Spoilage markers for freshwater fish: A comprehensive workflow for non-targeted analysis of VOCs using DHS-GC-HRMS.

Changes of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) patterns during 6 days of storage at +4 °C were investigated in different freshwater fish species, namely carp and trout, using dynamic headspace gas chromatography time-of-flight mass spectrometry (DHS-GC-TOFMS). DHS parameters were systematically optimized to establish optimum extraction and pre-concentration of VOCs. Moreover, different sample preparation methods were tested: mincing with a manual meat grinder, as well as mincing plus homogenization with a handheld homogenizer both without and with water addition.

Curing Assessment of Concrete with Hyperspectral Imaging.

The curing of concrete significantly influences the hydration process and its strength development. Inadequate curing leads to a loss of quality and has a negative effect on the durability of the concrete. Usually, the effects are not noticed until years later, when the first damage to the structure occurs because of the poor concrete quality.

Multivariate modelling techniques applied to metabolomic, elemental and isotopic fingerprints for the verification of regional geographical origin of Austrian carrots.

An exploratory study for verifying regional geographical origin of carrots from specific production regions in Austria ("Genussregionen") was performed by combining chemical fingerprinting methods, namely n(Sr)/n(Sr) isotope amount ratios, multi-elemental and metabolomic pattern. Chemometric classification models were built on individual and combined datasets using (data-driven) soft independent modelling of class analogies and (orthogonal) projections to latent structures-discriminant analysis to characterise and differentiate carrots grown in five regions in Austria. A predictive ability of 97% or better (depending on the classification technique) was obtained using combined Sr isotope amount ratios and multi-elemental data.

Development of Low-Cost Portable Spectrometers for Detection of Wood Defects.

Portable spectroscopic instruments are an interesting alternative for in-field and on-line measurements. However, the practical implementation of visible-near infrared (VIS-NIR) portable sensors in the forest sector is challenging due to operation in harsh environmental conditions and natural variability of wood itself. The objective of this work was to use spectroscopic methods as an alternative to visual grading of wood quality.

Analysis of n(Sr)/n(Sr), δSr/Sr and elemental pattern to characterise groundwater and recharge of saline ponds in a clastic aquifer in East Austria.

Elemental and isotopic pattern of n(Sr)/n(Sr) and δSr/Sr were used to characterise groundwater and recharge of saline ponds in a clastic aquifer in East Austria. Therefore, shallow, artesian and thermal groundwaters of the investigated aquifer along with rainfall and rivers were analysed using (MC) ICP-MS. The n(Sr)/n(Sr) ratio and elemental pattern changed with aquifer depth as a result of progressing bedrock leaching and dissolution with increasing groundwater residence time.

Soft corals form aragonite-precipitated columnar spiculite in mesophotic reefs.

Surveys conducted in Eilat's upper mesophotic coral ecosystem (MCE) revealed protruding columnar calcareous structures with a Sinularia octocoral colony growing atop of each. The current study addressed the hypothesis that these colonies produce spiculites, and sought to determine (a) the spatial occurrence and dimensions of the spiculite-forming colonies and their species affiliation; (b) their microstructural features; and (c) the elemental composition of the columnar spiculites in comparison to the sclerites of the colonies. All the spiculite-forming colonies were exclusively found in the upper MCEs and produced by S.

A combined chemical imaging approach using (MC) LA-ICP-MS and NIR-HSI to evaluate the diagenetic status of bone material for Sr isotope analysis.

This paper presents a combination of elemental and isotopic spatial distribution imaging with near-infrared hyperspectral imaging (NIR-HSI) to evaluate the diagenetic status of skeletal remains. The aim is to assess how areas with biogenic n(Sr)/n(Sr) isotope-amount ratios may be identified in bone material, an important recorder complementary to teeth. Elemental (C, P, Ca, Sr) and isotopic (n(Sr)/n(Sr)) imaging were accomplished via laser ablation (LA) coupled in a split stream to a quadrupole inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (ICP-QMS) and a multicollector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (MC ICP-MS) (abbreviation for the combined method LASS ICP-QMS/MC ICP-MS).

The potential of isotopically enriched magnesium to study bone implant degradation in vivo.

Unlabelled: This pilot study highlights the substantial potential of using isotopically enriched (non-radioactive) metals to study the fate of biodegradable metal implants. It was possible to show that magnesium (Mg) release can be observed by combining isotopic mass spectrometry and isotopic pattern deconvolution for data reduction, even at low amounts of Mg released a from slowly degrading Mg enriched (>99%) Mg metal. Following implantation into rats, structural in vivo changes were monitored by μCT.

The Early Mediaeval manorial estate of Gars/Thunau, Lower Austria: An enclave of endemic tuberculosis?

In recent decades, an increasing number of studies have aimed to shed light on the origin and spread of tuberculosis in past human populations. Here we present the results of a systematic palaeodemographic and palaeopathological survey of the Early Mediaeval population of Gars/Thunau (Lower Austria), which - at this stage - includes 373 individuals recovered at two archaeological sub-sites: a fortified settlement (including a necropolis) at the top of a hill - probably reserved for social and military elites; and a large riverine settlement at the foot of the hill, a so-called 'suburbium', where burials and an area of 'industrial' character were discovered. We recorded a great number of pathological alterations and a variety of 'classical' features of tuberculosis, such as vertebral destructions (Pott's disease) and joint destructions, and other pathological (unspecific) features probably linked with Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection (e.