Promoting safety of underground machinery operators through participatory ergonomics and fuzzy model analysis to foster sustainable mining practices.

One of the most vital parameters to achieve sustainability in any field is encompassing the Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) of the workers. In mining industry where heavy earth moving machineries are largely employed, ergonomic hazards turn out to be significant OHS hazards causing Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs) in the operators. Nevertheless, the Indian mining industry lacks a comprehensive technique of OHS risk assessment, especially for ergonomic hazards that cause MSDs. This research appraises ergonomic hazards and develops Fuzzy Musculoskeletal-disorders Index (FMI) model to evaluate ergonomic-related MSDs. Work process and work tool ergonomic risk factors were identified through literature review and directives recommended by experts. Work posture was evaluated using RULA. The data-collecting approach was implemented using participatory ergonomic and design science principles. The FMI results show average MSDs score of 3.69, indicating high to extremely high risk. Surface plots show that combined work tool and work process was the most sensitive factors to MSDs risk compared to other two combinations. A two-sample t-test validated the FMI. The findings should help safety experts and managers develop effective OHS management plans and programmes for the sustainability of Indian mining industry.

Prevalence of BRCA mutation in breast and ovarian cancer among women in India: A systematic review and meta-analysis protocol.

PURPOSE: We present a methodically devised protocol for conducting a systematic review and meta-analysis aimed at ascertaining the prevalence of BReast CAncer gene (BRCA) mutations in breast and ovarian cancer (BOC) among women in India. The review will include cross-sectional, cohort, case-series, and registry-based studies focusing on females clinically diagnosed with any stage of BOC, tested for BRCA germline mutation and undergone any form of treatment. METHODS: A Cochrane literature search will be carried out to identify all the published and unpublished articles available in English from 2010 till date across various electronic databases including PubMed, Psych Info, SCI, Cochrane Central, Embase, Scopus, IND Med and Google Scholar. A step-by-step process will be followed to select all the relevant studies for final inclusion using Rayyan software. The selection process of the review will be reported based on Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-analysis Protocols (PRISMA) checklist. The protocol has been registered in PROSPERO (ID: CRD42023463452). Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Checklist will be used to evaluate the methodological quality of the included studies. The outcome measure will be the prevalence of BRCA1/2 gene mutation in this population. Meta-analysis will be performed to report the pooled prevalence along with 95% confidence interval. DISCUSSION: The results of this review study will provide valuable insights for clinicians, and policy makers, enabling them to formulate guidelines that underscore the importance of screening for BRCA mutations in cases of BOC.

Effectiveness of food supplement on treatment outcomes and quality of life in pulmonary tuberculosis: Phased implementation approach.

BACKGROUND: By encouraging treatment adherence and lowering mortality, dietary supplements can serve as adjuvant therapy for the success of medical interventions. We determined the effect of locally accessible food supplements on treatment outcomes, and health-related quality of life in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis initiating anti-tuberculosis treatment (ATT) in Odisha, India. METHOD: Between September 2017 and December 2018, implementation research in patients with newly diagnosed sputum smear-positive pulmonary tuberculosis initiating ATT in five districts of the tribal belt of Odisha, offered food supplements along with ATT in a phased manner. Clinical symptoms, anthropometry, sputum for M. tuberculosis (M. tb), health-related quality of life and return to normal function were assessed periodically, and favourable treatment outcome (cure or treatment completed) was measured at the end of treatment. The effect of the food supplement on unfavorable outcomes (treatment failure, death, or lost-to-follow-up) was modelled using mixed-effects Poisson regression to determine the risk factors. RESULTS: Among the 761 participants enrolled, 614 participants received the food supplement and 147 did not receive the food supplement. Among the 614 participants in the supplement group, 537 (87%) had a favorable outcome and among the 147 participants in the no-supplement group, 113 (77%) had a favorable outcome (p = 0.0017). Higher age (>55 years) [aRR = 2.1(95% CI: 1.1-3.8)], male gender [aRR = 1.7(95% CI: 1.2-2.9)], and smear grading ≥2+ [aRR = 1.5 (95% CI: 1.1-2.2)] were associated with unfavorable treatment outcomes. Nutritional status, quality of life and lung health showed significant improvement from baseline in the supplement group. CONCLUSION: Improvement in the nutritional status of the patient can be considered a predictor of treatment success rates. Early food supplementation has a positive impact on the nutritional status.

