Iron biofortification in four non-heterotic red sweet cultivars of bell pepper.

The present work investigated the effects of iron (Fe) chelate soil application on the nutritional quality of fruits from four non-heterotic red sweet bell cultivars of pepper. The results showed that soil application of Fe-HBED (25-100 µmol Fe·kg soil) caused an increase in the Fe content (up to ca. 70 %) in the fruits of 'Mercedes' and 'Robertina' without a decrease in fruit quality.

The Influence of Fermentation Technology on the Functional and Sensory Properties of Hemp Bread.

In this work, the type of fermentation and baking technology used to make hemp bread was investigated. The physicochemical composition of flour and bread, the protein nutritional quality, fatty acids profile, texture, consumer acceptance, analysis of volatile compounds using an electronic nose and chemical compounds using an electronic tongue were determined. Differences in protein and total dietary fiber content were observed in the obtained breads.

The Impact of Support and Reduction Temperature on the Catalytic Activity of Bimetallic Nickel-Zirconium Catalysts in the Hydrocracking Reaction of Algal Oil from Spirulina Platensis.

The aim of this work was to investigate the hydrocracking of algae oil derived from Spirulina Platensis species catalyzed with bi-component nickel-zirconia catalysts supported onto different carriers (BEA, ZSM-5 and AlO) in an autoclave at 320 °C for 2 h with a hydrogen pressure of 75 bar. All catalysts were prepared using the wet co-impregnation method and were characterized by H-TPR, XRD, NH-TPD, BET and SEM-EDS. Before reactions, catalysts were calcined at 600 °C for 4 h in a muffle furnace, then reduced with 5%H-95%Ar reducing mixture at 500 °C, 600 °C or 700 °C for 2 h.

Material, Aerodynamic, and Operational Aspects of Single-Skin Paraglider.

The operating comfort of a paraglider is created by the aerodynamic parameters as well as the mass and packing volume of the wing. A classic paraglider has upper and lower covers. To reduce the material and manufacturing costs as well as protect the environment, it is possible to introduce a single-skin wing.

A New Approach to Implementing 3D-Printed Material Structures for Protective Gloves with the Use of Ultrasonic and Contact Welding Processes: A Preliminary Study.

This study presents a new approach to developing protective material structures for personal protective equipment (PPE), and in particular for protective gloves, with the use of ultrasonic and contact welding processes. The goal was to assess the quality of joints (welds) obtained between a synthetic polyamide knitted fabric (PA) and selected polymers (PLA, ABS, PET-G) in the developed materials using X-Ray microtomography (micro-CT). Quantitative and qualitative analyses were performed to determine the joint area produced by the selected welding methods for the examined materials.

Comparative Evaluation of Bone-Implant Contact in Various Surface-Treated Dental Implants Using High-Resolution Micro-CT in Rabbits' Bone.

This study evaluated the bone-to-implant contact (BIC) of various surface-treated dental implants using high-resolution micro-CT in rabbit bone, focusing on the effects of different treatments on osseointegration and implant stability before and after bone demineralization. Six male New Zealand White rabbits were used. Four implant types were tested: machined surface with anodizing, only etching, sandblasting with AlO + etching, and sandblasting with TiO + etching.

Multi-Spectroscopic and Molecular Modeling Studies of Interactions Between Anionic Porphyrin and Human Serum Albumin.

The subject of this study is the interaction between 5,10,15,20-tetrakis (4-sulfonatophenyl)-porphyrin (TSPP), a potential photosensitizer for photodynamic therapy (PDT) and radiotherapy, and human serum albumin (HSA), a crucial protein in the body. The main objective was to investigate the binding mechanisms, structural changes, and potential implications of these interactions for drug delivery and therapeutic applications. Spectroscopic techniques and computational methods were employed to investigate the mechanism and effects of TSPP binding by HSA.

Studies on the Oxidative Damage of the Wobble 5-Methylcarboxymethyl-2-Thiouridine in the tRNA of Eukaryotic Cells with Disturbed Homeostasis of the Antioxidant System.

