Utilitarianism for animals, Kantianism for people? Harming animals and humans for the greater good

Most people hold that it is wrong to sacrifice some humans to save a greater number of humans. Do people also think that it is wrong to sacrifice some animals to save a greater number of animals, or do they answer such questions about harm to animals by engaging in a utilitarian cost-benefit calculation? Across 10 studies (N = 4,662), using hypothetical and real-life sacrificial moral dilemmas, we found that participants considered it more permissible to harm a few animals to save a greater number of animals than to harm a few humans to save a greater number of humans. This was explained by a reduced general aversion to harm animals compared to humans, which was partly driven by participants perceiving animals to suffer less and to have lower cognitive capacity than humans. However, the effect persisted even in cases where animals were described as having greater suffering capacity and greater cognitive capacity than some humans, and even when participants felt more socially connected to animals than to humans. The reduced aversion to harming animals was thus also partly due to speciesism—the tendency to ascribe lower moral value to animals due to their species-membership alone. In sum, our studies show that deontological constraints against instrumental harm are not absolute but get weaker the less people morally value the respective entity. These constraints are strongest for humans, followed by dogs, chimpanzees, pigs, and finally inanimate objects

Unbiased Inclination Distributions for Objects in the Kuiper Belt

Using data from the Deep Ecliptic Survey (DES), we investigate the inclination distributions of objects in the Kuiper Belt. We present a derivation for observational bias removal and use this procedure to generate unbiased inclination distributions for Kuiper Belt objects (KBOs) of different DES dynamical classes, with respect to the Kuiper Belt Plane. Consistent with previous results, we find that the inclination distribution for all DES KBOs is well fit by the sum of two Gaussians, or a Gaussian plus a generalized Lorentzian, multiplied by sin i. Approximately 80% of KBOs are in the high-inclination grouping. We find that Classical object inclinations are well fit by sin i multiplied by the sum of two Gaussians, with roughly even distribution between Gaussians of widths 2.0 -0.5/+0.6 degrees and 8.1 -2.1/+2.6 degrees. Objects in different resonances exhibit different inclination distributions. The inclinations of Scattered objects are best matched by sin i multiplied by a single Gaussian that is centered at 19.1 -3.6/+3.9 degrees with a width of 6.9 -2.7/+4.1 degrees. Centaur inclinations peak just below 20 degrees, with one exceptionally high-inclination object near 80 degrees. The currently observed inclination distribution of the Centaurs is not dissimilar to that of the Scattered Extended KBOs and Jupiter-family comets, but is significantly different from the Classical and Resonant KBOs. While the sample sizes of some dynamical classes are still small, these results should begin to serve as a critical diagnostic for models of Solar System evolution.Comment: Accepted for publication in the Astronomical Journa

Perspectives on involvement in the peer-review process : surveys of patient and public reviewers at two journals

Objective In 2014/2015, The BMJ and Research Involvement and Engagement (RIE) became the first journals to routinely include patients and the public in the peer review process of journal articles. This survey explores the perspectives and early experiences of these reviewers. Design A cross-sectional survey. Setting and participants Patient and public reviewers for The BMJ and RIE who have been invited to review. Results The response rate was 69% (157/227) for those who had previously reviewed and 31% (67/217) for those who had not yet reviewed. Reviewers described being motivated to review by the opportunity to include the patient voice in the research process, influence the quality of the biomedical literature and ensure it meets the needs of patients. Of the 157 who had reviewed, 127 (81%) would recommend being a reviewer to other patients and carers. 144 (92%) thought more journals should adopt patient and public review. Few reviewers (16/224, 7%) reported concerns about doing open review. Annual acknowledgement on the journals’ websites was welcomed as was free access to journal information. Participants were keen to have access to more online resources and training to improve their reviewing skills. Suggestions on how to improve the reviewing experience included: allowing more time to review; better and more frequent communication; a more user-friendly process; improving guidance on how to review including videos; improving the matching of papers to reviewers’ experience; providing more varied sample reviews and brief feedback on the usefulness of reviews; developing a sense of community among reviewers; and publicising of the contribution that patient and public review brings. Conclusions Patient and public reviewers shared practical ideas to improve the reviewing experience and these will be reviewed to enhance the guidance and support given to them

The Grizzly, September 13, 1985

Freshmen Enter on High Note • U.C. Athletes are Scholars Too • New Look Campus • Letter: Enthusiastic USGA Says Be Prepared • Appointed Staff Members • Lentz Discusses Following the Leader • Grants Awarded • R.E.M. Returns With More Confidence • Squeeze Back In • Women\u27s Field Hockey Looking Strong • The Westhead is Dead • Soccer Adds Much Depth • McCloskey: Geared to do a Rambo • Welcome Back Coach • Shorts: Book Sale; Write You Are; Blanche Allen in Communications; Ursinus M.B.A. Gears up for Fall; Special Sirens; Ursinus Professor Attends Marketing Seminar; Chair of Physics Endowed; Ursinus College Receives Wellness Grant • Tannenbaum Wins Writing Honors For Second Yearhttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/grizzlynews/1143/thumbnail.jp

