is a harmless and painless method of diagnosing diseases of any of the hollow organs of the body (like throat, stomach or intestine) by looking directly into the affected organ using a probe called endoscope. It is a hollow metallic tube fitted with a light source and a viewing system.

An endoscope will have following things in it as follows:

• A flexible or rigid tube.

• Light delivery system to light up the organ to be diagnosed or object which are going to be inspected. The source of light will be from outside the body normally and light is directed thro an optical fiber system.

• Lens system will be transmitting the image to the viewer from fiberscope.

• An extra channel which will allow the entry of medical instruments or operators.

Modern endoscopes make use of flexible bundles of optical fibers both for transmitting light to the organ and transmitting the image to the eyepiece outside for viewing.

Since the endoscope gives a direct view of the affected body parts, patients need not go for complicated investigations. Advanced endoscopes may have surgical attachments to carry out minor operations or biopsy.

NEW Stumbled on Websites

2009-11-30T20:33:00.000-08:00

Some of the interesting topics that i visited recently.The contents are really diverse and they are a must read set of topics.

absolute90.com

ahakhav.com

chrisdejong.com

recallthefunk.com

Some interesting posts for the day

2009-11-29T04:11:00.000-08:00

Some interesting posts that i read today

http://www.blurayzillion.com/2010/01/do-we-really-care-for-our-mother-nature.html

http://www.aioliki.info/2010/01/urgent-appeal-to-save-dolphin-in-ionian.html

Hologram

2009-11-20T04:26:00.000-08:00

A hologram is a pattern recorded on a photographic plate of film using laser illumination without the use of a lens. The method used for producing a hologram is called holography. It was invented by Denis Gabor in 1948. The method consists of two steps. In the first step, a hologram is produced and in the second step, a three-dimensional image of the original scene is recreated from it. A system of mirrors is employed to split a laser beam into two. One beam illuminates the object or scene to be made into a hologram and then the scattered beam falls on the photographic film or plate. The other ‘reference’ beams falls on the film or plate, they interfere with each other and form a complex pattern of light and dark areas which gets recorded on the film or plate. This is the hologram of the object or scene.

To reproduce the scene in three dimensions, a laser bam is directed at the hologram in the same direction as the original reference beam. Even a portion of the hologram can reproduce the entire original reference scene, though with diminished details. Techniques are now available for producing holograms which can be seen in white light. Holography finds applications in industry and research. For instance, it is employed to check flaws in aircraft wings, tyres, and lenses. Holograms are also being used on valuable documents such as Voter’s identity cards and credit cards as an anti-forgery measure.

Heatstroke

2009-11-05T04:18:00.000-08:00

Heatstroke is a condition when the heat regulating mechanism of the body breaks down. Sunstroke is a form of heatstroke caused by exposure to the sun for a long time. The very young and very old people are mostly at risk from heatstroke because their body-temperature regulating mechanisms are not very efficient. There are several other factors responsible for heatstroke. Fully developed heatstroke is an extremely dangerous condition and over 20% of sufferers may die even with treatment. People who are unused to heat, overweight, heavy drinkers or are suffering from fever may be at a greater risk.

There are three basic signs of heatstroke – very high body temperature (more than 41degree Celsius), total absence of sweating and nervous system problems (like disturbances of mood, disorientation and headache), which may even cause loss of consciousness. Fully developed heatstroke is an extremely dangerous condition and over 20% of sufferers may die even with treatment. Those who do recover may have persistent trouble in the nervous system and may take months to get back to normal.

The immediate treatment of heatstroke is to cool the patient by putting him in a bath of cold water. But the most simple and effective way to fight sunstroke is to ensure that the body is not overheated.

Jet Lag

2009-10-23T04:28:00.000-07:00

In medical term, Jet Lag referred as desynchronizes which a physiological condition is caused by consequence of variations to circadian rhythms and it is classified as one of the circadian rhythm sleep disorders. It results from rapid far distance transmeridian travel, means east to west or west to east travel, on a jet plane. A state of exhaustion experienced by air travelers when they cross several time zones in a relatively short time as when one flies from India to U.S.A. The condition arises from disturbances in the body’s habitual rhythms of ‘internal clock’ by suddenly requiring it to adapt to a strange new 24-hour time-scale.

Time zones are imaginary lines that run from north to south on the map. These help standardize time throughout the world since it is only possible to cross them by traveling from east to west or vise versa, jet lag is therefore, experienced only when long distances are traveled along the east-west axis. A state of exhaustion experienced by air travelers when they cross several time zones in a relatively short time as when one flies from India to U.S.A. Jet lag generally included a feeling of fatigue, hunger at unexpected times, irregular bowel and bladder movements. The only way to combat it is adequate rest at the end of the flight.

