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O objetivo deste trabalho é apresentar uma leitura dos contos “Guarde segredo”, de Esmeralda Ribeiro, e “Quantos filhos Natalina teve”, de Conceição Evaristo, os quais dialogam sob a perspectiva do feminismo interseccional. Ambos apresentam protagonistas que resistem a formas de submissão da mulher negra: no primeiro conto, a personagem não aceita ser tratada como mero objeto sexual; no segundo, questionam-se os significados da maternidade e suas implicações. Como referencial teórico, utilizam-se textos de Eduardo de Assis Duarte, Florentina Souza, Edmilson de Almeida Pereira, dentre outros. PALAVRAS-CHAVE: Literatura negra. Interseccionalidade. Esmeralda Ribeiro. Conceição Evaristo.

Despite major progress and knowledge related to the application of adult stem cells, finding alternative sources for bone marrow MSCs has remained a challenge in both humans and animals. In the current study, two protocols namely sequential enzymatic tissue digestion and tissue explant techniques were tried for successful establishment of MSC culture. Umbilical tissues were isolated each time of foaling from five sequential foalings of Marwari mares. Total cell yield, their growth potential and cryopreservation potential were studied. Adherent cell colonies could be established using both isolation methods. Both the cell populations yielded from different protocols performed similarly in terms of population doubling and CFU number value. Additionally, the cells proliferated vigourously and displayed a similar morphology of mesenchymal stem cells. The MSCs were plastic adherent, colonogenic and their morphology was polygonal and fibroblast like. During the proliferation, the cells exhibited density dependent inhibition; analysis of microbial contamination from bacteria, mycoplasma and fungi were negative; the population doubling time of the MSCs isolated was 34.8 h and 40.2 h in enzymatic treatment and tissue explant methods respectively, and diploid chromosome number of the cells was 64, and the diploid frequency was higher than 80%. In conclusion, this study reveals that both the techniques proved to be non-invasive, efficient, simple and quick for isolation and establishment of MSC culture of extra embryonic tissues from equines.

Male and Female Meiosis in Cypripedium

A modest assessment of noise was made in Calcutta Metro, India's first ever underground tube rail system, to examine if the range of noise levels present could endanger the hearing sensitivity of workers for the Metro. Sound measuring instruments of a sound level meter, an octave band analyzer, and a sound level calibrator were used for measuring the sound pressure levels in platforms of three stations: Esplanade, Kalighat and Tollygunge. The results indicated that the averaged A-weighted SPLs in these stations were in the range of 84-87 dBA. In the coaches of the moving train the Leq values ranged 92-99 dBA and LNP 105-117 dBA, all exceeding the safe limit of day time noise exposure of 55 dBA and 85 dBA of ACGIH. The SPLs at 4,000 Hz in the coaches were also in excess of safe exposure limit of 79 dB. The findings thus posed a potential threat to the workers.

We evaluated the influence of urine pH on the proportion of urinary benzidine (BZ) and N-acetylbenzidine present in the free, unconjugated state and on exfoliated urothelial cell DNA adduct levels in 32 workers exposed to BZ in India. Postworkshift urine pH was inversely correlated with the proportions of BZ (r = -0.78; P0.0001) and N-acetylbenzidine (r = -0.67; P0.0001) present as free compounds. Furthermore, the average of each subject's pre- and postworkshift urine pH was negatively associated with the predominant urothelial DNA adduct (P = 0.0037, adjusted for urinary BZ and metabolites), which has been shown to cochromatograph with a N-(3'-phosphodeoxyguanosin-8-yl)-N'-acetylbenzidine adduct standard. Controlling for internal dose, individuals with urine pH6 had 10-fold higher DNA adduct levels compared to subjects with urine pHor = 7. As reported previously, polymorphisms in NAT1, NAT2, and GSTM1 had no impact on DNA adduct levels. This is the first study to demonstrate that urine pH has a strong influence on the presence of free urinary aromatic amine compounds and on urothelial cell DNA adduct levels in exposed humans. Because there is evidence that acidic urine has a similar influence on aromatic amines derived from cigarette smoke, urine pH, which is influenced by diet, may be an important susceptibility factor for bladder cancer caused by tobacco in the general population.

