Thursday, September 19, 2019
The History and Mechanism of the Atomic Bomb :: Atomic Bombs Physics Weapons Essays
The History and Mechanism of the Atomic Bomb ----------------------- -+ Table of Contents +- ----------------------- I. The History of the Atomic Bomb ------------------------------ A). Development (The Manhattan Project) B). Detonation 1). Hiroshima 2). Nagasaki 3). Byproducts of atomic detonations 4). Blast Zones II. Nuclear Fission/Nuclear Fusion ------------------------------ A). Fission (A-Bomb) & Fusion (H-Bomb) B). U-235, U-238 and Plutonium III. The Mechanism of The Bomb ------------------------- A). Altimeter B). Air Pressure Detonator C). Detonating Head(s) D). Explosive Charge(s) E). Neutron Deflector F). Uranium & Plutonium G). Lead Shield H). Fuses IV. The Diagram of The Bomb ----------------------- A). The Uranium Bomb B). The Plutonium Bomb The History of the Atomic Bomb ------------------------------ On August 2nd 1939, just before the beginning of World War II, Albert Einstein wrote to then President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Einstein and several other scientists told Roosevelt of efforts in Nazi Germany to purify U-235 with which might in turn be used to build an atomic bomb. It was shortly thereafter that the United States Government began the serious undertaking known only then as the Manhattan Project. Simply put, the Manhattan Project was committed to expedient research and production that would produce a viable atomic bomb. The most complicated issue to be addressed was the production of ample amounts of `enriched' uranium to sustain a chain reaction. At the time, Uranium-235 was very hard to extract. In fact, the ratio of conversion from Uranium ore to Uranium metal is 500:1. An additional drawback is that the 1 part of Uranium that is finally refined from the ore consists of over 99% Uranium-238, which is practically useless for an atomic bomb. To make it even more difficult, U-235 and U-238 are precisely similar in their chemical makeup. This proved to be as much of a challenge as separating a solution of sucrose from a solution of glucose. No ordinary chemical extraction could separate the two isotopes. Only mechanical methods could effectively separate U-235 from U-238. Several scientists at Columbia University managed to solve this dilemma. A massive enrichment laboratory/plant was constructed at Oak Ridge, Tennessee. H.C. Urey, along with his associates and colleagues at Columbia University, devised a system that worked on the principle of gaseous diffusion. Following this process, Ernest O. Lawrence (inventor of the Cyclotron) at the University of California in Berkeley implemented a process involving magnetic separation of the two isotopes. Following the first two processes, a gas centrifuge was used to further separate the lighter U-235 from the heavier non-fissionable U-238 by their mass.
Wednesday, September 18, 2019
The Legend of the Goatman Essay example -- Urban Legends
Goatman The story I collected, entitled ââ¬Å"Goatman,â⬠was recounted by a nineteen year old male sophomore at the University. The person who told the story is a white male whose father is an engineer and mother stays at home. After I inquired if he knew of any local urban legends, he first told the story of Hell House; and as we both live in Ellicott City and have never actually seen this mysterious building, we decided to pay it a visit. It was a foggy night on March 21st during our schoolââ¬â¢s spring break as we slowly cruised through the back roads near the Howard and Baltimore county line. When he told me the story before we left I was not particularly nervous; however, the eerie settings added a hint of fear into the air. Unfortunately, after a long search, we were unable to locate the house and decided to return home. On our trip back he recounted another story that he had heard from a friend a few months ago, which I thought was even more exciting. The urban legend is known as ââ¬Å"Goatmanâ⬠and took place in northern Prince Georgeââ¬â¢s County, the same county that University is located in: Rumor has it that back in the early 1970s, a scientist working at an agricultural research center in central Maryland was performing an experiment with goats when something went terribly wrong. He was doing tests on manipulations of goat DNA, when one of the subjects attacked and bit him. When the saliva from the goat entered the scientistââ¬â¢s bloodstream he immediately began undergoing changes from the goatââ¬â¢s DNA combining with his own. The man began to morph into a half-man, half-goat creature and escaped the lab into the nearby surrounding woods. Following this incident there have been eye-witness accounts of Goatman causing havoc aro... ... The story uses scare tactics to discourage premarital sex by adolescents, and also demonstrates societyââ¬â¢s stereotype of women as in need of protection. The story may evolve to change over time, but the message the legend carries will most likely carry down from generation to generation just as the Goatman legend has for many years. Works Cited "Goatman (Cryptozoology)." AllExperts. 27 March 2007. http://en.allexperts.com/e/g/go/goatman_(cryptozoology).htm. "Goatman (Maryland)." Wikipedia. 31 March 2007. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goatman_%28Maryland%29. Lawson, John. "The Goatman Legend of Prince Georgeââ¬â¢s County." ESortment. 2002. 1 April 2007. http://azaz.essortment.com/goatmanlegend_rhcn.htm. Livingston, William L. Jr. "GoatMan Hollow...the Legend." GoatMan Hollow. 30 March 2007. http://www.goatmanhollow.com/the_legend/the_goatman_legend_1.html.
