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Abstract Introduction Considering the adverse carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic health effects of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) and specially Benzene, Toluene, Ethylbenzene and Xylenes (BTEX) which are widely used in vehicle manufacturing industry, it is clear that monitoring and control of occupational exposure to these substances is of utmost significance. More often than not the studies on occupational exposure to VOCs in vehicle manufacturing industry—specifically BTEX—have been carried out exclusively in paint shop units. The purpose of this study was to assess occupational BTEX exposure & health risk in different units of a vehicle manufacturing industry. Material and methods Foam injection unit (FIU), gluing unit (GU), repair shop unit (RSU), molding unit (MU) as well as paint shop units (PSU) were selected for this study. Sampling and analysis were conducted based on National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) 1501 guidelines by utilizing MSA personal sampling pumps set to 0.2 l/m and Gas Chromatography equipped with Flame Ionization Detector (GC-FID). Risk characterization and assessment was performed using Environmental Protection Agency Risk Assessment Information System (EPA RAIS). Results and conclusion The results revealed that the concentration of benzene in gluing and paint shop units was above occupational exposure limits. Carcinogenic risk levels in 8 out of 10 units registered in the 1E-2 to 1E-4 range, and only two units registered a risk level below EPA’s acceptable risk level (10–6). The highest risk levels were measured in gluing, paint shop and repair shop units. Furthermore, the total non-carcinogenic hazard quotient was measured higher than 1 in 8 out of 10 studied units. Considering the abundance and wide use of VOCs -most notably BTEX- and the adverse carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic health effects of these compounds, it is advised to: change the type of paint used in paint shops, improve the existing ventilation systems, develop new and more efficient ventilation systems and conduct consistent training.

Introduction: Considering the adverse carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic health effects of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) and specially Benzene, Toluene, Ethylbenzene and Xylenes (BTEX) which are widely used in vehicle manufacturing industry, it is clear that monitoring and control of occupational exposure to these substances is of utmost significance. More often than not the studies on occupational exposure to VOCs in vehicle manufacturing industry—specifically BTEX—have been carried out exclusively in paint shop units. The purpose of this study was to assess occupational BTEX exposure & health risk in different units of a vehicle manufacturing industry. Material and methods: Foam injection unit (FIU), gluing unit (GU), repair shop unit (RSU), molding unit (MU) as well as paint shop units (PSU) were selected for this study. Sampling and analysis were conducted based on National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) 1501 guidelines by utilizing MSA personal sampling pumps set to 0.2 l/m and Gas Chromatography equipped with Flame Ionization Detector (GC-FID). Risk characterization and assessment was performed using Environmental Protection Agency Risk Assessment Information System (EPA RAIS). Results and conclusion: The results revealed that the concentration of benzene in gluing and paint shop units was above occupational exposure limits. Carcinogenic risk levels in 8 out of 10 units registered in the 1E-2 to 1E-4 range, and only two units registered a risk level below EPA's acceptable risk level (10–6). The highest risk levels were measured in gluing, paint shop and repair shop units. Furthermore, the total non-carcinogenic hazard quotient was measured higher than 1 in 8 out of 10 studied units. Considering the abundance and wide use of VOCs -most notably BTEX- and the adverse carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic health effects of these compounds, it is advised to: change the type of paint used in paint shops, improve the existing ventilation systems, develop new and more efficient ventilation systems and conduct consistent training. Highlights: In this paper, we report on the levels of occupational exposure workers encounter on a daily basis to a specific group of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC): Benzene, Toluene, Ethylbenzene and Xylene(s) (BTEX) in various sections of a vehicle manufacturing industry and the resulting health risks. Reviewing previous studies revealed that as a result of low occupational exposure to BTEX in vehicle manufacturing industry, more often than not the studies on said compounds and the ensuing health effects were exclusively carried out in paint shop units, ignoring health risks in other units & creating the assumption that health risks in other units are negligible. The purpose of this study was to assess occupational BTEX exposure and its associated health risk in different units of a vehicle manufacturing industry, including foam injection unit (FIU), gluing unit (GU), repair shop unit (RSU), molding unit (MU) as well as paint shop units (PSU). Revealing the possibility of exposure to BTEX not only in paint shop units but also other previously disregarded units, the health risk calculated in some units such as gluing unit was higher than the EPA acceptable risk range (10-4). Moreover, cancer risk levels of molding (Unit No 6) and repair shop (Unit No 7) units registered in the 10-4 to 10-2 range despite meeting the TLV-TWA (0.174 PPM and 0.449 PPM respectively), suggesting the need for implementation of a health risk assessment in conjunction with exposure assessment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pollination has an important role in both agricultural production and wild plant reproduction. For the pollination of crops, agriculture relies largely on managed colonies of the honeybee Apis mellifera. Worker bees are primarily affected by pesticides. The symptoms of poisoning vary depending on the developmental stage of the individual bee and kind of chemical employed. The acute contact toxicity of insecticides (phosalone and pirimicarb), acaricide (propargite), insecticide and acaricide (fenpropathrin), fungicides and bactericides (copper oxychloride and bordeaux mixture) was assessed in Iran through laboratory experiments. The median lethal concentrations (LC50-24h, LC50-48h and LC50-72h) were evaluated for the purposes of this research. Results showed that fenpropathrin had high toxicity; LC50-24h, LC50-48h and LC50-72h were 5.7, 3.2 and 2.9 ppm respectively. Additionally, the bordeaux mixture had the minimum contact toxicity on honeybees with LC50-24h, LC50-48h and LC50-72h being 79,926; 69,552 and 69,045 ppm respectively and was safe and non-toxic in honeybees.

