Saturday, May 23, 2020
Blood, Components and Blood Cell Production
Our blood is a fluid that is also a type of connective tissue. It is composed of blood cells and an aqueous fluid known as plasma. Two major functions of the blood include transporting substances to and from our cells and providing immunity and protection against infectious agents such as bacteria and viruses. Blood is a component of the cardiovascular system. It is circulated through the body via the heart and blood vessels. Blood Components Blood consists of several elements. The major components of blood include plasma, red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. Plasma: This major constituent of blood comprises about 55 percent of blood volume. It consists of water with several different substances dissolved within. Plasma contains salts, proteins, and blood cells. Plasma also transports nutrients, sugars, fats, hormones, gases, and waste material contained within blood.Red Blood Cells (erythrocytes): These cells determine blood type and are the most abundant cell type in the blood. Red blood cells have what is known as a biconcave shape. Both sides of the cells surface curve inward like the interior of a sphere. This flexible disc shape helps to increase the surface area-to-volume ratio of these extremely small cells. Red blood cells do not have a nucleus, but they do contain millions of hemoglobin molecules. These iron-containing proteins bind oxygen molecules obtained in the lungs and transport them to various parts of the body. After depositing oxygen to tissue and organ cells, red blood cells pick up carbon dioxide (CO2) for transportat ion to the lungs where the CO2 is expelled from the body.White Blood Cells (leukocytes): These cells play an important role in the immune system and lymphatic system by defending the body against infection. These cells locate, destroy, and remove pathogens and foreign matter from the body. There are several different types of white blood cells, each with different functions. Examples include lymphocytes, monocytes, neutrophils, basophils, and eosinophils.Platelets (thrombocytes): These cell components are formed from pieces of cells found in the bone marrow called megakaryocytes. Fragments of the megakaryocytes circulate through the bloodstream and play a major role in clotting. When platelets encounter an injured blood vessel, they clump together to block the opening in the vessel. Blood Cell Production Blood cells are produced by bone marrow within the bone. Bone marrow stem cells develop into red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. Certain white blood cells mature in the lymph nodes, spleen, and thymus gland. Matured blood cells have varying life spans. Red blood cells circulate for about 4 months, platelets for about 9 days, and white blood cells range from about a few hours to several days. Blood cell production is often regulated by body structures such as the lymph nodes, spleen, liver, and kidneys. When oxygen in tissues is low, the body responds by stimulating the bone marrow to produce more red blood cells. When the body is infected, more white blood cells are produced. Blood Pressure Blood pressure is the force at which blood exerts pressure against artery walls as it circulates throughout the body. Blood pressure readings measure systolic and diastolic pressures as the heart goes through the cardiac cycle. In the systole phase of the cardiac cycle, the heart ventricles contract (beat) and pump blood into the arteries. In the diastole phase, the ventricles are relaxed and the heart fills with blood. Blood pressure readings are measured in millimeters of mercury (mmHg) with the systolic number reported before the diastolic number.Blood pressure is not constant and can fluctuate depending on various conditions. Nervousness, excitement, and increased activity are a few things that can influence blood pressure. Blood pressure levels also increase as we get older. Abnormally high blood pressure, known as hypertension, can have serious consequences as it can lead to hardening of the arteries, kidney damage, and