Month: November 2021

Melbourne Renegades star Harmanpreet Kaur became the first Indian player to be named the Women Big Bash League (WBBL) Player of the Tournament, while Phoebe Litchfield has been named the Young Gun of Weber WBBL|07.

Harmanpreet Kaur enjoyed a dominant season in red, ending the regular season as her side’s leading batter with 399 runs and bowler with 15 wickets.
Kaur was voted as the competition’s top player by the standing umpires at each match, polling 31 votes to finish three clear of Perth Scorchers pair Beth Mooney and Sophie Devine on 28 votes each. Grace Harris (25 votes) and Georgia Redmayne (24 votes), both of the Brisbane Heat, and Hurricanes batter Mignon du Preez (24 votes) round out the top six.

Kaur joins New Zealand pair Devine (twice) and Amy Satterthwaite as international players to be awarded the competition’s top individual honour, with Mooney, Meg Lanning and Ellyse Perry also previous recipients.

“I’m extremely delighted, it’s something very big that I have achieved. I’m very thankful to my team and all the support staff, they have been great during this time and have supported me a lot. It’s been totally a team effort — I was just doing the job the team required from me,” said Harmanpreet Kaur in a release.

“We have a team that has gelled together. We support each other and that’s what we have been doing. I haven’t put any extra pressure on myself, I’ve just enjoyed being here and supporting my teammates,” she added.

On the other hand, Sydney Thunder’s Phoebe Litchfield was named Weber WBBL|07’s ‘Young Gun’. The Young Gun award is given to the best player under 21 years of age, as selected by Cricket Australia’s National Selection Panel.

The 18-year-old juggled her NSW Higher School Certificate commitments throughout the campaign while starring at number three in an injury-hit Thunder outfit, scoring 263 runs in the tournament.

Previous winners of the award are Darcie Brown, Hannah Darlington, Georgia Wareham, Sophie Molineux, Ashleigh Gardner and Lauren Cheatle.

“It means a lot to be recognised with this award. It’s a surprise, to be honest. I could think of a number of other young players who would be deserving of this award, which is really exciting for the future,” said Phoebe Litchfield.

“Batting at No. 3 was a challenge but also a great opportunity. I was very privileged that Trevor Griffin trusted me with that spot and I hope I made the most of it,” she added. (ANI)

According to research at UC San Francisco, it was found out that while the common heart condition is triggered by caffeine, sleep deprivation and sleeping on the left side, alcohol is the only one that was associated with heart arrhythmia (improper beating of the heart, whether irregular, too fast or too slow).

The study has been published in the ‘JAMA Cardiology Journal’.
The authors concluded that people might be able to reduce their risk of atrial fibrillation (AF) by avoiding certain triggers.

Researchers were surprised to find that although most of the things that participants thought would be related to their AF were not, those in the intervention group still experienced less arrhythmia than the people in a comparison group that was not self-monitoring.

“This suggests that those personalized assessments revealed actionable results,” said lead author Gregory Marcus, MD, professor of medicine in the Division of Cardiology at UCSF.

“Although caffeine was the most commonly selected trigger for testing, we found no evidence of a near-term relationship between caffeine consumption and atrial fibrillation. In contrast, alcohol consumption most consistently exhibited heightened risks of atrial fibrillation,” he added.

Atrial fibrillation contributed to more than 150,000 deaths in the United States each year, reported the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, with the death rate on the rise for more than 20 years.

To learn more about what patients felt was especially important to study about the disease, researchers held a brainstorming session in 2014. Patients said researching individual triggers for AF was their top priority, giving rise to the I-STOP-AFib study, which enabled individuals to test any presumed AF trigger. About 450 people participated, more than half of whom (58 per cent) were men, and the overwhelming majority of who were white (92 per cent).

Participants in the randomized clinical trial utilized a mobile electrocardiogram recording device along with a phone app to log potential triggers like drinking alcohol and caffeine, sleeping on the left side or not getting enough sleep, eating a large meal, a cold drink, or sticking to a particular diet, engaging in exercise, or anything else they thought was relevant to their AF.

Although participants were most likely to select caffeine as a trigger, there was no association with AF. Recent research from UCSF has similarly failed to demonstrate a relationship between caffeine and arrhythmias — on the contrary, investigators found it may have a protective effect.

The new study demonstrated that consumption of alcohol was the only trigger that consistently resulted in significantly more self-reported AF episodes.

