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At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources
PubMed1998

Occupational hazards, living conditions, and physical assault of sugar cane workers in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.

OBJECTIVES: To characterise the occupational hazards and living conditions of sugar cane workers in KwaZulu-Natal. DESIGN: Based on information provided by shop stewards, a survey instrument (questionnaire) was constructed for administration to union members. SETTING: Seven sugar cane farms and estates owned by one large corporation in late 1993. SUBJECTS: Members of the South African Farm and Allied Workers Union (SAFAWU). RESULTS: Of the 632 participants, 50% were permanent workers, 22.3% were seasonal workers and 27.7% were casual workers. Mean daily pay ranged from R5 to R35 per worker. The majority of participants reported substandard housing both during the growing season and during the off-season. Percentages reporting health problems in the last 12 months believed by the respondent to be caused or made worse by work included 79% with eye problems, 78% with upper respiratory problems, 88% with lower respiratory problems, 93% with musculoskeletal problems, and 81% with an acute traumatic injury. More than half the participants reported fainting, collapsing or illness from working on hot or sunny days. Fourteen per cent reported being struck with the fist or hand, or being pushed, shoved or kicked by a farm owner, member of the owner's family, manager or supervisor; 9% reported being struck with an object, whipped, or attacked or threatened with a knife or gun by one of these same individuals. CONCLUSIONS: Sugar cane workers employed by a large corporation in KwaZulu-Natal appear to face severe threats to their physical and psychological well-being including: (i) inadequate pay to meet basic living needs; (ii) substandard living conditions; (iii) significant occupational hazards resulting in high reported levels of occupational illness and injury; and (iv) physical and psychological abuse and intimidation by farm owners and their agents.

Accidents, Occupational↗
PubMed1998

Immediate effects of therapeutic facilitation on the gait of hemiparetic patients as compared with walking with and without a cane.

OBJECTIVES: Although the neurodevelopmental technique (Bobath) is the most widely used approach in the gait rehabilitation of hemiparetic subjects in Europe, there is little neurophysiological evidence for its presumed effects on gait symmetry and facilitation of paretic muscles during the therapeutic intervention. The study, therefore, investigated the immediate effects of gait entrainment by a physical therapist on the gait of hemiparetic subjects. METHODS: Cycle parameters, gait symmetry, hip joint movement and the electromyographic activity of several lower limb muscles were assessed in 22 patients during a classic intervention by five Bobath therapists and while walking with and without a cane. RESULTS: Multivariate statistics revealed that, while being assisted by the therapist, patients walked faster (P = 0.022), with a longer relative stance period of the affected leg (P = 0.005), a higher symmetry (P = 0.002), larger hip extension (P = 0.001) and more activation (P = 0.026) of the Mm. triceps surae, vastus lateralis, biceps femoris and gluteus medius as compared to walking with and without a cane. Extensor spasticity of the plantar-flexor tended to increase (n.s.). In five subjects, no after-effect could be documented 1 h after a gait training of 30 min. CONCLUSIONS: The study confirmed a more balanced walking pattern in conjunction with facilitation of various weight bearing muscles during the therapeutic intervention. A prolonged single stance period of the affected leg, an unobstructed hip movement, enhanced weight acceptance and a faster gait seemed to be responsible for the observed immediate effects of the therapeutic intervention.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

A biomechanical evaluation of visually impaired persons' gait and long-cane mechanics.

This study was designed to compare selected kinematic components of gait and long cane mechanics between groups of visually impaired travelers. Twenty subjects were placed in Traditional or Modified technique groups according to their long cane traveling technique. Subjects were measured during the following conditions; 1) normal walking (NW), 2) walking while anticipating a simulated drop-off (AD), 3) walking while responding to an audible task (ST) and, 4) walking while anticipating a simulated drop-off and responding to an audible task (STAD). Data were analyzed using a repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Pearson's r correlation coefficient. Analyses revealed no differences between groups of travelers. However, significant differences were noted between trials for components of gait velocity, stride length, and hip flexion velocity. These findings may indicate a potentially dangerous alteration in the normal gait cycle of visually impaired travelers when faced with additional attention-demanding tasks while walking.

Adult↗
PubMed1979

Locomotion assistance through cane impulse.