heart failure. Persons with elevated blood pressure often experience no symptoms. Elevated blood pressure that persists for the majority of the time can lead to increased risk for health issues. Blood Type Blood type describes how blood is classified. It is determined by the existence or lack thereof of certain identifiers (called antigens) located on red blood cells. Antigens help the bodys immune system to identify its own red blood cell group. This identification is crucial so that the body will not build up antibodies against its own red blood cells. The four blood type groupings are A, B, AB, and O. Type A has A antigens on red blood cell surfaces, type B has B antigens, type AB has both A and B antigens, and type O has no A or B antigens. Blood types must be compatible when considering blood transfusions. Those with type A must receive blood from either type A or type O donors. Those with type B from either type B or type O. Those with type O can receive blood from only type O donors and type AB may receive blood from any of the four blood type groups. Sources: Dean L. Blood Groups and Red Cell Antigens [Internet]. Bethesda (MD): National Center for Biotechnology Information (US); 2005. Chapter 1, Blood and the cells it contains. Available from: (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK2263/)What Is High Blood Pressure? National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Updated 08/02/12 (http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/hbp/)
Monday, May 11, 2020
Claude Mckay s Influence On American Culture - 1266 Words
Literature is a big part of all cultures. People acquire a vast amount of information from what is being read. The way they are written and the people who wrote them can change the manner in which values are being seen. Every culture and race is unique it includes language, art, rituals, beliefs plus a great deal more. With all the different race and cultures in the country, it has shaped the American perception and identity. When a person of a certain ethnic background, gender, sexual preference, even religious view writes it is only natural for their heritage, culture and racial influence to be present. This is what makes the work powerful. As in that of Claude McKay, because of him being an African American writer his work offers a new method of considering and appreciating what it entailed to be of a certain race or gender. Showing how culture and race affect the overall meaning in his writing. Claude McKayââ¬â¢s poems reflect on American culture during a specific time in history, known as Harlem Renaissance. A time where racism was predominately a way of living for many, this was a beneficial time in history for African Americans. Bringing blacks together in a new movement that had not been present in America. Development in which blacks emphasized themselves by taking on their racial identity. It was a time period in which the black community helped each other to be able to express themselves as who they truly are, creating a true African American visual doing soShow MoreRelatedBlack Empowerment By Maya Angelou And Claude Mckay921 Words à |à 4 Pages Black empowerment in my opinion is the uplifting of African Americans to achieve a greater purpose in life, while enhancing the black community as a whole. Black empowerment can be achieved in many ways, such as influences from musical artists as well as popular actors and actresses. They become major influences based on their celebrity status. Numerous people in our society disregard the influence that literature impacts our culture, especially in earlier time periods. A reason for this is possiblyRead MoreEssay on Journey to the Harlem Renaissance1282 Words à |à 6 Pagesof freedom for African Americans. It showed blacks that they were becoming equals in American society. The talents of African Americans soared in art, music, literature and especially poetry. The main writers embodying the Harlem Renaissance were Claude McKay, Langston Hughes and Countee Cullen. Claude was born in Jamaica, in 1898. He got his education from his older brother, who ââ¬Å"possessed a library of English novels, poetry and scientific texts.