January 2, 2001

Dr Linda Bartoshuk says psychological studies that use common measurement technique, rating scale, to compare different people's subjective experiences often fail to take into account relative nature of subject's responses; says mistake, in some cases, can completely invalidate studies' findings; graph; photo (M)

Immigration and Naturalization Service issues national standards for treatment of its detainees following scores of complaints and lawsuits concerning physical and mental abuse; new standards, covering everything from visiting policies to grievance procedures, will be phased in imminently at all detention centers operated by service; will be phased in over next two years at state and local jails that house immigration service detainees; chart (M)

Attack on Archbishop A mentally disturbed man who was waiting to receive holy communion was arrested after he lunged at Archbishop Edward M. Egan and tried to handcuff him. PAGE B1

Profile of painter Wayne Thiebaud, whose works are on exhibition in traveling show currently at Fort Worth Modern Art Museum; photos (M)

Sierra Leone remains bustling hub of Africa's diamond-smuggling trade, despite new UN rules to curb illicit activity that has sustained country's nine-year civil war; many traders say rules are so flawed that smuggling will never cease; say authorities lack resources to prevent smuggling, and have never shown will to reform corrupt system that has enriched successive governments; Sierra Leone stands more than ever as test of whether UN is serious about constraining illicit, $700-million-a-year business that has also aided ravaging of Congo and Angola; photos; maps (M)

Perhaps shoppers did not notice as they scurried through supermarkets filling carts with potato chips and nachos for the holiday party, but their loads may have been a little lighter than in the past. In an effort to offset rising production costs, Frito-Lay, the world's largest maker of salty snack foods, has begun putting fewer chips in bags of Fritos, Chee-tos and other well-known brands, while keeping the price the same.

Article describes scene at Frederick Douglass Academy, public school located in central Harlem; school is academic success story where all students passed new, more challenging English Regents test last year and 96 percent passed Math Regents; Dr Gregory M Hodge, school principal, comments; photo (M)

Palestinian leader Yasir Arafat leaves Gaza for hastily arranged meeting with Pres Clinton at White House to discuss reservations about American blueprint for final peace deal with Israel; announcement follows explosion of car bomb in Israeli coastal city of Netanya, wounding more than 30 people; Israel shuts down Palestinian airport in Gaza and tightens blockade of Palestinian areas; Palestinian officials express skepticism about last-minute peace deal, as do supporters in Arab world; map; photo (M)

Investors are focused on Federal Reserve to lift stock markets by reviving economy; investors are happy to be rid of stock market 2000; all broad market indexes ended year in negative territory, but indexes most heavily weighted toward technology fared worst; Dow Jones industrial average lost 6.2 percent compared with 10.1 percent decline in Standard & Poor's 500 index and 39.3 percent drop in Nasdaq composite; graphs; charts; drawing (M)

A special issue of Business Day reviews the turbulent year in the financial markets and assesses the chances for a turnaround. With tables showing performance for the year. SECTION C

NYC metropolitan region moves groggily toward becoming itself again, two days removed from big snowstorm; various clean-up scenes described; photo (M)

Interview with English playwright and performer Alan Bennett; photos (M)