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Implanted Birth Control Device Renews Debate Over Forced Contraception
By TAMAR LEWIN
Published: January 10, 1991
Less than a month after the Federal Government approved a new birth control device that is implanted under a woman's skin, the long-lasting device is the focus of a renewed debate over forced contraception.
A county judge in California has ordered that a woman convicted of child abuse use the device for three years as a condition of probation. Experts in medical ethics say that because of the ease in using the device, which is not yet on the market, other judges may be tempted to order its use in cases where women are seen as unfit to be parents.
The device, Norplant, was approved by the Food and Drug Administration on Dec. 10 and was widely hailed as a "dream method" of birth control because it could easily be implanted in a woman's arm, remaining effective for up to five years.
The device, the first substantially new contraceptive in 25 years, consists of several soft, matchstick-size rubber tubes that are placed under the skin of the woman's upper arm, where they release the female hormone progestin, one of the components of birth control pills. With the exception of sterilization, Norplant is expected to be the most effective contraceptive, because it does not depend on a person's remembering to use it.
"Norplant presents a special temptation to judges because it's so long lasting and doesn't require any cooperation after it's implanted, and can be monitored by a parole officer just by looking at the woman's arm," said Dr. George Annas, director of the program on law, medicine and ethics at the Boston University School of Medicine. "I think we're going to see more of these cases. It's kind of amazing that this has happened already, when hardly any physicians even know how to implant this thing."
In the California case, Tulare County Superior Court Judge Howard Broadman last week ordered the implantation of the device in Darlene Johnson, a 27-year-old mother of four who pleaded guilty to beating two of her children with a belt.
The order was issued at her sentencing, without notice to either the woman or her lawyer, Charles Rothbaum. Judge Broadman is to reconsider the order at a hearing this morning on a motion filed by Mr. Rothbaum.
Mr. Rothbaum said his client had been completely taken by surprise by the Judge's decision. In a plea agreement arranged earlier, Ms. Johnson was to be sentenced to one year in jail and three years of probation.
He said she had agreed to the Judge's order only because she was afraid that if she refused she would go to jail for four years. Mr. Rothbaum said he did not know how much Ms. Johnson had understood about Norplant, because he was not at the hearing.
"We had already hammered out the plea bargain, and the sentencing hearing looked pretty routine, so I had another attorney stand for me, since I was going out of town," said Mr. Rothbaum. "The next thing I knew there were calls from all over the country about this Norplant thing. I had never heard of Norplant before and neither had Darlene Johnson."
When Norplant was first introduced last month, medical ethicists warned that the new technology was so attractive that it might be abused by those seeking to force certain groups of women, particularly retarded women or women receiving welfare benefits, to forgo having children.
A Dec. 12 editorial in The Philadelphia Inquirer, with the headline "Poverty and Norplant -- Can Contraception Reduce the Underclass?" suggested that because of growing poverty among blacks, welfare mothers should be offered incentives to use Norplant.
But so many members of the newspaper's news department denounced the editorial as racist that the paper took the unusual step of printing an apology. No Comment From Judge
In the California case, too, Ms. Johnson's status as a welfare recipient may have played a role. "According to the transcript, he asked Darlene Johnson whether she was on welfare," Mr. Rothbaum said. "She is. I think that's what's going on here."
Judge Broadman declined to comment on his decision yesterday, because of the hearing today.
Some have defended such sentences as innovative and effective. Of one such sentence, Daniel Polsby, a law professor at Northwestern University, said: "We send too many people down the river. We've got to be more creative."
Bruce Anderson, one of two prosecutors in Florida who worked last November on the case of 17-year-old girl who admitted smothering her newborn daughter, called requirement that the girl use birth control for 10 years after her release from two years in prison innovative. He also said it was the kind of last-resort solution forced on courts when controls in homes and schools fail.
' We're starting to reach the point where the courts are responsible for anyone,' he said. 'It's one final step to have to supervise teen-agers in sexual relationships they aren't ready to handle.
"There's definitely a trend toward third-party involvement in reproductive decisions, including all the attempts to put women in jail for taking drugs that can affect the fetus." said Arthur Caplan, the director of the University of Minnesota's Center for Biomedical Ethics. Developer of Device Is Upset
The embryologist who developed Norplant, Sheldon Segal of the Rockefeller Foundation, said he was distressed by the Johnson case and other suggestions that the device might be forced upon some women.