â⬠(Callahan, 784) Claude was a little older whenRead MorePoetrys Influences on the Harlem Renaissance2031 Words à |à 9 PagesEnglish 11 15 May 2013 Poetryââ¬â¢s influence on racial equality Racial equality has been the topic of many works for centuries. Many of those works werenââ¬â¢t written by those actually affected by inequality. During the 1920ââ¬â¢s African Americans began to express their opinions on the issue more frequently through the arts. Poetry was among the most prominent forms of art used for spreading equality and justice. Poets like Langston Hughes, Countee Cullen, and Claude McKay wrote many poems that spoke on equalityRead MoreHarlem Renaissance Essay1069 Words à |à 5 PagesHARLEM RENAISSANCE Throughout the history of African Americans, there have been important historical figures as well as times. Revered and inspirational leaders and eras like, Martin Luther King and the Civil Rights Movement, Nat Turner and the slave revolt, or Huey Newton and the Black Panther Party. One such period that will always remain a significant part of black art and culture is the Harlem Renaissance. It changed the meaning of art and poetry, as it was known then. Furthermore, theRead More The Harlem Renaissance Essay1031 Words à |à 5 PagesHARLEM RENAISSANCE Throughout the history of African Americans, there have been important historical figures as well as times. Revered and inspirational leaders and eras like, Martin Luther King and the Civil Rights Movement, Nat Turner and the slave revolt, or Huey Newton and the Black Panther Party. One such period that will always remain a significant part of black art and culture is the Harlem Renaissance. It changed the meaning of art and poetry, as it was known then. Furthermore, theRead More The Harlem Renaissance: Writers Reacting To Their Political Environment3405 Words à |à 14 Pages The Harlem Renaissance emerged during turbulent times for the world, the United States, and black Americans. World War I and the Bolshevik Revolution of 1917 had left the world in disorder and stimulated anticolonial movements throughout the third world. In America, twenty years of progressive reform ended with the red scare, race riots, and isolationism throughout 1919 and led to conservative administra tions through the twenties. While blacks were stunned by racial violence near the end of theRead MoreAfrican American Relationship With The South : A Dual Perspective1204 Words à |à 5 PagesAfrican American relationship with the South: a dual perspective Introduction The experiences that African Americans went through, whether in the North or South, played a significant role in shaping their attitude towards the New World. Markedly, they entered into an era of servitude, where they pledged loyalty to the superior white man. Nevertheless, experiences were different; the North treated African Americans in a different way compared to the South. Part of this reason may be the geographicalRead MoreThe Harlem Renaissance, A Social, Cultural, And Artistic Movement1298 Words à |à 6 Pagesstarted in Harlem, New York during the 1920ââ¬â¢s. Although it is generally considered to span from 1918 to the mid-1930, many of its ideas continue today. ââ¬Å"The Harlem Renaissance was a phase of a larger New Negro movement that had emerged in the early 20th century and in some ways ushered in the civil rights movement of the late 1940ââ¬â¢s and early 1950ââ¬â¢sâ⬠(Thomas, 2017). ââ¬Å"The social foundations of this movement included the Great Migr ation of African Americans from rural to urban spaces and from South toRead More Writers of the Harlem Renaissance Essay2535 Words à |à 11 Pagesof the Harlem Renaissance During the 1920?s, a ?flowering of creativity,? as many have called it, began to sweep the nation. The movement, now known as ?The Harlem Renaissance,? caught like wildfire. Harlem, a part of Manhattan in New York City, became a hugely successful showcase for African American talent. Starting with black literature, the Harlem Renaissance quickly grew to incredible proportions. W.E.B. Du