Application of discriminant analysis-based model for prediction of risk of low back disorders due to workplace design in industrial jobs

The occupational exposure limits of different risk factors for development of low back disorders (LBDs) have not yet been established. One of the main problems in setting such guidelines is the limited understanding of how different risk factors for LBDs interact in causing injury, since the nature and mechanism of these disorders are relatively unknown phenomena. Industrial ergonomists' role becomes further complicated because the potential risk factors that may contribute towards the onset of LBDs interact in a complex manner, which makes it difficult to discriminate in detail among the jobs that place workers at high or low risk of LBDs. The purpose of this paper was to develop a comparative study between predictions based on the neural network-based model proposed by Zurada, Karwowski & Marras (1997) and a linear discriminant analysis model, for making predictions about industrial jobs according to their potential risk of low back disorders due to workplace design. The results obtained through applying the discriminant analysis-based model proved that it is as effective as the neural network-based model. Moreover, the discriminant analysis-based model proved to be more advantageous regarding cost and time savings for future data gathering.

Design and synthesis of new (E)-cinnamic N-acylhydrazones as potent antitrypanosomal agents

We report herein the synthesis and trypanocidal profile of new (E)-cinnamic N-acylhydrazones (NAHs) designed by exploiting molecular hybridization between the potent cruzain inhibitors (E)-1-(benzo[d] 11,3)dioxol-5-yl)-3-(4-bromophenyl)prop-2-en-1-one and (E)-3-hydroxy-N'-((2-hydroxynaphthalen-1-yl)methylene)-7-methoxy-2-naphthohydrazide. These derivatives were evaluated against both amastigote and trypomastigote forms of Trypanosoma cruzi and lead us to identify two compounds that were approximately two times more active than the reference drug, benznidazole, and with good cytotoxic index. Although designed as cruzain inhibitors, the weak potency displayed by the best cinnamyl NAH derivatives indicated that another mechanism of action was likely responsible for their trypanocide action. (C) 2012 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.