Cancer in women in Kerala - a transition from a less-developed state

An epidemiologic assessment of the problem of cancer in women in Kerala based on 3 Population Cancer Registry data and a Hospital Based data is presented. Kerala's Socio-economic and demography presents an intermediate development from a less developed to a better-developed state. As yet, the women follow a tradition-based life style. Cancer incidence rate in Kerala was only 80% of urban rates than seen in Urban Metropolis in India. The pattern of site distribution has shown that GI, Breast & Cervix cancers are the predominant cancers. Oral cavity cancers also show a high frequency. Thyroid cancer has a higher incidence rate in Kerala compared to other areas. Lung cancer among women has higher incidence rate in Karunagappally women. A high prevalence of tobacco use is reported among the men in the above area. Breast cancer incidence rate in the rural areas was only 60% of the rate seen in Urban Trivandrum. Unlike in other rural and urban areas of India Cervix cancer has a low incidence rate in Kerala women. This may be due to better education and also due to the changes in marital and other life style practices. Only 15% of cancer patients attend for medical assistance in localized stage of disease. The need for public education is highlighted and focusing on tobacco use control, self-examination and screening

Tobacco chewing and female oral cavity cancer risk in Karunagappally cohort, India

This study examined oral cancer in a cohort of 78 140 women aged 30–84 years in Karunagappally, Kerala, India, on whom baseline information was collected on lifestyle, including tobacco chewing, and sociodemographic factors during the period 1990–1997. By the end of 2005, 92 oral cancer cases were identified by the Karunagappally Cancer Registry. Poisson regression analysis of grouped data, taking into account age and income, showed that oral cancer incidence was strongly related to daily frequency of tobacco chewing (P<0.001) and was increased 9.2-fold among women chewing tobacco 10 times or more a day. The risk increased with the duration of tobacco chewing during the first 20 years of tobacco chewing. Age at starting tobacco chewing was not significantly related to oral cancer risk. This is the first cohort study of oral cancer in relation to tobacco chewing among women

Global burden of disease due to smokeless tobacco consumption in adults : analysis of data from 113 countries

BACKGROUND: Smokeless tobacco is consumed in most countries in the world. In view of its widespread use and increasing awareness of the associated risks, there is a need for a detailed assessment of its impact on health. We present the first global estimates of the burden of disease due to consumption of smokeless tobacco by adults. METHODS: The burden attributable to smokeless tobacco use in adults was estimated as a proportion of the disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) lost and deaths reported in the 2010 Global Burden of Disease study. We used the comparative risk assessment method, which evaluates changes in population health that result from modifying a population's exposure to a risk factor. Population exposure was extrapolated from country-specific prevalence of smokeless tobacco consumption, and changes in population health were estimated using disease-specific risk estimates (relative risks/odds ratios) associated with it. Country-specific prevalence estimates were obtained through systematically searching for all relevant studies. Disease-specific risks were estimated by conducting systematic reviews and meta-analyses based on epidemiological studies. RESULTS: We found adult smokeless tobacco consumption figures for 115 countries and estimated burden of disease figures for 113 of these countries. Our estimates indicate that in 2010, smokeless tobacco use led to 1.7 million DALYs lost and 62,283 deaths due to cancers of mouth, pharynx and oesophagus and, based on data from the benchmark 52 country INTERHEART study, 4.7 million DALYs lost and 204,309 deaths from ischaemic heart disease. Over 85 % of this burden was in South-East Asia. CONCLUSIONS: Smokeless tobacco results in considerable, potentially preventable, global morbidity and mortality from cancer; estimates in relation to ischaemic heart disease need to be interpreted with more caution, but nonetheless suggest that the likely burden of disease is also substantial. The World Health Organization needs to consider incorporating regulation of smokeless tobacco into its Framework Convention for Tobacco Control

Effect of Dynamic Soil-Structure Interaction on Raft of Piled Raft Foundation of Chimneys

This paper presents numerical analysis of soil-structure-interaction (SSI) of tall reinforced concrete chimneys with piled raft foundation subjected to El Centro ground motion (1940) using finite element method. Seismic analysis in time domain was performed on the basis of direct method of SSI on the three-dimensional SSI system. The chimney, foundation, and soil were assumed to be linearly elastic in the analysis. The stress resultants and settlement of raft of piled raft foundation were evaluated under different soil properties and different geometrical features of raft and chimney. Soil properties were selected based on the shear wave velocity corresponding to sand in the loose to dense range. Chimneys with different elevations of 100 m, 200 m, and 400 m were taken with a ratio of height to base diameter of chimney of 17. Raft of different thickness was considered to evaluate the effect of stiffness of foundation. Results were analysed to assess the significance of characteristic of the ground motion. It is found that the response in the raft depends on the different parameters of chimney, foundation, and soil. It is also found that the higher modes of SSI system are significant in determining the response in the raft.</jats:p

