Customizable Fabrication Process for Flexible Carbon-Based Electrochemical Biosensors

In recent research, 3D printing has become a powerful technique and has been applied in the last few years to carbon-based materials. A new generation of 3D-printed electrodes, more affordable and easier to obtain due to rapid prototyping techniques, has emerged. We propose a customizable fabrication process for flexible (and rigid) carbon-based biosensors, from biosensor design to printable conductive inks. The electrochemical biosensors were obtained on a 50 µm Kapton® (polyimide) substrate and transferred to a 500 µm PDMS substrate, using a 3D-extrusion-based printing method. The main features of our fabrication process consist of short-time customization implementation, fast small-to-medium batch production, ease of electrochemical spectroscopy measurements, and very good resolution for an extrusion-based printing method (100 µm). The sensors were designed for future integration into a smart wound dressing for wound monitoring and other biomedical applications. We increased their sensibility with electro-deposited gold nanoparticles. To assess the biosensors' functionality, we performed surface functionalization with specific anti-N-protein antibodies for SARS-CoV 2 virus, with promising preliminary results.

Highly Twisted Conformation Thiopyrylium Photosensitizers for In Vivo Near Infrared‐II Imaging and Rapid Inactivation of Coronavirus

Despite significant effort, a majority of heavy‐atom‐free photosensitizers have short excitation wavelengths, thereby hampering their biomedical applications. Here, we present a facile approach for developing efficient near‐infrared (NIR) heavy‐atom‐free photosensitizers. Based on a series of thiopyrylium‐based NIR‐II (1000–1700 nm) dyads, we found that the star dyad HD with a sterically bulky and electron‐rich moiety exhibited configuration torsion and significantly enhanced intersystem crossing (ISC) compared to the parent dyad. The electron excitation characteristics of HD changed from local excitation (LE) to charge transfer (CT)‐domain, contributing to a ≈6‐fold reduction in energy gap (ΔEST), a ≈10‐fold accelerated ISC process, and a ≈31.49‐fold elevated reactive oxygen species (ROS) quantum yield. The optimized SP@HD‐PEG2K lung‐targeting dots enabled real‐time NIR‐II lung imaging, which precisely guided rapid pulmonary coronavirus inactivation.

Stretchable, self‐healable, and breathable biomimetic iontronics with superior humidity‐sensing performance for wireless respiration monitoring

Stretchable, self‐healing, and breathable skin‐biomimetic‐sensing iontronics play an important role in human physiological signal monitoring and human–computer interaction. However, previous studies have focused on the mimicking of skin tactile sensing (pressure, strain, and temperature), and the development of more functionalities is necessary. To this end, a superior humidity‐sensitive ionic skin is developed based on a self‐healing, stretchable, breathable, and biocompatible polyvinyl alcohol–cellulose nanofibers organohydrogel film, showing a pronounced thickness‐dependent humidity‐sensing performance. The as‐prepared 62.47‐μm‐thick organohydrogel film exhibits a high response (25,000%) to 98% RH, excellent repeatability, and long‐term stability (120 days). Moreover, this ionic skin has excellent resistance to large mechanical deformation and damage, and the worn‐out material can still retain its humidity‐sensing capabilities after self‐repair. Humidity‐sensing mechanism studies show that the induced response is mainly related to the increase of proton mobility and interfacial charge transport efficiency after water adsorption. The superior humidity responsiveness is attributed to the reduced thickness and the increased specific surface area of the organohydrogel film, allowing real‐time recording of physiological signals. Notably, by combining with a self‐designed printed circuit board, a continuous and wireless respiration monitoring system is developed, presenting its great potential in wearable and biomedical electronics.

MS & T22 WELCOMES NEW EXHIBITS AND PROGRAMMING

Bringing together the resources and members of complementary materials science and engineering groups has long been a defining feature of the Materials Science & Technology (MS&T) conference series. In 2022, MS&T builds on that tradition by welcoming new partners who will bring fresh exhibits symposia, and audiences to the event. As in previous years, MS&T22 will bring together three leading materials societies--TMS, the American Ceramic Society, and the Association for Iron & Steel Technology. To supplement this long-standing partnership, MS&T will welcome Event Partners to expand the exhibition and the Society for Biomaterials to offer additional programming.