Tuesday, September 17, 2019
Desiree’s Baby
Desiree's baby Kate Chopin wrote the short story ââ¬Å"Desiree's babyâ⬠in 1892, when black people where considered second-class citizens. Even though the slaves were freed in 1865 as a directly consequence of the north states victory at the civil war, racial segregation were at it highest, particular because of the ââ¬Å"Jim Crowâ⬠laws. Black people were free ââ¬â but their opportunities were not good. Even tough many new schools and churches were built for the black people, racism were a big sinner and black people were treated very bad ââ¬â especially in the south states.Miscegenation was a cursed word, as the communities saw it as a crime and both the family and the baby were suppressed. Desiree felt that on her own body. ââ¬Å"Desiree's babyâ⬠contains a lot of typical short story characteristics, e. g. ââ¬Å"in media resâ⬠and an ambiguous ending ââ¬â yet it differs on places, such as the length of the act and the number of characters ââ¬â but Kate Chopin wrote both short stories and novels, so it's not unthinkable that she mixed the two genres here. The short story is told by an omniscient third-person narrator.It's not a limited narrator, as we hear more than one character's thoughts. E. g. in this sentence ââ¬Å"it made her laugh to think of Desiree with a babyâ⬠one of the characters, Madame Valmonde's, inner thoughts are shared with us, while Armand bares his soul places like this ââ¬Å"he thought Almighty God had dealt cruelly and unjustly with him; â⬠¦ â⬠. The main character is Desiree. She's ââ¬Å"beautiful and gentle, affectionate and sincere ââ¬â the idol of Valmondeâ⬠and an orphan, found in ââ¬Å"the shadow of the big stone pillarâ⬠just outside Valmonde.She's adopted by the religious and kindly madame Valmonde, who believes that ââ¬Å"Desiree had been sent to her by a beneficent Providence to be the child of her affection, seeing that she was without child of the fleshà ¢â¬ . Desiree's also described very gentle in her actions, e. g. with the slaves and she's madly in love with Armand, which sentences such as ââ¬Å"when he smiled, she asked no greater blessing of Godâ⬠intensely indicates ââ¬â and it is, at least in the start, reciprocated. Armand is described as a very ââ¬Å"hardâ⬠and strict person, but his love for Desiree makes him soft as butter.Their love is almost described as in a fairytale, as he fell in love with her ââ¬Å"as if struck by a pistol shotâ⬠. He's blinded by love and even looks beyond her ââ¬Å"obscure originâ⬠, even though he's warned. Later, he grew even softer, as ââ¬Å"ââ¬Å"marriage, and later the birth of his son had softened Armand Aubigny's imperious and exacting nature greatlyâ⬠ââ¬â but all that changed, when it occurred to him that the baby was not white. He's a product of his time and surroundings ââ¬â a ââ¬Å"typicalâ⬠south state man, who leads a cotton farm and perceives black people as second-class people. However, Madame Valmonde, is at some points ahead of her time.When Desiree wrote to her that the people were telling her that she was not white, she answered ââ¬Å"My own Desiree: Come home to Valmonde; back to your mother who loves you. Come with your child. ââ¬Å". Even though she gave birth to a ââ¬Å"coloredâ⬠baby, she still wishes to see and be in touch with Desiree AND the baby. That may be considered normal today, but at that time it was an enormous privilege. The setting of the story is the southern state, Louisiana, on the two plantations Valmonde and L'abri. Valmonde is the name of the family who owns the plantation, while L'abri is the French word for shelter.The reason that many French words and French sounding names appear in this story, is that Louisiana once was a French colony. The story takes place before slavery was abolished, so it's going on around the mid-nineteenth century. The community surrounding the c haracters of the story are very wealthy, as many slaves harvest the cotton at L'abri. Besides that, it is also a sign of status and money that Armand orders a ââ¬Å"corbeille from Parisâ⬠to his wedding with Desiree, as the journey from Louisiana to Paris was incredibly long and difficult at that time.The story unfolds in the period July to August, as we hear that three months are going from the day Miss Valmonde visit Desiree to the ââ¬Å"break upâ⬠of Desiree and Armand ââ¬â and Desiree leaves Armand ââ¬Å"an October afternoonâ⬠. One of the themes of the story is miscegenation. Kate Chopin wishes to bring the subject to the knowledge of people ââ¬â to bring the topic to debate. Kate Chopin is famous for using naturalism in her work, which is a literate movement, with realistic writing, who brings social issues to debate.It's used her, as the story narrates about a white girl, giving birth to a colored child, taking the ââ¬Å"easyâ⬠way out ââ¬â disappearing, which is possible the death for her and her child. The hertz against ââ¬Å"mixedâ⬠, and of course black, people, were something Kate Chopin wished to change and that's the issue she tried to put focus on with this short story. The story also deals with ethical and morale themes, such as the fact that it's not right to accuse people for something you're not sure about. Armand learns this the hard way, as he receives ââ¬Å"nemesisâ⬠for his evil deed, when he discovers that it's him who's carrying the black genes. Desireeââ¬â¢s Baby Desiree's baby Kate Chopin wrote the short story ââ¬Å"Desiree's babyâ⬠in 1892, when black people where considered second-class citizens. Even though the slaves were freed in 1865 as a directly consequence of the north states victory at the civil war, racial segregation were at it highest, particular because of the ââ¬Å"Jim Crowâ⬠laws. Black people were free ââ¬â but their opportunities were not good. Even tough many new schools and churches were built for the black people, racism were a big sinner and black people were treated very bad ââ¬â especially in the south states.Miscegenation was a cursed word, as the communities saw it as a crime and both the family and the baby were suppressed. Desiree felt that on her own body. ââ¬Å"Desiree's babyâ⬠contains a lot of typical short story characteristics, e. g. ââ¬Å"in media resâ⬠and an ambiguous ending ââ¬â yet it differs on places, such as the length of the act and the number of characters ââ¬â but Kate Chopin wrote both short stories and novels, so it's not unthinkable that she mixed the two genres here. The short story is told by an omniscient third-person narrator.It's not a limited narrator, as we hear more than one character's thoughts. E. g. in this sentence ââ¬Å"it made her laugh to think of Desiree with a babyâ⬠one of the characters, Madame Valmonde's, inner thoughts are shared with us, while Armand bares his soul places like this ââ¬Å"he thought Almighty God had dealt cruelly and unjustly with him; â⬠¦ â⬠. The main character is Desiree. She's ââ¬Å"beautiful and gentle, affectionate and sincere ââ¬â the idol of Valmondeâ⬠and an orphan, found in ââ¬Å"the shadow of the big stone pillarâ⬠just outside Valmonde.She's adopted by the religious and kindly madame Valmonde, who believes that ââ¬Å"Desiree had been sent to her by a beneficent Providence to be the child of her affection, seeing that she was without child of the fleshà ¢â¬ . Desiree's also described very gentle in her actions, e. g. with the slaves and she's madly in love with Armand, which sentences such as ââ¬Å"when he smiled, she asked no greater blessing of Godâ⬠intensely indicates ââ¬â and it is, at least in the start, reciprocated. Armand is described as a very ââ¬Å"hardâ⬠and strict person, but his love for Desiree makes him soft as butter.Their love is almost described as in a fairytale, as he fell in love with her ââ¬Å"as if struck by a pistol shotâ⬠. He's blinded by love and even looks beyond her ââ¬Å"obscure originâ⬠, even though he's warned. Later, he grew even softer, as ââ¬Å"ââ¬Å"marriage, and later the birth of his son had softened Armand Aubigny's imperious and exacting nature greatlyâ⬠ââ¬â but all that changed, when it occurred to him that the baby was not white. He's a product of his time and surroundings ââ¬â a ââ¬Å"typicalâ⬠south state man, who leads a cotton farm and perceives black people as second-class people. However, Madame Valmonde, is at some points ahead of her time.When Desiree wrote to her that the people were telling her that she was not white, she answered ââ¬Å"My own Desiree: Come home to Valmonde; back to your mother who loves you. Come with your child. ââ¬Å". Even though she gave birth to a ââ¬Å"coloredâ⬠baby, she still wishes to see and be in touch with Desiree AND the baby. That may be considered normal today, but at that time it was an enormous privilege. The setting of the story is the southern state, Louisiana, on the two plantations Valmonde and L'abri. Valmonde is the name of the family who owns the plantation, while L'abri is the French word for shelter.The reason that many French words and French sounding names appear in this story, is that Louisiana once was a French colony. The story takes place before slavery was abolished, so it's going on around the mid-nineteenth century. The community surrounding the c haracters of the story are very wealthy, as many slaves harvest the cotton at L'abri. Besides that, it is also a sign of status and money that Armand orders a ââ¬Å"corbeille from Parisâ⬠to his wedding with Desiree, as the journey from Louisiana to Paris was incredibly long and difficult at that time.The story unfolds in the period July to August, as we hear that three months are going from the day Miss Valmonde visit Desiree to the ââ¬Å"break upâ⬠of Desiree and Armand ââ¬â and Desiree leaves Armand ââ¬Å"an October afternoonâ⬠. One of the themes of the story is miscegenation. Kate Chopin wishes to bring the subject to the knowledge of people ââ¬â to bring the topic to debate. Kate Chopin is famous for using naturalism in her work, which is a literate movement, with realistic writing, who brings social issues to debate.It's used her, as the story narrates about a white girl, giving birth to a colored child, taking the ââ¬Å"easyâ⬠way out ââ¬â disappearing, which is possible the death for her and her child. The hertz against ââ¬Å"mixedâ⬠, and of course black, people, were something Kate Chopin wished to change and that's the issue she tried to put focus on with this short story. The story also deals with ethical and morale themes, such as the fact that it's not right to accuse people for something you're not sure about. Armand learns this the hard way, as he receives ââ¬Å"nemesisâ⬠for his evil deed, when he discovers that it's him who's carrying the black genes.
