Name the two planets with no moons.

There are only 8 planets in our solar system, since Pluto is no longer classified as a planet. Most of these planets have natural satellites, which are also known as moons. For example, Earth has 1 moon, while Mars has 2. In comparison, Jupiter has 67 moons and Saturn has 62 moons. 

There are only 2 planets in our solar system that do not have any moons. These planets are Mercury and Venus. The main reason why these planets do not have a moon is their proximity to the Sun. If a moon were to exist too close to the planet, it would be destroyed by tidal gravity. If, on the other hand, the moon is very far from the planet, it would be attracted by the Sun and captured.

Thus, apart from Mercury and Venus, all the other planets in our solar system have moons.

Hope this helps.

Does the life of Andrew Carnegie support or counter the philosophy of Social Darwinism?

The life of Andrew Carnegie both supports and counters the philosophy of Social Darwinism. Social Darwinism refers to the concept of survival of the fittest. With this concept, those who are strong and able to make adjustments will survive. Those who are strong will overrun those who aren’t as strong and cannot make adjustments.

Andrew Carnegie was ruthless in some of his business activities. He would buy out the competition that couldn’t compete with his businesses. This allowed him to control industries such as the steel industry. Many competitors were forced out of business or to sell their businesses to him.

Andrew Carnegie also believed the wealthy had an obligation to help the less fortunate, though. Andrew Carnegie donated a lot of money to provide people with opportunities to help themselves. For example, he funded the construction of many libraries to help people become more educated. Andrew Carnegie didn’t believe in giving handouts to the less fortunate. He believed in providing them with opportunities to improve their situation in life. This runs counter to the concept of survival of the fittest.

What societal values are common to both the Epic of Gilgamesh and the Odyssey?

Both stories are as ancient as they get, yet they both reflect societal values of mankind’s fascination with the supernatural and man’s relationship to the gods. These two stories represent early man’s attempt to convey values, morals, and beliefs about their cultures and civilizations in the form of myths. Of course, the common theme between these two epics are that man must live according to their duty to their fellow men/family, fear the gods and death, and propagate the human race in the face of mortality.

               In the Epic of Gilgamesh, Gilgamesh and Enkidu begin their association as enemies, but after they fight they become friends and go on an epic journey together to explore the world and test the gods. They are the perfect foils for each other, Gilgamesh being a cruel, despotic two-thirds god, one-third man befriending a primal being who barely transcended from an animalistic primitive. Their polarities make them fit for one another and there is a manly bond between them. Because of one of their adventures, they trespass against the gods, triumph over a demon, and kill the Bull of Heaven (sent by a goddess who lusted after Gilgamesh but was rejected), which results in the gods exacting punishment in the form of a cruel death for Enkidu, which sets Gilgamesh on a path for immortality as he saw how death comes so easily and without warning. Gods can be seen as the forces of the world, which should be respected and feared as they set limits on human potential and influence the world. This is why there is the story of the great deluge, which the gods allowed one man how to survive and was granted eternal life. Because of this action by the gods, the fact of life is that all men are mortal but if they pass on their seed, mankind will continue. After Gilgamesh gets so close to eternal life and obtaining a plant that could restore youth, he returns to his kingdom empty-handed yet building it up instead of abusing his power like before. He finds that despite his own mortality, achievement and the continuity of humankind is the closest thing to immortality humans can attain. In other words, we live on through our descendants.

               In the Odyssey, Odysseus seeks to return home from war to his wife and son but is imprisoned and delayed by gods and demi-gods. Also, before on Odysseus’s journey of war before his men are all killed, he did feel responsible for trying to bring them back home alive, but the gods and monsters along the way do not allow that. It is interesting to note that Odysseus is captured by a demi-goddess who was in love with him. It seems both stories have men of heroic quality that are the objects of desire of the gods. Yet, they deny them and reveal that gods are fickle, too. Trespassing against gods seems to be the ultimate folly of our heroes, yet their defiance suggests courage and determination, which gods should respect—but in the end, why men live in fear of the gods. However, Odysseus is aided by the goddess Athena in his journeys and is able to return home to protect his family and lineage from suitors. Unlike Gilgamesh, Odysseus does not seek immortality, but to secure his family’s future and see that his son continues the next generation—in sync with the theme of propagating human kind and duty to one’s peoples.

               Both these stories end back where they ultimately started (following a cyclical hero’s journey). In finality, these stories convey a tradition of the supernatural, gods and goddesses, and ultimately the human condition. Sometimes the human endeavor to bear fruit and multiply seems to be the defining ends to human life. Our ancestors live on through us and our descendants will carry us into the future with them. Overall, these two stories enlighten their audience through fantastical situations and perilous ordeals to ingrain in their audience the facts of life as told by ancient poets and storytellers. Like these stories that are still being read and studied today, civilization continues on and where one human dies, another lives; and the stories pass on and on to future generations. Is that not immortality?

