Violation of Bell's inequality for phase singular beams

We have considered optical beams with phase singularity and experimentally verified that these beams, although being classical, have properties of two mode entanglement in quantum states. We have observed the violation of Bell's inequality for continuous variables using the Wigner distribution function (WDF) proposed by Chowdhury et al. [Phys. Rev. A \textbf{88}, 013830 (2013)]. Our experiment establishes a new form of Bell's inequality in terms of the WDF which can be used for classical as well as quantum systems.Comment: 7 pages, 9 figures and 1 tabl

A recent trend of drug-nanoparticles in suspension for the application in drug delivery

Persistent development in nanomedicine has enabled successful nanosizing of most drug samples which, in turn, imparts remarkable properties to the drugs such as enhanced solubility and bioavailability for the applications in drug delivery In this context several review articles are available in scientific domain covering inorganic nanoparticles such as Au Ag, SPIONs Qdots, carbon nanotubes and graphene; however, this review covers the development of drug nanoparticles together with their possibilities and limitation from ..

Predicting postoperative systolic dysfunction in mitral regurgitation: CT vs. echocardiography

IntroductionVolume overload from mitral regurgitation can result in left ventricular systolic dysfunction. To prevent this, it is essential to operate before irreversible dysfunction occurs, but the optimal timing of intervention remains unclear. Current echocardiographic guidelines are based on 2D linear measurement thresholds only. We compared volumetric CT-based and 2D echocardiographic indices of LV size and function as predictors of post-operative systolic dysfunction following mitral repair.MethodsWe retrospectively identified patients with primary mitral valve regurgitation who underwent repair between 2005 and 2021. Several indices of LV size and function measured on preoperative cardiac CT were compared with 2D echocardiography in predicting post-operative LV systolic dysfunction (LVEFecho <50%). Area under the curve (AUC) was the primary metric of predictive performance.ResultsA total of 243 patients were included (mean age 57 ± 12 years; 65 females). The most effective CT-based predictors of post-operative LV systolic dysfunction were ejection fraction [LVEFCT; AUC 0.84 (95% CI: 0.77–0.92)] and LV end systolic volume indexed to body surface area [LVESViCT; AUC 0.88 (0.82–0.95)]. The best echocardiographic predictors were LVEFecho [AUC 0.70 (0.58–0.82)] and LVESDecho [AUC 0.79 (0.70–0.89)]. LVEFCT was a significantly better predictor of post-operative LV systolic dysfunction than LVEFecho (p = 0.02) and LVESViCT was a significantly better predictor than LVESDecho (p = 0.03). Ejection fraction measured by CT demonstrated significantly greater reproducibility than echocardiography.DiscussionCT-based volumetric measurements may be superior to established 2D echocardiographic parameters for predicting LV systolic dysfunction following mitral valve repair. Validation with prospective study is warranted

Identification of sorghum genotypes with resistance to the sugarcane aphid Melanaphis sacchari under natural and artificial infestation

Sugarcane aphid, Melanaphis sacchari is an endemic pest of sorghum during postrainy season, and there is a need to develop cultivars with resistance to this pest. Evaluation of a diverse array of sorghum genotypes under natural and artificial infestation resulted in identification of seven lines (ICSB 215, ICSB 323, ICSB 724, ICSR 165, ICSV 12001, ICSV 12004 and IS 40615) with moderate levels of resistance to aphid damage. Under artificial infestation, 10 lines suffered 30 q/ha). In another experiment, ICSB 215, ICSB 695, ICSR 161, Line 61510, ICSV 12004, Parbhani Moti and IS 40618 exhibited high grain yield potential (>25 q/ha) and exhibited <50% variation in grain yield as compared to more than 80% in the susceptible check, in CK 60 B. The genotypes RSV 1211, RS 29, RSV 1338, EC 8-2, PU 10-1, IS 40617 and ICSB 695 though showed a susceptible reaction to aphid damage, but suffered relatively low loss in grain yield, suggesting that these lines have tolerance to aphid damage. Principal coordinate analysis suggested that the genotypes with aphid resistance are quite diverse and can be used to breed for aphid resistance and high grain yield potential and also in breeding for aphid resistance in sorghum with adaptation to the postrainy season

