Dynamic knowledge assets management to interactive problem solving and sustained learning : a collaborative CBR system in chronic and palliative care

Knowledge management is a decision-making approach for facilitating the development and application of a variety types of knowledge assets. There are a number of key questions in the field, including “how can we gather knowledge assets?” and “How can we evaluate knowledge management initiatives planned for improving user experiences?”. The identification of the key knowledge asset value drivers and their relations allows stakeholders to define priorities. It is also important to utilize existing knowledge effectively in the proper knowledge management of knowledge-based assets. Accordingly, building a knowledge-based system to solve new and similar problems is a research challenge that this thesis aims to address. Although search engines and question-answering systems already serve as crucial tools for knowledge workers, understanding texts and using knowledge obtained from the texts for problem-solving is far from routine. Thus, this work addresses the problem of developing a collaborative knowledge-based system that can learn from user experience and knowledge assets. The research described in this dissertation involved an investigation of the use of word association strength based on the statistical cohesions between words to build a semantic profile of a text. This approach in the retrieval of relevant information can provide reasoning information from a text in a manner that has traditionally required the use of human experts; this information then be reused in the analysis of new problems. In developing an artificial intelligence (AI)-based problem-solving technique, this study investigated the use of case-based reasoning (CBR), a methodology in which data representing information on solved problems is stored for reuse in new problem-solving processes. The choice of past cases to be reused is based on similarity measures in the retrieval process as extracted from all stored cases in the case base. Each similarity measure characterizes a set of heuristics for approximating the unidentified utility of a case, and the quality of similarity measures can be improved by integrating as much knowledge regarding the specific application domain as possible into them. Features relations from ontology and fuzzy logic can also be integrated into CBR similarity measures to handle the ambiguities and uncertainties that are characteristically present in knowledge-intensive processes. The system developed in this research – DePicT CLASS – is based on the DePicT concept, in which diseases are detected and predicted using image classification and text information from personal health records. DePicT CLASS was developed to serve as a collaborative case-based system to support caregivers and patients’ relatives by preparing relevant references and learning material to help them understand the patients’ medical issues. The main characteristics of DePicT and DePicT CLASS are demonstrated in this work using instances from two disease domains: dementia and melanoma.Wissensmanagement ist ein Ansatz der Entscheidungsfindung, um die Entwicklung und Anwendung von Wissensressourcen unterschiedlicher Art zu erleichtern. Es gibt eine Reihe von Schlüsselfragen in diesem Bereich, einschließlich „Wie können wir Wissensressourcen sammeln?“ und „Wie können wir Initiativen zum Wissensmanagement bewerten, die zur Verbesserung der Benutzererfahrungen geplant sind?“. Die Identifikation der wichtigsten Wissensbestandswerttreiber und deren Beziehungen ermöglichen es den Stakeholdern, Prioritäten zu definieren. Darüber hinaus ist es wichtig, vorhandenes Wissen effektiv für das richtige Wissensmanagement von wissensbasierten Beständen zu nutzen. Dementsprechend ist der Aufbau eines wissensbasierten Systems zur Lösung neuer und ähnlicher Probleme eine Forschungsherausforderung, die mit dieser Dissertation angegangen werden soll. Obwohl Suchmaschinen und Frage-Antwort-Systeme bereits als entscheidende Werkzeuge für Wissensarbeiter dienen, ist das Verstehen von Texten und das Verwenden von Wissen, das aus den Texten zur Problemlösung gewonnen wird, weit von einer Routine entfernt. Daher befasst sich diese Arbeit mit dem Problem der Entwicklung eines kollaborativen wissensbasierten Systems, das von Benutzererfahrungen und Wissensressourcen lernen kann. Die in dieser Dissertation beschriebene Forschung beinhaltete eine Untersuchung der Verwendung von Wortvereinigungsstärke basierend auf den statistischen Zusammenhängen zwischen Wörtern, um ein semantisches Profil eines Textes aufzubauen. Dieser Ansatz bei der Suche nach relevanten Informationen kann aus einem Text aufschlussreiche Informationen liefern, die traditionell den Einsatz von Experten erfordern. Diese Informationen werden dann bei der Analyse neuer Probleme wiederverwendet. Bei der Entwicklung einer auf künstlicher Intelligenz beruhenden Problemlösungs-Technik untersuchte diese Studie die Verwendung von fallbasiertem Denken (CBR), eine Methodik, bei der Daten, die Informationen zu gelösten Problemen darstellen, zur Wiederverwendung in neuen Problemlösungsprozessen gespeichert werden. Die Auswahl der zu verwendenden Fälle in der Vergangenheit basiert auf Ähnlichkeitsmaßen im Abrufprozess, die aus allen gespeicherten Fällen in der Fallbasis extrahiert werden. Jedes Ähnlichkeitsmaß charakterisiert eine Menge von Heuristiken zur Approximation des nicht identifizierten Nutzens eines Falls, und die Qualität von Ähnlichkeitsmaßen kann verbessert werden, indem so viel Wissen wie möglich in die spezifische Anwendungsdomäne integriert wird. Eigenschaften-Relationen aus Ontologie und Fuzzy-Logik können auch in CBR-Ähnlichkeitsmaße integriert werden, um die Mehrdeutigkeiten und Unsicherheiten zu bewältigen, die charakteristisch in wissensintensiven Prozessen vorhanden sind. Das in dieser Studie entwickelte System – DePicT CLASS - basiert auf dem DePicT Konzept, bei dem Krankheiten anhand von Bildklassifikationen und Textinformationen aus persönlichen Gesundheitsakten erkannt und vorhergesagt werden. DePicT CLASS wurde entwickelt, um als kollaboratives fallbasiertes System zur Unterstützung von Angehörigen und Angehörigen von Patienten zu dienen, indem relevante Referenzen und Lernmaterialien erstellt werden, die ihnen helfen, die medizinischen Probleme der Patienten zu verstehen. Die Hauptmerkmale von DePicT und DePicT CLASS werden in dieser Arbeit anhand von Beispielen aus zwei Krankheitsdomänen demonstriert: Demenz und Melanom