Mediating role of social disengagement and loneliness in the nexus between functional health and mental well-being in older individuals.

Few studies have focused sufficiently on the intricate link between functional health and depression among older people aged 60 and above in India. Therefore, the current study investigates the association between functional health and depression among older Indian adults through the mediating role of social disengagement and loneliness and the moderating role of living arrangements using recent data from the Longitudinal Aging Study in India (LASI: 2017-2018). Composite International Diagnostic Interview-Short Form (CIDI-SF) for depression, the Activities of Daily Living (ADL) and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL) for functional health, and the indoor/outdoor activities, visits, and religious events for social disengagement were used. The feelings of loneliness and living arrangements were measured using single-item questions and surveys/interviews of household members. Bivariate analysis, logistic regression, and a Partial Least Squares-Structural Equation Model were adopted. The results show that older persons with functional health had 1.85 times higher odds of depression; similarly, those not engaging in social activities and experiencing loneliness were more likely to feel depressed. Living with someone was negatively linked to depression. A significant moderation by living arrangements in the functional health-depression relationship was also observed. The results also indicate significant mediating roles of social disengagement and loneliness, with 22.0% and 3.08% mediation effects, respectively. Therefore, this study recommends the provision of housing and social interaction among older people.

Detection and disclosure of workplace mental health challenges: an exploratory study from India.

Workplace mental health challenges have emerged as a significant concern post-pandemic. Despite this, the pervasive stigma surrounding mental illness leads to the concealment of symptoms and reluctance to seek professional help among employees. This study aims to explore the perception of different stakeholders towards the 'Detection and disclosure' of workplace mental health challenges in the Indian context. Fifteen semi-structured interviews were conducted with human resource professionals, counselors, and employees who had previously experienced mental health challenge(s). Thematic analysis was done to identify recurring themes and sub-themes. Three critical pathways were identified: minimizing the inhibitory factors, including lack of awareness, denial, low self-efficacy, stigma, and underestimating organizational capability; maximizing the encouraging factors, including psychological safety, perceived social support, and communicating success stories; and implementing supportive organizational practices, including generating awareness and literacy, build the organizational capability, strengthen the role of managers, leadership advocacy, policies, and processes. By fostering a culture of support and prioritizing employee well-being, organizations in India can create healthier and more resilient work environments, benefiting both individuals and the larger society.

Microplastic from beach sediment to tissue: a case study on burrowing crab Dotilla blanfordi.

Background: Microplastics (MPs) are pervasive pollutants in the marine environment, exhibiting persistence in coastal sediment over extended periods. However, the mechanism of their uptake by marine organisms and distribution in habitat is less understood. The objective of the present study was to investigate the presence of MP contamination in burrow sediment, feeding pellets, and tissue of Dotilla blanfordi in the Gulf of Kachchh, Gujarat State. Methods: A total of 500 g of burrow sediment, 100 g of feeding pellets, and body tissue of 10 resident D. blanfordi were pooled as one replica. Such seven replicas from each site were analyzed for MP extraction from three sites, including Asharmata, Mandvi, and Serena, located in the Gulf of Kachchh. The standard protocol was used during the analysis of the collected samples in order to isolate MPs. Results: The abundance of MP was found higher in burrow sediment, feeding pellets and tissue of D. blanfordi at study site Mandvi, followed by Serena and Asharmata. The abundance of MP was found higher in D. blanfordi tissue, followed by burrow sediment and feeding pellet. A significant variation was observed in MP abundance among burrow sediment, feeding pellets, and tissue. MPs with various shapes (fiber, film, and fragment), sizes (1-2, 2-3, 3-4, and 4-5 mm), and colors (blue, green, black, pink, purple, red transparent) were recorded from all the study sites. Polyurethane and polyvinyl chloride were recognized as the chemical profile of the extracted MPs. The current investigation revealed greater accumulation of MPs in D. blanfordi's tissues compared to sediment and pellets, suggesting a risk of MP contamination in marine benthic fauna with a greater rate of bioaccumulation. D. blanfordi plays a significant role as a structuring agent for MP distribution in the intertidal flat through burrowing activity.