The honey bee is credited with approximately 85% of the pollinating activity necessary to supply about one-third of the world’s food supply. Well over 50 major crops depend on these insects for pollination. The crops produce more abundantly when honey bees are plentiful. Worker bees are the ones primarily affected by pesticides. Poisoning symptoms can vary depending on the developmental stage of the individual bee, and the kind of chemical employed. The oral toxicity of these insecticides: (phosalone and pirimicarb), acaricide (propargite), insecticide and acaricide (fenpropathrin), fungicides, and bactericides (copper oxychloride and the Bordeaux mixture), were evaluated for the purposes of this research. The results showed that fenpropathrin had high acute oral toxicity (LC50-24h and LC50-48 were 0.54 and 0.3 ppm, respectively). Propargite had 7785 ppm (active ingredient) for LC50-24h and 6736 ppm (active ingredient) for LC50-48h in honeybees and is therefore, non-toxic to Apis mellifera. On the other hand, copper oxychloride had minimum acute oral toxicity to honeybees (LC50-24h and LC50-48 were 4591.5 and 5407.9 ppm, respectively) and was therefore considered non-toxic. Also, the Bordeaux mixture was safe to use around honeybees. Phosalone and primicarb were considered highly and moderately toxic to honeybees, respectively.

Celem niniejszych badań było określenie zawartości następujących pierwiastków: Hg, Ba, Ca, Fe, Mn, Li, As, Na i K w ciele pszczół. Próby pszczół zostały pobrane losowo z czterech okręgów prowincji Kurdystan: Marivan, Bijar, Kamyaran i Ghorveh. Zebrane dane wykazały, że najwyższe stężenia osiągał K, a następnie Na, Ca, Hg, Ba, Fe, Mn, Li i As. Nie stwierdzono istotnych różnic porównując stężenia metali w próbach pochodzących z różnych lokalizacji. Na podstawie wyników wyodrębniono trzy grupy pierwiastków: pierwiastki występujące obficie, pierwiastki osiągające średnie stężenia i pierwiastki występujące w ilościach śladowych. Pierwszą grupę pierwiastków tworzyły K i Na, których stężenia wynosiły odpowiednio od 41,857 do 47,871 i od 12,653 do 16,183 ppm. Drugą grupę tworzyły Ca, Hg, Ba i Fe, przy czym najwyższe stężenia osiągał Ca (9,077- 10,058 ppm), następnie Hg (1,12-4,786 ppm), Ba (2,881-3,481 ppm) i Fe (1,050-1,727 pm). Trzecia grupa zawierała Mn, Li i As. Wartości ich stężeń wynosiły odpowiednio od 0,262 do 0,399, od 0,043 do 0,101 i od 0,017 do 0,068 ppm.

