Province commits funds to regional health authorities for needle cleanupMIAMI — As her students finished their online exam, Arlet Lara got up to make a . Her 16-year-old son found her on the kitchen floor. First, he called Dad in a panic. Then 911. “I had a stroke and my life made a 180-degree turn,” Lara told the Miami Herald, recalling the medical scare she experienced in May 2020 in the early months of the COVID pandemic. “The stroke affected my left side of the body,” the North Miami woman and former high school math teacher said. Lara, an avid runner and gym goer, couldn’t even walk. “It was hard,” the 50-year-old mom said. After years of rehabilitation therapy and a foot surgery, Lara can walk again. But she still struggles with moving. This summer, she became the first patient in South Florida to get an implant of a new and only FDA-approved nerve stimulation device designed to help ischemic stroke survivors regain movement in their arms and hands. This first procedure was at Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami. Lara’s rehab was at at the Christine E. Lynn Rehabilitation Center for The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, part of a partnership between Jackson Health System and UHealth. Every year, thousands in the United States , with one occurring every 40 seconds, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The majority of strokes are ischemic, often caused by blood clots that obstruct blood flow to the brain. For survivors, most of whom are left with some level of disability, the Vivistim Paired VNS System, the device implanted in Lara’s chest, could be a game changer in recovery, said Dr. Robert Starke, a UHealth neurosurgeon and interventional neuroradiologist. He also serves as co-director of endovascular neurosurgery at Jackson Memorial Hospital, part of Miami-Dade’s public hospital system. Arlet Lara, the first patient in South Florida to get an FDA-approved nerve stimulation implant, right, runs into her rehabilitation neurology physician Dr. Gemayaret Alvarez, before her physical therapy appointment on Monday, Sept. 9, 2024, at Lynn Rehabilitation Center at Jackson Memorial Hospital. The implant is designed to help stroke survivors regain function in their arms. (Alie Skowronski/Miami Herald/TNS) Arlet Lara, the first patient in South Florida to get an FDA-approved nerve stimulation implant designed to help stroke survivors regain function in their arms, goes through exercises while her therapist activates the device during her physical therapy appointment on Monday, Sept. 9, 2024, at Lynn Rehabilitation Center at Jackson Memorial Hospital. The activation works as positive reinforcement to her muscles when she completes the exercise correctly. (Alie Skowronski/Miami Herald/TNS) Arlet Lara, the first patient in South Florida to get an FDA-approved nerve stimulation implant, does an exercise while Neil Batungbakal, rehabilitation therapist, activates the implant with the black trigger during her physical therapy appointment on Monday, Sept. 9, 2024, at Lynn Rehabilitation Center at Jackson Memorial Hospital. The implant is designed to help stroke survivors regain function in their arms. The activation works as positive reinforcement to her muscles when she completes the exercise correctly. (Alie Skowronski/Miami Herald/TNS) Arlet Lara, the first patient in South Florida to get an FDA- approved nerve stimulation implant, does an exercise while Neil Batungbakal, rehabilitation therapist, activates the implant with the black trigger during her physical therapy appointment on Monday, Sept. 9, 2024, at Lynn Rehabilitation Center at Jackson Memorial Hospital. Arlet Lara, the first patient in South Florida to get an FDA-approved nerve stimulation implant, right, runs into her rehabilitation neurology physician Dr. Gemayaret Alvarez, before her physical therapy appointment on Monday, Sept. 9, 2024, at Lynn Rehabilitation Center at Jackson Memorial Hospital. The implant is designed to help stroke survivors regain function in their arms. (Alie Skowronski/Miami Herald/TNS) The Vivistim Paired VNS System is a small pacemaker-like device implanted in the upper chest and neck area. Patients can go home the same day. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2021 to be used alongside post-ischemic stroke rehabilitation therapy to treat moderate to severe mobility issues in hands and arms. Lara’s occupational therapist can activate the device during rehabilitation sessions to electrically stimulate the vagus nerve, which runs from the brain down to the abdomen and regulates various parts of the body’s nervous system. The electrical stimulation rewires the brain to improve a stroke survivor’s ability to move their arms and hands. Lara also has a magnet she can use to activate the device when she wants to practice at home. Her therapy consists of repetitive tasks, including coloring, pinching cubes and grabbing and releasing cylindrical shapes. After several weeks of rehabilitation therapy with the device, Lara has seen improvement. “Little by little, I’m noticing that my hand is getting stronger. I am already able to brush my teeth with the left hand,” she told the Miami Herald in September. Since then, Lara has finished the initial six-week Vivitism therapy program, and is continuing to use the device in her rehabilitation therapy. She continues to improve and can now eat better with her left hand and can brush her hair with less difficulty, according to her occupational therapist, Neil Batungbakal. Lara learned about the device through an online group for stroke survivors and contacted the company to inquire. She then connected them with her Jackson medical team. Now a year later, the device is available to Jackson patients. So far, four patients have received the implant at Jackson. Starke sees the device as an opportunity to help bring survivors one step closer to regaining full mobility. Strokes are a leading cause of disability worldwide. While most stroke survivors can usually recover some function through treatment and rehabilitation, they tend to hit a “major plateau” after the first six months of recovery, he said. Vivistim, when paired with rehabilitation therapy, could change that. Jackson Health said results of a clinical trial published in the peer-reviewed medical journal in 2021 showed that the device, “when paired with high-repetition, task-specific occupational or physical therapy, helps generate two to three times more hand and arm function for stroke survivors than rehabilitation therapy alone.” The device has even shown to benefit patients 20 years from their original stroke, according to Starke. “So now a lot of these patients that had strokes 10-15 years ago that thought that they would never be able to use their arm in any sort of real functional way are now able to have a real meaningful function, which is pretty tremendous,” Starke said. Vivistim’s vagus-nerve stimulation technology by researchers at the University of Texas at Dallas’ Texas Biomedical Device Center and is being sold commercially by Austin-based MicroTransponder, a company started by university graduates. Similar devices are used to . For Lara, the device is a new tool to help her recovery journey. “Everything becomes a challenge so we are working with small things every day because I want to get back as many functions as possible,” Lara said. Patients interested in Vivistim should speak with their doctor to check their eligibility. The FDA said patients should make sure to discuss any prior medical history, including concurrent forms of brain stimulation, current diathermy treatment, previous brain surgery, depression, respiratory diseases and disorders such as asthma, and cardiac abnormalities. “Adverse events included but were not limited to dysphonia (difficulty speaking), bruising, falling, general hoarseness, general pain, hoarseness after surgery, low mood, muscle pain, fracture, headache, rash, dizziness, throat irritation, urinary tract infection and fatigue,” the FDA said. MicroTransponder says the device is “covered by Medicare, Medicaid, and private insurance with prior authorization on a case-by-case basis.”
I'm A Celebrity fans 'need' Dean McCullogh to leave first as they all say same thing about himThe clock may have finally wound down for TikTok after a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ruled on Friday that Congress has the power to ban the popular social media app if it fails to shed its Chinese ownership. The judges dismissed the First Amendment challenge that was brought by TikTok and many of its highest-profile users, who argued the ban was unconstitutional. "The First Amendment exists to protect free speech in the United States. Here the Government acted solely to protect that freedom from a foreign adversary nation and to limit that adversary's ability to gather data on people in the United States," wrote Judge Douglas Ginsburg. Sell-or-Ban—No Other Option The sell-or-ban law was signed by President Joe Biden in April, after receiving bipartisan support from lawmakers—including many who received classified briefings from the U.S. intelligence community. Critics of Friday's ruling were quick to call for the Supreme Court to review the Court of Appeals ruling. "This law threatens the free speech rights of our client and millions of other Americans who use TikTok to share and hear political ideas," said Jacob Huebert, president of the Liberty Justice Center, which filed a lawsuit to challenge the TikTok ban in June. "To protect their rights, we'll ask the court to stay its decision