Bacillus cereus as a nongastrointestinal pathogen

The potential of Bacillus cereus to cause systemic infections is of serious concern. Apart from Gastrointestinal infections, it causes respiratory tract infections, nosocomial infections, eye infections, CNS infections, cutaneous infections, endocarditis, osteomyelitis and urinary tract infections. The potential of this bacterium to cause life threatening infections has increased. Trauma is an important predisposing factor for Bacillus cereus infections.The maintenance of skin and mucous membrane integrity limits infection by this micro-organism

Modelling of Bidirectional DC-DC Converter with DualBattery Energy Storage: An Application for Hybrid Electric Vehicle System

This study develops a newly designed, patented, bidirectional dc/dc converter (BDC) that interfaces amain energy storage (ES1), an auxiliary energy storage (ES2), and dc-bus of different voltage levels,for application in hybrid electric vehicle systems. The proposed converter can operate in a step-upmode (i.e., low-voltage dual-source-powering mode) and a step-down (i.e., high-voltage dc-linkenergy-regenerating mode), both with bidirectional power flow control. In addition, the model canindependently control power flow between any two low-voltage sources (i.e., low-voltage dual-sourcebuck/boost mode). Herein, the circuit configuration, operation, steady-state analysis, and closed-loopcontrol of the proposed BDC are discussed according to its three modes of power transfer. Moreover,the simulation and experimental results for a 1 kW prototype system are provided to validate theproposed converte

The Secure Data Sharing Mechanism for Cloud Computing Based Cloud Storage System

Secure cloud storage, which is an emerging cloud service, is designed to protect the confidentiality of outsourced data but also to provide flexible data access for cloud users whose data is out of physical control. The emergence of cloud infrastructure has significantly reduced the costs of hardware and software resources in computing infrastructure. To ensure security, the data is usually encrypted before it’s outsourced to the cloud. Unlike searching and sharing the plain data, it is challenging to search and share the data after encryption. Nevertheless, it is a critical task for6 the cloud service provider as the users expect the cloud to conduct a quick search and return the result without losing8 data confidentiality. To overcome these problems, Finally, the proposed construction21 is demonstrated practical and efficient in the performance and property comparison. However, the use of CP-ABE may yield an inevitable security breach which is known as the misuse of access credential (i.e. decryption rights), due to the intrinsic “all-or-nothing” decryption feature of CP-ABE. In this paper, we investigate the two main cases of access credential misuse: one is on the semi-trusted authority side, and the other is on the side of cloud user. To mitigate the misuse, We also present the security analysis and further demonstrate the utility of our system via experiments

PURIFICATION AND MOLECULAR WEIGHT DETERMINATION OF KERATINASE ISOLATED FROM STREPTOMYCES MALAYSIENSIS

Objective: The aim of the present study was to purify and determine the molecular weight of keratinase isolated from Streptomyces malaysiensis.Methods: For that purpose purification was done using ammonium sulphate and Sephadex-LH 100 column chromatography. Further, the fractions were pooled and subjected to molecular weight determination using sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE).Results: The obtained results showed keratinase with 47.57% recovery, 3.5-fold purification and an estimated molecular mass of 27,000 Da. Keratinase showed an optimal activity at 60 οC and pH 8. Keratinase activity of the purified product was assayed with feather powder as a substrate. The isolated strain was identified as Streptomyces malaysiensis based on phylogenetic tree analysis. The strain isolated from termite mound soil showed the highest keratinase activity, which could be considered a microorganism of environmental origin.Conclusion: The production of keratinase on simple media with feathers as sole source allowing its production from the cheap substrate and a commercial production with low production cost. Stability in the presence of detergents, surfactants and solvents make this keratinase extremely useful for a biotechnological process involving keratin

REVERSED PHASE-HIGH PERFORMANCE LIQUID CHROMATOGRAPHY METHOD DEVELOPMENT AND VALIDATION OF ATORVASTATIN IN BULK DRUG AND FORMULATION

Objective: To develop and validate a simple, selective, rapid, precise, and accurate high performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method fordetermination of atorvastatin in bulk and its pharmaceutical formulation product.Method: Reversed phase-HPLC (RP-HPLC) method was performed by a mobile phase consisting mixture of methanol and ammonium acetate buffer(pH 4.5) in the proportion 60:40 v/v. A ZORBAX Eclipse plus C(4.6 mm × 100 mm, 3.5 μ) column was used as a stationary phase. HPLC analysis ofatorvastatin was carried out at a wavelength of 241 nm with a flow rate of 1 ml/minute.18 Results: The linear regression analysis data for the calibration curve showed a good linear relationship with a correlation coefficient 0.9984. Thelinear regression equation was y=3726540.2x+27390388.1. This was found to give a sharp peak of atorvastatin at a retention time of 2.77 minutes.Validation parameters were evaluated for the method according to the ICH (Q2R1) guidelines. The limit of detection and limit of quantification for themethod were 0.6721 μg/mL and 1.9989 μg/mL, respectively. The % relative standard deviation values for intra-day precision and inter-day precisionwere found to be 0.31% and 0.30%, respectively. An accuracy of the method was determined through recovery studies which were found to be within97.57-102.22%.Conclusion: The method was validated for system suitability, accuracy, precision, robustness, and ruggedness. The precision, accuracy, sensitivityshort retention time and composition of the mobile phase indicated that this method is better than the earlier methods developed for the quantificationof atorvastatin.Keywords: Atorvastatin, Reversed phase-high performance liquid chromatographic method development, Validation

