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The commercially available metal-oxide TGS sensors are widely used in many applications due to the fact that they are inexpensive and considered to be reliable. However, they are partially selective and their responses are influenced by various factors, e.g. temperature or humidity level. Therefore, it is important to design a proper analysis system of the sensor responses. In this paper, the results of examinations of eight commercial TGS sensors combined in an array and measured over a period of a few months for the purpose of prediction of nitrogen dioxide concentration are presented. The measurements were performed at different relative humidity levels. PLS regression was employed as a method of quantitative analysis of the obtained sensor responses. The results of NO2 concentration prediction based on static and dynamic responses of sensors are compared. It is demonstrated that it is possible to predict the nitrogen dioxide concentration despite the influence of humidity.

Abstract Background When depression accompanies diabetes, it complicates treatment, portends worse outcomes and increases health care costs. A collaborative care case-management model, previously tested in an urban managed care organization in the US, achieved significant reduction of depressive symptoms, improved diabetes disease control and patient-reported outcomes, and saved money. While impressive, these findings need to be replicated and extended to other healthcare settings. Our objective is to comprehensively evaluate a collaborative care model for comorbid depression and type 2 diabetes within a Canadian primary care setting. Methods/design We initiated the TeamCare model in four Primary Care Networks in Northern Alberta. The intervention involves a nurse care manager guiding patient-centered care with family physicians and consultant physician specialists to monitor progress and develop tailored care plans. Patients eligible for the intervention will be identified using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 as a screen for depressive symptoms. Care managers will then guide patients through three phases: 1) improving depressive symptoms, 2) improving blood glucose, blood pressure and cholesterol, and 3) improving lifestyle behaviors. We will employ the RE-AIM framework for a comprehensive and mixed-methods approach to our evaluation. Effectiveness will be assessed using a controlled “on-off” trial design, whereby eligible patients would be alternately enrolled in the TeamCare intervention or usual care on a monthly basis. All patients will be assessed at baseline, 6 and 12 months. Our primary analyses will be based on changes in two outcomes: depressive symptoms, and a multivariable, scaled marginal model for the combined outcome of global disease control (i.e., A1c, systolic blood pressure, LDL cholesterol). Our planned enrolment of 168 patients will provide greater than 80% power to observe clinically important improvements in all measured outcomes. Direct costing of all intervention components and measurement of all health care utilization using linked administrative databases will be used to determine the cost-effectiveness of the intervention relative to usual care. Discussion Our comprehensive evaluation will generate evidence to reliability, effectiveness and sustainability of this collaborative care model for patients with chronic diseases and depression. Trials registration Clintrials.gov Identifier: NCT01328639

Abstract Background While strong and consistent evidence supports the role of lifestyle modification in the prevention and management of type 2 diabetes (T2DM), the best strategies for program implementation to support lifestyle modification within primary care remain to be determined. The objective of the study is to evaluate the implementation of an evidence-based self- management program for patients with T2DM within a newly established primary care network (PCN) environment. Method Using a non-randomized design, participants (total N = 110 per group) will be consecutively allocated in bi-monthly blocks to either a 6-month self-management program lead by an Exercise Specialist or to usual care. Our primary outcome is self-reported physical activity and pedometer steps. Discussion The present study will assess whether a diabetes self-management program lead by an Exercise Specialist provided within a newly emerging model of primary care and linked to available community-based resources, can lead to positive changes in self-management behaviours for adults with T2DM. Ultimately, our work will serve as a platform upon which an emerging model of primary care can incorporate effective and efficient chronic disease management practices that are sustainable through partnerships with local community partners. Clinical Trials Registration ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00991380

Background: Titanium (Ti) biomaterials are widely used in the surgical management of maxillofacial trauma, in oncology and orthognathic surgery. Although Ti is considered highly biocompatible, adverse reactions at the implant site have been reported in numerous clinical studies. However, the influence of Ti mandibular implants on glutathione metabolism, nitrosative stress and systemic inflammation has not been investigated to date., Objectives: The study aimed to evaluate the acute (short-term) effects of Ti mandibular implants on the circulating biomarkers of the antioxidant defense system, on oxidative and nitrosative stress, as well as the inflammatory response of the blood plasma/erythrocytes, in maxillofacial surgery patients compared to the control group., Material and Methods: The experimental group consisted of 40 patients with bilateral mandibular fractures, who received osteosynthesis treatment with the use of Ti-6Al-4V alloy miniplates and screws. The control group comprised 40 ageand gender-matched patients who were qualified for the surgical treatment of craniofacial defects through bimaxillary osteotomy., Results: An increase in the activity of pro-oxidant enzymes (↑ nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase (NOX), ↑ xanthine oxidase (XO)), impaired glutathione metabolism (↓ total glutathione, ↑ oxidized glutathione (GSSG), ↓ reduced glutathione (GSH), ↓ redox status), higher levels of oxidative stress (↓ total thiols, ↑ malondialdehyde (MDA), ↑ lipid hydroperoxides (LOOHs)), ↓ total antioxidant status (TAS)), carbonyl stress (↑ dityrosine, ↑ N-formylkynurenine) and nitrosative stress (↑ nitric oxide (NO), ↑ S-nitrosothiols, ↑ peroxynitrite, ↑ nitrotyrosine), as well as an intensified systemic inflammatory response (↑ interleukin (IL)-1β, ↑ IL-6), were observed in maxillofacial surgery patients., Conclusions: Despite the fact that the study examined only the circulating biomarkers of redox balance and inflammation, the results suggest that a systemic inflammatory response can be triggered by local immune reactions. Systemic inflammation and oxidative stress may stem from an early adaptive immune response to foreign objects in the body. Although further research is required, the removal of the existing Ti mandibular implants should be considered.