until we seek Supreme Court review and receive a final decision," Huerbert added. Not Over Until It's Over While the company has until January 19, 2025, to either be sold or be banned—there are still possible lifelines available for TikTok. "One is the Supreme Court, which doesn't have to accept the case but could," explained social media analyst Greg Sterling, co-founder of Near Media. It is a long shot, as the high court may opt not to hear the case. Yet, even if the case is heard, it doesn't mean SCOTUS would rule in favor of TikTok, especially as lawmakers from both sides of the political spectrum have pushed for the ban. "It's unlikely to say that the First Amendment outweighs U.S. national security interests, especially in the wake of the recent Chinese 'Salt Typhoon' hacking incident ," said Sterling, who added the other lifeline could come from the incoming administration. During his first term, President-elect Donald Trump had actually tried to ban TikTok, only to see the Biden administration overturn it. It is possible the same could play out again, just with the roles reversed. Trump has said he no longer supports a ban . "Although the ban is scheduled to take effect before he's inaugurated, Trump could push Congress to repeal the ban," added Sterling. "It's not clear whether that would be successful because of divisions within the Republican Party on TikTok." Are The Security Concerns Valid? Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have warned of the potential danger that the app presents as it could share user data with China, yet, some critics of the law say TikTok is just part of a much larger and more serious issue of how social media companies have access to the personal data of users. "The U.S. Court of Appeals ruling on TikTok highlights critical issues in mobile app security, API vulnerabilities, and the overarching role of big technology companies in app ecosystems dominated by Apple and Google," said Ted Morocco, CEO of cybersecurity provider Approov. "While the TikTok ban focuses on national security risks due to foreign ownership, the conversation must expand to address systemic flaws in app distribution and privacy regulation," Morocco added. "The lack of a federal data privacy framework in the U.S. exacerbates the issue, allowing platform owners to set their opaque policies." The cybersecurity expert added that the current policies enable practices that prioritize profit over user protection, including permissive data harvesting and inadequate penalties for privacy violations. "A clear, enforceable policy would mitigate these risks, especially for minors, who are disproportionately targeted by app-based surveillance and manipulative algorithms," explained Morocco, who said similar scrutiny should apply to all apps, regardless of their origin. TikTok's ban is largely justified by concerns over data flowing to a foreign adversary, even as American companies don't operate all that differently in how they gather customer data. "U.S.-based companies like Meta and Amazon have also faced allegations of privacy abuses," said Morocco. "A robust framework would ensure equal accountability and provide mechanisms for imposing meaningful penalties globally." TikTok's case simply serves as a microcosm of broader issues within cybersecurity, and how users are largely oblivious to how their data may be used. This ruling could address some national security concerns, but Morocco said a more comprehensive and transparent approach is needed to tackle the structural problems of app ecosystems. "Only by prioritizing security, transparency, and accountability, can the U.S. safeguard its citizens," he continued. Where Does This Leave TikTok Users? There is now less than a month and a half until TikTok could be banned in the U.S., and those who have large followings may need to look to other platforms . "If TikTok is shut down, which would be highly disruptive for many creators and users, Instagram is the most likely place that both groups would turn," said Sterling. "Instagram Reels is essentially a TikTok clone. But they could move to other networks as well. Bluesky is a possibility but I would be surprised if people moved over there vs. Instagram."The manhunt for the mysterious gunman who killed UnitedHealth CEO Brian Thompson outside of a midtown Manhattan hotel early Wednesday morning rages on — but even days later, the New York Police Department has yet to name a suspect. The NYPD has made a big deal about its investigation so far, which has involved collecting evidence he left at the crime scene and locating surveillance camera footage purportedly showing the killer at an uptown hostel. If it sounds like energy is flagging, fear not: according to FOX Business reporter Charles Gasparino , law enforcement is trying to