We have previously shown that 2-thiouridine (S2U), either as a single nucleoside or as an element of RNA chain, is effectively desulfurized under applied in vitro oxidative conditions. The chemically induced desulfuration of S2U resulted in two products: 4-pyrimidinone nucleoside (H2U) and uridine (U). Recently, we investigated whether the desulfuration of S2U is a natural process that also occurs in the cells exposed to oxidative stress or whether it only occurs in the test tube during chemical reactions with oxidants at high concentrations.

Effectiveness of Virtual Surgical Planning and Three-Dimensional Anatomical Models in Radiological Reconstruction of Center of Rotation and Pelvic Brim in Patients with Anterior Column Defects Requiring Revision Hip Arthroplasty.

The aim of this study was to show that virtual surgical planning (VSP) and printed anatomical models support the reconstruction of the center of rotation (COR) and pelvic BRIM during revision hip surgery using a dual-mobility revision cup system in patients with anterior pelvic column damage and soft tissue envelope deficiency. Patients with anterior pelvic column damage and soft tissue envelope deficiency underwent revision hip arthroplasty. Virtual planning included assessment of bone segmentation, positioning of the cementless revision cup while maintaining the COR, and the assumed inclination and anteversion angles.

Enhancing the solubility and antibacterial activity of novel molecular salts of enrofloxacin drug with isomeric pyridinedicarboxylic acids.

Enrofloxacin (EFX) is a third-generation synthetic fluoroquinolone with a broad spectrum of antibacterial activity but suffers from low water solubility, affecting its bioavailability. This study attempts to enhance the physicochemical and biological properties of enrofloxacin by converting it into multicomponent forms using crystal engineering concepts. Cocrystallization of enrofloxacin with isomeric pyridine-2,n-dicarboxylic acids (n = 3,4,5,6) resulted in four new crystalline salts (1:1): EFX·Py2,3DCA, EFX·Py2,4DCA, EFX·Py2,5DCA·HO and EFX·Py2,6DCA·HO; two of these are monohydrates.

Unlocking Genome Editing: Advances and Obstacles in CRISPR/Cas Delivery Technologies.

CRISPR/Cas9 (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats associated with protein 9) was first identified as a component of the bacterial adaptive immune system and subsequently engineered into a genome-editing tool. The key breakthrough in this field came with the realization that CRISPR/Cas9 could be used in mammalian cells to enable transformative genetic editing. This technology has since become a vital tool for various genetic manipulations, including gene knockouts, knock-in point mutations, and gene regulation at both transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels.

Unexpected Formation of a Chiral spiro-system in the Reaction of the Dilithium Derivative of Hexafluorocumyl Alcohol with N-(t-butylsulfenyl)phthalimide.

An unexpected course of the reaction of hexafluorocumyl alcohol dilithium derivative 2 with N-(t-butylsulfenyl)phthalimide (3) has been presented. The process proceeded under mild conditions and resulted in previously undescribed chiral spiro-system- 3',3'-bis(trifluoromethyl)-3H,3'H-1,1'-spirobis(isobenzofuran)-3-one (5) as the only product. A detailed spectral analysis of the product has been provided, and mechanistic aspects have been investigated.

Duality of Particle-Hole and Particle-Particle Theories for Strongly Correlated Electronic Systems.

We propose a novel approach to electron correlation for multireference systems. It is based on particle-hole (ph) and particle-particle (pp) theories in the second-order, developed in the random phase approximation (RPA) framework for multireference wave functions. We show a formal correspondence (duality), between contributions to the correlation energy in the ph and pp pictures.

Importance of Electron Correlation on the Geometry and Electronic Structure of [2Fe-2S] Systems: A Benchmark Study of the [FeS(SCH)], [FeS(SCys)], [FeS(S--tol)], and [FeS(S--xyl)] Complexes.

Iron-sulfur clusters are crucial for biological electron transport and catalysis. Obtaining accurate geometries, energetics, manifolds of their excited electronic states, and reduction energies is important to understand their role in these processes. Using a [2Fe-2S] model complex with Fe and Fe oxidation states, which leads to different charges, i.

Electrochemically Induced, Metal Free Synthesis of 2-substituted chroman-4-ones.

