Artificial Intelligence in Mental Health

Chatbots are programmed conversational agents that emulate communication systematically using natural language processing. They can be programmed to assume a range of roles where regular human interaction occurs. Within mental health services, they are not as well represented as in other areas of healthcare, with research suggesting that uptake has been hindered by concerns over the accuracy of the information they provide, undeveloped technology, lack of adherence to an ethical framework, and the unconvincing portrayal of human authenticity. Technological improvements have addressed some of these concerns, and as the resultant solution choice increases, the potential for chatbots within mental health is receiving greater attention. In this chapter, two novel uses for chatbots are showcased. Foxbot, a recovery friend, accessible at the point of need to help mitigate some of the common risk factors to sustaining addiction recovery; and ERIC, a counselling client who allows trainee counsellors to practise their counselling skills without having to enlist an actual client.

Noncovalent Functionalization of Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes with a Photocleavable Polythiophene Derivative

Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) have received extensive research attention owing to their extraordinary optical, electrical, and mechanical properties, which make them particularly attractive for application in optoelectronic devices. However, SWCNTs are insoluble in almost all solvents. Therefore, developing methods to solubilize SWCNTs is crucial for their use in solution-based processes. In this study, we developed a photocleavable polythiophene-derivative polymer dispersant for SWCNTs. The noncovalent surface functionalization of SWCNTs with a polymer allows their dispersal in tetrahydrofuran. The resultant solution-processed polymer/SWCNT composite film undergoes a hydrophobic-to-hydrophilic change in surface properties upon light irradiation (313 nm) because hydrophilic carboxyl groups are formed upon photocleavage of the hydrophobic solubilizing units in the polymer. Furthermore, the photocleaved composite film displays a 38-fold increase in electrical conductivity. This is due to the removal of the solubilizing unit, which is electrically insulating.

Online monitoring of polysaccharide solution concentration by electromagnetic field, electrical conductivity and spectrophotometry measurements

Online control of industrial processes by lean principle increases productivity and yields higher product quality. Polysaccharides are dissolved in liquids, such as water, in many industrial products, like paints, cosmetics and culinary products. In these products, it is important to control viscosity or create thixotropy and yield stress for product functionality. Electromagnetic field and electrical conductivity techniques were applied to a meter polysaccharide dissolution process online up to a 0.5 wt% concentration, and the resultant solution was also further tested by UV–Vis spectrophotometry. The electromagnetic field technique measures changes in the local electrical permittivity of the liquid and the interest in this research were to find out whether the changes correlate to the concentration changes during the dissolution of polymer polysaccharide. The results that were obtained showed good consistency, suggesting the feasibility of the electromagnetic field technique in online monitoring of a polysaccharide suspension concentration. Moreover, this technique gives the advantage of instant monitoring of a polysaccharide dissolution for improved process control. Graphic abstract

Rapidly-Dissolving silver-containing bioactive glasses for cariostatic applications

A novel bioactive glass series containing incremental amounts of silver oxide was synthesized, ground down, and subsequently incorporated into a dentifrice for the purpose of reducing the incidence of dental caries and lesion formation. Three glasses were synthesized using the melt quench route: Si-Control (70SiO2–12CaO–3P2O5–15Na2O, mol %), Si-02 and Si-05, where 0.2 and 0.5 mol % Ag2O were substituted, respectively, for SiO2 in Si-Control. The glasses were then ground, sieved, characterized, and dissolved in Tris buffer solution (pH = 7.30) for 6, 12, and 24 h, with the pH of the resultant solution being recorded and the ions that were released into solution quantified. Samples of each glass were subsequently embedded into a non-fluoridated, commercially available toothpaste which was then used to brush resin-mounted lamb molars which, up to the point of testing, had been stored in a 1.0 M HCl solution. Knoop microhardness measurements of the molars were recorded before and after brushing to determine the presence of remineralization on the surface of the teeth (surface hardness loss of 37%, 35%, and 34% for Si-Control, Si-02 and Si-05, respectively, after 24 h). Four oral cavity bacterial strains were isolated through swabs of the inner cheek, gums, and teeth surfaces of three volunteers, and placed on agar discs. Of each glass, 0.5 g was placed onto the discs, and the resultant inhibition zones were measured after 6, 12, and 24 h. Si-05 performed better than Si-02 on two strains after 24 h, while exhibiting similar behavior for the remaining two strains after 24 h; the largest inhibition zone measured was 2.8 mm, for Si-05 after 12 h. Si-Control exhibited no antibacterial effect at any time point, providing evidence for the role of silver oxide as the antibacterial component of these glasses.

