Murder on the VR Express: Studying the Impact of Thought Experiments at a Distance in Virtual Reality

Hypothetical thought experiments allow researchers to gain insights into widespread moral intuitions and provide opportunities for individuals to explore their moral commitments. Previous thought experiment studies in virtual reality (VR) required participants to come to an on-site laboratory, which possibly restricted the study population, introduced an observer effect, and made internal reflection on the participants’ part more difficult. These shortcomings are particularly crucial today, as results from such studies are increasingly impacting the development of artificial intelligence systems, self-driving cars, and other technologies. This paper explores the viability of deploying thought experiments in commercially available in-home VR headsets. We conducted a study that presented the trolley problem, a life-and-death moral dilemma, through SideQuestVR, a third-party website and community that facilitates loading applications onto Oculus headsets. Thirty-three individuals were presented with one of two dilemmas: (1) a decision to save five lives at the cost of one life by pulling a switch and (2) a decision to save five lives at the cost of one life by pushing a person onto train tracks. The results were consistent with those of previous VR studies, suggesting that a “VR-at-a-distance” approach to thought experiments has a promising future while indicating lessons for future research

The Effects of Testosterone and Transcutaneous Muscle Stimulation on Strength and Muscle Mass in Myotonic Dystrophy

         In myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) quadriceps weakness often results in severe functional limitations and genu recurvatum. To improve quadriceps strength the effects of isometric tetanic contractions using transcutaneous muscle stimulation (TMS) and testosterone enanthate (TE) were assessed. Ten DM1 subjects underwent unilateral TMS 6 hours per day for 14 days. The stimulated leg was randomly assigned and sham stimulation was done on the opposite leg by transcutaneous nerve stimulation. Muscle mass was estimated by cross-sectional area computed tomography and strength was measured by Cybex ergometry. Following the initial TMS period, 8 of 10 subjects were given a 12-week course of TE (3 mg/kg/wk) followed by 14 days of TMS. Neither TMS nor TE improved strength.  Following 12 weeks of TE, there was an average increase in muscle mass of at least 8.7 +/- 1.6 cm2. These findings are consistent with the TE—increased muscle mass in DM1 as measured by creatinine clearance and total body potassium. The dissociation of mass and strength following TE and the failure of exercise to improve strength may have significance in characterizing the muscle defect in DM1

Cylindrical surface profile and diameter measuring tool and method

A tool is shown having a cross beam assembly made of beams joined by a center box structure. The assembly is adapted to be mounted by brackets to the outer end of a cylindrical case. The center box structure has a vertical shaft rotatably mounted therein and extending beneath the assembly. Secured to the vertical shaft is a radius arm which is adapted to rotate with the shaft. On the longer end of the radius arm is a measuring tip which contacts the cylindrical surface to be measured and which provides an electric signal representing the radius of the cylindrical surface from the center of rotation of the radius arm. An electric servomotor rotates the vertical shaft and an electronic resolver provides an electric signal representing the angle of rotation of the shaft. The electric signals are provided to a computer station which has software for its computer to calculate and print out the continuous circumference profile of the cylindrical surface, and give its true diameter and the deviations from the ideal circle

The Effects of Testosterone and Transcutaneous Muscle Stimulation on Strength and Muscle Mass in Myotonic Dystrophy

         In myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) quadriceps weakness often results in severe functional limitations and genu recurvatum. To improve quadriceps strength the effects of isometric tetanic contractions using transcutaneous muscle stimulation (TMS) and testosterone enanthate (TE) were assessed. Ten DM1 subjects underwent unilateral TMS 6 hours per day for 14 days. The stimulated leg was randomly assigned and sham stimulation was done on the opposite leg by transcutaneous nerve stimulation. Muscle mass was estimated by cross-sectional area computed tomography and strength was measured by Cybex ergometry. Following the initial TMS period, 8 of 10 subjects were given a 12-week course of TE (3 mg/kg/wk) followed by 14 days of TMS. Neither TMS nor TE improved strength.  Following 12 weeks of TE, there was an average increase in muscle mass of at least 8.7 +/- 1.6 cm2. These findings are consistent with the TE—increased muscle mass in DM1 as measured by creatinine clearance and total body potassium. The dissociation of mass and strength following TE and the failure of exercise to improve strength may have significance in characterizing the muscle defect in DM1