Reducing animal-based food production and consumption due to environmental issues and undergoing upcoming changes in food dietary patterns is pushing European society to search for new protein sources. Consuming macroalgae (seaweed) is one of the possible solutions, and it is an exciting alternative for both sustainability and consumers' health. The aim of this work, implemented under the EU-FORA fellowship programme, was to evaluate the current and projected consumption of macroalgae in terms of possible beneficial and detrimental effects on consumers. The risk-benefit assessment methodology was selected as a tool for this task, and a broad range of qualitative analyses of raw material composition (e.g. fatty acids, micro-, macroelements, heavy metals, biogenic amines). The current levels of macroalgae consumption in the EU are deficient; therefore, alternate scenarios using data from other countries and substitution scenarios are needed. Iodine turned out to be the most pivotal constituent - on the one hand; it is an element essential for life, often fortified in foods like milk or salt; on the other, its overdosing leads to serious thyroid complications. A very high variance in iodine levels between algal species was observed; therefore, it was suggested that this valuable knowledge is helpful in dietary recommendations., (© 2024 European Food Safety Authority. EFSA Journal published by Wiley‐VCH GmbH on behalf of European Food Safety Authority.)

Background: Daratumumab (Dara) is the first monoclonal antibody introduced into clinical practice to treat multiple myeloma (MM). It currently forms the backbone of therapy regimens in both newly diagnosed (ND) and relapsed/refractory (RR) patients. However, previous reports indicated an increased risk of infectious complications (ICs) during Dara-based treatment. In this study, we aimed to determine the profile of ICs in MM patients treated with Dara-based regimens and establish predictors of their occurrence., Methods: This retrospective, real-life study included MM patients treated with Dara-based regimens between July 2019 and March 2024 at our institution. Infectious events were evaluated using the Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) version 5.0., Results: The study group consisted of a total of 139 patients, including 49 NDMM and 90 RRMM. In the RR setting, the majority (60.0%) of patients received the Dara, bortezomib, and dexamethasone (DVd) regimen, whereas ND patients were predominantly (98%) treated with the Dara, bortezomib, thalidomide, and dexamethasone (DVTd) regimen. Overall, 55 patients (39.6%) experienced ICs. The most common IC was pneumonia (37.5%), followed by upper respiratory tract infections (26.8%). Finally, twenty-five patients had severe ICs (grade ≥ 3) and required hospitalization, and eight patients died due to ICs. In the final multivariable model adjusted for setting (ND/RR) and age, hemoglobin level (OR 0.77, 95% CI: 0.61-0.96, p = 0.0037), and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) >1 (OR 4.46, 95% CI: 1.63-12.26, p = 0.0037) were significant factors influencing severe IC occurrence. Additionally, we developed predictive models using the J48 decision tree, gradient boosting, and random forest algorithms. After conducting 10-fold cross-validation, these models demonstrated strong performance in predicting the occurrence of pneumonia during treatment with daratumumab-based regimens., Conclusions: Simple clinical and laboratory assessments, including hemoglobin level and ECOG scale, can be valuable in identifying patients vulnerable to infections during Dara-based regimens, facilitating personalized prophylactic strategies.

This study analyzed the effects of thermal pre-treatments such as convective drying (P-CD), water (BL_W), and microwave blanching (M_BL) and osmotic enrichment pre-treatments with juices from pomegranate (PG), chokeberry (CH), and sea buckthorn (SB) on microwave-vacuum-dried (MVD) carrot properties. Convective drying (CD) and freeze-drying (FD) were used as a comparative method. The dry matter content and water activity of MVD carrots were varied, but in many cases, the values were comparable to those of FD-dried carrots. Pre-enrichment in CH juice significantly reduced the values of the color parameters L*, a*, and b*, regardless of the drying method. The smallest changes were observed in microwave pre-blanching (M_BL). The lowest loss in carotenoid content was observed in CD-dried carrots (14-34 mg/100 g d.m.). Blanching and enrichment in SB juice allowed significant retention of these compounds. As a result of drying carrots, the total phenolic content (TPC) increased. Compared to the raw material, the TPC content in dried carrots increased 3-9 times. Drying using the FD and MVD methods gave a similar effect of increasing the TPC content, including a greater effect after enrichment in CH juice. The highest average antioxidant activity against the DPPH• and ABTS•+ radicals was recorded for FD-dried carrots (6.9 and 30.0 mg Trolox/g d.m.). SB juice contributed to a significant increase in the total vitamin C content, even by 89.1%, compared to raw carrots. Applying osmotic pre-enrichment in PG juice increased the sugar content in dried FD and CD samples by 37.4-49.9%, and in MVD by 21-59%.

This study emphasizes the significance of optimizing salt content during the fermentation of red beetroot to produce healthier and high-quality fermented products. It investigates the impact of different salt levels on fermentation, analyzing various parameters such as pH levels, dry matter content, total acidity, salt content, color changes, pigment content, and lactic acid bacteria count. This study identifies the most favorable salt concentration for bacterial growth during fermentation and storage as 2-3%. It was evaluated that salt levels fluctuated significantly during fermentation, with nearly 50% of the added salt absorbed by the beetroot tissues, mainly when lower salt concentrations were used. The fermentation process had a negative effect on the content of betalain pigments, as well as yellow pigments, including vulgaxanthin-I. It was also found that fermentation and storage affected the proportions of red pigments, with betacyanins proving to be more stable than betaxanthins, and that salt addition affected negatively pH and total acidity while causing an increase in yellow color. The pH was negatively correlated with the duration of the process, the amount of red pigment, and bacterial count. The results indicate that lower salt levels can lead to favorable physicochemical and microbiological parameters, allowing for the production of fermented red beetroot with reduced salt content without compromising quality.