Monday, September 16, 2019
Vote For Snowball: The Kosher Porker
Tulip Serbin Plansinis Vote For Snowball: The Kosher Porker At a time when food and spirits were low, a certain candidate stepped up to the hay mound to lift up such grief and depression. In his actions and improvements to better the farm, he made the harvest more productive, and led victory through a tough battle. No one would be a greater leader than Snowball. He supported animalsââ¬â¢ rights, a continued revolution, and productivity. Shortly after the rebellion of Mr. Jones, to signify this exciting new change to the society of human kind, Manor Farm was quickly changed to Animal Farm.By Snowball changing the name of the farm, it now indicated that this farm was run and operated by animals. Not only did this show farmers the strength of the animals, but also the effecting power they could have. Snowballââ¬â¢s dream was to have every farm run and operated by animals. Snowball was very persuasive. Snowball persuaded the animals with the simple sentence, which said, ââ¬Å"Sure ly, comrades, surely there is no one among you who wants to see Jones come backâ⬠(Orwell 52)?To put his plan of a continued revolution in action, he then sent pigeons to all the neighboring farms to spread the word of the rebellion, hoping to get other animals thinking of the same idea. Also, the Beats of England song was being highly recognized and sung by animals and humans alike. Snowball was definitely a highly determined pig, and knew how to popularize his farm and its effecting power. Nothing could be more superior in a leader, than being ââ¬Å"for the peopleâ⬠.Snowball was for the Animalsââ¬â¢ Rights, and showed it prominent ways. During Old majorââ¬â¢s speech, he came up with the idea of Animalism, where animals are highly acknowledged, and humans are shunned from the animal world. Snowball was the first pig to take any action in improving upon Animalism. Old Major had a long list of rules and regulations for the animals if a rebellion was to take place. Sn owball elaborated the long set into The 7 Commandments. The commandments were then written on the barn so that all the animals could see them.By doing this, all the animals knew what they could and couldnââ¬â¢t do. Every person (or animal) likes to patriotic to their cause or country, and snowball helped them raise their patriotism by making a flag. An organization or town or anything that has a leaderâ⬠¦ could not be a professional name until a flag is made. By making this flag, it published and popularized again the power the farm had. Snowball also came up with very good ideas. The most important idea was the idea for the building of the windmill.In the story he said, ââ¬Å"I do not deny that to build this would be a difficult business, but you would decrease your working time, and it would provide luxury to all animalsâ⬠(Orwell 65). Snowball also liked to get involved. One example is he fought himself in the Battle of the Cowshed. By using Julius Caesarââ¬â¢s ta ctics he led his farm to victory. He knew how to lead animals very well. In the text he said, ââ¬Å"War is War. The only good human being is a dead oneâ⬠(Orwell 59). Snowball showed immense courage and definitely earned the animalsââ¬â¢ respect for it.Snowball knew how to listen and treat the animals to their own wants and needs. Snowball knew how to get the ââ¬Å"hayâ⬠rolling. Snowball was very productive. In order for the animals to have some say in the matter, he made up the idea of The Committees, which included The Egg Production Committee for the chickens, The Clean Tail Committee for the cows, and Whiter Wool Committee for the Sheep, plus many more. Although, the committees didnââ¬â¢t go very far, showing the animals that he (a pig) was letting the animals in the ââ¬Å"in crowdâ⬠, showing something no other pig was able to do.Also, Snowball made the harvest successful. In the story he said, ââ¬Å"Now, Comrades, let us make it a point of honor to ge t in the harvest more quickly than Jones and his men didâ⬠(Orwell 43)! Snowball was determined to make it a point that the animals could accomplish far more than Jones could do. By saying that quote, he got the animals excited to participate in the ââ¬Å"challengeâ⬠of ââ¬Å"Beat Jones in the Harvestâ⬠. Snowball also taught the animals education.Although some animals couldnââ¬â¢t get passed the 4th letter in the alphabet, every animal on the farm was literate. Indeed, they did beat Jones in the harvest thanks to Snowballââ¬â¢s supervision and Boxerââ¬â¢s hard work. Snowball supported animalsââ¬â¢ rights, a continued revolution, and productivity. He also was involved in getting work done, such as fighting in the Battle of the Cowshed. He also knew how to get the work accomplished, but in a way that benefited everyone. Snowball in the end knew how to win the ââ¬Å"popular voteâ⬠by ââ¬Å"being for the animalsâ⬠.
Sunday, September 15, 2019
Has the Single Market project in Europe been a success?
