scholarly journals Inhalation and dermal exposure to toluene among printing workers in a plastic bag factory

2019 ◽  
Vol 33 (1) ◽  
pp. 68-79 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wantanee Phanprasit ◽  
Kanchanok Songpek ◽  
Vorakamol Boonyayothin ◽  
Dusit Sujirarat
Keyword(s):  
Skin Permeation ◽  
Weighted Average ◽  
Absorbed Dose ◽  
Dermal Exposure ◽  
Threshold Limit Value ◽  
Dermal Absorption ◽  
Sample Collection ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Air Samples ◽  
Plastic Bag

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore inhalation levels and dermal exposure to toluene among printing workers who wore no personal protective equipment; it is conducted in a plastic bag factory. Using a charcoal cloth pad (CCP) as a dermal sampler to assess skin permeation of liquid toluene is also investigated. Design/methodology/approach In total, 27 stationary air samples as well as urine and dermal samples were collected over 9 days from 11 printing workers. Six pieces of CCP were wrapped on each of the workers’ fingers for the dermal sample collection. Air samples were collected and analyzed according to NIOSH No. 1501, and 65 post-shift urine samples were collected and analyzed using gas chromatography equipped with headspace sampler (GC-HS/FID). Multiple linear regression was employed to analyze the association between the studied variables. Findings The mean (SD) urinary toluene (UTol) level was 13.42 (9.72) ug/L. Toluene on the CCP (TolCCP) was a meaningful predictor for UTol (p-value=0.027) with r and r2 values of 0.441 and 0.195, respectively. The r and r2 of the model using the toluene time-weighted average concentrations in air were 0.739 and 0.546, respectively. The absorbed dose of toluene determined from the TolCCP ranged from 1.05 to 91.94 mg, accounting for 12.3 percent of the threshold limit value (TLV). Originality/value Dermal exposure was insignificant when workers wore respirators, but when not, dermal absorption could contribute to the overall uptake and exposure above the TLV. Appropriate gloves should be assigned to the workers to reduce dermal exposure to toluene.

Skin Absorption of Bisphenol A and Its Alternatives in Thermal Paper

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elena Reale ◽  
David Vernez ◽  
Nancy B Hopf
Keyword(s):  
Bisphenol A ◽  
Ex Vivo ◽  
Skin Permeation ◽  
Absorbed Dose ◽  
Dermal Absorption ◽  
Test Substance ◽  
Skin Absorption ◽  
Bisphenol S ◽  
Limit Of Quantification ◽  
Thermal Paper

Abstract Objectives Bisphenol A (BPA) is the most used colour developer in thermal paper for cashiers receipts, labels, and tickets. BPA can migrate onto the skin and be absorbed when handling these papers. BPA is a known endocrine disruptor and is therefore being replaced in thermal paper by some alternatives such as Bisphenol S (BPS), D-8, and Pergafast 201® (PF201). To our knowledge, no studies have characterized skin permeation of these BPA alternatives. Methods We measured/characterized skin absorption for BPA, BPS, D-8, and PF201 through ex vivo human skin using flow-through diffusion cells according to OECD guideline 428. Skin samples were 7–12 per test substance from three different skin donors. Skin metabolism was studied for BPA. Dermal absorption was expressed as the amount of the BPA alternatives in the receptor fluid over applied dose in percent (%). Results The absorbed dose after 24 h of exposure was 25% for BPA, 17% for D-8, 0.4% for BPS, and <LLOQ for PF201. The amount of BPA-glucuronide in the receptor fluid after 24 h was under the limit of quantification (LLOQ = 0.2 µg l−1). Despite the 10-fold lower concentration of the aq solution applied on the skin, D-8’s permeation rate JMAX was 5-fold higher than the one for BPS (0.032 versus 0.006 µg cm−2 h−1). Neither D-8 nor BPS permeated readily through the skin (tlag = 3.9 h for D-8, 6.4 h for BPS). None of PF201’s skin permeation kinetic parameters could be determined because this BPA analogue was not quantifiable in the receptor fluid in our test conditions. Conclusions Skin absorption was in decreasing order: BPA > D-8 >> BPS > PF201. These results are in agreement with their log Kow and molecular weights. We provided here the necessary data to estimate the extent of skin absorption of BPA analogues, which is a necessary step in risk assessment, and ultimately evaluate public health risks posed by D-8, BPS, and PF201.

