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Research is presented describing the study of chiral anilines with enantioselective enolate protonation.

A process development unit (PDU) for amine-based post-combustion carbon capture located at Clean Coal Technologies Centre in Zabrze, Poland, was used to validate split-stream configuration. A PDU having capacity up to 100 m³n /h was designed to test the amine scrubbing carbon capture process from flue gases or mixtures of technical gases. Flexible process flow sheet of the unit allowed investigation of the split flow process. The split-flow flowsheet modification was compared with a standard system for chemical absorption-based CO2 capture. The tests were conducted using well-accepted baseline solvent: 30 wt% aqueous monoethanolamine solution. The flow sheet modification resulted in a decrease of reboiler heat duty by ~1.6% and an increase in CO2 recovery by ~1.2 p.p. Split-flow process modification was examined together with standard process flow sheet, and vast number of process parameters recorded during the trials have been presented. The explanation of beneficial effects of split-flow designs have been shown together with detailed analysis of experimental trials carried out using PDU for amine-based post-combustion carbon capture. This paper is also a valuable source of experimental data useful during validation of models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research background: The article attempts to include the accuracy of statistical data in a synthetic evaluation and classification of EU countries in terms of innovation.

The aim of this work was to assess the influence of steam sterilization on free-radical generation in herbs and on changes in their chromatic parameters, as well as in their antioxidant activity and the content of polyphenols and flavonoids. the research conducted showed that the Hight Temperature Short Time (HTST) sterilization method decreased the number of free radicals in the herbs tested. At the same time, the antioxidant activity as well as the polyphenol and flavonoid contents increased. Changes in chromaticity in sterilized herbs were determined; darkening and shift towards red and yellow hues were observed. The antioxidant properties of herbs before and after sterilization decreased in the following sequence: oregano>thyme>marjoram>basil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article has classified the EU countries in terms of the level of sustainable development. The study was based on main sustainability indicators developed by Eurostat. In empirical research, one of the methods used was Cluster Analysis - Ward's method. Grouping methods make it possible to distinguish countries with a similar level of sustainability which is particularly useful for monitoring the progress of individual EU countries in implementation of the Sustainable Development Strategy. For specific groups of countries, appropriate control instruments and strategies can be proposed. The research period is 2016. As a result of the research, 6 clusters of countries were obtained. For specific groups of countries, their characteristics were defined.

The biochemical, sensory, and quality changes that occur during processing and prolonged frozen storage of kiwifruit pulp were studied. The temperature and processing time during pulp manufacture and freezing are critical factors in determining the % total chlorophyll and color of the frozen pulp. Storage of pulp at acceptable commercial frozen storage temperatures (-18°C or below) for 12 months resulted in a stable color, and a slight decrease in the % total chlorophylls and ascorbic acid. The type of packaging material used and deaeration of pulp did not influence the above findings. The sensory qualities of the pulp were not affected by the storage conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purification and thickening tests of metallurgical industrial wastewater from sintering dust dechlorination unit were carried out. Raw wastewater of pH 6.95 consisted primarily of Zn2+, Pb2+, Cd2+, Tl+, Cl-, SO4-2, at concentrations of approx. 3,200; 60; 11,500; 100; 40,100 and 5,300 mg/dm3 respectively. The heavy metals removal consisted in chemical precipitation and sedimentation, firstly by sodium hydroxide, and secondly by sodium sulphide solutions resulting in average removal to levels below 1mg/dm3. Moreover, the experimental studies of evaporation process confirmed the possibility of chloride ions reducing, the distillate yield was approx. 80% of the initial effluent stream. The solid product obtained by two-stage evaporation was characterized by satisfactory purity. The results indicate maturity of the applied processes for wastewater treatment, allowing conditions close to zero-liquid-discharge to be achieved.

