Study of Death Incidence by Insecticide Poisoning in Salem

Background: Insecticide poisoning is a major public health problem in the world, particularly in developing nations, its usage has increased in recent and past thus increased even its misuse to commit suicide. Methods: This retrospective study was carried out at department of  Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, Govt. Mohan Kumaramangalam Medical College  Hospital  Salem, Tamil Nadu, India with the insecticide poisoning cases from the year of 2008 and 2009. Age from 6 months old foetus to 80 years. All collected data was analyzed in SPSS software. Results: During this study period a total 2871 Medico legal autopsies were conducted, amongst them poisoning cases constitutes 372 (12.9%) cases, out of these 93 (25%) other poisoning cases, 279 (75%) cases were due to fatal insecticide poisoning. Conclusion: During the period of 2008 & 2009 there are 260 number of cases were reported as suicidal poisoning by insecticides out of 279 cases. Males were outnumbered with 170 cases and females were 109 cases. More number of the cases were found in the age group of 21–30 years(82) followed by 31-40 years (68). Peak period of deaths by poisoning more in nos. in the month of May & June. Most victims were from rural area, married population outnumbering the married. There are 212 (74.98%) victims were from rural area while 67(24.01%) were from urban area and 223 (79.92%) were married, 56 (20.07%) were unmarried. Key words :Insecticide poisoning; organophosphates; chemical report; Tik-20; follidol, suicide

A study of 100 cases of death due to Organo Phosphorus Compound poisoning

INTRODUCTION : The desired activity of pesticides is to kill unwanted organisms such as insects, fungi, weeds and rodents. They comprise of a heterogeneous groups of substances which defy easy classification. A common and useful classification is by these target organisms into insecticides, fungicides, herbicides, molusciudies and rodenticides; in each group they are often subdivided by chemical group. Some chemicals have more than one type of pesticidal activity and may therefore appear in more than one category. For example, carbamates and organophosphates (OPs) includes insecticides, herbicides and fumigants and rodenticides. From a regulatory point of view, pesticides are often divided into agricultural (including horticultural) and non-agricultural types, the later including wood preservers, antijouling materials for boats, and insecticides used in public hygiene. In Sri Lanka many thousand of Hospital admission each year due to AGROCHEMICAL POSONING (16649 IN 1983) with over a thousand deaths annually (1521 in 1983), of these about three quarter were self administered, the remainder being accident & occupational). Organo phosphorus compounds are extensively used as pesticides for soft bodied insects in agriculture. They have been imported in India Since 1951, but very few knew about the nature of these compounds as a virulent poison till the real food Poisoning Tragedy in 1958. This tragedy which took a toll of about hundred and odd lives, due to inadvertent stocking of food stuff (Wheat, flour, sugar etc) & Folidol (Parathion) packages in the same hold where the Folidol containers leaked and contaminated the gunny bags containing food stuff. Their easy availability & quick actions the reason for their popularity for suicidal & homicidal purpose. The main dangers from agricultural chemicals lie in the pesticides, especially ORGANO PHOSPHORUS COMPOUNDS such as Paration Herbicides such as PARAQUAT, MONOOROLOPHES used in huge quantities through out the world and these there substances cause thousand of death in Southern Asia, Africa, and other developing countries. AIM OF STUDY : The Aim of study is to make an objective assessment of cases of deaths due to OPC Poisoning in respect of the reasons for consuming OPC poisons, the duration of survival after consumption. Post-mortem findings, amount of absorption, age at which there is maximum incidence, religious predominance and analysis of the toxicological report to arrive at a comprehensive conclusion about this commonest type of agricultural insecticide which is used as a substance to commit suicide. MATERIALS AND METHODS : Only such of those cases of Organo phosphors Poisoning brought to the causality department of Govt. General Hospital, Madras Medical College, and brought dead cases of same poisoning brought with police memo were in general & analysed with the available data in respect of postmortem findings their chemicals analysis report etc. About 100 cases of Organo phosphorous compound poisoning were taken for consideration in this study.. In all cases are the documents submitted by the investigation officer for doing the postmortem were thoroughly pursued regarding the age sex, religion, socio economic study identification inquest form (Form 86) and after the postmortem examination was conducted in all the bodies and finding were noted. Chemical analysis examination was done in all the 100 cases and report were obtained. The chemical analysis report were analysed to find out the level of absorption in each case and taken in to consideration. In all the cases the period of hospital stayed for the time of consumption of poisoning till the time of death were noted and the reason for consumption were noted during the period of hospital stay the treatment given were also thoroughly analysed, even though this study of the treatment part is not taken in to consideration. After perusing the above said dates a detailed master chart was prepared and each is subjected to statistical analysis CONCLUSION : Out of the 100 cases of death due to OPC poisoning taken up for study, there is a clear male preponderance, which accounts for nearly 3 cases among every four cases. This is because of the head of the family in every house is invariable a male person and he is the one who faces the brunt of the crisis. Even though the abdominal pain is cited as the reason in majority of the cases, the psycho-social problem, financial crisis were the main reason for committing suicide among the general population. Majority of case belong to the low socio-economic group of people who work as farmers are as contract labourers in agricultural Sector.activities. Since OPC products are available as over the counter product (OTC) at a cheap cost, accessibility and availability of the said product is easy for people who belong to the lower middle class and people of low Socio-economic status. The responsibility for an individual is very high only during the middle age i.e between 20 to 50 years. Inability to face the challenges in life during this period makes an individual more vulnerable to suicidal tendencies, which results in ending his life to get rid of the problems & responsibilities. To sum up, due to the reasons and explanations above said makes organophospherous compound poisoning one of the major killer disease among the people of low socio-economic life style

