The Beechmont Crest Fact Blog
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June 29, 2008
AIDS immunity and the bubonic plague
Scientists have discovered that a small number of people of Northern European ancestry have a natural immunity to AIDS. These individuals possess a rare mutation of the CCR-5 receptor. This mutation disrupts the entryway through which the HIV virus enters white blood cells. If a carrier of the mutation is exposed to HIV, he or she will not develop AIDS symptoms---because the virus cannot attack the person’s white blood cells.
Mutations of the CCR-5 receptor are most common among Northern European populations. The mutation is less common among people of Southern European descent; and it is almost entirely absent from Asians, Africans, and Native Americans.
Scientists have traced the history of the mutation back to the Black Death epidemics that swept through Europe in the 1300s. The mutation also provides immunity to the plague. Modern carriers of the mutation are therefore the descendents of those who survived the Black Death in Europe, thanks to this lifesaving genetic abnormality.
June 1, 2008
Absolute zero is defined as a temperature of −273.15 on the Celsius (centigrade) scale and −459.67 degrees on the Fahrenheit scale. This is the coldest possible temperature. At absolute zero, molecules stop moving, and no heat remains in a substance.
Hydrogen is known for its simplicity. In fact, a hydrogen atom is the simplest kind of atom that can possibly exist.
May 25, 2008
Coptic boats
The English word “barge” is most immediately derived from the Medieval Latin barga. But this Latin word has Greek origins. The Greek baris means “Egyptian boat.” This word is an adaptation of the Coptic word for boat, bari.
The Coptic language was prevalent in Egypt during in the late years of the Roman Empire, following the birth of Christianity. Coptic is an evolved form of the ancient Egyptian language (distinct from Egypt’s present-day national language, Arabic). The written language of ancient Egypt employed hieroglyphic symbols. Coptic makes use of a more accessible alphabet of thirty-two letters. Twenty-five of these letters are borrowed from Greek; the other seven are simplified forms of the old hieroglyphics.
In the third century A.D., Coptic was the most commonly spoken language in Christian Egypt. (Many members of Egypt’s educated classes also spoke Greek.) Coptic’s status in Egypt began to decline in 642, when Muslim armies invaded, and Arabic became the language of political power. Pockets of Coptic speakers continued to exist for centuries in Egypt; but the language was eventually overwhelmed by Arabic. By 1700, Coptic was virtually extinct as a spoken language.
Coptic is still the liturgical language of the Coptic Church, which is headquartered in Cairo. The Coptic Church claims about seven million members.
May 24, 2008
Zimbabwe has the world’s lowest life expectancy---just 39 years.
May 23, 2008
What ancient Athens and Survivor had in common
Beginning around 490 B.C., the Athenians began a practice known as ostrakismos, from which the English “ostracism” is derived.
Ostrakismos was a bit like being “voted off the island” in the TV reality show Survivor. Ostrakismos worked like this: Each member of the Athenian assembly wrote the name of an individual who they believed was harmful to the city on a small piece of pottery called an ostrakon. After everyone had voted in this way, the ostrakons were counted. If a citizen received a majority of the votes, he could be exiled from Athens for a period of ten years.
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Business / Economics
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Online Guide to Management Science: Brush up on the basics of management science: scientific management, the Hawthorne studies, Theory X & Theory Y managers, the Contingency Approach and Interactionalism, "The Organization Man," and "What the Heck is Corporate Culture?"
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The Beechmont
Crest Guide to Mergers and Acquisitions:
Sample Tutorial 1:
The Five Merger Waves:
Mergers have
typically occurred in cyclical patterns: periods of intense merger
activity have been followed by intervening periods of fewer mergers.
Historians and M&A specialists have identified five merger waves in the
history of the United States. What follows are the dates of each merger wave
and some of each wave’s major characteristics
(continue.....)
Sample Tutorial 2: A horizontal merger is a merger between two competitors. Suppose, for example, that tomorrow Pepsi were to buy Coca-Cola. This would be a horizontal merger. Horizontal mergers may negatively affect the competitive situation in an industry. Therefore, they frequently run afoul of regulatory officials. A horizontal merger often increases the degree of concentration in an industry. (continue...) -
Online Guide to Stocks and Investing: Learn the basics of investing with BeechmontCrest.com. This free online tutorial series covers the basics of stocks, bonds, financial markets, and more.
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Online Guide to Accounting Definitions Balance sheet introduction Balance sheet sample Income Statement Statement of Changes in Owners' Equity
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Online Guide to Economics What is the difference between GNP and GDP? more....
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Automotive Technology: Online Automotive Glossary Actuator Air filter Automatic headlamp system Battery Basics Battery group size Battery Ratings Battery: Automotive battery vs. deep cycle battery Body-over-frame construction
Online Guide to Biological Terms Bacteria cell walls Cell Theory Chromosomes Cytoplasm Dehydration synthesis Endoplasmic reticulum more....
Online Guide to Medicinal Herbs Sample Tutorial: Ginkgo biloba is created from the leaves of the Ginkgo tree, which is native to Asia. (Ginkgo trees are now rare in the wild.) Ginkgo leaves contain ginkgolides, the substances which give Ginkgo biloba its medicinal qualities. Ginkgo is often described as a nootropic “or smart drug.” Ginkgo increases the flow of blood to the brain, which may enhance cognitive abilities. It can also improve overall circulation throughout the body, making it beneficial for individuals who suffer from poor circulation. (continue...)
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