WebSpecial Collections. Wouldn't it be nice to receive a plant that would live not for one season, but for many to come? An analysis of the global desirability of different forms of openness (including source code, science, data, safety techniques, capabilities, and goals). Buy many copies now! More to the point, indoor airborne virus concentrations have been shown to exist (in day-care facilities, health centers, and on-board airplanes) primarily as aerosol particles of diameters smaller than 2.5 m, such as in the work of Yang et al. This charge is balanced by the opposite charge of a soluble cation, for example Na+. [3], In virology, gain-of-function research is usually employed with the intention of better understanding current and future pandemics. [34], In May 2013, a group led by Hualan Chen, director of China's National Avian Influenza Reference Laboratory, published several experiments they had conducted at the BSL3+ laboratory of the Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, investigating what would happen if a 2009 H1N1 circulating in humans infected the same cell as an avian influenza H5N1. Each experiment should take no more than two minutes, though the cleaning of the beaker between experiments may take up more time than expected. Likewise, no study exists that shows a benefit from a broad policy to wear masks in public (more on this below). [86][88] EcoHealth Alliance spokesperson Robert Kessler has also categorically denied the accusation. Grannys Original and other non-brandedsoap flakeswork fine but need to be used in solutionas soon as they are made. Read More About NJAES. For more background, see profiles in e.g. Conclusion Regarding That Masks Do Not WorkNo RCT study with verified outcome shows a benefit for HCW or community members in households to wearing a mask or respirator. Explore our catalog of online degrees, certificates, Specializations, & MOOCs in data science, computer science, business, health, and dozens of other topics. https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsif.2010.0686, Yezli, S., Otter, J.A. The risk is the chance, high or low, that somebody could be harmed by the hazards identified. [45], The Cambridge Working Group was formed by Harvard epidemiologist Marc Lipsitch with fellow scientists at a meeting held in Cambridge, Massachusetts, following a "trifecta" of biosecurity incidents involving the CDC, including the accidental exposure of viable anthrax to personnel at CDC's Roybal Campus,[46][47] the discovery of six vials containing viable smallpox from the 1950s, labeled as Variola but in a box with other samples poorly labeled, at the FDA's White Oak campus,[48] and the accidental shipping of H9N2 vials contaminated with H5N1 from the CDC lab to a USDA lab. [56], One of the group's founding members, University of Pittsburgh virologist W. Paul Duprex, has argued (c.2014) that the then-recent few events were exceptions to an overall good record of lab safety, and that these exceptions should not have been a reason for shutting down experiments that may have been of tangible benefit to public health. 9938948 http://doi.org/10.1098/rsif.2011.0537, Leung, N.H.L. WebThe latest Lifestyle | Daily Life news, tips, opinion and advice from The Sydney Morning Herald covering life and relationships, beauty, fashion, health & wellbeing Harper argued that the viruses themselves were made inoperative by the humidity (viable decay), however, he admitted that the effect could be from humidity-enhanced physical removal or sedimentation of the droplets (physical loss): Aerosol viabilities reported in this paper are based on the ratio of virus titre to radioactive count in suspension and cloud samples, and can be criticized on the ground that test and tracer materials were not physically identical.. No. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/j.1750-2659.2011.00307.x, There were 17 eligible studies. A fine insoluble powder, such astalcum powder, is sprinkled on a cleanwater surfacein a beaker, a drop ofdetergentorsoap solutionadded to the centre, and the effect observed as thesurface tensionof the water is changed. The book also addresses overarching issuespolicy responses and methods for predicting and managing catastrophes. [81][82][83][84] In January 2021, University of Saskatchewan virologist Angela Rasmussen wrote that one version of the information invoked previous gain-of-function work on coronaviruses to promulgate the idea that the virus was of laboratory origin. bin-Reza et al. As the detergent gradually mixes with the water, the powder begins to sink, and a needle will now pass through the surface with ease under its own weight. Follow any of the statewide accounts below, or find a list of county and other local NJAES units. New theoretical ideas for a big expedition. [35] Importantly, the experiments had been conducted before a research pause on H5N1 experiments had been agreed upon by the greater virologist community. The actual mechanism of such humidity-driven intra-droplet viable decay of a virion has not been explained or studied. Subsequently, symposia and expert panels were convened by the National Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity (NSABB) and National Research Council (NRC). Bostroms academic work has been translated into more than 30 languages. Label as Hard Water. The latter (physical loss) seems more plausible to me, since humidity would have a universal physical effect of causing particle/droplet growth and sedimentation, and all tested viral pathogens have essentially the same humidity-driven decay. Furthermore, it is difficult to understand how a virion (of all virus types) in a droplet would be molecularly or structurally attacked or damaged by an increase in ambient humidity. Face mask use in HCW was not demonstrated to provide benefit in terms of cold symptoms or getting colds. What are the dangers of bacterial growth on a used and loaded mask? It also describes some of the theoretical and practical challenges posed by various existential risks and suggests a new way of thinking about the ideal