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Purpose The paper concerns supply chains. It aims to identify the essential improvement actions that manufacturing companies expect their suppliers to take in the future rather than selection requirements already used in the assessment process. Within those improvement actions, the goal is to determine whether the size and management methods used in assessing companies affect these future expectations. Design/methodology/approach: Hypotheses were developed regarding the expectations of manufacturing companies and the factors influencing these expectations. Data collected from 118 companies from the Polish automotive, metal and chemical sectors were used to verify them. For this purpose, the U-Mann Whitney test was applied. Findings Manufacturing companies expect their suppliers to improve: (1) products, (2) processes, (3) organization management, (4) communication and (5) relationship, with the most important thing for them is the improvement of products and processes. It was found that the expectations regarding the contributors are influenced by whether the manufacturing company is a large or small enterprise or it uses or not the Toyota Production System. Lean Management and the ISO 14,001 Environmental Management System do not translate into these expectations. Originality/value : The article gives a new look at shaping relations between suppliers and customers in supply chains. Unlike most of the research to date, it does not concern the requirements that suppliers should meet at a given moment but focuses on the improvement actions they should undertake in the future. This paper adds important detail to understanding cooperation in B2B relations.

Purpose The authors of this study, who adopted a holistic view of the international organization for standardization (ISO) 9000 series of standards, aimed to evaluate the current status of the standards within the framework of the quality movement. Specifically, the evaluation covered two dimensions, i.e. the significance of the content included in the standards and the quality of the standards’ elaboration, which encompasses such issues as, for instance, their correctness, relevance to current trends in quality management, comprehensibility, etc. Design/methodology/approach The paper is based on a review of the scientific literature, analysis of the current and all previous versions of the international standards and the results of a survey, through which data were collected from 73 quality management experts from 17 different countries. To evaluate the results, an importance-performance analysis was performed. Findings As the results of the research demonstrated, experts in quality management have accepted the ISO 9000 standards series. However, this positive view refers mainly to the very idea of developing quality management standards and these standard’s content structure (components included in them). Study participants assigned a low rating to the quality of the standards’ elaboration. Therefore, improving the following aspects of the standards is essential: definitions, guidelines explaining the requirements for a quality management system, self-assessment tools and guidelines concerning quality management concerning chosen forms of activity. Research limitations/implications The research described here in has both practical and social implications. First, it delineates the direction needed to improve standardizations, whose use need not be strictly limited to quality management but can be successfully used to improve the standards in other areas of management. Therefore, the conclusions of this research directly contribute to increasing both the effectiveness and the quality of the standard organizations. The significant consequences of this research for managers are the identification of ISO 9000 components which they will find are the most useful. Practical implications The research described herein has both practical and social implications. First, it delineates the direction needed to improve standardizations, whose use need not be strictly limited to quality management. However, it can be successfully used to improve the standards in other areas of management. Therefore, the conclusions of this research directly contribute to increasing both the effectiveness and the quality of the standard organizations. The significant consequences of this research for managers are the identification of ISO 9000 components, which they will find are the most useful. Originality/value Most research treats ISO 9000 standards as a benchmark for their studies on quality management systems implemented in organizations. The standards themselves are rarely the subject of a study, and so this paper fills a gap in the research and provides insights into desired directions for standards improvement.

Purpose This study aims to demonstrate the suitability of text-mining toolset for the discovery of trends in quality management (QM) literature in 2000-2019. The hypothesis was formulated that as the field of study is mature, the most important trends are related to deepening and broadening of the knowledge. Design/methodology/approach A novel approach to trend discovery was proposed. The computer-aided analysis of full-texts of papers led to increased reliability and level of detail of the achieved results and helped significantly reduce researchers’ bias. Overall, 4,833 papers from 8 journal dedicated to QM were analysed. Findings Trends discovery led to the identification of 45 trends: 17 long-lasting trends, 4 declining trends, 11 emerging trends and 13 ephemeris trends. They were compared to the results of earlier studies. New trends and potential gaps were discussed. Practical implications The results highlight the trends that gain or lose popularity, thus they can be used to focus studies, as well as find new subjects, which are not so popular yet. The knowledge about emerging trends is also important for those quality managers who strive for improvement of their efficiency. Originality/value The research was designed to bypass the limitations of previous studies. The use of text mining methods and analysis of full texts of papers delivered more detailed and reliable data. Resignation from predefinition of classification criteria significantly reduced researchers’ bias and allowed the discovery of new trends, not identified in previous studies.