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The ORISCAV-LUX study is the first baseline survey of an on-going cardiovascular health monitoring programme in Grand-Duchy of Luxembourg. The main objectives of the present manuscript were 1) to describe the study design and conduct, and 2) to present the salient outcomes of the study, in particular the prevalence of the potentially modifiable and treatable cardiovascular disease risk factors in the adult population residing in Luxembourg.
ORISCAV-LUX is a cross-sectional study based on a random sample of 4496 subjects, stratified by gender, age categories and district, drawn from the national insurance registry of 18-69 years aged Luxembourg residents, assuming a response rate of 30% and a proportion of 5% of institutionalized subjects in each stratum. The cardiovascular health status was assessed by means of a self-administered questionnaire, clinical and anthropometric measures, as well as by blood, urine and hair examinations. The potentially modifiable and treatable risk factors studied included smoking, hypertension, dyslipidemia, diabetes mellitus, and obesity. Both univariate and multivariate statistical analyses used weighted methods to account for the stratified sampling scheme.
A total of 1432 subjects took part in the survey, yielding a participation rate of 32.2%. This figure is higher than the minimal sample size of 1285 subjects as estimated by power calculation. The most predominant cardiovascular risk factors were dyslipidemia (69.9%), hypertension (34.5%), smoking (22.3%), and obesity (20.9%), while diabetes amounted 4.4%. All prevalence rates increased with age (except smoking) with marked gender differences (except diabetes). There was a significant difference in the prevalence of hypertension and of lipid disorders by geographic region of birth. The proportion of subjects cumulating two or more cardiovascular risk factors increased remarkably with age and was more predominant in men than in women (P<0.0001). Only 14.7% of men and 23.1% of women were free of any cardiovascular risk factor. High prevalence of non-treated CVRF, notably for hypertension and dyslipidemia, were observed in the study population.
The population-based ORISCAV-LUX survey revealed a high prevalence of potentially modifiable and treatable cardiovascular risk factors among apparently healthy subjects; significant gender and age-specific differences were seen not only for single but also for combined risk factors. From a public health perspective, these preliminary findings stress the urgent need for early routine health examinations, preventive interventions and lifestyle behavioural changes, even in young asymptomatic adults, to decrease cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in Luxembourg.
Today around 60% of worldwide deaths and 43% of the global burden of diseases are attributed to coronary heart disease, stroke and type 2 diabetes mellitus[1]. These diseases are predicted to account for 73% of global deaths and 60% of the global burden by year 2020[2]. There is strong evidence that cigarette smoking, obesity, lipid disorders, elevated blood pressure and diabetes mellitus are not only associated with each other[3-5] but also with cardiovascular morbidity and mortality[6-14]. On the other hand, it has been shown that major changes in the risk of CVD can be reduced by modifications of the lifestyle and social behaviour of individuals [15,16]. Despite major advances in prevention, diagnosis and treatment measures, cardiovascular disease (CVD) is still the main cause of mortality in Europe. It accounts for over 4 million deaths yearly, i.e., nearly half (49%) of all European deaths, but with striking geographical variations[17].
The Grand-Duchy of Luxembourg is a small country in the heart of Europe landlocked by Belgium, France and Germany, with a population of 493,500 inhabitants (official estimate, 2009) over an area of about 2600 km2. Distinctively, Luxembourg country is a multicultural society. Luxembourgish people constitute approximately 56.3% of the population, while 43.7% of the inhabitants are well-integrated foreign residents from over 150 different nationalities, mostly Portuguese (16.2%), French (5.8%), Italians (3.9%) and Belgians (3.4%). Evidently, the national health profile is significantly determined by the health of its immigrants.
In Luxembourg, cardiovascular mortality accounted for about one-third of total causes of death in 2005[18]. According to a recent study comparing the cardiovascular mortality rates in three neighbouring regions, Grand-Duchy of Luxembourg, Wallonia in Belgium, and Lorraine in France, Luxembourg ranked first with elevated cerebro-vascular and ischemic coronary disease mortality in both men and women[19]. This outcome made cardiovascular health as one of the top priorities of Luxembourg healthcare authorities. Although the Ministry of health has long been involved in planning and organizing prevention programs and health promotion campaigns to endorse healthy lifestyles, there has been so far no proper population-based study to assess the prevalence and clustering of cardiovascular risk factors (CVRF) among adults. Luxembourg is one of the few European countries without a well-defined structure for permanent and/or periodic observational surveys on cardiovascular health statistics.
The "Observation of Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Luxembourg" (ORISCAV-LUX) survey, was conducted between November 2007 and January 2009 under the auspices of the Ministry of Health and co-financed by the Ministry of Research. It was designed as a nationwide cross-sectional cardiovascular monitoring survey aimed to establish baseline information on the prevalence of potentially modifiable and preventable CVRF, including obesity, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, lipid disorder, and current smoking, among the general adult population of Luxembourg. From a public health and research perspective, this survey is intended to be repeated at regular intervals to monitor the evolution. Accurate assessment of the distribution of single and combined CVRF not only describes the total burden of CVD but also permits the development of coherent and effective strategies of prevention and treatment.
A representative random sample was drawn from the national health insurance registry, stratified by gender (male and female), age (5-year categories) and districts of residence (Luxembourg, Diekirch and Grevenmacher). With a 98% social coverage rate, the registry is considered as the most complete list of inhabitants available in Luxembourg. The minimal necessary representative sample size was calculated to 1285 subjects to ensure statistical power[20], i.e. to ensure a statistical precision of at least 2% for the estimation of the prevalence of the risk factors at the 95% confidence level. However, based on literature review and previous evidence with such multiple-stage population-based studies, a high non-participation rate was expected, including refusal, invalid addresses and non-response. Assuming a response rate of 30% and a proportion of 5% of institutionalized subjects in each stratum, the sample size was augmented to 4496 subjects. The distribution of selected subjects in each stratum was proportional to their distribution in the source population (adult population of 18 to 69 years residents in Luxembourg). Pregnant women, people living in institutions, subjects outside the age range 18-69 years and those deceased before recruitment were excluded. The sample is weighted to account for the complex sampling design and for non-response.
All selected subjects were invited by an official letter signed by healthcare authorities and the research centre for health studies, in which the objectives and the tests to be performed were broadly explained. They were asked to send their primary agreement and phone number by using the prepaid envelope holding the address of the study research centre. The subjects who agreed to take part in the study were contacted by phone to attend the appointment at the nearest medical centre. Two subsequent reminders were sent to those who did not respond spontaneously after 3 weeks. Participants were requested to attend the health examination centre in a fasting state. Home visits were organized in case the participant had health problems or transport difficulties. An informed consent form was handed to the participants at their attendance visit and had to be signed prior to inclusion. The study comprised three major steps: an auto-administered questionnaire, physical and anthropometric measurements, and blood, urine and hair tests. All participants were informed about their measurements and tests results and were advised to consult, their family doctor if necessary. Substantial efforts were made to increase response rate, not only during the survey preparation but also during the recruitment phase. Complete details about non-response management, sample representativeness of the population and comparison of participants and non-participants to ORISCAV-LUX survey are published elsewhere[21]. Briefly, a total of 1432 subjects (32.2%) were successfully recruited, slightly beyond the estimated sample size and the expected response rate. This analysis revealed that the distribution between participants and non-participants was comparable in terms of the cardiovascular morbidity indicators, including prescribed medications, hospital admission and medical measures.
The self-administered questionnaire elicited information on demographic and socioeconomic characteristics, including age, gender, country of birth, income, education, profession, and marital status. Data regarding life style characteristics, including cigarette smoking, alcohol consumption, physical activity and dietary habits, as well as family and personal diseases history and medication intake, were also collected. Trained survey nurses helped and checked the answers with the participants. Given the multi-linguistic nature of the population residing in Luxembourg, the self-administered questionnaire was translated from French into the three other most used languages, namely German, English and Portuguese, and then backward translated into French to ensure the validity [22].
For blood pressure measurement, subjects were seated in a chair with their arms bared and supported at heart level. Systolic blood pressure (SBP, mmHg) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP, mmHg) were measured at least 3 times with a minimum of 5-min interval between each measurement, by using Omrom® MX3 plus automated oscillometric Blood Pressure Monitor (O-HEM-742-E) (Matsusaka, Japan)[23], with an appropriate cuff size adapted to the upper arm perimeter of participant. Measurements were only performed after the participants had been seated for at least 5 minutes after questionnaire completion and at least 30 minutes after blood intake and refrained from smoking. The average of the last 2 readings was used in the analysis.
Body weight (kg) was recorded with an accuracy of ± 100 g by using a digital column scale (Seca® 701, Hamburg, Germany), with subject barefoot and wearing light clothing. The scale was calibrated regularly. Standing body height (cm) was recorded to the nearest 0.2 cm with a portable wall stadiometer (Seca, Germany), attached to the scale, with heels together, shoulders in relaxed position and arms hanging freely. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated as body weight in kg divided by the square of height (m). Self-reported height and weight were not acceptable. Waist circumference (WC, cm) was measured at the level midway between 12th rib and the uppermost lateral border of the iliac crest during mild expiration. Waist circumference was measured to the nearest 0.2 cm with the subject at standing position, using a flexible, non-distensible tape and avoiding pressure exertion on the tissues. The duplicate measurements in a subgroup of participants showed high reproducibility (data not shown).
A venous blood sample was drawn from the arm of each subject in sitting position by antecubital vein puncture, after an overnight 8-hour fast. The blood samples were transferred to the core Laboratory of the "Centre Hospitalier in Luxembourg" (CHL) in tank containing ice packs to maintain a suitable temperature. They were centrifuged within maximum 4 hours after extraction and then immediately analysed. Blood collection tubes containing glycolytic inhibitors were used for serum glucose test. The Laboratory applies strict internal and external standard quality control techniques. The laboratory tests performed included fasting plasma glucose (FPG, mg/dl), triglycerides (TG, mg/dl)), total cholesterol (TC, mg/dl), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C, mg/dl), high-density lipoprotein Cholesterol (HDL-C, mg/dl) and other biomarkers.
Based on the International Obesity Task Force[24], convened by the World Health Organization, a subject with BMI ≥ 30.0 kg/m2 was defined as obese. The WC measurements were used to determine the extent of central adiposity, with cut-off points of ≥ 102 cm in men and ≥ 88 cm in women[25]. Participants were classified as having elevated blood pressure if they reported taking anti-hypertensive medications and/or had SBP ≥ 140 mmHg and/or DBP ≥ 90 mmHg [26].Participants were classified as diabetics if they reported taking anti-diabetic medications and/or had FPG ≥ 126 mg/dl [27,28]. Subjects with lipid disorder were defined as having at least one of the following anomalies: TC ≥ 190 mg/dl, TG ≥ 150 mg/dl, LDL-C ≥ 115 mg/dl, and HDL-C < 40 mg/dl for men and < 46 mg/dl for women [29], and/or taking hypo-lipid medications. Smoking status was evaluated by the self-reported questionnaire. Each participant was classified as current smoker, ex-smoker or non-smoker. Current regular smokers were those who smoked at least one cigarette per day. Current occasional smoker were those who smoked less than one cigarette per day. The present study specifically focused on 5 distinct CVRF, respectively, obesity, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, lipid disorder, and current smoking. The metabolic syndrome (MS) was succinctly presented according to the simplest and most used R-ATP III definition[30]; a participants is defined as having the MS when three or more of the following criteria are met: 1) WC ≥ 102 cm for men and ≥ 88 cm for women; 2) raised concentration of TG ≥ 150 mg/dl or specific treatment for this lipid anomaly; 3) reduced concentration of HDL-C < 40 mg/dl for men and < 50 mg/dl for women or specific treatment for this lipid anomaly; 4) SBP was ≥ 130 mmHg, or DBP ≥ 85 mmHg or treatment of previously diagnosed hypertension; 5) FPG level ≥100 mg/dl or use of medication for hyperglycemia.
Strict control measures were applied to ensure quality throughout the conduct of the study, namely, sample selection, operational data-collection, data processing and reporting. They included well-defined sampling design and prior estimation of sample size to reduce sampling errors; testing and validating the translated questionnaires; introducing multiple cross-checked questions on the same topic to validate the results; training of data collection nurses to perform their duties according to standard operating procedures; monitoring and ascertaining of instruments performance every morning before starting the tests on the subjects; daily assessment of paper forms for answer's relevance and completeness; designing the database in a way that allows to confirm the validity of the participant's identification codes, establishing the completeness of the entered data and performing basic data checks; training of data processing personnel to be able to provide reliable and accurate documentation, as well as periodic summary reports on the latest project progress; independent double data entry followed by matching and checking for data-entry errors, so that problems were appropriately remedied; data cleaning according to experts consensus; finally, checking of the internal and external consistency of the analyzed data before reporting.
All participants were duly informed and consented to take part in the study. The study design and information collected were approved by the National Research Ethics Committee and the National Commission for Private Data Protection.