The individualized testing method, known as n-of-1, did not validate participant-selected triggers for AF. But trial participants did report fewer AF episodes than those in the control group, and the data suggest that behaviours like avoiding alcohol could lessen the chances of having an AF episode.

“This completely remote, siteless, mobile-app based study will hopefully pave the way for many investigators and patients to conduct similar personalized “n-of-1″ experiments that can provide clinically relevant information specific to the individual,” said Marcus. (ANI)

Bharatiya Kisan Union leader Rakesh Tikait on Wednesday said that as many as 500 farmers will reach Delhi on 30 tractors on November 29.

He further stated that other details regarding the same will be disclosed after a meeting scheduled to take place on November 26, which marks the first anniversary of the farmers’ protest against the three farm laws, the repeal of which was recently announced by the Centre earlier this month.
Speaking to ANI, Tikait said, “On November 29, 500 farmers will go to Delhi on 30 tractors. The details will be provided after a meeting on November 26, which will be marked as the first anniversary of our protest.”

He further said, “We will withdraw our protest and will go home after the government accepts our demand for law on Minimum Support Price (MSP). We don’t have the intention to stay put at Delhi border till January 26. If the government accepts our demand on MSP and compensation for 750 farmers who died during the protest, then we will go back home.”

Regarding election campaigning against the BJP, the farmer leader said, “Campaigning in the election against BJP will be decided only after the Model Code of Conduct is in place. Now, the government is working, let them do it.” (ANI)

With Russian President Vladimir Putin expected to visit India next month, Defence Ministry on Tuesday gave its final clearance to over Rs 5,000 crore deal with Russia to manufacture 7.5 lakh AK-203 assault rifles in Uttar Pradesh’s Amethi.

The AK-203 assault rifles deal, which may be signed during the visit, was cleared by the defence acquisition council meeting on Tuesday, defence sources told ANI.
The Russian-designed AK-203 will be made in a factory in Amethi.

The deal had been agreed upon between the two sides a few years ago and now the last major issue would be resolving the issues on the transfer of technology, they said.

Of the 7.5 lakh rifles to be acquired by the Indian Army, the first 70,000 will include Russian made components as the transfer of technology happens slowly.

These will be delivered to the Army 32 months after the production process begins. (ANI)

Cricketer-turned-politician and Congress leader Kirti Azad joined Trinamool Congress (TMC) on Tuesday in the presence of party supremo and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee here.

“Cricketer-turned-politician, Shri @KirtiAzaad joined our Trinamool Congress family today, in the presence of our Chairperson @MamataOfficial and our National General Secretary @abhishekaitc We welcome him warmly and look forward to working together in this new journey!” AITC tweeted.
After joining the TMC, Azad said that a personality like Mamata Banerjee is needed to show the country the right direction.

“It makes me happy to say that under the leadership of Mamata Banerjee, I will work for the development of the nation. Today, a personality like her is needed in the country who can show the country the right direction,” he stated.

Azad was a part of the World Cup-winning Indian team in 1983. A cricketer-turned-politician, Azad was elected to Lok Sabha thrice from Darbhanga in Bihar. He had fought the 2014 general elections on a BJP ticket.

On December 23, 2015, he was suspended from BJP for openly targeting then Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley over alleged irregularities and corruption in Delhi and District Cricket Association and later in 2018, he joined Congress.

Earlier in the day, former JD(U) Rajya Sabha MP Pavan Varma also joined Trinamool Congress.

Meanwhile, Mamata Banerjee is currently on a visit to Delhi and is slated to be in the national capital till November 25. Her visit comes days ahead of the winter session of Parliament which is scheduled to begin on November 29.

She will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday to discuss issues pertaining to the Border Security Force (BSF) and the development of the state during her visit to Delhi. (ANI)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday extended birthday greetings to the Lok Sabha speaker Om Birla and praised him for “his impeccable knowledge on parliamentary procedures”.

“Birthday greetings to LS Speaker Shri Om Birla Ji. His impeccable knowledge on Parliamentary procedures and the manner in which he conducts proceedings are widely respected. He is making noteworthy efforts to raise Parliamentary discourse. Praying for his long life,” tweeted PM Modi.
Birla is is the 17th and current Speaker of the Lok Sabha. He serves as a Member of Parliament for the Kota-Bundi constituency in Rajasthan. (ANI)

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman reached Jammu on Tuesday as part of the outreach programme.

Sitharaman will launch several new schemes here today.
On her arrival, she met many entrepreneurs and self-help groups who have been benefited under various schemes and the Centre’s industrial policy.