The article discusses the characteristics of measuring chains found in the gimbal inertial navigation systems of the IKW-8 type (used on Su-22 aircraft) are presented. The research paper also addresses the method for the identification of measurement chain properties of the gyroscopic KW-1 platform developed at AFIT, including sensors for the parameters of aircraft motion within an inertial space (linear accelerations and angular velocities) and signal processing systems (used to level and gyrocompass the platform). The methodology for the identification of measurement chain properties developed at AFIT found its application as a complementary technology in the process of assessing the technical condition of an IKW-8 inertial navigation system implemented in the conditions of a military unit operating Su-22 aircraft.

The multi-spiked connecting scaffold (MSC-Scaffold) prototype is the essential innovation in the fixation of components of resurfacing total hip arthroplasty (THRA) endoprostheses in the subchondral trabecular bone. We conducted the computed micro-tomography (micro-CT) assessment of the subchondral trabecular bone microarchitecture before and after the MSC-Scaffold embedding in femoral heads removed during long-stem endoprosthesis total hip arthroplasty (THA) of different bone densities from 4 patients with hip osteoarthritis (OA). The embedding of the MSC-Scaffold in subchondral trabecular bone causes the change in its relative area (BA/TA, bone area/total area ratio) ranged from 18.2% to 24.7% (translating to the calculated density ρB relative change 11.1–14.4%, and the compressive strength S relative change 75.3–122.7%) regardless of its initial density (before the MSC-Scaffold embedding). The densification of the trabecular microarchitecture of subchondral trabecular bone due to the MSC-Scaffold initial embedding gradually decreases with the increasing distance from the apexes of the MSC-Scaffold’s spikes while the spatial extent of this subchondral trabecular bone densification ranged from 1.5 to 2.5 mm (which is about half the height of the MSC-Scaffold’s spikes). It may be suggested, despite the limited number of examined femoral heads, that: (1) the magnitude of the effect of the MSC-Scaffold embedding on subchondral trabecular bone densification may be a factor contributing to the maintenance of the MSC-Scaffold also for decreased initial bone density values, (2) the deeper this effect of the subchondral trabecular bone densification, the better strength of subchondral trabecular bone, and as consequence, the better post-operative embedding of the MSC-Scaffold in the bone should be expected.

Resurfacing hip and knee endoprostheses are generally embedded in shallow, prepared areas in the bone and secured with cement. Massive cement penetration into periarticular bone, although it provides sufficient primary fixation, leads to the progressive weakening of peri-implant bone and results in failures. The aim of this paper was to investigate in an animal model the first biomimetic fixation of components of resurfacing arthroplasty endoprostheses by means of the innovative multispiked connecting scaffold (MSC-Scaffold). The partial resurfacing knee arthroplasty (RKA) endoprosthesis working prototype with the MSC-Scaffold was designed for biomimetic fixation investigations using reverse engineering methods and manufactured by selective laser melting. After Ca-P surface modification of bone contacting surfaces of the MSC-Scaffold, the working prototypes were implanted in 10 swines. Radiological, histopathological, and micro-CT examinations were performed on retrieved bone-implant specimens. Clinical examination confirmed very good stability (4 in 5-point Likert scale) of the operated knee joints. Radiological examinations showed good implant fixation (radiolucency less than 2 mm) without any signs of migration. Spaces between the MSC-Scaffold spikes were penetrated by bone tissue. The histological sections showed newly formed trabecular bone tissue between the spikes, and the trabeculae of periscaffold bone were seen in contact with the spikes. The micro-CT results showed the highest percentage of bone tissue ingrowths into the MSC-Scaffold at a distance of 2.5÷3.0 mm from the spikes bases. The first biomimetic fixation for resurfacing arthroplasty was successfully verified in 10 swines investigations using RKA endoprosthesis working prototypes. The performed research shows that the MSC-Scaffold allows for cementless and biomimetic fixation of resurfacing endoprosthesis components in periarticular cancellous bone.