Results were expressed as mean ± SE for quantitative variables and as count and proportion (%) for categorical variables. Multiple regression analysis was used to test the effect of age, gender and their interaction on subject's quantitative characteristics. Instead, when considering CVRF binary outcomes, logistic regression was applied. Given that the present study focused specifically on 5 CVRF (obesity, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, lipid disorder, and current smoking), the number of CVRF was calculated for each subject and analysed as a discrete variable ranging from 0 (no CVRF) to 5 (all CVRF present). To account for the stratified random sampling method used to recruit the subjects, weighted statistical methods were applied. A sampling weight equal to the inverse probability of unit selection was allocated to each subject from the same stratum. This stratum sampling weight was defined as the ratio between the population stratum size and the observed sample stratum size. Results were considered to be significant at the 5% critical level (P < 0.05). All statistical analyses were performed by using the SAS 9.2 (© SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC, USA).
Among the random sample of 4496 subjects aged 18-69 years drawn from Luxembourg residents population, 1432 (697 men and 735 women) responded and were included in the study. All participants filled out the questionnaire; however, blood pressure readings were missing for 2 subjects and anthropometric measurements for one subject. Blood, urine and hair samples were obtained from, respectively, 1427 (99.7%), 1432 (100%) and 1062 (74.1%) participants.
The anthropometric, clinical and biochemical characteristics of these subjects are displayed in Table Table11 by age category and gender. As expected, mean values of BMI, WC, SBP, DBP, FPG, TC, LDL-C, and TG increased significantly with age; HDL-C levels, however, remained quite stable across age categories (P = 0.64). A significant gender-specific difference was observed for BMI, WC, SBP, FPG, HDL-C, LDL-C and TG, systematically higher in men than in women (P < 0.0001), except for TC (P = 0.94). For DBP, a significant age-gender interaction was found (P = 0.0005), in the sense that DBP increased more markedly with age in men than in women.
Table Table22 displays the overall, age-and gender-specific prevalences of each of the five CVRF on which the study focused in addition to the MS. By decreasing prevalence, the most predominant cardiovascular risk factors were lipid disorder (69.9%), hypertension (34.5%), current smoking (22.3%), obesity (20.9%), and diabetes (4.4%), respectively. The prevalence of hypertension, obesity, diabetes mellitus and lipid disorders increased remarkably with advancing age (P<0.0001). By contrast, the prevalence of current smoking decreased significantly with age (P<0.0001). Further, the prevalence was significantly higher in men than in women for hypertension (41.9% vs 27.1%), obesity (23.0% vs 18.7%), lipid disorders (74.3% vs 65.5%), and current smoking (24.9% vs 19.7%), as well so for MS (29.5% vs 18.4%), but not for diabetes (5.2% vs 3.5%, P= 0.08) (data not shown). No age-gender interaction was found for any of the CVRF. While the prevalence of hypertension and of lipid disorders differed significantly by geographic region of birth, no significant difference was observed for diabetes, obesity and current smoking (Table (Table33).
The distribution of the number of CVRF affecting each subject is displayed in Figure Figure1,1, globally and by gender. It is seen that 35% of the participants presented only one CVRF, 29.3% presented 2 CVRF, and 16.9% presented 3 and more CVRF. Only 18.9% of the subjects (14.7% of men and 23.1% of women) were free of any CVRF. Among subjects presenting only one CVRF, 75% had lipid disorder, 11.4% were regular smokers and 9.5% suffered hypertension. For individuals with 2 CVRF, the most frequent combinations were lipid disorder and hypertension (53%), lipid disorder and smoking (24.2%), lipid disorder and obesity (14.4%). In subjects with 3 CVRF, the "lipid disorder, hypertension and obesity" combination was found in 64.9% of the cases, while the "lipid disorder, hypertension and current smoking" profile was observed in 13.9% of the subjects. Finally, in subjects with 4 CVRF, it was found that 55.6% of them were exempt of current smoking and 38.9% were exempt of diabetes. When analysing the number of CVRF per participant with respect to age and gender, it was observed that this number increased significantly with age (P < 0.0001), and was more predominant in men than in women (P < 0.0001). The interaction term between age and gender was not significant.
Figure Figure22 illustrates the prevalence of treated and non-treated participants with hypertension, diabetes and lipid disorder. The prevalence of hypertension among the resident population was 34.5%; about two thirds of the participants (22.1%) were not treated. Among the 4.4% participants having the diabetes, 2.8% were treated against 1.5% non-treated. Among those with lipid disorder (69.9%), only 9.2% were under medication.
In Grand-Duchy of Luxembourg, CVD is the primary cause of mortality and a major reason for hospital admission. This has led public health authorities to consider CVD as one of their national healthcare priorities. It is well established that early management of CVRF by lifestyle modifications and/or therapeutic interventions leads to marked reduction in mortality, morbidity, and maintaining quality of life [31,32]. Therefore, early detection of individuals with modifiable and treatable CVRF may result in saving lives and reducing the burden on healthcare resources. In the absence of relevant national baseline statistics, the observation of CVRF by national periodic surveys is an essential tool to formulate coherent and effective strategies of prevention.
This paper describes the rationale, the objectives, the method of recruitment and the primary outcomes of the ORISCAV-LUX study, the first national large-scale epidemiological survey with a representative sample of 18-69 years old adults residing in Luxembourg. Our findings indicate that several CVRF are highly prevalent conditions, specifically, lipid disorder, followed by hypertension, smoking, obesity, and diabetes. The great variations in published data make direct international comparisons exceedingly difficult, not only because of important methodological differences with respect to the characteristics of the target population, the study design, the sample selection, and the year of conduct, but also due to the multifactorial origin of this health problem and the particularity of health systems. Globally, high CVRF prevalence rates were reported in industrialized countries. According to the most recent statistics from Canada, 26% of Canadians were current smokers, 14.9% were obese, 13.0% had hypertension and 4.2% had diabetes [33].
The prevalence was significantly higher in men than in women for all conditions, except for diabetes. Interestingly, the gender-specific prevalence rates found in the ORISCAV-LUX study were consistent with previously reported findings in European countries, such as Italy[34], Spain[35], Switzerland [36] and Sweden[37].
According to ORISCAV-LUX findings, lipid disorder was the most prominent risk factor for both genders and in all age categories. This observation should nevertheless be interpreted with precaution, in particular by bearing in mind the very strict thresholds regarding the prophylactic medication of subjects who would otherwise be considered formerly at lower risk. Although the variety of definitions complicates comparison with previous studies of adult populations, these percentages are among the highest reported in the literature and might also explain the higher prevalence of obesity. The high prevalence of dyslipidemia calls for an early screening of lipid disorders and for an evaluation of current national nutritional recommendations.
In the present study, there was no significant difference in the prevalence of diabetes between men and women. However, the frequency of the disease increased with age. Although this finding was consistent with that of Switzerland study [36], the overall recorded diabetes rate was lower in Luxembourg (4.4% against 6.6%, respectively).
In USA, smoking is the leading preventable cause of death[38]. Despite the difficulty to compare tobacco consumption on international level, the overall age-adjusted prevalence of smoking in 21 European countries was 33.1% in men and 29% in women, with major variations between country samples[39]. In the ORISCAV-LUX survey, about a quarter of the participants were current (occasional and regular) smokers. Globally, the prevalence of smoking was significantly higher in men than in women and decreased with age. Interestingly, these findings were comparable to those of the national tobacco consumption survey, carried out annually by the national foundation of fight against cancer. The increasing awareness of the damaging health effects of smoking, together with the anti-smoking measures of the government, including intensified anti-smoking campaigns, the banning of advertising and taxation, contributed widely to the declining trend of smoking among adults over the last two decades. From a public health point of view, it is important to maintain this progression since 54% of world ischemic heart diseases and 25% of world cardiovascular mortality cases were attributed to smoking[40].
Luxembourg is characterized by its multicultural nature. Among Europeans, the Portuguese represent the largest segment of the population. The preliminary ORISCAV-LUX findings showed that the prevalence of two CVRF studied, specifically the hypertension and lipid disorders, differed significantly between countries of birth (Luxembourg, Portugal, Europe and others). Characterising groups at risk in the general population is important to enable tailoring public health action accordingly. However, this issue needs further research to support the hypothesis that the risk of CVD is influenced by the country of birth and that immigrants tend to have better health[41].
It has been recognized that CVRF are associated with each other and their effects tend to be synergistic rather than additive[5,42,43]. Thus, the assessment of multiple risk factors is crucial to identify a high risk population. The metabolic syndrome is the most suggested approach to study the clustering of CVRF in a population. The overall prevalence of MS, estimated according to R-ATP III criteria, was 24% among the participants aged 18-69 years residing in Luxembourg. In scope of the present manuscript, the focus was primarily on the number of CVRF per individual. Further data on the metabolic syndrome will be published separately. Interestingly, it was found that combinations of two or more CVRF were more frequently observed in men than in women and increased remarkably with age. Moreover, multiple risk profiles already emerged within the young adults aged 18-29 years (data not shown). These findings suggest that cumulated CVRF is quite common in the Luxembourg's apparently healthy adult population and appears to be already present in young men and to persist thereafter. These observations were consistent with results from previous recent studies[44,36,45]. High prevalence of non-treated CVRF, notably of the hypertension and dyslipidemia were observed in the study population. Although further in-depth analysis is necessary, these preliminary findings underline the necessity to increase disease awareness, to improve screening of high risk subjects and to promote prevention both at the public and individual levels.
The strengths of the ORISCAV-LUX study reside firstly in the population sample; the small size of the country made it possible to organize data collection at a national level. Secondly, a complementary study comparing the known demographic and cardiovascular health-related profiles of participants and non-participants demonstrated that the participants did not differ substantially from non participants. Given the absence of discriminating health profiles between participants and non-participants, it was concluded that the response rate did not invalidate the results and allowed generalizing the findings for the entire population (detailed results on this comparison are published separately). Thirdly, the conception of the survey was consistent with the WHO stepwise approach[46], which recommends measuring chronic diseases risk factors by using standardized tools and objective measurements to facilitate national and international comparability. To avoid inaccurate retrieving of CVRF from self-administered information, this approach permits to provide reliable objective estimates of the prevalence of major CVRF, namely, obesity, diabetes, hypertension and lipid disorders.
Further analyses of the ORISCAV-LUX database are currently ongoing. In particular, the assessment of the prevalence of the metabolic syndrome and its associated socioeconomic determinants, as well as its interaction with dietary habits, alcohol consumption and physical activity are important topics to be studied in more detail. A continuous monitoring of the CVRF with clearly specified research and public health objectives is planned to study their trends over time.
According to the current guidelines, the ORISCAV-LUX survey documents for the first time a remarkably high prevalence of major CVRF among the adult residents in Luxembourg. In addition, the survey data confirm significant age-gender differences as well as individual CVRF profiles. The presence of 2 or more CVRF per subject was more predominant in men than in women, while the younger age group (18-29 years) already presented a striking multiple risk profile.
The ORISCAV-LUX survey constituted a timely opportunity to identify public health determinants, hence to help shaping policies according to preventive needs of the population. Its first outcomes underscore the need to identify other characteristics of high-risk population, to continue epidemiological monitoring and to implement population-based multiple-facet interventions tailored for special groups at risk.
ORISCAV-LUX: Observation of Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Luxembourg; CVD: cardiovascular disease; CVRF: cardiovascular risk factors; BP: Blood pressure; SBP: systolic blood pressure; DBP: Diastolic blood pressure; BMI: Body masse index; LDL-C: Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol; HDL-C: High-density lipoprotein cholesterol; TG: Triglycerides; FPG: Fasting Plasma Glucose; WC: Waist circumference; BMI: Body Mass Index; Metabolic syndrome: MS; R-ATPIII: Revised National Cholesterol Education Programme-Adult Treatment Panel III.
The authors declare that they have no competing interests.
AA involved in the conception and design of the ORISCAV-LUX survey, coordinated the field data collection, data analyses and drafted the manuscript. NS conducted the statistical analyses. A-FD participated in the statistical analyses and critical discussion of the results. SC involved in the critical discussion of results. JB and CD are cardiologists and medical investigators involved in the discussion of results. YW involved in the critical discussion of results. M-LL involved in the conception, design of the ORISCAV-LUX survey, and in the critical discussion of results. AAlbert contributed to the repeated critical revision of the manuscript and intellectual content. MG provided expertise and oversight throughout the process. All of the authors reviewed drafts and approved the final version of the manuscript.
The pre-publication history for this paper can be accessed here:
The authors acknowledge the financial support of the Luxembourg Research Funds (Fonds National de la Recherche) for the article processing charge.
PubMed Central Canada is a service of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) working in partnership with the National Research Council's national science library in cooperation with the National Center for Biotechnology Information at the U.S. National Library of Medicine(NCBI/NLM). It includes content provided to the PubMed Central International archive by participating publishers.