of sustainability. The sewing needle should be a fine needle, and for safety issued to students with the pointed end inserted into a piece of card bearing a safety warning about handling the needle. Cowling, B. et al. A risk assessment is a careful examination of what could cause harm to people during a scientific investigation. R. Soc. "[86] The Washington Post fact-checking team later rated Paul's statements as containing "significant omissions and/or exaggerations". These concerns encompass biosafety, relating to the accidental release of a pathogen into the population, biosecurity relating to the intentional release of a pathogen into the population, and bioethics, the principles of biorisk management and research review procedures. Experts say this kind of research is not unusual and the experiment was conducted in accordance with accepted safety procedures. (1989) Impact of Atmospheric Dispersion and Transport of Viral Aerosols on the Epidemiology of Influenza, Reviews of Infectious Diseases, Volume 11, Issue 3, May 1989, Pages 494497, https://doi.org/10.1093/clinids/11.3.494, Haas, C.N. On the other hand, if the MID is amply surpassed by the virions carried in a single aerosol particle able to evade mask-capture, then the mask is of no practical utility, which is the case. ", www.fhi.ox.ac.ukFuture of Humanity Institute, www.anthropic-principle.comPapers on observational selection effects, www.existential-risk.orgHuman extinction scenarios and related concerns, ON THE BANK Wanklyns and Clarkes soap solutions should still be available from chemical suppliers. Harper experimentally showed that viral-pathogen-carrying droplets were inactivated within shorter and shorter times, as ambient humidity was increased. In an absence of knowledge, governments should not make policies that have a hypothetical potential to cause harm. [15][16][17][18] Significant debate has taken place in the scientific community on how to assess the risks and benefit of gain-of-function research, how to publish such research responsibly, and how to engage the public in an open and honest review. the fact that cars in the other lane seem to be getting ahead faster than you? Furthermore, if there were any benefit to wearing a mask, because of the blocking power against droplets and aerosol particles, then there should be more benefit from wearing a respirator (N95) compared to a surgical mask, yet several large meta-analyses, and all the RCT, prove that there is no such relative benefit. The researchers later stated the NIH did not fund the experiments directly. Aggregative consequentialism (and many other important ethical theories) are threatened by total paralysis. There have been extensive randomized controlled trial (RCT) studies, and meta-analysis reviews of RCT studies, which all show that masks and respirators do not work to prevent respiratory influenza-like illnesses, or respiratory illnesses believed to be transmitted by droplets and aerosol particles. If we enhance ourselves using technology, however, we can go out there and realize these values. (2014) Estimates of the reproduction number for seasonal, pandemic, and zoonotic influenza: a systematic review of the literature, BMC Infect Dis 14, 480 (2014). Support the Reader: Alive & Free Since '93, Contact the advertising department: [email protected], Submit events to our calendar: [email protected], Most respiratory viruses are as infective in humans as in tissue culture having optimal laboratory susceptibility, It is believed that a single virion can be enough to induce illness in the host, The 50-percent probability MID (TCID50) has variably been found to be in the range 1001000 virions, There are typically 10 to 3rd power 10 to 7th powervirions per aerolized influenza droplet with diameter 1 m 10 m, The 50-percent probability MID easily fits into a single (one) aerolized droplet. Discover our premier periodical database Gale Academic OneFile. My interests cut across many disciplines and may therefore at the surface appear somewhat scattershot, but in fact they all share a common aim, namely to figure out how to orient ourselves with respect to important values. We publish a monthly printed tabloid size magazine, available for free throughout the Quad Cities at over 300 locations. If you're interested, please see: https://www.fhi.ox.ac.uk/vacancies/, www.simulation-argument.comDevoted to the question, "Are you living in a computer simulation? The experiment station provides a diverse range of research, extension, and education programs that serve the people of New Jersey and the urban, suburban, and rural communities in which they live. WebNews on Japan, Business News, Opinion, Sports, Entertainment and More WebWe work cooperatively with the New England and Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Councils, and the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission to develop, review, and implement fishery management plans in federal waters (from 3 to 200 nautical miles). Through its Cooperative Extension offices in all 21 New Jersey counties, dedicated 4-H agents, Extension specialists, Family & Community Health Sciences educators, and Agriculture and Natural Resources agents work to serve New Jersey residents in every area of the state. Aside from my work related to the AI control problem, I have also originated or contributed to the development of ideas such as the simulation argument, existential risk, transhumanism, information hazards, superintelligence strategy, astronomical waste, crucial considerations, observation selection effects in cosmology and other contexts of self-locating belief, anthropic shadow, the unilateralists curse, the parliamentary model of decision-making under normative uncertainty, the notion of a singleton, the vulnerable world hypothesis, along with a number of analyses of future technological capabilities and concomitant ethical issues, risks, and opportunities. Lowen et al. [54] Under the moratorium, any laboratory who conducted such research would put their future funding (for any project, not just the indicated pathogens) in jeopardy. We help educators around the world use technology to solve tough problems. Half fill the beaker with purified water. For studies about modeling and regarding mediation effects on the effective reproduction number, see Coburn (2009) and Tracht (2010). In any case, the filtration material itself of N95 (average pore size ~0.30.5 m) does not block virion penetration, not to mention surgical masks. is not merely some academic point. 