Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) is a hydrophilic polymer widely employed as a carrier in the pharmaceutical, biomedical, and nutraceutical fields. Up to now, several PVP-based systems have been developed to deliver different active principles, of both natural and synthetic origin. Various formulations and morphologies have been proposed using PVP, including microparticles and nanoparticles, fibers, hydrogels, tablets, and films. Its versatility and peculiar properties make PVP one of the most suitable and promising polymers for the development of new pharmaceutical forms. This review highlights the role of PVP in drug delivery, focusing on the different morphologies proposed for different polymer/active compound formulations. It also provides detailed information on active principles and used technologies, optimized process parameters, advantages, disadvantages, and final applications.

The Use of Poly(N-vinyl pyrrolidone) in the Delivery of Drugs: A Review

Classic multi-criteria group decision making models that have a high amount of alternatives are unmanageable for the experts. This is because they have to provide one value per each alternative and criteria. In this paper, we focus on solving this issue by carrying out multi-criteria group decision making methods using a different novel approach. Concretely, fuzzy ontologies reasoning procedures are used in order to automatically obtain the alternatives ranking classification. Thanks to our novel methodology, experts only need to provide the importance of a small set of criteria values making it possible for experts to perform multi-criteria group decision making procedures that have a high amount of alternatives without having to directly deal with them. Furthermore, in order to allow experts to provide their preferences in a comfortable way, multi-granular fuzzy linguistic modelling is used in order to allow each expert to choose the linguistic label set that better fits him/her.

Solving Multi-Criteria Group Decision Making Problems Under Environments with a High Number of Alternatives Using Fuzzy Ontologies and Multi-Granular Linguistic Modelling Methods

The urbanization problems we face may be alleviated using innovative digital technology. However, employing these technologies entails the risk of creating new urban problems and/or intensifying the old ones instead of alleviating them. Hence, in a world with immense technological opportunities and at the same time enormous urbanization challenges, it is critical to adopt the principles of responsible urban innovation. These principles assure the delivery of the desired urban outcomes and futures. We contribute to the existing responsible urban innovation discourse by focusing on local government artificial intelligence (AI) systems, providing a literature and practice overview, and a conceptual framework. In this perspective paper, we advocate for the need for balancing the costs, benefits, risks and impacts of developing, adopting, deploying and managing local government AI systems in order to achieve responsible urban innovation. The statements made in this perspective paper are based on a thorough review of the literature, research, developments, trends and applications carefully selected and analyzed by an expert team of investigators. This study provides new insights, develops a conceptual framework and identifies prospective research questions by placing local government AI systems under the microscope through the lens of responsible urban innovation. The presented overview and framework, along with the identified issues and research agenda, offer scholars prospective lines of research and development; where the outcomes of these future studies will help urban policymakers, managers and planners to better understand the crucial role played by local government AI systems in ensuring the achievement of responsible outcomes.

Responsible Urban Innovation with Local Government Artificial Intelligence (AI): A Conceptual Framework and Research Agenda

Smart cities and artificial intelligence (AI) are among the most popular discourses in urban policy circles. Most attempts at using AI to improve efficiencies in cities have nevertheless either struggled or failed to accomplish the smart city transformation. This is mainly due to short-sighted, technologically determined and reductionist AI approaches being applied to complex urbanization problems. Besides this, as smart cities are underpinned by our ability to engage with our environments, analyze them, and make efficient, sustainable and equitable decisions, the need for a green AI approach is intensified. This perspective paper, reflecting authors’ opinions and interpretations, concentrates on the “green AI” concept as an enabler of the smart city transformation, as it offers the opportunity to move away from purely technocentric efficiency solutions towards efficient, sustainable and equitable solutions capable of realizing the desired urban futures. The aim of this perspective paper is two-fold: first, to highlight the fundamental shortfalls in mainstream AI system conceptualization and practice, and second, to advocate the need for a consolidated AI approach—i.e., green AI—to further support smart city transformation. The methodological approach includes a thorough appraisal of the current AI and smart city literatures, practices, developments, trends and applications. The paper informs authorities and planners on the importance of the adoption and deployment of AI systems that address efficiency, sustainability and equity issues in cities.

