Customer Choice of Super Markets using Fuzzy Rough Set on Two Universal Sets and Radial Basis Function Neural Network

Information and communication technology made shopping more convenient for common man. Additionally, customers compare both online and offline price of a commodity. For this reason, offline shopping markets think of customer satisfaction and try to attract customers by various means. But, prediction of customer's choice in an information system is a major issue today. Much research is carried out in this direction for single universe. But, in many real life applications it is observed that relation is established between two universes. To this end, in this paper the authors propose a model to identify customer choice of super markets using fuzzy rough set on two universal sets and radial basis function neural network. The authors use fuzzy rough set on two universal sets on sample data to arrive at customer choice of super markets. The information system with customer choice is further trained with radial basis function neural network for identification of customer choice of supermarkets when customer size increases. A real life problem is presented to show the sustainability of the proposed model.

Combinatorial Effects of Aromatic 1,3-Disubstituted Ureas and Fluoride on In vitro Inhibition of Streptococcus mutans Biofilm Formation

Dental caries occur as a result of disequilibrium between acid producing pathogenic bacteria and alkali generating commensal bacteria within a dental biofilm (dental plaque). Streptococcus mutans has been reported as a primary cariogenic pathogen associated with dental caries. Emergence of multidrug resistant as well as fluoride resistant strains of S. mutans due to over use of various antibiotics are a rising problem and prompted the researchers worldwide to search for alternative therapies. In this perspective, the present study was aimed to screen selective inhibitors against ComA, a bacteriocin associated ABC transporter, involved in the quorum sensing of S. mutans. In light of our present in silico findings, 1,3-disubstituted urea derivatives which had better affinity to ComA were chemically synthesized in the present study for in vitro evaluation of S. mutans biofilm inhibition. The results revealed that 1,3-disubstituted urea derivatives showed good biofilm inhibition. In addition, synthesized compounds exhibited potent synergy with a very low concentration of fluoride (31.25-62.5 ppm) in inhibiting the biofilm formation of S. mutans without affecting the bacterial growth. Further, the results were supported by confocal laser scanning microscopy. On the whole, from our experimental results we conclude that the combinatorial application of fluoride and disubstituted ureas has a potential synergistic effect which has a promising approach in combating multidrug resistant and fluoride resistant S. mutans in dental caries management.

Type III collagen disorders: A case report and review of literature

Collagen type III is a normal component of interstitium and blood vessels. Collagenofibrotic glomerulopathy (CG) and nail patella syndrome (NPS) are the diseases of abnormal type III collagen deposition. In spite of these curved frayed structures with a periodicity of 45-60 nm are deposited in subendothelium and mesangium in CG, they are found only in the basement membrane in NPS. The clinical features of CG are confined to the kidney, NPS has associated extra-renal manifestations. Electron microscopy is essential to make the renal diagnosis in both these rare diseases. Both the entities considered to be systemic diseases evidence to suggest similar deposition in other organs, understanding etiopathogenesis and disease progression await research.

Neural network and rough set hybrid scheme for prediction of missing associations

Currently, internet is the best tool for distributed computing, which involves spreading of data geographically. But, retrieving information from huge data is critical and has no relevance unless it provides certain information. Prediction of missing associations can be viewed as fundamental problems in machine learning where the main objective is to determine decisions for the missing associations. Mathematical models such as naive Bayes structure, human composed network structure, Bayesian network modelling, etc., were developed to this end. But, it has certain limitations and failed to include uncertainties. Therefore, effort has been made to process inconsistencies in the data with the introduction of rough set theory. This paper uses two processes, pre-process and post-process, to predict the decisions for the missing associations in the attribute values. In preprocess, rough set is used to reduce the dimensionality, whereas neural network is used in postprocess to explore the decision for the missing associations. A real-life example is provided to show the viability of the proposed research.