Paper presents the original computer-based method of the technical condition evaluation of the analog inertial navigation systems on the basis of the calculated inertial speed course analysis. There are presented the mathematical relationships describing the influence of the angular velocity and linear accelerations sensors errors (used in inertial navigation systems on board the military aircraft) with the relation to the discrepancies of the calculated pilot-navigational parameters (such as inertial speed components and navigational position coordinates). On the example of the Cardan navigation system IKW-8 (used on board the highly-maneuverable SU-22 aircraft) there are presented the inertial speed course measurement and analysis possibilities as well as the criteria of technical condition evaluation and determination of the tendency of its changes.

Human resources are recognized as one of the key factors of success. The generic skills significantly determine the quality of those resources. The paper aims at identifying a set of generic skills which are the most expected by managers. The discussion is based on the results of a survey which was carried out among the representatives of the pulp and paper industry. The responses came from 34 managers (including 17 top managers) from 17 different countries. The 10 most significant (most wanted by the managers) generic skills were identified as: (1) teamwork, (2) flexibility, (3) initiative, (4) leadership, (5) drive, (6) analyzing and investigating, (7) global skills, (8) planning and organizing, (9) verbal communication and (10) computer skills.

Our team has been working for some time on designing a new kind of biomimetic fixation of resurfacing endoprostheses, in which the innovative multi-spiked connecting scaffold (MSC-Scaffold) that mimics the natural interface between articular cartilage and periarticular trabecular bone in human joints is the crucial element. This work aimed to develop a numerical model enabling the design of the considered joint replacement implant that would reflect the mechanics of interacting biomaterials. Thus, quantitative micro-CT analysis of density distribution in bone material during the embedding of MSC-Scaffold in periarticular bone was applied. The performed numerical studies and corresponding mechanical tests revealed, under the embedded MSC-Scaffold, the bone material densification affecting its mechanical properties. On the basis of these findings, the built numerical model was modified by applying a simulated insert of densified bone material. This modification led to a strong correlation between the re-simulation and experimental results (FVU = 0.02). The biomimetism of the MSC-Scaffold prototype that provided physiological load transfer from implant to bone was confirmed based on the Huber–von Mises–Hencky (HMH) stress maps obtained with the validated finite element (FE) model of the problem. The micro-CT bone density assessment performed during the embedding of the MSC-Scaffold prototype in periarticular bone provides insight into the mechanical behaviour of the investigated implant-bone system and validates the numerical model that can be used for the design of material and geometric features of a new kind of resurfacing endoprostheses fixation.

W artykule zidentyfikowany został zestaw dwudziestu czynników decydujących o sukcesie firmy ofertującej usługi szkoleniowe. Rozważania oparto na analizie treści wybranych standardów zarządzania firmami szkoleniowymi (tj. ISO 29990 oraz MSUES) oraz na wynikach badań ankietowych, którymi objęto menedżerów dziewięćdziesięciu polskich firm szkoleniowych. Na tej podstawie stwierdzono, iż kluczowym wyzwaniem dla osób zarządzających firmą szkoleniową jest zapewnienie odpowiednich trenerów, gdyż aż trzy czynniki, które zostały uznane przez respondentów za najważniejsze, dotyczyły kadry szkoleniowej. Te czynniki to: (1) trenerzy dysponują odpowiednią wiedzą z zakresu prowadzonych szkoleń, (2) trenerzy dysponują odpowiednią praktyką zawodową z zakresu prowadzonych szkoleń oraz (3) trenerzy potrafią prowadzić szkolenia w sposób interesujący.

