Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Lifestyle Modification Intervention for the Treatment of Osteoporosis

Purpose. The purpose of this evaluation was to evaluate the effectiveness of a multidisciplinary educational and exercise program for individuals at risk for osteoporosis-related fractures. Methods. The Highmark Osteoporosis Prevention and Education (HOPE) program is an ongoing, 8-week program with two postintervention follow-up assessments at 6 months and 2 years. Adults (n = 375) with osteoporosis or significant risk factors, most already engaged in healthy behaviors, self-selected for participation. Baseline measures included bone mineral density scans; fitness assessments; and surveys of depression, exercise, and nutrition behaviors. At course end and 6-month follow-up, assessments were repeated for fitness measures, depression, and exercise and nutrition adherence. Two-year postprogram assessments included bone mineral density scans and adherence measures. Results. Paired t-tests showed significant improvements at course end in all measures (p < .0001) for the 87% completing the course. A repeated measure analysis of variance after 2 years with 79% retention indicated that adherence to nutrition recommendations was maintained at 2-year follow-up (p < .0001), whereas exercise adherence decreased but continued to exceed baseline measures (p < .0001). At 2 years, participants averaged two strength training sessions and 131 minutes aerobic exercise per week and consumed an average of 97% and 99% of the recommended calcium and vitamin D. Conclusions. Although findings of this nonexperimental study are limited because of lack of a control group, the HOPE program suggests that a comprehensive community-based education and behavior change program can significantly reduce risk factors for osteoporosis and related fractures. Participants maintained lifestyle modifications for a minimum of 2 years despite advancing age.
Diagnostic and Prognostic Value of Thrombocytosis in Admitted Medical Patients

Introduction:Whether secondary thrombocytosis is a distinguishing clinical biomarker of various diseases, and whether it is an independent predictor of short-term outcome of admitted medical patients is unknown and has never been examined. Methods:A cohort of all 138 patients with secondary thrombocytosis (platelets count ≥ 5 x 105/&mgr;L) admitted to the department of medicine during the last 2 years was analyzed. Epidemiological and clinical data, and the final diagnosis and outcome were recorded and compared with a cohort of 684 consecutive admitted patients without thrombocytosis. Results:Thrombocytosis was not a non-specific marker of inflammation, because uncomplicated infections and most admission causes were not associated with thrombocytosis, except for inflammatory rheumatic diseases (6% versus 1%), along with anemia (9.4% versus 2.5%) and tumor comorbidity (25% versus 14%). In contrast, thrombocytosis was a distinguishing biomarker for severe pyogenic infections, especially empyema (5% vs. 0%), any abscesses (14% versus 3%), and soft tissue infections (7% versus 3%). Moreover, the thrombocytosis group had significantly more admission days, infections (45% versus 33%), sepsis (21% versus 6%), in-hospital major complications (15% versus 3%) and mortality (19% versus 5%). Finally, thrombocytosis was found to be an independent predictor of mortality, in a multivariate regression analysis. Conclusions:Thrombocytosis is not a simple marker of inflammation. Its presence warrants thorough investigation for the presence of severe underlying disease, mostly complicated pyogenic infections, inflammatory rheumatic diseases and malignancy. Moreover, thrombocytosis is a marker for major complications and is an independent predictor of mortality in admitted medical patients.
MORPHOLOGY OF SEMICRYSTALLINE FOAMS BASED ON POLYETHYLENE

The matrix polymer morphology of a collection of low-density polyethylene (LDPE) foams manufactured from a high-pressure nitrogen solution process is analyzed at different length scales. This morphology is compared with that of the extruded LDPE, which was used to produce the foams. The main sources for the differences between the morphologies of both kinds of material seem to be related to the geometrical arrangement of the polymer in thin cell walls and to the complicated mechanical and thermal history of the polymer that comprises the cell walls of the foams.
Pseudomonas aeruginosa LasB protease impairs innate immunity in mice and humans by targeting a lung epithelial cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulator–IL-6–antimicrobial–repair pathway