Abstract The establishment of the EUââ¬â¢s single market was intended to create jobs and enhance prosperity. Since it was established in 1992, significant benefits have been made to the EUââ¬â¢s internal market and a lot of opportunities have been created. Despite this, many problems continue to exist and further changes are necessary if the objectives of the EU are to be fully realised (European Commission, 2012: 1). Introduction The idea behind the European Unionââ¬â¢s (EU) single market was to treat the EU as one territory so that the free movement of people, goods, money and services could be achieved (Europa, 2012: 1). The single market was established by the EU to enhance competition and trade through a system of standardised laws that apply to all Member States (Barnard, 2002: 1). This improves efficiency and gives individuals more choice when it comes to providing and attaining goods and services. The overall quality of the goods and services is increased, which is economically beneficial. The Single European Act was enacted in 1986 to establish a single market and has since been considered one of the EUââ¬â¢s greatest achievements (Europa, 2012: 1). This led to the abolishment of internal border controls between EU countries in 1993 and is now accessible to millions of people across 27 Member States. Restrictions to trade have been removed and individuals now receive better standards of living. EU law comprises of treaties and legislative provisions, such as Directives and Regulations that aim to secure the free movement of goods, services, people, and capital. Despite this, Member States are still responsible for social welfare and taxation, yet the EU influences the policies of Member States (Europa, 2012: 1). The single market has been successful in allowing people and businesses to move freely within the European Economic Area (EEA) and has therefore transformed the way individuals live, work and travel (Mayes and Hart, 1994: 177). The progress that has been made towards the development of the EUââ¬â¢s single market will be identified in this study in order to determine the extent to which it has been a success. Barriers to the free movement of goods, services, people and capital The single market was intended to remove any barriers that restrict the free movement of goods, services, people and capital. A number of different policies have therefore been implemented that seek to remove any free movement restrictions (Mayes and Hart, 1994: 5). This has significantly impacted many organisations and industries within the internal market. However, unless EU policies are conformed to by all Member States it is unlikely that greater freedom will be attained within the EU. This is often at the expense of widely accepted practices; however this is considered necessary in achieving harmonisation. It therefore seems to be important that any barriers to trade are removed and that actions likely to impact sustainable development are eradicated. Article 101 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) (ex Article 81 EC) provides that; ââ¬Å"all agreements between undertakings, decisions by associations of undertakings and concerted practices which may aff ect trade between Member States and which have as their object or effect the prevention, restriction or distortion of competition within the internal marketâ⬠shall be strictly prohibited. Any limitations that are placed upon the freedom to trade should therefore be prohibited so as to allow for the freedom of movement to be attained. Whether this is easy to establish in practice, is a debatable subject because although substantial improvements have been made in the 20 year history of the EU, it is clear that many obstacles still need to be overcome in guaranteeing a free market (Alam, 2007: 153). Single Market and Competition The establishment of the single market within the EU provides greater opportunities to businesses by providing them with access to the worldââ¬â¢s largest trading bloc (Gov, 2013: 1). This enhances economic activity whilst also creating healthy competition through the stimulation of business and innovation. This leads to growth and job creation as export and trade will be increased Gov, 2013: 1). Not only does this have a beneficial impact upon the economy but it also increases productivity. Consumers also benefit from a single market as competition often leads to reduced costs for products and services. This was identified by Euromove when it was pointed out that competition is one of the main driving forces of an advanced modern economy as it ââ¬Å"gives the consumer choice, it puts downward pressure on prices, it rewards innovation and it helps to create jobs (2009: 1). Nevertheless, in order to prevent unfairness and ensure that the single market is a level playing field, the EU has introduced various rules and principles that seek to create fair competition. Such principles impose a number of burdens upon businesses within the EU, although this is considered necessary in the proper functioning of the internal market. It was evidenced by Shuibhne that the establishment of the internal market created a different focus of competition law in terms of addressing the barriers to integration created by state intervention in the market and the problems that occurred as a result of the liberalisation processes of the 1990ââ¬â¢sâ⬠(Shuibhne, 2006: 88). Whilst the legislative framework is now developed, on-going improvements continue to be made so that rules and regulations are being properly enforced and so that businesses and consumers understand the rules that exist within the internal market. This has been happening since the internal market was first established, so as to maintain an effective operation of the single market. Some of the improvements have included; improving and enforcing single market rules, reducing the regulatory burden imposed upon businesses, and the liberalisation of certain areas including; public procurement, public services and utilities (DTI, 2002: 1). In spite of these improvements, there are still many underlying weaknesses that exist in the single market which seems to suggest that it may not be as successful as originally anticipated in the internal market strategy. Some of these weaknesses have arisen as a result of; failures by Member States to implement some of the Directives (Kennedy, 2011: 108 ), a lack of co-operation that exists between Member States, or because of inadequate enforcement (Kennedy, 2011: 108). In 1999 the internal market strategy was put forward by the European Commission which set out the aims and objectives of the establishment of the internal market. Various measures were incorporated into this strategy which sought to guarantee the proper functioning of the single market. This strategy has since been reviewed on an annual basis, though it cannot be said that the internal market is complete. Therefore, despite the fact that many obstacles have already been removed by the EU, new challenges are continually being dealt with. It has been said that companies within the EU should take full advantage of the single market model since the free movement of capital, goods, services and labour would be realised more easily. Tax issues arising from cross-border mergers and acquisitions would effectively be minimised through economic integration. This was identified by Ilzkovitz et al; ââ¬Å"the Internal Market is a powerful instrument to promote economic integration and to increase competition within the EU and it has been the source of large macro-economic benefitsâ⬠(2007: 271). Arguably, it seems as though the main objective of the Single Market is to allow competition to be obtained through the ability to trade freely within the EU. In accordance with this, it would therefore be beneficial if EU Companies took full advantage of this market so as to avoid many issues that arise from various issues including the taxation issues that result from Merger and Acquisitions (M&A) deals. Hence M&A deals are struc tured in a way that results in harsh tax liabilities and since an asset-based deal will ââ¬Å"typically expose the seller to two levels of taxation, corporate and personal and a stock-based transaction can be unattractive to a buyer given the tax treatment of fixed asset valuesâ⬠(Q Finance, 2010: 1). If a company only conducts business within the single market, then they will not be exposed to such harsh tax liabilities. This encourages competition which is imperative for the advancement of the economy. However, because there are certain restrictions that exist within the single market, companies often find it difficult to expand their business in the internal market. Thus, as argued by the European Commission; ââ¬Å"national tax systems in the EU differ so much that it can be complicated and expensive for companies