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The near-simultaneous explosion of 3,000 to 4,000 pagers used by Hezbollah operatives, including top commanders, followed the next day by the self-detonation of hand-held radio devices, could have been a [...]

THE SHOCKING ABUSE of a 22-year-old Palestinian from the East Jerusalem neighborhood of Shu'fat by 16 Border Police officers is reminiscent of the worst days of dark regimes. A Star [...]

Current catheter designs used for radiofrequency (RF) in cardiac tissue achieve limited ablation depth as lesion size is driven heavily by resistive heating at the tissue surface. A catheter with a truncated, dome-shaped tip with a toroidal surface designed for focal RF ablation was recently described. This in vivo study compares lesion characteristics between a second-generation focused electric field (FEF) catheter vs a standard irrigated catheter using RF energy in a beating heart model. We performed in vivo ablations using RF energy with the FEF ablation catheter tip (Focused Therapeutics) and an irrigated Blazer catheter (Boston Scientific) under identical power, duration, and irrigation rates. In addition, RF dosing at high power and duration was examined using the FEF catheter. Intracardiac echocardiography was used to evaluate steam pops and catheter tip angle relative to the tissue surface. Studies were terminal and lesion size was measured following 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride staining. Ablations were performed in 6 swine (FEF, n = 31; control, n = 8). FEF ablation lesions (n = 7) were deeper (15.6 ± 2.6 mm vs 7.5 ± 1.9 mm; P< 0.001) and wider (18.4 ± 2.9 mm vs 12.6 ± 2.4 mm; P < 0.001) than lesions delivered with the control irrigated catheter (n = 8) under the same parameters. Thirty-two percent (n = 10 of 31) of lesions delivered from the left ventricle endocardial surface using the FEF catheter were transmural. No steam pops were observed with delivery of FEF lesions (n = 31). The angle of incidence did not significantly affect FEF lesion size. In this in vivo preclinical study, the FEF catheter, which provides focused energy delivery, resulted in significantly larger lesions than the irrigated control catheter without steam pops. Approximately one-third of ablations with the FEF catheter delivered from the endocardial left ventricular surface resulted in transmural lesions.

Abstract: Introduction: The purpose of this study is to determine the incidence of residual common bile duct (CBD) stones after preoperative ERCP for choledocholithiasis and to evaluate the utility of routine intraoperative cholangiography (IOC) during laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) in this patient population. Methods: All patients who underwent preoperative ERCP and interval LC with IOC from 5/96 to 12/05 were reviewed under an Institutional Review Board (IRB)-approved protocol. Data collected included all radiologic imaging, laboratory values, clinical and pathologic diagnoses, and results of preoperative ERCP and LC with IOC. Standard statistical analyses were used with significance set at p < 0.05. Results: A total of 227 patients (male:female 72:155, mean age 51.9 years) underwent preoperative ERCP for suspicion of choledocholithiasis. One hundred and eighteen patients were found to have CBD stones on preoperative ERCP, and of these, 22 had choledocholithiasis diagnosed on IOC during LC. However, two patients had residual stones on completion cholangiogram after ERCP and were considered to have retained stones. Therefore, 20 patients overall were diagnosed with either interval passage of stones into the CBD or a false-negative preoperative ERCP. In the 109 patients without CBD stones on preoperative ERCP, nine patients had CBD stones on IOC during LC, an 8.3% incidence of interval passage of stones or false-negative preoperative ERCP. In both groups, there was no correlation (p > 0.05) between an increased incidence of CBD stones on IOC and a longer time interval between ERCP and LC, performance of sphincterotomy, incidence of cystic duct stones, or pathologic diagnosis of cholelithiasis. Conclusions: The overall incidence of retained or newly passed CBD stones on IOC during LC after a preoperative ERCP is 12.9%. Although the natural history of residual CBD stones after preoperative ERCP is not known, the routine use of IOC should be considered in patients with CBD stones on preoperative ERCP undergoing an interval LC.

