Work-related injuries among farm workers engaged in agricultural operations in India: a cross-sectional study.

PURPOSE: We aim to investigate nature, risk factors as well as magnitude of farm injuries and fatalities among agricultural workers in rural India. METHODS: An Agricultural Injury Study (AIS) was conducted using selected 1703 villages in eight states of rural India based on statistical consideration using unstructured proforma for 3086 victims/respodents, who were mostly agricultural workers or farmers. Injury incidence rate (IIR) was estimated per 1000 machines/tools per year for farm machinery and hand tools injuries, and per 100 000 workers per year for other sources. Questions about the injuries involved in farming tasks were used. RESULTS: About 36.2% fatalities were caused by farm machinery that involves tractors. The IIR per year of farm machinery, hand tools and injuries due to other sources were 3.2 per 1000 machines, 0.7 per 1000 tools and 77 per 100 000 workers, respectively. Correlation between number of injury-prone agricultural machines and number of farm machinery injury is r=0.80 (number of injuries increases with increase in number of machines). The χ²=72.53; p<0.01 of number of hand tools and number of farm hand tools-related injuries, that is, they are statistically significant. CONCLUSION: Exposures to agricultural machineries during farming operations can result in injuries confounding that may be fatal or non-fatal. Mapping down the cause and taking preventive measure to reduce the losses are of major concern. Also, customised safety programme as well as legislative awareness is needed to be raised for the higher injury incidence group.

Demonstration of Scale-Invariant Rayleigh-Taylor Instability Growth in Laser-Driven Cylindrical Implosion Experiments.

Rayleigh-Taylor instability growth is shown to be hydrodynamically scale invariant in convergent cylindrical implosions for targets that varied in radial dimension and implosion timescale by a factor of 3. The targets were driven directly by laser irradiation providing a short impulse, and instability growth at an embedded aluminum interface occurs as it converges radially inward by a factor of 2.25 and decelerates on a central foam core. Late-time growth factors of 14 are observed for a single-mode m=20 azimuthal perturbation at both scales, despite the differences in laser drive conditions between the experimental facilities, consistent with predictions from radiation-hydrodynamics simulations. This platform enables detailed investigations into the limits of hydrodynamic scaling in high-energy-density systems.

Late-Time Mixing Sensitivity to Initial Broadband Surface Roughness in High-Energy-Density Shear Layers.

Using a large volume high-energy-density fluid shear experiment (8.5 cm^{3}) at the National Ignition Facility, we have demonstrated for the first time the ability to significantly alter the evolution of a supersonic sheared mixing layer by controlling the initial conditions of that layer. By altering the initial surface roughness of the tracer foil, we demonstrate the ability to transition the shear mixing layer from a highly ordered system of coherent structures to a randomly ordered system with a faster growing mix layer, indicative of strong mixing in the layer at a temperature of several tens of electron volts and at near solid density. Simulations using a turbulent-mix model show good agreement with the experimental results and poor agreement without turbulent mix.

SYSTEMIC INFLAMMATORY INDICES IN PATIENTS WITH MALIGNANT GLIOMAS AND EFFECTS OF PLATELET SECRETOME IN VITRO.

BACKGROUND: To date, no significant clinical progress has been achieved in the treatment of brain malignant gliomas (MG), and the active search for non-invasive circulating biomarkers continues. The prognostic significance of the ratio of the main peripheral blood cell populations of patients with MG is evaluated. Considerable attention is paid to the secretome of platelets (Pt) of peripheral blood. AIM: To evaluate the indicators of the peripheral blood cell population ratios in patients with brain MG and to study the influence of the secretome of Pt (SPt) of the peripheral blood of patients with brain MG in cell cultures in vitro. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We studied samples of peripheral blood from patients with glioma CNS WHO grade G2 (n = 5), G3 (n = 12), and G4 (n = 20). The peripheral blood cell counts were analyzed in the preoperative period on an automatic hematology analyzer. The in vitro study of SPt was performed on the U251 human glioblastoma cell line cultured with SPt from MG patients or SPt pre-incubated with anti-TGF-ß1 antibody. Cell cultures were observed for 72 h, and mitotic index (MI) was calculated. RESULTS: In MG patients, the count of peripheral blood leukocytes and neutrophils increased (p < 0.05). The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) increased by 2-3 times compared to control. Nevertheless, correlation analysis did not reveal significant relationships between quantitative indicators of peripheral blood cells and the tumor malignancy degree in MG patients. The MI in U251 cells increased under the influence of SPt from patients with MG (p < 0.021), correlated with the tumor degree of malignancy (r = 0.246, p = 0.014). Pre-incubation of SPt with anti-TGF-ß1 antibody tends to neutralize this promitotic effect. CONCLUSION: In MG patients, the integral indicators of NLR and SII increased but no significant relationship with the degree of tumor malignancy was found. In U251 cells, promitotic effects of SPt of MG patients partially decreased by anti-TGF-ß1 antibody.

