Functioning of Heat Accumulating Composites of Carbon Recyclate and Phase Change Material.

The article presents the results of experimental research together with the development of a response function presenting the thermal functioning of a new composite of a phase change material with carbon recyclate. The empirical research proved the improvement of the thermal functioning of the phase change material as a result of modifying its structure with carbon-based recycling material. The conducted experimental tests and statistical analysis proved that the obtained innovative composite is characterized by a more effective distribution of stored heat than the pure phase change material, which resulted in reduction of the heating and cooling time of the package by 10 min. The obtained innovative composite can improve the thermal efficiency of short-term heat storage systems, both in building components and in elements of heating and cooling systems, and translates into their increase in thermal efficiency.

Modelling the Leachability of Strontium and Barium from Stone Building Materials.

In order that the impact on the environment and human beings can be assessed, it may prove necessary for geochemical research work to entail determinations of concentrations of trace elements in building materials, and it is also likely that this will be a time-consuming and financially-demanding business. Additionally, once basic research has been carried out to determine the mineral composition and structural and textural features, it will then be important to determine concentrations of elements that affect the surrounding natural environment and the health of human beings. This paper thus describes mineralogical and geochemical analyses performed on the stone material that opoka rocks represent. Mineralogical studies have shown that the studied opoka rocks most often have cryptocrystalline silica dispersed among carbonate components. The texture of the rock is slightly porous. Silica in the form of type opal A and CT (cristobalite-tridymite) is the main mineral component of the opoka rocks. Carbonate minerals represented by calcite were an important component in the opoka rocks. Earlier geochemical studies focused on the concentration of Sr and Ba. However, the determination of the leachability of these elements as a function of time is a novelty in this study. Trace elements leached from the material matrix were made subject to determinations. The MATLAB program was used to assess leachability in the cases of both strontium and barium, by reference to the Mamdani-Assilian fuzzy algorithm. The presented work has thus sought to experiment with the use of statistical methods to monitor the effectiveness of geochemical processes taking place over time.

Use of molecular and genomic data for disease surveillance in aquaculture: Towards improved evidence for decision making.

Diagnostic tools for the identification and confirmation of animal diseases have been evolving rapidly over the last decade, with diseases of aquatic animals being no exception. Hence, case definitions used in surveillance may now include molecular and genomic components and ultimately be based on the entire genome of a pathogen. While the opportunities brought on by this change in our ability to define and differentiate organisms are manifold, there are also challenges. These include the need to consider typing tool characteristics during sampling design, but also the re-thinking of diagnostic protocols and standards for the meaningful interpretation of the increasingly complex data presented to surveillance managers. These issues are illustrated for aquaculture using the example of multi-country surveillance of antimicrobial resistance of Aeromonas spp. strains isolated from rainbow trouts (Oncorhynchus mykiss) in Europe. In order to fully exploit the opportunities of molecular and genomic information, a multi-disciplinary approach is needed to develop harmonised diagnostic procedures and modified surveillance designs for aquaculture as well as for terrestrial animal production. This will require adjustments in the relevant standards applicable to assess food safety and trade risks.

Structure of the O-specific polysaccharide from the lipopolysaccharide of Aeromonas hydrophila strain K691 containing 4-acetamido-4,6-dideoxy-d-glucose.

The O-specific polysaccharide (OPS) was isolated from the lipopolysaccharide of Aeromonas hydrophila strain K691 and studied by chemical methods and 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy, including 2D 1H,1H COSY, TOCSY, NOESY, 1H-detected heteronuclear 1H,13C HSQC, and HMBC experiments. It was found that the O-specific polysaccharide was built up of pentasaccharide repeating units composed of ß-GlcpNAc, 2-O-acetylated α-Rhap, and ß-Quip4NAc residues. The following structure of the OPS was established: →3)-α-l-Rha2OAc-(1→3)-ß-d-GlcNAc-(1→3)-α-l-Rha2OAc-(1→3)-ß-d-GlcNAc-(1→2)-ß-d-Qui4NAc-(1→.

Tissue distribution and residue depletion of metronidazole in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss).

Tissue distribution and residue depletion of metronidazole (MNZ) was studied in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) following oral administration of MNZ in feed at the average dose of 25 mg kg(-1) body weight day(-1) for 7 days at 11 ± 2°C. The MNZ concentration in feed was 0.25% while daily feed intake was 1% of body weight. The concentrations of MNZ and its main metabolite, hydroxymetronidazole (MNZOH), in fish tissues were determined by LC-MS/MS. The drug was well distributed in tissues with maximum concentrations on day 1 post-administration. At this time, the mean MNZ concentrations in muscle, skin, kidney, liver and gill were 14,999, 20,269, 15,070, 10,102 and 16,467 µg kg(-1) respectively. MNZ was converted into MNZOH with the ratio of MNZOH:MNZ up to 7% in all fish tissues throughout the withdrawal period. This shows that MNZ itself is the main residue in rainbow trout. MNZ was detected at the level close to the decision limit (0.20 µg kg(-1)) in muscle, skin and muscle with adhering skin up to 42 days, while in kidney, liver and gill it was up to 28 days post-administration. MNZOH was eliminated more rapidly from fish tissues and it was present in muscle alone up to 21 days. The elimination half-lives of MNZ and MNZOH in rainbow trout tissues were 1.83-2.53 and 1.24-2.12 days, respectively. When muscle without skin was analysed, higher MNZ and MNZOH concentrations were detected, and for a longer period of time, than in muscle with adhering skin. Thus muscle alone could be more appropriate for the effective residue control of MNZ in rainbow trout. For the same reason, it is also essential to ensure direct cooling immediately after sampling, since MNZ and its metabolite degrade in fish muscle and skin stored in non-freezing conditions.

