In this study, we examined the cellular infectivity and ultrastructural changes due to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection in the various cells of bronchoalveolar fluid (BALF) from intubated patients of different age groups (≥60 years and <60 years) and with common comorbidities such as diabetes, liver and kidney diseases, and malignancies. BALF of 79 patients (38 cases >60 and 41 cases <60 years) were studied by light microscopy, immunofluorescence, scanning, and transmission electron microscopy to evaluate the ultrastructural changes in the ciliated epithelium, type II pneumocytes, macrophages, neutrophils, eosinophils, lymphocytes, and anucleated granulocytes. This study demonstrated relatively a greater infection and better preservation of subcellular structures in these cells from BALF of younger patients (<60 years compared with the older patients (≥60 years). The different cells of BALF from the patients without comorbidities showed higher viral load compared with the patients with comorbidities. Diabetic patients showed maximum ultrastructural damage in BALF cells in the comorbid group. This study highlights the comparative effect of SARS-CoV-2 infection on the different airway and inflammatory cells of BALF at the subcellular levels among older and younger patients and in patients with comorbid conditions.

Recent epidemiological studies analysing sex-disaggregated patient data of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) across the world revealed a distinct sex bias in the disease morbidity as well as the mortality – both being higher for the men. Similar antecedents have been known for the previous viral infections, including from coronaviruses, such as severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and middle-east respiratory syndrome (MERS). A sound understanding of molecular mechanisms leading to the biological sex bias in the survival outcomes of the patients in relation to COVID-19 will act as an essential requisite for developing a sex-differentiated approach for therapeutic management of this disease. Recent studies which have explored molecular mechanism(s) behind sex-based differences in COVID-19 pathogenesis are scarce; however, existing evidence, for other respiratory viral infections, viz. SARS, MERS and influenza, provides important clues in this regard. In attempt to consolidate the available knowledge on this issue, we conducted a systematic review of the existing empirical knowledge and recent experimental studies following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. The qualitative analysis of the collected data unravelled multiple molecular mechanisms, such as evolutionary and genetic/epigenetic factors, sex-linkage of viral host cell entry receptor and immune response genes, sex hormone and gut microbiome-mediated immune-modulation, as the possible key reasons for the sex-based differences in patient outcomes in COVID-19.

Some interesting properties such as superelasticity, shape memory effect, kink resistance, good biocompatibility, biomechanical properties, and corrosion resistance made nitinol a popular biomaterial as stent and orthopedic implants. But surface modification is needed to control nickel leaching from its surface, making safe for human body. The aim of this study was to modify the nitinol surface by the silanization technique and electrophoretically deposited hydroxyapatite coating, and to conduct a detailed in vitro and in vivo investigation. Detailed in vitro investigation involved MTT assay with the human osteoblastic cells (MG63 cell) over a period of 5 days and confocal image study. In case of in vivo study, histological study, fluorochrome labeling study, and Micro-Ct study were conducted. The overall in vitro and in vivo results indicate that silanized nitinol samples are showing slightly better level of performance, but both the surface-modified samples are suitable as the potential bio-implant for orthopedic purpose.

A scheme of phase-matched terahertz generation by beating two co-propagating lasers in magnetized plasma, in the presence of a magnetosonic wave (MSW), is developed. The beat frequency ponderomotive force of the lasers imparts an oscillatory drift to electrons. The electron drift velocity couples with the electron density perturbation associated with the MSW to produce an irrotational nonlinear current $\left(\nabla \times {\vec J}\;{}^{\rm NL}\ne 0\right)$. The beat current density resonantly excites a THz (Terahertz) radiation when the phase-matching conditions are satisfied. The MSW mediates the phase matching. At 9.6 and 10.6 µm wavelengths, and background magnetic field of 285 kG, one may achieve normalized THz wave amplitude of the order of 10−3 and one obtains the ratio of THz power to pump power of the order of 10−6.

We study the setting up of relativistic ponderomotive non-linearity in an under-dense collisionless cold plasma. Using the fluid model, coupled system of equations of the laser beam and electron plasma oscillations has been derived. We present the numerical simulation for this coupled system of equations, when the coupling arises through relativistic ponderomotive non-linearity. The filamentation of the laser beam has been found to vary appreciably with perturbation wave number. The results show that with time, localized structures become more complex and the plasma oscillation frequency spectra have several harmonic peaks at terahertz frequencies when the electron plasma frequency is in terahertz range and laser frequency is around 2.35 × 1015 rad/s. We also present the semi-analytical model to capture the underlying physics.

