• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.188-195
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• 2019

Background: Mine workers in South Africa face challenges relating to poor health and safety, including fatigue risks, and poor socioeconomic and living conditions. Fatigue results in impaired mental and physical performance. The aim of this study was to assess contributors to fatigue of mine workers in South Africa. Methods: Data collection took place at four gold mines and one platinum mine in South Africa. A total of 21 focus groups were held with individuals in management, union representatives, and mine workers, and 564 questionnaires were completed by mine workers to gather information about fatigue and potential contributors to fatigue at these mines. Results: Qualitatively (through focus groups), fatigue was attributed to extended working hours, harsh working conditions, high workloads, production pressure, and resource constraints, along with aspects relating to demographic and socioeconomic factors, living conditions, lifestyle, health, and wellness. Greater fatigue was significantly associated with younger age, indebtedness, a lack of exercise, poor nutrition, less sleep, increased alcohol use, poor self-reported health, more sick leave, higher stress, and lower job satisfaction. Conclusion: The aim of the study was achieved; numerous work-, sociodemographic-, lifestyle-, and wellness-related factors were linked to fatigue in the participating mine workers. Contributors to fatigue should be addressed to improve health, safety, and sustainability in the industry.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.2421-2427
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• 2013

Background: To study the response rate, toxicity profiles, and survival of refractory or recurrent epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) patients treated with paclitaxel. Materials and Methods: Patients with refractory or recurrent EOC who were treated with paclitaxel between January 2002 and December 2011 at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Vajira Hospital were identified. Clinicopathological features of the patients including detailed data of paclitaxel treatment were collected. Results: During the study period, a total of 44 patients were identified, with a mean age of $52.9{\pm}8.2$ years. Some 13.6% (six patients) had refractory cancer to first-line chemotherapy while 86.4% (38 patients) had recurrent cancer. Among these, 35 (79.6%) and 9 (20.4%) patients were considered as platinum-sensitive and platinum-resistant, respectively. Three patients (6.8%) received fewer than 2 cycles of paclitaxel due to loss to follow-up, leaving 41 patients evaluable for response. The overall response rate observed in all 41 patients was 41.5% (17 patients; 12 complete and five partial responses): 12.5% or 1/8 patients with refractory or platinum-resistant cancer and 48.5% or 16/33 patients with platinum-sensitive disease. Stable disease was demonstrated in 17.0% (seven patients) while progressive disease was apparent in 41.5% (17 patients). Median time to progress was 4.5 months (range, 0.67-58.6 months). Median progression-free survival was not reached while median overall survival was 16.3 months (95% confidence interval, 11.0 months -21.6 months). Common toxicities were neutropenia, neuropathy, and alopecia. Conclusions: Paclitaxel is an active agent for refractory or recurrent EOC. Neutropenia, neuropathy and alopecia are common side effects.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.94-100
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• 2010

Zymomonas mobilis was immobilized in a modified graphite felt cathode with neutral red (NR-cathode) and Saccharomyces cerevisiae was cultivated on a platinum plate anode. An electrochemical redox reaction was induced by 3 volts of electric potential charged to the cathode and anode. The Z. mobilis produced 1.3-1.5 M of ethanol in the cathode compartment, whereas the S. cerevisiae produced 1.7-1.9 M in the anode compartment after 96 h. The ethanol produced by the Z. mobilis immobilized in the NR-cathode and S. cerevisiae cultivated on the platinum plate was 1.5-1.6 times higher than that produced under conventional conditions. The electrochemical oxidation potential inhibited Z. mobilis, but activated S. cerevisiae. The SDS-PAGE pattern of the total soluble proteins extracted from the Z. mobilis cultivated under the electrochemical oxidation conditions was gradually simplified in proportion to the potential intensity. Z. mobilis and S. cerevisiae were cultivated in the cathode and anode compartments, respectively, of an electrochemical redox combination system. The Z. mobilis culture cultivated in the cathode compartment for 24 h was continuously transferred to the S. cerevisiae culture in the anode compartment at a rate of 300 ml/day. Approx. 1.0-1.2 M of ethanol was produced by the Z. mobilis in the cathode compartment within 24 h, and an additional 0.8-0.9 M produced by the S. cerevisiae in the anode compartment within another 24 h. Thus, a total of 2.0-2.1 M of ethanol was produced by the electrochemical redox combination of Z. mobilis and S. cerevisiae within 48 h.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.217-233
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• 1992

