Intermittent Losartan Administration Triggers Cardiac Post-Conditioning in Isolated Rat Hearts: Role of BK2 Receptors

PubMed Central

Sgarra, Luca; Leo, Valentina; Addabbo, Francesco; Iacobazzi, Dominga; Carratù, Maria Rosaria; Montagnani, Monica; Potenza, Maria Assunta

2014-01-01

Introduction The angiotensin (Ang) and bradykinin (BK) tissue-system plays a pivotal role in post-conditioning, but the efficacy of angiotensin type 1 receptor (AT1R) blockers (ARBs) in post-ischemic strategies is still under investigation. We evaluated functional and morphological outcomes, together with activation of cytosolic RISK pathway kinases, in rat hearts subjected to losartan (LOS) or irbesartan (IRB) post-ischemic administration. Methods Isolated rat hearts underwent 30 min ischemia and 120 min reperfusion. Post-conditioning was obtained by intermittent (10 s/each) or continuous drug infusion during the first 3 min of reperfusion. Left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP), left ventricular developed pressure (dLVP), coronary flow (CF), and left ventricular infarct mass (IM) were measured together with the activation status of RISK kinases Akt, p42/44 MAPK and GSK3β. Results When compared to hearts subjected to ischemia/reperfusion (iI/R) alone, continuous IRB or LOS administration did not significantly reduce total infarct mass (cIRB or cLOS vs. iI/R, p = 0.2). Similarly, intermittent IRB (iIRB) was not able to enhance cardioprotection. Conversely, intermittent LOS administration (iLOS) significantly ameliorated cardiac recovery (iLOS vs iI/R, p<0.01). Differences between iLOS and iIRB persisted under continuous blockade of AT2R (iLOS+cPD vs. iIRB+cPD, p<0.05). Interestingly, iLOS cardioprotection was lost when BK2R was simultaneously blocked (iLOS+cHOE vs. iI/R, p = 0.6), whereas concurrent administration of iBK and iIRB replicated iLOS effects (iIRB+iBK vs. iLOS, p = 0.7). At the molecular level, iIRB treatment did not significantly activate RISK kinases, whereas both iLOS and iBK treatments were associated with activation of the Akt/GSK3β branch of the RISK pathways (p<0.05 vs. iI/R, for both). Conclusions Our results suggest that intermittent losartan is effective in mediating post-conditioning cardioprotection, whereas irbesartan is not. The infarct mass reduction by intermittent losartan seem mainly related on its specific ability to modulate BK2R, and only modestly associated on AT1R blocking properties. PMID:24520397

A Work of Justice and Progress. The Story of the UNESCO/ILO 1966 Recommendation Concerning the Status of Teachers.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Towsley, Lona

The paper presents a history of the 1966 United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO)/International Labour Organisation (ILO) recommendation concerning the status of teachers. It spans the years 1945-1966, explaining how the recommendation evolved into the present text designed to improve teacher status and working…

An OWL Ontology for Metadata of Interactive Learning Objects

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Luz, Bruno N.; Santos, Rafael; Alves, Bruno; Areão, Andreza S.; Yokoyama, Marcos H.; Guimarães, Marcelo P.

2015-01-01

The main purpose of this paper is to present the importance of Interactive Learning Objects (ILO) to improve the teaching-learning process by assuring a constant interaction among teachers and students, which in turn, allows students to be constantly supported by the teacher. The paper describes the ontology that defines the ILO available on the…

Surgical treatment is effective in severe cases of exercise-induced laryngeal obstruction: A follow-up study.

PubMed

Norlander, Katarina; Johansson, Henrik; Jansson, Christer; Nordvall, Lennart; Nordang, Leif

2015-01-01

Surgery is an effective treatment in severe cases of supraglottic exercise-induced laryngeal obstruction (E-ILO). Conservatively treated subjects and subjects tested negative for E-ILO, who still experience breathing problems 1-3 years after diagnosis, tend to adjust their physical activity to a greater extent than surgically treated subjects. To investigate how symptoms and level of physical activity change over time in patients with E-ILO who have undergone surgery, patients with E-ILO treated conservatively and patients who tested negative for laryngeal obstruction at continuous laryngoscopy exercise-test (CLE-test). Patients referred for exercise-induced breathing difficulties answered questionnaires at diagnostic CLE-test and at follow-up. Questions regarded exercise-induced breathing problems, current physical activity level, and medical history of asthma and perennial allergy. Out of 84 invited subjects, 59 (70%) answered both questionnaires. Surgically treated subjects had less breathing problems at follow-up compared with conservatively treated subjects and subjects who tested negative (p < 0.001). None of the surgically treated subjects were less physically active or had changed sport due to exercise-induced dyspnoea, whereas 41.7% of the conservatively treated subjects had made such adjustments (p < 0.001).

Digest of Certain Conclusions Reached by the Joint ILO/Unesco Committee of Experts on the Application of the Recommendation Concerning the Status of Teachers.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

World Confederation of Organizations of the Teaching Profession, Morges (Switzerland).

This document, published by WCOTP in 1986 in observance of the 20th anniversary of the signing of the Recommendation concerning the Status of Teachers, was jointly prepared by the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (Unesco) and adopted by a special intergovernmental…

WWC Review of the Report "Interactive Learning Online at Public Universities: Evidence from a Six-Campus Randomized Trial." What Works Clearinghouse Single Study Review

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

What Works Clearinghouse, 2014

2014-01-01

The 2013 study, "Interactive Learning Online at Public Universities: Evidence From a Six-Campus Randomized Trial," examined the impact of interactive learning online (ILO) on the pass rates of 605 students enrolled in introductory statistics courses at six public universities. ILO is a form of online course instruction in which…

The protection of migrant workers and international labour standards.

PubMed

Bohning, W R

1988-06-01

International labor standards take the form of Conventions and Recommendations that embody the agreements reached by a 2/3 majority of the representatives of Governments, Employers, and Workers of International Labour Office (ILO) member states. Originally designed to guard against the danger that 1 country or other would keep down wages and working conditions to gain competitive advantage and thereby undermine advances elsewhere, international labor standards have also been inspired by humanitarian concerns--the visible plight of workers and the physical dangers of industrialization and by the notion of social justice, which embraces wellbeing and dignity, security, and equality as well as a measure of participation in economic and social matters. ILO standards apply to workers generally and therefore also to migrant workers, irrespective of the fact that the general standards are complemented by standards especially for migrant workers. The social security protection of migrant workers has been dealt with in ILO instruments primarily from the angle of equality of treatment but also from that of the maintenance of acquired rights and rights in course of acquisition, including the payment of benefits to entitled persons resident abroad. The ILO Conventions on migrant workers and the Recommendations which supplement them deal with practically all aspects of the work and life of non-nationals such as recruitment matters, information to be made available, contract conditions, medical examination and attention, customs, exemption for personal effects, assistance in settling into their new environment, vocational training, promotion at work, job security and alternative employment, liberty of movement, participation in the cultural life of the state as well as maintenance of their own culture, transfer of earnings and savings, family reunification and visits, appeal against unjustified termination of employment or expulsion, and return assistance. ILO's supervisory mechanism consists basically of a dialogue between the ILO and the Government that is responsible for a law, regulation, or practice alleged to be in contravention of principles it voluntarily accepted. The control machinery is often set in motion by workers' organizations. The UN General Assembly is currently elaborating a new instrument designed to cover both regular and irregular migrant workers and their families.

Inhaled iloprost plus oral sildenafil in patients with severe pulmonary arterial hypertension delays the need for lung transplantation.

PubMed

Lopez-Meseguer, M; Berastegui, C; Monforte, V; Bravo, C; Domingo, E; Roman, A

2013-01-01

Accepted treatment for severe pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) includes intravenous epoprostenol and lung transplantation (LT). Inhaled iloprost plus oral sildenafil (Ilo-Sil) is an alternative strategy that may also delay the need for LT. This was a long-term descriptive study in eight patients with PAH functional class (FC) IV with right heart failure, four of them potential candidates for LT, who were treated with Ilo-Sil as an alternative to epoprostenol. At the start of the study, patients (seven women; mean age, 43.8 [range, 34-66] years) were in FC IV and unable to perform the 6-minute walk test. Mean cardiac index was 1.9 (range, 1.4-2.1) L/min/m(2). Treatment with Ilo-Sil provoked a rapid and sustained improvement; mean walking distance at 3 months was 322 ± 90 m and no patient remained in FC IV. Survival at 1 and 5 years was 100% and 75%, respectively. Of the four potential LT candidates, one underwent transplantation after 6.8 years and one died after 1.2 years. These results suggest that therapy with Ilo-Sil represents an acceptable alternative in patients with severe and unstable PAH. Copyright © 2013. Published by Elsevier Inc.

AIDS in Africa. ILO launches campaign on HIV / AIDS in the world of work.

PubMed

1999-01-01

This article presents the proceedings of the regional workshop on HIV/AIDS and its social and labor impact in Africa conducted by the International Labor Organization (ILO) in Pretoria. According to the Pretoria report, HIV/AIDS had become a human tragedy in Africa. It affects the health and development of the region and threatens the social and economic growth of almost all sub-Saharan African countries. It is considered to be the single most important impediment to social progress to many countries in Africa. Thus, the primary goal of the ILO, which is promoting opportunities for women and men to obtain decent and productive work in conditions of freedom, equity, security and human dignity, is threatened by the HIV/AIDS pandemic. However, several activities have taken place in response to the need for the prevention and control of the disease. In addition, the report calls for efforts to create an enabling environment for people living with the disease involving governments, employers' and workers' organizations. It noted that the ILO could provide assistance in the adoption of laws and regulations to protect the rights of these people with regards to the access of health insurance, employment, education, as well as labor administration, productivity and the informal sector.

ILO European Symposium on Work for the Disabled. Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Creation (Warsaw, Poland, May 21-27, 1979; Stockholm, Sweden, May 27-June 1, 1979).

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cooper, N., Ed.

This document is a report on a 12-day symposium on work for the disabled--vocational rehabilitation and employment creation--which was held in Poland and Sweden in 1979. The symposium was organized jointly by the government of Poland and Sweden in close cooperation with the International Labour Office (ILO), Geneva. The report is divided into five…

New ILO standard on HIV rejects discrimination against HIV-positive workers.

PubMed

Brands, Ronald

2010-10-01

2010 saw a significant development in advocating for enhanced rights protection of HIV-positive workers: the adoption of an International Labour Organisation (ILO) recommendation on HIV/AIDS in the employment sphere. In this article, based on a presentation made at AIDS 2010, Ronald Brands outlines the key components of the document and how it seeks to protect employees and job-seekers from discrimination on the grounds of real or perceived HIV status.

The “dirty chest”—correlations between chest radiography, multislice CT and tobacco burden

PubMed Central

Kirchner, J; Goltz, J P; Lorenz, F; Obermann, A; Kirchner, E M; Kickuth, R

2012-01-01

Objectives Cigarette smoking-induced airway disease commonly results in an overall increase of non-specific lung markings on chest radiography. This has been described as “dirty chest”. As the morphological substrate of this condition is similar to the anthracosilicosis of coal workers, we hypothesised that it is possible to quantify the radiological changes using the International Labour Organization (ILO) classification of pneumoconiosis. The aims of this study were to evaluate whether there is a correlation between the extent of cigarette smoking and increased lung markings on chest radiography and to correlate the chest radiographic scores with findings on CT studies. Methods In a prospective analysis a cohort of 85 smokers was examined. The cigarette consumption was evaluated in pack years (defined as 20 cigarettes per day over 1 year). Film reading was performed by two board-certified radiologists. Chest radiographs were evaluated for the presence of thickening of bronchial walls, the presence of linear or nodular opacities, and emphysema. To correlate the smoking habits with the increase of overall lung markings in chest radiography, the ILO profusion score was converted to numbers ranging from zero to nine. Chest radiographs were rated according to the complete set of standard films of the revised ILO classification. Results 63/85 (74%) of the smokers showed an increase in overall lung markings on chest radiography; 32 (37%) had an ILO profusion score of <1/1, 29 (34%) had an ILO profusion score of <2/2 and 2 (2%) had an ILO score of ≥2/2. There was a significant positive linear correlation between the increase of overall lung markings on chest radiography and the cigarette consumption quantified as pack years (r=0.68). The majority of the heavy smokers (>40 pack years) showed emphysema; there was no significant difference between the prevalence of emphysema as diagnosed by CT (62%) or chest radiography (71%) (p<0.05).The most common findings in CT were thickening of bronchial walls (64%) and the presence of emphysema (62%) and of intralobular opacities (61%). Ground-glass opacities were seen in only 7% of our patients. Conclusion Bronchial wall thickening and intralobular opacities as seen in CT showed a positive linear correlation with the increase of overall lung markings on chest radiography. PMID:21937617

Neocolonialism and Health Care Access among Marshall Islanders in the United States.

PubMed

Duke, Michael R

2017-09-01

In the Marshall Islands, a history of extensive nuclear weapons testing and covert biomedical research, coupled with the U.S.'s ongoing military presence in the country, has severely compromised the health of the local population. Despite the U.S.'s culpability in producing ill health along with high rates of emigration from the islands to the mainland United States, the large portion of Marshallese who reside in the United States face substantial barriers to accessing health care. Drawing from ongoing field research with a Marshallese community in Arkansas, this article explores the multifaceted impediments that U.S.-based Marshall Islanders face in receiving medical treatment. Calling on an expansive and inclusive notion of neocolonialism, I argue that Marshallese structural vulnerability with regard to health and health care treatment derives from their status as neocolonial subjects and from their limited claims to health-related deservingness associated with this status. [Marshall Islanders, health care access, neocolonialism, radiation exposure, immigrant health] L̗ōmn̗ak ko rōttin̗o: Ilo M̗ajel̗, juon bwebwenato kōn kōmmālmel im nuclear baam̗ ko im ekkatak ko rōttin̗o̗ kōn wāwein an baijin ko jelōt armej, barāinwōt an to an ri tarinae ro an Amedka pād ilo aelōn̄ kein, em̗ōj an jelōt ājmour an armej ro ilo aelōn̄ kein. Men̄e alikkar bwe Amedka in ear jino nan̄inmej kein im ej un eo armej rein rej em̗m̗akūt jān āne kein āne er n̄an ioon Amedka, elōn̄ iaan ri M̗ajel̗ rein rej jelm̗ae elōn̄ apan̄ ko n̄an aer del̗o̗n̄e jikin ājmour ko. Jān ekkatak eo ej bōk jikin kiō, jerbal in ej etali kabōjrak rak kein rōlōn̄ im armej in M̗ajel̗ ro ioon Amedka in rej jelm̗ae ilo aer jibadōk lo̗k jikin taktō. Ilo an kar Amedka jibadōk juon jea eo eutiej imejān lal̗ in, ij kwal̗ok juon aō akweelel bwe apan̄ ko an armej in M̗ajel̗ ikijjeen ājmour im jikin taktō ej itok jān aer kar ri kōm̗akoko ilo an kar Amedka lelōn̄ l̗o̗k etan ilo mejān lal̗ im jān aer jab pukot jipan kein ej aer bwe kōn jōkjōk in. © 2017 by the American Anthropological Association.

Reliability and failure modes of narrow implant systems.

PubMed

Hirata, Ronaldo; Bonfante, Estevam A; Anchieta, Rodolfo B; Machado, Lucas S; Freitas, Gileade; Fardin, Vinicius P; Tovar, Nick; Coelho, Paulo G

2016-09-01

Narrow implants are indicated in areas of limited bone width or when grafting is nonviable. However, the reduction of implant diameter may compromise their performance. This study evaluated the reliability of several narrow implant systems under fatigue, after restored with single-unit crowns. Narrow implant systems were divided (n = 18 each), as follows: Astra (ASC); BioHorizons (BSC); Straumann Roxolid (SNC), Intra-Lock (IMC), and Intra-Lock one-piece abutment (ILO). Maxillary central incisor crowns were cemented and subjected to step-stress accelerated life testing in water. Use level probability Weibull curves and reliability for a mission of 100,000 cycles at 130- and 180-N loads (90 % two-sided confidence intervals) were calculated. Scanning electron microscopy was used for fractography. Reliability for 100,000 cycles at 130 N was ∼99 % in group ASC, ∼99 % in BSC, ∼96 % in SNC, ∼99 % in IMC, and ∼100 % in ILO. At 180 N, reliability of ∼34 % resulted for the ASC group, ∼91 % for BSC, ∼53 % for SNC, ∼70 % for IMC, and ∼99 % for ILO. Abutment screw fracture was the main failure mode for all groups. Reliability was not different between systems for 100,000 cycles at the 130-N load. A significant decrease was observed at the 180-N load for ASC, SNC, and IMC, whereas it was maintained for BSC and ILO. The investigated narrow implants presented mechanical performance under fatigue that suggests their safe use as single crowns in the anterior region.

The asbestos cancer epidemic.

PubMed Central

LaDou, Joseph

2004-01-01

The asbestos cancer epidemic may take as many as 10 million lives before asbestos is banned worldwide and exposures are brought to an end. In many developed countries, in the most affected age groups, mesothelioma may account for 1% of all deaths. In addition to mesotheliomas, 5-7% of all lung cancers can be attributed to occupational exposures to asbestos. The asbestos cancer epidemic would have been largely preventable if the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Labor Organization (ILO) had responded early and responsibly. The WHO was late in recognizing the epidemic and failed to act decisively after it was well under way. The WHO and the ILO continue to fail to address the problem of asbestos mining, manufacturing, and use and world trade of a known human carcinogen. Part of the problem is that the WHO and the ILO have allowed organizations such as the International Commission on Occupational Health (ICOH) and other asbestos industry advocates to manipulate them and to distort scientific evidence. The global asbestos cancer epidemic is a story of monumental failure to protect the public health. PMID:14998741

ILO - International Migration Programme.

PubMed

Boudraa, Miriam

2011-01-01

In a wide International Context characterised not only by the economical development but also by the social, cultural, political and individual development, we witness more and more to a exchange between the developed and the developing countries, which can be translated especially in the migration of the work force. In theory, all countries are either countries of origin either countries of transit or destination, and they are all responsible for the rights of migrant workers by promoting the rights, by monitoring and by preventing the abusive conditions. The process of migration of the workforce can be divided into three stages: the first coincides with the period prior to departure, the second is represented by the aftermath of the departure and the period of stay in the country of destination, the third stage corresponds to the return in the country of origin. The workers must be protected throughout this process by the international organizations that perform the catalytic role of communication and exchange between countries, for the only purpose of protecting the rights of immigrant and/or immigrants workers. The responsibility for the protection of workers is divided among the various players in the International Labour Organisation. Every country has to apply measures according to the international standards regarding workers' rights, standards that guide the various countries in the formulation and implementation of their policies and legislation. These standards are suggested by International Conventions, the ILO Conventions and other international instruments such as the human rights instrument. There has been a big step forward once the ILO Fundamental Conventions and Conventions on Migrant Workers where implemented and this implementation represented the use of the Guidelines "ILO Multilateral Framework on Labour Migration".

Microcredit in West Africa: how small loans make a big impact on poverty.

PubMed

Gbezo, B E

1999-01-01

This article examines the impact of microfinancing schemes in West Africa and the role of the International Labor Organization (ILO) in their development. Microfinancing or microcredit schemes are meant to create the kind of jobs that can keep households severely hit by the economic crisis afloat. They affect not only the financial, but also the agricultural, crafts, financing of social economy, and social protection sectors of the society. Thus, they contribute to improved access to basic social, health and family planning services and to drinking water. The challenge then, is for institutes to adopt microfinancing and to reach out to more than 100 million families in the region. To realize this, nongovernmental organizations are setting up as veritable microfinancing institutions, which are able to realize the resulting benefits so as to be economically viable. In the context of its role in the development of microfinancing schemes, ILO manages a portfolio of technical cooperation and research projects aimed at identifying and removing constraints in the access to credit, savings, insurance, and other financial services through its Social Finance Unit. In addition, ILO is promoting women's entrepreneurship through the International Small Enterprise Programme and the International Programme on More and Better Jobs for Women.

The Jurassic-early Cretaceous Ilo batholith of southern coastal Peru: geology, geochronology and geochemistry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Boekhout, Flora; Sempere, Thierry; Spikings, Richard; Schaltegger, Urs

2010-05-01

The Ilo batholith (17°00 - 18°30 S) crops out in an area of about 20 by 100 km, along the coast of southern Peru. This batholith is emplaced into the ‘Chocolate‘ Formation of late Permian to middle Jurassic age, which consists of more than 1000 m of basaltic and andesitic lavas, with interbedded volcanic agglomerates and breccias. The Ilo Batholith is considered to be a rarely exposed fragment of the Jurassic arc in Peru. Our aim is to reconstruct the magmatic evolution of this batholith, and place it within the context of long-lasting magma genesis along the active Andean margin since the Paleozoic. Sampling for dating and geochemical analyses was carried out along several cross sections through the batholith that were exposed by post-intrusion eastward tilting of 20-30°. Sparse previous work postulates early to middle Jurassic and partially early Cretaceous emplacement, on the basis of conventional K/Ar and 40Ar/39Ar dating methods in the Ilo area. Twenty new U-Pb zircon ages (LA-ICP-MS and CA-ID-TIMS) accompanied by geochemical data suggests the Ilo batholith formed via the amalgamation of middle Jurassic and early Cretaceous, subduction-related plutons. Preliminary Hf isotope studies reveal a primitive mantle source for middle Jurassic intrusions. Additional Sr, Nd and Hf isotope analyses are planned to further resolve the source regions of different pulses of plutonic activity. We strongly suggest that batholith emplacement was at least partly coeval with the emplacement of the late Permian to middle Jurassic Chocolate Formation, which was deposited in an extensional tectonic regime. Our age results and geochemical signature fit into the scheme of episodic emplacement of huge amounts of subduction related magmatism that is observed throughout the whole Andean event, particularly during the middle Jurassic onset of the first Andean cycle (southern Peru, northern Chile and southern Argentina). Although the exact geodynamic setting remains to be precisely defined, these events can be linked to extensional episodes during the breakup of Pangea, which commenced at 230-220 Ma along the western South American margin, with a period of rifting, and culminated in the Jurassic with arc and back-arc extension.

Health and safety management systems: liability or asset?

PubMed

Bennett, David

2002-01-01

Health and safety management systems have a background in theory and in various interests among employers and workplace health and safety professionals. These have resulted in a number of national systems emanating from national standard-writing centres and from employers' organizations. In some cases these systems have been recognized as national standards. The contenders for an international standard have been the International Organization of Standardization (ISO) and the International Labour Organization (ILO). The quality and environmental management systems of ISO indicate what an ISO health and safety management standard would look like. The ILO Guidelines on Safety and Health Management Systems, by contrast, are stringent, specific and potentially effective in improving health and safety performance in the workplace.

Mesozoic arc magmatism along the southern Peruvian margin during Gondwana breakup and dispersal

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Boekhout, Flora; Spikings, Richard; Sempere, Thierry; Chiaradia, Massimo; Ulianov, Alexey; Schaltegger, Urs

2012-08-01

A high-resolution U-Pb zircon geochronological study of plutonic units along the south Peruvian margin between 17° and 18°S allows the integration of the geochemical, geodynamic and tectonic evolution of this part of the Andean margin. This study focuses on the composite Jurassic-early Cretaceous Ilo Batholith that was emplaced along the southern Peruvian coast during two episodes of intrusive magmatism; a first period between 173 and 152 Ma (with a peak in magmatic activity between roughly 168 and 162 Ma) and a second period between 110 and 106 Ma. Emplacement of the Jurassic part of the composite Ilo Batholith shortly post-dated the accumulation of the volcanosedimentary succession it intruded (Chocolate formation), which allows to estimate a subsidence rate for this unit of ~ 3.5 km/Ma. The emplacement of the main peak of Jurassic plutonism of the Ilo Batholith was also closely coeval with widespread and repeated slumping (during deposition of the Cachíos Formation) in the back-arc region, suggesting a common causal link between these phenomena, which is discussed in the context of an observed 100 km trenchward arc migration at ~ 175 Ma, and the relation with extensional tectonics that prevailed along the Central Andean margin during Pangaea break-up.

Exposure of European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) to chemically dispersed oil has a chronic residual effect on hypoxia tolerance but not aerobic scope.

PubMed

Zhang, Yangfan; Mauduit, Florian; Farrell, Anthony P; Chabot, Denis; Ollivier, Hélène; Rio-Cabello, Adrien; Le Floch, Stéphane; Claireaux, Guy

2017-10-01

We tested the hypothesis that the chronic residual effects of an acute exposure of European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) to chemically dispersed crude oil is manifest in indices of hypoxic performance rather than aerobic performance. Sea bass were pre-screened with a hypoxia challenge test to establish their incipient lethal oxygen saturation (ILOS), but on discovering a wide breadth for individual ILOS values (2.6-11.0% O 2 saturation), fish were subsequently subdivided into either hypoxia sensitive (HS) or hypoxia tolerant (HT) phenotypes, traits that were shown to be experimentally repeatable. The HT phenotype had a lower ILOS and critical oxygen saturation (O 2crit ) compared with the HS phenotype and switched to glycolytic metabolism at a lower dissolved oxygen, even though both phenotypes accumulated lactate and glucose to the same plasma concentrations at ILOS. As initially hypothesized, and regardless of the phenotype considered, we found no residual effect of oil on any of the indices of aerobic performance. Contrary to our hypothesis, however, oil exposure had no residual effect on any of the indices of hypoxic performance in the HS phenotype. In the HT phenotype, on the other hand, oil exposure had residual effects as illustrated by the impaired repeatability of hypoxia tolerance and also by the 24% increase in O 2crit , the 40% increase in scope for oxygen deficit, the 17% increase in factorial scope for oxygen deficit and the 57% increase in accumulated oxygen deficit. Thus, sea bass with a HT phenotype remained chronically impaired for a minimum of 167days following an acute 24-h oil exposure while the HS phenotypes did not. We reasoned that impaired oxygen extraction at gill due to oil exposure activates glycolytic metabolism at a higher dissolved oxygen, conferring on the HT phenotype an inferior hypoxia resistance that might eventually compromise their ability to survive hypoxic episodes. Crown Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Competing conceptualizations of decent work at the intersection of health, social and economic discourses.

PubMed

Di Ruggiero, Erica; Cohen, Joanna E; Cole, Donald C; Forman, Lisa

2015-05-01

According to the International Labour Organization (ILO), decent work is critical to economic and social progress and well-being. The ILO's Decent Work Agenda outlines four directions (creating jobs, guaranteeing rights at work, extending social protection, promoting social dialogue) (ILO, 2015). While the Agenda's existence may imply consensus about its meaning, we contend that several conceptualizations of decent work exist in the global policy arena. Different institutional perspectives must be negotiated, and political, economic, social and health considerations balanced in its pursuit. This paper reports findings from a critical discourse analysis of 10 policy texts that aimed to reveal different health, economic, and social claims about decent work and how these are shaped by the work policy agendas of the ILO, World Health Organization, and World Bank. Themes emerging from the discourse analysis include the: challenges and realities of promoting "one" agenda; complex intersection between decent work, health and health equity concepts; emphasis on economic and pro-market interests versus the social dimensions of work; and, relative emphasis on individual versus collective responsibility for decent work. To our knowledge, this is a first attempt to contrast different conceptualizations of decent work involving these institutions. Our findings suggest that decent work is a contested notion, and that more than one "agenda" is operating in the face of vested institutional interests. Broader discourses are contributing to a reframing of decent work in economic, social and/or health terms and these are impacting which dimensions of work are taken up in policy texts over others. Results show how the language of economics acts as a disciplinary and regulatory power and its role as a normalizing discourse. We call for research that deepens understanding of how a social, economic and health phenomenon like work is discursively re-interpreted through different global institutional interests. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

The International Commission on Occupational Health (ICOH) and its influence on international organizations.

PubMed

Ashford, Nicholas A; Castleman, Barry; Frank, Arthur L; Giannasi, Fernanda; Goldman, Lynn R; Greenberg, Morris; Huff, James; Joshi, Kant Tushar; LaDou, Joseph; Lemen, Richard A; Maltoni, Cesare; O'Neil, Rory; Richter, Elihu; Silbergeld, Ellen K; Teitelbaum, Daniel T; Thebaud-Mony, Annie; Tomatis, Lorenzo; Watterson, Andrew

2002-01-01

The ICOH has played a key role in the development of some scientific documents and policy recommendations, but it has not always been scientifically objective, particularly in regard to asbestos and other fibers and some chemicals and pesticides. Many ICOH members are employees of corporations or consultants to industry, serving multinational corporate interests to influence public health policy in the guise of a professional scientific organization. ICOH members' conflicts of interest with the public health dominate the organization and damage the standing of the ICOH. Official recognition of the ICOH compromises the credibility of the WHO and the ILO. It is inappropriate for the ICOH to continue to receive WHO and ILO recognition unless the ICOH is recognized as an industry organization.

Equal Remuneration Convention (ILO No. 100).

PubMed

1989-01-01

The government of Uruguay ratified this UN International Labor Organization convention on equal remuneration on November 16, 1989, and the Government of Zimbabwe ratified this Convention on December 14, 1989.

Discussing the Notion of Decent Work: Senses of Working for a Group of Brazilian Workers without College Education

PubMed Central

Ribeiro, Marcelo A.; Silva, Fabiano F.; Figueiredo, Paula M.

2016-01-01

Despite recent stability and socioeconomic development, Brazil’s history is marked by social inequality, informality, precarious work, and psychosocial vulnerability, with little opportunity for decent and meaningful work, as recommended by the International Labour Office (ILO), for people in the country. Nevertheless, based on a social constructionist view, the hypothesis can be raised that there is no substantive definition of decent work, but rather a psychosocial one, constructed based on the discourse, narratives, and practices produced through the relational processes which grant sense and meaning to work. Therefore, the examination of narratives and discourses is an important methodological strategy to understand the socio-occupational reality of Brazil. Thus, this study aims to understand the senses attributed to working through content analysis of the narratives produced by a set of 20 urban workers and contrast them with the ILO definition of decent work, in an effort to analyze the relationships, similarities, and differences between an established collective social discourse and the interviewees’ singular narratives. The main results point out that the participants look for working with fair wages, social protection, safety, and personal development opportunities, as the ILO recommends. The main difference is that these characteristics do not derive from the State’s actions, as in the employment and formal qualification model, but come from informal sources, such as family and community relationship networks. The informal relationship networks produce job opportunities as well as social protection; qualification takes place through practical learning from more experienced colleagues; the opportunity to be able to keep working (employed or working informally) leads to success and safety; and the possibility to make choices and have control over one’s life translates into personal and occupational development. In conclusion, the participants searched for working according to the principles recommended by the ILO. Nevertheless, in contexts of vulnerability and with restricted support from the State, these principles are constructed in the community and not offered by the public power, which generates distinguished forms of decent work. PMID:26941678

Discussing the Notion of Decent Work: Senses of Working for a Group of Brazilian Workers without College Education.

PubMed

Ribeiro, Marcelo A; Silva, Fabiano F; Figueiredo, Paula M

2016-01-01

Despite recent stability and socioeconomic development, Brazil's history is marked by social inequality, informality, precarious work, and psychosocial vulnerability, with little opportunity for decent and meaningful work, as recommended by the International Labour Office (ILO), for people in the country. Nevertheless, based on a social constructionist view, the hypothesis can be raised that there is no substantive definition of decent work, but rather a psychosocial one, constructed based on the discourse, narratives, and practices produced through the relational processes which grant sense and meaning to work. Therefore, the examination of narratives and discourses is an important methodological strategy to understand the socio-occupational reality of Brazil. Thus, this study aims to understand the senses attributed to working through content analysis of the narratives produced by a set of 20 urban workers and contrast them with the ILO definition of decent work, in an effort to analyze the relationships, similarities, and differences between an established collective social discourse and the interviewees' singular narratives. The main results point out that the participants look for working with fair wages, social protection, safety, and personal development opportunities, as the ILO recommends. The main difference is that these characteristics do not derive from the State's actions, as in the employment and formal qualification model, but come from informal sources, such as family and community relationship networks. The informal relationship networks produce job opportunities as well as social protection; qualification takes place through practical learning from more experienced colleagues; the opportunity to be able to keep working (employed or working informally) leads to success and safety; and the possibility to make choices and have control over one's life translates into personal and occupational development. In conclusion, the participants searched for working according to the principles recommended by the ILO. Nevertheless, in contexts of vulnerability and with restricted support from the State, these principles are constructed in the community and not offered by the public power, which generates distinguished forms of decent work.

Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention (ILO No. 111).

PubMed

1989-01-01

The government of Uruguay ratified this UN International Labor Organization Convention on employment and occupation discrimination on November 16, 1989, and the government of Democratic Yemen ratified it on January 3, 1989.

ILO Industrial Committees: Focus on Education and Training (1989-91).

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Yoshida, Shoya

1991-01-01

Summarizes the discussions, conclusions, and resolutions of the Industrial Committee of the International Labour Organization, which stress the importance of education and training in dealing with specific problems of industries. (JOW)

Impact of human development on safety consciousness in construction.

PubMed

Baradan, Selim; Dikmen, Seyyit Umit; Akboga Kale, Ozge

2018-05-03

The International Labour Organization (ILO) reports that the risk of fatal occupational injuries in developing countries is almost twice as high as in developed countries, indicating a potential relationship between the fatality rates and the development level. The human development index (HDI), based on life expectancy, knowledge level and purchasing power parity, endorsed by the United Nations Development Programme, is a widely accepted measure of the development level. This study investigates the relationship between the HDI and the fatality rates reported by the ILO. A 23-country data set is used to demonstrate the general trend of the relationship followed by country-specific analyses for Australia, Spain, Hungary and Turkey. The study conducted is limited to fatal occupational injuries in construction, where the accidents are notoriously high. The results demonstrate a statistically significant inverse relationship between the fatality rates and the HDI.

Radiographic progression of silicosis among Japanese tunnel workers in Kochi.

PubMed

Dumavibhat, Narongpon; Matsui, Tomomi; Hoshino, Eri; Rattanasiri, Sasivimol; Muntham, Dittapol; Hirota, Ryoji; Eitoku, Masamitsu; Imanaka, Momo; Muzembo, Basilua Andre; Ngatu, Nlandu Roger; Kondo, Shinichi; Hamada, Norihiko; Suganuma, Narufumi

2013-01-01

The aim of our study was to investigate the natural course of silicosis in terms of radiographic progression among Japanese tunnel workers. Tunnel workers with silicosis were included in our study between January 2008 and June 2011. We retrospectively assessed workers' radiographs from their first through last visits to see whether there was progression. All films were interpreted by two physicians, who had been specially trained in using the ILO (2000) International Classification of Radiographs of Pneumoconioses (ILO/ICRP). We classified the radiographic findings according to the ILO/ICRP. Survival analysis was performed and then presented as time to progression. Subgroup analysis among the progressed group was performed to demonstrate duration of progression. A total of 65 patients, who were no longer exposed to silica for the duration of the study, were included. The mean age at the first visit was 58.60 ± 7.10 years. The incidence rate of progression was 42 per 1,000 person-years with a median time to progression of 17 years. Progression was demonstrated among 33 cases (51%). The mean durations of progression from category 1 to category 4 and category 2 to category 4 were 14.55 and 10.65 years, respectively. Most patients (86%) had radiographic change from category 1 or 2 directly to category 4. Silicosis progressed at a relatively high rate among tunnel workers without further silica exposure. The high probability of progression directly from category 1 to category 4 may lead to further investigation for the improvement of disease prevention.

The ILO towards the Twenty-First Century.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Labour Education, 1993

1993-01-01

This position statement outlines the major challenges facing labor education (human rights, employment, structural transition, poverty, marginalization, globalization) and areas for International Labour Organisation action (standards, technical cooperation, sectoral activities, research, publications, and communications). (SK)

INTRODUCTION AND STUDY DESIGN

EPA Science Inventory

Under the sponsorship of the UNEP/ILO/IPCS, 17 laboratories from diverse regions of the world participated in evaluating the utility of four plant bioassays for detecting genetic hazards of environmental chemicals. he bioassays included in this collaborative study were Arabidopsi...

Truncating a disease. The reduction of silica hazards to silicosis at the 1930 international labor office conference on silicosis in Johannesburg.

PubMed

Rosental, P A

2015-11-01

The current nosology and etiology of silicosis were officially adopted by the 1930 International Labor Office (ILO) Conference on silicosis in Johannesburg. Convened by the International Labor Office and by the Transvaal Chamber of Mines, it paved the way to the adoption of a 1934 ILO convention which recognized silicosis as an occupational disease. Even though it constituted a social and sanitary turning point, the Johannesburg conference, strongly influenced by South African physicians working for the gold mining industry, reduced silica hazards to silicosis, an equation which is questioned nowadays. While the definition of silicosis adopted in 1930 was a major step in the recognition of occupational pneumoconioses, it also led to the under-identification of some pathogenic effects of silica. Going back to history opens new avenues for contemporary medical research. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Child labour. Refuting the "nimble fingers" argument.

PubMed

1996-01-01

According to an International Labor Organization (ILO) study, approximately 130,000 children work in India's hand-knotted carpet industry. In one-loom enterprises, children comprise 14% of all weavers; in businesses with five or more looms, this rate increases to 33%. India's Factories Act, which applies costly health, safety, and labor regulations to larger firms, has led to a proliferation of cottage industries. The finding that children are more likely to work on low-quality rather than highest-quality carpets refutes the "nimble fingers" argument used by apologists of child labor. Although child and adult weavers have similar productivity, children earn less while apprentices than trained weavers and serve to depress wages throughout the industry. According to ILO estimates, replacing the 22% of the work force currently occupied by children with adults would cause wages to rise by about 5%. The overall savings in production costs from the use of child labor are very small when compared to the foreign retail price of the carpets, which is often four times the Indian export price. The ILO has urged an international approach to the elimination of child labor, in which all carpet-producing countries simultaneously implement a no-child-labor strategy to avoid placing any one country at a competitive disadvantage. Given the thousands of cottages where one or two carpets are woven per year, strategies such as labelling and regulation are likely to be ineffective. Solutions that address the general problems of poverty, while developing alternative sources of education and employment, are most likely to be effective in reducing child labor in countries such as India.

The effect of water on the microstructure of 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate/TX-100/benzene ionic liquid microemulsions.

PubMed

Gao, Yan'an; Li, Na; Zheng, Liqiang; Zhao, Xueyan; Zhang, Jin; Cao, Quan; Zhao, Mingwei; Li, Zhen; Zhang, Gaoyong

2007-01-01

The ionic liquid (IL) 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate ([bmim][BF4]) forms nonaqueous microemulsions with benzene with the aid of nonionic surfactant TX-100. The phase diagram of the ternary system was prepared, and the microstructures of the microemulsion were recognized. On the basis of the phase diagram, a series of ionic liquid-in-oil (IL/O) microemulsions were chosen and characterized by dynamic light scattering (DLS), which shows a similar swelling behavior to typical water-in-oil (W/O) microemulsions. The existence of IL pools in the IL/O microemulsion was confirmed by UV/Vis spectroscopic analysis with CoCl2 and methylene blue (MB) as the absorption probes. A constant polarity of the IL pool is observed, even if small amounts of water are added to the microemulsion, thus suggesting that the water molecules are solubilized in the polar outer shell of the microemulsion, as confirmed by FTIR spectra. 1H NMR spectroscopic analysis shows that these water molecules interact with the electronegative oxygen atoms of the oxyethylene (OE) units of TX-100 through hydrogen-bonding interactions, and the electronegative oxygen atoms of the water molecules attract the electropositive imidazolium rings of [bmim][BF4]. Hence, the water molecules are like a glue that stick the IL and OE units more tightly together and thus make the microemulsion system more stable. Considering the unique solubilization behavior of added water molecules, the IL/O microemulsion system may be used as a medium to prepare porous or hollow nanomaterials by hydrolysis reactions.

UK Naval Dockyards Asbestosis Study: radiological methods in the surveillance of workers exposed to asbestos

PubMed Central

Sheers, G.; Rossiter, C. E.; Gilson, J. C.; Mackenzie, F. A. F.

1978-01-01

ABSTRACT In a survey of the effects of exposure to asbestos in the UK Naval Dockyards, small- and large-film chest radiographs of 674 men have been examined. These films have been read under survey conditions by two readers using a simple screening classification, and also in a controlled trial by five readers using the full ILO U/C classification. Comparison between the reading methods showed a deficiency, independent of the size of film, of at least 30% in the detection of asbestos-related radiographic abnormalities when the screening classification was used. For adequate diagnostic sensitivity the ILO U/C classification appears to be essential. There was a deficiency of 43% in significant abnormalities observed by a majority of readers in the small films when directly compared with large film readings. This deficiency could be reduced to 7% by using readings of the small films at any level of abnormality by any of the five readers. When the ILO U/C readings were related to the clinical diagnoses, the only abnormality missed was a small pleural plaque. Films with previously agreed coding were inserted at intervals during the reading trial and helped to maintain the consistency of reading. Right oblique views were taken for 1884 men, in addition to the full-sized postero-anterior view, but the contribution provided by this view proved insufficient to justify its use in large surveys. The cost of a survey when small films are used as a screening method is reduced to between one-third and one-half of the cost when large films are used, assuming that the abnormality rate is not more than 5%. However, this cost advantage for small films is likely to be overtaken by the development of automatic large-film units. The radiation dose when small films are used is increased by a factor of about 20, but is within the prescribed safety level. It is concluded that at least three readers should be involved, using the full ILO U/C classification. Small films may be of particular use in a large-scale survey, in which the abnormality rate is expected to be low, and which might otherwise be too expensive. A sensitive reading method and a high standard of film quality are essential factors in the use of this technique. PMID:698132

Workers with Family Responsibilities Convention (ILO No. 156).

PubMed

1989-01-01

The government of France ratified this UN Convention on Workers with Family Responsibilities on March 16, 1989; the government of Uruguay ratified it on November 16, 1989; and the government of the Yemen Arab Republic ratified it on March 13, 1989.

ILO Meeting Supported Older Workers, Improved Standards Supervision.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Accolla, Peter

1980-01-01

Reviews the resolutions and recommendations issuing from the 1980 conference of the International Labour Organisation. New standards were proposed in the areas of age and employment discrimination, workplace safety and health, collective bargaining, and safeguards for workers with family responsibilities. (SK)

Naval Submarine Medical Research Laboratory Command History, OPNAV 5750-1 Fiscal Year 2005

DTIC Science & Technology

2006-09-26

over peak calibration. TEOAE Reliability: Various Stimuli Measured on the Mimosa Acoustics System, With Comparisons to the Old Otodynamics ILO...Modifications Specified Modifications to the Mimosa Acoustics were specified. These included (a) completing the porting of the SFOAE and TEOAE

Compensation for occupational diseases by chemical agents in Korea.

PubMed

Kwon, Soon-Chan; Roh, Soo-Yong; Lee, Ji-Hoon; Kim, Eun-A

2014-06-01

Investigation into the frequency of compensation for occupational diseases (ODs) caused by hazardous chemicals revealed an important opportunity for the improvement and further development of occupational health and safety systems in Korea. In response to concerns after outbreaks of disease due to chemical exposure, specific criteria for recognition of ODs were established and included in the Enforcement Decree of the Labor Standard Act (LSA) and the Industrial Accident Compensation Insurance Act (IACIA) on June 28, 2013. However, the original versions of the LSA and IACIA contain several limitations. First, the criteria was listed inconsistently according to the symptoms or signs of acute poisoning. Second, all newly recognized hazardous chemicals and chemicals recognized as hazardous by the International Labor Organization (ILO) were not included in the LSA and IACIA. Although recent amendments have addressed these shortcomings, future amendments should strive to include all chemicals listed by the ILO and continuously add newly discovered hazardous chemicals as they are introduced into the workplace.

Accelerating the pace of progress.

PubMed

Chinery-hesse, M

1995-01-01

During the past 20 years, the proportion of women in paid employment has increased significantly. Yet women still do not have equal opportunity or receive equal treatment in the workplace. Under these conditions, society loses because it does not completely utilize all its human resources toward sustainable development. All levels of preparation for the Fourth World Conference on Women, scheduled for September 1995 in Beijing, have allowed participants to review the current social status of women. Globalization of the economy, technological transformation, and restructuring of the labor market pose difficult problems and emerging challenges for women: feminization of poverty, increasing instability of women's work, continued inequality in the sharing of family responsibilities, and inadequacy of social infrastructure to allow women both to work and to attend to their family's needs. Working women's rights continue to be neglected. The International Labor Organization's (ILO) 75 years of experience suggest that a comprehensive integrated approach and participation of all relevant actors are needed to address gender inequality in the workplace. ILO has proposed such a strategy.

Activities carried out by the American College of Radiology in cooperation with the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. Final report

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Not Available

1984-09-28

Activities carried out by the American College of Radiology are described. Guidelines on radiographic techniques for radiological technicians were developed. Annual training sessions for technologists and physicians were conducted by the American College of Radiology Task Force on Pneumoconiosis. Regulations for performing chest x rays were reviewed. Program activities such as the 12-point International Labor Organization (ILO) classification scale for diagnosis of coal workers' pneumoconiosis, and the reporting form for use of the 1980 ILO classification system were reviewed. The American College of Radiology maintained liaison between NIOSH and other medical specialty societies such as the American College of Chestmore » Physicians, the College of American Pathologists, the American Medical Association, and the American Osteopathic College of Radiology. The American College of Radiology assisted NIOSH with the initiation, development, and maintenance of a quality control method to monitor and advise physicians on the reading of radiographs.« less

42 CFR 37.2 - Definitions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

.... Any term defined in the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977 and not defined below shall have..., Public Health Service, Department of Health and Human Services. (f) ILO-U/C Classification means the classification of radiographs of the pneumoconioses devised in 1971 by an international committee of the...

42 CFR 37.52 - Method of obtaining definitive interpretations.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... Roentgenographic Examinations Specifications for Interpretation, Classification, and Submission of Chest... described in § 37.51. If there is agreement between the two interpreters as defined in paragraph (b) of this... (with one exception noted below) are within one minor category (ILO Classification 12-point scale) of...

Investigations of Pulsed Vacuum Gap.

DTIC Science & Technology

1981-02-10

current aensities, and that new ootential exolosion sites :an be lormed ’n nanoseconds ; 𔃼 - ielting occurs at the explo’sicn site tut no :raters are...1969). 3 ilOŔ High Velocity impact Phenomena, edited by R. Kinslow ( Academic , New York, 1970). m[01 !). Smith, and N. Adams, "Studies of Plasma

World Employment, 1995. An ILO Report.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

International Labour Office, Geneva (Switzerland).

The impact of globalization of the world economy on employment throughout the world was examined by determining the causes and effects of the reduction in economic growth that has occurred in most developed and developing countries since 1973. The following were among the factors considered: international inequality; new technologies; effects of…

Move towards New ILO Standards on Child Labour.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

World of Work, 1998

1998-01-01

Discusses major issues to be addressed during the debate on the proposed new international labor standards on child labor. The subject of the standards is extreme forms of child labor: work that is likely to jeopardize the health, safety, and morals of children; slavery; and child prostitution and pornography. (JOW)

Translations on Eastern Europe Political, Sociological, and Military Affairs No. 1569

DTIC Science & Technology

1978-07-26

employment. Ap- parently 20 million unemployed in developed capitalist states are not for the ILO a cause for concern and for voicing objections...rowdyism, climbing alcohol consumption and growing psychic instability among youth cannot be attributed only to Western in- fluence but also to continual

Glossary of Conference Terms: English, French, Arabic.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization, Paris (France).

The results of an idea jointly conceived by the International Labour Office (ILO), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), this work consists of three extensive glossaries of commonly used conference terms, classified under key words and…

20 CFR 718.304 - Irrebuttable presumption of total disability or death due to pneumoconiosis.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-04-01

... International Classification of Radiographs of the Pneumoconioses, 1971, or subsequent revisions thereto; or (2) The International Classification of the Radiographs of the Pneumoconioses of the International Labour Office, Extended Classification (1968) (which may be referred to as the “ILO Classification (1968)”); or...

