Author Archive for admin

Page 7 of 14

What’s the deadliest natural phenomenon?

Published on June 23, 2008 in OTA report cited. byadmin

Livescience.com, recently cross-posted by the Tehran Times and Gaia Spirit Blog

This article, part of the Life’s Little Mysteries section of livescience.com, describes the hazards of natural disasters. This was apparently written in July of 2007 and has just recently been posted by others (perhaps people interested in the recent floods in the U.S. Midwest). In the article, this 1993 OTA report, Preparing for an Uncertain Climate- Volume 1, is cited and quoted as follows, “despite recent efforts, vulnerability to flood damages is likely to continue to grow”.

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Bioterrorism: Anthrax and Biotech Companies

Published on June 18, 2008 in OTA report cited. byadmin

By Ketan Desai | http://seekingalpha.com | June 17, 2008

Dr. Desai provides some medical information about anthrax and then lists the leading treatment options for an anthrax infection. In the second part of the article, he gives some financial information about the major biotech companies involved in anthrax countermeasure development. In his description of the anthrax threat, he quotes from this 1993 OTA report, “Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction” that says, “(OTA) estimated that 130,000 to 3 million deaths could occur following the release of 100 kilograms of aerosolized anthrax over Washington, DC.”

While this quote is accurate, it is important to keep in mind the caveat that this type of attack would involve “single airplane-loads of…biological weapons, assuming a highly efficient line-source delivery” and that “fatalities could vary greatly under three different weather scenarios”.

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Ok Skeptics: What’s Next? Immodest Proposals For Political Activism

Published on June 16, 2008 in Blogging on OTA. byadmin

The Bad Idea Blog | June 15, 2008

The author discusses specific policy issues that might unite skeptics. Before launching into an extended discussion of education policy, he puts in a endorsement of the OTA, “I think most of us could, for instance, get behind a proposal to bring back the Office of Technology Assessment (OTA), which used to helpfully advise Congress on all sorts of complex scientific issues that Congressman and their staffs, rarely have much depth of knowledge about.”

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Five Myths About Nuclear Energy

Published on June 16, 2008 in OTA report cited. byadmin

By Kristin Shrader-Frechette | America: The National Catholic Weekly | June 23, 2008

The author, a professor at The University of Notre Dame, gives five reasons why the U.S. shouldn’t expand the use of nuclear power in this country to meet growing energy demand. One of the myths she confronts is that “Nuclear Energy will not Increase Weapons Proliferation”, and she supports her claims with this 1977 OTA report and this 1993 report.

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How Does The FDA Decide Whether A Drug Is Safe And Effective?

Published on June 16, 2008 in OTA report cited. byadmin

By Richard F. Lockey | Tampa Tribune | June 14, 2008

Dr. Lockey, a professor at the University of South Florida, explains the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) drug approval process, focusing particularly on the allergy drug Singulair. This 1993 OTA report on pharmaceutical research and development describes the length of time involved and success rate of drug development in the U.S.

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Policy Review

Published on June 9, 2008 in OTA report cited. byadmin

By Wei Ma | EDTEC Pavilion Blog | June 8, 2008

The author reviews trends in the use of technology for educational purposes from the 1980’s to the mid-2000’s. The 1988 OTA report, Power On! New Tools for Teaching and Learning, is cited as one of the most influential education policy reports of the time period.

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