Morphological variability of the Bulgarian endemic Betonica bulgarica Degen et Neič. (Lamiaceae) from Sinite Kamani Natural Park, Eastern Balkan Range

Four populations of Betonica bulgarica Degen et Neič. at Sinite Kamani Natural Park were morphologically tested. Intrapopulation and interpopulation variabilities were established. The rеlationship between morphological variability, number, area and ecological appurtenance of the studied populations were explored. The results demonstrated that the main source of phenotype variation is intrapopulation variability, mainly due to the age structure of populations. The most variable traits are height of stem and dimensions of leaves. The registered interpopulation variability was affected by the differences in altitude, soil type and differences in environmental conditions and soil properties. Indumentum and morphology of generative organs had taxonomic signifi cance for distinguishing B. bulgarica from the other species in the genus, including the species that were morphologically most similar to it – Betonica officinalis L

Treatment of wastewater originating from aquaculture and biomass production in laboratory algae bioreactor using different carbon sources

The aim of present study was to explore the effect of different carbon sources on biomass accumulation in microalgae Nannochloropsis oculata and Tetraselmis chuii and their ability to remove N and P compounds during their cultivation in aquaculture wastewater. Microalgae cultivation was performed in laboratory bioreactor consisted from 500 mL Erlenmeyer flasks, containing 250 mL wastewater from semi closed recirculation aquaculture system. The cultures were maintained at room temperature (25-27ºC) on a fluorescent light with a light: dark photoperiod of 15 h: 9 h. The microalgae species were cultivated in wastewater with different carbon sources: glucose, lactose and saccharose. The growth of strains was checked for 96 h period. In the present study, N. oculata and T. chuii showed better growth in wastewater from aquaculture with saccharose carbon source during the experiment. The most effective reduce of nitrate and total nitrogen was proved in N. oculata cultivated in wastewater with glucose as carbon source. T. chuii cultivated in wastewater containing glucose showed 8.27% better cleaning effect in ammonium compared with N. oculata. T. chuii grew in wastewater with glucose as carbon source showed 19.5% better removal effect in phosphate compared with N. oculata strain

Treatment of wastewater originating from aquaculture and biomass production in laboratory algae bioreactor using different carbon sources

The aim of present study was to explore the effect of different carbon sources on biomass accumulation in microalgae Nannochloropsis oculata and Tetraselmis chuii and their ability to remove N and P compounds during their cultivation in aquaculture wastewater. Microalgae cultivation was performed in laboratory bioreactor consisted from 500 mL Erlenmeyer flasks, containing 250 mL wastewater from semi closed recirculation aquaculture system. The cultures were maintained at room temperature (25-27ºC) on a fluorescent light with a light: dark photoperiod of 15 h: 9 h. The microalgae species were cultivated in wastewater with different carbon sources: glucose, lactose and saccharose. The growth of strains was checked for 96 h period. In the present study, N. oculata and T. chuii showed better growth in wastewater from aquaculture with saccharose carbon source during the experiment. The most effective reduce of nitrate and total nitrogen was proved in N. oculata cultivated in wastewater with glucose as carbon source. T. chuii cultivated in wastewater containing glucose showed 8.27% better cleaning effect in ammonium compared with N. oculata. T. chuii grew in wastewater with glucose as carbon source showed 19.5% better removal effect in phosphate compared with N. oculata strain

High-spin states and lifetimes in S-33 and shell-model interpretation in the sd-fp space

WOS: 000407994600003The structure of the S-33 nucleus was investigated in the Mg-24(N-14, alpha p) fusion-evaporation reaction using a 40-MeV N-14 beam. The level scheme was extended up to an excitation energy of 11.7 MeV and spin 19/2+. Lifetimes of the intermediate-and high-spin states have been investigated by the Doppler shift attenuation method. Data were compared with different shell-model calculations where effective interactions involving two main shells, the sd and the fp, are used.Bulgarian Science Fund [DN08/6]; program for support of young scientists, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences [DFNP 48]Authors are thankful to the XTU Tandem staff of Laboratori Nazionali di Legnaro for the good quality delivered beam. This research was supported by Bulgarian Science Fund under Contract No. DN08/6 and by the program for support of young scientists, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences under Contract No. DFNP 48

Ticagrelor in patients with diabetes and stable coronary artery disease with a history of previous percutaneous coronary intervention (THEMIS-PCI) : a phase 3, placebo-controlled, randomised trial

Background: Patients with stable coronary artery disease and diabetes with previous percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), particularly those with previous stenting, are at high risk of ischaemic events. These patients are generally treated with aspirin. In this trial, we aimed to investigate if these patients would benefit from treatment with aspirin plus ticagrelor. Methods: The Effect of Ticagrelor on Health Outcomes in diabEtes Mellitus patients Intervention Study (THEMIS) was a phase 3 randomised, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial, done in 1315 sites in 42 countries. Patients were eligible if 50 years or older, with type 2 diabetes, receiving anti-hyperglycaemic drugs for at least 6 months, with stable coronary artery disease, and one of three other mutually non-exclusive criteria: a history of previous PCI or of coronary artery bypass grafting, or documentation of angiographic stenosis of 50% or more in at least one coronary artery. Eligible patients were randomly assigned (1:1) to either ticagrelor or placebo, by use of an interactive voice-response or web-response system. The THEMIS-PCI trial comprised a prespecified subgroup of patients with previous PCI. The primary efficacy outcome was a composite of cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, or stroke (measured in the intention-to-treat population). Findings: Between Feb 17, 2014, and May 24, 2016, 11 154 patients (58% of the overall THEMIS trial) with a history of previous PCI were enrolled in the THEMIS-PCI trial. Median follow-up was 3·3 years (IQR 2·8–3·8). In the previous PCI group, fewer patients receiving ticagrelor had a primary efficacy outcome event than in the placebo group (404 [7·3%] of 5558 vs 480 [8·6%] of 5596; HR 0·85 [95% CI 0·74–0·97], p=0·013). The same effect was not observed in patients without PCI (p=0·76, p interaction=0·16). The proportion of patients with cardiovascular death was similar in both treatment groups (174 [3·1%] with ticagrelor vs 183 (3·3%) with placebo; HR 0·96 [95% CI 0·78–1·18], p=0·68), as well as all-cause death (282 [5·1%] vs 323 [5·8%]; 0·88 [0·75–1·03], p=0·11). TIMI major bleeding occurred in 111 (2·0%) of 5536 patients receiving ticagrelor and 62 (1·1%) of 5564 patients receiving placebo (HR 2·03 [95% CI 1·48–2·76], p<0·0001), and fatal bleeding in 6 (0·1%) of 5536 patients with ticagrelor and 6 (0·1%) of 5564 with placebo (1·13 [0·36–3·50], p=0·83). Intracranial haemorrhage occurred in 33 (0·6%) and 31 (0·6%) patients (1·21 [0·74–1·97], p=0·45). Ticagrelor improved net clinical benefit: 519/5558 (9·3%) versus 617/5596 (11·0%), HR=0·85, 95% CI 0·75–0·95, p=0·005, in contrast to patients without PCI where it did not, p interaction=0·012. Benefit was present irrespective of time from most recent PCI. Interpretation: In patients with diabetes, stable coronary artery disease, and previous PCI, ticagrelor added to aspirin reduced cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, and stroke, although with increased major bleeding. In that large, easily identified population, ticagrelor provided a favourable net clinical benefit (more than in patients without history of PCI). This effect shows that long-term therapy with ticagrelor in addition to aspirin should be considered in patients with diabetes and a history of PCI who have tolerated antiplatelet therapy, have high ischaemic risk, and low bleeding risk