20 CFR 410.418 - Irrebuttable presumption of total disability due to pneumoconiosis.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-04-01

... Classification of Radiographs of Pneumoconioses, 1971, or (2) The International Classification of the Radiographs of the Pneumoconioses of the International Labour Office, Extended Classification (1968) (which may be referred to as the “ILO Classification (1968)”), or (3) The Classification of the Pneumoconiosis...

Towards the Goal of Full Employment: Trends, Obstacles and Policies.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Richards, Peter

Expanding upon a report presented to the International Labor Organization (ILO), this book documents the current world employment situation, including how it has fallen short, how current economic policies interact with world employment, and how improvements can be made. Chapter one, "The Commitment to Full Employment," describes how the…

Engaging Employers in Apprenticeship Opportunities: Making It Happen Locally

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

OECD Publishing, 2017

2017-01-01

This joint OECD-ILO publication provides guidance on how local and regional governments can foster business-education partnerships in apprenticeship programmes and other types of work-based learning, drawing on case studies across nine countries. There has been increasing interest in apprenticeships which combine on the job training with…

42 CFR 37.51 - Interpreting and classifying chest radiographs-digital radiography systems.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-10-01

... chest radiographic images provided for use with the Guidelines for the Use of the ILO International... standard digital images may be used for classifying digital chest images for pneumoconiosis. Modification of the appearance of the standard images using software tools is not permitted. (d) Viewing systems...

42 CFR 37.51 - Interpreting and classifying chest radiographs-digital radiography systems.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-10-01

... standard digital chest radiographic images provided for use with the Guidelines for the Use of the ILO... NIOSH-approved standard digital images may be used for classifying digital chest images for pneumoconiosis. Modification of the appearance of the standard images using software tools is not permitted. (d...

Influence of The Metamorphism Grade and Porosity of Hard Coal on Sorption and Desorption of Propane / Wpływ Stopnia Metamorfizmu I Porowatości Węgli Kamiennych Na Sorpcję I Desorpcję Propanu

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dudzińska, Agnieszka; Żyła, Mieczysław; Cygankiewicz, Janusz

2013-09-01

In this paper results of investigations of sorption of hard coal samples collected from the extracted coal seams of Polish coal mines are presented. As sorbate propane was used. Examinations were carried out in the temperature of 298 K by means of volumetric assessment with the use of apparatus ASAP 2010 of Micromeritics. On the basis of conducted examinations it has been found out that the amount of sorbed propane depend on a type of coal, its metamorphism grade, content of oxygen element, moisture and porosity of these coals. The greatest amounts of propane are sorbed by low carbonized, high-porosity coals of high content of oxygen and moisture. Sorption of relatively high amounts of propane by these coals (ca. 10 cm3/g) is a result of the influence of polar surface of coals with molecules of propane and good availability of internal microporous structure of these coals for molecules of examined sorbate. Medium and high carbonized coals sorb insignificant amounts of propane. These coals have compact structure and non-polar character of their surface, their internal porous structure is to a minor degree available for propane molecules in conditions of carried out research. Sorption of propane in this case, takes place mainly in surface pores and on the surface of coals. Moreover, measurements of desorption isotherms of propane showing irreversible character of sorption were made. Desorption isotherms do not come together with sorption isotherms forming open hysteresis loop. Amounts of non-desorbing propane remaining in the coal depend on the type of examined coal. W pracy przedstawiono wyniki badań sorpcji próbek węgli kamiennych pobranych z eksploatowanych pokładów węglowych polskich kopalń. Jako sorbat zastosowano propan. Badania przeprowadzono w temperaturze 298 K metodą objętościową z wykorzystaniem aparatu ASAP 2010 firmy Micromeritics. Na podstawie przeprowadzonych badań stwierdzono, że ilości sorbowanego propanu są zależne od rodzaju węgla, jego stopnia metamorfizmu, zawartości pierwiastka tlenu, wilgoci i porowatości tych węgli. Największe ilości propanu sorbują węgle niskouwęglone, wysokoporowate o dużej zawartości tlenu i wilgoci. Sorpcja stosunkowo dużych ilości propanu tych węgli (ok. 10 cm3/g) jest wynikiem oddziaływania polarnej powierzchni węgli z cząsteczkami propanu oraz dobrej dostępności wewnętrznej mikroporowatej struktury tych węgli dla cząsteczek badanego sorbatu. Węgle średnio i wysokouwęglone sorbują niewielkie ilości propanu. Węgle te mają zwartą budowę oraz niepolarny charakter powierzchni, ich wewnętrzna struktura porowata jest w niewielkim stopniu dostępna dla cząsteczek propanu w warunkach przeprowadzanych badań. Sorpcja propanu w tym przypadku zachodzi głównie w powierzchniowych porach i na powierzchni węgli. Przeprowadzono również pomiary izoterm desorpcji propanu wykazując nieodwracalny charakter sorpcji. Izotermy desorpcji nie zbiegają się z izotermami sorpcji tworząc otwartą pętlę histerezy. Pozostające w węglu ilości nie desorbującego się propanu są zależne od rodzaju badanego węgla.

Development and the Underutilisation of Labour: Lessons of the Dominican Republic Employment Mission

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Pazos, Felipe

1975-01-01

In recent years the economy of the Dominican Republic has experienced rapid growth without reducing urban unemployment. The research project measured the relationship between growth and employment, examining the behavior of factors affecting labor demand and supply. Available from: ILO Publications, International Labour Office, CH-1211, Geneva,…

Skills for Work in the Future: A Youth Perspective

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lyngdoh, Bremley W. B.

2005-01-01

According to a 2004 International Labour Organization (ILO) report, young people represent 130 million of the world's 550 million working poor who are unable to lift themselves and their families above the equivalent of the $1 per day poverty line. These young people struggle to survive, often performing work under unsatisfactory conditions in the…

Site of Action of Antidiuretic Hormone on Mammalian Nephrons.

DTIC Science & Technology

1981-01-01

techniques. Na and K concen- trations were determined by flamirne photometry and Cl by coulombmetric titration. 3ILO 14C- inulin and "Na were...of Cr in sequential Slop-flow samples. The appearance of 14C- inulin deriv ed from the posl-stop-Ilow IV infusion signalled the appearance of fresh

[The modern international public health and globalization challenges].

PubMed

2012-01-01

The article deals with the issues of impact of globalization on population health and public health. The positive and negative aspects of this process are analyzed. The role of international organizations (UN, WHO, UNESCO, ILO, UNISEF) is demonstrated in the area of management of globalization impact on public health of different countries, Russia included.

My Classroom: Peru

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Paglia, Deanna

2015-01-01

Angela Huanca Barrantes, a highly respected teacher of English as a foreign language (EFL) in the city of Ilo, has a strong impact on the lives of students at the Admirante Miguel Grau secondary school and at Centro Cultural Peruano Norteamericano, which is one of four binational centers in southern Peru. Due to Ms. Huanca's lack of understanding…

TVET Initiatives in Southeast Asian Countries in Response to Increasing Labour Mobility within the Region and beyond

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Paryono

2011-01-01

The International Labour Organisation (ILO) report (2007) highlights that labour productivity, education and migration play important roles in shaping competitiveness, growth and development in Southeast Asia. The statistics also reveal interesting aspects of labour mobility. Thirteen and a half million migrants originate from countries in the…

A World-Wide Overview of Migratory Movements. The Education of Migrant Workers -- Where Do We Stand?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Blanchard, Francis

1974-01-01

A survey of world migration patterns prefaces a declaration of educational problems and ways of solving them as viewed by the International Labour Organization (ILO). The problems are conceptualized on the socio-cultural and occupational levels and involve both the worker and his family. (JH)

Specialists on the Problems of Training Migrant Workers Meet in Geneva

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Labour Education, 1974

1974-01-01

Participants of a symposium attempted to identify the aims of workers' education for migrant workers, analyze the training activities undertaken by trade union and workers' education bodies for migrant and migration problems, and consider the role of the ILO (International Labour Organisation) in promoting workers' education centered on migration.…

Deflection or Azimuth: Which Direction Should the United States Field Artillery Follow?

DTIC Science & Technology

1992-06-05

FUNDING NUMBERS reflection or Azimuth; Which Direction Should The United States Field Artillery FolIlo W? 6. AUTHOR(S) VIAJ James M. McDonald, USA 7...system that displays distinct advantages in the safety arena is certainly worthy of evaluation and consideration as a possible system to use

42 CFR 37.51 - Proficiency in the use of systems for classifying the pneumoconioses.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-10-01

... images provided for use with the Guidelines for the Use of the ILO International Classification of... images may be used for classifying digital chest images for pneumoconiosis. Modification of the appearance of the standard images using software tools is not permitted. (d) Viewing systems should enable...

The Impact and Implementation of National Qualifications Frameworks: A Comparison of 16 Countries

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Allais, Stephanie M.

2011-01-01

This article provides some of the key findings of a comparative study commissioned by the International Labour Organization (ILO), which attempted to understand more about the impact and implementation of national qualifications frameworks (NQFs). Sixteen case studies were produced, on qualifications frameworks in Australia; Bangladesh; Botswana;…

Ergonomics support for local initiative in improving safety and health at work: International Labour Organization experiences in industrially developing countries.

PubMed

Kawakami, T; Kogi, K

2005-04-15

Ergonomics has played essential roles in the technical cooperation activities of the International Labour Organization (ILO) in occupational safety and health in industrially developing countries. Ergonomics support focusing on practical day-to-day needs at the grass-root workplace has strengthened the local initiative in improving safety and health. Practical action-tools such as ergonomics checklists, local good example photos and group discussions have assisted workers and employers in identifying feasible solutions using locally available resources. Direct participation of workers and employers has been promoted in ergonomics training aimed at immediate solutions. ILO Guidelines on Occupational Safety and Health Management Systems have played increasingly important roles in the systematic planning of local improvement actions. Policy-level programmes to develop network support mechanisms to the grass-root workplace were essential for following up and sustaining local achievements. Practical ergonomics support tools, such as action checklists and low-cost improvement guides, should be developed and widely applied so as to reach grass-root levels and help local people create safer and healthier workplaces.

Protecting indigenous rights. Guatemala.

PubMed

1996-01-01

Guatemala's recent ratification of the International Labor Organization (ILO) Convention regarding indigenous and tribal peoples (1989, No. 169) represents a commitment to guarantee the rights of the country's majority Mayan population. Ratifying governments are obligated to respect the traditional values and land rights of tribal and indigenous peoples and to consult with them on any decisions affecting their economic or social development. Ratification of this Convention was a key element in an eight-part UN-sponsored negotiation aimed at ending the civil war in Guatemala. Efforts are underway to promote dialogue between organized civil society and government. Negotiations in May 1996, conducted with ILO assistance, resulted in a socioeconomic agreement under which Guatemala will increase social investment in education, undertake agrarian reform, and institute tripartite consultation on all major social and economic issues. However, two key issues in the peace negotiations--the role of the army in civil society and constitutional reform--remain unresolved. The final global peace accord is expected to be signed in September 1996. UN organizations are already working to mobilize international support for transforming these agreements into political and social realities for the Guatemalan people.

Diffusing capacity and forced vital capacity in 5,003 asbestos-exposed workers: relationships to interstitial fibrosis (ILO profusion score) and pleural thickening.

PubMed

Miller, Albert; Warshaw, Raphael; Nezamis, James

2013-12-01

Asbestosis is an interstitial lung disease whose radiographic severity has long been graded by the International Labour Office (ILO) profusion score. Its effect on pulmonary function is further impacted by asbestos related pleural thickening. This report aims to describe the relationships between radiographic grading of interstitial and pleural fibrosis and a key test of pulmonary function, the diffusing capacity, which measures gas exchange and has rarely been assessed in large groups, and to confirm the relationship to an independent test of pulmonary function, the vital capacity, which measures a mechanical property of the lungs. The data were derived from a survey during the period 1997-2004 of 5,003 workers (all white males) exposed to asbestos in various trades. Tests included chest radiographs read by a certified expert ("B") reader, forced vital capacity (FVC), and carbon monoxide diffusing capacity (DLco). Cigarette smoking was adjusted for in the predictive equation for DLCO . Workers were evaluated at a mobile facility at work sites in four southern states. Both diffusing capacity and vital capacity were negatively correlated with profusion score over the full spectrum of radiographic severity. ILO profusion scores 0/1 (conventionally classified as normal) and 1/0 (conventionally classified as abnormal) were associated with similar diffusing capacity and vital capacity values. The highest profusion scores were associated with a greater proportionate decrease in diffusing capacity than in FVC. Both tests showed an effect of pleural fibrosis. Both radiographic severity graded by the profusion score and pleural thickening are correlated with two independent measures of pulmonary function. FVC (which had been reported in smaller work forces) and DLCO (which has not been reported). Both measures show a decrease from normal to intermediate (0/1, 1/0) scores and a further decrease with greater scores, demonstrating the consistency of radiographic and functional assessments. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Ionic liquid-in-oil microemulsion as a potential carrier of sparingly soluble drug: characterization and cytotoxicity evaluation.

PubMed

Moniruzzaman, Muhammad; Tamura, Miki; Tahara, Yoshiro; Kamiya, Noriho; Goto, Masahiro

2010-11-15

Pharmaceutical industries have posed challenges in the topical and transdermal administration of drugs which are poorly soluble or insoluble in water and most of organic solvents. In an approach to overcome this limitation, ionic liquid-in-oil (IL/o) microemulsions (MEs) were employed to increase the solubility of a sparingly soluble drug to enhance its topical and transdermal delivery. The formulation of MEs was composed of a blend of nonionic surfactants, polyoxyethylene sorbitan monooleate (Tween-80) and sorbitan laurate (Span-20), isopropyl myristate (IPM) as an oil phase, and IL [C(1)mim] [(CH(3)O)(2)PO(2)] (dimethylimidazolium dimethylphosphate) as a pseudophase. Among various weight ratios of Tween-80 to Span-20 investigated in the ME systems, the ratio 3:2 showed excellent solubility and skin permeation enhancing effect for acyclovir (ACV) used as a model sparingly soluble drug. The size and size distribution of the ME droplets with and without drug were determined by dynamic light scattering. The permeability study of ACV incorporated in IL droplets as well as other formulations was performed into and across the Yucatan micropig (YMP) porcine skin, and the use of IL/o MEs has been shown to dramatically increase ACV administration. Finally, the cytotoxicity of the new carrier was evaluated in vitro using the reconstructed human epidermal model LabCyte™ EPI-MODEL12. It was found that the cell viability of IL/o MEs containing 4wt% IL was over 80% compared to Dulbecco's Phosphate-Buffered Salines, indicating low cytotoxicity of the carrier. Taken together these results, it can be assumed that IL-assisted nonaqueous ME could serve as a versatile and efficient nanodelivery system for insoluble or sparingly soluble drug molecules that require solubilizing agents for delivery. Copyright © 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Diagnosis of asbestosis by a time expanded wave form analysis, auscultation and high resolution computed tomography: a comparative study.

PubMed Central

al Jarad, N; Strickland, B; Bothamley, G; Lock, S; Logan-Sinclair, R; Rudd, R M

1993-01-01

BACKGROUND--Crackles are a prominent clinical feature of asbestosis and may be an early sign of the condition. Auscultation, however, is subjective and interexaminer disagreement is a problem. Computerised lung sound analysis can visualise, store, and analyse lung sounds and disagreement on the presence of crackles is minimal. High resolution computed tomography (HRCT) is superior to chest radiography in detecting early signs of asbestosis. The aim of this study was to compare clinical auscultation, time expanded wave form analysis (TEW), chest radiography, and HRCT in detecting signs of asbestosis in asbestos workers. METHODS--Fifty three asbestos workers (51 men and two women) were investigated. Chest radiography and HRCT were assessed by two independent readers for detection of interstitial opacities. HRCT was performed in the supine position with additional sections at the bases in the prone position. Auscultation for persistent fine inspiratory crackles was performed by two independent examiners unacquainted with the diagnosis. TEW analysis was obtained from a 33 second recording of lung sounds over the lung bases. TEW and auscultation were performed in a control group of 13 subjects who had a normal chest radiograph. There were 10 current smokers and three previous smokers. In asbestos workers the extent of pulmonary opacities on the chest radiograph was scored according to the International Labour Office (ILO) scale. Patients were divided into two groups: 21 patients in whom the chest radiograph was > 1/0 (group 1) and 32 patients in whom the chest radiograph was scored < or = 1/0 (group 2) on the ILO scale. RESULTS--In patients with an ILO score of < or = 1/0 repetitive mid to late inspiratory crackles were detected by auscultation in seven (22%) patients and by TEW in 14 (44%). HRCT detected definite interstitial opacities in 11 (34%) and gravity dependent subpleural lines in two (6%) patients. All but two patients with evidence of interstitial disease or gravity dependent subpleural lines on HRCT had crackles detected by TEW. In patients with an ILO score of > 1/0 auscultation and TEW revealed mid to late inspiratory crackles in all patients, whereas HRCT revealed gravity dependent subpleural lines in one patient and signs of definite interstitial fibrosis in the rest. In normal subjects crackles different from those detected in asbestosis were detected by TEW in three subjects but only in one subject by auscultation. These were early, fine inspiratory crackles. CONCLUSION--Mid to late inspiratory crackles in asbestos workers are detected by TEW more frequently than by auscultation. Signs of early asbestosis not apparent on the plain radiograph are detected by TEW and HRCT with similar frequency. off Images PMID:8511731

78 FR 35935 - National Institute for Occupational Health (NIOSH)-Certified B Readers; Training and Testing

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-06-14

...: Request for information and comment on priority knowledge and competency items to address in training and... competencies currently needed by B Readers. The information obtained will be used in the development of the new... been training physicians and certifying competence in the use of the ILO system to classify film-based...

Are All Children Equal? Causative Factors of Child Labour in Selected Districts of South Punjab, Pakistan

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Haider, Syed Zubair; Qureshi, Ayesha

2016-01-01

The present study investigates the causative factors of child labour in selected districts of South Punjab, Pakistan. As a member of the International Labour Organization (ILO) Pakistan has a responsibility to stamp out child labour from its regions. Our sample was selected from seven working environments (workshops, hotels, tea stalls,…

Contextualised Inclusive Education: A Retrospective Look at Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) in Botswana

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Mosalagae, Macdelyn Khufsafalo; Lukusa, Jean-Pierre Kabeya

2016-01-01

The purpose of this paper is to intrinsically explore how inclusive education (UNESCO, 1994) can be contextualized and applied within the cultural perspective of "Botho." The impending issue restraining reform of inclusion policies in Botswana and other Sub-Saharan countries is failure to tailor these policies to local context (ILO,…

Sami Culture and Values: A Study of the National Mathematics Exam for the Compulsory School in Norway

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Fyhn, Anne Birgitte

2013-01-01

Norway ratified the ILO convention 169 concerning indigenous and tribal people in independent countries in 1990. In accordance with the convention the education programs for the Sami shall address their value systems and their cultural aspirations. Our aim is to investigate the implementation of this convention. The focus is on how Sami values are…

The Educational Implications of Introducing a NQF for Developing Countries

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Young, Michael

2011-01-01

The one-year research project on the implementation of NQFs in developing countries was launched by the ILO 2009 in collaboration with the ETF. This article reviews some of the educational issues that arose from the project. The findings of the case studies raise issues that are important for how future research and policy on NQFs is taken…

Vocational Training for Self Employment. ILO's Experience in Africa.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Johanson, Richard K.

The number of entrants to the labor market today in most sub-Sahara African countries far exceeds the number of new jobs generated by the economy. This mismatch is one of the most serious problems the region faces. With too few jobs to go around, vocational training should focus on the generation of self-employment possibilities. In the mid-1970s…

In-line charge-trapping characterization of dielectrics for sub-0.5-um CMOS technologies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Roy, Pradip K.; Chacon, Carlos M.; Ma, Yi; Horner, Gregory

1997-09-01

The advent of ultra-large and giga-scale-integration (ULSI/GSI) has placed considerable emphasis on the development of new gate oxides and interlevel dielectrics capable of meeting strict performance and reliability requirements. The costs and demands associated with ULSI fabrication have in turn fueled the need for cost-effective, rapid and accurate in-line characterization techniques for evaluating dielectric quality. The use of non-contact surface photovoltage characterization techniques provides cost-effective rapid feedback on dielectric quality, reducing costs through the reutilization of control wafers and the elimination of processing time. This technology has been applied to characterize most of the relevant C-V parameters, including flatband voltage (Vfb), density of interface traps (Dit), mobile charge density (Qm), oxide thickness (Tox), oxide resistivity (pox) and total charge (Qtot) for gate and interlevel (ILO) oxides. A novel method of measuring tunneling voltage by this technique on various gate oxides is discussed. For ILO, PECVD and high density plasma dielectrics, surface voltage maps are also presented. Measurements of near-surface silicon quality are described, including minority carrier generation lifetime, and examples of their application in diagnosing manufacturing problems.

Opening the Door to Zero New HIV Infections in Closed Settings.

PubMed

Torriente, Anna; Tadion, Alexander; Hsu, Lee-Nah

2016-06-01

Prisons and other closed settings are high-risk environments for HIV and tuberculosis (TB) transmission. Prisoners often experience overcrowded living conditions and violence-including sexual assault-increasing their vulnerability to HIV and TB. However, high infection rates in prisons affect both prisoners and prison employees. Both groups, in interacting with their families and their communities, represent a potential risk of HIV transmission outside the prison setting. National HIV and TB strategies should therefore include measures to prevent transmission and increase access to HIV-related services in prisons. Courts have progressively recognized the human rights of prisoners, including the right to health and access to HIV-related services. A number of national and regional court decisions have affirmed that prison authorities have a duty of care to prisoners and an obligation to ensure that prisoners have access to HIV prevention measures and treatment. Policies and programs on HIV, AIDS, and TB for prison workplaces that are aligned with the ILO's international labor standards can benefit both prisoners and prison employees. In particular, the ILO's HIV and AIDS Recommendation, 2010 (No. 200) affirms the principle of universal access to HIV services and provides guidance for the HIV/TB response in prison settings.

Human Trafficking And U.S. Government Responses Post-9/11

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-09-01

DeCeoursty 7. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES) Naval Postgraduate School Monterey, CA 93943-5000 8. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION REPORT...Trafficking Unit ICE Immigration and Customs Enforcement ILAB Bureau of International Labor Affairs ILO International Labor Organization IRTPA...Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act List List of Goods Produced by Child Labor or Forced Labor xii NGO non-governmental organization NHTRC

How Can the Expansion of the Apprenticeship System in India Create Conditions for Greater Equity and Social Justice?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Smith, Erica; Kemmis, Ros Brennan; Comyn, Paul

2014-01-01

This paper reports on aspects of a recent project carried out for the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the World Bank, which was designed to feed into the process of updating and expanding India's apprenticeship system. The apprenticeship system in India is extremely small for the country's population, even taking into account the high…

Diversification of Women's Employment and Training. ILO/Japan Tripartite Seminar Report (Tokyo, Japan, December 8-12, 1986).

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

International Labour Office, Bangkok (Thailand). Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific.

This report presents the work of a seminar that focused attention on the occupational segregation of men and women in developing nations in Asia. Chapters I and II give a summary of the seminar proceedings and the full text of its findings. Chapter III is devoted to five resource papers: "Diversification of Women's Occupations: A Regional…

40 CFR Appendix G to Part 58 - Uniform Air Quality Index (AQI) and Daily Reporting

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... the maximum index value as the AQI for O3. ER27MR08.001 Where: Ip = the index value for pollutantp Cp = the truncated concentration of pollutantp BPHi = the breakpoint that is greater than or equal to Cp BPLo = the breakpoint that is less than or equal to Cp IHi = the AQI value corresponding to BPHi Ilo...

ILO/KRIVET National Tripartite Workshop: Workplace Learning in a Globalizing World [Proceedings] (Seoul, South Korea, November 29-30, 2001).

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Korea Research Inst. for Vocational Education and Training, Seoul.

This document contains the following five papers, all in both English and Korean, from a workshop on on-the-job training held in Korea in 2001: "Issues in Knowledge and Skills Development: Globalization and the Effective Use of New Technologies" (S. Ian Cummings); "The Knowledge Economy and Vocational Training Policy in Korea"…

American Smart Power for Africa’s Kids

DTIC Science & Technology

2011-05-13

with orphans, refugees, and other displaced children at particular risk.40 In 1992, the International Labour Organization ( ILO ), a UN agency...March 28, 2011). 39 Ibid. 40 Ibid. 41 International Labour Organization, ―International Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour ,‖ http...Barracks, PA 17013-5050 USAWC CLASS OF 2011 The U.S. Army War College is accredited by the Commission on Higher Education of the Middle State

Development of Ku-band rendezvous radar tracking and acquisition simulation programs

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1986-01-01

The fidelity of the Space Shuttle Radar tracking simulation model was improved. The data from the Shuttle Orbiter Radar Test and Evaluation (SORTE) program experiments performed at the White Sands Missile Range (WSMR) were reviewed and analyzed. The selected flight rendezvous radar data was evaluated. Problems with the Inertial Line-of-Sight (ILOS) angle rate tracker were evaluated using the improved fidelity angle rate tracker simulation model.

Port Security in the Persian Gulf

DTIC Science & Technology

2008-06-01

drafters of ISPS for secure, standardized documents to be issued to the world’s merchant seamen, another arm of the UN, the International Labour ...Revised), 2003," International Labour Organization, http://www.ilo.org/ilolex/cgi-lex/convde.pl?C185 (accessed March 11, 2008). 5 The convention has...identity documents for a particularly impoverished portion of their workforce . 2. MTSA (2002) and SAFE-Port (2006) The two primary pieces of

Presentation of spatio-temporal data in the context of information capacity and visual suggestiveness

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cybulski, Paweł

2014-12-01

The aim of this article is to present the concept of information capacity and visual suggestiveness as a map characteristic on the example of two maps of human migration. From this viewpoint the literature study has been performed. Proposed by the author the features of cartographic visualization are an attempt to establish cartographic pragmatics and find the way to increase effectiveness of dynamic maps with large information capacity. Among the works on cartographic pragmatics, muliaspectuality of spatio-temporal data the proposed solution has not been taken so far, and refers to the map design problematic. Celem rozważań było podsumowanie wiedzy dotyczącej projektowania dynamicznych opracowań przestrzennych oraz ich klasyfi kacja ze względu na ilość zmiennych grafi cznych oraz dynamicznych, które mogą zostać użyte w procesie geowizualizacji. Zróżnicowanie ilości zmiennych grafi cznych i dynamicznych w przestrzennych wizualizacjach autor proponuje nazywać pojemnością wizualną prezentacji. Autor stawia również hipotezę, że im większą pojemność wizualną stosujemy tym bardziej sugestywne musi być to przestawienie, aby efektywność przekazywania informacji była zachowana

Chest-Worn Health Monitor Based on a Bistatic Self-Injection-Locked Radar.

PubMed

Wang, Fu-Kang; Chou, You-Rung; Chiu, Yen-Chen; Horng, Tzyy-Sheng

2015-12-01

This paper presents wearable health monitors that are based on continuous-wave Doppler radar technology. To achieve low complexity, low power consumption, and simultaneous wireless transmission of Doppler information, the radar architecture is bistatic with a self-injection-locked oscillator (SILO) tag and an injection-locked oscillator (ILO)-based frequency demodulator. In experiments with a prototype that was operated in the medical body area network and the industrial scientific and medical bands from 2.36 to 2.484 GHz, the SILO tag is attached to the chest of a subject to transform the movement of the chest due to cardiopulmonary activity and body exercise into a transmitted frequency-modulated wave. The tag consumes a very low power of 4.4 mW. The ILO-based frequency demodulator, located 30 cm from the subject, receives and processes this wave to yield the waveform that is associated with the movement of the chest. Following further digital signal processing, the cardiopulmonary activity and body exercise are displayed as time-frequency spectrograms. Promisingly, the experimental results that are presented in this paper reveal that the proposed health monitor has high potential to integrate a cardiopulmonary sensor, a pedometer, and a wireless transmission device on a single radar platform.

Specification for Visual Requirements of Work-Centered Software Systems

DTIC Science & Technology

2006-10-01

no person shall be subject to any penity for fallng to comply wih a collection of N ilo ration it does not display a currenty valid OMB control...work- aiding systems. Based on the design concept for a work- centered support system (WCSS), these software systems support user tasks and goals...through both direct and indirect aiding methods within the interface client. In order to ensure the coherent development and delivery of work- centered

Conversations with a Stuka Pilot

DTIC Science & Technology

1978-11-01

s)~ 07. /( ’ICLASSIFIED "..t Of RES-ON’,ILl ’%1V.UA "P.O.’ Nu"Mk(.~~ 06f. C[ S-* "IlO Mr. James Cashatt 25-35 ASDTAA255-3259ASiA r M ...... 93 r...have made a dent in the fortification would have been Stuka, mabe even with a bigger bomb than 500 kg, perhaps a special 1,000-kg bomb. But it is the

Documentation of Software for the Neil Brown Instrument Systems/NORDA Velocity/CTD Profiler.

DTIC Science & Technology

1982-07-01

maximum pressure of sensor M - cast start time (dec. days) * (12- 13 - cast end time (141 - magnetic variation shp’s speed (kt) 19 -ship’s heading...100 C I 265 10? C CHECK THAT THE TIPOE FIELDS APE EACH IN RA4 6E 1084 C 0T .. -- 105 49. VAR (153 .CE,24*.00 Ilo -___-TO_999- 106 IF 4VARfib6).G(E.6r

Providing Enterprise Information Services for Multinational Interoperability - The EIM Approach

DTIC Science & Technology

2005-06-01

Federated Search • Document Processing and Archiving • Workflow processing References 1. Perspective on Multinational Information Sharing, Cheryl...layer, with a primary focus on the Application Layers. App Layer Focus Areas Enterprise Content Mgt, Workflow, Business Processes, Federated ... Search Integration Layer – EAI Components Nation 1 Nation 2 Nation 3 … Nation N Silo 1 Silo 2 Silo 3 S ilo N Silo 1 Silo 1 Silo 2 Silo 2 Silo 3 Silo 3 S

Legislation, women, and breastfeeding.

PubMed

Gibbons, G

1987-01-01

Governmental policies and legislation aimed at validating the dual role of women as mothers and wage earners can significantly strengthen breastfeeding promotion efforts. Examples of such laws and policies are maternity leave, breastfeeding breaks at the workplace, allowances for pregnant women and new mothers, rooming-in at hospitals, child care at the worksite, flexible work schedules for new mothers, and a national marketing code for breastmilk substitutes. The International labor Organization (ILO) has played an important role in setting international standards to protect working mothers. The ILO defines minimal maternity protection as encompassing: a compulsory period of 6 weeks' leave after delivery; entitlement to a further 6 weeks of leave; the provision during maternity leave of benefits sufficient for the full and healthy maintenance of the child; medical care by a qualified midwife or physician; authorization to interrupt work for the purpose of breastfeeding; and protection from dismissal during maternity leave. In many countries there is a lack of public awareness of existing laws or policies; i.e., working women may not know they are entitled to maternity leave, or pediatricians may not know that the government has developed a marketing code for breastmilk substitutes. Overall, the enactment and enforcement of legislation can ensure the longterm effectiveness of breastfeeding promotion by raising the consciousness of individuals and institutions, putting breastfeeding activities in the wider context of support for women's rights, recognizing the dual roles of women, and institutionalizing and legitimating support for breastfeeding.

Fracture Damage and Failure of Cannon Components by Service Loading

DTIC Science & Technology

1983-02-01

the result of normal service :onALtiolt. )etaits of the failure and the redesign of the cannon h3’e eea iLOs’rtbed elsewhere.| , The brief review...here is intenlded to ie.,Acrlbe the extreme situation of very severe damage and failure of a cannon. In fact, this failure led to many fracture- safe ...criterion; elastic-perfectly plastic material properties. The experiments summarized in Figure 6 used cannon tubes in which a 6.4 mm deep semi

Response to Congressional Recommendations Regarding the FAA’s En Route Air Traffic Control Computer System.

DTIC Science & Technology

1982-01-01

demand, aviation system changes, and higner levels of ATC automition in the far term 1990-2DOJ). .--.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .". . L...functions are nearing completion of their development cycle and will be ready for implementation in the 1980’s: 1) Conflict Alert for VFR Intruders (CA...next Section 11.4.2. S0 2- Ilo 11.4.2 Description of the Functional Improvements 1. Conflict Alert for VFR Intruders (CA/VFR) The CA/VFR functional

Advanced Concepts for Composite Structure Joints and Attachment Fittings. Volume 2. Design Guide

DTIC Science & Technology

1981-11-01

500 3CC000 .loo 310- GRID 11040 100 M250 30.0000 .0 3311- GRID 11041 100 .2OO 15.COCO .5000 332- GRID 13042 ILO .2500 15.0000 .4000 313- GRID 11043...b~ l ( 115K -. 1 2 It e l t 1 1 A N A I 1 1 CARO 1 L~uNI 4 ... * ’ * 9.. 6 . p. . . 0 h0t- 91’ S 193 1001% 109 1016 402- SPl 9 123 10004 10006

Injection locked oscillator system for pulsed metal vapor lasers

DOEpatents

Warner, Bruce E.; Ault, Earl R.

1988-01-01

An injection locked oscillator system for pulsed metal vapor lasers is disclosed. The invention includes the combination of a seeding oscillator with an injection locked oscillator (ILO) for improving the quality, particularly the intensity, of an output laser beam pulse. The present invention includes means for matching the first seeder laser pulses from the seeding oscillator to second laser pulses of a metal vapor laser to improve the quality, and particularly the intensity, of the output laser beam pulse.

Photophysical Studies of Spin Cast Polymer Films

DTIC Science & Technology

1988-07-13

Polymeric Materials contained research presentations on fundamental radiation chemistry and physics as well as on technological applications of polymer ...on Polymeric Materials," X~os Hoos. ueensland. Australia., August 16-19, 1987 ,7 COSAII CODES I&. SUBJECT TEAMS (Conuo an itwre it r~,*Ctzy Mid od@0ty...by biOck mumblrJ _ILO GR UP SU8 -GaOUP 9. AaSTkRAC7T (COn1nue an r*"wne it noatamey and iwaf by bWok nuffltr) Snim casting is a commonly used technique

The development of macrolides: clarithromycin in perspective.

PubMed

Neu, H C

1991-02-01

Macrolide antibiotics have been available and used clinically since 1952. The class of drugs originated from a soil sample obtained from the City of Ilo-Ilo on the Island of Paray in the Philippines. Erythromycin has been the most widely used agent of this class called 'macrolides' because they possess the macrocyclic lactone nucleus. Many esters of erythromycin are well established as agents to treat a variety of respiratory and cutaneous infections, particularly in children. There has been a resurgence of interest in macrolides as a result of the recognition of pathogens such as Legionella, Chlamydia and Campylobacter spp. A number of new 14-membered macrolides have been synthesised in recent years with the goal of overcoming some of the problems of the older erythromycin agents. There has been variable activity of erythromycin against Haemophilus influenzae; there has been gastrointestinal irritation, particularly in adults; and the older agents are administered four times a day. Clarithromycin has increased activity against Legionella, and Branhamella spp., and Pasteurella multocida, and, with its 14-OH metabolite, inhibits Haemophilus spp. It is also more active against chlamydia and against anaerobic species while retaining excellent activity against streptococci including Streptococcus pneumoniae. It has increased plasma peak levels and a sufficiently long half-life for twice daily administration. Furthermore, it is well tolerated. Thus clarithromycin offers potential for use in those areas in which a safe, well tolerated macrolide will be used, namely respiratory, skin structure and selected diarrhoeal and genital infections.

Best practice workplace HIV/AIDS programmes in South Africa: A review of case studies and lessons learned

PubMed Central

2009-01-01

ABSTRACT Background A group of experts attending a tripartite interregional meeting on best practices in HIV/AIDS workplace policies and programmes organised by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) in Geneva, Switzerland, identified 34 best practice workplace HIV programmes from across the world. Method The ten criteria that were used for reviewing best practice workplace HIV/AIDS programmes in South Africa include acceptability, accessibility, ethical soundness, perceived impact, relevance, appropriateness, innovativeness, efficiency, sustainability and replicability. Results More than one-third (35.3%) of the 34 best practice workplace interventions identified were found in businesses and industries in South Africa. This constitutes a significant and encouraging effort to deal with HIV/AIDS in the workplace. Approximately 16.7% of the best practice workplace HIV/AIDS interventions focused on policy and legal frameworks, 50% of these interventions focused on prevention, 16.7% provided links beyond the workplace and a further 16.7% were interventions that focused on knowledge and evidence. A third (33.3%) of practices were found in the mining industry, 16.7% in the motor industry, 16.7% from workers’ unions, and the rest (33.3%) were found in a sugar company, an electricity supply company, a pharmaceutical company and the ministry of Public Service and Administration. Conclusion It is encouraging that over one-third of all best practice workplace HIV interventions identified by the ILO experts were found in South Africa. The majority of these policies and programmes were focused on HIV prevention.

Women swell ranks of working poor.

PubMed

1996-01-01

Despite expanded global female employment (45% of women aged 15-64 years are economically active), women still comprise 70% of the world's 1 billion people living in poverty. Moreover, women's economic activities remain largely confined to low-wage, low-productivity forms of employment. A report by the International Labor Organization (ILO), prepared as a follow-up to the Fourth World Conference on Women and the World Summit for Social Development, identified discrimination in education as a central cause of female poverty and underemployment. Each additional year of schooling is estimated to increase a woman's earnings by 15%, compared to 11% for a man. At the workplace, women face inequalities in terms of hiring and promotion standards, access to training and retraining, access to credit, equal pay for equal work, and participation in economic decision making. In addition, even women in higher-level jobs in developing countries spend 31-42 hours per week in unpaid domestic activities. The ILO has concluded that increasing employment opportunities for women is not a sufficient goal. Required are actions to improve the terms and conditions of such employment, including equal pay for work of equal value, improved occupational safety and health, enhanced security in informal or atypical forms of work, guarantees of freedom of association and the right to organize and bargain collectively, and appropriate maternity protection and child care provisions. Finally, taxation and social welfare policies must be rewritten to accommodate the reality that women are no longer the dependent or secondary earner in families.

[Croatian and international regulations on the protection and rights of workers exposed to asbestos at work].

PubMed

Zavalić, Marija; Macan, Jelena

2009-11-01

New regulations on the protection and rights of workers occupationally exposed to asbestos were introduced in Croatia in 2007 and 2008. They have been harmonised with the European Union (EU) and International Labour Organization (ILO) regulations, and make a step forward in safety at work, health protection, social rights, and pension schemes for Croatian workers occupationally exposed to asbestos. The 2007 Croatian regulation on the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to asbestos at work defines and describes activities in which workers can be occupationally exposed to asbestos, defines the threshold value of asbestos in the air at work, defines valid methods for measurement of asbestos concentrations in the air, and establishes measures to reduce asbestos exposure at work or protect the exposed workers. Croatian law regulating obligatory health surveillance of workers occupationally exposed to asbestos from year 2007 defines activities and competent authorities to implement health surveillance of workers occupationally exposed to asbestos and to diagnose occupational diseases related to asbestos. This law also defines "occupational exposure to asbestos", and "occupational asbestos-related diseases", including asbestosis (pulmonary asbestos-related fibrosis), pleural asbestos-related disorders (plaques, pleural thickening, and benign effusion), lung and bronchial cancer, and malignant mesothelioma of serous membranes. These regulations have been harmonised with ILO, Directive 2003/18/EC amending Council Directive 83/477/EEC on the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to asbestos at work, and with the Commission Recommendation 2003/670/EC concerning the European schedule of occupational diseases. The 2008 Croatian regulation on conditions of health surveillance, diagnostic procedures and criteria for confirmation of occupational asbestos-related diseases "defines the terms and the content of medical examination of workers exposed to asbestos, and criteria for the confirmation of occupational asbestos-related diseases which are harmonised with the Helsinki criteria acknowledged by ILO and EU, particularly concerning the level and length of exposure. Croatian law on compensation of workers occupationally exposed to asbestos from 2007 regulates compensation claims for workers with occupational asbestos-related disease, authorities competent to process these claims, and funds and coefficients for compensation payments. Accordingly, Croatia is responsible for compensation claims payment for workers with occupational asbestos-related disease. The 2007 law on conditions for entitlement to full pension for workers exposed to asbestos at work defines the conditions for fulfilling criteria for retirement pension for workers exposed to asbestos at work.

76 FR 36092 - Antidumping Methodologies in Proceedings Involving Non-Market Economies: Valuing the Factor of...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-06-21

...This notice addresses the methodology used by the Department of Commerce (``the Department'') to value the cost of labor in non- market economy (``NME'') countries. After reviewing all comments received on the Department's interim, industry-specific wage calculation methodology that is currently applied in NME antidumping proceedings, the Department has determined that the single surrogate- country approach is best. In addition, the Department has decided to use International Labor Organization (``ILO'') Yearbook Chapter 6A as its primary source of labor cost data in NME antidumping proceedings.

HgCdTe Surface and Defect Study Program.

DTIC Science & Technology

1986-03-01

different potential for Hg and Cd and hence be reflected in the electronic structure. The techniques of PES and ARPES available to our research group ...D-A166 795 HOME SURFCE ND DEFECT STUDY PROQRN(U) SATA / BARBRA RESEARCH CENTER GOLETA CALXF J A WILSON ET AL. USI FE MAR 86 SBRC-60411 ND93-63-C...0168 FO2/2 N L6 ILO 1.5 1. 11111 .6 .ICnrnp CHR HgCdTo SURFACE AND DEFECT STUDY PROGRAM J. A. Wilson and V. A. Cotton Santa Barbara Research Center

Acute elevations in salt intake and reduced renal mass hypertension compromise arteriolar dilation in rat cremaster muscle.

PubMed

Frisbee, J C; Lombard, J H

1999-05-01

Alterations in arteriolar reactivity to dilator agonists were assessed in the skeletal muscle microcirculation of normotensive male Sprague-Dawley rats fed either high- (4% NaCl; HS) or low- (0. 4% NaCl; LS) salt diets and in reduced renal mass hypertensive rats (RRM-HT) on a high-salt diet for 3 days. An in situ cremaster muscle preparation was superfused with physiological salt solution, transilluminated, and viewed via television microscopy. A videomicrometer was used to measure changes in diameter of distal arterioles in response to increasing concentrations of acetylcholine (ACH), iloprost (ILO), cholera toxin (CT), forskolin (FOR), and sodium nitroprusside (SNP). Arteriolar dilation in response to ACH, ILO, and CT was significantly reduced in both HS and RRM-HT rats, while responses to FOR and SNP were decreased in RRM-HT rats only. The maximum dilation of the arterioles (determined during superfusion of the muscle with Ca2+-free solution containing 10(-4) M adenosine) was similar in the normotensive control animals on LS and HS diets, but was reduced in the RRM-HT rats, suggesting that early anatomic remodeling of the vessel wall may be occurring with RRM-HT. We conclude that arteriolar reactivity to endothelium-dependent and -independent vasodilator agonists is impaired as early as 3 days after the development of RRM hypertension or commencement of a high-salt diet in normotensive rats. Structural remodeling of the arteriolar wall, although becoming evident in the hypertensive rats, takes longer to develop than the impaired vasodilator reactivity. Copyright 1999 Academic Press.

Iloprost improves ventricular function in the hypertrophic and functionally impaired right heart by direct stimulation.

PubMed

Holmboe, Sarah; Andersen, Asger; Vildbrad, Mads D; Nielsen, Jan M; Ringgaard, Steffen; Nielsen-Kudsk, Jens E

2013-12-01

Right heart function is an important predictor of morbidity and mortality in patients suffering from pulmonary arterial hypertension and congenital heart diseases. We investigated whether the prostacyclin analog iloprost has a direct inotropic effect in the pressure-overloaded hypertrophic and dysfunctional right ventricle (RV). Rats were randomized to monocrotaline injection (60 mg/kg; [Formula: see text]), pulmonary trunk banding (PTB; [Formula: see text]), or a sham operation ([Formula: see text]). RV function was evaluated with magnetic resonance imaging, echocardiography, and invasive pressure measurements at baseline, after intravenous administration of placebo, iloprost 10 ng/kg/min, or iloprost 100 ng/kg/min (Ilo100). Infusion of Ilo100 induced a [Formula: see text] ([Formula: see text]) increase in stroke volume in the sham group and a [Formula: see text] ([Formula: see text]) increase in the PTB group. RV [Formula: see text] was elevated by [Formula: see text] ([Formula: see text]) in the sham group and by [Formula: see text] ([Formula: see text]) in the PTB group. An elevation in cardiac output of [Formula: see text] ([Formula: see text]) and an [Formula: see text] ([Formula: see text]) increase in RV systolic pressure were found in the PTB group. Iloprost caused a decrease in mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) in all groups of animals. An equal reduction in MAP induced by the arterial vasodilator nitroprusside did not improve any of the measured parameters of RV function. We conclude that iloprost has inotropic properties directly improving ventricular function in the hypertrophic and dysfunctional right heart of the rat.

In silico prediction of escherichia coli proteins targeting the host cell nucleus, with special reference to their role in colon cancer etiology.

PubMed

Khan, Abdul Arif

2014-06-01

The potential role of Escherichia coli in the development of colorectal carcinoma (CRC) has been investigated in many studies. Although the exact mechanism is not clear, chronic inflammation caused by E. coli and other related events are suggested as possible causes behind E. coli-induced colon cancer. It has been found that CRC cells, but not normal cells, are colonized by an intracellular form of E. coli. We predicted nuclear targeting of bacterial proteins in the host cell through computational tools nuclear localization signal (NLS) mapper and balanced subcellular localization predictor (BaCeILo). During intracellular E. coli residence, such targeting is highly likely and may have a possible role in colon cancer etiology. We observed that several gene expression-associated proteins of E. coli can migrate to the host nucleus during intracellular infections. This situation provides an opportunity for competitive interaction of host and pathogen proteins with similar cellular substrates, thereby increasing the chances of development of colon cancer. Moreover, the results indicated that proteins localized in the membrane of E. coli mostly act as secretary proteins in host cells. No exact correlation was observed between NLS prediction and nuclear localization prediction by BaCeILo. This is partly because of a number of reasons, including that only 30% of nuclear proteins carry NLS and that proteins <40 kDa molecular weight can passively target the host nucleus. This study concludes that detection of gene expression-specific E. coli proteins and their targeting of the nucleus may have a profound impact on CRC etiology.

Vietnam: expanding the social security system.

PubMed

Pruzin, D

1996-01-01

Viet Nam's shift toward a market-oriented economy has been associated with annual gross domestic product growth of more than 8% over the past 5 years. At the same time, the emergence of private-sector enterprises and subsequent closure of many state-run enterprises have had profound implications for Viet Nam's social protection systems. At present, only 5.6 million of the country's 33 million workers are covered under the state-run social insurance system. In 1995, the government moved to include private enterprises with 10 or more employees in its state benefits system. The International Labor Organization (ILO) has been working with the Vietnamese Government to design and implement a social security system that would extend coverage progressively to excluded sectors and provide support to workers who have become unemployed as a result of the economic transition process. At its Eighth National Congress, the Vietnamese Communist Party approved a 5-year social and economic plan calling for such an expansion of the social insurance system as well as for a guaranteed standard of living for pensioners. To facilitate anticipated changes, activities that were previously divided between the Ministry of Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs and the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor have been assigned to the newly formed Vietnam Social Insurance (VSI) Organization. Under consideration is a plan to combine some VSI activities with those of the Vietnam Health Insurance Organization. The ILO will assist with training, computerization, and social security fund investing. Noncompliance is a major obstacle to planned expansion of the social security system; about 90% of private firms are still not paying into the system.

Organosilica Membrane with Ionic Liquid Properties for Separation of Toluene/H₂ Mixture.

PubMed

Hirota, Yuichiro; Maeda, Yohei; Yamamoto, Yusuke; Miyamoto, Manabu; Nishiyama, Norikazu

2017-08-03

In this study, we present a new concept in chemically stabilized ionic liquid membranes: an ionic liquid organosilica (ILOS) membrane, which is an organosilica membrane with ionic liquid-like properties. A silylated ionic liquid was used as a precursor for synthesis. The permselectivity, permeation mechanism, and stability of the membrane in the H₂/toluene binary system were then compared with a supported ionic liquid membrane. The membrane showed a superior separation factor of toluene/H₂ (>17,000) in a binary mixture system based on a solution-diffusion mechanism with improved durability over the supported ionic liquid membrane.

