Optimal Liability for Terrorism

This paper analyzes the normative role for civil liability in aligning terrorism precaution incentives, when the perpetrators of terrorism are unreachable by courts or regulators. We consider the strategic interaction among targets, subsidiary victims, and terrorists within a sequential, game-theoretic model. The model reveals that, while an optimal liability regime indeed exists, its features appear at odds with conventional legal templates. For example, it frequently prescribes damages payments from seemingly unlikely defendants, directing them to seemingly unlikely plaintiffs. The challenge of introducing such a regime using existing tort law doctrines, therefore, is likely to be prohibitive. Instead, we argue, efficient precaution incentives may be best provided by alternative policy mechanisms, such as a mutual public insurance pool for potential targets of terrorism, coupled with direct compensation to victims of terrorist attacks

Prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection among new outpatients with dyspepsia in Kuwait

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Testing and treatment for <it>Helicobacter pylori </it>has become widely accepted as the approach of choice for patients with chronic dyspepsia but no alarming features. We evaluated <it>H. pylori </it>status among outpatients with uninvestigated dyspepsia in Kuwait.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A prospectively collected database for 1035 patients who had undergone ¹³C-urea breath tests (UBT) for various indications was reviewed for the period from October 2007 to July 2009. The status of <it>H. pylori </it>in dyspeptic patients was determined by UBT.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Among the 362 patients who had undergone UBT for uninvestigated dyspepsia, 49.7% were positive for <it>H. pylori </it>(95% CI = 44%-55%) and the percentage increased with age (35.8% at 20-29 years, 95% CI = 25.4% - 47.2%; 59.3% at 30-39 years, 95% CI = 48.5% - 69.5%) (P = 0.013). The prevalence of <it>H. pylori </it>was 42.6% among Kuwaitis (95% CI = 35%-50%) and 57.6% (95% CI = 49.8%-65%) among expatriates (p = 0.004). The prevalence among males was 51.3%, while in females it was 48.6%.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Almost half of the patients with dyspeptic symptoms in Kuwait were positive for <it>H. pylori</it>, though the prevalence varied with age and was higher among expatriates. The American Gastroenterology Association guidelines recommending testing and treatment for <it>H. pylori </it>for patients with uninvestigated dyspepsia should be endorsed in Kuwait.</p

Chemotherapy of Metastatic Renal Adenocarcinoma with a Five- Drug Regimen*

In the past, chemotherapy of renal adenocarcinoma has been relatively unsuccessful. The progestational agent, medroxy progesterone acetate (MPA), has been the most effective single agent, even though the response rate probably does not exceed 12%. This report describes the results of a program of combination therapy with MPA, cyclophosphamide, hydroxyurea, vinblastine and prednisone that was used on 42 patients, ten of whom had received prior MPA therapy. One complete remission and seven partial remissions were observed, oniyone of whom had received prior MPA therapy. Treatment of metastatic renal adenocarcinoma with combination chemotherapy should probably include MPA and adriamycin. The role of estrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PR) as predictions of response to hormonal therapy in this disease looks encouraging, but the results reported to date have been limited

Monolithic millimeter-wave and picosecond electronic technologies

Theoretical and experimental studies into monolithic millimeter-wave and picosecond electronic technologies have been undertaken as a collaborative project between the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) and the University of California Department of Applied Science Coherent Millimeter-Wave Group under the auspices of the Laboratory Directed Research and Development Program at LLNL. The work involves the design and fabrication of monolithic frequency multiplier, beam control, and imaging arrays for millimeter-wave imaging and radar, as well as the development of high speed nonlinear transmission lines for ultra-wideband radar imaging, time domain materials characterization and magnetic fusion plasma applications. In addition, the Coherent Millimeter-Wave Group is involved in the fabrication of a state-of-the-art X-band ({approximately}8-11 GHz) RF photoinjector source aimed at producing psec high brightness electron bunches for advanced accelerator and coherent radiation generation studies

Stomach bugs and diabetes: an astounding observation or just confounding?

Christopher K. Rayner, Nicholas J. Talley, Michael Horowit