The idea of multichannel tracking is generally found in the global navigation satellite system (GNSS) literature with a wideband approach. We further developed the concept to separately process two narrowband channels that are later combined in a dedicated delay-locked loop in a virtual wideband fashion. To suit the prospect evolution of positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) technologies and GNSSs, we generalized the so-called metasignal construction to the combination of components transmitted over the same bandwidth, thus expanding the range of candidate multichannel components and fostering efficient bandwidth exploitation and increased resiliency to harsh Doppler. These improvements are sustained by additional complexity at the receiver, whose robustness must be carefully assessed. The resulting architecture performance in the presence of multipath and tracking noise is, therefore, characterized under the challenging conditions of modern GNSSs, focusing on a low Earth orbit PNT scenario. The technique can successfully bear the representative Doppler profiles and $C/N_{0}$ levels of the addressed scenarios achieving a large estimation noise reduction, even under challenging multipath conditions.

Objective: An interesting candidate gene for eating disorders is the gene for insulinlike growth factor 2 (IGF2). Located on chromosome 11 p15.5, IGF2 is a member of the insulin family of polypeptide growth factors that is involved in development and growth. Consistent with its profile of metabolic actions, an association has been reported between a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the 3' untranslated region of the IGF2 gene (Apal) and body mass index. This investigation extended these studies and investigated the psychological and behavioral implications of this hormone's impact on metabolism and body composition. Method: The authors tested nonclinical subjects from 376 families for three IGF2 SNPs and for eating disorders, as reflected in scores on the 26-item Eating Attitudes Test, a self-report questionnaire widely used as a screening instrument. Results: A highly significant association was observed between the IGF2 Apal G allele and scores on the Eating Attitudes Test overall and each of its subscales (bulimia, dieting, and oral control). Additionally, a significant association was observed between this polymorphism and body mass index. Conclusions: The current finding that the IGF2 Apal G polymorphism, which predisposes to weight gain, may also contribute to the pathology of eating disorders is intriguing. Neurotransmitter modulation of appetitive behavior is the focus of most hypotheses regarding the etiology of severe eating disorders. The current results to some measure challenge this view, and inborn metabolic tendencies to weight gain in some women may trigger constant dieting, which in predisposed individuals eventually leads to severe eating disorders.

Objective: In an ongoing molecular genetic study of temperament, participants were genotyped to examine the association of smoking with two polymorphisms of the serotonin transporter gene (SERT): the promoter region, 5-HTTLPR, and an intronic variable-number-of-tandem-repeats region (VNTR). Method: Full information was available for 330 families, and 244 'ever smokers' were identified (54 past smokers, 190 current smokers). The average number of cigarettes smoked per day was 13.12, and the mean Fagerstrom Tolerance Questionnaire score was 4.79. Associations of genotype, Tridimensional Personality Questionnaire scores, and smoking phenotype were tested by using a robust family design with a variance-components framework and by case-control analysis. Results: There was a significant excess of the 5-HTTLPR long allele with the 12-repeat VNTR in current smokers, past smokers, and ever smokers, compared to participants who had never smoked. The results from the population design were confirmed in the family-based analysis. No association was observed between two quantitative measures of smoking and the polymorphisms. A weak association was observed between novelty seeking and the VNTR polymorphism and between reward and 5-HTTLPR. Smokers, regardless of gender, scored significantly higher on novelty seeking and did not differ on harm avoidance or reward. Conclusions: There was a highly significant association between SERT and the categorical definition of smoking, irrespective of dependence level, suggesting that this gene influences the initiation of smoking. Mediation analysis failed to substantiate the hypothesis that novelty seeking partially mediates the effect of SERT on smoking. SERT appears to independently contribute to novelty seeking and smoking.

Rejecting First Amendment and fair use challenges to the constitutionality of the anti-trafficking provisions of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA), the Second Circuit affirmed an injunction barring the posting [...]

AbstractWe describe a straightforward method to obtain a polynomial whose zeros are integer powers of the zeros of a given polynomial. The method uses linear algebra concepts, namely, companion matrices of both scalar and matrix polynomials, and is illustrated by applications.