V/STOL Aircraft Noise Prediction (Jet Propulsors)

DTIC Science & Technology

1975-06-01

SPLLFTPPNoPNLC) 162 Pt4LFTT= PNLC A-11 STOLPROG 163 C* 164 C***** CALCULATE TOTAL OF FAN AND TURBINE NOISE **i 165 C* 166 SUM2=040 167 00 130 I~lo24 168 SUM1=0.0...0.0) OASPLA=10,O*ALOG10(SUM1) 194 CALL PNLREV(SPLAROPPNP2) 195 PNLARO:PN 196 CALL TONE(SPLAROPPNPPNLC) 197 PNLART= PNLC 198 141 CONTINUE 199 C* 20:) C...CALL PNLREV(SPLJETPPNP2) A-17 STOLPROG 217 PNLJET=PN 218 CALL TONE(SPLJETPP)JPNLC) 219 PNLTJT= PNLC 220 CALL PNLREV(SPLEXSPPNP2) 221 PNLEXS:PN 222

A 38,000-year record of floods and debris flows in the Ilo region of southern Peru and its relation to El Niño events and great earthquakes

USGS Publications Warehouse

Keefer, David K.; Moseley, Michael E.; DeFrance, Susan D.

2003-01-01

Previous work throughout the Ilo region of south coastal Peru has documented the existence of flood and debris-flow deposits produced by two El Niño events evidently much more severe than any in recent history. These two events have been dated to ca. AD 1300–1400 and AD 1607–08. The Late Pleistocene to Holocene record of older sedimentary deposits in this region is dominated by flood and debris-flow deposits of similar scale. These older deposits have been described and dated from three coastal, alluvial-fan sites. These deposits, which are as old as 38 200 years, are dominated by massive debris-flow deposits, several tens of cm thick, typically composed of cobble- and boulder-sized clasts in a matrix of silty sand, with characteristics indicating generation by heavy rainfall in an arid environment. Twenty-two radiocarbon dates and a single infrared-stimulated luminescence date show that particularly severe El Niño events occurred throughout the Late Pleistocene and two of three divisions of the Holocene with significantly different frequencies. The period of greatest activity was during the Early Holocene when at least six such events took place during a period of ca. 3600 years, beginning near the end of the Younger Dryas ca. 12 000 years ago. One of these events produced a debris flow that may have caused abandonment of the Paleo-Indian site at Quebrada Tacahuay, one of the oldest on the Andean coast. No severe events took place during the Middle Holocene between ca. 8400 and 5300 years ago, when a wide variety of other paleoclimate proxy records indicate that the El Niño–Southern Oscillation regime was particularly weak. Since ca. 5300 years ago, four of these severe events have taken place. The Late Pleistocene sequence is constrained by only two dates, which indicate that at least ten severe events took place between ca. 38 200 and 12 900 years ago. Mechanisms probably responsible for generating these large-scale deposits include: (1) ‘Mega-Niños’ that produced anomalously heavy rainfall along most or all of the central Andean coast; (2) El Niños that occurred shortly after great earthquakes that produced large amounts of sediment; or (3) El Niños that produced anomalously heavy local rainfall. The existence of these large-scale deposits in the Ilo region implies a level of hazard much higher than indicated by the historical record alone

Family planning and the labor sector: soft-sell approach.

PubMed

Teston, R C

1981-01-01

Dr. Cesar T. San Pedro, the director of the company clinic at Dole Philippines plantation in South Cotabato in Region 11, has been pressing the management to initiate a comprehensive family planning programs for their 10,000 workers. Pedro wants the Ministry of Labor and Employment (MOLE) to enforce its population program. The situation at Dole is one that requires an arbiter. Since 1977, there has not been a Population/Family Planning Officer (PFPO) for the area, and it is not possible to monitor closely if the qualified firms are following the labor code and providing family planning services to their employees. Susan B. Dedel, executive director of the PFPO, has reported that the office has sought to endear its program to the private sector by showing that family planning is also profitable for the firm. This "soft-sell" approach has been the hallmark of the MOLE-PFPO since it began in 1975 as a joint project of the Commission on Population (POPCOM), United Nations Fund for Population Activities (UNFPA), and International Labor Organization (ILO). Some critics have argued that this liberal style of implementation is short-selling the program. They point out that the Labor Code of 1973 enforces all establishments with at least 200 employees to have a free in-plant family planning program which includes clinic care, paid motivators, and volunteer population workers. The critics seem, at 1st glance, to have the statistics on their side. In its 5 years of operation, the PFPO has convinced only 137,000 workers to accept family planning. This is quite low, since of the 1.2 million employed by the covered firms, 800,000 are eligible for the MOLE program. Much of the weakness of the implementation is said to be due to the slow activation of the Labor-Management Coordinating Committees (LMCC). The critics maintain that because of the liberal enforcement of Department Order No. 9, the recalcitrant firms see no reason to comply. Dedel claims that the program is on the right track. Hamlish Richards, chief of ILO's population and labor policies branch, has high praise for the program. Over the years the ILO has awarded fellowships to 19 labor ministry officials from Asia and Africa to learn from Dedel and her staff. What is most impressive is PFPO's training component. The country's bigger establishments have already implemented the PFPO concepts, and the programs of these companies are reviewed. Last year PFPO entered into an agreement with the Population Center Foundation and POPCOM Region 11 to test the viability of the use of incentives. 6 companies agreed to try out this approach.

Utility of multiple chemical techniques in archaeological residential mobility studies: case studies from Tiwanaku- and Chiribaya-affiliated sites in the Andes.

PubMed

Knudson, Kelly J; Price, T Douglas

2007-01-01

In the south central Andes, archaeologists have long debated the extent of Tiwanaku colonization during the Middle Horizon (AD 500-1000). We tested the hypotheses regarding the nature of Tiwanaku influence using strontium isotope, trace element concentration, and oxygen isotope data from archaeological human tooth enamel and bone from Tiwanaku- and Chiribaya-affiliated sites in the south central Andes. Strontium isotope analysis of 25 individuals buried at the Tiwanaku-affiliated Moquegua Valley site of Chen Chen demonstrates that it was likely a Tiwanaku colony. In contrast, no immigrants from the Lake Titicaca Basin were present in 27 individuals analyzed from the San Pedro de Atacama cemeteries of Coyo Oriental, Coyo-3, and Solcor-3; it is likely that these sites represent economic and religious alliances, but not colonies. However, strontium isotope analysis alone cannot distinguish movement between the Tiwanaku- and Chiribaya-affiliated sites in the Moquegua and Ilo Valleys of southern Peru. Analyzing oxygen isotope and trace element concentration data and comparing it with strontium isotope data from the same individuals provides a more detailed picture of residential mobility in the Tiwanaku and Chiribaya polities. In addition to monitoring diagenetic contamination, trace element concentration data identified movement during adulthood for certain individuals. However, these data could not distinguish movement between the Moquegua and Ilo Valleys. While oxygen isotope data could clearly distinguish the high-altitude sites from others, more data is needed to characterize the local oxygen isotope ratios of these regions. These data demonstrate the potential for archaeological reconstruction of residential mobility through multiple lines of evidence. (c) 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc

Development, validation, and factorial comparison of the McGill Self-Efficacy of Learners For Inquiry Engagement (McSELFIE) survey in natural science disciplines

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ibrahim, Ahmed; Aulls, Mark W.; Shore, Bruce M.

2016-11-01

Sociocognitive theory [Bandura, A. (1986). Social foundations of thought and action: A social cognitive theory. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall; Bandura, A. (1989). Human agency in social cognitive theory. American Psychologist, 44, 1175-1184. doi:10.1037/0003-066x.44.9.1175; Bandura, A. (1991). Social cognitive theory of self-regulation. Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, 50, 248-287. doi:10.1016/0749-5978(91)90022-L] accords high importance to the mechanisms of human agency and how they are exercised through self-efficacy. In this paper, we developed and validated the McGill Self-Efficacy For Inquiry Engagement (McSELFIE) instrument with undergraduate students in natural science disciplines. We defined inquiry engagement as carrying out the practices of science (POS) that are supported by students' personality characteristics (SPCs) and that result in achieving inquiry-learning outcomes (ILOs). Based on these theoretical perspectives, the McSELFIE is a 60-item, learner-focused survey that addresses three components that are theoretically important for engaging in scientific inquiry: (a) SPCs, (b) ILOs, and (c) POS. Evidence for construct and content validity were obtained by using experts' judgments and confirmatory factor analysis with a sample of 110 undergraduate students enrolled in science disciplines. Internal consistency of the factors and instrument was also examined. The McSELFIE instrument is a reliable and valid instrument for measuring science undergraduate students' self-efficacy for inquiry engagement. Matched pairs analyses were conducted among the instruments' factors. Students reported the highest self-efficacy for openness, applying knowledge, and carrying out investigations. Students reported the lowest self-efficacy for extraversion, understanding metacognitive knowledge, and planning investigations. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.

Inhalative pre-treatment of donor lungs using the aerosolized prostacyclin analog iloprost ameliorates reperfusion injury.

PubMed

Wittwer, Thorsten; Franke, Ulrich F W; Ochs, Matthias; Sandhaus, Tim; Schuette, Alex; Richter, Stefan; Dreyer, Niels; Knudsen, Lars; Müller, Thomas; Schubert, Harald; Richter, Joachim; Wahlers, Thorsten

2005-10-01

Lung transplantation is effective for end-stage pulmonary disease, but its successful application is still limited by organ shortage and sub-optimal preservation techniques. Therefore, optimal allograft protection is essential to reduce organ dysfunction, especially in the early post-operative period. Intravenous prostanoids are routinely used to ameliorate reperfusion injury. However, the latest evidence suggests similar efficacy using inhaled prostacyclin. Thus, we evaluated the impact of donor pre-treatment using the prostacyclin analog, iloprost, on post-ischemic function of Perfadex-protected allografts. In Group 1, 5 pig lungs were preserved with Perfadex (PER group) solution and stored for 27 hours. In Group 2, 100 microg of iloprost was aerosolized over 30 minutes using a novel mobile ultrasonic nebulizer (Optineb) before identical organ harvest (PER-ILO group). After left lung transplantation and contralateral lung exclusion, hemodynamic variables, Po2/Fio2 and dynamic compliance were monitored for 6 hours and compared with sham-operated controls. Pulmonary edema was determined stereologically and by wet-to-dry (W/D) weight ratio. Statistical assessment included analysis of variance (ANOVA) with repeated measures. Dynamic compliance and pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) were superior in iloprost-treated compared with untreated organs (p < 0.05), whereas oxygenation was comparable between groups. W/D ratio revealed a significantly smaller amount of lung water in PER-ILO organs (p = 0.048), whereas stereologic data showed a trend toward less intra-alveolar edema. Endobronchial application of iloprost in donor lungs before Perfadex preservation decreases post-ischemic edema and significantly improves lung compliance and vascular resistance. This innovative approach is easily applicable in the clinical setting and offers a new strategy for improvement of pulmonary allograft preservation.

Prime Contract Awards, Fiscal Year 1984.

DTIC Science & Technology

1984-01-01

o NCv Ca 0 C a 0) 10 . a 4. .10a 0, Ga, 0w 10 . N104 N V a 10a .2at 0. wGa c N Co 0. V0- D V (0a 10 0i . or a 1 0Y N -a Na 1 Na N10 01 a V G *0 a ~a...atL U4 U -1 2- .0 UW web C-O: ILO 0 0 , 4242 6 1 9 -j 0 -1 w - W -0 4 - 4 WC 0 U > - C > . VC- 400IL I-1. ~24 -C -U W N 041- 0 . !k 0 1*4 W W WO W

Expenditure Distribution Trends with Regard to the Availability of Funds in the DOA and DOAF Budgets.

DTIC Science & Technology

1987-06-01

TERMAS (Continu*on r evere of fleUdr’y and ident-loy by block number) GUp eGRU Budget, Outlays, DOAF, DOA, DOD, Expenditures, Increment alism This thesis...34ONE (Ilo de Arid Code) 22C ~fF(E SYo Prfso TervL McCafferv 408-646-2554 1Code 54Mm DO’ FORtM 1-473.5.4 MAR 83 APR ed-ton -ay be used wmu ntl " awsted ...SCHOOL June 1987 Author: Michael FkA.’ atto Approved by: MCC ! s~visor Dan Boer Seoand Reade ill A. treer ., r .. Chairman .zParr~to nstive Sciences

Design, Analysis, and Interpretation of Screening Studies for Human Factors Engineering Research. Revision.

DTIC Science & Technology

1978-06-01

FNO GlX GJP GMO HIP HJ( 11MN ILO JLN KLb: B ABCD AC? ADO AE1 AHL A J t’ Ar*N AD? CDL CEM CON CiJ ChP CN 0 DEN DFH D1K DJ? DMO EFJ ECK EHI’ EiD FUL FIN...Westlake Village, CA 91361 II.- CoN TIro I ING OFF 1C- NAME., AN C) AP"tOFF 12 R.. POFRT o AT " Air Force Office of Scientific Research September 1977...explains the techniques devel- oped by Box and Hunter (1961) and Daniel (1962) for con - structing Resolution IV screening designs from two Resolution

Archaeological Survey and Testing, Moline Local Flood Protection Project, Rock Island County, Illinois.

DTIC Science & Technology

1980-10-20

I , hi ’! , 01een ( !ierV, d C- ctlsert- ill ti, Roc k R iv’r V 1 lcv (t- vi t ;1l I ) I :8) Sh,",’c I ten ini’ at apprL’::.- matel ,0 d i ft rnt...1513, 941-6000 Project N O:’, r [ctbLr 2(, 1980 A’i IL ILO(; !CAl. SURCVEY AND A,.’ I N,".. [.’C.\\’ I -I.O(’D I’R0FTki i iN D iKP . i , RKl 1 SIA’N8 Cf )L...SE E T PO R P I IR 1/ I udMpSoigLctin

Forecasters Handbook for Central America and Adjacent Waters

DTIC Science & Technology

1989-09-01

8217 VoIlo1 de Chiriqui aeasMa~ ODLE Valcain de Agua 0 J.r7ai-a -,f Cs4, Valcari Santa Ania Z4,, jpw SIERRA BE LAS MINAS eNcy Volcari San Miguel, ia Volcan...Nicaragua NICARAGUA % 0.Los Chiles P Colorado beria e. ,he H~gQ& il~a\\~CSPuerto Viejo 183’W 182’W Nicoy APuerto ere0Pndn la Iaz6RA L Lia CARIBBEAN SEA 10’N...34"" . ,’. ’ . , . - Fgr 4.’--.*..*4 . ici".al Shelf off A -- i L’ , i" T i Nic’a• agua • s... .n/ C o.astal St/tm a t .- 3

Griffon Helicopter Neck Strain Project: Part 1: Mission Function Task Analysis and Physical Demands Analysis Report. Part 2: Physical Demands Analysis Library

DTIC Science & Technology

2014-10-01

nor limited to only rotary wing aircraft such as the CH-146 Griffon Helicopter. In fact, it is an international problem that militaries have been...Quality of Life Grant #1725981 and Military Health Program W3931-050513- 001/SV. Perry, C. E., Buhrman, J. R. and Knox, F. S. (1993). Biodynamic testing...a nd P D A Pa ge 1 24 V ig ne tte 1: L og ist ic s S up po rt a nd S ur ve ill an ce M iss io n Fl yi ng P ilo t: M is si on C lo

Changes in the food and feeding of the sardine (Sardinops sagax sagax) during the years 1980-1984 off the Peruvian coast

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Alejandro, Alamo V.; Bouchon, Marilu

1987-12-01

The oceanographic changes produced by the 1982-1983 El Niño event determined qualitative and quantitative alterations of the primary and secondary trophic levels in the Peruvian littoral. These alterations produced variations in the food composition of planktivorous species such as the Peruvian sardine, Sardinops sagax sagax. In the present work, the feeding coefficient for the sardine in the zones off Paita, Callao, Pisco, and Ilo and the negative effects on the biological condition of the species (Fulton's condition factor) are described. Also shown are the qualitative variations in the diet observed before and after the 1982-1983 El Niño event throughout the study area.

Selected Manpower Statistics, FY-1960

DTIC Science & Technology

1961-05-29

l . Cori.I Military 30 Jun 14.O 71,390 - 06,377 2 69,023 137,35 i r r ] 3o,013 160,A7 26,345 Ilo,671 30 Jun : 2,357,1t7 - 1,791,33 1,3U2,315 329,’ 1 i...4314,45, 1,066 1,.,w 321 :,3 , .J64,7 911,54 3430.915 1, ,.01. 67i,’. 19. 39,1132 3) Jim 3,0"’ 3_ 1,599 1,.u , 2’, . ,7"n 4314’ r 4 . .1 ;C;,, 95z...respectie Ser. ice. 5/’ToWa pad employees ". reporte:1 6Tf i11l) to the ZIvl Service Comiis r .; excludes overseas a yp-rt personnel (Indirect mre). c

The export of hazardous industries in 2015.

PubMed

Castleman, Barry

2016-01-19

In the 1970s, there were many reports of toxic hazards at corporate subsidiaries in the developing world that were no longer tolerated in the corporations' "home" countries. Following the chemical disaster in Bhopal, India, in 1984, leading corporations then announced that they applied uniform standards of worker and environmental protection worldwide. With globalization, corporations should also be obliged to take responsibility for their separate supplier, contractor and distributor companies, and licensees of their technology.The asbestos industry today consists of national corporations. Individual countries must overcome the influence of the asbestos-exporting countries and asbestos companies and stop building with asbestos, as recommended by WHO, ILO, and World Bank. WHO precautions for limiting governmental interaction with the tobacco industry should be applied in dealing with the asbestos industry.

[Inequity and health in the workplace: exploring an emergent area].

PubMed

Haro-García, Luis; Aguilar-Madrid, Guadalupe; Juárez-Pérez, Cuauhtémoc A; Aguilar-Rodríguez, Sara D; Flores-Carbajal, Guillermo; Gea-Izquierdo, Enrique; Sánchez-Román, Francisco R

2013-01-01

Work, under fair employment and decent work, reduces inequities in health. Nowadays it seems, however, that obtaining and carrying out a job and worker performance take precedence over the aforementioned attributes. Workers are not only exposed to accidents, diseases caused by various agents, ergonomic and psychosocial risks but also affected by work modes imposed by the "wildmarket", such as the lack of social security benefits. Member countries of the International Labour Organization (ILO) should institute occupational health and safety policies in order to reduce the above mentioned inequities. Nonetheless, governments, which would guarantee such policies, seem to have become intermediaries in favor of large corporations. It is essential to define and strengthen actions that create jobs in decent and appropriate conditions with a view to generating equity, equality, and social well-being.

Social determinants of workers' health in Central America.

PubMed

Aragón, Aurora; Partanen, Timo; Felknor, Sarah; Corriols, Marianela

2011-01-01

This communication summarizes the available data on work-related determinants of health in Central America. The Central American working population is young and moving from agriculture toward industry and services. Ethnicity, gender, migration, subemployment and precarious work, informality, rural conditions, low-level educational, poverty, ubiquitous worksite health hazards, insufficient occupational health services, low labor inspection density, and weak unions define the constellation of social determinants of workers' health in Central America. Data are, however, scanty both for hazards and work-related illnesses and injuries. Governments and industries have the responsibility of opening decent work opportunities, especially for those facing multiple inequalities in social determinants of health. A first step would be the ratification and implementation of the ILO Convention (187) on occupational safety and health by the seven national governments of the region.

Liquefied Natural Gas Storage of Variable Composition / Magazynowanie Skroplonego Gazu Ziemnego O Zmiennym Składzie

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Łaciak, Mariusz

2015-03-01

Thanks to the increasing diversification of LNG supply sources, being a result of the growing number of LNG liquefaction installations over the World, increase of short-term trade contracts and general trend to globally liberalize gas markets, reception terminals have to cope with the broad range of qualitatively diversified LNG deliveries from various sources. Different LNG deliveries potentially have different density caused by different gas composition. Although the LNG composition depends on LNG source, it mainly consists of methane, ethane, propane, butane and trace nitrogen. When a new supply of LNG is transported to the tank, the LNG composition and temperature in the tank can be different from LNG as delivered. This may lead to the liquid stratification in the tank, and consequently the rollover. As a result, LNG rapidly evaporates and the pressure in the tank increases. More and more restrictive safety regulations require fuller understanding of the formation and evolution of layers. The paper is focused on the analysis of liquid stratification in the tank which may take place when storing LNG, and which process leads to the rapid evaporation of considerable quantities of LNG. The aim was to attempt modeling of the process of liquid stratification in an LNG tank. The paper is closed with the results of modelling. Dzięki rosnącej dywersyfikacji źródeł dostaw LNG, spowodowanej zwiększającą się liczbą instalacji skraplania gazu na całym świecie, wzrostem ilości kontraktów krótkoterminowych w handlu i ogólnej tendencji do globalnej liberalizacja rynków gazu, terminale do odbioru muszą radzić sobie z coraz większą gamą różnych jakościowo dostaw LNG z różnych źródeł. Różne dostawy LNG mają potencjalnie inną gęstość dzięki różnym składom gazu. Chociaż kompozycja LNG zależy od źródła, to przede wszystkim składa się z metanu, etanu, propanu, butanu i w śladowych ilościach z azotu. Gdy nowa dostawa LNG jest doprowadzana do zbiornika, skład i temperatura LNG już w zbiorniku może być inny niż dostarczanego. Może to prowadzić do rozwarstwienia cieczy w zbiorniku, a w konsekwencji wystąpienia zjawiska znanego jako "rollover". W wyniku tego zjawiska następuje gwałtowne odparowanie LNG i nagły wzrost ciśnienia w zbiorniku. Coraz bardziej restrykcyjne przepisy dotyczące bezpieczeństwa wymagają pełniejszego zrozumienia zjawiska tworzenia i ewolucji warstw. W artykule przeprowadzono analizę procesu rozwarstwienia cieczy w zbiorniku, mogącego wystąpić podczas magazynowania skroplonego gazu ziemnego, a prowadzącego do gwałtownego odparowania znacznych ilości LNG. Celem była próba modelowania procesu powstawania rozwarstwienia się cieczy w zbiorniku LNG. Przedstawione zostały wyniki modelowania tego zjawiska

Influence of intraocular lens material and design on postoperative intracapsular cellular reactivity.

PubMed Central

Apple, D J

2000-01-01

PURPOSE: To evaluate the influence of intraocular lens (IOL) material and design on the outcome of postoperative lens epithelial cell proliferation within the capsular bag after cataract surgery. METHODS: A total of 5,079 human globes containing rigid and foldable posterior chamber IOL styles commonly implanted in the United States (n = 8) were analyzed in this study. Each globe, fixated in 10% formalin, was sectioned at the equator and analyzed using the Miyake-Apple posterior technique. The study consisted of 3 parts: First, to evaluate posterior capsule opacification (PCO); the Nd:YAG laser posterior capsulotomy rate (%) was documented and plotted on a monthly basis, creating a computerized trend line for each IOL style. Second, to evaluate anterior capsule opacification (ACO); 460 globes were processed for histologic examination. Anterior capsule fibrosis was scored from 0 to III, according to the thickness of proliferative tissue/cells on the inner surface of the anterior capsule at the capsulorhexis margin. Third, interlenticular opacification (ILO) was studied by analysis of 3 pairs of acrylic piggyback lenses that had been explanted because of opacification between their optics. Each IOL pair was processed for histologic examination, and scanning electron microscopy was performed on 1 of the lenses. RESULTS: In the first study, relatively higher Nd:YAG laser posterior capsulotomy rates (19.1% to 32.8%) were noted with the 4 oldest IOL designs in this study (2 foldable lenses, 1 3-piece polymethyl methacrylate [PMMA] design, and 1 single-piece all-PMMA design). Four modern lenses, 1 acrylic lens, and 3 silicone foldable IOL designs had Nd:YAG rates ranging from 1.3% to 14.6% (P < .0001). In the second study, mean ACO scores were highest with silicone-plate lenses (1.77 +/- 0.86 and 1.28 +/- 0.77). The lowest mean score was observed with the acrylic lens (0.51 +/- 0.52; P < .0001). In study 3, the analyses of the 3 pairs of explanted acrylic piggyback lenses showed that the opacification between them (ILO) may have different forms. CONCLUSIONS: Control of postoperative intracapsular cellular proliferation is important in avoiding 3 significant clinical complications. Postoperative lens epithelial cell proliferation is involved in the pathogenesis of PCO, ACO, and ILO, the latter being a newly described form of opacification within the capsular bag related to piggyback IOL implantation. IOL material and design are important factors influencing the outcome of these complications. Images FIGURE 1 FIGURE 2A FIGURE 2B FIGURE 3 FIGURE 4A FIGURE 4B FIGURE 5A FIGURE 5B FIGURE 5C FIGURE 5D FIGURE 5E FIGURE 5F FIGURE 5G FIGURE 5H FIGURE 6 FIGURE 7 FIGURE 8A FIGURE 8B FIGURE 9A FIGURE 9B FIGURE 10A FIGURE 10B FIGURE 10C FIGURE 10D FIGURE 10E FIGURE 10F FIGURE 10G FIGURE 10H FIGURE 11A FIGURE 11B FIGURE 12 FIGURE 13A FIGURE 13B FIGURE 14A FIGURE 14B FIGURE 15A FIGURE 15B FIGURE 16A FIGURE 16B FIGURE 17A FIGURE 17B FIGURE 18A FIGURE 18B FIGURE 18C FIGURE 18D FIGURE 18E FIGURE 19 FIGURE 20 PMID:11190028

A global survey on occupational health services in selected international commission on occupational health (ICOH) member countries.

PubMed

Rantanen, Jorma; Lehtinen, Suvi; Valenti, Antonio; Iavicoli, Sergio

2017-10-05

The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), the International Labour Organization (ILO), the World Health Organization (WHO), the International Commission on Occupational Health (ICOH), and the European Union (EU) have encouraged countries to organize occupational health services (OHS) for all working people irrespective of the sector of economy, size of enterprise or mode of employment of the worker. The objective of this study was to survey the status of OHS in a sample of countries from all continents. A questionnaire focusing on the main aspects of OHS was developed on the basis of ILO Convention No. 161 and several other questionnaire surveys used in various target groups of OHS. The questionnaire was sent to 58 key informants: ICOH National Secretaries. A total of 49 National Secretaries responded (response rate 84.5%), from countries that employ 70% of the total world labour force. The majority of the respondent countries, 67%, had drawn up an OHS policy and implement it with the help of national occupational safety and health (OSH) authorities, institutes of occupational health or respective bodies, universities, and professional associations. Multidisciplinary expert OHS resources were available in the majority (82%) of countries, but varied widely in quantitative terms. The average OHS coverage of workers was 24.8%, with wide variation between countries. In over two thirds (69%) of the countries, the content of services was mixed, consisting of preventive and curative services, and in 29% preventive only. OHS financing was organized according to a mixed model among 63% and by employers only among 33% of the respondents. The majority of countries have drawn up policies, strategies and programmes for OHS. The infrastructures and institutional and human resources for the implementation of strategies, however, remain insufficient in the majority of countries (implementation gap). Qualitatively, the content and multidisciplinary nature of OHS corresponds to international guidance, but the coverage, comprehensiveness and content of services remain largely incomplete due to a lack of infrastructure and shortage of multiprofessional human resources (capacity gap). The estimated coverage of services in the study group was low; only a quarter of the total employed population (coverage gap).

The politics of agenda setting at the global level: key informant interviews regarding the International Labour Organization Decent Work Agenda.

PubMed

Di Ruggiero, Erica; Cohen, Joanna E; Cole, Donald C

2014-07-01

Global labour markets continue to undergo significant transformations resulting from socio-political instability combined with rises in structural inequality, employment insecurity, and poor working conditions. Confronted by these challenges, global institutions are providing policy guidance to protect and promote the health and well-being of workers. This article provides an account of how the International Labour Organization's Decent Work Agenda contributes to the work policy agendas of the World Health Organization and the World Bank. This qualitative study involved semi-structured interviews with representatives from three global institutions--the International Labour Organization (ILO), the World Health Organization and the World Bank. Of the 25 key informants invited to participate, 16 took part in the study. Analysis for key themes was followed by interpretation using selected agenda setting theories. Interviews indicated that through the Decent Work Agenda, the International Labour Organization is shaping the global policy narrative about work among UN agencies, and that the pursuit of decent work and the Agenda were perceived as important goals with the potential to promote just policies. The Agenda was closely linked to the World Health Organization's conception of health as a human right. However, decent work was consistently identified by World Bank informants as ILO terminology in contrast to terms such as job creation and job access. The limited evidence base and its conceptual nature were offered as partial explanations for why the Agenda has yet to fully influence other global institutions. Catalytic events such as the economic crisis were identified as creating the enabling conditions to influence global work policy agendas. Our evidence aids our understanding of how an issue like decent work enters and stays on the policy agendas of global institutions, using the Decent Work Agenda as an illustrative example. Catalytic events and policy precedents were found to contribute positively to agenda setting. Questions remain, however, across key informants about the robustness of the underlying evidence base for this Agenda and what meaningful impacts have been realized on the ground as a result.

The politics of agenda setting at the global level: key informant interviews regarding the International Labour Organization Decent Work Agenda

PubMed Central

2014-01-01

Background Global labour markets continue to undergo significant transformations resulting from socio-political instability combined with rises in structural inequality, employment insecurity, and poor working conditions. Confronted by these challenges, global institutions are providing policy guidance to protect and promote the health and well-being of workers. This article provides an account of how the International Labour Organization’s Decent Work Agenda contributes to the work policy agendas of the World Health Organization and the World Bank. Methods This qualitative study involved semi-structured interviews with representatives from three global institutions – the International Labour Organization (ILO), the World Health Organization and the World Bank. Of the 25 key informants invited to participate, 16 took part in the study. Analysis for key themes was followed by interpretation using selected agenda setting theories. Results Interviews indicated that through the Decent Work Agenda, the International Labour Organization is shaping the global policy narrative about work among UN agencies, and that the pursuit of decent work and the Agenda were perceived as important goals with the potential to promote just policies. The Agenda was closely linked to the World Health Organization’s conception of health as a human right. However, decent work was consistently identified by World Bank informants as ILO terminology in contrast to terms such as job creation and job access. The limited evidence base and its conceptual nature were offered as partial explanations for why the Agenda has yet to fully influence other global institutions. Catalytic events such as the economic crisis were identified as creating the enabling conditions to influence global work policy agendas. Conclusions Our evidence aids our understanding of how an issue like decent work enters and stays on the policy agendas of global institutions, using the Decent Work Agenda as an illustrative example. Catalytic events and policy precedents were found to contribute positively to agenda setting. Questions remain, however, across key informants about the robustness of the underlying evidence base for this Agenda and what meaningful impacts have been realized on the ground as a result. PMID:24986161

Epidemiological study of respiratory disease in workers exposed to polyvinylchloride dust.

PubMed Central

Soutar, C A; Copland, L H; Thornley, P E; Hurley, J F; Ottery, J; Adams, W G; Bennett, B

1980-01-01

The respiratory health of workers exposed to polyvinylchloride (PVC) dust has been investigated in 818 men sampled from the work force of a factory manufacturing PVC. In a cross-sectional survey, the lung function and prevalences of respiratory symptoms and chest radiographic abnormalities were compared with estimates of individual PVC dust exposures based on detailed occupational histories and current measurements of respirable PVC dust. Complaints of slight exertional dyspnoea were associated with PVC dust exposure, though age and smoking effects were much stronger. The forced expired volume in one second (FEV1) and forced vital capacity (FVC) were inversely related to dust exposure after age, height, and smoking effects had been taken into account. This effect was seen principally in cigarette smokers, and there was suggestive evidence that PVC dust exposure and cigarette smoking interacted in the reduction of FEV1 and FVC. Gas transfer factor was not related to dust exposure. The chest radiographs were read according to the ILO U/C classification by three experienced readers. One reader recorded a low prevalence of small rounded opacities, and these were not related to age or dust exposure. Another reader recorded a higher prevalence of small rounded opacities category 0/1 or more, and these were related to age but not to dust exposure. The third reader recorded the highest prevalence of small rounded opacities (though none greater than category 1/1), and these were independently related both to age and to PVC dust exposure, indicating an effect of PVC dust on the appearance of the chest radiography. These appearances were so slight that only the higher sensitivity of this reader in the interpretation of profusion of small rounded opacities on the ILO U/C scale enabled detection of this effect of PVC dust. In conclusion, exposure to PVC dust is associated with some deterioration of lung function, slight abnormalities of the chest radiograph, and complaints of slight dyspnoea. The mean decline in FEV1 associated with the average dust exposure experienced in the study was small, though some of the men with higher dust exposures may have suffered clinically important loss of lung function as a result of their occupation. PMID:7444838

GB277: preview Women 2000. ILO exmaines progress, looks ahead to Beijing + 5.

PubMed

2000-01-01

In the special Symposium on Decent Work for Women, conducted during the Governing Body meeting, the challenge of eliminating gender-based discrimination in the workplace was highlighted. Among the topics discussed were rights-based and development-based approaches; progress and gaps in decent work for men and women; promoting women workers' rights; a gender perspective on poverty, employment and social protection; management development and entrepreneurship for women; and gender in crisis response and reconstructions. This paper presents excerpts of the addresses of key speakers: Juan Somavia, International Labor Organization Director-General; Angela Kin, Special Advisor to the UN on Gender Issues and the Advancement of Women; and Bina Agarwal, Professor of Economics at the University of Delhi. In general, the speakers identified existing obstacles to gender equality, and propose initiatives and actions for the future.

[Reflections on community-based rehabilitation strategy (CBR): the experience of a CBR program in Bolivia].

PubMed

Díaz-Aristizabal, Urko; Sanz-Victoria, Silvia; Sahonero-Daza, Milton; Ledesma-Ocampo, Sandra; Cachimuel-Vinueza, Mesías; Torrico, Marisabel

2012-01-01

Community-Based Rehabilitation (CBR) is a strategy for community development endorsed by the World Health Organization (WHO), the International Labor Office (ILO) and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). It is designed to promote rehabilitation, equal opportunity and social inclusion of Disabled Persons (DP) in their home communities by fostering cooperation among disabled individuals, their families, and other concerned social actors, it encourages community leadership and full social participation by DP through multi-sector cooperation. This article explores the historical antecedents and basic features of CBR strategy through an analysis of a directed culture change initiative developed by a foundation in the Cochabamba administrative region of Bolivia. Especially in intercultural environments, certain aspects of the socio-cultural context may determine whether CBR programs succeed or fail.

[Bronchogenic carcinoma of the lungs in 3 workers with asbestosis employed in the same factory].

PubMed

Herceg, Z; Herceg, K; Car, Z; Remskar, Z; Kovac, S; Beritić, T

1989-01-01

In two female workers (nonsmokers) and in one male worker (a smoker) employed in the same mill with a history of asbestosis, bronchogenic lung carcinoma type adenocarcinoma (women), respectively anaplastic carcinoma (a man) had developed. All the three patients worked in the same area in a spinning-mill. The duration of exposure to asbestos was relatively short (10 to 15 years) in female workers, while the duration of exposure to asbestos was much longer in a male worker (29 years), although it was intermittent. Dyspnea was the main and the only discomfort. In accordance with the International Labour Organization (ILO) classification, a chest radiograph revealed the lesions of s/t 1/2 and s/t 2/1 features. There was also a ventilation deficit (very decreased carbon monoxide diffusing capacity).

The effects of body position on distortion-product otoacoustic emission testing.

PubMed

Driscoll, Carlie; Kei, Joseph; Shyu, Jenny; Fukai, Natasha

2004-09-01

Otoacoustic emissions are frequently acquired from patients in a variety of body positions aside from the standard, seated orientation. Yet little knowledge is available regarding whether these deviations will produce nonpathological changes to the clinical results obtained. The present study aimed to describe the effects of body position on the distortion-product otoacoustic emissions of 60 normal-hearing adults. With particular attention given to common clinical practice, the Otodynamics ILO292, and the measurement parameters of amplitude, signal-to-noise ratio, and noise were utilized. Significant position-related effects and interactions were revealed for all parameters. Specifically, stronger emissions in the mid frequencies and higher noise levels at the extreme low and high frequencies were produced by testing subjects while lying on their side compared with the seated position. Further analysis of body position effects on emissions is warranted, in order to determine the need for clinical application of position-dependent normative data.

A K-Band Low-Power Phase Shifter Based on Injection Locked Oscillator in 0.13 μm CMOS Technology

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Qiu, Qi-Lin; Yu, Xiao-Peng; Sui, Wen-Quan

2017-11-01

In this paper, the design challenges of the injection-locked oscillator (ILO)-based phase shifter are reviewed and analyzed. The key design considerations such as the operating frequency, locking range, and linearity of the phase shifters are analysed in detail. It is possible to optimize the phase shifter in certain parameters such as ultra-low power while meeting the requirements of a certain system. As a design example, a K-band phase shifter is implemented using a commercial 0.13 μm CMOS technology, where a conventional LC tank based topology is implemented but optimised with a good balance among power consumption, working range, sensitivity, and silicon area, etc. Measurement results show that the proposed phase shift is able to work at 22-23.4 GHz with a range of 180∘ while consuming 3.14 mW from a 1.2 V supply voltage.

Risk assessment for safety laboratories in Politeknik Negeri Medan

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Viyata Sundawa, Bakti; Hutajulu, Elferida; Sirait, Regina; Banurea, Waldemar; Indrayadi; Mulyadi, Sangap

2017-09-01

International Labour Organization (ILO) estimated 2.34 million people die each year because accidents and diseases in workplace. It also impact to economic losses in some countries. It need to do safety and healthy in working environment especially in laboratory. Identification of potential hazards and risks must be done in Telecommunication Laboratory Politeknik Negeri Medan. Therefore, this study was assessed 5 of potential hazards and risks in our laboratory by Likert Scale. This object was divided into 2 assessment namely likelihood of hazards and severity of consequences. Collecting data is taken from questionnaire who involved 100 students at random academic level. The result showed The highest score is chemical hazards 73.2% in likelihood of hazards and electrical hazards 85% in severity of consequences. This condition is classified as “high” state. Big attention must be given to “high” state because it can help us to determine mitigate action.

Military Dimensions of Communist Systems

DTIC Science & Technology

1988-06-01

DI 0)~ I -c-i -q -o C ) 1 1 ! c 1 1 -- l d--. - co 0d, 17’~ H N ~ C) ,4; 10 N 0 I Q 0 0o olf 0 ’D ILO W NO co - 1n. -4 - 0... L C--4 n O c r- co(’ LO %DJ - ) ON- - C-4 ’ 0~ -1D 1-1 . W 0 1𔃾L -1 C-’- _;A L C- (IN 1 m I C- (I a% 0!. 0 !’ 0 11 AJ a’( cl DI LON r-14 0 0LD -4 (1...D 4 (n 1) to,- C-jLU) Vf) - C> Ir)U) 17 0 - C1 4 - L 4 0 C ( Di 10r 0 0 0 0 ’A-~ 0 ID a, U) 0 In r- 0 l -- CD 0 r- c C . C C . C C -,A C-a . (0 m1-

Trends in silicosis prevalence and the healthy worker effect among gold miners in South Africa: a prevalence study with follow up of employment status.

PubMed

Knight, David; Ehrlich, Rodney; Fielding, Katherine; Jeffery, Hannah; Grant, Alison; Churchyard, Gavin

2015-12-18

Given the intimate association between silicosis and tuberculosis, understanding the epidemiology of the South African gold mining industry silicosis epidemic is essential to current initiatives to control both silicosis and tuberculosis in this population, one of the most heavily affected globally. The study's objectives were to compare the prevalence of silicosis among working black gold miners in South Africa during 2004-2009 to that of previous studies, including autopsy series, and to analyse the influence of silicosis and/or tuberculosis on exiting employment. Routine chest radiographs from a cohort of gold miners were read for silicosis by an experienced reader (I), and a subset re-read by a B-trained reader (II). Two methods of presenting the readings were used. Additionally, with baseline status of silicosis and previous or active tuberculosis as predictors, survival analysis examined the probability of exiting the workforce for any reason during 2006-2011. Reader I read 11 557 chest radiographs and reader II re-read 841. Overall, silicosis prevalence (ILO ≥ 1/0: 5.7 and 6.2% depending on reader method) was similar to the age adjusted prevalence found in a large study in 1984 (5.0%). When comparison was restricted to a single mine shaft previously studied in 2000, a decline in prevalence (ILO ≥ 1/1) was suggested for one of the reading methods (duration adjusted 20.5% vs. 13.0% in the current study). These findings are discordant with a long-term rising autopsy prevalence of silicosis over this period. Overall, relative to miners with neither disease, the adjusted hazard ratio for exiting employment during the follow-up period was 1.54 for baseline silicosis [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.17, 2.04], 1.71 for tuberculosis (95% CI 1.51, 1.94) and 1.53 for combined disease (95% CI 1.20, 1.96). This study found, a) there was no significant decline in overall silicosis prevalence among working black miners in the South African gold mining industry between 1984 and 2004-2009, and b) a possible decline at one mine shaft more recently. In the absence of evidence of declining respirable silica concentrations between the 1980s and 2000s, the trends found are plausibly due to a healthy worker survivor effect, which may be accelerating.

Provision of social services in Namibia.

PubMed

Kaure, A

1994-03-01

Whereas Namibia is not a welfare state, the government which has emerged from the colonial period is expected to provide social services to address the social inequities of that period. The Constitution requires the government to promote and maintain the welfare of the people by adopting policies to ensure equal opportunities for men and women, access by all to health and education, reasonable assess to public facilities and services, a pension to senior citizens, and just and affordable benefits to the unemployed, the incapacitated, the indigent, and the disadvantaged. The International Labor Organization (ILO) prepared a report on the development of social security in Namibia which stated that the country's social protection schemes are centered on formal sector employees with the financing for those schemes coming from that sector. Within the formal sector, however, there are disparities, and those who have irregular or lower-paid employment are generally less protected. The ILO report calls for reforms which would recognize the relationship between economic development and social policy while putting limited resources to the best possible use. The Director of Social Services, however, has stated that the government may not have the resources to provide such services. For example, there is a widespread need for old-age homes, but no money to provide them. The government must exert its efforts to rectify the inequities of the colonial era such as the provision of pensions based on race. in 1991-92 alone, social pensions totaled 1.8% of the country's gross national produce, yet many people are not reached by the social services staff. The new labor bill and the draft bill on social security will alleviate some, but not all, of these problems. Whereas the social security bill provides for maternity benefits, unemployment benefits are nonexistent and deemed infeasible at the present time. The government's efforts to increase public health have led to the creation of clinics and health facilities in remote areas and a shift to primary health care. These health services are not free but will be provided to citizens who are too poor to pay. The government provides free primary education, but students must pay for secondary and university education. Since most people who benefit from Namibia's limited social security schemes are those urban residents who are formally employed, a shift from delivery of services to a redistribution of income may be the answer to the society's needs.

Strengthening the human rights framework to protect breastfeeding: a focus on CEDAW.

PubMed

Galtry, Judith

2015-01-01

There have been recent calls for increased recognition of breastfeeding as a human right. The United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, 1979 (CEDAW) is the core human rights treaty on women. CEDAW's approach to breastfeeding is considered from an historical perspective. A comparison is drawn with breastfeeding protection previously outlined in the International Labour Organization's Maternity Protection Convention, 1919 (ILO C3), and its 1952 revision (ILO C103), and subsequently, in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, 1989 (CRC). Despite breastfeeding's sex-specific significance to an international human rights treaty on women and CEDAW's emphasis on facilitating women's employment, CEDAW is, in reality, a relatively weak instrument for breastfeeding protection. In both its text and subsequent interpretations explicit recognition of breastfeeding is minimal or nonexistent. Explanations for this are proposed and contextualised in relation to various political, social and economic forces, especially those influencing notions of gender equality. During the mid to late 1970s -when CEDAW was formulated - breastfeeding posed a strategic challenge for key feminist goals, particularly those of equal employment opportunity, gender neutral childrearing policy and reproductive rights. Protective legislation aimed at working women had been rejected as outdated and oppressive. Moreover, the right of women to breastfeed was generally assumed, with choice over infant feeding practices often perceived as the right NOT to breastfeed. There was also little awareness or analysis of the various structural obstacles to breastfeeding's practice, such as lack of workplace support, that undermine 'choice'. Subsequent interpretations of CEDAW show that despite significant advances in scientific and epidemiological knowledge about breastfeeding's importance for short-term and long-term maternal health, breastfeeding continues to be inadequately addressed in international human rights law on women. A comparison is made with CRC and its subsequent elaborations. Increasing recognition of the need to protect, promote and support breastfeeding within the framework of CRC but not that of CEDAW suggests that breastfeeding is regarded primarily as a children's rights issue but only minimally as a women's rights issue. The human rights framework requires strengthening in every direction to protect, promote and support breastfeeding. Discussion is needed regarding whether a separate strengthening of the international human rights framework on women is required with regard to breastfeeding.

Association between spending on social protection and tuberculosis burden: a global analysis.

PubMed

Siroka, Andrew; Ponce, Ninez A; Lönnroth, Knut

2016-04-01

The End TB Strategy places great emphasis on increasing social protection and poverty alleviation programmes. However, the role of social protection on controlling tuberculosis has not been examined fully. We analysed the association between social protection spending and tuberculosis prevalence, incidence, and mortality globally. We used publicly available data from WHO's Global Tuberculosis Programme for tuberculosis burden in terms of yearly incidence, prevalence, and mortality per 100,000 people, and social protection data from the International Labour Organization (ILO), expressed as the percentage of national gross domestic product (GDP) spent on social protection programmes (excluding health). Data from ILO were from 146 countries covering the years between 2000 and 2012. We used descriptive assessments to examine levels of social protection and tuberculosis burden for each country, then used these assessments to inform our fully adjusted multivariate regression models. Our models controlled for economic output, adult HIV prevalence, health expenditure, population density, the percentage of foreign-born residents, and the strength of the national tuberculosis treatment programme, and also incorporated a country-level fixed effect to adjust for clustering of datapoints within countries. Overall, social protection spending levels were inversely associated with tuberculosis prevalence, incidence, and mortality. For a country spending 0% of their GDP on social protection, moving to spending 1% of their GDP was associated with a change of -18·33 per 100,000 people (95% CI -32·10 to -4·60; p=0·009) in prevalence, -8·16 per 100,000 people (-16·00 to -0·27; p=0·043) in incidence, and -5·48 per 100,000 people (-9·34 to -1·62; p=0·006) in mortality. This association was mitigated at higher levels of social protection spending, and lost significance when more than 11% of GDP was spent. Our findings suggest that investments in social protection could contribute to a reduced tuberculosis burden, especially in countries that are investing a small proportion of their GDP in this area. However, further research is needed to support these ecological associations. National Institutes of Health National Center for Advancing Translational Science (University of California, Los Angeles [CA, USA] Clinical and Translational Science Institute). Copyright © 2016 World Health Organization. Published by Elsevier Ltd/Inc/BV. All rights reserved. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.

Comparative study on demographic-economic model-building for three selected countries of the ESCAP region.

PubMed

1980-01-01

The research project involves building models for 3 selected ESCAP countries, Indonesia, Japan, and the Republic of Korea, which are at different stages of demographic transition. This project involves country level research workd esigned, implemented, and monitored with the assistance of ESCAP. Accordingly the 1st Study Directors' Meeting was held in Bangkok during November 16-30, 1979 in a series of informal interactive working sessions for Study Directors, modelling experts, and resource persons. The participants were Study Directors from the above mentioned countries and a few experts from Malaysia, Thailand, ILO, UNRISD, and IBRD. The main objective of the meeting was to help finance the basic model framework in order that National Study Directors will be able to commence their modelling work after the Meeting. As evidenced by the Report of the 1st Study Directors' Meeting, this objective was achieved. Following this meeting, the 3 case studies are being simultaneously undertaken in countries by national study teams with technical support provided by ESCAP.

Methodological proposal for occupational health and safety actions in research laboratories with nanotechnologies activities.

