This differs from quantitative viral assay (a.k.a the “viral load’) used to measure HIV in a person’s blood. Instead, the qualitative test confirms whether the virus is actually there or not. Antibody tests, including newer generation tests, cannot establish HIV infection in infants because the antibodies may, in fact, be that of the mother—transferred from mother to child through the placenta during pregnancy. It’s important, therefore, to understand that the presence of these “inherited” antibodies does not indicate HIV infection....

Most years, for most teams, that would be enough to go into another season with confidence that a young player will take the next step. Instead, Gregorius faces a challenge for playing time from 2009 first-round pick Chris Owings, who as a September call-up hit .291/.361/.382 in his 61 plate appearances. Owings also was Pacific Coast League MVP after a season in which he hit .330/.359/.482 with 12 home runs for Triple-A Reno....

Well, the newfound attention earned the girls some perks. They took over the Diamondbacks’ official Snapchat account, but more importantly they were offered free tickets to Thursday night’s game by Fox Sports. But they felt this was an opportunity for people who were less fortunate. MORE: We pick a craft beer for each MLB team; you’re welcome! Instead of accepting the free tickets, the girls asked for the tickets to be given to a charity....

The decision on Tomas is surprising, because he signed a six-year, $68.5 million deal during the offseason as a top free agent. Arizona hasn’t been pleased with Tomas’ defense at third base and has considered moving him to the outfield. MORE: Kluber, Indians reportedly reach deal | MLB probe continues in Maddon tampering case Ross, 34, is owed $8.5 million for the 2015 season and a $1 million buyout for 2016....

Speaking with reporters on Tuesday, the former top Democrat of the Senate Judiciary Committee said she intends on serving the remainder of her term. Feinstein’s seat won’t be up for grabs until 2024. When asked if she’d be able to serve fully, Feinstein said, “Absolutely. I think that’s pretty obvious.” Last December, a damaging report published by The New Yorker questioned her legislative abilities, citing cognitive decline and memory loss....

Occasional gunshots ring out in the streets, and dozens of displaced Afghans who fled from the bombed-out cities of Kabul and Kandahar perch atop the compound’s high wall, eyeing us with amazement. As one British TV technician puts it, “If a group of Cyclopeans suddenly landed in Putney, I’d be staring, too.” Journalists famished from a day of enforced fasting during Ramadan eye their boxes filled with raisins and Granola Bars and cans of sardines, waiting for nightfall–when we can eat without incurring the wrath of our fundamentalist hosts....

As Bush puts it, the struggle is “between those who yearn for peace and those who want their children to grow up in a normal, decent society, and radicals and extremists who want to impose their dark vision on people throughout the world.” But the sad irony is that this is precisely the argument, in reverse, that Al Qaeda and its many spinoffs use to justify their fight. And Al Qaeda’s people, as leading counterinsurgency strategists admit, make their case much more effectively....

There was a time, of course, when Saddam’s image was everywhere in Iraq, and the only thing more frightening than his scowl was his smile. His face appeared on billboards and the sides of buildings in countless guises, wearing fedoras, helmets, commando berets, tribal headdresses. Turn any corner and you saw him fighting, exhorting, laughing, praying. Portraits of Saddam hung in every shop and office, and no one dared disrespect them....

The assembled dignitaries expressed their “determination to work immediately to reach with the utmost urgency a ceasefire” in the war that started two weeks ago today when the Hizbullah militia crossed the border to capture two Israeli soldiers, and Israel responded with a massive counterattack the length and breadth of Lebanon. But, at American insistence, the ceasefire would have to be one that’s “lasting, permanent and sustainable.” Which means the flames searing Lebanon, threatening Israel and endangering the most volatile region in the world will go on for weeks, if not months, to come....

