Search

Introduction: Septicemia is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in India. Blood culture remains the gold standard for the diagnosis of septicemia. The antimicrobial sensitivity pattern differs in different studies. Knowledge of likely causative organisms of septicemia and their antimicrobial sensitivity pattern can help to start appropriate therapy in order to minimize morbidity and mortality. Aim: To isolate the etiological organisms causing sepsis and study the antimicrobial susceptibility profile and its mechanism of resistance pattern. Materials and Methods: The observational study of 206 positive blood culture was carried out in the Department of microbiology, tertiary Care Hospital during the period from December 2015 to November 2016 and processed by standard conventional method. Antibiotic susceptibility pattern of isolates was studied by Kirby Bauer Disc diffusion technique. Observations & Results: Total 1281 samples were received during the study period of which 206 (16.08%) samples were found to be positive. Bacteria isolated include CONS (15.04%), S.aureus (14.08%), Klebsiella pneumonia (19.90%), Acinetobacter spp (10.19%), Escherichia coli (8.74%), Pseudomonas spp (7.77%), Salmonella typhi (1.46%) and Salmonella paratyphi A (0.49%). Majority of organisms Isolated were resistant to commonly used antibiotics. Imipenem showed 83% and colistin 94.69% sensitivity for gram negative organisms. Methicillin resistance was found in 2.91% Staphylococcus aureus Isolated. The Gram positive bacteria showed high resistance to Penicillin G (75%) but they were highly susceptible to Azithromycin (70%), Levofloxacin (80%) Linezolid (100%) and Vancomycin (98%) Conclusions: Klebsiella pneumoniae was the most predominant etiological agent of septicemia. Every hospital should monitor its antibiotic sensitivity pattern against the common isolates that can serve as a basis for empirical therapy in emergency conditions. Considering the burden of mortality resulting from s

Sea Surface Temperature is a critical physical attribute of coastal marine habitats. Remote sensing from satellite is the most widely used approach for monitoring the stress on coral reef ecosystem...

The youngest coal seam of the Raniganj Formation of upper Permian age has been critically examined for microfloral assemblages near to the continental P/T boundary of India. The study reveals a rich and diversified microfloral assemblages and it tentatively corresponds with long distances homotaxial beds of SE Turkey, Australia and Antarctica. Based on the microfloral assemblages, the dark shale occurring at the youngest coal seam of the Raniganj Formation tentatively assigns a Wordian to Capitanian (260–265Ma) age. Some of the forms such as Striatoabieites multistriatus, Protohaploxipinus sp., Striatopodocarpites fusus, Striatopodocorpites cancellatus, Praecolpatites sinuosus, Plicatipollenites gondwanensis have a wide range of distributions from low to high palaeo-latitudinal Gondwanan provinces. This attributes that these forms probably were not climate dependent, but other might vaguely be ascribed to be climatic sensitive. Apatite Fission Track (AFT) and maturation study based on spore/pollen coloration attributes to the possibility of small amount of liquid hydrocarbon and large commercial gas accumulations in the Raniganj Formation.

The Island Belt Fault Zone (IBZ) and Wagad-upland that are associated with past and recent earthquakes, have been investigated to ascertain the role of tectonics in landform evolution. Towards this, we used data from fill and strath terraces employing conventional geomorphology, sedimentology and optical chronology. The study suggests episodic accelerated crustal deformation along the NE-SW and NW-SE trending transverse strike-slip faults that are genetically related to the regional N-S directed compression. The deformation events are optically dated to ~61 ka, 47 ka, 38 ka, 29 ka, 15 ka and 2 ka. Uplift rate has been estimated from the height and age of the strath terraces along the river valleys of IBZ and Wagad upland. The study observed a significantly lower uplift rate (0.2–0.06 mm/year) compared to the Kachchh mainland (~1 mm). This is ascribed to the strain partitioning caused due to the presence of the KMF and KHF located in the south of the IBZ. Further, it is hypothesized that the restraining and releasing bends along the strike-slip faults could act as barriers to earthquake propagation and might act as nucleation sites for major earthquakes in the intraplate setting. Thus, the study calls for the identification of such locations in order to assess the severity of the future earthquakes in the region.

Background The relationship between smoking and COVID-19 disease severity is uncertain;one meta-analysis found smoking increases the risk of developing severe COVID-19 two-fold 1 No previous study has reported whether smokers have worse outcomes at follow-up We hypothesised that smokers admitted to hospital with COVID-19 would have a greater symptom and radiological severity at follow-up Methods We prospectively followed up swab-positive COVID-19 patients in two hospitals discharged between 03 05 20 and 19 06 20 Telephone calls were conducted 8-10 weeks post discharge Demographics, co-morbidities, smoking history and symptom burden data were collected Symptom burden was quantified using a numerical rating scale for breathlessness, cough and fatigue Patients were offered a follow-up chest radiograph (CXR) if abnormal on discharge Results 782 patients were reviewed post-discharge, median (IQR) time to review: 63 (54-79) days Smoking history was obtained for 537 patients Outcomes for 181 (34%) current/ex-smokers were compared to 356 (66%) never-smokers Table 1 demonstrates baseline characteristics and symptom burden between groups at follow-up Never-smokers were significantly younger (59 5±16 3 vs 65 1±15 5 years, p