Abstract Background The effect of acute L-alanyl-L-glutamine (AG; Sustamine™) ingestion on performance changes and markers of fluid regulation, immune, inflammatory, oxidative stress, and recovery was examined in response to exhaustive endurance exercise, during and in the absence of dehydration. Methods Ten physically active males (20.8 ± 0.6 y; 176.8 ± 7.2 cm; 77.4 ± 10.5 kg; 12.3 ± 4.6% body fat) volunteered to participate in this study. During the first visit (T1) subjects reported to the laboratory in a euhydrated state to provide a baseline (BL) blood draw and perform a maximal exercise test. In the four subsequent randomly ordered trials, subjects dehydrated to -2.5% of their baseline body mass. For T2, subjects achieved their goal weight and were not rehydrated. During T3 - T5, subjects reached their goal weight and then rehydrated to 1.5% of their baseline body mass by drinking either water (T3) or two different doses (T4 and T5) of the AG supplement (0.05 g·kg-1 and 0.2 g·kg-1, respectively). Subjects then exercised at a workload that elicited 75% of their VO2 max on a cycle ergometer. During T2 - T5 blood draws occurred once goal body mass was achieved (DHY), immediately prior to the exercise stress (RHY), and immediately following the exercise protocol (IP). Resting 24 hour (24P) blood samples were also obtained. Blood samples were analyzed for glutamine, potassium, sodium, aldosterone, arginine vasopressin (AVP), C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), malondialdehyde (MDA), testosterone, cortisol, ACTH, growth hormone and creatine kinase. Statistical evaluation of performance, hormonal and biochemical changes was accomplished using a repeated measures analysis of variance. Results Glutamine concentrations for T5 were significantly higher at RHY and IP than T2 - T4. When examining performance changes (difference between T2 - T5 and T1), significantly greater times to exhaustion occurred during T4 (130.2 ± 340.2 sec) and T5 (157.4 ± 263.1 sec) compared to T2 (455.6 ± 245.0 sec). Plasma sodium concentrations were greater (p < 0.05) at RHY and IP for T2 than all other trials. Aldosterone concentrations at RHY and IP were significantly lower than that at BL and DHY. AVP was significantly elevated at DHY, RHY and IP compared to BL measures. No significant differences were observed between trials in CRP, IL-6, MDA, or in any of the other hormonal or biochemical measures. Conclusion Results demonstrate that AG supplementation provided a significant ergogenic benefit by increasing time to exhaustion during a mild hydration stress. This ergogenic effect was likely mediated by an enhanced fluid and electrolyte uptake.

We present new small-molecular probes targeting the human PD-L1 protein. The molecules were designed by incorporating a newly discovered N-methylmorpholine substituent into a known biphenyl-based structure. Four prototype derivatives of 4-methyl-3,4-dihydro-2H-benzo[b][1,4]oxazine-7-carbonitrile (STD4), comprising a morpholine substituent fused with a biphenyl core at different orientations were first verified for their potential binding to PD-L1 using the molecular docking method. A more favorable 7-phenyl derivative of STD4 was then equipped with an amide bond, pyridine, and either a tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane or serinol tail leading to two final molecules. Among them, compound 1c showed activity in three bioassays, i.e., the homogenous time-resolved fluorescence (HTRF) assay, immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) assay, and T-cell activation (TCA) assay. Our work shows that morpholine can substitute for dioxane and becomes a promising component in PD-L1-targeting molecules. This finding unlocks new avenues for optimizing PD-L1-targeting compounds, presenting exciting prospects for future developments in this field., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests: Urszula Tyrcha is the Chemical Synthesis Specialist at the company RECEPTON Sp. z o.o., Aleksandra Hec-Gałązka is the Chemical Synthesis Specialist at the company RECEPTON Sp. z o.o., Prof. Dr Tad Holak is the CSO of the company RECEPTON Sp. z o.o., Head of Drug Discovery Laboratory Dr Tomasz Sitar is the CEO of the company RECEPTON Sp. z o.o., Head of Protein Engineering Laboratory., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Background: Newer biomarkers of Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and treatment response have not been well-characterized in individuals with HBV/HIV coinfection., Methods: Pre-genomic RNA (pgRNA) and quantitative HBsAg (qHBsAg) were used to evaluate the associations with baseline characteristics. Participants included two separate groups - 236 with HBV/HIV coinfection enrolled in a cross-sectional cohort in Ghana and 47 from an HBV nucleoside/nucleotide treatment trial comparing tenofovir to adefovir in the United States., Results: In both cohorts, HBe antigenemia was highly associated with pgRNA and HBV DNA levels. In the treatment cohort, pre-treatment pgRNA serum concentration was 7.0 log 10 U/mL, and mean qHBsAg was 201,297 IU/mL. The observed treatment-associated decrease in pgRNA was consistent with a biphasic decline curve that reached second-phase kinetics following treatment week 12. Changes from baseline were significantly correlated with changes in serum ALT (r = - 0.518; P = 0.023) but not with changes in HBV DNA (r = 0.132, P = NS). qHBsAg also correlated with ALT change (r = - 0.488, P = 0.034)., Conclusion: pgRNA and qHBsAg represent newer biomarkers of HBV replication that may help monitor response and treatment outcomes. HBV pgRNA is highly associated with both HBeAg and ALT and may predict both active replication from the closed circular DNA (cccDNA) template as well as hepatic injury., Competing Interests: MA, MS, and GC are employees and shareholders of Abbott Laboratories. All other authors have no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Pathogens and Immunity.)