subset: commoncrawl


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Donovan averaged 5.9 points and finished second on the team with 49 assists as a sophomore last season.
Before attending CUA, Donovan was a four-year starter and first-team All-Conference performer at St. Francis, scoring over 1,000 career points in high school.
"It's going to be great to have Billy here, both for our team and for our family," said Coach Donovan. "I always want to be supportive and put him in a position to succeed, and I hope this will be a great experience for him."
He will sit out during the 2012-13 season but is allowed to practice with the team.


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Camping at Harpers Ferry Adventure Center
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Are you judgmental?
I witnessed a sad exchange in the grocery store the other day. When I say sad I mean it made me a bit angry. When I say it made me a bit angry I mean it's a good thing my boy was with me so that I maintained my temper.
The thin woman behind me thought it was her business to tell the larger woman in front of me that vegetables would be more healthy for the toddler sitting her cart than potato chips would be.
Who actually does this?
The woman in front of me clearly thought she had to explain herself, because she did. Those chips were an item that she was bringing for a potluck bbq.
"Still, you could help those around you by not eating things like that."
I immediately wondered if she would have said anything at all if the woman in front of me was also thin. Probably not. Which of course made me think of the times people have said something to me at the ice cream shop, but nothing to my thin friend.. who was also at the ice cream shop.
I have posted with most of you for months now. I know how sweet and caring and encouraging you are. But I have to know... when you see a bigger woman engaging in unhealthy behavior, does it strike a different chord than if you see a thinner woman doing the same? I'm not asking if you think it should matter. Obviously it shouldn't, we all know that. But deep down does it make you a bit judgmental?
Now, as a doula/childbirth educator I do counsel my clients on their eating habits if I have a concern. BUT, I do so in an educational way and not to hurt their feelings.
That's not making an excuse for my big butt. Hopefully I'll figure it out someday. But that's still nobody's business.


text:
Through personalized instruction and inspiring in-class assignments, you produce seven to nine pieces of illustration and design. Projects include pattern as storytelling, portraiture, typography, collage, scratchboard, linoblock printing, and more. As you grow familiar with studio materials and design concepts, you'll be able to express your creativity in original and exciting new ways. The course focuses on mostly black and white solutions, and does not include Life Drawing.
This course is taught by IDEA instructor and professional illustrator Pascal Milelli, and is perfect for students wanting to continue building their portfolio. Newbies welcome too! Course fee includes supplies.
You may also be interested in …
Life Drawing
Mixed Media Painting: Surface, Collage, Photo Transfer


text:
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text:
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HAION Caster Industrial Co., Ltd. established in Taiwan since 1980, is the leading caster manufacturer for diversified medical castors and wheels.
For more than 30 years experience, we have developed our own products in varies types of castors & wheels, and had won great design patents. With devoted to high quality, our medical castors are certified by TUV certificate and had passed EN 12531 / EN 12530 standard.
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text: Fried clam search here doesn't bring up anything past 2009?! Any ways, I knew Clambox uses lard, but now found out Woodmans does too and Farnham uses beef, so wondering if any fried clams anywhere else are fantastic and veggie friendly? Prefer Woburn to Danvers stretch but of course will go further. I remember a good dive kind of place in Newburyport from a couple years ago. Anyone know the name? Also i used to see good recs for somewhere in Malden or Medford.. what was that place? thanks!


text:
(703) 554-6100
(703) 554-6119 (fax)
Landmark Legal Foundation Nominates
For 2007
Limbaugh called "the foremost advocate for freedom and democracy in the world today"
VA)…Landmark Legal Foundation today nominated nationally syndicated radio talk
show host
whose daily radio show is heard by more than 20 million people on more than 600
radio stations in the United States and around the world, was nominated for the
prestigious award for his "nearly two decades of tireless efforts to promote
liberty, equality and opportunity for all humankind, regardless of race, creed,
economic stratum or national origin. These
are the only real cornerstones of just and lasting peace throughout the world,"
The Nobel
Peace Prize, which is given by a committee of the Norwegian Storting (the
Norwegian Parliament), was created by inventor Alfred Nobel in his will in 1896
to be given to the individual or organization who "shall have done the most or
the best work for fraternity between nations, for the abolition or reduction of
standing armies and for the holding of peace congresses." The first Nobel Peace Prize was awarded in
1901 to
Limbaugh/Nobel – Page 2
Should Limbaugh become the 2007 Nobel Laureate for Peace, he will receive the Nobel Peace Prize medal and a cash award of $10 million Norwegian Kroner (approximately $1.6 million). The prize would be presented at a ceremony in the Oslo City Hall presided over by King Harald V and Queen Sonja of Norway on December 10, 2007, the anniversary of Alfred Nobel's death. As the 2007 Nobel Laureate for Peace, Limbaugh would deliver the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize Lecture at that ceremony.
Founded in
1976, Landmark Legal Foundation is the leading conservative public interest law
firm in the United States.
Norwegian Nobel Institute
Oslo, Norway
Legal Foundation herewith submits the name of
We are
offering this nomination for
Thank you for your thoughtful and serious consideration of this nomination. Should you require additional information, please don't hesitate to contact me.