The alluvial successions in the northern Gujarat alluvial plain (western India) have been investigated for reconstructing the climatic fluctuations during the last 40 ka. Alluvial architecture and geochemical proxies indicate prevalence of a strengthened Indian Summer Monsoon (ISM) with fluctuations between the late Marine Isotopic Stage 3 (MIS 3; 37 ka) to the early MIS 2 (27 ka). A gradual onset of aridity (declining ISM) after 27 ka with peak aridity at ~ 22 ka is observed. A gradual strengthening of ISM at around 18 and > 12 ka followed by a short reversal in ISM intensity between 12 and 11 ka, is attributed to the Younger-Dryas (YD) cooling event. The aeolian sand sheet dated to 6 and 3.5 ka represents the onset of regional aridity. Following this, a short-lived humid phase was observed after ~ 2 ka, which includes the Medieval Warm Period (MWP). The study suggests that the variability in the ISM to the latitudinal migration of the Inter Tropical Convergence Zone was caused by insolation-driven cooling and warming events in the North Atlantic. The incision of the valley fill alluvium occurred in two distinct phases. The older incision phase occurred after 11 ka and before 6 ka, whereas the younger incision phase that led to the development of present day topography is bracketed between 3.5 ka and before 1 ka. The older incision phase is ascribed to the early to mid-Holocene enhanced ISM (climatically driven), whereas the younger incision seems to be modulated by the activation of basement faults (tectonically driven).

Balia Nala is the outlet of the Nainital lake, flowing towards southeast direction. Presence of Nainital habitation at its right bank has high socio-economic importance. This study presents the stability analysis of a ravine/valley along Balia Nala. Variegated slates (lower Krol and upper Blaini formations) are the main rock types, wherever the outcrop does exist and rest of the area is covered by slope wash and river borne materials. Three sets of joints are presented in the area, but 4 sets of joints also exist at some locations. Nainital lake fault intersected by Manora fault from southwest direction passes through eastern side of the study area, and some small faults, which are sub-branches of Nainital lake fault, are observed (with 10 m offset) and promote the landslide in the area. This study shows that different kinds of discontinuities (joints, faults and shear zones) and rapid down cutting by the stream due to neotectonic activity affect the stability of the slope. The fragile lithology and deep V-shaped valley further accelerate the mass movement in the study area. In addition, rock mass rating (RMR), factor of safety (FOS) and graphical analysis of the joints indicate the study area as landslide-prone zone. This study will be helpful in not only reducing the risk on life of people, but also in assisting the ongoing civil work in the study area.

To assess the diagnostic performance of combined 2-[All patients diagnosed with NSCLC who underwent endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) andOne hundred and thirteen patients with a total of 321 nodes with pathological sampling were included. Nodal activity above MBP on PET/CT demonstrated 97.4% sensitivity, 35.8% specificity, 32.8% positive predictive value, and 97.8% negative predictive value. Of the five other PET/CT parameters examined, the two most promising were node SUVCompared to the MBP cut-off, use of a higher node/MBP SUV

Tectonically transported crystalline thrust sheet over the Lesser Himalayan meta-sedimentary zone along the Main Central Thrust (MCT) is represented by Almora, Baijnath, Askot and Chiplakot crystalline klippen. The Almora–Dadeldhura klippe in the Kumaun–Garhwal and western Nepal Himalaya is the witness and largest representative of these crystalline klippen, south of MCT. Here, we investigate the post-emplacement kinematics and exhumation history of the Almora klippe. The newly derived zircon fission track (ZFT) ages combined with published apatite fission track (AFT), 40Ar–39Ar ages from the Almora–Dadeldhura klippe and Ramgarh thrust sheet to quantify the temporal variation in cooling ages and exhumation rates. Using 1-D numerical modelling approach, we calculate the transient exhumation rates with respect to different time intervals. New ZFT cooling ages along ~50-km-long orogeny perpendicular transect across the Almora klippe range between 13.4 ± 0.6 and 21.4 ± 0.9 Ma. Published AFT ages and 40Ar–39Ar ages from the Almora–Dadeldhura klippe range 3.7 ± 0.8–13.2 ± 2.7 and 18.20–25.69 Ma, respectively. AFT ages reported from Ramgarh thrust sheet range 6.3 ± 0.8–7.2 ± 1.0 Ma in Kumaun region and 10.3 ± 0.5–14.4 ± 2.2 Ma in western Nepal. The linear age trend along with youngest ZFT age (~14 Ma) close to the North Almora Thrust (NAT) in its hanging wall suggests rapid uplift close to the NAT due to its reactivation as back thrust. The transient exhumation rates of Almora klippe agree that the erosion rate was rapid (0.58 mma−1) close to the NAT in its hanging wall and relatively slow (0.31 mma−1) close to the SAT in its hanging wall during 15–11 Ma. We interpret that the fission track ages and transient exhumation rate pattern of crystalline klippen show a dynamic coupling between tectonic and erosion processes in the Kumaun–Garhwal Himalaya. However, the tectonic processes play the major role in controlling the exhumation pattern.

Crystalline klippen over the Lesser Himalayan Sequence (LHS) in the Kumaon and Garhwal regions of NW-Himalaya, are the representative of southern portion of the Main Central Thrust (MCT) hanging wall. These were tectonically transported over the juxtaposed thrust sheets (Berinag, Tons and Ramgarh) of the LHS zone along the MCT. These klippen comprise of NW–SE trending synformal folded thrust sheet bounded by thrusts in the south and north. In the present study, the exhumation histories of two well-known klippen namely Almora and Baijnath, and the Ramgarh thrust sheet, in the Kumaon and Garhwal regions vis-a-vis Himalayan orogeny have been investigated using Apatite Fission Track (AFT) ages. Along a ~ 60 km long orogen perpendicular transect across the Almora klippe and the Ramgarh thrust sheet, 16 AFT cooling ages from the Almora klippe and 2 from the Ramgarh thrust sheet have been found to range from 3.7 ± 0.8 to 13.2 ± 2.7 Ma, and 6.3 ± 0.8 to 7.2 ± 1.0 Ma respectively. From LHS meta-sedimentary rocks only a single AFT age of 3.6 ± 0.8 Ma could be obtained. Three AFT ages from the Baijnath klippe range between 4.7 ± 0.5 and 6.6 ± 0.8 Ma. AFT ages and exhumation rates of different klippen show a dynamic coupling between tectonic and erosion processes in the Kumaon and Garhwal regions of NW-Himalaya. However, the tectonic processes play a dominant role in controlling the exhumation. Thrusting and back thrusting within the Almora klippe and Ramgarh thrust sheet are the post-emplacement kinematics that controlled the exhumation of the Almora klippe. Combining these results with the already published AFT ages from the crystalline klippen and the Higher Himalayan Crystalline (HHC), the kinematics of emplacement of the klippen over the LHS and exhumation pattern across the MCT in the Kumaon and Garhwal regions of NW-Himalaya have been investigated.