Biomaterials, like hydroxyapatite (HAp), are the subject of many scientific investigations. Their specific application, however, is determined by the form and some characteristic features of the resulting material. Synthesis methods and optimization procedures leading to a product of predetermined characteristics are therefore of great interest. To broaden the existing knowledge, sonoprecipitation was investigated as a potential method for the production of nanosized HAp particles. The research was carried out in a static mixer (STM) immersed in the ultrasonic bath. The influence of operating conditions, e.g., ultrasonic power P US ( ε US ), ultrasonic frequency (f US ), and unit mixing power ( ε mix ), was investigated in terms of nucleation intensity, product quality, and characteristics (particle size distribution ( PSD ), mean size, shape, etc.). As a result, the optimal conditions for the HAp nanoparticles synthesis (mean size: d ~150 nm; length: L 1 ~250 nm; width: L 2 ~80 nm) in the form of needles/whiskers/rods-similar to the shape of the HAp present in natural human bones, free from agglomerates, with negligible signs of particle destruction-were determined. The formation of HAp of smaller sizes ( d ≤ 100 nm) and more compact shapes ( L 1 ~155 nm, L 2 ~90 nm), useful in bone regeneration processes, was also discussed.

Objective: To investigate if preoperative ondansetron reduces postoperative nausea associated with laparoscopic gastropexy and castration in dogs., Study Design: Prospective clinical study., Animals: Twenty client-owned, healthy male dogs., Methods: Dogs were premedicated with dexmedetomidine (2-5 mcg kg -1 ) and methadone (0.2-0.5 mg kg -1 ) intramuscularly. General anesthesia was induced with propofol and maintained with an inhalant anesthetic agent. Dogs were randomized into group S (saline 0.1 mL kg -1 , intravenously) or group O (ondansetron 0.2 mg kg -1 , intravenously). Plasma and serum were collected before premedication and 3 hours postextubation to measure arginine vasopressin (AVP) and cortisol concentrations. Nausea scoring occurred before and 10 minutes after premedication, immediately after extubation, and at 1, 2 and 3 hours postextubation. Data were analyzed by mixed and split-plot anova with Bonferroni adjustment for the number of group comparisons. Significance was set at p < 0.05., Results: Nausea scores increased over time at 1 (p = 0.01) and 2 (p < 0.001) hours postextubation in both groups compared with before premedication. Median nausea score (0-100 mm) for groups S and O before premedication were 2.5 and 0.5 mm, respectively. At 1 and 2 hours postextubation, group S scored 7.5 and 4.0 mm and group O scored 6.0 and 5.0 mm, respectively. No significant differences in nausea scores within or between groups were observed before premedication and 3 hours postextubation. Cortisol concentrations increased significantly 3 hours postextubation in both groups (p < 0.001) compared with before premedication, with no differences between groups. AVP concentrations showed no significant differences within or between groups., Conclusions and Clinical Relevance: Preoperative intravenous administration of ondansetron (0.2 mg kg -1 ) did not impact postoperative nausea after laparoscopic gastropexy and castration. Investigation of higher doses of ondansetron on the incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting in dogs after surgery is warranted., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Background and Purpose: We conducted a multicentre real-world study to assess the outcomes of radical salvage re-irradiation for non-melanoma skin cancer (nMSC) recurrences following definitive or postoperative radiotherapy., Materials and Methods: Data on patients treated between 2006 and 2022 with re-irradiation for nMSCs were retrospectively collected from five high-volume brachytherapy centers. The primary endpoint was local control (LC). Secondary endpoints included overall survival, progression-free survival, and adverse events (AEs). The Kaplan-Meier estimator and Cox Proportional-Hazards Model were utilised in the analysis., Results: A total of 58 patients with a median age of 78.4 years with recurrences of previously irradiated nMSC in the head and neck region were included in the analysis. The majority had cutaneous basal cell carcinoma (BCC; 91.4%), and were irradiated with high-dose-rate brachytherapy (HDR-BT; 91.4%). The most common locations included the nasal region (36.2%) and external ear (18.9%). The 1-year LC was 73.1% and decreased to 41.7% at three years. The size of the re-irradiated lesion was