The Technologies and International Politics of Genetic Warfare: SSQ

This article considers the prospect and potential of genetic warfare. Drawing on expert interviews and fieldwork, it begins by detailing how the recent and anticipated innovations in synthetic biology, artificial intelligence, and nanotechnology solve the weaponization, delivery, and precision problems that had previously made biological weapons impractical. The article then considers how states and non-state actors may develop and use genetic weapons, with a focus on the problem of secrecy. Underlying whether to reveal or conceal genetic war capability is a trade-off between strategic surprise and deterrence. Actors requiring deterrence are likely to reveal genetic military capability. With the only rivaling source of deterrence being nuclear weapons, nonnuclear states and non-state actors are more likely to make public their genetic weapons capability than nuclear states. The question of whether to use genetic weapons covertly or openly also entails a trade-off. Covert use confers strategic and tactical benefits, whereas the benefits of unrestricted use are primarily psychological. Terroristic, genocidal, and apocalyptic regimes and non-state actors may use genetic weapons openly, but most would likely opt for covert genetic warfare.

ROYAL MELBOURNE INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY AND A ROAD LESS TRAVELED

[...]a people centric approach is fundamental to realizing a successful future. The selection process for ECPs was based on the answers to a series of questions: * Did RMIT have critical mass on a national and international scale to create impact? * If there was critical mass was the capability competitive and the research high quality? * Were the capabilities in areas differentiated enough to deliver value that other institutions could not? * Were the capabilities deployable and would a Platform actually deliver the benefit RMIT wanted for others? The RMIT research community provided more than 100 proposals for ECPs which was eventually down-selected to eight - Advanced Manufacturing and Fabrication, Advanced Materials, Biomedical and Health Innovation, Design and Creative Practice, Global Business Innovation, Information and Systems (Engineering), Social Change, and Urban Futures. The ECPs were established to evolve the RMIT research capability so that it is increasingly relevant to the needs of the broader community and to have a greater focus on impact with the expressed purpose of deploying RMIT capability to deliver economic, societal and environmental benefit.

THE NAI PROFILE: AN INTERVIEW WITH DR. CATO T. LAURENCIN

After receiving his M.D. from Harvard Medical School, magna cum laude, and his Ph.D. from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Laurencin held positions in research and teaching at Harvard Medical School and MIT before moving into a career where he has simultaneously worked as a surgeon, research scientist, engineering professor, and higher education leader at Drexel University, the University of Virginia, and the University of Connecticut (UConn). The White House has honored him on three occasions: the Presidential Faculty Fellow Award from President Bill Clinton;the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Math, and Engineering Mentoring from President Barack Obama;and the National Medal of Technology and Innovation from President Barack Obama. A prime example of his ingenuity is his basic and applied research behind the first successful engineered anterior cruciate ligament (ACL)-the Laurencin-Cooper (L-C) Ligament, which offers a revolutionary alternative to traditional treatments. Laurencin's L-C Ligament is a bioresorbable matrix that has been proven to completely regenerate ligament tissue inside the knee following ACL reconstruction surgery.

Green Synthesize and Characterization of Copper Nanoparticles Using Iranian Propolis Extracts

The propolis produced by bees is used by them to protect their hives. The cavity inside the hive’s walls is filled in during cold days to reduce entry points and mummify any intruders to ensure their survival. A current focus in nanotechnology and nanoscience is the green biosynthesis of nanoparticles (NPs) using biomaterials. Research on green methods for making metal oxide NPs is gaining momentum to safeguard the environment from the potential dangers associated with toxic chemicals. This study aimed to synthesize copper NPs (CuNPs) via propolis extraction, a novel application of nanoscience. The study was conducted under a range of pH, time conditions, and concentration ratios, and its properties were characterized by UV-Vis absorption spectra, XRD, and FTIR. An FTIR analysis revealed that compounds found in propolis extract could have an effect on the surface modification of the synthesized NPs. The propolis (Khalkhal) extract spectrum exhibited a sharp peak at 3422 cm−1, caused by free hydroxyl groups and their intra/intermolecular hydrogen bonds. There were sharp peaks at 2925, 1637, and 1515 to 1076 cm−1 associated with the C = O and C = C aromatic stretching frequencies. According to UV-Vis spectrophotometry investigation, CuO NPs exhibit a characteristic peak at 385 nm, showing significant surface plasmon resonance (SPR) with propolis (Khalkhal) extract. Furthermore, specific wavelengths of CuO NPs demonstrate peaks at 243, 292, and 350 nm for propolis (Gilan) extract. The green synthesis of CuNPs from Gilan and Khalkhal propolis can be an appropriate candidate for clinical applications such as drug delivery systems, drug formulation, and biomedical applications.