to expand in the single marketâ⬠(European Commission, 2011: 1). Because of these problems, a number of proposals were put forward by the Commission to eliminate these absurdities including the introduction of a single set of tax rules, also known as a Common Consolidated Corporate Tax Base (CCCTB). This would make it a lot easier and cheaper for companies to do business within the EU and as identified by Goodall; ââ¬Å"every year the CCCTB will save businesses across the EU Ãâ 700 million in reduced compliance costs, and Ãâ 1.3 billion through consolidationâ⬠(2011: 53). The current problems that emerge from companies entering into M&A dealings would be removed and harsh tax liabilities would be avoided. Long term administrative improvements would also be made for those companies operating in multiple member states (Drysdale, 2007: 66), which is welcoming for those companies wishing to save on taxation. The freedom of movement will be likely to be obtained more easily by the implementation of a CCCTB. This will certainly encourage competition within the single market and more companies would most likely enter into M&A deals as a result. Conversely, not all agree that the CCCTB is effective, however, and as a result of this many Member States have refused to support its implementation. It is felt that a CCCTB would be a ââ¬Å"de facto infringement of their tax sovereignty should such a Directive be written into lawâ⬠(Ernst and Young, 2011: 40). This provides an example of how Member States will not implement every Directive that exists under EU and signifies how greater co-operation is needed. In spite of this, there are many drawbacks that exist within a CCCTB and it is questionable whether the tax advantages of a CCCTB outweigh the drawbacks that would arise if it was implemented. In addition, it was confirmed by the Secretary to the Treasury, Justice Greening, that the draft directive to introduce a CCCTB does not comply with the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality (Cave, 2011: 87). Furthermore, it is also unlikely that the government will agree to a proposal that might threaten or limit the UKâ â¬â¢s ability to shape its own tax policy (Cave, 2011: 87). In view of these assertions, it cannot be said that a CCCTB should be incorporated since it appears to be out of step with the principle of subsidiarity. This principle aimed to ensure that the EU only acted in instances where the proposed action could not be achieved by individual countries. Effectively, although there are many benefits of a CCCTB, there are also a significant amount of drawbacks that transpire and it seems as though the government ought to ensure that a CCCTB, if implemented, does not undermine competition, whilst also ensuring that extensive opportunities for tax avoidance are not created. It is arguable whether this can be achieved and it seems as though extra demands will in fact be placed upon corporate tax departments. Taxation Articles 25-31 and 39-60 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) lay down the fundamental freedoms that are relevant to tax law and thus facilitate free movement of goods, services, persons and capital within the European Economic Area (EEA). Accordingly, as argued by Sypris, the changes made by the implementation of the TFEU; ââ¬Å"influence the internal market case law of the Court of Justice, which represents a significant threat to national labour laws and practicesâ⬠(2008; 219). The ECJ held in Gschwind v Finanzamt Aachen-Aubenstadt (Case C-391/97) [1999] ECR I-5451, [2001] STC 331, ECJ that direct taxation is a matter which ââ¬Å"falls within the competence of Member States,â⬠however, that competence must be exercised in accordance with EU law (Lee, 2010: 1473). This demonstrates how Member States no longer have complete control of their own laws and that the fundamental freedoms, enshrined under the TFEU, must also be taken into considerati on. As noted by Lee; ââ¬Å"ever since the treaties first came into force, the fundamental freedoms have been interpreted broadly, so as to strike down domestic legal rules incompatible with an internal marketâ⬠(2010: 1474). This is also exemplified under Article 26 which states that; ââ¬Å"the Union shall adopt measures with the aim of establishing or ensuring the functioning of the internal market, in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Treaties.â⬠Since the laws of all Member States must guarantee compliance with Treaty provisions, tax law will be affected. The ECJââ¬â¢s decision in Cadbury Schweppes v Commissioners of the Inland Revenue Case C-196/04 [2006] 3 WLR 890 shows how EU law affects UK tax law. Here, it was held that the broad interpretation of the Controlled Foreign Companies (CFC) provisions were incompatible with EU law because of the restrictions that were being placed upon freedom of establishment under Article 56 of the TFEU (ex Article 49 EC). It was noted by the ECJ that ââ¬Å"hindrance to freedom can only be justified on the ground of counteraction of tax avoidance if the legislation in question is specifically designed to exclude from a tax advantage wholly artificial arrangements aimed at circumventing national law.â⬠Subsequent to this decision, significant amendments were made to the CFC rules under Schedule 16 of the Finance Act 2009 in order to ensure that EU law was being fully complied with. The Acceptable Distribution Policy (ADP) exemption was abolished and changes to the Income and Corporation Tax es Act 1988 (ICTA) were made by introducing a new section 751AA. This illustrates the importance of the single market and exemplified how UK tax law will be affected by the provisions contained in the EU. The same rules will also apply in relation to the other Member States, though not all agree that this is appropriate. Instead, it is argued that abuses of national law can be effectuated as a result of EU law provisions and that the legislation in question must not be used as a blanket method of justifying abuses such as tax avoidanceâ⬠(Wellens, 2009: 1). In view of this, it is manifest that national courts are required to undertake a case by case approach when considering individual situations. Various harmonisation measures have been implemented by the EU to facilitate the integration into the single market, including; the merger directive, the parent/subsidiary directive and the interest and royalties directive. The Merger Directive was designed to facilitate mergers across European borders so that it would be easier for companies to engage in dealings, whilst also reducing the tax burden. This was intended to establish common rules governing the cross-border merger of companies within the EEAâ⬠(Cain, 2007: 2). It cannot be said that tax harmonisation has been created by the Directive (Bell, 2004: 1), which is again due to the relcuatnce of Member States to implement the Directive. Unless co-operation exists, the Directive cannot be fully utilised and tax harmonisation cannot be achieved. The Parent/Subsidiary Directive was designed to ââ¬Å"grant cross-border transactions the same favourable treatment as is provided for equivalent purely domestic transactionsâ⬠(Tiley, 2008: 34) and was to be applied to parent and subsidiary companies of Member States. Akin to the Merger Directive, the harmonisation of taxes was intended yet this does not appear to have been achieved as harmonisation is still lacking. Nevertheless, because companies within Member States are still being taxed on income that has been derived from substantial interests, the Directive is not being fully implemented which may be ââ¬Å"contrary to the free movement of capital and freedom of establishment, as well as the Parent-Subsidiary Directive, because such income is as a rule exempt from taxation if derived by local parent companiesâ⬠(Morgan, 2010: 18). Therefore, the extent to which these Directives are being utilised is debatable. The Interest and Royalties Directive intended to eliminate withholding tax obstacles in the area of cross-border interest and royalty payments within a group of companies (HM Revenue and Customs, 2003: 1). Under this Directive companie s are subjected to a reduced tax liability if their members dealt with each other within the EU. Nevertheless, because no single tax has been created it is questionable whether these Directives are in fact sufficient. Conclusion The establishment of the EUââ¬â¢s single market has brought about significant benefits for EU Member States. A large number of jobs have been created and the opportunities for individuals within the internal market have significantly increased. Regardless of this, the extent to which the objectives of the single market have been attained remains uncertain in light of the obstacles that transpire. It is often difficult to determine whether a free market is truly being achieved since there is a great deal of confliction that now exists. This can be seen in relation to the provisions contained in Article 101, which restrain the free flow of goods. This is clearly contrary the free movement provisions and the courts have been faced with much difficulty over the years as a result of this. In addition, there are many inherent difficulties that arise for companies who wish to enter the internal market and although the implementation of a Common Consolidated Corporate Tax Base (CCCTB) has been proposed, it has been said that this would create even more difficulties. Nevertheless, because taxation comes into conflict with the free movement provisions because of the fact that Member States no longer have complete control of their own laws, it seems as though a CCCTB would be beneficial. Because of these obstacles, it is thereby questionable whether the single market has been as successful as one would have hoped. References Alam, S. (2007) Sustainable Development and Free Trade: Institutional Approaches, Business & Economics, London: Routledge. Barnard, C. (2002) The Law of the Single Market: Unpacking the Premises., Oxford: Hart Publishing. Bell, S., (2011) ââ¬ËAmendments to Merger Directive: A New Dawn for Cross-Border Reorganisations?