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Funding Information: We thank the Nordic Council of Ministers for funding a joint Nordic project (SNS Hemisurf 127) in which framework this Review was drafted. T.N. and C.P. thank the Swedish Research Council grant (registration number 2017-05138), the Wallenberg Wood Science Center, and the Materials Science Area of Advance at Chalmers for funding. B.W. and S.L. appreciate funding from Norwegian research council grants 295501, 296083, and 244259. F.A. and K.S.M. acknowledge funding from the Academy of Finland 322514. Publisher Copyright: © 2023 The Authors. Published by American Chemical Society. A holistic utilization of all lignocellulosic wood biomass, instead of the current approach of using only the cellulose fraction, is crucial for the efficient, ecological, and economical use of the forest resources. Use of wood constituents in the food and feed sector is a potential way of promoting the global economy. However, industrially established food products utilizing such components are still scarce, with the exception of cellulose derivatives. Hemicelluloses that include xylans and mannans are major constituents of wood. The wood hemicelluloses are structurally similar to hemicelluloses from crops, which are included in our diet, for example, as a part of dietary fibers. Hence, structurally similar wood hemicelluloses have the potential for similar uses. We review the current status and future potential of wood hemicelluloses as food ingredients. We include an inventory of the extraction routes of wood hemicelluloses, their physicochemical properties, and some of their gastrointestinal characteristics, and we also consider the regulatory route that research findings need to follow to be approved for food solutions, as well as the current status of the wood hemicellulose applications on that route.

Introduction: Chance fracture is a horizontal fracture of the vertebra extending from the posterior element to the vertebral body due to flexion-distraction injury and is potentially unstable. The aim of this study was to evaluate the demography and Computed Tomography scan findings in Chance fracture of the spine. Method: A retrospective study was conducted at the National Trauma Center, National Academy of Medical Sciences over a period of one year (December 2019 to December 2020). Demographic data, mechanism of injury, and computed tomographic findings of Chance fracture were recorded. Result: Computed tomography scans of 41 patients with Chance fracture were identified. Fall injury (76%) was the most common cause of Chance fracture followed by road traffic accidents. This fracture was most commonly seen in thoracolumbar junction TLJ (D10-L2); with L1 being the most affected vertebra (36.5%). Among posterior elements, facet distraction (84%) was the most common finding followed by lamina fracture (83%), and pedicle fracture (68%). Regarding vertebral body fracture, involvement of both superior and inferior endplates were common than isolated involvement of either one of them. CT revealed that a burst component was a common finding (68%) in Chance fracture. Conclusion: Chance fracture was commonly caused by fall injury in our context which is higher in incidence than previously reported. More than half of patients with Chance fracture also had Burst-type components that could influence surgical management. Computed tomography scans is a useful imaging modality for the assessment of Chance fracture and burst component.

Background: Knowledge of normal renal volume is a vital parameter for clinical assessment of renal diseases because renal size is altered by various medical conditions. Variations in renal dimension in different populations and it’s relation to individual’s body parameters are evident. Different studies have recommended the need for measurement of renal dimension for specific population. This study assesses normal range of renal volume in the study population and measures their correlation with individual’s body parameters.Methods: This descriptive study was done in 261 adults. After renal length measurement on reformatted coronal images, renal width and renal thickness on axil images, renal volume was calculated by ellipsoidal formula. Descriptive statistics and parametric tests were used to evaluate the association between renal volume and different parameters.Results: This study showed a significant difference in mean renal volume between male (right and left mean renal volume 120.52 ± 26.84 cm3 and 121.00 ± 27.23 cm3 respectively) and female (right and left mean renal volume 110.11 ± 21.79 cm3 and 111.15 ± 22.34 cm3 respectively) on each side. Similarly, a significant positive correlation was found between renal volume and body height, body weight and BMI of participant for both kidneys however a significant negative correlation was observed between renal volume and age 40 years and above for both kidneys. Conclusions: This study provides morphometric data regarding normal kidneys and concludes that male renal volume is more than female and renal volume is correlated to individual’s body parameters.Keywords: Morphometric; nomogram; renal volume

