Post-synthetic derivatization of graphitic carbon nitride with methanesulfonyl chloride: Synthesis, characterization and photocatalysis

Bulk graphitic carbon nitride (CN) was synthetized by heating of melamine at 550 degrees C, and the exfoliated CN (ExCN) was prepared by heating of CN at 500 degrees C. Sulfur-doped CN was synthesized by heating of thiourea (S-CN) and by a novel procedure based on the post-synthetic derivatization of CN with methanesulfonyl (CH3SO2-) chloride (Mes-CN and Mes-ExCN). The obtained nanomaterials were investigated by common characterization methods and their photocatalytic activity was tested by means of the decomposition of acetic orange 7 (AO7) under ultraviolet A (UVA) irradiation. The content of sulfur in the modified CN decreased in the sequence of Mes-ExCN > Mes-CN > S-CN. The absorption of light decreased in the opposite manner, but no influence on the band gap energies was observed. The methanesulfonyl (mesyl) groups connected to primary and secondary amine groups were confirmed by high resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS). The photocatalytic activity decreased in the sequence of Mes-ExCN > ExCN > CN approximate to Mes-CN > S-CN. The highest activity of Mes-ExCN and ExCN was explained by the highest amounts of adsorbed Acetic Orange 7 (AO7). In addition, in the case of Mes-ExCN, chloride ions incorporated in the CN lattice enhanced the photocatalytic activity as well.Web of Science102art. no. 19

Stress Response to Long Distance Transportation of Common Carp (Cyprinus carpio L.)

The stress responses and changes in biochemical and haematological indices were investigated in three-year-old common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.) during a long-distance transportation in special truck tanks. Twelve-hour transportation caused a significant increase in ammonia (p < 0.01), mean corpuscular volume MCV (p < 0.01), metamyelocytes ( p < 0.05) and band neutrophils (p < 0.01), and a significant decrease in Cl- (p < 0.05), lactate (p < 0.05), ALT (p < 0.05) and ALP (p < 0.01) levels. The values of LDH (p < 0.01), AST (p < 0.05), CK (p < 0.01) and haematocrit PCV (p < 0.05) were also significantly influenced by the transportation, but no time-dependent relation was found. On the contrary, the levels of cortisol, glucose and total protein in the biochemical profile, and the values of erythrocyte count (RBC), haemoglobin (Hb), mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH), mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC), leukocyte counts (WBC) and leukogram (except for metamyelocytes and band neutrophils) in the haematological profile were not significantly influenced by the transportation. Results showed that pre-transport fish manipulation (hauling, netting, handling, loading) was found to be an important stressor for fish. Long-distance transportation itself was relatively considerate for the common carp tested

Regeneration of neurotransmission transcriptome in a model of epileptic encephalopathy after antiinflammatory treatment

Inflammation is an established etiopathogenesis factor of infantile spasms (IS), a therapy-resistant epileptic syndrome of infancy. We investigated the IS-associated transcriptomic alterations of neurotransmission in rat hypothalamic arcuate nucleus, how they are corrected by antiinflamatory treatments and whether there are sex differences. IS was triggered by repeated intraperitoneal administration of N-methyl-D-aspartic acid following anti-inflammatory treatment (adreno-cortico-tropic-hormone (ACTH) or PMX53) or normal saline vehicle to prenatally exposed to betamethasone young rats. We found that treatments with both ACTH and PMX53 resulted in substantial recovery of the genomic fabrics of all types of synaptic transmission altered by IS. While ACTH represents the first line of treatment for IS, the even higher efficiency of PMX53 (an antagonist of the complement C5a receptor) in restoring the normal transcriptome was not expected. In addition to the childhood epilepsy, the recovery of the neurotransmission genomic fabrics by PMX53 also gives hope for the autism spectrum disorders that share a high comorbidity with IS. Our results revealed significant sex dichotomy in both IS-associated transcriptomic alterations (males more affected) and in the efficiency of PMX53 anti-inflammatory treatment (better for males). Our data further suggest that anti-inflammatory treatments correcting alterations in the inflammatory transcriptome may become successful therapies for refractory epilepsies