Efficacy of Temperature-Controlled Airflow in Maintaining Ultraclean Conditions throughout the Operating Room

Thirty years of evidence supports the efficacy of ultra-clean air in preventing surgical site infection (SSI). Ultraclean is defined as fewer than 10 Colony Forming Units (CFUs) per cubic meter or <10CFU/m3 (35ft3) However, achieving and maintaining ultraclean conditions in the contemporary operating room has proven challenging. For decades, Laminar Air Flow (LAF) systems were recommended for use in rooms where infection sensitive joint arthroplasty procedures are performed. But, a growing body of evidence has called the efficacy of LAF in prevention of these infections into question. As a result, CD C no longer recommends use of LAF for joint arthroplasty. The WHO has gone a step further issuing a conditional recommendation against its use in these procedures. At the same time, demand for total hip and knee arthroplasties are expected to grow exponentially over the next decade and for reasons that are unclear rates of prosthetic joint infection (PJI) are on the rise. Taken together, these factors suggest that the time has come to rethink management of airborne contamination and ventilation technology in the operating room. Temperature-controlled Air Flow (TcAF) is a novel ventilation technology that has been proven to maintain ultra-clean conditions throughout the entire operating room. TcAF uses continuous HEPA filtration and combines a robust central unidirectional down-flow driven by gravity from a temperature gradient together with mixing ventilation in the periphery of the room. While TcAF has been scientifically validated to maintain ultra-clean conditions of <10CFU/m3(35ft3) throughout the entire operating room, the impact of TcAF on prevention of surgical site infection was unknown. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of TcAF on prosthetic joint infection (PJI). A retrospective case control study was performed with 1,000 consecutive cases of primary total joint arthroplasty before and 1,000 consecutive cases after the installation of an ultra-clean TcAF system. TcAF was associated with a statistically significant reduction in surgical site infection. With reduction in surgical site infection proving to be ever more challenging and demand for infection sensitive procedures rising, more rigorous attention to airborne contamination may represent a new pathway to improvement. While not the focus of this paper, the advent of Covid-19 should bring into greater focus the risk of airborne transmission andfurther incentiviņe mitigation.

Leveraging on Artificial Intelligence to Accelerate Sustainable Bioeconomy

Sustainable Development (SD) has remained a major discourse in the political and academic circles for over a decade. According to the United Nations, SD is defined by 17 measurable goals which could be used to evaluate a nation's achievements. Lately, the concept of bioeconomy has emerged as a strategic direction for economic prosperity among the comity of nations amid the devastating effects of the Covid-19 pandemic. It is argued that bioeconomy has the ultimate potential of actualizing the SD goals. Consequent upon such prospects, this paper seeks to establish a nexus between the pervasive knowledgedriven technologies of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the development and sustenance of a vibrant bioeconomy. It adopts a systematic review with a prime focus on how AI integrates and drives biotechnological processes towards sustainable production particularly in the area of food security. This paper further identifies the lapses in the integration and adoption processes and makes a case for interdisciplinary collaboration among professional societies who are the major players in the academia and the industry, as well as the government's contribution towards the review and implementation of appropriate public-private partnership programs to drive AI-driven biotech projects at the grassroots.

Recent advances of chitosan-based polymers in biomedical applications and environmental protection

Interest in polymer-based biomaterials such as chitosan and its modifications and also the methods of their application in various fields of science is uninterruptedly growing. Owing to unique physicochemical, biological, ecological, physiological properties, such as biocompatibility, biodegradability, stability in the natural environment, non-toxicity, high biological activity, economic affordability, chelating of metal ions, high sorption properties, chitosan is used in various biomedical and industrial processes. The reactivity of the amino and hydroxyl groups in the structure makes it more interesting for diverse applications in drug delivery, tissue engineering, wound healing, regenerative medicine, blood anticoagulation and bone, tendon or blood vessel engineering, dentistry, biotechnology, biosensing, cosmetics, water treatment, agriculture. Taking into account the current situation in the world with COVID-19 and other viruses, chitosan is also active in the form of a vaccine system, it can deliver antibodies to the nasal mucosa and load gene drugs that prevent or disrupt the replication of viral DNA/RNA, and deliver them to infected cells. The presented article is an overview of the nowaday state of the application of chitosan, based on literature of recent years, showing importance of fundamental and applied studies aimed to expand application of chitosan-based polymers in many fields of science.