text:
The footage given to PETA France by the group Animal Testing reveals that the dogs struggle to walk, swallow, and even breathe.
The dogs are genetically prone to
different types of muscular dystrophy (MD), including Duchenne muscular dystrophy
(DMD), which is particularly severe. These diseases ravage their bodies and are
characterised by progressive muscle wasting and weakness. Most dogs never reach
adulthood. Some are completely crippled before they even reach 6 months old, and
half endure agonising deaths before the age of 10 months.
The heart-breaking video footage shot inside a laboratory in Alfort shows dogs having difficulty swallowing, breathing, and walking as their muscles continue to weaken. Drool drips from the mouths of dogs whose jaw muscles have deteriorated.
One dog had so much difficulty eating and holding down his food because of the
progressive weakening of his oesophageal muscles that vomit covered his face.
Some dogs eventually lose their ability to eat and must then be fed through a stomach tube. Surviving dogs will develop heart problems as the disease attacks and weakens the cardiac muscle.A laboratory employee admitted that the dogs suffer. He said,
"I wouldn't like to be in the beagle's place. The suffering is real."
"I wouldn't like to be in the beagle's place. The suffering is real."
Dogs endure similar misery at
Texas A&M University in the US. PETA US has revealed that experimenters led
by Joe Kornegay breed dogs to develop different types of MD, including DMD. Video
footage shows that appallingly thin dogs in Kornegay's facility were caged,
sometimes alone, in barren metal cells and struggled to swallow thin gruel—the
only food that they could eat, given how easily they could choke. Long ropes of
saliva hung from the mouths of those whose jaw muscles had weakened. Even
balancing was difficult for them. Dogs with this condition are also at great
risk for pneumonia because they can easily inhale liquid into their lungs.
Learn more about PETA US' campaign to urge
Texas A&M University to close its dog laboratories and redirect its
resources to humane research methods.
What have these painful experiments
After decades of testing on
generations of debilitated and suffering dogs, there is still no cure or
treatment to reverse the course of this terrible disease in humans. So children afflicted with DMD
continue to suffer.
Analysis of MD studies using dogs
has shown that there are serious pitfalls when trying to apply those results to
humans. In fact, there are even studies that have produced the opposite results in humans. There are better ways to help
patients with muscle diseases.
Cutting-edge techniques, such as utilising
stemscells from DMD patients to develop disease-specific cures, developing ways
to grow healthy human muscle cells that could be transplanted into patients
with MD, and creating human-relevant drug-screening platforms, have led to the
development of more promising therapies.
The experiments at Alfort National
Veterinary School are funded by the French charity AFM-Téléthon. However, a laboratory representative
admits that they could lose funding if the public were to see the condition of
the dogs.
"There's no question that
if we showed them our myopathic dogs, we would risk losing a lot of money."
"There's no question that
if we showed them our myopathic dogs, we would risk losing a lot of money."
As well they should.
Please urge French charity AFM-Téléthon to stop funding these cruel
experiments on dogs and to support only modern, non-animal studies.
By submitting this form, you will be indicating your consent to receiving email marketing messages from us unless you have indicated an objection to receiving such messages by un-ticking the box below. You're also acknowledging that you've read and you agree to
our privacy policy.


text:
Notice: On April 23, 2014, Statalist moved from an email list to a forum, based at statalist.org.
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Re: st: panel data analysis
Danielle Koopmans <firstname.lastname@example.com>
Re: st: panel data analysis
Tue, 15 Jun 2010 20:20:50 +0200
Thanks Austin for this answer! I'm going to use it immediately!
greets Danielle
On Tue, Jun 15, 2010 at 6:55 PM, Austin Nichols <email@example.com> wrote:
> Danielle Koopmans <email@example.com> :
> The R-squared values are of no practical use. Get -xtivreg2- and
> -xtoverid- from SSC, and request clustered SEs in a FE regression,
> which address heterosk and autocorr (colinearity is not a concern per
> se). FE is consistent whenever RE is, so it is generally preferred
> unless RE is also demonstrably consistent and substantially more
> efficient. -xtoverid- will compare RE and FE; quoting from its help:
> A test of fixed vs. random effects can also be seen as a test of
> overidentifying restrictions. The fixed effects
> estimator uses the orthogonality conditions that the regressors are
> uncorrelated with the idiosyncratic error e_it,
> i.e., E(X_it*e_it)=0. The random effects estimator uses the
> additional orthogonality conditions that the regressors
> are uncorrelated with the group-specific error u_i (the "random
> effect"), i.e., E(X_it*u_i)=0. These additional
> orthogonality conditions are overidentifying restrictions. The test
> is implemented by xtoverid using the artificial
> regression approach described by Arellano (1993) and Wooldridge (2002,
> pp. 290-91), in which a random effects
> equation is reestimated augmented with additional variables consisting
> of the original regressors transformed into
> deviations-from-mean form. The test statistic is a Wald test of the
> significance of these additional regressors. A
> large-sample chi-squared test statistic is reported with no
> degrees-of-freedom corrections. Under conditional
> homoskedasticity, this test statistic is asymptotically equivalent to
> the usual Hausman fixed-vs-random effects
> test; with a balanced panel, the artificial regression and Hausman
> test statistics are numerically equal. See
> Arellano (1993) for an exact statement and the example below for a
> demonstration. Unlike the Hausman version, the
> test reported by xtoverid extends straightforwardly to
> heteroskedastic- and cluster-robust versions, and is
> guaranteed always to generate a nonnegative test statistic.
> webuse abdata, clear
> xtivreg2 n w k if year>=1978 & year<=1982, fe cl(id)
> xtreg n w k if year>=1978 & year<=1982, re robust
> xtoverid
> On Tue, Jun 15, 2010 at 6:41 AM, Danielle Koopmans
> <firstname.lastname@example.com> wrote:
>> Hello,
> <snip>
>> Fe
>> R-sq: within = 0.2611
>> between = 0.0194
>> overall = 0.0007
>> It doesn't seem good to me these results but which model should I
>> choose and which R^2 do I have to look at: within, between or overall?
>> My constant is also negtive at the fe model, how come?
>> And how to check for heteroskedastiscity, serial correlation
>> (Durbin-Watson test?) and collinearity?
>> Hopefully someone can help me on this. This is all very new to me.
>> Danielle
> *
> * For searches and help try:
> * http://www.stata.com/help.cgi?search
> * http://www.stata.com/support/statalist/faq
> * http://www.ats.ucla.edu/stat/stata/
* For searches and help try:
* http://www.stata.com/help.cgi?search
* http://www.stata.com/support/statalist/faq
* http://www.ats.ucla.edu/stat/stata/


text:
The Secret Garden
The Adventures of Prince Achmed
Kirikou and the Wild Beasts
Digital Restoration
Recommended for ages 7 & up
Buster hops on board a train to save both it and his girl in this masterpiece of silent comedy, boasting some of the greatest stunts, spills, and laughs in all of film.
Buy Tickets
Hand-Tinted and Toned 35mm Print
Recommended for ages 7 & up
One of the world's first animated feature films, Lotte Reiniger's enchanting work uses intricate silhouettes made from cutout cardboard and thin sheets of lead to enact a tale from The Arabian Nights.Buy Tickets
Recommended for ages 8 & up
The Little Tramp becomes an accidental clown in this lesser-known but irresistibly funny Chaplin film.Buy Tickets
Recommended for ages 7 & up
This vibrantly colorful animated sequel to the popular Kirikou and the Sorceress finds little Kirikou using his brains and heart to help his fellow African villagers. With a superb soundtrack by Youssou N'Dour and Manu Dibango.Buy Tickets
Recommended for ages 8 and up
A lonely but enterprising young girl discovers a secret garden on her uncle's isolated estate in this magical adaptation of the famed children's novel. "Elegantly expressive . . . celebrating nature as a force for freedom" (New York Times).
Introduction by Caroline Paul


text:
To read the author's abstract of the article, click on the title of the article. Then, to read the full article, click on the full text icon. KEY WORDS: Arctium lappa (greater burdock), Atrazine, Berberis vulgaris (barberry), Bisphenol A, Capsella bursa pastoris (shepherd's purse), Carduus marianus (St. Mary's thistle), Chelidonium majus (greater celandine), Cytochrome P450, […]View Post
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text:
Justin Cox, Jr./Sr. High Principal
- Administration
- District Info
- Departments
- Schools
- Employment
- Parents & Students
- Employee Info
Welcome to Coolidge Jr./Sr. High School
Dear Parents & Students,
Welcome to Coolidge Jr./Sr. High School. We hope that your time with us will be educationally profitable for you.
The workload and social adjustments are greater here than in your earlier years of school. You will be expected to attend school regularly, complete all assignments, and behave appropriately. Your years will be exciting while being filled with challenges and opportunities.
As your principal I want you to know that I bring a sound work ethic and am willing to make sure that our students receive the best educational opportunity we can provide. We as a staff look forward to working with each student to foster their growth academically, socially, and personally. It is our goal to make sure our students understand how to take accountability for their education as we challenge and continue to encourage them in their educational walk.
A strong start is the foundation of a great school year. As we grow this school year we will always represent Coolidge with pride. I look forward to meeting you and making sure that you are successful.
Justin D. Cox
Principal Coolidge Jr./Sr. High School


text:
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text:
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One super fast SSD for the price to performance ratio.
Pros: Speed. Price. Support
Cons: none
It seems like ADATA has really stepped up there game with this SSD. I have been using another brand for some time now and I wanted to put both of them through the paces. So both devices where put through an install of windows 7. ADATA simply installed windows in about 7 minutes time as the other company installed in around 15 mins in the same setup. This by far has blown me away. The pure speed upon start up and getting into programs is nearly the best thing about the unit. What makes it a winner in my book is the fact that the price to performance ratio is where its at. If there is an issue with the product at all, ADATA is there to take care of the issue for you if it ever comes...(read more)