Using functional technology, majority of the farmers had average to above average technology utilization behaviour in paddy farming. All the variables except experience in paddy farming, extension participation and risk orientation, all other independent variables showed significant influence in determination of technology utilization behaviour. Annual income and scientific orientation had shown maximum influence on technology utilization behaviour. Annual income contributed 49.40 per cent total variation in predicting technology utilization behaviour and total joint contribution of all independent variable together contributed 62.40 per cent variation in determining technology utilization behaviour. As far as direct, indirect and substantial effects are concerned age was key variables in exerting positive and direct effect on technology utilization behaviour in paddy growers. Whereas, annual income had positive and highest indirect effect and economic motivation, animal possession and annual income were the key variables in determination of substantial indirect effect on technology utilization behaviour of paddy growers.

The tectonically active Kachchh peninsula in western India lies in the southwest monsoon trajectory and hence provides a rare opportunity to decipher the temporal changes in climate–tectonics interaction in the evolution of the fluvial landforms. Reconstructions based on geomorphology, sedimentology, and geochemistry supported by optical chronology suggest that the fluvial aggradation in the region was initiated during the onset of the Indian Summer Monsoon (ISM) after the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM). The sedimentary characteristics and major elemental concentrations suggest that the sediments are dominated by fluvially reworked miliolites with subordinate contribution from the Mesozoic sandstones and shales and were deposited with the initiation of the ISM after the LGM. Temporal changes in facies architecture and major element concentrations suggest a progressive strengthening of the monsoon between 17 and 12 ka. This was succeeded by an overall strengthened ISM phase with fluctuations after 12 ka and Based on the morphology of the fluvial landforms, two major events of enhanced uplift can be suggested. The geomorphic expression of the older uplift event dated to >17 ka is represented by the beveled Mesozoic bedrock surfaces which accommodated the post LGM valley-fill aggradation. The younger event of enhanced uplift which is assigned to

Apatite fission-track analysis has been applied to the Raniganj and Panchet formations of Raniganj basin of Gondwana Supergroup to unravel its thermal and provenance history. Apatite fission track age population from both Raniganj and Panchet formations indicate partial annealing and point to a maximum temperature of around ∼100-110°C during their post depositional evolution. The sandstone of Raniganj Formation has five peak ages at 26.3, 59.3, 109.7, 173.7 and 299.9 Ma, while Panchet Formation has three peak ages at 25.4, 143.5 and 281.3 Ma. This implies that the provenance of the Raniganj Formation of late Permian and Panchet Formation of early Triassic changed obviously. According to thermotectonic evolution of the Gondwana basin, these apatites with different FT ages possibly represent different source components, although partial annealing had occurred to these apatites. Possibly all the apatites had transported from the Precambrian basement which was undergoing deformation due to Gondwana rifting initiated during Carboniferous period. Due to this, the basement was undergoing inhomogeneous thermal history which became source of sediments for Raniganj basin. Apatite FT ages of both Raniganj and Panchet formations have peak ages between 25 and 60 Ma, which perhaps recorded the cooling/uplift history during Cenozoic Alpine-Himalayan orogeny. Given a palaeo-thermal gradient of 40° C/km, it can be deduced that the Raniganj basin has uplifted about 3km at an average rate of about 0.09mm/a since 25–60 Ma.

Coral reefs are one of the most ancient, highly productive marine bio-diverse ecosystems on earth. They are threatened to collapse under rapid climate change. ENSO is an extreme climate change event which elevates sea-surface temperature (SST) of tropical oceans. This elevated SST increases the level of thermal stress on coral reefs. Also, coral reefs are the most sensitive among all ecosystems due to temperature change; they exhibit bleaching when SST exceeds normal summer maxima and remains high for more than 28 days. Bleaching threshold, positive SST anomaly and degree heating week (DHW) are commonly used indices for calculating thermal stress on coral reefs. The major coral reef regions in India are Andaman, Nicobar, Lakshadweep, Gulf of Mannar and Gulf of Kachchh. SST from NOAA OISST v2 highresolution daily dataset at 0.25° global grids from 1982 to the present was used for the present study. Here, we focus on the variations in SST experienced by Indian coral reef regions during known mass coral bleaching (MCB) years, viz. 1998, 2010 and 2016. The year 2010 recorded the highest thermal stress for Andaman, Nicobar and Gulf of Kachchh regions, and the year 2016 was severe for Lakshadweep and Gulf of Mannar regions. In 2010 Nicobar was observed to be the most vulnerable according to DHW index.

A channel fill sequence in the upper catchment of the Khari river in the south of the Katrol Hill Fault (KHF) has been investigated to understand the role of climate and tectonics in the evolution of fluvial landforms. Detailed sedimentology and limited optical chronology suggest that the channel incision occurred during weak summer monsoon (prior to 19.9 ka) and is attributed to the activity along the KHF and its subsidiary faults. The post-glacial to early Holocene was a phase of landscape stability (subdued tectonics) which persisted until around 7.1 ka. Particularly, between 9.4 ka and 7.1 ka, an enhanced monsoon activity is inferred. A renewed phase of uplift is suggested after 7.1 ka that probably continues till present.