Ostrich meat is an interesting alternative to poultry or beef due to its nutritional value. The addition of three plant species (hot peppers, acerola, Schisandra chinesis ) was suggested as a method to improve the quality, safety, and consumer acceptance of sausages prepared from ostrich meat. A series of microbiological and chemical analyses (including, inter alia, content of biogenic amines, heavy metals, and bioactive compounds) of the products as well as their sensory evaluation was performed to verify this claim. The microflora of all sausages was dominated by lactic acid bacteria. The biggest threat to consumers' health could be connected to the presence of biogenic amines formed through the enzymatic activity of lactic acid bacteria. The sausages with plant additives had better antioxidative and anti-inflammatory properties and lower fat oxidation-these features were correlated with the presence of vitamin C. Sausages with plant additives had a higher acceptability in terms of taste and smell.

Background and Objectives : The negative effects of smoking on the musculoskeletal system were presented by many authors, although the relationship between smoking and osteoarthritis remains unclear. The aim of this paper was to investigate the negative effects of smoking on meniscal tissue in osteoarthritic knees by microscopic examination, by adapting the Bonar scoring system and its modifications. Materials and Methods : The study involved 34 patients with varus knees, from whom 65 samples of knee menisci were obtained. The mean age in the studied group was 65.385 years. The smoking status of the patients concluded that there were 13 smokers and 21 nonsmokers. Results : Among smokers, the mean classical Bonar score was 8.42 and the mean modified Bonar score was 6.65, while nonsmokers were characterized by scores of 8.51 and 7.35, respectively. There was a statistically significant negative correlation between the number of cigarettes and the collagen in the medial meniscus ( p = 0.0197). Moreover, in the medial meniscus, the modified Bonar score correlated negatively with the number of cigarettes ( p = 0.0180). Similarly, such a correlation was observed between the number of cigarettes and the modified Bonar score in the lateral meniscus ( p = 0.04571). Furthermore, no correlation was identified between the number of cigarettes and the classical Bonar score in the lateral meniscus. There was a statistically significant difference in the collagen variable value between the smokers and nonsmokers groups ( p = 0.04525). Conclusions : The microscopic investigation showed no differences in the menisci of smokers and nonsmokers, except for the collagen, which was more organized in smokers. Moreover, the modified Bonar score was correlated negatively with the number of cigarettes, which supports the role of neovascularization in meniscus pathology under the influence of tobacco smoking.

In the frame of the European Food Risk Assessment (EU-FORA) fellowship programme, two studies on chemical contaminants in food matrices were carried out in Warsaw, Poland, at the Department of Food Safety and Chemical Analysis, Institute of Agricultural and Food Biotechnology. The first study addressed health concerns about the dietary exposure to bisphenol A (BPA) contamination due to consumption of soft drink by Polish population. BPA is an organic additive used in the production of epoxy resins and polycarbonate plastics and because of this it is used in the internal coating of cans and in plastic bottle production. Depending on several factors, BPA can migrate from these materials to the soft drink and so, it can be ingested by consumers causing hormonal and reproductive disorders. To estimate the Polish population exposure to BPA, several soft drinks belonging to different brands were purchased from a supermarket in the city of Warsaw and analysed. The result of the analysis highlight that mean BPA exposure in the Polish population exceeds the tolerable daily intake proposed by the EFSA scientific opinion, raising health concerns. On the other hand, the second study, focused on cadmium exposure due to chocolate consumption by Polish population, did not raise any health concern. Cadmium is a heavy metal that naturally occurs in its inorganic form in the environment and its presence in chocolate derives only from the cocoa beans and not from contamination during processing. Its accumulation in the human body can create several adverse effects, including renal dysfunction and failure. To estimate the Polish population exposure to cadmium, several chocolate bars were purchased from a supermarket in the city of Warsaw and analysed. The results of the analysis show that cadmium exposure in the Polish population does not exceed the tolerable weekly intake proposed by the EFSA scientific opinion., (© 2023 European Food Safety Authority. EFSA Journal published by Wiley‐VCH GmbH on behalf of European Food Safety Authority.)

Wiktor Dega has significantly impacted contemporary pediatric orthopedics by developing transiliac osteotomy - Dega's pelvic osteotomy. The global implementation of the surgery technique gained dynamism in the 2000s after being published by Ward and Grudziak. Since then, derivative operative techniques called Dega, Dega-like or Dega family osteotomies have been developed. We analyzed the original articles published by Dega between 1929 and 1974 concerning transiliac osteotomy technique development and articles about its derivatives. The epidemiological significance of developmental hip dysplasia focused Wiktor Dega's attention in the 1920s. At that time, he treated patients according to König's idea of acetabular roof plastic surgery. The osteotomy depth gradually increased, which allowed deeper graft placement to perform what we nowadays call acetabuloplasty. In 1958, Dega coined the name 'supraacetabular semicircular osteotomy'. It differed from the final concept of the transiliac osteotomy by not assuming the cut of the inner cortex of the iliac bone. The hinge for the acetabular rotation was located at the inner cortex's whole length, disallowing the excessive redirection. The final concept of osteotomy allows for simultaneous acetabuloplasty and redirection to change the shape, location and acetabular volume. Dega derivatives are Mubarak (San Diego) and high Dega osteotomies. Dega osteotomy and its derivates are routinely implemented to treat developmental hip dysplasia and spastic hip disorders. It might be considered an option in Legg-Calve-Perthes disease, congenital deficiencies, and flaccid hip displacement in neurological conditions., (Copyright © 2022 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)