Relevance of fiber integrated gelatin-nanohydroxyapatite composite scaffold for bone tissue regeneration

Porous nanohydroxyapatite (nanoHA) is a promising bone substitute, but it is brittle, which limits its utility for load bearing applications. To address this issue, herein, biodegradable electrospun microfibrous sheets of poly(L-lactic acid)-(PLLA)-polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) were incorporated into a gelatin-nanoHA matrix which was investigated for its mechanical properties, the physical integration of the fibers with the matrix, cell infiltration, osteogenic differentiation and bone regeneration. The inclusion of sacrificial fibers like PVA along with PLLA and leaching resulted in improved cellular infiltration towards the center of the scaffold. Furthermore, the treatment of PLLA fibers with 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide enhanced their hydrophilicity, ensuring firm anchorage between the fibers and the gelatin-HA matrix. The incorporation of PLLA microfibers within the gelatin-nanoHA matrix reduced the brittleness of the scaffolds, the effect being proportional to the number of layers of fibrous sheets in the matrix. The proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of human adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells was augmented on the fibrous scaffolds in comparison to those scaffolds devoid of fibers. Finally, the scaffold could promote cell infiltration, together with bone regeneration, upon implantation in a rabbit femoral cortical defect within 4 weeks. The bone regeneration potential was significantly higher when compared to commercially available HA (Surgiwear™). Thus, this biomimetic, porous, 3D composite scaffold could be offered as a promising candidate for bone regeneration in orthopedics.

Primary hyperparathyroidism in a child

Primary hyperparathyroidism is rare in children. We report a 12-year-old girl who presented with recurrent renal calculi, muscular weakness and inability to walk; was diagnosed to have parathyroid adenoma and underwent parathyroidectomy.

Combinatorial nanomedicines for colon cancer therapy

Colon cancer is one of the major causes of cancer deaths worldwide. Even after surgical resection and aggressive chemotherapy, 50% of colorectal carcinoma patients develop recurrent disease. Thus, the rationale of developing new therapeutic approaches to improve the current chemotherapeutic regimen would be highly recommended. There are reports on the effectiveness of combination chemotherapy in colon cancer and it has been practiced in clinics for long time. These approaches are associated with toxic side effects. Later, the drug delivery research had shown the potential of nanoencapsulation techniques and active targeting as an effective method to improve the effectiveness of chemotherapy with less toxicity. This current focus article provides a brief analysis of the ongoing research in the colon cancer area using the combinatorial nanomedicines and its outcome.

Laser guided automated calibrating system for accurate bracket placement

BACKGROUND

The basic premise of preadjusted bracket system is accurate bracket positioning. It is widely recognized that accurate bracket placement is of critical importance in the efficient application of biomechanics and in realizing the full potential of a preadjusted edgewise appliance.

AIM

The purpose of this study was to design a calibrating system to accurately detect a point on a plane as well as to determine the accuracy of the Laser Guided Automated Calibrating (LGAC) System.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

To the lowest order of approximation a plane having two parallel lines is used to verify the accuracy of the system. On prescribing the distance of a point from the line, images of the plane are analyzed from controlled angles, calibrated and the point is identified with a laser marker.

RESULTS

The image was captured and analyzed using MATLAB ver. 7 software (The MathWorks Inc.). Each pixel in the image corresponded to a distance of 1cm/413 (10 mm/413) = 0.0242 mm (L/P). This implies any variations in distance above 0.024 mm can be measured and acted upon, and sets the highest possible accuracy for this system.

CONCLUSION

A new automated system is introduced having an accuracy of 0.024 mm for accurate bracket placement.