Estrogen Protects Neurotransmission Transcriptome During Status Epilepticus

Women with epilepsy commonly have premature onset of menopause. The decrease in estrogen levels is associated with increased occurrence of neurodegenerative processes and cognitive decline. Previously, we found that estradiol (E2) replacement in ovariectomized (OVX) female rats significantly reduced the seizure-related damage in the sensitive hilar region of hippocampal dentate gyrus (DG). However, the complex mechanisms by which E2 empowers the genomic fabrics of neurotransmission to resist damaging effects of status epilepticus (SE) are still unclear. We determined the protective effects of the estradiol replacement against kainic acid-induced SE-associated transcriptomic alterations in the DG of OVX rats. Without E2 replacement, SE altered expression of 44% of the DG genes. SE affected all major functional pathways, including apoptosis (61%), Alzheimer's disease (47%), cell cycle (59%), long-term potentiation (62%), and depression (55%), as well as synaptic vesicle cycle (62%), glutamatergic (53%), GABAergic (49%), cholinergic (52%), dopaminergic (55%), and serotonergic (49%) neurotransmission. However, in rats with E2 replacement the percentage of significantly affected genes after SE was reduced to the average 11% (from 8% for apoptosis to 32% for GABAergic synapse). Interestingly, while SE down-regulated most of the synaptic receptor genes in oil-injected females it had little effect on these receptors after E2-replacement. Our novel Pathway Protection analysis indicated that the E2-replacement prevented SE-related damage from 50% for GABA to 75% for dopaminergic transmission. The 15% synergistic expression between genes involved in estrogen signaling (ESG) and neurotransmission explains why low E2 levels result in down-regulation of neurotransmission. Interestingly, in animals with E2-replacement, SE switched 131 synergistically expressed ESG-neurotransmission gene pairs into antagonistically expressed gene pairs. Thus, the ESG pathway acts like a buffer against SE-induced alteration of neurotransmission that may contribute to the E2-mediated maintenance of brain function after the SE injury in postmenopausal women. We also show that the long-term potentiation is lost in OVX rats following SE but not in those with E2 replacement. The electrophysiological findings in OVX female rats with SE are corroborated by the high percentage of long-term potentiation regulated genes (62%) in oil-injected while only 13% of genes were regulated following SE in E2-replaced rats

Amino Acid Composition in Fillets of Mirror Crossbreds Common Carp (Cyprinus carpio, Linnaeus 1758)

The aim of the study was to determine the amino acid composition in fillet proteins of newly bred mirror carp lines. In the experiments, the Hungarian mirror carp (M2) were used at the maternal position. These were crossed with male carp of other breeds (top crossing). They included the Hungarian mirror carp (M2) for the production of a pure line, the Hungarian mirror line (L15), the Israeli breed (DOR70) and the Northern mirror carp (M72). The scaly hybrid of the Ropsha (ROP) and the Tataj (TAT) carp was used as a control. In view of the genetic specification of the carp groups monitored, numerous differences (P P sum, NEAAsum) were found between the scaly control (ROP × TAT) and the pure line M2. Higher amino acid values were found in control hybrids. Compositions of amino acids in fillet muscle tissue of experimental mirror carp (M2 × L15, M2 × DOR70) were practically identical. Compared to the controls (ROP × TAT), these carp groups contained less (P P < 0.01). In terms of sex differences, the greatest amounts of amino acids were found in fillets of male ROP × TAT controls, the amino acid compositions in male and female mirror carp were practically the same. In this type of evaluation, i.e. regarding amino acid composition, the only carp comparable with the ROP × TAT control is the M2 × M72 hybrid

Direct Determination of MCPD Fatty Acid Esters and Glycidyl Fatty Acid Esters in Vegetable Oils by LC–TOFMS

Analysis of MCPD esters and glycidyl esters in vegetable oils using the indirect method proposed by the DGF gave inconsistent results when salting out conditions were varied. Subsequent investigation showed that the method was destroying and reforming MCPD during the analysis. An LC time of flight MS method was developed for direct analysis of both MCPD esters and glycidyl esters in vegetable oils. The results of the LC–TOFMS method were compared with the DGF method. The DGF method consistently gave results that were greater than the LC–TOFMS method. The levels of MCPD esters and glycidyl esters found in a variety of vegetable oils are reported. MCPD monoesters were not found in any oil samples. MCPD diesters were found only in samples containing palm oil, and were not present in all palm oil samples. Glycidyl esters were found in a wide variety of oils. Some processing conditions that influence the concentration of MCPD esters and glycidyl esters are discussed