2011 Aug;8(61):1176-1184. Those who seek the advancement of science should focus more on scientific research that facilitates further research across a wide range of domainsparticularly cognitive enhancement. Read more. - Todd McGreevy, Publisher, River Cities Reader #1004 - by River Cities Reader, You'll get both the currentofficial narrative challenge and What's Happenin' in the Quad Cities. Analyzes factors that determine level of risk in the Nash equilibrium. The results would not be transferable, because of differing cultural habits. Alternatively, it could be used to illustrate prior teaching of the topic, leading to discussion of what is happening when detergents and soaps are added, including the differences found with hard water. Should I wash my turkey? [69], From 2014 to 2017, the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy and the Department of Health and Human Services instituted a gain-of-function research moratorium and funding pause on any dual-use research into specific pandemic-potential pathogens (influenza, MERS, and SARS) while the regulatory environment and review process were reconsidered and overhauled. Columbia University virologist Ian Lipkin, who signed both statements, said "there has to be a coming together of what should be done". (2006) Kinetics of Influenza A Virus Infection in Humans, Journal of Virology Jul 2006, 80 (15) 7590-7599; DOI: 10.1128/JVI.01623-05 https://jvi.asm.org/content/80/15/7590, Balazy et al. Since the results can be quite impactful, it seems worth seeing if one can cultivate this kind of fruitat least in the negative sense of removing impediments to its growth. 1101 Wootton Parkway, Suite 200 For a definition of R0, see HealthKnowlege-UK (2020): R0 is the average number of secondary infections produced by a typical case of an infection in a population where everyone is susceptible. The average R0 for influenza is said to be 1.28 (1.191.37); see the comprehensive review by Biggerstaff et al. Compare what happens to what happened in the previous experiment. New Yorker profile (now a bit obsolete), Bio, CV, Contact. For a molecule in the middle of the liquid, these forces, acting equally in all directions, more or less balancing out. Risk is greatest where severity of consequence great and there is a high probability that an unwanted incident can occur. [79] On 9 January 2017, the HHS published the "Recommended Policy Guidance for Departmental Development of Review Mechanisms for Potential Pandemic Pathogen Care and Oversight" (P3CO). This is a resource from thePractical Chemistry project, developed by the Nuffield Foundation and the Royal Society of Chemistry. This collection of over 200 practical activities demonstrates a wide range of chemical concepts and processes. 3, Hagerstown, MD 21742; phone 800-638-3030; fax 301-223-2400. We are busy here preparing "[33] Questions were raised by other scientists including Marc Lipsitch of the T. H. Chan School of Public Health at Harvard University about the relative risks and benefits of this research. Such small aerosol particles fluidly suspended in air, of biological origin, are of every variety and are everywhere, including down to virion-sizes (Despres, 2012). We present a heuristic for correcting for one kind of bias (status quo bias), which we suggest affects many of our judgments about the consequences of modifying human nature. (2012) Wearing face masks in public during the influenza season may reflect other positive hygiene practices in Japan, BMC Public Health 12, 1065 (2012). doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0002618 https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0002618, Shaman, J. et al. Discusses the Fermi paradox, and explains why I hope we find no signs of life, whether extinct or still thriving, on Mars or anywhere else we look. Liquid soap - Genuine liquid soap or soap flakes from which the liquid can be made,is increasingly difficult to obtain. Argues that the Brookhaven report overlooks an observation selection effect. [39][42], Significant debate has taken place in the scientific community on how to assess risk-benefit of gain-of-function research, and how to engage the public in deliberations for policymaking. Monitoring and compliance measurement are near-impossible, and subject to largeerrors. In this case, public authorities would be turning the precautionary principle on its head (see below). [4] In vaccine development, gain-of-function research is conducted in the hope of gaining a head start on a virus and being able to develop a vaccine or therapeutic before it emerges. Observer-relative chances in anthropic reasoning? In any case, Im neither temperamentally nor ideologically inclined towards fanaticismor indeed towards any kind of -ism. The scholarship was named after former New Jersey Assemblyman Ronald Dancer, who passed away earlier this year. The species has been instrumental in winemaking, baking, and brewing since ancient times. Something like the parliamentary model of normative uncertainty is perhaps closer to what I would favor, though I dont think that is quite right either. In a landmark study, Shaman et al. [61] In 2010, the World Health Organization developed a non-binding guidance document for DURC, summarizing the positions of many different nations as "self-governing" and others as strictly following oversight based on the International Health Regulations, the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (BTWC), and the Center for International Security Studies' Biological Research Security System. WebThe New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station (NJAES) is