Urinary mutagenicity has been used in occupational and epidemiological studies for over two decades as a cost-effective, general biomarker of exposure to genotoxic agents. However, few studies have compared urinary mutagenicity to additional biomarkers determined among low- and high-exposed groups. To address this issue, we evaluated the relationship between urinary mutagenicity and other types of biomarkers in a cross-sectional study involving 15 workers exposed to the urinary bladder carcinogen benzidine (BZ, high exposure), 15 workers exposed to BZ-dyes (low exposure), and 13 unexposed controls in Ahmedabad, India. Urinary organics were extracted by C18/methanol and evaluated for mutagenicity in the presence of S9 in the Salmonella strain YG1024, which is a frameshift strain that overproduces acetyltransferase. The results were compared to biomarker data reported recently from the same urine samples (Rothman et al., Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. USA, 93, 5084-5089, 1996) that included a metabolite biomarker (the sum of the urinary levels of BZ + N-acetylbenzidine + N,N'-diacetylbenzidine) and a DNA adduct biomarker [a presumptive N-(3'-phosphodeoxyguanosin-8-yl)-N'-acetylbenzidine (C8dG-ABZ) DNA adduct in exfoliated urothelial cells]. The mean +/- SE urinary mutagenicity (revertants/micromol of creatinine) of the low-exposure (BZ-dye) workers was 8.2 +/- 2.4, which was significantly different from the mean of the controls (2.8 +/- 0.7, P = 0.04) as was that of the mean of the high-exposure (BZ) workers (123.2 +/- 26.1, P < 0.0001). Urinary mutagenicity showed strong, positive correlations with urinary metabolites (r = 0.88, P < 0.0001) and the level of the presumptive C8dG-ABZ urothelial DNA adduct (r = 0.59, P = 0.0006). A strong association was found between tobacco use (bidi smoking) and urinary mutagenicity among the controls (r = 0.68, P = 0.01) but not among the exposed workers (r = 0.18, P = 0.11). This study confirms the ability of a biomarker such as urinary mutagenicity to detect low-dose exposures, identify additional genotoxic exposures among the controls, and correlate strongly with urinary metabolites and DNA adducts in the target tissue (urinary bladder epithelia) in humans.

Several epidemiologic studies indicate that NAT2-related slow N-acetylation increases bladder cancer risk among workers exposed to aromatic amines, presumably because N-acetylation is important for the detoxification of these compounds. Previously, we showed that NAT2 polymorphisms did not influence bladder cancer risk among Chinese workers exposed exclusively to benzidine (BZ), suggesting that NAT2 N-acetylation is not a critical detoxifying pathway for this aromatic amine. To evaluate the biologic plausibility of this finding, we carried out a cross-sectional study of 33 workers exposed to BZ and 15 unexposed controls in Ahmedabad, India, to evaluate the presence of BZ-related DNA adducts in exfoliated urothelial cells, the excretion pattern of BZ metabolites, and the impact of NAT2 activity on these outcomes. Four DNA adducts were significantly elevated in exposed workers compared to controls; of these, the predominant adduct cochromatographed with a synthetic N-(3'- phosphodeoxyguanosin-8-yl)-N'-acetylbenzidine standard and was the only adduct that was significantly associated with total BZ urinary metabolites (r = 0.68, P < 0.0001). To our knowledge this is the first report to show that BZ forms DNA adducts in exfoliated urothelial cells of exposed humans and that the predominant adduct formed is N-acetylated, supporting the concept that monofunctional acetylation is an activation, rather than a detoxification, step for BZ. However, because almost all BZ-related metabolites measured in the urine of exposed workers were acetylated among slow, as well as rapid, acetylators (mean +/- SD 95 +/- 1.9% vs. 97 +/- 1.6%, respectively) and NAT2 activity did not affect the levels of any DNA adduct measured, it is unlikely that interindividual variation in NAT2 function is relevant for BZ-associated bladder carcinogenesis.

