Indigenous Development of a Track Etch Detector

Solid state nuclear track detectors (SSNTDs) have been recognised by IAEA as a standard method for estimation of radon, thoron and their daughter products in the environment. The detectors that are commonly used in environmental monitoring are generally made from cellulose nitrate (LR-115) and polycarbonates (CR-39). In view of the non-availability of these detectors in India, need was felt to develop them indigenously. Accordingly, an attempt has been made to develop cellulose nitrate films for their use in SSNTD. Cellulose nitrate with a particular nitrogen content was used for preparing these films by a cast method. This films were annealed, evaluated and then compared with imported films. The background track density and alpha track density after exposure to 150 nCi of /sup 241/Am source at 2.5 cm distance were found to be comparable with those of imported films

Comparison of Piezo and Ball Copper Pressure Measurements in Closed Vessel System

A series of Closed Vessel firings are carried out at different pressure levels in the range of 0 to 1800 kg/cm/sup 2/ covering the complete pressure range of ball copper and Marl 8 crusher gauge combination. The pressure are simultaneously measured by a piezo (tourmaline) gauge and the ball copper pressures are evaluated from the Tarage table for existing standard ball copper as required by U.K. ordnance, using suitable temperature corrections. The results indicated that the agreement between the piezo and ball copper pressures is generally very good. At the pressure levels of 600,1200 and 1800 kg/cm/sup 2/, the magnitudes of percentage deviation of ball copper pressures from piezo pressures are from 0.2 to 3.4, 2.6 to 4.2 and 2.0 to 4.6 respectively. The pressure recorded by ball coppers are found to be slightly on higher side compared to piezo pressure in nearly all the measurements

Use of CR-39 films for nuclear radiation shielding efficacy evaluation of lining materials for combat vehicles

All materials provide, to a lesser or greater extent, shielding against nuclear radiations. Armoured fighting vehicles (AFVs) have steel as the structural material, which appears to be a reasonably good gamma and neutron shield material but a shield of pure iron would not be equally effective against whole range of neutron energies as it has a few resonances in electron volt range, and it reduces energy of fast neutrons to lower energy neutrons. These neutrons will be absorbed through radiative capture and emit gamma radiations. Thus it is essential that an effective shield should contain a large amount of moderating material, hydrogen being preferred with low atomic number materials (B, C, Li) and lead (Pb) to ensure that the neutrons do not diffuse at intermediate energies in the shield as well as gamma attenuation will also take place. In order to have a suitable shield material for armoured vehicles which serves as neutron and gamma radiation attenuator, polyethylene polymer with fillers lining materials are preferred. These materials were evaluated against gamma and fast neutrons using radioactive sources for suitability to fitment into combat vehicle as per the requirement of protection factor values. The detector for gamma radiation was used as Nal(Tl) while for neutron, CR-39 film was used.Use of CR-39 films for nuclear radiation shielding efficacy evaluation of lining materials for combat vehicles Deepak Gopalani1*, A S Jodha1, M K Das1, R K Singh2 and G L Baheti1 1Defence Laboratory, Jodhpur-342 011, Rajasthan, India 2Defence Material & Store Research & Developement Establishment, Kanpur-208 013, Uttar Pradesh, India E-mail : [email protected] Laboratory, Jodhpur-342 011, Rajasthan, India 2Defence Material & Store Research & Developement Establishment, Kanpur-208 013, Uttar Pradesh, Indi

Use of CR 39 Films for Evaluation of Shielding Efficacy of Materials against Fast Neutrons

CR-39 films have been used for evaluation of neutron shielding of metal alloys, different types of rubbers, sand polymers, etc. These films have been chosen because of their ability to record fast neutrons from 200 keV-10 MeV and their insensitivity to gamma radiations. Tenth value layer (TVL) for the materials studied varies from 10.5 to 28.6 cm. In addition, the values of TVL have also been computed for standard material, such as Al, steel, etc. Using neutron removal cross-section data, the results have been compared with those of experimentally determined values. The results seem to be in agreement within approximate 10 per cent variation

Global, regional, and national comparative risk assessment of 79 behavioural, environmental and occupational, and metabolic risks or clusters of risks, 1990-2015: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2015

