Positive Effects Of Gene Altering Essays - Biology,

Positive Effects Of Gene Altering The Positive Effects of Gene Altering Since the beginning of the human race, we have been looking. We have been looking for ways to make our lives healthier, more comfortable, and happier. In the beginning it was simple rocks, plants, and fires. As our technology advanced so did the comfort of our lives. The wheel, the cure to the plaque, and who can forget the remote control, were all tools that made it possible to improve the quality of life. What tool lies ahead in the future to promote our well being and happiness? Genetic engineering is that tool. Every living thing is made up of genes, and with the capability of altering these genes, the possibilities are endless. Everything from better quality produce to the prevention of cancer is a possibility with genetic engineering, and scientists are just now beginning to understand the complex gene patterns. If you can imagine a world free of diabetes, or male pattern baldness, and genetics has a major role. Genetic engineers might someday have the capabilities to remove th ese genes or even clone wanted genes, and in the end allowing us to live the healthy, comfortable, happier lives we seek. The numbers of positive outcomes from genetic engineering are inconceivable. Genetic engineering will lead to healthier, more comfortable, and better lives. Genetic engineering will improve every day produce and goods. For producers involved with living organisms as their products, genes play a major role in the quality of their products and amount of profit. If a farmer's cows are not as lean, or their corn is diseased, then the demand for their product is going to be less than the competition. That is where genetics comes in. It is possible, by altering certain genes, to create a leaner cow, or a disease resistant stalk of corn, and it is this fact that makes genetic engineering invaluable to the every day farmer. If their cattle is leaner, or their chickens are engineered to lay two eggs instead of one, then there is going to be a greater profit earned by the farmers, and a better quality of product. In the near future there may be bacon that is relatively fat free, or a chicken breast with twice the meat. By selecting the wanted genes and removing the unwanted, the producer can improve it product that it sells to the consumer, and th e spectrum is not just restricted to food. Softer cloths, sturdier wood, hardier trees and shrubs, and slower growing, greener grass are all possibilities. These improved products will impact everyone, and will be everywhere. The impact is hazy, but the effect is clear; they will improve not only the profit of the producer, but also the lives of the consumer. Genetic altering will be a powerful tool against disease, and disabilities. Every year millions of people die from a variety of diseases and disabilities that are passed down by genes. Cancer is one example of a disease that has been linked to genes and heredity. Many patients have a family history involving some type of cancer in the past. With the introduction of genetic engineering, there is a good chance that scientists will be able to locate genes that are prone to cancer and alter them so that the chance of getting cancer is greatly reduced. Cancer is not the only disease that this could be applied to either. Almost any disease, disorder, or disability has a future in genetic engineering. Another example is Down's syndrome, a syndrome that is passed down through generations by a mutated gene, and causes mental impairment. Imagine if someday that mutated gene could be removed from a family's future, allowing their kids to lead normal lives. There is no doubt that it would improv e the quality of life for these kids who, then, would be normal healthy children. Just the same, blindness, diabetes, dwarfism, heart valve deformities, Alzheimer's and many more conditions can be avoided or even eliminated by the use of genetic engineering. The uses of genetic altering in the medical field are exciting as well as numerous, and it will no doubt change the way we look at our health and the health of

Foodborne Illnesses essays

Foodborne Illnesses essays Each year up to 81 million Americans suffer from a foodborne illness; out of this number, 9,100 of them die (Gavzer 1997). By recognizing the specific cases that have involved food poisoning, this number can be put into perspective with much greater ease. In August of 1997, Hudson Foods ordered the largest recall in history-25 million pounds of hamburger patties-which resulted from the deadly bacterium known as E. coli 0517:H7. During the spring of 1997, imported raspberries contaminated with the parasite cyclospora sickened thousands of people in 29 states. Just last year, the United States Department of Agriculture inspectors discovered E. coli 0517:H7 in ground beef that was shipped to a Virginia grocery by Beef America, resulting in yet another large recall. And to add to these incidents, earlier this month, some 746 people were sickened by Salmonella heidelberg after eating ham stuffed with vegetables and spices at a Sunday night church dinner in rural Maryland (Spake 72). The numbers and circumstances involving food poisonings are very distressing, since they directly impact the well-being of the citizens of our nation. Due to its relentless ability to transpire, this issue has demanded more and more focus as time has progressed. Most of its attention has recently been centralized on the food processing plants; in particular, the methods and standard operating procedures under which they provide food for consumption. One of the debates that has been brought up over food processing concentrates on who has the authority to establish and administer to these methods and procedures. While private industries would prefer to have the authority to construct their own protocols and carry out the inspections of their facilities; consumer groups, as well as government agencies, find it unquestionably necessary that the government has absolute authority over the regulation of food processing plants. This debate ov...