an integral component of Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey. It is not surprising, therefore, that no bias-free study has ever found a benefit from wearing a mask or respirator in this application. Original essays by various prominent moral philosophers on the ethics of human enhancement. It may not even be obvious that there are any problems there to be solved. Hard water A supply of hard water can be made by stirring solid calcium sulfate into a large volume of tap water, allowing to stand for some time then, after the undissolved solid has settled out, decanting the clear solution into a container suitable for students to collect their samples as required. School of Environmental and Biological Sciences, November 16 by The Philadelphia Inquirer, New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station, Office of Continuing Professional Education, Rutgers Food Innovation Program appoints five advisory board members, Rutgers Equine Science Center hosts 'Evening of Science and Celebration', Everything you need to know about Jersey-grown Christmas trees | Gardener State. WebPrimary and secondary homeschooling lessons from BBC Bitesize covering English, Maths, Science and more This paper makes a load of specific claims that begin to stake out a position. Stay informed with our newsletters. [50][52][53], The group engaged in public advocacy, influencing the US government's decision in December 2014 to suspend funding of research that would create certain types of novel potential pandemic pathogens. DOI: 10.1098/rsif.2010.0686. Such recklessness is also certainly the case with the current global lockdown of over 1 billion people, an unprecedented experiment in medical and political history. Among outpatient health care personnel, N95 respirators vs medical masks as worn by participants in this trial resulted in no significant difference in the incidence of laboratory-confirmed influenza., Long, Y. et al. Embryo Selection for Cognitive Enhancement: Curiosity or Game-changer? [36][37] They used these experiments to determine that certain genes, if reassorted in such a dual-infection scenario in the wild, would allow transmission of the H5N1 virus more easily in mammals (notably guinea pigs as a model organism for rodent species), proving that certain agricultural scenarios carry the risk of allowing H5N1 to cross over into mammals. A hazard is anything that may cause harm, such as chemicals, electricity, extreme heat etc. (2010) Preliminary Estimates of Mortality and Years of Life Lost Associated with the 2009 A/H1N1 Pandemic in the US and Comparison with Past Influenza Seasons, PLoS Curr. Before the light goes out leaving us WebGain-of-function research (GoF research or GoFR) is medical research that genetically alters an organism in a way that may enhance the biological functions of gene products.This may include an altered pathogenesis, transmissibility, or host range, i.e. ", Response to 2010 Edge Question: "How is the Internet changing the way you think? The Association for Academic Surgery is widely recognized as an inclusive surgical organization. RELATED COMMENTARY: An Unprecedented Experiment: Sometimes You Just Gotta Wear the Stupid, Endnotes: Baccam, P. et al. Second, it could be good for human beings to become posthuman. To combat this problem, we propose a principle of conformity. This is a situation where it is not clear what the right questions are or how to get a grip on them intellectually. Copyright 1993-2021River Cities' Reader. Zwart et al. The researchers deny that the research was funded by the NIH, and also deny that the experiment qualified as gain-of-function in the first place. (2010) Mathematical Modeling of the Effectiveness of Facemasks in Reducing the Spread of Novel Influenza A (H1N1), PLoS ONE 5(2): e9018. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0009018 https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0009018, Viboud C. et al. Note that most liquid hand washes are based on the same detergents as washing-up liquids and do not contain soap. The Belmont Report was written by the National Commission for the Protection of Human Subjects of Biomedical and Behavioral Research. Careful observation of the floating needle will show that the water surface is bent down under the weight of the needle, the surface tension causing it to behave as if the needle was supported by a flexible skin. A diagram of a detergent or soap molecule, which is responsible for breaking down surface tension. ", Propositions Concerning Digital Minds and Society, Strategic Implications of Openness in AI Development, Hail Mary, Value Porosity, and Utility Diversification, The Reversal Test: Eliminating Status Quo Bias in Applied Ethics, Astronomical Waste: The Opportunity Cost of Delayed Technological Development, The Unilateralist's Curse: The Case for a Principle of Conformity, Public Policy and Superintelligent AI: A Vector Field Approach, Enhancement Ethics: The State of the Debate, Human Genetic Enhancements: A Transhumanist Perspective, Ethical Issues In Advanced Artificial Intelligence, Smart Policy: Cognitive Enhancement and the Public Interest, Why I Want to be a Posthuman When I Grow Up, Where Are They? WebProfessional Learning. Is there a level of technology at which civilization gets destroyed by default? Nuffield Foundation and the Royal Society of Chemistry, Great advice for new (and experienced) teachers to ensure classroom experiments go well every time, Give your students a sweet treat with this colourful manganate(VII) reaction demo, Use this research context to show students how, and why, industry recover their catalysts, Practical experiment where learners produce gold coins by electroplating a copper coin with zinc, includes follow-up worksheet. Overview of ethical issues raised by the possibility of creating intelligent machines. The symposium was held at the request of the U.S. government to provide a mechanism to engage the life sciences community and the broader public and solicit feedback on optimal approaches to ensure effective federal oversight