To determine alterations in functional capacities due to exposure to solvents in painters, a battery of psychological tests consisting of associative recall, critical flicker fusion, letter cancellation, Muller-Lyer illusion and card sorting was administered before their work day schedule starting at 0800 h, 16 h after cessation of their work the previous day. Simultaneously a reference group of diesel worker and a control group were also tested at the same time of day. Age-adjusted performance scores were calculated for the painter group and diesel worker group based on the linear age trend of the control group. Analysis of variance suggested significant degradation in performance on tests of critical flicker fusion (alternate), letter cancellation, Muller-Lyer illusion and card sorting (by design configuration). Persistence of solvent exposure effects through visual and motor function impairments is reflected.

Studies were carried out in eight small scale potteries to find out the airborne dust concentrations and the prevalence of dust related diseases like silicosis and tuberculosis in 292 workers. Chest radiography revealed that 44 (15.1%) pottery workers were suffering from silicosis and an equal number showed radiological evidence of tuberculosis. The environmental study showed that the concentrations of airborne dust, containing free silica, in the work environment of all departments (except packing department) of potteries were higher than threshold limit values (TLVs). The prevalence of silicosis and tuberculosis correlated with the levels of airborne dust. The prevalence of tuberculosis increased with radiological severity of silicosis. Dust control measures combined with pre-employment and periodical medical examinations are recommended for the control of silicosis and tuberculosis in the pottery industry.

To examine if there are changes in the levels of affections over different times of day, affective state measures, alertness, irritability, mental tension, headache and anxiety of 100 female staff nurses were assessed, on visual analogue scales at 2-h intervals over a 24-h work cycle spread over three different shift works. Oral temperature was also recorded simultaneously. Sleep pattern, dietary habit and menstruation cycle of subjects were monitored. Analysis of variance reflected a significant rise in oral temperature as the day progressed with a peak during 16:00-18:00 h, which however gradually declined thereafter. Significant changes in the affective states indicated ascendancy in alertness, mental tension and anxiety within the first few hours of the beginning of each shift work, but descendancy towards the end of it. Further studies on some more affective states and physiological measures which may show parallelism have been suggested.

To assess the degree of noise pollution in relation to the health and safety of the employees and commuters, a study on the levels of noise originating from various locomotives and also from different other sources was undertaken at Kalupur railway station of Gujarat State in India. The sound pressure levels (SPL) were measured on platforms. Noise dose count was monitored on a ticket collector on duty for 8 h. The results reflected that the SPLs in the platforms well exceeded the day time noise exposure limit. Further, the SPLs produced by loudspeakers were high and those by train whistles were intensely high pitched. The noise dose count of the ticket collector was also in excess of ACGIH standard. All these suggest that the SPLs in the platforms can endanger the healthful living of the users. Suitable control measures have been suggested.

Humoral immunological profile including immunoglobulins IgG, IgA, IgM, C-reactive protein, rheumatoid factor, antinuclear antibodies and circulating immune complexes were studied in a representative sample of 36 workers suffering from asbestosis (group A), 35 workers who are exposed to asbestos but not having evidence of asbestosis (group B) and 28 control workers (group C). Mean IgG and IgA levels were found to be significantly higher in the two exposed groups than in the controls. Circulating immune complexes of IgG, IgA and IgM class were detected in a significant percentage of cases in exposed groups than in controls. In groups A and B, the percentage of positive ANF cases was much higher than in the controls. The results suggest that immunological changes are associated with exposure to asbestos and these may play an important role in the pathogenesis of the disease process.

To evaluate the comfort of hearing protection devices, two models of ear plugs and five models of ear muffs were tested. The psychophysical method of 'single stimuli' was applied on a group of 30 subjects with or without wearing the devices for a short duration of 15 min under noise condition of 100 dBa in the acoustic chamber as also on a group of 10 weavers with the protection devices worn for longer durations of 1 h, 4 h and 8 h under noise exposure of 102-104 dBA in the weaving shed. Each subject performed 8 trials with each type of device on different days. Application force and tightness of spring were also evaluated. The results yielded a comfort grading for hearing protection devices. The comfort grading, however, depended on several factors in addition to application force and tightness of spring, which has been discussed.