Bois, Claude McKay, and Langston Hughes, along with many other writersRead MoreBrief Summary of the Harlem Renaissance.1863 Words à |à 8 Pagesfirst time that mainstream publishers and critics took African American literature seriously and that African American literature and arts attracted significant attention from the nation at large. Although it was primarily a literary movement, it was closely related to developments in African American music, theater, art, and politics. BEGINNINGS The Harlem Renaissance emerged amid social and intellectual upheaval in the African American community in the early 20th century. Several factors laid the
Wednesday, May 6, 2020
Digital Fortress Chapter 123-126 Free Essays
Chapter 123 An ashen technician ran to the podium. ââ¬Å"Tunnel blockââ¬â¢s about to go!â⬠Jabba turned to the VR onscreen. The attackers surged forward, only a whisker away from their assault on the fifth and final wall. We will write a custom essay sample on Digital Fortress Chapter 123-126 or any similar topic only for you Order Now The databank was running out of time. Susan blocked out the chaos around her. She read Tankadoââ¬â¢s bizarre message over and over. PRIME DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ELEMENTS RESPONSIBLE FOR HIROSHIMA AND NAGASAKI ââ¬Å"Itââ¬â¢s not even a question!â⬠Brinkerhoff cried. ââ¬Å"How can it have an answer?â⬠ââ¬Å"We need a number,â⬠Jabba reminded. ââ¬Å"The kill-code is numeric.â⬠ââ¬Å"Silence,â⬠Fontaine said evenly. He turned and addressed Susan. ââ¬Å"Ms. Fletcher, youââ¬â¢ve gotten us this far. I need your best guess.â⬠Susan took a deep breath. ââ¬Å"The kill-code entry field accepts numerics only. My guess is that this is some sort of clue as to the correct number. The text mentions Hiroshima and Nagasaki-the two cities that were hit by atomic bombs. Maybe the kill-code is related to the number of casualties, the estimated dollars of damageâ⬠¦Ã¢â¬ She paused a moment, rereading the clue. ââ¬Å"The word ââ¬Ëdifferenceââ¬â¢ seems important. The prime difference between Nagasaki and Hiroshima. Apparently Tankado felt the two incidents differed somehow.â⬠Fontaineââ¬â¢s expression did not change. Nonetheless, hope was fading fast. It seemed the political backdrops surrounding the two most devastating blasts in history needed to be analyzed, compared, and translated into some magic numberâ⬠¦ and all within the next five minutes. Chapter 124 ââ¬Å"Final shield under attack!â⬠On the VR, the PEM authorization programming was now being consumed. Black, penetrating lines engulfed the final protective shield and began forcing their way toward its core. Prowling hackers were now appearing from all over the world. The number was doubling almost every minute. Before long, anyone with a computer-foreign spies, radicals, terrorists-would have access to all of the U.S. governmentââ¬â¢s classified information. As technicians tried vainly to sever power, the assembly on the podium studied the message. Even David and the two NSA agents were trying to crack the code from their van in Spain. PRIME DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ELEMENTS RESPONSIBLE FORHIROSHIMA AND NAGASAKI Soshi thought aloud. ââ¬Å"The elements responsible for Hiroshima and Nagasakiâ⬠¦ Pearl Harbor? Hirohitoââ¬â¢s refusal toâ⬠¦Ã¢â¬ ââ¬Å"We need a number,â⬠Jabba repeated, ââ¬Å"not political theories. Weââ¬â¢re talking mathematics-not history!â⬠Soshi fell silent. ââ¬Å"How about payloads?â⬠Brinkerhoff offered. ââ¬Å"Casualties? Dollars damage?â⬠ââ¬Å"Weââ¬â¢re looking for an exact figure,â⬠Susan reminded. ââ¬Å"Damage estimates vary.â⬠She stared up at the message. ââ¬Å"The elements responsibleâ⬠¦Ã¢â¬ Three thousand miles away, David Beckerââ¬â¢s eyes flew open. ââ¬Å"Elements!â⬠he declared. ââ¬Å"Weââ¬â¢re talking math, not history!â⬠All heads turned toward the satellite screen. ââ¬Å"Tankadoââ¬â¢s playing word games!â⬠Becker spouted. ââ¬Å"The word ââ¬Ëelementsââ¬â¢ has multiple meanings!â⬠ââ¬Å"Spit it out, Mr. Becker,â⬠Fontaine snapped. ââ¬Å"Heââ¬â¢s talking about chemical elements-not sociopolitical ones!â⬠Beckerââ¬â¢s announcement met blank looks. ââ¬Å"Elements!