The role of religious and ethnic diversity of Iraq in the U.S. administration's decision to overthrow Saddam Hussein in the years 1991-2003

Bachelor thesis "The role of religious and ethnic diversity of Iraq in the U.S. administration's decision to overthrow Saddam Hussein in the years 1991-2003" deals with the issue of American foreign policy making regarding the Iraq regime of Saddam Hussein from the first Gulf war in 1990-1991 to the second Gulf war in 2003. The thesis concentrates on what was the role of ethnic and religious diversity of Iraq in the decision making process, precisely did this crucial factor influence the decision. Although during the first Gulf war the aspect of religious and ethnic diversity was very much taken into account, and was in fact one of the reasons for the decision not to overthrow Hussein's regime, during the second Gulf war the factor had been totally ignored which led to an afterwar violence which cost tens of thousands of casualties. The thesis concentrates on what was the reason to ignore this risk in the second Gulf war when it was taken into consideration during the first one, regarding the fact that both administrations had very similar personal and political basis.Bakalářská práce "Úloha etnické a náboženské rozmanitosti Iráku při rozhodování americké administrativy o svržení Saddáma Husajna v letech 1991-2003" pojednává o tvorbě zahraniční politiky USA ve vztahu k iráckému režimu Saddáma Husajna v období od první války v Zálivu v letech 1990-1991 do druhé války v zálivu v roce 2003. Konkrétně se zaměřuje na aspekt etnické a náboženské rozmanitosti Iráku v rámci tohoto rozhodovacího procesu, přesněji do jaké míry tento klíčový faktor rozhodování ovlivňoval. Zatímco během první války byl tento faktor zohledněn velmi výrazně a hrál značnou roli v rozhodnutí ponechat Husajna u moci, v případě druhé války byl naopak zcela ignorován, následkem čehož se Irák propadl do sektářského násilí, které si vyžádalo desetitisíce obětí. Práce se zabývá tím, co bylo důvodem jednak k zohlednění těchto rizik v prvním případě, a jednak k ignorování těchto rizik v případě druhém, a to i přesto, že obě administrativy měly velmi podobný jak politický, tak personální základ.Department of North American StudiesKatedra severoamerických studiíFaculty of Social SciencesFakulta sociálních vě

Americká zahraniční politika a povstání v Egyptě, Libyi a Sýrii

Diplomová práce Americká zahraniční politika a povstání v Egyptě, Libyi a Sýrii se zabývá primárně konfliktem mezi podporou demokratizačních tendencí a strategickými a bezpečnostními zájmy v zahraniční politice Spojených států ve vztahu k revolucím, které na počátku roku 2011 vypukly v Egyptě, Libyi a Sýrii. Dále se práce zabývá tím jaké postupy a nástroje pro podporu demokratizace nebo strategických zájmů Spojené státy zvolily a jakým způsobem svůj postoj veřejně prezentovaly. Práce je rozdělena na tři hlavní části, přičemž první z nich se zabývá obecným vymezením podpory demokratizace v rámci americké zahraniční politiky a jejího konfliktu s ochranou důležitých amerických zájmů. Druhá a rozsahově nejdelší část se zabývá průběhem povstání v jednotlivých státech s důrazem na postup zahraniční politiky Spojených států. Třetí kapitola pak na základě dvou předchozích vyjmenovává a vysvětluje základní systémové znaky přístupu administrativy Baracka Obamy ke zmíněným povstáním a hledá faktory, které toto jednání zásadním způsobem ovlivnily. Práce byla zpracována s použitím převážně novinových článků a expertních komentářů, neboť vzhledem k aktuálnosti tématu není tato problematika ještě zcela zpracována v rámci odborných publikací. Dále byly použity americké oficiální vládní zdroje, analýzy a projevy...The Master Thesis American Foreign Policy and the Arab Uprisings in Egypt, Libya, and Syria concentrates primarily on the conflict between democracy promotion and pursuit of strategic and security interests within the U.S. foreign policy with respect to uprisings in Egypt, Libya, and Syria that broke out in the beginning of 2011. The thesis also concentrates on the processes and the tools used by the United States to support either democratization efforts or their vital interests and how these processes were publicly communicated. The thesis is divided into three parts. The first part analyzes history of democracy promotion in the U.S. foreign policy and its conflict with interest-based stability promotion. The second, and the most extensive, part examines the uprisings in Egypt, Libya, and Syria with an accent on the U.S. foreign policy. The third part seeks to identify patterns and features of the U.S. foreign policy with respect to the uprisings in the mentioned countries using the facts mentioned in the previous two chapters. The thesis uses mainly newspaper articles and expert opinions as the principle sources. As the topic is a very current issue there is no huge number of academic sources available especially concerning the later phases of the uprisings. Also, official sources like analyses...Katedra severoamerických studiíDepartment of North American StudiesFakulta sociálních vědFaculty of Social Science