text:
Lord Commander, Imperial Guard (ret.), Praetorian Order of the Imperial Blood, founding member of Imperial Interim Provisional Authority (Emergency Powers Act 2313 NE), Acting Commander of Forces, Strategic Command.
14,893 confirmed kills. 3,125 close quarters combat. 274 unarmed. Refer to Appendix A-17 for full list of campaigns and decorations.
Born in administrative region 117 Earth, 2098 NE. Parents were Combine Belt industrial workers, both killed during early outbreaks of the HDS-2 bioassembler epidemic. Spent early youth as an Imperial ward, (Gymnasium 117-G-24), were he displayed an early aptitude for leadership, mathematics, and light athletics.
Recruited into Cadet Legion at age 12, fast-tracked for junior officer training and accepted into Imperial Military Academy at age 14. Graduated Academy at age 18, followed by accelerated tactical training at [CLASSIFIED]. Received first field promotion in 2122, when he assumed command of a Scorpion Armor Battalion during the first Red Demos insurgency. During the engagement he defied standard doctrine, opting instead to reroute power in damaged frontline units to drive systems, re-deploy them to shield his surviving forces, and physically overrun the enemy forces with minimal casualties.
Winters actively participated in quarantine and evacuation efforts during the worsening HDS-2 epidemic, sustaining critical injuries during the evacuation of Colchis -8. He survived due to the personal intervention of Emperor Cassius and initiation into the Order of the Imperial Blood. During his recovery, Major Winters was accepted into the inner Imperial family circle, becoming a close friend and advisor of Emperor Cassius, and appointed commander of the Imperial Guard. For heroism and extraordinary service, he was promoted to rank of general at the age of 28 - at the time the youngest General Officer in the history of the Empire.
During the rise of militant opposition to the emergency efforts enacted to complete the Emitter network, he was put in personal command of all counter-insurgency operations, leading to his eventual command of all Imperial Forces during the civil war.
Though off-world supervising the completion of the "Cocoon" orbital interdiction field during the assassination of the Imperial Family, Winters personally executed the conspirators responsible upon his return and was instrumental in the regrouping of surviving Imperial forces and the founding of the Interim Provisional Authority (now known as Strategic Command).
SECURITY ACCESS ERROR! Archive authorization out of date. Contact network administrator for clearance verification…


text:
Vulcan griddles are the labor-saving performers for the high-volume operation-producing quality results!
Look into our HEG Series heavy-duty electric griddles for the same performance as the 900 series. The Vulcan MGG Series medium-duty griddles are the choice for smaller-duty operations and come in two-, three- and four-foot sizes to accommodate your kitchen layout. Vulcan's hot plates are versatile and durable-designed to work with a variety of pot and pan sizes. And when you need a true "work horse" in your kitchen, don't forget our stock pot range for truly unlimited-volume food preparation.
Visit the Vulcan site for full product listing.
© 2017 Hobart Canada


text:
(Most) Celebrities have such great style, and of course there are always a handful of celebrities that we admire and secretively wish we could dress like them! For this Style for Less segment, I want to focus on Beyonce (below) a singer/actress who in my opinion always has great style!
Beyonce's shoes and scarf alone cost a fortune, her Alexander McQueen Leopard Scarf retails for $450, and her Alain Quilici Payson Skate Lace-Up Booties retail for $1,180.
Lucky for us, we don't have to fork over thousands of dollars on designer brand clothing, especially since a lot of stores now day are offering great quality clothes, at an affordable price. Take a look below at Beyonce's style for Less, all items are from JC Penney, for a total of: $163!
JC Penney Total: $163
Of course there are many other factor to consider when styling for less, for example sizes that are available, also sales and deals going on! If you are inspired or motivated to check out JC Penney and find your Styles for Less then click here for 3 different JC Penney coupons; but hurry because these coupons expire on 12/10/11.
♥ Glitz Glam Budget ♥


text:
RT @PPact: The "Health Care Freedom Act" blocks 2.4M patients from going to Planned Parenthood. Their definition of "freedom" needs work. #VoteNo
Unlawful Detention and Tasing Claim on Behalf of Black Man Ends With $110,000 Settlement https://t.co/X6p8PFczfX via @TheRoot
Our membership has quadrupled in the last six months, making it possible to do more than ever to protect civil rights and civil liberties in Colorado. Thank you to all our new members, supporters, and donors, and the ones who've been with us for years.
Leisel Kemp, whose brother Jason was killed by CSP after they entered his home without a warrant, spoke at the 2013 Bill of Rights Dinner about the ACLU's legal advocacy on behalf of her family.
Out of Sight, Out of Mind is an original short film from the ACLU of Colorado about a man who has spent 17 years in solitary confinement and now suffers from debilitating mental illness.
Criminal Justice
The Constitution protects Americans' right to due process of law and humane treatment during incarceration regardless of race, socioeconomic status, age, gender, or sexual orientation. Continue reading
Freedom of Expression & Religion
The First Amendment guarantees all Americans the freedoms of speech, press, religion, assembly, and protects their right to petition the government. Continue reading
Government Transparency
The more people know about how public servants make decisions and spend tax dollars, the less vulnerable they are to deception and abuse by government officials. Continue reading
Immigrants' Rights
The Constitution guarantees the fundamental rights of due process and equal protection to every person in this country, regardless of their immigration status. Continue reading
LGBT Equality
Everyone in this country has the right to be included in the promises and protections of the Constitution, regardless of their sexual orientation and gender identity. Continue reading
Privacy & Technology
The Fourth Amendment protects us from unreasonable searches and seizures, but rapidly advancing technological capabilities and outdated laws have nevertheless left Americans' private lives vulnerable to government intrusion. Continue reading
Racial Justice
The ACLU of Colorado works to preserve and extend constitutionally guaranteed rights to people who have historically been denied them on the basis of race. Continue reading
Reproductive Freedom
The ACLU protects individuals' right to make informed decisions free from government interference about whether and when to become a parent, and to be given access to the full range of reproductive health care. Continue reading
Student and Youth Rights
Constitutional protections are not reserved solely for those over 18. Students and youth have civil liberties that must be respected. Continue reading
Voting Rights
The right to vote, and to have one's vote accurately and fairly counted, is a fundamental right of all American citizens. Continue reading
Women's Rights
Women have made great strides in the fight for equality, but gender bias continues to create huge barriers for many, especially poor women, women of color, and immigrant women. Continue reading


text:
One of the peak significant holding you can do for fat loss, controlling weight increase and for overall eudaimonia is normally unmarked. MORE SLEEP! Yes, you in reality status to physiological condition more to gain less!
A paucity of slumber could be contributing to America's fatness pestilential. A new Columbia University search found that not getting ample physiological condition could put you at inflated risk for weight addition.
The study, presented at the consultation of the North American Association for the Study of Obesity, analyzed assemblage from 18,000 adults and found that those who slept less than the suggested 7 hours a nighttime had an magnified venture of tubbiness. People who slept for less than four work time per period were 73 percentage more potential to be corpulent than those who slept for seven to cardinal work time. Getting 5 hours of have forty winks or less decreased that chance to 50 percent, and deed six work time or less diminished it even more than to 23 percentage.
While it's increasingly indefinite in particular what causes this redoubled risk, scientists reflect that dearth of nod off lowers the magnitude of leptin your article produces. Leptin is a protein that suppresses appetence and is liable for revealing your intellect once your abdomen is loaded. In addition, once you are sleep-deprived, you are less competent to sort comprehendible decisions and may eat more nutrient than your organic structure truly wishes.
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So, suitable nighttime and sleep tight!
Be all right & stop fit!
Aimee Deak


text:
The World Health Organization (WHO) has endorsed a new rapid test for tuberculosis (TB), Xpert® MTB/RIF test, which could provide an accurate diagnosis for many patients in just 100 minutes compared to current tests that can take up to six weeks.
The new test is built to run on Cepheid's GeneXpert System which is already being used at a number of UK hospitals for detecting other infectious diseases, such as C. difficile and MRSA. One such hospital is The Yorkshire Clinic; the hospital is using Cepheid's Xpert® MRSA Test to enhance MRSA screening of emergency patients. A handful of leading hospitals in the UK have already adopted the new TB test and are seeing the benefits it holds for their patients. It is likely that this announcement will spark a lot more interest in the technology, which far exceeds the current methodology.
The Health Protection Agency (HPA) recently reported that there were 9,040 new cases of active TB in the UK in 2009. England saw 8,286 new cases, 42 percent of which were identified in London alone due to higher levels of poverty, immigration, homelessness, imprisonment, HIV and drug abuse. In fact, last week, UK health minister Andrew Lansley asserted that immigration is a major factor in the UK's 30-year TB rate high. The UK may be considered a low-burden country when it comes to TB, but these figures suggest that the nation should not take this recommendation lightly.
Currently, the most common testing method for TB is over 100 years old and is considered unreliable. It is known as the sputum microscopy test, or 'smear test', and relies on a human trained eye to look through a microscope and recognise the TB bacteria. According to the WHO, more than half of all active TB cases are missed through this method, but it allows for rapid detection of at least the most progressed cases. The problem is that the physician then sends another sample off to the lab for culture testing, where the organism is grown on a petri dish. Due to the slow growth nature of TB, it takes anywhere from two to six weeks for the result to come back during which point the patient has not been treated and the infection can easily have spread around the community.
This new technology accurately diagnoses patients within just two hours, knocking weeks off the waiting time. It enables hospitals to identify a significantly higher number of contagious patients during the initial testing phase and has the potential to save millions of lives across the globe.