A systematic review of studies reporting outcomes after Dega transiliac pelvic osteotomy (DO) in developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) was carried out with a meta-analysis of the pre- and postoperative acetabular index (AI) values. The MEDLINE, ClinicalKey, PubMed, and Cochrane Library databases were searched for articles published up to April 2020 (keywords: Dega, Dega osteotomy, Dega acetabuloplasty, Dega transiliac, and Dega acetabular). The reference lists of reviewed articles were manually searched. Three hundred and seventy-two articles were identified; 23 met the inclusion criteria. The difference between pre- and postoperative AI values were reported in 19 studies (636 hips); the average postoperative AI value was ≤20° in 16/19. Ten studies were included in the meta-analysis. The overall difference between the mean pre- and postoperative AI was 22.5° (95% confidence interval 20.2-24.8°). The average postoperative center-edge angle was reported in 14/23 studies (480 hips) and was normative (≥20°). Hips were assessed using the Severin classification in 11/23 studies; 81.7% of 410 hips were Severin class I-II. The clinical outcome quantified following McKay/Berkeley or other criteria in nine studies (512 hips) was good or very good in 84.8% of hips at follow-up. The incidence of avascular necrosis (AVN) of the femoral head was 18.9% (19 studies, 856 hips). The cumulative rate of reoperation of 5.8% was reported in 14 studies. DO ensures adequate correction of radiological parameters in DDH, and facilitates a good clinical outcome with low incidences of AVN and reoperation risk. Level of evidence: IV., (Copyright © 2020 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)

In this paper, we present our investigation of the 2D Hand Gesture Recognition (HGR) which may be suitable for the control of the Automated Guided Vehicle (AGV). In real conditions, we deal with, among others, a complex background, changing lighting conditions, and different distances of the operator from the AGV. For this reason, in the article, we describe the database of 2D images created during the research. We tested classic algorithms and modified them by us ResNet50 and MobileNetV2 which were retrained partially using the transfer learning approach, as well as proposed a simple and effective Convolutional Neural Network (CNN). As part of our work, we used a closed engineering environment for rapid prototyping of vision algorithms, i.e., Adaptive Vision Studio (AVS), currently Zebra Aurora Vision, as well as an open Python programming environment. In addition, we shortly discuss the results of preliminary work on 3D HGR, which seems to be very promising for future work. The results show that, in our case, from the point of view of implementing the gesture recognition methods in AGVs, better results may be expected for RGB images than grayscale ones. Also using 3D imaging and a depth map may give better results.

Triterpenoids are a group of secondary plant metabolites, with a remarkable pharmacological potential, occurring in the cuticular waxes of the aerial parts of plants. The aim of this study was to analyze triterpenoid variability in the fruits and leaves of three apple cultivars during the growing season and gain new insights into their health-promoting properties and fate during juice and purée production. The identification and quantification of the compounds of interest were conducted using gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry. The waxes of both matrices contained similar analytes; however, their quantitative patterns varied: triterpenic acids prevailed in the fruits, while higher contents of steroids and esterified forms were observed in the leaves. The total triterpenoid content per unit area was stable during the growing season; the percentage of esters increased in the later phases of growth. Antioxidative and anti-inflammatory properties were evaluated with a series of in vitro assays. Triterpenoids were found to be the main anti-inflammatory compounds in the apples, while their impact on antioxidant capacity was minor. The apples were processed on a lab scale to obtain juices and purées. The apple purée and cloudy juice contained only some of the triterpenoids present in the raw fruit, while the clear juices were virtually free of those lipophilic compounds.

The aim of this work was to collect occurrence data on chemical contaminants in rye-wheat bread marketed in Poland and subsequently estimate the risk due to dietary exposure to those chemicals for different population age groups in Poland. The choice of the food matrix has been driven by the fact that bread is an important component of the diet of Poles. Therefore, the collection of data on this staple food might be of interest form a public health perspective. The analytes under investigation belong to different categories: process contaminants (acrylamide), mycotoxins (deoxynivalenol, deoxynivalenol-3-glucoside, nivalenol and nivalenol-3-glucoside) and environmental contaminants (aluminium, arsenic, cadmium, chromium, lead and nickel). The activities presented in this technical report have been carried out in the frame of the European Food Risk Assessment (EU-FORA) Fellowship Programme. The objective of the fellowship is to provide middle-early career scientists with new skills and knowledge on food risk assessment. This goal is pursued through a hands-on experience in a competent organisation active in fields within EFSA's mission. In this case, the work programme has been implemented at the Department of Food Safety and Chemical Analysis of the State Research Institute of Agriculture and Food Biotechnology Prof. Wacław Dąbrowski (IBPRS-PIB), located in Warsaw, Poland. A significant part of the research work consisted in the implementation of different analytical techniques to collect occurrence data that were subsequently combined with consumption data retrieved from the EFSA Comprehensive European Food Consumption Database to assess the exposure and characterise the risk. Finally, an attempt has been made to identify uncertainties and evaluate their impact on results., (© 2022 Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KgaA on behalf of the European Food Safety Authority.)