Critical Race Theory for Public Health Students to Recognize and Eliminate Structural Racism

Common approaches to medical and public health pedagogy that are grounded in the biomedical model and social determinants of health theory often fail to address structural racism as a root cause of health inequities.1 Structural racism refers to how societies foster discrimination through inequitable systems.2 These pedagogical approaches tend to promote reductionist views of disease, suggest that social determinants of health are immutable, and neglect the role of White power and privilege in driving unfair differences in health outcomes.1 Critical theoretical frameworks for public health education are needed to enhance understanding of how the field may be failing to address and eliminate health inequities and that contextualize health within power structures that marginalize and oppress.1 With its emphasis on the evolving practice of interrogating the roles of race and racism in society, critical race theory (CRT) is an important framework for informing how and what we teach the next generation of public health leaders to eradicate health inequities and drive social change.3 Striking racial disparities in rates of COVID-19 morbidity and mortality,4 recent surges in cases of police brutality against people of color, and public debate over teaching about racism have brought renewed attention to CRT. KEY TENETS OF CRITICAL RACE THEORY CRT provides a paradigm for equipping public health students with the knowledge and skills needed to recognize and eliminate social structures, practices, and discourses that perpetuate racism and health disparities.1,3,5 Key tenets of CRT include recognizing that race is socially constructed;understanding that racism is embedded throughout institutions, systems, structures, and policies;and embracing the lived experiences of people of color, including their experiences of oppression.1,3 Intersectionality involves conceptualizing and understanding how an individual's multiple marginalized social identities (e.g., related to gender identity, race, socioeconomic status) and intersecting structures of power and inequality shape their worldviews and lived experiences.1,8 Application of CRT to health instruction involves attending to how an individual's or group's unique "layered identities" converge with systems of oppression (e.g., racism, sexism) to better understand their health outcomes.1 APPLICATION TO PUBLIC HEALTH EDUCATION The following are our three teaching recommendations for public health faculty. Are there learning goals or objectives that are explicitly linked to antiracism and equity? A statement in the beginning of a syllabus conveying a commitment to equity and antiracism has been linked to student perceptions of a warm and supportive learning environment.8 This statement can include a proclamation of the instructor's respect for diversity, their expectations with respect to classroom climate, and a note that micro- and macroaggressions will not be tolerated.8 This statement can also be used to contextualize the course readings and materials, such as by acknowledging the subjectivity of science and the potential for overt and covert biases in course material.8,10 Similarly, we should explore how to "decolonize" our public health syllabi by disavowing those structures that reinforce superiority and exclusion, promoting critical consciousness, and centering the public health work of those from marginalized backgrounds.8 Account for Intersectionality Intersectionality is a key aspect of CRT that involves reflecting on identity and its relationship to power.11 Individuals' multiple socially constructed identities (e.g., race, sex, sexual orientation) exist within a matrix characterized by interlocking systems of oppression that may heighten their vulnerability to bias and how they experience that bias.1,8,11 We must define this concept in our course syllabi and commit to teaching approaches that promote "matrix thinking" through interrogation of how individuals' multiply marginalized identities converge with sociocultural systems that are mutable.11 Our courses must prioritize critical and multidimensional examination of how different forms of inequality, power structures, and oppression intersect to shape the health outcomes of all people and identify potential solutions to address these inequities.8,11 Wide-ranging social systems that inequitably distribute power and privilege need to be explicitly examined in all public health courses. In the field of health promotion, reflexivity provides a means of developing alternative modes of thinking related to social inequities, power dynamics, social justice, and contextually situated health issues.15 Reflexivity in action occurs when individuals engage in reflection while doing an action and adjust their practices accordingly (e.g., What am I learning about this population, and how might this learning affect the next steps of my action?);reflexivity on action occurs after an action has taken place and involves stepping back and reflecting on one's own actions (e.g., What could I have done differently?);and reflexivity underlying action involves questioning power dynamics or assumptions that underlie a field, such as public health (e.g., What power structures might this kind of practice be creating, supporting, or modifying?).15 As public health educators, we would benefit from institutional training on how to integrate this typology into our curricula to help students and ourselves become more skilled in contextualizing health decision-making and more attuned to potential biases and power imbalances.15 We can use CRT to train a legion of change agents to advance antiracismand health equity-centered programs, policies, and practices.