This study reports paleopedological features of the fossil soils that formed during the earliest phase of continental sedimentation in the Himalayan foreland. The fluvial sequence of the Dagshai Formation (31.6 ± 3.9 Ma to 30.3 ± 3.9 Ma) exposed along the Koshaliya River, NW Himalaya, contains four pedofacies (named Pedofacies A–D) of ferruginous paleosol sequences contained within overbank sediments. The Dagshai Formation unconformably overlies the marine Subathu Formation. Pedofacies A consists of 3–4 well-developed ferruginous paleosols overlain by gray sandstone beds. Pedofacies B–D are marked by a progressive decrease in pedogenesis. These paleosols occur as 0.5 m to 1.5 m thick Bw/Bt/Btk/Bk/Bss horizons that are marked by extensive development of rhizoliths, pedogenic carbonate, and iron-rich clay pedofeatures that correspond to modern Entisols, Inceptisols, Alfisols and Vertisols. Based on early Oligocene paleogeographic position of the northward-drifting Indian Plate, it is inferred that these paleosols were formed at ~ 18°N paleolatitude in the Dagshai sub-basin in the Himalayan foreland. Micromorphology, geochemical analyses, weathering indices, and stable isotope composition of paleosols indicate tropical climate (paleoprecipitation of 947–1256 mm and paleotemperature of ~ 25 °C) with an initial phase of monsoonal conditions during pedogenesis. These paleoclimatic conditions favored C3 paleovegetation immediately after the transition from greenhouse to icehouse conditions.

Geodynamic models of collisional orogens suggest that precipitation gradients profoundly influence spatial patterns of exhumation and deformation in active collisional mountain ranges. A basic tenet of this hypothesis is that in unglaciated areas, spatial patterns of long-term precipitation, erosion and exhumation should be correlated. A correlation of this type has been observed in the Eastern Himalaya, where uplift of the Shillong Plateau by Pliocene time drastically reduced monsoonal rainfall in the Himalayan range downwind. Existing apatite fission-track data suggest that the resulting precipitation gradient caused a twofold gradient in long-term erosion rates across an area with similar geology, suggesting a strong influence of climate on the region's geomorphic and tectonic evolution. We extend this dataset by presenting 53 new bedrock apatite and zircon fission-track ages from deeper within the rain shadow. We expected latest Miocene to Pliocene apatite ages, similar to previously published ages from neighboring areas in the rain shadow. Instead, apatites as young as 1.3 ± 0.2 Ma and zircons as young as 4.5 ± 1.0 Ma (2σ) demonstrate that spatial gradients in precipitation do not correlate with variations in long-term erosion and crustal strain as predicted by geodynamic models. Thermal–kinematic modeling of these data suggests that local exhumation patterns reflect gradients in rock uplift dictated by fault kinematics in this rapidly deforming area, despite a dramatic precipitation gradient. These findings both highlight the need to better understand how erosive processes scale with precipitation amount and intensity in such settings, and suggest a disconnect between the predictions of orogen-scale geodynamic models and the relationship between erosion and tectonics at the regional scale.

Tectonics and Evolution of the Himalaya A K JAIN1,*, S DASGUPTA2, O N BHARGAVA3, Md ISRAIL4, R JAYANGONDA PERUMAL5, R C PATEL6, M MUKUL7, S K PARCHA5, V ADLAKHA5, K K AGARWAL8, P SINGH5, K BHATTACHARYYA9, N C PANT and D M BANERJEE10 1CSIR-Central Building Research Institute Roorkee, India 2Department of Geography, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi, India 3103 Sector 7, Panchkula, India 4Department of Earth Sciences, IIT Roorkee, Roorkee, India 5Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology, Dehra Dun, India 6Department of Geophysics, Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra, India 7Department of Earth Sciences, IIT Bombay, Powai, Mumbai, India 8Centre of Advanced Study in Geology, University of Lucknow, Lucknow, India 9Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Kolkata, India 10Department of Geology, University of Delhi, Delhi, India

Objective: Transposition of the great arteries is a common congenital heart disease. Arterial switch is the gold standard operation for this complex heart disease. Arterial switch operation in the presence of intramural coronary artery is surgically the most demanding even for the most experienced hands. We are presenting our experience with a modified technique for intramural coronary arteries in arterial switch operation. Methods: This prospective study involves 450 patients undergoing arterial switch operation at our institute from April 2006 to December 2013 (7.6 years). Eighteen patients underwent arterial switch operation with intramural coronary artery. The coronary patterns and technique used are detailed in the text. Results: The overall mortality found in the subgroup of 18 patients having intramural coronary artery was 16% (n=3). Our first patient had an accidental injury to the left coronary artery and died in the operating room. A seven-day old newborn died from intractable ventricular arrhythmia fifteen hours after surgery. Another patient who had multiple ventricular septal defects with type B arch interruption died from residual apical ventricular septal defect and sepsis on the eleventh postoperative day. The remainder of the patients are doing well, showing a median follow-up duration of 1235.34±815.26 days (range 369 - 2730). Conclusion: Transposition of the great arteries with intramural coronary artery is demanding in a subset of patients undergoing arterial switch operation. We believe our technique of coronary button dissection in the presence of intramural coronary arteries using coronary shunt is simple and can be a good addition to the surgeons' armamentarium.