Red, yellow, and green peppers are vegetables rich in natural pigments. However, they belong to seasonal vegetables and need to be treated to prolong their shelf life. One new approach to processing vegetables is to pickle them using lactic acid bacteria. The use of such a process creates a new product with high health value, thanks to the active ingredients and lactic acid bacteria. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the effect of the applied strain of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) on the chemical properties, including the content of active compounds (pigments) and the physical properties of the peppers. Levilactobacillus brevis , Limosilactobacillus fermentum , and Lactoplantibacillus plantarum were used for fermentation and spontaneous fermentation. The pigments, polyphenols content, and antioxidant properties were determined in the pickled peppers, as well as sugar content, color, dry matter, texture properties, and the count of lactic acid bacteria. In all samples, similar growth of LAB was observed. Significant degradation of chlorophylls into pheophytins was observed after the fermentation process. No significant differences were observed in the parameters tested, depending on the addition of dedicated LAB strains. After the fermentation process, the vitamin C and total polyphenols content is what influenced the antioxidant activity of the samples. It can be stated that the fermentation process changed the red bell pepper samples in the smallest way and the green ones in the highest way.

Fermentation of two red beet cultivars (Wodan and Alto) with single-strain starter cultures consisting of selected strains of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) of plant origin (Weissella cibaria KKP2058, Levilactobacillus brevis ZF165) and a multi-strain culture (containing W. cibaria KKP2058, L. brevis ZF165, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum KKP1822, Limosilactobacillus fermentum KKP1820, and Leuconostoc mesenteroides JEIIF) was performed to evaluate their impact on betalains, free amino acids, formation of biogenic amines, and antioxidative properties of the juice formed. Next-generation sequencing data analysis used to identify the microbial community revealed that the starter cultures promoted the dominance of the genus Lactobacillus, and decreased the proportion of spoilage bacteria compared to spontaneously fermented juices. Generally, the fermentation process significantly influenced the amount of the analyzed compounds, leading in most cases to their reduction. The observed changes in the studied parameters depended on the starter culture used, indicating different metabolic activities of the LAB strains towards bioactive compounds. The use of multi-strain starter cultures allowed to largely prevent the reduction of betacyanins and histamine formation., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

1,3,2-diazaphospholenes hydrides (DAP-Hs) are highly nucleophilic organic hydrides serving as main-group catalysts for a range of attractive transformations. DAP hydrides can act as stoichiometric hydrogen atom transfer agents in radical reactions. Herein, we report a DAP-catalyzed reductive radical cyclization of a broad range of aryl and alkyl halides under mild conditions. The pivotal DAP catalyst turnover was achieved by a DBU-assisted σ-bond metathesis between the formed DAP halide and HBpin, which rapidly regenerates DAP-H. The transformation is significantly accelerated by irradiation with visible light. Mechanistic investigations indicate that visible light irradiation leads to the formation of DAP dimers, which are in equilibrium with DAP radicals and accelerate the cyclization. The direct use of (DAP) 2 enabled a catalytic protocol in the absence of light., (© 2022 The Authors. Angewandte Chemie International Edition published by Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

Group 9 metals, in particular Rh III complexes with cyclopentadienyl ligands, are competent C-H activation catalysts. Recently, a Cp*Rh III -catalyzed reaction of alkenes with N-enoxyphthalimides showed divergent outcome based on the solvent, with carboamination favored in methanol and cyclopropanation in 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol (TFE). Here, we create selectivity and activity maps capable of unravelling the catalyst-solvent interplay on the outcome of these competing reactions by analyzing 42 cyclopentadienyl metal catalysts, Cp X M III (M=Co, Rh, Ir). These maps not only can be used to rationalize previously reported experimental results, but also capably predict the behavior of untested catalyst/solvent combinations as well as aid in identifying experimental protocols that simultaneously optimize both catalytic activity and selectivity (solutions in the Pareto front). In this regard, we demonstrate how and why the experimentally employed Cp*Rh III catalyst represents an ideal choice to invoke a solvent-induced change in reactivity. Additionally, the maps reveal the degree to which even perceived minor changes in the solvent (e. g., replacing methanol with ethanol) influence the ratio of carboamination and cyclopropanation products. Overall, the selectivity and activity maps presented here provide a generalizable tool to create global pictures of anticipated reaction outcome that can be used to develop new experimental protocols spanning metal, ligand, and solvent space., (© 2022 The Authors. Chemistry - A European Journal published by Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

Picking vegetables is, along with salting and drying, one of the oldest ways to preserve food in the world. This is the process of decomposition of simple sugars into lactic acid with the participation of lactic bacteria. The aim of the study was to obtain powders from fermented red beet juice with the highest possible amount of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and active ingredients. For the analysis, juices were squeezed from the vegetables and two types of fermentation were used: a spontaneous fermentation and a dedicated one. After inoculation, samples were taken for analysis on a daily basis. Extract, pH, total acidity, pigments, and color were measured. In addition, microbiological tests were also carried out. The juices from the fifth day of fermentation was also spray dried, to obtain fermented beetroot powder. Juices from 3-5th day were characterized by a high content of LAB and betanin, had also a low pH, which proves that the lactic fermentation is working properly. The exception was the juice from spontaneous fermentation. According to the observations, the fermentation process did not run properly, and further analysis is needed. The powders were stable; however, results obtained from the pigment content and the LAB content are not satisfactory and require further analysis., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Atropo-enantioselective biaryl coupling through C-H bond functionalization is an emerging technology allowing direct construction of axially chiral molecules. This approach is largely limited to electrophilic coupling partners. We report a highly atropo-enantioselective C-H arylation of tetralone derivatives paired with aryl boronic esters as nucleophilic components. The transformation is catalyzed by chiral cyclopentadienyl (Cp x ) iridium(III) complexes and enabled by oxidatively enhanced reductive elimination from high-valent cyclometalated Ir-species., (© 2021 The Authors. Angewandte Chemie International Edition published by Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

