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Biomaterials for breast reconstruction: Promises, advances, and challenges
Get PDFyesBreast reconstruction is the opportunity that provides the chance of having breast
after undergoing surgical removal of the breast tissue due to cancer-related surgery.
However, this varies on the stage of the cancer diagnosis and the procedure undertaken.
There are many regenerative medicine methods that provide several initiatives
and direct solutions to problems such as the development of “bioactive tissue,” which
can regenerate adipose tissues with similar normal functions and structures. There
have been several studies which have previously explored for the improvement of
breast reconstruction including different variations of biomaterials, different fabrication
and processing techniques, cells as well as growth factors which enable bioengineers
and tissue engineers to reconstruct a suitable breast for patients with breast
cancer. Many factors such as shape, proper volume, mechanical properties have been
studies but very scattered with not adequate solutions for existing patients worldwide.
This review article aims to cover recent advances in biomaterials, which
can be used for reconstruction of breasts as well as looking at the various factors that
might lead to individuals needing reconstruction and the materials that are available.
The focus would be to look at the various biomaterials that are available to use for
reconstruction, their properties, and their structural integrity
Radio wave imaging using Ultra-Wide Band Spectrum Antennas for Near-Field Applications. Design, Development, and Measurements of Ultra-Wideband Antenna for Microwave Near-Field Imaging Applications by applying Optimisation Algorithms
Get PDFThe emergence of Ultra-wideband (UWB) technology application has yielded tremendous and vital impacts in the field of microwave wireless communications. These applications include military radar imaging, security screening, and tumour detection, especially for early detection of breast cancer. These indicators have stimulated and inspired many researchers to make the best use of this promising technology.
UWB technology challenges such as antenna design, the problem of imaging reconstruction techniques, challenges of severe signal attenuation and dispersion in high loss material. Others are lengthy computational time demand and large computer memory requirements are prevalent constraints that need to be tackled especially in a large scale and complex computational electromagnetic analysis. In this regard, it is necessary to find out recently developed optimisation techniques that can provide solutions to these problems.
In this thesis, designing, optimisation, development, measurement, and analysis of UWB antennas for near-field microwave imaging applications are considered. This technology emulates the same concept of surface penetrating radar operating in various forms of the UWB spectrum. The initial design of UWB monopole antennas, including T-slots, rectangular slots, and hexagonal slots on a circular radiating patch, was explicitly implemented for medical imaging applications to cover the UWB frequency ranging from 3.1 GHz to 10.6 GHz.
Based on this concept, a new bow-tie and Vivaldi UWB antennas were designed for a through-the-wall imaging application. The new antennas were designed to cover a spectrum on a lower frequency ranging from 1 GHz - 4 GHz to ease the high wall losses that will be encountered when using a higher frequency range and to guarantee deeper penetration of the electromagnetic wave. Finally, both simulated and calculated results of the designed, optimised antennas indicate excellent agreement with improved performance in terms of return loss, gain, radiation pattern, and fidelity over the entire UWB frequency. These breakthroughs provided reduced computational time and computer memory requirement for useful, efficient, reliable, and compact sensors for imaging applications, including security and breast cancer detection, thereby saving more lives.Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TET Fund)
Supported by the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA
Dermal fibroblasts cultured from donors with type 2 diabetes mellitus retain an epigenetic memory associated with poor wound healing responses
Get PDFYesThe prevalence of Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is escalating globally. Patients suffer from multiple complications including the development of chronic wounds that can lead to amputation. These wounds are characterised by an inflammatory environment including elevated tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α). Dermal fibroblasts (DF) are critical for effective wound healing, so we sought to establish whether there were any differences in DF cultured from T2DM donors or those without diabetes (ND-DF). ND- and T2DM-DF when cultured similarly in vitro secreted comparable concentrations of TNF-α. Functionally, pre-treatment with TNF-α reduced the proliferation of ND-DF and transiently altered ND-DF morphology; however, T2DM-DF were resistant to these TNF-α induced changes. In contrast, TNF-α inhibited ND- and T2DM-DF migration and matrix metalloprotease expression to the same degree, although T2DM-DF expressed significantly higher levels of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteases (TIMP)-2. Finally, TNF-α significantly increased the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines (including CCL2, CXCL1 and SERPINE1) in ND-DF, whilst this effect in T2DM-DF was blunted, presumably due to the tendency to higher baseline pro-inflammatory cytokine expression observed in this cell type. Collectively, these data demonstrate that T2DM-DF exhibit a selective loss of responsiveness to TNF-α, particularly regarding proliferative and secretory functions. This highlights important phenotypic changes in T2DM-DF that may explain the susceptibility to chronic wounds in these patients.This study was funded by an Iraqi government studentship to AHAA-R
