The human body is endowed with an uncanny ability to distinguish self from foreign. The implantation of a foreign object inside a mammalian host activates complex signaling cascades, which lead to biological encapsulation of the implant. This reaction by the host system to a foreign object is known as foreign body response (FBR). Over the last few decades, it has been increasingly important to have a deeper insight into the mechanisms of FBR is needed to develop biomaterials for better integration with living systems. In the light of recent advances in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine, particularly in the field of biosensors and biodegradable tissue engineering scaffolds, the classical concepts related to the FBR have acquired new dimensions. The aim of this review is to provide a holistic view of the FBR, while critically analyzing the challenges, which need to be addressed in the future to overcome this innate response. In particular, this review discusses the relevant experimental methodology to assess the host response. The role of erosion and degradation behavior on FBR with biodegradable polymers is largely explored. Apart from the discussion on temporal progression of FBR, an emphasis has been given to the design of next-generation biomaterials with favorable host response.

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In this study, aluminium hybrid composites were fabricated by reinforcing eco-friendly agrowaste, groundnut shell ash and boron carbide using squeeze casting method. Groundnut shell ash and boron carbide were added in ratios of 2.5:7.5, 5:5 and 7.5:2.5 percentages by weight. The impact on mechanical properties namely density, hardness, tensile strength, impact strength was studied, and the results were compared with the matrix alloy. The fracture mechanism of tensile and impact specimens were studied by scanning electron microscopy. Microstructural study reveals the uniform distribution and good bonding of reinforcements with clear interface in the hybrid composite. The hardness and tensile strength increased up to a maximum of 17% and 18.32%, respectively, and then slightly decreased while increasing groundnut shell ash particles. Increasing groundnut shell ash particles in hybrid composites decreases the impact strength and density to a maximum of 12% and 7.5%. Dimples, voids, cracks, clusters and particle fracture are characterised by fracture mechanism. Brittle fractures in the form of cracks, and particle fractures were formed due to the solid interfacial bonding between the reinforcements and alloy. Ductile fractures are the reason for high impact strength and are characterised by dimples and voids. The eco-friendly groundnut shell ash has the potential to serve as reinforcement for the development of composites.

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Abstract. Dynamic pricing is the dynamic adjustment of prices to consumers depending upon the value these customers attribute to a product or service. Today's digital economy is ready for dynamic pricing; however recent research has shown that the prices will have to be adjusted in fairly sophisticated ways, based on sound mathematical models, to derive the benefits of dynamic pricing. This article attempts to survey different models that have been used in dynamic pricing. We first motivate dynamic pricing and present underlying concepts, with several examples, and explain conditions under which dynamic pricing is likely to succeed. We then bring out the role of models in computing dynamic prices. The models surveyed include inventory-based models, data-driven models, auctions, and machine learning. We present a detailed example of an e-business market to show the use of reinforcement learning in dynamic pricing.