Elements in the human body come from contaminated food, water, and air from the living area. Bones are a marker of long-term exposure to elements and show a relationship between them. The aim of the study was to analyze the correlation between the contents of Zn, Cu, Fe, Mo, Cr, Ni, Ba, Sr, and Pb in the proximal femoral head (cancellous bone) and femoral neck (cortical bone) in rural and urban populations. The study included 96 patients who were operated on for total hip replacement (THR), acquired in a surgical procedure with atomic absorption spectrometry, and the content of Zn, Cu, Fe, Mo, Cr, Ni, Ba, Sr, and Pb was evaluated. In rural areas, significant negative correlations were observed for Mo/Cr, Mo/Cu, and Ni/Fe, and positive correlations were observed for Fe/Zn and Pb/Zn. In urban areas, a negative correlation was found for Pb/Mo. Pb and Ni increased with age only in villagers, and Zn and Sr decreased with age in urban citizens. Ba decreased with age in people from rural areas. The correlation showed variances mainly in molybdenum, nickel, and oxidative elements between rural and urban populations.

The multispiked connecting scaffold (MSC-scaffold) prototype is an essential innovation in the fixation of components of resurfacing arthroplasty (RA) endoprostheses, providing their entirely non-cemented and bone-tissue-preserving fixation in peri-articular bone. An FE study is proposed to evaluate the influence of geometrical features of the MSC-scaffold on the transfer of mechanical load in peri-implant bone. For this study, an FE model of Ti-Alloy MSC-scaffold prototype embedded in a bilinear elastic, transversely isotropic bone material was built. For the compressive load on the MSC-scaffold, maps of Huber-Mises-Hencky (HMH) stress in peri-implant bone were determined. The influence of the distance between the bases of neighbouring spikes, the apex angle of spikes, and the height of the spherical cup of spikes of the MSC-scaffold were analysed. It was found that the changes in the distance between the bases of neighbouring spikes from 0.2 to 0.5 mm cause the HMH stress to increase in bone material by 32%. The changes of the apex angle of spikes from 2° to 4° decrease the HMH stress in bone material by 39%. The changes of height of the spherical cup of spikes from 0 to 0.12 mm increase the HMH stress in bone material by 24%. In conclusion, the spikes' apex angle and the distance between the bases of spikes of the MSC-scaffold are the key geometrical features determining the appropriate MSC-scaffold prototype design. The built FE model was found to be useful in bioengineering design of the novel fixation system for RA endoprostheses by means of the MSC-scaffold.

Few studies have explored the influence of an Animal-Assisted Intervention on patients with mental disorders. We investigated it’s impact on anxiety symptoms. We divided 51 patients with anxiety symptoms into two groups—treatment group, that went for a short 15–20 min’ walk with a dog, his handler and a researcher and control group, that went for a walk only with a researcher. We used State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) of fear, Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Ford Insomnia Response to Stress (FIRST), Brief symptom Inventory (BSI) and VAS of satisfaction after trial to assess. We also checked the resting blood pressure and resting heart rate before and after performing psychological tests while sitting. We have obtained full data of 21 people from the research group and 26 people from the control group. After the intervention, the treatment group reported lower anxiety levels as a state (Mean (M) = 34.35; Standard Deviation (SD) = 6.9 vs. M = 40.94; SD = 8.6) and fear (M = 1.05; SD = 1.0 vs. M = 2.04; SD = 2.2) than the control group. After a walk with a dog, trait anxiety (M = 34.35; SD = 6.9 vs. M = 46.3; SD = 9.6), state anxiety (M = 48.9; SD = 7.2 vs. M = 53.9; SD = 7.8), fear (M = 1.05; SD= 1.0 vs. M = 2.57; SD = 2.3) and resting heart rate (M = 71.05; SD = 12.3 vs. M = 73.67; SD = 13.1) decreased significantly, while walking without a dog only reduced state anxiety (M = 47.24; SD = 11.0 vs. M = 40.94; SD = 8.6). Multivariate analysis of variance showed that after the walk, state anxiety was significantly lower in the treatment group than in the control group, F(1.35) = 6.706, p η2 = 0.161. Among those who walked with a dog, the intervention also led to significant decreases in fear and resting heart rate, F(1.44) = 11.694, p < 0.01, η2 = 0.210 and F(1.45) = 8.503; p < 0.01; η2 = 0.159, respectively. For anxious patients, a short walk with a dog is more beneficial than a walk without one. We found significant positive effects of a dog’s company on vegetative arousal and mental comfort. This is another study confirming the possible therapeutic effect of the animal on anxiety symptoms. Further research is required, especially in the large groups of patients, as recommendations on the use of Animal Assisted Interventions (AAI) are needed.