Human Genome

2009-10-10T04:27:00.000-07:00

The human genome is generally the genome of Homo sapiens, which are found in 23 pairs of chromosomes. Among twenty three pairs, twenty two are known as autosomal chromosome pairs; while the remaining one pair is sex determining pair choromosome.Human genome refers to the entire genetic make-up of humans. The genes giving rise to specific human characteristics, their variants and the regulatory genes that direct the functioning of other genes are collectively called the ‘human genome’. Roughly lakh genes are contained in about three billion base pairs present in every human cell. Presently, an international effort known as the ‘Human genome project’ is underway to identify and locate all the genes and their variants, understand their functioning, and write-down the sequence of nucleotides that comprise the genes. The project is aimed at producing a human genome map containing the entire sequence of nucleotides in the human DNA.

A better understanding of the human genome might help in diagnosing many hereditary diseases at an early stage or even before birth. It may also be helpful in finding cures for at least some of the hereditary diseases. Ultimately, the knowledge may also help to replace any defective or disease causing gene(s) with other gene(s) to restore health.

Laser

2009-09-25T04:32:00.000-07:00

Laser is an acronym for Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation. It is a technique of producing intense beams of light, ultraviolet or infrared radiation of almost a single wavelength. The unique thing about laser radiation is that not only have they the same wavelength, but all the waves travel in phase, like soldiers marching in step. This makes a laser beam so intensely energetic that it can drill a hole, even in diamond, instantly.

A laser works by first pumping energy, in the form of a flash of light, into a collection of atoms, and then forcing the excited atoms to lose energy in the form of light, which appears as a coherent beam. The principle is quite simple. When the atoms in the laser material, which may be a solid, liquid or gas, are excited to a higher state, they can be made to return to the ground state by absorbing radiation of a particular wavelength. This makes a laser beam so intensely energetic that it can drill a hole, even in diamond. In a laser this process goes on till the beam is powerful enough to pass through the half-silvered mirror. The first laser was built in 1960 by an American, Theodore H. Maiman. He used a rod of ruby crystal.

Nuclear Waste

2009-09-23T00:45:00.000-07:00

In nuclear reactors a number of radioactive waste products are produced as the fuel is used up. Prominent among them are plutonium, strontium, cesium and barium, which are produced by fission of uranium and neutron irradiation.
There are two types of nuclear wastes: - high-level waste which will be radioactive for thousands of years and low-level waste which is less radioactive. When the fuel elements are first removed from the reactor, they are allowed to cool long enough for the radioactivity of the fission products to decay to acceptable levels, a process usually involving their immersion in water for a month or so. The waste is then sent to nuclear reprocessing plants where useful uranium and plutonium are separated for reuse.
Some low-level waste is pumped straight into the sea. High-level waste is sealed in concrete and steel tanks and stored deep underground. High-level waste is also now being converted to glass. This involves dissolving the spent fuel in acid, converting it into a glassy form, enclosing it in metal containers, and burying it underground. But scientists have not yet found out how to make the rubbish completely safe.Whatever may be the nature of nuclear waste,much dumping of this waste under oceans or seas will cause hindrance to aquatics and will destroy the good nature of sea or ocean

LAN

2009-09-11T04:29:00.000-07:00

The abbreviation LAN refers to Local Area Network which is nothing but a computer network layering tiny physical area, like office, home, a little group of buildings like school colleges. The noting characteristics of local area network than wide area network is high speed data transfer rates, very little geographic area and need lack for leased telecommunication lines. LAN is the short form of Local Area Network. It allows the linking together of several computers within a building. This interconnection of various computer terminals located in close proximity such as an industrial complex, an office building and a university campus enables each terminal to interact with any other. LAN is, therefore, a multi-user system. Not only is the exchange of data among the various linked up computers made possible by LAN but resourced from a large computer can also be shared. LAN thus offers the most effective means of handling local automated tasks and data management. The ends of the rod were polished flat and silvered, one end being half-silvered to allow the beam to come out. Now a variety of lasers have been made from solids like the ruby crystal and semi-conducting materials, liquids, and gases which produce beams of different colors having different energies.

LAN can be even linked with an outside computer network using ‘gateway’. The gateway converts the formats of data to make them compatible to the two networks.