â⬠he prompted. ââ¬Å"The periodic table! Chemical elements! Didnââ¬â¢t any of you see the movie Fat Man and Little Boy-about the Manhattan Project? The two atomic bombs were different. They used different fuel-different elements!â⬠Soshi clapped her hands. ââ¬Å"Yes! Heââ¬â¢s right! I read that! The two bombs used different fuels! One used uranium and one used plutonium! Two different elements!â⬠A hush swept across the room. ââ¬Å"Uranium and plutonium!â⬠Jabba exclaimed, suddenly hopeful. ââ¬Å"The clue asks for the difference between the two elements!â⬠He spun to his army of workers. ââ¬Å"The difference between uranium and plutonium! Who knows what it is?â⬠Blank stares all around. ââ¬Å"Come on!â⬠Jabba said. ââ¬Å"Didnââ¬â¢t you kids go to college? Somebody! Anybody! I need the difference between plutonium and uranium!â⬠No response. Susan turned to Soshi. ââ¬Å"I need access to the Web. Is there a browser here?â⬠Soshi nodded. ââ¬Å"Netscapeââ¬â¢s sweetest.â⬠Susan grabbed her hand. ââ¬Å"Come on. Weââ¬â¢re going surfing.â⬠Chapter 125 ââ¬Å"How much time?â⬠Jabba demanded from the podium. There was no response from the technicians in the back. They stood riveted, staring up at the VR. The final shield was getting dangerously thin. Nearby, Susan and Soshi pored over the results of their Web search. ââ¬Å"Outlaw Labs?â⬠Susan asked. ââ¬Å"Who are they?â⬠Soshi shrugged. ââ¬Å"You want me to open it?â⬠ââ¬Å"Damn right,â⬠she said. ââ¬Å"Six hundred forty-seven text references to uranium, plutonium, and atomic bombs. Sounds like our best bet.â⬠Soshi opened the link. A disclaimer appeared. The information contained in this file is strictly for academic use only. Any layperson attempting to construct any of the devices described runs the risk of radiation poisoning and/or self-explosion. ââ¬Å"Self-explosion?â⬠Soshi said. ââ¬Å"Jesus.â⬠ââ¬Å"Search it,â⬠Fontaine snapped over his shoulder. ââ¬Å"Letââ¬â¢s see what weââ¬â¢ve got.â⬠Soshi plowed into the document. She scrolled past a recipe for urea nitrate, an explosive ten times more powerful than dynamite. The information rolled by like a recipe for butterscotch brownies. ââ¬Å"Plutonium and uranium,â⬠Jabba repeated. ââ¬Å"Letââ¬â¢s focus.â⬠ââ¬Å"Go back,â⬠Susan ordered. ââ¬Å"The documentââ¬â¢s too big. Find the table of contents.â⬠Soshi scrolled backward until she found it. I. Mechanism of an Atomic Bomb A) Altimeter B) Air Pressure Detonator C) Detonating Heads D) Explosive Charges E) Neutron Deflector F) Uranium Plutonium G) Lead Shield H) Fuses II. Nuclear Fission/Nuclear Fusion A) Fission (A-Bomb) Fusion (H-Bomb) B) U-235, U-238, and Plutonium III. History of the Atomic Weapons A) Development (The Manhattan Project) B) Detonation 1) Hiroshima 2) Nagasaki 3) By-products of Atomic Detonations 4) Blast Zones ââ¬Å"Section two!â⬠Susan cried. ââ¬Å"Uranium and plutonium! Go!â⬠Everyone waited while Soshi found the right section. ââ¬Å"This is it,â⬠she said. ââ¬Å"Hold on.â⬠She quickly scanned the data. ââ¬Å"Thereââ¬â¢s a lot of information here. A whole chart. How do we know which difference weââ¬â¢re looking for? One occurs naturally, one is man-made. Plutonium was first discovered by-ââ¬Å" ââ¬Å"A number,â⬠Jabba reminded. ââ¬Å"We need a number.â⬠Susan reread Tankadoââ¬â¢s message. The prime difference between the elementsâ⬠¦ the difference betweenâ⬠¦ we need a numberâ⬠¦ ââ¬Å"Wait!â⬠she said. ââ¬Å"The word ââ¬Ëdifferenceââ¬â¢ has multiple meanings. We need a number-so weââ¬â¢re talking math. Itââ¬â¢s another of Tankadoââ¬â¢s word games-ââ¬Ëdifferenceââ¬â¢ means subtraction.â⬠ââ¬Å"Yes!â⬠Becker agreed from the screen overhead. ââ¬Å"Maybe the elements have different numbers of protons or something? If you subtract-â⬠ââ¬Å"Heââ¬â¢s right!â⬠Jabba said, turning to Soshi. ââ¬Å"Are there any numbers on that chart? Proton counts? Half-lives? Anything we can subtract?â⬠ââ¬Å"Three minutes!â⬠a technician called. ââ¬Å"How about supercritical mass?â⬠Soshi ventured. ââ¬Å"It says the supercritical mass for plutonium is 35.2 pounds.â⬠ââ¬Å"Yes!â⬠Jabba said. ââ¬Å"Check uranium! Whatââ¬â¢s the supercritical mass of uranium?â⬠Soshi searched. ââ¬Å"Umâ⬠¦ 110 pounds.