Disaster Relief Workers: Health Issues

Introduction: Disaster is defined as any occurrence that causes damage, ecological disruption, loss of human life or deterioration of health and health services on a scale sufficient to warrant an extraordinary response from outside the affected community or area. Internationally, major disasters occur frequently, but for one country, they are unusual events. It causes severe health damage to that country. In this scenario, our rescue teams/ relief workers risk their own lives to save the life of others. Methods: The concerned topic was searched on internet in different databases with abstract or full free text available in English in previous five years. Results: This group is more vulnerable than general population to various accidents even death in relief process and also health problems such as post traumatic stress disorder, mental health risks, heat disorder, radiation exposure, respiratory problems, skin and mucous membrane problems, digestive problems, eye irritation and fatigue etc. In developed countries, their problems are dealt with great zeal, but unfortunately, in our country, we fail to address the health issue of these workers in spite of having the most important role in disaster management by providing physical and rehabilitative services to survivors. It has been proven that work output of these workers is enhanced if their health issues are taken care of properly. Discussion: We want to acknowledge the health concerns of rescue teams with possible solutions

MANET Congestion Control Mechanism - Challenges and Survey

The transport layer plays a crucial role in the Mobile Adhoc Network (MANET) protocol stack by controlling traffic flow, managing congestion, and enabling end-to-end delivery. With the help of congestion control mechanisms, numerous protocols are formed to enhance MANET performance. This paper focuses on a thorough analysis of the challenges the MANET protocol stack is facing as a result of congestion control issues such high overload, long delays, and increased packet loss. Finally, note that in order to increase MANET performance, research needs to concentrate on specific congestion control mechanisms

Stress Activated P38 Mapk Regulates Cell Cycle via AP-1 Factors in Areca Extract Exposed Human Lung Epithelial Cells

Areca nut chewing habits are associated with several oral manifestations like leukoplakia, submucous fibrosis and oral squamous cell carcinoma. Although numerous evidence on areca toxicity is known but the mechanistic pathway of disease causation is to be studied. Aqueous areca nut extract treated A549 cells showed reduced cell viability by 48 h with IC50 value of 0.50%. The toxic nature of areca nut induced the production of reactive oxygen species with decreased anti-oxidant glutathione S transferase levels lead to altered redox homeostasis. PCR studies showed decreased mRNA levels of Jun and Fos AP-1 subunits on extract treatment by 48 h. The protein levels of PCNA, CDK4, RB, p53, c-Jun and c-Fos were found to be downregulated with upregulated CDK inhibitor p21 on extract treatment as compared to control. Results of FACS analysis further confirm G1/S phase cell cycle arrest on areca nut extract exposure. The regulation of downstream AP-1 subunits by MAPKs was studied by using specific inhibitors of ERK, JNK and p38 along with areca nut extract. Results showed the redox activation of MAP kinases down regulated the mRNA levels of AP-1 subunits in aqueous areca nut extract treated cells. Hence the present study aids in elucidating the role of MAP kinases in regulating the AP-1 subunits and their implications on target genes that are involved regulation of various cellular processes. Further, it would help in understanding the mechanistic aspects of the diseased state which may facilitate in designing of new therapeutic modalities that could help in cancer management

A Review on the concept of Trayopastambha with special reference to Brahmacharya

In today’s world, due to more urbanization and up-gradation of civilization there has been an erratic variation with reference to Aahaara, Nidra and Brahmacharya /Abrahmacharya resulting in many diseases. This changed way of life needs to be understood through the concept called Trayopsatambha which helps us to lead a healthy life. Trayopastambha is the basic tool that every human being have, in order to protect the life destined. It has an intimate relation with the three Stambhas of life through which it maintains the Swastya and protects the Ayu. Especially Brahmacharya /Abrahmacharya have got an important role among all and have its influence on the other two Upastambhas also. Hence a thorough understanding of the concept of Brahmacharya /Abrahmacharya is needed with respect to the derivation, definition, classification and its benefits which can greatly contribute to know its importance in our daily life. The scope or importance of the present study is to make aware of the people that Brahmacharya and Abrahmachrya are not two different concepts which means the same (i.e. regulated activities of 11 Indiyas ) and to remove the myths existing around