Physical parameters and pulmonary function tests (VC, FEV1, FEV1% and FEF25-75%) were collected in 112 urban industrial workers and 104 rural agricultural workers. These average values, values according to age and smoking habits were compared between urban and rural workers. Inspite of no differences in age, rural workers average height, weight, BSA is significantly lower than urban workers. A significant increase in VC value to the extent of 0.22 lit (7.1%), significantly lower FEV 1% value by 4.7% and reduce FEF25-75% value (4.7%) is demonstrated in rural than urban workers. Smoking is shown to produce airway obstruction in both urban and rural workers. A wide variation of PFT values between the present workers and other reported values in India is observed. This study indicates rural workers have better pulmonary capacity and less flow rates than their urban counterpart.

An epidemiological survey was carried out to investigate the occurrence of non-occupational pneumoconiosis in Ladakh, where there are no mines or industries. The clinicoradiological investigations of 449 randomly selected subjects from three villages showed typical cases of pneumoconiosis associated with progressive massive fibrosis and egg shell calcification of hilar glands. The prevalence of pneumoconiosis in these three villages was 2.0%, 20.1% and 45.3% and it corresponded with the severity of dust storms and the use of chimneys in the kitchens. The dust concentrations in the kitchens with no provision for a chimney were very high. The free silica content of the storms was between 60 and 70%. Exposure to free silica from dust storms and soot from domestic fuels are suggested as causes of these cases of pneumoconiosis.

To examine the effects of heat and noise individually and jointly on certain physiological responses and cognitive and neuromotor based functions, 12 male participants were tested under 6 experimental conditions which resulted by combining 3 levels of heat (25 degrees, 30 degrees and 35 degrees C) and 2 levels of white noise (70 and 100 dB). The experiment was carried out in a controlled climatic chamber following two 6 x 6 latin square designs. The results indicated elevations in heart rate, oxygen uptake and body temperature due to the independent effect of heat or the combined effects of heat and noise. The independent action of noise was found to be depressive on the first two responses. On the neuropsychological effects, the heat adversely affected the speed in card sorting (by design configuration) and digit symbol tests, and also the accuracy and error rate in the reasoning ability test. The noise caused performance improvements in critical flicker frequency (simultaneous) and in error rates in card sorting (by design configuration). The combined effects of heat and noise indicated higher error rates in card sorting (by face value), decreased accuracy in reasoning ability and improvements in performance in accuracy scores and error rates in digit symbol test.

Cytological investigations were carried out in 18 species belonging to 13 genera. Teucrium quadrifarium (n=15) represents the first chromosome count for the species. New cytological types were observed in Ocimum canum (n=32+0-4B), O. sanctum (n=16+0-3B), Perilla ocimoides (n=14+0-2B) and in Calamintha clinopodium (n=20). For the remaining taxa, one or all the earlier chromosome reports were confirmed. Meiosis was normal in most of the taxa. The discordant chromosome numbers known in the family make it difficult to consider it as monobasic. Ocimum canum (8x) and Pogostemon plectranthoides (8x) represent the highest grade of ploidy. Intra-specific polyploidy is evident in Ocimum sanctum (2n=32, 64), O. canum (2n=24, 64, 128) and Ajuga macrosperma (2n=16, 32). Aneuploidy is equally common in the family at both the generic and specific levels.

In an epidemiological study carried out in three textile mills at Ahmedabad, India, 929 workers were examined from the spinning departments. The mean prevalence of byssinosis in the blow section was 29.62%, whereas in the card section it was 37.83%. The concentrations of cotton dust (dust less fly) were high in the blow and card sections (4.00 mg/m3 in the blow and 3.06 mg/m3 in the card section). This study suggests that the prevalence of byssinosis is not low in the textile mills of India as reported in many earlier Indian studies.

