International Organizations, Defence, Books & Authors, World History

Notes:
The League of the Three Emperors, also known as Dreikaiserbund, was an alliance between the German Empire, the Russian Empire and Austria-Hungary, from 1873 to 1887. It was part of the diplomatic web created by Otto Bismarck (1815–1898) to keep France isolated. The first League of the Three Emperors was in effect from 1873 to 1875.

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The League of Nations was founded on 10 January 1920 as a result of the Paris Peace Conference that ended the First World War. It was the first international organisation whose principal mission was to maintain world peace. The League lasted for 26 years; the United Nations replaced it after the end of the Second World War on 20 April 1946.

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The invention of the sewing machine by Elias Howe, in 1846, accelerated the production of clothing and made possible the modern clothing industry. Thus, one invention followed another, not only in textile industries but also in many others. In this way, the present-day complex machinery has evolved.

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The most important demands of the people were fourfold: peace, land to the tiller, control of industry by workers, and equal status for the non-Russian nationalities. The Provisional Government under the leadership of Kerensky did not implement any of these demands and lost the support of the people.

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Hitler started the National Socialist Party or Nazi Party. By the year 1932, the membership of the Nazi Party increased to 70 lakhs.

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The Marshall Plan, also known as the European Recovery Program, was announced on June 5, 1947 by the then-Secretary of State, George Marshall. The initiative was designed to aid Europe, where economies had been devastated after World War II. The Marshall Plan provided over $13 billion in aid to European countries that had been destroyed during the war.

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Prithvi Air Defense (PAD) is part of India’s Ballistic Missile Defense Program, designed to intercept ballistic missiles in the exo-atmosphere. Advanced Air Defense (AAD) serves as the second layer, targeting missiles in the endo-atmosphere. Akash is a medium-range surface-to-air missile system developed by DRDO for engaging aerial threats. Quick Reaction Surface-to-Air Missile (QRSAM) is an all-weather, all-terrain air defense system developed by DRDO with Bharat Electronics Limited and Bharat Dynamics Limited.

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Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) was first reported in 1981 in San Francisco and New York. However, it was in 1983-84 that the causative virus was isolated from patients of AIDS and was named HIV in 1986.

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There are different methods of counting microbial growth. These are based on different parameters of cells such as dry-weight and wet-weight measurement, absorbance, cell plate, density, turbidity, ATP measurement, viable count, ATPase activity and use of Coulter counter. Absorbance is measured by using a spectrophotometer. Cell growth of any bacterial suspension at a particular wavelength at different intervals is measured in terms of absorbance.

Notes:
Arundhati Roy is the esteemed author of ‘The God of Small Things.’ The novel, set in the state of Kerala, India, delves deeply into intricate family relationships, societal norms, and the impact of the caste system in Indian society. Roy’s masterful storytelling and her ability to weave complex emotional narratives won her the Booker Prize for this novel in 1997. Her use of rich, poetic language and non-linear narrative captures the essence of the characters’ experiences, making it a powerful and enduring piece of literature.