Phylogenetic and population genetic analyses of Thrips tabaci Lindeman (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) on Allium host in India.

Background: Onion thrips (Thrips tabaci) is a complex of cryptic species with subtle morphological differences and distinct genetic backgrounds; thus, species identification using traditional methods remains challenging. The existence of different haplotypes and genotypes within a species can significantly influence various aspects of its biology, including host preference, reproductive capacity, resistance to pesticides, and vector competence for plant viruses. Understanding the genetic diversity and population structure of cryptic species within T. tabaci will not only aid in the development of more effective control strategies tailored to specific genetic variants but also in monitoring population dynamics, tracking invasive species, and implementing quarantine measures to prevent the spread of economically damaging thrips biotypes. Methods: This study aims to explore intraspecies genetic diversity and molecular evolutionary relationships of the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase gene subunit I (mtCOI) in T. tabaci populations from India. To capture diversity within the Indian T. tabaci populations, amplicon sequencing was performed for the thrips mtCOI gene from eight diverse localities in India. A total of 48 sequences retrieved for the mtCOI gene from the NCBI Nucleotide database were analysed. Results: Multiple insertions and deletions were detected at various genomic positions across the populations from different localities, with the highest variation observed in the 300-400 genome position range. Molecular diversity analyses identified 30 haplotypes within the population, with certain subpopulations exhibiting higher gene flow. Analysis of single nucleotide polymorphism patterns within the mtCOI gene across diverse Indian locales revealed significant intrapopulation genetic heterogeneity and its potential repercussions on gene functionality. Elevated F statistics (Fst) values in the northern-western subpopulations suggested high genetic variability, particularly evident in haplotype networks originating mainly from the northern region, notably Delhi. While most populations displayed stable and ancient evolutionary histories, thrips populations from northern, western, and north-eastern regions indicated rapid growth.

Screen Use Time and Its Association With Mental Health Issues in Young Adults in India: Protocol for a Cross-Sectional Study.

BACKGROUND: Screen use time has increased in the past decade owing to the increased availability and accessibility of digital devices and the internet. Several studies have shown an association between increased screen use time and mental health issues such as anxiety and depression. However, studies in the young adult population-a demographic with high screen use-and in low- and middle-income country settings are limited. OBJECTIVE: This protocol describes a study that aims to measure self-reported screen use times and patterns in young adults (18-24 y) in India and assess if increased screen use time is associated with poorer mental well-being. METHODS: This protocol describes a cross-sectional study of a pan-India, web-based convenience sample of young adults (18-24 y) with access to digital devices with a screen and a minimum of secondary school education. Participants will be recruited through people in the professional networks of the investigators, which includes pediatricians. The survey will also be distributed via the social media pages of our organization (X [X Corp], Instagram [Meta], Facebook [Meta], etc). Sociodemographic details will be collected through a questionnaire designed by the authors; screen use time and patterns will be assessed using an adaptation of the Screen Time Questionnaire to include data on different apps and websites used on digital devices; and mental health parameters will be gauged using the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale, Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale, Perceived Stress Scale, and Patient Health Questionnaire. For statistical analysis, we will consider the following variables: (1) the primary independent variable is screen use time; (2) other independent variables include age, gender, residence: rural or urban, educational qualifications, employment status, stress associated with familial financial status, average sleep time, number of people living in a house or rooms in that house, BMI, substance use, and past psychiatric history; and (3) dependent variables include mental well-being, depression, anxiety, and perceived stress. To quantify the association between screen use time and mental health, we will perform a Bayesian multivariate multiple regression analysis that models the possibility of multiple alternative hypotheses while accounting for relevant sociodemographic covariables. RESULTS: The survey instrument has been designed, and feedback has been obtained from the domain experts and members of our organization whose profile is similar to the potential study participants. The final data received after this study has been conducted will be analyzed and shared. As of January 2023, we have not yet initiated the data collection. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the findings of this study, we will be able to establish a correlation between device- and use-specific screen use time and various mental health parameters. This will provide a direction to develop screen use time and mental health guidelines among young adults. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID): PRR1-10.2196/39707.