Analyze and Compare Ratios of West Ham Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Analyze and Compare Ratios of West Ham - Essay Example It has increased far more in 2011 from 2010 than that of in 2010 from 2009. But the reported percentage is not at all a good indicator of asset performance (NYU, 2012). Debt ratios Debt ratios determine the company’s over debt load an also mix of equity and debt. So these ratios evaluate the financial risk the company and its shareholders have been facing. Debt ratio is a compared unit of company’s total debt with respect to its total assets. Specifically it shows the amount of leverage the company is using. Higher debt ratio means the company is highly dependent on its leverage and the equity position of the company is very weak. So higher the ratio means more risk the company and its shareholder has been taking. Although the total liabilities of the company has been increasing over the year but the total assets also has been decreasing in similar proportion. As a result the ratio has increased more in 2011 than it decreased in 2010 from 2009. Debt equity ratio represe nts the overall status of debt of the company. It compares the total liability of the company with respect to the shareholders fund. ... The company improved a lot in terms of shareholder’s equity in 2010 than that of 2009 as it reported the shareholder’s amount of ?13,063,000 from tremendous growth from -?290,000 in 2009. But in 2011 again it has come down to huge deficit of its shareholders’ fund. So, due to the deficit of the shareholders’’ equity in two alternative years except 2010 with respect to huge liability of the company, the shares of the company have become worthless. The main reason behind this the company is highly depended on its creditors which adversely affects the interest of investors or the shareholders towards this company. Interest coverage ratio is an indicator that determines the how easily the company can pay its interest on the basis of its gross earnings before paying interest and tax. Higher the ratio means the company’s gross earning is very high and it can easily pay the interest of its outstanding debt. This company has been reporting negative g ross income i.e. loss before paying tax and interest. So has been able to pay interest expense of its outstanding debt and these have remained due or payable for the company (JMU, 2010). Liquidity ratios Current ratio represents the working capital position of the company as it is one of the important indicators of liquidity of a company. It measures the performance of the company regarding its short term ability to pay the short term liabilities of the company. The3 current ratio of the company is has been lower than 1 in all the tree consecutive years that means it has not been able to pay its liabilities as has remained lower than liabilities. Quick ratio or acid test ratio indicates that the company has enough short term

Science Fiction and Film Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Science Fiction and Film - Essay Example Further, rather than limiting the text, science fiction constructs have been argued to actually engender more insightful philosophical investigations. In a popular science fiction blog, writer Brad Templeton (2010) recently indicated, In mainstream literature, the clichà © is that the purpose of literature is to â€Å"explore the human condition.† SF tends to expand that, to explore both the human condition and the nature of the technology and societies we create, as well as the universe itself†¦ The best hard SF thus explores the total human condition. In this sense, the futuristic settings and slightly fantastical subject matter aid the text in constructing an investigation into the nature of humanity that otherwise couldn’t be as successfully broached in more traditional writing or film. While the nature of science fiction is broad to the extent that it can encompass most literary examinations, it seems that despite its genre characteristics the central concern of the science fiction text is the examination of the humanity of its characters. In Ridley Scott’s Blade Runner and the Wachowski brother’s The Matrix the nature of humanity is literally explored through the philosophical investigation of what it means to be human. In examining the philosophical quandaries posed by Blade Runner and The Matrix, this essay demonstrates that despite their technologies and futuristic settings, the central concern of these science fiction works is the investigation into humanity and what it means to be human. Blade Runner posits a future world wherein the Tyrell Corporation has constructed a robot so equal in intelligence to its creator that upon its revolt on a distant planet it had to be banned on earth. The film opens with an investigator questioning a man seemingly to discover whether he is a replicant; that is, one of the robotic beings that have been outlawed on earth. By Director Ridley Scott opening the film with this