Specific supramolecular interactions in polysaccharides change their solubility rendering diverse interfacial properties in oil-in-water (O/W) emulsions. We studied the effect of solubility of softwood hemicelluloses, spruce galactoglucomannans (GGMs) isolated by pressurized hot-water extraction methods or recovered as side streams in a thermomechanical pulp (TMP) mill on interfacial structures and stability of O/W emulsions. Detailed characterization of GGMs revealed a soluble (molecularly dispersed) fraction of molar mass 8.9 × 103–2.1 × 104 g mol−1 and sub-micron-sized insoluble fractions that were either loose assemblies or fractal type supramolecular aggregates and agglomerates. Based on the relative share of these fractions and nanostructural complexity, GGMs were classified into soluble, semi-soluble, and insoluble. GGMs extracted via pressurized hot-water extraction methods were soluble to semi-soluble compared to GGMs recovered from the TMP process. Semi-soluble GGMs exhibited efficient stability of dispersed oil droplets in emulsions followed by insoluble and soluble GGMs. With an increasing share of insoluble fractions and their structural complexity, emulsion’s interfacial morphology changed from smooth to diffused type. Comparing GGMs with soluble small-molecule surfactant Tween 20 and insoluble alkali extracted beechwood glucuronoxylans, our findings suggest that surface activity of adsorbing soluble or insoluble fraction dominates the interfacial morphology. Under the condition of sufficient interfacial coverage, insoluble fractions complement the emulsion stability with a filling effect in the continuous phase of emulsions. The findings improve our understanding of bio-based polysaccharides’ solubility, their emulsion stability mechanisms, and strategies to tailor via biorefining approaches.

Wood biorefining currently involves large-scale industrial processes where a notable portion of raw materials, namely hemicelluloses and lignin, are either lost with the process water, degraded, or burnt for energy. Value added utilization of polymeric hemicelluloses is challenging due to their intermediate molar mass and the presence of other wood components, such as phenolic residues or wood extractives. Oil-in-water (O/W) emulsions represent a diverse and abundant class of applications in which the natural properties of wood hemicelluloses are beneficial. In the current work, we present highly promising new technical alkyd paint emulsion systems stabilized with hardwood glucuronoxylans (GX) and softwood galactoglucomannans (GGM). Samples from three isolation methods and their further fractionation by ethanol precipitation were systematically compared with regard to hemicellulose composition, interfacial activity, and functionality in emulsions. Emulsification of alkyd resins was successful with both GX and GGM obtained by various biorefining strategies. The highest emulsion stability over storage was achieved using crude non-purified GX and GGM fractions, and was correlated with the presence of phenolic compounds and extractives, interfacial activity, and small droplet size. Hardwood GX and softwood GGM are envisioned as natural emulsifiers of alkyd O/W emulsions, which are examples of diverse and abundantly-used technical dispersions. This study can be utilized as a guideline for targeted extraction of hemicelluloses with desired functionality, and as a protocol for developing environmentally-compatible industrial dispersions.

Fava bean protein isolate (FBPI) was hydrolyzed by Alcalase with different degrees of hydrolysis (DHs), and the role of hydrolysates in oil-in-water (O/W) emulsion stability was investigated. Four emulsions, DH0, DH4, DH9, and DH15, were prepared by 1% (w/v) FBPI hydrolysates with different DHs (0% as the control and 4, 9, and 15%) and 5% (w/v) purified rapeseed oil. The emulsions were monitored for physical and oxidative stability at 37 °C for 7 days. DH4 and DH0 exhibited better physical stability than DH9 and DH15, indicated by droplet size, morphology, and Turbiscan stability index. More importantly, FBPI hydrolysates with DH of 4% most effectively inhibited lipid oxidation (i.e., formation of conjugated dienes and hexanal) while maintaining protein oxidative stability compared to the native and extensively hydrolyzed FBPI. Higher DHs (9 and 15%) induced unduly decreased surface hydrophobicity and increased surface load, which might negatively affect the emulsifying activity. FBPI hydrolysates with DH of 4% had suitable molecular weight for better interfacial layer stability, increased surface net charge for more repulsive electrostatic force, and increased hydrophobicity for better adsorption at the interface and, therefore, may serve as potential natural emulsifiers to maintain both physical and oxidative stability of O/W emulsions.