Assessment and mitigation of radiation hazard for individuals engaged in reconnaissance survey in uranium exploration in Jharkhand, India.

The present study attempts to obtain an a priori estimate of the absorbed dose received by an individual engaged in the reconnaissance survey in Uranium exploration using a predictive mathematical regression analysis. Other radiation safety parameters such as excess lifetime cancer risk are also calculated. Study reflects that the proper handling of naturally occurring radioactive materials accounts for an absorbed dose significantly less than the prescribed limit.

Assessment of radiation dose due to 210Po in water and food samples of Chamarajanagar district, Karnataka, India.

Groundwater is in direct contact with the soil and rocks that dissolve many compounds and minerals including uranium and its daughter products. 210Po is one of the decay products of 238U series that cause internal radiation dose in humans when consumed in the form of water and food, including sea food. Therefore, activities of 210Po have been studied in ground and surface water, and in food samples that are commonly used in Chamarajanagar region of Karnataka, India. The average 210Po concentration in bore well water samples and surface water samples are 3.21 and 1.85 mBq L-1, respectively. In raw rice and wheat, the average values of 210Po are 96 and 41 mBq kg-1, respectively. In millets and pulses, the average activity of 210Po is 157 and 79 mBq kg-1, respectively. Among food items, the highest activity of 1.3 kBq kg-1 is observed in marine crabs and the lowest activity of 2.6 mBq kg-1 is found in milk samples. The average ingestion dose due to 210Po in ground and surface water are 2.8 and 1.62 µSv y-1, respectively. The ingestion dose due to various food samples to the population is also calculated. Total ingestion dose due to 210Po to pure vegetarian population and general population are 38.09 and 590.80 µSv y-1, respectively. The concentration of 210Po in water samples and food samples of this region are in a comparable range with the world and Indian average values and lies well below the recommended guideline level.

Assessment of indoor radon concentration in the dwellings of the industrial areas of Kannur District, Kerala.

All organisms on the earth-crest are exposed to natural background radiation since the evolution of the earth, as many environmental matrices such as soil, air, water bodies, vegetation, etc., act as the sources of natural radioactivity. The present study deals with the evaluation of indoor concentration of 222Rn (radon) in different dwellings with various construction materials used for the roof and floor in the industrial sites of Kannur district, Kerala. A pinhole-based dosemeter coupled with LR-115 Solid State Nuclear Track Detector and Direct Radon Progeny Sensor (DRPS) were respectively used for the measurement of indoor radon concentration and equilibrium equivalent concentration of radon. The indoor radon concentrations were found to vary from 102.30 Bqm-3 to 184.75 Bqm-3 and the values were within the recommended limits provided by International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP). The annual effective doses and excess lifetime cancer risks were observed in the range of 2.58-4.66 mSvy-1 and 7.68 × 10-3-15.60 × 10-3, respectively, and both exceed the world average values recommended by United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR) 2000. The study shows that, the houses with marble floors and concrete roofs have comparatively higher values of radon concentration, which indicates the significant contribution of construction materials to the enhanced radiation levels inside the dwellings.

