Assessment of On-going tectonic deformation in the Goriganga River Basin, Eastern Kumaon Himalaya Using Geospatial Technology

The Goriganga river basin lies in the Northeast Kumaon Himalaya and is found suitable for assessing active tectonics at different scales. In addition, this study focuses on the assessment of ongoing tectonic activity through morphotectonic measurement of the Goriganga river basin, which is an ideal location for such analysis and Goriganga river basin transects with three major domains of Himalaya’s lithotectonic structures viz., Tethys, Vaikrita, and Lesser Himalayan Domain. To realize this task, the ASTER Digital Elevation Model was used and found suitable to extract different morphotectonic indices such as Stream Length Gradient (SL), Hypsometric Integral (HI), Length of Overland Flow (Lg), Drainage Density (Dd) and Channel Sinuosity (Cs).  Results of these important indices, including SL (18- 4737) HI (0.26- 0.57), and Lg (0.08- 0.19) depict greater variability in the tectonics activity while these values are correspondingly high in the close proximity of lithotectonic units, showing strong tectonic activity. In the extreme south, the Rauntis Gad basin strongly influences tectonism due to transecting syncline and anticline as well as unknown active faults.

Aspirin related platelet reactivity as a determinant of ten year survival in high risk non-ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) patients

This is an accepted manuscript of an article published by Elsevier in Thrombosis Research on 10/09/2020, available online: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.thromres.2020.09.011 The accepted version of the publication may differ from the final published version.Background Aspirin forms a cornerstone of management in patients with established cardiovascular disease (CVD). Despite proven efficacy, variability of aspirin response has long been recognised, with early studies suggesting rates of high on treatment platelet reactivity (HTPR) as ranging between 5 and 45%. Whether aspirin responsiveness relates to long-term prognosis in patients with CVD is unknown. Methods A prospective, single-centre analysis of 224 troponin positive non-ST elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) patients undergoing coronary angiography. Aspirin-naive patients were loaded with 300 mg aspirin and maintained on 75 mg daily. Blood samples were obtained at the time of angiography and the VerifyNow Aspirin assay utilised to determine aspirin effect. The primary end point was all-cause mortality at 10 years. Results Time from aspirin loading (or admission on aspirin) to angiography was 4.9 ± 2.7 days. Platelet aggregation results, expressed as aspirin reaction units (ARU) were divided into tertiles: T1 (ARU 363–405) ( n = 76), T2 (ARU 406–436) (n = 76), T3 (ARU 437–596) ( n = 72). Higher ARU values were associated with increased mortality (log rank, p = 0.009), with those in the T3 having a 3-fold higher rate of events than those in the T1 (HR 3.03 [95% CI 1.33–6.99], p = 0.009) over a 10-year follow up. Conclusion Our study demonstrates that aspirin responsiveness is directly related to 10-year survival and may identify patients who may benefit from additional antithrombotic therapy. Further, ARU values less than the previously defined cut off 550 are associated with reduced survival at 10 years.Published versio

Macronutrient application affects morphological, physiological, and seed yield attributes of Calendula officinalis L.

Effects of N, P and K applications alone or in various combinations and ratios were studied on the morphological, physiological, yield attributes and seed production of calendula. Treatment combinations were control (no NPK application), 150 kg ha-1 N, 80 kg ha-1 P, 150 kg ha-1 K, N + P, N + K, P + K and N + P + K, while in a second experiment, different ratios of NPK were compared to determine the best combination and ratio of tested nutrients for optimal growth, quality, yield and seed production. Plants supplied with NPK had vigorous growth, higher leaf total chlorophyll content and flowered earlier with greater flower fresh and dry weight along with improved photosynthetic performance. Plant biomass and seed yield along with leaf N and K was also higher in plants fertilized with NPK. In the second experiment, application of 200:100:100 kg ha-1 NPK resulted in maximum growth, flowering and seed yield along with higher photosynthetic activity. Leaf area and improved leaf nutrients status was observed at 150:150:150 kg ha-1, while 200:200:200 kg ha-1 NPK increased stomatal conductance, photosynthetic rate, leaf P and flower weights. Results demonstrated that higher level of nitrogen along with lower level of P and K are vital for quality calendula flower and seed production.The accepted manuscript in pdf format is listed with the files at the bottom of this page. The presentation of the authors' names and (or) special characters in the title of the manuscript may differ slightly between what is listed on this page and what is listed in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript; that in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript is what was submitted by the author