The Finance Minister on Monday was in Srinagar where she inaugurated development projects pertaining to health, education, urban infrastructure and disaster management amounting to Rs 130.49 crore.

As per the Ministry of Finance, the Union Minister also laid the foundation stone for Union Territory (UT) Level Emergency Operation Centre and SCADA control building at Budgam, Kashmir –amounting to Rs 34.88 crore– under the Jhelum and Tawi Flood Recovery Project (JTFRP) during her visit to the UT of Jammu and Kashmir. (ANI)

In this COVID-19 pandemic, immunity from SARS-CoV-2 is either achieved through vaccination or infection. However, according to research led by the University of Zurich, there is another way of achieving this immunity; by exposing yourself to the harmless coronaviruses.

The findings of this study have been published in the ‘Nature Communications Journal’.
“People who have had strong immune responses to other human coronaviruses also have some protection against SARS-CoV-2 infection,” said Alexandra Trkola, head of the Institute of Medical Virology at UZH.

In their study, the researchers used a specially developed assay to analyze antibody levels against four other human coronaviruses in 825 serum samples taken before SARS-CoV-2 emerged. They also examined 389 samples from donors infected with SARS-CoV-2. Combining these analyses with computer-based models enabled the team to precisely predict how well the antibodies would bind to and neutralized invading viruses.

Cross-reactivity reduces the severity of infection

The researchers were able to demonstrate that people who caught SARS-CoV-2 had lower levels of antibodies against coronaviruses that cause common colds compared to uninfected people. In addition, people with high levels of antibodies against harmless coronaviruses were less likely to have been hospitalized after catching SARS-CoV-2.

“Our study shows that a strong antibody response to human coronaviruses increases the level of antibodies against SARS-CoV-2. So someone who has gained immunity to harmless coronaviruses is therefore also better protected against severe SARS-CoV-2 infections,” said Trkola.

This type of immune response is referred to as cross-reactivity, and it also occurred with T cell responses, the additional line of the immune system in the defence against infections.

People are only fully protected against SARS-CoV-2 shortly after they have recovered from an infection or have received an effective vaccination. This is when antibody levels against the virus are still very high. As these levels drop over time, infection is no longer prevented, but the immunological memory quickly reactivated the body’s defences, the production of antibodies as well as the T cell defence.

“Of course, immune responses targeting SARS-CoV-2 that are mounted by the memory cells are far more effective than cross-reactive responses. But even though the protection isn’t absolute, cross-reactive immune responses shorten the infection and reduce its severity. And this is exactly what is also achieved through vaccination, just much, much more efficiently,” said Trkola.

Towards comprehensive protection against coronaviruses

It is not yet known whether this cross-reactivity also works in the opposite direction. Whether immunity to SARS-CoV-2 – achieved through vaccination, for example – also offers protection against other human coronaviruses still needs to be elucidated.

“If SARS-CoV-2 immunity also offers some degree of protection from infection with other coronaviruses, we would be a significant step closer to achieving comprehensive protection against other coronaviruses, including any new variants,” the virologist explained.

This idea is also supported by the fact that cross-reactive protection is not only based on antibodies but very likely also on T cells. (ANI)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday spoke to Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai and took stock of the flood situation arisen due to heavy rains in the state.

The Chief Minister updated the Prime Minister with the relief and rescue measures being taken by the State Government.
“Prime Minister Narendra Modi today called Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai to take stock of the situation due to heavy rains and floods in Karnataka. Chief Minister updated the relief and rescue measures taken by the government,” said the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) in a tweet.

The Prime Minister also expressed his deep concern over the crop loss and loss of lives due to floods and assured Bommai of the Centre’s all necessary cooperation and assistance.

Earlier, the Chief Minister has announced that a sum of Rs 5 lakh would be paid as compensation for completely damaged houses and Rs 3 lakh for partially damaged houses in three instalments.

District Collectors have been instructed to disburse the first instalment of Rs 1 lakh immediately.

Bommai further said that the state government has released Rs 500 crore for the repair of damaged roads and bridges. Schools and Anganvadis too had suffered damages and their repair would be taken up through the NDRF fund.

The rains have caused extensive damage to Bengaluru Urban, Bengaluru Rural, Tumakuru, Kolar, Chikkaballapur, Ramanagar, Hassan district.

Karnataka and its neighbouring states have been receiving incessant rainfall in the month of November.

India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Sunday has predicted widespread light to moderate rainfall in Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Puducherry during the next 5 days. (ANI)