the single independent prognostic factor in Cox analysis (per mm; HR 1.07; 95% CI 1.04-1.11; p < 0.001). Grade 3 or worse AEs were reported in 7 cases (12.1%)., Conclusion: Re-irradiation for nMSCs, predominantly administered with brachytherapy for radiorecurrent BCC, is associated with high recurrence rates, and the risk of failure significantly increases with the size of the treated lesion. Re-irradiation could be an option for selected elderly patients with small, localised, inoperable recurrences after RT to achieve local control or defer systemic treatment; however, prospective trials are necessary to confirm its safety and efficacy., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Aims: The validated HCM Risk-Kids model provides accurate individualized estimates of sudden cardiac death risk in children with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). A second validated model, PRIMaCY, also provides individualized estimates of risk, but its performance and clinical impact has not been independently investigated. The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical impact of using the PRIMaCY sudden cardiac death (SCD) risk model in childhood HCM., Methods and Results: The estimated 5-year SCD risk was calculated for children meeting diagnostic criteria for HCM in a large single-centre cohort using PRIMaCY (clinical and genetic) and HCM Risk-Kids model, and model performance was assessed. Three hundred one patients [median age 10 (interquartile range 4-14)] were followed up for an average of 4.9 (±3.8) years, during which 30 (10.0%) reached the SCD or equivalent event endpoint. Harrell's C-statistic for the clinical and genetic models was 0.66 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.52-0.8] and 0.66 (95% CI 0.54-0.80) with a calibration slope of 0.19 (95% CI 0.04-0.54) and 0.26 (95% CI -0.03-0.62), respectively. The number needed to treat to potentially treat one life-threatening arrhythmia for the PRIMaCY clinical, PRIMaCY genetic, and HCM Risk-Kids models was 13.7, 14.5, and 9.4, respectively., Conclusion: Although PRIMaCY has a similar discriminatory ability to that reported for HCM Risk-Kids, estimated risk estimates did not correlate well with observed risk. A higher proportion of patients met implantable cardioverter-defibrillator thresholds using PRIMaCY model compared with HCM Risk-Kids. This has important clinical implications as these patients will be exposed to a lifetime risk of complications and inappropriate therapies., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest: P.M.E. declares consultancies for Pfizer and Sarepta. J.P.K. declares consultancies for Tenaya, Cytokinetics, and DiNAQOR. The other authors declare no conflict of interest., (© The Author(s) 2023. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Society of Cardiology.)

Background: The main contact lens for pediatric aphakia has historically been a silicone elastomer lens (Silsoft SuperPlus). Due to supply chain disruption, many aphakic children required an alternative lens. We performed quantitative and qualitative comparisons between Silsoft SuperPlus and alternative aphakic soft contacts., Method: Sixty-nine aphakic eyes of 49 patients wearing Silsoft SuperPlus lenses underwent the refitting process into an alternative soft contact. Data collected included lens parameters, visual acuity, keratometry, horizontal visible iris diameter, and over-refraction. A 6-question survey assessing the patients'/guardians' experience with Silsoft SuperPlus versus the alternative lens was conducted at initial fit and 1-3 months post-fit., Results: Twenty-four patients (49 %), 4(8 %), and 1(2 %) were refit into Flexlens Definitive 74, Biofinity XR, and Intelliwave Pro Toric lenses, respectively. Sixteen patients (34 %) remained in Silsoft SuperPlus due to personal lens surplus or inability to handle the new lens while 2(4 %) opted for glasses. Silsoft SuperPlus was typically successful in eyes with average keratometry (AveK) 7.4-7.6 mm. Flexlens Definitive 74 required a base curve 0.4 mm steeper than the AveK. Patients'/guardias' reported a trend toward greater comfort with handling Silsoft SuperPlus, however, patients experienced less adverse side effects with the alternative soft contact lenses., Conclusions: Flexlens Definitive 74 was an adequate alternative to Silsoft SuperPlus in aphakic children, however lens parameters must be steepened. Keratometry streamlined the contact lens fitting process. Alternative soft lenses are a cost-effective alternative to Silsoft contact lenses., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)