The extent of locomotion assistance gained through cane usage by those with hip disorders is assayed. Employing as a standard the propulsive impulse delivered by each lower limb of a healthy young male, the cane is shown to supply about one-fifth the equivalent impulse, aside from other possible benefits. Full test values are given for nine handicapped subjects.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

Walking cane designed to assist partial weight bearing.

The device described indicates accurately the amount of weight borne on an affected leg. This device consists of two major elements: a weight measuring system incorporated in the walking cane's body, and a feedback mechanism situated in the cane's handle. By means of vibration or lights the patient and the therapist can determine whether or not the affected leg is bearing the prescribed weight. Thirty patients (10 with fractures, 10 with vascular disorders, and 10 below-knee amputees) and 10 healthy people participated in the study. The study concluded that young patients used the feedback information more readily than older patients. The intention in designing such a device is to help orthopedically disabled patients during their convalescence, to minimize strain on ischemic legs, and to assist amputees in monitoring weight-bearing postoperative walking.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1977

[Walking with canes and forearm-crutches. I. Reduction of loads at the hip and proximal end of the femur by one sided use of cane/crutch (author's transl)].

The effect of one cane or forearm-crutch on some mechanical parameters at the contralateral hip were investigated. 5 healthy individuals were photographed on a walkway while using an instrumented cane/crutch. Geometric data from an original mathematical model were taken from these fotographs and an X-ray film of the pelvis and femur. The resultant force and pressure at the hip joint, shear force in the femoral neck and, in one case, the bending moment in the trochanteric region were computed and expressed as a function of the load applied to the walking-aid. All values decreased with an increase of this load. The reduction of force and pressure at the hip joint achieved by application of a load equal to 15% of bodyweight are superior to those resulting from common operative procedures done for the samp purpose. Differences between the effects of one sided cane and forearm-crutch are negligible.

Biomechanical Phenomena↗
PubMed2001

Molecular evidence of an African Phiomorpha-South American Caviomorpha clade and support for Hystricognathi based on the complete mitochondrial genome of the cane rat (Thryonomys swinderianus).

The complete mitochondrial genome of an African cane rat, Thryonomys swinderianus (Rodentia, Hystricognathi), was included in a phylogenetic analysis along with 4 rodents, 14 additional eutherians, and 3 noneutherian outgroups. Monophyly of the suborder Hystricognathi, represented by the cane rat and the South American guinea pig, Cavia porcellus, was strongly supported by maximum-parsimony, neighbor-joining, and maximum-likelihood methods. The molecular-based estimate of the divergence time of Old and New World Hystricognathi (approximately 85 million years before present, MYBP) is consistent with an hypothesis of vicariance divergence due to the rifting of the African and South American continents 86-100 MYBP. Monophyly of Rodentia or the superordinal clade Glires (Rodentia and Lagomorpha) were not supported.

Africa↗
PubMed1995

Thermophilic actinomycetes in cane sugar mills: an aeromicrobiologic and seroepidemiologic study.

Aerial prevalence of clinically important thermophilic actinomycetes and occurrence of precipitating antibodies against them in sera of 153 exposed workers have been reported. The study was carried out in two cane sugar mills namely, the Upper Doab Sugar Mills and the Ramala Sugar Mills, located in north-west India. In both the sugar mills, T. sacchari was the predominant species, it accounted for 55.1% and 50.3% of the total population of thermophilic actinomycetes, followed by T. vulgaris (19.7% and 23.7%), T. thalpophilus (21.1% and 17.1%), Saccharomonospora viridis (3.4% and 5.0%) and Saccharopolyspora rectivirgula (Faenia rectivirgula) (0.7% and 3.9%), respectively. Precipitating antibodies against thermophilic actinomycetes were demonstrable in 34 (22.2%) workers; T. sacchari alone accounted for 20 of the positive precipitin reactions, followed by S. rectivirgula in 10. The mean absorbance values for IgG antibody activity against T. sacchari as well as S. rectivirgula were found to be elevated significantly in the symptomatic workers than in the asymptomatic workers (p < 0.05) or unexposed controls (p < 0.001). However, the difference in IgG antibody activity was insignificant between precipitin-positive symptomatic workers and precipitin-positive asymptomatic workers. The results indicate that clinically important thermophilic actinomycetes are widely prevalent in cane sugar mills, and T. sacchari and S. rectivirgula are the major species involved in the sensitization of the bagasse workers in India.