ââ¬â¢ (2004) International Bureau of Fiscal Documentation, [Online] Available: http://www.freshfields.com/publications/pdfs/practices/dfi030401.pdf [29 April, 2014]. Bently, L. and Sherman, B. (2008) Intellectual Property Law, 3rd Edition, Oxford: OUP. Cain, B., (2007) ââ¬ËCross-Border Mergers Directiveââ¬â¢ 31 Companies Secretaryââ¬â¢s Review 9, Issue 2. Correa. C. M, Intellectual Property and Competition Law: Exploring Some Issues of Relevance to Developing Countries, ICTDS, Issue Paper No 21, ICTDS Programme on IRPs and Sustainable Development, (October, 2007), [Online] Available at: http://www.iprsonline.org/resources/docs/corea_Oct07.pdf [29 March 2014]. Cave, R., (2011) ââ¬ËEU Tax Developmentsââ¬â¢ 32 Tolleyââ¬â¢s Practical Tax Newsletter 87, Issue 11. Drysdale, D., (2007) ââ¬ËHMRC, Business and the Tax Profession ââ¬â An Uneasy Relationshipââ¬â¢ 28 Tolleyââ¬â¢s Practical Tax Newsletter 66, Issue 9. DTI., (2002) ââ¬ËSingle Marketââ¬â¢ [Online] Available: http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/+/http://www.dti.gov.uk/europe/pagej.html [29 April, 2014]. Ernst & Young., (2011) ââ¬ËEU: European Commission Publishes Final Common Consolidated Corporate Tax Base (CCCTB) Proposalsââ¬â¢ News 16/03/2011 40LNB. Europa. (2012) ââ¬ËWhat is the Single Marketââ¬â¢ [Online] Available: http://ec.europa.eu/internal_market/20years/singlemarket20/facts-figures/what-is-the-single-market_en.htm [30 March 2014]. European Commission. (2012) ââ¬ËThe Single Market Actââ¬â¢ The EU Single Market, [01 April 2014]. Goodall, A., (2011) ââ¬ËEC Proposes ââ¬ËCommon Tax Baseââ¬â¢ 32 Tolleyââ¬â¢s Practical Tax Newsletter 53, Issue 7. European Commission., (2000) ââ¬ËCommunication on Services of General Interest in Europeââ¬â¢ 580 Final. Euromove., (2009) ââ¬ËEU Competition Policyââ¬â¢ [Online] Available: http://www.euromove.org.uk/index.php?id=6516 [29 April, 2014]. HM Revenue & Customs., (2003) ââ¬ËINTM400010 ââ¬â EU Interest and Royalties Directive: Overview of the Directiveââ¬â¢ [Online] Available: http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/manuals/intmanual/intm400010.htm [29 April, 2014]. Ilzkovitz, F., Dierx, V., Kovacs, V., and Sousa, N., (2007) ââ¬ËSteps Toward a Deeper Economic Integration: The Internal Market in the 21st Century; A Contribution to the Single Market Reviewââ¬â¢ European Economy, European Commission, Economic Papers, No 271, [Online] Available: http://ec.europa.eu/economy_finance/publications/publication784_en.pdf [29 April 2014]. Kennedy, T. P., (2011) European Law, Oxford University Press: Oxford. Lee, N., (2010) Revenue Law Principles and Practice, 28th Edition, London: Bloomsbury Professional. Marquis. M. (2007) ââ¬â¢02 (Germany) v Commission and the Exotic Mysteries of Article 81 (1) EC)ââ¬â¢ European Law Review 29, 1-6. Mayes, D. G. and Hart, P. (1994) The Single Market Programme as a Stimulus to Change: Comparisons Between Britain and Germany, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Morgan, C., (2010) ââ¬ËAnalysis ââ¬â International Reviewââ¬â¢ 1015 Tax Journal 18. Oââ¬â¢Loghlin. R. (2003) ââ¬ËEC Competition Rules and Free Movement Rules: An Examination of the Parallels and Their Furtherance by the ECJ Wouters Decisionââ¬â¢ European Competition Law Review 62, 224-237. Shuibhne, N. N. (2006) Regulating the Internal Market, Edward Elgar Publishing: London. Steiner, J. and Woods, L. (2009) EU Law, 10th Edition, Oxford: OUP. Syrpis, P., (2008) ââ¬ËThe Treaty of Lisbon: Much Adoâ⬠¦But About What?ââ¬â¢ Industrial Law Journal, 37 (219), Issue 3, 219-235. The European Commission., (2011) ââ¬ËSimpler Tax Rules for Businessesââ¬â¢ (2011) Europa, [Online] Available: http://ec.europa.eu/news/economy/110318_1_en.htm [29 April, 2014]. Tiley, J., (2008) Revenue Law, 6th edn Hart Publishing. Wellens, R., 2009. Cadbury Schweppes and beyond: the future of the UK CFC Rules. Tax Working Papers, [online] Available at [29 March 2014]. Wesseling, R. (1999) ââ¬ËThe Commission White Paper on Modernisation of EC Antitrust Lawââ¬â¢ (20 European Competition Law Review 427, 422-427. Q Finance., (2010) ââ¬ËStructuring M&A Deals and Tax Planningââ¬â¢ [Online] Available: http://www.qfinance.com/mergers-and-acquisitions-checklists/structuring-m-and-a-deals-and-tax-planning [29 April, 2014].
Saturday, September 14, 2019
Character Analysis: Mephistopheles
In Goetheââ¬â¢s Faust, Mephistopheles is presented as a servant of the Devil. His chief function is to search for corrupt men and collect their souls. Mephistophelesââ¬â¢ appearance to Faust signifies that Faustââ¬â¢s soul is in danger of damnation. Some scholars claimed that Mephistopheles, although a servant of Satan, is not entirely evil. In the third part of the play, Mephistopheles even warned Faustus not to sell his soul t Lucifer. There are indications that he even advised Faust to seek and reenter Godââ¬â¢s favor by foregoing his unwarranted desires. In post-classical literary criticism, Mephistopheles is even depicted as a protector of souls in danger of damnation ââ¬â a fallen angel who retained some good. Some scholars argued that Mephistopheles is the material manifestation of Faustââ¬â¢s bad conscience. He is perceived to be an angel who permitted Faust to act on endless possibilities. This limitless freedom is synonymous to a life free from God. Indeed, according to some scholars, Mephistopheles represents this limitless freedom. However, it should be noted that Mephistopheles is not merely a symbolic representation of evil. In the play, he is portrayed as a fallen angel ââ¬â a servant of Satan who collects the soul of damned individuals. The traditional definition of evil is, however, retained in Mephistophelesââ¬â¢ character. The first scene of the play is somehow imitated from one of the most popular stories in the Bible, the story of Job. Faust is a humble teacher and doctor to the poor. He is the proof that there are still men who are truly dedicated to God. Mephistopheles approaches God and mocks Faust for his endless search for understanding. He tells God that such character is a weakness ââ¬â that it is impossible to fully understand the cosmos. God allows Mephistopheles to ââ¬Ëtemptââ¬â¢ Faust. Mephistopheles is overtly happy, presumably because he knew that he could easily sway Faust away from God. In his study table, Faust reads some commentaries on the Bible and philosophical tracts. He is deeply sad because after studying so many tracts and books, he still cannot understand the mysteries of the universe. At some point in time, he considers committing suicide. It is Easter Morning. Faust reads the first chapter of the Gospel of John. Mephistopheles then suddenly appeared disguised as a scholar. The two men talk and after which, Faust convinces him to return. . Mephistopheles then appears to Faust, this time in his true form. He offers Faust all the wonders of the world in exchange for his soul. Faust immediately agrees (believing that the soul is not immortal) on the condition that he must experience the greatest pleasure that can be possibly attained. Mephistopheles agrees. A blood pact is then signed. Note the overt traditionalism of the first chapter of the play. Contrary to post-modernist criticism of the play, Mephistopheles is depicted not only as the agent of Satan but also as the bearer of true evil. His proud stature as a fallen angel is a proof that he is fully capable of swaying men away from God. Indeed, Mephistopheles is not only Faustââ¬â¢s bad conscience; he is an incarnate of evil ââ¬â a creature whose existence is independent from that of either Faust or his conscience.