Background: Cam morphology is thought to originate near puberty and reflects a response of the peripheral aspect of the proximal femoral physis to increased local load. Participation in particular sports activities has been associated with cam morphology in contemporary patient populations; however, it is unclear whether cam is a recent phenomenon. There are limited data regarding the frequency of its occurrence and the general deviations in femoral anatomy in different historical populations. Such information may help to understand the possible influence of lifestyle and diet on cam morphology., Questions/purposes: The purpose of this study was to evaluate femoral morphology in three historical populations. We asked: (1) Was cam morphology present in the three study populations, did those populations differ, and were there differences between sexes? (2) Were there differences in neck-shaft angle, version, or inclination between and among the examined populations?, Methods: We examined 204 adult femurs from the Neolithic population from Iran (n = 37, 3000 BC to 1631 BC), medieval population from Poland (n = 135, 10th to 13th centuries), and contemporary Australian aborigines (n = 32, early 20th century), provided by the Open Research Scan Archive, Museum of the First Piasts at Lednica and the University of Wrocław, respectively. All three human populations represent different chronologic periods and lifestyles. All bones were scanned using CT and then measured on their three-dimensional (3-D) reconstructions in selected planes. Cam impingement was defined as an alpha angle > 55° measured on the inclination view. To evaluate the differences in anatomy between populations, we measured the true neck-shaft angle on the true AP view, apparent neck-shaft angle on the apparent AP view, the version angle on the version view, and the inclination angle on the inclination view. The prevalence of cam morphology and other anatomic parameters were compared among groups using chi-square test, one-way ANOVA with post hoc Tukey test, and paired t-test., Results: Cam morphology was present in 5% of the Neolithic population from Iran, in 7% of the medieval population from Poland, and 3% of the contemporary Australian aborigine femurs (OR Neolithic population from Iran/the medieval population from Poland 0.7 [95% CI 0.2 to 3.4]; p = 0.67; OR Neolithic population from Iran/contemporary Australian aborigines 1.8 [95% CI 0.2 to 20.5]; p = 0.65; OR the medieval population from Poland/contemporary Australian aborigines 2.5 [95% CI 0.3 to 20.1]; p = 0.40). There were differences in the presence of cam morphology between the sexes in the medieval population from Poland with both femurs (females: 1% [1 of 76]; males: 15% [9 of 59]; p = 0.002). There was a difference in true neck-shaft angle between the Neolithic population from Iran (121° ± 6°) and contemporary Australian aborigines (131° ± 5°; mean difference 10° [95% CI 7° to 13°]; p < 0.001) and between the medieval population from Poland (124° ± 5°) and the contemporary Australian aborigines (mean difference 7° [95% CI 5° to 9°]; p < 0.001). Apparent neck-shaft angle differed between the Neolithic population from Iran (126° ± 6°) and the contemporary Australian aborigines (134° ± 5°; mean difference 8° [95% CI 6° to 11°]; p < 0.001), and between the medieval population from Poland (126° ± 6°) and the contemporary Australian aborigines (mean difference 9° [95% CI 7° to 11°]; p < 0.001). Moreover, we observed a difference in the version angle between the Neolithic population from Iran (19° ± 7°) and the medieval population from Poland (12° ± 9°; mean difference 7° [95% CI 4° to 10°]; p < 0.001] and in the inclination angle between aforementioned groups (18° ± 7° versus 11° ± 8°; mean difference 7° [95% CI 5° to 10°]; p < 0.001)., Conclusion: This study found that cam morphology existed in historical populations at rates comparable with a contemporary population., Clinical Relevance: The presence of cam morphology in historical populations suggests that cam morphology can develop outside of the intense sports activity seen in modern adolescents. Further study will help elucidate the etiology of cam morphology, which may be useful in the development of preventive strategies., Competing Interests: Each author certifies that neither he nor she, nor any members of his or her immediate family, has funding or commercial associations (consultancies, stock ownership, equity interest, patent/licensing arrangements, etc.) that might pose a conflict of interest in connection with the submitted article. All ICMJE Conflict of Interest Forms for authors and Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research® editors and board members are on file with the publication and can be viewed on request., (Copyright © 2021 by the Association of Bone and Joint Surgeons.)

A neutral ginger polysaccharide fraction (NGP) was isolated from ginger, and its primary structures and immunomodulatory activity were investigated. The results showed that NGP had a low molecular weight of 6305 Da. NGP principally consisted of glucose (93.88%) together with minor levels of galactose (3.27%) and arabinose (1.67%). Besides, results of methylation analysis and 1D/2D NMR spectroscopy demonstrated that NGP was α-glucan which had the main chain of 1,4-linked α-d-Glcp and α-d-Glcp residues branched at C-6 position which was different from the common triple helical β-glucans. NGP also displayed a remarkable immunological activity on the RAW264.7 cells in vitro. It could significantly enhance the proliferation of macrophages without cytotoxicity and increase the production of immune substances (NO, TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6). The secretion at the concentration of 200 μg/mL was 29.41 μM, 1496.71, 44.30 and 1889.83 pg/mL for each substance, respectively. The results indicated that NGP could be a potential immune agent and might provide meaningful information for further chain conformation and immune mechanism research., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: Late-diagnosed dislocated hips underwent open reduction, Dega osteotomy, and proximal femoral osteotomy between 1968 and 1988. The objectives of this study are to assess the survival of hips into adulthood, clinical and radiological outcome, patients' life perspectives and the risk factors of failure., Methods: An assessment of 67 hips treated when younger than five years (

