Infectious vs. Non-Infectious Diseases: Prevention and Treatment
Understanding Infectious and Non-Infectious Diseases
DISEASE TYPES: Infectious diseases can manifest rapidly and last a short time (acute). Others develop slowly and last much longer (chronic). Diseases like strokes are sporadic. Usual and unique diseases in a precise region are endemic. An epidemic occurs when a disease attacks many people during a specific time period. When epidemics affect many countries or the entire world, it’s a pandemic.
Infectious Agents
- Viruses: Measles, hepatitis, rabies,
Atmospheric Pollutants: Types, Impacts, and Dispersion
Concept of Atmospheric Pollutant
An air contaminant is any physical, chemical, or biological agent that alters the natural composition of the air or introduces a foreign element. This can occur due to abnormally high levels of a substance and involve risk, danger, or nuisance to people, ecosystems, or property.
Primary and Secondary Pollutants
a) Primary pollutants are those emitted directly into the atmosphere from emission sources. Examples include:
- Suspended particles
- Carbon oxides
- Sulfur oxides
- Nitrogen
Sustainable Biofuel Production: Types, Processes, and Benefits
Composition of Biomass: Biomass that is rich in carbohydrates is suitable for the generation of biofuels. Biomass is present in the form of starch, which is composed of glucose. The non-grain portion of biomass contains biomass in the form of lignin or cellulose. These lignocellulosics are not as readily accessible as starch. Hemicellulose is a polymer containing primarily 5-carbon sugars. Glucose and mannose molecules are dispersed throughout within the structure. Lignin helps bind the cellulose/
Read MoreKey Meteorological and Geographical Terms Defined
Key Meteorological and Geographical Terms
Weather and Climate
Weather: The daily manifestation of the state of the atmosphere, which humans perceive. It’s the atmospheric state we experience daily, and it differs from one day to another. Meteorology is the science that studies the weather.
Climate: The permanent atmosphere of a territory, represented by average values of weather elements, calculated with datasets of at least thirty years.
Anticyclone: A zone where atmospheric pressure is high, higher
Read MoreEssential Vocabulary for Environmental Awareness
Key Environmental Terms and Definitions
Activist: A person who takes action to make political change.
Become extinct: To no longer exist (plants and animals).
Biodegradable: Able to break down naturally.
Carbon dioxide levels: The amount of carbon dioxide present in the atmosphere.
Carbon footprint: The amount of carbon dioxide produced by a person or company’s activity.
Climate change: Changes in the planet’s weather, particularly causing it to get warmer.
Congested roads: Roads which are blocked with
Read MoreMatter Organization, Properties, and Material Science
Matter Organization and Properties
The Periodic Table
The periodic table is a summary of accumulated knowledge about the elements. Dimitri Mendeleev created it in 1869, sorting all known elements and leaving space for those yet to be discovered.
Complexity of Structure
- Chemical Elements: Matter is composed of chemical elements. In 2008, 116 elements were known, with 90 occurring naturally.
- Chemical Compounds: A chemical compound is a substance that can be separated into its components by physical processes.