Cytological studies were carried out in 14 N. Indian taxa. Centranthera hispida (n=15) and Verbascum celsioides (n=18) represent the first chromosome counts for the genus and the species respectively. Two cytomorphotypes with n=7 and n=14 in Vandellia crustacea were also unknown earlier. For the remaining taxa one or the other earlier chromosome reports are confirmed. Meiosis was normal in most of the taxa. Secondary associations were observed in Verbascum thapsus and V. celsioides. Multiple associations in Antirrhinum majus (2x) represents interchange heterozygosity. Intraspecific aneuploidy in Verbascum thapsus (2n=34, 36), Antirrhinum orontium (2n=14, 16), intraspecific polyploidy in Antirrhinum majus (2n=16, 32), Veronica anagallis (2n=18, 36, 54) and both polyploidy and aneuploidy are evident in Vandellia crustacea (2n=14, 28, 32, 42). Origin and evolution of the tetraploid taxon in the last species is discussed.

SUMMARYMeiotic and karyological studies on 5 taxa belonging to genera Cephalanthera and Epipactis of sub-tribe Limodorinae (Neottieae) from the Western Himalayas were undertaken. Aneuploid races with 2n = 32 and 34 are recorded in Cephalanthera ensifolia. Detailed karyotypic analysis is made in all the five taxa. Meiotic studies from PMC's as well as from EMC's were studied in Epipactis consimilis and E. latifolia. Chiasma frequency was higher in the embryo-sac mother cells than the pollen mother cells in E. consimilis while reverse was the case in E. latifolia.

In vitro effect of an Indian variety of chrysotile asbestos from Andhra Pradesh (AP-I) is evaluated using sister chromatid exchanges (SCEs) in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells. Cultures were treated for 24 hr with different concentrations of asbestos fibers, i.e., 0.1, 1, 10, and 100 μg/ml of medium. Sister chromatid exchanges were elevated even with the lowest concentration used. However, the linear relationship between SCEs and asbestos concentration is not seen.

Chromosomal information on 12 species under 8 genera is presented. Genus Diplomeris with a single species (D. hirsuta: 2n=42) is investigated for the first time. Herminium congestum (n=20) and H. duthiei (n=20) are cytologically newly recorded species. Aneuploid number n=18 is noticed in Herminium gramineum. Cytological races are observed in Orchis latifolia (2n=40, 80) and Herminium lanceum (2n=36, 76).

Cytological studies were carried out in 24 species belonging to 6 genera of Liparidinae, Oberoniinae and Dendrobiinae. Five species, Liparis cordifolia (n=10), L. deexa (n=21), Oberonia auriculata (n=15), Bulbophyllum raui (2n=40) and Cirrhopetalum refractum (n=19) are investigated for the first time. New chromosome numbers were added to five species. The genus Oberonia shows a consistent basic chromosome number of n=15.

Cytological investigations were carried out in 16 species included in 12 genera of Epidendreae. One species of the genus Oreorchis (O. indica: 2n=42) is investigated for the first time. New chromosomal reaces were discovered in Aerides odoratum (n=18), Doritis taenialis (n=19, 2n=57) and Vanda cristata (2n=38, 2n=76). It is concluded that the comprehensive tribe Epidendreae (sense Dressler and Dodson) should really be split into 3 distinct tribes Epidendreae, Malaxideae and Vandeae as originally proposed by Lindley. In each of these alliances there is gradual reduction in size of chromosomes from the more primitive to the advanced ones with the adoption of epiphytic mode of life from the original terrestrial base.

Sixteen species of Habenaria are studied cytologically. H. lawii (2n=48) and H. triflora (2n=42) are investigated for the first time. Karyotype analysis is made of 12 species. Three different size categories i.e. small, medium and large are observed in different species. Chromosomal races are seen in H. densa (2n=44, 48) and H. edgeworthii (2n=42, 84). It is concluded that the original basic number is x=7 and most of the species in the genus have been stabilised at the hexaploid level with n=21 chromosomes. Aneuploidy is not infrequent.

