After Hrs with HIV

To efficiently bud off from infected cells, HIV and other enveloped viruses hijack the host cellular machinery that is normally involved in vacuolar protein sorting and multivesicular body (MVB) biogenesis. The HIV Gag protein mimics hepatocyte growth factor–regulated tyrosine kinase substrate (Hrs), a modular adaptor protein that links membrane cargo recognition to its degradation after delivery to MVBs. In contrast to T cells, where HIV budding occurs at the plasma membrane, virus buds into vacuoles of macrophages, a process that may facilitate its spread within the infected host

Quantum Chemistry of Cocaine and its Isomers I: Energetics, Reactivity and Solvation

We investigate the rich stereochemistry of cocaine and its diastereoisomers from a theoretical perspective using density functional theory. The relative stability of the eight considered isomers is discussed, and a comparison of the corresponding internal coordinates is given. Our results reveal that the S-pseudococaine isomer is the most stable conformation, whereas the natural occurring isomer (R-cocaine) lies higher in energy. The different isomers’ chemical reactivity is discussed based on the calculation of the hardness, softness, electrophilicity and dipole moment. It was found that the dipole moment varies over a broad range from 0.65 to 4.60 D, whereas the other properties are slightly modified. The solvent effect on the energy stability of the cocaine isomers was studied by considering chloroform, dimethyl-sulfoxide (DMSO) and water as implicit solvents. Our calculations show that the different isomers’ energy order and their energy gaps are slightly modified due to solvent effects. However, in all cases, the S-pseudococaine remains the most stable isomer. However, the dipole moment and the chemical reactivity of the cocaine isomers increase with the solvent polarity

Black box EMC modeling of a three phase inverter

International audienceThis paper presents an Electromagnetic Interferences (EMI) modeling of a DC-AC power converter, based on a black box representation: the converter is represented by an association of sources and impedances that reflect its external EMI behavior. This modeling approach presented in this paper requires a very short computation time, which allows an optimized design of an EMC filter or an interaction study between several converters connected on the same electrical network. This EMC model depending on a given operation point of the converter, the second part of this paper is dedicated to the study of the load influence on this behavioral model

Cementless bipolar hemiarthroplasty for displaced fracture neck of femur with modular hydroxyapatite coated stem in elderly with cardiopulmonary co-morbidities

Background: Bipolar hemiarthroplasty is one of the common procedures done for fracture neck of femur in elderly.  Debate about Cemented or cementless is still on. Cementing increases perioperative mortality by causing significant hemodynamic changes or embolization. Patients with cardiopulmonary complications are at higher risk of cementing complications. We report our series of 31 cases of fracture neck of femur with cardiopulmonary diseases operated over 2 years with modular cementless bipolar hemiarthroplasty.Methods: 31 elderly patients with cardiopulmonary co-morbidities (age=75 to 97 years) with displaced femoral neck fractures were operated between January 2011 to December 2013. Cementless bipolar hemiarthroplasty using hydroxyapatite coated stem was done by single surgeon using same implant in all the patients through anterolateral approach. Clinical and radiological follow-up was done with mean follow up of 54 months (36-72 months).Results: Total 31 cases with cardiopulmonary comorbidities were operated. The average follow up was 54 months. No intraoperative mortality was seen. 3 patients had splitting of femur during canal preparation. 1 patient died due to cardiac arrest in the post-operative period. 1 patient had surgical site infection. 3 patients had hemodynamic abnormalities and 1 patient had significant limb length discripency (1.5 cm). 2 patients died in the follow up because of comorbidities.  27 patients reached to pre-injury status with average harris hip score of 86 at final follow up.Conclusions: Cementless bipolar hemiarthroplasty with hydroxyapatite coated stem is a good option for femoral neck fractures in elderly patients with cardiopulmonary complications without risking the harmful effects of cementing

Self-reported academic performance in relation to health behaviours among Bahria University students

Objective: To find an association between self-reported academic performance with different socio-demographic factors, health behaviours and mental health amongst university students.Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at Bahria University, Karachi, from January 2012 to December 2013, and comprised university students of different disciplines. An anonymous, self-reported questionnaire was distributed among the subjects. Convenient sampling technique was used. Demographic information, including age, gender and field of study, were obtained. Depresion was evaluated via Centre for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale. SPSS 22 was used to analyse data.Results: Of the 813 respondents, 334(41.1%) were males and 479(58.9%) females. The mean age was 19.9±1.8 years. Overall, 126(15.5%) subjects reported excellent, 242(29.8%) very good, 310(38.1%) good, 100(12.3%) satisfactory and 35(4.3%) not satisfactory academic performance. Residential status of students played a significant role on their academic performance (p=0.011). Breakfast eating behaviour depicted a significant association with the academic performance (p=0.04).The proportion of unsatisfactory academic performances among students having severe sleep disorder was the highest, followed by mild/moderate (p=0.01). The depression scale\u27s item \u27troubling in mind\u27 was highly associated with academic performance (p\u3c0.05).Conclusions: A constructive association existed among healthy behaviours and academic performance.