https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/13/16/8952/pdf

Green Artificial Intelligence: Towards an Efficient, Sustainable and Equitable Technology for Smart Cities and Futures

The fabrication process of ceramic yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) and nickel oxide nanofibers by electrospinning is reported. The preparation of hollow YSZ nanofibers and aligned nanofiber arrays is also demonstrated. The influence of the process parameters of the electrospinning process, the physicochemical properties of the spinning solutions, and the thermal treatment procedure on spinnability and final microstructure of the ceramic fibers was determined. The fiber diameter can be varied from hundreds of nanometers to more than a micrometer by controlling the solution properties of the electrospinning process, while the grain size and surface roughness of the resulting fibers are mainly controlled via the final thermal annealing process. Although most observed phenomena are in qualitative agreement with previous studies on the electrospinning of polymeric nanofibers, one of the main differences is the high ionic strength of ceramic precursor solutions, which may hamper the spinnability. A strategy to control the effective ionic strength of precursor solutions is also presented.

https://ris.utwente.nl/ws/files/6942942/nanomaterials-07-00016.pdf

Influence of Solution Properties and Process Parameters on the Formation and Morphology of YSZ and NiO Ceramic Nanofibers by Electrospinning

This paper presents an efficient cyberphysical platform for the smart management of smart territories. It is efficient because it facilitates the implementation of data acquisition and data management methods, as well as data representation and dashboard configuration. The platform allows for the use of any type of data source, ranging from the measurements of a multi-functional IoT sensing devices to relational and non-relational databases. It is also smart because it incorporates a complete artificial intelligence suit for data analysis; it includes techniques for data classification, clustering, forecasting, optimization, visualization, etc. It is also compatible with the edge computing concept, allowing for the distribution of intelligence and the use of intelligent sensors. The concept of smart cities is evolving and adapting to new applications; the trend to create intelligent neighbourhoods, districts or territories is becoming increasingly popular, as opposed to the previous approach of managing an entire megacity. In this paper, the platform is presented, and its architecture and functionalities are described. Moreover, its operation has been validated in a case study where the bike renting service of Paris—Velib’ Metropole has been managed. This platform could enable smart territories to develop adapted knowledge management systems, adapt them to new requirements and to use multiple types of data, and execute efficient computational and artificial intelligence algorithms. The platform optimizes the decisions taken by human experts through explainable artificial intelligence models that obtain data from IoT sensors, databases, the Internet, etc. The global intelligence of the platform could potentially coordinate its decision-making processes with intelligent nodes installed in the edge, which would use the most advanced data processing techniques.

Deepint.net: A Rapid Deployment Platform for Smart Territories.

Encapsulation of nabumetone by means of -drug: (β-cyclodextrin)2:polyvinylpyrrolidone ternary complex formation

Smart textiles can monitor the state of people and their environment, and react appropriately according to the parameters they capture. They are considered ideal for personal protection equipment. Currently, the rate of accidents among workers is high in all types of industries. Most of those accidents are caused by the lack of prevention measures, poor safety training and obsolete safety systems which do no adapt technologically to the needs of today’s workplace. In this work is presented a intelligent system providing workers the tools they need to prevent a large percentage of accidents and create safe working environments.

Smart PPE and CPE Platform for Electric Industry Workforce

Blockchain and AI to Flatten the Curve

La herramienta utiliza tecnología blockchain para almacenar y verificar las identidades digitales y las licencias para que las personas puedan realizar determinadas tareas, como volver al trabajo o ir al supermercado durante el período de cuarentena. Cada identidad tiene la forma de un certificado registrado en la blockchain, y cada persona tendrá la respectiva clave privada de su propia identidad.

Javier Prieto Tejedor

Papers

Deepint.net: A Rapid Deployment Platform for Smart Territories.

Encapsulation of nabumetone by means of -drug: (β-cyclodextrin)2:polyvinylpyrrolidone ternary complex formation

Smart PPE and CPE Platform for Electric Industry Workforce

Blockchain and AI to Flatten the Curve

Predicción de la evolución del COVID-19 con IA y monitorización de su evolución con blockchain