Exploring the potential of iron oxide nanoparticle embedded carbon nanotube/polyaniline composite as anode material for Li-ion cells

Abstract Transition metal oxides are being widely explored to meet the requirements of high-capacity anodes for Li-ion batteries in electric and hybrid electric vehicles. Depending on the energy storage mechanism, anode materials are classified into insertion, conversion, and alloying types. Iron oxide (Fe2O3) is a conversion-type anode material for Li-ion cells. It has drawn significant attention due to its high specific capacity (1007 mAh g−1), environmental friendliness, and the availability of simple synthesis routes. In this study, attempts are made to improve the electrical conductivity and structural stability of Fe2O3 nanoparticles by embedding them in functionalized carbon nanotubes (F-CNT)/polyaniline (PANI) network, and the resulting nanocomposite has been studied as anode material for Li-ion cells. This composite anode material is synthesized using a simple hydrothermal method and in-situ-polymerization technique. Cells assembled with Fe2O3/F-CNT/PANI as anode against Li metal in half-cell configuration are found to offer an initial discharge capacity of 1633 mAh g−1 and charge capacity of 353 mAh g−1. After 50 cycles of operation, the discharge and charge capacities are 155 mAh g−1 and 130 mAh g−1, respectively, with a Coulombic efficiency of 84% and capacity retention of 37%. Anode failure mechanism for the observed capacity fading is studied using post-mortem analysis.Abstract Transition metal oxides are being widely explored to meet the requirements of high-capacity anodes for Li-ion batteries in electric and hybrid electric vehicles. Depending on the energy storage mechanism, anode materials are classified into insertion, conversion, and alloying types. Iron oxide (Fe2O3) is a conversion-type anode material for Li-ion cells. It has drawn significant attention due to its high specific capacity (1007 mAh g−1), environmental friendliness, and the availability of simple synthesis routes. In this study, attempts are made to improve the electrical conductivity and structural stability of Fe2O3 nanoparticles by embedding them in functionalized carbon nanotubes (F-CNT)/polyaniline (PANI) network, and the resulting nanocomposite has been studied as anode material for Li-ion cells. This composite anode material is synthesized using a simple hydrothermal method and in-situ-polymerization technique. Cells assembled with Fe2O3/F-CNT/PANI as anode against Li metal in half-cell configuration are found to offer an initial discharge capacity of 1633 mAh g−1 and charge capacity of 353 mAh g−1. After 50 cycles of operation, the discharge and charge capacities are 155 mAh g−1 and 130 mAh g−1, respectively, with a Coulombic efficiency of 84% and capacity retention of 37%. Anode failure mechanism for the observed capacity fading is studied using post-mortem analysis

Global surveillance of cancer survival 1995-2009: analysis of individual data for 25,676,887 patients from 279 population-based registries in 67 countries (CONCORD-2)

