Random blinded rechecking of AFB smears in a pilot project at an intermediate reference laboratory.

Background: In most developing countries, sputum smear microscopy for acid-fast bacilli remains the front line and often the only diagnostic tool for the diagnosis of tuberculosis (TB), making quality assurance of smear microscopy an important activity.

Objective: To evaluate the results of a pilot study, where the random blinded rechecking for the entire state of Delhi was conducted at a reference laboratory.

Methodology: Slides from 25 Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme designated districts (200 peripheral microscopy centres) in Delhi were re-read after proper coding by all the Senior Tuberculosis Laboratory Supervisors (STLS) at an intermediate reference laboratory under proper supervision.

Threshold Levels of Infant and Under-Five Mortality for Crossover between Life Expectancies at Ages Zero, One and Five in India: A Decomposition Analysis.

Objectives: Under the prevailing conditions of imbalanced life table and historic gender discrimination in India, our study examines crossover between life expectancies at ages zero, one and five years for India and quantifies the relative share of infant and under-five mortality towards this crossover.

Methods: We estimate threshold levels of infant and under-five mortality required for crossover using age specific death rates during 1981-2009 for 16 Indian states by sex (comprising of India's 90% population in 2011). Kitagawa decomposition equations were used to analyse relative share of infant and under-five mortality towards crossover.

Near-unity photoluminescence quantum yield in MoS₂.

Two-dimensional (2D) transition metal dichalcogenides have emerged as a promising material system for optoelectronic applications, but their primary figure of merit, the room-temperature photoluminescence quantum yield (QY), is extremely low. The prototypical 2D material molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) is reported to have a maximum QY of 0.6%, which indicates a considerable defect density.

Atomically thin layers of B-N-C-O with tunable composition.

In recent times, atomically thin alloys of boron, nitrogen, and carbon have generated significant excitement as a composition-tunable two-dimensional (2D) material that demonstrates rich physics as well as application potentials. The possibility of tunably incorporating oxygen, a group VI element, into the honeycomb sp(2)-type 2D-BNC lattice is an intriguing idea from both fundamental and applied perspectives. We present the first report on an atomically thin quaternary alloy of boron, nitrogen, carbon, and oxygen (2D-BNCO).

Metal to Insulator Quantum-Phase Transition in Few-Layered ReS₂.

In ReS2, a layer-independent direct band gap of 1.5 eV implies a potential for its use in optoelectronic applications. ReS2 crystallizes in the 1T'-structure, which leads to anisotropic physical properties and whose concomitant electronic structure might host a nontrivial topology.

Downregulation of host tryptophan-aspartate containing coat (TACO) gene restricts the entry and survival of Leishmania donovani in human macrophage model.

Leishmania are obligate intracellular protozoan parasites of mammalian hosts. Promastigotes of Leishmania are internalized by macrophages and transformed into amastigotes in phagosomes, and replicate in phagolysosomes. Phagosomal maturation arrest is known to play a crucial role in the survival of pathogenic Leishmania within activated macrophages.

The ABC transporter ABCG29 is involved in H2O2 tolerance and biocontrol traits in the fungus Clonostachys rosea.

For successful biocontrol interactions, biological control organisms must tolerate toxic metabolites produced by themselves or plant pathogens during mycoparasitic/antagonistic interactions, by host plant during colonization of the plant, and xenobiotics present in the environment. ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters can play a significant role in tolerance of toxic compounds by mediating active transport across the cellular membrane. This paper reports on functional characterization of an ABC transporter ABCG29 in the biocontrol fungus Clonostachys rosea strain IK726.

Oral administration of encapsulated bovine lactoferrin protein nanocapsules against intracellular parasite Toxoplasma gondii.

