Comparative Study of Polyethylene Films Embedded with Oxide Nanoparticles of Granulated and Free-Standing Nature.

Nanocomposite polymer films are a very diverse research field due to their many applications. The search for low-cost, versatile methods, producing regulated properties of the final products, has thus become extremely relevant. We have previously reported a bulk-scale process, dispersing granulated metal oxide nanoparticles, of both unary and multi-component nature, in a low-density polyethylene (LDPE) polymer matrix, establishing a reference in the produced films' optical properties, due to the high degree of homogeneity and preservation of the primary particle size allowed by this method.

Sarcopenia negatively affects hip structure analysis variables in a group of Lebanese postmenopausal women.

Background: The current study's purpose is to compare hip structural analysis variables in a group of postmenopausal women with sarcopenia and another group of postmenopausal women with normal skeletal muscle mass index. To do so, the current study included 8 postmenopausal women (whose ages ranged between 65 and 84 years) with sarcopenia and 60 age-matched controls (with normal skeletal muscle mass index (SMI)). Body composition and bone parameters were evaluated by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA).

Physical Performance Variables and Bone Parameters in a Group of Young Overweight and Obese Women.

The aim of this study was to explore the relationships between physical performance variables and bone parameters such as bone mineral density (BMD), bone mineral content, hip geometry indices, and trabecular bone score in a group of young overweight and obese adult women. Sixty-eight overweight/obese (body mass index ≥25 kg/m; 25.5-42.

The relationships between bone variables and physical fitness across the BMI spectrum in young adult women.

In this cross-sectional study we aimed to evaluate the relationship between physical fitness and bone variables across the body mass index (BMI) spectrum in women aged 20-35 years. The study included 13 underweight women (BMI < 18.5 kg/m), 24 normal weight women (BMI 18.

Do immune checkpoint inhibitors perform identically in patients with weight extremes?

The interaction between the two recent hallmarks of carcinogenesis, the immune system and energetic metabolism, has not been well investigated. The limited literature available on this topic describes a correlation between the efficacy and safety of immune checkpoint inhibitors with body mass index. A key knowledge gap is the understanding of this correlation as outcomes are strongly affected highlighting the need to prospective studies in this regard.

Positive Correlations Between Free Vitamin D and Bone Variables in a Group of Young Lebanese Women.

Optimizing bone mass in adulthood is of great importance to prevent the occurrence of osteoporosis in later age. Vitamin D is an essential component of bone health. Low-serum vitamin D is associated with low bone mineral density (BMD), which is an important predictor of fracture risk.

Bone Geometric Properties of the Femoral Neck in Underweight Eumenorrheic Women.

The aim of this study was to describe femoral neck (FN) geometry among eumenorrheic underweight women around the age of peak bone mass. Proximal femur geometry and body composition were assessed in 12 underweight women and in 24 healthy controls using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. The Hip Structural Analysis program was used to determine bone geometry at the FN.

Microzooplankton community associated with phytoplankton blooms in the naturally iron-fertilized Kerguelen area (Southern Ocean).

The spatial and temporal community composition of microzooplankton (dinoflagellates and ciliates) was assessed in the Kerguelen area (Southern Ocean) during the KEOPS2 cruise in early spring (October-November) 2011. This naturally iron-fertilized region was characterized by a complex mesoscale circulation resulting in a patchy distribution of phytoplankton blooms. Collectively, 97 morphospecies of dinoflagellates and ciliates belonging to 41 genera were identified by microscopy, and 202 Alveolata-related OTUs (operational taxonomical units) were retrieved with tag-pyrosequencing.