BACKGROUND: Worldwide data for cancer survival are scarce. We aimed to initiate worldwide surveillance of cancer survival by central analysis of population-based registry data, as a metric of the effectiveness of health systems, and to inform global policy on cancer control. METHODS: Individual tumour records were submitted by 279 population-based cancer registries in 67 countries for 25·7 million adults (age 15-99 years) and 75,000 children (age 0-14 years) diagnosed with cancer during 1995-2009 and followed up to Dec 31, 2009, or later. We looked at cancers of the stomach, colon, rectum, liver, lung, breast (women), cervix, ovary, and prostate in adults, and adult and childhood leukaemia. Standardised quality control procedures were applied; errors were corrected by the registry concerned. We estimated 5-year net survival, adjusted for background mortality in every country or region by age (single year), sex, and calendar year, and by race or ethnic origin in some countries. Estimates were age-standardised with the International Cancer Survival Standard weights. FINDINGS: 5-year survival from colon, rectal, and breast cancers has increased steadily in most developed countries. For patients diagnosed during 2005-09, survival for colon and rectal cancer reached 60% or more in 22 countries around the world; for breast cancer, 5-year survival rose to 85% or higher in 17 countries worldwide. Liver and lung cancer remain lethal in all nations: for both cancers, 5-year survival is below 20% everywhere in Europe, in the range 15-19% in North America, and as low as 7-9% in Mongolia and Thailand. Striking rises in 5-year survival from prostate cancer have occurred in many countries: survival rose by 10-20% between 1995-99 and 2005-09 in 22 countries in South America, Asia, and Europe, but survival still varies widely around the world, from less than 60% in Bulgaria and Thailand to 95% or more in Brazil, Puerto Rico, and the USA. For cervical cancer, national estimates of 5-year survival range from less than 50% to more than 70%; regional variations are much wider, and improvements between 1995-99 and 2005-09 have generally been slight. For women diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2005-09, 5-year survival was 40% or higher only in Ecuador, the USA, and 17 countries in Asia and Europe. 5-year survival for stomach cancer in 2005-09 was high (54-58%) in Japan and South Korea, compared with less than 40% in other countries. By contrast, 5-year survival from adult leukaemia in Japan and South Korea (18-23%) is lower than in most other countries. 5-year survival from childhood acute lymphoblastic leukaemia is less than 60% in several countries, but as high as 90% in Canada and four European countries, which suggests major deficiencies in the management of a largely curable disease. INTERPRETATION: International comparison of survival trends reveals very wide differences that are likely to be attributable to differences in access to early diagnosis and optimum treatment. Continuous worldwide surveillance of cancer survival should become an indispensable source of information for cancer patients and researchers and a stimulus for politicians to improve health policy and health-care systems

Measurement of 100Mo (n, 2n) 99Mo reaction cross section and covariance analysis using extended unscented transformation technique at the incident neutron energy of 13.9 MeV

351-357In this paper, the measurement and covariance analysis of the cross section of 100Mo (n, 2n) 99Mo reaction, with the 197Au (n, 2n)196 Au reaction being used as the monitor, at the incident neutron energy of 13.9 MeV is reported. The 3H (d, n) 4He nuclear reaction is used as the neutron source. The experiment was performed at the Purnima neutron facility, BARC. The method of activation with off-line -ray spectrometry is used. The covariance analysis of the 100Mo (n, 2n) 99Mo reaction is also performed, for the first time, using the extended unscented transformation (EUT) technique1, which is an extension of unscented transformation (UT) technique2, for the determination of partial uncertainties arising due to attributes in combination with the micro-correlation technique of Geraldo and Smith3. The present results obtained for 100Mo (n, 2n) 99Mo reaction cross section are found to be in good agreement with EXFOR data and the theoretically calculated value using the TALYS 1. 8 code. Comparisons with the data in the available basic evaluated nuclear data libraries, such as ENDF/B-VIII.0, JEFF-3.3, JENDL-4.0, ROSFOND-2010, CENDL-3.1 and TENDL 2017 are also presented and discussed

Approaches in biotechnological applications of natural polymers

Natural polymers, such as gums and mucilage, are biocompatible, cheap, easily available and non-toxic materials of native origin. These polymers are increasingly preferred over synthetic materials for industrial applications due to their intrinsic properties, as well as they are considered alternative sources of raw materials since they present characteristics of sustainability, biodegradability and biosafety. As definition, gums and mucilages are polysaccharides or complex carbohydrates consisting of one or more monosaccharides or their derivatives linked in bewildering variety of linkages and structures. Natural gums are considered polysaccharides naturally occurring in varieties of plant seeds and exudates, tree or shrub exudates, seaweed extracts, fungi, bacteria, and animal sources. Water-soluble gums, also known as hydrocolloids, are considered exudates and are pathological products; therefore, they do not form a part of cell wall. On the other hand, mucilages are part of cell and physiological products. It is important to highlight that gums represent the largest amounts of polymer materials derived from plants. Gums have enormously large and broad applications in both food and non-food industries, being commonly used as thickening, binding, emulsifying, suspending, stabilizing agents and matrices for drug release in pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries. In the food industry, their gelling properties and the ability to mold edible films and coatings are extensively studied. The use of gums depends on the intrinsic properties that they provide, often at costs below those of synthetic polymers. For upgrading the value of gums, they are being processed into various forms, including the most recent nanomaterials, for various biotechnological applications. Thus, the main natural polymers including galactomannans, cellulose, chitin, agar, carrageenan, alginate, cashew gum, pectin and starch, in addition to the current researches about them are reviewed in this article.. }To the Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientfíico e Tecnológico (CNPq) for fellowships (LCBBC and MGCC) and the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nvíel Superior (CAPES) (PBSA). This study was supported by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) under the scope of the strategic funding of UID/BIO/04469/2013 unit, the Project RECI/BBB-EBI/0179/2012 (FCOMP-01-0124-FEDER-027462) and COMPETE 2020 (POCI-01-0145-FEDER-006684) (JAT)