Actinomycetales↗
PubMed1982

Studies on the selection of streptomycetes in the rhizoplane of sugar-cane.

The overwhelming majority of species of Streptomyces (S. aburaviensis, S. chromofuscus, S. collinus, S. tenebrarius, S. galilaeus, etc.) and Streptoverticillium aureoversales indigenous in the cultivated horizon of the red ferralitic tropical soil of an investigated sugar-cane plantation, were completely lacking in the root surface region of this plant. Only two species (S. griseorubiginosus and S. viridochromogenes) characterized by very broad C- and N-source utilization spectra, proved capable of colonizing the roots of sugar-cane under natural circumstances. They are not stable members of the rhizoplane but, in contrast to many other species of Streptomyces, are very successful occasional root colonizers. S. viridochromogenes occurred also in the root far soil region but S. griseorubiginosus could only be detected in the rhizoplane.

Ecology↗
PubMed1994

Nuclear and conventional methods for soil determination in sugar cane industry. Validity of sampling procedure.

Scandium and ash methods' performances were compared in terms of soil content assessment in sugar cane loads, emphasizing the common sampling drawbacks. Both methods are adequate for such determination in controlled conditions. The scandium has demonstrated better analytical characteristics, since it is free from interferences of cane matrix, which decreases the accuracy of the ash method in normal mill conditions.

Brazil↗
PubMed1994

Evaluation of the washing system efficiency in sugar cane mills by neutron activation analysis.

The effectiveness of industrial washing operation in minimizing soil in sugar cane delivered to mills is evaluated. Instrumental neutron activation analysis was the nuclear analytical technique chosen for this work, with Fe, Hf, Sc, and Th selected as soil tracers. On the basis of differences between elemental concentration of integral and prepared cane, that is before and after washing, the feasibility of the method for evaluation of the washing efficiency is demonstrated.

Brazil↗
PubMed2003

The ductuli efferentes testis of the greater cane rat ( Thryonomys swinderianus).

The structure of the efferent ducts of animals is known to vary from one species to another, it even varies between segments of the ducts in the same species. In the grasscutter or greater cane rat ( Thryonomys swinderianus), there are three segments of the efferent duct, based on their content of non-ciliated or principal cell types. Type I non-ciliated cell is present exclusively in the long proximal part of the duct, and exhibits a well-developed subapical endocytic apparatus as well as numerous oval or pleomorphic dense bodies. The type II non-ciliated cell predominates in the middle part of the duct, displays a poorly developed subapical endocytic apparatus but contains large, numerous vacuoles and dense bodies, all of which fill about two-thirds of the cell height. The type III non-ciliated cell, found in the epithelium of the terminal part of the duct, is poorly endowed with a subapical endocytic apparatus and contains no conspicuous endocytic vesicles or vacuoles. Only a few, small, dense bodies are present, if at all. The efferent duct of the cane rat is thus similar to that of man, the bull, goat and dog, in containing three varieties or types of non-ciliated cells. This report is the first to describe multiple non-ciliated cells in the epithelium of the efferent ducts of a rodent and, indeed, of a mammal smaller than the dog.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Lactic acid production from sugar-cane juice by a newly isolated Lactobacillus sp.

A newly isolated sucrose-tolerant, lactic acid bacterium, Lactobacillus sp. strain FCP2, was grown on sugar-cane juice (125 g sucrose l(-1), 8 g glucose l(-1) and 6 g fructose l(-1)) for 5 days and produced 104 g lactic acid l(-1) with 90% yield. A higher yield (96%) and productivity (2.8 g l(-1 )h(-1)) were obtained when strain FCP2 was cultured on 3% w/v (25 g sucrose l(-1), 2 g glucose l(-1) and 1 g fructose l(-1)) sugar-cane juice for 10 h. Various cheap nitrogen sources such as silk worm larvae, beer yeast autolysate and shrimp wastes were also used as a substitute to yeast extract.

Fermentation↗
PubMed2006

Antioxidant activity of phenolics compounds from sugar cane (Saccharum officinarum L.) juice.