Purpose: There is no standardized measurement of recovery from an eating disorder (ED). We examined the psychometric properties and construct validity of the “Eating Disorders Recovery Questionnaire” (EDRQ), which defines recovery beyond symptoms to include self-acceptance, social emotional and physical health. Methods: Twenty-eight recovery-related items were administered to 978 people (9.5% men) aged 18–76. 172 participants had a current ED diagnosis (AN, BN or BED), 104 had a past ED diagnosis (AN, BN, BED or > one diagnosis), 105 had another past or present ED, and 579 had no lifetime ED. Participants also completed the Eating Disorders Examination Questionnaire, Dresden Body Image Questionnaire-35, Positive and Negative Affect Schedule—Short Form, Patient Health Questionnaire-9, Satisfaction with Life Scale and Positive Eating Scale. Results: Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses yielded four factors (CFI = 0.93, RMSEA = 0.07): lack of symptomatic behavior, acceptance of self and body, social and emotional connection, and physical health. Group comparisons showed that currently ill women scored lower on EDRQ and positive indices and higher on negative indices than controls and previously ill women. Previously ill women scored similarly to controls on ED symptomatology, positive body experiences, depression, and positive and negative affect but had lower BMI, life satisfaction and positive eating. The EDRQ–EDEQ correlation was r= 0.67, indicating both overlap and distinct variance. Conclusion: The EDRQ is a valid, reliable measure of ED recovery, defined more broadly than symptom remission. We recommend its incorporation into a standardized operationalization of recovery and its use by consumers, carers and service providers to monitor ED recovery status. Level of evidence: Level III, case–control analytic study.

If the cold war is over, why aren't factories, military bases, and laboratories converting to civilian work? What's going on is a permanent war economy in which military activity is [...]

The Self-Perception Profile for Children (SPPC) was administered to 300 school-aged children (8-12 years) in order to investigate its psychometric properties in a non-American sample. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses supported the multi-factorial structure of the SPPC. The internal-consistency and test-retest reliability of the SPPC were found to be acceptable. Significant gender differences were found, showing that boys perceive themselves as more competent than girls. The results of this study closely match the results obtained in American samples, indicating that the SPPC is a reliable and internally valid instrument in measuring the self-concept in children.

It has been postulated that a reduction in blood viscosity due to degradation of plasma fibrinogen may be of benefit to patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI), who are treated with thrombolytic agents. The aims of this study were to investigate the time course of rheologic parameters, to identify the principal factors determining blood viscosity, and to find possible correlations between viscosity and cardiac function during thrombolytic therapy with anistreplase. Therefore, the viscosity of whole blood and plasma and the hematocrit were measured before and at 10 time points after thrombolysis in 10 patients with AMI. In addition, plasma fibrinogen and fibrin(ogen) degradation products were determined. Immediately after the start of thrombolysis, the viscosity of blood (both at high and low shear rate) and plasma decreased significantly and continued to do so for 24 hours. The mean hematocrit also decreased markedly, and even after correction for these hematocrit changes, the reduction in blood viscosity remained significant: it dacreased to 72% of pretreatment (measured at low shear rate), whereas the high-shear viscosity decreased to 95% of baseline. The viscasity of plasma significantly decreased from 1.39 [+ or -] 0.13 mPa * s (mean [+ or -] SD) before thrombolysis to 1.22 [+ or -] 0.08 mPa * s after 2 hours. There was a rapid, nearly complete depletion in fibrinogen, followed by a striking rebound after the second day. The decrease in blood viscosity lasted for 2 days after anistreplase and was mainly accounted for by the reduction in hematocrit. The contribution of fibrinogen to blood viscosity appeared less prominent. Despite these rheologic changes, no improvement in cardiac output was noticed in the patients. (Am J Cardiol 1993;71:14-18)

Specific Concerns in Elderly Patients ABSTRACT: Asymptomatic urinary tract infection (UTI) is more prevalent among those over age 65, but its management remains controversial. Single-dose antibiotic treatment of hospitalized elderly [...]