Structure of the O-specific polysaccharide from the lipopolysaccharide of Aeromonas sobria strain Pt312.

The O-specific polysaccharide (OPS) obtained by mild-acid degradation of the lipopolysaccharide from Aeromonas sobria strain Pt312 was studied by sugar and methylation analyses along with 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy, including 2D 1H,1H COSY, TOCSY, NOESY, 1H-detected 1H,13C HSQC, and HMBC experiments. The sequence of the sugar residues was determined using 1H,1H NOESY and 1H,13C HMBC experiments. It was found that the OPS was built up of disaccharide repeating units composed of GlcpNAc and non-stoichiometrically O-acetylated Rhap residues, and had the structure.

Structural studies of the lipopolysaccharide from the fish pathogen Aeromonas veronii strain Bs19, serotype O16.

Chemical analyses, mass spectrometry, and NMR spectroscopy were applied to study the structure of the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) isolated from Aeromonas veronii strain Bs19, serotype O16. ESI-MS revealed that the most abundant LPS glycoforms have tetra-acylated or hexa-acylated lipid A species, consisting of a bisphosphorylated GlcN disaccharide with an AraN residue as a non-stoichiometric substituent, and a core oligosaccharide composed of Hep5Hex3HexN1Kdo1P1. Sugar and methylation analysis together with 1D and 2D ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy were the main methods used, and revealed that the O-specific polysaccharide (OPS) of A. veronii Bs19 was built up of tetrasaccharide repeating units with the structure: →4)-α-D-Quip3NAc-(1→3)-α-L-Rhap-(1→4)-ß-D-Galp-(1→3)-α-D-GalpNAc-(1→. This composition was confirmed by mass spectrometry. The charge-deconvoluted ESI FT-ICR MS recorded for the LPS preparations identified mass peaks of SR- and R-form LPS species, that differed by Δm = 698.27 u, a value corresponding to the calculated molecular mass of one OPS repeating unit (6dHexNAc6dHexHexHexNAc-H2O). Moreover, unspecific fragmentation spectra confirmed the sequence of the sugar residues in the OPS and allowed to assume that the elucidated structure also represented the biological repeating unit.

Structural and immunochemical studies of the lipopolysaccharide from the fish pathogen, Aeromonas bestiarum strain K296, serotype O18.

Chemical analyses and mass spectrometry were used to study the structure of the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) isolated from Aeromonas bestiarum strain K296, serotype O18. ESI-MS revealed that the most abundant A. bestiarum LPS glycoforms have a hexa-acylated or tetra-acylated lipid A with conserved architecture of the backbone, consisting of a 1,4'-bisphosphorylated ß-(1→6)-linked D-GlcN disaccharide with an AraN residue as a non-stoichiometric substituent and a core oligosaccharide composed of Kdo1Hep6Hex1HexN1P1. 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy revealed that the O-specific polysaccharide (OPS) of A. bestiarum K296 consists of a branched tetrasaccharide repeating unit containing two 6-deoxy-l-talose (6dTalp), one Manp and one GalpNAc residues; thus, it is similar to that of the OPS of A. hydrophila AH-3 (serotype O34) in both the sugar composition and the glycosylation pattern. Moreover, 3-substituted 6dTalp was 2-O-acetylated and additional O-acetyl groups were identified at O-2 and O-4 (or O-3) positions of the terminal 6dTalp. Western blots with polyclonal rabbit sera showed that serotypes O18 and O34 share some epitopes in the LPS. The very weak reaction of the anti-O34 serum with the O-deacylated LPS of A. bestiarum K296 might have been due to the different O-acetylation pattern of the terminal 6dTalp. The latter suggestion was further confirmed by NMR.

Characteristics of disease spectrum in relation to species, serogroups, and adhesion ability of motile aeromonads in fish.

An attempt was made to delineate the relationship between of Aeromonas species and/or serogroups and specific disease symptoms in common carp Cyprinus carpio L. and rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss Walbaum. The adhesion of Aeromonas strains to various tissues in relation to disease spectrum was also tested. All strains of A. hydrophila caused skin ulcers as well as septicaemia in both carp and trout while the other strains were able to cause only skin ulcers or some specific internal lesions with or without septicaemia depending on which species and/or serogroup they represented. Disease symptoms depended also on fish species. It was found that adhesion intensity of Aeromonas strains tested was significantly higher to tissues, which were susceptible to infection with these strains. The results indicate that adhesion to various cells of the fish organism is principal marker to detect virulent Aeromonas strains. The findings presented in this study may be helpful in the appraisal of aeromonads disease risk and kind of the infection in particular fish farms by epizootiological studies or/and during routine fish examinations. They will also be useful to improve and facilitate diagnosis of bacterial fish disease.

Structural analysis of the O-specific polysaccharide from the lipopolysaccharide of Aeromonas veronii bv. sobria strain K49.

The O-specific polysaccharide obtained by mild-acid degradation of the lipopolysaccharide from Aeromonas veronii bv. sobria strain K49 was studied by sugar and methylation analyses along with (1)H and (13)C NMR spectroscopy. The sequence of the sugar residues was determined using (1)H,(1)H NOESY and (1)H,(13)C HMBC experiments. The O-specific polysaccharide was found to be a high molecular mass polysaccharide composed of repeating units of the structure: →2)-ß-D-Quip3NAc-(1→3)-α-L-Rhap-(1→3)-α-L-Rhap-(1→2)-α-L-Rhap-(1→3)-α-D-FucpNAc-(1→ ESI MS confirmed the pentasaccharide structure of the repeating unit, as the molecular mass peaks seen in the spectrum differed by 812.34 u, a value corresponding to the calculated molecular mass of the O-unit.