Assessing the Moderating Effect of Security Technologies on Employees Compliance with Cybersecurity Control Procedures
Get PDFYesThe increase in cybersecurity threats and the challenges for organisations to protect their information technology assets has made adherence to organisational security control processes and procedures a critical issue that needs to be adequately addressed. Drawing insight from organisational theory literature, we develop a multi-theory model, combining the elements of the theory of planned behaviour, competing value framework, and technology—organisational and environmental theory to examine how the organisational mechanisms interact with espoused cultural values and employee cognitive belief to influence cybersecurity control procedures. Using a structured questionnaire, we deployed structural equation modelling (SEM) to analyse the survey data obtained from public sector information technology organisations in Nigeria to test the hypothesis on the relationship of socio-organisational mechanisms and techno-cultural factors with other key determinants of employee security behaviour. The results showed that knowledge of cybersecurity and employee cognitive belief significantly influence the employees’ intentions to comply with organisational cybersecurity control mechanisms. The research further noted that the influence of organisational elements such as leadership on employee security behaviour is mediated by espoused cultural values while the impact of employee cognitive belief is moderated by security technologies. For effective cybersecurity compliance, leaders and policymakers are therefore to promote organisational security initiatives that ensure incorporation of cybersecurity principles and practices into job descriptions, routines, and processes. This study contributes to behavioural security research by highlighting the critical role of leadership and cultural values in fostering organisational adherence to prescribed security control mechanisms.National Information Technology Development Agency, Nigeri
The role of miRNA-486-5p in hair growth and the hair follicle immune privilege
Get PDFMiRNAs control skin homeostasis through post-transcriptional gene
repression by binding to their target mRNAs. However, their role in regulation
of apoptosis and hair loss in alopecia areata (AA) is largely unknown, which
became the aim of this study.
In AA mouse model (C3H/HeJ), global miRNA profiling revealed 22 miRNAs
with significant changes in their expression in AA affected skin. Amongst
these miRNAs, miR-486-5p was dramatically decreased in alopecic skin in
both humans and mice, in striking contrast to its prominent expression in the
hair follicle (HF) epithelium of healthy anagen skin. Moreover, the expression
of both pri-miR-486 and miR-486 is down-regulated in the human anagen
HFs and keratinocytes treated with IFN-g, one of the key factors contributing
to the immune privilege (IP) collapse in HFs.
Intradermal delivery of miR-486-5p mimic into mouse skin affected by AA
prevented premature entrance of HFs into catagen phase and reduced the
numbers of CD4+ and CD8+ lymphocytes in the peri- and intra-follicular skin
compartments. Consistently, subcutaneous administration of miR-486-5p
inhibitor delayed anagen progression associated with a higher number of
intrafollicular NKG2D+ cells in C3H/HeJ mice. Silencing of miR-486-5p in
human anagen HFs ex vivo caused premature catagen development and led
to suppression of IP by up-regulating HLA class 1, IRF1, ICAM1 and CADM1
expression of which CADM1 was confirmed to be a direct target of miR-486-
5p. Transcriptome profiling of primary human epidermal keratinocytes
overexpressing miR-486-5p revealed damping the signalling pathways
associated with inflammatory chemokines, cytokines and interleukins.
Taken together, these data suggest that miR-486-5p plays a protective role
in the pathogenesis of AA by maintaining anagen phase and preventing the
IP collapse.National Alopecia Areata Foundatio
Investigations into the Impact of Modifiable Dietary Components on Cognition. Fish, the Vegan Diet and Lifestyle Factors
No full textThe burden of neurocognitive diseases, such as Alzheimer’s, is of global concern and
points to an urgent need for accurate detection and prevention strategies. This
thesis investigated dietary components, in particular those that affect vitamin B
levels, such as white fish consumption and veganism, which have the potential to
alter cognitive outcomes in the population. Also investigated were external factors,
significantly caffeine consumption, time of day, and quantity of sleep, not associated
with age-related impairment, that can alter neuropsychological test performance.
The literature reveals that short, multi-domain cognitive tests are commonly used
for dementia screening; this study has focused exclusively on cognitive domains
associated with the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease. Cognitively healthy adults
were assessed using a cognitive test battery that focused on memory and processing speed.
Memory test scores improved by 0.03 points for every gram of white fish consumed,
whilst participants following a vegan diet scored significantly worse on tests of
composite memory than their omnivorous counterparts. Interaction tests showed
that prior caffeine consumption improved short-term memory test scores up to age
70. Participants of all ages performed best at their age-optimal times and further
improved for immediate word recall tests with prior caffeine consumption.
