Shrimp Treadmill - How Much it Cost Taxpayers

Shrimp Treadmill - How Much it Cost Taxpayers The famous shrimp treadmill study (video), conducted by researchers at Pacific University and College of Charleston, came under scrutiny during debates over the federal deficit and wasteful spending in 2011. Yes, the shrimp treadmill research cost taxpayers more than $3 million over the course of a decade. That includes a $559,681 grant for research into Impaired Metabolism and Performance in Crustaceans Exposed to Bacteria. But dont blame Congress, as the AARP did in a major television ad buy in 2011. The decision to fund the research actually came from the National Science Foundation. Shrimp Treadmill Grilled The AARP suggested the shrimp treadmill was but one of many examples of wasteful spending in a commercial it ran in the spring and summer of 2011, as Congress debated ways to trim the nations debt. The ad read: If Congress really wants to balance the budget, they could stop spending our money on things like a cotton institute in Brazil, poetry at zoos, treadmills for shrimp. But instead of cutting waste or closing tax loopholes, next month Congress could make a deal that cuts Medicare, even Social Security. I guess its easier to cut the benefits we earned than to cut pickle technology. AARP was not the first to cast the shrimp treadmill in a harsh light, though. About the Shrimp Treadmill Study The shrimp treadmill and National Science Foundation were initially targeted as an example of pork by U.S. Sen. Tom Coburn of Oklahoma in 2011, though the research had begun years earlier. As a practicing physician and a two-time cancer survivor, I have a very personal appreciation for the benefits of scientific research, Coburn wrote in a report titled The National Science Foundation: Under the Microscope. Investing in innovation and discovery can transform and improve our lives, advance our understanding of the world, and create meaningful new jobs. He added, though: The theory in Washington all too often tends to be if you throw enough money at a problem, you can solve all our nations problems. But when Congress commits the nation to significant increases in spending, Congress owes it to the U.S. taxpayers to pay careful attention to how those dollars are being spent. Researchers developed the shrimp treadmill to test whether sickness would impair the mobility of the crustaceans. It remained unclear, however, what the practical impact of such research would be. Sick shrimp have more limited mobility, which may mean they are less likely to avoid being eaten. A decrease in performance may mean the difference between life and death, Scholnick was quoted as saying. About the National Science Foundation The National Science Foundation (NSF) is an independent federal agency created by Congress in 1950 to promote the progress of science; to advance the national health, prosperity, and welfare; to secure the national defense†¦ Under its congressional mandate, the NSF funds fundamental research and education in all fields of science and engineering. With a budget of just over $7.5 billion in fiscal year 2017, the NSF funds about a fifth of all federally supported basic research conducted at U.S. colleges and universities. NSF funding for research is distributed through grants, and cooperative agreements to more than 2,000 colleges, universities, K-12 school systems, businesses, informal science organizations and other research organizations throughout the United States. Of the more than 48,000 competitive requests for funding it receives every year, the NSF awards about 12,000 new research grants. At the time, the NSF responded to Sen. Coburns criticism of the â€Å"Shrimp on a Treadmill† study by pointing out that the projects it funds have advanced the frontiers of science and engineering, improved Americans lives and provided the foundations for countless new industries and jobs. About the National Institutes of Health As another major source of congressionally authorized research funding, the National Institutes of Health (NIH), agency of the cabinet-level U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), bills itself as nation’s medical research agency. Currently, the NIH awards nearly $32.3billion in grants annually for medical research in support of its stated mission of seeking â€Å"fundamental knowledge about the nature and behavior of living systems and the application of that knowledge to enhance health, lengthen life, and reduce illness and disability.† Almost 50,000 research studies funded by NIH grants are being conducted by over 300,000 researchers at more than 2,500 universities, medical schools, and other research institutions in every state and around the world.