King’s Model on Capitalization under Basel III: The Case of Lebanese Banks

Objective: Lebanese banks have shown immunity towards the 2008 financial crisis that was attributed to many factors including a strong regulatory and supervisory system of conservative practices and structural economic factors such as the recurrence and non-speculative nature of capital inflows towards Lebanon supported by a large pool of offshore savings from diaspora and investors around the globe. The purpose of this study is to investigate the relation between capital adequacy ratios (CARs) and lending spread ratio (LSR). This paper presents the first assessment of the Basel III capital requirements on lending spread ratio before, during and after the financial crisis among commercial banks operated in Lebanon. Methodology: We consider King’s approach and assess his model’s applicability in the Lebanese context. Findings indicate some deviations, specifically related to the practices and financial performance of commercial banks in Lebanon. Results: We found no indication of impact of the change in CAR on LSR among Lebanese commercial banks in years prior to the recent financial crises; Nevertheless, the impact of changing CAR by 1 pp on LSR has a modest effect on Lebanese commercial banks during the years of financial crises; this effect is lowered to become modest after the crisis. Implication: The results of the current study reveal significant implications for managers in commercial banks in particular and all banks in general. Given that Lebanese commercial banks are well-capitalized and their Capital Adequacy Ratios are above international benchmarks, bank managers must carefully monitor the cost of the implementation of Basel III requirement

DEVELOPING A COLLABORATIVE FRAMEWORK FOR LINKINGWOMAN’S HEALTH, WALKABILITY WITH NEIGHBORHOODDESIGN: A PILOT STUDY IN BEIRUT

Urban environments, which lack adequate social environments suitable for walking, lead to spreading a culture of poor diet and minimal physical activity amongst its dwellers, and thus become one of the major contributing environmental factors that lead to obesity. Nevertheless, the evidence review findings on the association between urban parameters and health outcomes still needs to be investigated and requires integrated system approach for informed health planning. In a car dependent city, like Beirut, with a weak pedestrian infrastructure in addition to unhealthy modern lifestyle, there is significant health problems, particularly obesity, in women. Though genetic tendency is known to be a contributor to overweightness and obesity, environmental factors are often significant sponsors to its causes. The purpose of this study is to develop a framework to understand the link between physical characteristics of the neighborhood including land use mix, proximity to shops and recreational facilities, distance to public parks, and the quality of pedestrian infrastructure on one hand, and the daily travel patterns in relationship with the socioeconomic level on the other. Moreover, it seeks to correlate the level of walkability with the body mass index and hence obesity and to overall health status and chronic diseases such as hypertension, diabetes and cardiac diseases. A pilot study is to be conducted, where a survey is developed and is to be tested on a specific number of 50 women in order to evaluate some of the feasibility of crucial components of the full-scale study. The target urban area extends from Horsh Beirut till Beirut Municipal Stadium. This pilot study conducted prior to the main multidisciplinary research assesses the feasibility of the used tools including such as surveys, mobile applications and mapping analysis as well as testing the reliability and cultural acceptance of the survey

Current concepts and recent advances in understanding and managing lumbar spine stenosis [version 1; referees: 3 approved]

