\def\thefootnote{\ifnum\c@footnote>\z@\leavevmode\lower.5ex\hbox{*}\@arabic\c@footnote\fi}
\renewcommand{\footnoterule}{%
\kern-3\ltjs@mpt
- \hrule width .4\columnwidth height \ltjs@mpt
+ \hrule width .4\columnwidth height .4\ltjs@mpt
\kern 2.6\ltjs@mpt}
\long\def\@footnotetext{%
\insert\footins\bgroup