This study aims to identify the key factors which influence the functioning quality and success of training companies. Based on an analysis of the requirements included in the quality management system standards for providers of education and training services, a set of twenty factors has been developed. This was followed by a survey for specifically selected managers of 90 Polish firms, which provide training, who evaluated both the influence of the factors on the probability of success and also the level of difficulty required to accomplish the factors. The findings indicate that the managers of the learning providers need to focus on employing qualified trainers and providing a curriculum which is unique and adjusted to their customers’ needs.

Measuring the subjective quality of life at the local level — a case studyThe paper concerns a project which was carried out in 2015. The main aim of the project was to develop a method, and then to measure the subjective quality of life of the inhabitants of 12 municipalities of the province of Lower Silesia. The questionnaires provided responses from 671 respondents who rated their satisfaction with life and the importance and satisfaction with various components of quality of life. On this basis the possibility of using measurement of subjective quality of life in the creation and evaluation of local and regional development programs was specified.

The paper discusses the usefulness of two dedicated quality management systems for learning service providers. The systems have been described in the international standard ISO 29990 and Polish national standards MSUES (Małopolska Standards for Education and Training Services). The results are based on a survey of managers who have implemented one of those systems in their training companies. It was found that the implementation of the discussed systems could contribute to success on the training market. The quality of training services is viewed as an important factor in personnel improvement. Most of the studies on that subject omit the key cause of high quality training, which is quality management in the training company. This paper attempts to bridge that gap.

The multispiked connecting scaffold (MSC-Scaffold) prototype, inspired by the biological system of anchorage of the articular cartilage in the periarticular trabecular bone by means of subchondral bone interdigitations, is the essential innovation in fixation of the bone in resurfacing arthroplasty (RA) endoprostheses. The biomimetic MSC‐Scaffold, due to its complex geometric structure, can be manufactured only using additive technology, for example, selective laser melting (SLM). The major purpose of this work is determination of constructional possibilities for the structural-geometric functionalization of SLM‐manufactured MSC‐Scaffold prototype, compensating the reduced ability—due to the SLM technological limitations—to accommodate the ingrowing bone filling the interspike space of the prototype, which is important for the prototype bioengineering design. Confocal microscopy scanning of components of the SLM‐manufactured prototype of total hip resurfacing arthroplasty (THRA) endoprosthesis with the MSC‐Scaffold was performed. It was followed by the geometric measurements of a variety of specimens designed as the fragments of the MSC-Scaffold of both THRA endoprosthesis components. The reduced ability to accommodate the ingrowing bone tissue in the SLM‐manufactured prototypes versus that in the corresponding CAD models has been quantitatively determined. Obtained results enabled to establish a way of compensatory structural‐geometric functionalization, allowing the MSC‐Scaffold adequate redesigning and manufacturing in additive SLM technology.

The paper presents a model of a hybrid INS/GNSS system developed at AFIT, designed to determine the current trajectory of a railway vehicle during its travel at a speed of around 100 km/h(30m/s) and to precisely determine the trackage axis. The architecture of a hybrid system for determining the trackage axis in conditions of GNSS signal interference was presented. Particular attention was paid to modeling INS errors in the determination of a vehicle trajectory (determined “on-line” within the current correction process by the GNSS) and modeling INS errors in the determination of the vehicle travel trajectory (determined “off-line” within the periodic correction process by the GNSS). The analysis involved the impact of inaccuracy of the WGS-S4 standard determination of selected geodetic parameters used in inertial navigation (i.e., local values: gravitational acceleration, Earth radius and the Earth angular speed) on the course of navigational position determination errors by an INS operating in automatic mode (without correction).