PubMed

Andrade, Luís Renato Balbão; Amaral, Fernando Gonçalves

2012-01-01

Nanotechnologies is a multidisciplinary set of techniques to manipulate matter on nanoscale level, more precisely particles below 100 nm whose characteristic due to small size is essentially different from those found in macro form materials. Regarding to these new properties of the materials there are knowledge gaps about the effects of these particles on human organism and the environment. Although it still being considered emerging technology it is growing increasingly fast as well as the number of products using nanotechnologies in some production level and so the number of researchers involved with the subject. Given this scenario and based on literature related, a comprehensive methodology for health and safety at work for researching laboratories with activities in nanotechnologies was developed, based on ILO structure guidelines for safety and health at work system on which a number of nanospecific recommendations were added to. The work intends to offer food for thought on controlling risks associated to nanotechnologies.

Promotion of a healthy work life at small enterprises in Thailand by participatory methods.

PubMed

Krungkraiwong, Sudthida; Itani, Toru; Amornratanapaichit, Ratanaporn

2006-01-01

The major problems of small enterprises include unfavourable working conditions and environment that affect safety and health of workers. The WISE (Work Improvement in Small Enterprises) methodology developed by the ILO has been widely applied to improve occupational safety and health in small enterprises in Thailand. The participatory methods building on local good practices and focusing on practicable improvements have proven effective in controlling the occupational hazards in these enterprises at their sources. As a result of applying the methods in small-scale industries, the frequency of occupational accidents was reduced and the working environment actually improved in the cases studied. The results prove that the participatory approach taken by the WISE activities is a useful and effective tool to make owner/managers and workers in small enterprises voluntarily improve their own working conditions and environment. In promoting a healthy work life at small enterprises in Thailand, it is important to further develop and spread the approach.

[Level of implementation of the Program for Safety and Health at Work in Antioquia, Colombia].

PubMed

Vega-Monsalve, Ninfa Del Carmen

2017-07-13

This study describes the level of implementation of the Program for Safety and Health at Work in companies located in the Department of Antioquia, Colombia, and associated factors. A cross-sectional survey included 73 companies with more than 50 workers each and implementation of the program. A total of 65 interviews were held, in addition to 73 checklists and process reviews. The companies showed suboptimal compliance with the management model for workplace safety and health proposed by the International Labor Organization (ILO). The component with the best development was Organization (87%), and the worst was Policy (67%). Company executives contended that the causes of suboptimal implementation were the limited commitment by area directors and scarce budget resources. Risk management mostly aimed to comply with the legal requirements in order to avoid penalties, plus documenting cases. There was little implementation of effective checks and controls to reduce the sources of work accidents. The study concludes that workers' health management lacks effective strategies.

Health hazards from fine asbestos dusts. An analysis of 70,656 occupational preventive medical investigations from 1973 to the end of 1986.

PubMed

Raithel, H J; Weltle, D; Bohlig, H; Valentin, H

1989-01-01

For the period from 1973 to the end of 1986, 70,656 data sets on occupational preventive medical examinations in employees exposed occupationally to asbestos dust (G 1.2) were made available to us by the Central Registry for Employees Exposed to Asbestos Dust (ZAS). On the basis of this data, an analysis of asbestosis risk was to be made in relation to specific areas of work, taking into consideration the beginning and duration of exposure. Proceedings for declaratory appraisal in accordance with occupational disease no. 4103 were instituted in 1760 cases in the report period. In accordance with the character of the available data, the X-ray findings in the lungs were available from the persons investigated as parameters of possible asbestosis risk on the basis of coding consistent with the International Pneumoconiosis Classification (ILO U/C 1971 and/or ILO 1980 West Germany). The major result of the statistical analyses on the mainframe macrocomputer of the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg was that the relatively highest risk of asbestosis was present in persons whose exposure began before 1955. On the other hand, with increasing duration of exposure, an unequivocal rise of the asbestosis risk could not be detected on the basis of the overall population. In relation to the individual fields of work, the relatively highest risk of asbestosis was shown to be in the asbestos textile and paper industry, as well as in the asbestos cement industry. No detectable risk of asbestosis was present in the fields of mining, traffic and health service and for women in the industrial sectors of building material, gas and water, catering trade, building, commerce as well as banking and insurance. Accordingly, it can be assumed that certain fields of work are or were exposed to such a small extent or not at all that a risk of asbestosis which is relevant in terms of occupational medicine is no longer to be assumed or was not to be assumed. This applies above all to certain work in the frictional coating (brake lining) and asbestos paper industry. Furthermore, the analysis of the data material did not provide any unequivocal indications that inhalative smoking habits have a negative effect on the risk of asbestosis. In principle, it can be stated that the occupational preventive medical investigations according to G 1.2 are effective.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Stability of Selected PAHs in Sewage Sludge/ Stabilność Wybranych Wwa W Osadach Ściekowych

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Włodarczyk-Makuła, Maria

2014-09-01

The aim of the investigations was to estimate the half-life of selected PAHs in sewage sludge. Five hydrocarbons selected from 16 PAHs- EPA were chosen. In this study, the quantity changes in the concentration 3- and 4-ring of PAHs in sewage sludges were investigated. Sewage sludges were stored under aerobic conditions for 12 weeks. At the same time the sewage sludges with the added sodium azide, in order to deactivate the microorganisms (abiotic samples), were also stored. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry was used to qualify and quantify PAHs in 2-week intervals. Sewage sludges were taken from a municipal wastewater treatment plant. Under experimental conditions the half-lives of individual compounds were diversed. In biotic samples halflife of hydrocarbons was in the range of 19 to 368 days. Half-life of PAHs in abiotic sewage sludges was in the range of 31 to 2961 days. The most persistent were phenanthrene. Celem badań była ocena trwałości WWA w warunkach składowania poprzez wyznaczenie czasu połowicznego rozpadu. Określono zmiany ilościowe WWA w osadach przechowywanych w warunkach tlenowych przez 12 tygodni. W tych samych warunkach pozostawały także osady, w których zahamowano aktywność mikroorganizmów poprzez dodatek azydku sodu. Ilościową analizę WWA prowadzono z wykorzystaniem zestawu GC-MS w odstępach 2-tygodniowych równolegle w osadach biotycznych i abiotycznych. Oznaczano pięć WWA (fluoren, fenentren, antracen, fluoranten, piren), które znajdują się wśród 16 związków podanych na liście EPA. Osady pobrano dwukrotnie z oczyszczalni ścieków komunalnych, które w praktyce kierowane są na składowisko. Zawartość początkowa WWA w osadach była na poziomie 346μg/kg.s.m. W warunkach prowadzonego eksperymentu czas połowicznego rozkładu był zróżnicowany dla poszczególnych związków. W osadach aktywnych biologicznie czas połowicznego rozpadu badanych węglowodorów był w granicach od 19 do 368 dób. Czas połowicznego rozpadu wyznaczony dla WWA w osadach nieaktywnych biologicznie pozostawał w zakresie od 31 do 2961 dób.

An Economic Model of Future Coal/Densified Refuse-Derived Fuel Use at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio.

DTIC Science & Technology

1981-09-01

9118 21.5 18.7 27.0 7.5 21 Jul 7845 17.9 23.3 23.5 4.4 22 Jul 9345 18.3 22.2 18.2 15.2 23 Jul 7922 15.9 8.9 19.8 14.0 24 Jul 8177 21.3 18.7 21.2 16.5...40 0 P- 41 40 %0 Ch 0 .) 0 A0 $4 r. UU W - 4 C’f -W .1 H4 IV𔃾 .r44 448 ot (a0 (’ e 4 0 r- :j 4.) r-f t- o: 0n to N .. IU) 4.1 41 N 1 *, tS% H-. to...4J . t 4) 9 1 4 4)0 Ch M oa𔃾 03 Ř A*r04 ’.10 U) o 0 tv 00 .A tn a Ln U1 J Sl:3 to LA 4)r- rz4IL~o-~’.4J $r- ’ 4) -I r. N4 o I~% r ’.~r-4 to * *l * 0

Asbestotic radiological abnormalities among United States merchant marine seamen.

PubMed

Selikoff, I J; Lilis, R; Levin, G

1990-05-01

There has been limited information concerning the prevalence of radiologically evident parenchymal and pleural fibrosis consistent with prior exposure to asbestos among merchant marine seamen, despite the wide use of asbestos in ship construction until the late 1970s and subsequent exposure of seamen to the asbestos that had been installed. A total of 3324 chest radiographs (1985-7) of long term United States seamen were reviewed. One third (34.8%) had parenchymal or pleural abnormalities, or both (ILO classification); pleural changes were predominant. Abnormalities increased with longer duration from onset of shipboard exposure (as defined by first year at sea). The prevalence of asbestotic changes was greater among seamen who had served in the engine department (391/420; 42.5%) compared with seamen in other departments, including deck (301/820; 36.6%), steward (278/981; 28.4%), or with service in multiple departments (167/541; 30.9%). Since many vessels, particularly those built before 1978, contain asbestos materials, appropriate engineering controls (including complete removal, if possible) are required as well as appropriate medical surveillance for those who served aboard such ships.

Asbestotic radiological abnormalities among United States merchant marine seamen.

PubMed Central

Selikoff, I J; Lilis, R; Levin, G

1990-01-01

There has been limited information concerning the prevalence of radiologically evident parenchymal and pleural fibrosis consistent with prior exposure to asbestos among merchant marine seamen, despite the wide use of asbestos in ship construction until the late 1970s and subsequent exposure of seamen to the asbestos that had been installed. A total of 3324 chest radiographs (1985-7) of long term United States seamen were reviewed. One third (34.8%) had parenchymal or pleural abnormalities, or both (ILO classification); pleural changes were predominant. Abnormalities increased with longer duration from onset of shipboard exposure (as defined by first year at sea). The prevalence of asbestotic changes was greater among seamen who had served in the engine department (391/420; 42.5%) compared with seamen in other departments, including deck (301/820; 36.6%), steward (278/981; 28.4%), or with service in multiple departments (167/541; 30.9%). Since many vessels, particularly those built before 1978, contain asbestos materials, appropriate engineering controls (including complete removal, if possible) are required as well as appropriate medical surveillance for those who served aboard such ships. PMID:2357448

Southern Peru desert shattered by the great 2001 earthquake: Implications for paleoseismic and paleo-El Nino-Southern Oscillation records

USGS Publications Warehouse

Keefer, David K.; Moseley, Michael E.

2004-01-01

In the desert region around the coastal city of Ilo, the great southern Peru earthquake of June 23, 2001 (8.2-8.4 moment magnitude), produced intense and widespread ground-failure effects. These effects included abundant landslides, pervasive ground cracking, microfracturing of surficial hillslope materials, collapse of drainage banks over long stretches, widening of hillside rills, and lengthening of first-order tributary channels. We have coined the term "shattered landscape" to describe the severity of these effects. Long-term consequences of this landscape shattering are inferred to include increased runoff and sediment transport during postearthquake rainstorms. This inference was confirmed during the first minor postearthquake rainstorm there, which occurred in June and July of 2002. Greater amounts of rainfall in this desert region have historically been associated with El Nin??o events. Previous studies of an unusual paleoflood deposit in this region have concluded that it is the product of El Nin??o-generated precipitation falling on seismically disturbed landscapes. The effects of the 2001 earthquake and 2002 rainstorm support that conclusion.

Cement dust exposition and bronchioalveolitis. A case report.

PubMed

Soto-de la Fuente, Andrés Eduardo; Méndez-Vargas, María Martha; Báez-Revueltas, Fabiola Berenice; Soto-Vera, Eduardo Andrés

2015-01-01

The goal of the current investigation was to report an unusual case of a worker acutely exposed to big amounts of cement dust. This exposure caused chemical bronchioalveolitis and dermatitis due to chromium contact. This person suffered the exposure when a cement deposit exploded at work. This exposed the worker to big amounts of cement dust. After the accident, the individual suffered dyspnea and bilateral basal pulmonary crackles. The subject also presented an atypical restrictive pattern, which could also be seen on X-rays as 1/1 q/q images of the classification of 2000 of the International Labour Organization (ILO), and a bulging of a pulmonary artery. A restrictive pattern pure atypical was observed, and arterial blood gas with hipoxemia. A treatment with steroids was prescribed and the worker showed some improvement. There is high risk of developing pulmonary fibrosis with the progressive evolution in stages of the bronchioalveolitis, even when the subject is isolated. Therefore, it would be very convenient to create a specialized medical center where workers that have this kind of accidents can have the proper care by qualified personnel.

Lessons learned in building a global information network on chemicals (GINC).

PubMed

Kaminuma, Tsuguchika

2005-09-01

The Global Information Network on Chemicals (GINC) was a project to construct a worldwide information network linking international, national, and other organizations working for the safe management of chemicals. Proposed in 1993, the project started the next year and lasted almost 10 years. It was begun as a joint project of World Health Organization (WHO), International Labor Organization (ILO), and United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), and later endorsed by the Intergovernmental Forum on Chemical Safety (IFCS). Asia, particularly East Asia and the Pacific islands, was chosen as the feasibility study region. The author's group then at the National Institute of Health Sciences (NIHS) of Japan led this initiative and hosted numerous meetings. At these meetings, tutorial sessions for communicating chemical safety expertise and emerging new information technologies relevant to the safe management of chemicals were offered. Our experience with this project, particularly the Web-based system and the tutorial sessions, may be of use to others involved with Web-based instruction and the training of chemical safety specialists from both developed and developing countries.

The importance of TVET and its contribution to sustainable development

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Paryono

2017-09-01

Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) has been gaining its popularity and considered as the driving force for sustainable development. TVET is also considered highly in strategic and operational priorities of the G20, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), and of multilateral organizations such as the International Labour Organization (ILO), UNESCO, ASEAN, and SEAMEO. As reflected in Shanghai Consensus, TVET systems need sustained transformation and revitalization if TVET is to realize its enormous potential to impact development. This paper will elaborate relevant policies considered as major drivers for promoting TVET at global, regional, and national levels. The paper also shares TVET initiatives in response the policies, especially in meeting the labour market demands in the 21st century. Lastly, the paper highlights TVET contribution to sustainable development, particularly on the sustainable environmental development, including green jobs. The integration of sustainable development into TVET curriculum, learning contents, and also school policies and practices are important indicators to consider. The paper was based secondary data and documents from the meetings and also reports.

[Employment of People with Mental Disorders in Terms of the Policies Developed by the European and International Institutions].

PubMed

Joly, Laurène

Objectives The aim of this article is to present an overview of the reflections led by various European and international organizations on the employment of people with mental disorders.Methods This study is based on data from websites of international organizations and interviews taken place with a disability specialist at the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and members of the European Commission.Results Unlike the French law of 11 February 2005 which refers expressly to psychic disability, this notion is not explicitly dedicated by various European and international legal rules. However, these standards like the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities have adopted the contemporary model which presents disability as the result of an interaction between person and environment. Thus they acknowledge that disabled people include people suffering from mental disorders because in the person's environment, a psychiatric impairment could lead to limitations of activities or restrictions of social participation that constitute a situation of disability of psychiatric origin. Therefore, the legal mechanisms often do not provide appropriate answers to the characteristics of psychiatric disability.Besides, negative attitudes, stereotypes and discrimination towards people with a psychiatric disability are still observed in the workplace, in spite of intensified anti-discrimination legislation.This study inventories the different proposals to remedy to substantial barriers to the employment of people with a psychiatric condition. In the European Union's strategy for increasing the employment of these persons, particular consideration is given to put forward a series of key recommendations to improve practices of reasonable accommodation in the workplace. Nonetheless, it must be emphasized that it is necessary to conceive adequate measures in order to take into account the changeability and the unpredictability of mental disorders. Indeed, situations of psychiatric disability require flexibility and reactivity more than any other situation of disability. The discrimination experienced by people with a psychiatric disability is likely to continue as long as specific responses are not implemented. In this perspective, ILO highlights a number of best practices addressing the challenges of psychiatric disabled people's employment. That is why a disability network was created to share knowledge. The great added value of this network is the opportunity to share best practices between companies, best practices between countries in order to increase the ability to include people with mental disorders. Focus is put on strategies to combat discrimination in employment, by raising awareness, exploring measures and good practices to improve mental health in the workplace.Conclusion Finally, this study shows similar challenges in the prevention of the mental health and the issue of the psychiatric handicap, including to remedy to the insufficient attention paid to provide reasonable accommodation to persons with mental disorders.

[Informatics support for risk assessment and identification of preventive measures in small and micro-enterprises: occupational hazard datasheets].

PubMed

de Merich, D; Forte, Giulia

2011-01-01

Risk assessment is the fundamental process of an enterprise's prevention system and is the principal mandatory provision contained in the Health and Safety Law (Legislative Decree 81/2008) amended by Legislative Decree 106/2009. In order to properly comply with this obligation also in small-sized enterprises, the appropriate regulatory bodies should provide the enterprises with standardized tools and methods for identifying, assessing and managing risks. To assist in particular small and micro-enterprises (SMEs) with risk assessment, by providing a flexible tool that can also be standardized in the form of a datasheet, that can be updated with more detailed information on the various work contexts in Italy. Official efforts to provide Italian SMEs with information may initially make use of the findings of research conducted by ISPESL over the past 20 years, thanks in part to cooperation with other institutions (Regions, INAIL-National Insurance Institute for Occupational Accidents and Diseases), which have led to the creation of an information system on prevention consisting of numerous databases, both statistical and documental ("National System of Surveillance on fatal and serious accidents", "National System of Surveillance on work-related diseases", "Sector hazard profiles" database, "Solutions and Best Practices" database, "Technical Guidelines" database, "Training packages for prevention professionals in enterprises" database). With regard to evaluation criteria applicable within the enterprise, the possibility of combining traditional and uniform areas of assessment (by sector or by risk factor) with assessments by job/occupation has become possible thanks to the cooperation agreement made in 2009 by ISPESL, the ILO (International Labour Organisation) of Geneva and IIOSH (Israel Institute for Occupational Health and Hygiene) regarding the creation of an international Database (HDODB) based on risk datasheets per occupation. The project sets out to assist in particular small and micro-enterprises with risk assessment, providing a flexible and standardized tool in the form of a datasheet, that can be updated with more detailed information on the various work contexts in Italy. The model proposed by ISPESL selected the ILO's "Hazard Datasheet on Occupation" as an initial information tool to steer efforts to assess and manage hazards in small and micro-enterprises. In addition to being an internationally validated tool, the occupation datasheet has a very simple structure that is very effective in communicating and updating information in relation to the local context. According to the logic based on the providing support to enterprises by means of a collaborative network among institutions, local supervisory services and social partners, standardised hazard assessment procedures should be, irrespective of any legal obligations, the preferred tools of an "updatable information system" capable of providing support for the need to improve the process of assessing and managing hazards in enterprises.

Present principles of workers' health care organization in Poland and directions of future changes.

PubMed

Dawydzik, L; Izycki, J; Kopias, J

1993-01-01

The present-day legal regulations on workers' health care are far from satisfactory. The work on the modification of the occupational health service has been carried out for the last two years although the preparatory activities started much earlier. In May 1991, under the initiative of the Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine in Lodz, the bill on the Labor Code has been amended so that it would regulate the employer's responsibilities with respect to providing health care for workers and to participating in respective costs. These activities have overrun the more general ones pertaining to the reform of the national health service in Poland. Under conditions of the growing free market economy the previously operated organizational system of health care for workers has become out-of-date and needs immediate modification to adjust it to the new economic situation. Evidently, the trends and rate of the policy in this respect have been considerably influenced by the more general activities to make Poland associated with the European Community and hence to develop an occupational health care system which would take into consideration the principles of the Charter of Social Rights of the EEC as well as of the ILO Conventions.

Participatory approach to improving safety, health and working conditions in informal economy workplaces in Cambodia.

PubMed

Kawakami, Tsuyoshi; Tong, Leng; Kannitha, Yi; Sophorn, Tun

2011-01-01

The present study aimed to improve safety and health in informal economy workplaces such as home workplaces, small construction sites, and rural farms in Cambodia by using "participatory" approach. The government, workers' and employers' organizations and NGOs jointly assisted informal economy workers in improving safety and health by using participatory training methodologies. The steps taken were: (1) to collect existing good practices in safety and health in Cambodia; (2) to develop new participatory training programmes for home workers and small construction sites referring to ILO's WISE training programme, and (3) to train government officers, workers, employers and NGOs as safety and health trainers. The participatory training programmes developed consisted of action-checklists associated with illustrations, good example photo sheets, and texts explaining practical, low-cost improvement measures. The established safety and health trainers reached many informal economy workers through their human networks, and trained them by using the developed participatory training programmes. More than 3,000 informal economy workers were trained and they implemented improvements by using low-cost methods. Participatory training methodologies and active cooperation between the government, workers, employers and NGOs made it possible to provide practical training for those involved in the informal economy workplaces.

Decent Work: A Psychological Perspective

PubMed Central

Blustein, David L.; Olle, Chad; Connors-Kellgren, Alice; Diamonti, A. J.

2016-01-01

This contribution, which serves as the lead article for the Research Topic entitled “From Meaning of Working to Meaningful Lives: The Challenges of Expanding Decent Work,” explores current challenges in the development and operationalization of decent work. Based on an initiative from the International Labor Organization [ILO] (1999) decent work represents an aspirational statement about the quality of work that should be available to all people who seek to work around the globe. Within recent years, several critiques have been raised about decent work from various disciplines, highlighting concerns about a retreat from the social justice ethos that had initially defined the concept. In addition, other scholars have observed that decent work has not included a focus on the role of meaning and purpose at work. To address these concerns, we propose that a psychological perspective can help to revitalize the decent work agenda by infusing a more specific focus on individual experiences and by reconnecting decent work to its social justice origins. As an illustration of the advantages of a psychological perspective, we explore the rise of precarious work and also connect the decent work agenda to the Psychology-of-Working Framework and Theory (Blustein, 2006; Duffy et al., 2016). PMID:27047430

Strategies for risk assessment and control in welding: challenges for developing countries.

PubMed

Hewitt, P J

2001-06-01

Metal arc welding ranges from primitive (manual) to increasingly complex automated welding processes. Welding occupies 1% of the labour force in some industrialised countries and increasing knowledge of health risks, necessitating improved assessment strategies and controls have been identified by the International Institute of Welding (IIW), ILO, WHO and other authoritative bodies. Challenges for developing countries need to be addressed. For small scale production and repair work, predominantly by manual metal arc on mild steel, the focus in developing economies has correctly been on control of obvious physical and acute health affects. Development introduces more sophisticated processes and hazards. Work pieces of stainless steel and consumables with chromium, nickel and manganese constituents are used with increasingly complex semi-manual or automated systems involving variety of fluxes or gasses. Uncritical adoption of new welding technologies by developing countries potentiates future health problems. Control should be integral at the design stage, otherwise substantive detriments and later costs can ensue. Developing countries need particular guidance on selection of the optimised welding consumables and processes to minimise such detriments. The role of the IIW and the MFRU are described. Applications of occupational hygiene principals of prevention and control of welding fume at source by process modification are presented.

Barriers and Facilitators to the Elimination of Asbestos Related Diseases—Stakeholders’ Perspectives

PubMed Central

Martuzzi, Marco; Schröder-Bäck, Peter; Paunovic, Elizabet

2017-01-01

Despite sound scientific knowledge and evidence that any exposure to asbestos fibers in all of its forms, are carcinogenic to humans, its presence, use and trade is still substantial, including in the World Health Organization (WHO) European Region. Banning the production and use of all forms of asbestos, as recommended by the International Labour Organization (ILO) and WHO, has been proven as the most efficient evidence-based strategy to eliminate Asbestos Related Diseases (ARDs). To effectively move elimination of ARDs forward, attaining a greater understanding of key stakeholders perspectives was identified as an important action. The WHO Regional Office for Europe, the European Centre for Environment and Health, undertook semi-structured interviews, and follow-up discussions with diverse representatives dealing professionally with asbestos. The interview questionnaire was developed based on the current ARDs WHO Report, the Evidence Implementation Model for Public Health and categories of the theory of diffusion. Data were attained on three main questions within the interview questionnaire: (1) Identifying barriers to implementation of WHO evidence-based asbestos recommendations; (2) Describing roles of key stakeholders; and, (3) Proposing possible solutions. The results demonstrated use of sound and convincing scientific evidence along with economic evidence and facilitators can be used to achieve evidence-based policy development, and comprehensive diverse actions. PMID:29065497

Barriers and Facilitators to the Elimination of Asbestos Related Diseases-Stakeholders' Perspectives.

PubMed

Vincenten, Joanne; George, Frank; Martuzzi, Marco; Schröder-Bäck, Peter; Paunovic, Elizabet

2017-10-22

Despite sound scientific knowledge and evidence that any exposure to asbestos fibers in all of its forms, are carcinogenic to humans, its presence, use and trade is still substantial, including in the World Health Organization (WHO) European Region. Banning the production and use of all forms of asbestos, as recommended by the International Labour Organization (ILO) and WHO, has been proven as the most efficient evidence-based strategy to eliminate Asbestos Related Diseases (ARDs). To effectively move elimination of ARDs forward, attaining a greater understanding of key stakeholders perspectives was identified as an important action. The WHO Regional Office for Europe, the European Centre for Environment and Health, undertook semi-structured interviews, and follow-up discussions with diverse representatives dealing professionally with asbestos. The interview questionnaire was developed based on the current ARDs WHO Report, the Evidence Implementation Model for Public Health and categories of the theory of diffusion. Data were attained on three main questions within the interview questionnaire: (1) Identifying barriers to implementation of WHO evidence-based asbestos recommendations; (2) Describing roles of key stakeholders; and, (3) Proposing possible solutions. The results demonstrated use of sound and convincing scientific evidence along with economic evidence and facilitators can be used to achieve evidence-based policy development, and comprehensive diverse actions.

Calculation of the Raman intensity in graphene and carbon nanotubes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Moutinho, Marcus; Venezuela, Pedro

2014-03-01

Raman spectroscopy is one of the most important experimental techniques for characterization of carbon materials because it can give a lot of information about electronic and phonon structure in a non destructive way. We use a third-order quantum field model to obtain the theoretical Raman intensity for graphene and carbon nanotubes (CNT). The most important Raman peaks in graphitic materials comes from to the iLo and iTo phonon branches near to Γ and K points and, in this work, we focus our attention on some of these peaks, like the G, D and 2D bands, as a function of laser energy. The electronic and phonon dispersion used in our calculations reproduces the graphene ab initio results with GW corrections and the zone folding method is used to obtain the CNT ones. Our results show that the experimental G band Raman excitation profile for CNT can be reproduced if we use the proper electronic and phonon dispersions. We also show that the phonon dispersion may influence the shape of the graphene D band and the dispersive behavior of the 2D band for graphene and CNT. This work was supported by the Brazilian Nanocarbon Institute of Science and Technology (INCT/Nanocarbono), the Brazilian Network on Carbon Nanotube Research and the Brazilian agency CAPES

Feature article: adoption of an official ISEA glossary

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Zartarian, Valerie; Bahadori, Tina; McKone, Thomas

2004-09-15

The International Society for Exposure Analysis (ISEA) and its Nomenclature Committee have been involved since the mid-1990s in an intermittent but ongoing effort to develop an official ISEA glossary. Several related activities have stimulated greater interest and discussion nationally and internationally on a common exposure language. Among these activities are a 1997 Journal of Exposure Analysis and Environmental Epidemiology feature article on exposure and dose definitions and a 1999-initiated project of the International Programme on Chemical Safety (IPCS) (WHO/ILO/UNEP) to confront terminology issues hindering harmonization in the area of exposure assessment. Recently the ISEA members voted in support of adoptingmore » the IPCS glossary as the official ISEA glossary, and the ISEA Executive Board agreed to accept this recommendation. In this feature article we (1) describe the process through which the ISEA adopted the IPCS glossary as the official ISEA glossary, (2) present the joint IPC S/ISEA glossary of terms and their definitions, and (3) discuss plans for how the glossary can be used by ISEA and updated over time by ISEA and IPCS. The glossary is intended to be a living document that reflects the latest usage and maintains international harmonization of exposure terminology that can be practically applied to improve communication in exposure and related fields.« less

Adoption of an official ISEA glossary.

PubMed

Zartarian, Valerie; Bahadori, Tina; McKone, Tom

2005-01-01

The International Society for Exposure Analysis (ISEA) and its Nomenclature Committee have been involved since the mid-1990s in an intermittent but ongoing effort to develop an official ISEA glossary. Several related activities have stimulated greater interest and discussion nationally and internationally on a common exposure language. Among these activities are a 1997 Journal of Exposure Analysis and Environmental Epidemiology feature article on exposure and dose definitions and a 1999-initiated project of the International Programme on Chemical Safety (IPCS) (WHO/ILO/UNEP) to confront terminology issues hindering harmonization in the area of exposure assessment. Recently, the ISEA members voted in support of adopting the IPCS glossary as the official ISEA glossary, and the ISEA Executive Board agreed to accept this recommendation. In this feature article, we (1) describe the process through which the ISEA adopted the IPCS glossary as the official ISEA glossary, (2) present the joint IPCS/ISEA glossary of terms and their definitions, and (3) discuss plans for how the glossary can be used by ISEA and updated over time by ISEA and IPCS. The glossary is intended to be a living document that reflects the latest usage and maintains international harmonization of exposure terminology that can be practically applied to improve communication in exposure and related fields.

Staff-related access deficit and antenatal care coverage across the NUTS level 1 regions of Turkey.

PubMed

Yardim, Mahmut S

2010-01-01

At the heart of each health system, the workforce is central to advancing health. The World Health Organization has identified a threshold in workforce density below which high coverage of essential interventions, including those necessary to meet the health-related Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), is very unlikely. The International Labor Organization (ILO) has launched a similar indicator -staff related access deficit- using Thailand's health care professional density as a benchmark. The aim of this study is to assess the staff-related access deficit of the population across the 12 NUTS 1 level regions of Turkey. The main hypothesis is that staff-related access deficit has a correlation with and predicts the gap in antenatal care coverage (percentage of women unable to access to antenatal care) across different regions. Staff-related access deficit, as a threshold indicator, seems to have a linear relationship with the antenatal care coverage gap. The known inequalities in the distribution of the health care workforce among different regions of Turkey were put forward once more in this study using the SRA indicator. The staff-related access deficit indicator can be easily used to monitor the status of distributional inequalities of the health care workforce at different sub-national levels in the future.

Special problems experienced with pesticide use in developing countries.

PubMed

el Sebae, A H

1993-06-01

The developing countries comprise more than 75% of the total world population covering most of Africa, Asia, Latin America, and South Europe. Their warm climate favors cultivation of many strategic crops including cotton, rubber, rice, corn, spices, tea, coffee, cocoa beans, sugarcane, tobacco, legumes, tropical and subtropical fruits, and vegetables. They are bound to the industrialized countries for exporting their cash crops and importing all production equipment and materials including pesticides and fertilizers. They suffer from illiteracy, overpopulation, and low standards of living. Their deficient economy and infrastructure hinder their ability to regulate efficiently registration of pesticides. Their inhabitants are at high risk due to the acute and chronic adverse health effects induced by pesticide exposure under both occupational and epidemiological conditions. Their legislations, regulations, technical capabilities, and medical care need to be upgraded to a reliable standard. This is essential for the global welfare because any hazardous pesticides dumped or released in the environment in these countries will not be dissipated but can reappear as residues in imported raw foods or by destroying terrestrial and aquatic life, through their transportation within the atmosphere, or in liquid discharges to soil and water bodies. International assistance and support are badly needed by United Nations Agencies, mainly WHO, UNEP, FAO, ILO, IPCS, IRPTC, and other relevant international organizations.

Poverty assessment using DMSP/OLS night-time light satellite imagery at a provincial scale in China

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Wen; Cheng, Hui; Zhang, Li

2012-04-01

All countries around the world and many international bodies, including the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the International Labor Organization (ILO), have to eliminate rural poverty. Estimation of regional poverty level is a key issue for making strategies to eradicate poverty. Most of previous studies on regional poverty evaluations are based on statistics collected typically in administrative units. This paper has discussed the deficiencies of traditional studies, and attempted to research regional poverty evaluation issues using 3-year DMSP/OLS night-time light satellite imagery. In this study, we adopted 17 socio-economic indexes to establish an integrated poverty index (IPI) using principal component analysis (PCA), which was proven to provide a good descriptor of poverty levels in 31 regions at a provincial scale in China. We also explored the relationship between DMSP/OLS night-time average light index and the poverty index using regression analysis in SPSS and a good positive linear correlation was modelled, with R2 equal to 0.854. We then looked at provincial poverty problems in China based on this correlation. The research results indicated that the DMSP/OLS night-time light data can assist analysing provincial poverty evaluation issues.

A Call for Action to Improve Occupational Health and Safety in Ghana and a Critical Look at the Existing Legal Requirement and Legislation

PubMed Central

Annan, Joe-Steve; Addai, Emmanuel K.; Tulashie, Samuel K.

2015-01-01

Occupational health and safety (OHS) is a broad field of professional practice, which involves specialists from different disciplines including but not limited to engineers, occupational health physicians, physical and biological scientists, economists, and statisticians. The preventive systems required to ensure workers are protected from injuries and illnesses dwell heavily on engineers; however, the extent to which the engineer can go regarding planning and implementing preventive measures is dependent on specific legal requirements, leadership commitment from the company, organization, and nation. The objective of this paper is to identify the areas of opportunities for improvements in OHS management in Ghana with regard to the nation's legal requirements, commitment of the Ghana government, and Ghanaian leadership as well as appropriate structuring of Ghanaian institutions responsible for monitoring and managing OHS in Ghana. This paper identified Ghana's fragmented legal requirements concerning OHS, which are under different jurisdictions with unclear responsibilities and accountabilities. The paper also highlights the training needs of Ghanaian academic institutions regarding OHS. Among other recommendations made including structuring of Ghanaian institutions to manage OHS in line with the ILO-OSH 2001, this paper aligns the recommendations with the articles and elements of International Labour Organization convention number 155 and OHSAS 18001 elements. PMID:26106516

[OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH RISK ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT IN WORKERS IN IMPROVEMENT OF NATIONAL POLICY IN OCCUPATIONAL HYGIENE AND SAFETY].

PubMed

Shur, P Z; Zaĭtseva, N V; Alekseev, V B; Shliapnikov, D M

2015-01-01

In accordance with the international documents in the field of occupational safety and hygiene, the assessment and minimization of occupational risks is a key instrument for the health maintenance of workers. One of the main ways to achieve it is the minimization of occupational risks. Correspondingly, the instrument for the implementation of this method is the methodology of analysis of occupational risks. In Russian Federation there were the preconditions for the formation of the system for the assessment and management of occupational risks. As the target of the national (state) policy in the field of occupational safety in accordance with ILO Conventions it can be offered the prevention of accidents and injuries to health arising from work or related with it, minimizing the causes of hazards inherent in the working environment, as far as it is reasonably and practically feasible. Global trend ofusing the methodology of the assessment and management of occupational risks to life and health of citizens requires the improvement of national policies in the field of occupational hygiene and safety. Achieving an acceptable level of occupational risk in the formation of national policy in the field of occupational hygiene and safety can be considered as one of the main tasks.

Mortality from lung cancer among silicotic patients in Sardinia: an update study with 10 more years of follow up

PubMed Central

Carta, P; Aru, G; Manca, P

2001-01-01

OBJECTIVES—To evaluate the association between silica, silicosis and lung cancer, the mortality of 724 patients with silicosis, first diagnosed by standard chest x ray film between 1964 and 1970, has been analysed by a cohort study extended to 31 December 1997.
METHODS—Smoking and detailed occupational histories were available for each member of the cohort as well as the estimated lifetime exposure to respirable silica dust and radon daughters. Two independent readers blindly classified standard radiographs according to the 12 point International Labour Organisation (ILO) scale. Lung function tests meeting the American Thoracic Society's criteria were available for 665 patients. Standardised mortality ratios (SMRs) for selected causes of death were based on the age specific Sardinian regional death rates.
RESULTS—The mortality for all causes was significantly higher than expected (SMR 1.35, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.24 to 1.46) mainly due to tuberculosis (SMR 22.0) and to non-malignant chronic respiratory diseases (NMCRD) (SMR 6.03). All cancer deaths were within the expected numbers (SMR 0.93; 95% CI 0.76 to 1.14). The SMR for lung cancer was 1.37 (95% CI 0.98 to 1.91, 34 observed), increasing to 1.65 (95% CI 0.98 to 2.77) allowing for 20 years of latency since the first diagnosis of silicosis. Although mortality from NMCRD was strongly associated to the severity of radiological silicosis and to the extent of the cumulative exposure to silica, SMR for lung cancer was weakly related to the ILO categories and to the cumulative exposure to silica dust only after 20 years of lag interval. A significant excess of deaths from lung cancer (SMR 2.35) was found among silicotic patients previously employed in underground metal mines characterised by a relatively high airborne concentration of radon daughters and among ever smokers who showed an airflow obstruction at the time of the first diagnosis of silicosis (SMR 3.29). Mortality for lung cancer related to exposure was evaluated with both the Cox's proportional hazards modelling within the entire cohort and a nested case-control study (34 cases of lung cancer and 136 matched controls). Both multivariate analyses did not show any significant association with cumulative exposure to silica or severity of silicosis, but confirmed the association between mortality for lung cancer and relatively high exposure to radon, smoking, and airflow obstruction as significant covariates.
CONCLUSIONS—The findings indicate that the slightly increased mortality for lung cancer in this cohort of silicotic patients was significantly associated with other risk factors—such as cigarette smoking, airflow obstruction, and estimated exposure to radon daughters in underground mines—rather than to the severity of radiological silicosis or to the cumulative exposure to crystalline silica dust itself.


Keywords: silicosis; crystalline silica; lung cancer mortality PMID:11706145

Cost effectiveness of prostacyclins in pulmonary arterial hypertension.

PubMed

Roman, Antonio; Barberà, Joan A; Escribano, Pilar; Sala, Maria L; Febrer, Laia; Oyagüez, Itziar; Sabater, Eliazar; Casado, Miguel A

2012-05-01

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is considered an orphan disease. Prostacyclins are the keystone for PAH treatment. Choosing between the three available prostacyclin therapies could be complicated because there are no comparison studies, so the final decision must be driven by factors such as efficacy, administration route, safety profile and economic aspects. This study provides a cost-effectiveness and cost-utility comparison of initiating prostacyclin therapy with three different treatment alternatives (inhaled iloprost [ILO], intravenous epoprostenol [EPO] and subcutaneous treprostinil [TRE]) for patients with PAH. The goal of this work is to help physicians with their therapeutic decision-making. A Markov model was built to simulate a patient cohort with class III PAH according to the classification of the New York Heart Association (NYHA). Four health states corresponding with the NYHA classes plus death were allowed for patients in the model. Changing the treatment was possible when patients worsened from functional class III to IV. The time horizon was 3 years, allowing patients to transition between health states on a 12-week cycle basis. The study perspective was that of the National Health System (NHS) [only direct medical costs were included]. Unitary costs were obtained from the Drug Catalogue and e-Salud Database in 2009 and are given in euros (€). Data on health resources and treatment pathways were informed by a four-member expert panel. Efficacy was obtained from pivotal clinical trials of ILO, EPO and TRE, the latter used in Spain as a foreign medication. Utilities for each health state were obtained from the literature. The final efficacy measure was life-years gained (LYG), and utilities were used to obtain quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs). Costs and effects were discounted at a 3% rate. To check for the robustness of the results, sensitivity analyses were performed. At the end of the 3 years, in the base case of the deterministic analysis, initiating prostacyclin therapy with iloprost was the less costly strategy (€132,840), followed by treprostinil (€359,869) and epoprostenol (€429,775). Epoprostenol has shown the best efficacy results with 2.73 LYG and 1.78 QALY, followed by iloprost (2.69 LYG and 1.74 QALY) and treprostinil (2.69 LYG and 1.73 QALY). Incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICER) and cost-utility ratios (ICUR) of epoprostenol versus iloprost and treprostinil were much above the €30,000 per LYG or QALY threshold commonly used in Spain. Iloprost was dominant compared with treprostinil. In the probabilistic analysis, epoprostenol, when compared with iloprost, was a dominant strategy in 15% of the simulations, but it was not a cost-effective option in 83% of the cases. When compared with treprostinil, epoprostenol was dominant in 43% of the simulations. Iloprost was dominant compared with treprostinil in 45% of the cases and it was a cost-effective alternative in 39% of the simulations. Initiating prostacyclin treatment with iloprost in patients with PAH, functional class III of the NYHA, is the less costly alternative for the NHS in Spain, with a good efficacy profile when compared with the other alternatives.

Child Labor and the Influencing Factors: Evidence from less Developed Provinces of Iran

PubMed Central

HOMAIE RAD, Enayatollah; GHOLAMPOOR, Hanie; JAAFARIPOOYAN, Ebrahim

2015-01-01

Background: This study aimed to calculate the child labor rate and establish the factors affecting this phenomenon in the less developed provinces of Iran. Methods: This study has used the secondary data of population and housing census gathered by Iranian Statistical Center in 2011. The data belonged to 14859 children between 10 and 14 of 9 less developed provinces of Iran. A multiple regression model was hypothesized drawing on related literature and accordingly using data; the logistic regression was estimated. Data cleaning process was also conducted prior to the analysis. Results: The child labor force participation rate for all children between 10 and 14 years old was 1.7%, of which boys’ child labor rate was higher than girls’ (2.4% over 1%). As such, the mothers’ fertility rate and education were of the strongest, yet converse, effect on child labor supply in the country. Conclusion: A little proportion of children in less developed regions of Iran was suffering from child labor. However, given the diminishing and rising effects of, respectively, variables such as mothers’ literacy and working on the child labor; the authorities could restrict child labor attending more to such a group. The factors identified could also be of a high value for the policy-makers at both national and international level such as the Health and Welfare ministries, EMRO, ILO and UNICEF. PMID:26587499

A radiographic survey of monumental masonry workers in Aberdeen

PubMed Central

Davies, T. A. Lloyd; Doig, A. T.; Fox, A. J.; Greenberg, M.

1973-01-01

Lloyd Davies, T. A., Doig, A. T., Fox, A. J., and Greenberg, M. (1973).British Journal of Industrial Medicine,30, 227-231. A radiographic survey of monumental masonry workers in Aberdeen. A survey of radiographic appearances of the lungs of monumental masonry workers in Aberdeen was carried out to determine the present prevalence of abnormalities and to serve as a standard for future comparisons in view of changes in methods of working. No major change could be detected in the status of these granite workers in Aberdeen over the past 20 years but the different methods of survey used by Mair in 1951 and by the present study did not allow of strict comparison. Chest radiographs were reported on by three readers independently using the National Coal Board elaboration of the ILO classification and a score was given to each film using Oldham's method. Multiple regression analysis showed that ϰ-ray changes were related to years in granite but progression was slow in comparison with foundry workers. The prevalence of radiographic appearances of category 1 or greater was 3·0% overall and 4·6% for workers in dusty jobs. Evidence of pneumoconiosis was not observed in workers exposed for less than 20 years. With the environmental control attained the threshold limit values for respirable dust were not often much exceeded. PMID:4353240

Occupational health and safety-ergonomics improvement as a corporate responsibility of a Bali handicraft company: a case study.

PubMed

Purnawati, Susy

2007-12-01

The issue of corporate social responsibility is nowadays becoming popular around industrial communities. The support for the issue has initially spread since the adoption in 1998 of the ILO Declaration concerning fundamental principles and rights at work and then followed up by industries in developed countries. A case study was done from February to August 2006 at a handicraft company in Bali in order to find out the core application of the issue at the enterprise level. The study was conducted by observation in the field of the factory and suppliers, taking photos and interviewing management and employees of the company. The results of the study show that the company has already executed the activities that reflect the application of the core principles. The activities included programs which concerned not only the business corporate community but also wider communities. With regard to the business corporate community, the company had improved the conditions related to ergonomics and occupational health and safety. The improvement was done by referring to the external audit. At the national community level, the company had participated in the recovery measures of national disasters by helping small industries revive. It is hoped that this core program is soon copied by other companies considering that it is very beneficial to the communities and companies.

Newly diagnosed major depressive disorder and the risk of erectile dysfunction: a population-based cohort study in Taiwan.

PubMed

Huang, Shiau-Shian; Lin, Ching-Heng; Chan, Chin-Hong; Loh, El-Wui; Lan, Tsuo-Hung

2013-12-15

The primary aim of this study was to explore the incidence rate of erectile dysfunction (ED) among major depressive disorder (MDD) patients in an Asian country. The second aim was to compare the risk of ED in MDD patients that were treated using antidepressants with a high risk-ED, antidepressants with a low risk-ED, or without treatment. We identified 4339 male patients with newly diagnosed MDD using the National Health Database. Four matched controls per case were selected for the study. The mean age of the participants was 42.3 ± 16.9. A higher crude HR of 3.6 (95% CI: 2.8-4.6) was seen in the male patients with MDD. After adjusting for obesity, monthly income, urbanization level, and comorbidity, the MDD patients had a 3.2-fold higher HR for an ED diagnosis than the controls. Patients with untreated depression had the highest risk of ED, compared to the control group (HR=3.9). Patients treated with IHiRA had a medium risk of developing ED (HR=3.6), and patients treated with ILoRA had the lowest risk of ED (HR: 2.5). This prospective cohort study found an association between ED and prior MDD. Patients with untreated depression may have the highest risk of developing ED. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Reintegration of Pakistani return migrants from the Middle East in the domestic labour market.

PubMed

Arif, G M

1998-01-01

This study compared the unemployment rates among return migrants and nonmigrants and examined the reintegration pattern of returnees in the domestic labor market. The study utilized three data sets: the 1980 World Bank Survey of Return Migrant Households; the 1986 ILO/ARTEP Survey of Return Migrant Households; the 1991 Pakistan Integrated Household Survey. Findings showed that unemployment rates were much higher among return migrants than nonmigrants. Although this difference narrowed with the passage of time, even among those who returned to Pakistan at least 18 months prior to the surveys, more than 10% of workers were unemployed. The multivariate analysis further showed that returnees, irrespective of the period elapsed since their return, were more likely to be unemployed than nonmigrants. With respect to the reintegration pattern of return migrants, the study revealed that variables indicating their human capital, such as occupation and pre-migration and during-migration work experience, appear to have a greater influence on their post-return adjustment than the variables related to economic positions such as savings. The results also showed that the types of jobs unemployed returnees were looking for differed substantially from those held by employed return migrants. A possibility was that unemployed returnees could not save enough from their overseas earnings to become self-employed. Thus, provision of credit for self-employment seems to be the right way to accommodate these workers.

Alkalis in Coal and Coal Cleaning Products / Alkalia W Węglu I Productach Jego Wzbogacania

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bytnar, Krzysztof; Burmistrz, Piotr

2013-09-01

In the coking process, the prevailing part of the alkalis contained in the coal charge goes to coke. The content of alkalis in coal (and also in coke) is determined mainly by the content of two elements: sodium and potasium. The presence of these elements in coal is connected with their occurrence in the mineral matter and moisture of coal. In the mineral matter and moisture of the coals used for the coke production determinable the content of sodium is 26.6 up to 62. per cent, whereas that of potassium is 37.1 up to 73.4 per cent of the total content of alkalis. Major carriers of alkalis are clay minerals. Occasionally alkalis are found in micas and feldspars. The fraction of alkalis contained in the moisture of the coal used for the production of coke in the total amount of alkalis contained there is 17.8 up to 62.0 per cent. The presence of sodium and potassium in the coal moisture is strictly connected with the presence of the chloride ions. The analysis of the water drained during process of the water-extracting from the flotoconcentrate showed that the Na to K mass ratio in the coal moisture is 20:1. Increased amount of the alkalis in the coal blends results in increased content of the alkalis in coke. This leads to the increase of the reactivity (CRI index), and to the decrease of strength (CSR index) determined with the Nippon Steel Co. method. W procesie koksowania przeważająca część zawartych we wsadzie węglowym alkaliów przechodzi do koksu. Zawartość alkaliów w węglu, a co za tym idzie i w koksie determinowana jest głównie zawartością dwóch pierwiastków: sodu i potasu. Obecność tych pierwiastków w węglu wiąże się z występowaniem ich w substancji mineralnej i wilgoci węgla. W substancji mineralnej oraz wilgoci węgli stosowanych do produkcji koksu, oznaczona zawartość sodu wynosi od 26.6 do 62.9%, a zawartość potasu od 37.1 do 73.4% alkaliów ogółem. Głównymi nośnikami alkaliów w substancji mineralnej są minerały ilaste, sporadycznie też miki oraz skalenie. Udział alkaliów zawartych w wilgoci węgli stosowanych do produkcji koksu w ogólnej ilości zawartych w nim alkaliów wynosi dla badanych węgli od 17.8 do 62.0%. Obecność sodu i potasu w wilgoci węgla związana jest wyłącznie z obecnością w niej jonów chlorkowych. Wyniki analizy wody odprowadzanej z procesu wirowania flotokoncentratu wskazują, że stosunek masowy Na do K w wilgoci węgla wynosi 20:1. Wzrost zawartość wilgoci w koksie będący wynikiem ich zwiększonej ilości w mieszance węglowej prowadzi do wzrostu reaktywności (wskaźnik CRI) oraz spadku wytrzymałości (wskaźnik CSR) oznaczonych metoda Nippon Steel Co.