The Kumaon and Garhwal Himalayas, NW-India have similar geologic, tectonic, topographic and precipitation pattern. However, low-temperature thermochronological age pattern varies significantly along the strike as well as across the strike of major faults. Here, we interpret the new set of thermochronological age data across the strike of major faults namely Vaikrita Thrust (VT), Munsiari Thrust (MT), Berinag Thrust (BT) and the Baijnath nappe along Pindari valley in the Kumaon–Garhwal Himalaya. In the present work, 18 new apatite fission track (AFT) ages of samples collected along a north–south transect have been reported. Ages in the hanging wall of VT which range from 2.1 ± 0.2 to 4.2 ± 0.7 Ma, have been found to be becoming younger linearly with distance from north to the VT. This trend crosses the VT with significant jump in ages. In the south of the VT, ages are lying between 0.3 ± 0.1 and 3.9 ± 0.8 Ma, and show linear variation with distance from the VT to BT. No significant jump in ages across the MT is observed and the linear trend of younging southward is continuing till the BT. The break and displacement in age pattern with youngest ages close to thrusts possibly indicate progressive late thrust movement. It reflects sequential uplift and cooling towards the south from the VT to BT which is consistent with an in-sequence style of thrust propagation. We compare our new data to the published thermochronological data from its adjacent traverses along the Goriganga and Dhauliganga valleys (~ 25 km away from the present traverse towards east and west respectively) in the Kumaon–Garhwal Himalaya in order to understand potential along-strike variations in the kinematics. Our observations indicate a dynamic coupling between tectonic and surface processes in the Garhwal–Kumaon Himalaya and support that the geometry of crustal scale faults and their associated kinematics control exhumation pathways of rocks.

During Himalayan orogeny, coeval thrusting along the Main Central/Munsiari Thrust (MCT/MT) and extension along the South Tibetan-Detachment System (STDS) are widely responsible for rapid exhumation of the Higher Himalayan Crystalline (HHC) zone. Apatite and zircon fission-track data along the Kaliganga and Darma valleys in the Kumaon Himalaya serve to document the shallow bedrock exhumation history of the HHC. Taking into account sample location within the HHC with respect to the MCT/MT, the apatite fission track (AFT) data-sets along the Darma (1.0 ± 0.1 to 2.8 ± 0.3 Ma) and Kaliganga (1.4 ± 0.2 to 2.4 ± 0.3 Ma) which are sharing same structural setting and rock types and being separated by 40 km, show very similar patterns of exhumation histories since Plio-Quaternary in the Kumaon Himalaya. Data sets along Darma and Kaliganga are very similar to data set of adjacent traverse (50 km away) along the Goriganga valley studied by Patel and Carter (2009). Whole data sets within the HHC in Kumaon Himalaya provide clear evidence for Plio-Quaternary tectonic activity along the Vaikrita Thrust (VT). Precipitation in this region exerts a strong influence on erosional surface processes. Fluvial erosional unloading along the Himalaya is focused on the high mountainous region of the HHC, where the orographic barrier forces out the maximum percentage of annual rainfall. FT cooling ages reveal coincidence between rapid erosion and exhumation that is focused in a ~ 25–30 km wide sector of the HHC, rather than covering the entire orogen. Similarity of AFT age pattern and exhumation rates along all three major traverses (Goriganga, Darma and Kaliganga) indicates that the region has been experiencing constant rate of crustal uplift and erosion since long time. Comparison of fission track ages from the Kumaon Himalaya with other segments of the NW-Himalaya shows spatiotemporal variation in exhumation. It is described due to the development of local structures such as dome/window in Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Himalayas and Quaternary active thrusting along the VT and MCT/MT in the Garhwal-Kumaon Himalaya.

The crystallines in the Kumaon Himalaya, India are studied along Goriganga, Darma and Kaliganga valleys and found to be composed of two high-grade metamorphic gneiss sheets i.e. the Higher Himalayan Crystalline (HHC) and Lesser Himalayan Crystalline (LHC) zones. These were tectonically extruded as a consequence of the southward directed propagation of crustal deformation in the Indian plate margin. The HHC and its cover rocks i.e. the Tethyan Sedimentary Zone (TSZ) are exposed through tectonic zones within the hinterland of Kumaon Himalaya. The HHC records history of at least one episode of pre-Himalayan deformation (D1), three episodes of Himalayan deformation (D2, D3, D4). The rocks of the HHC in Kumaon Himalaya are thoroughly transposed by D2 deformation into NW-SE trending Sm (S1+S2). The extent of transposition and a well-developed NE-plunging L2 lineation indicate intense strain during D2 throughout the studied portion of the HHC. Ductile flow continued, resulting in rotation of F1 and F2 folds due NE-direction and NW-SE plunging F3 folds within the HHC. The over thickened crystalline was finally, superimposed by late-to-post collisional brittle-ductile deformation (D4) and exposed the rocks to rapid erosion.

A method of seismic zonation based on deterministic modeling of rupture plane is presented in this work. This method is based on the modeling of finite rupture plane along identified lineaments in the region using the semi-empirical technique, of Midorikawa [(1993) Tectonophysics 218:287–295]. The modeling procedure follows ω2 scaling law, directivity effects, and other strong motion parameters. The technique of zonation is applied for technoeconomically important NE part of Brahmaputra valley that falls in the seismic gap region of Himalaya. Zonation map prepared for Brahmaputra valley for earthquakes of magnitude M > 6.0 show that approximately 90,000 km2 area fall in the highly hazardous zone IV, which covers region that can have peak ground accelerations of order more than 250 cm/s2. The zone IV covers the Tezu, Tinsukia, Dibrugarh, Ziro, North Lakhimpur, Itanagar, Sibsagar, Jorhat, Golaghat, Wokha, Senapati, Imphal, and Kohima regions. The Pasighat, Daring, Basar, and Seppa region belong to zone III with peak ground accelerations of the order 200–250 cm/s2. The seismic zonation map obtained from deterministic modeling of the rupture is consistent with the historical seismicity map and it has been found that the epicenter of many moderate and major earthquakes fall in the identified zones.