Mutations in the COMP, COL9A1, COL9A2, COL9A3, MATN3, and SLC26A2 genes cause approximately 70% of multiple epiphyseal dysplasia (MED) cases. The genetic changes involved in the etiology of the remaining cases are still unknown, suggesting that other genes contribute to MED development. Our goal was to identify a mutation causing an autosomal dominant form of MED in a large multigenerational family. Initially, we excluded all genes known to be associated with autosomal dominant MED by using microsatellite and SNP markers. Follow-up with whole-exome sequencing analysis revealed a mutation c.2032G>A (p.Gly678Arg) in the COL2A1 gene (NCBI Reference Sequence: NM_001844.4), which co-segregated with the disease phenotype in this family, manifested by severe hip dysplasia and osteoarthritis. One of the affected family members had a double-layered patella, which is frequently seen in patients with autosomal recessive MED caused by DTDST mutations and sporadically in the dominant form of MED caused by COL9A2 defect.

Flexor injuries are most common in the hand and require special attention and experience from the surgeon. Both quality and technique affect the stability of the suture. The selection of the optimum method will influence the process of rehabilitation. The aim of this study was to compare three different suture techniques based on the strength, depending on the method of breakage, i.e., axial or pulley load.The study was divided into six sessions. The research material was dissected deep flexor porcine tendons. Three types of stitches were used: the modified Kessler suture with an additional running suture, the cruciate four-strand suture with an additional running suture and the multistrand running suture. We obtained 120 sutures, 40 for each technique. Breaking strength was assessed using a tensile machine in two ways, i.e., axial or pulley load, with 20 sutures per group.The strongest suture for both axial and pulley load was the cruciate four-strand suture. Between the multistrand running suture and the modified Kessler suture, there was no statistically significant difference in the strength of breaking for both axial and pulley load. Comparing the two ways of breaking, there was no statistically significant difference in the strength of the suture.The multistrand running locking suture is a good alternative to widely used core sutures. It not only provides the same strength as other techniques examined by us but also reduces the procedure time and trauma to the tips of the tendon.

The proper interaction of bone tissue - the natural porous biomaterial - with a porous coated intra-osseous implant is conditioned, among others, by the implant porous coating poroaccessibility for bone tissue adaptive ingrowth. The poroaccessibility is the ability of implant porous coating outer layer to accommodate the ingrowing bone tissue filling in its pore space and effective new formed bone mineralizing in the pores to form a biomechanically functional bone-implant fixation. The functional features of the microtopography of intra-osseous implant porous surfaces together with the porosity of pore space of the outer layer of the porous coating are called by bioengineers the porostructural-osteoconductive properties of the porous coated implant. The properties are crucial for successful adaptive bone tissue ingrowth and further long-term (secondary) biomechanical stability of the boneimplant interface. The poroaccessibility of intra-osseous implants porous coating outer layers is characterized by - the introduced in our previous papers - set of stereometric parameters of poroaccessibility: the effective volumetric porosity fVef, the index of the porous coating space capacity VPM, the representative surface porosity fSrep, the representative pore size pSrep, the representative angle of the poroaccessibility Wrep and the bone-implant interface adhesive surface enlargement index y. Presented in this paper, an original method of evaluation of the porostructural-osteoconductive properties of intra-osseous implant porous coatings outer layer by means of the parameters of poroaccessibility was preliminary verified during experimental tests performed on the representative examples of porous coated femoral stems and acetabular cups of various hip endoprostheses. The computer-aided stereometric evaluation of the microstructure of implant porous coatings outer layer can be now realized by the authoring application software PoroAccess_1.0 elaborated in our research team in Java programming language