of GOF research as part of a broader U.S. government deliberative process. Codes Construction materials Lab certifications Reference materials Official time A risk assessment is a careful examination of what could cause harm to people during a scientific investigation. Other powders may clump into nodules if they are not wetted by the detergent solution. [36], A preprint by Boston University researchers, published on 14 October 2022, described their experiments splicing the SARS-CoV-2 BA.1 Omicron's spike protein into an ancestral SARS-CoV-2 variant isolated in the early days of the pandemic, creating a new chimeric version of the virus. (2009) Modeling influenza epidemics and pandemics: insights into the future of swine flu (H1N1), BMC Med 7, 30. https://doi.org/10.1186/1741-7015-7-30, Davies, A. et al. WebAssessment for learning; Microscale chemistry; Faces of chemistry Each experiment should take no more than two minutes, though the cleaning of the beaker between experiments may take up more time than expected. (2009) Use of surgical face masks to reduce the incidence of the common cold among health care workers in Japan: A randomized controlled trial, American Journal of Infection Control, Volume 37, Issue 5, 417 419. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19216002. Do used and loaded masks become sources of enhanced transmission, for the wearer and others? A number of other consequences of this result are also discussed. Physics and Biology of Viral Respiratory Disease and of Why Masks Do Not Work In order to understand why masks cannot possibly work, we must review established knowledge about viral respiratory diseases, the mechanism of seasonal variation of excess deaths from pneumonia and influenza, the aerosol mechanism of infectious disease transmission, the physics and chemistry of aerosols, and the mechanism of the so-called minimum-infective-dose. to help make South Australias primary A long-form feature profile of me, by Raffi Khatchadourian. But you can presumably do only a finite amount of good or bad. WebRequest Trial >> Are you a librarian, professor, or teacher looking for Questia School or other student-ready resources? When driving on the motorway, have you ever wondered about (and cursed!) (2011) Minimum Infective Dose of the Major Human Respiratory and Enteric Viruses Transmitted Through Food and the Environment, Food Environ Virol 3, 130. After disentangling several different concepts of dignity, this essay focuses on the idea of dignity as a quality (a kind of excellence admitting of degrees). https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-12-1065, Yang, W. et al. This slightly more recent (but still obsolete) article briefly reviews the argument set out in the previous one, and notes four immediate consequences of human-level machine intelligence. (2012) Primary biological aerosol particles in the atmosphere: a review, Tellus B: Chemical and Physical Meteorology, 64:1, 15598, DOI: 10.3402/tellusb.v64i0.15598 https://doi.org/10.3402/tellusb.v64i0.15598, Dowell, S. F. (2001) Seasonal variation in host susceptibility and cycles of certain infectious diseases, Emerg Infect Dis. WebFISH provides a powerful tool for identifying the location of a cloned DNA sequence on metaphase chromosomes. [58][59], Notable signatories are Constance Cepko, Dickson Despommier, Erica Ollmann Saphire, Geoffrey Smith, Karla Kirkegaard, Sean Whelan, Vincent Racaniello and Yoshihiro Kawaoka. Technological revolutions are among the most important things that happen to humanity. Imaginary dialogue, set in the year 2050, in which three pundits debate the big issues of their time. In addition to pandemics that can occur anytime, in the temperate latitudes there is an extra burden of respiratory-disease mortality that is seasonal, and that is caused by viruses. Are there negative social consequences to a masked society? Examines the risk from physics experiments and natural events to the local fabric of spacetime. Lack of clarity hampers research", "PolitiFact - Claim that Boston University created COVID-19 strain with an 80% kill rate omits important details", "Why do labs keep making dangerous viruses? Review of the Medical LiteratureHere are key anchor points to the extensive scientific literature that establishes that wearing surgical masks and respirators (e.g., N95) does not reduce the risk of contracting a verified illness: Jacobs, J. L. et al. With recent advances in AI (and much more to come before too long, presumably) it is remarkable how neglected this issue still is. "[80], During the COVID-19 pandemic a number of highly speculative theories spread about the origin of the SARS-CoV-2 virus and links to gain-of-function research. [22][23], In early 2011, two groups were investigating how flu viruses specific to birds could possibly cross over and create pandemics in humans: one led by Yoshihiro Kawaoka at the University of WisconsinMadison in Madison, Wisconsin and another led by Ron Fouchier at Erasmus University Medical Center in the Netherlands. In other papers Ive pointed out difficulties for aggregative consequentialism; see, e.g., Infinite Ethics and Pascal's Mugging. 88 Lipman Drive, New Brunswick, NJ 08901-8525. However, Im not a consequentialist. Rather, the second wave is an inescapable consequence of an air-dryness-driven many-fold increase in disease contagiousness, in a population that has not yet attained immunity. "[55] Since its publication, the SfS statement has received 200+ signatures from working scientists, academics, and biosafety professionals. Preliminary survey of various issues related to the idea of using boxing methods to safely contain a superintelligent oracle AI. Each activity contains comprehensive information for teachers and technicians, including full technical notes and step-by-step procedures. Fishing the Pacific lifts spirits, feeds families and supports the economies of California, Oregon, Washin et al. This can be repeated with other powders after cleaning the beaker and using fresh water samples. (2016) Effectiveness of N95 respirators versus