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In this paper, we report a method of preparation of ambient temperature curable phosphorous containing epoxy resin‐based composites and their flame retardant behavior. The phosphorous containing resin, prepared by reacting the epoxy resin with 9,10‐Dihydro‐9‐oxa‐10‐phosphaphenanthrene‐10‐oxide (DOPO), shows higher limiting oxygen index (LOI) in the cured state compared to the pure epoxy network. The LOI value is further enhanced due to the incorporation of phosphorous‐containing silica, although the same remains unchanged when pure silica is added. The composites made with phosphorous‐containing resin and pure silica exhibits UL‐94 V‐1 class rating whereas the same made with phosphorous‐containing silica offers V‐0 rating under UL‐94 classification. This observation clearly indicates that the performance is enhanced when phosphorous in incorporated in the resin as well as in the inorganic reinforcing filler. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Human Genome Project has led to the massive growth and deluge of genomic sequencing data. Though new methods have decreased gene sequencing costs, this has increased the need of large-scale genomic data analysis. Such data sets are valuable and informative for scientists and medical researchers for extracting valuable associations about genes and diseases. As a result, proficient technologies capable of handling such biological big data are the need of the hour. Cloud computing and big data both serve to manage, store and analyze such data. This is because such technologies offer concurrent and distributed data processing for evaluating petabyte (PB) range genomic data sets. This paper provides a review and comparative study of cloud computing and big data approaches in Genomics that have been proposed in the last decade. This paper can be used by other researchers to develop more futuristic and robust data genomic storage systems in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accumulated uremic toxins like indoxyl sulphate, hippuric acid and p-cresyl sulphates in renal failure patients stimulate proinflammatory effects, and consequently kidney and cardiovascular diseases. Low clearance rate of these uremic toxins from the blood of uremic patients by conventional techniques like hemodialysis is due to their strong covalent albumin binding (greater than 95%) and hydrophobic nature, which led to alternatives like usage of hydrophobic adsorber's in removing these toxins from the plasma of kidney patients. Polymers like polyethylene, polyurethane, polymethylmethacrylate, cellophane and polytetrafluoroethylene were already in use as substitutes for metal devices as dialysis membranes. Among new synthetic polymers, one such ideal adsorber material are highly porous microparticles of poly(ether imide) (PEI) with diameters in the range from 50-180 μm and a porosity around 88±2% prepared by a spraying and coagulation process. It is essential to make sure that these synthetic polymers should not evoke any inflammatory or apoptotic response during dialysis. Therefore in our study we evaluated in vitro effect of PEI microparticle extracts in human aortic endothelial cells (HEACs) concerning toxicity, inflammation and apoptosis. No cell toxicity was observed when HAECs were treated with PEI extracts and inflammatory/apoptotic markers were not upregulated in presence of PEI extracts. Our results ensure biocompatibility of PEI particles and further hemocompatibility of particles will be tested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Current haemodialysis techniques are not capable to remove efficiently low molecular weight hydrophobic uremic toxins from the blood of patients suffering from chronic renal failure.With respect to the hydrophobic characteristics and the high level of protein binding of these uremic toxins, hydrophobic adsorber materials might be an alternative to remove these substances from the plasma of the chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients. Here nanoporous microparticles prepared from poly(ether imide) (PEI) with an average diameter of 90±30 µm and a porosity around 88±2% prepared by a spraying/coagulation process are considered as candidate adsorber materials. A prerequisite for the clinical application of such particles is their biocompatibility, which can be examined i.e. indirectly in cell culture experiments with the particles' extracts. In this work we studied the effects of aqueous extracts of PEI microparticles on the viability of THP-1 cells, a human leukemia monocytic cell line, as well as their macrophage differentiation, reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and inflammation. A high cell viability of around 99±18% and 99±5% was observed when THP-1 cells were cultured in the presence of aqueous extracts of the PEI microparticles in medium A and medium B respectively. The obtained microscopic data suggested that PEI particle extracts have no significant effect on cell death, oxidative stress or differentiation to macrophages. It was further found that the investigated proinflammatory markers in THP-1 cells were not up-regulated. These results are promising with regard to the biocompatibility of PEI microparticles and in a next step the hemocompatibility of the microparticles will be examined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Craniofacial tissue injuries, diseases, and defects, including those within bone, dental, and periodontal tissues and salivary glands, impact an estimated 1 billion patients globally. Craniofacial tissue dysfunction significantly reduces quality of life, and successful repair of damaged tissues remains a significant challenge. Blood vessels and nerves are colocalized within craniofacial tissues and act synergistically during tissue regeneration. Therefore, the success of craniofacial regenerative approaches is predicated on successful recruitment, regeneration, or integration of both vascularization and innervation. Tissue engineering strategies have been widely used to encourage vascularization and, more recently, to improve innervation through host tissue recruitment or prevascularization/innervation of engineered tissues. However, current scaffold designs and cell or growth factor delivery approaches often fail to synergistically coordinate both vascularization and innervation to orchestrate successful tissue regeneration. Additionally, tissue engineering approaches are typically investigated separately for vascularization and innervation. Since both tissues act in concert to improve craniofacial tissue regeneration outcomes, a revised approach for development of engineered materials is required. This review aims to provide an overview of neurovascularization in craniofacial tissues and strategies to target either process thus far. Finally, key design principles are described for engineering approaches that will support both vascularization and innervation for successful craniofacial tissue regeneration.