Weaving ‘figured - face flip face - fabric’ using orthogonal weft tapestry weave

The aim of this study is to evolve new compound weave structures by modifying and permuting the existing structures. Basic principles of orthogonal structure and weft tapestry structure have been studied. New ‘Orthogonal Weft Tapestry (OWT)’ weaves are evolved by combining these two weaves and the concepts involved in deriving the new weave have also been developed. The structure of ‘Two in one’ figured fabric available in the field has been analyzed. This fabric is renamed as ‘Figured - Face Flip Face - Fabric (FFFFF)’. Suitability of OWT weave to produce diversified FFFFF has been interpreted. Superimposing the guide graphs for the preparation of weave graph has been worked out using MS Paint to weave this fabric using electronic jacquard. Methodology of making double punching graph for mechanical jacquard weaving is also explored. The feasibilities of weaving these structures are explored using heald-treadle and jacquard shedding devices either separately or in combination. Fabric samples have been developed using mechanical jacquard in handloom. The techno - ergonomics of weaving methods are compared and recorded. It is observed that FFFFF produced with OWT weave has got features like uniqueness in appearance, fascinating utility value, and possibilities of producing exclusive product range

COMPARATIVE STUDY OF ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITY ON FRESH AND DRIED Zingiber officinale Rosc

The present study to investigate the antimicrobial activity, from rhizome fresh and dried Zingiber officinale Rosc. In the present study to observe the antibacterial activity using the microorganisms such as E. coli, Staphylococcus aureus, K. pneumoniae and Pseudomonas aeroginosa were studied by using disc diffusion method. The maximum zone of inhibition were observed in K. pneumoniae (25 mm), followed by Staphylococcus aureus (24 mm), Pseudomonas aeroginosa and E. coli each showed 22 mm. The antifungal activity carried out by using the microorganisms Aspergillus flavus, A. terreus, Penicillum sp and Fusarium sp were studied by using agar well diffusion method. The maximum zone of inhibition were observed at the concentration of 100 µg of fresh sample against Fusarium sp (14 mm) followed by A. flavus (12 mm), A. terreus (10 mm) and Penicillum sp (10 mm). &nbsp

Weaving twill damask fabric using ‘section- scale- stitch’ harnessing

The possibility of weaving figured twill damask using the combination of ‘sectional-scaled- stitched’ (SSS) harnessing systems has been explored. Setting of sectional, pressure harness systems used in jacquard have been studied. The arrangements of weave marks of twill damask using the warp face and weft face twills of 4 threads have been analyzed. The different characteristics of the weave have been identified. The methodology of setting the jacquard harness along with healds has been derived corresponding to the weave analysis. It involves in making the harness / ends in two sections; one section is to increase the figuring capacity by scaling the harness and combining it with other section of simple stitching harnessing of ends. Hence, the new harness methodology has been named as ‘section-scale-stitch’ harnessing. The advantages of new SSS harnessing to weave figured twill damask have been recorded. It is observed that the new harnessing methodology has got the advantages like increased figuring capacity with the given jacquard, less strain on the ends and versatility to produce all range of products of twill damask. It is also found that the new harnessing is suitable to weave figured double cloth using interchanging double equal plain cloth, extra warp and extra weft weaving

Spatial and temporal estimation of actual evapotranspiration of lower Bhavani basin, Tamil Nadu using Surface Energy Balance Algorithm for Land Model

Estimating evapotranspiration's spatiotemporal variance is critical for regional water resource management and allocation, including irrigation scheduling, drought monitoring, and forecasting. The Surface Energy Balance Algorithm for Land (SEBAL) method can be used to estimate spatio-temporal variations in evapotranspiration (ET) using remote sensing-based variables like Land Surface Temperature (LST), Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), surface albedo, transmittance, and surface emissivity. The main aim of the study was to evaluate the actual evapotranspiration for the lower Bhavani basin, Tamil Nadu based on remote sensing methods using Landsat 8 data for the years 2018 to 2020. The actual evapotranspiration was estimated using SEBAL model and its spatial variation was compared over different land covers. The estimated values of daily actual evapotranspiration in the lower Bhavani basin ranged from 0 to 4.72 mm day-1. Thus it is evident that SEBAL model can be used to predict ET with limited ground base hydrological data. The spatially estimated ET values will help in managing the crop water requirement at each stage of crop and irrigation scheduling, which will ensure the efficient use of available water resources