Awareness of Dental Interns to Treat Pregnant Patients

BACKGROUND: Pregnancy causes major changes in maternal physiology and metabolism, which may lead to increased susceptibility to oral infection. AIM: Aim of this study is to assess the awareness of dental interns regarding the management of the dental needs of pregnant patients. METHODS: A cross-sectional questionnaire survey was conducted among 188 interns of a private dental college in Saudi Arabia. The questionnaire comprised of 14 knowledge-based questions regarding their training, awareness and practice management of the pregnant patient in dental clinics. Four questions to record and evaluate their training, the number of pregnant patients treated by them and their confidence level in the dental management of the pregnant patient. Excel spreadsheet was used for mathematical calculations. RESULTS: Almost 62% of our participants never treated a pregnant female during their training. About 65% of the interns knew using antibiotics, almost 55% have a clear idea of the safest NSAIDS, and 43% regarded local anaesthesia to be safe when used among pregnant females. Conversely, about 50% of the participants had no clear knowledge of the FDA category of drugs. Only 24% considered dental radiographs to be safe in pregnant patients. 57% thought to postpone the dental treatment in an acute active dental infection in expecting mothers. Results also showed a lack of confidence among interns to provide dental care to gestating female. CONCLUSION: On analysing the results, we found that there is a need to improve the knowledge, awareness and confidence levels among the interns who are the future dentists treating these patients

Impact of serum and follicular fluid kisspeptin and estradiol on oocyte maturity and endometrial thickness among unexplained infertile females during ICSI

Objective: To relate serum and follicular fluid (FF) kisspeptin and estradiol levels in different stages of stimulation during Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI) with oocyte maturity and endometrial thickness among unexplained infertile females.Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out at the Australian Concept Infertility Medical Centre from March 2017 till March 2018. Fifty unexplained infertile females, booked for ICSI, were included in the study. Serum kisspeptin and estradiol were estimated by Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay in all four stages; 1: follicular stimulation, 2: ovulation induction, 3: oocyte pickup, and 4: embryo transfer. FF was aspirated during oocyte retrieval (stage 3) for the analysis of KP and estradiol. Pregnancy outcomes were categorized as non-pregnant, preclinical abortion, and clinical pregnancy.Results: The age of the study subjects was 32.04 ± 2.29 (Mean±SD) years, with mean BMI of 28.51 ± 4.15 (Mean±SD) kg/m2. Mean serum kisspeptin and estradiol levels increased in all subjects as the stimulation proceeded stages 1-3; however, the mean dropped after retrieval of the oocytes (stage 4). Out of 27 female subjects who completed the cycle, 17 remained non-pregnant, 4 had preclinical abortion, and 6 acquired clinical pregnancy. The FF kisspeptin concentration was significantly higher than serum concentrations and positively correlated with serum and FF estradiol concentrations. FF-kisspeptin correlated with serum kisspeptin in Stage 3 (r = 0.930, p\u3c0.001), maturity of oocyte (r = 0.511, p = 0.006) and endometrial thickness (r = 0.522, p = 0.005). Kisspeptin in stage 3 was also found to correlate with endometrial thickness (r = 0.527, p = 0.005) and with estradiol (r = 0.624, p = 0.001) independently.Conclusion: Increase in serum and FF-kisspeptin and estradiol levels from stages 1 to 3, resulted in an optimum endometrial thickness, probability of fertilization of oocytes and chances of clinical pregnancy in Assisted Reproductive Techniques /ICSI cycles of unexplained infertile females

Computation of propagation characteristics in complex plane for multilayer optical waveguide

This paper provides a numerical simulation for determining the complex propagation constants of integrated optics waveguide. The waveguide under consideration may consist of any number of layers with complex indices due to gain and loss. A general- purpose mode solver MAPLE program has been developed to implement the transfer matrix method, and then it applied to solving the multilayer waveguide dispersion equation in complex plane. Additionally, our program can be used to determine the electromagnetic mode structure including modal power, spatial distribution, mode size parameters, and the position of the modal peak power. Therefore, all necessary parameters for a wide range of laser devices can be calculated

Computation of propagation characteristics in complex plane for multilayer optical waveguide

This paper provides a numerical simulation for determining the complex propagation constants of integrated optics waveguide. The waveguide under consideration may consist of any number of layers with complex indices due to gain and loss. A general- purpose mode solver MAPLE program has been developed to implement the transfer matrix method, and then it applied to solving the multilayer waveguide dispersion equation in complex plane. Additionally, our program can be used to determine the electromagnetic mode structure including modal power, spatial distribution, mode size parameters, and the position of the modal peak power. Therefore, all necessary parameters for a wide range of laser devices can be calculated

Modélisation CEM de type boîte noire d'un onduleur triphasé

International audienceCet article présente une modélisation électromagnétique de type « boîte noire » d’un convertisseur de puissance DC-AC. Cet onduleur est représenté par une association de sources de perturbations électromagnétiques et d’impédances, permettant de reproduire ses caractéristiques d’émissions conduites. L’approche de modélisation présentée dans cet article requière un temps de calcul très court, ce qui permet une conception rapide et optimisée d’un filtre CEM, et une étude d’interaction entre plusieurs convertisseurs connectés sur le même réseau électrique. Ce modèle dépendant d’un point de fonctionnement donné du convertisseur, la deuxième partie de cet article est consacrée à l’étude de l’influence du changement de charge sur ce modèle comportemental