Aims: Chronic stress is associated with increased risk of type 2 diabetes. Oxidative stress and inflammation are potential mediators of this risk. This study was conducted to investigate the association of oxidative stress and inflammatory markers with chronic stress and newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes. Methods: Oxidative stress/antioxidant status (malondialdehyde [MDA], reduce glutathione [GSH], glutathione reductase [GR], glutathione peroxidase [GPx], catalase [CAT], superoxide dismutase [SOD]), inflammatory markers (highly sensitive Creactive protein [hsCRP], adiponectin, leptin), chronic stress levels as assessed by stress scales-presumptive stressful life events scale (PSLES), perceived stress scale (PSS), sense of coherence (SOC) and stress biomarker-salivary cortisol in 125 subjects with newly detected diabetes mellitus (NDDM) were compared with an equal number of age and sex matched subjects with normal glucose tolerance (NGT).Results: NDDM subjects as compared with NGT had significantly increased MDA (P < 0.001), hsCRP (P < 0.001), and leptin (P = 0.014) levels and increased GR (P = 0.043) and SOD (P < 0.001) activity along with decreased GSH (P < 0.001) and adiponectin (P < 0.001) levels. They also had significantly higher PSLES-LT and PSS and lower SOC scores along with elevated levels of 10:00 PM salivary cortisol and post dexamethasone salivary cortisol as compared with NGT.

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Quality assessment of groundwater for drinking and irrigation was evaluated in parts of Nalgonda district of Telangana state, India. The overall groundwater quality and the suitability to drinking and irrigation were evaluated by hydrochemical analysis of 78 groundwater samples. The water quality parameters were compared with that of the limits set by World Health Organisation (WHO) and Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS). Groundwater is found to be contaminated by fluoride and nitrate ions. The water quality indices (WQI) suggest that during pre-monsoon, 72.5% samples are suitable for drinking while 86.8% are suitable during post-monsoon. Indicators like sodium absorption ratio (SAR), electrical conductivity (EC), percent of sodium (Na %), residual sodium carbonate (RSC), permeability index (PI), magnesium ratio (MR), residual sodium bicarbonate (RSBC), salinity hazard (SH), potential salinity (PS), soluble sodium percentage (SSP), and magnesium ratio (MR) were estimated for assessing the irrigation suitability of the groundwater samples. Wilcox, United States Salinity Laboratory diagrams (USSL diagram) and Doneen's chart infer that most of the samples are suitable for irrigation purpose and the suitability improves during post-monsoon. The geochemical evolution of the groundwater was also studied using Piper's and Chadha's diagrams. The major facies found in groundwater are Na-Mg-HCO 3-Cl, Na-Mg-HCO 3 , Na-HCO 3 , Mg-Ca-HCO 3 , Mg-Na-HCO 3 and Na-Cl. Rock-water interaction, ion exchange and evaporite dissolution were found to be the major geochemical processes governing the groundwater chemistry.

Fluoride exposure through consumption of drinking water was studied in a heavily industrialised area and suitable measures were suggested to control the fluorosis risk to residents. Groundwater quality conforms to World Health Organization (WHO) criterion for drinking except for fluoride and is also suitable for irrigation. Fluoride concentration ranges from 0.1 to 4.4 mg/l and 39% of the total samples measured were found to be contaminated as per WHO limits (1.5 mg/l). The fluoride intake through drinking water was calculated to be 0.10 mg/kg/d for infants, 0.09 mg/kg/d for children and 0.05 mg/kg/d for adults with a corresponding exposure dose exceeding 2.1, 1.9 and 1.1 times for infants, children and adults, respectively, compared to the minimum risk value of 0.05 mg/kg/d. The fluorosis risk map indicates that with a few exceptions of some western and northwestern parts, the entire study area is prone to fluorosis and the highest being in the south central part. The fluoride exposure dose suggests the risk of mottled enamel among residents if untreated groundwater is provided for drinking for a long time. Considering the hydrogeological setup of this region, various amelioration methods to help mitigate the ill effects of high fluoride were evaluated and better nutrition containing calcium and vitamin C was found to be the most effective and viable option.

Southwire Company has installed, tested and is operating the first real-world application of a high-temperature superconducting cable system at its headquarters in Carrollton, Ga. The cable is powering three Southwire manufacturing plants, marking the first time a company has successfully made the difficult transition from laboratory to practical field application of an HTS cable. The cables are rated at 12.4-kV, 1250-A, 60 Hz and are cooled with pressurized liquid nitrogen at temperatures from 70-80 K. Before placing the cables into service, extensive off-line electrical testing was performed including voltage withstand, measurement of dc critical current, extended load current testing, rated voltage testing and partial discharge measurement. The cables were energized on Jan. 5, 2000 for on-line testing and operation, and by the end of Aug. 2000, had provided 100% of the customer load for 2164 hours.

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