Land use land cover change detection in the lower Bhavani basin, Tamil Nadu, using geospatial techniques

Land use land cover (LULC) change detection is essential for sustainable development, planning and management. This study was an attempt to evaluate the LULC change in the lower bhavani basin from 2014 to 2019, using Landsat 8 data integrating Google Earth Engine (GEE) as a web-based platform and Geographic Information System. The CART and Random Forest classifiers in GEE were used for performing supervised classification. The classified map accuracy was assessed using high resolution imagery and evaluated using a confusion matrix implemented in GEE. Five major LULC classes, viz., agriculture, built up, current fallow, forest and waterbody, were identified, and the dominant land use in the study area was agriculture and current fallow, followed by dominant land use of forest. During the study period (2014–2019) the change inbuilt-up area 7.37% in 2019 and 5.45% in 2014, was noted due to urban sprawl. GEE showed significant versatility and proved to be an effective platform for LULC detection

Fabrication of green nanoinsecticides from agri-waste of corn silk and its larvicidal and antibiofilm properties

he corn silk (CS) is composed of the thread- like stigmas of female inflorescences of Zea mays L. and represents an important waste material from maize crop production that can be recycled in further applications. In this research, the CS was used for the bio-fabrication of Ag nanoparticles (AgNPs) that were evaluated against (I–V) larval instars and pupae of the mosquito vector Aedes aegypti. CS-AgNPs were characterized by UV-Vis spectroscopy, TEM, EDAX, XRD, FTIR, DLS, and zeta potential analysis. Z. mays extract analyzed by gas chro- matography mass spectrometry reveals 14 compounds. The larvicidal effectiveness of CS-fabricated AgNPs was 2.35 μg·mL−1 (I Instar) to 6.24 μg·mL−1 (pupae). The field application in water storage reservoirs of both CS extracts and CS-AgNPs (10 × LC50) led to a 68–69% reduction in larval density after 72 h post-treatment. Ecotoxicological impact of CS-fabricated AgNPs was evaluated on the pre- datory efficacy of Poecilia reticulata on all the larval instars and pupae of Ae. aegypti. Finally, CS-AgNPs were tested to elucidate its anti-biofilm attributes. The CS-AgNPs at 125 μg·mL−1 showed a biofilm inhibition of 90% on S. aureus and 79% on S. epidermidis. These results support the use of CS-AgNPs for futuristic green alternative to mosquito vector management

Ultrasonic technology applied against mosquito larvae

The effective management of mosquito vectors is a timely challenge for medical and veterinary entomology. In this study, we evaluated the acoustic Larvasonic device to control young instars of the mosquito Aedes aegypti in diverse freshwater environments. Under laboratory conditions, we investigated the effect of exposure time and distance from the transducer on the mortality of larvae and pupae of Ae. aegypti. Furthermore, we evaluated the effectiveness of the ultrasound window of the electromagnetic spectrum under different field conditions. Results showed that first and second instar larvae were more sensitive to the frequency range of 18-30 kHz of the Larvasonic device. Ultrasonic waves applied for 180 s at a frequency from 18 to 30 kHz caused 100% larval mortality at a distance of 60 cm from the transducer. No mortality was observed in the non-target copepod Megacyclops formosanus. The exposure to the soundwaves produced by the acoustic larvicidal device over different distances effectively damaged Ae. aegypti through destruction of the larval dorsal tracheal trunk, thorax and abdomen. Overall, results indicated that the Larvasonic device tested can provide an alternative tool to reduce young instar populations of Ae. aegypti, without any effects on non-target aquatic invertebrates like copepods. It turned out to be a useful device for mosquito biocontrol. This technology has a relevant potential to fight the spread of mosquito-borne diseases

A Scoping Review: Overview of Current Respectful Maternity Care Research by Research Approach and Study Location

Introduction: Disrespectful care during childbirth contributes to poor health outcomes, perpetuates disparities, and encourages childbirth outside of healthcare facilities. To measure disrespectful care, investigators use many research approaches. Most research has focused on low/low-middle income countries. This scoping review aims to 1) summarize current research and research approaches to analyze whether these approaches identify the same types of mistreatment and 2) identify gaps in current research analyzing disrespectful care during childbirth. Methods: Following PRISMA guidelines, this review utilized search terms to filter articles from the Pubmed database. Using specific criteria, articles were then excluded by title and abstract, then full article review. Included articles were organized by research approach and analyzed for study location and the presence of 9 types of mistreatment. Results: 102 included articles were organized by research approach, including direct labor observation, survey, interview, and focus groups, yielding 144 total studies to account for articles with more than one research approach. Each research approach identified all 9 types of mistreatment, with neglect/abandonment, verbal mistreatment, and physical mistreatment reported the most. Low-income countries represented 134/144 studies, with most research centered in East Africa and India. High-income countries represented only 7% of research. Discussion: This review is the first to organize current respectful maternity care research by research approach and study location. Analysis of study location shows gaps in research, particularly among high-income countries. Further research, particularly in high-income countries, is necessary to better this global health concern