Fission-track ages and confined track length distribution of apatite samples separated from the Chiplakot Crystalline Belt (CCB) of the Lesser Himalayan Crystalline (LHC) zone, located to the south of the Main Central Thrust (MCT)/Munsiari Thrust (MT) in Kumaon, India, have been determined. Ages from the CCB along the Kali and Darma valleys fall in two distinct groups. In the northern part of the CCB, the ages range from 9.8 ± 0.6 to 7.6 ± 0.6 Ma with a weighted mean of 9.6 ± 0.1 Ma, while in the southern part the ages vary from 17.9 ± 0.9 to 12.9 ± 1.1 Ma with a weighted mean of 14.1 ± 0.1 Ma. The bimodal distribution of track lengths indicates that the ages are mixed ages, rather than simple cooling ages. The apatite fission-track (AFT) ages and already published structural data of the CCB suggest a complex erosional, denudation history within the upper 3–4 km of the crust of the CCB. The ages further indicate that the CCB was thrust into place earlier than the Middle Miocene i.e. at the time of development of the MCT. Since, then these rocks have remained within the upper 3 km of crust and were affected by only moderate to slow erosion and exhumation. These results have important implications for the tectonic evolution of the LHC zone to the south of the MCT/MT. The exhumation of the LHC zone in different parts of the Himalaya was not uniform. In the Kumaon Himalaya, it was not controlled, as in the Himachal Himalaya, by any major tectonic event, since it was thrust over the Lesser Himalayan Meta-sedimentary (LHMS) zone, and underwent moderate to slow erosion and exhumation.

Evolution of the Himalaya

Garhwal Himalaya in northern India has emerged as one of the most prominent hot spots of landslide occurrences in the Himalaya mainly due to geological causes related to mountain building processes, steep topography and frequent occurrences of extreme precipitation events. As this region has many pilgrimage and tourist centres, it is visited by hundreds of thousands of people every year, and in the recent past, there has been rapid development to provide adequate roads and building infrastructure. Additionally, attempts are also made to harness hydropower by constructing tunnels, dams and reservoirs and thus altering vulnerable slopes at many places. As a result, the overall risk due to landslide hazards has increased many folds and, therefore, an attempt was made to assess landslide susceptibility using 'Weights of Evidence (WofE)', a well-known bivariate statistical modelling technique implemented in a much improved way using remote sensing and Geographic Information System. This methodology has dual advantage as it demonstrates how to derive critical parameters related to geology, geomorphology, slope, land use and most importantly temporal landslide distribution in one of the data scarce region of the world. Secondly, it allows to experiment with various combination of parameters to assess their cumulative effect on landslides. In total, 15 parameters related to geology, geomorphology, terrain, hydrology and anthropogenic factors and 2 different landslide inventories (prior to 2007 and 2008-2011) were prepared from high-resolution Indian remote sensing satellite data (Cartosat-1 and Resourcesat-1) and were validated by field investigation. Several combinations of parameters were carried out using WofE modelling, and finally using best combination of eight parameters, 76.5 % of overall landslides were predicted in 24 % of the total area susceptible to landslide occurrences. The study has highlighted that using such methodology landslide susceptibility assessment can be carried out in vast stretches of Himalaya in short time in order to assess the impact of development as well as climate change/variability. The resultant map can play a critical role in selecting areas for remedial measures for slope stabilisation as well planning for future development of the region.

Background During most COPD exacerbations, patients continue to live in the community but there is little information on changes in activity during exacerbations due to the difficulties of obtaining recent, prospective baseline data. Methods Patients recorded on daily diary cards any worsening in respiratory symptoms, peak expiratory flow (PEF) and the number of steps taken per day measured with a Yamax Digi-walker pedometer. Exacerbations were defined by increased respiratory symptoms and the number of exacerbations experienced in the 12 months preceding the recording of daily step count used to divide patients into frequent (> = 2/year) or infrequent exacerbators. Results The 73 COPD patients (88% male) had a mean (±SD) age 71(±8) years and FEV1 53(±16)% predicted. They recorded pedometer data on a median 198 days (IQR 134–353). At exacerbation onset, symptom count rose by 1.9(±1.3) and PEF fell by 7(±13) l/min. Mean daily step count fell from 4154(±2586) steps/day during a preceding baseline week to 3673(±2258) step/day during the initial 7 days of exacerbation (p = 0.045). Patients with larger falls in activity at exacerbation took longer to recover to stable level (rho = −0.56; p

The Doon valley which consists of the Doon gravels and Siwalik rocks is surrounded by the Main Boundary Thrust (MBT) in the north, the Main Frontal Thrust (MFT) (Mohand Thrust and Bhimgoda Thrust) in the south, the Ganga Tear Fault in the east and the Yamuna Tear Fault in the west. Lineaments, identified from the aerial photographs, show that a few of them trend parallel to the Himalayan orogen, and the others are transverse to it. The effect of the neotectonic activity is clearly reflected in the Doon valley, implying that the Doon valley is tectonically unstable today, and that the possibility of earthquakes in this region cannot be ruled out. The ruptures along identified active lineaments are modelled three dimensionally. Peak accelerations are obtained by using a methodology, based on the semi-empirical method of Irikura, which was used by Midorikawa. The efficacy of this modelling technique for the Himalayan region is established by simulating peak ground accelerations for the Uttarkashi earthquake of 20 October 1991 and comparing it with recorded one. A seismic study of the region shows, that it is prone to moderate as well as great earthquakes. The technique of Midorikawa has been applied for the preparation of zonation maps in this seismically active region. Two different zonation maps showing, respectively, the effects of moderate as well as great earthquakes in this region are presented in this paper. The zonation map for moderate earthquakes shows that the region can experience peak ground accelerations around 310 cm/s2. This value is close to the peak ground acceleration of 304 cm/s2 recorded for the Uttarkashi earthquake (Ms = 7.1) at Uttarkashi station, which is about 60 km north of Dehradun. The prepared map shows that among all identified active lineaments, rupture along four lineaments can cause major damage in the region. Among these four, three lineaments are transverse to the major tectonic zones, viz., the MFT and MBT in the region, and one extends along the MFT lying south of Dehradun. The zonation map for great earthquakes (M ≥ 8) has been prepared by modelling a rupture in the Central Gap region of the Himalaya. Seven different possibilities of rupture nucleation within the rupture plane are modelled and a zonation map containing three different zones is prepared. The prepared zonation map for this worst possible scenario shows that cities like Tehri, Uttarkashi, Srinagar, Deoprayag, Pauri and Dehradun fall within zone 1 and can experience ground accelerations bigger than 600 cm/s2. The region like Hardwar and Rishikesh fall within zone 2 and can experience ground accelerations around 300 cm/s2. The zonation map shows that Tehri can experience accelerations up to 0.84g and this value is comparable with that obtained by other researchers. This study confirms that for very long periods, the destruction in the region will be dominantly affected by ruptures having longer lengths and least effected by shorter ruptures. Therefore, special consideration about the longer ruptures should be taken while considering effect of earthquake hazards in this region.