10 Marked differences in the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic profiles of ticagrelor in patients undergoing treatment for ST elevation and non ST elevation myocardial infarction (stemi and nstemi)

Introduction Ticagrelor, an orally administered, direct acting, reversible P2Y12 receptor inhibitor, provides faster onset and greater levels of platelet inhibition when compared to clopidogrel. Current data indicates a reduced antiplatelet effect in STEMI. We sought to determine the early pharmacokinetic (PK) and pharmacodynamic (PD) effect of ticagrelor loading doses administered to patients undergoing PCI for STEMI and NSTEMI. Methods This is a single centre non-randomised study. P2Y12 naive patients presenting with STEMI or NSTEMI were considered for inclusion. All patients gave informed consent. Enrolled patients were administered a loading dose of aspirin 300 mg and ticagrelor 180 mg prior to PCI. Blood was sampled at 20 min, coronary balloon time, 1 hour and 4 hours after loading. PD results are expressed as P2Y12 reaction units (PRU) and were assessed using VerifyNow. A PRU>208 indicates a sub-optimal antiplatelet response. PK properties were assessed by measuring plasma concentration of ticagrelor parent compound (T-PC) and active metabolite (T-AM) using liquid chromatography in tandem with mass spectrometry. The lower limits of quantification of T-PC and its active metabolite, AR-C124910XX (T-AM) are 1 ng/ml and 2.5 ng/ml respectively. PRU and plasma concentrations over time were tested between the two groups using 2-way ANOVA. p<0.05 was considered significant. Results 30 patients (15 STEMI/15 NSTEMI) were recruited. Baseline characteristics are described in Table 1

Pilot study to evaluate the use of remote patient monitoring to guide the timing of valve intervention in patients with severe asymptomatic aortic stenosis (APRAISE-AS):study protocol for a randomised controlled trial delivered in two tertiary cardiac centres in the UK

Introduction: Aortic stenosis (AS) is common affecting &gt;13% of adults over the age of 75 years. In people who develop symptoms, without valve replacement, prognosis is dismal with mortality as high as 50% at 1 year. In asymptomatic patients, the timing of valve intervention is less well defined and a strategy of watchful waiting is recommended. Many, however, may develop symptoms and attribute this to age related decline, rather than worsening AS. Timely intervention in asymptomatic severe AS is critical, since delayed intervention often results in poor outcomes. Proactive surveillance of symptoms, quality of life and functional capacity should enable timely identification of people who will benefit from aortic valve replacement. There are no data however, to support the clinical and cost effectiveness of such an approach in a healthcare setting in the UK. The aim of this pilot trial is to test the feasibility of a full-scale randomised controlled trial (RCT) to determine the utility of proactive surveillance in people with asymptomatic severe AS to guide the timing of intervention.Methods and analysis: APRAISE-AS is a multi-centre, non-blinded, two-arm, parallel group randomised controlled trial of up to 66 participants aged &gt;18 years with asymptomatic severe AS. Participants will be randomised to either standard care or standard care supplemented with the APRAISE-AS intervention. Primary outcomes will capture; adherence to and participant acceptability of the intervention, recruitment and retention rates, and completeness of data collection. The findings will be used to inform the sample size and most appropriate outcome measure(s) for a full-scale RCT and health economic evaluation.Ethics and dissemination: Ethical approval was granted by the Black Country REC, reference: 22/WM/0214. Results will be submitted for publication in peer-reviewed journals and disseminated at local, regional and national meetings where appropriate.Trial registration number: ISRCTN19413194 registered on 14.07.2023