surgical masks in protecting health care workers from acute respiratory infection: a systematic review and meta-analysis, CMAJ Mar 2016 https://www.cmaj.ca/content/188/8/567, We identified six clinical studies . Six of the six mice exposed to the ancestral variant died; eight of the ten mice exposed to the chimeric variant died; and none of the ten mice exposed to Omicron died. The event was attended by scientists from around the world, including George Gao, Gabriel Leung and Michael Selgelid, Baruch Fischhoff, Alta Charo, Harvey Fineberg, Jonathan Moreno, Ralph Cicerone, Margaret Hamburg, Jo Handelsman, Samuel Stanley, Kenneth Berns, Ralph Baric, Robert Lamb, Silja Vneky, Keiji Fukuda, David Relman, and Marc Lipsitch. (From Words from the Publisher: Haas, C.N. the types of hosts that a microorganism can infect. > The Belmont Report, Ethical Principles and Guidelines for the Protection of Human Subjects of Research. Do masks become collectors and retainers of pathogens that the mask wearer would otherwise avoid when breathing without a mask? All rights reserved, (Did you know we publisha new Amy Alkon Advice Goddess, Real Astrology, Red Meat cartoon and RCR Crosswordevery week? WebRisk assessment. (From Words from the Publisher: "We pledge to publish all letters, guest commentaries, or studies refuting [Rancourt's]general premise that this mask-wearing culture and shaming could be more harmful than helpful. Help Keep the Reader Alive and Free Since '93! Discussion on the simulation argument with Lex Fridman. The normally bird-specific virus, through replication over time in the ferrets' lungs, had adopted several amino acid changes that enabled it to replicate in the mammalian lungs, which are notably colder than those found in birds. Matrices are commonly used to evaluate risk. We'll need a modus vivendi, and its becoming urgent to figure out the parameters for that. We explore a variety of potential cures, and discover that none works perfectly and all have serious side-effects. Brooke Maslo and her team survey the sites and then design floodplain restoration plans to increase the communitys resilience during future flooding. This means that the slightest (even momentary) facial misfit of a mask or respirator renders the design filtration norm of the mask or respirator entirely irrelevant. (2007) demonstrated the phenomenon of humidity-dependent airborne-virus virulence in actual disease transmission between guinea pigs, and discussed potential underlying mechanisms for the measured controlling effect of humidity. For example, see Balazy et al. It is not entirely unlikely that viruses can thereby be physically transported over inter-continental distances (e.g., Hammond, 1989). There are no exceptions. Cosmological Constant and the Final Anthropic Hypothesis, Quantity of Experience: Brain-Duplication and Degrees of Consciousness, Crucial Considerations and Wise Philanthropy. Working on a big writing project (not yet ready to announce). Several also wrote that sensationalized headlines and framings of the ongoing process as a "debate" with "opposing sides" had negatively affected the process, while the reality is much more collegial. The use of N95 respirators compared with surgical masks is not associated with a lower risk of laboratory-confirmed influenza.. In response to the call for evidence for the UK government's 2020 Integrated Review. While there is no recipe for paradigm-creating, I think that some factorssuch as intellectual curiosity; a self-critical habit of noticing subtle confusions or tensions in ones present outlook and leaning into them rather away from them; a nose for what is important and promising; and simply sustained hard thinkingmake success more likely. According to the preprint, the work was supported by grants from various branches of the NIH. The prevention methods are strategies put in place to avoid any injuries. Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey If my view of the mechanism is correct (i.e., physical loss), then Shamans work further necessarily implies that the dryness-driven high transmissibility (large R0) arises from small aerosol particles fluidly suspended in the air; as opposed to large droplets that are quickly gravitationally removed from the air. Until about a decade ago, AGI and superintelligence were widely dismissed as a science fiction topic and ignored by academia. Gain-of-function research (GoF research or GoFR) is medical research that genetically alters an organism in a way that may enhance the biological functions of gene products. The present paper about masks illustrates the degree to which governments, the mainstream media, and institutional propagandists can decide to operate in a science vacuum, or select only incomplete science that serves their interests. Information about your use of this website will be shared with Google and other third parties. Such small particles (< 2.5 m) are part of air fluidity, are not subject to gravitational sedimentation, and would not be stopped by long-range inertial impact. In hard water there is a significant concentration of calcium, Ca2+, and/or magnesium, Mg2+, cations. I sometimes refer to this as macrostrategy: the study of how the value of ultimate outcomes may be connected to present-day actions. It is believed to have been originally isolated from the skin of grapes. Of what was there before us These cations form an insoluble compound with soap anions, so instead of forming a surface layer, they are precipitated out, leaving the surface tension largely unchanged. "[5][6], Some forms of gain-of-function research (specifically work which involves certain select agent pathogens) carry inherent biosafety and biosecurity risks, and are thus also referred to as dual use research of concern (DURC). For a molecule in the surface layer of the liquid, the forces do not balance out, and all the molecules in the surface layer are pulled towards each other and towards the bulk of the liquid. [26][27] This small change also allowed the virus to transmit via droplets in the air made when the ferrets' coughed