Time-series analysis of radon concentrations for Bengaluru's atmosphere.

The Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) analysis of the activity concentration of radon and selected meteorological parameters was carried out at Department of Physics, Bangalore University, Bengaluru (12056'44"N, 77030'25″E, 840 m above MSL). All of the measured parameters, with the exception of pressure, showed a clear diurnal trend, which can be explained by the presence of typical atmospheric processes such as temperature inversion in the morning and greater vertical mixing in the afternoon. Radon's time series has a latent memory of sub-diurnal cycles, as shown via FFT analysis. The monthly average radon has higher levels of activity during winter months compared with monsoon and summer months. Days during the monsoon season had the lowest radon activity, which may be ascribed to the fact that less radon was being exhaled from the soil as a result of the rain. Radon was recorded at 8.06 ± 0.56 Bq/m3, temperature at 28.9 °C, humidity at 55.2% and pressure at 918 mbar.

Monitoring of terrestrial gamma dose rate from the Kumaun Himalayan region of the Bageshwar district in Uttarakhand, India.

The present study is carried out in 42 sampling sites for the measurement of background gamma dose rate in six tehsils of the Bageshwar district that comes under the Kumaun Himalaya, Uttarakhand. The annual effective dose in the pre-monsoon and post-monsoon seasons was estimated from the measured values of the Gamma dose rate. It is found that the minimum and maximum values ranged between 0.01-0.39 mSv per y (Arithmetic Mean = 0.19 mSv per y) in the pre-monsoon and 0.11-0.42 mSv per y (Arithmetic Mean = 0.20 mSv per y) in the post-monsoon season of the year. The finding of the present study shows that the annual effective dose equivalent is higher than the worldwide average value recommended by the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation.

Distribution of 210Po activity and soil texture in agricultural soil.

The assessment of 210Po in agricultural soil matrices in different regions of Kerala and Karnataka was studied. The wet ash method was used to find the activity concentration of 210Po. The alpha activity was counted using a silver-activated zinc sulfide counter of 30% efficiency, and the activity was calculated. The average concentration of 210Po activity in soil samples ranged from 0.09 to 20.52 Bq kg-1, with an average value of 4.47 Bq kg-1. The soil texture was measured using the International Pipette method. Using the IBM Statistical Package of Social Science Software, the frequency distribution curve of 210Po is plotted and found to be lognormal. The data of 210Po are highly skewed, and the Kurtosis has a significant positive value. The 210Po activity concentrations are substantially within the World Health Organization's recommended limits.

Radioactivity determination in depth distribution of stone samples of Kalaburagi District, Karnataka, India.

The activity concentrations of 238U, 232Th and 40K were found using high-resolution gamma-ray spectrometry on depth profile samples collected from the Kalaburagi districts. This study aims to ascertain the radioactivity Changes concerning the depth profile. With values of 51.64 ± 0.50 Bq kg-1 for 238U, 58.77 ± 0.23 for 232Th and 313.92 ± 3.57 for 40K, respectively, the depth profile samples of Jayanagar in the Kalaburagi region exhibit significant activity concentrations among the measured values. Moreover, estimates of the K/Th and K/U ratios have been made, based on surface-level collected samples, which may have values that differ from the samples under study.

Radiation dose due to uranium in groundwater to the population of Chamarajanagar district, Karnataka, India.

This paper presents the concentration of uranium in 67 groundwater samples of Chamarajanagar district, Karnataka, India, estimated using an LED fluorimeter. The age-dependent ingestion dose to the population of the district is also studied. The concentration of uranium in groundwater varied from 0.20 to 57.50 µg L-1 with an average of 4.40 µg L-1. The annual ingestion dose due to uranium varies from 0.18 to 142.68 µSv y-1, with an average of 7.11 µSv y-1. The ingestion dose received by the population in the study area is less than the recommended level of 100 µSv y-1 by the World Health Organization (2011).

