Optimization Techniques Applications in Biochemical Engineering and Controlled Drug Delivery

Before starting semi-pilot/pilot production plants for biochemical metabolites production, it is essential to optimize the fermentation media. This chapter discusses the classical and advanced techniques of media optimization. The statistical approaches save experimental time for developing processing and improving quality. Recent years have seen the growth of integrated approaches of microbial cultures. Optimization techniques such as response surface methodology, artificial neural network, genetic algorithms, differential evolution, ant colony optimization, etc. have received attention recently because of their major applications in various fields. Controlled release formulations have so many versatile applications in the field of pharmaceutical drugs that they have become important tools to apply the modern concept of therapeutic treatment. Process optimization of such formulations, mathematical modelling can play an important role. This chapter discusses various methodologies for optimization of formulation conditions for drug delivery.

Applications of Machine Learning Techniques in Disease Classification From Medical Images

Machine learning techniques such as artificial neural network (ANN), support vector machine (SVM), radial basis function network (RBFN), random forest (RF), naive Bayes classifier, etc. have gained much attention in recent years due to their widespread applications in diverse fields. This chapter is focused on providing a comprehensive insight of various techniques employed for key areas of medical image processing and analysis. Different applications covered in this chapter include feature extraction, feature selection, and cancer classification in medical images. The authors present current practices and evaluation measures used for objective evaluation of different machine learning methods in context to above-mentioned applications. Various factors associated with acceptance/rejection of such automated systems by medical research community are discussed. The authors also discuss how the interaction between automated analysis systems and medical professionals can be improved for its acceptance in clinical practice. They conclude the chapter by presenting research gaps and future challenges.

Wavelet Packet Analysis of ECG Signals to Understand the Effect of Cannabis Abuse on Cardiac Electrophysiology of Indian Women Working in Paddy Fields

This chapter is aimed at identifying the variation in the cardiac electrophysiology due to the abuse of the cannabis products (bhang) in a non-invasive manner. ECG signals were acquired from 25 Indian women working in the paddy fields. Amongst them, 10 women regularly abused bhang and the rest 15 women never abused bhang. The ECG signals were preprocessed and subjected to wavelet packet decomposition (WPD) up to the level 3 using db04 wavelet. Ninety-six statistical features were extracted from the wavelet packet coefficients and analyzed using linear and non-linear statistical methods. The results suggested a variation in the cardiac electrophysiology due to the abuse of bhang. Artificial neural networks (ANNs), namely, radial basis function (RBF) and multilayer perceptron (MLP) were able to classify the ECG signals with an accuracy of ≥95%. This supported the hypothesis that abuse of bhang may alter the cardiac electrophysiology. The results of the study may be used to increase awareness among people to avoid the abuse of cannabis products.

Segmentation of Liver From 3D Medical Imaging Dataset for Diagnosis and Treatment Planning of Liver Disorders

CT- and MRI-based imaging modalities are non-invasive, fast, and accurate in the diagnosis of different anatomical and pathological disorders. As such, there is a pertinent requirement for segmentation of the large organs such as liver and lungs to give proper visual information on the extent of involvement of morphological and pathological changes. The aim of this chapter is to discuss and implement different liver segmentation techniques on the 3D medical data set to determine best feasible technique for the purpose. The localization and detection of liver tumor will be easier for a radiologist with the extraction of the liver margins from other adjoining organs and its localization within the anatomical segments. It is found that active contour technique provides satisfactory results and also the validation results are well outlined in the case of active contour techniques.

Remote Monitoring via EEG of Persons in Severe Depression

Mental illness in the form of depression or suicidal tendencies is found in one out of every four Indians. Severe depression usually leads to suicides. The numbers of well trained professionals, brilliant students at premier institutes who have committed suicide due to depression are on the rise. Recently the pilot of a major German airline, suffering from severe depression, deliberately plunged the aircraft into the Swiss Alps killing both himself and all the passengers in the plane. It is therefore important to develop a technique via which one can identify unambiguously who is suffering from depression. There are no general behavioral characteristics via which one can identify such people. However, analysis of the EEG spectra can accurately estimate the mental health of the patient. By making it mandatory for students/employees of an organization to have their EEG done periodically, one can isolate the people who are suffering from this disease.