Activity-induced propulsion of a vesicle

Modern biomedical applications such as targeted drug delivery require a delivery system capable of enhanced transport beyond that of passive Brownian diffusion. In this work, an osmotic mechanism for the propulsion of a vesicle immersed in a viscous fluid is proposed. By maintaining a steady-state solute gradient inside the vesicle, a seepage flow of the solvent (e.g. water) across the semipermeable membrane is generated, which in turn propels the vesicle. We develop a theoretical model for this vesicle–solute system in which the seepage flow is described by a Darcy flow. Using the reciprocal theorem for Stokes flow, it is shown that the seepage velocity at the exterior surface of the vesicle generates a thrust force that is balanced by the hydrodynamic drag such that there is no net force on the vesicle. We characterize the motility of the vesicle in relation to the concentration distribution of the solute confined inside the vesicle. Any osmotic solute is able to propel the vesicle so long as a concentration gradient is present. In the present work, we propose active Brownian particles (ABPs) as a solute. To maintain a symmetry-breaking concentration gradient, we consider ABPs with spatially varying swim speed, and ABPs with constant properties but under the influence of an orienting field. In particular, it is shown that at high activity, the vesicle velocity is \(\boldsymbol {U}\sim [K_\perp /(\eta _e\ell _m) ]\int \varPi _0

A Review on Current Designation of Metallic Nanocomposite Hydrogel in Biomedical Applications

In the past few decades, nanotechnology has been receiving significant attention globally and is being continuously developed in various innovations for diverse applications, such as tissue engineering, biotechnology, biomedicine, textile, and food technology. Nanotechnological materials reportedly lack cell-interactive properties and are easily degraded into unfavourable products due to the presence of synthetic polymers in their structures. This is a major drawback of nanomaterials and is a cause of concern in the biomedicine field. Meanwhile, particulate systems, such as metallic nanoparticles (NPs), have captured the interest of the medical field due to their potential to inhibit the growth of microorganisms (bacteria, fungi, and viruses). Lately, researchers have shown a great interest in hydrogels in the biomedicine field due to their ability to retain and release drugs as well as to offer a moist environment. Hence, the development and innovation of hydrogel-incorporated metallic NPs from natural sources has become one of the alternative pathways for elevating the efficiency of therapeutic systems to make them highly effective and with fewer undesirable side effects. The objective of this review article is to provide insights into the latest fabricated metallic nanocomposite hydrogels and their current applications in the biomedicine field using nanotechnology and to discuss the limitations of this technology for future exploration. This article gives an overview of recent metallic nanocomposite hydrogels fabricated from bioresources, and it reviews their antimicrobial activities in facilitating the demands for their application in biomedicine. The work underlines the fabrication of various metallic nanocomposite hydrogels through the utilization of natural sources in the production of biomedical innovations, including wound healing treatment, drug delivery, scaffolds, etc. The potential of these nanocomposites in relation to their mechanical strength, antimicrobial activities, cytotoxicity, and optical properties has brought this technology into a new dimension in the biomedicine field. Finally, the limitations of metallic nanocomposite hydrogels in terms of their methods of synthesis, properties, and outlook for biomedical applications are further discussed.

Digital Game-Based Support for Learning the Phlebotomy Procedure in the Biomedical Laboratory Scientist Education

Practice-based training in education is important, expensive, and resource-demanding. Digital games can provide complementary training opportunities for practicing procedural skills and increase the value of the limited laboratory training time in biomedical laboratory science (BLS) education. This paper presents how a serious game can be integrated in a BLS course and supplement traditional learning and teaching with accessible learning material for phlebotomy. To gather information on challenges relevant to integrating Digital Game-Based Learning (DGBL), a case was carried out using mixed methods. Through a semester-long study, following a longitudinal, interventional cohort study, data and information were obtained from teachers and students about the learning impact of the current application. The game motivated students to train more, and teachers were positive towards using it in education. The results provide increased insights into how DGBL can be integrated into education and give rise to a discussion of the current challenges of DGBL for practice-based learning.

Developing Novel Biointerfaces: Using Chlorhexidine Surface Attachment as a Method for Creating Anti‐Fungal Surfaces

There is an increasing focus in healthcare environments on combatting antimicrobial resistant infections. While bacterial infections are well reported, infections caused by fungi receive less attention, yet have a broad impact on society and can be deadly. Fungi are eukaryotes with considerable shared biology with humans, therefore limited technologies exist to combat fungal infections and hospital infrastructure is rarely designed for reducing microbial load. In this study, a novel antimicrobial surface (AMS) that is modified with the broad‐spectrum biocide chlorhexidine is reported. The surfaces are shown to kill the opportunistic fungal pathogens Candida albicans and Cryptococcus neoformans very rapidly (<15 min) and are significantly more effective than current technologies available on the commercial market, such as silver and copper.