Measurements of radon exhalations and radiological doses using LR-115 (II) nuclear track detectors in Tiru region of the Naga Schuppen Belt, India.

In this present study, the nuclear track detector LR-115 (II) was employed to assess radon (222Rn) exhalation rate, effective radium (226Ra) content, and the annual effective dose from coal and soil samples collected in and around the coal mining area of Tiru region of Nagaland, India. The 222Rn mass and surface exhalation rates and 226Ra contents were found to be in the ranges of 7.3-17.3 mBq kg-1 h-1, 242.9-573.6 mBq m-2 h-1 and 1.0-2.3 Bq kg-1, respectively, for coal and 15.8-22.0 mBq kg-1 h-1, 523.8-730.4 mBq m-2 h-1 and 2.1-2.9 Bq kg-1, respectively, for soil. The 222Rn exhalation rates and 226Ra contents in soils were found to be higher than in coal. The estimated annual effective doses for coal and soils were found to be in the ranges of 17.6-41.6 and 38.0-53.0 µSv y-1, respectively. This study is an important contribution to the understanding of radiation exposure in the coal mining area of the thrust-bound sedimentary sequence of the Naga Schuppen Belt, and it would have potential impact on further human health studies. However, the measured values for all the samples were found to be within the globally recognised permissible range.

Study on seasonal variation of radon, thoron, and their progeny levels in indoor environments and their radiological effects on human health.

Indoor radon (222Rn), thoron (220Rn) and their progeny concentrations have been measured in different types of buildings at different locations in different dwellings in different seasons in Hassan city, Karnataka, using time-integrated passive radon dosemeters containing LR-115 Type II solid-state nuclear track detectors. The annual effective dose due to radon and thoron has been estimated. The activity concentrations were observed to be highest in winter and lowest in summer, and the data also shows that bathrooms and kitchens have significantly higher radon-thoron concentrations and annual effective doses.

Ambient gamma radiation level around Kaveri river basin, Karnataka state, India.

Studies on ambient gamma radiation in indoor and outdoor environment and their effect on human health have created interest among the researchers across the world. The present study represents the results of indoor and outdoor ambient gamma dose rates around the Kaveri river basin from Talakaveri (Madikeri district) to Mekedatu (Ramanagara district) by using portable Environmental Radiation Dosemeter. The annual effective dose in the present study area varies between 0.14 mSv.y-1 and 0.58 mSv.y-1 with an average value of 0.30 mSv.y-1 for indoor radiation. The outdoor annual effective dose ranged between 0.01 mSv.y-1 and 0.14 mSv.y-1 with an average value of 0.06 mSv.y-1. The total annual effective dose varies from 0.17 to 0.72 mSv.y-1 with an average value of 0.36 mSv.y-1. The calculated values of indoor and outdoor annual effective dose in the study area (are found to be lower than the world average values (1 mSv.y-1 and 0.48 mSv.y-1).

A study of 222Rn/220Rn exhalation rate and indoor 222Rn/220Rn levels in higher Himalayan terrain.

The noble radioactive gas radon and its isotope thoron dominate terrestrial radiation in the indoor environment. These gases eventually disintegrate generating radioactive ions that readily adhere to aerosol particles. This study was conducted in a tectonically active location with significant radon concentrations. The obtained average values of radon mass exhalation and thoron surface exhalation rate from this study are higher than the global average values of 56 mBq kg-1 h-1 and 1000 mBq m-2 s-1, respectively. As the exhalation rates are higher, naturally the average radon and thoron concentrations are also greater than the worldwide average values of 40 and 10 Bq m-3, respectively. No significant correlation was observed between 222Rn and 220Rn exhalation rate and indoor 222Rn/220Rn concentration. The exposure dose due to 222Rn, 220Rn and their progenies shows no significant health risk.