Rapidly-Dissolving silver-containing bioactive glasses for cariostatic applications

A novel bioactive glass series containing incremental amounts of silver oxide was synthesized, ground down, and subsequently incorporated into a dentifrice for the purpose of reducing the incidence of dental caries and lesion formation. Three glasses were synthesized using the melt quench route: Si-Control (70SiO2–12CaO–3P2O5–15Na2O, mol %), Si-02 and Si-05, where 0.2 and 0.5 mol % Ag2O were substituted, respectively, for SiO2 in Si-Control. The glasses were then ground, sieved, characterized, and dissolved in Tris buffer solution (pH = 7.30) for 6, 12, and 24 h, with the pH of the resultant solution being recorded and the ions that were released into solution quantified. Samples of each glass were subsequently embedded into a non-fluoridated, commercially available toothpaste which was then used to brush resin-mounted lamb molars which, up to the point of testing, had been stored in a 1.0 M HCl solution. Knoop microhardness measurements of the molars were recorded before and after brushing to determine the presence of remineralization on the surface of the teeth (surface hardness loss of 37%, 35%, and 34% for Si-Control, Si-02 and Si-05, respectively, after 24 h). Four oral cavity bacterial strains were isolated through swabs of the inner cheek, gums, and teeth surfaces of three volunteers, and placed on agar discs. Of each glass, 0.5 g was placed onto the discs, and the resultant inhibition zones were measured after 6, 12, and 24 h. Si-05 performed better than Si-02 on two strains after 24 h, while exhibiting similar behavior for the remaining two strains after 24 h; the largest inhibition zone measured was 2.8 mm, for Si-05 after 12 h. Si-Control exhibited no antibacterial effect at any time point, providing evidence for the role of silver oxide as the antibacterial component of these glasses.

Ce3+ triggers fenton-like processes in neutral solutions for effective catechol degradation

Classical Fenton and Fenton-like processes destruct organic pollutants in water non-selectively to complete mineralization. However, the usage of classical Fenton or Fenton-like processes is often limited due to the narrow operational pH window, sludge accumulation, inefficient H2O2 and efficiency decline. To overcome these constraints, in this study, we used a homogeneous Fe3+-Ce3+-H2O2 Fenton-like process to degrade catechol at different experimental conditions. At pH 7, almost 97% of 10 mM catechol can be destructed within 60 min while the degradation by Classical Fenton or Fe3+-H2O2 Fenton-like process only 36.2% and 23.7%. The resultant solution after the degradation contains only traces of cerium ions. The sludge created by the process was extensively characterized by FTIR and XPS spectroscopy to elucidate the fate of cerium ions. Electron spin resonance (ESR) data confirmed •OH as the major free radical in Fe3+-Ce3+-H2O2 process. Our Fenton-like process widens the optimal pH values to neutral condition.

Stability indicating RP-UPLC method development and validation for the simultaneous determination of ertugliflozin and metformin in plasma

New stability-indicating RP-UPLC technique was developed for the quantification of ertugliflozin and metformin in human plasma and validated as per the regulatory guidelines. Both the drug components and internal standard were spiked to blank plasma and subjected to liquid-liquid extraction with the mobile phase. The resultant solution was infused into Acquity BEH-C18 (1.7 μ, 100×2.1mm) non-polar column comprising NaH2PO4 buffer (pH-3.5), methanol and acetonitrile in the ratio of 50:10:40% v/v/v as mobile phase. The detector response and flow of the mobile phase were monitored at 240nm and 0.5ml/min, respectively. The linearity plot was made in the concentration range of 0.1-3.0 µg/ml for metformin and 0.05-1.5 µg/ml for ertugliflozin with correlation coefficient value of more than 0.999. The developed method was subjected for bench-top, freeze and thaw, long-term and short-term stability studies and the drug components were stable over the respective conditions. The Lower limit of quantification (LLOQ) for ertugliflozin and metformin were 0.05 and 0.1 µg/ml, respectively. The findings of precision and accuracy were present in between 2.6 to 4.2 %RSD and -2 to 3.99 %RE, respectively. The findings of the stability data were presented below. The %stability of ertugliflozin and metformin were varying from 96% to 104% for ertugliflozin and 96% to 105% for metformin.