text: To get from Favara to Carini by train you can catch one of the 10 trains that everyday travel between these two cities. The first train to Carini leaves from Favara at 05:18 and the last train departs at 18:21. If you choose a local train the trip lasts on average 03:08 hours. For your trip from Favara to Carini by train you can choose to leave from one of Favara main stations: Agrigento Bassa On Wanderio you can compare all schedules, fares and railway companies to Carini and book the best itinerary starting from Favara.


text:
We all have a thoroughly agreed archetypal. Women do, anyway,. I am not in no doubt how men matter beside this variety of state of affairs. Maybe eat all sorts of debris nutrient patch look their distinct types of sports?
Well, present I will business beside the art of starry-eyed oneself through with in good order nutritious your unit.
It is so unbelievably rife to have no bother cookery a well lunchtime for your household. This is mechanical. However, for many, it is besides emotionless to not fry up for ourselves the tiny we insight ourselves unsocial. Once that soul that we clutch tending of is not there, we terminate home economics thriving meals. And what is the drive do you suppose? It is too some dissension. You will discovery that many modern world it is a unconscious conclusion. It is even worsened if the creature in interrogation is lacking and will formulate a conscious edict not to cook, move for a icebound tea or thing just to slake the hunger. Anything will do, specified as what is confidently available: crackers, cookies, chocolate, a remaining slab of block. Those that unrecorded alone can in actual fact make themselves ill completed a drawn-out period of feeding like this. The physical structure simply is not deed its puritanical nutrients. Although a depressed human may not have the first to go through with the action of food for themselves, this form of objects swearing can likewise cause depression, and if one is low already, it can brand name it so much worse. Those chemicals condition the prim organic process to be fair. I use the word "substance abuse" on purpose, as not ingestion properly is indeed items ill-treat.Post ads:
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One truly doesn't have to go through with a big business to stir fry for themselves. If they cannot bring out themselves to pastry-cook a meal, later hang on to fit snacks in your white goods. Raw vegetables, for example, mega brassica oleracea italica and vegetable. Eat salads, but always receive confident you are exploit the becoming proteins to carry on a full-bodied physical structure. Eating raw vegetables will save you athletic and is exact for weight loss and maintaining your perfect weight. Low fat bungalow food is an just the thing dip. Don't buy the ready and waiting made dips in the stores as you will breakthrough the fat satisfied to be exceptionally postgraduate. Even in the Veggie dips. Always read the labels. Better to brand name your own.
I am highly untrained when it comes to ingestion. If I have thing that I should not eat in the house, that is precisely what I will eat. My in the flesh state of affairs is excited drinking. Eating makes me perceive dutiful. It makes me glad. And of pedagogy it's those wondrous carbs that look to plague that desolate space. So I vdu myself remarkably obligingly and simply don't let ingrowing foods in my lodging. When a extraordinary point arrives, I will eat to my delight!
Also, study what you serving. Sodas are very, extraordinarily bad for you, whether they are the daily sweetened category or the fare ones. Both are vastly bad for your robustness. Teas, specially new teas are favourable for you. You even have to be overcareful near milk in our day. I buy organic dairy product lone. The world-class beverage so far is hose. Drink that liquid. Of course, create certain you have the halal filtering system, and be massively wary of bottled sea. The integrative bottles will escape harmful chemicals into the river complete a term of occurrence. Of course, bottled sea is desirable to soda ash. Make firm that the water you buy has not had a long-acting shelf existence. The longest the storage, the superior probability of the trickle. This is a awfully herculean ring to sort and one that has me awfully concerned, not to raise that these plastic bottles are so particularly detrimental for our environment. We call for to go put money on to cup and those days when you could issue the vessel pay for and deliver your nickel. We really do entail to get backbone to ground rules. We are so precise pampered. If you are active to be out of the lodging for a time and you consider that you could get thirsty, bring your own sea in a icebox. A bit of bother but isn't your health assessment it? More importantly, aren't you deserving the trouble?Post ads:
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The right of this article? One of the optimum ways of creating self respect is by action, by how you nick protection of yourself, very when no one other is say. Don't be lonely. Be unsocial. Learn to hold dear the moments that you are alone, facial expression circa you, grip the day, whether it is devout weather or bad windward. It is all dazzling. Embrace the day no situation what period of time. Look out the pane and make available acknowledgement. Enjoy your habitat. Make your provide lodgings a site that you be mad about. Give it your exceptional touch. Make it your castle, a stick that exudes assurance and heat. The primo way to swot to admiration yourself is by action, by doing for yourself the selfsame point you would do for your favorite ones were they with you.
Go through with the movements. You will brainwave that you are your own most advantageous crony and consequently timekeeper and see what vivacity brings your way. It will convey fantastic populace and property to heighten it. And next you will brainwave that your vivacity doesn't depend on these people, because you have recovered where on earth right fondness is. It is in yourself.
©Luella May 2007


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Third Or Nothing! Puffs Unisex T-Shirt
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Building Owner's and Manager's Guide: Optimizing Facility Performance
Addresses all the key areas contributing to effective management of building operational performance. Includes occupant comfort and compliant resolution, sick building syndrome prevention and remediation, using smart building design to facilitate optimum operational performance, and accident prevention and safety. DLC: Building management.
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Going through the internet in search of a particular model of the drone can take much of your time. The problem is that even after wasting your time you may not still get the reliable seller that will offer you the exact quality and model of drone you want. Some sellers even go as far as offering a mere framework in the name of the drone to their customers. Since you will not like to lose your money, the best thing for you to do is to find drone for sale through the link listed on this site. The link will direct you to the right and proper drone seller that will make sure that you enjoy great value for your money after making your purchase.
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Amped: A Novel (edition 2012)
by Daniel H. Wilson
Work details
Amped by Daniel H. Wilson
No current Talk conversations about this book.
Neural implants can end seizures, mitigate birth defects, or overcome injuries, but they can also create super-human soldiers. The protagonist, a high school teacher, suffers brain damage from an accident as a child, and his father, a surgeon, implants an illegal, military-grade neural chip in his head to allow him to lead a normal life. But people with such chips are not seen as normal by some. They are enhanced and thus no longer purely human. Set in the near future, this is a story of the promise of new technology, how it can be used and misused, and the Luddites who fear it. Neither side in the conflict is good or evil, right or wrong...until people do what they often do and allow their fears and biases to overrule reason and take matters to extremes. This sounds like the premise for a superhero comic, and in some ways this short novel is one, but it's not outrageous or especially unbelievable. I can see something like this actually happening. This book is very well done for what it is, and I found it an enjoyable short read on a rainy afternoon.
In a not-so-distant future, computer technology has advanced to the point where people can receive small brain implants to "cure" various medical conditions. A small computer chip attached to the surface of the brain can heal severe brain damage, epilepsy, and other neurological conditions. The "problem" is the implant also severely increases intelligence. Non-implanted (ie, stupid) Americans became enraged, saying their non-implanted (ie, stupid) children are at a disadvantage in the classroom, which sets off a wave of hateful, discriminatory violence.
This could have been a great book. It certainly has a great premise, and it started off brilliantly, but it unfortunately fell apart almost immediately after the introduction. I had two major issues with it, the plot jumped forward jarringly between every chapter, and the character interaction was atrociously bad. The story reminded me of the stories of video games where stories aren't a big focus, something like Call of Duty. Each chapter is a huge leap forward in time, each giving only a tiny snapshot of what is happening, and the "story" that is supposed to string all these is weak and flimsy.
The only time I enjoyed the book was when no one was speaking. The main character's internal monologue worked for me, and this is what made the beginning of the book so enjoyable, but as soon as he opens his mouth to speak to someone everything began to feel one-dimensional. I didn't like any of the characters with the exception of Nick, who is the only bright spot in the whole novel. I didn't like the love interest, who barely has a presence at all, and all the secondary characters might as well have not existed at all.
The book would get 5 stars for concept, but the execution is an absolute fail for me. Thankfully, I only paid a $1 for this at a dollar store.
The premise intrigued me, and the beginning was fine. But then I realized that I've seen this theme done to death. And this book is hyped as a thriller. So, I wondered, where will this go that will make it worth reading? I skipped to the end and read the last few pages and found that it really doesn't go anywhere. It sure looks to me like a short story expanded by a big chunk of page-turning action-adventure. Which is fine for plenty of people, but I'm not interested.
Not quite as good as Robopocalypse but a respectable follow up . Amped presents an all too possible scenario as we inexorably advance toward an age of transhumanism.
I love Daniel H. Wilson and his books are always wonderful. This book was not a robot book but it was still a good sci-fi read.
References to this work on external resources.
Wikipedia in English (1)
Amazon.com Product Description (ISBN 0385535155, Hardcover)Technology makes them superhuman. But mere mortals want them kept in their place. The New York Times bestselling author of Robopocalypse creates a stunning, near-future world where technology and humanity clash in surprising ways. The result? The perfect summer blockbuster.
As he did in Robopocalypse, Daniel Wilson masterfully envisions a frightening near-future world. In Amped, people are implanted with a device that makes them capable of superhuman feats. The powerful technology has profound consequences for society, and soon a set of laws is passed that restricts the abilities—and rights—of "amplified" humans. On the day that the Supreme Court passes the first of these laws, twenty-nine-year-old Owen Gray joins the ranks of a new persecuted underclass known as "amps." Owen is forced to go on the run, desperate to reach an outpost in Oklahoma where, it is rumored, a group of the most enhanced amps may be about to change the world—or destroy it.
Once again, Daniel H. Wilson's background as a scientist serves him well in this technologically savvy thriller that delivers first-rate entertainment, as Wilson takes the "what if" question in entirely unexpected directions. Fans of Robopocalypse are sure to be delighted, and legions of new fans will want to get "amped" this summer.
(retrieved from Amazon Thu, 12 Mar 2015 18:13:37 -0400)
In a near-future world where technologically enhanced humans are governed by a strict set of conduct laws, twenty-nine-year-old Owen Gray joins the ranks of a persecuted underclass that is planning to change, or destroy, the world.
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David Templeton
July 17, 2009 at 4:00AM
By David TempletonI've seen at least a dozen productions of Midsummer Night's Dream, performed every which way you can imagine. I've seen the show staged as if by a bunch of bored circus performers, I've seen it staged as a Victorian dreamscape, all floating beds and doors opening onto mysterious night skies.
© 2017 North Bay Bohemian