UPS part 3 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

UPS part 3 - Essay Example In the process of discussing the interrelationship between the identified throughput variables, whether or not they fit together or work towards the opposite ends will be discussed. Since the Burke-Litwin is a very complicated model, the analysis made in this study will be limited to transactional variables identified in the article entitled â€Å"A Casual Model of Organizational Performance and Change† by Burke and Litwin. Prior to conclusion, the main cause of each identified organizational problems will be discussed. Since UPS is a global company that provides the public with package delivery services to as much as 200 countries and territories all over the world (UPS), UPS management is composed of 11 major business positions which is headed by D. Scott Davis – the Chairman and CEO of the company (UPS b). The main task of UPS employees is to ensure that the company is able to deliver millions of packages around the world each day. Since UPS employees is highly dependent on the use of information and communication technology (ICT), each employee is expected to be knowledgeable with the use of modern communication equipments which includes UPS official website and the use of handheld Delivery Information Acquisition Devices (DIAD) (UPS c). Basically, the use of these electronic gadgets will make it easier on the part of each employee to manage, operate, and keep track of its daily business transactions such as the shipment and delivery schedules around the world on a real-time basis. Given that the main task of UPS employee is very complex in nature, managers are responsible in ensuring that each employee is highly motivated to deliver fast and reliable customer service at all times. To effectively develop management practices that will enable them to attain the organizational goal, managers should focus on developing a good

Long-term Effects of Chernobyl

Long-term Effects of Chernobyl Abstract Chernobyl was a city in Ukraine that housed one of the most tragic nuclear power plant accidents in history. It happened 30 years ago, however, the effects are still felt by many. This paper will explore the long term effects that Chernobyl left behind. Today, the city is still sectioned off from the rest of the country in an effort to help protect people from the ongoing radiation exposure. Clean up workers and anyone living nearby are at risk for life-long chronic diseases, some of which are not curable at the present time. These diseases or illnesses include cataracts, cardiovascular disease, psychological effects, birth defects, papillary thyroid cancer and chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Other effects include a contaminated agricultural and water system. The Effects that Chernobyl Left Behind The Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant was one of the most important forms of power in Ukraine and the surrounding areas. It housed 4 nuclear reactors, each of which have been shut down over the years. One particular reactor, number 4, had undergone a test that went awry. On April 26, 1986 one of the worst nuclear power plant accidents occurred at Chernobyl. The personnel controlling these reactors were not following correct operating protocol, which led to the disaster. The reactors were highly unstable and not designed to operate at low power. If the reactors lost water for cooling, nuclear chain reactions occurred more frequently and the power output increased causing a power surge, in turn heating the reactor. The lid to the reactor had reached an excessive temperature and finally blew apart sending nuclear fuel and fragmented material into the surrounding area. A dangerous amount of radioactive material was released into the environment and sent the staff at the plant and the public into a panic (Chernobyl Accident and Its Consequences-Fact Sheet. March, 2015). Reactor number 4 contained about 190 metric tons of uranium dioxide and fuel products that exploded into the environment. It is estimated that about 13-30 percent of this product made it into the atmosphere (Chernobyl Accident and Its Consequences-Fact Sheet. March, 2015). This massive amount of uranium dioxide is the leading component in the radiation exposure to so many people. Uranium is one of the biggest contributors to natural terrestrial radiation. Terrestrial radiation is found in the ground and the major isotopes of concern for terrestrial radiation are uranium and the decay products of uranium. This is the material that was used