Obstructive sleep apnea: oral appliances and materials

For the dental profession in general and in prosthodontists speciality, the subject of sleep medicine continues to offer great challenges and opportunities in diagnosis, treatment planning, and treatment based on qualitative evidence. Though the role contends by the prosthodontists is still in its infancy, there is a lot to find out and understand in the rapidly evolving field of sleep medicine because the recognition of co-managing patients with sleep disorders by the prosthodontists is quick changing into a reality. This article discusses the prosthodontic perspectives, particularly on obstructive sleep apnea

Mini-implants, mega solutions: a review

Dental implants have evolved as a standard treatment option for the replacement of missing teeth. Though this treatment modality provides a high level of patient satisfaction and success, it cannot be performed in all cases. Implant use is also restricted when the quality and quantity of bone at the edentulous site is limited, in addition to medically impaired patients. Among the conditions are remaining ridges with reduced interdental spacing, atrophic edentulous maxillary and mandibular ridges, and narrow ridges such as the mandibular incisor and maxillary lateral incisor area. A proper augmentation method for the placement of a regular diameter implant (3.75 to 7 mm) can improve the height and width of bone at such sites. However, bone augmentation and bone grafting procedures are rarely undertaken due to financial constraints, the risk of subjecting the patient to additional surgical procedures, the added time factor, or the guarded prognosis of the grafted site. In such cases, mini-implants are the choice of treatment. Mini-implants have the potential to be a viable alternative to standard-diameter implants in some circumstances. Benefits of mini-implants can be gained by replacing a single missing tooth, or preferably they must be used in multiples to retain fixed dental prostheses and might serve as an inexpensive, and efficient solution for retaining overdentures in selected cases

Objective structured practical examination as a formative assessment tool for IInd MBBS microbiology students

Background: Assessment drives learning. It is well known that conventional or Traditional Practical Examination (TPE) has several limitations, especially in terms of subjectivity. In OSPE the procedures are standardized, so objectivity is ensured and also reliability maximized. Objectives of the study were to compare TPE & OSPE examination in formative assessment for IInd MBBS microbiology students on the topic culture media and to obtain feedback from students attending OSPE, and faculty.Methods: 76 students were taught about culture media and simultaneously were sensitized about OSPE and TPE, which followed the next week. Informed consent was taken. All students were randomly divided into 2 batches (TPE and OSPE) based on roll call. 71 students were tested, 33 for OSPE and 38 for TPE. Eight OSPE stations were set up with 8 culture media, plus a rest station after station 4. TPE students went for viva-voce to one examiner for same eight culture media. Both OSPE and TPE students were evaluated for a score of 20. OSPE students and the faculty were given a pre-validated questionnaire for feedback.Results: Mean scores, standard deviation (SD) and “p” values were calculated using the T-test from the scores obtained. The mean scores for OSPE and TPE were found to be statistically significant- p-value <0.01. Feedback from OSPE students & faculty was also evaluated.Conclusions: OSPE is more structured and eliminates examiner bias better, and should be practiced in formative assessments and also be introduced in summative assessments

A community based study on dengue awareness and preventive practices among urban slum population in Hyderabad, South India

Background: Dengue is identified as public health problem due to its rapid spread throughout the world. In India raising trend of dengue cases in monsoon is being observed. Objectives were to determine the level of awareness regarding dengue fever and practice of preventive measures and its association with socio-demographic factors; and to find out the association between awareness and practice of preventive measures.Methods: A community based cross sectional study was conducted among 150 residents of urban slum area, Shaikpet. Mean scores of awareness and practices were found and with a cut off >60% categorized as good. Chi-square test was used to find association with socio-demographic factors. Logistic regression was done for risk estimation.Results: The awareness regarding dengue fever was only 22.7% with a mean score, 8.1 (SD=3.74). Good practices were shown by 55.3% with a mean score of 10.7 (SD=5). Among those who were aware majority belonged to higher educational level (p=0.048). A significant difference was observed between income and occupation with practices. A positive correlation was found between awareness and practices in dengue fever (r=0.511, p<0.001). Females (OR=2.5) and school level education (OR=3.4) were predictors of poor awareness while professionals and low income were predictors of poor practices (p<0.05).Conclusions: Better aware people were found to practice preventive measures. So, grass root level workers can provide health education among households focusing on behaviour change, regarding preventive measures. Appropriate use of information, education and communication through mass media and social network will be beneficial

Study on knowledge, attitude and practices with respect to antibiotic use among medical students

Background: Antibiotic resistance has emerged as a serious global problem. Irrational prescribing of antibiotics is one of the key factors responsible for the development of antibiotic resistance. As today’s medical students will be the future prescribers their awareness regarding antibiotic resistance and rational prescribing of antibiotics is very much important. The main objective of the study was to evaluate the knowledge, attitude and practices of the medical students towards antibiotic use.Methods: A cross-sectional questionnaire-based study was conducted involving the medical students from all the semesters. A predesigned questionnaire was used to evaluate the knowledge, attitude and practices of the respondents. The response options were ‘yes’ or ‘no’ for some questions, and a 5 point Likert scale used to assess some questions. The data was analyzed using MS office Excel.Results: A total of 457 fully completed questionnaires from the respondents were evaluated. Majority of the respondents (70%) were females, and 91% of the respondents were aware of antibiotic resistance as a global problem. On analysis of score of questions assessing knowledge, 91% of respondents had attained a score in the range of 5-7. Majority (83%) of the respondents used antibiotics only on doctor’s prescription and 74% of the respondents had completed the prescribed course.Conclusions: The present study gives an insight on the knowledge, attitude and practices of medical students on antibiotic use, and can be used as a tool to plan educational strategies to improve the knowledge of the students regarding rational use of antibiotics