Friday, September 13, 2019
Can Human-Animal Chimeras Aid Medical Researches
Can Human-Animal Chimeras Aid Medical Researches Chapter 1 The Science behind the Biotechnology Chimeras rely on stem cells and their ability to differentiate into the necessary cells needed by the body. It is this feature of stem cells that allow scientist to culture tissue samples and eventually produce transplantable organs. The procuration of stem cells is the subject of a controversial argument as the methodologies of some variations raises several moral and ethical issues. Human Embryonic Stem Cells (hESCs) As the name suggests, this form of stem cells are derived from human embryos. Contrary to popular belief, these cells are not obtained from eggs fertilised inside a womans body; the embryos are usually donated for research purposes by In Vitro Fertilisation Clinics, with the consent of the donors. The embryos are then suspended in a culture medium ,mirroring similar conditions to that of a mothers womb, allowing the embryo to divide into a mass of cells known as the blastocyst. The cells within the blastocyst are usually referred to as totipotent stem cells. It is here that the first ethical issue arises. The beginning of life is said to be conception or fertilisation therefore this method of obtaining stem cells can be considered as taking a life without its consent. (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2016) Another limitation of hESCs includes carcinogenic risk when the culture medium is altered in order to induce differentiation of stem cells to form specialised cells such as: heart cells, lungs cells, liver cells and nerve cells. If the wrong mix of proteins or hormones are added to the stem cells theres a potential risk of mutation of DNA resulting in the production of cancerous or faulty cells. Conversely, hESCs are more accepted in the scientific community as the production of it can be done at lower cost with much more efficient differentiation and the cells produced are within a suitable HLA spectrum. [1] (Pappas, 2008) Parthenote Stem Cells It is possible however to bypass the ethical and moral issues that hESCs present, as these issues only arise if the cell is post-fertilisation. Therefore, if stem cells are extracted from an unfertilised egg, then arguably life which begins at conception or fertilisation, has not yet begun, making the use of the stem cells less controversial. However, the ethical implications have not been bypassed altogether, as it can still be argued that stem cells from unfertilised eggs do still have the potential to make a living individual. Parthenogenesis[2] allows for the egg cell to be activated without the need for a sperm. Parthenogenetic embryos will develop to the blastocyst stage and so can serve as a source of embryonic stem cells. Parthenogenetic Embryonic Stem Cells (pESCs) have been shown to have the properties of self-renewal and the capacity to generate cell derivatives from the three germ layers, confirmed by contributions to chimeric animals (Department of Animal Science, Michig an State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA, 2006) Induced Pluripotent stem cells The process behind iPSCs was a big medical breakthrough as it allowed somatic (body) cells to be reprogrammed into regenerative cells. The formation of iPSCs require the donor to undergo shave or punch biopsies, this procedure can be done under local anesthetic and is minimally invasive so the procuration of the adult cells poses no moral or ethical predicaments. The induction of pluripotency in adult somatic cells via proteins, will produce genetical and immune-histocompatibility matches thus, lowering the chance of rejection (if used for transplantation), this also reduces the need for the patient to take immunosuppressant which can result in a compromised immune response. But this form of stem cells comes with its disadvantages, as it is a new concept the cost of production is high. Therefore this process in its current state of development is economically viable for a large population size. Furthermore, the mechanisms behind how the reprogramming factors work are unknown, this pr esents the chances of mutagenesis[3], oncogene activation risk[4], and retroviral gene delivery[5] (Pappas, 2008) Chapter 2 Potential Uses of Animal-Human Chimeras in Therapeutics Vaccinations As of 2015, there are 36.7 million people living with HIV as per WHO and UNAIDS. (WHO, 2016). The field of vaccines for diseases such as Hepatitis-B and HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) have taken a heavy toll in developing countries and have faced major failures. In the hopes of improving the current situation. Human-animal chimeras, developed with a humanized immune system could be useful to study infectious diseases, including many neglected diseases. These would also serve as an important tool for the efficient testing of new vaccine candidates to streamline promising candidates for further trials in humans. (Bhan, et al., 2010). Human hematopoietic stem cells, or in laymans terms, bone marrow cells, have the unique capacity of engrafting, greatly expanding, and repopulating immunodeficient mice, with virtually all different types of human immune cells; as shown by the image above. Humanized mouse models are produced via transplantation of CD34+ stem cells and/or implantation of human tissue into immunodeficient mice. Depending on whether tissue or CD34+ cells are used and the strain of mouse, this results in mice which have a part or a complete human immune system. (Garcia, 2016) This xenografted[6] mouse is then used as a disease model[7]. This allows scientists to better understand the mechanisms behind the disease, which results in a more efficient treatment plan for those who suffer from. Hepatitis-B. Another disease model being used are primates, these are considered to be the most accurate as we share a common ancestor. Additionally, primates have the closest metabolic conditions to humans. When this model was injected with HIV-1 (via IV), HIV-2 (via vagina) and SIV (via rectum) the results were advantageous as they provided useful information for vaccine and therapeutic studies. However, the cost of producing this model is very high and raises many moral and ethical concerns; furthermore, despite having some genetic similarities, primates do have different cellular and molecular markers and the time and course of infection could vary. Chimeras are also benefiting the treatment of Japanese encephalitis. This disease is a type of viral brain infection thats spread through mosquito bites, commonly found in South-East Asia. Although theres no cure for Japanese encephalitis, it can be prevented through vaccination, which is usually only available privately (NHS, 2016). A recently developed vaccine, which is an animal-human chimera which is a mouse brain-derived, inactivated JE vaccine (MBV). In order to evaluate its efficacy case controlled studies were carried out. A randomized double-blinded study conducted in northern Thailand, using JE MBV produced in Thailand, yielded an overall effectiveness of 91%. Another trial in Taiwan revealed an effectiveness of approximately 85% when two or more doses were administered. The effectiveness of the JE vaccine in Northern Vietnam was 92.9% efficacious. (Marks, et al., 2012). Control disease progression Another therapeutic use of animal-human chimeras is the development of drugs to aid in the treatment of known diseases.The drug called Rituximab, is a chimeric antibody which means it contains portions of both human and mouse antibodies mixed together. The drug was licensed in 1997 for the treatment of NHL (Non-Hodgkins lymphoma)-a form of cancer which causes B-cells to mutate and divide abnormally. The drug targets the CD20 receptor on B-cells as this receptor is located on the surface of the cell and it doesnt mutate, move inside the cell or fall off in the life cycle