This study was performed to determine the toxic effects of graded dose levels of SKI 2053R after repeated administration. Three groups of Sprague-Dawley rats(10M and 10F per group) were given a total of 25 i.v. injections of SKI 2053R (1.50,3.75,9.38mg/kg/day). In order to compare the toxic effects of SKI 2053R with those of cisplatin, one group of Sprague-Dawley rats (10M and 10F per group) were given a total of 25 i.v.injections of cisplatin (1.70mg/kg/day). The dosing schedule was divided into five courses of 5 consecutive days with 16-day dose-free intervals between each course. No drug-related toxicity occurred in low dose level group (1.50mg/kg/day) of SKI2053R. From the results of hematological examination, peripheral WBC counts, RBC counts and hemoglobin of high dose level group(9.38mg/kg/day)of SKI 2053R were significantly lower than those of no-treated group. Other toxicities including reduced final body weight, proteinuria and hematuria were observed in high dose level group of SKI 2053R. But, no change was detected in serum biochemical values of SKI 2053R treated groups. All of the rats in cisplatin treated group were died between 3 and 13 weeks, while rats treated with SKI2053R survived to the end except one rat of middle dose level group(3.75mg/kg/day). In histopathological examinations, rats that received cisplatin manifested severe tubular damage in kidney and hemosiderosis in spleen, but no critical pathological lesion was observed in rats of other groups. Considering the results of this study, it was concluded that non-toxic dose of SKI 2053R in this treatment schedule was estimated to be 3.75 mg/kg/day and the maximum tolerated dose was to be higher than 9.38mg/kg/day. The toxic profiles fo SKI 2053R were different from those of cisplatin, and its toxicity was considerably lower than that of cisplatin.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.51-62
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• 2001

The Arctic consists of numerous sedimentary basins containing voluminous natural resources and two of the world's major oil and gas producing areas. The western Siberia Basin in the Arctic region has the largest petroliferous province with an area of 800 ${\times}$ 1,200 km and produces more than 60% of total Russian oil production. The North Slope of Alaska produces about 20% of the U.S. output, i.e., 11% of the total U.S. consumption. Being small compared to those regions, the Canadian Northwest Territories and the Pechora Basin in Russia produce only fair amount of oil and natural gas. There are also many promising areas in the northern continental shelf of Russia. In addition to Russia, Svalbard and Greenland have been investigated for oil and gas. Gas hydrates are widespread in both permafrost regions and arctic continental shelf areas. The reserves of gas hydrates in the Arctic Ocean are about 20${\sim}$32% of total estimated amounts of gas hydrates in the world ocean. Mineral mining is well developed, especially in Russia. The major centers are located around the Kuznetsk Basin and Noril'sk. They are major suppliers of gold, tin, nickel, copper, platinum, cobalt, iron ore, coal as well as apatite. There are also some minings of lead-zinc in Alaska and Arctic Canada.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.9
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• pp.4413-4416
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• 2012

Aim: Individual differences in chemosensitivity and clinical outcome in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients treatment with platinum-based chemotherapy may be due to genetic factors. Our study aimed to investigate the prognostic role of GSTP1, XRCC1 and XRCC3 in NSCLC patients treated with chemotherapy. Methods: A total of 460 cases were consecutively selected from The Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University between Jan. 2003 to Nov. 2006, and all were followed-up until Nov. 2011. Genotyping of GSTP1 Ile105Val, XRCC1 Arg194Trp, XRCC1 Arg399Gln and XRCC3 Thr241Met was conducted by duplex polymerase-chain-reaction with confronting-two-pair primer methods. Results: Patients with GSTP Val/Val exhibited a shorter survival time, and had a 1.89 fold greater risk of death than did those with the IIe/IIe genotype. For XRCC1 Arg194Trp, the variant genotype Trp/Trp was significantly associated with a decreased risk of death from NSCLC when compared with the Arg/Arg. Individuals carrying XRCC1 399Gln/Gln genotype had a longer survival time, with a lowered risk of death from NSCLC. Conclusion: This study indicated that GSTP1 Ile105Val, XRCC1 Arg194Trp and XRCC1Arg399Gln genes have a role in modifying the effect of platinum-based chemotherapy for NSCLC patients in a Chinese population. Our findings provide information for therapeutic decisions for individualized therapy in NSCLC cases.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.243-247
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• 1998

Cisplatin is a platinum-containing antitumor agent with nephrotoxic and neurotoxic side effects. An analytical method for measuring cisplatin in plasma by FAAS was developed, which is rapid, simple and need no sample preparation. The linearity test of calibration curve in the range of 20~1000 ng/mL showed good correlation coefficient of r=0.999. The result of accuracy test appeared to be relative standard deviation of < 5.0% at concentration range from 50 to 1000 ng/mL. When $200{\mu}L$ of plasma was used, detection limit was 10 ng/mL. Therefore, it can be applied for the monitoring in plasma for optimal condition of treatment and reduce of toxicity.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.31 no.8
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• pp.439-444
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• 2021