This paper deals with the cytology of 14 species comprising 8 genera of Epidendreae. The genus Pachystoma (P. senile: n=20) has been investigated for the first time. B-chromosomes are reported in Calanthe puberula (2n=40+1B) and Pholidota articulata (n=20-0-3B). An aneuploid race of Eria confusa (n=18) is discovered. The chromosomes in Pogoniinae, Thuniinae and Bletiinae are larger in size compared to htose of Coelogyninae and Epidendrinae which are relatively much smaller.

SUMMARY The natural history of coronary atherosclerosis has been reconstructed from data gathered from 200 consecutive medicolegal necropsies. Coronary atherosclerosis in men commences in the second decade in the form of fatty spots which are most frequent in the anterior descending branch of the left coronary artery. The earliest evidence of atherosclerosis in women was seen in the third decade. The atherosclerotic process does not progress beyond grade I in the second decade. The extent and severity of atherosclerosis increases progressively with age, without a terminal decline in the mean atherosclerotic index. Atherosclerosis is present in all cases above 40 years. Fibrous plaques are first noticed in the fourth decade. Complicated lesions are seen for the first time in the fifth decade. The narrowing index of the coronary arteries also progresses with age from the fourth decade onwards, no significant narrowing being detectable earlier. The process of atherosclerosis is consistently more advanced in the anterior descending branch of the left coronary artery than in the circumflex branch or the right coronary artery. The extent and severity of atherosclerosis is less in women than in the men in each decade and the process commences a decade later.

The cytotoxic and cytogenetic effects of chrysotile asbestos (Indian Variety, AP-I) in vitro on Chinese hamster ovary cells were investigated. Chrysotile asbestos (AP-I) produces high vacuolization of cytoplasm, flattening of cells with increased size, and chromosomal aberrations. Both cytological and cytogenetic studies were dependent upon the dose and the period of exposure to chrysotile asbestos.

A battery of performance tests consisting of 'letter cancellation,' 'hand 'precision,' 'two-hand coordination,' and 'tweezer dexterity' were administered on 12 desk workers in an illumination chamber under six different combinations of noise and illumination made out of two levels of white noise (70 and 100 dB) and three levels of illuminations (50, 150, and 300 lx). The objective was to find out the combined effects of noise and illumination on the performance efficiency of the above tests. A 6 x 6 latin square design was followed. A three-way analysis of variance reflected significant combined effects of noise and illumination on the accuracy scores of the letter cancellation test and hand precision test and the efficiency score of the latter test. Significant separate effects of noise were, however, observable on the speed scores and efficiency scores of the letter cancellation test and that of illumination on the speed scores of this test as also the accuracy scores of the tweezer dexterity test. Studies ascertaining the effects of heat stress in combination with noise and illumination on human performance efficiency have been suggested.

The present investigation was undertaken to examine the lighting conditions in a weaving shed and also to assess visual comfort of the weavers and their visual preferences to the lighting levels. A light meter was used for measurement of the illuminances. Comfort vote cards and preference vote cards were administered on almost all the weavers (N = 95). The results indicated that the illumination levels were very low compared to the Indian Standard (1966) or IES standard (1973). A substantial proportion of the weavers had no visual comfort at work and expressed their preferences for higher illumination levels for comfort, safety, and optimum work performance. The results have been discussed and appropriate measures have been suggested for improved lighting in a cost-effective manner.

A battery of neurobehavioural tests consisting of reaction time (simple and choice), tweezer dexterity, hand precision, and memory (forward and backward) were administered to a group of painters before and after their work schedule to provide a quantitative assessment of the possible behavioural changes. Their responses on five affective measures, e.g., headache, mental freshness, forgetfulness, sleepiness, and general good health were also collected on visual analogue scales. Analysis of variance indicated significant deterioration of performance on reaction time (choice), tweezer dexterity (accuracy), hand precision (accuracy), and memory (backward) in the painters by the end of their work-shift. Significant deleterious effects were also noted on headache, mental freshness, and sleepiness. The degree of deterioration of their performance on these tests as also of the affective measures were found to be associated with the duration of exposure.