Anne of Cleves

Anne of Cleves Dates: born September 22, 1515 (?), died July 16, 1557Married Henry VIII of England on January 6, 1540, divorced (annulled) July 9, 1540 Known for: safely divorcing from Henry and surviving Also known as: Anna von JÃ ¼lich-Kleve-Berg Ancestry: Like each of the wives of Henry VIII, as well as Henry himself, Anne could claim descent from Englands King Edward I. Father: John III the Peaceful, Duke of Cleves (died 1538) (he was a descendent of John the Fearless, Duke of Burgundy)Mother: Maria of JÃ ¼lich-BergBrother: William the Rich, Duke of JÃ ¼lich-Cleves-BergSister: Sybille, married to John Frederick, Elector of Saxony, Champion of the Reformation Anne was, as a young child, unofficially betrothed to Francis, heir to the Duke of Lorraine. About Anne of Cleves Jane Seymour, Henry VIIIs beloved third wife, had died. France and the Holy Roman Empire were forging an alliance. Though Jane Seymour had given birth to a son, Henry knew that he needed more sons to ensure the succession. His attention turned towards a small German state, Cleves, which might prove a solid Protestant ally. Henry sent his court painter Hans Holbein to paint the portraits of the princesses Anne and Amelia. Henry selected Anne as his next wife. Soon after the wedding, if not before, Henry was looking once again for a divorce. He was attracted to Catherine Howard, the political basis for the match was no longer as strong a motivation since France and the Holy Roman Empire were no longer allies, and he found Anne both uncultured and unattractive he is said to have called her Mare of Flanders. Anne, fully aware of Henrys marital history, cooperated in an annulment, and retired from court with the title Kings Sister. Henry gave her Hever Castle, where he had wooed Anne Boleyn, as her home. Her position and fortune made her a powerful independent woman, though there was little opportunity to exercise such power in any public sphere. Anne befriended Henrys children, riding in the coronation of Mary with Elizabeth. Bibliography: Anne of Cleves: Fourth Wife of Henry VIII, Mary Saaler, 1995. This book covers Annes years after her divorce, as one of the most powerful and wealthy women in the world.The Marrying of Anne of Cleves : Royal Protocol in Early Modern England, Retha Warnike. 2000.The Six Wives of Henry VIII, by Alison Weir, 1993.The Wives of Henry VIII, Antonia Fraser, 1993.Letters of the Queens of England 1100-1547, Anne Crawford, editor, 1997. Includes Anne of Cleves.Holbein and the Court of Henry VIII: Drawings and Miniatures from the Royal Library Windsor Castle, Reto Niggl and Jane Roberts, 1997. Religion: Protestant (Lutheran)

Vinegar (Acetic Acid) Molecular and Structural Formula

Vinegar (Acetic Acid) Molecular and Structural Formula Vinegar is a naturally-occurring liquid that contains many chemicals, so you cant just write a simple formula for it. It is approximately 5-20% acetic acid in water. So, there are actually two main chemical formulas involved. The molecular formula for water is H2O. The structural formula for acetic acid is CH3COOH. Vinegar is considered a type of weak acid. Although it has an extremely low pH value, the acetic acid doesnt completely dissociate in water. The other chemicals in vinegar depend on its source. Vinegar is made from the fermentation of ethanol (grain alcohol) by bacteria from the  family Acetobacteraceae.  Many types of vinegar include added flavorings, such as sugar, malt, or caramel. Apple cider vinegar is made from fermented apple juice, beer cider from beer, cane vinegar from sugar cane, and  balsamic vinegar comes from white Trebbiano grapes with a final step of storage in special wooden casks. Many other types of vinegar are available. Distilled vinegar isnt actually distilled. What the name means is that the vinegar came  from the fermentation of distilled alcohol. The resulting vinegar typically has a pH of around 2.6 and consists of 5-8% acetic acid. Characteristics and Uses of Vinegar Vinegar is used in cooking and cleaning, among other purposes. The acid tenderizes meat, dissolves mineral build-up from glass and tile, and removes the oxide residue from steel, brass, and bronze. The low pH gives it bactericidal activity. The acidity is used in baking to react with alkaline leavening agents. The acid-base reaction produces carbon dioxide gas bubbles that cause baked goods to rise. One interesting quality is that vinegar can kill drug-resistant tuberculosis bacteria. Like other acids, vinegar can attack tooth enamel, leading to decay and sensitive teeth. Typically, household vinegar is about 5% acid. Vinegar that contains 10% acetic acid or a high concentration is corrosive. It can cause chemical burns and should be handled carefully. Mother of Vinegar and Vinegar Eels Upon opening, vinegar may start to develop a sort of slime called mother of vinegar that consists of acetic acid bacteria and cellulose. Although it isnt appetizing, mother of vinegar is harmless. It may be easily removed by filter the vinegar through a coffee filter, although it poses no danger and may be left alone. It occurs when the acetic acid bacteria use oxygen from the air to convert remaining alcohol into acetic acid. Vinegar eels (Turbatrix aceti)  are a type of nematode that feeds off of mother of vinegar. The worms may be found in opened or unfiltered vinegar. They are harmless and not parasitic, however, they arent particularly appetizing, so many manufacturers filter and pasteurize vinegar before bottling it. This kills the live acetic acid bacteria and yeast in the product, reducing the chance that mother of vinegar will form. So, unfiltered or unpasteurized vinegar may get eels, but they are rare in unopened, bottled vinegar. As with mother of vinegar, nematodes can be removed using a coffee filter.