Background: Although Fassier-Duval (FD) rods have been used for almost 2 decades, knowledge of factors predisposing to their failure is limited. Thus, the purpose of this study was to: (1) present the most common complications of FD rodding, (2) present tips on how to avoid or overcome them, and (3) identify factors predisposing to treatment failure., Methods: Fifty-eight rod segments in 19 patients with osteogenesis imperfecta (mainly type III) underwent analysis with a median follow-up (FU) time of 4.4 years. We assessed the total number of complications clinically and radiographically. Next, the possible predisposing factors leading to failure were assessed using the Mann-Whitney U test. In addition, we evaluated the cutoff age for the increased rate of complications using the Youden index. A P<0.05 was considered significant., Results: The total number of complications reached 44.8%. The most common complications included: migration of the male or female implant (45.7% and 25.7% out of the total number of complications, respectively), bone fracture with bending of the rod (8.6%), and rotational deformities (8.6%). Significant differences in patients' ages at the time of surgery were found between the group with and without complications (P=0.04), while sex, segment treated, preceding surgeries, length of FU, FD rod diameter, and length of bisphosphonate treatment were not significant. The Youden index showed that the risk of complications rose significantly in patients treated when younger than 5.5 years of age (P<0.05)., Conclusions: This series displays the effectiveness and utility of FD rods at a median FU of over 4 years. Complication rates were comparable with the existing literature, with a notable increase in the number of side effects observed in younger patients (below the age of 5)., Level of Evidence: Level IV-therapeutic study., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2021 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)

High-valent cyclopentadienyl cobalt catalysis is a versatile tool for sustainable C-H bond functionalizations. To harness the full potential of this strategy, control of the stereoselectivity of these processes is necessary. Herein, we report highly enantioselective intermolecular carboaminations of alkenes through C-H activation of N-phenoxyamides catalyzed by Co III -complexes equipped with chiral cyclopentadienyl (Cp x ) ligands. The method converts widely available acrylates as well as bicyclic olefins into attractive enantioenriched isotyrosine derivatives as well as elaborated amino-substituted bicyclic scaffolds under very mild conditions. The outlined reactivity is unique to the Cp x Co III complexes and is complementary to the reactivity of 4d- and 5d- precious-metal catalysts., (© 2020 Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

Background: Wiktor Dega originally described the surgical technique of transiliac osteotomy in 1969 in the Polish Orthopaedics and Trauma Surgery Journal. Its worldwide popularity spread just after it was presented in English by Grudziak and Ward in 2001 [1]. This paper aims to describe the development of the technique by Wiktor Dega's team., Material and Methods: An analysis of original papers published by Dega between 1929-1974 was performed to clarify the chronology of development of the technique., Results: Dega's interest in developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) had begun as early as 1929, when he presented in Vilnius a paper about the aetiology and pathogenesis of the disease. The concept of transiliac osteotomy had been initially based on König's idea of shelf procedure. Dega called this procedure plastic surgery of the acetabular roof and performed it between 1927 and 1930. In 1964, Dega published a paper that described the basic concept of DDH treatment with a pelvic osteotomy termed supraacetabular semi-circular osteotomy. This procedure differed from transiliac osteotomy because it did not involve cutting the inner cortex of the ilium. In 1968 the first 'technically proper' transiliac osteotomy was performed and then described in 1969. In 1974, Dega emphasized that both the outer and inner iliac walls should be osteotomized in the transiliac osteotomy., Conclusion: The political situation of the 1950s and the 1960s made it difficult to freely exchange views and clinical experiences between the Western and Eastern political camps. Despite this, Wiktor Dega became a precursor of effective surgical treatment in DDH worldwide.

The development of functional beverages often requires a compromise between the palatability and high content of bio-active compounds. The purpose of this study was to elaborate on the fruit-herbal beverages with defined pro-health functions and evaluate their consumer acceptance. The beverages contained 80% of juices obtained from the fruits of aronia, rugosa rose, acerola, sea buckthorn, and cranberry. Each beverage was supplemented with different plant extracts which enhanced the designed functions of the beverage. The beverages were sweetened with sugar or with steviol glycosides, and were preserved by thermal pasteurization. The main groups of bio-active compounds and antioxidant capacity using ABTS, DPPH, and ORAC methods were analysed before and after pasteurization. The sensory acceptance was tested by 60 adult consumers who assessed the desirability of taste, odour, colour, and overall quality. Each beverage contained substantial amounts of polyphenols, including anthocyanins; rosehip-acerola and sea buckthorn beverages were also sources of vitamin C and carotenoids. All these components were stable under thermal treatment. Rosehip-acerola beverages had the highest antioxidant capacity, which was measured using all three methods exhibited. The highest level of consumer acceptance and willingness to purchase went to aronia beverages, while the sea buckthorn gained the lowest. There was no significant difference between the acceptance of beverages sweetened with sugar and stevia. Women and the 25- to 34-year-old consumer group rated the overall acceptability of the beverages slightly higher, although this was not reflected in their inclination to buy them. Attitude toward proper body mass and health had no influence on overall acceptance and willingness to complete the purchases. The main motivation for purchasing the functional beverages was their sensory acceptance, even if the consumers were informed of their potential health benefits.