Processing speed scores increased linearly with hours of sleep.
The results of this thesis suggest that nutrition and external factors have a significant
impact on cognitive test performance. These novel findings have implications for
research, diagnosis and prevention of chronic neurological disease, and public health
guidance relating to cognitive function, for all ages
An Investigation into Human Resource Development (HRD) Needs of Nurses. The Case of Public Health Sector, Pakistan.
No full textThe research investigates the health services of Pakistan by exploring current
Human Resource Development (HRD) practices and social skills training
opportunities for the development of nursing staff. The research aims to explore
the best practice in social skills and competency development through HRD
activities by detailing a project to identify the learning needs of registered nurses
leading to improved quality care services. An exploratory research approach has
been adopted to achieve research objectives. This mixed method oriented
research, is primarily quantitative case study, supplemented by qualitative
interviews to validate and enrich data findings from questionnaires to substantiate
the research. The data was collected through 600 questionnaires and 10
interviews from five major public hospitals of Lahore, Pakistan. The research has
identified multiple and diverse challenges of inadequate and improper HRD
infrastructure, transformational leadership and participative style of management
is resulting into degenerating attitudes and negative behaviours thus causing
further slump. These counterproductive elements are failing to imbibe positive
social skills and abilities in nursing staff resulting in creating impediments in
deliverance of quality care services. This clearly indicates that there is no policy
in place therefore, based on empirical evidences, as well as critical review of the
literature, it proposes a model for achieving critical social skills development
through training and development in order to achieve quality care standards
based on the broad and long-term perspective of the strategy of input, process,
output and outcome to support nursing sector, social skills development in
particular to achieve optimum quality care objectives
Computer based simulation in CT and MRI radiography education: Current role and future opportunities
No full textNoThe use of Computer-based simulation (CBS), a form of simulation which utilises digital and
web based platforms, is widely acknowledged in healthcare education. This literature review explores
the current evidence relating to CBS activities in supporting radiographer education in CT and MRI.
Key findings: Journal articles published between 2010 and 2020 were reviewed (n ¼ 663). The content
was evaluated and summarised with the following headings; current utility, overview of CBS types,
knowledge acquisition and evaluation, and student perspective.
CBS utility in CT and MRI radiography education is limited. Its current use is for pre-registration education, and the interfaces used vary in design but are predominantly used as a preclinical learning tool to
support the training of geometric scan planning, image acquisition and reconstruction, and associated
technical skills. CBS was positively acknowledged by student radiographers; based on its inherent
flexibility, self-paced learning and the ability to practice in a safe environment. Nonetheless, the
educational validation of CBS in CT and MRI education pertaining to knowledge and skill acquisition has
not been fully assessed through rigorous academic assessments and metrics.
Conclusion: The current use of CBS in CT and MRI education is limited. The development of software
programmes with functionality and capability that correlates with current clinical practice is imperative;
and to enable more research in CBS utility to be undertaken to establish the efficacy of this pedagogical
approach.
Implications for practice: Due to limited placement opportunities, the use of simulation is increasing and
evolving; in line with the approach to design and deliver high quality Simulation Based Education (SBE)
in Diagnostic Radiography education. The continued development, utility and evaluation of CBS interfaces to support student radiographers at pre and post registration level is therefore essential
Influencing subjective well-being for business and sustainable development using big data and predictive regression analysis
Get PDFYesBusiness leaders and policymakers within service economies are placing greater emphasis on well-being, given the role of workers in such settings. Whilst people’s well-being can lead to economic growth, it can also have the opposite effect if overlooked. Therefore, enhancing subjective well-being (SWB) is pertinent for all organisations for the sustainable development of an economy. While health conditions were previously deemed the most reliable predictors, the availability of data on people’s personal lifestyles now offers a new dimension into well-being for organisations. Using open data available from the national Annual Population Survey in the UK, which measures SWB, this research uncovered that among several independent variables to predict varying levels of people's perceived well-being, long-term health conditions, one's marital status, and age played a key role in SWB. The proposed model provides the key indicators of measuring SWB for organisations using big data
Re-evaluating cyclosporine A as a hair growth-promoting agent in human scalp hair follicles
No full textNoCyclosporine A (CsA) has long been recognized as a potent hair growth stimulator in both humans and rodent. The induction of a dose-dependent hypertrichosis is one of the most frequent adverse effects of long-term CsA therapy (Lutz, 1994). However, it is unclear how this immunosuppressant induces hypertrichosis in patients or stimulates hair growth in human scalp skin transplanted on nude mice (Gilhar et al., 1988; Gilhar et al., 1991)