Background Pseudomonas aeruginosa lung infections are a huge problem in ventilator-associated pneumonia, cystic fibrosis (CF) and in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exacerbations. This bacterium secretes virulence factors that may subvert host innate immunity. Objective We evaluated the effect of P. aeruginosa elastase LasB, an important virulence factor secreted by the type II secretion system, on ion transport, innate immune responses and epithelial repair, both in vitro and in vivo. Methods Wild-type (WT) or cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR)-mutated epithelial cells (cell lines and primary cells from patients) were treated with WT or ΔLasB pseudomonas aeruginosa O1 (PAO1) secretomes. The effect of LasB and PAO1 infection was also assessed in vivo in murine models. Results We showed that LasB was the most abundant protein in WT PAO1 secretomes and that it decreased epithelial CFTR expression and activity. In airway epithelial cell lines and primary bronchial epithelial cells, LasB degraded the immune mediators interleukin (IL)-6 and trappin-2, an important epithelial-derived antimicrobial molecule. We further showed that an IL-6/STAT3 signalling pathway was downregulated by LasB, resulting in inhibition of epithelial cell repair. In mice, intranasally instillated LasB induced significant weight loss, inflammation, injury and death. By contrast, we showed that overexpression of IL-6 and trappin-2 protected mice against WT-PAO1-induced death, by upregulating IL-17/IL-22 antimicrobial and repair pathways. Conclusions Our data demonstrate that PAO1 LasB is a major P. aeruginosa secreted factor that modulates ion transport, immune response and tissue repair. Targeting this virulence factor or upregulating protective factors such as IL-6 or antimicrobial molecules such as trappin-2 could be beneficial in P. aeruginosa-infected individuals.
Socioeconomic differences in smoking in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, and Palestine: A cross-sectional analysis of national surveys

Introduction The association between education and wealth, as fundamental determinants of health, and smoking is well-established. Yet, social inequalities have received little attention in the expanding field of tobacco research in the Arab region. In this study, we examine inequalities in cigarette smoking by education and wealth in four Arab countries. Methods Utilizing the most recently available population-level data sets (Syria 2009 PAPFAM, Jordan 2012 DHS, Palestine 2010 Family Health Survey, and Lebanon 2004 PAPFAM), we tested the association between cigarette smoking and education and wealth–controlling for age, marital status, and region of residence–for each country, and among men and women depending on data availability. Results Cigarette smoking prevalence among Arab men is high– 51.3% in Syria, 39.7% in Palestine, and 42.1% in Lebanon; among women, prevalence is 8.4% in Syria, 10.9% in Jordan, and 24.3% Lebanon. Cigarette smoking shows the expected patterns inequalities by education among men in Syria, Palestine, and Lebanon, and among women in Jordan and Lebanon. On the other hand, wealth does not show a clear pattern in its association with cigarette smoking and, in some cases (men in Palestine and women in Syria) the behavioral risk is higher among the wealthiest. Conclusions Available data from 2004–2012 show that cigarette smoking among men and women in the four Arab countries is predominant among those with limited access to education as a fundamental cause. The weak or absent negative association between wealth and cigarette smoking suggests that access to material resources does not precipitate a reduction in the consumption of tobacco.
Correlation of carotid artery reactivity with cardiovascular risk factors and coronary artery vasodilator responses in asymptomatic, healthy volunteers