Technical and Environmental Impacts of Coal Waste Used as a Soil Stabilizer in Construction Projects of Forest Roads

Many pozzolans are waste products from industrial processes. Every year a huge amount of coal waste is gathered from the coal washing plant in the Hyrcanian forests of Iran. These materials can be used for soil stabilization in construction and maintenance projects of forest roads. This paper aims to (a) investigate the role of coal waste (CW) as a soil stabilizer and (b) determine the changes in soil specification regarding the environmental pollution in different combinations of materials (soil, lime (4 and 6%) and CW (3, 6, 9 and 12%)). For this purpose, different technical and environmental analysis and laboratory tests were performed. Technical tests showed that the soil liquid limit and maximum dry density decreased with an increase in lime and CW contents. Addition of CW could increase the soil CBR, UCS and OMC. According to XRD test, the addition of CW and lime can increase the size of crystals in stabilized soil samples. Environmental analysis showed that the use of stabilizer significantly reduced the concentration of heavy metals such as Cd, Cr and Pb. Also, all of the metal concentrations leached from samples satisfied the required criteria, but the addition of lime and CW increased the concentration of N, P, and K. These changes can increase the invasive species consistent with calcareous soil conditions along the roads. According to the results, the combination of coal waste and lime can be one of the best methods for in situ remediation. It would, however, be better to use a minimum amount of stabilizer in pavement layers of access roads due to environmental sensitivity

Characterization of Probiotic Fermented Milk Prepared by Different Inoculation Size of Mesophilic and Thermophilic Lactic Acid Bacteria

Background and Objectives: Importance of development of novel probiotic fermented milk and challenge made for its acceptability is well known. In this research, the impact of different inoculation sizes of yogurt and DL-type starter culture (mesophilic and thermophilic LAB) on titratable acidity, viscosity, sensorial and microbial properties of fermented milk was investigated; and finally, probiotic Langfil was produced.Materials and Methods: Fermented milk produced by 1, 2 and 3% v v-1 inocula consisting thermophilic: mesophilic starter cultures 10:90 (Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis, Lactococcus lactis subsp. cremoris, Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis, Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis biovar. diacetylactis and Leuconostoc mesenteroides subsp. cremoris. Streptococcus thermophilus and Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. Bulgaricus) were analyzed for determination of titratable acidity, viscosity, viability of mesophilic starter cultures and sensory properties on days 5, 10, and 15 of storage at 4°C. Then, the most suitable treatments were selected for the producing probiotic Langfil, containing probiotic starter culture (2% v v-1 inoculums with equal ratio of Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium bifidum. Lactococcus lactis and L. cremoris were counted on M17 agar, while Leuconostoc and Lactobacillus were counted aerobically on tomato juice agar and MRS bile agar, respectively. Bifidobacterium was cultured anaerobically on MRS bile agar. Sensory evaluation was carried out by ten trained panelists, based on a nine-point hedonic scale during the cold storage.Results and Conclusion: According to results, the best organoleptic properties were achieved in the product prepared with 2% the mesophilic and thermophilic starter cultures and 2% probiotic. This product had a high viscosity. An Iranian probiotic Langfil with desired properties was produced using the best treatment prepared.Conflict of interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest

