Tag: science & technology

AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome) is indeed classified as a pandemic because it has spread worldwide across multiple continents and affected millions of people. The term pandemic refers to the global spread of a disease, not its severity. AIDS has caused millions of deaths globally since its emergence, making the 'True' option correct.

Both symptoms described are common manifestations of HIV/AIDS. The whitish coating (thrush) is caused by Candida fungal infection, and purple spots (Kaposi's sarcoma) are a type of cancer associated with advanced HIV. These occur because HIV weakens the immune system, making patients susceptible to opportunistic infections. Therefore option C 'Both' is correct.

Acute HIV Syndrome (also called acute retroviral syndrome or seroconversion illness) refers to the flu-like symptoms that occur 2-4 weeks after initial HIV infection, as the virus rapidly replicates and the body develops antibodies. It is NOT when HIV progresses to AIDS (which takes years), nor is it the final fatal stage. This early stage is often mistaken for common viral illnesses like flu or mononucleosis.

Healthcare workers protect themselves through multiple strategies: taking all possible precautions like wearing waterproof gloves and careful needle handling (option C), AND in case of accidental exposure, taking PEP (Post-Exposure Prophylaxis) drugs within 72 hours to prevent infection (option A). They definitely face risk, so option B is false. Therefore option D 'Both a and c' is correct.

HIV symptoms are highly variable and can appear at very different times depending on the individual. Some develop Acute HIV Syndrome within weeks of infection (option A), others may show symptoms within a year (option B), while some may remain asymptomatic for 10 or more years (option C). Since all timelines are possible, option D 'any of the above' is correct.

Michelangelo Buonarroti painted the Sistine Chapel ceiling between 1508-1512 under commission from Pope Julius II. The work depicts scenes from Genesis, including the famous Creation of Adam. Carol, Nelson, and Garibaldi are not associated with this Renaissance masterpiece - Garibaldi was a 19th-century Italian general, not an artist.

Relative humidity is the ratio of current water vapor in the air to the maximum amount the air can hold at that temperature. When it rains, the air is fully saturated with water vapor, meaning relative humidity reaches 100%.

Graphite has a layered molecular structure where weak van der Waals forces between layers allow them to slide easily over each other. This makes graphite an excellent solid lubricant, especially in high-temperature applications where liquid lubricants would degrade. Silica, diamond, and iron oxide do not have this layered structure.

Detergents contain synthetic surfactants, primarily sodium alkylbenzene sulfonates (sulphonates), which are highly effective at cleaning in both hard and soft water. Nitrates, bicarbonates, and bismuthates do not serve as the primary active cleaning agents in detergents.