Objectives: Carotid artery reactivity (CAR%), involving carotid artery diameter responses to a cold pressor test (CPT), is a noninvasive measure of conduit artery function in humans. This study examined the impact of age and cardiovascular risk factors on the CAR% and the relationship between CAR% and coronary artery vasodilator responses to the CPT. Methods: Ultrasound was used to measure resting and peak carotid artery diameters during the CPT, with CAR% being calculated as the relative change from baseline (%). We compared CAR% between young (n = 50, 24 ± 3 years) and older participants (n = 44, 61 ± 8 years), and subsequently assessed relationships between CAR% and traditional cardiovascular risk factors in 50 participants (44 ± 21 years). Subsequently, we compared left anterior descending (LAD) artery velocity (using transthoracic Doppler) with carotid artery diameter (i.e. CAR%) during the CPT (n = 33, 37 ± 17 years). Results: A significantly larger CAR% was found in young versus older healthy participants (4.1 ± 3.7 versus 1.8 ± 2.6, P < 0.001). Participants without cardiovascular risk factors demonstrated a higher CAR% than those with at least two risk factors (2.9 ± 2.9 versus 0.5 ± 2.9, P = 0.019). Carotid artery diameter and LAD velocity increased during CPT (P < 0.001). Carotid diameter and change in velocity correlated with LAD velocity (r = 0.486 and 0.402, P < 0.004 and 0.02, respectively). Conclusion: Older age and cardiovascular risk factors are related to lower CAR%, while CAR% shows good correlation with coronary artery responses to the CPT. Therefore, CAR% may represent a valuable technique to assess cardiovascular risk, while CAR% seems to reflect coronary artery vasodilator function.
An in situ interproximal model for studying the effect of fluoride on enamel.

This crossover study determined the ability of an interproximal, intra-oral model to demonstrate a fluoride dose response to 0-, 250- and 1,100-ppm fluoride (sodium fluoride) dentifrices with respect to fluoride uptake into, and remineralization of, incipient subsurface enamel lesions. Following a 1 week 'lead in' period during which 30 panelists were randomly assigned to use one of the products, two enamel specimens with artificial carious lesions were mounted into a specially designed functional partial denture worn by each panelist. Panelists continued to brush three times daily with their test dentifrice for 4 weeks, after which the specimens were removed and analyzed for fluoride uptake and remineralization. The procedure was repeated until each panelist had followed all three treatment regimens. Fluoride analyses were performed using a microdrill biopsy technique, and mineral content changes were determined by transverse microradiography. Fluoride uptake data were significantly different (p < 0.01) for all three products with the effect of 1,100 ppm F > 250 ppm F > placebo. The 1,100 ppm F dentifrice also effected significantly greater remineralization (p < 0.01) than did the 250-ppm-F or placebo dentifrices. Relative efficacy of the three fluoride dentifrices tested in this study was similar to that established in a clinical trial, and, therefore, supports the use of this model for in situ studies of the effects of fluoride-containing products on enamel lesions.
Gender-Based Violence Against Transgender People in the United States: A Call for Research and Programming

Gender-based violence (GBV) is an umbrella term for any harm that is perpetrated against a person’s will and that results from power inequalities based on gender roles. Most global estimates of GBV implicitly refer only to the experiences of cisgender, heterosexually identified women, which often comes at the exclusion of transgender and gender nonconforming (trans) populations. Those who perpetrate violence against trans populations often target gender nonconformity, gender expression or identity, and perceived sexual orientation and thus these forms of violence should be considered within broader discussions of GBV. Nascent epidemiologic research suggests a high burden of GBV among trans populations, with an estimated prevalence that ranges from 7% to 89% among trans populations and subpopulations. Further, 165 trans persons have been reported murdered in the United States between 2008 and 2016. GBV is associated with multiple poor health outcomes and has been broadly posited as a component of syndemics, a term used to describe an interaction of diseases with underlying social forces, concomitant with limited prevention and response programs. The interaction of social stigma, inadequate laws, and punitive policies as well as a lack of effective GBV programs limits access to and use of GBV prevention and response programs among trans populations. This commentary summarizes the current body of research on GBV among trans populations and highlights areas for future research, intervention, and policy.
The effects of grooming on a copper ablative coating: a six year study

Abstract More than 90% of US Navy Ships are coated with copper ablative paint. These ships may spend long periods of time pier-side, which makes them vulnerable to fouling. Hull grooming has been proposed as a means of maintaining the coatings in an operational condition. This study investigated the effect of grooming on a copper ablative coating exposed statically for six years. Grooming was performed weekly or monthly with controls left ungroomed. The fouling community was visually assessed, dry film thickness measurements were taken to monitor coating loss, and the copper leaching rates were measured. It was found that weekly and monthly groomed surfaces reduced fouling, and the ungroomed surfaces became fully fouled. Coating loss was similar for weekly, monthly and ungroomed surfaces. The results suggest that grooming is a viable method for maintaining copper ablative coatings in a fouling-free condition without adverse increases in the total copper output.
Influence of Water on Resilient Properties of Coarse Granular Materials