get the most out of footage with the help of — you guessed it — artificial intelligence, which will allegedly play a "big role in nailing the ID." "His mask, the point out, didn't totally cover his face," an NYPD police source reportedly told Gasparino. "Bone structure was showing through the rest of it, and AI will come up with a pretty clear match they believe." And CNN has also reported that the NYPD is using facial recognition software . ( Futurism has reached out to the NYPD for clarification and additional details.) But whether such an AI will actually help crack the case remains anything but clear. In fact, netizens were quick to point out the technology's many shortcomings, suggesting the police department was lost in the weeds and throwing out buzzwords because its investigation is dead in the water. "Oh so he's GONE gone," one account tweeted in response to Gasparino. "BREAKING: the police are looking for a man with nine fingers on one hand, two legs that merge into one, and a face that constantly shifts every two frames," one Bluesky user joked , referring to the many bizarre outputs of generative AI models . One thing's for sure: the case will be a high-profile test of whether AI can actually help in policing, after numerous high-profile fumbles . According to the Associated Press , the killer pulled down his mask while flirting with an employee at the hostel, giving a less obscured view of his face. The perpetrator used a fake New Jersey ID to check in. Thompson was the CEO of the largest health insurance companies in the world in terms of revenue. His death has sparked a massive debate online as many of those who have been negatively affected by the notoriously greedy and deficient health insurance system have celebrated his passing. Further winding AI into the saga, UnitedHealth has been accused of using an AI algorithm to deny and override claims to elderly patients that had been approved by their doctors. A Senate report earlier this year found that UnitedHealthcare and other insurers' denial rates for prior authorizations had surged in recent years, according to the AP . There's a good chance the killer's attack was motivated by animus toward an industry whose brutal business model has led to the deaths of countless Americans. Case in point, the words "deny," "defend" and "depose" were written on shell casings recovered at the crime scene. More on the incident: Reddit Mods Delete Doctors Slamming Insurance Industry After CEO's Murder Share This Article
Trump brings back government by social media
Trent Williams to miss another game, Nick Bosa listed as doubtfulAlabama and Mississippi tumbled out of the top 10 of The Associated Press Top 25 poll Sunday and Miami and SMU moved in following a chaotic weekend in the SEC and across college football in general. Oregon is No. 1 for the sixth straight week and Ohio State, Texas and Penn State held their places behind the Ducks, who are the last unbeaten team.
Article content ‘Tis the season to start shopping for loved ones – family, friends, and colleagues you care about – and perhaps putting something for yourself under the tree this year. Recommended Videos Hey, there is a sales tax freeze, after all. And if it’s a tech toy you want to give, there’s no shortage of sleek screens, great games, and smart home-related gear worthy of your consideration. The following are a few thought-starters to suit varying budgets and tastes. For (cold) music lovers You’ve heard of Bluetooth, but what about a Blue Toque? Dress warm for the winter and still take calls and hear your tunes. As the name suggests, the $59 Caseco Blu Toque Cable Knit Bluetooth Beanie is a Bluetooth-enabled toque with built-in headphones that you wirelessly stream music, podcasts, audiobooks or calls from your nearby smartphone – all controlled via onboard controls. Battery life tops six hours between charges. Remove the electronics from its small inside pouch before washing. For budding astronomers (or insomniacs) Project an “out of this world” moving image onto your bedroom ceiling with the Govee Star Light Projector ($89). Capable of creating a stunning 650-square-foot image with a button press on the app (or on the unit itself), with 16 million colours, flowing aurora effects, and 52 scene modes. There are optional white noise tracks, too, and it’s a Bluetooth speaker, if you want to play your own songs. For avid readers Gift the gift of reading with Amazon’s new Kindle Paperwhite (from $185) and Kindle Paperwhite Kids (from $215), both with sharp, anti-glare, 7-inch screens. Now with 20% faster page turns, the new Kindles are also waterproof, so you can take it to the beach, pool, or a bubble bath. An optional backlight lets you read in bed without disturbing anyone. The Paperwhite Kids model also includes a