Biologic Monitoring to Characterize Organophosphorus Pesticide Exposure among Children and Workers: An Analysis of Recent Studies in Washington State

We examined findings from five organophosphorus pesticide biomonitoring studies conducted in Washington State between 1994 and 1999. We compared urinary dimethylthiophosphate (DMTP) concentrations for all study groups and composite dimethyl alkylphosphate (DMAP) concentrations for selected groups. Children of pesticide applicators had substantially higher metabolite levels than did Seattle children and farmworker children (median DMTP, 25 μg/L; p < 0.0001). Metabolite levels of children living in agricultural communities were elevated during periods of crop spraying. Median DMTP concentrations for Seattle children and farmworker children did not differ significantly (6.1 and 5.8 μg/L DMTP, respectively; p = 0.73); however, the DMAP concentrations were higher for Seattle children than for farmworker children (117 and 87 nmol/L DMAP, respectively; p = 0.007). DMTP concentrations of U.S. children 6–11 years of age (1999–2000 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey population) were higher than those of Seattle children and farmworker children at the 75th, 90th, and 95th percentiles. DMTP concentrations for workers actively engaged in apple thinning were 50 times higher than DMTP concentrations for farmworkers sampled outside of peak exposure periods. We conclude that workers who have direct contact with pesticides should continue to be the focus of public health interventions and that elevated child exposures in agricultural communities may occur during active crop-spraying periods and from living with a pesticide applicator. Timing of sample collection is critical for the proper interpretation of pesticide biomarkers excreted relatively soon after exposure. We surmise that differences in dietary exposure can explain the similar exposures observed among farmworker children, children living in the Seattle metropolitan area, and children sampled nationally

Carbon Sequestration: Position of the Soil Science Society of America

Increased long term (20-50 year) sequestration of carbon in soils, plants and plant products will benefit the environment and agriculture. Crop, grazing, and forestlands can be managed for both economic productivity and carbon sequestration. In many settings this dual management approach can be achieved by applying currently recognized best management practices such as conservation tillage, efficient nutrient management, erosion control, use of cover crops and restoration of degraded soils. In addition, conversion of marginal arable land to forest or grassland can rapidly increase soil carbon sequestration. Research is needed that better quantifies carbon sequestration obtained by these practices; this research should culminate in a scientifically defensible soil carbon sequestration accounting system that also would be suitable to the business sector, should soil carbon become a marketable commodity. Implementation of these practices will integrate a wide range of disciplines in the basic, agricultural, silvicultural, and environmental sciences as well as in the social, economic and political sciences. SSSA advocates a global increase in soil organic matter as a timely benefit to global well being by reducing the rate of increase in atmospheric CO2 and increasing the productivity of soil, particularly in many areas with degraded soils

Urinary biomarker concentrations of captan, chlormequat, chlorpyrifos and cypermethrin in UK adults and children living near agricultural land

There is limited information on the exposure to pesticides experienced by UK residents living near agricultural land. This study aimed to investigate their pesticide exposure in relation to spray events. Farmers treating crops with captan, chlormequat, chlorpyrifos or cypermethrin provided spray event information. Adults and children residing ≤100 m from sprayed fields provided first-morning void urine samples during and outwith the spray season. Selected samples (1–2 days after a spray event and at other times (background samples)) were analysed and creatinine adjusted. Generalised Linear Mixed Models were used to investigate if urinary biomarkers of these pesticides were elevated after spray events. The final data set for statistical analysis contained 1518 urine samples from 140 participants, consisting of 523 spray event and 995 background samples which were analysed for pesticide urinary biomarkers. For captan and cypermethrin, the proportion of values below the limit of detection was greater than 80%, with no difference between spray event and background samples. For chlormequat and chlorpyrifos, the geometric mean urinary biomarker concentrations following spray events were 15.4 μg/g creatinine and 2.5 μg/g creatinine, respectively, compared with 16.5 μg/g creatinine and 3.0 μg/g creatinine for background samples within the spraying season. Outwith the spraying season, concentrations for chlorpyrifos were the same as those within spraying season backgrounds, but for chlormequat, lower concentrations were observed outwith the spraying season (12.3 μg/g creatinine). Overall, we observed no evidence indicative of additional urinary pesticide biomarker excretion as a result of spray events, suggesting that sources other than local spraying are responsible for the relatively low urinary pesticide biomarkers detected in the study population