Electrochemically induced, decarboxylative functionalization of chromone-3-carboxylic acids by N-hydroxyphthalimide esters as alkyl radical precursors was studied. Electrochemical protocol offers a sustainable and green approach, obviating the need for catalysts, relying on the direct reduction of NHPI esters using electric current. Developed protocol provides a straightforward route to the synthesis of diverse molecules with potential biological activity.

A systematic approach to determine the outcome of the competition between two microbial species in bioreactor cocultures.

The two-species microbial cocultures are effective in terms of awakening the cryptic biosynthetic pathways. They may also lead to the improved production of previously discovered molecules. Importantly, only a few outcomes of the cocultures may prove desirable, namely those leading to the formation of useful secondary metabolites.

Physicochemical properties and mechanism of action of a new copper(ii) pyrazine-based complex with high anticancer activity and selectivity towards cancer cells.

Two compounds, benzyl-2-(amino(pyrazin-2-yl)methylene)-1-methylhydrazine-1-carbodithioate (L) and its copper(ii) complex Cu(L) were synthesized and studied in terms of their physicochemical properties, including single crystal, spectroscopic and magnetic properties; simulations, including DFT calculations and pharmacokinetic profile analysis; and biological activity. The Cu(L) compound was found to exhibit good anticancer activity against A375, PANC-1, MKN-74, T-47D, HeLa, and NCI-H1563 cells, with the IC value against the HeLa cell line reaching 17.50 μM, significantly surpassing the activity of the organic ligand.

Synergistic Reinforcing Effect of Hazelnut Shells and Hydrotalcite on Properties of Rigid Polyurethane Foam Composites.

Recently, the development of composite materials from agricultural and forestry waste has become an attractive area of research. The use of bio-waste is beneficial for economic and environmental reasons, adapting it to cost effectiveness and environmental sustainability. In the presented study, the possibility of using hazelnut shell (HS) and hydrotalcite (HT) mineral filler was investigated.

The Kinetics of Polymer Brush Growth in the Frame of the Reaction Diffusion Front Formalism.

We studied the properties of a reaction front that forms in irreversible reaction-diffusion systems with concentration-dependent diffusivities during the synthesis of polymer brushes. A coarse-grained model of the polymerization process during the formation of polymer brushes was designed and investigated for this purpose. In this model, a certain amount of initiator was placed on an impenetrable surface, and the "grafted from" procedure of polymerization was carried out.

Measuring the Electro-Optical Kerr Effect Against the Background of Electro-Absorption Modulation in Liquids.

A new approach to the dynamic polarimetric method is proposed, which allows for the decoupling of electro-optical Kerr effect measurements from the electro-absorption effect in partially transparent liquids. The method is illustrated by using the results of engine oil measurements as a function of temperature and modulating field frequency. It was shown that the birefringence induced in the sample, the modulation of the ordinary wave transmission, and the modulation of the extraordinary wave transmission in the sample can be shifted in phase with respect to the square of the applied alternating modulating field.

Enhancing the Mechanical Properties of Co-Cr Dental Alloys Fabricated by Laser Powder Bed Fusion: Evaluation of Quenching and Annealing as Heat Treatment Methods.

Residual stresses and anisotropic structures characterize laser powder bed fusion (L-PBF) products due to rapid thermal changes during fabrication, potentially leading to microcracking and lower strength. Post-heat treatments are crucial for enhancing mechanical properties. Numerous dental technology laboratories worldwide are adopting the new technologies but must invest considerable time and resources to refine them for specific requirements.

Directionally Oriented Reinforcements of Warp-Knitted Fabrics for Composite Preforms.

This paper focuses on the development of a methodology for the directional structural modification of warp-knitted fabrics by sewing on carbon fiber tapes. Four-, five-, and six-axial geometric systems were designed to optimize the qualitative distribution of stresses on the surface of the tested product. Through a numerical experiment in the ANSYS environment, the impact of the change in the axiality of a textile structure on the mechanical properties of the modeled geometric configuration was assessed.

Poly(lactide)-Based Materials Modified with Biomolecules: A Review.

Poly(lactic acid) (PLA) is characterized by unique features, e.g., it is environmentally friendly, biocompatible, has good thermomechanical properties, and is readily available and biodegradable.