In vitro combinatorial anticancer effects of 5-fluorouracil and curcumin loaded N,O-carboxymethyl chitosan nanoparticles toward colon cancer and in vivo pharmacokinetic studies

Colon cancer is the third most leading causes of death due to cancer worldwide and the chemo drug 5-fluorouracil's (5-FU) applicability is limited due to its non-specificity, low bioavailability and overdose. The efficacy of 5-FU in colon cancer chemo treatment could be improved by nanoencapsulation and combinatorial approach. In the present study curcumin (CUR), a known anticancer phytochemical, was used in combination with 5-FU and the work focuses on the development of a combinatorial nanomedicine based on 5-FU and CUR in N,O-carboxymethyl chitosan nanoparticles (N,O-CMC NPs). The developed 5-FU-N,O-CMC NPs and CUR-N,O-CMC NPs were found to be blood compatible. The in vitro drug release profile in pH 4.5 and 7.4 showed a sustained release profile over a period of 4 days. The combined exposure of the nanoformulations in colon cancer cells (HT 29) proved the enhanced anticancer effects. In addition, the in vivo pharmacokinetic data in mouse model revealed the improved plasma concentrations of 5-FU and CUR which prolonged up to 72 h unlike the bare drugs. In conclusion, the 5-FU and CUR released from the N,O-CMC NPs produced enhanced anticancer effects in vitro and improved plasma concentrations under in vivo conditions.

Management of gummy smile with Botulinum Toxin Type-A: A case report

A 23 year old female patient presented with the chief complaint of gummy smile after previously undergoing Orthodontic treatment. Patient had a straight profile with competent lips and during posed and unposed smile the patient exhibited excessive gingival display. Since the patient was unwilling to undergo Orthodontic treatment and apprehensive about surgical procedures, this problem was addressed by injecting Botulinum toxin type-A as an alternative treatment approach. Two weeks post treatment; on follow up examination, improved results were seen without any side effects. As a result, an attractive and confident smile was perceived by the patient. How to cite the article: Dinker S, Anitha A, Sorake A, Kumar K. Management of gummy smile with Botulinum Toxin Type-A: A case report. J Int Oral Health 2014;6(1):111-5.

Rugoscopy: Human identification by computer-assisted photographic superimposition technique

BACKGROUND

Human identification has been studied since fourteenth century and it has gradually advanced for forensic purposes. Traditional methods such as dental, fingerprint, and DNA comparisons are probably the most common techniques used in this context, allowing fast and secure identification processes. But, in circumstances where identification of an individual by fingerprint or dental record comparison is difficult, palatal rugae may be considered as an alternative source of material.

AIM

The present study was done to evaluate the individualistic nature and use of palatal rugae patterns for personal identification and also to test the efficiency of computerized software for forensic identification by photographic superimposition of palatal photographs obtained from casts.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Two sets of Alginate impressions were made from the upper arches of 100 individuals (50 males and 50 females) with one month interval in between and the casts were poured. All the teeth except the incisors were removed to ensure that only the palate could be used in identification process. In one set of the casts, the palatal rugae were highlighted with a graphite pencil. All the 200 casts were randomly numbered, and then, they were photographed with a 10.1 Mega Pixel Kodak digital camera using standardized method. Using computerized software, the digital photographs of the models without highlighting the palatal rugae were overlapped over the images (transparent) of the palatal rugae with highlighted palatal rugae, in order to identify the pairs by superimposition technique. Incisors were remained and used as landmarks to determine the magnification required to bring the two set of photographs to the same size, in order to make perfect superimposition of images.

RESULTS

The result of the overlapping of the digital photographs of highlighted palatal rugae over normal set of models without highlighted palatal rugae resulted in 100% positive identification.

CONCLUSION

This study showed that utilization of palatal photographs is highly viable. The photographic superimposition technique using Adobe Photoshop 8.0 software (used in this study for comparison of palatal rugae) was proved effective for human identification and can be used when ante-mortem data regarding palatal rugae is provided. This study also concluded that palatal rugae are highly individualistic and play an important role as a complementary method in personal identification.