[Rodent fleas (Siphonaptera, Insecta) in the Terek-Kuma interfluve].

The fauna of rodent fleas comprises 19 species in the Terek-Kuma interfluve. Most detected parasites settle together with their hosts within and outside this area. Only gerbils and their parasites are limited to the spread in a semi-desert zone. The attribution of the fleas to various hosts, such as little sousliks, gerbils, jerboas, mice, and common voles, is not absolute and the parasites are, in addition to the principal hosts, encountered on the rodents of other species. Exchange of the parasites between different host species makes possible the passaging of pathogens of infectious diseases among them.

Experimental measurement of two copropagating shocks interacting with an unstable interface.

In this work, we present results from experiments capable of producing and measuring the propagation of multiple successive, copropagating shocks across an unstable planar interface, where the shocks are independently driven and separately controllable, enabling the study of this important phenomenon. Copropagating shocks play a significant role in a wide range of systems involving stratified media subject to a shock, and exhibit different physical characteristics compared to counterpropagating shocks. Existing techniques, however, preclude copropagating shocks, so experiments to date have been limited to the study of counterpropagating shocks. We address this previous limitation and open a physical parameter space for study using a new hohlraum platform on the National Ignition Facility. Initial experimental results are presented together with comparisons from numerical simulations.

STATUS OF GLUTATHIONE-DEPENDENT LINK OF BLOOD ANTIOXIDANT SYSTEM UNDER APPLICATION OF FENUGREEK SEED POWDER IN ANIMALS WITH EXPERIMENTAL OBESITY.

The content of reduced glutathione (GSH) and activity of glutathione-dependent enzymes: glutathione peroxidase (GP) and glutathione-S-transferase (GT) in blood serum of rats in the diet supplemented of fine powder seeds Trigonella foenum graecum L. on the background of experimental obesity. It was established that the development of obesity in rats was accompanied by violation of homeostasis in the glutathione-dependent system of blood serum. It has been shown that animals on high-calorie diet-along 14 weeks had a decrease (1,2) in GSH concentration, a decline (1,7) in GP activity and the increase (1,7) of GT activity compared with control values. Addition to high-calorie diet 2% fine powder seeds Trigonella foenum graccum L. reduced the body weight gain by 21%, carried positive modulating effect on the content of GSH and GP, GT activity in animals with experimental obesity.

A new streaked soft x-ray imager for the National Ignition Facility.

A new streaked soft x-ray imager has been designed for use on high energy-density (HED) physics experiments at the National Ignition Facility based at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. This streaked imager uses a slit aperture, single shallow angle reflection from a nickel mirror, and soft x-ray filtering to, when coupled to one of the NIF's x-ray streak cameras, record a 4× magnification, one-dimensional image of an x-ray source with a spatial resolution of less than 90 µm. The energy band pass produced depends upon the filter material used; for the first qualification shots, vanadium and silver-on-titanium filters were used to gate on photon energy ranges of approximately 300-510 eV and 200-400 eV, respectively. A two-channel version of the snout is available for x-ray sources up to 1 mm and a single-channel is available for larger sources up to 3 mm. Both the one and two-channel variants have been qualified on quartz wire and HED physics target shots.

Two-color spatial and temporal temperature measurements using a streaked soft x-ray imager.