in the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant. This explosion affected 18 miles around the city of Chernobyl. In order to contain the ongoing radiation exposure, officials have built a concrete building around reactor number 4 in order to help filter the radiation exposure from entering the atmosphere. Â  It has been 30 years since the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant accident, but the effects still live on. Today Chernobyl is a ghost town since it was evacuated directly after the accident. It has since been deemed to be a toxic and unlivable place due to the radiation exposure that may be received. There have been regulations and emergency preparedness precautions that have been put into effect in order to ensure that this kind of crisis will never happen again. According to the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the government of Ukraine evacuated about 115,000 people from the most heavily contaminated areas in 1986. Even though the vast majority of the area was evacuated, long-term effects still linger. Health effects and diseases have developed in the years after the accident upon individuals who worked at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, or were in the surrounding area. Some diseases that are more prevalent as a result of the radiation exposure from the accident incl ude, cataracts to the eyes, cardiovascular disease, psychological effects, birth defects such as hydrocephalus, as well as increased risk for cancers such as papillary thyroid cancer and chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Other effects include unusable land for farming or unstable livestock from the accident. As a result of this catastrophic event, more than 200,000 km2 were subjected to levels of radioactive deposits exceeding 37 kBq/m2 of 137 Cs, the cut-off level to classify an area as contaminated. The average dose that was received from the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant accident ranges from less than 10 milisievert (mSv) to over 1 sievert (Sv). (Moiseenko, Khvostunov, Hattangadi-Gluth, Muren, & Lloyd, 2016). 1 Sv is equivalent to 100 Rem. Radiation equivalent man (Rem), is the traditional unit of measure for humans. All of the units will be converted into this value. This is a substantial amount of radiation considering the allowable dose for a non-occupational person to receive is 0.5 Rem per year. The dose that was received by some people in the accident is two hundred times that of the normal limit for the entire year. The occurrence and severity of cataracts is proportional to the dose of radiation received. The Ukrainian-American Chernobyl Ocular study reported a dose-related increase in the rate of cataracts in cleanup workers from Ukraine. This study also caused for reevaluation of the dose limits to the eyes by the International Commission on Radiologic Protection. It has since then been changed from 1 Gy (gray) or 100 Rem down to 0.7 Gy or 70 Rem for non-occupationally exposed people, and down to 0.5 Gy or 50 Rem for those occupationally exposed. The Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant accident caused the universal exposure limit to the eyes to be lowered due to the increase in cataracts among those people who were exposed. (Zablotska, 2016). Cardiovascular disease reports are only increased in the Chernobyl clean up worker cohort. It may not be a significant cause of cardiovascular disease in people elsewhere, however clean up workers had an increased amount of cases because they were exposed to so much radiation in such a short period of time (Zablotska, 2016). Prolonged exposure to radiation may cause chronic kidney disorders, which induce hypertension and thus might contribute to the increased risk of cardiovascular diseases (Kamiya, et al., 2015). Psychological effects pertain to the mind, emotions, or reactions to certain events. According to Zablotska (2016), a catastrophic event such as the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant accident warranted many psychological effects on workers as well as ordinary people of the surrounding areas. These effects may never disappear, as many people still have symptoms decades after the accident. The lack of information given to the general public about what had happened caused a panic among many. The mystery of radiation exposure also caused anxiety among those affected by the exposure. Some people have developed severe anxiety due to the fact that they are nervous about being exposed to that much radiation, and the diseases that follow a high dose. Many people including young children and teens during the accident have post-traumatic stress disorder. This is mostly due to being forced to leave their roots in such an abrupt way. People were