Structures, properties, and challenges of emerging 2D materials in bioelectronics and biosensors

Bioelectronics are powerful tools for monitoring and stimulating biological and biochemical processes, with applications ranging from neural interface simulation to biosensing. The increasing demand for bioelectronics has greatly promoted the development of new nanomaterials as detection platforms. Recently, owing to their ultrathin structures and excellent physicochemical properties, emerging two‐dimensional (2D) materials have become one of the most researched areas in the fields of bioelectronics and biosensors. In this timely review, the physicochemical structures of the most representative emerging 2D materials and the design of their nanostructures for engineering high‐performance bioelectronic and biosensing devices are presented. We focus on the structural optimization of emerging 2D material‐based composites to achieve better regulation for enhancing the performance of bioelectronics. Subsequently, the recent developments of emerging 2D materials in bioelectronics, such as neural interface simulation, biomolecular/biomarker detection, and skin sensors are discussed thoroughly. Finally, we provide conclusive views on the current challenges and future perspectives on utilizing emerging 2D materials and their composites for bioelectronics and biosensors. This review will offer important guidance in designing and applying emerging 2D materials in bioelectronics, thus further promoting their prospects in a wide biomedical field.

Analysis of Different Digital Alternatives as Teaching Tools to Improve the Teaching–Learning Process

Virtual tools are frequently used in education. Among them, the use of virtual laboratories could be an interesting alternative to strengthen the practical concepts of the students, especially in the current paradigm in which the presence of students is often not possible. For this reason, the aim of this study was to analyse the use of different digital tools for the improvement of the teaching process during the COVID-19 pandemic period. To this end, a comparison of the application of different digital alternatives was carried out, evaluating the differences found with previous teaching courses. The results indicate that, although students welcome these activities, they cannot replace face-to-face practices, being considered as a complementary activity.

Preparing and Characterizing Novel Biodegradable Starch/PVA-Based Films with Nano-Sized Zinc-Oxide Particles for Wound-Dressing Applications

Given recent worldwide environmental concerns, biodegradability, antibacterial activity, and healing properties around the wound area are vital features that should be taken into consideration while preparing biomedical materials such as wound dressings. Some of the available wound dressings present some major disadvantages. For example, low water vapor transmission rate (WVTR), inadequate exudates absorption, and the complex and high environmental cost of the disposal/recycling processes represent such drawbacks. In this paper, starch/polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) material with inserted nano-sized zinc-oxide particles (nZnO) (average size ≤ 100 nm) was made and altered using citric acid (CA). Both ensure an efficient antibacterial environment for wound-dressing materials. The film properties were assessed by UV–Vis spectrometry and were validated against the UV light transmission percentage of the starch/ polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)/ zinc-oxide nanoparticles (nZnO) composites. Analyses were conducted using X-ray Spectroscopy (EDX) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to investigate the structure and surface morphology of the materials. Moreover, to validate an ideal moisture content around the wound area, which is necessary for an optimum wound-healing process, the water vapor transmission rate of the film was measured. The new starch-based materials exhibited suitable physical and chemical properties, including solubility, gel fraction, fluid absorption, biodegradability, surface morphology (scanning electron microscopy imaging), and mechanical properties. Additionally, the pH level of the starch-based/nZnO film was measured to study the prospect of bacterial growth on this wound-dressing material. Furthermore, the in vitro antibacterial activity demonstrated that the dressings material effectively inhibited the growth and penetration of bacteria (Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus).

Editorial for the Special Issue on “Machine Learning in Healthcare and Biomedical Application”

The authors demonstrated the reliability of the use of cluster analysis in discovering intra- and inter-diagnostic heterogeneity in the cognitive profile of Parkinsonism patients, and, more importantly, showed how to transform a ML approach into a decision support tool for use in a clinical setting [5]. The proposed method [7] overcomes the problems of the time-consuming conventional approaches used for the identification and quantification of malaria parasitemia thanks to transfer learning, which is applied on digital images, with a Faster Regional Convolutional Neural Network (Faster R-CNN) and Single Shot Multibox Detector (SSD). [...]demand to increase the interpretability of ML findings has emerged [2,4,5], as the recent growing interest of the scientific community in Explainable Artificial Intelligence (XAI) demonstrates [8].