ABSTRACT The objective of this work was to investigate influence of water on resilient properties of a coarse (maximum particle size 90 mm) granular material using various gradings. Triaxial testing, using large-size samples (diameter 500 mm and height 1000 mm) and constant confining pressures, was performed at varying water content up to practically full saturation. Time Domain Reflectometry (TDR) was used to monitor transient in-sample water contents. Evaluation comprised resilient modulus and Poisson ratio in terms of total stresses, although the results were also discussed in the context of effective stresses. The coarsest grading experienced only a small reduction in resilient modulus when brought close to saturation, while specimens with an increased amount of fines and more even distribution responded with a substantial loss of resilient modulus upon increased water content. It also appeared that, as water content increased, the specimens became more dilative (increase in Poisson ratio).
0.23-V Sample-Boost-Latch-Based Offset Tolerant Sense Amplifier

An offset tolerant SRAM sense amplifier (SA) deployed with sample-boost-latch technique to facilitate both common mode and differential mode boosting is proposed. The common mode boosting enables proposed SA, SBLSA to operate deeper into the subthreshold regime whereas the differential mode boosting helps tolerate undesirable mismatch conditions by driving cross-coupled inverters with boosted differential voltages. The proposed boosting circuit first samples the bitline voltages and then isolates the sampled voltages from the highly capacitive bitlines followed by the boosting phase on relatively much less internal input capacitances of the latch. Arrays of SBLSA and conventional voltage latch SA (VLSA) were fabricated in 65-nm-GP CMOS (512 each). At 25 °C, SBLSA achieves 23.3% reduction in directly measured standard deviation of input-referred offset (across 16 ICs, 8192 SAs) and 38.5% improvement (typical IC) in sensing delay at 0.3 V. SBLSA offers reliable operation across entire temperature range of −25 °C to 85 °C at 0.35 V whereas it is 0.41 V for VLSA. Finally, SBLSA operates reliably at the minimum supply of 0.23 V at 25 °C which is 30 mV less compared to VLSA.
Increased pituitary response to somatostatin in aging male rats: relationship to somatostatin receptor number and affinity.

Previous research has established that growth hormone pulse amplitude declines with increasing age. The purpose of this study was to determine whether this decline is associated with (1) increased pituitary response to somatostatin, and/or (2) increased number or affinity of pituitary somatostatin receptors. In the first study, pituitary slices from young (3-4 months), middle-aged (12-14 months), and old (22-24 months) male Fischer 344 rats were superfused with minimal essential medium (1 ml/min) and fractions collected at 5-min intervals. Tissues were stimulated with 10(-7) M hpGRF (1-44) for 1 min and, 40 min later, with hpGRF in the presence of 5 x 10(-9) M somatostatin-14 or somatostatin-28. Two pituitaries from each age group were superfused simultaneously and the experiment replicated 4 times. Growth hormone release was measured by radioimmunoassay. In a second study, somatostatin receptors in purified pituitary membranes from the three age groups were compared using iodo-[Tyr0]-D-Trp8 somatostatin-14. Animals from each age group were pooled, membranes extracted, and incubated with increasing doses of cold peptide. Binding characteristics were analyzed by Scatchard analysis and Ka and Bmax calculated. Results indicated that (1) basal growth hormone release diminished both with age and somatostatin administration, (2) GRF-induced release of growth hormone was similar in all age groups when data were expressed as percent increase from baseline, and (3) in the presence of somatostatin-14, GRF-induced release of growth hormone was attenuated in old as compared to young or middle-aged rats (p less than 0.01). (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Delayed introduction of the birth dose of Hepatitis B vaccine in EPI programs in East Africa: a missed opportunity for combating vertical transmission of Hepatitis B