Phenolic compounds in sugar cane (Saccharum officinarum L.) juice were identified and quantified by analytical high performance liquid chromatography and photodiode array detection, showing the predominance of flavones (apigenin, luteolin and tricin derivatives), among flavonoids, and of hydroxycinnamic, caffeic and sinapic acids, among phenolic acids, representing a total content of around 160 mg/L. A tricin derivative was present in the highest proportion (>10% of the total). The phenolic extract obtained from sugar cane juice showed a protective effect against in vivo MeHgCl intoxication and potent inhibition of ex vivo lipoperoxidation of rat brain homogenates, indicating a potential use for beneficial health effects and/or therapeutic applications.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Oxoester oxidoreductase activities in new isolates of Pichia anomala from apple, grape and cane juices.

Thirty-nine yeasts isolated from apple, grape and cane juices were screened for their oxidoreductase activity. The two strains of Pichia, one isolated from apple and one from cane juices, appear to be promising strains for oxidoreductase activity on alpha-oxoesters. They showed similar high yields in converting ethyl pyruvate to ethyl lactate as Saccharomyces spp. (86.6% and 85.3% versus 86.6%), and higher yields in the reduction of alpha-oxocarboxylic esters (ketopantolactone to pantolactone: 74% and 73.3%, respectively) compared to Saccharomyces spp. (yield 60%).

Beverages↗
PubMed2006

Characterisation of sugar cane straw waste as pozzolanic material for construction: calcining temperature and kinetic parameters.

This paper reports on the influence of calcining temperature (800 and 1000 degrees C) on the pozzolanic activation of sugar cane straw (SCS). The reaction kinetics of SCS ash-lime mixtures were inferred from physicochemical characteristics (X-ray diffraction patterns and thermogravimetry analysis. The fitting of a kinetic-diffusive model to the experimental data (fixed lime versus time) allowed the computing of the kinetic parameters (reaction rate constant) of the pozzolanic reaction. Results obtained confirm that the sugar cane straw ash (SCSA) calcined at 800 and 1000 degrees C have properties indicative of very high pozzolanic activity. No influence of calcining temperature on the pozzolanic activity was observed. Also, no crystalline compounds during the pozzolanic reaction were identified up to 90 days of reaction. Environmental durability and strength of the consequential mortars remain to be assessed.

Construction Materials↗
PubMedDate not supplied

An electron microscopic study of the chorioallantoic placenta and the subplacenta of the cane rat (Thryonomys swinderianus Temminck).

The ultrastructure of the cane rate chorio-allantoic placenta has been studied. In its thinnest regions the interhaemal membrane is composed of a single layer of syncytiotrophoblast, a common basal lamina, and the fetal capillary endothelium. Hence this is a haemomonochorial placenta. The cytotrophoblastic cells show many mitotic figures but they are never seen directly bounding the maternal blood spaces. The syncytiotrophoblast of the spongy zone is rich in dilated cisterns of granular endoplasmic reticulum and is also characterized by many 'intrasyncytial canaliculi'. The subplacenta consists of both cytotrophoblast and syncytiotrophoblast. The syncytiotrophoblast has numerous short microvilli projecting into the intercellular spaces, granular endoplasmic reticulum, a well-developed Golgi complex, and numerous electron-dense granules of uniform size. The intercellular spaces or lacunae contain a precipitate of moderate electron density which is similar in texture to the intracellular precipitate in the 'brush border' region of the syncytiotrophoblast. The similarities between the ultrastructure of the cane rat placenta and those of the guinea pig and chinchilla are discussed.

Allantois↗
PubMed1978

Composition and properties of the actinomycete flora in a ferralitic tropical soil (oxisol)-sugar cane ecological system.

Streptomycetes constituted about 46--48 per cent of the total aerobic microflora in the cultivated horizon of the studied ferralitic tropical soil below sugar cane plantation. This streptomycete fraction of the soil microbial community was composed of 13 (or more) species of Streptomyces (S. chromofuscus, S. chromogenus, S. diastatochromogenes, S. flavochromogenes, S. griseolus, S. nigrescens, S. phaeofaciens, S. sterilis, S. violaceus, Streptomyces sp. I--III), and Streptoverticillium (Sv. aspergilloides). None of these organisms did occur, with detectable frequency of occurrence, in the root surface region of sugar cane. Here, in the rhizoplane, we found a numerically small population of streptomycetes (about 5 per cent of the total bacterial flora), composed of two species (Streptomyces sp. IV and S. griseorubiginosus) which were, however, not detected in soil samples.

Cuba↗