Dielectric Relaxation of Benzonitrile in Benzene

The dielectric constant, ε , and dielectric loss, ε , of dilute solutions of benzonitrile (C 6 H 5 CN) in benzene have been measured at 9.885 GHz at 25, 30, 35, and 40 • C using standard standing microwave techniques. Following the single frequency concentration variational method of Gopala Krishna, the dielectric relaxation time, τ, and the dipole moment, µ, at various temperatures have been calculated. It was concluded that dielectric relaxation processes can be treated as rate processes just like the viscous flow process. Based on the above studies, the monomer structure of benzonitrile in benzene has been inferred. The solute-solvent molecular association of benzonitrile in benzene has been found. The energy parameters ∆H ε , ∆F ε , ∆S ε for the dielectric relaxation process of benzonitrile in benzene at different temperatures have been calculated and compared with the corresponding energy parameters ∆H η , ∆F η , ∆S η for the viscous flow process

Analgesic activity of Cissus quadrangularis linn with Zingiber officinale rosc in male wistar rats

Background: The global scenario, human beings are using various forms of treatment for relief of pain; among them, medicinal plant products have gained popularity because of its wide range of use and less side effects.Methods: Adult Albino rats of either sex were selected and divided into 5 groups. The Eddy’s hot plate was used and maintained temperature (55±0.5ºC), the animals were placed on the hot plate and the time taken for paw licking or jumping was recorded and considered as nociceptive response. The reaction time was observed on 0, 30, 60, and 90 minute.Results: The hot plate reaction time in sec was collected in the intervals of 0, 30, 60 and 90 minutes in all groups. Reaction times as follows: group III (Cissus quadrangularis Linn.) were 2.18±0.04, 3.13±0.05**, 5.83±0.05**, 5.39±0.04**;  Group IV (Zingiber officinale Rosc.) were 2.12±0.03, 4.13±0.04**, 7.43±0.07**, 7.16±0.06**; Group V Cissus quadrangularis Linn+ Zingiber officinale Rosc.) were 2.21±0.75, 4.67±0.98**, 8.15±0.89**, 9.02±0.75**; Group II (Dexamethasone) were 2.14±0.05, 5.53±0.05**, 8.14±0.06**, 10.08±0.10** respectively, Results are presented as mean±SEM, (n=6), *p<0.01, **p<0.05 dunnet test used as compared to control.Conclusions: Present study reveals that, the combination treatment of Zingiber officinale Rosc. + Cissus quadrangularis Linn. has been shown significant analgesic effect. High analgesic effect was observed with combination therapy; the effect was shown same as standard drug dexamethasone

Aqueous areca nut extract induces oxidative stress in human lung epithelial A549 cells: Probable role of p21 in inducing cell death

Areca nut a well-known masticator used across globe. Habitual chewing of areca nut is associated with serious oral health effects. However, the role of areca nut in oxidative stress induction and cell death is less understood. Hence, in the present study we aimed to evaluate the toxic mechanism of areca nut extract on human lung epithelial A549 cells. Cells were treated with or without aqueous areca nut extract and cell viability was measured by MTT assay. Cells treated with areca nut extract show reduced viability in a dose dependent manner with the IC50 of 0.5 concentration. Areca nut extract induced the reactive oxygen species (ROS), lipid peroxidation followed by membrane damage with leakage of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) enzyme. Cells with continuous exposure of areca nut extract depletes the free radical neutralizing anti-oxidant enzymes like superoxide dismutase (SOD), Glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and Glutathione-S-transferase (GST). Further, the analysis of mRNA expression of apoptotic genes and cell cycle regulators show decreased expression of anti-apoptotic gene (Bcl-2), Cyclin E1, Cyclin D1, CDK4, Rb and p53 whereas induced expression of p21 and marginal increase of pro-apoptotic gene (Bax) confirms the toxic nature of areca nut. Thus, cell death due to areca nut exposure may be through different mechanism rather than the conventional apoptotic pathway, where p21 induction might be independent of p53 action, which possibly suggests that there may be a role of p21 in oxidative stress induced cell death. Further FACS analysis confirms cell death in areca nut treated cells. © 2016 Elsevier Inc