Global estimates of the burden of injury and illness at work in 2012.

PubMed

Takala, Jukka; Hämäläinen, Päivi; Saarela, Kaija Leena; Yun, Loke Yoke; Manickam, Kathiresan; Jin, Tan Wee; Heng, Peggy; Tjong, Caleb; Kheng, Lim Guan; Lim, Samuel; Lin, Gan Siok

2014-01-01

This article reviews the present indicators, trends, and recent solutions and strategies to tackle major global and country problems in safety and health at work. The article is based on the Yant Award Lecture of the American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA) at its 2013 Congress. We reviewed employment figures, mortality rates, occupational burden of disease and injuries, reported accidents, surveys on self-reported occupational illnesses and injuries, attributable fractions, national economic cost estimates of work-related injuries and ill health, and the most recent information on the problems from published papers, documents, and electronic data sources of international and regional organizations, in particular the International Labor Organization (ILO), World Health Organization (WHO), and European Union (EU), institutions, agencies, and public websites. We identified and analyzed successful solutions, programs, and strategies to reduce the work-related negative outcomes at various levels. Work-related illnesses that have a long latency period and are linked to ageing are clearly on the increase, while the number of occupational injuries has gone down in industrialized countries thanks to both better prevention and structural changes. We have estimated that globally there are 2.3 million deaths annually for reasons attributed to work. The biggest component is linked to work-related diseases, 2.0 million, and 0.3 million linked to occupational injuries. However, the division of these two factors varies depending on the level of development. In industrialized countries the share of deaths caused by occupational injuries and work-related communicable diseases is very low while non-communicable diseases are the overwhelming causes in those countries. Economic costs of work-related injury and illness vary between 1.8 and 6.0% of GDP in country estimates, the average being 4% according to the ILO. Singapore's economic costs were estimated to be equivalent to 3.2% of GDP based on a preliminary study. If economic losses would take into account involuntary early retirement then costs may be considerably higher, for example, in Finland up to 15% of GDP, while this estimate covers various disorders where work and working conditions may be just one factor of many or where work may aggravate the disease, injury, or disorders, such as traffic injuries, mental disorders, alcoholism, and genetically induced problems. Workplace health promotion, services, and safety and health management, however, may have a major preventive impact on those as well. Leadership and management at all levels, and engagement of workers are key issues in changing the workplace culture. Vision Zero is a useful concept and philosophy in gradually eliminating any harm at work. Legal and enforcement measures that themselves support companies and organizations need to be supplemented with economic justification and convincing arguments to reduce corner-cutting in risk management, and to avoid short- and long-term disabilities, premature retirement, and corporate closures due to mismanagement and poor and unsustainable work life. We consider that a new paradigm is needed where good work is not just considered a daily activity. We need to foster stable conditions and circumstances and sustainable work life where the objective is to maintain your health and work ability beyond the legal retirement age. We need safe and healthy work, for life.

Global Estimates of the Burden of Injury and Illness at Work in 2012

PubMed Central

Takala, Jukka; Hämäläinen, Päivi; Saarela, Kaija Leena; Yun, Loke Yoke; Manickam, Kathiresan; Jin, Tan Wee; Heng, Peggy; Tjong, Caleb; Kheng, Lim Guan; Lim, Samuel; Lin, Gan Siok

2014-01-01

This article reviews the present indicators, trends, and recent solutions and strategies to tackle major global and country problems in safety and health at work. The article is based on the Yant Award Lecture of the American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA) at its 2013 Congress. We reviewed employment figures, mortality rates, occupational burden of disease and injuries, reported accidents, surveys on self-reported occupational illnesses and injuries, attributable fractions, national economic cost estimates of work-related injuries and ill health, and the most recent information on the problems from published papers, documents, and electronic data sources of international and regional organizations, in particular the International Labor Organization (ILO), World Health Organization (WHO), and European Union (EU), institutions, agencies, and public websites. We identified and analyzed successful solutions, programs, and strategies to reduce the work-related negative outcomes at various levels. Work-related illnesses that have a long latency period and are linked to ageing are clearly on the increase, while the number of occupational injuries has gone down in industrialized countries thanks to both better prevention and structural changes. We have estimated that globally there are 2.3 million deaths annually for reasons attributed to work. The biggest component is linked to work-related diseases, 2.0 million, and 0.3 million linked to occupational injuries. However, the division of these two factors varies depending on the level of development. In industrialized countries the share of deaths caused by occupational injuries and work-related communicable diseases is very low while non-communicable diseases are the overwhelming causes in those countries. Economic costs of work-related injury and illness vary between 1.8 and 6.0% of GDP in country estimates, the average being 4% according to the ILO. Singapore's economic costs were estimated to be equivalent to 3.2% of GDP based on a preliminary study. If economic losses would take into account involuntary early retirement then costs may be considerably higher, for example, in Finland up to 15% of GDP, while this estimate covers various disorders where work and working conditions may be just one factor of many or where work may aggravate the disease, injury, or disorders, such as traffic injuries, mental disorders, alcoholism, and genetically induced problems. Workplace health promotion, services, and safety and health management, however, may have a major preventive impact on those as well. Leadership and management at all levels, and engagement of workers are key issues in changing the workplace culture. Vision Zero is a useful concept and philosophy in gradually eliminating any harm at work. Legal and enforcement measures that themselves support companies and organizations need to be supplemented with economic justification and convincing arguments to reduce corner-cutting in risk management, and to avoid short- and long-term disabilities, premature retirement, and corporate closures due to mismanagement and poor and unsustainable work life. We consider that a new paradigm is needed where good work is not just considered a daily activity. We need to foster stable conditions and circumstances and sustainable work life where the objective is to maintain your health and work ability beyond the legal retirement age. We need safe and healthy work, for life. PMID:24219404

The Application of Modern Techniques and Measurement Devices for Identification of Copper Ore Types and Their Properties / Wykorzystanie nowoczesnych technik i urządzeń pomiarowych do identyfikacji typów rud miedzi i ich właściwości

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Krawczykowska, Aldona; Trybalski, Kazimierz; Krawczykowski, Damian

2013-06-01

The paper concerns the application of modern methods and research techniques for investigations of copper ore properties. It presents the procedure and tools which, when put together, can constitute a source of information on properties of different products of processing and, simultaneously, can be used in the process control and optimization. The copper ore of one of the branches of the KHGM Polska Miedz plc was investigated. The ore samples represented each of the three lithological types occurring in the Polish deposits, i.e. carbonate, shale and sandstone ores. The paper presents the results of microscopic analyses, image analysis of scanning photographs and application procedures of the obtained information for the identification of ore types (application of neuron networks to the recognition of lithological compositions). The present publication will present sample results of modelling of classification identifying two types of ores, i.e. carbonate-shale and sandstone. Summing up the predictions of ore type fractions in respective mixtures for the considered problem of classification it can be stated that the prediction results are good and confirm the lithological predominance of certain ore types in the investigated mixtures. The experimental part comprised the determination of mineralogical and lithological composition of ores (optical microscope) and also elemental composition in the microareas of analysed samples (scanning microscope). Next, the image analysis was performed and subsequently the models classifying the ore types were made. W rudzie miedzi przerabianej w zakładach wzbogacania O/ZWR KGHM Polska Miedź S.A. można wyróżnić trzy typy litologiczne: rudę węglanową, łupkową i piaskowcową. Typy te różnią się właściwościami między innymi takimi jak: rodzaj i zawartość minerałów miedzi, rodzaj minerałów nieużytecznych, zawartość miedzi, twardość i podatność na rozdrabnianie, ale także wielkością i kształtem ziaren minerałów miedzionośnych oraz rodzajem ich skupień i wpryśnięć. Niezwykle istotne jest właściwe rozpoznanie rudy pod względem petrograficzno-mineralogicznym. Znajomość właściwości przerabianej rudy pozwala na pełniejsze jej wykorzystanie poprzez właściwe prowadzenie i sterowanie procesami, dobór ich parametrów takich m.in. jak: czas mielenia, parametry klasyfikacji, rodzaj odczynników flotacyjnych, czas flotacji. W artykule przedstawiono wyniki przeprowadzonych analiz mikroskopowych, analizy obrazów zdjęć skaningowych oraz procedury wykorzystania otrzymanych informacji do identyfikacji typów rud (zastosowanie sieci neuronowych do rozpoznawania składów litologicznych). W badaniach wykorzystano rudę miedzi, pochodzącą z jednego z zakładów górniczych KGHM Polska Miedź S.A. Pobrane próbki rudy reprezentowały każdy z trzech typów litologicznych występujących w krajowych złożach: węglanową, łupkową oraz piaskowcową. Przeprowadzono ilościową analizę mineralogiczno-petrograficzną przy pomocy mikroskopu optycznego w świetle odbitym, a wyniki przedstawiono w tabelach 1 i 2. Wyniki te określają ilościowo stopień uwolnienia i zrosty dla jednego rodzaju minerału. Pokazano także przykładowe zdjęcia mikroskopowe zgładów poszczególnych typów litologicznych rud oraz próbek proszkowych tych typów (rys. 1 i 2). W kolejnym etapie badań wykorzystano skaningowy mikroskop elektronowy. Zdjęcia morfologii próbek uzyskane z mikroskopu elektronowego (obrazy SEM) były przedmiotem komputerowej analizy obrazu, umożliwiającej mikrostrukturalną klasyfikację ilościową typów rud. Analizowano wszystkie próbki poszczególnych typów litologicznych rudy miedzi: węglanowej, łupkowej i piaskowcowej oraz mieszanki tych typów w trzech klasach ziarnowych: 0÷45 μm, 45÷71 μm i 71÷100 μm. Celem przekształceń wykorzystanych w procedurze komputerowej analizy obrazu jest otrzymanie poprawnie posegmentowanego obrazu binarnego, który umożliwiałby wyróżnienie badanych obiektów - pojedynczych (poszczególnych) ziaren oraz tła, a następnie wykonanie pomiarów parametrów zbinaryzowanych obiektów. Spośród dużej ilości parametrów dostępnych w używanym oprogramowaniu do identyfikacji typów rud wybrano najważniejsze z punktu widzenia opisu ziaren. Obok parametrów opisujących podstawowe właściwości geometryczne tj. pole powierzchni, wysokość, szerokość, średnice Feret'a, oraz opisujących kształt ziaren, np. współczynniki wypełnienia, kolistości, wybrano parametry szarości obiektów. W tabeli 3 podano wartości statystyczne zmiennych wykorzystywanych w obliczeniach modelowych, dla jednego z materiałów. Do analizy uzyskanych danych wykorzystano sieci neuronowe. W niniejszej publikacji przedstawiono przykładowe wyniki modelowania dla zagadnienia klasyfikacji identyfikującego dwa typy rud: węglanowo-łupkową i piaskowcową. Połączenie rud: węglanowej i łupkowej w jeden typ ma swoje technologiczne uzasadnienie. Obliczenia modelujące wykonano przy użyciu komputerowego programu do modelowania Statistica Neural Networks firmy StatSoft. W tabeli 4 i 5 przedstawiono charakterystyki ostatecznych najskuteczniejszych modeli sieci neuronowych klasyfikujących typy rud. Ogólnie modele sieci neuronowych, realizujące zagadnienie klasyfikacji typów rud, charakteryzowały się wysoką jakością działania oraz małymi błędami sieci dla poszczególnych podzbiorów danych (uczącego, walidacyjnego i testowego). Świadczy to o ich wysokiej stabilności i pewności działania w przypadku uruchamiania sieci na nowych zbiorach danych. Weryfikacja zdolności predykcyjnych najskuteczniejszych modeli sieci neuronowych polegała na uruchomieniu sieci na nowych danych charakterystycznych dla poszczególnych mieszanek, oraz na porównaniu i ocenie uzyskanych przewidywań z rzeczywistymi udziałami poszczególnych typów rud miedzi w analizowanych mieszankach. Na rysunkach 6 i 7 przedstawiono wyniki przewidywań udziałów odmian litologicznych rud miedzi w mieszankach. Podsumowując przewidywania udziałów typów rud w poszczególnych mieszankach dla rozważanego zagadnienia klasyfikacji można stwierdzić, że wyniki przewidywań są dobre i potwierdzają przewagę litologiczną określonych odmian rud w badanych mieszankach. Szczególnie istotny z technologicznego punktu widzenia jest wysoki stopień trafności przewidywań typów rud dla szerokiej klasy ziarnowej, która odpowiada zazwyczaj rzeczywistemu składowi ziarnowemu nadawy do procesu flotacji. Trafność tych przewidywań jest większa dla mieszanek z przewagą rudy piaskowcowej.

International Lunar Observatory Association Advancing 21st Century Astronomy from the Moon

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Durst, Steve

2015-08-01

Long considered a prime location to conduct astronomical observations, the Moon is beginning to prove its value in 21st Century astronomy through the Lunar Ultraviolet Telescope aboard China’s Chang’e-3 Moon lander and through the developing missions of the International Lunar Observatory Association (ILOA). With 24 hours / Earth day of potential operability facilitating long-duration observations, the stable platform of the lunar surface and extremely thin exosphere guaranteeing superior observation conditions, zones of radio-quiet for radio astronomy, and the resources and thermal stability at the lunar South Pole, the Moon provides several pioneering advantages for astronomy. ILOA, through MOUs with NAOC and CNSA, has been collaborating with China to make historic Galaxy observations with the Chang’e-3 LUT, including imaging Galaxy M101 in December 2014. LUT has an aperture of 150mm, covers a wavelength range of 245 to 340 nanometers and is capable of detecting objects at a brightness down to 14 mag. The success of China’s mission has provided support and momentum for ILOA’s mission to place a 2-meter dish, multifunctional observatory at the South Pole of the Moon NET 2017. ILOA also has plans to send a precursor observatory instrument (ILO-X) on the inaugural mission of GLXP contestant Moon Express. Advancing astronomy and astrophysics from the Moon through public-private and International partnerships will provide many valuable research opportunities while also helping to secure humanity’s position as multi world species.

Pulmonary effects of exposure to fine fibreglass: irregular opacities and small airways obstruction.

PubMed Central

Kilburn, K H; Powers, D; Warshaw, R H

1992-01-01

OBJECTIVE--Man made mineral fibres imitate asbestos and produce tumours of the pleura in animals. To answer the question, Does prolonged exposure to fibreglass adversely affect pulmonary function or produce radiographic abnormalities in human subjects? we studied workers in a midwestern appliance plant where refrigerator doors and previously entire cabinets were insulated with fibreglass sheeting and loose rotary spun fibreglass. METHODS--Spirometry and lung volumes were measured, respiratory and occupational questionnaires were administered, and chest x-ray films were read for pneumoconiosis using International Labour Office (ILO) 1980 criteria in 284 workers with exposure of 20 years or more. RESULTS--Expiratory flows were reduced including FEV1 (mean 90.3% of predicted (pr), FEF25-75 (85.5% pr), and FEF75-85 (76.2% pr). Forced vital capacity was significantly reduced (92.8% pr) and total lung capacity was significantly increased (109.2% pr). In white male smokers, a group large enough for comparisons, parameters of pulmonary function were reduced further in the presence of irregular opacities. Forty three workers (15.1%) had evidence of pneumoconiosis on chest radiographs: 26 of these (9.1%), had no known exposure to asbestos and 17 (6.0%) had some exposure. The best judgement was that in 36 (13.0%), pulmonary opacities or pleural abnormalities were due to fibreglass. CONCLUSION--Commercial rotary spun fibreglass used for insulating appliances appears to produce human disease that is similar to asbestosis. PMID:1419860

Prevention and management of work-related cardiovascular disorders.

PubMed

Tsutsumi, Akizumi

2015-01-01

Cardiovascular disorders (CVDs) constitute a major burden for health of working populations throughout the world with as much as 50% of all causes of death and at least 25% of work disability. There are some changes in CVD risk factors among occupational classes. This is mainly due to the new types of work-related causes of morbidity associated with the recent developments in global work life, particularly in the industrialized countries. Meanwhile, in the developing countries or those in transition (e.g., in Eastern Europe), CVD mortality is increasing due to major socioeconomic changes, the demographic transition and rapid industrialisation and urbanisation, all leading to growing challenges to cardiovascular health. Better control of known risk factors (i.e., smoking, obesity, physical inactivity, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and high blood glucose) is effective to prevent CVD incidence. But the expected improvement has not been achieved. The obstacles of achieving such impact are due to lack of awareness, lack of policies and their implementation into practice and shortage of infrastructures and human resources. These are needed for wide-scale and long-term programme implementation. Considering the WHO Global Strategy on Occupational Health for All, the WHO Global Action Plan on Workers' Health, the WHO Programme on Prevention of Non-communicable Diseases and the ILO Decent Work agenda, the 6th ICOH International Conference on Work Environment and Cardiovascular Diseases adopted the Tokyo Declaration. This work is available in Open Access model and licensed under a CC BY-NC 3.0 PL license.

Chronic exposure to iron oxide, chromium oxide, and nickel oxide fumes of metal dressers in a steelworks

PubMed Central

Jones, J. Graham; Warner, C. G.

1972-01-01

Graham Jones, J., and Warner, C. G. (1972).Brit. J. industr. Med.,29, 169-177. Chronic exposure to iron oxide, chromium oxide, and nickel oxide fumes of metal dressers in a steelworks. Occupational and medical histories, smoking habits, respiratory symptoms, chest radiographs, and ventilatory capacities were studied in 14 steelworkers employed as deseamers of steel ingots for periods of up to 16 years. The men were exposed for approximately five hours of each working shift to fume concentrations ranging from 1·3 to 294·1 mg/m3 made up mainly of iron oxide with varying proportions of chromium oxide and nickel oxide. Four of the men, with 14 to 16 years' exposure, showed radiological evidence of pneumoconiosis classified as ILO categories 2 or 3. Of these, two had pulmonary function within the normal range and two had measurable loss of function, moderate in one case and mild in the other. Many observers would diagnose these cases as siderosis but the authors consider that this term should be reserved for cases exposed to pure iron compounds. The correct diagnosis is mixed-dust pneumoconiosis and the loss of pulmonary function is caused by the effects of the mixture of metallic oxides. It is probable that inhalation of pure iron oxide does not cause fibrotic pulmonary changes, whereas the inhalation of iron oxide plus certain other substances obviously does. Images PMID:5021996

Functional variables associated with the clinical grade of dyspnoea in coal miners with pneumoconiosis and mild bronchial obstruction.

PubMed

Bauer, T T; Schultze-Werninghaus, G; Kollmeier, J; Weber, A; Eibel, R; Lemke, B; Schmidt, E W

2001-12-01

Dyspnoea is a common symptom in coal miners with pneumoconiosis. Among others, gas exchange disturbances due to airway obstruction or mismatch between ventilation and perfusion may be underlying mechanisms. The validation of dyspnoea by the degree of airway obstruction is controversial, because the extent of airway obstruction often does not correlate with the clinical grade of breathlessness. The association was investigated between breathlessness (self reported, on a six point scale) and indices of submaximal spiroergometry in 66 coal workers with radiographically confirmed pneumoconiosis (International Labour Organisation (ILO) grade of profusion > or =1/0, mean (SD) age 64 (5.5) years, mean (SD) forced expired volume in 1 second (FEV(1)) 77.5 (22.9) % predicted). The clinical degree of breathlessness was independently associated with minute ventilation/oxygen consumption (VE/VO(2)) ratio (beta 0.423, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 0.18 to 0.67, p=0.001) and smoking (beta 0.318, 95% CI 0.21 to 1.79, p=0.014) in a multiple linear regression analysis. The VE/VO(2) ratio (beta 0.556, 95% CI 0.20 to 0.90, p=0.003) was also the best predictor of breathlessness when only coal miners with airway obstruction (FEV(1) < 80% predicted) were analyzed. The VE/VO(2) ratio as a measurement of mismatch between ventilation and perfusion predicted the clinical grade of breathlessness better than measurements of bronchial obstruction at rest in coal workers with pneumoconiosis.

Radiographic abnormalities among construction workers exposed to quartz containing dust

PubMed Central

Tjoe, N; Burdorf, A; Parker, J; Attfield, M; van Duivenbooden, C; Heederik, D

2003-01-01

Background: Construction workers are exposed to quartz containing respirable dust, at levels that may cause fibrosis in the lungs. Studies so far have not established a dose-response relation for radiographic abnormalities for this occupational group. Aims: To measure the extent of radiographic abnormalities among construction workers primarily exposed to quartz containing respirable dust. Methods: A cross sectional study on radiographic abnormalities indicative of pneumoconiosis was conducted among 1339 construction workers mainly involved in grinding, (jack)-hammering, drilling, cutting, sawing, and polishing. Radiological abnormalities were determined by median results of the 1980 International Labour Organisation system of three certified "B" readers. Questionnaires were used for assessment of occupational history, presence of respiratory diseases, and symptoms and smoking habits. Results: An abnormality of ILO profusion category 1/0 and greater was observed on 10.2% of the chest radiographs, and profusion category of 1/1 or greater on 2.9% of the radiographs. The average duration of exposure of this group was 19 years and the average age was 42. The predominant type of small opacities (irregularly shaped) is presumably indicative of mixed dust pneumoconiosis. The prevalence of early signs of nodular silicosis (small rounded opacities of category 1/0 or greater) was low (0.8%). Conclusions: The study suggests an elevated risk of radiographic abnormalities among these workers with expected high exposure. An association between radiographic abnormalities and cumulative exposure to quartz containing dust from construction sites was observed, after correction for potentially confounding variables. PMID:12771392

Margins of safety provided by COSHH Essentials and the ILO Chemical Control Toolkit.

PubMed

Jones, Rachael M; Nicas, Mark

2006-03-01

COSHH Essentials, developed by the UK Health and Safety Executive, and the Chemical Control Toolkit (Toolkit) proposed by the International Labor Organization, are 'control banding' approaches to workplace risk management intended for use by proprietors of small and medium-sized businesses. Both systems group chemical substances into hazard bands based on toxicological endpoint and potency. COSSH Essentials uses the European Union's Risk-phrases (R-phrases), whereas the Toolkit uses R-phrases and the Globally Harmonized System (GHS) of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals. Each hazard band is associated with a range of airborne concentrations, termed exposure bands, which are to be attained by the implementation of recommended control technologies. Here we analyze the margin of safety afforded by the systems and, for each hazard band, define the minimal margin as the ratio of the minimum airborne concentration that produced the toxicological endpoint of interest in experimental animals to the maximum concentration in workplace air permitted by the exposure band. We found that the minimal margins were always <100, with some ranging to <1, and inversely related to molecular weight. The Toolkit-GHS system generally produced margins equal to or larger than COSHH Essentials, suggesting that the Toolkit-GHS system is more protective of worker health. Although, these systems predict exposures comparable with current occupational exposure limits, we argue that the minimal margins are better indicators of health protection. Further, given the small margins observed, we feel it is important that revisions of these systems provide the exposure bands to users, so as to permit evaluation of control technology capture efficiency.

Indicators of environmental contamination by heavy metals in leaves of Taraxacum officinale in two zones of the metropolitan area of Mexico City.

PubMed

Gómez-Arroyo, Sandra; Barba-García, Arisbel; Arenas-Huertero, Francisco; Cortés-Eslava, Josefina; de la Mora, Michel Grutter; García-Martínez, Rocío

2018-02-01

The present study was designed to detect the effect of heavy metals in two zones of the Metropolitan Area of Mexico City (MAMC), the Centro de Ciencias de la Atmósfera (CCA), and the Altzomoni station in the Iztaccíhuatl-Popocatépetl National Park. Taraxacum officinale was selected as the indicator organism of responses to atmospheric contamination by heavy metals. Determinations of heavy metals were performed, and total mRNA was extracted to quantify the expression of microRNA398 (miR398), superoxide dismutase 2 (CSD2), and the amounts of free radicals using the bromide of 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazole-2-ilo)-2,5-diphenyltetrazole (MTT) salts reduction assay. Results from the Altzomoni station showed high concentrations of five heavy metals, especially Aluminum, while three heavy metals were identified in the CCA-UNAM zone, most importantly, Vanadium, both in the dry season; miR398 expression presented subtle changes but was greater in the leaves from the stations with higher concentrations of heavy metals. Observations included a significant expression of CSD2, mainly in the dry season in both study zones, where levels were significant with respect to controls (p < 0.05). Reduced MTT was also higher in the dry season than in the rainy season (p < 0.05). In conclusion, the increase in heavy metals on the leaves of Taraxacum officinale induces increased expression of the CSD2 gene and reduced MTT; thus, they can be used as indicators for biomonitoring heavy metal concentrations.

Managing health and safety risks: Implications for tailoring health and safety management system practices.

PubMed

Willmer, D R; Haas, E J

2016-01-01

As national and international health and safety management system (HSMS) standards are voluntarily accepted or regulated into practice, organizations are making an effort to modify and integrate strategic elements of a connected management system into their daily risk management practices. In high-risk industries such as mining, that effort takes on added importance. The mining industry has long recognized the importance of a more integrated approach to recognizing and responding to site-specific risks, encouraging the adoption of a risk-based management framework. Recently, the U.S. National Mining Association led the development of an industry-specific HSMS built on the strategic frameworks of ANSI: Z10, OHSAS 18001, The American Chemistry Council's Responsible Care, and ILO-OSH 2001. All of these standards provide strategic guidance and focus on how to incorporate a plan-do-check-act cycle into the identification, management and evaluation of worksite risks. This paper details an exploratory study into whether practices associated with executing a risk-based management framework are visible through the actions of an organization's site-level management of health and safety risks. The results of this study show ways that site-level leaders manage day-to-day risk at their operations that can be characterized according to practices associated with a risk-based management framework. Having tangible operational examples of day-to-day risk management can serve as a starting point for evaluating field-level risk assessment efforts and their alignment to overall company efforts at effective risk mitigation through a HSMS or other processes.

[Comparative analysis of the non-profit, for-profit and public hospital providers: American experiences].

PubMed

Mogyorósy, Zsolt

2004-07-04

The new legislation allowed hospitals and other health care facilities to be converted into for-profit status. The detailed regulatory framework is under development in Hungary. This article reviews the literature of studies comparing hospital financial performance and the quality of care before and after conversion from public or non-profit status to for-profit. Studies were identified through electronic search of Medline (Pubmed), EconLit, Cochrane Library, Economic Evaluation Database (EED), az Health Technology Assessment (HTA) databases, library files and reference lists. The literature search was extended to the Internet, World Bank, International Labor Office (ILO), Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), and WHO websites as well as government, academic institutions and large insurance companies web pages for unpublished online information. Time series and before-after studies and systematic literature reviews were included. The conversion from non-profit to for-profit status improved the profitability of the hospitals. However the quality of care (measures in mortality, frequency of side effects, complications) might suffer in the first couple years of the conversion. The conversion may increase the total health care expenditures per capita. Trustful relationship between patients and physicians may also be threatened. The generalisability of the American experiences into the Hungarian single payer system may be limited. From societal point of view, for-profit providers could provide socially beneficial care in areas where it is possible to define, monitor and evaluate the nature and quality characteristics of the services, as well as market competition can be ensured. However most of the healthcare services are too complex to fall into this category.

Functional variables associated with the clinical grade of dyspnoea in coal miners with pneumoconiosis and mild bronchial obstruction

PubMed Central

Bauer, T; Schultze-Werningh..., G; Kollmeier, J; Weber, A; Eibel, R; Lemke, B; Schmidt, E

2001-01-01

OBJECTIVES—Dyspnoea is a common symptom in coal miners with pneumoconiosis. Among others, gas exchange disturbances due to airway obstruction or mismatch between ventilation and perfusion may be underlying mechanisms. The validation of dyspnoea by the degree of airway obstruction is controversial, because the extent of airway obstruction often does not correlate with the clinical grade of breathlessness.
METHODS—The association was investigated between breathlessness (self reported, on a six point scale) and indices of submaximal spiroergometry in 66 coal workers with radiographically confirmed pneumoconiosis (International Labour Organisation (ILO) grade of profusion ⩾1/0, mean (SD) age 64 (5.5) years, mean (SD) forced expired volume in 1 second (FEV1) 77.5 (22.9) % predicted).
RESULTS—The clinical degree of breathlessness was independently associated with minute ventilation/oxygen consumption (V̇E/V̇O2) ratio (β 0.423, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 0.18 to 0.67, p=0.001) and smoking (β 0.318, 95% CI 0.21 to 1.79, p=0.014) in a multiple linear regression analysis. The V̇E/V̇O2 ratio (β 0.556, 95% CI 0.20 to 0.90, p=0.003) was also the best predictor of breathlessness when only coal miners with airway obstruction (FEV1 < 80% predicted) were analyzed.
CONCLUSION—The V̇E/V̇O2 ratio as a measurement of mismatch between ventilation and perfusion predicted the clinical grade of breathlessness better than measurements of bronchial obstruction at rest in coal workers with pneumoconiosis.


Keywords: coal workers' pneumoconiosis; bronchial obstruction; ventilation PMID:11706146

Assessment of rock musician's efferent system functioning using contralateral suppression of otoacoustic emissions.

PubMed

Kumar, Prawin; Grover, Vibhu; Publius A, Sam; Sanju, Himanshu Kumar; Sinha, Sachchidanand

2016-12-01

Contralateral suppression of oto acoustic emission (OAE) is referred as activation of efferent system. Previous literature mentioned about the importance of contralateral suppression of OAEs as a tool to assess efferent system in different groups of population. There is dearth of literature to explore the efferent system function in experienced musicians exposed to rock music using TEOAEs and DPOAEs. Two groups of participant (14 rock musicians and 14 non-musicians) in the age range of 18-25 years were involved in the study. Contralateral suppression of TEOAEs and DPOAEs were measured using ILO (Version 6) in both groups. Descriptive statistics showed higher suppression of TEOAEs and DPOAEs in rock-musicians at most of the frequencies in comparison to non-musicians. For DPOAE measures, Mann Whitney U test results revealed significantly greater DPOAE suppression only at 1 kHz and 3 kHz in rock-musicians compared to non-musicians. For within group comparison, Kruskal Wallis test results revealed there were significant difference observed across most of the frequencies i.e. at 1 kHz, 3 kHz and 6 kHz. For TEOAE measures, Mann Whitney U test results revealed that only at 2 kHz, TEOAE suppression in rock-musician was significantly greater compared to non-musicians. Similarly, Kuskal Wallis test results revealed that within group there were no significant differences observed for most of the frequencies except 2 kHz. Based on the above finding, present study concludes that rock musicians are having better efferent system compared to non-musicians. No suppression effect at few frequencies probably indicates more vulnerability at those frequencies. Contralateral suppression of DPOAE shows more significant finding in comparison to contralateral suppression of TEOAEs in present study.

Big catch, little sharks: Insight into Peruvian small-scale longline fisheries.

PubMed

Doherty, Philip D; Alfaro-Shigueto, Joanna; Hodgson, David J; Mangel, Jeffrey C; Witt, Matthew J; Godley, Brendan J

2014-06-01

Shark take, driven by vast demand for meat and fins, is increasing. We set out to gain insights into the impact of small-scale longline fisheries in Peru. Onboard observers were used to document catch from 145 longline fishing trips (1668 fishing days) originating from Ilo, southern Peru. Fishing effort is divided into two seasons: targeting dolphinfish (Coryphaena hippurus; December to February) and sharks (March to November). A total of 16,610 sharks were observed caught, with 11,166 identified to species level. Of these, 70.6% were blue sharks (Prionace glauca), 28.4% short-fin mako sharks (Isurus oxyrinchus), and 1% were other species (including thresher (Alopias vulpinus), hammerhead (Sphyrna zygaena), porbeagle (Lamnus nasus), and other Carcharhinidae species (Carcharhinus brachyurus, Carcharhinus falciformis, Galeorhinus galeus). Mean ± SD catch per unit effort of 33.6 ± 10.9 sharks per 1000 hooks was calculated for the shark season and 1.9 ± 3.1 sharks per 1000 hooks were caught in the dolphinfish season. An average of 83.7% of sharks caught (74.7% blue sharks; 93.3% mako sharks) were deemed sexually immature and under the legal minimum landing size, which for species exhibiting k-selected life history traits can result in susceptibility to over exploitation. As these growing fisheries operate along the entire Peruvian coast and may catch millions of sharks per annum, we conclude that their continued expansion, along with ineffective legislative approaches resulting in removal of immature individuals, has the potential to threaten the sustainability of the fishery, its target species, and ecosystem. There is a need for additional monitoring and research to inform novel management strategies for sharks while maintaining fisher livelihoods.

Big catch, little sharks: Insight into Peruvian small-scale longline fisheries

PubMed Central

Doherty, Philip D; Alfaro-Shigueto, Joanna; Hodgson, David J; Mangel, Jeffrey C; Witt, Matthew J; Godley, Brendan J

2014-01-01

Shark take, driven by vast demand for meat and fins, is increasing. We set out to gain insights into the impact of small-scale longline fisheries in Peru. Onboard observers were used to document catch from 145 longline fishing trips (1668 fishing days) originating from Ilo, southern Peru. Fishing effort is divided into two seasons: targeting dolphinfish (Coryphaena hippurus; December to February) and sharks (March to November). A total of 16,610 sharks were observed caught, with 11,166 identified to species level. Of these, 70.6% were blue sharks (Prionace glauca), 28.4% short-fin mako sharks (Isurus oxyrinchus), and 1% were other species (including thresher (Alopias vulpinus), hammerhead (Sphyrna zygaena), porbeagle (Lamnus nasus), and other Carcharhinidae species (Carcharhinus brachyurus, Carcharhinus falciformis, Galeorhinus galeus). Mean ± SD catch per unit effort of 33.6 ± 10.9 sharks per 1000 hooks was calculated for the shark season and 1.9 ± 3.1 sharks per 1000 hooks were caught in the dolphinfish season. An average of 83.7% of sharks caught (74.7% blue sharks; 93.3% mako sharks) were deemed sexually immature and under the legal minimum landing size, which for species exhibiting k-selected life history traits can result in susceptibility to over exploitation. As these growing fisheries operate along the entire Peruvian coast and may catch millions of sharks per annum, we conclude that their continued expansion, along with ineffective legislative approaches resulting in removal of immature individuals, has the potential to threaten the sustainability of the fishery, its target species, and ecosystem. There is a need for additional monitoring and research to inform novel management strategies for sharks while maintaining fisher livelihoods. PMID:25360274

Improvement of Tsukiji free fish market in Tokyo ("Kaizen" of work environment).

PubMed

Kishida, K; Ikegami, T; Maehara, N; Watanabe, A

1996-06-01

"TSUKIJI" is one of the biggest and most famous Free Fish Markets in the world, but there are many problems on the working condition because it was built about 60 years ago. Our investigation was held 1991 to 1993 to give some improvements regarding layout of buildings, working time, heat condition at refrigerator, working posture, and so on. We used a questionnaire on daily life and health care of workers, time study with measurement of heartbeats, and checklist (using Checklist for Improvement of Safety-Health and Working Conditions,' made by ILO). The main occupations in TSUKIJI were seller, buyer, delivery worker, and refrigerator maintenance worker. Their starting time was early in the morning, usually between 2:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m., but the hardest one was delivery workers starting at 9:00 p.m. They used auto cargo car for carrying to shops from refrigerator or from auction places many times. Sellers had two different types of work. First, the seller set up the auction, numbering the fish (or cases of seafood), arranging them in order, and so on. The rest of the work was transaction of invoices, sometimes using VDU with almost sitting. These works did not look well balanced. Buyer of tuna cut if like lumber by electric saws did not have guard for protection and there were more than 200 machines. Overlooking the market by checklist, some problems were clarified, and suggestions for improvement include restructuring the whole layout of the market or reforming buildings, standardization of the cases, adjustment of health facilities, safety protection on tools and machines, management of working system, working posture, health care, and so on.

Environmental heat stress enhances crystallization in urine

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Setyawan, H.; Pratiwi, Q. C.; Sjarifah, I.; Atmojo, T. B.; Khotijah

2018-03-01

Over the past several decades, agriculture and plantations have been used as the main livelihood of most of the Karanganyar residents. However, these two sources of living are now replaced by industrial areas that employ thousands of people in that district. The development of this industry triggers multiple environmental impacts, including ecosystem and temperature changes. In consequence, there is an increase in air temperature that can cause a variety of diseases, especially in the workplace. According to the International Labour Organization (ILO) data in 2013, one worker dies every 15 second due to a work accident and 160 workers are suffering from the occupational disease. In Indonesia, the incidence of crystallization in urine is actually still unknown, but it is estimated that there are 170,000 cases annually. A high temperature or called heat stress is one among many factors causing this disease to appear. The workers in the textile industry, especially in the Finishing Department Kusumahadi Co. Ltd that exposed heat stress from the finishing machines and inadequate ventilation. This hot working climate causes the human body to adapt in the form of body cooling mechanism or called sweating This adaptation can cause an increase in sweat production and decrease the production of urine. If it is not followed by consuming the recommended amount of water intake, it can result in the precipitation of body salts that, in a long time, will cause crystallization in urine. The research used the analytic observational designs for a cross-sectional study. There were 34 samples collected from 57 finishing workers. The data were analyzed using Spearman correlation test. The results showed that heat stress (p=0,015) and water intake (p=0,034) has a significant correlation with crystallization in urine.

[Prevalence of silicosis among employees in feldspat and quartz mills and associated factors with silicosis].

PubMed

Öztürk, Ayşe; Cimrin, Arif Hikmet; Tür, Mahmut; Güven, Rana

2012-01-01

Problems in legal definition and diagnosis of occupational diseases in Turkey makes the diagnosis of these diseases and informing the parties important. For this purpose, this study was planned to elicit the frequency of silicosis in quartz mill workers in Cine which is one of the largest quartz and feldspat areas, and to detect the working conditions, to inform the workers to improve the working conditions. The aim was to evaluate 592 workers in 10 quartz mill and mines around Cine in 2004. A structured questionnaire including personal information and work-related questions was applied. Standards chest X-rays taken in the last six months were evaluated according to International Labour Organization (ILO) 1980 standards. Dust concentration and respirable dust concentration in the work place were measured in enterprises. The mean age of the workers was 31.8 ± 8.26 years and 71.7% was smoker. Duration of working was ≤ 5 years in 80.5% and ≥ 10 years in only 4.2%. According to the results of dust measurements, threshold value was found to be exceeded in chopping, packaging and bagging parts of three workplaces. Frequency of silicosis was calculated to be 23.7%. Frequency of pneumoconiosis was found to be high like previous studies carried out in similar workplaces in this study. Although it was impossible to put forward the cumulative effect of dust exposure because of frequent altering in workplace, the high frequency of working in similar workplaces among the cases supported the significant risk of silicosis in these enterprises. The workplaces were observed after the workers and persons responsible from occupational health and safety.

Management of pseudophakic myopic anisometropic amblyopia with piggyback Visian® implantable collamer lens.

PubMed

Eissa, Sherif A

2017-03-01

To assess the outcomes of sulcus implantation of the Visian ® implantable collamer lens (ICL) to correct pseudophakic myopic anisometropic amblyopia with myopic shift and/or primary refractive overcorrection. Prospective case series enrolled 14 pseudophakic eyes of 14 patients, 5-9 years old, with history of cataract surgery and primary in the bag-intraocular lenses (IOL) implantation, followed by myopic shift and/or refractive overcorrection and anisometropic amblyopia of variable degrees. All cases had implantation of a piggyback ICL/toric ICL, to correct the myopia/myopic astigmatism. Preoperatively, we evaluated the uncorrected distance visual acuity (UCVA), corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA), manifest refraction spherical equivalent (MRSE), intraocular pressure (IOP) and endothelial cell density (ECD). We assessed the position and vaulting of the ICLs on slit lamp examination and confirmed by Scheimpflug tomography. Postoperative follow-up was at 1st week and 1, 3, 6, 9, 12, 18 and 24 months. Uncorrected distance visual acuity improved in all cases, and CDVA improved in 11 amblyopic eyes (2-4 lines). There was no evidence of interlenticular opacification (ILO) throughout the 2-year follow-up. Two cases were complicated with early postoperative acute elevation of IOP and were controlled with topical beta-blockers. Postoperative acute anterior uveitis occurred in six eyes and controlled by topical steroids. Implantable collamer lens (ICL) vault was measured using Pentacam, with mean value of 470 ± 238 μm. Sulcus implantation of the secondary piggyback ICL to correct unilateral pseudophakic myopic refractive error in children was safe, efficient, predictable and well tolerated in management of anisometropic amblyopia in all eyes. © 2016 Acta Ophthalmologica Scandinavica Foundation. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Airways obstruction among older construction and trade workers at Department of Energy nuclear sites.

PubMed

Dement, John M; Welch, Laura; Ringen, Knut; Bingham, Eula; Quinn, Patricia

2010-03-01

A study of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) among 7,579 current and former workers participating in medical screening programs at Department of Energy (DOE) nuclear weapons facilities through September 2008 was undertaken. Participants provided a detailed work and exposure history and underwent a respiratory examination that included a respiratory history, respiratory symptoms, a posterior-anterior (P-A) chest radiograph classified by International Labour Office (ILO) criteria, and spirometry. Statistical models were developed to generate group-level exposure estimates that were used in multivariate logistic regression analyses to explore the risk of COPD in relation to exposures to asbestos, silica, cement dust, welding, paints, solvents, and dusts/fumes from paint removal. Risk for COPD in the study population was compared to risk for COPD in the general US population as determined in National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III). The age-standardized prevalence ratio of COPD among DOE workers compared to all NHANES III data was 1.3. Internal analyses found the odds ratio of COPD to range from 1.6 to 3.1 by trade after adjustment for age, race, sex, smoking, and duration of DOE employment. Statistically significant associations were observed for COPD and exposures to asbestos, silica, welding, cement dusts, and some tasks associated with exposures to paints, solvents, and removal of paints. Our study of construction workers employed at DOE sites demonstrated increased COPD risk due to occupational exposures and was able to identify specific exposures increasing risk. This study provides additional support for prevention of both smoking and occupational exposures to reduce the burden of COPD among construction workers. 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Medical physics aspects of cancer care in the Asia Pacific region: 2011 survey results

PubMed Central

Kron, T; Azhari, HA; Voon, EO; Cheung, KY; Ravindran, P; Soejoko, D; Inamura, K; Han, Y; Ung, NM; Bold, L; Win, UM; Srivastava, R; Meyer, J; Farrukh, S; Rodriguez, L; Kuo, M; Lee, JCL; Kumara, A; Lee, CC; Krisanachinda, A; Nguyen, XC; Ng, KH

2012-01-01

Background: Medical physicists are essential members of the radiation oncology team. Given the increasing complexity of radiotherapy delivery, it is important to ensure adequate training and staffing. The aim of the present study was to update a similar survey from 2008 and assess the situation of medical physicists in the large and diverse Asia Pacific region. Methods: Between March and July 2011, a survey on profession and practice of radiation oncology medical physicists (ROMPs) in the Asia Pacific region was performed. The survey was sent to senior physicists in 22 countries. Replies were received from countries that collectively represent more than half of the world’s population. The survey questions explored five areas: education, staffing, work patterns including research and teaching, resources available, and job satisfaction. Results and discussion: Compared to a data from a similar survey conducted three years ago, the number of medical physicists in participating countries increased by 29% on average. This increase is similar to the increase in the number of linear accelerators, showing that previously identified staff shortages have yet to be substantially addressed. This is also highlighted by the fact that most ROMPs are expected to work overtime often and without adequate compensation. While job satisfaction has stayed similar compared to the previous survey, expectations for education and training have increased somewhat. This is in line with a trend towards certification of ROMPs. Conclusion: As organisations such as the International Labour Organization (ILO) start to recognise medical physics as a profession, it is evident that despite some encouraging signs there is still a lot of work required towards establishing an adequately trained and resourced medical physics workforce in the Asia Pacific region. PMID:22970066

Geopolymers in Construction / Zastosowanie Geopolimerów W Budownictwie

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Błaszczyński, Tomasz Z.; Król, Maciej R.

2015-03-01

Within the framework of quests of supplementary and "healthier" binders to the production of concrete followed the development of geopolymers in construction. However the practical application of these materials is still very limited. The production of each ton of cement introduces one ton of CO2 into the atmosphere. According to various estimations, the synthesis of geopolymers absorbs 2-3 times less energy than the Portland cement and causes a generation of 4-8 times less of CO2. Geopolymeric concretes possess a high compressive strength, very small shrinkage and small creep, and they possess a high resistance to acid and sulphate corrosion. These concretes are also resistant to carbonate corrosion and possess a very high fire resistance and also a high resistance to UV radiation. W ramach poszukiwania zastępczych i "zdrowszych" spoiw do produkcji betonu nastąpił rozwój geopolimerów w budownictwie. Jednakże praktyczne zastosowanie tych materiałów jest jeszcze nadal bardzo ograniczone. Produkcja każdej tony cementu wprowadza do atmosfery tonę CO2. Według różnych szacunków, synteza geopolimerów pochłania 2-3 razy mniej energii, niż cementu portlandzkiego oraz powoduje wydzielenie 4-8 razy mniejszej ilości CO2. Do tego betony geopolimerowe posiadają wysoką wytrzymałość na ściskanie, bardzo mały skurcz i małe pełzanie oraz dają wysoką odporność na korozję kwasową i siarczanową. Betony te są także odporne na korozję węglanową i posiadają bardzo wysoką odporność ogniową, a także wysoką odporność na promieniowanie UV.

Hypoxia tolerance and responses to hypoxic stress during heart and skeletal muscle inflammation in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar).

PubMed

Lund, Morten; Krudtaa Dahle, Maria; Timmerhaus, Gerrit; Alarcon, Marta; Powell, Mark; Aspehaug, Vidar; Rimstad, Espen; Jørgensen, Sven Martin

2017-01-01

Heart and skeletal muscle inflammation (HSMI) is associated with Piscine orthoreovirus (PRV) infection and is an important disease in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) aquaculture. Since PRV infects erythrocytes and farmed salmon frequently experience environmental hypoxia, the current study examined mutual effects of PRV infection and hypoxia on pathogenesis and fish performance. Furthermore, effects of HSMI on hypoxia tolerance, cardiorespiratory performance and blood oxygen transport were studied. A cohabitation trial including PRV-infected post-smolts exposed to periodic hypoxic stress (4 h of 40% O2; PRV-H) at 4, 7 and 10 weeks post-infection (WPI) and infected fish reared under normoxic conditions (PRV) was conducted. Periodic hypoxic stress did not influence infection levels or histopathological changes in the heart. Individual incipient lethal oxygen saturation (ILOS) was examined using a standardized hypoxia challenge test (HCT). At 7 WPI, i.e. peak level of infection, both PRV and PRV-H groups exhibited reduced hypoxia tolerance compared to non-infected fish. Three weeks later (10 WPI), during peak levels of pathological changes, reduced hypoxia tolerance was still observed for the PRV group while PRV-H performed equal to non-infected fish, implying a positive effect of the repeated exposure to hypoxic stress. This was in line with maximum heart rate (fHmax) measurements, showing equal performance of PRV-H and non-infected groups, but lower fHmax above 19°C as well as lower temperature optimum (Topt) for aerobic scope for PRV, suggesting reduced cardiac performance and thermal tolerance. In contrast, the PRV-H group had reduced hemoglobin-oxygen affinity compared to non-infected fish. In conclusion, Atlantic salmon suffering from HSMI have reduced hypoxia tolerance and cardiac performance, which can be improved by preconditioning fish to transient hypoxic stress episodes.