â⬠ââ¬Å"One hundred ten?â⬠Jabba looked suddenly hopeful. ââ¬Å"Whatââ¬â¢s 35.2 from 110?â⬠ââ¬Å"Seventy-four point eight,â⬠Susan snapped. ââ¬Å"But I donââ¬â¢t think-ââ¬Å" ââ¬Å"Out of my way,â⬠Jabba commanded, plowing toward the keyboard. ââ¬Å"Thatââ¬â¢s got to be the kill-code! The difference between their critical masses! Seventy-four point eight!â⬠ââ¬Å"Hold on,â⬠Susan said, peering over Soshiââ¬â¢s shoulder. ââ¬Å"Thereââ¬â¢s more here. Atomic weights. Neutron counts. Extraction techniques.â⬠She skimmed the chart. ââ¬Å"Uranium splits into barium and krypton; plutonium does something else. Uranium has 92 protons and 146 neutrons, but-ââ¬Å" ââ¬Å"We need the most obvious difference,â⬠Midge chimed in. ââ¬Å"The clue reads ââ¬Ëthe primary difference between the elements.ââ¬â¢ ââ¬Å" ââ¬Å"Jesus Christ!â⬠Jabba swore. ââ¬Å"How do we know what Tankado considered the primary difference?â⬠David interrupted. ââ¬Å"Actually, the clue reads prime, not primary.â⬠The word hit Susan right between the eyes. ââ¬Å"Prime!â⬠she exclaimed. ââ¬Å"Prime!â⬠She spun to Jabba. ââ¬Å"The kill-code is a prime number! Think about it! It makes perfect sense!â⬠Jabba instantly knew Susan was right. Ensei Tankado had built his career on prime numbers. Primes were the fundamental building blocks of all encryption algorithms-unique values that had no factors other than one and themselves. Primes worked well in code writing because they were impossible for computers to guess using typical number-tree factoring. Soshi jumped in. ââ¬Å"Yes! Itââ¬â¢s perfect! Primes are essential to Japanese culture! Haiku uses primes. Three lines and syllable counts of five, seven, five. All primes. The temples of Kyoto all have-ââ¬Å" ââ¬Å"Enough!â⬠Jabba said. ââ¬Å"Even if the kill-code is a prime, so what! There are endless possibilities!â⬠Susan knew Jabba was right. Because the number line was infinite, one could always look a little farther and find another prime number. Between zero and a million, there were over 70,000 choices. It all depended on how large a prime Tankado decided to use. The bigger it was, the harder it was to guess. ââ¬Å"Itââ¬â¢ll be huge.â⬠Jabba groaned. ââ¬Å"Whatever prime Tankado chose is sure to be a monster.â⬠A call went up from the rear of the room. ââ¬Å"Two-minute warning!â⬠Jabba gazed up at the VR in defeat. The final shield was starting to crumble. Technicians were rushing everywhere. Something in Susan told her they were close. ââ¬Å"We can do this!â⬠she declared, taking control. ââ¬Å"Of all the differences between uranium and plutonium, I bet only one can be represented as a prime number! Thatââ¬â¢s our final clue. The number weââ¬â¢re looking for is prime!â⬠Jabba eyed the uranium/plutonium chart on the monitor and threw up his arms. ââ¬Å"There must be a hundred entries here! Thereââ¬â¢s no way we can subtract them all and check for primes.â⬠ââ¬Å"A lot of the entries are nonnumeric,â⬠Susan encouraged. ââ¬Å"We can ignore them. Uraniumââ¬â¢s natural, plutoniumââ¬â¢s man-made. Uranium uses a gun barrel detonator, plutonium uses implosion. Theyââ¬â¢re not numbers, so theyââ¬â¢re irrelevant!â⬠ââ¬Å"Do it,â⬠Fontaine ordered. On the VR, the final wall was eggshell thin. Jabba mopped his brow. ââ¬Å"All right, here goes nothing. Start subtracting. Iââ¬â¢ll take the top quarter. Susan, youââ¬â¢ve got the middle. Everybody else split up the rest. Weââ¬â¢re looking for a prime difference.â⬠Within seconds, it was clear theyââ¬â¢d never make it. The numbers were enormous, and in many cases the units didnââ¬â¢t match up. ââ¬Å"Itââ¬â¢s apples and goddamn oranges,â⬠Jabba said. ââ¬Å"Weââ¬â¢ve got gamma rays against electromagnetic pulse. Fissionable against unfissionable. Some is pure. Some is percentage. Itââ¬â¢s a mess!â⬠ââ¬Å"Itââ¬â¢s got to be here,â⬠Susan said firmly. ââ¬Å"Weââ¬â¢ve got to think. Thereââ¬â¢s some difference between plutonium and uranium that weââ¬â¢re missing! Something simple!â⬠ââ¬Å"Ahâ⬠¦ guys?â⬠Soshi said. Sheââ¬â¢d created a second document window and was perusing the rest of the Outlaw Labs document. ââ¬Å"What is it?â⬠Fontaine demanded. ââ¬Å"Find something?â⬠ââ¬Å"Um, sort of.