Efficacy Testing of Orally Administered Praziquantel to Common Carp Naturally Infected by Caryophyllidean Tapeworms (Platyhelminthes: Eucestoda)

The aim of the study was to assess the effects of orally applied praziquantel on the treatment efficacy against most abundant tapeworms (Atractolytocestus huronensis Anthony, 1958 and Khawia sinensis Hsü, 1935) of common carp (Cyprinus carpio Linnaeus). Naturally infected fish (1.5-year-old; K1-2) were divided into 6 groups. Three trial groups were administered praziquantel mixed in heat-treated amyloid vehicle (at doses of 50 mg kg-1 body weight). In 3 groups of control, the fish were administered amyloid vehicle only. Fish were examined using gut dissection 2, 4 and 6 days after the administration. The location, intensity and prevalence of individual species of tapeworms were recorded. A. huronensis and K. sinensis were found in the gut of carp together. A. huronensis was situated in the oesophageal part of foregut, and K. sinensis came after – immediately before the first intestine loop, of the intestines of carp. The invasion of A. huronensis was fully eliminated in all trial groups after 4 days whereas some specimens of K. sinensis still persisted in the gut of few fish. The full elimination of both parasites was observed 6 days after administration. Our results showed that elimination of K. sinensis takes longer than elimination of A. huronensis. The dose of 50 mg kg-1 of orally administered praziquantel is effectual to control A. huronensis and K. sinensis infections in common carp successfully, however, a significant decrease of the number of parasites was also caused by a single oral administration of big bolus vehicle and leaving unfed fish in the clean water

Effects of Eugenol and MS-222 Anaesthesia on Siberian Sturgeon Acipenser baerii Brandt

The aim of the present study was to assess changes induced in the organism of Siberian sturgeon (Acipenser baerii) by eugenol and MS-222 anaesthesia on the basis of haematological indices, biochemical blood profile values and histological examinations. The haematological and biochemical indices were assessed in fish immediately and 24 h after anaesthesia. The results showed that despite no mortality occurred after anaesthesia in both 125 mg l-1 of MS-222 and 0.075 ml l-1 of eugenol, these chemical substances severely influenced the constituents of Siberian sturgeon blood and resulted in some histological changes in the gills and liver. Both eugenol and MS-222 anaesthesia caused erythrocyte swelling and haemolysis. The severe depletion of leukocyte number occurred 24 h after both eugenol and MS-222 anaesthesia (mainly due to depletion of lymphocyte, neutrophil segments and eosinophil fractions). Total protein, total globulin, triacylglycerol concentration and alanine aminotransferase activity in blood plasma was significantly elevated (p 2+, inorganic phosphate, NH3 and alkaline phosphatase activity were significantly decreased (p -1) and eugenol (0.075 ml l-1) does not cause irreversible damage in Siberian sturgeon

Influence of geographic origin on post-stocking survival and condition of European grayling (Thymallus thymallus) in a small river

The post-release survival and condition of 1+ year old European grayling Thymallus thymallus reared in a local (Husinec) and two 250–300 km distant, hatcheries (Pardubice and Hynčice) were evaluated by the recapture of tagged fish five months after release into the Blanice River, Czech Republic, the fish population of which was depleted by cormorant predation during several previous winters. The fish were marked using Visible Implant Elastomer tags and released into six sites along the river in May 2014: 100 locally sourced fish and 100 of a strain from a distant source per site. Significantly higher recapture of Husinec (33%) than Pardubice (20%) was found at one site but was offset by results in the remaining two sites into which they were stocked. Significantly higher site fidelity was shown by Husinec (12%) than Hynčice (7%) fish in the three sites. Lower initial weight and condition factor of the Husinec fish was equal to or higher than fish from the distant hatcheries at recapture. Some differences in final weight, length, and condition factor were found among groups regardless of release site. Lower recapture rate, growth, and condition were displayed in fish released into the three downstream sites (Husinec 1 and Hynčice). The results indicated the potential for successful use of non-autochthonous stock for grayling population recovery