Toxoplasma gondii is a deadly intracellular parasite known to reside in every nucleated cell and known to cause severe complications in immunocompromised host. Standard drugs are cost effective and cause side effects, therefore, there is a necessity for a new drug molecule with immunomodulatory potential. Lactoferrin (Lf) is a natural milk protein, which has shown antimicrobial properties in its nanoformulation using alginate chitosan calcium phosphate bovine lactoferrin nanocapsules (AEC-CCo-CP-bLf-NCs).

Graphene-Based Thermopile for Thermal Imaging Applications.

In this work, we leverage graphene's unique tunable Seebeck coefficient for the demonstration of a graphene-based thermal imaging system. By integrating graphene based photothermo-electric detectors with micromachined silicon nitride membranes, we are able to achieve room temperature responsivities on the order of ~7-9 V/W (at λ = 10.6 μm), with a time constant of ~23 ms.

Enhanced light absorption by mixed source black and brown carbon particles in UK winter.

Black carbon (BC) and light-absorbing organic carbon (brown carbon, BrC) play key roles in warming the atmosphere, but the magnitude of their effects remains highly uncertain. Theoretical modelling and laboratory experiments demonstrate that coatings on BC can enhance BC's light absorption, therefore many climate models simply assume enhanced BC absorption by a factor of ∼1.5.

Transverse preputial onlay island flap urethroplasty for single-stage correction of proximal hypospadias.

Aims And Objectives: Transverse preputial onlay island flap urethroplasty (TPOIF) was described initially for distal hypospadias, but has seen extended application for proximal hypospadias. We describe a set of modifications in the technique and results in a large series of proximal hypospadias.

Materials And Methods: All children who underwent TPOIF repair for proximal hypospadias (proximal penile, penoscrotal and scrotal) from June 2006 to June 2013 by a single surgeon were prospectively followed till June, 2014.

Self-assembled copper(II) metallacycles derived from asymmetric Schiff base ligands: efficient hosts for ADP/ATP in phosphate buffer.

Novel asymmetric Schiff base ligands 2-{[3-(3-hydroxy-1-methyl-but-2-enylideneamino)-2,4,6-trimethylphenylimino]-methyl}-phenol (H2L(1)) and 1-{[3-(3-hydroxy-1-methyl-but-2-enylideneamino)-2,4,6-trimethylphenylimino]-methyl}-naphthalen-2-ol (H2L(2)) possessing dissimilar N,O-chelating sites and copper(ii) metallacycles (CuL(1))4 (1) and (CuL(2))4 (2) based on these ligands have been described. The ligands and complexes have been thoroughly characterized by satisfactory elemental analyses, and spectral (IR, (1)H, (13)C NMR, ESI-MS, UV/vis) and electrochemical studies. Structures of H2L(2) and 1 have been unambiguously determined by X-ray single crystal analyses.

The O-antigen negative ∆wbaV mutant of Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis shows adaptive resistance to antimicrobial peptides and elicits colitis in streptomycin pretreated mouse model.

Background: Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis, the most common cause of human gastroenteritis, employs several virulence factors including lipopolysaccharide (LPS) for infection and establishment of disease inside the host. The LPS of S. enterica serovar Enteritidis consists of lipid A, core oligosaccharide and O-antigen (OAg).

Effect of lactoferrin protein on red blood cells and macrophages: mechanism of parasite-host interaction.

Background: Lactoferrin is a natural multifunctional protein known to have antitumor, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory activity. Apart from its antimicrobial effects, lactoferrin is known to boost the immune response by enhancing antioxidants. Lactoferrin exists in various forms depending on its iron saturation.

Nephrobronchial fistula and lung abscess secondary to Xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis.

There are multiple causes of lung abscess, but the differential rarely includes pyelonephritis as a primary cause leading to lung abscess resulting from the development of a nephrobronchial fistula. The patient had no urinary symptoms or abdominal pain and the etiology of lung abscess was only incidentally discovered after chest CT revealed extension of pleural fluid below the diaphragm.

Morphological tuning via structural modulations in AIE luminogens with the minimum number of possible variables and their use in live cell imaging.