New dosimetric approach for multidimensional dose evaluation in gamma knife radiosurgery

2000 ◽  
Vol 93 (supplement_3) ◽  
pp. 239-242 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Foroni ◽  
G. Gambraini ◽  
U. Danesi ◽  
M. Mauri ◽  
E. Pompilio ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gamma Knife ◽  
Metal Ion ◽  
Light Transmission ◽  
Xylenol Orange ◽  
Ferrous Sulphate ◽  
Gamma Knife Radiosurgery ◽  
Absorbed Dose ◽  
Content Type ◽  
3D Representation ◽  
Fine Print

✓ During the past two decades, the progress in computerized treatment planning systems has led to more accurate imaging and therapy by using the gamma knife, especially with the smallest collimators (4 mm). However, the ionization chambers that have been used to calibrate the gamma knife are not useful with the smallest collimators because the chambers are too big compared with the irradiated volume. Therefore, it is important to develop more suitable dosimeters. This study proposes a new dosimeter method. The FriXyGel method proposed here is based on a phantom dosimeter, an acquisition chain, and dedicated software. This dosimeter uses an agarose gel into which a ferrous sulphate solution (Fricke solution) and a metal ion indicator (xylenol orange) are incorporated. The absorbed dose is detected through measurements of visible light transmission, imaged by means of a charge-coupled device camera provided with a suitable optical filter. Gel layers are imaged before and after irradiation, and the differences in light absorption are related to the absorbed dose. By choosing convenient thickness of gel layers and by building up a phantom with different gel slices, it is possible to obtain a three-dimensional (3D) representation of the absorbed dose. The final 3D representation is reached after several mathematical processes have been applied to the images. The first step identifies and reduces all factors that could alter the original data, such as nonuniformity in illumination. Then, after calibration procedures, it is possible to obtain absorbed dose values and to discover their 3D representation. This goal has been reached by developing appropriate software that performs all the calculations necessary for spatial representation routines and prompt comparison with theoretical calculations.

scholarly journals Identification and Characterization of a Halotolerant, Cold-Active Marine Endo-β-1,4-Glucanase by Using Functional Metagenomics of Seaweed-Associated Microbiota

2014 ◽  
Vol 80 (16) ◽  
pp. 4958-4967 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marjolaine Martin ◽  
Sophie Biver ◽  
Sébastien Steels ◽  
Tristan Barbeyron ◽  
Murielle Jam ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Metagenomic Library ◽  
Functional Screening ◽  
Sample Collection ◽  
Prolonged Incubation ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Cold Active ◽  
Esterase Loci ◽  
Collection Period ◽  
Identification And Characterization

ABSTRACTA metagenomic library was constructed from microorganisms associated with the brown algaAscophyllum nodosum. Functional screening of this library revealed 13 novel putative esterase loci and two glycoside hydrolase loci. Sequence and gene cluster analysis showed the wide diversity of the identified enzymes and gave an idea of the microbial populations present during the sample collection period. Lastly, an endo-β-1,4-glucanase having less than 50% identity to sequences of known cellulases was purified and partially characterized, showing activity at low temperature and after prolonged incubation in concentrated salt solutions.