mistrusting towards their government for not keeping th e reactors under tighter regulations. Many were also frustrated by the lack of emergency preparedness plans that could have prevented so much widespread damage. Young children and teens may also be more susceptible to certain diseases and cancers because their cells are more radiosensitive towards exposures, which makes parents very anxious and depressed fearing something may happen to their babies. Another long lasting effect of the accident is the prevalence of thyroid cancer. This disease is by far the most frightening and notorious of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant accident. This is the disease that everyone worries about because it can affect teens, children and adults in the same way. According to Handkiewicz-Junak et al., (2016) there have been approximately 5,000 thyroid cancer cases since the accident in the surrounding area. Two parallel studies have been performed. One study involved subjects in Ukraine and the other involved subjects in Belarus, one of the neighboring countries of Ukraine. Each study comprised about 12,000 children or adolescents from the accident. All of the subjects had been exposed to Iodine-131, which is a radioisotope. Periodic standardized screenings revealed that thyroid cancer and non-malignant diseases of the thyroid were far more prevalent in these studies than normal. Furthermore, evidence from other smaller population-based case-contro l studies confirms a causal relationship between the observed increase in thyroid cancer risk and exposure to Iodine-131 from the Chernobyl fall out (Zablotska, 2016). Another study was conducted on 65 children who had been exposed to Chernobyl radiation and sporadic papillary thyroid cancer. All participants were residents of the same region so that factors related to genetics or environment were reduced. Using DNA microarray, which measures the gene expression of many different samples, ten genes were confirmed as being associated with radiation exposure samples. This concludes that there is a significant difference in gene expression that causes papillary thyroid cancer to become active in post-Chernobyl subjects who were exposed (Handkiewicz-Junak et al., 2016). Chronic lymphocytic leukemia was found in workers who helped clean up after the Chernobyl accident. A study was conducted on the clean up workers registered in the Chernobyl state registry who resided in six regions of Ukraine (five oblasts and Kiev city). This particular cohort represented about 47% of the total number of clean up workers who helped at the Chernobyl accident. The study was later updated to include another nearby area, which bumped up the cohort to representing about 60% of the clean up workers. The findings showed an excess occurrence of chronic lymphocytic leukemia cases compared with national levels during the study period of about 26 years. The most drastic increase in cases occurred within the first decade after the accident and continues during subsequent decades. The potential risk from a different cohort, measured between 1986-2006, demonstrated the same risk of chronic lymphocytic leukemia, and it still remains active over 20 years after the exposure (Bazyka , et al., 2015). We know that radiation is cumulative and that any amount can cause genetic effects on future generations. Many of the clean up workers at the time of the accident were young adults who were at the start of their fertility and birthing years. The clean up workers could have been exposed to high amounts of radiation without any form of protection to the gonads. Certain mutations in DNA can form due to exceedingly high doses, which are then passed on to subsequent generations. For this reason, birth defects are put in the spot light for those affected. According to the Medical Birth Registry of Norway, a positive correlation has been associated with external and food based exposure, with hydrocephaly (Lie, Irgens, Skjaerven, Reitan, P. Strand, T. Strand, April 1992). According to Webster’s dictionary, hydrocephalus is an increase in the amount of cerebrospinal fluid within the cranial cavity. This causes expansion of the cerebral ventricles in the brain, and increased intracrania l pressure, skull enlargement, and cognitive decline (Hydrocephalus: Merriam-Webster). This is one of the very serious birth defects related to those individuals of reproductive age during the exposure. Lastly, effects of the Chernobyl accident extend further than just diseases or cancers directly affecting humans. The accident has a large impact on the soil and water system. The soil around Chernobyl cannot be used for farming since radioactive fuel and isotopes were scattered across a large area. In the first few weeks after the accident, private