The Grizzly, May 3, 1985

Reimert Hall Will Welcome Girls in the Fall • Fraternities Are Still Alive at Ursinus • Ursinus Applicants Improve • Letters: Greek Week Disappointing; Radio Offers Thanks • Drinking Age of 21 Should Not Be a Standard • Profile: Dr. Coggers Says Farewell • Greek Week\u27s Final Results • Lacrosse Looks to Repeat Division III Title • Successful Year for Lacrosse Club • Gasser Retires • Sally Grim Shines As Star Pitcher • Griffin Worth Far More than Gold • Trackmen Head to MAC\u27s • Stormy Baver is Pilot Behind the Plate • Golf Team Optimistic • Visit the Writing Center • 1985 Baseball Wraps it Up • 1985 Lacrosse Stats • St. Joseph\u27s M.B.A Courses Offered at Ursinus • Open Dialog On Intervention • Area Residents Share College Memories • Shorts: Faculty Members to Retire; Open Dialog; Color Analysis Held on Campus; Evening Concert Announced; Voices ; Art Show • Dead Kennedys • WVOU Conducts Survey • Luau on Sat. • Weekend Highlights • It Will Be a Fantasy Weekendhttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/grizzlynews/1142/thumbnail.jp

The Grizzly, April 18, 1986

The Bomb is Dropped; Policy Could Can Kegs • Admissions Video to Draw High School Seniors • CAB Spring Weekend Twists Around the Corner! • Administration\u27s Letter: Clearing Up the Cloudy Water • Get Your Ruby • Proposed Alcohol Regulations • Political Science\u27s Fitzpatrick to Focus on Constitution • Richter Joins Pavarotti • Greek Week Results • College Republicans Meet in Harrisburg • Perreten in Select Group to Interpret Humanities • Novack to Study Technology\u27s Effects on French Life • Lift-A-Thon: Pressing Weights for Progress • Women\u27s LAX Takes Two • Linksters Drive to 7-1 Record • Men\u27s LAX Strong at 5-2 • Rowson a Threat for Gold in Five Events • A Sterling Suggestion! Brown to be Tattooed • O\u27Toole Hurdles School Record • Men\u27s Tennis • Bears Battle Back • Hadler\u27s Medical Serieshttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/grizzlynews/1988/thumbnail.jp

The Grizzly, April 26, 1985

Greek Week Comes to a Close • Economics Council Hosts Speakers • Class Attendance • Airbands Raise Money for Hungry • Letters: Teachers Needed • Outstanding Educators • Seniors Honored as Chapter Scholars • Shorts: Giunta Named Truman Scholar; Comet Looked at; Voices Called For; Pick-a-prof; U.C. Sees D.C.; Spring Concert; 550 Fast! • U2 Unforgettable at Spectrum • Fans Grateful Band is Still Alive • Day Shines the Light on Winning • UC Beats Div.I Delaware • Heading Toward a Winning Season • Politics is Just Another Goal Scored • Bravo Performs on Both Decks • Bears Look Good: MACs Coming • Flyers Quest for Cup • Cordes Scores Big at Temple • Intramural Softballhttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/grizzlynews/1141/thumbnail.jp

The Grizzly, April 11, 1986

Collegeville Water: Poison • Toombs Speaks on Real Estate • The Time has Come • Wismer, be Realistic! • Letter: Administration Housing Plans are Unfair • Former U.C. Graduate Plays Important Role in Recovery of Challenger Debris • Hair Sneak Preview • Take C and C and See the Progress of Humanity • Greeks Flail Booze Curtail • Looking for Alternatives to the Joys of Alcohol • Women\u27s Lacrosse Wins Five in a Row • Linksters Off to a Great Start • Bears Drop to 4-8 • Women\u27s Track • Profile: Marc Dervishian • Women\u27s Softball Season Heats Up • Women\u27s Tennis Falls to 1-4 • Profile: Leigh Garrison • Gung Ho for Howard • Music: It gets the Irish in me Goinghttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/grizzlynews/1163/thumbnail.jp

Effect of high magnetic fields on orientation and properties of liquid crystalline thermosets

In this report we provide the first description of the orientation of liquid crystalline thermosets (LCT`s) in field strengths of up to 18 T, as well as the first report of tensile properties for both unoriented and oriented LCT`S. The LCT we have chosen for study is the diglycidyl ether of dihydroxy-a-methylstilbene cured with the diamine, sulfanilamide. Orientation in magnetic fields leads to an increase of almost three times the modulus compared to the unoriented material. These values are much greater than can be obtained with conventional thermosets. The strain at break is also significantly affected by the chain orientation. The coefficient of thermal expansion and x-ray diffraction of oriented samples show high degrees of anisotropy, indicating significant chain alignment in the magnetic field. We are working to further understand the field dependence of orientation and properties plus the mechanisms of the alignment process