With intent to fine tune the morphological and photophysical properties, three novel AIE luminogens (BQ1-BQ3) based on quinoline-BODIPY have been synthesized. A judicious choice of substituents (-H, -CH3, -OCH3) in these systems led to nanoballs in BQ1 and BQ2, while in BQ3 it led to reticulated nanofibers with diverse photophysical behaviours.

Identifying glycoside hydrolase family 18 genes in the mycoparasitic fungal species Clonostachys rosea.

Clonostachysrosea is a mycoparasitic fungal species that is an efficient biocontrol agent against many plant diseases. During mycoparasitic interactions, one of the most crucial steps is the hydrolysis of the prey's fungal cell wall, which mainly consists of glucans, glycoproteins and chitin. Chitinases are hydrolytic enzymes responsible for chitin degradation and it is suggested that they play an important role in fungal-fungal interactions.

L-Plastin S-glutathionylation promotes reduced binding to β-actin and affects neutrophil functions.

Posttranslational modifications (PTMs) of cytoskeleton proteins due to oxidative stress associated with several pathological conditions often lead to alterations in cell function. The current study evaluates the effect of nitric oxide (DETA-NO)-induced oxidative stress-related S-glutathionylation of cytoskeleton proteins in human PMNs. By using in vitro and genetic approaches, we showed that S-glutathionylation of L-plastin (LPL) and β-actin promotes reduced chemotaxis, polarization, bactericidal activity, and phagocytosis.

Electrophoretic deposited TiO(2) pigment-based back reflectors for thin film solar cells.

Highly reflective coatings with strong light scattering effect have many applications in optical components and optoelectronic devices. This work reports titanium dioxide (TiO(2)) pigment-based reflectors that have 2.5 times higher broadband diffuse reflection than commercially produced aluminum or silver based reflectors and result in efficiency enhancements of a single-junction amorphous Si solar cell.

Light absorption properties and radiative effects of primary organic aerosol emissions.

Organic aerosols (OAs) in the atmosphere affect Earth's energy budget by not only scattering but also absorbing solar radiation due to the presence of the so-called "brown carbon" (BrC) component. However, the absorptivities of OAs are not represented or are poorly represented in current climate and chemical transport models. In this study, we provide a method to constrain the BrC absorptivity at the emission inventory level using recent laboratory and field observations.

Intravenous Lignocaine to Blunt Extubation Responses: A Double-Edged Sword.

Extubation after general anesthetic procedures is often accompanied by transient undesirable responses such as hypertension, tachycardia, coughing, bucking, and raised intracranial and intraocular pressures. In neurosurgical procedures, they need to be stringently controlled to prevent the rise in cerebral blood flow, increase in intracranial pressure, and intracranial bleeding. Intravenous (IV) lignocaine (1-1.

A dual-responsive "turn-on" bifunctional receptor: a chemosensor for Fe3+ and chemodosimeter for Hg2+.

Synthesis of L1-L3, their thorough characterization by spectral as well as structural studies and use in selective photochemical detection of Fe(3+) and Hg(2+) at ppb level have been described. Notably, these exhibit bifunctional behaviour toward Fe(3+) (CHEF) and Hg(2+) (chemodosimetric) which has been unequivocally established by various studies.

Flexible integrated circuits and multifunctional electronics based on single atomic layers of MoS2 and graphene.

Two-dimensional materials, such as graphene and its analogues, have been investigated by numerous researchers for high performance flexible and conformal electronic systems, because they offer the ultimate level of thickness scaling, atomically smooth surfaces and high crystalline quality. Here, we use layer-by-layer transfer of large area molybdenum disulphide (MoS2) and graphene grown by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) to demonstrate electronics on flexible polyimide (PI) substrates. On the same PI substrate, we are able to simultaneously fabricate MoS2 based logic, non-volatile memory cells with graphene floating gates, photo-detectors and MoS2 transistors with tunable source and drain contacts.