The development of catalytic enantioselective transformations, enabling the construction of complex molecular scaffolds from simple precursors, has been a long-standing challenge in organic synthesis. Recent achievements in transition-metal catalyzed enantioselective functionalizations of carbon-hydrogen (C-H) bonds represent a promising pathway toward this goal. Over the last two decades, iridium catalysis has evolved as a valuable tool enabling the stereocontrolled synthesis of chiral molecules via C-H activation. The development of iridium-based systems with various chiral ligand classes, as well as studies of their reaction mechanisms, has resulted in dynamic progress in this area. This review aims to present a comprehensive picture of the enantioselective functionalizations of C-H bonds by chiral iridium complexes with emphasis on the mechanisms of the C-H activation step.

Furocoumarins are a group of plant phytoalexins exhibiting various bioactive properties; the most important of which are photosensitization and alteration of P450 cytochrome activity. Supercritical fluid extraction with carbon dioxide has been proposed as a green alternative for an organic solvent extraction of the furocoumarins. Four plant matrices rich in furocoumarins were extracted with CO 2 at a temperature of 80 °C and pressure of 40 MPa, as these conditions were characterized by the highest solubility of furocoumarins. The extracts collected were analyzed using the HPLC method and the results obtained were used for the mathematical modeling of the observed phenomena. The total content of the furocoumarins in the matrices was 4.03-26.45 mg g -1 of dry weight. The impact of the process parameters on the solubility was consistent with the Chrastil equation. The broken plus intact cell model proved to be suitable to describe extraction curves obtained. The research proved the possibility of supercritical carbon dioxide utilization for the extraction of the furocoumarins from plant material and provided valuable data for prospective industrial-scale experiments.

Background: Three-dimensional idiopathic scoliosis cannot be accurately assessed with the aid of a single plane parameter - the Cobb angle. We propose a novel method for evaluating the three-dimensional (3D) pattern of scoliosis based on two X-rays (PA and lateral). The proposed method consists of the measurements of the angles between the upper endplate of the upper-end vertebra and the lower endplate of the lower-end vertebra (3D scoliosis angle)., Methods: The 3D-angles of thirty scoliosis curves were measured with either computed tomography (CT) or digitally reconstructed radiographs (DRRs): PA and lateral. CT was used as a reference. In the case of CT, the 3D angle was calculated based on the coordinates of three points situated on the upper endplate and those of three points situated on the lower endplate of the scoliosis curve. In the case of the DRR, the 3D angle was calculated using the four-angle method: the angles formed by the endplates of the curve with the transverse plane. The results were tested with the Student's t-test, and the agreement of measurements was tested with the intraclass correlation coefficient., Results: There was no significant difference between the 3D-angle measurements obtained with DRRs versus CT, p > 0.05. There was, however, a significant difference between the 3D-scoliosis angle and the Cobb angle measurements performed based on the X-rays. The reproducibility and reliability of 3D angle measurements were high., Conclusions: Based on two standard radiographs, PA and lateral, it is possible to calculate the 3D scoliosis angle. The proposed method facilitates 3D-scoliosis assessment without the use of sophisticated devices. Considering the 3D nature of AIS, the 3D parameters of the spine may help to apply a more effective treatment and estimate a more precise prognosis for patient with scoliosis.

The synthesis of functionalized α,β-unsaturated sulfonamides by means of cross-metathesis of vinyl sulfonamides and olefins has been developed. The reaction proceeds smoothly in the presence of Hoveyda-Grubbs catalyst and its nitro analogue, providing a wide range of substituted products. The usefulness of this methodology has been proven in the preparation of new derivatives of biologically active ingredients, moxifloxacin and naratriptan.

The impact of supercritical carbon dioxide (SCCD) (10-60 MPa/45 °C/30 min) and subsequent 10 weeks storage at 4 °C on polyphenol oxidase (PPO), peroxidase (POD) activities, phenolic profile, vitamin C, sugars, physicochemical properties of cloudy apple juices was investigated. No significant changes in sugars and total polyphenols were observed, whereas significant degradation (≈28%) of vitamin C and individual polyphenols (≈18%) was noted after SCCD treatment. After 4 weeks storage only 34% of vitamin C was retained and no vitamin C was detected after this time. Ten weeks of storage caused hydrolysis of sucrose in 15%, whereas degradation of individual polyphenols ranged from 43 to 50% depending on the pressure applied. The highest pressure was applied the highest retention of polyphenols was observed. The lightness of juice significantly increased by 15% after SCCD and decreased during storage. Moreover, the synergistic effect of both enzymes with chlorogenic acid and catechol was found., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Apple pomace, a byproduct of juice production, is a rich source of bioactive compounds and nutrients. Supercritical fluid extraction was proposed as a method for a fast and selective extraction of hydrophobic compounds with a pharmaceutical potential from this matrix. Chromatographic analysis showed that the pomace contained significant amounts of such substances, the most abundant of them were ursolic acid, oleanolic acid, and β-sitosterol. The solubility was chosen as a primary factor for a selection of the extraction conditions; the best results were acquired for a temperature of 80 °C and a pressure of 30 MPa. The equation proposed by Chrastil was applied for the description of the impact of the process parameters on the solubility of the analytes; the obtained values of coefficients of determination were satisfactory, despite the fact that the equation was developed for binary systems. The extraction curves obtained during the experiments were used for the description of the process kinetics using the Broken plus Intact Cell model. The impact of the temperature, pressure, and flow rate of carbon dioxide on the mass transfer phenomena was investigated. The data obtained allowed the prediction of the extraction curve for the process conducted on the larger scale.