Measurement of 100Mo (n, 2n) 99Mo reaction cross section and covariance analysis using extended unscented transformation technique at the incident neutron energy of 13.9 MeV

In this paper, the measurement and covariance analysis of the cross section of 100Mo (n, 2n) 99Mo reaction, with the 197Au (n, 2n)196 Au reaction being used as the monitor, at the incident neutron energy of 13.9 MeV is reported. The 3H (d, n) 4He nuclear reaction is used as the neutron source. The experiment was performed at the Purnima neutron facility, BARC. The method of activation with off-line -ray spectrometry is used. The covariance analysis of the 100Mo (n, 2n) 99Mo reaction is also performed, for the first time, using the extended unscented transformation (EUT) technique1, which is an extension of unscented transformation (UT) technique2, for the determination of partial uncertainties arising due to attributes in combination with the micro-correlation technique of Geraldo and Smith3. The present results obtained for 100Mo (n, 2n) 99Mo reaction cross section are found to be in good agreement with EXFOR data and the theoretically calculated value using the TALYS 1. 8 code. Comparisons with the data in the available basic evaluated nuclear data libraries, such as ENDF/B-VIII.0, JEFF-3.3, JENDL-4.0, ROSFOND-2010, CENDL-3.1 and TENDL 2017 are also presented and discussed

Worldwide comparison of survival from childhood leukaemia for 1995–2009, by subtype, age, and sex (CONCORD-2): a population-based study of individual data for 89 828 children from 198 registries in 53 countries

Background Global inequalities in access to health care are reflected in differences in cancer survival. The CONCORD programme was designed to assess worldwide differences and trends in population-based cancer survival. In this population-based study, we aimed to estimate survival inequalities globally for several subtypes of childhood leukaemia. Methods Cancer registries participating in CONCORD were asked to submit tumour registrations for all children aged 0-14 years who were diagnosed with leukaemia between Jan 1, 1995, and Dec 31, 2009, and followed up until Dec 31, 2009. Haematological malignancies were defined by morphology codes in the International Classification of Diseases for Oncology, third revision. We excluded data from registries from which the data were judged to be less reliable, or included only lymphomas, and data from countries in which data for fewer than ten children were available for analysis. We also excluded records because of a missing date of birth, diagnosis, or last known vital status. We estimated 5-year net survival (ie, the probability of surviving at least 5 years after diagnosis, after controlling for deaths from other causes [background mortality]) for children by calendar period of diagnosis (1995-99, 2000-04, and 2005-09), sex, and age at diagnosis (< 1, 1-4, 5-9, and 10-14 years, inclusive) using appropriate life tables. We estimated age-standardised net survival for international comparison of survival trends for precursor-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) and acute myeloid leukaemia (AML). Findings We analysed data from 89 828 children from 198 registries in 53 countries. During 1995-99, 5-year agestandardised net survival for all lymphoid leukaemias combined ranged from 10.6% (95% CI 3.1-18.2) in the Chinese registries to 86.8% (81.6-92.0) in Austria. International differences in 5-year survival for childhood leukaemia were still large as recently as 2005-09, when age-standardised survival for lymphoid leukaemias ranged from 52.4% (95% CI 42.8-61.9) in Cali, Colombia, to 91.6% (89.5-93.6) in the German registries, and for AML ranged from 33.3% (18.9-47.7) in Bulgaria to 78.2% (72.0-84.3) in German registries. Survival from precursor-cell ALL was very close to that of all lymphoid leukaemias combined, with similar variation. In most countries, survival from AML improved more than survival from ALL between 2000-04 and 2005-09. Survival for each type of leukaemia varied markedly with age: survival was highest for children aged 1-4 and 5-9 years, and lowest for infants (younger than 1 year). There was no systematic difference in survival between boys and girls. Interpretation Global inequalities in survival from childhood leukaemia have narrowed with time but remain very wide for both ALL and AML. These results provide useful information for health policy makers on the effectiveness of health-care systems and for cancer policy makers to reduce inequalities in childhood survival