Behavioural and electrophysiological characterization of an unknown water soluble anaesthesia-inducing agent found in common adhesive tape

Immersion of a ubiquitously used brand of translucent pressure sensitive adhesive tape (TLPSAT), in normal water was found to confer anaesthetic-like effects to the resultant solution (TLPSAT A). We characterised this anaesthetic-like property by assessing its dose-dependence, behavioural effects and toxicity in zebrafish (Danio rerio) in comparison to other commonly used anaesthetics, namely 2-phenoxyethanol (2-PE) and tricaine methanesulfonate (TMS). Toxicity tests showed that it is comparable to TMS and safer than 2-PE in terms of mortality. We also observed differences in the nature of opercular movement due to the three compounds with differences in the power spectrum. Electrophysiological investigations using grasshopper (Hieroglyphus banian) as a model system led us to conclude that nicotinic acetylcholine (nACh), γ-aminobutyric acid (GABAergic) mechanisms, or voltage gated calcium (Ca2+), sodium (Na+) and potassium (K+) channels in insects are not affected by this anaesthetic at the concentrations effective in fish. Electroretinography (ERG) measurement from honeybees (Apis mellifera) in the presence of the different compounds yielded abolishment of the receptor potential under TMS or 2-PE perfusion whereas all ERG components were preserved under TLPSAT A perfusion, indicating that the Ca2+ dependent channels and photo-transduction machinery in bees are not potentially affected by TLPSAT A. Thus, the unknown compound(s) in the TLPSAT aqueous extract likely induce(s) anaesthesia in zebrafish via a mechanism unlike that of TMS and 2-PE.

The development and application of an optimization tool in industrial design

Designers are identified, in industry 4.0, as the professional figures that have to design well performing new object. In order to do this, it is necessary to take into account a series of properties called design objectives. Often the structural problem of new design is underestimated or even not considered. This can be a real problem because this objective is in competitive and in contrast with other design objectives. So, this can bring to substantial change in a design in the final phase and sometimes to the complete change. In this paper is presented an optimization workflow that adopt a Multi Objective Optimization engine so called “Octopus” and Karamba3D, that is a Finite Elements (FE) plug-in, typically used in structural simulations, these extensions run in a software: Grassopper3D, that is a parametric design tool. The workflow allows designers to explore a large range of solutions and at the same time permits to filter and sort the optimized models in order to analyze the tradeoff of the resultant solution space, both qualitatively and quantitatively. In such way designers can obtain easily a lot of information of the generate design and identify potential solution for immediate use or for further optimization. In this paper is analyzed a design problem of an ergonomic chair in order to provide the efficiency of the workflow. The design criteria and the structural problem for this type of design object are identified as the main optimization objectives in order to iteratively improve the design solutions.

Biomimetic Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles Using Bhimkol (Musa balbisiana) Peel Extract as Biological Waste: Its Antibacterial Activity and Role of Ripen Stage of the Peel

Background: Utilization of plant extracts and agricultural waste has a great impact for the synthesis of AgNPs. Banana peels are such important agro waste which attracted us to use for the synthesis of silver nanoparticles. The biochemicals present in it have attracted us to use such banana peels. Methods: Thus, we report herein a cost-effective and environment-friendly synthesis of silver nanoparticles using Bhimkal (Musa balbisiana) peel aqueous extract as biological waste. About 5 g of freshly dried peels taken in 100 mL of water were shaken and heated at 80°C for 1 hour. The filtrate from the resultant solution was stored at 4°C and used as reducing as well as stabilizing agent for the preparation of AgNPs from AgNO3. We monitored the formation of silver nanoparticles by various spectroscopic techniques. Results: All the particles are almost spherical in morphology and the diameter of the mostly monodispersed AgNPs is in the range of 30-70 nm with an average size of 44.24 nm. Among the three stages of development (unripe, ripe, and blacken), we have found the ripening stage as most efficient in the highest yielding of AgNPs because of maximum presence of phenol containing biological macromolecules. The synthesized AgNPs showed moderate antibacterial activity against both gram negative bacteria as well as gram positive bacteria. Conclusion: The advantage of our biomimetic route to silver nanoparticles lies in the fact that we utilize peels as biological waste material both for the generation and stabilization of silver nanoparticles.