Mammography, ultrasound and Magnetic Resonance Imaging are the available modalities for the evaluation of breast masses. Advances and ongoing improvements in imaging technologies have improved the sensitivity of breast cancer detection and diagnosis, but each modality is most beneficial when utilized according to individual traits such as age, risk factors, and breast density. However, pathological diagnosis is most crucial for the treatment of breast masses.A cross-sectional study were conducted from January 2017 to April 2018. There were total of 50 patients with clinically diagnosed palpable breast lumps who attended Gynaecological OPD/surgical OPD/medicine OPD in the study period. The patients above 30 years were evaluated by mammography and ultrasound in Department of Radiology, National Academy of Medical Sciences, Bir Hospital. The patients were then send for FNAC/biopsy and histopathology examination. Data were collected and analyzed using SPSS version 16. Specificity and sensitivity of MG and USG individually and in combination to determine the nature of breast lump in relation to histopathological findings were calculated.Ultrasound had 88.90% sensitivity and 68.80% specificity whereas mammogram had 94.40% and 87.50% sensitivity and specificity respectively. When combined, both sensitivity of diagnosing malignant lesions increases up to 94.4% and specificity decreases up to 31.2%. Most of the variables of ultrasound and mammography (except density of the lesion) had significance in predicting nature of the lesion (p0.05).Combined Mammography and Ultrasound had higher sensitivity than sensitivity rate observed for either single modality. A combined Mammography and Ultrasound approach to detect breast diseases was significantly more helpful in accurate evaluation of breast pathologies.

The demand for naturally derived, functional and cost-effective raw materials for various food applications is escalating. Spruce wood is a sustainable and abundant, but underutilized source of novel hydrocolloids-galactoglucomannans (GGM). Pressurized-hot water extracted GGM with an intermediate molar mass are hypothesized to form colloidal solutions. To design superior quality products from GGM, an understanding of their colloidal stability and their potential effect in multiphasic systems is required. The present study addresses the functionality of GGM by characterizing their properties in a bi-phasic system, and for the first time, their time-dependent colloidal stability at different extrinsic conditions- pH, ionic strength and after the application of high-intensity mechanical shearing. Amongst the conditions studied, the colloidal stability of aqueous GGM solution was highly pH dependent. The results showed that an intermediate molar mass polysaccharide like GGM formed inter-/intra molecular assemblies, which grew over time, depending on the composition and processing of the aqueous medium. The molecular dispersion of GGM and their dynamic behavior was also compared to solutions of known food hydrocolloids-gum Arabic and hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose. The observed solution properties explain the hydmcolloid functionality of GGM and contribute to design of colloidal polysaccharide systems in food application.

With the emerging bio-based technologies, the fractionation of complex biomass is essential to obtain value-added functional molecules for material, chemical, and energy production. Softwood extracts obtained through environmentally friendly pressurized hot water extraction are heterogeneous mixtures rich in hemicelluloses and lignin. Here we developed a simple, fast, organic solvent-free, and sustainable method to fractionate softwood extracts using centrifugal forces. The characteristics of each obtained fraction in terms of composition, macromolecular properties (particle size, molar mass, charge), interfacial activity, and stabilization capacity were highly dependent on the centrifugal force and time applied. The hemicellulose and lignin contents in the fractions were balanced by centrifugal forces to obtain functional emulsifiers that efficiently stabilized the oil/water interface. Through fractionation of softwood extracts, we also found that both the hemicelluloses and lignin particles are involved in emulsion interface formation and stabilization. We demonstrated that centrifugation at low centrifugal forces (

Funding Information: P.P. and F.V. acknowledge the Academy of Finland (grant numbers P.P.: 315768 and F.V.: 316244). B.M.R. and F.V. acknowledge the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation program funding under grant agreement No. 798917 and No. 836071, respectively. The authors acknowledge facilities and technical support by Nanomicroscopy Center at Aalto University. Funding Information: The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests: Fabio Valoppi reports financial support was provided by Academy of Finland. Fabio Valoppi reports financial support was provided by European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation program. Paavo Penttila reports financial support was provided by Academy of Finland. Braulio Macias-Rodriguez reports financial support was provided by European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation program. Fabio Valoppi has patent #FI20225150 pending to University of Helsinki. Mamata Bhattarai has patent #FI20225150 pending to University of Helsinki.P.P. and F.V. acknowledge the Academy of Finland (grant numbers P.P.: 315768 and F.V.: 316244). B.M.R. and F.V. acknowledge the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation program funding under grant agreement No. 798917 and No. 836071, respectively. The authors acknowledge facilities and technical support by Nanomicroscopy Center at Aalto University. Funding Information: The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests: Fabio Valoppi reports financial support was provided by Academy of Finland . Fabio Valoppi reports financial support was provided by European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation program. Paavo Penttila reports financial support was provided by Academy of Finland . Braulio Macias-Rodriguez reports financial support was provided by European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation program. Fabio Valoppi has patent #FI20225150 pending to University of Helsinki. Mamata Bhattarai has patent #FI20225150 pending to University of Helsinki. Publisher Copyright: © 2022 The Authors Oleogels are a class of solid-fat mimetics that contain a large fraction of oil. Most of these materials have low stiffness and poor oil-binding capacity at commercially viable concentrations, which limits their application in the food and cosmetic industries. To improve their mechanical behavior, we exploited the concepts of particulate-filled materials by developing oil-continuous monoglyceride composites reinforced with crystalline cellulose of various sizes. Cellulose was used as the reinforcing filler material due to its strength, biodegradability, and abundance. The composites gradually stiffened and became more brittle with a progressive increase of the cellulose weight fraction as the maximum packing fraction of fillers approached. This was manifested as an increase in the viscoelastic moduli and yield stress, consistent with the size of the filler. Based on differential scanning calorimetry, X-ray diffraction, X-ray scattering analyses, and microscopic analyses, the inert surface of crystalline celluloses provided a solid substrate for the crystallization of monoglycerides, favoring the lamellar stacking of monoglyceride molecules during the composite oleogel formation regardless of the cellulose size. The present study suggests that cellulose is a suitable bio-based filler material to obtain mechanically strong oleogels suitable for high-shear applications e.g., in food and pharmaceutical industries.