In vitro and in vivo evaluation of osteoporosis therapeutic peptide PTH 1-34 loaded pegylated chitosan nanoparticles

Oral formulation of human parathyroid hormone 1-34 (PTH 1-34) is an alternative patient compliant route in treating osteoporosis. PTH 1-34 loaded chitosan nanoparticles were PEGylated (PEG-CS-PTH NPs) and characterized by DLS, SEM, TEM and FTIR. PEG-CS-PTH NP aggregates of 200-250 nm which in turn comprised 20 nm individual nanoparticles were observed in SEM and TEM images respectively. The PEG-CS-PTH NP with 40% encapsulation efficiency was subjected to an in vitro release in simulated rat body fluids. PEG-CS-PTH NP treated human primary osteoblast cells, upon PTH 1-34 receptor activation, produced second messenger-cAMP, which downstream stimulated intracellular calcium uptake, production of bone specific alkaline phosphatase, osteocalcin etc., which substantiates the anabolic effect of the peptide. PEG-CS-PTH NPs showed an oral bioavailability of 100-160 pg/mL PTH 1-34 throughout 48 h, which is remarkable compared to the bare PTH 1-34 and CS-PTH NPs. The NIR image of gastrointestinal transit of ICG conjugated PEG-CS-PTH NPs supports this significant finding.

In vitro evaluation of paclitaxel loaded amorphous chitin nanoparticles for colon cancer drug delivery

Chitin and its derivatives have been widely used in drug delivery applications due to its biocompatible, biodegradable and non-toxic nature. In this study, we have developed amorphous chitin nanoparticles (150±50 nm) and evaluated its potential as a drug delivery system. Paclitaxel (PTX), a major chemotherapeutic agent was loaded into amorphous chitin nanoparticles (AC NPs) through ionic cross-linking reaction using TPP. The prepared PTX loaded AC NPs had an average diameter of 200±50 nm. Physico-chemical characterization of the prepared nanoparticles was carried out. These nanoparticles were proven to be hemocompatible and in vitro drug release studies showed a sustained release of PTX. Cellular internalization of the NPs was confirmed by fluorescent microscopy as well as by flow cytometry. Anticancer activity studies proved the toxicity of PTX-AC NPs toward colon cancer cells. These preliminary results indicate the potential of PTX-AC NPs in colon cancer drug delivery.

Curcumin-loaded N,O-carboxymethyl chitosan nanoparticles for cancer drug delivery

Chitosan (CS) and its carboxymethyl derivatives are smart biopolymers that are non-toxic, biocompatible and biodegradable, and, hence, suitable for various biomedical applications, such as drug delivery, gene therapy and tissue engineering. Curcumin is a major chemotherapeutic agent with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-proliferative, anticancer and antimicrobial effects. However, the potential of curcumin as a chemotherapeutic agent is limited by its hydrophobicity and poor bioavailability. In this work, we developed a nanoformulation of curcumin in a carboxymethyl chitosan (CMC) derivative, N,O-carboxymethyl chitosan (N,O-CMC). The curcumin-loaded N,O-CMC (curcumin-N,O-CMC) nanoparticles were characterized using DLS, AFM, SEM, FT-IR and XRD. DLS studies revealed nanoparticles with a mean diameter of 150 ± 30 nm. AFM and SEM confirmed that the particles have a spherical morphology within the size range of 150 ± 30 nm. Curcumin was entrapped with in N,O-CMC nanopartcles with an efficiency of 80%. The in vitro drug-release profile was studied at different pH (7.4 and 4.5) at 37°C for different incubation periods with and without lysozyme. Cytotoxicity studies using MTT assay indicated that curcumin-N,O-CMC nanoparticles showed specific toxicity towards cancer cells and non-toxicity to normal cells. Cellular uptake of curcumin-N,O-CMC nanoparticles was analyzed by fluorescence microscopy and was reconfirmed by flow cytometry. Overall, these results indicate that like previously reported curcumin loaded O-CMC nanoparticles, N,O-CMC will also be an efficient nanocarrier for delivering curcumin to cancer cells.