farm owners were not educated on the risks associated with the radioactive isotopes and fuel particles in the air and now onto their farms. Their farm animals, such as cows, consumed the radioactive material that was sprinkled over their hay, or other feed, and then produced milk that the farm owners then drank. The milk contained very high amounts of Iodine-131, which as previously discussed, contributed to increased rates of thyroid cancer. The water system was also contaminated with Iodine-131 and had the same effect on people as contaminated milk does. Contaminated water and milk are one of the leading causes of thyroid cancers among young children and teens (Beresford, et al., 2016). In conclusion, the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant accident was one of the most catastrophic nuclear accidents in history. The wide range of people that were affected is astonishing. The radiation exposure blanketed some 200,000 km2, including Ukraine and the surrounding areas with thousands of people sickened by disease and turmoil, living with the consequences and long-term effects for the rest of their lives. People had to abruptly evacuate their homes and hometown roots due to this nuclear crisis. The after effects caused psychological problems and stressors, while also leaving many with no place to live. Anyone who may have helped clean up after the accident are at risk for cataracts, cardiovascular disease, and cancers such as thyroid or leukemia. Those individuals who were of reproductive age may have passed along mutated DNA causing birth defects. The effects that Chernobyl left behind are countless, however, regulations and safety precautions have been put into place in order to prevent such a catastrophic event from happening again. References Backgrounder on Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant Accident. (2014, December 12). http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/fact-sheets/chernobyl-bg.html Bazyka, D., Gudzenko, N., Dyagil, I., Goroh, E., Polyschuk, O., Trotsuk, N., . . . Romanenko, A. (2015, September 24). Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia in Chornobyl Cleanup Workers. Health Physics, 111(2), 186-191. doi:10.1097/HP.0000000000000440 Beresford, N., Fesenko, S., Konoplev, A., Skuterud, L., Smith, J., & Voigt, G. (2016, June). Thirty years after the Chernobyl accident: What lessons have we learnt? Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, 157, 77-89. doi:10.1016/j.jenvrad.2016.02.003 Chernobyl Accident and Its Consequences-Fact Sheet. (2015, March). http://www.nei.org/master-document-folder/backgrounders/fact-sheets/chernobyl-accident-and-its-consequences Handkiewicz-Junak, D., Swierniak, M., Rusinek, D., Oczko-Wojciechowska, M., Dom, G., Maenhaut, C., . . . Jarzab, B. (2016, January 26). Gene signature of the post-Chernobyl papillary thyroid cancer. European Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging Eur J Nucl Med Mol Imaging, 43(7), 1267-1277. doi:10.1007/s00259-015-3303-3 Hydrocephalus. (n.d.) . In Merriam-Webster online dictionary. http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hydrocephalus Kamiya, K., Ozasa, K., Akiba, S., Niwa, O., Kodama, K., Takamura, N., . . . Wakeford, R. (2015, August 01). Long-term effects of radiation exposure on health. The Lancet, 386(9992), 469-478. https://wwwclinicalkeycom.sladenlibrary.hfhs.org/#!/content/playContent/1-s2.0-S0140673615611679. Lie, R., Irgens, L., Skjaerven, R., Reitan, J., Strand, P., & Strand, T. (1992, April 2). Birth Defects in Norway by Levels of External and Food-based Exposure to Radiation from Chernobyl. American Journal of Epidemiology, 136(4), 377-388. http://aje.oxfordjournals.org/content/136/4/377.short Moiseenko, V., Khvostunov, I. K., Hattangadi-Gluth, J. A., Muren, L. P., & Lloyd, D. C. (2016, April 1). Biological dosimetry to assess risks of health effects in victims of radiation accidents: Thirty years after Chernobyl. Radiotherapy and Oncology, 119(1), 1-4. doi:10.1016/j.radonc.2016.02.033 Zablotska, L. B. (2016, April 29). 30Â  years After the Chernobyl Nuclear Accident: Time for Reflection and Re-evaluation of Current Disaster Preparedness Plans. Journal of Urban Health J Urban Health, 93(3), 407-413. doi:10.1007/s11524-016-0053-x

Fraud, Waste and Abuse Research Project Essay -- Government Business A