MILITARY STATE CAPITALISM Clearly the war in the Persian Gulf was not the noble cause that George Bush said it was. But neither can it be comprehended solely in terms [...]

Purpose: This study explores the perspectives and opinions towards ED clinicians with lived experience of ED. Methods: Three hundred and eighty-five ED clinicians and 124 non-clinicians from 13 countries, between 18 and 76 years of age completed an online survey about attitudes towards ED clinicians with a personal ED history. Almost half the respondents (n= 242, 47.5%) reported a lifetime ED diagnosis. Survey items included ten multiple-choice and three open questions about clinician disclosure, employer hiring practices, and perceived advantages and disadvantages of clinicians with a personal ED history practicing in the ED field. Multiple-choice responses from clinicians with and without a personal ED history were compared with responses from non-clinicians with and without a personal ED history. Open questions were examined using thematic analysis. Results: Clinicians with no ED history, whose responses often differed from both ED-history groups (clinicians and non-clinicians), were more likely to indicate that clinicians with an ED should not generally treat ED patients, and that clinicians should self-disclose their ED history to employers but not to their patients. Thematic analysis of the open-ended questions revealed that advantages of having clinicians with an ED history include a deep experiential understanding and the ability to be empathic and non-judgmental, whereas disadvantages include the lack of objectivity and the risk of clinicians being triggered. Conclusion: Further research informing guidelines for ED clinicians with a personal ED history, their colleagues and employers are needed to protect and empower the significant minority of ED professionals with “lived experience” of EDs. Level of evidence: Level III, case-control analytic study.

After Iran's attack on Israel was stopped with major help from the U.S. and other allies, Netanyahu has to heed them going forward. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Israel's assassination of a top Iranian was a dangerous escalation step, argues Dan Raviv and Yossi Melman. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It's time to start planning the conversion of America's defense economy to civilian work. By conversion we mean political, economic and technical measures for assuring the orderly trans -formation of [...]

SummaryIt is demonstrated both algebraically and geometrically that the zeros of a polynomial with nonnegative coefficients cannot lie in a sector around the positive real axis. An example shows how the restriction of nonnegativity may sometimes be circumvented. An extensive generalization of the ideas in this note can be found in Melman, Aaron (2021). Zero exclusion sectors for some polynomials with structured coefficients. Amer. Math. Monthly128: 322–336.

In a recent case further limiting the ability of patentees to allege infringement under the doctrine of equivalents, the Federal Circuit, sitting en banc, held that the doctrine of equivalents [...]

The US Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit has concluded that a defendant who registered another's trademark as a domain name for the sole business purpose of creating and [...]

Adopting reasoning from earlier decisions of the Second, Seventh, and Ninth Circuits, the Third Circuit for the first time has held that initial interest confusion is actionable under the Lanham [...]

On September 12, 2001, the USPTO issued final rules, effective immediately, on procedures for civil actions and claims involving the agency. The final rules, published in the Federal Register on [...]

AbstractA polynomial with nonnegative coefficients does not have zeros in a sector around the positive real axis. It is shown that other polynomials with different sign restrictions on their coefficients satisfy similar properties, which is then applied to derive conditions that widen the angle of the zero exclusion sector for polynomials with positive coefficients. A geometric approach is used for all results.