The oxidation resistance of the diffusion aluminide bond coat (BC) is compromised largely by interdiffusion (ID) effects on coated turbine blades of aeroengines. The present study is designed to understand the influence of ID on βNiAl coatings or BC. In this regard, nickel substrate and CMSX-4 superalloy are deposited. In total, four sets of BCs are developed, i.e. pure βNiAl (on Ni substrate), simple βNiAl (on CMSX-4 substrate), Zr-βNiAl (on CMSX-4 substrate) and Pt-βNiAl (on CMSX-4 substrate). The main aim of this study is to understand the interdiffusion of Al, Zr and Pt during preparation and oxidation. In addition, the beneficial effects of both Zr and platinum are assessed. Pure βNiAl and simple βNiAl show Ni-out-diffusion, whereas for platinum inward diffusion to the substrate is noticed under vacuum treatment. Interestingly, Zr-βNiAl shows the least ID in all BCs and exhibit stability under both vacuum and oxidation treatments. However, its spallation resistance is slightly lower than that of Pt-βNiAl BC. All BCs show similar oxide growth trends, except for Zr-βNiAl, which exhibits two-stage oxidations, i.e. transient and steady-state. Moreover, it is suggested that the localized spallation in all BCs is caused by βNiAl - γ'-Ni₃Al transformation.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.355-361
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• 1993

Since May 1991, authors have conducted a pilot study to determine the feasibility and evaluate the effect of concurrent radiation therapy and chemotherapy with 5-FU and Cis-platinum for locally advanced cervical cancer (stage IIB-IVA). Radiation therapy consisted of external irradiation to whole pelvis (4140 cGy/23 fx) in 4.5 weeks followed by high dose rate intracavitary radiation therapy (HDR ICRT) to deliver a dose of 30 to 35 Gy to A point in 6 to 7 fractions. After the intracavitary radiation therapy, parametrial boost was delivered for B point dose of 60 Gy in Stage IIB and 65 Gy in stage IIIB. 5-FU (1000 $mg/m^2/24hr$ for 96 hour iv infusion) and Cis-platinum (20 $mg/m^2/day$ IV bolus for 3 days) were given during the second week of external RT and the second course chemotherapy administered at the first HDR ICRT with the same method as the first chemotherapy. Sixteen patients (10 stage IIB,4 stage IIIB,2 stage IVA) were registered to this protocol. Among these 16 patients, two refused treatment after 2 fractions of external irradiation, and one could not continue intracavitary irradiation because of treatment related genitourinary toxicity. So 14 patients were evaluated for toxicity and 13 patients were evaluated for response analysis. Five of 14 patients developed grade 3 gastrointestinal toxicity but 4 of them recovered at the completion of treatment. One stage IIIB patient with inguinal lymph node metastasis who received higher dose of radiation in spite of initial poor performance status did not recover from gastrointestinal toxicity at the completion of treatment. And she died of distant metastasis at one month after the completion of treatment. Two of 14 evaluable patients showed weight loss, more than $10\%$ of initial weight. One patient developed grade 3 leukopenia. In this study, the average total treatment period of completely treated patients was 75 days and three of them took more than 80 days (84, 84, 89 days). Toxicities were generally acceptable and there were no treatment related death. At the last follow-up, complete response was achieved in $62\%(8/13)$ and especially of nine patients with stage IIB, eight patients showed complete response. This study suggests that concurrent radiation therapy and chemotherapy (5-FU and Cis-platinum) is tolerable and effective. Further follow-up is needed to determine whether this protocol will have a favorable impact on survival and to evaluate the late effect on normal tissues. In future, prospective randomized trials are needed to compare the standard radiation therapy alone with concurrent chemotherapy and radiation therapy for locally advanced cervical carcinoma.

• Journal of Advanced Marine Engineering and Technology
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.369-375
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• 2010

The two-dimensional finite element formulation for the basic field equations governing electrochemical responses of ionic conducting polymer-metal composite(IPMC) actuators is proposed in the present study. Biaxial deformation of a platinum plated Nafion actuator having 4 electrodes is dominated by electro-osmosis of hydrated ions and self-diffusion of free water molecules. Some numerical studies for IPMC actuators with electric field are carried out in order to show the validity of the proposed formulation and electric field analysis for the initial condition of total charge distribution are conducted using commercial code ANSYS/Emag.