30, 60, 90 Day Branch Plan Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

30, 60, 90 Day Branch Plan - Essay Example The plan will be demarcated into distinct categories so as to accommodate the several sections of the comprehensive plan in initiating the processes that will symbolize the development and expansion of the branch and its activities. The new branch will not involve several officials on the grounds that being a novel venture it has been considered unfit to have several positions that may not only be costly for the corporation but also unnecessary. As a result, the composition will be a Branch Manager, approximately 2-3 Personal Banking Advisers and possibly 1 customer service adviser. The branch manager will play overall duties in the branch including the supervision of the other officials who will directly report to him. The minimum number of positions created will make it simple for the operations of the branch to begin pending further expansion of the branch as situations necessitate. The branch will be based on the University site where all products will be sold. The education inst itution will be the major centre for the branch as the target market along with core operations of the branch will be based on the university premises. Accordingly, focus will be on personal customers from the student and staff population implying that the market for the branch’s services and products will directly emanate from the university; both staff and student. A brand new branch would operate basing on the location whereby the university will provide the required market and focus for the business. The daily function of a branch manager will be to oversee the basic operations of the new branch including supervision of the staff, coordination of activities as well as interaction with the staff. The initial 30 day plan to implement growing business, staffing and development will be based on two primary parameters namely, product introduction and marketing through which the branch will engage in a process of making itself known to the potential clients. Under this program, the branch will develop a comprehensive product introduction scheme that will attract the clients most of whom will be drawn from the staff and students of the university to develop interests and demand in the products offered (Nieman & Pretorius, 2007, 24). Such a process will be inherently involving since the products must be relevant to needs and requirements as well as tastes of the potential clients. As a result, prior to the product development and introduction procedure, the branch will research and analyse the potential clients and their requirements. This will inform both the marketing and product introduction processes that will be of core importance in the initial thirty days of the implementation of the plan. Subsequently, marketing will be of prime importance in the initial phases of the implementation of the plan. Through marketing, the branch will seek to establish a niche in the wide mart by focusing on the target market that constitutes the staff and students of th e university. Through the marketing endeavour, the branch will attempt to popularize itself along with its activities, services and products to the potential customers (Ericson, 2007, 74). This will be an important step towards initializing the implementation of the entire plan. The subsequent step in the plan to implement growing business, staffing and development will involve staffing and development which constitute a crucial stage in the entire plan. Staffing will take pre-eminence owing to the fact that any commercial entity operates through its staff and the human resources of any entity determine its entire operation and stature. As a new venture, the