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Tissue engineering is a new technique to help damaged cartilage treatment using cells and scaffolds. In this study we tried to evaluate electrospun scaffolds composed of gelatin/glycosaminoglycan (G/GAG) blend nanofibers in chondrogenesis of bone marrow‐derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMMSCs). Scaffolds were fabricated by electrospinning technique with different concentration of glycosaminoglycan (0%, 5%, 10%, and 15%) in gelatin matrix. BMMSCs were cultured on the scaffolds for chondrogenesis process. MTT assay was done for scaffold's biocompatibility and cells viability evaluation. Alcian blue staining was carried out to determine the release of GAG and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) was done for expression of COL2A1 and also immunocytochemistry assay were used to confirm expression of type II collagen. Scaffold with 15% GAG showed better result for biocompatibility (p =0.02). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) micrographs showed that MSCs have good attachment to the scaffolds. Alcian blue staining result confirmed that cells produce GAG during differentiation time different from GAG in the scaffolds. Also the results for RT‐PCR showed the expression of COL2A1 marker. Immunocytochemistry assay for type II collagen confirm that this protein expressed. Scaffold comprising 15% GAG is better results for chondrogenesis and it can be a good applicant for cartilage tissue engineering. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 107A: 38–48, 2019. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The twospotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch (Acari: Tetranychidae), is an important pest of strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa Duch.) grown in greenhouses and outdoors. In this study, we evaluated the resistance status of five common strawberry cultivars ('Aromas', 'Kurdistan', 'Missionary', 'Paros', and 'Queen Elisa') under laboratory conditions. The developmental times of the preadult and adult stages, total longevity, reproduction, and life table parameters were analyzed according to the age-stage, two-sex life table theory, which provides the most comprehensive description on the survival, stage differentiation, and reproduction of a population. Preadult development was the shortest on Kurdistan and longest on Aromas (17.70 d vs. 21.00 d). The greatest number of oviposition days occurred on Missionary (28.65 d), whereas the fewest were on Queen Elisa (21.58 d). The intrinsic rate of natural increase (r) and finite rate of increase (λ) varied among the cultivars. The highest values were found on Kurdistan (r = 0.1436d−1, λ=1.1544d−1), while the lowest values were on the Aromas cultivar (r = 0.1081d−1, λ=1.1141d−1). The longest mean generation time (T) of T. urticae occurred on Aromas. Based on the results of the present study, the cultivar Aromas was considered the most resistant to T. urticae and least favored strawberry cultivar for the development and reproduction of the mite. Demographic data of twospotted spider mite on these five strawberry cultivars can be used to improve our understanding of the population dynamics of the pest and thereby develop effective pest management strategies against T. urticae in both integrated and organic strawberry production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The two-spotted spider mite (TSSM), Tetranychus urticae Koch, is an important pest of strawberries grown both in greenhouse and field, and also may be infested at high humid condition. In this study, we evaluated the life history and demographic parameters of TSSM on five varieties (Frenzo, Karsin-Berg, Klassica, Pajaro, and Ventana) of strawberry at a constant temperature of 25 ± 1°C, 75 ± 5% RH and a photoperiod of 16:8 h L: D. Egg-to-female adult development was faster on Karsin-Berg and slower on Klassica variety (17.4 vs. 21.1 days). The oviposition period was longer on Karsin-Berg and shorter on Pajaro variety (27.0 vs. 17.4 days). Fecundity and female adult longevity of TSSM were significantly different among the five varieties of strawberry. Life table parameters provide most comprehensive description on the survival, stage differentiation, and reproduction of the population and they were significantly affected by different varieties of strawberry. The net reproductive rate was the highest on Ventana and lowest on Pajaro. The intrinsic rate of natural increase varied from 0.1067 on Frenzo to 0.1212 day−1 on Ventana. The mean generation time of TSSM were considerably affected by strawberry varieties and the longer generation time was on Frenzo. Based on results of the present study, Frenzo and Pajaro is a less favourable variety for the population growth of TSSM. Research on these five strawberry varieties can be used to improve our understanding of the population dynamics of the pest and thereby develop effective pest management programmes against T. urticae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: This study aims to determine the serogroup distribution and molecular diagnosis, as well as antimicrobial resistance profiles among Shigella spp. isolated from patients with diarrhea in Kerman, southeast of Iran. Background: Shigella species are frequent cause of bacterial dysentery worldwide. Previous studies have been reported that S. sonnei and S. flexneri are the most prevalent serogroups in various parts of Iran Patients and methods: A total of 624 stool samples were randomly collected from patients with diarrhea from June 2013 to August 2014. Biochemical and serological characterizations were performed for identifying Shigella spp. In addition, the multiplex PCR assay was carried out for the detection and differentiation of three pathogenic Shigella spp. Antibiotic susceptibility testing was performed according to the Clinical Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) guidelines. Results: Fifty six (9%) Shigella strains were isolated from stool samples. The most common species were S. flexneri 31(55.4%), followed by S. sonnei 18(32.1%) and S. boydii 7(12.5%). S. dysentery was not detected in the present study. All the isolates that identified by serological test as Shigella spp. were confirmed by the multiplex PCR method. The highest rate of resistance was observed for ampicillin and trimethoprim-sulphamethoxazole antibiotics with 52(92.9%) resistant, followed by tetracycline 44(78.6%) and cefotaxime 33(58.9%). All Shigella isolates were susceptible to ciprofloxacin. A significant relationship was found between the Shigella species and cefotaxime resistance (p<0.05). Conclusion: S. flexneri was found as the most prevalent serogroup causing shigellosis. The high rate of resistance to third-generation cephalosporins limits the treatment options available for the management of shigellosis in Kerman, Iran. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]