Hypoxia tolerance and responses to hypoxic stress during heart and skeletal muscle inflammation in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar)

PubMed Central

Krudtaa Dahle, Maria; Timmerhaus, Gerrit; Alarcon, Marta; Powell, Mark; Aspehaug, Vidar; Rimstad, Espen; Jørgensen, Sven Martin

2017-01-01

Heart and skeletal muscle inflammation (HSMI) is associated with Piscine orthoreovirus (PRV) infection and is an important disease in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) aquaculture. Since PRV infects erythrocytes and farmed salmon frequently experience environmental hypoxia, the current study examined mutual effects of PRV infection and hypoxia on pathogenesis and fish performance. Furthermore, effects of HSMI on hypoxia tolerance, cardiorespiratory performance and blood oxygen transport were studied. A cohabitation trial including PRV-infected post-smolts exposed to periodic hypoxic stress (4 h of 40% O2; PRV-H) at 4, 7 and 10 weeks post-infection (WPI) and infected fish reared under normoxic conditions (PRV) was conducted. Periodic hypoxic stress did not influence infection levels or histopathological changes in the heart. Individual incipient lethal oxygen saturation (ILOS) was examined using a standardized hypoxia challenge test (HCT). At 7 WPI, i.e. peak level of infection, both PRV and PRV-H groups exhibited reduced hypoxia tolerance compared to non-infected fish. Three weeks later (10 WPI), during peak levels of pathological changes, reduced hypoxia tolerance was still observed for the PRV group while PRV-H performed equal to non-infected fish, implying a positive effect of the repeated exposure to hypoxic stress. This was in line with maximum heart rate (fHmax) measurements, showing equal performance of PRV-H and non-infected groups, but lower fHmax above 19°C as well as lower temperature optimum (Topt) for aerobic scope for PRV, suggesting reduced cardiac performance and thermal tolerance. In contrast, the PRV-H group had reduced hemoglobin-oxygen affinity compared to non-infected fish. In conclusion, Atlantic salmon suffering from HSMI have reduced hypoxia tolerance and cardiac performance, which can be improved by preconditioning fish to transient hypoxic stress episodes. PMID:28700748

Economic support to patients in HIV and TB grants in rounds 7 and 10 from the global fund to fight AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria.

PubMed

Richter, Linda M; Lönnroth, Knut; Desmond, Chris; Jackson, Robin; Jaramillo, Ernesto; Weil, Diana

2014-01-01

People with TB and/or HIV frequently experience severe economic barriers to health care, including out-of-pocket expenses related to diagnosis and treatment, as well as indirect costs due to loss of income. These barriers can both aggravate economic hardship and prevent or delay diagnosis, treatment and successful outcome, leading to increased transmission, morbidity and mortality. WHO, UNAIDS and the ILO argue that economic support of various kinds is essential to enable vulnerable people to protect themselves from infection, avoid delayed diagnosis and treatment, overcome barriers to adherence, and avert destitution. This paper analyses successful country proposals to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria that include economic support in Rounds 7 and 10; 36 and 20 HIV and TB grants in Round 7 and 32 and 26, respectively, in Round 10. Of these, up to 84 percent included direct or indirect economic support for beneficiaries, although the amount constituted a very small proportion of the total grant. In TB grants, the objectives of economic support were generally clearly stated, and focused on mechanisms to improve treatment uptake and adherence, and the case was most clearly made for MDR-TB patients. In HIV grants, the objectives were much broader in scope, including mitigation of adverse economic and social effects of HIV and its treatment on both patients and families. The analysis shows that economic support is on the radar for countries developing Global Fund proposals, and a wide range of economic support activities are in place. In order to move forward in this area, the wealth of country experience that exists needs to be collated, assessed and disseminated. In addition to trials, operational research and programme evaluations, more precise guidance to countries is needed to inform evidence-based decision about activities that are cost-effective, affordable and feasible.

Health sector employment: a tracer indicator for universal health coverage in national Social Protection Floors.

PubMed

Scheil-Adlung, Xenia; Behrendt, Thorsten; Wong, Lorraine

2015-08-31

Health sector employment is a prerequisite for availability, accessibility, acceptability and quality (AAAQ) of health services. Thus, in this article health worker shortages are used as a tracer indicator estimating the proportion of the population lacking access to such services: The SAD (ILO Staff Access Deficit Indicator) estimates gaps towards UHC in the context of Social Protection Floors (SPFs). Further, it highlights the impact of investments in health sector employment equity and sustainable development. The SAD is used to estimate the share of the population lacking access to health services due to gaps in the number of skilled health workers. It is based on the difference of the density of the skilled health workforce per population in a given country and a threshold indicating UHC staffing requirements. It identifies deficits, differences and developments in access at global, regional and national levels and between rural and urban areas. In 2014, the global UHC deficit in numbers of health workers is estimated at 10.3 million, with most important gaps in Asia (7.1 million) and Africa (2.8 million). Globally, 97 countries are understaffed with significantly higher gaps in rural than in urban areas. Most affected are low-income countries, where 84 per cent of the population remains excluded from access due to the lack of skilled health workers. A positive correlation of health worker employment and population health outcomes could be identified. Legislation is found to be a prerequisite for closing access as gaps. Health worker shortages hamper the achievement of UHC and aggravate weaknesses of health systems. They have major impacts on socio-economic development, particularly in the world's poorest countries where they act as drivers of health inequities. Closing the gaps by establishing inclusive multi-sectoral policy approaches based on the right to health would significantly increase equity, reduce poverty due to ill health and ultimately contribute to sustainable development and social justice.

Airway disease in highway and tunnel construction workers exposed to silica.

PubMed

Oliver, L Christine; Miracle-McMahill, Heidi

2006-12-01

Construction workers employed in a unique type of tunnel construction known as tunnel jacking were exposed over an 18-month period to respirable crystalline silica at concentrations that exceeded the OSHA permissible exposure limit. The present study examines workplace exposures and occurrence of airway disease in these workers. Medical and occupational histories and chest radiographs were obtained on 343 active construction workers who had worked on the site during the period in question. Chest radiographs were interpreted according to the ILO-1980 system of classification. Standardized questions were used to develop an algorithm to define symptoms consistent with asthma (SCA) and to determine these respiratory outcomes: chronic bronchitis, shortness of breath (SOB), and physician-diagnosed asthma (current vs. not current). Relationships with each of three work activities were examined: slurry wall breakthrough (SWB), chipping caisson overpour, and tunneling/mining. Participants included laborers, carpenters, tunnel workers, ironworkers, operating engineers, and electricians. No cases of silicosis were found on chest X-ray. Overall prevalence of chronic bronchitis, SCA, SOB, and physician-diagnosed asthma was 10.7%, 25%, 29%, and 6.6%, respectively. Odds ratios (OR) for carpenters compared to laborers were significantly elevated for chronic bronchitis, SCA, and SOB. SWB was associated with chronic bronchitis and SCA (OR 4.93, 95% CI = 1.01, 24.17; OR 3.32, 95% CI = 1.25, 8.84, respectively). The interaction between SWB, SCA, and trade was significant for carpenters (OR 6.87, 95% CI = 1.66, 28.39). Inverse trends were observed for months on the site and chronic bronchitis, SCA, and SOB (P = 0.0374, 0.0006, and 0.0307, respectively). Tunnel construction workers exposed to respirable crystalline silica and cement dust are at increased risk for airway disease. Extent of risk varies by trade and work activity. Our data indicate the importance of bystander exposures and suggest that tunnel jacking may be associated with greater risk compared to more traditional methods of tunnel construction. A healthy worker effect is suggested.

Occurrence and Mineralogical Characteristics of Tremolite Asbestos Occurred in Boryeong area, Chungnam, South Korea

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yoon, K.; Hwang, J.; Oh, J.; Lee, H.

2009-12-01

Abandoned tremolite mines, which had been exploited for several decades since 1930, are distributed in Boryeong, Chungnam. It is known that tremolite asbestos is approximately 100 times more harmful than chrysotile asbestos. Recently, it become a regional social problem because lung disease (mesothelioma and lung cancer) suspect patients are largely found among the residents of the mining area. Therefore, Korean government making every endeavor to remove asbestos risk in the area. However, there is insufficiency geological and mineralogical studies for tremolite asbestos. In the present study, the occurrence and mineralogical characteristics of tremolite asbestos were studied using polarization microscope, XRD, XRF, EPMA, SEM and TEM. Mica-schist of precambrian metasedimentary rock, which is widely distributed in the area, is the host rock of tremolite deposits. The rocks are largely disturbed by faults and folds, and shows sudden changes in strike and slope of strata. Tremolite ore bodies, which show relatively light colored, mainly occur as stratiform or veinlet and some occurs in brecciated rock fragments. Tremolite is a major asbestos mineral, and chrysotile, talc, mica, chlorite and quartz occurs as associated minerals. Considerable amount of ore containing pure tremolite is found, and ores having mineral assemblages of tremolite+talc, tremolite+quartz and chrysotile+talc also occurs. From optical microscope observations, most tremolites are asbestos from that meets to the criterion (length > 5 μm, diameter < 3 μm, aspect ratio > 3:1) defined by the international organization (WHO, ILO), but non-asbestos form tremolites are also included. Most asbestos form tremolites have the size range of 1.0-2.0 μm width and 5-10 μm length. The length can be shorten with crushing experiments, but the width remains unchanged. Non-asbestos form hardly change to asbestos form by mechanical crushing. From comprehensive studies for geological occurrence and mineral assemblage, it is considered that tremolite is formed within Mg-rich strata, which is intercalated in precambrian mica-schist, by hydrothermal alteration associated with faults movements.

Networking grassroots efforts to improve safety and health in informal economy workplaces in Asia.

PubMed

Kawakami, Tsuyoshi

2006-01-01

Many workers in Asia are in the informal economy. They often work in substandard conditions, exposed to hazards in the workplace. Learning from the recent successes of participatory training programmes to improve safety and health in Asia, the ILO has strengthened its partnership efforts with local people to improve safety and health of informal economy workplaces. The target groups were: (1) home workplaces in Cambodia and Thailand, (2) salt fields and fishing villages in Cambodia where many young workers are working, and (3) small construction sites in Cambodia, Laos, Mongolia, Thailand and Vietnam. The walk-through survey results showed that the workers and owners in the target informal economy workplaces had the strong will to improve safety and health at their own initiatives and needed practical support. In the participatory, action-oriented training workshops carried out, the participated workers and owners were able to identify their priority safety and health actions. Commonly identified were clear and safe transport ways, safer handling of hazardous substances, basic welfare needs such as drinking water and sanitary toilets, and work posture. The follow-up visits confirmed that many of the proposed actions were actually taken by using low-cost available materials. These positive changes were possible by applying the participatory training tools such as illustrated checklists and extensive use of photographs showing local good examples and placing emphasis on facilitator roles of trainers. In conclusion, the target informal economy workplaces in Asia made positive changes in safety and health through the participatory, action-oriented training focusing on local initiative and low-cost improvement measures. Local network support mechanisms to share lessons from good practices played essential roles in encouraging the voluntary implementation of practical improvement actions. It is important to increase our joint efforts to reach more informal economy workplaces in industrially developing countries and provide practical support measures focusing on local self-help initiatives.

Barriers to HIV counseling and testing uptake by health workers in three public hospitals in Free State Province, South Africa.

PubMed

Khan, Rabia; Yassi, Annalee; Engelbrecht, Michelle C; Nophale, Letshego; van Rensburg, André J; Spiegel, Jerry

2015-01-01

Recent WHO/ILO/UNAIDS guidelines recommend priority access to HIV services for health care workers (HCWs), in order to retain and support HCWs, especially those at risk of occupationally acquired tuberculosis (TB). The purpose of this study was to identify barriers to uptake of HIV counselling and testing (HCT) services for HCWs receiving HCT within occupational health units (OHUs). Questions were included within a larger occupational health survey of a 20% quota sample of HCWs from three public hospitals in Free State Province, South Africa. Of the 978 respondents, nearly 65% believed that their co-workers would not want to know their HIV status. Barriers to accessing HCT at the OHU included ambiguity over whether antiretroviral treatment was available at the OHU (only 51.1% knew), or whether TB treatment was available (55.5% knew). Nearly 40% of respondents perceived that stigma as a barrier. When controlling for age and race, the odds of perceiving HIV stigma in the workplace among patient-care health care workers (PCHWs) were 2.4 times that for non-PCHWs [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.80-3.15]. Of the 692 survey respondents who indicated a reason for not using HIV services at the OHU, 38.9% felt that confidentiality was the reason cited. Among PCHWs, the adjusted odds of expressing concern that confidentiality may not be maintained in the OHU were 2.4 times (95% CI: 1.8-3.2) that of non-PCHWs and were higher among Black [odds ratio (OR): 2.7, CI: 1.7-4.2] and Coloured HCWs (OR: 3.0, 95% CI: 1.6-5.6) as compared to White HCWs, suggesting that stigma and confidentiality concerns are still barriers to uptake of HCT. Campaigns to improve awareness of HCT and TB services offered in the OHUs, address stigma and ensure that the workforce is aware of the confidentiality provisions that are in place are warranted.

Chemical hazards in health care: high hazard, high risk, but low protection.

PubMed

McDiarmid, Melissa A

2006-09-01

It is counter-intuitive that the healthcare industry, whose mission is the care of the sick, is itself a "high-hazard" industry for the workers it employs. Possessing every hazard class, with chemical agents in the form of pharmaceuticals, sterilants, and germicidals in frequent use, this industry sector consistently demonstrates poor injury and illness statistics, among the highest in the United States, and in the European Union (EU), 34% higher than the average work-related accident rate. In both the United States and the EU, about 10% of all workers are employed in the healthcare sector, and in developing countries as well, forecasts for the increasing need of healthcare workers (HCW) suggests a large population at potential risk of health harm. The explosion of technology growth in the healthcare sector, most obvious in pharmaceutical applications, has not been accompanied by a stepped up safety program in hospitals. Where there is hazard recognition, the remedies are often voluntary, and often poorly enforced. The wrong assumption that this industry would police itself, given its presumed knowledge base, has also been found wanting. The healthcare industry is also a significant waste generator threatening the natural environment with chemical and infectious waste and products of incineration. The ILO has recommended that occupational health goals for industrial nations focus on the hazards of new technology of which pharma and biopharma products are the leaders. This unchecked growth cannot continue without a parallel commitment to the health and safety of workers encountering these "high tech" hazards. Simple strategies to improve the present state include: (a) recognizing healthcare as a "high-hazard" employment sector; (b) fortifying voluntary safety guidelines to the level of enforceable regulation; (c) "potent" inspections; (d) treating hazardous pharmaceuticals like the chemical toxicants they are; and (e) protecting HCWs at least as well as workers in other high-hazard sectors.

Economic Support to Patients in HIV and TB Grants in Rounds 7 and 10 from the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria

PubMed Central

Richter, Linda M.; Lönnroth, Knut; Desmond, Chris; Jackson, Robin; Jaramillo, Ernesto; Weil, Diana

2014-01-01

People with TB and/or HIV frequently experience severe economic barriers to health care, including out-of-pocket expenses related to diagnosis and treatment, as well as indirect costs due to loss of income. These barriers can both aggravate economic hardship and prevent or delay diagnosis, treatment and successful outcome, leading to increased transmission, morbidity and mortality. WHO, UNAIDS and the ILO argue that economic support of various kinds is essential to enable vulnerable people to protect themselves from infection, avoid delayed diagnosis and treatment, overcome barriers to adherence, and avert destitution. This paper analyses successful country proposals to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria that include economic support in Rounds 7 and 10; 36 and 20 HIV and TB grants in Round 7 and 32 and 26, respectively, in Round 10. Of these, up to 84 percent included direct or indirect economic support for beneficiaries, although the amount constituted a very small proportion of the total grant. In TB grants, the objectives of economic support were generally clearly stated, and focused on mechanisms to improve treatment uptake and adherence, and the case was most clearly made for MDR-TB patients. In HIV grants, the objectives were much broader in scope, including mitigation of adverse economic and social effects of HIV and its treatment on both patients and families. The analysis shows that economic support is on the radar for countries developing Global Fund proposals, and a wide range of economic support activities are in place. In order to move forward in this area, the wealth of country experience that exists needs to be collated, assessed and disseminated. In addition to trials, operational research and programme evaluations, more precise guidance to countries is needed to inform evidence-based decision about activities that are cost-effective, affordable and feasible. PMID:24489702

Occupational health services for shift and night workers.

PubMed

Koller, M

1996-02-01

It is important for an occupational health service to plan health supervision and measures for shift and night workers considering the biorhythmic and psychosocial desynchronisation, as well as the frequent prevalence of combined effects of adverse environmental and working conditions. The measures taken should be preventive to reduce the expected health risks rather than being rehabilitative. Both a medical surveillance and a counselling service are recommended before and during engagement in shift and night work. Sleep, digestive, metabolic and cardiovascular troubles should be noted and followed up. Medical counselling is especially necessary in the first months of shift and night work exposure and then after long-term exposure. The postulate for timed surveillance and intervention is supported by data of our epidemiologic investigations. The importance of the single health measures is underlined by direct reference to the relevant literature. Recommendations that should be applied in all countries and enterprises are in accordance with the ILO Night Work Convention 1990a and include: (1) appropriate occupational health services provided for night and shift workers, including counselling; (2) first aid facilities during all shift hours; (3) the option of transfer to day work when certified unfit for night work for reasons of health; and (4) measures for women on night shifts, in particular special maternity protection (transfer to day work, social security benefits or an extension of maternity leave). Examples of occupational health services already installed in some states for shift and night workers, and information on future developments are given. Up to now the medical service has been implemented mostly on the basis of collective agreements rather than on the basis of legal provisions. The Austrian Night Shift/Heavy Work Law Regulations of 1981, revised 1993, are cited: workers exposed to night shifts under defined single or combined additional heavy workloads are entitled to a special health assessment, additional rest pauses, additional free time and early retirement depending on years of exposure.

Influence of leisure-time noise on outer hair cell activity in medical students.

PubMed

Rosanowski, Frank; Eysholdt, Ulrich; Hoppe, Ulrich

2006-10-01

Noise exceeding a certain level can damage outer hair cells and thus cause hearing loss. In the past, noise-induced hearing loss was mainly caused by occupational noise. Leisure-time noise may be a promoting factor, particularly in young adults. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether transient evoked otoacoustic emissions (TEOAE) can be used to evaluate outer hair cell damage in young adults with no history of hearing complaints. The data obtained from the measurement of TEOAE were correlated with the participants' listening habits and exposure to leisure-time noise. Eighty-eight young adults (47 women, 41 men; age 22.9+/-2.9 years) were examined. TEOAE were measured using standard ILO 88 equipment. All participants had normal hearing (hearing thresholds better than 20 dB HL; frequency range 0.125-10 kHz). None of the participants suffered from permanent tinnitus. All participants answered a questionnaire concerning their listening habits. On average, the participants frequented a discotheque 1.4 times a month; 25% had never visited a discotheque, 35% visited once a month and 32% twice or three times a month. Sixteen per cent reported transient tinnitus after every visit to a discotheque and 58% after nearly every visit. Eight per cent suffered from transient hearing loss after every visit to a disco and 37% after nearly every visit. Three per cent (4%) reported tinnitus (nearly) every morning after visiting a discotheque. The TEOAE level was above 6 dB in all participants [9.2+/-3.6 dB (mean +/- SD)] and reproducibility was above 60% (90+/-9%). All values matched pass criteria for normal TEOAE under clinical conditions. However, TEOAE levels and reproducibility decreased significantly with an increased number of visits to discotheques. Outer hair cell damage could be measured using TEOAE in individuals exposed to leisure-time noise, although these individuals exhibited no measurable puretone hearing loss.

A simple diagnostic model for ruling out pneumoconiosis among construction workers.

PubMed

Suarthana, Eva; Moons, Karel G M; Heederik, Dick; Meijer, Evert

2007-09-01

Construction workers exposed to silica-containing dust are at risk of developing silicosis even at low exposure levels. Health surveillance among these workers is commonly advised but the exact diagnostic work-up is not specified and therefore may result in unnecessary chest x ray investigations. To develop a simple diagnostic model to estimate the probability of an individual worker having pneumoconiosis from questionnaire and spirometry results, in order to accurately rule out workers without pneumoconiosis. The study was performed using cross-sectional data of 1291 Dutch natural stone and construction workers with potentially high quartz dust exposure. A multivariable logistic regression model was developed using chest x ray with ILO profusion category > or =1/1 as the reference standard. The model's calibration was evaluated with the Hosmer-Lemeshow test; the discriminative ability was determined by calculating the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC area). Internal validity of the final model was assessed by a bootstrapping procedure. For clinical application, the diagnostic model was transformed into an easy-to-use score chart. Age 40 years or older, current smoker, high-exposure job, working 15 years or longer in the construction industry, "feeling unhealthy" and FEV1 were independent predictors in the diagnostic model. The model showed good calibration (a non-significant Hosmer-Lemeshow test) and discriminative ability (ROC area 0.81, 95% CI 0.74 to 0.85). Internal validity was reasonable; the optimism corrected ROC area was 0.76. By using a cut-off point with a high negative predictive value the occupational physician can efficiently detect a large proportion of workers with a low probability of having pneumoconiosis and exclude them from unnecessary x ray investigations. This diagnostic model is an efficient and effective instrument to rule out pneumoconiosis among construction workers. Its use in health surveillance among these workers can reduce the number of redundant x ray investigations.

Transiently-Evoked Otoacoustic Emissions (teoaes) in Monitoring Adult Cis-Platin Patients.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ribera, John Everett

1995-01-01

There is evidence to suggest that otoacoustic emissions (OAEs) reflect the integrity of cochlear outer hair cell (OHC) function. Cis-platin (CDDP) is a potent ototoxic chemotherapeutic agent that tends to destroy or disable OHCs. Therefore, this study was designed to answer the following questions: (1) Can TEOAEs be used in monitoring for ototoxicity in adult VA oncology patients receiving CDDP treatment? (2) If so, how sensitive are TEOAEs in detecting significant changes when compared to Audiometry in a VA population? and (3) Which of several TEOAE measures is the most sensitive to changes in hearing due to CDDP ototoxicity in a VA population?. In Experiment I, VA Medical Center patients were recruited (control group) and tested using a conventional audiometer and the ILO88 Otoacoustic Analyzer on three separate days. Data from this experiment were used to develop change criteria in each of four TEOAE measures (Reproducibility, Compare, 1 kHz Band Analysis, and OAE Response) for Experiment II. Experiment II was of similar design with the exception that the subjects (experimental group) were patients enrolled from the oncology ward and were administered CDDP after the first and second test sessions. Data from both groups and all test measures revealed (1) that there was no ear effect in any of the test conditions, (2) there was a group (drug) effect, and (3) there was a frequency effect at 2 kHz. Audiometry detected changes in 56% of the experimental subjects, while the number of changes varied among the TEOAE measures studied. Compare agreed with Audiometry more often and performed better than any other TEOAE measure in detecting change. Based on these findings, incorporation of Compare into an audiometric test battery to monitor for ototoxicity in the VA population is feasible. There is evidence to suggest that as measurement techniques are refined TEOAE analysis will become a valid test for monitoring of adult CDDP patients.

The business case for telemedicine.

PubMed

Henny, Chris; Hartington, Katharine; Scott, Stuart; Tveiten, Agnar; Canals, Luisa

2013-01-01

Following the coming into force of the International Labour Organisation Maritime Labour Convention (ILO/MLC) and International Maritime Organisation Standards for Training, Certification and Watchkeeping, Manila 2010 (IMO/STCW) amendments, the objective of this article is to provide the shipping community with an initial assessment of the economic reasons and business case, in support of both publicly financed and private telemedicine being implemented on board commercial vessels. It provides the global scale of the requirement, the number of Telemedicine Assistance Services (TMAS) calls handled by participating TMAS, the average direct and indirect costs incurred by both TMAS and ship operators, responding to medical emergencies, and also provides a calculation of the market size of about 760 million Euro/year. It estimates a return on investment per ship, of implementing telemedicine on board to meet the MLC and STCW requirements at less than 1 year. 1. There are both financial and soft benefits, such as crew retention and being perceived as a quality employer offering a telemedicine service on board. 2. It is quite possible to obtain a 20% savings to the industry of perhaps 152 million Euro/year from the deployment of telemedicine on board. 3. The deployment of a telemedical service on ships is an opportunity to encourage further cooperation between TMAS and also with the private TMAS sector. 4. There is clearly a great need, on a global basis, for more cooperation, particularly in standardisation of pre-boarding medical files available, the equipmentrequired on board at a minimum, and level of service quality provided. 5. A collection of a common TMAS annual set of normalised statistics from the stakeholders in the maritime industry is needed. Should someone not be tasked with collecting this? 6. Open registries and countries where the private sector only providestele medicine, should be encouraged to work with the global public TMAS system and contribute to its costs?

Prevalence and features of advanced asbestosis (ILO profusion scores above 2/2). International Labour Office.

PubMed

Kilburn, K H

2000-01-01

In this study, the author addressed the following question: Do workers with advanced asbestosis have a restrictive pulmonary physiology, and, alternately, do those who have restrictive physiological tests have advanced asbestosis? One group was identified by obvious radiographic measurements, and the other group was defined via physiologic measurements. Total lung capacity, vital capacity, and flows were measured in 12,856 men exposed to asbestos, of whom 3,445 had radiographic signs of asbestosis, as defined by the International Labour Office criteria. Radiographically advanced asbestosis-International Labour Office criteria profusion greater than 2/2 was present in 85 (2.5%) of men. An additional 52 men had physiologically restrictive disease. The author, who compared pulmonary flows and volumes of these two groups, used mean percentage predicted, adjusted for height, age, and duration of cigarette smoking. Men with radiographically advanced asbestosis had normal total lung capacity (i.e., 105.5% predicted), reduced forced vital capacities (i.e., 82.7% predicted), air trapping (i.e., residual volume/total lung capacity increased to 54.4%), and reduced flows (i.e., forced expiratory flow [FEF25-75] = 60.6% predicted, forced expiratory volume in 1 s = 78.0% predicted, and forced expiratory volume in 1 s/forced vital capacity = 65.5%). In contrast, men selected from the same exposed population for restrictive disease (i.e., reduced total lung capacity [72.6% predicted] and forced vital capacity [61.5% predicted]) also had airflow obstruction (i.e., forced expiratory volume in 1 s/forced vital capacity of 74.5% predicted) and air trapping (i.e., residual volume/total lung capacity of 46.7%). Only half of these men had asbestosis--and it was of minimal severity. In summary, advanced asbestosis was characterized by airway obstruction and air trapping, both of which reduced vital capacity but not total lung capacity; therefore, it was not a restrictive disease. In contrast, restrictive disease was rare and was associated with minimal asbestosis.

The role of income inequality and social policies on income-related health inequalities in Europe.

PubMed

Jutz, Regina

2015-10-31

The aim of the paper is to examine the role of income inequality and redistribution for income-related health inequalities in Europe. This paper contributes in two ways to the literature on macro determinants of socio-economic inequalities in health. First, it widens the distinctive focus of the research field on welfare state regimes to quantifiable measures such as social policy indicators. Second, looking at income differences completes studies on socio-economic health inequalities, which often analyse health inequalities based on educational differences. Using data from the European Values Study (2008/2009), 42 European countries are available for analysis. Country characteristics are derived from SWIID, Eurostat, and ILO and include indicators for income inequality, social policies, and economic performance. The data is analysed by using a two-step hierarchical estimation approach: At the first step-the individual level-the effect of household income on self-assessed health is extracted and introduced as an indicator measuring income-related health inequalities at the second step, the country-level. Individual-level analyses reveal that income-related health inequalities exist all across Europe. Results from country-level analyses show that higher income inequality is significantly positively related to higher health inequalities while social policies do not show significant relations. Nevertheless, the results show the expected negative association between social policies and health inequalities. Economic performance also has a reducing influence on health inequalities. In all models, income inequality was the dominating explanatory effect for health inequalities. The analyses indicate that income inequality has more impact on health inequalities than social policies. On the contrary, social policies seemed to matter to all individuals regardless of socio-economic position since it is significantly positively linked to overall population health. Even though social policies are not significantly related to health inequalities, the power of public redistribution to impact health inequalities should not be downplayed. Social policies as a way of public redistribution are a possible instrument to reduce income inequalities which would in turn lead to a reduction in health inequalities.

Optimizing otoacoustic emission protocols for a UNHS program.

PubMed

Hatzopoulos, S; Petruccelli, J; Ciorba, A; Martini, A

2009-01-01

To identify the optimal test protocol to screen for hearing problems in newborns, an evaluation of three distortion product otoacoustic emission (DPOAE) protocols was conducted in neonates, from a well-baby nursery (WBN) and from a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and compared to the performance in newborns of a more standard protocol based on transient-evoked OAEs (TEOAEs). The DPOAE protocols used asymmetrical stimulus intensities (L(1) > L(2)) with a frequency ratio of 1.22, in the following format: (P1), L(1) = 60, L(2) = 50 dB SPL; (P2), L(1) = 65, L(2) = 55 dB SPL, and (P3), L(1) = 75, L(2) = 65 dB SPL. Linear TEOAE responses, evoked by click stimuli of 75 dB peSPL, were used as controls of normal cochlear function. Five frequencies at 1.5, 2.0, 3.0, 4.0 and 5.0 kHz were tested with a common commercially available macro-based software subroutine (Otodynamics Corp, ILO-92). The project evaluated the responses from 1200 WBN infants (average age 48 h) and 350 low-birth-weight NICU infants, all randomly selected. Statistical analyses comparing the signal-to-noise ratios (S/N), at the predefined f(2) frequencies, indicated that the P1 and P2 DPOAE protocols generated similar responses. Significant S/N differences were observed in the P3 to P2 dataset comparisons. DPOAE scoring criteria were estimated from the P3 dataset using a one-sided, distribution-free confidence intervals. The scoring criteria for a 'pass' were estimated as a minimum S/N of 6.0, 7.0 and 6.0 dB at 2.0, 3.0 and 4.0 kHz, respectively. In terms of feasibility, the P3 protocol generated responses in 98% of the WBN and 94.8% of the NICU infants. All three DPOAE protocols demonstrated shorter time-recording requirements than the standard TEOAE test. The false-positive and false-negative rates for the NICU infants were estimated as 0.0028 and 0.003%, respectively.

Radiographic outcomes among South African coal miners.

PubMed

Naidoo, Rajen N; Robins, Thomas G; Solomon, A; White, Neil; Franzblau, Alfred

2004-10-01

This study, the first to document the prevalence of pneumoconiosis among a living South African coal mining cohort, describes dose-response relationships between coal workers' pneumoconiosis and respirable dust exposure, and relationships between pneumoconiosis and both lung function deterioration and respiratory symptoms. A total of 684 current miners and 188 ex-miners from three bituminous-coal mines in Mpumalanga, South Africa, was studied. Chest radiographs were read according to the International Labour Organization (ILO) classification by two experienced readers, one an accredited National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) "B" reader. Interviews were conducted to assess symptoms, work histories (also obtained from company records), smoking, and other risk factors. Spirometry was performed by trained technicians. Cumulative respirable dust exposure (CDE) estimates were constructed from historical company-collected sampling and researcher-collected personal dust measurements. kappa-Statistics compared the radiographic outcomes predicted by the two readers. An average profusion score was used in the analysis for the outcomes of interest. Because of possible confounding by employment status, most analyses were stratified on current and ex-miner status. The overall prevalence of pneumoconiosis was low (2%-4%). The degree of agreement between the two readers for profusion was moderate to high (kappa=0.58). A significant association (P<0.001) and trend (P<0.001) was seen for pneumoconiosis with increasing categories of CDE among current miners only. A significant (P<0.0001) additional 58 mg-years/m3 CDE was seen among those with pneumoconiosis compared to those without. CDE contributed to a statistically significant 0.19% and 0.11% greater decline in the percent predicted 1-second forced expiration volume (FEV1) and forced vital capacity (FVC), respectively, among current miners with pneumoconiosis than among those without. Logistic regression models showed no significant relationships between pneumoconiosis and symptoms. The overall prevalence of pneumoconiosis, although significantly associated with CDE, was low. The presence of pneumoconiosis is associated with meaningful health effects, including deterioration in lung function. Intervention measures that control exposure are indicated, to reduce these functional effects.

Health risks in international container and bulk cargo transport due to volatile toxic compounds.

PubMed

Baur, Xaver; Budnik, Lygia Therese; Zhao, Zhiwei; Bratveit, Magne; Djurhuus, Rune; Verschoor, Louis; Rubino, Federico Maria; Colosio, Claudio; Jepsen, Jorgen R

2015-01-01

To ensure the preservation and quality of the goods, physical (i.e. radiation) or chemical pest control is needed. The dark side of such consents may bear health risks in international transport and production sharing. In fact, between 10% and 20% of all containers arriving European harbors were shown to contain volatile toxic substances above the exposure limit values. Possible exposure to these toxic chemicals may occur not only for the applicators but also the receiver by off gassing from products, packing materials or transport units like containers. A number of intoxications, some with lethal outcome, occur not only during the fumigation, but also during freight transport (on bulk carriers and other transport vessels), as well as in the logistic lines during loading and unloading. Risk occupations include dock-workers, seafarers, inspectors, as well as the usually uninformed workers of importing enterprises that unload the products. Bystanders as well as vulnerable consumers may also be at risk. Ongoing studies focus on the release of these toxic volatile substances from various goods. It was shown that the half-lives of the off-gassing process range between minutes and months, depending on the toxic substance, its chemical reactivity, concentration, the temperature, the contaminated matrix (goods and packing materials), and the packing density in the transport units. Regulations on declaration and handling dangerous goods are mostly not followed. It is obvious that this hazardous situation in freight transport urgently requires preventive steps. In order to improve awareness and relevant knowledge there is a need for more comprehensive information on chemical hazards and a broader implementation of the already existing regulations and guidelines, such as those from ILO, IMO, and national authorities. It is also necessary to have regular controls by the authorities on a worldwide scale, which should be followed by sanctions in case of disregarding regulations. Further, fumigated containers must have a warning sign corresponding to international recommendations and national regulations, and freight documents have to indicate any potential hazard during stripping the goods.

An inaugural conference on occupational health in The Gambia: exploring the world through international occupational health programs.

PubMed

Culp, Kennith; Marquez, Shannon P; Bobb, Maram; Jagne, D M B

2005-02-01

This conference on workplace safety was a success for both the Gambians who attended and the Americans involved in planning, implementing, and funding the conference. The Americans were delighted to bring about some understanding of worker safety to a country that has struggled with labor issues for centuries. The dialogue reflected the concern that stakeholders in both countries have for labor issues, but there is a tremendous need for ongoing partnership with industrialized countries to bring these ideas and strategies to fruition. The Gambia has received some assistance in the area of economic development, but not in improving workplace safety. A wide range of economic support activities have been initiated by the ILO in The Gambia during the past 20 years. This has included providing guidance with international labor standards, assistance to the development of labor and related services, support to employer and worker organizations, vocational training, job creation and employment policy, and small enterprise development. Many challenges lie ahead for The Gambia in improving workplace safety. Serious concerns remain related to minimum safeguards in the workplace. For example, the Labor Act specifies safety equipment that an employer must provide for employees working in designated occupations, but these are rarely offered (Culp et al., 2003). Workers are plentiful and jobs are not, so workers tend to take any employment they can without regard to working conditions. The government has not formally revoked employers who have contributed to worker deaths. Industrial inspections are conducted, although there is little consequence for violations. The cycle of poverty, younger workers, and lack of education also contribute to many worker safety issues. Farm workers cannot read instructions on pesticide containers and industrial employees cannot understand workplace hazard communications. While the Gambian constitution mandates free compulsory primary education, the current state of educational opportunities is so dismal for poor families that many will not go beyond primary school and will enter the work force without technical skills. Teachers are overworked. While some young people could develop small business enterprises related to tourism and woodcarving, the vast majority continue a downward spiral into poverty (McGrath & King, 1999).

Analysis of major risk factors affecting those working in the agrarian sector (based on a sociological survey).

PubMed

Krekoten, Olena M; Dereziuk, Anatolii V; Ihnaschuk, Olena V; Holovchanska, Svitlana E

Issues related to labour potential, its state and problems have consistently been a focus of attention for the International Labour Organisation (ILO). Its respective analysis shows that labour potential problems remain unresolved in many countries of the world. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), adverse working conditions are among major factors of occupational disease development in Europe and the reason for disabilities of economically active population during 2.5% of their lifetime. The aim of the present study is to identify and analyse major risk factors, which have a bearing on people working in agriculture in the course of exercising their occupation, with account of forms of ownership of agricultural enterprises. Carried out was a cross-sectional study involving a sociological survey of 412 respondents - those working in agriculture - who made up the primary group and the control group. The study revealed 21 risk factors, 9 of which were work-related. A modified elementary cybernetic model of studying impact efficiency was developed with the view of carrying out a structural analysis of the sample group and choosing relevant methodological approaches. It has been established that harmful factors related to working environment and one's lifestyle are decisive in the agrarian sector, particularly for workers of privately owned businesses. For one out of three respondents harmful working conditions manifested themselves as industrial noise (31.7±3.4), vibration (29.0±2.1) trunk bending and constrained working posture (36.6±3.4). The vast majority of agricultural workers (91.6±2.5) admitted they could not afford proper rest during their annual leave; male respondents abused alcohol (70.6±3.0) and smoking (41.4±2.0 per 100 workers). The research established the structure of risk factors, which is sequentially represented by the following groups: behavioral (smoking, drinking of alcohol, rest during annual leave, physical culture), working environment and work activities (occupation, work experience, safety measures, working environment, organization and management), socioeconomic (education, financial situation).

Prostacyclin Suppresses Twist Expression in the Presence of Indomethacin in Bone Marrow-Derived Mesenchymal Stromal Cells

PubMed Central

Kemper, Oliver; Herten, Monika; Fischer, Johannes; Haversath, Marcel; Beck, Sascha; Classen, Tim; Warwas, Sebastian; Tassemeier, Tjark; Landgraeber, Stefan; Lensing-Höhn, Sabine; Krauspe, Rüdiger; Jäger, Marcus

2014-01-01

Background Iloprost, a stable prostacyclin I2 analogue, seems to have an osteoblast-protective potential, whereas indomethacin suppresses new bone formation. The aim of this study was to investigate human bone marrow stromal cell (BMSC) proliferation and differentiation towards the osteoblastic lineage by administration of indomethacin and/or iloprost. Material/Methods Human bone marrow cells were obtained from 3 different donors (A=26 yrs/m; B=25 yrs/f, C=35 yrs/m) via vacuum aspiration of the iliac crest followed by density gradient centrifugation and flow cytometry with defined antigens (CD105+/73+/45−/14−). The cells were seeded and incubated as follows: without additives (Group 0; donor A/B/C), with 10−7 M iloprost only (Group 0+ilo; A/B), with indomethacin only in concentrations of 10−6 M (Group 1, A), 10−5 M (Group 2, B), 10−4 M (Group 3, A/B), and together with 10−7 M iloprost (Groups 4–6, A/B/C). On Day 10 and 28, UV/Vis spectrometric and immunocytochemical assays (4 samples per group and donor) were performed to investigate cell proliferation (cell count measurement) and differentiation towards the osteoblastic lineage (CD34−, CD45−, CD105+, type 1 collagen (Col1), osteocalcin (OC), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), Runx2, Twist, specific ALP-activity). Results Indomethacin alone suppressed BMSC differentiation towards the osteoblastic lineage by downregulation of Runx2, Col1, and ALP. In combination with indomethacin, iloprost increased cell proliferation and differentiation and it completely suppressed Twist expression at Day 10 and 28. Iloprost alone did not promote cell proliferation, but moderately enhanced Runx2 and Twist expression. However, the proliferative effects and the specific ALP-activity varied donor-dependently. Conclusions Iloprost partially antagonized the suppressing effects of indomethacin on BMSC differentiation towards the osteoblast lineage. It enhanced the expression of Runx2 and, only in the presence of indomethacin, it completely suppressed Twist. Thus, in the treatment of avascular osteonecrosis or painful bone marrow edema, the undesirable effects of indomethacin might be counterbalanced by iloprost. PMID:25382306

Self-efficacy, disability level and physical strength in the injured workers: findings from a major factory disaster in Bangladesh.

PubMed

Villanueva, Gabriela; Fitch, Taylor; Quadir, Mohammad Morshedul; Raju Sagiraju, Hari Krishna; Alamgir, Hasanat

2017-04-01

In 24 April 2013, Rana Plaza - a high-rise building in Bangladesh where garments were being made for the Western markets collapsed. In this study, we report on the surviving workers' physical strength, self-efficacy, and disability level one year after the disaster. This cross-sectional study took place at the Centre for the Rehabilitation of the Paralysed (CRP) which provided care for more than 600 victims. For this study, upper extremity strength among the survivors was assessed by dynamometer hand grip (HG) and lower extremity strength by five time sit to stand test (FTSST). The WHODAS tool measured level of disability and General Self-Efficacy questionnaire measured self-efficacy. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) prevalence was determined by the PCL-scale. The study recruited 181 injured workers. The mean disability score among them was 49.8 (SD 17.5) and mean self-efficacy score was 24.9 (SD 6.9). In multivariate models, after adjusting for age, gender, education, injury profile, employment, marital status and job category, self-efficacy was found to be higher among those who scored above median HG test score [β= -2.32 (95% CI: -4.63, -0.01)] and FTSST performance score [β= -2.69 (95% CI: -4.93, -0.46)]. The disability level was found to be significantly associated with PTSD score [β = 0.84 (95% CI: 0.62, 1.06)] and self-efficacy score [β= -0.45 (95% CI: -0.78, -0.13)]. There is an immense need to develop and deliver effective post-injury recovery, rehabilitation and return-to-work programs for injured workers in resource poor countries. Implications for Rehabilitation The study findings suggest that one year after the factory disaster in Bangladesh, the injured workers are suffering from a high degree of disability, low physical performance and reporting low self-efficacy. The national and international stakeholders including Western buyers, aid agencies, NGOs, worker advocacy groups, consumer associations and the government of Bangladesh can be updated on the progress made so far. There is an immense need to develop and deliver effective post-injury recovery, rehabilitation and return-to-work programs for injured workers in resource poor countries. International organizations like ILO, WHO, World Bank can help developing countries in building these capacities.

Estimates of acute pesticide poisoning in agricultural workers in less developed countries.

PubMed

Litchfield, Melville H

2005-01-01

The benefits of crop protection products have to be balanced against the risks to farmers and other agricultural workers handling and applying them. The extent of acute pesticide poisoning in these workers, particularly in less developed countries, has often been based on inadequate information. A number of approaches have been taken by researchers to acquire information on pesticide poisoning. These have resulted in worldwide (global) estimates and regional, localised or field assessments. The methods include descriptive epidemiology, cross-sectional and case studies. Attempts to estimate global pesticide poisonings have often been based upon extrapolations and assumptions from chemical-related fatalities in a small number of countries; such estimates do not provide reliable data. Epidemiological studies, relying mainly on hospital and poison centre data, have been biased towards the more severe poisonings, whereas field studies indicate that occupational pesticide poisoning is associated with less severe and minor effects. Many reports do not adequately distinguish between intentional, accidental and occupational pesticide poisoning statistics or are dominated by cases of intentional (suicidal) poisoning which, by their nature, result in severe or fatal results. The majority of reports do not adequately describe whether individual cases are minor, moderate or severe poisonings. In order to assess information on acute pesticide poisoning in agricultural workers in less developed countries and to draw conclusions on the extent and severity of occupational poisoning, the most recent (post-1990) literature was reviewed. Data were also derived from the World Health Organization (WHO), United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the International Labour Office (ILO). The collected information was analysed to assess the extent and severity of occupational acute pesticide poisoning in less developed countries. Occupational acute pesticide poisonings in these countries are a small proportion of overall reported poisoning and are associated with the more minor effects of pesticides. They are a small proportion (<1-4%) of the several million cases of occupational injuries and ill health in agricultural workers worldwide. However, improvements are required for the collection of acute pesticide poisoning data in less developed countries and in the verification of the circumstances of poisonings and their relative severity. There is the need to move away from further attempts to estimate global data and concentrate instead on obtaining reliable data from realistic crop protection activities.

Analysis of Suitability for Development of New Mining Field in Northern Part of Kosovo Lignite Basin - Sibovc / Analiza Możliwości Udostępnienia Nowego Obszaru Wybierania W Północnej Części Zagłębia Węgla Brunatnego Sibovc W Kosowie

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cehlár, Michal; Rybár, Radim; Pinka, Ján; Haxhiu, Lorik; Beer, Martin

2013-06-01

This review describes the possibility of development a new lignite deposit in northern Kosovo lignite basin - Sibovc. Analysis of the initial state briefly evaluates Kosovo energy sector, geomorphological conditions and quality of lignite from Sibovc deposit. With using Dataminesoft it was created geological model and approximate calculation of lignite reserves in the deposit. The data obtained from Dataminesoft were used as starting points of the financial analysis of project. The result of the analysis is exactly describe the qualitative and quantitative characteristics of deposit Sibovc compared to other deposits in the area and creating of geological model with productive horizons deposit of lignite. Based on these data lignite deposit Sibovc was classified, according to the classification of deposits the UN, as economical. W pracy tej omówiono możliwości udostępnienia nowego obszaru wybierania złoża węgla brunatnego (lignitu) w północnej części zagłębia węgla brunatnego Sibovc w Kosowie. W analizie stanu początkowego krótko scharakteryzowano sektor energetyczny Kosowa, warunki geo-morfologiczne oraz parametry jakościowe węgla brunatnego z zagłębia Sibovc. Przy pomocy pakietu Dataminesoft stworzono model geologiczny i przeprowadzono przybliżone obliczenia zasobów węgla brunatnego w złożu. Dane uzyskane przy zastosowaniu pakietu Dataminesoft zostały następnie wykorzystane jako dane wejściowe do analizy finansowej przedsięwzięcia. Na podstawie wyników analizy uzyskuje się jakościową i ilościową charakterystykę złoża w odniesieniu do pozostałych złóż w regionie. Opracowano model geologiczny ze szczegółowym wskazaniem poziomów wybierania lignitu. W oparciu o te dane dokonano klasyfikacji złoża węgla brunatnego (lignitu) w Sibovc zgodnie z międzynarodowymi zasadami klasyfikacji wykazując, że złoże będzie ekonomiczne.

Cumulative exposure to dust causes accelerated decline in lung function in tunnel workers

PubMed Central

Ulvestad, B; Bakke, B; Eduard, W; Kongerud, J; Lund, M

2001-01-01

OBJECTIVES—To examine whether underground construction workers exposed to tunnelling pollutants over a follow up period of 8 years have an increased risk of decline in lung function and respiratory symptoms compared with reference subjects working outside the tunnel atmosphere, and relate the findings to job groups and cumulative exposure to dust and gases.
METHODS—96 Tunnel workers and a reference group of 249 other heavy construction workers were examined in 1991 and re-examined in 1999. Exposure measurements were carried out to estimate personal cumulative exposure to total dust, respirable dust, α-quartz, oil mist, and nitrogen dioxide. The subjects answered a questionnaire on respiratory symptoms and smoking habits, performed spirometry, and had chest radiographs taken. Radiological signs of silicosis were evaluated (International Labour Organisation (ILO) classification). Atopy was determined by a multiple radioallergosorbent test (RAST).
RESULTS—The mean exposure to respirable dust and α-quartz in tunnel workers varied from 1.2-3.6 mg/m3 (respirable dust) and 0.019-0.044 mg/m3 (α-quartz) depending on job task performed. Decrease in forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) was associated with cumulative exposure to respirable dust (p<0.001) and α-quartz (p=0.02). The multiple regression model predicted that in a worker 40 years of age, the annual decrease in FEV1 would be 25 ml in a non-exposed non-smoker, 35 ml in a non-exposed smoker, and 50-63 ml in a non-smoking tunnel worker (depending on job). Compared with the reference group the odds ratio for the occurrence of new respiratory symptoms during the follow up period was increased in the tunnel workers and associated with cumulative exposure to respirable dust.
CONCLUSIONS—Cumulative exposures to respirable dust and α-quartz are the most important risk factors for airflow limitation in underground heavy construction workers, and cumulative exposure to respirable dust is the most important risk factor for respiratory symptoms. The finding of accelerated decline in lung function in tunnel workers suggests that better control of exposures is needed.