LPG

2009-08-25T04:35:00.000-07:00

LPG, an acronym for Liquefied Petroleum Gas, is the most popular cooking fuel used in urban households. It is a mixture of gases, liquefied by compression, consisting of volatile and flammable hydrocarbons such as ethane, propane, butane and pentane. It is obtained either from crude oil or from natural gas. Crude oil, recovered from underground oil deposits, is a mixture of heavy hydrocarbons. In a petroleum refinery, this oil is heated and turned into a mixture of gases and liquids. This mixture is then passed into a huge tower called fractionating column which is hotter at the bottom and cooler at the top. The heavier hydrocarbons with large number of carbon atoms condense at higher temperatures at the bottom whereas the lighter components with fewer carbon atoms condense at a lower temperature at the top. For LPG, the lower hydrocarbon fraction is collected from the top of the fractionating column in the gaseous form. These gases become liquid when kept under pressure. Since the hydrocarbons do not have any smell a small quantity of methyl, ethyl or terbutyl mercaptans, which have strong disagreeable odour, are added to LPG to make it easily detectable in case of leakage. LPG is also being used in automobiles as a fuel which is much cleaner than petrol.

Liquid Crystal

2009-08-15T04:33:00.000-07:00

Some kinds of liquid crystals can rotate the place of polarized light and this property is utilized in digital display unit used in watches, calculators, digital diaries and cameras.

The display unit is made up of a thin film of the liquid crystal sandwiched between two thin glass sheets coated with a transparent conducting material such as tin oxide which acts as the electrodes. On the top and bottom of the glass sheets are placed two polarizing filters or polarizer’s turned 90 degree with respect to each other. Since in the liquid crystal film the polarized light is entering from the top by 90 degree, the light can pass through the second polarizer also, and when reflected from a mirror placed below the second polarizer, the display panel appears clear. When a small voltage is applied across one or more electrodes which are laid on the glass in the shape of alphabets, digits or symbols, the molecular alignment in the respective regions of the liquid crystal film is altered and they no more rotate the polarized light. This makes the characters on the display unit appear black on a clear background. Liquid crystal displays are quick acting and consume negligible power.

Noise Pollution

2009-08-05T00:40:00.000-07:00

Any unwanted form of sound, such as noise of vehicles, machinery, jet planes, indiscriminate use of loud speakers, are examples of noise pollution. Just as we measure temperature on Celsius scale, the level of noise is measured on the decibel scale (dB). There are mainly three different sources of noise pollution: industrial machinery, transportation, and community activities and entertainment.
Constant exposure to noise levels above 75 decibels can damage the ear and impair hearing. Exposure to noise levels above 120 decibels causes pain in the ear, and continuous exposure to noise levels above 180 decibels may even cause death. Road traffic noise is usually of moderate intensity, but being of continuous nature can be irritating to people living along busy streets. Badly maintained vehicle engines and indiscriminate use of horns often make the situation worse leading to various types of physiological disorders such as high blood pressure and heart problems. Loud noise is even known to affect unborn babies. Sudden loud noise such as gunfire or crackers can cause irreversible damage to ear-drums.It will affect all people in all ages and mostly heart patients will be affected by sudden noise raise and over noise will increase their blood pressure which will cause some sort of pain in heart.

Nitrogen Fixation

2009-07-28T00:28:00.000-07:00

Nitrogen is essential for plants and animal life as it is a constituent of major biomolecules like proteins and nucleic acids. It is available in plenty in the atmosphere. However, for plants to be able to use it efficiently, it has to be converted into some nitrogenous compounds. This conversion is called nitrogen fixation. Nitrogen in the combined form is also necessary for the manufacture of explosives and chemical fertilizers.
In nature, nitrogen is fixed by some microorganisms and by lightning. The nitrogen fixing bacteria living in the root of leguminous plants and some blue-green algae convert nitrogen gas into ammonium compounds, which are then absorbed by plants. The plants supply the bacteria with food, which in turn secrete ammonium compounds that are absorbed and used by the plants.
Lightning causes atmospheric nitrogen to combine with oxygen of the air to form nitrogen oxides. These oxides then combine with moisture in the air and are carried down by rain as nitrates, which are taken up by plants. The plants supply the bacteria with food, which in turn secrete ammonium compounds that are absorbed and used by the plants. For plants to be able to use it efficiently, it has to be converted into some nitrogenous compounds.

Magnetic Storm

2009-07-20T04:37:00.000-07:00

A geomagnetic storm is a short term perturbance of earth’s magnetosphere caused by interruption in space weather. In other words, it is a phenomenon caused by disturbances in the earth’s magnetic field. It gives rise to spurious currents in submarine cables and interferes with radio communication. This geomagnetic storm which will be caused by solar wind shock wave which in particular strikes the earth’s magnetic field from 24 to 36 hours after the event associated with solar coronal mass ejection, coronal holes or by solar flares. This will usually happen when shock wave travels in direction of earth. The magnetosphere’s solar wind pressure will increase or reduce based on the sun’s activity. The disturbance in earth’s magnetic field is caused by the sudden short-lived brightening of the sun’s surface called solar flare. A continuous flow of charged particles emanating from the sun reaches earth. On striking earth some of these are captured by the earth’s magnetic field causing disturbance in it. Magnetic storms cause disturbance in the uppermost region of earth’s atmosphere thus interfering with radio communication. Magnetic storms are accompanied by emission of intense and colorful lights called ‘auroras’ seen in the polar regions during winters. Magnetic storms will occur for 24 to 28 hours, else some will for many days.