protective folio screen, parental controls, and six months of the Amazon Kids+ service that offers a ton of free content. For gamers on the go The versatile Nintendo Switch ($399) can be played at home on your big-screen TV (in its dock, included), perhaps in a multiplayer match with the family, but it can also be played on the go, such as in the backseat of a car on a road trip, via its built-in screen. A holiday bundle includes the Nintendo Switch console, a digital copy of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, and a 12-month individual membership to the Nintendo Switch Online subscription service, to play with others over the internet ($100 value). For online shoppers After connecting the $29 Chamberlain Smart Garage Control to your existing garage door system, use the free myQ app (iPhone or Android) to open and close your garage door, anywhere in the world, so you’ll never have to worry about accidentally leaving the garage door open. Or set an open and close schedule. This small doohickey works with Amazon Key In-Garage Delivery, an exclusive Prime member benefit that protects your packages from porch pirates and inclement weather. For thrill seekers From $399 (for 128GB), the new Meta Quest 3S lets you experience mind-blowing 360-degree virtual reality content. Plus, this device supports augmented reality (AR), too, since you can also see the real-world around you in some apps and games (like aliens hiding behind your sofa). Beyond games, Meta Quest 3S is also great for fitness and meditation exercises, chat rooms, virtual concerts and more. It includes a downloadable copy of Batman: Arkham Shadow. For fitness and health nuts Among several other features, Apple Watch can gauge your heart health, track sleep and fitness, show notifications, stream music, and let you pay for items at retail by simply waving your watch over a contactless sensor. Apple Watch Series 10 (from $549) offers a thinner design, bigger and better display, new colours and band options. If you’re shopping for an Android user, the Pixel Watch 3 (from $479) is a stellar pick. For AI lovers (or don’t know it yet) Powered by Google’s ChromeOS, this 14-inch HP x360 laptop (from $699) delivers an enhanced Chromebook experience, with a vibrant touchscreen display that bends back to become a tablet – and twice the storage, speed and memory compared to a regular Chromebook. Google AI tools let you get more done in less time, including handy features like Help Me Write and Magic Editor (to fix up your photos). The Intel Core-powered laptop has an all-day battery, B&O audio, and integrated Google Play store. For speed demons Now available in Ontario and Quebec, TELUS PureFibre is a 100% fibre optic connection to your home that yields internet speeds up to 1.5 gigabits per second (yes, that’s superfast), and complimentary professional installation of award-winning Wi-Fi 6 technology. These kinds of speeds are ideal for 4K streaming, online gaming, and support for multiple devices on the network at the same time (without any lag). TELUS PureFibre Internet starts from $79/month, when bundling with TELUS mobility. For the person who has everything The RayNeo Air 2S ($439) “XR” glasses house twin Micro-OLED 1080p displays that mimic a 201-inch picture for binging TV shows and blockbuster movies – on a plane, in bed, anywhere. And since these 16:9 screens each boast a 120Hz refresh rate, they’re also ideal for fast-moving videogames and sports. Weighing 78 grams and with four integrated speakers, these glasses work with a host of USB-C devices, including newer iPhones, Android devices, computers and game consoles. For nomadic TV bingers For public viewing, on the other hand, the Epson EpiqVision Mini EF22 Portable Smart Laser Projector ($999) produces a superbright image, up to 1000 lumens of colour and white brightness – and no lamp to replace. The 360-swivel stand lets you beam the up-to-150-inch image against a wall or ceiling, or to the backyard for summer movie nights. The Google TV platform is built-in with thousands of apps, such as popular Paramount+ streaming service with exclusive TV shows and movies (from $6.99/month). For serious home theatre enthusiasts Available in six screen sizes ranging, from 42 to 83 inches, and with multiple mounting options, the LG OLED evo C4 TV (from $1,299) features a stunningly sharp display, AI-powered upscaling and a Smart TV powered by webOS. Self-lit pixels create perfect black levels and luminous colours, and so it’s easy to see why OLED is the most desirable panel technology on the market. Along with being ultra-slim and light, the glare-free picture looks great from any angle, so there’s not a bad seat in the room. – Marc Saltzman is the host of the Tech It Out podcast and the author of the book, Apple Vision Pro