Lost Boys of Sudan, my long journal, education is my mother and father Essay

Lost Boys of Sudan, my long journal, education is my mother and father - Essay Example They traveled through the Saharan Desert in Sudan searching for the United Nations camps. Many lost their lives during this journey, but those who made it actually recollect this event in their lives as a highly maturing experience that has shaped them in to extremely resilient individuals. Life for these young children before the outbreak of war was nothing out of the ordinary; the villages that these children belonged to largely consisted of cattle farmers, therefore from a young age, the boys had been grazing cattle. With the outbreak of war, many young girls and boy were raped, killed or taken to the north to be sold as slaves. Coming from ordinary villages, there did have small schools in the village but even so, literacy was not that common and many children largely help their parent graze the cattle. After the war, their ordinary lives were completely toppled over and devastated by the violence. Santino Atem Deng was one of the boy who survived the post-independence massacre; one can even refer to him as ‘one of the Lost Boys’. Since his agonizing journey through his war-ravaged country ended, he was rehabilitated by the SPLP (Sudan People’s Liberation Party). ... Deng epitomizes a man who was reformed by education and by becoming a literate and learned man, he was able to cast the demons of his past aside and turn a new leaf. Deng was able to bring this change in his life by getting proper education that truly delivered him from suffering and gave him a new life. (Deng 71-71) He has become a model for Sudanese youth to strive hard to get proper education, because education is the only thing that saves them and their countrymen from the destruction of war and pave way for a more civilized society. The lost boys of Sudan had come a long way from their home country and often their journey is nothing short of time travel, as they all suffered a massive cultural shock and faced many hardships to get themselves accustomed to the modern society. The documentary film titled â€Å"The Lost Boys of Sudan† highlights the struggles of these men and their views of this new land where they were taking refuge in. They all had high hopes out of Americ a, when they were coming here to seek asylum. America has indeed come a long way when it comes to the establishment of stable and modern social structures. Compared to the people living in other countries, who may experience a cultural-shock or in other words, the individuals may experience a significant amount distress or anxiety, when it comes to acclimatizing oneself to that culture, since the values are too different and modern from their own. Therefore, this anxiety was one of the biggest hurdles in the path of the Lost Boys. They often thought that they were coming to a country where the ‘streets are paved with gold’; however after arriving in the United States, they realized it wasn’t a country

Personal Philosophy of Meaning and Value Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Personal Philosophy of Meaning and Value - Essay Example My approach towards meaning and value is one of a significant one since I understand that everything happens for a reason and it is this meaning which is embedded within the reason that needs to be found out. What this will eventually do is to provide more rationale for things that will shape up in the future as well as provide me a sense of understanding for similar things that keep on happening around me at different times of the day. In this paper, I will outline what I consider as meaningful from life, from a strictly personal viewpoint and what I look for in life as far as my personal thinking and mindset are concerned. Also, I would check upon my personal life instances and my professional growth patterns and more so the same whilst now in the role of an IT project manager. I have devised a personal action plan that outlines the manner in which I have advocated my philosophy within the domains of this paper and this action plan aims to give an idea of what I think would be the right course of action as to go about doing things from an ethically correct professional sphere. I believe that we were put on this earth to bring some kind of glory or joy to the ‘One’ who put us here. Whether this is an all-powerful God, an uninvolved Creator or some sort of ‘alien’ life form I will not discuss here. Just suffice it to say that the same is some sort of a more powerful being which probably takes at least some interest in the actions of those that He has created or placed here on this Earth.

Options for Organization Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Options for Organization - Assignment Example Even though there are many advantages in implementing security systems in organizations there are some problems also. Therefore, the implementation of security should be done in an efficient manner, taking into consideration of all relevant factors relating to the business and the flew of information therein. Even though it is difficult to implement security, it is an inevitable part in any organization. Security enables an organization to manage the risks within the organization. The problems in an organization can be reduced to a great extent with the help of proper security measures. A company’s data can be kept confidential only if it has good security policies. The development and implementation of security policies helps an organization to meet the international standards. â€Å"Security touches so many different areas of business," says Allan Carey, program manager of security services and identity management research at Framingham, Mass.-based IDC. "With any type of new initiative or initiatives being driven by lines of business, security needs to be involved" (Kaplan). The analysis of security is done to recognize the exposure of security in a systematic way. Organizations should also be capable of evaluating the security methods adopted by their partners. The growing nu mber of threats has increased the importance of security in an organization. There can be both internal and external threats to any organization. Many organizations have suffered major losses due to the lack of security and leakage of information into unauthorized hands. Hackers, internal spying etc have become common in organizations. Proper security measures are needed to tackle these threats. The awareness about security requirements is thus very essential for every organization. There are some difficulties in setting and implementing a proper security system in an existing organization. It necessitates more funds to be invested for the implementation of