Purpose: Homosexuality is a clear risk factor for disordered eating in men; however, for women, research has yielded contradictory results. We conducted a meta-analysis to examine the association between sexual orientation and disordered eating in women. Methods: PRISMA guidelines were used. Studies comparing disordered eating between lesbians and heterosexual women were identified using PsycNet database and Google Scholar. Twenty-one studies met inclusion criteria. Overall disordered eating, restricting, binging and purging were examined for heterosexual, lesbian, bisexual and ‘mostly heterosexual’ women. Results: Whereas there was no significant difference in overall disordered eating between lesbians and heterosexual women, lesbians reported restricting less and binging more than heterosexual women. Bisexual women were more likely than lesbian women to restrict food intake and purge, and more likely than heterosexual women to have overall disordered eating and restrict food intake. “Mostly heterosexual” women were more likely than heterosexual women to restrict food intake, binge and purge. Conclusions: Women of different sexual orientations show distinct patterns of disordered eating. Bisexual and “mostly heterosexual” women appear to be particularly at risk. Stress resulting from binegativity and rigid views of sexuality in a dichotomous society, rather than sexual orientation itself, may be associated with disordered eating in women. Findings should be viewed with caution because there were few studies with bisexual and “mostly heterosexual” women. This study elucidates the nature of the association between disordered eating and sexual orientation. Findings provide a possible explanation for previous inconsistencies, since opposing trends for different behaviors cancel each other out. Level of evidence: Level I, systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: Women with disordered eating report low satisfaction from romantic relationships. We wished to examine whether this may be explained in part by a restricted or inflated sense of relational entitlement, pathological concern and low authenticity levels. Method: A community sample of 170 women aged 18–60 (M = 24.89 + 6.22), who had experienced a meaningful romantic relationship, completed questionnaires online. These included measures of disordered eating (EDE-Q), sense of relational entitlement (SRE-R), pathological concern (PCQ), relational authenticity (AIRS) and basic relational needs satisfaction (BNSRS). Structural equation model (SEM) was employed to assess the mediating effect of the SRE-R, PCQ and AIRS on the association between ED symptoms and BNSRS. Results: Participants with high EDE-Q scores tended to score high on inflated and restricted SRE-R, PCQ, AIRS and BNSRS. SRE-R, PCQ and AIRS scores mediated the negative association between EDE-Q and BNSRS scores. Conclusions: An imbalanced sense of relational entitlement, pathological concern and inauthenticity seem to underlie the dissatisfaction that women with disordered eating experience from romantic relationships. Since these relational characteristics seem to take a high toll on the intimate relationships, it is important to encourage healthy eating attitudes and assertiveness within romantic relationships, in life and in therapy. Level of evidence: Level III: evidence obtained from well-designed cohort or case–control analytic studies

•Language is a barrier to implementing research evidence into practice.•Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) content is available in 13 languages.•English, Portuguese, Spanish, German, and French PEDro content is used the most.•Region-specific promotion of the underused PEDro content may facilitate global usage.•Awareness and collaboration between stakeholders could reduce the language barrier.

Universal vaccination at birth and in infancy is key to the elimination of chronic hepatitis B infection. We aimed to assess hepatitis B immune-prophylaxis and perinatal transmission knowledge, in a large and ethnically diverse cohort of previously pregnant North American women, chronically infected with hepatitis B.

Pyogenic liver abscesses are classified by the bacteria that have caused the abscess because this guides treatment and can point to the underlying cause. The most common cause is biliary disease. The diagnosis is made by imaging. Treatment is a combination of antibiotics and percutaneous drainage. Amebic liver abscess is caused by extraintestinal spread of Entamoeba histolytica. E histolytica is spread by fecal-oral transmission and typically colonizes the gastrointestinal tract. It is diagnosed based on imaging and the mainstay of treatment is metronidazole. Only about 15% of cases require percutaneous drainage. The prognosis is good, with almost universal recovery.

Darker days for American-Israeli relations may be ahead if Netanyahu stays the current course, write Dan Raviv and Yossi Melmen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

After four days of rocket shelling and air raidswhich began last Friday when Israeli forces assassinated the secretary general of the Popular Resistance Committee, Zuhair al-Qaissi one million Israelis in [...]

I've been a professional journalist covering security and intelligence matters for a quarter of a century. But I woke up Monday morning to find out that I had suddenly turned [...]

Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak and former Mossad chief Meir Dagan have a lot in common. They are both chubby and in their late sixties. They are both war heroes, [...]