For Dummies (Wiley)Quest Partners LLC trimmed its stake in shares of Vulcan Materials ( NYSE:VMC – Free Report ) by 77.5% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 2,166 shares of the construction company’s stock after selling 7,445 shares during the quarter. Quest Partners LLC’s holdings in Vulcan Materials were worth $542,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Swiss National Bank lifted its position in Vulcan Materials by 0.3% during the third quarter. Swiss National Bank now owns 392,600 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $98,319,000 after acquiring an additional 1,100 shares during the last quarter. Tower Bridge Advisors boosted its stake in Vulcan Materials by 64.5% in the 3rd quarter. Tower Bridge Advisors now owns 4,936 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $1,236,000 after purchasing an additional 1,936 shares during the period. GoalVest Advisory LLC acquired a new position in Vulcan Materials in the 3rd quarter valued at $125,000. Mutual of America Capital Management LLC increased its position in Vulcan Materials by 1.4% during the 3rd quarter. Mutual of America Capital Management LLC now owns 19,447 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $4,870,000 after buying an additional 262 shares during the period. Finally, Beaton Management Co. Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Vulcan Materials during the third quarter worth $203,000. 90.39% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth VMC has been the topic of several research reports. Stephens decreased their price target on shares of Vulcan Materials from $300.00 to $280.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, August 8th. Barclays raised their target price on shares of Vulcan Materials from $250.00 to $285.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Tuesday, October 29th. Truist Financial boosted their price target on Vulcan Materials from $300.00 to $315.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, November 1st. StockNews.com upgraded Vulcan Materials from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Friday, November 1st. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada reduced their target price on Vulcan Materials from $267.00 to $257.00 and set a “sector perform” rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, August 7th. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Vulcan Materials currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $280.46. Vulcan Materials Price Performance VMC stock opened at $284.61 on Friday. The stock has a market cap of $37.59 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 44.89, a P/E/G ratio of 2.72 and a beta of 0.81. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.42, a current ratio of 2.86 and a quick ratio of 2.02. The company has a 50 day simple moving average of $261.25 and a 200 day simple moving average of $254.63. Vulcan Materials has a 1 year low of $209.60 and a 1 year high of $298.31. Vulcan Materials ( NYSE:VMC – Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, October 30th. The construction company reported $2.22 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.34 by ($0.12). Vulcan Materials had a return on equity of 11.88% and a net margin of 11.43%. The company had revenue of $2 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.01 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $2.29 earnings per share. The firm’s quarterly revenue was down 8.3% on a year-over-year basis. Research analysts anticipate that Vulcan Materials will post 7.16 EPS for the current fiscal year. Vulcan Materials Dividend Announcement The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, November 27th. Stockholders of record on Monday, November 4th will be paid a dividend of $0.46 per share. This represents a $1.84 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.65%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, November 4th. Vulcan Materials’s payout ratio is 29.02%. Vulcan Materials Company Profile ( Free Report ) Vulcan Materials Company, together with its subsidiaries, produces and supplies construction aggregates primarily in the United States. It operates through four segments: Aggregates, Asphalt, Concrete, and Calcium. The company provides crushed stones, sand and gravel, sand, and other aggregates; and related products and services that are applied in construction and maintenance of highways, streets, and other public works, as well as in the construction of housing and commercial, industrial, and other nonresidential facilities. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding VMC? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Vulcan Materials ( NYSE:VMC – Free Report ). 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