Copper growth for the development of electroplating technique as a low-temperature soldering procedure represents a useful method for the formation of metal deposits, allowing modification of the thickness and morphology of the soldering joints. The approach is particularly useful for soldering electronic components to a plastic 3D printed substrate. To accelerate the soldering process hydrogen assisted electroplating (HAE) method was employed at room temperature. The experiments were designed by making a small electrochemical cell around the gap on a printed circuit board (PCB) or a 3D printed conductive track. During the experiment, water electrolysis was observed, which released hydrogen bubbles. The hydrogen bubbles caused the structure of the electroplated layer to be more porous, but with a similar conductivity as solid copper and a remarkable mechanical strength suitable for use as interconnects on an electronic circuit. Our electrochemical data and video recorded images show a fast and reliable copper electrodeposition in less than 1 minute. The morphology of copper deposits on a 3D printed structure was studied with the scanning electron microscopy (SEM). A reliable soldering process was demonstrated for a surface mount light emitting diode (LED) on a PCB. Further experiments are required to optimize the soldering process for faster and more reliable electroplating, particularly for 3D printed substrates.

Drought is the major abiotic constraint to the rice production in the rain-fed areas across Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. Wild species of Oryza offer a wide spectrum of adaptive traits and can serve as potential donors of biotic and abiotic stress tolerance. At the Punjab Agricultural University, we are maintaining an active collection of 1630 accessions of wild species germplasm (AA, CC, BBCC and CCDD) of rice. These accessions were screened to assess genetic variation for drought tolerance under field conditions. Severe water stress was imposed at the late vegetative stage by withholding water initially for 25 d and then extended further to 35 d during kharif season in the years 2013–14 and 2015–16. The tolerance score for drought stress was based on the extent of leaf rolling and leaf drying. Based on the 2 years’ data, seven accessions from Oryza rufipogon, four from Oryza longistaminata and one each from Oryza officinalis and Oryza latifolia were found tolerant to drought stress. These selected accessions were further phenotype for root morphology. The average root length among the selected accessions ranges between 36 and 80 cm and the number of primary roots vary from 30 to 87 cm. The O. rufipogon accession IRGC 106433, O. longistaminata accession IRGC 92656A, O. officinalis accession IRGC 101152 and O. latifolia accession IRGC 80769 showed approximately 2–2.5 times longer root length and number than the indica rice elite cultivar PR121. The results indicated potentiality of selected wild species germplasm for conferring drought tolerance to the elite cultivars.

Synthesis of differential-mode bandpass filter (BPF) with good common-mode suppression has been described and demonstrated on the basis of ring dielectric resonator (RDR) for high-performance communication system. A RDR with two pairs of feeding lines has been used to excite TE01δ-mode. This unique combination of feeding lines and the ring resonator creates a differential passband. Meanwhile, TM01δ-mode of the DR can also be excited to achieve common-mode rejection in the stopband. Transmission zeros are created in the lower and upper stopband to further improve the selectivity of the proposed BPF. A second-order differential BPF is designed, fabricated and its performance is measured to validate the concept. There is good agreement between simulated and measured results.

A new tillodont, Anthraconyx hypsomylus, n. gen. n. sp., is described from the early Eocene Cambay Shale Formation at Vastan Lignite Mine, Gujarat, India. Anthraconyx hypsomylus is the smallest Eocene tillodont and is distinguished by having the most buccally hypsodont cheek teeth of any known esthonychine. The closest dental resemblances are to North American Esthonyx and Azygonyx and European Plesiesthonyx, providing further evidence of affinities between the Vastan local fauna and Euroamerican vertebrate faunas.

Bacterial blight (BB) of rice caused by Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo) is a major biotic constraint of rice production in all the major irrigated/lowland rice growing regions of Asia, including Punjab and its adjoining states in India. None of the individual BB resistant Xa/xa genes is effective against Punjab pathotypes. In the present study, we have screened 1176 accessions, comprising 1007 accessions of A genome species Oryza glaberrima, O. barthii, O. nivara, O. rufipogon, O. longistaminata, O. meridionalis, O. glumaepatula and 169 accessions from ten other wild species having CC, FF, EE, BBCC and CCDD genomes against two most recently evolved Xoo pathotypes viz. PbXo-10 and PbXo-8 in Punjab state of India, for two constitutive years 2014 and 2015. Based on 2 years of data, four accessions of O. glaberrima (IRGC102206, IRGC1022445, IRGC102512 and IRGC102520) and two of the O. longistaminata accessions (IRGC92624 and IRGC101754) were identified with immune reaction against PbXo-8. For PbXo-10, O. longistaminata showed large number of accessions with complete to partial resistance followed by O. rufipogon (8), O. nivara (2), O. punctata (2) and O. officinalis (1). Two of the O. longistaminata accessions IRGC92624 and IRGC92644 from Mali were found to have resistance against both the Xoo pathotypes indicating presence of BB resistance gene other than Xa21. These can be transferred to elite cultivars of O. sativa for better management of BB.