Vertical Transmission of hepatitis B virus is a major route through which children acquire Hepatitis B infection. Only 10 out of 47 countries in Africa, and none from East Africa; have implemented the WHO recommendation of introducing a birth-dose of hepatitis B vaccine in their EPI program. This article therefore examines the challenges as well as the opportunities that exists for the introduction of a birth-dose of hepatitis vaccine in the National Expanded Program for Immunization (EPI) program by countries in the East African Region. It explores probable health systems factors that have hindered the countries from introducing the birth dose of hepatitis B vaccine and proposes actions that countries can take to introduce the vaccine based on their context by drawing on the experience of some Asian countries.
Fracture Propagation and Arrest in High-Pressure Gas Transmission Pipeline by Ultra High Strength Line Pipes

The fracture arrest of high pressure gas pipelines is one of the keen subjects for application of high strength line pipes. To examine the arrestability of high strength line pipes against crack propagation, several full scale fracture propagation tests have been conducted. The fracture propagation tests of X100 or X120 under high pressure revealed that the existing models of arrest energy prediction failed to predict the arrest energies. By careful investigations of the test results, it is found that the failure in prediction is mainly due to the uncertainty of crack velocity curve prediction. On the other hand, accuracy of predicted gas decompression curve is relatively high even in the case of high pressure condition. Experimentally, the arrest energies have been determined by full-scale fracture propagation tests with increasing toughness arrangement. Different from actual pipeline, extremely low toughness pipe has been employed in crack initiation pipe with intention of getting steady state propagation. However, arrestability of pipe might be underestimated in the increasing toughness arrangement test as the initial crack velocity increases. Together with recalibrated crack velocity curve, Sumitomo model (HLP method with Sumitomo’s crack velocity curve) predicts that even toughness arrangement, which is the case of real pipelines, could arrest the propagating shear fracture in high pressure gas pipelines by X100.Copyright © 2008 by ASME
Analysis of forming geometrical macrostructure in walls of extrusion products manufactured from polypropylene composite filled with CaCO3

Extrusion products in the form of polymeric ducts are mainly manufactured in the process of singlescrew extrusion, co� extrusion and extrusion with the expansion of an extrudate wall under negative pressure in movable segments. Different methods of forming the extrusion product allow one to obtain products with solid, cellular or corrugated walls. In addition, in all the mentioned extrusion processes, it is possible to apply extra technological treatments enhancing a given quality which might be significant in terms of the function to be fulfilled by the product or conditions of its use. Products obtained in this manner from the material display special, extra properties enabling their application in the latest technological solutions. At the moment, the greatest technical progress has been observed in optical communications technologies and it is in this sec� tor that ductshaped extrusion products have been applied most widely. They are laid in special concrete conduit installations and subsequently, innerducts of smaller dimensions or directly teletechnical, power or optotelecommunication cables are in� stalled inside them. Considering all this, it is required that the structures of modern extrusion products have good mechanical properties. Less resistance to motion during the introduction of cables into the interior part of the extrusion product can be obtained through the manufacture of its internal wall with a proper geometrical macrostructure in the form of special slide ribs. Until present, extrusion products in the form of such ducts have been manufactured from high density polyethylene (PEHD), however, due to the need to obtain enhanced circumferential rigidity, other alternative polymeric materials, co� polymers as well as calcium carbonate (CaCO3) or talc (Mg3(OH)2Si4O10) filled composites have been pursued. The article pre� sents the patterns of changes in the rheological properties of propylene composites with different CaCO3 content during their flow through the channel gap in the extrusion die. Numerical analysis was conducted with the use of the finite element method (FEM) in the area between the core forming the slide ribs and a cylindershaped external wall. The material within the core area flows through a specific number of macro depths whose shape corresponds to the shape of the slide ribs which are manu� factured in the inner surface of the extrusion product. The ratio of rib height to wall thickness was 1:8. The rheological seven� parameter CrossWLF model was used to analyze changes in the shear rate and viscosity of the material in a given section of the extrusion die. The results for the filled polypropylene composite (PP + CaCO3) were compared to the results obtained for a PEHD without additives or fillers in the same processing conditions.