Keywords: heavy construction; respirable dust; lung function PMID:11555688

Underground Lead-Zinc Mine Production Planning Using Fuzzy Stochastic Inventory Policy / Planowanie Wydobycia Cynku I Ołowiu W Kopalniach Podziemnych Z Wykorzystaniem Podejścia Stochastycznego Z Elementami Logiki Rozmytej Do Określania Niezbędnego Poziomu Zapasów

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gligoric, Zoran; Beljic, Cedomir; Gluscevic, Branko; Cvijovic, Cedomir

2015-03-01

Methodology for long-term underground lead-zinc mine planning based on fuzzy inventory theory is presented in this paper. We developed a fuzzy stochastic model of inventory control problem for planning lead-zinc ore production under uncertainty. The final purpose of this article is to find the optimal quantity of mined ore that should be stockpiled, in order to enable "feeding" of mineral processing plant in cases when the production in underground mine is interrupted, by using Possibilistic mean value of fuzzy number for defuzzing the fuzzy total annual inventory costs, and by using Extension of the Lagrangean method for solving inequality constrain problem. The different types of costs involved in mined ore inventory problems affect the efficiency of production scheduling. Dynamic nature of lead and zinc metal price is described by Ornstein-Uhlenbeck stochastic mean reverting process. The model is illustrated with a numerical example. W pracy przedstawiono metodologię długoterminowego wydobycia cynku i ołowiu w kopalniach podziemnych z wykorzystaniem podejścia stochastycznego z elementami logiki rozmytej do określania wymaganego poziomu zapasów. Opracowaliśmy model stochastyczny z wykorzystaniem elementów logiki rozmytej do kontroli zapasów w planowaniu wydobycia cynku i ołowiu w warunkach niepewności. Celem końcowym pracy jest określenie optymalnej ilości wydobywanej rudy, którą należy zachować jako zapas tak aby zapewnić odpowiednie jej dostawy do zakładu przeróbczego nawet w przypadku przerwania wydobycia w kopalni podziemnej, opierając się na posybilistycznej wartości średniej liczby rozmytej i wyostrzeniu całkowitych rocznych kosztów zapasów. Wykorzystano także rozszerzenie metody Lagrange'a do rozwiązywania problemu więzów w nierówności. Różnorakie koszty związane ze składowaniem zapasów wydobywanej rudy mają wpływ na wydajność planowanej produkcji. Dynamiczne zmiany cen cynku i ołowiu zostały określone z wykorzystaniem rewersji średniej stochastycznej, w pracy Ornsteina-Uhlenbecka. Zaprezentowano przykład numeryczny jako ilustrację modelu.

Radiological progression and its predictive risk factors in silicosis

PubMed Central

Lee, H; Phoon, W; Ng, T

2001-01-01

OBJECTIVES—To investigate the risk factors predicting radiological progression in silicosis in a prospective cohort study of patients with silicosis who were previously exposed to silica from granite dust.
METHODS—From among a total of 260 patients with silicosis contracted from granite work, 141 with available serial chest x ray films of acceptable quality taken over a period of 2 to 17 (mean 7.5) years, were selected for study. Ninety four (66.7%) had ended exposure 5 or more years perviously (mean 10.1 years, maximum 28 years). Radiological progression was assessed by paired comparison of the initial and most recent radiographs, with two or more steps of increase in profusion of small opacities according to the 12 point scale of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) classification of radiographs of pneumoconiosis, taken from the majority reading by a panel of three independent readers.
RESULTS—Overall, 37% of patients with silicosis had radiological evidence of progression. From the initial radiographs, 24 (31.6%) of those with radiological profusion category 1, 15 (37.5%) of those with radiological profusion category 2, and 13 (52%) of those with complicated silicosis (including all seven with category 3 profusion of small opacities) showed radiological progression. As expected, progression was more likely to be found after longer periods of follow up (the interval between the two chest x ray films) with a 20% increased odds of progression for every additional year of follow up. After adjustment for varying intervals of follow up, the probability of radiological progression was found to be significant if large opacities were present in the initial chest x ray film. Progression was also less likely to be found among those who had ended exposure to silica longer ago, although the result was of borderline significance (p=0.07). Tuberculosis was also associated with increased likelihood of progression (borderline significance).
CONCLUSIONS—There is a high probability of radiological progression in silicosis after high levels of exposure to granite dust among workers who were followed up for up to 17 years. A significant risk factor is the extent of radiological opacities in the initial chest x ray film. The probability of progression is also likely to be reduced with longer periods after the end of exposure.


Keywords: silicosis; radiological progression; granite quarry PMID:11404452

Feasibility Analysis of Groundwater Abstraction for Gas Shale Fracturing in the Lublin Basin (Eastern Poland) / Ocena Możliwości Poboru Wód Podziemnych Do Szczelinowania Łupków Gazonośnych W Basenie Lubelskim (Wschodnia Polska)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Duda, Robert; Macuda, Jan

2015-03-01

Natural gas extraction from shale rock necessitates hydraulic fracturing of rocks, which involves large amounts of fracture fluids made of 90.5% of water. The authors focus on feasibility of groundwater abstraction for the purpose of applying fracture fluids in wells of the Lublin Basin - area of perspective unconventional gas exploitation from the Ordovician and the Silurian shales. These data refer to the expected specific capacity of wells abstracting groundwater from main useful aquifers. Specific capacity of a well (q) belongs to high-certainty empirical parameters, characterizing water-bearing capacity of rocks at a regional scale. The spatial evaluation of q was based on respective data coming from 7 sheets of the Hydrogeological Map of Poland (scale 1:200,000) covering research area. Specific capacity q was calculated for wells abstracting water from the Upper Cretaceous, Tertiary and Quaternary aquifers in areas presented on particular sheets of the map. Authors determined the variability distribution and the cumulative probability plots of q values, indicating a range which corresponded to a sum of standard deviation (SD) above and below median (X¯), i.e. X¯ ± 1SD. On the total the interval included 68.2% of data. The results reveal that 0.6 ≤ q ≤ 40 m3h-1 per 1 meter of drawdown for the Upper Cretaceous rocks in the eastern part of the area, and 1.1 ≤ q ≤ 110 m3h-1 per 1 meter in the western part, being a result of more intense fracturing and fissuring. Owing to the scarcity of data, q values of wells screened at the Tertiary and Quaternary aquifers are given jointly for the whole area: 0.8 ≤ q ≤ 20 and 1.0 ≤ q ≤ 10 m3h-1 per 1 meter, respectively. The obtained specific capacities are high. When the wells are properly designed, their discharges may reach about ca. 100 m3h-1. Eksploatacja gazu ziemnego ze skał łupkowych wiąże się z wykonaniem w każdym poziomym odcinku otworu wielu zabiegów hydraulicznego szczelinowania skał. Zabiegi te realizowane są przy wykorzystaniu dużych ilości cieczy szczelinujących, które w 90.5% składają się z wody, 9.0% piasku podsadzkowego (proppant) oraz 0.5% różnych substancji chemicznych, niezbędnych do utrzymania właściwych parametrów technologicznych cieczy. Zapotrzebowanie na wodę do szczelinowania wzrasta wraz ze zwiększeniem zwięzłości i głębokości zalegania łupków gazonośnych. W związku z tym właściciele koncesji na eksploatację gazu ze skał łupkowych oczekują informacji o możliwościach poboru wód podziemnych w celu szczelinowania. W pracy przedstawiono ocenę realnych możliwości poboru wód podziemnych do przygotowania cieczy szczelinujących dla otworów eksploatacyjnych gazu niekonwencjonalnego w obszarze basenu lubelskiego, będącego rejonem perspektywicznej eksploatacji gazu z łupków ordowiku i syluru (dolny paleozoik). Możliwości poboru wody zbadano na podstawie oczekiwanych wydajności jednostkowych studni ujmujących wody głównego użytkowego poziomu wodonośnego (GUPW) w rejonie badań. GUPW na przeważającej części tego obszaru związany jest ze skałami górnej kredy - spękanymi marglami, kredą, opokami, wapieniami i gezami, a także utworami czwartorzędu i trzeciorzędu. Znajomość wartości wydatku jednostkowego umożliwia zaprojektowanie ujęcia stosownie do określonych potrzeb. Witczak et al. (1999) proponują przyjęcie wydatku jednostkowego studni (q), jako obiektywnej danej empirycznej cechującej się wysokim wskaźnikiem pewności, w celu charakterystyki wodonośności poziomów wodonośnych w skali regionalnej. Przestrzenną ocenę wartości q oparto na danych zestawionych w 7 arkuszach Mapy hydrogeologicznej Polski w skali 1:200,000 (MHP). Dane dotyczyły q uzyskiwanych przy określonych maksymalnych depresjach poziomu wody. Obliczono q studni ujmujących wodę z GUPW w formacjach kredy górnej, trzeciorzędu i czwartorzędu, w granicach obszarów arkuszy MHP lub ich części znajdujących się w zasięgu obszaru badań (Fig. 1). Zanalizowano rozkłady zmienności i skumulowanej gęstości prawdopodobieństwa w celu uzyskania odpowiednich zakresów zmienności wartości q studni ujmujących wodę z badanych trzech formacji litostratygraficznych (Fig. 2, 3). Wyróżniono na wykresach zakres równy sumie jednego odchylenia standardowego (SD) powyżej i poniżej wartości mediany (X-), czyli X- ± 1SD. W tym przedziale zawiera się po 34.1% danych o wartościach odpowiednio: większych i mniejszych od mediany; łącznie przedział zawiera 68.2% danych. Na będących źródłem danych arkuszach MHP obejmujących obszar badań, ilość danych dotyczących studni ujmujących wodę z utworów czwartorzędu i trzeciorzędu zazwyczaj jest mniejsza niż 30. Wykonano więc zestawienie q także dla danych skumulowanych w odniesieniu do poszczególnych poziomów litostratygraficznych (Fig. 3b). Uzyskane wyniki w odniesieniu do skał kredy górnej wskazują, że analizowany obszar dzieli się na bardziej wodonośną część położoną na zachód od rzeki Wieprz, tj. w granicach arkuszy "Łuków", "Lublin", "Rzeszów" oraz słabiej wodonośną część położoną na wschód od tej rzeki, czyli w obszarach arkuszy "Włodawa", "Chełm" i "Tomaszów Lubelski". W zakresie X- ± 1SD w strefach występowania margli ilastych i kredy piszącej (część wschodnia obszaru) q zawierają się w przedziale 0.6 ≤ q ≤ 40 m3h-1 na 1 m depresji. W rejonach występowania opok, gez, margli i wapieni (część zachodnia) q jest w przedziale 1.1 ≤ q ≤ 110 m3h-1 na 1 m. Wartości q studni zafiltrowanych w utworach trzeciorzędu i czwartorzędu, za względu na małą ilość danych analizowano łącznie dla całego obszaru badań i stwierdzono, że zawierają się w przedziale X- ± 1SD odpowiednio 0.8 ≤ q ≤ 20 m3h-1 na 1m oraz 1.0 ≤ q ≤ 10 m3h-1 na 1m. Oprócz zmienności litologicznej, rozkład zmienności q w skali regionalnej w danym poziomie litostratygraficznym ma charakter lognormalny. Projektując studnie ujmujące wodę w obszarze badań z utworów kredy górnej zaleca się przyjmowanie wartości dolnej granicy przedziału zmienności X- ± 1SD zestawionych w Tabeli 1. Projektując ujęcia wody z utworów trzeciorzędu lub czwartorzędu, z uwagi na małą liczbę danych dotyczących tych poziomów w zasięgach arkuszy bedących źródłem danych, zaleca się przyjmowanie wartości dolnej granicy przedziału zmienności określonego dla danych połączonych ze wszystkich arkuszy (Tabela 1). Obliczenie przewidywanej wielkości poboru wód podziemnych pojedynczą studnią w granicach koncesji na eksploatację gazu łupkowego w Basenie Lubelskim można wykonywać na podstawie wartości q przedstawionych w pracy. Stwierdzone w wyniku badań wartości q są wysokie i gwarantują, przy prawidłowym zaprojektowaniu lokalizacji i budowy studni, uzyskiwanie wydajności od kilkudziesięciu do ponad 100 m3h-1 wody.

Water Sciences - Connecting the dots to achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Uhlenbrook, Stefan; Ortigara, Angela; Minelli, Lucilla

2017-04-01

Land use change, urbanisation, climate change, demographic development and migration, conflicts and peace, change of diets, industry 4.0, globalisation etc. are among the challenges that water sciences need to address to serve societal needs. Water availability per capita is decreasing, water quality is deteriorating at many places, but water demand is continuously escalating. Business as usual in water science is not up to the related challenges. In fact, business as usual cannot be the answer in all aspects, i.e. also current policy making processes will need to improve and take stock of evidences provided by science in order to better address societal challenges. However, exciting developments have been taking place. The global community agreed on a new and ambitious agenda for development, which aims to be comprehensive and include the participation of all stakeholders in one integrated framework. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development provides a stimulating new era, with unique opportunities to reconcile science, society and policy making. Hydrology and water management - in all its facets including wastewater - play a central role in the Agenda 2030, as it is not only central in Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6, but it is fundamental for the realization of other SDGs related to, for instance, poverty reduction, sustainable growth, health, food security, climate change, ecosystems (land and sea), gender equality, etc. Despite the recognition of the critical importance of water in this agenda, the implementation of related policies and use of scientific developments represent a difficult task. Two main challenges remain: (i) the utilization of the knowledge and developments already available, and (ii) the need to overcome current and future knowledge gaps ensuring that scientific results support sustainable development effectively. The UN system will produce a Synthesis Report for SDG 6, which is currently being prepared by a UN-Water Task Force that includes several international organizations (i.e., CEO Water Mandate, FAO, ILO, UNDP, UNECE, UNEP, UNESCO, UNICEF, UN-Water TAU, WHO and WMO) and is coordinated by the UN World Water Assessment Programme of UNESCO. The Synthesis Report will provide an integrated analysis and synthesis of data, information and policy linkages between different SDG targets and indicators, providing Member Stater with 'the big picture' on progress made in achieving SDG 6, and recommendations for policy and decision makers and stakeholders in the water and development sectors. The role of (water) science is more critical than ever. In this era of rapid developments we are in dire need for action: further insights are needed to fully understand and quantify the systematic links between the different SDGs in order to explore future possible development pathways. Sound scientific basis has to support the development of effective policy implementation strategies.

Exposure to silica and silicosis among tin miners in China: exposure-response analyses and risk assessment

PubMed Central

Chen, W; Zhuang, Z; Attfield, M; Chen, B; Gao, P.; Harrison, J; Fu, C; Chen, J; Wallace, W

2001-01-01

OBJECTIVES—To investigate the risk of silicosis among tin miners and to investigate the relation between silicosis and cumulative exposure to dust (Chinese total dust and respirable crystalline silica dust).
METHODS—A cohort study of 3010 miners exposed to silica dust and employed for at least 1 year during 1960-5 in any of four Chinese tin mines was conducted. Historical total dust data from China were used to create a job exposure matrix for facility, job title, and calendar year. The total dust exposure data from China were converted to estimates of exposure to respirable crystalline silica for comparison with findings from other epidemiological studies of silicosis. Each worker's work history was abstracted from the complete employment records in mine files. Diagnoses of silicosis were based on 1986 Chinese pneumoconiosis Roentgen diagnostic criteria, which classified silicosis as stages I-III—similar to an International Labour Organisation (ILO) classification of 1/1 or greater.
RESULTS—There were 1015 (33.7%) miners identified with silicosis, who had a mean age of 48.3 years, with a mean of 21.3 years after first exposure (equivalent to 11.0 net years in a dusty job). Among those who had silicosis, 684 miners (67.4%) developed silicosis after exposure ended (a mean of 3.7 years after). The risk of silicosis was strongly related to cumulative exposure to silica dust and was well fitted by the Weibull distribution, with the risk of silicosis less than 0.1% when the Chinese measure of cumulative exposure to total dust (CTD) was under 10 mg/m3-years (or 0.36 mg/m3-years of respirable crystalline silica), increasing to 68.7% when CTD exposure was 150 mg/m3-years (or 5.4 mg/m3-years of respirable crystalline silica). Latency period was not correlated to the risk of silicosis or cumulative dose of exposure. This study predicts about a 36% cumulative risk of silicosis for a 45 year lifetime exposure to these tin mine dusts at the CTD exposure standard of 2 mg/m3, and a 55% risk at 45 years exposure to the current United States Occupational Safety and Health Administration and Mine Safety and Health Administration standards of 0.1 mg/m3 100% respirable crystalline silica dust.
CONCLUSIONS—A clear exposure-response relation was detected for silicosis in Chinese tin miners. The study results were similar to most, but not all, findings from other large scale exposure-response studies.


Keywords: silicosis; exposure to silica; dose-response relation PMID:11119632

[Otoacoustic emissions of full-term and preterm neonates].

PubMed

Kashiwamura, M; Ohwatari, R; Satoh, N; Kawanami, M; Chida, E; Sakamoto, T; Fukuda, S; Inuyama, Y

1996-01-01

Transiently evoked otoacoustic emission (TEOAE), distortion product otoacoustic emission (DPOAE), and spontaneous otoacoustic emission (SOAE) were measured in 45 full-term neonates (68 ears) and 12 preterm neonates (20 ears) with ILO88 & 92. Measurements were performed in the nursery of the obstetrics ward or NICU (not sound proof room) under natural sleeping condition after nursing. No sedating agent was used. TEOAEs were rated "good response" in 61 (89.7%) of 68 full-term neonate ears. DPOAEs were rated "good response" in 40 (71.4%) of 56 full-term neonate ears. SOAEs were detectable in 25 (62.5%) of 40 full-term neonate ears. Considering the high positive rate of TEOAE in full-term neonates and the easy and noninvasive method of measurement, we concluded that TEOAE is useful for auditory screening in neonates. There was failure to detect TEOAEs in 7 ears and the measurements were all performed within 6 days after birth. Some reports claim that residual amnion in the external auditory canal or the middle ear in the first few days after birth causes slight hearing loss. Thus, we expected that making the measurements more than 7 days after birth might yield higher "good response" rates. We sometimes found that the Total Echo Powers of TEOAEs were reduced by the poor condition of the ear probe. Thus, we must be very careful in regard to this technical problem in order to perform accurate examinations. Because of its lower "good response" rate, DPOAE was not as useful for screening as TEOAE. Because of the movements or respiratory noises of the newborn infants, it was hard to detect reliable DPOAEs, particularly in the low frequency range. On the other hand, because of its frequency specificity, particurally at high frequencies, DPOAE will be useful for detecting the partial hearing impairment such as congenital high-tone hearing impairment. It would be difficult to use SOAE as a clinical test. Because it is not an evoked response, its mechanism of generation is not well understood. We expect that following longitudinal changes in SOAE in neonates may yield some information about it. We measured mainly TEOAE in preterm neonates because we had to complete the measurements as soon as possible. High Total Echo Powers of TEOAEs were recorded in most infants over 38 weeks of PCA (post conceptional age). The earliest case showed reliable TEOAE at 35 weeks PCA. In most cases that could be measured twice on different days, the Total Echo Powers of TEOAE, were higher in the second time. We therefore concluded that TEOAE might serve as an examination for monitoring the maturation of preterm neonate hearing.

Evaluation of Blasting Patterns Using Operational Research Models / Ocena Planów Prac Strzałowych W Oparciu O Metody Badań Operacyjnych

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Monjezi, Masoud; Farzaneh, Farhad; Asadi, Ahmad

2013-09-01

Blasting is one of the most important operations, which has a great technical and economical effect on the mining projects. Criteria such as fragmentation (operation ultimate objective) and ground vibration, flyrock, airblast, etc. (operation side effects) should be considered in the assessment of blasting operation. A suitable pattern should be able to provide both reasonable (required) fragmentation and blasting side effects. In order to evaluate blasting performance, operational research models such as multi attribute decision making technique (MADM) can be applied. Technique for order preference by similarity to an ideal solution (TOPSIS), a branch of MADM, is a strong method for pattern ranking. The other quantitative method which is applied in the evaluation of systems' efficiency is data envelopment analysis (DEA) model. In this paper, an attempt has been made to develop a new hybrid MADM model for selecting the most appropriate blasting pattern in Chadormalu iron mine, Iran. In this regard, DEA method was utilized to select the efficient blast patterns thereafter TOPSIS was used to recognize the most suitable pattern amongst the selected patterns by DEA method. It was concluded that the patterns J, G and B are the most appropriate patterns for blasting operations in the Chadormalu iron mine. Prace strzałowe to jedne z kluczowych operacji w znacznym stopniu determinujące efektywność ekonomiczną wielu projektów górniczych. W planowaniu prac strzałowych uwzględnić należy podstawowe kryteria, takie jak rozdrobnienie skał (ostateczny cel operacji), wibracje podłoża, występowanie rozrzutu skał, i podmuchów powietrza (efekty uboczne). Odpowiedni harmonogram prac zapewnić powinien zarówno odpowiedni poziom rozdrobnienia (wymiary brył) jak i ograniczenie skutków ubocznych prac. Dla oceny skuteczności prac strzałowych zastosować można modele badań operacyjnych, np. modele oparte o wielokryterialną technikę decyzyjną MADM, a technika ustalania kolejności preferowanych rozwiązań oparta o podobieństwo do rozwiązania idealnego (TOPSIS), wywodząca się z MADM, jest skuteczną metodą ustalania rankingu wzorców. Inną metodą ilościową stosowaną do oceny efektywności systemów jest metoda analizy danych DEA. W niniejszym artykule dokonano próby opracowania hybrydowego modelu MADM do wyboru najbardziej korzystnego planu prac strzałowych w kopalni rud żelaza Chadormalu, w Iranie. W ramach badań wykorzystano metodę DEA do wyboru skutecznego planu prac strzałowych, następnie zastosowano podejście TOPSIS dla rozpoznania najbardziej odpowiedniego wzorca spośród tych wybranych przy pomocy metody DEA. Stwierdzono, że wzorce oznaczone jako J, G i B są najodpowiedniejsze do zastosowania przy pracach strzałowych prowadzonych w kopalni rud żelaza Chadormalu.

Renovation and Modernization of Residential Structures in Gliwice Based on Survey of the Environment Built from the Years 1848-2014 / Renowacja I Modernizacja Struktury Mieszkaniowej W Gliwicach Na Podstawie Badań Ankietowych Środowiska Zbudowanego Z Lat 1848-2014

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cibis, Jerzy; Serdyńska, Joanna

2015-03-01

The subject of the survey carried out in 2013-2014 are changes in Gliwice residential substance in relation to the two fundamental issues:how proceeded transformation of the existing housing stock, which changes has it undergone during operation. The range of changes within the housing illustrates all the positive and negative solutions characteristic for each of the periods. In the selection of research technique decision was made to form the survey. The quantitative data collected during the survey are the basis for building applications and also from grouped and developed characteristics for the surveyed collections. The test results help to identify regularities concerning the scope of the changes made in each period and - indirectly - give evidence to evaluate the built environment in terms of meeting the expectations and needs of the residents. Analysis of the assumptions also draws attention to the life cycles of the apartment, as the original part undergoing transformation during the adaptation, modernization and reconstruction of housing environment to changing needs during operational requirements. The scope of the changes introduced by them within the housing allows to evaluate the accuracy of functional and spatial, technical and technological solutions characteristic of the period in which they developed. Przedmiotem badania przeprowadzonego w latach 2013-2014 są zmiany zachodzące w substancji mieszkaniowej Gliwic w odniesieniu do dwu zasadniczych kwestii: jak przebiegała transformacja istniejących zasobów mieszkaniowych, jakim zmianom została ona poddana w czasie eksploatacji. Zakres zmian w obrębie mieszkania ilustruje wszelkie pozytywne i negatywne rozwiązania charakterystyczne dla każdego z badanych okresów. W doborze techniki badawczej zdecydowano się na formę badania ankietowego. Dane ilościowe zebrane podczas badań ankietowych są podstawą do budowania wniosków i tez z pogrupowanych i opracowanych cech charakterystycznych dla badanych zbiorów. Wyniki badań pozwalają wskazać prawidłowości dotyczące zakresu dokonywanych zmian w poszczególnych okresach i - pośrednio - dają przesłanki do oceny środowiska zbudowanego pod kątem spełnienia oczekiwań i potrzeb mieszkańców. Analiza przedstawionych założeń zwraca również uwagę na cykle życia mieszkania, jako elementu pierwotnego ulegającego transformacji podczas adaptacji, modernizacji i przebudowy środowiska mieszkaniowego do zmieniających się w czasie potrzeb użytkowych. Zakres wprowadzonych przez nich zmian w obrębie mieszkania pozwala ocenić trafność rozwiązań funkcjonalno-przestrzennych, technicznych i technologicznych, charakterystycznych dla okresu, w którym powstały.

Simulation Based Investigation of Different Fleet Management Paradigms in Open Pit Mines-A Case Study of Sungun Copper Mine / Symulacje I Badania Różnych Paradygmatów Wykorzystania Floty Pojazdów I Urządzeń W Kopalniach Odkrywkowych. Studium Przypadku: Kopalnia Miedzi W Sungun

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hashemi, Ali Saadatmand; Sattarvand, Javad

2015-03-01

Using simulation modeling, different management systems of the open pit mining equipment including non-dispatching, dispatching and blending solutions have been studied for the Sungun copper mine. Developed model has the capability of considering detailed features of both loading and hauling equipment. Productivity assessment scenarios have been established on the constructed model and the outputs revealed the noteworthy impact of the match factor of the trucks to the loaders on the production rate by over 40%. A dispatching simulation model with the objective function of minimizing truck waiting times have been developed and 7.8% improvement obtained by applying a flexible assignment of the trucks for the loaders compared to the fixed assignment system. Finally ore grade blending control unit has been introduced into the model. Getting the advantages of the newly added module it became possible to monitor the portion of material excavated from different operating benches and control truck dispatching rules for keeping the overall ore grade exactly at desired value. Przy użyciu modeli symulacyjnych zbadano różnorodne systemy zarządzania flotą pojazdów i urządzeń w kopalni odkrywkowej (wydawanie dyspozycji przewozu, wstrzymywanie przewozu oraz rozwiązania kwestii mieszania o rud o różnej zawartości pierwiastka użytecznego) na przykładzie kopalni miedzi Sungun. Opracowany model uwzględnia szczegółowe cechy sprzętu przeładunkowego oraz transportowego. Na podstawie modelu opracowano następnie scenariusze oceny wydajności, a wyniki jednoznacznie wykazały wielką wagę odpowiedniego skojarzenia ilości pojazdów i ładowarek. Opracowano model symulacyjny kierowania urządzeń do pracy, jako funkcję celu przyjmujący minimalizacje czasu przestoju ciężarówek. Uzyskano wynik lepszy o 7.8% poprzez elastyczne przydzielania pojazdów do ładowarek w porównaniu do systemu trwałego ich do siebie przypisania. W ostatnim etapie dodano do modelu system kontroli procesu mieszania rud o rozmaitej zawartości pierwiastka użytecznego. Korzystając z nowo-dodanego modułu, możliwe stało się monitorowanie porcji materiału wybieranego z poszczególnych poziomów i kontrolowanie rozsyłanych ciężarówek tak, by w skali całej kopalni możliwe było ciągłe utrzymanie zawartości pierwiastka użytecznego na żądanym poziomie.

Phase boundaries, structural characteristics, and NMR spectra of ionic liquid-in-oil microemulsions containing double chain surface active ionic liquid: a comparative study.

PubMed

Rao, Vishal Govind; Mandal, Sarthak; Ghosh, Surajit; Banerjee, Chiranjib; Sarkar, Nilmoni

2013-02-07

A method developed for the first time, to create a huge number of ionic liquid (IL)-in-oil microemulsions has been discussed in our earlier publication (Rao, V. G.; Ghosh, S.; Ghatak, C.; Mandal, S.; Brahmachari, U.; Sarkar, N. J. Phys. Chem. B 2012, 116, 2850-2855). Here, we present facile methods to adjust the structural parameters of microemulsions using different ionic liquids (ILs) as additives (polar phase). We have characterized ILs/[C(4)mim][AOT]/benzene ternary system by performing a phase behavior study, dynamic light scattering (DLS) measurements, and (1)H NMR measurements. The IL loading capacity of microemulsions (area of single phase region) (i) increases with increase in alkyl chain length of cation of ILs and follows the trend [C(6)mim][TF(2)N] > [C(4)mim][TF(2)N] > [C(2)mim][TF(2)N], (ii) increases with decrease in cation anion interaction strength of added ILs and follows the trend [C(4)mim][TF(2)N] > [C(4)mim][PF(6)] > [C(4)mim][BF(4)]. So depending on the IL used, the amount of IL within the core of microemulsions can be easily manipulated to directly affect the size of aggregates in microemulsions. The size increase with increasing R value (R value is defined as the molar ratio of RTILs to [C(4)mim][AOT]) was found to be maximum in the case of [C(2)mim][TF(2)N]/[C(4)mim][AOT]/benzene microemulsions and follows the trend [C(2)mim][TF(2)N] > [C(4)mim][TF(2)N] > [C(6)mim][TF(2)N]. However, the size increase was almost the same with increase in R value in the case of ILs with different anions. The most promising fact about IL-in-oil microemulsions is their high thermal stability compared to that of aqueous microemulsions, so we investigated the effect of temperature on size of aggregates in microemulsions at R = 1.0. It is evident from dynamic light scattering measurements that the aggregates in microemulsions remain monodisperse in nature with increasing temperature, and in all the cases, the size of aggregates in microemulsions decreases with increasing temperature. The effect of water addition on IL-in-oil (IL/O) microemulsions was also studied in detail. By far, this is the first report where the effect of water addition on microemulsions containing hydrophobic ILs is being reported and compared with microemulsions containing hydrophilic ILs. We observed that the added water has a prominent effect on the microstructure of the microemulsions. In all the cases, (1)H NMR spectra provide more detailed information about intra/intermolecular interactions thus affording a clear picture of locations of (i) the RTILs in RTILs/[C(4)mim][AOT]/benzene microemulsions and (ii) the added water molecules in microemulsions.

The Research into the Quality of Rock Surfaces Obtained by Abrasive Water Jet Cutting

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Młynarczuk, Mariusz; Skiba, Marta; Sitek, Libor; Hlaváček, Petr; Kožušníková, Alena

2014-12-01

In recent years, water jet cutting technology has been being used more and more often, in various domains of human activity. Its numerous applications include cutting different materials - among them, rock materials. The present paper discusses the results of the research that aimed at determining - in a quantitative manner - the way in which the water jet cutting parameters (such as the traverse speed of the head, and the distance between the high-pressure inlet of the water jet and the cut material) influence the quality of the processed surface. Additionally, the impact of these parameters on the surface of various materials was investigated. The materials used were three granites differing with respect to the size of grains. In the course of the research, the standard parameters defined by the ISO norms were analyzed. It was also proposed that variograms be used to analyze the quality of the cut surface. Technologia cięcia strumieniem wodnym staje się w ostatnich latach coraz intensywniej wykorzystywana w różnych dziedzinach działalności człowieka. Jest ona wykorzystywana do obróbki różnorodnych materiałów, również materiałów skalnych. W ramach badań analizowano trzy granity różniące się m.in. wielkościami ziarn, które były przecinane przy różnych prędkościach przesuwu głowicy z wlotem strumienia wodnego. Analizowano standardowe parametry zdefiniowane w normach ISO jak również zaproponowano wykorzystanie wariogramów do analizy jakości wyciętej powierzchni. W pracy opisano w sposób ilościowy zmiany jakości powierzchni skał ciętych strumieniem wodnym ze ścierniwem w zależności od prędkości przesuwu głowicy, jak również w zależności od odległości przecinanego fragmentu powierzchni od wlotu strumienia wodnego do materiału. Wyniki uzyskane w pomiarach wskazują też na wpływ wielkości uziarnienia skały na jakość otrzymanej powierzchni. Jest to szczególnie widoczne dla najmniej optymalnych parametrów cięcia strumieniem wodnym, czyli dla dużych prędkości cięcia i dla fragmentów powierzchni znacznie oddalonych od brzegu próbki. W badaniach wykazano, że przy optymalnie dobranych parametrach obróbki wpływ wielkości ziarn na jakość powierzchni jest niewielki, a niekiedy nawet pomijalny. W pracy opisano również możliwość zastosowania funkcji madogramu do analizy jakości obrabianej powierzchni. Przy wykorzystaniu tej funkcji można nie tylko potwierdzić rezultaty otrzymane na bazie parametrów zdefiniowanych w ISO, ale otrzymuje się bardziej dogłębny obraz ukształtowania badanej powierzchni.

Landslide prediction system in Slovenia (Masprem)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Šinigoj, Jasna; Jemec Auflič, Mateja; Krivic, Matija

2017-04-01

The landslide prediction system MASPREM has been developed in 2013 to (1) predict rainfall induced landslides on national and local level and (2) inform Civil Protection agency and inhabitants of an increased probability of landslide occurrences. A landslide prediction system on national level integrates three major components: (1) a landslide susceptibility map; (2) landslide triggering rainfall threshold values and (3) precipitation forecasting model's (i.e., ALADIN, INCA). Landslide prediction is also calculated on a local level, including exposure maps of inhabitants, buildings and different types of infrastructure to potential landslide occurrence at a scale of 1: 25,000 for 14 selected municipalities. MASPREM system runs in a 12 hour cycling mode, for 24 hours ahead. The results of the probability of landslide models are classified into five classes, with values ranging from one to five; where class one represents areas with a negligible landslide probability and class five areas with a very high landslide probability. It is a fully automated system based on open source software (PostgreSQL) and web applications for displaying results (Java, GDAL). When precipitation forecasting models are transferred to the GeoZS server the conversion process to raster data starts, stores data in a PostgreSQL database and performs the calculation. Based on final results, the WMS service that is responsible for the distribution of data through the service for download and review of results in a web application is created. In the period, from September 2013 to August 2016, MASPREM gave an alert about the probability of landslide occurrences in 84 cases. While the system has potential to become operational in use after the validation phase, there are also limitations related to the input data that should not be neglected: spatial resolution of the ALADIN model, the incomplete landslide inventory that is important for the validation, defining how many days of antecedent rainfall significantly influence the landslide occurrences, characteristic of lithological units according to water contents. Despite the limitations currently affecting the landslide prediction system, results show that the system demonstrates capability in predicting rainfall induced landslides. When the validation phase will be finished and the certainty of system will be high enough, the system will be able to inform infrastructure owners, civil agencies, and operators of potential landslide hazards. Komac, M., Šinigoj, J., Jemec Auflič, M. 2014: A national warning system for rainfall-induced landslides in Slovenia. V: SASSA, Kyoji (ur.), CANUTI, Paolo (ur.), YIN, Yueping (ur.). Landslide science for a safer geoenvironment. Vol. 2, Methods of landslide studies. Cham ... [etc.]: Springer, cop. 2014, str. 577-582, doi: 10.1007/978-3-319-05050-8_89. Jemec Auflič, M, Šinigoj, J, Krivic, M, Podboj, M, Peternel,T, Komac, M. Landslide prediction system for rainfall induced landslides in Slovenia (Masprem) Geologija, 2016, 59/2, 259-271, doi: 10.5474/geologija.2016.016. Šinigoj, J., Jemec Auflič, M., Kumelj, Š., Krivic, M., Požar, M., Podboj, M., Tukić, M., Peternel, T., Ponjavič, G., Zakrajšek, M. & Prkić, N. 2016: Nadgradnja sistema za obveščanje in opozarjanje v primeru proženja zemeljskih plazov - Masprem2: končno poročilo. Geolo\\vski zavod Slovenije, Ljubljana: 114 p

Simulation Method of Designing and Selecting Tensioning Systems for Mining Belt Conveyors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kulinowski, Piotr

2014-03-01

This article deals with a methodology developed to design and select tensioning systems with using simulation studies on a belt conveyor model. It describes the structure of a dynamic model of a belt conveyor with distributed parameters and details of physical models of the applied belt tensioning systems. For proper display and comparison of work described tensioning systems are shown examples of the results of simulations carried out on a discrete model of the mining belt conveyor. Presented methodology has been verified through industrial research and realization of a number of complex projects requiring simulation tests of take-up systems of belt conveyors. W artykule przedstawiono symulacyjną metodę projektowania i doboru układów napinania taśmy, wykorzystującą wyniki badań modelowych, będącą często wymaganym rozszerzeniem stosowanych analitycznych metod obliczeniowych (Kulinowski, 2013b). Z uwagi na zjawiska falowe występujące w taśmie podczas nieustalonych stanów pracy przenośników taśmowych, rozruchu, hamowania i pracy przy zmiennej ilości nadawy, wyniki obliczeń uzyskane z wykorzystaniem standardowych metod obliczeniowych można uznać jedynie za szacunkowe lub wstępne do przeprowadzenia badań symulacyjnych. Charakter rozruchu przenośnika taśmowego zależy od typu zastosowanego urządzenia rozruchowego i napinającego, mas wprowadzanych w ruch oraz od własności sprężystych taśmy. Problemy związane z analizą pracy układów napędowych i urządzeń napinających podczas rozruchu przenośników cięgnowych rozwiązano z wykorzystaniem modelu dyskretnego o parametrach rozłożonych (Dolipski et al., 2012; Kulinowski, 2012) opisanego w pierwszej części publikacji. Badania symulacyjne przeprowadzone na takim modelu umożliwiają ocenę pracy przenośnika taśmowego wykorzystującego taśmę z rdzeniem tkaninowym lub stalowym, dlatego też kolejny rozdział artykułu poświęcono modelom reologicznym taśm przenośnikowych. Klasyczne metody projektowania nie uwzględniają złożonych charakterystyk różnych typów układów napinania, dlatego też w kolejnej części artykułu zamieszczono sparametryzowane dyskretne modele fizyczne wybranych typów urządzeń napinających, stosowanych powszechnie w górniczych przenośnikach taśmowych: sztywnych, grawitacyjnych, hydraulicznych i nadążnych. Dla właściwego zobrazowania i porównania pracy opisanych układów napinania przedstawiono przykładowe wyniki badań symulacyjnych przeprowadzonych na dyskretnym modelu przenośnika taśmowego. Przedstawiona w artykule metodyka została weryfikowana poprzez badania przemysłowe oraz realizacje wielu złożonych projektów przenośników taśmowych wymagających przeprowadzenia badań symulacyjnych dynamiki pracy modeli urządzeń napinających taśmę (Kulinowski, 2012).

[Present state of countermeasure to AIDS in the world today].

PubMed

Takakuwa, E

1997-11-01

1. Only about 10 years have passed since HIV was discovered but WHO presumes that there will be 30 to 40 million infected cases by the year 2,000. This then possesses the possibility of more frequent contact with such persons and thus means we must look for how to protect ourselves. I would like to discuss the present state of AIDS, particularly in eastern European countries such as Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania and Russia, based on recent data I have compiled. 2. AIDS-related laws at present in various countries. (1) Comparison of major laws (17 countries) including 1) patient (17 countries) and infected person (13 countries) notification, 2) protection of privacy (9 countries), 3) prohibiting infected person discrimination (3 countries) and 4) other matters including restraint on behavior to spread infection (6 countries). (2) Entry laws from foreign country (10 countries) applicable to patient and infected person for 1) entry (3 countries) and 2) long period of stay (8 countries). 3. Present countermeasures to AIDS. (1) Data for 8 countries including Japan, U.S.A. U.K., France, Germany and three eastern European countries with regard to 1) budgets, 2) examinations, 3) medical care, 4) consultation and guidance and 5) education. I shall also discuss the following 2 countermeasures in Japan. I have proposed to the Diet: 1) Examination to detect HIV-antibodies in donated blood. This measure is present in effect since Nov. 1st, 1986, as a result of my proposal made to the Diet on March 14th, 1986. 2) For person infected by transfusion of the blood products without heat treatment, I proposed that expenses should be defrayed according to the CD4 level at either CD4 < or = 200 or CD4 < or = 500. (2) Present situation in eastern European countries. Common features are as follows: 1) Infected person and patient are quarantined if they request, since they know their condition which was disclosed based on data from past mass screening test under communism. 2) At present infected persons are few in number. 3) This number will rapidly increase with greater active interchange with western countries following elimination of the Berlin Wall. 4) AIDS countermeasures such as blood and blood products examinations are inadequate due to insufficient funds. In Bulgaria, the government has conducted AIDS tests on more than half the population and in Romania, there is the tragic situation. (3) Guidelines for WHO-ILO countermeasures to AIDS at work places. 4. Present situation in research. The development of effective medicines and vaccines is the primary objective of AIDS research. Research programs may be enumerated as follows; 1) In the U.S.A., NIH and CDC are major organizations which lead research around the world. The major objective is synthetic medicine. 2) In U.K., the development of vaccines for monkey and cat is being sought. 3) In China, herb medicine is administrated to patients in Un-nan-sho where AIDS patients are quite numerous. 4) In Japan, a recombinant vaccine is being sought through use of BCG, vaccinia viruses and the like. 5. Topics related to AIDS include 1) informed consent to be treated by a AIDS-infected doctor, 2) suits against doctors who fail to make infected person known infection and 3) government control laws for AIDS in Russia.

Holistic design in high-speed optical interconnects

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Saeedi, Saman

Integrated circuit scaling has enabled a huge growth in processing capability, which necessitates a corresponding increase in inter-chip communication bandwidth. As bandwidth requirements for chip-to-chip interconnection scale, deficiencies of electrical channels become more apparent. Optical links present a viable alternative due to their low frequency-dependent loss and higher bandwidth density in the form of wavelength division multiplexing. As integrated photonics and bonding technologies are maturing, commercialization of hybrid-integrated optical links are becoming a reality. Increasing silicon integration leads to better performance in optical links but necessitates a corresponding co-design strategy in both electronics and photonics. In this light, holistic design of high-speed optical links with an in-depth understanding of photonics and state-of-the-art electronics brings their performance to unprecedented levels. This thesis presents developments in high-speed optical links by co-designing and co-integrating the primary elements of an optical link: receiver, transmitter, and clocking. In the first part of this thesis a 3D-integrated CMOS/Silicon-photonic receiver will be presented. The electronic chip features a novel design that employs a low-bandwidth TIA front-end, double-sampling and equalization through dynamic offset modulation. Measured results show -14.9dBm of sensitivity and energy eciency of 170fJ/b at 25Gb/s. The same receiver front-end is also used to implement source-synchronous 4-channel WDM-based parallel optical receiver. Quadrature ILO-based clocking is employed for synchronization and a novel frequency-tracking method that exploits the dynamics of IL in a quadrature ring oscillator to increase the effective locking range. An adaptive body-biasing circuit is designed to maintain the per-bit-energy consumption constant across wide data-rates. The prototype measurements indicate a record-low power consumption of 153fJ/b at 32Gb/s. The receiver sensitivity is measured to be -8.8dBm at 32Gb/s. Next, on the optical transmitter side, three new techniques will be presented. First one is a differential ring modulator that breaks the optical bandwidth/quality factor trade-off known to limit the speed of high-Q ring modulators. This structure maintains a constant energy in the ring to avoid pattern-dependent power droop. As a first proof of concept, a prototype has been fabricated and measured up to 10Gb/s. The second technique is thermal stabilization of micro-ring resonator modulators through direct measurement of temperature using a monolithic PTAT temperature sensor. The measured temperature is used in a feedback loop to adjust the thermal tuner of the ring. A prototype is fabricated and a closed-loop feedback system is demonstrated to operate at 20Gb/s in the presence of temperature fluctuations. The third technique is a switched-capacitor based pre-emphasis technique designed to extend the inherently low bandwidth of carrier injection micro-ring modulators. A measured prototype of the optical transmitter achieves energy efficiency of 342fJ/bit at 10Gb/s and the wavelength stabilization circuit based on the monolithic PTAT sensor consumes 0.29mW. Lastly, a first-order frequency synthesizer that is suitable for high-speed on-chip clock generation will be discussed. The proposed design features an architecture combining an LC quadrature VCO, two sample-and-holds, a PI, digital coarse-tuning, and rotational frequency detection for fine-tuning. In addition to an electrical reference clock, as an extra feature, the prototype chip is capable of receiving a low jitter optical reference clock generated by a high-repetition-rate mode-locked laser. The output clock at 8GHz has an integrated RMS jitter of 490fs, peak-to-peak periodic jitter of 2.06ps, and total RMS jitter of 680fs. The reference spurs are measured to be 64.3dB below the carrier frequency. At 8GHz the system consumes 2.49mW from a 1V supply.

Sedimentary Rocks Associated with the Coal Seams of the Saddle Beds from the Chwałowice Trough - West Part of Upper Silesian Coal Basin / Skały Osadowe Towarzyszące Pokładom Węgla Warstw Siodłowych Niecki Chwałowickiej - Zachodnia Część Górnośląskiego Zagłębia Węglowego

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Stanienda, Katarzyna

2015-03-01

The results of investigation of the associated rocks with the Saddle Beds Coals Seams from Chwałowice Trough were presented in this article. The results of researches show that sandstones and mudstones dominate in the investigating profile. Claystones are situated mainly in ceilings and floors of coal seams. Grains of sandstones include mainly quartz, feldspars, micas and also quartzite's and gneiss's fragments. It is also possible to observe small grains of heavy minerals. Some of sandstones present bad compactness and are destroyed during transportation. This feature is connected with presence of little quantity of cement, especially in medium grained sandstones, which include more matrix than typical cement. The cement is built mainly of clay minerals, kaolinite and illite, carbonates and chalcedony but X-ray diffraction confirmed also the presence of halite in the cement of investigated sandstones. Mudstones and claystones are composed mainly of clay minerals. It's also possible to find quartz and micas there. Higher amounts of quartz and micas are possible to find rather in mudstones. The associated rocks with the Saddle Beds Coal Seams from Chwałowice Trough include also organic matter. W artykule przedstawiono wyniki badań skał towarzyszących pokładom węgla warstw siodłowych Niecki Chwałowickiej. Wyniki badań wskazują, że w badanym profilu dominują piaskowce oraz mułowce. Iłowce natomiast występują głównie w stropach i spągach pokładów węgla. Okruchy piaskowców to głównie ziarna kwarcu, skaleni, mik oraz fragmenty kwarcytów i gnejsów. Można tu również zaobserwować drobne okruchy minerałów ciężkich. Niektóre piaskowce charakteryzują się obniżoną zwięzłością i podczas transportu ulegają rozpadowi. Cecha ta związana jest z niewielką ilością spoiwa, szczególnie w piaskowcach średnioziarnistych, w których matrix przeważa nad typowym cementem. Spoiwo zbudowane jest głównie z minerałów ilastych, takich jak kaolinit i illit, węglanów i chalcedonu, chociaż wyniki dyfraktometrii rentgenowskiej potwierdziły występowanie w spoiwie badanych piaskowców również halitu. Na podstawie składu mineralnego piaskowców, dokonano ich klasyfikacji, stosując podziały skał okruchowych Krynina (1948) i Pettijohn'a-Potter'a-Siever'a (1973). Według klasyfikacji Krynina badane piaskowce reprezentują szarogłazy (szarowaki). W klasyfikacji Pettijohn'a, próbki 6, 8 i 13 reprezentują arenity lityczne, natomiast próbki 3 i 10- waki. Mułowce i iłowce zbudowane SA głównie z minerałów ilastych. Można w nich również spotkać ziarna kwarcu oraz miki. Wyższy udział kwarcu i mik jest jednak charakterystyczny dla mułowców. Skały towarzyszące pokładom węgla warstw siodłowych Niecki Chwałowickiej zawierają również domieszki substancji organicznej.