Influence of occupational heat stress on labour productivity – a case study from Chennai, India

2016 ◽  
Vol 65 (2) ◽  
pp. 245-255 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeremiah Chinnadurai ◽  
Vidhya Venugopal ◽  
Kumaravel P ◽  
Paramesh R
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Heart Rate ◽  
Heat Stress ◽  
Pearson Correlation ◽  
Labour Productivity ◽  
Productivity Loss ◽  
Threshold Limit Value ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Economic Losses ◽  
Content Type

Purpose – Raise in temperatures due to climate change is likely to increase the heat stress in occupations that are physically exerting and performed outdoors which might potentially have adverse health and productivity consequences. The purpose of this paper is to estimate the productivities in construction work under the influence of heat stress using the predicted mean vote (PMV) index. Design/methodology/approach – Field studies were conducted during May 2014 which is summer time in Chennai. Continuous heart rate of workers and wet bulb globe temperature measurements are conducted for workers engaged in different jobs in construction. Metabolic rates and the workload of the workers from heart rate were calculated using the ISO method 8996 and the PMV values are calculated using the tool developed by Malchaire based on the method ISO 7730. Direct observations and personal interviews were conducted to substantiate the productivity estimations. Findings – The results showed that workers working outdoors with moderate and heavy workload exceeded the threshold limit value of 28°C and had adverse productivity impacts (18-35 per cent productivity loss), whereas the workers engaged in light indoor work was not affected by heat stress and consequent productivity losses. The productivity estimations using the PMV index is found to be statistically significant for three types of construction works (Pearson correlation coefficient value of −0.78) and also correlated well with the observations and self-reported productivities of the workers. Originality/value – The method used in this paper provides a scientific and reliable estimation of the productivities which may benefit the industry to set realistic project completion goals in hot weather and also implement interventions and policies to protect workers’ health. Developing adaptive strategies and implementing control measures are the need of the hour to protect worker’s health and economic losses in the face of climate change.

Development of two dosimetry systems based on basic violet dye for possible use as radiation dosimeters

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nehad Magdy ◽  
Sameh Gafar
Keyword(s):  
Gamma Ray ◽  
Raw Materials ◽  
Absorbed Dose ◽  
Chemical Yield ◽  
Radiation Sensitivity ◽  
Vital Role ◽  
Radiation Chemical ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Before And After

Purpose The purpose of this research paper is to study a comparison between two dosimetry systems, both of them based on basic violet dye (BV). Design/methodology/approach The first system depends on (BV) (incorporating polyvinyl alcohol) as a thin-film dosimeter. The second system also relies on (BV) as a solution dosimeter, which is more sensitive to gamma rays. The two prepared film/solutions have a considerable signal that decreases upon irradiation and the strength of the signal decreases with increasing radiation dose. Findings The gamma ray absorbed dose for these dosimeters was found to be up to 35 kGy for films and 1 kGy for the liquid phase. All dosimetric characteristics as radiation chemical yield, additive substance, dose-response function, radiation sensitivity, also before and after-irradiation stability under various conditions were considered. Practical implications It is expected the vital role of gamma radiation on this dye in its two forms or two media. This reveals their wide applications in the field of gamma irradiation processing. Originality/value These two dosimetry systems which depend upon the same dye are safe to handle, inexpensive, available raw materials and can be applied in various dosimetry applications as mentioned above.

The direct costs of raising external equity capital for US REIT IPOs

2012 ◽  
Vol 30 (6) ◽  
pp. 538-562
Author(s):  
Ranajit Kumar Bairagi ◽  
William Dimovski
Keyword(s):  
Initial Public Offerings ◽  
Economies Of Scale ◽  
Weighted Average ◽  
Direct Costs ◽  
Equity Capital ◽  
Return Volatility ◽  
Critical Determinant ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Underwriting Fees ◽  
External Equity