We present the new fixation method for RHA(resurfacing hip arthroplasty)endoprostheses by means of the biomimetic multispiked connecting scaffold (MSC-Scaffold). Such connecting scaffold can generate new type of RHA endoprostheses, that is stemless and fixed entirely without cement. The preprototypes of this MSC-Scaffold were manufactured with modern additive laser additive technology (SLM). The pilot surgical implantations in animal model (two laboratory swine) of MSC-Scaffold preprototypes have showed after two months neither implant loosening, migration, and nor other early complications. From the results of performed histopathological evaluation of the periscaffold spikes bone tissue and 10-day culture of human osteoblasts (NHOst) we can conclude that (1) the scaffolding effect was obtained and (2) to improve the osseointegration of the scaffold spikes, their material surface should be physicochemically modified (e.g., with hydroxyapatite). Some histopathological findings in the periscaffold domain near the MSC-Scaffold spikes bases (fibrous connective tissue and metallic particles near the MSC-Scaffold spikes bases edges) prompt considering the necessity to optimize the design of the MSC-Scaffold in the regions of its interspike space near the spikes bases edges, to provide more room for new bone formation in this region and for indispensable post-processing (glass pearl blasting) after the SLM manufacturing.

PurposeThe aim of this paper is to present the main results of a research project finished in 2008 which concerned the selective laser melted (SLM) prototype of a new kind of minimally invasive resurfacing hip arthroplasty (RHA) endoprosthesis with the original multi‐spiked connecting scaffold (MSC‐Scaffold). Previous attempts performed in pre‐Direct Metal Manufacturing (DMM) era demonstrated that it was impossible to manufacture suitable prototypes of this RHA endoprosthesis (especially of the MSC‐Scaffold) using traditional machining technologies. Owing to an extensive development of DMM technologies observed in recent years the manufacturing of such prototypes has become possible.Design/methodology/approachComputer aided design models of pre‐prototypes and the prototype of the RHA endoprosthesis with MSC‐Scaffold were designed and initially optimized within the claims and the general assumptions of international patents by Rogala. Prototyping in SLM technology was subcontracted to SLM Tech Center (Paderborn, Germany). Macroscopic and SEM microscopic evaluation of the MSC‐Scaffold was performed using SLM manufactured prototypes and paying special attention to the quality and precision of manufacturing.FindingsIt was found that SLM can be successfully applied to manufacturing of prototypes of the original minimally invasive RHA endoprosthesis. The manufacturing quality of the 3D spikes system of the MSC‐Scaffold, which mimics the interdigitations of articular subchondral bone, has been proved to be geometrically corresponding to the biological original. Nevertheless, some pores and non‐melted zones were found in SLM prototyped RHA endoprosthesis cross‐sections which need to be eliminated to minimize the potential risk of clinical failure.Research limitations/implicationsThe presented case study was performed with a limited number of samples. More research needs to be performed on the rapid prototyped samples including microstructural and mechanical tests. The results may enable the optimization of the SLM manufacturing process of the prototypes of the minimally invasive RHA endoprosthesis with MSC‐Scaffold.Practical implicationsThe SLM can be considered as potentially suitable for the fabrication of patient‐fitted minimally invasive RHA endoprostheses with MSC‐Scaffold.Originality/valueFor the first time, largely owing to SLM technology, it was possible to manufacture the prototype of the original minimally invasive RHA endoprosthesis with MSC‐Scaffold suitable for further research.

DTDST mutations cause a spectrum of diastrophic dysplasia disorders characterized by defects of proteoglycans sulfation. Reduction of sulfate/chloride antiporter activity is manifested by lower sulfate uptake and depends on a combination of mutations in DTDST. We analyzed a family with an autosomal recessive form of bone dysplasia. Three affected brothers from this family are compound heterozygotes for C653S/A715V mutations. We classified their phenotype as a new intermediate form between diastrophic dysplasia and multiple epiphyseal dysplasia, manifested by shortening of stature, metatarsus adductus/club foot, mild brachydactyly, proximally placed thumbs and clinodactyly of the fifth fingers. Radiographs document platyspondyly most marked in the lower thoracic and upper lumbar spine, epiphyseal dysplasia affecting predominantly the femoral heads, widening of the metaphyses, narrow growth cartilage and multilayered patellae. Exaggerated lesser trochanters of femur, that is, "monkey wrench" sign, elevated greater trochanters, thin upper pubic rami, grossly normal carpal/tarsal bones and severe, early onset osteoarthritis were other notable features.