Rock v. Arkansas

Evidence/Constitutional Law-THE ADMISSIBILITY OF POSTHYPNOTIC TESTIMONY: CONSTITUTIONAL CONSIDERATIONS AND THE DEFENDANT\u27S RIGHT TO TESTIF

We’re All Infected: Legal Personhood, Bare Life and The Walking Dead

This article argues that greater theoretical attention should be paid to the figure of the zombie in the fields of law, cultural studies and philosophy. Using The Walking Dead as a point of critical departure concepts of legal personhood are interrogated in relation to permanent vegetative states, bare life and the notion of the third person. Ultimately, the paper recommends a rejection of personhood; instead favouring a legal and philosophical engagement with humanity and embodiment. Personhood, it is suggested, creates a barrier in law allowing individuals in certain contexts (and in certain embodied states) to be rendered non-persons and thus outside the scope of legal rights. An approach that rejects personhood in favour of embodiment would allow individuals to enjoy their rights without being subject to such discrimination. It is also suggested that the concept of the human, itself complicated by the figure of the zombie, allows for legal engagement with a greater number of putative rights claimants including admixed embryos, cyborgs and the zombie

Efficacy and Safety of Repeated Subcutaneous Ketamine Injections for Treatment Resistant Depression - The KADS Study: A Randomised, Double-Blind, Comparator-Controlled Trial

Background Prior trials suggest that intravenous racemic ketamine is a highly effective for treatment-resistant depression (TRD), but phase 3 trials of racemic ketamine are needed. Aims To assess the acute efficacy and safety of a 4-week course of subcutaneous racemic ketamine in participants with TRD. Trial registration: ACTRN12616001096448 at www.anzctr.org.au. Method This phase 3, double-blind, randomised, active-controlled multicentre trial was conducted at seven mood disorders centres in Australia and New Zealand. Participants received twice-weekly subcutaneous racemic ketamine or midazolam for 4 weeks. Initially, the trial tested fixed-dose ketamine 0.5 mg/kg versus midazolam 0.025 mg/kg (cohort 1). Dosing was revised, after a Data Safety Monitoring Board recommendation, to flexible-dose ketamine 0.5-0.9 mg/kg or midazolam 0.025-0.045 mg/kg, with response-guided dosing increments (cohort 2). The primary outcome was remission (Montgomery-Åsberg Rating Scale for Depression score ≤10) at the end of week 4. Results The final analysis (those who received at least one treatment) comprised 68 in cohort 1 (fixed-dose), 106 in cohort 2 (flexible-dose). Ketamine was more efficacious than midazolam in cohort 2 (remission rate 19.6% v. 2.0%; OR = 12.1, 95% CI 2.1-69.2, P = 0.005), but not different in cohort 1 (remission rate 6.3% v. 8.8%; OR = 1.3, 95% CI 0.2-8.2, P = 0.76). Ketamine was well tolerated. Acute adverse effects (psychotomimetic, blood pressure increases) resolved within 2 h. Conclusions Adequately dosed subcutaneous racemic ketamine was efficacious and safe in treating TRD over a 4-week treatment period. The subcutaneous route is practical and feasible

Silicon Photonic Waveguides and Devices for Near- and Mid-IR Applications

Silicon photonics has been a very buoyant research field in the last several years mainly because of its potential for telecom and datacom applications. However, prospects of using silicon photonics for sensing in the mid-IR have also attracted interest lately. In this paper, we present our recent results on waveguide-based devices for near- and mid-infrared applications. The silicon-on-insulator platform can be used for wavelengths up to 4 μm; therefore, different solutions are needed for longer wavelengths. We show results on passive Si devices such as couplers, filters, and multiplexers, particularly for extended wavelength regions and finally present integration of photonics and electronics integrated circuits for high-speed applications

The P323L substitution in the SARS-CoV-2 polymerase (NSP12) confers a selective advantage during infection

Background The mutational landscape of SARS-CoV-2 varies at the dominant viral genome sequence and minor genomic variant population. During the COVID-19 pandemic, an early substitution in the genome was the D614G change in the spike protein, associated with an increase in transmissibility. Genomes with D614G are accompanied by a P323L substitution in the viral polymerase (NSP12). However, P323L is not thought to be under strong selective pressure. Results Investigation of P323L/D614G substitutions in the population shows rapid emergence during the containment phase and early surge phase during the first wave. These substitutions emerge from minor genomic variants which become dominant viral genome sequence. This is investigated in vivo and in vitro using SARS-CoV-2 with P323 and D614 in the dominant genome sequence and L323 and G614 in the minor variant population. During infection, there is rapid selection of L323 into the dominant viral genome sequence but not G614. Reverse genetics is used to create two viruses (either P323 or L323) with the same genetic background. L323 shows greater abundance of viral RNA and proteins and a smaller plaque morphology than P323. Conclusions These data suggest that P323L is an important contribution in the emergence of variants with transmission advantages. Sequence analysis of viral populations suggests it may be possible to predict the emergence of a new variant based on tracking the frequency of minor variant genomes. The ability to predict an emerging variant of SARS-CoV-2 in the global landscape may aid in the evaluation of medical countermeasures and non-pharmaceutical interventions

Utilization of Microsoft Excel for Inventory Management and Process at Underserved Clinics

Utilization of Microsoft Excel for Inventory Management and Process at Underserved Clinics Stevan Tomich II and Mitchell Streck PharmD Candidates. JH VanTyle, PharmD Background: Inventory management is vital to the success of pharmacy operations. Due to lack of proper inventory tracking and processing, many underserved clinics operate at a less than optimal capacity. Project Objective: Created a universally operational inventory management process which: Improved accuracy of on hand inventory count Granted the ability to order medications in bulk Facilitated data analysis for clinic managers Procedure: A novel Microsoft Excel program was created and implemented at the Butler University Community Outreach Pharmacy. The previous inventory system in place had been analyzed based on the accuracy of inventory, bulk ordering, and timing of the label making and inventory tracking station. Our Microsoft Excel inventory system utilized three linked components: label making, data collection, and data analysis. Furthermore, we compiled averages and trends with the new inventory system creating features which were not available in the previous system. Results: Before installation of the inventory system, we calculated percent error for the assumed balance on hand medication inventory. The average and median errors were 37% and 30% respectively. The current percent error will be determined within the coming weeks. Discussion: The goal of the Microsoft Excel inventory tracking system and data analysis is to provide an accurate balance on hand inventory count which facilitates medication ordering by cutting down on limited resources spent on medication. All of this will improve work flow to allow more time for pharmacists and pharmacy student volunteers to provide patients\u27 the appropriate clinical care, education, and attention they deserve

Mid-infrared thermo-optic modulators in SoI

We report experimental results for thermo-optic modulators in silicon-on-insulator (SoI) material operating at the wavelength of 3.8 µm. These devices are based on asymmetric Mach-Zehnder interferometers (MZIs) with aluminum heaters placed above one MZI arm. The SoI rib waveguides with 400-nm Si device layer thickness are used. Devices with conventional straight MZI arm and spiral MZI arm geometries are investigated. Straight-arm MZIs exhibited higher modulation depths, of up to 30.5 dB, whereas spiral-arm MZIs required smaller switching powers, as low as 47 mW. Measured -3 dB bandwidths were up to 23.8 kHz and did not vary significantly with device configuration