or sneezed. The revised version 2.1. Rasmussen stated that this was unlikely, due to the intense scrutiny and government oversight to which GoFR is subject, and it is improbable that research on hard-to-obtain coronaviruses could occur under the radar. (2017) Effectiveness of Masks and Respirators Against Respiratory Infections in Healthcare Workers: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis, Clinical Infectious Diseases, Volume 65, Issue 11, 1 December 2017, Pages 19341942, https://academic.oup.com/cid/article/65/11/1934/4068747. [24], Proponents of the Kawaoka and Fouchier experiments cited several benefits: these answered the question of how a virus like H5N1 could possibly become airborne in humans, allowed other researchers to develop vaccines and therapeutics which specifically targeted these amino acid changes,[28][29][30] and also demonstrated that there was a linkage between transmissibility in avian viruses and lethality: while the virus had become more transmissible, it had also become significantly less deadly. For more on me, see e.g. WebRead latest breaking news, updates, and headlines. Practical 1.4 - Investigating the effect of temperature on the action of an enzyme, Drawing conclusions from an experiment (CCEA), Home Economics: Food and Nutrition (CCEA). Humans are relatively expensive but absolutely cheap. Again using a clean beaker with purified water, try to float a fine sewing needle on the surface by carefully lowering it into the beaker, avoiding breaking the surface with your fingers, and dropping it from as close above the surface as possible. This would enable iterated embryo selection (IES), compressing the effective generation time in a selection program from decades to months. Rutgers New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station research and extension programs are primarily funded through appropriations and sponsored research. Read more, ESC announced the scholarship during its 2022 Evening of Science & Celebration in November. Lycopodium powder is a potential allergen. The original April 2020 white paper in .pdf format is available here, complete with charts that have not been reprinted in the Reader print or web versions. Read more, In this op-ed FCHS chair Sara Elnakib urges the White House to tackle sustainability and hunger together as it moves forward. ", Response to 2009 Edge Question: "What will change everything? Our Rutgers Cooperative Extension county offices, found in all 21 counties, are the result of a partnership between Rutgers Cooperative Extension, Boards of County Commissioners, and the US Department of Agriculture. My actual views are more complex. (2010) is not dependent on the particular mechanism of the humidity-driven decay of virions in aerosol/droplets. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2334-14-480, Brooke, C. B. et al. Clean the beaker thoroughly, half-fill again with purified water, and repeatsteps two and threeusing a drop of liquid soap instead of detergent. [90], Experiments that have been referred to as "gain-of-function", Gain-of-Function Research: A Second Symposium, National Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity, Learn how and when to remove this template message, National Avian Influenza Reference Laboratory, National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (BTWC), COVID-19 misinformation Wuhan lab origin, Chief Medical Advisor to the United States Office of the President, "Gain-of-Function Research: Ethical Analysis", "Recommended Policy Guidance for Departmental Development of Review Mechanisms for Potential Pandemic Pathogen Care and Oversight (P3CO)", Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response, European Academies Science Advisory Council, "Dual Use Research of Concern (DURC) Committee - NIH Office of Intramural Research", United States Department of Health and Human Services, "Emerging Dual-use Technologies in the Life Sciences: Challenges and Policy Recommendations on Export Control SIPRI", "German Ethics Council: Government Should Regulate Dangerous Research", American Association for the Advancement of Science, "United States Government Policy for Institutional Oversight of Life Sciences Dual Use Research of Concern", "Biosecurity and the Review and Publication of Dual-Use Research of Concern", "The Deep Dish on Institutional DURC Policy: Calling All Stakeholders! The effect of these molecules on the water surface is to considerably weaken the forces between water molecules there, thus lowering the surface tension. Rutgers is an equal access/equal opportunity institution. If you need to contact me directly (I regret I am not always able to respond to emails): Email hidden by javascript, enable to view. A self-undermining variant of the Newcomb problem. Professor, University of Oxford Feels like from another era. (Publisher's note: All links to source references to studies here forward are found at the end of this article.). Find free videos, step-by-step guides, activities and quizzes by level and subject. This paper looks in detail at this question and suggests that there can be a fractional (non-integer) number of qualitatively identical experiences. Over one hour, the inhalation dose was estimated to be 30 18 median tissue culture infectious dose (TCID50), adequate to induce infection. Such systems can be difficult to upgrade. In my book, I argued that a theory of observation selection effects is needed to explain where it goes wrong. Existential risks are ways in which we could screw up badly and permanently. doi:10.3201/eid0703.010301 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2631809/, Hammond, G. W. et al. Recounts the Tale of a most vicious Dragon that ate thousands of people every day, and of the actions that the King, the People, and an assembly of Dragonologists took with respect thereto. How to make a difference in research: interview for 80,000 Hours, On cognitive enhancement and status quo bias. ")[41] All research funded by the NIH that can make COVID more virulent or transmissible must undergo an extra gain-of-function