Iron EDTA is an effective fortificant in meals of low iron bioavailability. Na2EDTA, added to food to prevent oxidation, enhances iron bioavailability by chelating added iron. This study examines the optimal ratio of EDTA to iron causing enhanced iron absorption. Iron absorption from a rice-based meal of low iron bioavailability containing increasing molar ratios of EDTA to iron, was compared in 127 women volunteers by using standard double isotope techniques. Iron deficiency was present in 38% of the women. Mean standardized absorptions, at EDTA-iron ratios of 0.25, 0.5, and 1, were 11.3%, 13.5%, and 8.8%, respectively, compared with 3.8% when no Na2EDTA was present. In meals of high iron bioavailability, Na2EDTA (EDTA:Fe, 1.0) produced little enhancement (potato-based meal) nor inhibited iron absorption (apple-based meal). Na2EDTA added to meals with molar ratios of EDTA to iron between 1.0 and 0.25 significantly increases iron absorption provided the meal is of low iron bioavailability.

The rate of ribosomal (r)-protein synthesis in the early Drosophila embryo is low despite the presence of abundant, maternally supplied r-protein mRNAs. This low rate is due to specific repression of r-protein mRNA translation. In contrast to r-protein mRNAs, most other mRNAs are efficiently translated in the early embryo. Here we report on the identification of cis-acting sequences that mediate translational repression of the r-protein A1 (rpA1) mRNA. Chimeric genes containing sequences from the translationally regulated rpA1 mRNA fused to the constitutively translated alpha-tubulin mRNA were constructed and transformed into the Drosophila germ line. Translation of the corresponding hybrid mRNAs was measured in ovaries and embryos of the transgenic flies. The results indicated that a 89-nucleotide sequence in the untranslated rpA1 mRNA leader is by itself sufficient to confer full translational regulation to a heterologous mRNA.

[1] New apatite and zircon fission track data collected from two transects along the Dhauliganga and Goriganga rivers in the NW Himalaya document exhumation of the Higher Himalayan Crystalline units. Despite sharing the same structural configuration and rock types and being separated by only 60 km, the two study areas show very different patterns of exhumation. Fission track (FT) data from the Dhauliganga section show systematic changes in age (individual apatite FT ages range from 0.9 ± 0.3 to 3.6 ± 0.5 Ma, r2 = 0.82) that record faster exhumation across a zone that extends from the Main Central Thrust to north of the Vaikrita thrust. By contrast, FT results from the Goriganga Valley show a stepwise change in ages across the Vaikrita thrust that suggests Quaternary thrust sense displacement. Footwall samples yield a weighted mean apatite age of 1.6 ± 0.1 Ma compared to 0.7 ± 0.04 Ma in the hanging wall. A constant zircon fission track age of 1.8 ± 0.4 Ma across both the footwall and hanging wall shows the 0.9 Ma difference in apatite ages is due to movement on the Vaikrita thrust that initiated soon after ∼1.8 Ma. The Goriganga section provides clear evidence for >1 Ma of tectonic deformation in the brittle crust that contrasts with previous exhumation studies in other areas of the high Himalaya ranges; these studies have been unable to decouple the role of climate erosion from tectonics. One possibility why there is a clear tectonic signal in the Goriganga Valley is that climate erosion has not yet fully adjusted to the tectonic perturbation.

The organs investigated are either hypo-, amphi- or astomatic. The epidermal cells are polygonal, isodiametric or elongated with thick straight, arched, sinuous or articulated anticlinal walls. The epidermal cells are septate in the stem of Catharanthus pusillus. Cuticle is papillate or striated. Epidermal cells of the ovary of Thevetia peruviana have minimum length and breadth. Stomata are mostly distributed in between the veins either close to each other or widely separated from each other. The orientation of stomata may either in any direction or parallel to and in the direction of long axes of the organs. The mature stomata are paracytic, anomocytic, anisocytic or with a single subsidiary cell. In the foliar organs great majority of the stomata are paracytic while in the other organs, the percentage of anomocytic stomata is greater. The special features noticed are: arrested development, cytoplasmic connection between near- by stomata and contiguous stomata. The ontogeny of anomocytic stomata is haplocheilic or perigeneous, that of paracytic and with a single subsidiary cell syndetochelic or mesogenous while that of anisocytic haplo-syndetocheilic or mesoperigenous. Die untersuchten Organe sind entweder hypostomatisch, amphistomatisch oder astomatisch. Die Epidermiszellen sind polygonal, isodiametrisch oder langlich mit dicken geraden, gebogenen, wellenformigen oder gegliederten antiklinen Zellwanden. Im Stamm von Catharanthus pusillus sind die Epidermiszellen septat. Die Kutikula sind papillat oder striat. Die Epidermiszellen der Fruchtknoten von Thevetia peruviana sind die kleinsten in Lange und Breite. Die Stomata liegen vorwiegend zwischen den Adern, sie beruhren einander oder sind weit voneinander entfernt. Die Orientierung der Stomata ist entweder richtungslos, oder sie verlauft parallel der Langsachse des betreffenden Organs. Die reifen Stomata sind parazytisch, anomozytisch, anisozytisch oder mit einer einzelnen Nebenzelle. In den Blattorganen ist die Mehrzahl der Stomata parazytisch, in den anderen Organteilen ist der Prozentsatz der anomozytischen Stomata groser. Als besondere Eigenschaften sind zu nennen: verzogerte Entwicklung, ein zykoplasmatischer Zusammenhang zwischen benachbarten und dicht aneinanderliegenden Stomata. Die Ontogenie der anomozytischen Stomata verlauft haplocheil oder perigen, die der parazytischen und mit einer einfachen Nebenzelle syndetocheil oder mesogen wahrend die anisozytischen Stomata haplosyndetocheil oder mesoperigen verlaufen.