SummaryBackground The Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study 2015 provides an up-to-date synthesis of the evidence for risk factor exposure and the attributable burden of disease. By providing national and subnational assessments spanning the past 25 years, this study can inform debates on the importance of addressing risks in context. Methods We used the comparative risk assessment framework developed for previous iterations of the Global Burden of Disease Study to estimate attributable deaths, disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs), and trends in exposure by age group, sex, year, and geography for 79 behavioural, environmental and occupational, and metabolic risks or clusters of risks from 1990 to 2015. This study included 388 risk-outcome pairs that met World Cancer Research Fund-defined criteria for convincing or probable evidence. We extracted relative risk and exposure estimates from randomised controlled trials, cohorts, pooled cohorts, household surveys, census data, satellite data, and other sources. We used statistical models to pool data, adjust for bias, and incorporate covariates. We developed a metric that allows comparisons of exposure across risk factors—the summary exposure value. Using the counterfactual scenario of theoretical minimum risk level, we estimated the portion of deaths and DALYs that could be attributed to a given risk. We decomposed trends in attributable burden into contributions from population growth, population age structure, risk exposure, and risk-deleted cause-specific DALY rates. We characterised risk exposure in relation to a Socio-demographic Index (SDI). Findings Between 1990 and 2015, global exposure to unsafe sanitation, household air pollution, childhood underweight, childhood stunting, and smoking each decreased by more than 25%. Global exposure for several occupational risks, high body-mass index (BMI), and drug use increased by more than 25% over the same period. All risks jointly evaluated in 2015 accounted for 57·8% (95% CI 56·6–58·8) of global deaths and 41·2% (39·8–42·8) of DALYs. In 2015, the ten largest contributors to global DALYs among Level 3 risks were high systolic blood pressure (211·8 million [192·7 million to 231·1 million] global DALYs), smoking (148·6 million [134·2 million to 163·1 million]), high fasting plasma glucose (143·1 million [125·1 million to 163·5 million]), high BMI (120·1 million [83·8 million to 158·4 million]), childhood undernutrition (113·3 million [103·9 million to 123·4 million]), ambient particulate matter (103·1 million [90·8 million to 115·1 million]), high total cholesterol (88·7 million [74·6 million to 105·7 million]), household air pollution (85·6 million [66·7 million to 106·1 million]), alcohol use (85·0 million [77·2 million to 93·0 million]), and diets high in sodium (83·0 million [49·3 million to 127·5 million]). From 1990 to 2015, attributable DALYs declined for micronutrient deficiencies, childhood undernutrition, unsafe sanitation and water, and household air pollution; reductions in risk-deleted DALY rates rather than reductions in exposure drove these declines. Rising exposure contributed to notable increases in attributable DALYs from high BMI, high fasting plasma glucose, occupational carcinogens, and drug use. Environmental risks and childhood undernutrition declined steadily with SDI; low physical activity, high BMI, and high fasting plasma glucose increased with SDI. In 119 countries, metabolic risks, such as high BMI and fasting plasma glucose, contributed the most attributable DALYs in 2015. Regionally, smoking still ranked among the leading five risk factors for attributable DALYs in 109 countries; childhood underweight and unsafe sex remained primary drivers of early death and disability in much of sub-Saharan Africa. Interpretation Declines in some key environmental risks have contributed to declines in critical infectious diseases. Some risks appear to be invariant to SDI. Increasing risks, including high BMI, high fasting plasma glucose, drug use, and some occupational exposures, contribute to rising burden from some conditions, but also provide opportunities for intervention. Some highly preventable risks, such as smoking, remain major causes of attributable DALYs, even as exposure is declining. Public policy makers need to pay attention to the risks that are increasingly major contributors to global burden. Funding Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

Global, Regional, and National Cancer Incidence, Mortality, Years of Life Lost, Years Lived With Disability, and Disability-Adjusted Life-Years for 29 Cancer Groups, 1990 to 2016: A Systematic Analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study