How do prices, output, and profits differ between monopolies and monopolistically competitive firms? Are there similarities?

In fundamental microeconomic theory, competitive markets have the effect of driving market price down to the point where producers are operating at the point of minimum total cost per unit (i.e. at the point of greatest efficiency). Conversely, monopolies will be able to maintain higher prices, specifically at the point where the total market demand curve crosses their marginal cost curve. That is, they do not have to share the market with anyone, so they will raise prices until the quantity demanded is such that marginal cost equals that price. The key here is that monopolies face no competition. For a pure monopoly to exist, not only must there be no competitors producing the same good or service, but there should be no effective alternative goods or services to that one. True monopolies are extremely difficult to maintain in the long term, as the higher prices they charge stimulate research and investment into alternatives (e.g. solar as an alternative to electric company provided power). Additionally, it is unusual for a monopoly to be allowed by democratic governments without substantial price regulation (e.g. utility commissions).

 Monopolistic competition is the situation in which there are multiple firms producing a good or service, but they are able to differentiate their products to an extent. In other words, each firm’s product is an imperfect substitute for its competitors’ products, and vice versa. The result is that price can be maintained above the minimum total cost level, but not as high as in a true monopoly. Profits are thus not as high in monopolistic competition, quantity produced and consumed is higher, and price is lower. Monopolistic competition tends to place a premium on marketing, product features, and additional services associated with a product. Anything which ties a consumer into a particular firm’s products over an extended term fosters monopolistic competition. An example would be attempts to associate prestige with a particular brand (e.g. cars, cosmetics). Another example is making capital goods incapable of operating on consumables produced by other firms (e.g. HP ink cartridges, or Keurig’s producing machines which will only operate with K-cups produced by them).

How is the theme of loneliness, in your opinion, dealt with in "Games at Twilight" by Anita Desai?

That's a good question because that is not one of the typical themes that gets focused on in this story.  

I would say that the theme of loneliness is dealt with and best illustrated through the character of Ravi.  Desai includes subtle details in the story that highlight how and why Ravi exists on the outskirts of the group of other children.  We know early on that Ravi is not a physical powerhouse of a child, so he is not the group's popular "jock."  

. . . but he hadn’t much faith in his short legs when matched against Raghu’s long, hefty, hairy footballer legs.  

Actually, the very first detail that readers are given about Ravi portrays him as that "weird loner" kid.  

Ravi heard the whistling and picked his nose in a panic, trying to find comfort by burrowing the finger deep—deep into that soft tunnel. He felt himself too exposed, sitting on an upturned flowerpot behind the garage.

I'd like to point out that Ravi is sitting, alone, on a flowerpot behind the garage.  He is not where most of the other kids are.  Additionally, he is picking his nose, and trying to find comfort in that activity.  It's the equivalent of a small child sucking his/her thumb. That is not something that wins over large groups of friends.  

Another loneliness detail is the game that the kids are playing.  They are not playing a team sport in which every kid is part of a team that works toward a common goal.  Instead, they are playing hide-and-seek.  That is an inherently lonely game.  One person is "it," and everybody else is supposed to find their own hiding spot.  Nobody hides with a partner in that game.  It makes you easier to find.  

The best evidence for loneliness and Ravi's embodiment of that theme comes at the end of the story.  Ravi has been hiding, alone, in the shed for hours.  When he finally comes out to claim his victory, nobody believes him.  All of the other children have moved on to a different game.  Nobody knew that Ravi was still playing.  They completely forgot about him, and that shows Ravi how little attention the group gives him.  He has been left out yet again.  He feels completely alone and insignificant, and Ravi goes off alone to quietly sulk.  

But he had been forgotten, left out, and he would not join them now. The ignominy of being forgotten—how could he face it? He felt his heart go heavy and ache inside him unbearably. He lay down full length on the damp grass, crushing his face into it, no longer crying, silenced by a terrible sense of his insignificance.

What does "the crash" mean in To Kill a Mockingbird?

In chapter two of To Kill a Mockingbird, Atticus refers to "the crash." He is explaining why the Cunninghams are poor to Jem and Scout. He says,

The Cunninghams are country folks, farmers, and the crash hit them hardest.

"The crash" is a reference to the 1929 stock market crash that plunged the United States into the Great Depression. The Great Depression affected people from all walks of life, from farmers to millionaires.

Atticus also explains how the Great Depression affects many people in town. He tells them how the farmers no longer have cash to pay professional people, like doctors and lawyers. This causes professional people to live in poverty, too. Atticus tells his children they are poor for this reason. For example, Mr. Cunningham has no cash so he pays Atticus for legal services in stovewood and turnip greens.

What is a barium swallow?