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate the total direct costs of raising external equity capital for US real estate investment trust (REIT) initial public offerings (IPOs).Design/methodology/approachThe study provides recent evidence on total direct costs for a comprehensive dataset of 125 US REIT IPOs from 1996 until June 2010. A multivariate OLS regression is performed to determine significant factors influencing the level of total direct costs and also underwriting fees and non‐underwriting direct expenses.FindingsThe study finds economies of scale in total direct costs, underwriting fees and non‐underwriting expenses. The equally (value) weighted average total direct costs are 8.33 percent (7.52 percent), consisting of 6.49 percent (6.30 percent) underwriting fees and 1.87 percent (1.22 percent) non‐underwriting direct expenses. The study finds a declining trend of total direct costs for post 2000 IPOs which is attributed to the declining trend in both underwriting fees and non‐underwriting direct expenses. Offer size is a critical determinant for both total direct costs and their individual components and inversely affects these costs. The total direct costs are found significantly higher for equity REITs than for mortgage REITs and are also significantly higher for offers listed in New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). Underwriting fees appear to be negatively influenced by the offer price, the number of representative underwriters involved in the issue, industry return volatility and the number of potential specific risk factors but positively influenced by prior quarter industry dividend yield and ownership limit identified in the prospectus. After controlling for time trend, the paper finds REIT IPOs incur higher non‐underwriting direct expenses in response to higher industry return volatility prior to the offer.Originality/valueThis paper adds to the international REIT IPO literature by exploring a number of new influencing factors behind total direct costs, underwriting fees and non‐underwriting direct expenses. The study includes data during the recent GFC period.

Pythagorean probabilistic hesitant fuzzy aggregation operators and their application in decision-making

Kybernetes ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Bushra Batool ◽  
Saleem Abdullah ◽  
Shahzaib Ashraf ◽  
Mumtaz Ahmad
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Fuzzy Number ◽  
Weighted Average ◽  
Aggregation Operators ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Operational Laws ◽  
Fuzzy Aggregation ◽  
Emergency Decision Making ◽  
Emergency Decision ◽  
Established Technique

PurposeThis is mainly because the restrictive condition of intuitionistic hesitant fuzzy number (IHFN) is relaxed by the membership functions of Pythagorean probabilistic hesitant fuzzy number (PyPHFN), so the range of domain value of PyPHFN is greatly expanded. The paper aims to develop a novel decision-making technique based on aggregation operators under PyPHFNs. For this, the authors propose Algebraic operational laws using algebraic norm for PyPHFNs. Furthermore, a list of aggregation operators, namely Pythagorean probabilistic hesitant fuzzy weighted average (PyPHFWA) operator, Pythagorean probabilistic hesitant fuzzy weighted geometric (PyPHFWG) operator, Pythagorean probabilistic hesitant fuzzy ordered weighted average (PyPHFOWA) operator, Pythagorean probabilistic hesitant fuzzy ordered weighted geometric (PyPHFOWG) operator, Pythagorean probabilistic hesitant fuzzy hybrid weighted average (PyPHFHWA) operator and Pythagorean probabilistic hesitant fuzzy hybrid weighted geometric (PyPHFHWG) operator, are proposed based on the defined algebraic operational laws. Also, interesting properties of these aggregation operators are discussed in detail.Design/methodology/approachPyPHFN is not only a generalization of the traditional IHFN, but also a more effective tool to deal with uncertain multi-attribute decision-making problems.FindingsIn addition, the authors design the algorithm to handle the uncertainty in emergency decision-making issues. At last, a numerical case study of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) as an emergency decision-making is introduced to show the implementation and validity of the established technique. Besides, the comparison of the existing and the proposed technique is established to show the effectiveness and validity of the established technique.Originality/valuePaper is original and not submitted elsewhere.