MRI

2009-07-08T04:37:00.000-07:00

MRI or the Magnetic Resonance Imaging is a technique for obtaining images of organs for medical diagnosis without having to resort to surgery. The technique uses the phenomenon of Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR). MRI provides more difference in soft tissues in body than CT and most useful in neurological, musculoskeletal, cardiovascular and oenological imaging. Through MRI it is possible to differentiate between the various types of soft tissues. This gives it an edge over X-ray photography. For obtaining the images, the property of certain substances which selectively absorb energy when irradiated by electro-magnetic radiation is used. The nuclei of certain atoms behave like tiny magnets. When substances with such atoms are placed in a magnetic field and continuously irradiated by electro-magnetic waves of varying frequency, there comes a frequency called resonance frequency when a part of the electro-magnetic energy is absorbed by the substances. The value of the resonance frequency is proportional to the intensity of the applied magnetic field and the nature of the substance that exhibits nuclear magnetism. When pressure is released, they again turn into gaseous forms as happens when the valve in the gas is released. LPG is volatile and highly inflammable and hence needs extra care while using.

Gargoyles on the Square-About Us

2009-06-21T07:18:00.000-07:00

Gargoyles on the Square is a full service caterer that has established itself as one of the most professional and reliable caterers in the Boston area.

From dropped off hors d'oeuvres for your private function to a sit down dinner for 100 corporate clients, we provide food and service that will keep people talking and an attitude that puts them at ease and lets them enjoy themselves.

Microprocessor

2009-06-20T04:39:00.000-07:00

Microprocessor is a semiconductor device containing electronic logic circuits manufactured by using either a large-scale (LSI) or very-large-scale integration (VLSI) of transistors, varistors, resistors and other electronic components, on a chip or a printed circuit board.

It consists of three units namely Arithmetic and Logic Unit, Register Array, and the Control Unit. The Arithmetic and Logic Unit accomplishes the arithmetic and the logic operations. The Register Array is analogous to a notebook; it contains stacks of free space, like the pages of a notebook, on which the data and program to be executed is stored. The Control unit handles the entire operations that take place between the units of the micro-processor.

The microprocessor forms the crucial central processing unit of a computer. It is also used to control the operations of a large number of household gadgets such as washing machines, microwave ovens, television sets and stereophonic music systems as well as electronic watches and calculators, electronic diaries, smart cards and so on.

The microprocessor is capable of doing various computational functions to decide the sequence of program execution. In a small computer, a single microprocessor is capable of functioning as the central processing unit whereas in big computers more than one such microprocessor is employed.

Good Restaurant and Food Item Menus

2009-06-19T07:17:00.000-07:00

Gargoyles on the Square, located in Davis Square, Somerville offers an award winning creative American cuisine with French influences without the pretentious prices.

The delightful, somewhat upscale neighborhood establishment has evolved into one of Boston's top restaurants without losing its local flair. With its huge windows in the lounge, earth tones, candles and quiet dining room, the place is funky, beautiful, relaxed and fun

219 Elm St
Somerville, MA 02144
Tel: (617) 776-5300
Fax: (617) 666-6679
American Express, Cash, Discover, MasterCard, Travelers Checks, Visa
Restaurant Hours:
Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday 5:30pm-10:00pm
Friday and Saturday 5:30pm-10:30pm
Closed on Monday

Bar Hours:
Daily 5:00pm-1:00am

Gift Certificates are available in any denominatio

Bar Menu~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Warm Mixed Nuts $4.50

Marinated Olives $4.00

Sweet Potato Fries $4.50
Cape cranberry ketchup.

Caesar Salad $7.50
Marinated white anchovies.

Chef's Cheese Plate $9.50
Selection of domestic and imported cheeses.

Ducktrap River Smoked Salmon $5.50
Deviled egg and caper berries.

Potato and Scallion Griddle Cakes $4.75
Apple butter and sour cream.
Thai-Style Spring Roll $6.50
Duck confit, bibb lettuce, glass noodle, cilantro and mint chili dipping sauce.

Salt Cod and Potato Cake $7.50
Baked beans grilled brown bread.

Weisswurt on Dark Rye $7.75
Sauerkraut, gruyere half-sour pickle.

Gargoyles ½ Pound Cheeseburger $7.25
Vermont cheddar, Swiss or Great Hill blue cottage fries and zucchini pickles.