of the B-cell. The drug contains the variable domain of the mouse antibody, the portion that specifically binds CD20, along with the constant domain of human antibody, the portion that recruits other components of the immune system to the target-the B-cells and so after it is administered, and a large number of tumour cells are immediately destroyed and eliminated from the body. Rituximab is also used to treat advanced rheumatoid arthritis and it has also been part of anti-rejection treatments for kidney transplants (both involve B cells). The disadvantage only that the mouse antibody was unsuitable for direct use in humans and clinical trial results varied, likely due to the differing sizes of tumors between the patients, (Speaking of Research, 2017) Chapter 3 Potential Uses of Animal-Human Chimeras in Surgery The demand for organ transplantation has rapidly increased all over the world due to the increased incidence of vital organ failure. However, the unavailability of adequate organs for transplantation procedures to meet this growing demand has resulted in a major organ crisis. In 2014, 429 patients died while on the waiting list for an organ transplant- thats up to 3 patients a day. (Knapton, 2015). Currently, the government plan on changing the organ donation system to an opt out system, which hopes to promote organ donation and increase the availability of organs. The opt-out system presumes the donors consent unless the individual expresses a refusal to become a potential donor- allowing the donor to make a free choice (Abouna, 2008). As well as increasing obtainability of organs, it also increases the likelihood of more organs found within a suitable HLA spectrum. (Department of Health and Social Care and Cabinet Office, 2017). But it can be argued that this system of obtaining organs is seen as unfair as majority of organ donors must be recently deceased (excluding kidney donors) therefore the longevity of one persons life is at the cause of anothers death. (World Health Organisation, 2005) To prevent this choice being made, alternative solutions are being developed in order to aid the organ crisis-one of them being animal-human chimeras. Current research on stem cells have shown that they can differentiate into different cell types but cannot effectively produce usable tissues and organs as a culture medium cannot replicate the growth of an organ in a body. A recent breakthrough by the (Salk Institute of Biological Research, 2017) shows a pig-human chimera, which would be capable of making human organs. The research began by creating an interspecies chimera[8] consisting of a rat and mouse. They used a gene editing technology known as CRISPR (Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats) to turn off the gene that makes the pancreas. They then inserted rat iPSCs which contained a pancreas gene into the mouse embryo. The result, when implanted into surrogate mouse mothers, was a fully developed mouse with a growing rat pancreas. This concept was then mirrored using pigs embryos and human stem cells; as pigs have similar organ sizes and developmental timescales as humans. Although this experiment had to be halted at 4 weeks of development due to ethical issues and the lack of consent- as the experiment was designed to prove it was possible, not to produce a human organ-we can safely assume that, if the development of the pig was allowed to continue, the pig would have a whole human organ inside it. Theoretically, this concept can then be implemented, producing specific human organs, eliminating the wait for a human donor and reducing the risk of organ rejection. Chapter 4 Potential Uses of Animal-Human Chimeras in Disease Modelling Scientific research is not always accepted as they require the use of controversial methods to obtain the necessary results. The methodologies behind creating chimeras have ethical and moral dilemmas primarily due to the use of animals. There is a large emphasis on animal welfare, although the use of animals as chimeras or in general medical research is considered very valuable as they help the medical community to better under the effects of treatments (drugs or otherwise) on living organisms. The matter still finds itself to be the subject of a very heated debate; as those opposing the use of animals animal rights extremists and anti-vivisectionist groups-believe that animal experimentation is unnecessary and cruel regardless of its benefits ergo the opposition want total abolition of animal research and if the majority supports this view then there will be severe consequences for scientific research. (Festing Wilkinson, 2007) On the other hand, the UK has gone further than most countries in regards to the ethical framework by introducing the Animals (Scientific Procedure) Act 1986 which regulates the use of animal research. Along with this, there is more and more public awareness as polls run by Ipsos MORI state that in 2005 64% of the population agreed with the use of animals in research if the research objectives are important and the animals experience minimal suffering and all alternatives are considered. (Department for Business Freeman, 2014) Another bioethical view that must be considered is `whether we treat the chimeras as animals or human? this arises as some chimeras require the altering of cognitive capacities. The chimeras are to be used to develop a better understanding of diseases such as Parkinsons and Dementia which affect 850 000 people every year (Anon., 2014) Unfortunately, the research is very slow due to moral views as some people regard this form experimentation a violation of human dignity and the order of nature as well as, the initial disagreement of using chimeras in the first place. (Hermern, 2015) Opportunely, there is some support for the use of animal-human chimeras as previous medical techniques that are widely accepted today allow the use of porcine, bovine and equine biological heart valves are implanted in those with cardiac valve dysfunction. Moreover, insulin extracted from porcine pancreas is routinely used with those with diabetes. And so, the prospect of a pig carrying a pancreas or liver of human origin should be justifiable. (Bourret, et al., 2016) Alternatives A lesser conventional view is the alternatives to chimeras, these methods do not require the use of animals to carry out medical research, which hopefully, should eliminate bioethical arguments. The issue that arises with this is the efficiency and viability of the results. The alternatives to chimeras include cell cultures, human tissues and computer models. Almost all cell types can be recreated in laboratory conditions and these can be coaxed to grow into 3D structures- miniature organs. Cell cultures have also been used to create `organs-on-chips which can be used to study disease mechanisms, as well as, drug metabolism. This form biotechnology has already managed to mimic the heart, lungs and kidneys. The goal is to be able to this for all organ systems. The idea is already aided in the development in the production of vaccines, and drug testing on top of aided research in the study of cancers, sepsis and AIDS. Human tissues can be donated by both healthy and diseased volunteers through surgeries such as biopsies, cosmetic surgery and transplants or via post mortem- such as brain tissue from a patient with Multiple Sclerosis to help better understand a large variety of diseases furthermore the tissues can make more effective models than through chimeras as they will contain only human DNA thus providing a more relevant way of studying human biology. Finally, computer models can be used to create virtual experiments based on existing information. Models of the musculoskeletal systems, heart, lungs etc. already exist. Inopportunely, this method isnt as effective as testing in vivo as the concept is very theoretical. (Anon., n.d.)
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