Antibacterial Efficacy of Polymer Coated Ceramic Microparticles loaded with a novel combination of antibiotics on the Enterococcus Faecalis Biofilm

Introduction: Nano-technology applied for the local delivery of different agents and/or drugs has made its path to endodontics. In the current study, the antibacterial efficacy of biopolymer-coated ceramic microparticles loaded with a modified combination of triple antibiotics, i.e. Penicillin G, Metronidazole and Ciprofloxacin (PMC), was evaluated against two strains of Enterococcus faecalis (E.faecalis); a standard clinical strain obtained from previously root-filled teeth with persistent periapical lesions, and compared to the most common antimicrobials used in endodontics. Methods and Materials: After synthesis of the polymer-coated microparticles loaded with antibiotics, the 21-day release of antibiotics were evaluated and a stock solution was produced using the maximum released amount of drugs and distilled water. The antibacterial activity of PMC, triple antibiotic paste (TAP), calcium hydroxide (CH), chlorhexidine (CHX) and sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) against two bacterial strains was determined using “Minimum Inhibitory Concentration” and “Agar Diffusion Test”. Additionally, “Microtiter Plate Assay” was performed to assess anti-biofilm properties. Results: Minimum inhibitory concentration values reported for TAP and PMC were 1/256. PMC showed the maximum diameter of growth inhibition in both strains (33 mm and 35 mm), while CH had the minimum diameters (13 mm and13 mm). Based on microtiter plate assay, TAP showed higher biofilm formation than PMC. Biofilm formation was higher in the standard strain for PMC; however, NaOCl, CHX and CH completely inhibited biofilm formation. Conclusions: Based on the findings of the present study, it could be concluded that PMC and TAP were the most effective medicaments against E.faecalis in its planktonic form; however, none could inhibit its biofilm formation. Further studies using larger sample size and “Confocal Scanning Laser Microscopy” are recommended

99mTC-MDP bone scanning in a subungual glomus tumour

A 37-year-old female patient with four months history of paroxysmal pain in the left index finger was referred to our department for 99mTC-MDP scintigraphy. Radiographic studies of the patient showed a lytic tumour in the distal phalanx of the left second finger compatible with a glomus tumour. The scan showed mild decreased activity in the blood pool phase and minimal increased activity on the delayed images. The patient underwent surgery and a glomus tumour was removed. To the extent of our knowledge, this is the first case of bone scan in a glomus tumour of the finger reported in the literature

The methanolic extract of Cinnamomum zeylanicum bark improves formaldehyde-induced neurotoxicity through reduction of phospho-tau (Thr231), inflammation, and apoptosis

Accumulation of formaldehyde (FA) in the brain is linked to age-related neurodegenerative disorders, as it accelerates memory impairment through tau protein aggregation, inflammation, and nuclear damage. This study aimed to assess the possible effects of methanolic cinnamon extract (CE) on FA-induced neurotoxicity in rats. The animals were treated with CE (100, 200, and 400 mg/kg, P.O.) for 30 days following FA administration (60 mg/kg, I.P.) for 30 days. Briefly, spatial and inhibitory memory were examined by Morris water maze (MWM) and passive avoidance (PA) tasks, respectively. The Nissl, Hoechst, and Bielschowsky silver staining methods were also used to assess apoptosis and neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) in the hippocampal CA1 region, respectively. Brain tissues were probed with an anti-phospho-tau (Thr231) monoclonal antibody to assess tau hyperphosphorylation. Inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α) were also measured by ELISA assay. Western blotting was performed to quantify the amount of phospho-tau (Thr231), caspase-8, and caspase-9. The results showed that FA injection significantly caused tau hyperphosphorylation at Thr231 residue, which in turn disturbed the MWM performance. The ratio of apoptotic to intact neurons increased following FA treatment. The results of Western blotting indicated that the hippocampal levels of phospho-tau (Thr231) and caspase-8 were significantly higher in the FA group compared to the control group. The hippocampal levels of IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α in the FA group were also higher than the control group. Administration of 200 mg/kg of CE significantly improved the rats’ MWM performance, decreased the levels of phospho-tau (Thr231), caspase-8, IL-6, and TNF-α, and reduced the ratio of apoptotic to intact neurons. Overall, cinnamon improved cognitive performance in FA-treated rats by eliminating tau hyperphosphorylation, inflammatory cytokines, and nuclear damage