Cancers diagnosed:
Oral cavity (mouth) cancer; oropharyngeal (throat) cancer; vocal cord cancer, including laryngeal and hypopharyngeal cancer, glottic cancer, supraglottic cancer, subglottic cancer; esophageal cancer; stomach cancer; stomach polyps, which may precede stomach cancer; small intestine cancer, including carcinoid tumors, gastrointestinal stromal tumors, lymphomas, and adenocarcinoma

Why performed: A barium swallow with X rays is performed to help diagnose cancer of the mouth, throat, vocal cords, esophagus, stomach, and small intestine. When swallowed, barium sulfate shows up on X rays and highlights the linings of the above-mentioned structures. A double-contrast barium swallow involves swallowing substances that create air in the stomach to expand it, allowing a better view.

Patient preparation: Patients may be placed on a restricted diet a few days before the test. Patients should not eat, drink, chew gum, or smoke after midnight before the test. Patients receive instructions from their doctors about swallowing medications. The stomach needs to be empty for the procedure. In some cases, the stomach contents are removed through a tube placed in the nose. For women, a pregnancy test may be performed to ensure that the patient is not pregnant.

A barium swallow is an outpatient procedure that is performed at a hospital radiology department, outpatient radiology center, or doctor’s office. The test does not require anesthesia, and patients are awake. A barium swallow usually takes from thirty to sixty minutes, depending on the extent of the procedure. Patients disrobe and wear a gown for the test. Patients need to remove metal objects that may interfere with the X rays, including glasses, dentures, and jewelry.

Steps of the procedure: The patient’s vital signs are taken before the test and monitored during the test. Patients may sit, stand, or lie on an X-ray table for the procedure. Patients may be secured to the X-ray table if it is tilted to allow images to be taken from various angles.

X rays of the patient’s heart, lungs, and abdomen are taken. Then, patients drink sixteen to twenty ounces of barium sulfate. The barium sulfate is mixed in a thick drink that may have flavor added to it; otherwise, the drink is described as tasting chalky. The examination table may be tilted or pressure may be applied to the patient’s abdomen to help spread the barium. The barium is viewed on a barium fluoroscope monitor as it travels through the upper digestive tract. Still X-ray images can be taken at any time. Patients may need to drink more barium sulfate as the test progresses.

For a double-contrast barium swallow, the patient swallows baking soda crystals. The baking soda creates gas, and the air expands the stomach. Additional images are taken, and the patient is repositioned or the examination table is tilted as necessary.

After the procedure: Patients should drink plenty of fluids to help remove the barium from their bodies. Patients can eat a regular diet unless instructed otherwise. Bowel movements will contain barium for one to two days following the tests. The barium may make bowel movements appear white, gray, or pink in color.

Risks: A barium swallow is considered a low-risk procedure. The radiation exposure is low, but it carries a small risk of cancer. Patients may be allergic to the flavorings that are mixed with the barium drink. Occasionally, the barium may harden, resulting in intestinal blockage or constipation. Patients should contact their doctor if they have not had a bowel movement within one to two days of the procedure.

Results: The X-ray films are read by a radiologist. The ordering doctor may review the films as well. The linings of healthy structures are free of abnormal growths or polyps. Any abnormalities, such as cancer or precancerous tissues, appear as growths or polyps.

Bibliography

Carver, Elizabeth, and Barry Carver. Medical Imaging: Techniques, Reflection, and Evaluation. 2nd ed. Edinburgh: Churchill, 2012. Print.

Drop, A., et al. “The Modern Methods of Gastric Imaging.” Annales Universitatis Mariae Curie-Skłodowska 59.1 (2004): 373–81. Print.

Eisenberg, Ronald L., and Alexander R. Margulis. A Patient's Guide to Medical Imaging. New York: Oxford UP, 2011. Print.

Gore, R. M., et al. “Upper Gastrointestinal Tumours: Diagnosis and Staging.” Cancer Imaging 29.6 (2006): 213–17. Print.

Hosaka, K. “Radiological Investigation of the Mucosae Around Early Gastric Cancers.” Journal of Gastroenterology 41.10 (2006): 943–53. Print.

Kunisaki, C., et al. “Outcomes of Mass Screening for Gastric Carcinoma.” Annuals Surgical Oncology 13.2 (2006): 221–28. Print.

Levine, M. S., and S. E. Rubesin. “Diseases of the Esophagus: Diagnosis with Esophagography.” Radiology 237.2 (2005): 414–27. Print.

Pasławski, M., J. Złomaniec, E. Rucińska, and W. Kołtyś. “Synchronous Primary Esophageal and Gastric Cancers.” Annales Universitatis Mariae Curie-Skłodowska 59.1 (2004): 406–10. Print.

Summers, D. S., M. D. Roger, P. L. Allan, and J. T. Murchison. “Accelerating the Transit Time of Barium Sulphate Suspensions in Small Bowel Examinations.” European Journal of Radiology 62.1 (2007): 122–25. Print.

“Upper GI and Small Bowel Series.” MedlinePlus. Natl. Lib. of Medicine, 8 Oct. 2012. Web. 27 Aug. 2014.