For a sustainable food chain, the demand for plant-based, functional, and cost-effective food hydrocolloids is on a high-rise. Hemicelluloses from the renewable lignocellulosic biomass are available in abundance from side-streams of the forestry industry to fulfill this demand. Their effective valorization requires a safe, economic extraction method that can be up-scaled to an industrial scale and, simultaneously, understanding of their functionality to develop applications. In this study, an aqueous-based extraction method, pressurized hot water extraction (PHWE) of spruce saw meal was used to obtain galactoglucomannans (GGM), "spruce gum". Ethanol precipitation was performed to remove non-polysaccharide extractives such as free phenolic compounds, and the emulsion component ratio-dependent interfacial saturation capacity of the remaining purified fraction was studied to understand its functionality. GGM resulted in good to excellent emulsification and stabilization of oil-in-water emulsions and exhibited adsorption at the oil droplet interface, which depended on the amount of oil and droplet size of emulsions. The adsorbed GGM content was determined by gas chromatography after acid methanolysis, and their macromolecular characteristics were studied by size-exclusion chromatography. At GGM to oil ratios 2, 1, and 0.4, stable emulsions with predicted several months of shelf life at room temperature were achieved. The results indicated mechanisms affecting the physical stabilization and breakdown of emulsions containing spruce gum, a novel sustainable hydrocolloid. (C) 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Galactoglucomannans (GGMs) are principal hemicelluloses in softwood tissues. Spruce GGM obtained from different recovery approaches are currently studied for applications as emulsifiers and stabilizers of dispersed systems. Natural polysaccharides, owing to their origin from a complex matrix, have an intrinsic affinity for the association. Their associative properties are affected by the recovery approach since it influences purity and intrinsic characteristics (e.g., molar mass, degree of substitution). Understanding the impact of the GGM recovery approach on its associative behavior, currently limited, is essential to comprehend the stabilization mechanism of GGM in dispersed systems as well in the expansion of its functional applications. This doctoral project investigated the associative behavior of GGM at a semi-dilute concentration of 1% in an aqueous medium and its effect in an oil-in-water emulsion system, with GGM recovered from spruce sawdust/wood chips using pressurized hot water extraction, BLN process (modified pressurized hot water extraction process), and effluent of the thermo-mechanical pulping process. All studied GGM samples existed in the form of polysaccharide molecules and supramolecular fraction. It was observed that the recovery approach and sample purity affected the molar mass of the polysaccharide fraction as well as the share and structural properties of the supramolecular fraction. The supramolecular fraction was observed to be either colloidal aggregates, agglomerates, solid particles, or a combination in varying proportions. Next, these samples were studied in emulsions. Differences in the macromolecular state of samples were found to influence interfacial morphology and stability of emulsions. Following, the associative behavior of purified GGM obtained from the pressurized hot water extraction process was studied at acidic, neutral, and alkaline pH and upon addition of sodium chloride. Associative behavior of the sample displayed a positive correlation with acidic pH condition and time, improving emulsion stability. The sample exhibited an upper limit of GGM to oil ratio for efficient emulsification and stabilization ability, implying the