Preface

Over the past few years, the Internet of things (IoT) has introduced the possibility to design a whole new concept of our world "smart environments...

Role of artificial intelligence and vibrational spectroscopy in cancer diagnostics

Introduction: Raman and Infrared spectroscopic techniques are being used for the analysis of different types of cancers and other biological molecules. It is possible to identify cancers from normal tissues both in fresh and fixed tissues. These techniques can be used not only for the early diagnosis of cancer but also for monitoring the progression of the disease. Furthermore, chemical pathways to the progression of the disease process can be understood and followed. Areas covered: More recently, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Neural Network (NN), and Machine Learning are being combined with spectroscopy, which is making it easier to understand the chemical structural details of cancers and biological molecules more precisely and accurately. In this report, these aspects are being outlined by using breast cancer as a specific example. Expert opinion: A pathway showing to combine vibrational spectroscopy with AI and ML has immense potential in predicting various stages of different disease processes, in particular, in cancer diagnosis, staging, and designing treatment. This will result in improved patient care pathways

Management of cercospora leaf spot of groundnut (Cercospora arachidicola & Cercosporidium personatum) through the use of systemic fungicides

Various fungal diseases reduce groundnut yield but Cercospora leaf spot commonly called, Tikka disease is most detrimental one. A field experiment was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of different fungicides and their doses on Cercospora leaf spot of groundnut. Five different fungicides (Chlorothalonil, Propineb, Mancozeb, Nativo and Triazole) having three different doses (prescribed, half & prescribed+half) were used to control Cercospora leaf spot of groundnut. Groundnut variety (YH-14) highly susceptible to Cercospora leaf spot was used. The experiment was laid down in RCBD design. The data were analyzed statistically by Fisher’s analysis of variance technique. Results showed that maximum disease control with high pod yield was observed with Nativo and Triazole treatments. Efficacy of Chlorothalonil was also better than Mancozeb and Propineb. Maximum disease control and pod yield was observed when Nativo was used @ 0.97g/L of water, followed by @ 0.65g/L and 0.32 g/L, respectively. Propineb was the least effective in controlling Cercospora leaf spot of groundnut as well as having minimum pod yield

Recent concepts in biodegradable polymers for tissue engineering paradigms: a critical review

Tissue engineering and regenerative medicine are emerging as future approaches for the treatment of acute and chronic diseases. Numerous clinical conditions exist today and include congenital disorders, trauma, infection, inflammation, and cancer, in which hard and soft tissue damage, organ failure and loss are still not treated effectively. Researchers are constantly developing new biomaterials and tissue-engineered technologies to stimulate tissue regeneration. Various emerging approaches according to organ, tissue, disease and disorder are identified. Irrespective, engineered biomaterials are required to regenerate and ultimately reproduce the original physiological, biological, chemical, and mechanical properties. Biodegradable materials have been used extensively as regenerative therapies. The selection, design, biological and physicochemical properties of these materials are important and must be considered for stimulating tissue growth. In this review, we critique recently developed biodegradable materials for tissue regeneration of some targeted organs e.g., skin, nerves, blood vessels, heart, cornea, trachea, dental/oral structure and bones

Synthesis and characterization of cellulose/hydroxyapatite based dental restorative composites

The aim of this study was anin-situsynthesis of hydroxyapatite (HA) on cellulose fibers to be used as a new reinforcing agent for dental restorations. The microwave irradiation method was used for synthesis and the materials were characterized with analytical techniques. The prepared dental resin composites were mechanically tested by a universal testing machine and electrodynamic fatigue testing system. FTIR, XRD, SEM/EDS analysis confirmed the successful synthesis of HA on cellulose fibers. The Alamar blue biocompatibility assay showed more than 90% cell viability for the prepared cellulose/HA. The mechanical properties of resin composites improved with cellulose content from 30 wt.% to 50 wt.% in the polymer matrix. Substantially, increasing the cellulose/HA content from 40% to 50% improved the mechanical properties. The results suggested that HA could be successfully synthesized on cellulose fibers using microwave irradiation and contributed to improving the mechanical properties of dental resin composites