Lumbar spinal stenosis is a degenerative process that is extremely frequent in today’s aging population. It can result in impingement on the nerves of the cauda equina or on the thecal sac itself, and lead to debilitating symptoms such as severe leg pain, or restriction in the perimeter of ambulation, both resulting in dependency in daily activities. The impact of the disease is global and includes financial repercussions because of its involvement in the active work force group. Risk factors for the disease include some comorbidities such as obesity or smoking, daily habits such as an active lifestyle, but also genetic factors that are not completely elucidated yet. The diagnosis of lumbar stenosis can be difficult, and involves a combination of radiological and clinical findings. Treatment ranges from conservative measures with physical therapy and core strengthening, to steroid injections in the facet joints or epidural space, to a more radical solution with surgical decompression. The evidence available in the literature regarding the causes, diagnosis and treatment of lumbar spine stenosis can be confusing, as no level I recommendations can be provided yet based on current data. The aim of this manuscript is to provide a comprehensive and updated summary to the reader addressing the multiple aspects of this disease

The Hydrogel Endovascular Aneurysm Treatment Trial (HEAT): A Randomized Controlled Trial of the Second-Generation Hydrogel Coil

© 2020 Congress of Neurological Surgeons 2020. BACKGROUND: Aneurysm recurrence after coiling has been associated with aneurysm growth, (re)hemorrhage, and a greater need for follow-up. The second-generation HydroCoil Embolic System (HES; MicroVention, Inc) consists of a platinum core with integrated hydrogel and was developed to reduce recurrence through enhancing packing density and healing within the aneurysm. OBJECTIVE: To compare recurrence between the second-generation HES and bare platinum coil (BPC) in the new-generation Hydrogel Endovascular Aneurysm Treatment Trial (HEAT). METHODS: HEAT is a randomized, controlled trial that enrolled subjects with ruptured or unruptured 3- to 14-mm intracranial aneurysms amenable to coiling. The primary endpoint was aneurysm recurrence using the Raymond-Roy scale. Secondary endpoints included minor and major recurrence, packing density, adverse events related to the procedure and/or device, mortality, initial complete occlusion, aneurysm retreatment, hemorrhage from target aneurysm during follow-up, aneurysm occlusion stability, and clinical outcome at final follow-up. RESULTS: A total of 600 patients were randomized (HES, n = 297 and BPC, n = 303), including 28% with ruptured aneurysms. Recurrence occurred in 11 (4.4%) subjects in the HES arm and 44 (15.4%) subjects in the BPC arm (P =. 002). While the initial occlusion rate was higher with BPC, the packing density and both major and minor recurrence rates were in favor of HES. Secondary endpoints including adverse events, retreatment, hemorrhage, mortality, and clinical outcome did not differ between arms. CONCLUSION: Coiling of small-to-medium aneurysms with second-generation HES resulted in less recurrence when compared to BPC, without increased harm. These data further support the use of the second-generation HES for the embolization of intracranial aneurysms. Video Abstract: 10.1093/neuros/nyaa006 nyaa006Media1 613226478400

Comparison of Blister Aneurysm Treatment Techniques: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Objective Blood blister aneurysms are small, thin-walled, rapidly growing side-wall aneurysms that have proven particularly difficult to treat, and evidence-based guidance for treatment strategies is lacking. A systematic review and meta-analysis was performed to aggregate the available data and compare the three primary treatment modalities. Methods We performed a comprehensive literature search according to PRISMA guidelines followed by an indirect meta-analysis that compares the safety and efficacy of surgical, flow-diverting stents (FDS), and other endovascular approaches for the treatment of ruptured blood blister aneurysms. Results A total of 102 studies were included for quantitative synthesis with sample sizes of 687 treated surgically, 704 treated endovascularly without FDS, and 125 treated via flow-diversion. Comparatively, FDS achieved significantly reduced rates of perioperative retreatment compared to both surgical (P=0.025) and non-FDS endovascular (P<0.001). The FDS subgroup also achieved a significantly lower incidence of perioperative rebleed (P<0.001), perioperative hydrocephalus (P=0.012), postoperative infarction (P=0.002), postoperative hydrocephalus (P<0.001), and postoperative vasospasm (P=0.002) when compared to those patients in the open surgical subgroup. While no significant differences were found between groups on the basis of functional outcomes, angiographic outcomes detailed by rates of radiographic complete occlusion were highest for surgical (90.7%, 262/289) and FDS (89.1%, 98/110) subgroups versus the non-FDS endovascular subgroup at (82.7%, 268/324). Conclusion Flow-diversion appears to be an effective treatment strategy for ruptured BBAs with lower rates of perioperative complications when compared to surgical and other endovascular techniques but studies investigating long-term outcomes following flow-diversion warrant further study