Effect of a Motivational Song on the Autonomic Nervous System and the Heart of Indian Male Volunteers

This chapter investigates the effect of a motivational song (stimulus) on the physiology of the autonomic nervous system and the electrical activity of the heart. Five min electrocardiogram (ECG) signals were acquired from 19 volunteers during the resting and the post-stimulus conditions. The RR intervals (RRIs) were extracted. Recurrence analysis of the RRI time series indicated a higher alteration (acceleration or deceleration) in the heart rate along with the reduction of the causality and patterned behavior of the RRIs. The exact alteration in the ANS physiology was examined using heart rate variability (HRV) analysis. The results of the HRV analysis suggested an increase in the parasympathetic activity in the post-stimulus condition. The alteration in the cardiac activity was analyzed using time domain and joint time-frequency domain analyses of ECG signals. The results suggested an alteration in the cardiac electrical activity of the heart in the post-stimulus condition.

Analysis of the Changes in the RR Interval Signals of Smokers (Before and After Smoking) Using Recurrence Analysis and ANN Classification

This chapter has been inspired by the need to find an efficient method to study the changes in the cardiac autonomic regulation before and after smoking in young smokers. Appropriate processing and analysis of the RR intervals, extracted from the electrocardiogram (ECG) signals, is an important non-invasive tool to determine the autonomic nervous system (ANS)-based alteration of the cardiac physiology. The authors propose to analyze the RR interval signals by recurrence analysis and extracting the features thereof. In total, 17 young volunteers (smokers) participated in the study. The ECG signals were acquired before and after smoking. The statistical features obtained from the recurrence analysis were used as the input to artificial neural network (ANN)-based classification so as to classify the basal state from the post-stimulus state. A classification efficiency of 100% could be achieved using the recurrence features of the RR interval signals. Thus, the results evince that the proposed method is an efficient method to study the changes in the RR interval signal due to smoking.

Devices for Controlled Release Advancements and Effectiveness

The term control release means the release of the molecules from any reservoir in very precise and constant amounts and following zero-order or near-to-zero-order release kinetics. This type of formulation and device has a huge market over the medical world. The basic foundation of sustained release drug delivery system enhances the biopharmaceutical and pharmacodynamics pharmacokinetic properties of a drug in such a way that its usefulness is exploited, side-effects are reduced, and cure of the disease is attained easily. The international controlled-release drug delivery technology market has been divided on the basis of technology, application, release mechanism, and geography. This chapter describes these topics: metered dose inhalers, transdermal and ocular patches, drug eluting stents, activation-modulated drug delivery systems, polymer coating systems microelectromechanical technology, implants, micro reservoir partition controlled drug delivery systems, hydrophilic polymer matrix systems, targeted delivery, enzyme activated device.

Devices for Rehabilitation

Rehabilitation is an area of focus by experts and researchers from different disciplines owing to the increase in number of various types of disabilities. This chapter covers information relating to causes and need for rehabilitation devices for differently abled people with motor, vision, or hearing impairment. The chapter begins with a brief on the disability population worldwide and in India, and progresses towards presenting available devices in global market and possible improvement that can be made to improve the functionality of the device and in turn improve the quality of life (QoL) of the users. Towards the end of the chapter, a reader can acquire the fundamental knowledge about the different types of disability, suitable aids, and working.

Overview of Surgical Instruments for the Operation Theatre

There are several classes of surgical instruments such as graspers, clamps, and occluders for blood vessels and other organs; retractors used to spread open skin, ribs, and other tissue; distractors, positioners, and stereotactic devices; mechanical cutters (scalpels, lancets, surgical scissors, etc.); dilators and specula for access to narrow passages or incisions; suction tips and tubes for removal of bodily fluids; sealing devices such as surgical staplers; irrigation and injection needles, tips, and tubes for introducing fluid; powered devices, such as drills, dermatomes; scopes and probes, including fiber optic endoscopes and tactile probes; carriers and appliers for optical, electronic, and mechanical devices; ultrasound tissue disruptors, cryotomes, and cutting laser guides; measurement devices, such as rulers and calipers; and many more. This chapter overviews surgical instruments for the operation theatre.