Bulk Geochemical Data of Fossil Wood from the Middle Jurassic Clays of Poland

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Smolarek, Justyna

2012-01-01

Macroscopic observations, microscopic studies and literature data revealed that Middle Jurassic wood from Częstochowa area has a different state of preservation, and various types and degrees of mineralization and oxidation. Obtained results of organic matter fractionation illustrate a clear domination of polar fraction in the obtained extracts revealing low thermal maturity stage. Total organic carbon (TOC) values for analysed samples are in a wide range from 1.06% to 68.50%. The highest amount of TOC were measured in not or poorly mineralized wood samples but most of them are mineralized wood fragments, showing the TOC values in the range of 2% - 10%. Percentage content of carbonate in fossil wood constitute in a wide range from less than 1% CaCO3 to above 85% CaCO3. The resulting percentage of the total sulfur content is very varied and do not show convergence with other data such as TOC, carbonate content, etc and is most probable connected with pyritisation range. Unlike the Middle Jurassic clay samples, where long-chain and short-chain n-alkanes occur in similar concentrations, in wood samples always short-chain n-alkanes dominated, in the range from 15 to 23 carbon atoms in molecule. The values of the CPI are generally higher than 1 which indicates the contribution of organic matter derived from higher plant waxes, which are characteristic of e.g. needles from gymnosperm plants. Under the influence of post - diagenetic oxidation in mineralized wood samples distribution of n-alkanes is changing. Diaster-13(17)-enes with 28 and 29 carbon atoms in molecule are present in the wood samples, while those with 29 atoms strongly prevail. Makroskopowe obserwacje, mikroskopowe badania i dane literaturowe wykazały, że środkowojurajskie drewno z okolic Częstochowy ma różny stan zachowania oraz różne rodzaje i stopień mineralizacji oraz utlenienia. Uzyskane wyniki rozdziału frakcyjnego pokazują wyraźną przewagę frakcji polarnej w badanych ekstraktach. Wartości TOC dla badanych próbek wahają się w szerokim zakresie od 1,06% do 68,50 %. Największa ilość TOC występuje w nie zmineralizowanych lub słabo zmineralizowanych próbkach drewna. Większość próbek to zmineralizowane fragmenty drewna, pokazując wartości TOC w zakresie od 2% - 10%. Zawartość procentowa węglanów w badanych próbkach znajduje się w szerokim zakresie od mniej niż 1% CaCO3 do ponad 85% CaCO3. Procentowa zawartość siarki całkowitej jest bardzo zróżnicowana i nie wykazuje zbieżności z innymi danymi, takimi jak TOC czy zawartość węglanów, itp. W odróżnieniu od środkowojurajskich iłów, gdzie długołańcuchowe i krótkołańcuchowe n-alkany występują w podobnych stężeniach , w próbkach drewna zawsze przewyższają nalkanów krótkołańcuchowe, występujące w zakresie od 15 do 23 atomów węgla w cząsteczce. Wartości wskaźnika CPI są generalnie wyższe niż 1, co wskazuje na udział materii organicznej pochodzącej z wosków roślin wyższych. Pod wpływem post-diagenetycznego utleniania zmineralizowanych próbek drewna zmienia się dystrybucja n-alkanów. W badanych próbkach obecne są diaster-13 (17)-enes o 28 i 29 atomów węgla w cząsteczce, natomiast te o 29 atomów znacznie przeważają.

Optimisation of Receivables Management in a Mine, Using Linear Programming / Optymalizacja zarządzania należnościami w kopalni z wykorzystaniem programowania liniowego

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Czopek, Kazimierz; Trzaskuś-Żak, Beata

2013-06-01

The paper presents an example of a theoretical linear programming model in the management of mine receivables. To this end, an economic production model of linear programming was applied to optimising the revenue of the mine. The amount of product sold by the mine to individual customers was assumed as the decisive variable, and the product price was the parameter of the objective function. As for boundaries, upper receivable limits were assumed for each of the adopted receivable collection cycles. The sequence of collection cycles, and the receivable values assigned to them, were adopted according to the growing probability of overdue and uncollectible receivables. Two receivables-management optimisation cases were analysed, in which the objective function was to maximise the sales value (revenue) of the Mine. The first case studied in the model involves application of a discount to reduce the product price, in a mine whose production output is not being used to capacity. To improve cash flow, the mine offers its customers a reduced price and increased purchasing up to the mine's capacity in exchange for shortened receivable collection times. Fixed and variable-cost accounting is applied to determine the relevant price reduction. In the other case analysed, the mine sells as much as its current output allows, but despite that is still forced to reduce the price of its products. Application of a discount in this case (reducing the product price) inevitably involves shortened receivable collection times and reduced costs of financing trade credit. Artykuł przedstawia przykład teoretycznego modelu programowania liniowego w zarządzaniu należnościami kopalni. Wykorzystano w tym celu model produkcyjno-gospodarczy programowania liniowego do optymalizacji wartości przychodu kopalni. Jako zmienną decyzyjną modelu przyjęto ilość sprzedaży produktu kopalni do poszczególnych odbiorców, natomiast parametrem funkcji celu jest cena sprzedaży produktu. W ograniczeniach brzegowych przyjęto górne dopuszczalne wartości należności dla każdego z przyjętych cykli ściągania należności. Kolejność cykli ściągania należności oraz przypisane im wartości należności przyjęto według rosnącego prawdopodobieństwa powstawania należności przeterminowanych i utraconych. Przeanalizowano dwa przypadki optymalizacji zarządzania należnościami, w których funkcją celu jest maksymalizacja wartości sprzedaży (przychodów) kopalni. Pierwszy przypadek wzięty pod uwagę do modelu to wykorzystanie skonta do obniżenia ceny produktu, w przypadku kopalni posiadającej niewykorzystaną zdolność wydobywczą. Aby poprawić trudności z płynnością, kopalnia proponuje swoim odbiorcom skrócenie cyklu ściągania należności, w zamian za obniżenie ceny i wzrost zakupów do wartości zdolności wydobywczej. W celu ustalenia tego obniżenia ceny wykorzystuje się rachunek kosztów stałych i zmiennych, W drugim analizowanym przypadku kopalnia, sprzedaje tyle samo co wynosi jej aktualna zdolność wydobywcza, a mimo to jest zmuszona obniżyć cenę swoich produktów. Wykorzystanie w takim przypadku skonta (obniżenia ceny produktu) musi równocześnie być związane ze skróceniem cyklu ściągania należności i obniżeniem kosztów finansowania kredytu kupieckiego.

Atmospheric Circulation Influence on the Winter Thermal Conditions in Poland in 2021-2050 Based on the RACMO2 Model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jędruszkiewicz, Joanna; Piotrowski, Piotr

2012-01-01

Thermal conditions are largely determined by atmospheric circulation. Therefore, projection of future temperature changes should be considered in relation to changes in circulation patterns. This paper assess to what extent changes in circulation correspond to spatial variability of the winter temperature increase in Poland in 2021-2050 period based on the RACMO2 model. The daily data of the mean temperature and sea level pressure (SLP) from selected regional climate model and observations were used. SLP data were used to determine the advection types and circulation character. Firstly, changes in frequency of circulation types between 2021-2050 and 1971-2000 periods were examined. Then changes in air temperature for specific circulation type in relation to reference period were studied. Finally, the influence of atmospheric circulation on spatial temperature variation was discussed. Considerably high increase in cyclonic situation of more than 18%, especially from the west and south-west direction, and decrease in anticyclonic situation mainly from the west and northwest in winter was noticed. Changes in frequency of circulation types result in temperature growth. For some types it is predicted that warming can reach even 3-4°C. The cyclonic (Ec, SEc, Sc) and anticylonic (SEa, Sa, Ea) types are likely to foster the highest warming in the scenario period. Polska charakteryzuje się znacznym zróżnicowaniem przestrzennym w rozkładzie temperatury powietrza w porze zimowej. W sezonie zimowym przeważa południkowy układ izoterm co świadczy o silnym oddziaływaniu z jednej strony ciepłych, wilgotnych mas powietrza napływających znad Atlantyku, a z drugiej chłodniejszych i bardziej suchych znad kontynentu azjatyckiego. Regionalne modele klimatu opracowane dla obszaru Europy wskazują jednoznacznie na wzrost temperatury w okresie zimy na obszarze całego kontynentu, szczególnie a wschodzie i północnym-wschodzie kontynentu, nawet o 3°C. Projekcje te są oparte są m.in. o prognozy występowania krótszych zim oraz cieńszej i krócej zalegającej pokrywie śnieżnej wpływającej w znacznym stopniu na albedo i ilość ciepła zatrzymywanego przez grunt. Jedną z ważniejszych przyczyn zmienności temperatury powietrza jest cyrkulacja powietrza. Pomimo licznych badań dotyczących powiązań cyrkulacyjno-termicznych w XX wieku prowadzonych przez polskich badaczy, brakuje opracowań dotyczących wpływu cyrkulacji atmosferycznej na prognozowane zmiany temperatury w XXI wieku. Celem opracowania jest zbadanie tych relacji dla zimy z okresu 2021-2050 w porównaniu z obserwacjami z lat 1971-2000. W pracy posłużono się danymi średniej dobowej temperatury powietrza oraz ciśnienia atmosferycznego na poziomie morza z regionalnego modelu RACMO2 opracowanego w ramach projektu ENSEMBLES. Symulowane wartości temperatury z modelu zostały poddane korekcji za pomocą metody kwantylowej. Wyniki modelu jednoznacznie wskazują na wzrost cyrkulacji cyklonalnej o ponad 18% miedzy latami 2021-2050 a 1971-2000. Szczególnie wysoki wzrost częstości cyrkulacji cyklonalnej oczekiwany jest z kierunków południowozachodniego i zachodniego o 7 i 8%. Z drugiej strony prognozowany jest wyraźny spadek częstości występowania cyrkulacji antycyklonalnej z kierunków zachodniego i północnozachodniego o ok. 9 i 5%. Największy wzrost temperatury powinien towarzyszyć występowaniu cyrkulacji SEc od 2 na wschodzie do 4°C na zachodzie kraju. Istotne ochłodzenie prognozowane jest z kierunku NW podczas cyrkulacji cyklonalnej miejscami nawet poniżej 1°C w zachodniej i południowej Polsce. W omawianym 30-leciu prawdopodobnie coraz rzadziej będzie występować sytuacja blokadowa, natomiast coraz częsciej pozytywna faza NAO.

Determination of Critical Conditions of Spontaneous Combustion of Coal in Longwall Gob Areas / Wyznaczanie Warunków Krytycznych Samozapalania Węgla W Zrobach Ścian

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cygankiewicz, Janusz

2015-09-01

Decades of experience in the fight against endogenous fire hazard in coal mines indicate a major influence of certain conditions in a given area of the mine on the possibility of fire occurrence, such as: susceptibility of coals to spontaneous combustion, oxygen content in the air incoming to the self-heating coal, conditions of heat exchange between the self-heating coal mass and the environment This paper presents a numerical method for determining the critical conditions of spontaneous combustion of coal in longwall gob areas, i.e. conditions under which spontaneous combustion may occur. It has been assumed that crushed coal in the gob has a shape of a flat layer adjacent from the roof and floor side to the rocks. Our considerations have been limited to coals containing small amount of moisture. A simple model of oxidation kinetics on the coal surface expressed by the Arrhenius equation has been adopted. This model assumes that oxidation rate is independent of the amount of oxygen absorbed by coal. The rate of reaction depends only on temperature, with the parameters of the equation changing after the coal has reached the critical temperature. The article presents also a mathematical model of spontaneous heating of the coal layer in the gob area. It describes the heat balance in the coal as well as the oxygen and heat balance in the flowing gases. The model consists of a system of differential equations which are solved using numerical techniques. The developed computer program enables to perform the relevant calculations. In this paper, on the example of coal from a seam 405, we present the method for determining the following critical parameters of the layer of crushed coal: thickness of the layer, oxygen content in a stream of gases flowing through the layer and thermal conductivity of surrounding rocks. Wieloletnie doświadczenie w zakresie zwalczania zagrożenia pożarem endogenicznym w kopalniach wskazują na zasadniczy wpływ na możliwość zaistnienia pożaru niektórych warunków panujących w danym miejscu kopalni, takich jak: - skłonność węgla do samozapalania - zawartość tlenu w powietrzu dopływającym do zagrzewającego się węgla. W pracy przedstawiono numeryczną metodę wyznaczania warunków krytycznych samozapalania węgla w zrobach ścian, czyli takich po spełnieniu których może dojść do samozapalenia. Przyjęto, że znajdujący się w zrobach rozkruszony węgiel ma kształt płaskiej warstwy, sąsiadującej od stropu i spągu ze skałami. Rozważania ograniczono do węgli charakteryzujących się niską zawartością wilgoci. Przyjęto prosty model kinetyki utleniania na powierzchni węgla wyrażony równaniem Arrheniusa. Model ten zakłada niezależność szybkości utleniania od ilości tlenu pochłoniętego przez węgiel. Szybkość reakcji zależy jedynie od temperatury , przy czym występujące w równaniu parametry zmieniają się po osiągnięciu przez węgiel temperatury krytycznej. W artykule przedstawiono matematyczny model samozagrzewania warstwy węgla w zrobach opisujący bilans ciepła w węglu oraz bilans tlenu i bilans ciepła w przepływających gazach. Tworzące model układy równań różniczkowych cząstkowych rozwiązywane są metodami numerycznymi. Opracowany program komputerowy umożliwia wykonywanie stosownych obliczeń. W pracy, na przykładzie węgla z pokładu 405 , przedstawiono sposób wyznaczania warunków krytycznych warstwy rozkruszonego węgla: grubości warstwy, zawartości tlenu w przepływających przez warstwę gazach oraz przewodności cieplnej otaczających skał.

Unique Project of Single-Cutting Head Longwall Shearer Used for Thin Coal Seams Exploitation / Projekt Jednoorganowego Kombajnu ŚCIANOWEGO O Specjalnej Konstrukcji Przeznaczonego do Eksploatacji POKŁADÓW Cienkich

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bołoz, Łukasz

2013-12-01

Problem of thin hard coal seams exploitation, including chosen data related with their resources in Poland, has been discussed in the introduction of the present study. On the basis of actually operated machines the assumptions, which should be satisfied by the longwall shearer used for exploitation of thin hard coal seams, have been made. A project of such longwall shearer combined with band conveyor and mechanized longwall support, including description of the machine operation technology and analysis of possible day output achievement, have been presented. Polska dysponuje stosunkowo dużymi zasobami surowców energetycznych, a ciągle rosnące zapotrzebowanie na energię skłania do ich racjonalnego wykorzystywania. Jedną z możliwości takiego racjonalnego gospodarowania zasobami naturalnymi jest eksploatacja węgla kamiennego z pokładów cienkich. W związku z wybieraniem coraz cieńszych pokładów węgla, zalegających bardzo głęboko, w trudnych warunkach górniczo-geologicznych napotyka się na duże problemy związane z uzyskaniem wymaganej wydajności wydobycia przy użyciu stosowanych aktualnie metod. Przyjmuje się, ze pokłady cienkie to takie o miąższości od 1.0 m do 1.5 m i właśnie ta niewielka wysokość wyrobiska ścianowego powoduje szereg ograniczeń związanych z efektywną eksploatacją węgla. Na podstawie dostępnych danych określono, że ilości węgla kamiennego w cienkich pokładach wynosi około 600 mln Mg. Znaczna część pokładów cienkich w ostatnich latach została przeklasyfikowana na nieprzemysłowe, co pozwala stwierdzić, że rzeczywista ilość węgla w pokładach cienkich jest znacznie większa. Na podstawie analizy wad i zalet jak i danych technicznych produkowanych obecnie maszyn, określono wytyczne i założenia do nowego rozwiązania maszyny urabiającej przeznaczonej do wydobywania węgla w ścianach niskich. Kombajn do eksploatacji cienkich pokładów powinien spełniać następujące wymagania (Bołoz, 2012): • praca w systemie ścianowym, • zastosowanie frezowania jako metody skrawania, • rozdzielenie procesu frezowania od procesu ładowania, • zastosowanie pełnej automatyzacja pracy, • zastosowanie cięgnowego systemu posuwu, • możliwość rozpoczynania nowego skrawu bez konieczności zawrębiania, • gabaryty dostosowane do pracy w ścianach o wysokości od 1.0 m do 1.6 m, praca systemem dwukierunkowym. Fig. 2 przedstawia koncepcję kombajnu jednoorganowego. Kombajn ten składa się z kadłuba 2, jednego zamocowanego centralnie organu urabiającego 1 oraz dwóch rozkładanych ładowarek odkładniowych 3 i 4. Ładowarka 3 znajduje się w pozycji czynnej, natomiast ładowarka 4 w biernej. Kombajn jest ciągnięty po rynnach przenośnika 5 za pomocą łańcucha 6. Łańcuch 7 jest gałęzią bierną dla przedstawionego zwrotu prędkości. Podane, orientacyjne wymiary wynikają z analizy dotychczasowych rozwiązań kombajnów, głowic strugowych oraz założonego zakresu wysokości wyrobiska ścianowego (Krauze, 2006; Bołoz, 2012). Dla zaproponowanego rozwiązania przyjęto szereg koniecznych wielkości i przeprowadzono analizę możliwego do uzyskania wydobycia dobowego. Zestawione tabelarycznie wyniki umożliwiają określenie wydobycia dobowego możliwego do uzyskania przy określonych wartościach parametrów geometrycznych ściany, kinematycznych kombajnu oraz organizacyjnych pracy ściany. Dla założonych parametrów można stwierdzić, że minimalne wydobycie dobowe na poziomie Vd = 4032 Mg/d uzyskano dla L = 180 m, tp = 11 min, H = 1.0 m oraz T = 12 h/d. Maksymalne wydobycie dobowe na poziomie Vd = 11 612 Mg/d uzyskać można dla L = 300 m, tp = 0 min, H = 1.6 m oraz T = 18 h/d. Na wydobycie dobowe największy wpływ ma dobowy czas pracy ściany a następnie czas przekładki (Bołoz, 2012). Średnica organu dla takiego kombajnu dobierana jest do grubości pokładu. W przedmiotowym rozwiązaniu przyjęto organ o konstrukcji przestrzennej (belki nożowe zamiast płatów), aby powstający podczas frezowania urobek mógł spadać na spąg (Krauze, 2012b). Przykładowe rozwiązanie organu przestrzennego przedstawia fig. 3. Funkcję ładowania, realizowaną normalnie przez płaty, przejmują ładowarki. Rozdzielenie procesu ładowania od procesu frezowania jest jedną z najważniejszych zalet prezentowanego rozwiązania. Podczas pracy w ścianie parametry kinematyczne kombajnu mogą być zwiększane bez ryzyka wystąpienia problemów z ładowaniem na przenośnik, co obok możliwości ruchowych kombajnisty było głównym czynnikiem hamującym wzrost wydobycia. Załadunek urobku na przenośnik odbywa się za pomocą ładowarki, która po zmianie kierunku urabiania składa się, natomiast druga ustawiana jest w pozycji roboczej (Krauze, 2010). Kombajn porusza się tradycyjnie po rynnie przenośnika, jednak przy zastosowaniu cięgnowego systemu posuwu, który zrealizowany jest za pomocą napędów znajdujących się w chodnikach. Rozwiązanie takie umożliwia znaczne zmniejszenie gabarytów kombajnu dzięki usunięciu ciągników z kadłuba. Należy zaznaczyć, że w prezentowanym rozwiązaniu zakłada się zastosowanie pełnej automatyzacja pracy kombajnu i pozostałych maszyn ścianowych, co pozwala na urabianie calizny bez obecności załogi bezpośrednio w wyrobisku. Ma to duże znaczenie dla możliwości zwiększenia prędkości posuwu, szczególnie przy zakresie wysokości 1.0 m÷1.6 m. Przy wykorzystaniu znanych, z rozwiązań strugowych, systemów automatyki, sterowania i diagnostyki wprowadzenie automatyzacji procesu nie będzie stanowiło znaczącego problemu. W proponowanym rozwiązaniu kombajn ma możliwość wyjechania do chodnika na tyle, aby możliwe było zrealizowanie przekładki jak w przypadku strugów. Uzyskuje się wtedy krótki czas przekładki, który w skrajnym przypadku może zmieścić się w tzw. czasie organizacyjnym ściany. Ponadto urabianie odbywa się pełnym zabiorem na całej długości ściany co również korzystnie wpływa na wydobycie. Przekładkę realizować będą, oprócz układów przesuwnych sekcji, układy przesuwne napędów zlokalizowane w chodnikach lub ewentualnie obudowa skrzyżowań. Do sterowania położeniem kombajnu jednoorganowego, a w szczególności kierunkiem eksploatacji na wybiegu ściany (wznios, upad), zastosowane będą siłowniki korekcyjne łączące belkę układu przesuwnego sekcji z rynną przenośnika. Kopalnie jak i producenci sprzętu górniczego wykazują coraz większe zainteresowanie możliwością skutecznej eksploatacji pokładów cienki. Zaproponowany kompleks do eksploatacji cienkich pokładów wyposażony w kombajn jednoorganowy przeznaczony jest do pracy w technologii urabiania dwukierunkowego. Charakterystyczną cechą tej technologii jest brak fazy zawrębiania oraz praca na pełny zabiór na całej długości ściany. W przypadku zmiany grubości pokładu możliwa jest zmiana organu, natomiast sterowanie w kierunku wybiegu odbywać się będzie za pomocą siłowników korekcyjnych. Opracowanie technologii pracy kompleksu wyposażonego w kombajn jednoorganowy, analiza możliwego do osiągnięcia wydobycia dobowego, przy jego zastosowaniu oraz określenie wymaganych parametrów maszyn kompleksu ścianowego, a w szczególności kombajnu, potwierdza poprawność przyjętych założeń.

Determining Acceptable Explosive Charge Mass Under Different Geological Conditions / Problematyka Wyznaczania Dopuszczalnych Ładunków Mw W Zróżnicowanych Warunkach Geologicznych

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pyra, Józef; Sołtys, Anna; Winzer, Jan; Dworzak, Michał; Biessikirski, Andrzej

2015-09-01

This article presents a procedure for determining the safety of explosive charges for their surrounding environment, using a limestone mine as a case study. Varied geological structures, as well as other constructions in the surrounding area of a mine, sometimes necessitate the use of two or more ground vibration propagation equations, and thus a variety of explosive charges, depending on the area of rock blasting. This is a crucial issue for the contractor, as it is important to blast the rock as few times as possible, while using the maximum amount of explosive charge for each blast. Wykonywanie robót strzałowych w górnictwie polega na odpalaniu mas materiału wybuchowego (MW) celem uzyskania dużej ilości odpowiednio rozdrobnionego urobku. W momencie zwiększonego popytu na surowce skalne zakłady górnicze zmuszone są do zwielokrotnienia wykonywania prac strzałowych aby zapewnić regularne dostawy produktu. Konsekwencją takich działań jest ponoszenie dodatkowych kosztów operacyjnych. Celem ich minimalizacji oraz uzyskania jak największej efektywności prowadzonych robót strzałowych jest wydłużanie serii, a więc stosowanie coraz to większych mas ładunków materiałów wybuchowych. Efektem takiego postępowanie jest możliwość wystąpienia w otoczeniu oddziaływania o potencjalnie szkodliwym charakterze m. in. drgania parasejsmiczne. Aby wyeliminować powyższy problem oraz zapewnić niezbędny komfort mieszkańcom, Prawo geologiczne i górnicze, Prawo ochrony środowiska i rozporządzenia wykonawcze nakładają na podmiot wykonujący roboty strzałowe obowiązek ochrony otoczenia, poprzez prowadzenie działalności profilaktycznej w zakresie kontroli, monitorowania oraz wyznaczania dopuszczalnych mas ładunków MW. W momencie gdy nie ma możliwości ograniczenia niepożądanych wpływów dynamicznych po przez zmianę parametrów siatki strzałowej czy modyfikację struktury czasowo-częstotliwościowej drgań, jedyną możliwością staje się ograniczenie całkowitej masy ładunków materiału wybuchowego odpalanego w całej serii oraz mas przypadających na pojedynczy stopień opóźnienia. Podejście takie stanowi w ostateczności jeden ze sposobów minimalizowania niekorzystnego oddziaływania drgań na obiekty budowlane znajdujące się w bezpośrednim otoczeniu kopalni. Metodyka wyznaczania dopuszczalnych mas ładunków MW dla danych warunków górniczo-geologicznych, mimo że w sposób szczegółowy opisana w literaturze fachowej oraz znajdująca szerokie zastosowanie, niekiedy musi zostać zmodyfikowana w zależności od odmiennej struktury masywu skalnego, warunków topograficznych oraz urbanizacyjnych. Zróżnicowana budowa geologiczna złoża oraz struktur geologicznych na których posadowione zostały chronione obiekty budowlane determinuje strukturę częstotliwościową i sposób propagowanych drgań. Istotą w takim przypadkach staje się określenie progu szkodliwości drgań, który pozwoli na bezpieczne prowadzenie robót bez możliwości wystąpienia uszkodzeń na obiektach chronionych zlokalizowanych w otoczeniu kopalń. Dodatkowo jak przedstawiono w artykule może dochodzić do sytuacji gdzie wykonywanie robót strzałowych w jednym miejscu wyrobiska może powodować zupełnie odmienną propagację drgań w różnych kierunkach. Rozpatrując powyższe względy oraz uwzględniając, że często ma się do czynienia z bardzo bliską zabudowę znajdującą się w otoczeniu kopalni niekiedy zachodzi konieczność wyznaczenia dwóch lub więcej równań propagacji drgań parasejsmicznych. Postępowanie takie prowadzi w konsekwencji do wyznaczenia różnych, często odmiennych, dopuszczalnych mas ładunków MW, których detonacja nie powinna powodować niekorzystnego wpływu na obiekty budowlane. Zależności te są zmienne w funkcji miejsca wykonywania robót strzałowych, a tym samym kwestia ta stanowi ważne zagadnienie z punktu widzenia przedsiębiorcy, którego głównym celem jest maksymalizacja jednorazowo odpalanej w serii masy ładunków MW przy równoczesnej minimalizacji liczby odpalanych serii. Jedyne utrudnienie, które może wynikać z wyznaczania w taki sposób ładunków oraz stosowania otrzymanych zależności może dotyczyć sposobu wykonywania robót strzałowych.

Value of Geological Information in Exploitation Management: the Case of Exploitation Units of the Polkowice-Sieroszowice Mine

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Krzak, Mariusz; Panajew, Paweł

2014-03-01

The application of mathematical techniques of management is particularly significant in managing mineral deposits as well as generally in the mining industry, in which the execution of geological-mining projects is usually time-consuming and expensive. Such projects are usually undertaken in conditions of uncertainty, and the incurred expenses do not always generate satisfactory revenues. Mineral deposit management requires close cooperation between the geologist providing necessary information about the deposit and the miner conducting exploitation work. A real decision-making problem was undertaken, in which three exploitation divisions of a certain area in the Polkowice-Sieroszowice mine, differing in ore quality, could be developed in an order which would guarantee maximisation of income. First, the ore price was calculated with the NSR formula; next, the decision-making problem was presented as a kind of game between the geologist (the mine) and states of Nature. Projekty geologiczno-górnicze (surowcowe) różnią się znacznie od innych form aktywności gospodarczej człowieka, ponieważ wiedza o przedmiocie zainteresowań opiera się głównie na ocenach, zaś samo złoże kopalin jest obiektem przyrodniczym i trudno jest jednoznacznie przewidzieć rzeczywiste efekty jego odkrycia. Geologiczna niepewność związana z modelem złoża i jego zasobami znajduje odzwierciedlenie w technicznych planach kopalni i przygotowaniu rozcinki złoża odpowiednim systemem i sposobem eksploatacji. Kwantyfikacja, ocena i zarządzanie niepewnością geologiczną jest kluczowe w strategicznym planowaniu działania kopalni. Podstawowym celem, dla którego wykonuje się wyrobiska udostępniające jest przygotowanie złoża do eksploatacji górniczej. Wyrobiska udostępniające stanowią główne drogi transportu ludzi i urobku oraz spływu wód kopalnianych. Część z nich stanowi drogi jezdne i wentylacyjne, na innych zostaje ulokowany przenośnik taśmowy, a jeszcze innymi podprowadzone są niezbędne media. W celu zabezpieczenia wyrobisk w ich bezpośrednim sąsiedztwie wydzielane są ochronne filary oporowe (rys. 1) mające różną szerokość (100-260 m) w zależności od parametrów wytrzymałościowych otaczających je skał. W trakcie drążenia wyrobisk udostępniających i przygotowawczych duże znaczenie ma prawidłowe rozpoznanie geologiczne nowo rozcinanych obszarów złoża. Do głównych zadań służby geologicznej w kopalniach rud w tym zakresie należą: - prawidłowe opróbowanie serii złożowej, - kartowanie wyrobisk podziemnych i dokumentowanie wszelkiego typu zjawisk nietypowych, - rozpoznanie złoża otworami wyprzedzającymi z wyrobisk podziemnych. Podczas prac udostępniających gromadzona jest informacja o parametrach serii złożowej, która potem zostaje wykorzystana w prowadzeniu właściwej gospodarki złożem. O przydatności i użyteczności informacji decyduje wiele cech, niemniej za najbardziej istotne należy uznać jej aktualność, dokładność, dostępność, elastyczność i kompletność. Niebagatelne są także koszty jej pozyskania. Bardziej precyzyjna informacja wymaga często znacznych, dodatkowych wydatków. W górnictwie, w kwestii oceny warunków bezpieczeństwa pracy taka konieczność jest nieodzowna. Kompletna informacja umożliwia podejmowanie właściwych decyzji, przekłada się na sposób wykorzystania posiadanych środków i możliwości, zapewnia większą elastyczność w dopasowaniu do bieżących realiów rynkowych, technologicznych i in. Zagadnienie dostępu do informacji jest problemem szerokim i dotyczy wielu aspektów rzeczywistości. Zdobywanie kolejnych informacji, służących zmniejszaniu ryzyka, jest zwykle kosztowne. Zdarza się, że pozyskanie kolejnych informacji jest od pewnego momentu nieopłacalne. Dodatkowa informacja jest potrzebna tylko do momentu, gdy oczekiwane korzyści z jej uzyskania przewyższają koszty z jej zdobywania. Wiąże się z tym problem wyceny informacji. Informacja, adekwatna do problemu, dla którego jest pozyskiwana, zwiększa zasób wiedzy podmiotu gospodarującego, jednak rosnąca jej ilość stwarza możliwość dezinformacji. Instrumentów analizy posiadanej przez decydenta informacji dostarczają m.in. narzędzia teoria gier. W teorii gier informacja modelowana jest zazwyczaj z wykorzystaniem koncepcji zbiorów informacyjnych (rys. 2). Zwykle uczestnicy gry nie dysponują pełną informacją, co implikuje fakt, ze sytuacja decyzyjna rozgrywa się w warunkach niepewności. Działalność operacyjna kopalni zmierzająca do udostępnienia i eksploatacji poszczególnych części złoża realizowana jest etapami. Nieodzownym staje się zatem podejmowanie decyzji i wybór optymalnej strategii na każdym z nich. Dążeniem kopalni może być uzyskanie najkorzystniejszych wypłat, niezależnie od zaistniałych warunków otoczenia. Działanie takowe zaprezentowano na przykładzie trzech parcel eksploatacyjnych A, B i C uruchamianych w obrębie ZG Polkowice-Sieroszowice. Charakterystykę parcel zestawiono w tabelach 1, 2 i 3, a schematyczne przekroje zmienności zobrazowano na figurach 3, 4 oraz 5. Na podstawie formuły NSR (3) obliczono ceny rudy w parcelach. Bazując na analogii określono prawdopodobieństwa napotkania konkretnych układów wskaźników jakościowych rudy w parcelach. Zestawiając oczekiwane przychody w odniesieniu do możliwych dwóch stanów natury zdefiniowano macierz gry (4). Wygenerowany problem decyzyjny sprowadzony został do modelu gry koordynacji, a rozstrzygano w nim, które z parcel należy poddać eksploatacji. Opierając się na zakresie informacji o parametrach złoża we wszystkich parcelach będącej w posiadaniu geologa nadzorującego postęp frontu eksploatacyjnego, przeanalizowano dostępne struktury informacyjne, wskazując te optymalne. Oczekiwane średnie wielkości przychodów dla poddawanych ocenie struktur zestawiono w tabelach 4, 5 oraz 6.

Waterproof Anti-Explosive Powders for Coal Mines

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Buczek, Bronisław; Vogt, Elżbieta

2014-03-01

Limestone powder characterized by hydrophobic properties is used as an anti-explosive agent in coal mining industry. Unfortunately, the standard method of producing such powder by milling limestone with stearic acid is practically unprofitable in many modernized quarries and plants, and sometimes literally impossible due to the introduction of technological changes and implementation of modern mills. Then new methods of hydrophobization of limestone surfaces ought be searched. In the work two methods hydrophobization: from the stearic acid vapour phase and from silicone solutions are proposed. Lime dust from the Czatkowice Quarry of Lime was used as a raw material during investigations. It is a good agent for research because it is possible to compare the properties of samples modified in this work to the properties of anti-explosive lime powder (Polish Standard, 1994) used in mining industry in Poland. The first technique of limestone powder hydrophobization was carried out in an apparatus of own design (Vogt, 2008, 2011), and it consisted in free sedimentation of the powder layer dispersed by stearic acid vapour in powder counter current flow. The second way of modification consisted in mixing in the evaporating dish substrates: limestone powder and dope - silicone solution - Sarsil® H-15 (Vogt & Opaliński, 2009; Vogt & Hołownia, 2010). Evaluation of properties so-obtained waterproof powders was carried out according to the Polish Standard, as well as using original powder determination ways, with the Powder Characteristic Tester (Index tables, Tablets & Capsules, 2005). Moreover water vapour adsorption isotherms were obtained and the thermal decomposition of powder was made. All modified samples acquired the hydrophobic character. Therefore we can state that the both proposed methods of hydrophobization of the limestone powder are useful. The parameters obtained with the use of Powder Characteristics Tester enable us to make a characterization of limestone properties not only as a water resistant material but also from the cohesion point of view. On the base of TG, DTG or DTA and EGA curves for all investigated materials was stated that the character of the thermal decomposition of modified samples is the same as this one for raw powder, what is profitable for application of hydrophobized powders as an anti-explosive agent. W górnictwie węgla kamiennego używany jest hydrofobowy pył wapienny jako substancja stosowana w systemie zabezpieczeń przeciwwybuchowych (Cybulski, 2004). Niestety, dotychczasowy sposób wy- twarzania takiego produktu polegający na współmieleniu kamienia wapiennego z kwasem stearynowym staje się praktycznie niemożliwy do stosowania w nowoczesnych zakładach np. kamieniołomy. Sytuacja taka jest wynikiem wprowadzania zmian technologicznych, głównie związanych z wymianą starych konstrukcji młynów na nowe urządzenia. Tym samym istnieje potrzeba poszukiwania nowych metod hydrofobizacji powierzchni pyłów wapiennych. W pracy omówiono dwie nowe metody hydrofobizacji pyłu wapiennego: za pomocą par kwasu stearynowego oraz roztworu silikonowego - Sarsil® H-15. Podczas badań używano surowego pyłu wapiennego pochodzącego z Kopalni Kamienia Wapiennego w Czatkowicach. Materiał ten jest dobrym materiałem do badań gdyż istnieje możliwość porównywania właściwości materiałów hydrofobowych otrzymanych w pracy z właściwościami handlowego pyłu przeciwwybuchowego (Polska Norma, 1994), używanego w polskich kopalniach. Pierwszy sposób hydrofobizacji pyłu wapiennego, polegający na swobodnym opadaniu pyłu wapiennego w oparach kwasu stearynowego przepływających w przeciwprądzie, przeprowadzono w aparacie własnej konstrukcji (Vogt, 2008, 2011). Aparat gwarantuje dobry kontakt modyfikatora z ziarnami pyłu. Pył opadając, nie napotyka żadnych przeszkód ulegał rozproszeniu, a wprowadzony w stanie parowym kwas stearynowy może swobodnie osiadać na jego powierzchni zewnętrznej oraz penetrować w głąb porów, blokując je dla wilgoci. Drugi sposób hydrofobizacji sprowadzał się w uproszczeniu do zmieszania substratów: pyłu wapiennego i domieszki silikonowej - Sarsil® H-15, w parownicy (Vogt i Opaliński, 2009; Vogt i Hołownia, 2010). We wstępnych badaniach określono objętość preparatu, jaką trzeba dodać do pyłu w celu uzyskania optymalnych warunków kontaktu preparatu z ciałem stałym. Otrzymany po modyfikacji materiał był zbrylony w niewielkim stopniu, a jego całkowite rozdrobnienie uzyskano poprzez przecieranie pyłu przez sito o odpowiednim wymiarze oczek. Badanie właściwości tak otrzymanych hydrofobowych materiałów przeprowadzono w oparciu o PN (Polska Norma, 1994), jak również w oparciu o standardowe metody badania materiałów proszkowych z użyciem aparatu Powder Characteristic Tester (Index tables, Tablets & Capsules, 2005) (Tablica 2,3). Oceny stopnia hydrofobizacji materiałów po modyfikacji dokonano, w przypadku proszku hydrofobizowanego parami kwasu stearynowego, w oparciu o procedurę opisaną w Polskiej Normie (1994), oznaczając procentową zawartość kwasu stearynowego. Otrzymany podczas badań pył hydrofobizowany kwasem stearynowym zawierał 0,18% modyfikatora, co jest ilością dopuszczalną przez Polską Normę (1994).W celu oceny właściwości hydrofobowych materiału modyfikowanego roztworem silikonowym do badań zaadaptowano technikę pomiaru zwilżalności ziaren węglowych "film flotation" (Fuerstenau i Williams, 1987) przyjmując, jako materiał odniesienia hydrofobizowaną mączkę wapienną z Kopalni Kamienia Wapiennego w Małogoszczy. Opracowano metodę wyznaczania współczynnika C określonego, jako stopień hydrofobizacji (Vogt i Opaliński, 2009). Średnia wartość C = 84% wskazuje, że materiał modyfikowany preparatem silikonowym uzyskał odpowiednie właściwości hydrofobowe. Tym samym oba materiały po modyfikacji uzyskały zadowalające właściwości wodoodporne. Ponadto, dla badanych pyłów wyznaczono izotermy adsorpcji pary wodnej (Rys. 1). Uzyskane niższe wartości adsorpcji dla materiałów po modyfikacji niż dla proszku surowego potwierdzają, że materiały posiadają charakter hydrofobowy, co pozwala stwierdzić, że obie proponowane metody hydrofobizacji są użyteczne do produkcji wodoodpornego pyłu wapiennego. Analizę termiczną pyłów wapiennych wykonano w celu porównania efektu cieplnego przemian zachodzących podczas ogrzewania pyłów modyfikowanych z efektem cieplnym zachodzącym podczas ogrzewania surowego pyłu wapiennego. W trakcie badań użyto termowagę firmy TA Instruments 2960 SDT ze sprzężonym spektrometrem masowym firmy Balzers TermoStar 300. Otrzymane wynikiprzedstawiono na Rys. 2. Linie ciągłe na Rys. 2a i 2b przedstawiają przebieg krzywych TG, DTG oraz DTA dla pyłu surowego. Linie przerywane zostały otrzymane dla pyłu modyfikowanego kwasem stearynowym (Rys. 2a) oraz preparatem SARSIL® H-15 (Rys. 2b). Na Rys. 3 zobrazowano wyniki analizy zawartości tlenku węgla IV w składzie gazów otrzymywanych podczas rozkładu termicznego pyłu wapiennego (EGA). Krzywa otrzymana dla pyłu modyfikowanego kwasem stearynowym w zasadzie pokrywa się z krzywą otrzymaną dla pyłu surowego. Parametry uzyskane z użyciem aparatu Powder Characteristics Tester umożliwiły scharakteryzowanie pyłów wapiennych nie tylko pod kątem ich właściwości hydrofobowych, ale także właściwości kohezyjnych i przepływowych.

Properties of Waste from Coal Gasification in Entrained Flow Reactors in the Aspect of Their Use in Mining Technology / Właściwości odpadów ze zgazowania węgla w reaktorach dyspersyjnych w aspekcie ich wykorzystania w technologiach górniczych

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pomykała, Radosław

2013-06-01

Most of the coal gasification plants based of one of the three main types of reactors: fixed bed, fluidized bed or entrained flow. In recent years, the last ones, which works as "slagging" reactors (due to the form of generated waste), are very popular among commercial installations. The article discusses the characteristics of the waste from coal gasification in entrained flow reactors, obtained from three foreign installations. The studies was conducted in terms of the possibilities of use these wastes in mining technologies, characteristic for Polish underground coal mines. The results were compared with the requirements of Polish Standards for the materials used in hydraulic backfill as well as suspension technology: solidification backfill and mixtures for gob caulking. Większość przemysłowych instalacji zgazowania węgla pracuje w oparciu o jeden z trzech głównych typów reaktorów: ze złożem stałym, dyspersyjny lub fluidalny. W zależności od rodzaju reaktora oraz szczegółowych rozwiązań instalacji, powstające uboczne produkty zgazowania mogą mieć różną postać. Zależy ona w dużej mierze od stosunku temperatury pracy reaktora do temperatury topnienia części mineralnych zawartych w paliwie, czyli do temperatury mięknienia i topnienia popiołu. W ostatnich latach bardzo dużą popularność wśród instalacji komercyjnych zdobywają reaktory dyspersyjne "żużlujące". W takich instalacjach żużel jest wychwytywany i studzony po wypłynięciu z reaktora. W niektórych przypadkach oprócz żużla powstaje jeszcze popiół lotny, wychwytywany w systemach odprowadzania spalin. Może być on pozyskiwany oddzielnie lub też zawracany do komory reaktora, gdzie ulega stopieniu. Wszystkie z analizowanych odpadów - trzy żużle oraz popiół pochodzą właśnie z tego typu instalacji. Tylko z jednej z nich pozyskano zarówno żużel jak i popiół, z pozostałych dwóch jedynie żużel. Odpady te powstały, jako uboczny produkt zgazowania węgla lub węgla z dodatkami: bitumin (żużel S1), czy biomasy (popiół A2, żużel S2). W polskim górnictwie podziemnym wyróżnić można kilka technologii podsadzkowych, w których do transportu materiału wykorzystywana jest woda. Tradycyjnie oraz ze względów historycznych, terminem "podsadzka hydrauliczna" określa się tę, która spełnia wymagania normy PN-93/G-11010. Do najważniejszych cech takiej podsadzki hydraulicznej zaliczyć należy wypełnienia uprzednio wydzielonej pustki poeksploatacyjnej, materiałem o jak najmniejszej ściśliwości oraz o jak największej wodoprzepuszczalności. Materiał taki, po odprowadzeniu wody ma stanowić mechaniczna podporę stropu, a proces podsadzania jest ściśle powiązany z procesem eksploatacji, jako sposób likwidacji zrobów. Najczęściej stosowanymi materiałami są piasek podsadzkowy oraz odpady górnicze lub hutnicze (Lisowski, 1997). Od ponad dwudziestu lat, w polskim górnictwie węgla kamiennego obecna jest również inna technologia podsadzkowa, w której do transportu materiałów wykorzystywana jest woda. W tym przypadku części stałe to materiały drobnoziarniste, najczęściej popioły różnych typów, które po wymieszaniu z wodą tworzą zawiesinę (stąd termin "zawiesiny popiołowo-wodne"). Polska norma PN-G-11011:1998 wyróżnia dwie odmiany takich zawiesin i definiuje je, jako "podsadzkę zestalaną" oraz "mieszaninę do doszczelniania zrobów". Podstawową ideą przyświecającą stosowaniu zawiesin drobnoziarnistych w technologiach górniczych była początkowo troska o zagospodarowaniu odpadów energetycznych, a następnie górniczych (Mazurkiewicz i in., 1998; Piotrowski i in., 2006; Piotrowski, 2010; Plewa i Mysłek, 2000; Plewa i Sobota, 2002). Obecnie technologia zawiesinowa na stałe zagościła w kopalniach węgla kamiennego stając się m.in. nieodzownym środkiem profilaktyki pożarowej i metanowej (Dziurzyński i Pomykała, 2006; Palarski, 2004; Pomykała, 2006). W artykule przedstawiono analizę możliwości wykorzystania ubocznych produktów zgazowania, jako materiałów do podsadzki hydrauliczne (wg normy PN-93/G-11010), podsadzki zestalanej oraz mieszaniny do doszczelniania zrobów (wg normy PN-G-11011:1998) - technologii stosowanych w polskim górnictwie węgla kamiennego. Podstawowe badania ubocznych produktów zgazowania obejmowały takie właściwości jak gęstość, wilgotność, skład ziarnowy, wymywalność zanieczyszczeń chemicznych oraz zawartość radionuklidów. Wybrane właściwości fizyczne ubocznych produktów zgazowania oraz ich oznaczenie zestawiono w tabeli 1. Składy ziarnowe żużli ze zgazowania, analizowanych pod kątem zastosowania w podsadzce hydraulicznej przedstawiono na rys. 1, a materiałów dla technologii zawiesinowej, czyli popiołu lotnego A2 oraz zmielonych żużli oznaczonych, jako S1m, S2m oraz S3m - na rys. 2. Żużle ze zgazowania zawierają nie więcej niż 6% ziaren mniejszych niż 0,1 mm, co odpowiada wymaganiom dla materiałów podsadzkowych I klasy. Analiza wymywalności zanieczyszczeń chemicznych wykazała przekroczenia wymagań jednej lub obu przywołanych norm w zakresie pH i/lub niklu dla próbek żużli S1 i S2 oraz popiołu A2 (tab. 2). Zwraca uwagę bardzo niska wartość pH oraz bardzo wysoka zawartość niklu dla żużla S1. Jest to rzecz nietypowa dla krajowych odpadów energetycznych powstających ze spalania węgla kamiennego. W zakresie zawartości radionuklidów wszystkie materiały spełniają nie tylko wymagania norm podsadzkowych, ale również wymagania stawiane materiałom budowlanym (tab. 3). Ściśliwość żużli ze zgazowania kształtuje się na poziomie 11÷14%, co pozwala zakwalifikować je do materiałów podsadzkowych III klasy. Aby uzyskać materiał wyższej klasy, konieczne jest zmieszanie żużli z piaskiem podsadzkowych. W zakresie wodoprzepuszczalności wszystkie żużle kwalifikują się, jako materiał podsadzkowy klasy I (rys. 5, tab. 4). W normie PN-G-11011:1998 określone zostały wymagania podsadzki zestalanej oraz dla mieszaniny do doszczelniania zrobów. (tab. 5), tylko dla części badań wskazane są konkretne wymagania ilościowe. Wyniki badań wymywalność zanieczyszczeń chemicznych oraz zawartości radionuklidów zostały omówione wcześniej. Właściwości zawiesin w stanie płynnym zestawiono w tabeli 6. oraz na rys. 7, 8 i 9., a parametry reologiczne wg modelu Binghama na rys. 10÷13. Wymagania w zakresie właściwości zestalonych zawiesin tj. wytrzymałości na jednoosiowe ściskanie oraz rozmakalności zostały ściśle określone dla podsadzki zestalanej jak i mieszaniny do doszczelniania zrobów (tab. 5). Zawiesiny przygotowane na bazie odpadów ze zgazowania węgla nie wykazują właściwości wiążących. Zarówno ze względu na wytrzymałość na jednoosiowe ściskanie (rys. 14) jak i rozmakalność (rys. 15) kwalifikują się jedynie, jako mieszaniny do doszczelniania zrobów. Przeprowadzone badania wstępnie potwierdziły możliwość zastosowania ubocznych produktów zgazowania pochodzących z instalacji bazujących na reaktorach dyspersyjnych, w technologiach górniczych charakterystycznych dla polskiego górnictwa podziemnego. Dla ostatecznego potwierdzenia konieczne są oczywiście badania dokładnie tych odpadów, które miałyby być stosowane w konkretnych kopalniach. Przyszłe wykorzystanie zastosowania odpadów z procesu zgazowania węgla, jako materiałów podsadzkowych zależy od wielu czynników, do których zaliczyć należą: dalszy rozwój technologii podsadzki hydraulicznej w górnictwie polskim, a także właściwości i dostępność tego typu materiałów powstałych ze zgazowania polskich węgli i/oraz w instalacjach na terenie Polski.