Antinematode Activity of Abomasum Bacterial Culture Filtrates against Haemonchus contortus in Small Ruminants

Haemonchosis is a parasitic disease of small ruminants that adversely affects livestock production. Haemonchus contortus is one of the most prevalent nematode parasites that infect the abomasum of small ruminants. This parasite reduces milk production, overall growth and sometimes causes the death of the infected animals. The evaluation of the biocontrol potential of some abomasum bacterial isolates against H. contortus is investigated in this study. Out of which, three isolates—Comamonas testosteroni, Comamonas jiangduensis, Pseudomonas weihenstephanesis—show significant effect against the nematode L3, adult, and egg hatch inhibition assays. Various concentrations of metabolites from these bacteria are prepared and applied in different treatments compared with control. In the case of adult mortality assay, 50% metabolites of C. testosteroni and P. weihenstephanesis show 46% adult mortality, whereas C. jiangduensis shows 40% mortality. It is observed that decreasing the concentration of bacterial metabolite, lowers nematode mortality. The minimum nematode mortality rate is recorded at the lowest filtrates concentration of all the bacterial isolates. The same trend is observed in egg hatch inhibition assay, where the higher concentration of bacterial culture filtrates shows 100% inhibition of H. contortus egg. It is concluded that the effect of bacterial culture filtrates against H. contortus is dose-dependent for their activity against nematode L3, adult, and inhibition of egg hatchment

Cangrelor vs. Ticagrelor in Patients Treated with Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention: Impact on Platelet Activity, Myocardial Microvascular Function and Infarct Size: A randomized controlled trial

This is an accepted manuscript of an article published by Thieme in Thrombosis and Haemostasis on 26/05/2019, available online: https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0039-1688789 The accepted version of the publication may differ from the final published version.Background Oral P2Y12 inhibitors take more than 2 hours to achieve full effect in healthy subjects and this action is further delayed in patients with acute myocardial infarction. Intravenous P2Y12 inhibition might lead to more timely and potent anti-platelet effect in the context of emergency primary angioplasty, improving myocardial recovery. Objectives This article compares the efficacy of intravenous cangrelor versus ticagrelor in a ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) population treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI). Materials and Methods In an open-label, prospective, randomized controlled trial, 100 subjects with STEMI were assigned 1:1 to intravenous cangrelor or oral ticagrelor. The co-primary endpoints were platelet P2Y12 inhibition at infarct vessel balloon inflation time, 4 and 24 hours. Secondary endpoints included indices of coronary microcirculatory function: index of microvascular resistance (IMR), initial infarct size (troponin at 24 hours) and final infarct size at 12 weeks (cardiac magnetic resonance). Secondary endpoints included indices of coronary microcirculatory function (index of microvascular resistance [IMR]), initial infarct size (troponin at 24 hours), final infarct size at 12 weeks (cardiac magnetic resonance), corrected thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) frame count, TIMI flow grade, myocardial perfusion grade, and ST-segment resolution (ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02733341). Results P2Y12 inhibition at first balloon inflation time was significantly greater in cangrelor-treated patients (cangrelor P2Y12 reaction unit [PRU] 145.2 ± 50.6 vs. ticagrelor 248.3 ± 55.1). There was no difference in mean PRU at 4 and 24 to 36 hours post-dosing. IMR, final infarct size, angiographic and electrocardiographic measures of reperfusion were all similar between groups. Conclusion Cangrelor produces more potent P2Y12 inhibition at the time of first coronary balloon inflation time compared with ticagrelor. Despite this enhanced P2Y12 inhibition, coronary microvascular function and final infarct size did not differ between groups.This work was supported by the South Staffordshire Medical Foundation, the Rotha Abraham Bequest and the Royal Wolverhampton Trust (RE/2015005). This study was sponsored by the Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust. C.B. and T.F. received funding support from the British Heart Foundation (PG/17/2532884; RE/13/5/30177; RE/18/6134217)