Stability of resistance to sorghum shoot fly, Atherigona soccata

Sorghum shoot fly, Atherigona soccata is one of the most important pests of dual-purpose sorghums during the postrainy season in India. Therefore, it is important to identify stable sources of resistance to develop cultivars with shoot fly resistance and adaptation to postrainy season. We evaluated 190 lines adapted to the postrainy season across five locations, of which 30 lines were identified with resistance to A. soccata. These lines were further evaluated for three seasons across five locations to identify lines with stable resistance to this pest across seasons and locations. Data were recorded on oviposition non-preference, deadheart incidence, recovery resistance, morphological traits (leaf glossiness, seedling vigor, plant height and days to 50% flowering), and grain yield. The sorghum genotypes CSV 22, ICSB 422, ICSB 425, ICSB 428, ICSB 432, ICSB 458, ICSB 463, IS 2312, IS 5480, IS 18662, Phule Chitra, RSV 1093, IS 18551, and RSV 1235 exhibited resistance to shoot fly damage across seasons, of which ICSB 425, ICSB 428, ICSB 432, IS 2312, IS 5480, and IS 18551 showed non-preference for oviposition. Six genotypes (ICSB 425, IS 2312, IS 18662, RSV 1090, RSV 1093, and IS 18551) also showed good recovery resistance following shoot fly damage. Principal coordinate analysis placed the maintainer lines (B-lines) with shoot fly resistance in two clusters with ICSB 422, ICSB 432, ICSB 435, ICSB 456 and ICSB 458 in one cluster and ICSB 425, ICSB 428 and ICSB 463 in the other; the open pollinated varieties/germplasm lines (restorers) were placed in a different group (CSV 22, IS 5480, IS 2312 and RSV 1093), suggesting the possibilities for developing hybrids with adaptation to the postrainy season. Based on regression coefficient and deadheart incidence, the genotypes IS 2312, ICSB 425, RSV 1090 and ICSB 428 were stable in expression of resistance to shoot fly across seasons and locations. The genotypes CSV 22 and RSV 1093 exhibited high grain yield potential and resistance to shoot fly damage, while Phule Yashoda, IS 2312, RSV 1235, and ICSV 574 were moderately resistant to shoot fly damage, but had high grain yield potential. These genotypes can be used in sorghum improvement for developing cultivars with shoot fly resistance, high grain yield and adaptation to postrainy season

Family-led rehabilitation after stroke in India (ATTEND): a randomised controlled trial

Background Most people with stroke in India have no access to organised rehabilitation services. The effectiveness of training family members to provide stroke rehabilitation is uncertain. Our primary objective was to determine whether family-led stroke rehabilitation, initiated in hospital and continued at home, would be superior to usual care in a low-resource setting. Methods The Family-led Rehabilitation after Stroke in India (ATTEND) trial was a prospectively randomised open trial with blinded endpoint done across 14 hospitals in India. Patients aged 18 years or older who had had a stroke within the past month, had residual disability and reasonable expectation of survival, and who had an informal family-nominated caregiver were randomly assigned to intervention or usual care by site coordinators using a secure web-based system with minimisation by site and stroke severity. The family members of participants in the intervention group received additional structured rehabilitation training—including information provision, joint goal setting, carer training, and task-specific training—that was started in hospital and continued at home for up to 2 months. The primary outcome was death or dependency at 6 months, defined by scores 3–6 on the modified Rankin scale (range, 0 [no symptoms] to 6 [death]) as assessed by masked observers. Analyses were by intention to treat. This trial is registered with Clinical Trials Registry-India (CTRI/2013/04/003557), Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ACTRN12613000078752), and Universal Trial Number (U1111-1138-6707). Findings Between Jan 13, 2014, and Feb 12, 2016, 1250 patients were randomly assigned to intervention (n=623) or control (n=627) groups. 33 patients were lost to follow-up (14 intervention, 19 control) and five patients withdrew (two intervention, three control). At 6 months, 285 (47%) of 607 patients in the intervention group and 287 (47%) of 605 controls were dead or dependent (odds ratio 0·98, 95% CI 0·78–1·23, p=0·87). 72 (12%) patients in the intervention group and 86 (14%) in the control group died (p=0·27), and we observed no difference in rehospitalisation (89 [14%]patients in the intervention group vs 82 [13%] in the control group; p=0·56). We also found no difference in total non-fatal events (112 events in 82 [13%] intervention patients vs 110 events in 79 [13%] control patients; p=0·80). Interpretation Although task shifting is an attractive solution for health-care sustainability, our results do not support investment in new stroke rehabilitation services that shift tasks to family caregivers, unless new evidence emerges. A future avenue of research should be to investigate the effects of task shifting to health-care assistants or team-based community care