The effect of self-focusing and defocusing on terahertz (THz) generation by amplitude-modulated Gaussian laser beam in rippled density plasma is investigated. A stronger transient transverse current is generated by transverse component of ponderomotive force exerted by laser on electrons that drives radiation at the modulation frequency (which is chosen to be in the THz domain) because of the variation in intensity in the direction transverse to the laser propagation. Numerical simulations indicate the enhancement of THz yield by many folds due to self-focusing of laser beam in comparison with that without self-focusing. The transient focusing of laser beam and its effect on the generated THz amplitude has also been studied.

The formation of nanoparticles from the sputtering of graphite and tungsten cathodes in direct-current discharges is investigated. The successive phases of growth present specificities according to the cathode material. The evolution of the discharge and plasma parameters during the growth phases accounts for the nanoparticle-plasma electrostatic coupling. This evolution also presents strong differences as a function of the cathode material. Features characterising each case are discussed.

Increasing prevalence of childhood obesity calls for comprehensive and cost-effective educative measures in developing countries such as India. School-based educative programmes greatly influence children's behaviour towards healthy living. We aimed to evaluate the impact of a school-based health and nutritional education programme on knowledge and behaviour of urban Asian Indian school children. Benchmark assessment of parents and teachers was also done. We educated 40 196 children (aged 8–18 years), 25 000 parents and 1500 teachers about health, nutrition, physical activity, non-communicable diseases and healthy cooking practices in three cities of North India. A pre-tested questionnaire was used to assess randomly selected 3128 children, 2241 parents and 841 teachers before intervention and 2329 children after intervention. Low baseline knowledge and behaviour scores were reported in 75–94 % government and 48–78 % private school children, across all age groups. A small proportion of government school children gave correct answers about protein (14–17 %), carbohydrates (25–27 %) and saturated fats (18–32 %). Private school children, parents and teachers performed significantly better than government school subjects (P < 0·05). Following the intervention, scores improved in all children irrespective of the type of school (P < 0·001). A significantly higher improvement was observed in younger children (aged 8–11 years) as compared with those aged 12–18 years, in females compared with males and in government schools compared with private schools (P < 0·05 for all). Major gaps exist in health and nutrition-related knowledge and behaviour of urban Asian Indian children, parents and teachers. This successful and comprehensive educative intervention could be incorporated in future school-based health and nutritional education programmes.

Primary tracheal masses are rare. Secondary masses of the trachea are commonly foreign body granuloma, intubation granuloma or viral granuloma. The differential diagnoses given in such cases include both benign and malignant lesions. The otolaryngologist is often asked to perform a biopsy of the lesion to arrive at a diagnosis. However, even malignant processes can cause a granulomatous reaction. The timely diagnosis of tracheal masses depends upon maintaining a high index of suspicion. A rare case of tracheal granuloma leading to pneumomediastinum in a 53-year-old female is presented. The clinical features, investigations and treatment are detailed. The tracheal granuloma was managed by excision through bronchoscopy and the pneumomediastinum was managed conservatively.

Background. In resource-poor countries, there remains an alarming treatment gap for people with schizophrenia, particularly those living in rural areas. Decentralization of mental health services, including community-based outreach programmes, represents one obvious strategy for bringing appropriate care to these communities. This study set out to assess the costs and effects of such a programme in rural Karnataka in India.

Method. Eight rural communities were visited by an outreach team, who identified cases of drug-naive or currently untreated schizophrenia. Recruited cases were provided with appropriate psychotropic medication and psychosocial support, and after obtaining informed consent were assessed every 3 months over one and a half years on symptomatology, disability, family burden, resource use and costs. A repeated-measures analysis was carried out to test for significant change in these outcome measures over this period.

Results. A total of 100 cases of untreated schizophrenia were recruited, of whom 28% had never received antipsychotic medication and the remaining 72% had not been on medication for the past 6 months. Summary scores for psychotic symptoms, disability and family burden were all reduced significantly, with particular improvement observed at the first follow-up assessment. Increases in treatment and community outreach costs over the follow-up period were accompanied by reductions in the costs of informal-care sector visits and family care-giving time.

Conclusions. Efforts to organize community-based care such as outreach services for people with schizophrenia living in more remote areas of resource-constrained countries can bring substantial benefits to patients and families alike.