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"To keep Maddy's spirit alive, we raise funds for Roger Neilson House in her honour. It helps us to know that other families who require pallative care can avail of the same resources we did."
To date, the Otto family have raised over $500,000.00 for Roger Neilson House, in Maddy's honour.
In February 2014, Jeanine and Dean were both humbled and honoured to have been voted the overall winner of The CTV Amazing People Award. It was a beautiful evening where lots of laughs were had, a few tears were shed and some amazing new friendships made!
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© 2011 Maddy's Gala. All rights reserved.


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(The Hosting News) – Underlining Europe's position as a leading research hub, scientists and academics will benefit from seamless, faster data sharing across the continent through a series of new, leading edge network initiatives.
European National Research and Education Networks (NRENs) and DANTE, the organisation that on behalf of Europe's NRENs has built and operates the GÉANT pan-European network are working closely together to prepare for the deployment of high speed 100 Gbps connections across their networks. This will enable closer collaboration on vital projects in critical areas such as climate change, energy, food security and medical and genetic research.
The need for higher capacity is being driven by a fundamental shift in how researchers work together, with a massive increase in data sharing combining with new projects and the digitisation of research methods across all sectors driving demand. As well as projects in areas such as radio astronomy, high-energy physics and medical research, increasingly disciplines such as the arts rely on technology and networking to collaborate together.
Following deployment of 40 Gbps links, the backbone GÉANT network is currently undergoing a major procurement that will see capacity on key routes upgraded to 100 Gbps in 2012. A collaborative taskforce that brings together DANTE and NREN partners from across Europe is helping co-ordinate this activity, drive end-to-end connectivity and share experience and knowledge amongst the research networking community.
As well as GÉANT, the national networks serving Germany (DFN), France (RENATER), the United Kingdom (JANET), the Netherlands (SURFnet) and Nordic countries (NORDUnet) have all invested in high speed trials and implementations, enabling their users to benefit from a step change in bandwidth that will see speeds increase by up to a factor of ten.
"The dramatic increase in research collaboration and new ways of working are leading to forecasts of a coming explosion in data and traffic," said Matthew Scott, General Manager, DANTE. "Europe's NRENs and DANTE are consequently working together now to put in place the end-to-end infrastructure and services to ensure our 40 million users can collaborate seamlessly in the future, reinforcing Europe's research leadership."
In Germany, DFN has worked with key suppliers to evaluate 100 Gbps technology as part of preparations for the next generation of its X-WiN technical platform. Under typical operating conditions, data has been transmitted along a 447 kilometre network at speed of up to 100 Gbps. A final, intensive 18 hour test saw 735 terabytes transmitted – the equivalent of sending nearly 1.2 million CDs or 160,000 DVDs.
French NREN RENATER is testing 100 Gbps network technologies using dark fibre alongside its existing 10 Gbps optical circuits. Following extensive lab testing between August and December 2010, field deployment trials on this 100 Gbps network took place without any impact on traffic. This included the heavy data transmissions between CERN and IN2P3 in Lyon, which carries the vast traffic loads from the Large Hadron Collider for onward distribution to scientists around the world. Beyond this major test with a single DWDM equipment, RENATER proved successfully the compatibility of 10 Gbps and 100 Gbps technologies between different vendor hardware on a single optical fibre. In both cases, the filling efficiency was proved to be well above 95%.
JANET, the UK NREN conducted extensive production testing in 2009 and 2010 using 100 Gbps technology. It is now running its production traffic over four separate 100 Gbps connections on the JANET backbone.
The Dutch NREN, SURFnet, operates three 40 Gbps optical connections and has successfully demonstrated a 100 Gbps connection between Amsterdam and Hamburg to connect to the NORDUnet network. Furthermore, SURFnet operates three 40 Gbps connections between Amsterdam and Geneva to connect to the LHC at CERN. SURFnet successfully completed demonstrations of multi-domain 40 Gbps Alien Wave Network connections over 1050km between Amsterdam and Copenhagen, using PM-QPSK technology, and over more than 4300km between Amsterdam, CERN and Copenhagen, using ULH technology, as presented at the TNC2011 during May in Prague. SURFnet will introduce 100 Gbps transmission over the 1650km of fiber between Amsterdam and Geneva during the second half of 2011. These achievements clearly show that SURFnet's network is capable of meeting the increased bandwidth demands of its users and research partners within the Dutch research community and abroad.
NORDUnet, the NREN that covers the Nordic region has carried out extensive lab testing at 100 Gbps speeds. In May 2011 it will run a full 100 Gbps production test between Stockholm and Copenhagen, a distance of 866 km. As part of the GÉANT 100 Gbps taskforce, NORDUnet will use this experience to benefit the entire European networking community.
About GÉANT
GÉANT is the high speed pan-European communication network dedicated to research and education. In combination with its NREN partners, GÉANT creates a secure, high speed research infrastructure that serves 40 million researchers in over 8,000 institutions across 40 European countries. Operating at speeds of up to 40 Gbps, GÉANT is the world's largest and most advanced multi-gigabit network dedicated to research and education. Building on the success of its predecessors, GÉANT has been created around the needs of users, providing flexible, network services that transform the way that researchers collaborate. GÉANT is at the heart of global research networking through wide ranging connections with other world regions, underpinning vital projects that bridge the digital divide and benefit society as a whole.
Co-funded by the European Commission under the EU's 7th Research and Development Framework Programme, GÉANT is the e-Infrastructure at the heart of the EU's European Research Area and contributes to the development of emerging internet technologies. The project partners are 32 European National Research and Education Networks (NRENs), TERENA and DANTE. GÉANT is operated by DANTE on behalf of Europe's NRENs. For more information, visit www.geant.net
About DANTE
DANTE is a non-profit organisation, coordinator of large-scale projects co-funded by the European Commission, and working in partnership with European National Research and Education Networks (NRENs) to plan, build and operate advanced networks for research and education. Established in 1993, DANTE has been fundamental to the success of pan-European research and education networking. DANTE has built and operates GÉANT, which provides the data communications infrastructure essential to the success of many research projects in Europe. DANTE is involved in worldwide initiatives to interconnect countries in the other regions to one another and to GÉANT. DANTE currently manages projects focussed on the Mediterranean, Asia-Pacific and central Asia regions through the EUMEDCONNECT, TEIN and CAREN projects respectively. For more information, visit www.dante.net.


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Vacuum Hose
The compression resistance is high.
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Degree of hardness is constant and high.
The service life is long.
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Conform to the ROHS environmental protection requirement.
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Used for conveying water under normal working condition in the farm, building and family;
Ideal necessity for various garden irrigation, vehicle washing and daily washing, and so on. By adding colorful symbol lines on the surface of the hose, it looks more beartiful.
PVC Air hose .Pneumatic tube Images


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Stylish colorful beads Rakhi for Bhai
Send a Beautiful Stone Designer Rakhis with Multi Colour Beads for an enriched look to your Dearest Brother. Rakhi is a festival celebrated by Hindus across India with much fervor. The designer beads based two Rakhis will be attractive to your brother on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan. Small Golden beads rings and White pearls rings beautifully arranged on the thread with multicolored diamond beads work on its highlights the beauty of both Rakhis. Traditional Kumkum chawal for a Tikka which will be a huge surprise for your brother. Rudraksha is symbol of lord Shiva. Make your brother feels special by gifting them this precious rakhis. Product Includes : Set of 2 Stylish colorful beads with small imitation moti decoratives Rakhi Threads for Bhai along with Packet of Roli Chawal.