Differential expression of AP-1 transcription factors in human prostate LNCaP and PC-3 cells: role of Fra-1 in transition to CRPC status

Androgen receptor (AR) signaling axis plays a vital role in the development of prostate and critical in the progression of prostate cancer. Androgen withdrawal initially regresses tumors but eventually develops into aggressive castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). Activator Protein-1 (AP-1) transcription factors are most likely to be associated with malignant transformation in prostate cancer. Hence, to determine the implication of AR and AP-1 in promoting the transition of prostate cancer to the androgen-independent state, we used AR-positive LNCaP and AR-negative PC-3 cells as an in vitro model system. The effect of dihydrotestosterone or anti-androgen bicalutamide on the cell proliferation and viability was assessed by MTT assay. Expression studies on AR, marker genes-PSA, TMPRSS2, and different AP-1 factors were analyzed by semi-quantitative RT-PCR and expressions of AR and Fra-1 proteins were analyzed by Western blotting. Dihydrotestosterone induced the cell proliferation in LNCaP with no effect on PC-3 cells. Bicalutamide decreased the viability of both LNCaP and PC-3 cells. Dihydrotestosterone induced the expression of AR, PSA, c-Jun, and Fra-1 in LNCaP cells, and it was c-Jun and c-Fos in case of PC-3 cells, while bicalutamide decreased their expression. In addition, constitutive activation and non-regulation of Fra-1 by bicalutamide in PC-3 cells suggested that Fra-1, probably a key component, involved in transition of aggressive androgen-independent PC-3 cells with poor prognosis. © 2017, Springer Science+Business Media New York

Studies on DC Magnetron Sputtered AZO Thin Films for HIT Solar Cell Application

Aluminum doped zinc oxide (AZO) is becoming an important and alternative transparent conducting oxide (TCO) material for solar photovoltaic applications due to its good electrical and optical characteristics, lower cost and more abundance, non-toxicity and stability in hydrogen plasma when compared to the popular indium tin oxide (ITO). In this work, AZO films are deposited on glass and silicon substrates with direct current (DC) magnetron sputtering using 5N pure Zinc Oxide target doped with 2 wt% Al2O3.The effect of deposition conditions on the structural, electrical and optical properties of the AZO films are investigated. The results demonstrated that the measured thickness of the deposited films are in the range 135- 490 nm. The X-ray diffraction studies reveal that the AZO films exhibit hexagaonal-wurtzite structure with the preferred orientation of grains along the (002) planes and an average crystal size of ~42 nm. At optimized sputter deposition parameters of an electrode distance of ~ 60 mm, substrate temperature of ~ 200 °C, target DC power of ~150 W and working pressure of ~2∙10¯³ mbar; the AZO films have shown an electrical resistivity of 1.27∙10¯³ Ω∙cm and an average optical transmittance value of 83.76% in the visible range for an optimal film thickness of ~265 nm. Finally HIT Solar Cells with AZO/p-a-Si:H/i-Si:H/n-c-Si/na-Si:H/Al structure have been fabricated by applying the optimized AZO films as front transparent electrodes. It is observed from the preliminary experiments that the fabricated cells have shown an initial photo conversion efficiency of 10.18% with an open circuit voltage (Voc) of 890 mV, short circuit current density (Jsc) of 15.68 mA/cm2 and a fill factor (FF) of ~ 73%

Fishers in Post-harvest Fisheries Sector in India : An Assessment of Socio-economic Status

This paper presents the results of study carried out during 2009-11, to assess literacy, health and income status of fishers in India with reference to postharvest sector which covered fishers in marketing and processing. The study covered five states and one union territory, covering 11 districts reaching 548 households. About 52.19% of the respondents fell in the age group of 36-55. The average male- female ratio was 1.03 and 66.61% of the families were in the small family category of 2-4 members. It was observed that the literacy rates among fishers in post-harvest sector in different states ranged from 63.74 to 95.81%. In general, the literacy rates were comparable to the national average. Maternal and child mortality were low in the sample studied and the average birth weight of infants was 2.68 kg. The average monthly income was Rs. 7027.45 with a daily income of Rs. 234.25. About 44.70% of the households had no savings and 47.81% of households were in debt