Avoid Bald Men and People with Green Socks? Other Ways to Improve the Voir Dire Process in Jury Selection

During jury selection, many courts adopt a minimal approach to voir dire questioning, asking a small number of close-ended questions to groups of prospective jurors and requiring prospective jurors to volunteer their biases. The Article describes research evidence showing that limited voir dire questioning is often ineffective in detecting juror bias. To improve the effectiveness of voir dire, the authors make four recommendations: (1) increase the use of juror questionnaires; (2) incorporate some open-ended questions; (3) expand the types of questions that are asked; and (4) allow attorneys to participate in voir dire

Hierarchically-structured metalloprotein composite coatings biofabricated from co-existing condensed liquid phases

Complex hierarchical structure governs emergent properties in biopolymeric materials; yet, the material processing involved remains poorly understood. Here, we investigated the multi-scale structure and composition of the mussel byssus cuticle before, during and after formation to gain insight into the processing of this hard, yet extensible metal cross-linked protein composite. Our findings reveal that the granular substructure crucial to the cuticle’s function as a wear-resistant coating of an extensible polymer fiber is pre-organized in condensed liquid phase secretory vesicles. These are phase-separated into DOPA-rich proto-granules enveloped in a sulfur-rich proto-matrix which fuses during secretion, forming the sub-structure of the cuticle. Metal ions are added subsequently in a site-specific way, with iron contained in the sulfur-rich matrix and vanadium coordinated by DOPA-catechol in the granule. We posit that this hierarchical structure self-organizes via phase separation of specific amphiphilic proteins within secretory vesicles, resulting in a meso-scale structuring that governs cuticle function

Effekten av olika koncentrationer av Rotstop R och Rotstop S och ofullständig täckning av Rotstop S på sporinfektioner av rotticka på granstubbar

The effectiveness of treatment with two Phlebiopsis gigantea based preparations (Rotstop® and RotstopS) in different concentrations against the root and butt rot causing fungus Heterobasidion annosum s.l. on Norway spruce (Picea abies) thinning stumps in southern Sweden was compared. The trees were cut on three sites during the summer 2004 and 285 stumps were treated manually with 100% cover with two different amounts of spores in solution corresponding to approximately 5×106 spores/l and 10×106 spores/l. 31 stumps received mechanical part cover with the highest spore concentrations of Phlebiopsis gigantea, i.e. approximately 20×106 spores/l. Mechanical treatment was assessed for satisfactory treatment effect. Three months later, samples were collected and analyzed. There was a significant reduction in frequency and relative areas of Heterobasidion spp. infections on stumps with manual application of control agents compared to untreated stumps. On average 10 to 23% of stumps subjected to manual treatments were infected compared to 52% for the untreated stumps. However, none of the concentration solutions of Rotstop® and RotstopS differed from the others in reduction of Heterobasidion spp. infections. Mechanical treatment failed to control the Heterobasidion spp. infections, but there was a tendency for the 85.1-95.0% cover class to provide better result than the others. Thus, despite of the incomplete control of the pathogen, stump treatment with different concentrations of Phlebiopsis gigantea oidia in suspensions provided equal effects at the present spore loads of Heterobasidion spp.Effektiviteten av behandling med två pergamentsvampsbaserade (Phlebiopsis gigantea) lösningar (Rotstop® och RotstopS) i olika koncentrationer mot sporinfektioner av rotticka (Heterobasidion spp.) på gallringsstubbar av gran (Picea abies) i södra Sverige jämfördes. Träd avverkades på tre olika lokaler under sommaren 2004 och sammanlagt 285 stubbar behandlades manuellt med en hundraprocentig täckning i två olika koncentrationer motsvarande ungefär 5×106 sporer/l respektive 10×106 sporer/l lösning. 31 stubbar på en av lokalerna behandlades maskinellt med en ofullständig täckning men med den högsta koncentrationen av pergamentsvamp (RotstopS), ca 20×106 sporer/l lösning. Effekten av den mekaniska behandlingens partiella täckning jämfördes med den manuella fullständiga. Tre månader efter behandlingen samlades prover in för analys med avseende på förekomsten av rotticka. Alla manuella behandlingar gav en signifikant reducering av frekvensen av och relativa arean av rottickeinfektioner jämfört med obehandlade stubbar. I genomsnitt var 10 till 23 % av de manuellt behandlade stubbarna infekterade jämfört med 52 % av de obehandlade. Ingen av de manuella applikationerna skiljde sig dock från varandra. Den mekaniska behandlingen gav inte ett tillfredsställande resultat men det fanns en tendens till att täckningsgradsklass 85,1- 95,0 % fungerade bättre än de andra. Således, trots att ingen behandling gav en 100 % -ig minskning av antalet rottickeinfektioner, verkar olika koncentrationer av Rotstop® och RotstopS ge ett likvärdigt resultat under de förhållanden i sportryck som rådde vid behandlingen

Swiss GPs’ preferences for antidepressant treatment in mild depression : vignette-based quantitative analysis

Background: GPs frequently prescribe antidepressants in mild depression. The aim of this study was to examine, how often Swiss GPs recommend antidepressants in various clinical presentations of mild depression and which factors contribute to antidepressant treatment recommendations. Methods: We conducted an online survey among Swiss GPs with within-subject effect analysis. Alternating case vignettes described a typical female case of mild depression according to International Classification of Diseases, 10th edition criteria, with and without anxiety symptoms and sleep problems. GPs indicated for each vignette their preferred treatments (several recommendations were possible). Additionally, we assessed GP characteristics, attitudes towards depression treatments, and elements of clinical decision-making. Results: Altogether 178 GPs completed the survey. In the initial description of a case with mild depression, 11% (95%-CI: 7%-17%) of GPs recommended antidepressants. If anxiety symptoms were added to the same case, 29% (23%-36%) recommended antidepressants. If sleep problems were mentioned, 47% (40%-55%) recommended antidepressants, and if both sleep problems and anxiety symptoms were mentioned, 63% (56%-70%) recommended antidepressants. Several factors were independently associated with increased odds of recommending antidepressants, specifically more years of practical experience, an advanced training in psychosomatic and psychosocial medicine, self-dispensation, and a higher perceived effectiveness of antidepressants. By contrast, a higher perceived influence of patient characteristics and the use of clinical practice guidelines were associated with reduced odds of recommending antidepressants. Conclusions: Consistent with depression practice guidelines, Swiss GPs rarely recommended antidepressants in mild depression if no co-indications (i.e., sleep problems and anxiety symptoms) were depicted. However, presence of sleep problems and anxiety symptoms, many years of practical experience, overestimation of antidepressants’ effectiveness, self-dispensation, an advanced training in psychosomatic and psychosocial medicine, and non-use of clinical practice guidelines may independently lead to antidepressant over-prescribing

Identifying the potential of SiC technology for PV inverters

Silicon Carbide (SiC) devices offer energy efficiency improvements over conventional silicon (Si) semiconductors. Through measurements and simulation results, this paper intends to quantify this efficiency improvement in a typical photovoltaic (PV) application. This allows designers and policy makers to better understand the benefits of SiC, enabling more informed decisions

A toy model of the five-dimensional universe with the cosmological constant

A value of the cosmological constant in a toy model of the five-dimensional universe is calculated in such a manner that it remains in agreement with both astronomical observations and the quantum field theory concerning the zero-point fluctuations of the vacuum. The (negative) cosmological constant is equal to the inverse of the Planck length squared, which means that in the toy model the vanishing of the observed value of the cosmological constant is a consequence of the existence of an energy cutoff exactly at the level of the Planck scale. In turn, a model for both a virtual and a real particle-antiparticle pair is proposed which describes properly some energetic properties of both the vacuum fluctuations and created particles, as well as it allows one to calculate the discrete "bare" values of an elementary-particle mass, electric charge and intrinsic angular momentum (spin) at the energy cutoff. The relationships between the discussed model and some phenomena such as the Zitterbewegung and the Unruh-Davies effect are briefly analyzed, too. The proposed model also allows one to derive the Lorentz transformation and the Maxwell equations while considering the properties of the vacuum filled with the sea of virtual particles and their antiparticles. Finally, the existence of a finite value of the vacuum-energy density resulting from the toy model leads us to the formulation of dimensionless Einstein field equations which can be derived from the Lagrangian with a dimensionless (naively renormalized) coupling constant.Comment: 52 pages, 1 figure; a post-final, rewritten version with a number of new remarks and conclusion

Conseil-santé dans la médecine de premier recours, partie 2

Les maladies non transmissibles (MNT, en anglais «non-communicable diseases») ont gagné du terrain dans le monde entier. Les approches de conseil fourni au cabinet médical ont déjà été présentées dans un premier article. Le présent article se consacre aux conditions permettant à ces approches de déployer leur efficacité au niveau de la population. Ceci est illustré sur la base des programmes suisses actuels «Vivre sans tabac», PAPRICA et «Coaching Santé» ainsi que de l’exemple historique «Ça débouche sur quoi?»

Optimising recovery of DNA from minimally invasive sampling methods: Efficacy of buccal swabs, preservation strategy and DNA extraction approaches for amphibian studies

\ua9 2024 The Author(s). Ecology and Evolution published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.Studies in evolution, ecology and conservation are increasingly based on genetic and genomic data. With increased focus on molecular approaches, ethical concerns about destructive or more invasive techniques need to be considered, with a push for minimally invasive sampling to be optimised. Buccal swabs have been increasingly used to collect DNA in a number of taxa, including amphibians. However, DNA yield and purity from swabs are often low, limiting its use. In this study, we compare different types of swabs, preservation method and storage, and DNA extraction techniques in three case studies to assess the optimal approach for recovering DNA in anurans. Out of the five different types of swabs that we tested, Isohelix MS-02 and Rapidry swabs generated higher DNA yields than other swabs. When comparing storage buffers, ethanol is a better preservative than a non-alcoholic alternative. Dried samples resulted in similar or better final DNA yields compared to ethanol-fixed samples if kept cool. DNA extraction via a Qiagen™ DNeasy Blood and Tissue Kit and McHale\u27s salting-out extraction method resulted in similar DNA yields but the Qiagen™ kit extracts contained less contamination. We also found that samples have better DNA recovery if they are frozen as soon as possible after collection. We provide recommendations for sample collection and extraction under different conditions, including budgetary considerations, size of individual animal sampled, access to cold storage facilities and DNA extraction methodology. Maximising efficacy of all of these factors for better DNA recovery will allow buccal swabs to be used for genetic and genomic studies in a range of vertebrates