â⬠She sounded uneasy. ââ¬Å"You know how I told you the Nagasaki bomb was a plutonium bomb?â⬠ââ¬Å"Yeah,â⬠they all replied in unison. ââ¬Å"Wellâ⬠¦Ã¢â¬ Soshi took a deep breath. ââ¬Å"Looks like I made a mistake.â⬠ââ¬Å"What!â⬠Jabba choked. ââ¬Å"Weââ¬â¢ve been looking for the wrong thing?â⬠Soshi pointed to the screen. They huddled around and read the text: â⬠¦the common misconception that the Nagasaki bomb was a plutonium bomb. In fact, the device employed uranium, like its sister bomb in Hiroshima. ââ¬Å"But-â⬠Susan gasped. ââ¬Å"If both elements were uranium, how are we supposed to find the difference between the two?â⬠ââ¬Å"Maybe Tankado made a mistake,â⬠Fontaine ventured. ââ¬Å"Maybe he didnââ¬â¢t know the bombs were the same.â⬠ââ¬Å"No.â⬠Susan sighed. ââ¬Å"He was a cripple because of those bombs. Heââ¬â¢d know the facts cold.â⬠Chapter 126 ââ¬Å"One minute!â⬠Jabba eyed the VR. ââ¬Å"PEM authorizationââ¬â¢s going fast. Last line of defense. And thereââ¬â¢s a crowd at the door.â⬠ââ¬Å"Focus!â⬠Fontaine commanded. Soshi sat in front of the Web browser and read aloud. â⬠¦Nagasaki bomb did not use plutonium but rather an artificially manufactured, neutron-saturated isotope of uranium 238.â⬠ââ¬Å"Damn!â⬠Brinkerhoff swore. ââ¬Å"Both bombs used uranium. The elements responsible for Hiroshima and Nagasaki were both uranium. There is no difference!â⬠ââ¬Å"Weââ¬â¢re dead,â⬠Midge moaned. ââ¬Å"Wait,â⬠Susan said. ââ¬Å"Read that last part again!â⬠Soshi repeated the text. ââ¬Å"â⬠¦artificially manufactured, neutron-saturated isotope of uranium 238.â⬠ââ¬Å"238?â⬠Susan exclaimed. ââ¬Å"Didnââ¬â¢t we just see something that said Hiroshimaââ¬â¢s bomb used some other isotope of uranium?â⬠They all exchanged puzzled glances. Soshi frantically scrolled backward and found the spot. ââ¬Å"Yes! It says here that the Hiroshima bomb used a different isotope of uranium!â⬠Midge gasped in amazement. ââ¬Å"Theyââ¬â¢re both uranium-but theyââ¬â¢re different kinds!â⬠ââ¬Å"Both uranium?â⬠Jabba muscled in and stared at the terminal. ââ¬Å"Apples and apples! Perfect!â⬠ââ¬Å"How are the two isotopes different?â⬠Fontaine demanded. ââ¬Å"Itââ¬â¢s got to be something basic.â⬠Soshi scrolled through the document. ââ¬Å"Hold onâ⬠¦ lookingâ⬠¦ okayâ⬠¦Ã¢â¬ ââ¬Å"Forty-five seconds!â⬠a voice called out. Susan looked up. The final shield was almost invisible now. ââ¬Å"Here it is!â⬠Soshi exclaimed. ââ¬Å"Read it!â⬠Jabba was sweating. ââ¬Å"Whatââ¬â¢s the difference! There must be some difference between the two!â⬠ââ¬Å"Yes!â⬠Soshi pointed to her monitor. ââ¬Å"Look!â⬠They all read the text: â⬠¦two bombs employed two different fuelsâ⬠¦ precisely identical chemical characteristics. No ordinary chemical extraction can separate the two isotopes. They are, with the exception of minute differences in weight, perfectly identical. ââ¬Å"Atomic weight!â⬠Jabba said, excitedly. ââ¬Å"Thatââ¬â¢s it! The only difference is their weights! Thatââ¬â¢s the key! Give me their weights! Weââ¬â¢ll subtract them!â⬠ââ¬Å"Hold on,â⬠Soshi said, scrolling ahead. ââ¬Å"Almost there! Yes!â⬠Everyone scanned the text. â⬠¦difference in weight very slightâ⬠¦ â⬠¦gaseous diffusion to separate themâ⬠¦ â⬠¦10,032498X10?134 as compared to 19,39484X10?23.** ââ¬Å"There they are!â⬠Jabba screamed. ââ¬Å"Thatââ¬â¢s it! Those are the weights!â⬠ââ¬Å"Thirty seconds!â⬠ââ¬Å"Go,â⬠Fontaine whispered. ââ¬Å"Subtract them. Quickly.â⬠Jabba palmed his calculator and started entering numbers. ââ¬Å"Whatââ¬â¢s the asterisk?â⬠Susan demanded. ââ¬Å"Thereââ¬â¢s an asterisk after the figures!â⬠Jabba ignored her. He was already working his calculator keys furiously. ââ¬Å"Careful!â⬠Soshi urged. ââ¬Å"We need an exact figure.â⬠ââ¬Å"The asterisk,â⬠Susan repeated. ââ¬Å"Thereââ¬â¢s a footnote.â⬠Soshi clicked to the bottom of the paragraph. Susan read the asterisked footnote. She went white. ââ¬Å"Ohâ⬠¦ dear God.â⬠Jabba looked up. ââ¬Å"What?â⬠They all leaned in, and there was a communal sigh of defeat. The tiny footnote read: **12% margin of error. Published figures vary from lab to lab. How to cite Digital Fortress Chapter 123-126, Essay examples
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)