Financial impact of high land prices on the viability of winery startup projects

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Santos ◽  
Vincent Richman ◽  
Aidong Hu
Keyword(s):  
Net Present Value ◽  
Weighted Average ◽  
Capital Budgeting ◽  
Investment Horizon ◽  
Internal Rate Of Return ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Land Prices ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose Does it make economic sense to invest in winery startups with high land prices? This paper aims to apply a capital budgeting analysis for a startup project to investigate the role of land prices in the decision-making of a wine entrepreneur. Design/methodology/approach This paper uses a capital budgeting analysis to evaluate the value of a winery project using the six investment criteria: net present value (NPV), internal rate of return (IRR), modified IRR, profitability index, payback period (PB) and discounted PB. Findings This study finds that high land prices are economically justifiable (NPV is greater or equal to zero) when the weighted average capital cost is sufficiently low for investors who are able to diversify risks and with access to a cheap source of funds. Additionally, this study demonstrates that wine entrepreneurs need a long-term investment horizon because the recovery of the initial investment in winery startup projects takes many years. Research limitations/implications The startup winery projects are heavily influenced by wine pricing, production and cost assumptions. As a result, different assumptions made at other wine regions may result in slightly different outcomes for the acceptability of the wine startup projects. Practical implications High land prices are economically justified for investors and entrepreneurs with the ability to diversify risk and access to cheap financial resources. As such, land prices can be a critical obstacle for individual entrepreneurs who experience a lack of capital. Social implications In the famous wine regions of the world, high land prices may result in more wineries being owned by the capital rich wine conglomerates. Originality/value This paper provides estimations of land prices based on financial methods to discuss the justification of observed prices and the implications regarding the ability of investors and entrepreneurs to access capital.

Age-specific survival in prostate cancer using machine learning

2020 ◽  
Vol 54 (2) ◽  
pp. 215-234
Author(s):  
M.N. Doja ◽  
Ishleen Kaur ◽  
Tanvir Ahmad
Keyword(s):  
Prostate Cancer ◽  
Machine Learning ◽  
Metastatic Prostate Cancer ◽  
Information Gain ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Weighted Average ◽  
Age Group ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Complete Dataset ◽  
Average Accuracy

PurposeThe incidence of prostate cancer is increasing from the past few decades. Various studies have tried to determine the survival of patients, but metastatic prostate cancer is still not extensively explored. The survival rate of metastatic prostate cancer is very less compared to the earlier stages. The study aims to investigate the survivability of metastatic prostate cancer based on the age group to which a patient belongs, and the difference between the significance of the attributes for different age groups.Design/methodology/approachData of metastatic prostate cancer patients was collected from a cancer hospital in India. Two predictive models were built for the analysis-one for the complete dataset, and the other for separate age groups. Machine learning was applied to both the models and their accuracies were compared for the analysis. Also, information gain for each model has been evaluated to determine the significant predictors for each age group.FindingsThe ensemble approach gave the best results of 81.4% for the complete dataset, and thus was used for the age-specific models. The results concluded that the age-specific model had the direct average accuracy of 83.74% and weighted average accuracy of 79.9%, with the highest accuracy levels for age less than 60.Originality/valueThe study developed a model that predicts the survival of metastatic prostate cancer based on age. The study will be able to assist the clinicians in determining the best course of treatment for each patient based on ECOG, age and comorbidities.

scholarly journals Complete Genome Sequence of Acinetobacter indicus Type Strain SGAir0564 Isolated from Tropical Air Collected in Singapore

2018 ◽  
Vol 6 (18) ◽  
pp. e00230-18 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vineeth Kodengil Vettath ◽  
Ana Carolina M. Junqueira ◽  
Akira Uchida ◽  
Rikky W. Purbojati ◽  
James N. I. Houghton ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Genome Sequence ◽  
Complete Genome Sequence ◽  
Complete Genome ◽  
Type Strain ◽  
Protein Coding ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Air Samples ◽  
Protein Coding Genes ◽  
Long Reads

ABSTRACT Acinetobacter indicus (Gammaproteobacteria) is a strict aerobic nonmotile bacterium. The strain SGAir0564 was isolated from air samples collected in Singapore. The complete genome is 3.1 Mb and was assembled using a combination of short and long reads. The genome contains 2,808 protein-coding genes, 80 tRNAs, and 21 rRNA subunits.

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