presence of a limited amount of active emulsifying component. Currently, novel biomaterials are being developed from wood biomass. The findings of this study contributed to the characterization of colloidal properties of GGM at a nanometric scale, thereby enhancing its scope of future applications. These findings regarding the solubility of GGM would also be relevant in existing operations of paper and pulping industries, as well as for aspiring biorefineries in identifying optimal GGM recovery approach. Luonnonvarojen ylikulutus ja ilmastonmuutoksen aiheuttama epävarmuus lisäävät tarvetta kestäville, kustannustehokkaille ja toiminnallisille elintarviketeollisuuden raaka-aineille tulevien vuosikymmenten aikana. Puu on uudistuva luonnonvara, josta saatava biomassa ja sen jakeet tarjoavat lupaavan ratkaisun näihin haasteisiin. Kuusen galaktoglukomannaanit (GGM) ovat puun hemiselluloosia, joilla on lupaavia ominaisuuksia emulsioiden stabilointiaineina eli hydrokolloideina. Hydrokolloideihin kuuluu pääosin polysakkarideja, joiden käytöllä on pitkä perinne elintarviketeollisuuden tuotteissa tuomaan haluttua rakennetta ja suutuntumaa. Hydrokolloidien avulla muodostetaan ja säilytetään rakenneominaisuuksia mm. emulsioissa – öljyn ja veden muodostamissa dispersioissa, jotka ovat monien arkisten tuotteidemme kuten salaatinkastikkeiden, liemien ja jogurttien tavanomaisia rakenteita. Polysakkaridien kyky muuttaa elintarvikkeiden mikrorakennetta riippuu niiden liukoisuudesta, mikä taas vaihtelee polysakkaridien uutto-olosuhteiden vaikutuksesta. GGM:n liukoisuutta ja sen vaikutusta GGM:n toimintaan hydrokolloidina ei kuitenkaan tunneta vielä hyvin. Tässä väitöskirjatyössä tutkittiin GGM:a, joka oli eristetty kolmella eri tavalla: sahanpurun tai puulastujen paineistetulla kuumavesiuutolla, BLN-prosessiksi kutsutulla muokatulla kuumavesiuutolla ja termomekaanisen massanvalmistuksen prosessivedestä keräämällä. Tutkimuksen tuloksena havaittiin, että GGM:n eristysmenetelmä vaikutti huomattavasti sen liukoisuuteen ja tämän seurauksena toiminnallisuuteen emulsioissa. GGM liukeni veteen osittain. Tarkka määritys toisiaan täydentävillä ajanmukaisilla menetelmillä osoitti, että osittain liukoinen GGM esiintyi vedessä eri kokoisina yhteenliittyminä (partikkeleina). Nämä kolloidaaliset rakenteet muodostuivat oletettavasti GGM:n sisäisistä vuorovaikutuksista tai yhteenliittymistä muiden puun komponenttien kanssa, kuten ligniinin, ligniiniperäisten fenolisten yhdisteiden tai uuteaineiden kanssa. Liukoisuusaste ja kolloidaalisten rakenteiden ominaisuudet riippuivat eristysmenetelmästä ja GGM:n puhtaudesta. BLN-prosessista saatava puhdas GGM liukeni veteen parhaiten, mutta sen hydrokolloidiominaisuudet olivat heikommat kuin muilla eristystavoilla saaduilla GGM-näytteillä, etenkin paineistetulla kuumavesiuutolla eristetyllä GGM:lla. Osittaisen liukoisuuden aiheuttamat kolloidaaliset rakenteet vaikuttivat GGM:n toimintaan hydrokolloideina. Luontaisten – mahdollisesti natiivin GGM:n järjestäytymistä mukailevien – rakenneominaisuuksien paljastaminen rakentaa uutta tietoa, jota tarvitaan lignoselluloosan kehittämiseen toiminnallisiin sovelluksiin. GGM on luonnossa yleinen, uudistuva ja kestävän kehityksen mukainen raaka-aine, jolla on lupaavat toiminnalliset ominaisuudet korvaamaan muita hydrokolloideja ja tarjoamaan kasvipohjaisen vaihtoehdon elintarvike-, kosmetiikka- ja farmasian teollisuuden tarpeisiin, joissa emulsiopohjaiset tuotteet ovat yleisiä. Tutkimuksen tuottama perustieto GGM:sta mahdollistaa niiden erilaiset sovellukset esimerkiksi biopohjaisissa kalvoissa, täyteaineina ja biopolttoaineissa sellaisenaan tai muokattuina. Tutkimuksen osoittama eristysmenetelmän vaikutus hydrokolloidiominaisuuksiin auttaa kehittämään raaka-aineiden tuotantoa biojalostamoissa teknologiset ja taloudelliset lähtökohdat huomioiden.