A dual-channel streaked soft x-ray imager has been designed and used on high energy-density physics experiments at the National Ignition Facility. This streaked imager creates two images of the same x-ray source using two slit apertures and a single shallow angle reflection from a nickel mirror. Thin filters are used to create narrow band pass images at 510 eV and 360 eV. When measuring a Planckian spectrum, the brightness ratio of the two images can be translated into a color-temperature, provided that the spectral sensitivity of the two images is well known. To reduce uncertainty and remove spectral features in the streak camera photocathode from this photon energy range, a thin 100 nm CsI on 50 nm Al streak camera photocathode was implemented. Provided that the spectral shape is well-known, then uncertainties on the spectral sensitivity limits the accuracy of the temperature measurement to approximately 4.5% at 100 eV.

[Signal transudation pathways in parietal cells of the gastric mucosa in experimental stomach ulcer].

The goal of the presented work was the research of signal transduction mechanism in the rat gastric parietal cells under stomach ulcer conditions. In these cells activation of adenylate cyclase (increase of cAMP level and proteinkinase A activity) and phosphoinositide (increases [Ca2+]i; cGMP and phoshatidylinocitole levels; proteinkinase C, proteinkinase G, and calmodulin-dependent-proteinkinase activity) of signals pathway was shown. An increase of plasma membrane phospholipids (PC, PS, PE, PI, LPC) level was shown. Under conditions of influence of the stress factor the membran enzymes activity (H+, K+ -ATPase, 5'-AMPase, Na+, K+ -ATPase, Ca2+, Mg2+ -ATPase and H+, K+ -ATPase) was considerably increased. The intensification of lipid peroxidation processes in rats was demonstrated.

[Functioning of tyrosine protein kinases and phosphatases in gastric mucosa cells under conditions of oxidative and nitrosative stress in gastric lesions].

Acute cold stress caused lesions of gastric mucosa as a result of its attack by active oxygen and nitrogen compounds. The tissue regeneration is regulated by a cascade of tyrosine protein kinases. Gastric ulceration leads to a decrease in activity of tyrosine protein kinases and phosphatases, following by fall in phosphotyrosine content in proteins of plasma membranes of gastric mucosa cells. No changes in superoxide dismutase activity, slight increase in catalase activity, inhibition of glutathione peroxydase, significant increase in OH* content and decrease in zinc level were observed in the gastric mucosa cells of stressed rats. That increased oxidative damage can lead to inactivation of protein tyrosine phosphatases. Nitric oxide synthase activity was three times higher in gastric mucosa cells after the cold stress. That can promote nitrosylation of tyrosine residues. During following days nitric oxide synthase activity remains high. Superoxide dismutase is activated on the 4 and 5th day after the stress. Catalase activity normalizes after second day. Tyrosine protein kinase activity increases in membranes with maximum on the 4th day, and remains inhibited in cytosole. Tyrosine protein phosphatases keep inhibited as well. Gluthatione peroxydase activity and zinc level decreased on the 5th day. Obtained results can be the evidence of violations in signal transduction through protein tyrosine kinase cascades, due to the reduction in tyrosine phosphorylation, as a result of increase in the content of active oxygen and nitrogen species.

Agricultural injuries in Central India: nature, magnitude, and economic impact.

A study was carried out in Madhya Pradesh (Central India) to collect data on injury-causing agricultural incidents during the period 1995-1999. The overall incidence rate was 1.25/1000 workers/year. About 9.2% of the incidents were fatal, and most of the fatal incidents were due to tractors and snakebites (42.9% each). About 77.6% of all incidents were due to farm machinery, 11.8% were due to hand tools, and the remaining 10.6% were due to other sources like snakes, wells, etc. Data on 1,911 incidents reported in 10 leading newspapers published during the five-year period (1995-1999) from different regions of the state were also collected and analyzed, which indicated that only major or roadside agricultural incidents were reported in newspapers. Based on the survey data, it was estimated that in the year 2000 there would have been about 17,480 agricultural incidents in Madhya Pradesh, causing death to about 2,050 workers and injuries to about 16,770 workers, including amputations of limbs, burns, cuts, etc. Total monetary loss due to agricultural injuries in the state of Madhya Pradesh has been estimated as US $27 million/year.