review. )[39][40] On 17 October, the Daily Mail ran the headline "Boston University CREATES a new COVID strain that has an 80% kill rate echoing dangerous experiments feared to have started the pandemic". On the bank at the end (2006) Do N95 respirators provide 95% protection level against airborne viruses, and how adequate are surgical masks?, American Journal of Infection Control, Volume 34, Issue 2, March 2006, Pages 51-57. doi:10.1016/j.ajic.2005.08.018 http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.488.4644&rep=rep1&type=pdf, Biggerstaff, M. et al. Our research and research surveys provide the necessary information needed to evaluate the ", Response to 2011 Edge Question: "What scientific concept would improve everybody's cognitive toolkit? Is aggregative ethics doomed? This suggests that "mutations outside of spike are major determinants of the attenuated pathogenicity of Omicron 209 in K18-hACE2 mice". Our tips from experts and exam survivors will help you through. It has applications in technology policy and many other areas. The good life: just how good could it be? Modeling of virus concentrations indoors suggested a source strength of 1.6 1.2 105 genome copies m3 air h1 and a deposition flux onto surfaces of 13 7 genome copies m2 h1 by Brownian motion. 15-minute interview about status quo bias in bioethics, and the "reversal test" by which such bias might be cured. To put it simply, the second wave of an epidemic is not a consequence of human sin regarding mask wearing and hand shaking. (2009) An experimental test of the independent action hypothesis in virus insect pathosystems, Proc. (2007) Influenza Virus Transmission Is Dependent on Relative Humidity and Temperature, PLoS Pathog 3(10): e151. (1993) Risk Assessment of Virus in Drinking Water, Risk Analysis, 13: 545-552. doi:10.1111/j.1539-6924.1993.tb00013.x https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1539-6924.1993.tb00013.x, HealthKnowlege-UK (2020) Charter 1a - Epidemiology: Epidemic theory (effective & basic reproduction numbers, epidemic thresholds) & techniques for analysis of infectious disease data (construction & use of epidemic curves, generation numbers, exceptional reporting & identification of significant clusters), HealthKnowledge.org.uk, accessed on 2020-04-10. https://www.healthknowledge.org.uk/public-health-textbook/research-methods/1a- epidemiology/epidemic-theory, Lai, A. C. K. et al. Human beings are a marvel of evolved complexity. These results provide quantitative support for the idea that the aerosol route could be an important mode of influenza transmission.. Or could our dignity perhaps be technologically enhanced? According to the risk assessment of the Nuclear Power industry, a reactor would only have 1 core damage event every 20,000 years. 2010; 2:RRN1153. This paper discusses some of the ethical and policy issues raised by anticipated technological revolutions, such as nanotechnology. The document also recommended the aforementioned as potential resources for countries to develop their own policies and procedures for DURC. HHS Precautionary Principle Turned on Its Head with Masks In light of the medical research, therefore, it is difficult to understand why public-health authorities are not consistently adamant about this established scientific result, since the distributed psychological, economic, and environmental harm from a broad recommendation to wear masks is significant, not to mention the unknown potential harm from concentration and distribution of pathogens on and from used masks. Read more, Rutgers has a unique program to transform purchased properties into functioning ecosystems. According to Francis Fukuyama, yes. AIs with moral status and political rights? To sign up for updates or to access your subscriber preferences, please enter your contact information below. "[89], Several scientists have criticized the US government's GoFR regulations as having serious shortcomings (especially with regards to the NIH's funding of the EcoHealth Alliance grant proposal). by investigating the implications of hypothetical technologies or structural conditions in the current world order) and the meta level (e.g. with Rutgers websites to: [email protected] or complete the Report Accessibility Barrier or Provide Feedback Form. 15-minute audio interview explaining the simulation argument. The introductory chapter from the book: 122, A transhumanist ethical framework for public policy regarding genetic enhancements, particularly human germ-line genetic engineering, Anthology chapter on the ethics of human enhancement. FHI is always looking for top talent. (2006). If you do test any of these, what differences do you find? Mask compliance and mask adjustment habits would be unknown. [9][10][11] A mirrored approach can be seen in the European Union's Dual Use Coordination Group (DUCG). Molecules of most detergents and soaps are long chain hydrocarbon molecules with an ionic group at one end, usually carrying a negative charge, thus making it an anion. Statewide NJAES and local units are using social media to connect with their audiences. (2012) Effectiveness of facemasks to reduce exposure hazards for airborne infections among general populations, J. R. Soc. Aquaculture, shellfish restoration, seafood safety, fishing industry, estuarine reserve, deep sea research, wetlands. A diagram of the forces enabling a needle to float on water. We apply this heuristic to the case of cognitive enhancements, and argue that the consequentialist case for this is much stronger than commonly recognized. This paper elaborates the concept of existential risk and its relation to basic issues in axiology and develops an improved classification scheme for such risks. [49], On July 14, 2014, the group published a Consensus Statement authored by 18 founding members, including Amir Attaran, Barry Bloom, Arturo Casadevall, Richard H. Ebright, Alison Galvani, Edward Hammond, Thomas Inglesby, Michael Osterholm, David Relman, Richard Roberts, Marcel Salath and Silja Vneky. 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