Summary form only given. Fast and portable pulse power systems especially in the megavolt range have always been in demand for years. Use of such fast rise time, high voltage generators are considered to be of great interest for variety of application like - driving portable X-ray sources and special free electron lasers. Their use with pulse forming lines results in the production of relatively compact particle beam accelerators. They have also been found useful in driving wide band electromagnetic radiators. In reference to above mentioned applications a battery powered and portable, nanosecond rise time megavolt system has been developed. In this system, 60 Watt SMPS DC to DC converter has been used for charging 0.24 /spl mu/F capacitor, which acts as a primary source of energy. The SMPS is driven by two normal 12 V Panasonic batteries and gives an output of 30 KV @ 2 mA. The capacitor is made to discharge into the primary of 'pulse transformer' through spark gap switch. It is an air-core transformer with the coupling coefficient of 0.66 which can produce maximum output voltage up to 1.5 MV. In the coaxial geometry, it has single turn primary to achieve fast rise time and multi-turn secondary. For attaining high reliability and repeatability, trade off has been made between good coupling coefficient and high voltage stand off while designing. Low leakage inductance and low distributed capacitance is also required in order to obtain fast rise time hence due considerations have been made in the design to fulfill the same. After making trade off among these parameters carefully, a pulse transformer with rise time of less than 10 ns has been designed and built. In the presented paper attempt has also been made to create the methodology of designing pulse transformers delivering high power impulses with faster rise times on secondary side.

The post-major Himalayan tectonics is distinctly reflected on the present day topography of the Doon Valley. The photogeological characters and field study show that the Doon Valley is bounded by major faults. NE-dipping Main Boundary Thrust (MBT) surrounds it in the north, Mohand Thrust and Bhimgoda Thrust in the south, the Ganga Tear Fault in the east and the Yamuna Tear Fault in the west. Due to ongoing continental convergence of the Indian and Eurasian plates, the valley is tectonically unstable today. Vertical as well as horizontal movements are ongoing processes of the valley. The terraces along river valleys, bending of the river courses, tilting of the piedmonts, shifting of the river courses, overriding of the Lesser Himalayan rocks over the Doon Valley and Siwalik rocks over Indo-Gangetic plain are the consequence of it. Several lineaments, majorly longitudinal and transverse, are tearing up the Doon Valley. Out of them, some have segmented the recent Doon gravels, which reflect the Quaternary tectonics of the Doon valley. The probable cause of the Quaternary tectonics of the Doon Valley might be due to the northward pushing of the Delhi-Haridwar ridge.

Introduction Cardiovascular risk is elevated following COPD exacerbations requiring systemic therapy (Donaldson et al , Chest 2010:137; 1091–7). We have recently shown that a potential mechanism is increased arterial stiffness during COPD exacerbations compared to the stable state (Patel et al , AJRCCM 2012:185; A5853). We hypothesised that arterial stiffness may be mediated by airway infection and inflammation during COPD exacerbations. Methods We used aortic pulse wave velocity (aPWV) as a non-invasive validated measure of arterial stiffness using Vicorder apparatus (Skidmore Medical, UK) in outpatients from the London COPD cohort when they presented within seven days of exacerbation symptom onset and prior to any systemic therapy. These events were defined using our usual symptomatic criteria (Seemungal et al , AJRCCM 1998:157; 1418–22). We collected spontaneous sputum at the same clinic visit to identify typical bacterial ( S pneumoniae, H influenzae and M catarrhalis ) and rhinovirus infection using PCR. We also measured IL-6 and IL-8 in sputum supernatant using commercial ELISA kits (R&D Systems, USA). Results 32 exacerbating COPD patients produced a spontaneous sputum sample during the same clinic visit as an aPWV measurement. Their stable clinical characteristics were: 69% male; 25% current smokers; median (IQR) 39 (21.74) pack year smoking history; mean±SD age 72.4±8.1 years; FEV1 1.18±0.41L and 46.8±18.0%predicted; FEV1/FVC ratio 0.44±0.15 and BMI 25.4±3.8 kg/m2. Arterial stiffness was higher in patients with airway infection at exacerbation presentation (mean ±SD aPWV 12.3±2.3 (n=19) vs 10.8±1.8 (n=13) m/s, p=0.030) (Figure 1A). Arterial stiffness was strongly correlated with sputum IL-6 at exacerbation (n=32, rho=0.495, p=0.003) (Figure 1B) but not IL-8 (n=31, rho=0.100, p=0.591). Conclusions Arterial stiffness is related to airway infection and inflammation during COPD exacerbations. Interventions to prevent and reduce airway infection and inflammation may lower cardiovascular risk during COPD exacerbations.