LMD-10. The role of immune checkpoint inhibitors in leptomeningeal disease: a systematic review

Background: Leptomeningeal disease (LMD) is a devastating complication of advanced malignancy with a poor prognosis and limited therapeutic options. Whether immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) alter disease course is unknown. Methods: We searched PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus, Cochrane, and clinicaltrials.gov according to PRISMA guidelines to analyze the therapeutic role and toxicity profiles of ICIs in the management of LMD. Studies reporting clinical outcome data of patients with LMD treated with ICIs were included. A comprehensive review of clinical characteristics and survival analysis was conducted. Results: We included 14 studies encompassing 61 patients. The median age at LMD diagnosis was 57 years (female=63.9%). Lung cancer (44.3%), breast cancer (27.9%), and melanoma (23.0%) were the most frequent primary tumors. Parenchymal brain metastases occurred in 37 patients, mostly treated with radiotherapy (83.3%). LMD most frequently presented with headache (42.1%) and was diagnosed by MRI findings (leptomeningeal T1-contrast enhancement: 96.7%) and/or positive cerebrospinal fluid cytology (86.5%). Patients received ICIs for a median duration of 7 months (range, 0.5–58.0): pembrolizumab (49.2%), nivolumab (32.8%), and/or ipilimumab (18.0%). The most common concurrent LMD treatments were radiotherapy (54.7%) and steroids (35.7%). Radiological responses at 6-months were complete (33.3%) and partial response (12.5%), stable disease (33.3%), and progression (20.8%). 22 patients developed ICI-related adverse events, mostly mild (100%) and uncommonly severe (15.6%). Median progression-free survival was 5.1 months, median overall survival was 6.3 months, and 12-month survival was 32.1%. Survival was correlated with ICIs (P=0.042), but not with primary tumors (P=0.144). Patients concurrently receiving steroids showed worse survival (P=0.040), with a median overall survival of 1.9 months. Conclusion: ICI therapy shows promise and appears to be well-tolerated in patients with LMD. Concurrent use of steroids is associated with worse survival. The role of ICIs in the multimodal management of LMD and their combination with steroids requires further analysis

Primary Skull Base Chondrosarcomas: A Systematic Review

From MDPI via Jisc Publications RouterHistory: accepted 2021-11-25, pub-electronic 2021-11-26Publication status: PublishedBackground: Primary skull base chondrosarcomas (SBCs) can severely affect patients’ quality of life. Surgical-resection and radiotherapy are feasible but may cause debilitating complications. We systematically reviewed the literature on primary SBCs. Methods: PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus, Web-of-Science, and Cochrane were searched following the PRISMA guidelines to include studies of patients with primary SBCs. Clinical characteristics, management strategies, and treatment outcomes were analyzed. Results: We included 33 studies comprising 1307 patients. Primary SBCs mostly involved the middle-fossa (72.7%), infiltrating the cavernous-sinus in 42.4% of patients. Cranial-neuropathies were reported in 810 patients (62%). Surgical-resection (93.3%) was preferred over biopsy (6.6%). The most frequent open surgical approaches were frontotemporal-orbitozygomatic (17.6%) and pterional (11.9%), and 111 patients (21.3%) underwent endoscopic-endonasal resection. Post-surgical cerebrospinal-fluid leaks occurred in 36 patients (6.5%). Radiotherapy was delivered in 1018 patients (77.9%): photon-based (41.4%), proton-based (64.2%), and carbon-based (13.1%). Severe post-radiotherapy complications, mostly hypopituitarism (15.4%) and hearing loss (7.1%) were experienced by 251 patients (30.7%). Post-treatment symptom-improvement (46.7%) and reduced/stable tumor volumes (85.4%) showed no differences based on radiotherapy-protocols (p = 0.165; p = 0.062). Median follow-up was 67-months (range, 0.1−376). SBCs recurrences were reported in 211 cases (16.1%). The 5-year and 10-year progression-free survival rates were 84.3% and 67.4%, and overall survival rates were 94% and 84%. Conclusion: Surgical-resection and radiotherapy are effective treatments in primary SBCs, with acceptable complication rates and favorable local tumor control