Yes, he sits courtside in a suit. But no, ABC, he is not Denzel Washington. And, as it turns out, this is a photoshopped photo but it's still funny enough to pass along. [via theScore]

Last Aug. 3, Rodriguez and his wife, Carmen, drove to a nearby market to buy groceries and some medicine for their sick 3-year-old. The child, Veronica, was miserable and her safety-restraint seat was in the other car, so Carmen put her in her lap in the front seat of the ‘78 Chevy. On the way home, Rodriguez made a left turn into the path of an approaching van. In the crash, Veronica went hurtling into the dashboard and windshield....

Scalise painted a sad, sad picture of American families “who can’t even afford to put gas in their tanks.” They can’t “make it to the grocery store because we have such horrible energy policy,” he said. The evidence fails to support the melodrama. “National gas prices drop to 18-month low,” Forbes reported on Dec. 20, “and could hit $3 by Christmas.” In Louisiana, a gallon of regular now averages $2....

While many coaches never had playing careers, McDaniel is notable in that he did have a playing career. He just used that to further his future in the sport as a coach, not a player. Considering his listed height of 5-9 and weight that ranges from 170 to 180 pounds — depending on whom you ask — that might have been for the best. That said, the self-described football nerd showed even at a young age an acuity for football that would one day lead him to become one of the brightest offensive minds in football....

The free agent wideout was on hand for pre-game festivities as a special guest of the Rams, hoisting the Lombardi Trophy and unveiling the Super Bowl 56 banner in Inglewood. But after Buffalo dissected the defending Super Bowl champs in Los Angeles to the tune of a 31-10 blowout win, Beckham may be leaving the dance with another lady. As the free agent still mulls his next move as he recovers from an ACL injury, “Sheeesh…....

Coming as it did just two weeks after the Los Angeles Lakers ended a 10-year wait for the NBA title, the Dodgers’ triumph in the Fall Classic marks the first time since 1988 the Lakers and the Dodgers can both call themselves world champions in the same year. Away from the sporting arena, the Dodgers’ World Series victory could be seen as a positive omen for Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden, who according to FiveThirtyEight’s average of presidential election polls leads President Donald Trump by a 26-point margin in California ahead of the November 3 presidential election....

Romo always put up exceptional counting stats, and the Eastern Illinois product was a Cowboys mainstay. Although his career ended unceremoniously with injury, he was debated about the same way almost-elite quarterbacks are debated about in 2022. What was the firestorm around Romo? Despite his always-excellent numbers, the Cowboys regularly came up short with him at the helm. They never made it past the Divisional Round with Romo at QB, although be fair to him they haven’t made it past it since he retired either....

It’s such a concern that most patients with advanced kidney disease are referred to a renal dietitian—a nutrition expert who specializes in kidney disease. This professional can devise a personalized eating plan that takes into account specific treatment goals and health status. It can be tricky to balance good nutrition with dietary restrictions necessary to support kidney health in diabetes. For example, there are a number of vital nutrients that should be restricted but can show up in unexpected foods....

Heart Attack A heart attack refers to damage to the muscle of the heart, usually from a lack of blood flow. Most of the time, a blood clot forms in one of the arteries that supply the heart muscle, blocking the flow of blood that it needs to nourish it. As the heart muscle starves, it begins to die. This causes chest pain and other heart attack symptoms. The term heart attack is self-explanatory....

Digestive enzymes that break down carbohydrates (and where they’re found): Amylase (found in saliva and the pancreas) breaks down complex carbohydrates and starches in grains, beans, and starchy vegetables. Lactase (small intestine) breaks down lactose, a sugar in dairy products. Maltase (saliva, pancreas) breaks down maltose, a sugar in grains. Sucrase (small intestine) digests sucrose, a sugar found in fruit, nuts (in pretty small amounts), and veggies. A digestive enzyme that breaks down fat: Lipase (pancreas)....

About Digital Retinal Imaging With the advent of digital photography, the eye care industry now produces digital retinal cameras that produce an amazing view of the inside of the eye. Digital retinal imaging is the act of taking a digital photograph of the inside of the eye including the retina, optic nerve, macula, and blood vessels. This image is used to screen for eye diseases and can be used to compare to images taken in future examinations....