Importance: The increasing burden due to cancer and other noncommunicable diseases poses a threat to human development, which has resulted in global political commitments reflected in the Sustainable Development Goals as well as the World Health Organization (WHO) Global Action Plan on Non-Communicable Diseases. To determine if these commitments have resulted in improved cancer control, quantitative assessments of the cancer burden are required. Objective: To assess the burden for 29 cancer groups over time to provide a framework for policy discussion, resource allocation, and research focus. Evidence Review: Cancer incidence, mortality, years lived with disability, years of life lost, and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) were evaluated for 195 countries and territories by age and sex using the Global Burden of Disease study estimation methods. Levels and trends were analyzed over time, as well as by the Sociodemographic Index (SDI). Changes in incident cases were categorized by changes due to epidemiological vs demographic transition. Findings: In 2016, there were 17.2 million cancer cases worldwide and 8.9 million deaths. Cancer cases increased by 28% between 2006 and 2016. The smallest increase was seen in high SDI countries. Globally, population aging contributed 17%; population growth, 12%; and changes in age-specific rates, -1% to this change. The most common incident cancer globally for men was prostate cancer (1.4 million cases). The leading cause of cancer deaths and DALYs was tracheal, bronchus, and lung cancer (1.2 million deaths and 25.4 million DALYs). For women, the most common incident cancer and the leading cause of cancer deaths and DALYs was breast cancer (1.7 million incident cases, 535¿000 deaths, and 14.9 million DALYs). In 2016, cancer caused 213.2 million DALYs globally for both sexes combined. Between 2006 and 2016, the average annual age-standardized incidence rates for all cancers combined increased in 130 of 195 countries or territor. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE Large disparities exist between countries in cancer incidence,deaths, and associated disability. Scaling up cancer prevention and ensuring universal access to cancer care are required for health equity and to fulfill the global commitments fornoncommunicable disease and cancer control.The Institute for Health Metricsand Evaluation received funding from the Bill &Melinda Gates Foundation

Burden of cancer in the Eastern Mediterranean Region, 2005–2015: findings from the Global Burden of Disease 2015 Study

Objectives: To estimate incidence, mortality, and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) caused by cancer in the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR) between 2005 and 2015. Methods: Vital registration system and cancer registry data from the EMR region were analyzed for 29 cancer groups in 22 EMR countries using the Global Burden of Disease Study 2015 methodology. Results: In 2015, cancer was responsible for 9.4% of all deaths and 5.1% of all DALYs. It accounted for 722,646 new cases, 379,093 deaths, and 11.7 million DALYs. Between 2005 and 2015, incident cases increased by 46%, deaths by 33%, and DALYs by 31%. The increase in cancer incidence was largely driven by population growth and population aging. Breast cancer, lung cancer, and leukemia were the most common cancers, while lung, breast, and stomach cancers caused most cancer deaths. Conclusions: Cancer is responsible for a substantial disease burden in the EMR, which is increasing. There is an urgent need to expand cancer prevention, screening, and awareness programs in EMR countries as well as to improve diagnosis, treatment, and palliative care services.The funding source played no role in the design of thestudy, the analysis and interpretation of data, and the writing of thepaper. GBD 2015 is funded by Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

Estimates, trends, and drivers of the global burden of type 2 diabetes attributable to PM2·5 air pollution, 1990–2019: an analysis of data from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019

Background: Experimental and epidemiological studies indicate an association between exposure to particulate matter (PM) air pollution and increased risk of type 2 diabetes. In view of the high and increasing prevalence of diabetes, we aimed to quantify the burden of type 2 diabetes attributable to PM2·5 originating from ambient and household air pollution. Methods: We systematically compiled all relevant cohort and case-control studies assessing the effect of exposure to household and ambient fine particulate matter (PM2·5) air pollution on type 2 diabetes incidence and mortality. We derived an exposure–response curve from the extracted relative risk estimates using the MR-BRT (meta-regression—Bayesian, regularised, trimmed) tool. The estimated curve was linked to ambient and household PM2·5 exposures from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study 2019, and estimates of the attributable burden (population attributable fractions and rates per 100 000 population of deaths and disability-adjusted life-years) for 204 countries from 1990 to 2019 were calculated. We also assessed the role of changes in exposure, population size, age, and type 2 diabetes incidence in the observed trend in PM2·5-attributable type 2 diabetes burden. All estimates are presented with 95% uncertainty intervals. Findings: In 2019, approximately a fifth of the global burden of type 2 diabetes was attributable to PM2·5 exposure, with an estimated 3·78 (95% uncertainty interval 2·68–4·83) deaths per 100 000 population and 167 (117–223) disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) per 100 000 population. Approximately 13·4% (9·49–17·5) of deaths and 13·6% (9·73–17·9) of DALYs due to type 2 diabetes were contributed by ambient PM2·5, and 6·50% (4·22–9·53) of deaths and 5·92% (3·81–8·64) of DALYs by household air pollution. High burdens, in terms of numbers as well as rates, were estimated in Asia, sub-Saharan Africa, and South America. Since 1990, the attributable burden has increased by 50%, driven largely by population growth and ageing. Globally, the impact of reductions in household air pollution was largely offset by increased ambient PM2·5. Interpretation: Air pollution is a major risk factor for diabetes. We estimated that about a fifth of the global burden of type 2 diabetes is attributable PM2·5 pollution. Air pollution mitigation therefore might have an essential role in reducing the global disease burden resulting from type 2 diabetes. Funding: Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation