• Toilet bowl no-no
To a dog, a toilet bowl may look like an oversized water dish. But there are solid scientific reasons that pet owners should keep canine companions from quenching their thirst in the bathroom. According to Shelley Rankin, a microbiologist at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, microorganisms in the toilet can be harmful to furry friends. “We don’t put bleach down there every time we go to the toilet,” says Rankin. “That means that dogs are occasionally coming into contact with organisms that can potentially make them sick.” Zoonotic diseases, those than can infect both humans and animals, can also make the leap in the other direction, from pet to person. Fortunately there’s a simple, free way to eliminate the risk: Close the lid.
• Travel tips for breastfeeding moms
The end-of-year holidays are here, and that means travel season. For breastfeeding mothers, figuring out where to pump or feed their babies can add stress, so University of Pennsylvania experts Diane Spatz and Elizabeth Froh suggest that moms know their rights. They recommend bringing a car adapter or backup batteries to allow for pumping anywhere and a freezer bag with gel packs to keep the milk cold. Lastly, avoid pumping in bathrooms, Spatz notes. “They’re way too germy,” she says.
• Brain size and intelligence
Is bigger better when it comes to brains? For more than 200 years, scientists have looked for an association between brain size and intelligence. A new study, the largest of its kind, has clarified the connection using MRI-derived information about brain size along with cognitive performance test results and educational-attainment measures obtained from more than 13,600 people. Researchers led by Gideon Nave of the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School and Philipp Koellinger of Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam found that, as previous studies have suggested, a positive relationship does exist between brain volume and performance on cognitive tests. But employers shouldn't be measuring the heads of job candidates just yet: Size accounted for only about 2 percent of the variation in smarts, the study found. (
• The galaxy's icy debris
Nearly three-quarters of a century ago, Dutch scientist Jan Oort predicted that a cloud of icy bodies floated at the far reaches of the solar system and dispatched recurring comets like Halley’s. The existence of this “Oort cloud” seemed likely, but no one had been able to directly detect it. Now, a new technique developed by a team of University of Pennsylvania astronomers may allow scientists to detect Oort clouds shrouding solar systems beyond our own. Searching for radiation emitted by small icy bodies in the Oort clouds orbiting nearby stars, the researchers, led by Cullen Blake, Bhuvnesh Jain and Eric Baxter, detected a “warm” spot that may indicate the presence of a faraway Oort cloud surrounding the Fomalhaut star, part of the Pisces Austrinus constellation. Further applications of the technique may help get to the bottom of questions about how our solar system and those around us evolved. (
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(Washington, D.C., December 4, 2018) Today, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced the “OneUSDA Internship” opportunity for Summer 2019. As part of the Federal Pathways Program, the OneUSDA Internship will provide students a way to explore serving their country through a career in government while gaining work experience in agriculture, natural resources, rural development, and other career fields.
“The improvements we’re making to internships at USDA will enable us to recruit the best and retain the best,” said Secretary Perdue. “Today’s young people are the future of America and there are few things more American than agriculture. We’re aiming to find young talent, with a diverse background, across all 50 states, to begin their careers as an intern with USDA.”
The OneUSDA Internship Program offers Federal opportunities to students currently enrolled in qualifying educational programs or institutions, with a comprehensive developmental program intended to provide students with experience in a dynamic work environment that will enhance their educational goals and shape their career choices. An internship with USDA will involve various components of on-the-job experience, mentorship, and training tailored to the student’s education, experience, and interests.
During 2018, USDA was proud to host more than 3,000 interns throughout the country, about half of which were through the Federal Pathways Program. In the Summer of 2019, USDA will hire Pathways Interns in hundreds of locations across every state in the country for the following occupational fields:
USDA is making sure the Summer 2019 OneUSDA internship job announcement is easier-than-ever for college students to find and apply for. After choosing the geographic region of preference and the career path that best matches with students’ area of study and professional aspirations at http://www.usda.gov/Internships, students simply follow the weblinks to https://www.usajobs.gov/ to set up an account, then follow the prompts to apply to the internship.
When applying, applicants will also have an opportunity to indicate their preferred area of interest and USDA Agency or office. USDA will start reviewing applications on December 9, and the application window will close on January 18, 2019.
For more information, visit www.USDA.gov/Internships.
USDA is investing $1.2 billion to help rebuild and improve rural water infrastructure
Contact:
Jay Fletcher (202) 690-0498
Weldon Freeman (202) 690-1384
WASHINGTON, Dec. 4, 2018 – Assistant to the Secretary for Rural Development Anne Hazlett today announced that USDA is investing $1.2 billion (PDF, 509 KB) to help rebuild and improve rural water infrastructure for 936,000 rural Americans living in 46 states.
“Access to water is a key driver for economic opportunity and quality of life in rural communities,” Hazlett said. “Under the leadership of Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue, USDA is committed to being a strong partner to rural communities in building prosperity through modern water infrastructure.”
USDA is providing financing for 234 water and environmental infrastructure projects through the Water and Waste Disposal Loan and Grant program. The funding can be used for drinking water, stormwater drainage and waste disposal systems for rural communities with 10,000 or fewer residents.
Eligible communities and water districts can apply online on the interactive RD Apply tool, or they can apply through one of USDA Rural Development’s state or field offices.
Below are some examples of the investments USDA is making:
USDA is making investments in rural communities in: Alaska, Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin and West Virginia.
In April 2017, President Donald J. Trump established the Interagency Task Force on Agriculture and Rural Prosperity to identify legislative, regulatory and policy changes that could promote agriculture and prosperity in rural communities. In January 2018, Secretary Perdue presented the Task Force’s findings to President Trump. These findings included 31 recommendations to align the federal government with state, local and tribal governments to take advantage of opportunities that exist in rural America. Increasing investments in rural infrastructure is a key recommendation of the task force.
To view the report in its entirety, please view the Report to the President of the United States from the Task Force on Agriculture and Rural Prosperity (PDF, 5.4 MB). In addition, to view the categories of the recommendations, please view the Rural Prosperity infographic (PDF, 190 KB).
USDA Rural Development provides loans and grants to help expand economic opportunities and create jobs in rural areas. This assistance supports infrastructure improvements; business development; housing; community services such as schools, public safety and health care; and high-speed internet access in rural areas. For more information, visit www.rd.usda.gov.
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