Objective: To compare the reading level required to understand childhood immunization information forms with the reading grade level of an inner-city parent/caretaker population. Design: Descriptive study (parents/caretakers). Setting: Inner-city pediatric clinic. Participants: One hundred fifty English-speaking, low-income parent/caretakers. Interventions: None. Measurements/Main Results: The reading level of our parent population ranged from grades 2.9 to 13.3, with a median grade level of 6.90. The reading levels required for the three vaccine information pamphlets issued in 1992 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Atlanta, Ga) averaged 11.1 (approximately at the level of a high school junior). Eighty-six percent of our parents/caretakers did not have a reading level sufficient to cope with the easiest of the forms. Conclusions: The vaccine information pamphlets require a reading level beyond the capability of the vast majority of our parent population. Therefore, the goal of informed consent clearly is not being met. (Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 1994;148:642-644), Parents or other caretakers of children may not be able to give informed consent to have their children immunized if they cannot read and understand the information pamphlets and forms provided. In 1993, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention produced new pamphlets for vaccine information. A study of 150 English-speaking parents of children using an inner-city health clinic in Philadelphia found that most the parents did not have the language skills necessary to understand the pamphlets they were given explaining the vaccination process. The pamphlets are written at an average education level of 13.3 years, about equivalent to the first year of college. The parents and caretakers in the study had an average education level of 11th grade and an average reading level less than the 7th grade.

Table of Contents Abstract Introduction Method Results Discussion References Abstract Objective: To examine the relationship between anorexia nervosa (AN) subtype, recovery status, and personality profile. Methods: 195 women with lifetime [...]

A study tested the hypothesis that aesthetic athletes (AA) have anorexic-like attitudes and behaviors, share personality characteristics such as perfectionism and obsessiveness, and are at high risk of eating disorders. Results lend credibility to the existence of the diagnostic entity of anorexia athletica, proposed to be a subclinical, environmentally-influenced eating disorder with a favorable prognosis.

This article explores the multiple visual presences of antiquity in the first half of the twentieth century and connects visual histories to the history of empires. It shows how archaeology mediated between the newly discovered material civilizations of the ancient Mesopotamian empires and experiences of modernity in the British Empire, the world’s largest modern empire. The article demonstrates how the materiality of antiquity enabled its visualization in a variety of forms, from illustrations through black-and-white and color photography to aerial photography, and in three-dimensional reconstructions in museums. The article focuses on the spectacular archaeological discoveries at Ur, Tell Al-Muqayyar, in Southern Iraq, which exposed to mass audiences the unknown Sumerian culture. Ur was represented and constructed as the place of origin of monotheism, a site of a rich material culture, and, at the same time, as barbarous.

It's time to start planning the conversion of the United States' defense economy to civilian work. Conversion here means political, economic and technical measures for assuring the orderly transformation of labor, machinery and other economic resources now being used for military purposes to alternative civilian uses. A major factor in the United States' decline to the status of a second-class industrial power has been the voracious appetite of the military-industrial complex, which employs 6.5 million civilian and military personnel in more than 135,000 factories, laboratories and bases.

Focuses on a report prepared by Carnegie Endowment for International Peace on strategies adopted by the U.S. for national security and arms race as of May 1981. Advantages of military strength discussed in the report; Resources allocated by the U.S. for defense; Reasons for criticism of the report by the author; Alternatives for military security discussed in the report.

FIVE ISRAELIS WHO HAD WORKED for a moving company based in New Jersey are being held in U.S. prisons for what the Federal Bureau of Investigation has described as 'puzzling [...]

Presents several letters to the editor referencing articles and topics published in previous issues. Criticism of review of the book "The Next Kennedy," published in the February 10 issue; "Laos: The Fiction of Neutrality," published in the February 24 issue; "What Dirksen Knows," published in the January 27 issue; Appraisal of college students for trying to disrupt campus recruiting by organizations they dislike; "The University as Employment Agency," published in the February 24 issue.

Focuses on disadvantages of technological innovations in the U.S. Drawbacks of industrial societies; Factors responsible for the deterioration of the quality of industrial products in the nation; Reasons for the decline in traditions of craftsmanship; Causes of technological depletion in the ship-building industry of the U.S.