Fraud, Waste and Abuse Research Project Combating fraud in the private sector is a difficult task. Trying to combat fraud in the public sector is daunting. In 1999 15.7% of the American workforce were employed by a government entity (federal, state, and local).[1] Mirroring society, government will have its share of perpetrators. The difference from the private sector is in the scope of the fraud committed, the loss of the public trust, the blaring headlines from news media, and difficulty in making necessary changes to combat the problems. A good definition of Fraud, Waste and Abuse (FWA) can be found in U.S. Air Force Regulations and can be applied to any government (or private) organization, it states: Fraud—â€Å"Any intentional deception designed to unlawfully deprive the Air Force of something of value or to secure from the Air Force for an individual a benefit, privilege, allowance, or consideration to which he or she is not entitled. Waste—‘The extravagant, careless, or needless expenditure of Air Force funds or the consumption of Air Force property that results from deficient practices, systems, controls, or decisions. The term also includes improper practices not involving prosecutable fraud. Abuse—‘Intentional, wrongful, or improper use of Air Force resources.†[2] Fighting abuse is not an easy prospect. Elected officials, executives, managers, staff, and the public must be vigilant and thorough. In this project we will review some specific cases of FWA. We will also explore why enacting laws and regulations isn’t enough to stop people from committing fraud. Educating people about what FWA is and why they should not commit these crimes should be an integral part of any FWA program. The Department... ...ublic Management class, CSU Dominguez Hills, April 24, 2001. [10] Project on Government Oversight. http://www.pogo.org/ [11] â€Å"Special Investigations Unit Report Regarding The Composite Center, Inc.† Texas State Auditor’s Office, Special Investigations Unit. Report Number 01-004, October 2000. [12] â€Å"Program Fraud†. The Last Word. November 2000, Volume 3, Number 4. [13] 9/2000 Major Criminal Tax Conviction in Trust Scam Case http://www.taxhound.com/ [14] â€Å"Union county woman convicted for Health Insurance Fraud.† Office of the Attorney General news release, March 22, 2000. [15] The False Claims Legal Act Center. http://www.taf.org/ [16] The Bauman & Rasor Group, Inc. http://www.quitam.com/ [17] Robert K. Elliot, CPA and John J. Willingham PhD, CPA, Management Fraud: Detection and Deterrence. New York: Petrocelli Books, Inc., 1980, pp. vii. Fraud, Waste and Abuse Research Project Essay -- Government Business A Fraud, Waste and Abuse Research Project Combating fraud in the private sector is a difficult task. Trying to combat fraud in the public sector is daunting. In 1999 15.7% of the American workforce were employed by a government entity (federal, state, and local).[1] Mirroring society, government will have its share of perpetrators. The difference from the private sector is in the scope of the fraud committed, the loss of the public trust, the blaring headlines from news media, and difficulty in making necessary changes to combat the problems. A good definition of Fraud, Waste and Abuse (FWA) can be found in U.S. Air Force Regulations and can be applied to any government (or private) organization, it states: Fraud—â€Å"Any intentional deception designed to unlawfully deprive the Air Force of something of value or to secure from the Air Force for an individual a benefit, privilege, allowance, or consideration to which he or she is not entitled. Waste—‘The extravagant, careless, or needless expenditure of Air Force funds or the consumption of Air Force property that results from deficient practices, systems, controls, or decisions. The term also includes improper practices not involving prosecutable fraud. Abuse—‘Intentional, wrongful, or improper use of Air Force resources.†[2] Fighting abuse is not an easy prospect. Elected officials, executives, managers, staff, and the public must be vigilant and thorough. In this project we will review some specific cases of FWA. We will also explore why enacting laws and regulations isn’t enough to stop people from committing fraud. Educating people about what FWA is and why they should not commit these crimes should be an integral part of any FWA program. The Department... ...ublic Management class, CSU Dominguez Hills, April 24, 2001. [10] Project on Government Oversight. http://www.pogo.org/ [11] â€Å"Special Investigations Unit Report Regarding The Composite Center, Inc.† Texas State Auditor’s Office, Special Investigations Unit. Report Number 01-004, October 2000. [12] â€Å"Program Fraud†. The Last Word. November 2000, Volume 3, Number 4. [13] 9/2000 Major Criminal Tax Conviction in Trust Scam Case http://www.taxhound.com/ [14] â€Å"Union county woman convicted for Health Insurance Fraud.† Office of the Attorney General news release, March 22, 2000. [15] The False Claims Legal Act Center. http://www.taf.org/ [16] The Bauman & Rasor Group, Inc. http://www.quitam.com/ [17] Robert K. Elliot, CPA and John J. Willingham PhD, CPA, Management Fraud: Detection and Deterrence. New York: Petrocelli Books, Inc., 1980, pp. vii.