Efficient Direct Nitrosylation of alpha-Diimine Rhenium Tricarbonyl Complexes to Structurally Nearly Identical Higher Charge Congeners Activable towards Photo-CO Release

The reaction of rhenium alpha-diimine (N-N) tricarbonyl complexes with nitrosonium tetrafluoroborate yields the corresponding dicarbonyl-nitrosyl [Re(CO)(2)(NO)(N-N)X](+) species (where X = halide). The complexes, accessible in a single step in good yield, are structurally nearly identical higher charge congeners of the tricarbonyl molecules. Substitution chemistry aimed at the realization of equivalent dicationic species (intended for applications as potential antimicrobial agents), revealed that the reactivity of metal ion in [Re(CO)(2)(NO)(N-N)X](+) is that of a hard Re acid, probably due to the stronger pi-acceptor properties of NO+ as compared to those of CO. The metal ion thus shows great affinity for pi-basic ligands, which are consequently difficult to replace by, e.g., sigma-donor or weak pi-acids like pyridine. Attempts of direct nitrosylation of alpha-diimine fac-[Re(CO)(3)](+) complexes bearing pi-basic OR-type ligands gave the [Re(CO)(2)(NO)(N-N)(BF4)][BF4] salt as the only product in good yield, featuring a stable Re-FBF3 bond. The solid state crystal structure of nearly all molecules presented could be elucidated. A fundamental consequence of the chemistry of [Re(CO)(2)(NO)(N-N)X](+) complexes, it that the same can be photo-activated towards CO release and represent an entirely new class of photoCORMs

Evaluation of the antibacterial effect of nickel oxide nanoparticles against bacteria involved in dental caries

Tooth decay is one of the most common diseases in the oral cavity and is one of the most widespread diseases in the human population. This study aimed to determine the antibacterial effect of nickel oxide nanoparticles against bacteria involved in tooth decay. In this study, the disk diffusion method was used to determine the antibiotic susceptibility and the microdilution broth method was used to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC). Nanoparticles were also synthesized in two molecular size (A: 8.1 and B: 12 nm) by the sol-gel method. The MIC of the first nanoparticle for Streptococcus sanguinis and Streptococcus mutans was 31.25 and 125 μg/ml, respectively. The MIC of the second nanoparticle for S. sanguinis was 125 μg/ml. In the case of S. mutans up to a concentration of 500 μg/ml, no growth inhibition was observed. The results showed that nickel oxide nanoparticles have acceptable antibacterial properties against S. mutans and S. sanguinis, which can be used in dental materials to prevent dental caries. However, this requires the determination of cellular toxicity and its side effects in future studies.

Antiplasmodial Activity and In Vivo Bio-Distribution of Chloroquine Molecules Released with a 4-(4-Ethynylphenyl)-Triazole Moiety from Organometallo-Cobalamins

We have explored the possibility of using organometallic derivatives of cobalamin as a scaffold for the delivery of the same antimalarial drug to both erythro- and hepatocytes. This hybrid molecule approach, intended as a possible tool for the development of multi-stage antimalarial agents, pivots on the preparation of azide-functionalized drugs which, after coupling to the vitamin, are released with a 4-(4-ethynylphenyl)-triazole functionality. Three chloroquine and one imidazolopiperazine derivative (based on the KAF156 structure) were selected as model drugs. One hybrid chloroquine conjugate was extensively studied via fluorescent labelling for in vitro and in vivo bio-distribution studies and gave proof-of-concept for the design. It showed no toxicity in vivo (zebrafish model) as well as no hepatotoxicity, no cardiotoxicity or developmental toxicity of the embryos. All 4-(4-ethynylphenyl)-triazole derivatives of chloroquine were equally active against chloroquine-resistant (CQR) and chloroquine-sensitive (CQS) Plasmodium falciparum strains