Cannabinoid concentrations in hair from documented cannabis users

Fifty-three head hair specimens were collected from 38 males with a history of cannabis use documented by questionnaire, urinalysis and controlled, double blind administration of delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in an institutional review board approved protocol. The subjects completed a questionnaire indicating daily cannabis use (N=18) or non-daily use, i.e. one to five cannabis cigarettes per week (N=20). Drug use was also documented by a positive cannabinoid urinalysis, a hair specimen was collected from each subject and they were admitted to a closed research unit. Additional hair specimens were collected following smoking of two 2.7% THC cigarettes (N=13) or multiple oral doses totaling 116 mg THC (N=2). Cannabinoid concentrations in all hair specimens were determined by ELISA and GCMSMS. Pre- and post-dose detection rates did not differ statistically, therefore, all 53 specimens were considered as one group for further comparisons. Nineteen specimens (36%) had no detectable THC or 11-nor-9-carboxy-THC (THCCOOH) at the GCMSMS limits of quantification (LOQ) of 1.0 and 0.1 pg/mg hair, respectively. Two specimens (3.8%) had measurable THC only, 14 (26%) THCCOOH only, and 18 (34%) both cannabinoids. Detection rates were significantly different (p<0.05, Fishers' exact test) between daily cannabis users (85%) and non-daily users (52%). There was no difference in detection rates between African-American and Caucasian subjects (p>0.3, Fisher's exact test). For specimens with detectable cannabinoids, concentrations ranged from 3.4 to >100 pg THC/mg and 0.10 to 7.3 pg THCCOOH/mg hair. THC and THCCOOH concentrations were positively correlated (r=0.38, p<0.01, Pearson's product moment correlation). Using an immunoassay cutoff concentration of 5 pg THC equiv./mg hair, 83% of specimens that screened positive were confirmed by GCMSMS at a cutoff concentration of 0.1 pg THCCOOH/mg hair.     

Writing the Rwandan Genocide: The Justice and Politics of Witnessing after the Event

This paper tries to read together three texts that refer to the Rwandan genocide and to draw attention to certain paradoxes that emerge from the way in which the texts might be said to talk to and past each other. The overall intention is to throw light on the complications in witnessing such an event, and to themes of justice and politics that arise.

Let's get real: a critical semiotic analysis of Irish print media discourses

In what follows, I critically assess the merits of the relativist and realist positions in the social and human sciences, and argue that the relativisation of truth claims operates to mask relations of power and inequality, and also offers impunity to discursive mystifications denying the existence of both. Alternatively, I argue that the Critical Realist position, with its realist ontology and relativist epistemology, allows for the identification of such structures, and as a consequence of its emphasis on the materiality of discourse, for the identification of mystificatory meaning-making. And I operationalise my argument through critical analysis and commentary on four texts drawn from newspapers across the range for such in Ireland on the related issues of wealth and welfare.     

Adolescent interpersonal and familial precursors of positive mental health at midlife

Associations between adolescent relationships with peers, adults in the larger community, and parents and successful adult mental health were explored as part of a longitudinal study. Measures included two Q-sort ratings: the adolescent interpersonal Q-sort at age 13 and the Psychological Health Index (PH) at age 50. Nine content clusters were formed from adolescent Q-sort items, and correlations computed between scores on these clusters and PH. In addition, one of the clusters was examined for possible curvilinear relationships. Three clusters related significantly to later mental health: harmonious peer relations, positive relationships with adults outside of the family, and reasonable parental control. Significant curvilinear relation-ships were obtained for a fourth cluster describing adolescents who valued intimate friendship.This research was conducted with assistance from a grant provided by the National Institutes of Mental Health. Award No. 1 F32 MH 0953-01.     

Expert testimony in child sexual abuse cases

We presented participants with syndromal, witness credibility, or anatomically detailed doll evidence to determine (a) whether these different types of expert evidence exert differential influence on participants' judgments and (b) whether the influence of this evidence could be better explained by the relative scientific status or the probabilistic qualities of the research presented. Additionally, we investigated whether a strong or weak cross-examination of the expert would be more successful in discrediting the information provided in the expert's testimony. Findings suggest that participants are less influenced by expert testimony based on probability data (i.e., syndromal evidence) than by expert testimony based on case history data (i.e., credibility of anatomically detailed doll evidence). Participant responses did not differ as a function of the strength of the cross-examination of the expert. As expected, women were more likely to respond in a pro-prosecution direction than were men. Implications for the use of expert evidence in child sexual abuse cases are discussed.