Electrospun polyurethane/hydroxyapatite bioactive Scaffolds for bone tissue engineering: The role of solvent and hydroxyapatite particles

Abstract Polyurethane (PU) is a promising polymer to support bone–matrix producing cells due to its durability and mechanical resistance. In this study two types of medical grade poly-ether urethanes Z3A1 and Z9A1 and PU-Hydroxyapatite (PU–HA) composites were investigated for their ability to act as a scaffold for tissue engineered bone. PU dissolved in varying concentrations of dimethylformamide (DMF) and tetrahydrofuran (THF) solvents were electrospun to attain scaffolds with randomly orientated non-woven fibres. Bioactive polymeric composite scaffolds were created using 15 wt% Z3A1 in a 70/30 DMF/THF PU solution and incorporating micro- or nano-sized HA particles in a ratio of 3:1 respectively, whilst a 25 wt% Z9A1 PU solution was doped in ratio of 5:1. Chemical properties of the resulting composites were evaluated by FTIR and physical properties by SEM. Tensile mechanical testing was carried out on all electrospun scaffolds. MLO-A5 osteoblastic mouse cells and human embryonic mesenchymal progenitor cells, hES-MPs were seeded on the scaffolds to test their biocompatibility and ability to support mineralised matrix production over a 28 day culture period. Cell viability was assayed by MTT and calcium and collagen deposition by Sirius red and alizarin red respectively. SEM images of both electrospun PU scaffolds and PU–HA composite scaffolds showed differences in fibre morphology with changes in solvent combinations and size of HA particles. Inclusion of THF eliminated the presence of beads in fibres that were present in scaffolds fabricated with 100% DMF solvent, and resulted in fibres with a more uniform morphology and thicker diameters. Mechanical testing demonstrated that the Young׳s Modulus and yield strength was lower at higher THF concentrations. Inclusion of both sizes of HA particles in PU–HA solutions reinforced the scaffolds leading to higher mechanical properties, whilst FTIR characterisation confirmed the presence of HA in all composite scaffolds. Although all scaffolds supported proliferation of both cell types and deposition of calcified matrix, PU–HA composite fibres containing nano-HA enabled the highest cell viability and collagen deposition. These scaffolds have the potential to support bone matrix formation for bone tissue engineering

The burden of unintentional drowning: Global, regional and national estimates of mortality from the Global Burden of Disease 2017 Study

__Background:__ Drowning is a leading cause of injury-related mortality globally. Unintentional drowning (International Classification of Diseases (ICD) 10 codes W65-74 and ICD9 E910) is one of the 30 mutually exclusive and collectively exhaustive causes of injury-related mortality in the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study. This study's objective is to describe unintentional drowning using GBD estimates from 1990 to 2017. __Methods:__ Unintentional drowning from GBD 2017 was estimated for cause-specific mortality and years of life lost (YLLs), age, sex, country, region, Socio-demographic Index (SDI) quintile, and trends from 1990 to 2017. GBD 2017 used standard GBD methods for estimating mortality from drowning. __Results:__ Globally, unintentional drowning mortality decreased by 44.5% between 1990 and 2017, from 531 956 (uncertainty interval (UI): 484 107 to 572 854) to 295 210 (284 493 to 306 187) deaths. Global age-standardised mortality rates decreased 57.4%, from 9.3 (8.5 to 10.0) in 1990 to 4.0 (3.8 to 4.1) per 100 000 per annum in 2017. Unintentional drowning-associated mortality was generally higher in children, males and in low-SDI to middle-SDI countries. China, India, Pakistan and Bangladesh accounted for 51.2% of all drowning deaths in 2017. Oceania was the region with the highest rate of age-standardised YLLs in 2017, with 45 434 (40 850 to 50 539) YLLs per 100 000 across both sexes. __Conclusions:__ There has been a decline in global drowning rates. This study shows that the decline was not consistent across countries. The results reinforce the need for continued and improved policy, prevention and research efforts, with a focus on low-and middle-income countries