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The aim of this experiment was to test the hypothesis that conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) in diets of finishing pigs fed linseed can improve the quality and oxidative stability of meat and subcutaneous fat. Twenty-four Prestice Black-Pied pigs (barrows and gilts) were divided into three groups and were fed a basal diet and diets supplemented with ground linseed (70 g/kg), or linseed combined with conjugated linoleic acid (20 g CLA-oil/kg). The trial duration was 53 days. Measurements included slaughter and meat quality parameters, oxidative stability determination, and fatty acid profile of meat and subcutaneous fat. The experimental data were analysed using one-way analysis of variance. Neither linseed nor linseed with CLA significantly influenced weight gain, lean percentage, muscle depth, backfat thickness, drip loss, meat shear force, dry matter, intramuscular fat or cholesterol (P > 0.05). Dietary supplementation with linseed increased the percentage of linolenic acid in the fatty acids of meat and backfat and resulted in higher production of aldehydes. Dietary CLA did not influence the susceptibility of lipids to oxidation. Supplementation with CLA significantly increased CLA proportions in fatty acids of meat and backfat, reduced proportions of monounsaturated fatty acids, and increased proportions of saturated fatty acids in backfat (P < 0.05). The concentration of CLA (in mg/100 g of fresh tissue) in backfat was almost fifty times higher than in meat. Both meat and backfat of pigs fed CLA-free diets contained CLA, probably as a result of microbial conversion of linoleic acid in the intestine. It can be concluded that CLA changed the fatty acid profile of meat and backfat, but did not improve oxidative stability and other meat quality traits of pigs fed linseed.

Apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD), apparent ileal digestibility (AID) and standardised ileal digestibility (SID) of dry matter, nitrogen, energy and amino acids were evaluated in six weanling barrows [(Landrace × Yorkshire) × Duroc] fed soybean meal diet (SBM), fermented soybean meal A diet with 50% solubility in potassium hydroxide (FSMA), fermented soybean meal B diet with 60% solubility in potassium hydroxide (FSMB), fermented soybean meal C diet with 70% solubility in potassium hydroxide (FSMC), enzyme-treated soybean meal (ETSM) and nitrogen-free diet. Pigs having body weights of 8.99 ± 0.40 kg were surgically equipped with T-cannulas of approximately 15 cm prior to the ileo-cecal junction and randomly allotted to one of five dietary treatments and a nitrogen-free diet in 6 × 6 Latin squares. With regards to the ATTD of essential amino acids, the ATTD of arginine, isoleucine, lysine, methionine and total essential amino acids was greater in pigs fed FSMB, FSMC, and ETSM diets than in SBM and FSMA diets. The ATTD of leucine, phenylalanine, threonine and valine in the FSMC diet was non-significant compared with the values of ATTD in FSMB and ETSM diets. With respect to non-essential amino acids the ATTD of aspartic acid, cysteine, glutamic acid, proline, tyrosine and total amino acids was greater in pigs fed the FSMC diet compared with the SBM diet and not different from the values of pigs fed the ETSM diet. The AID of dry matter, nitrogen and energy in the FSMC diet was greater (P < 0.05) than in pigs fed SBM and FSMA diets but was equal to the values of FSMB and ETSM diets. With regards to the AID of essential amino acids, the AID of histidine, lysine, methionine and threonine was greater in pigs fed FSMB, FSMC and ETSM diets than in SBM and FSMA diets (P < 0.05). The AID of isoleucine was greater in pigs fed FSMB and ETSM diets than the FSMA diet. The AID of arginine, phenylalanine and valine was greater in pigs fed the FSMC diet compared with the SBM diet. With respect to non-essential amino acids the AID of aspartic acid, glutamic acid, glycine, tyrosine and total amino acids was the same as in pigs fed FSMB, FSMC, ETSM diets and greater (P < 0.05) than in pigs fed SBM and FSMA diets. The SID of all essential amino acids in pigs fed the FSMC diet was greater than for the FSMA diet. In the case of non-essential amino acids, the SID of all amino acids except for cysteine was greatest in pigs fed FSMB, FSMC and ETSM treatments. In conclusion, dietary supplementation of FSMB, FSMC and/or ETSM diets can improve the ATTD, AID and SID of dry matter, nitrogen, energy, total amino acids and most of the essential amino acids in weanling pigs.

With development of the market economy, the views concerning the importance of ethical norms in business activity are developing. Ethical orientation in economics, has been popularized for several decades by e.g. French centre "Economie et Humanisme"¹, established by a renowned Dominican, L.J. Lebret. Tourism, including rural tourism, represents an economic activity which has its specific ethical dimension. The goals of this paper are to characterize the basic values that are voluntarily accepted and used in tourism in rural areas in Poland and to identify the ethical norms that guarantee the realization of these values. The authors adopted the basic values-goals that should be recommended in rural tourism. They also formulated specific professional and ethical norms that support realization of the values, which include: humanity and standards for realizing the principle of humanity; the cultural and material conditions of living in rural areas; economic activity, including tourist activity that improves rural living conditions; innovative attitudes towards modernization and improving the quality of rural tourist services; and values that support the development of sustainable tourism in rural areas. The theoretical investigations concerning axiological problems were supplemented with the results obtained from a national-level empirical survey that was conducted in rural areas in Poland.

New requirements regarding agriculture production together with the increased pressure on environmentally friendly practices leave almost no space for the routine agriculture production. Innovations that include environmental changes are therefore essential. Agricultural research faces various challenges associated with the quality and effectiveness of agriculture production and recently also with the environmental and sustainability issues. The paper provides a case study focused on the environmental and social evaluation of a biological asset that constitutes an agricultural innovation. This paper also shows a concrete example of how the social and environmental reporting can be constructed and implemented by providing an evaluation of a Bumblebee Nest. As a result, the total value consisting of the market, ecosystem and aesthetic value is provided. Although the market value comprises the largest proportion of the total value, it does not exceed 64%.

The paper is an attempt to address the advantages and risks connected with the wave of financial globalisation, with a focus on its impact on financial policy in European agriculture. The aim of the paper is to identify the basic conditions of the functioning and change of the financial system of agriculture under the conditions of the globalisation of financial markets. Financial globalisation, also referred to as financial integration or openness, is understood as an increase in global ties and interdependences caused by capital flows. Potentially, globalisation can bring a lot of benefits, which are manifested in an acceleration of economic growth and decreased fluctuation in consumption, which should further improve the level of overall prosperity. On the other hand, however, internationalisation of financial flows entails a range of threats, including the possibility of crisis.

The article's objective, which is to identify the causes of the very poor level of management of the administration of these state assets, to present the possibilities of a long-tested experimental model at the Land Fund of the Czech Republic, and to draw attention to this model's potential in its possible implementation in administration of the entire management complex of these state assets in the Czech Republic. The authors first dealt with the theoretical aspects of the given issue, and then prepared an analysis of the original debt collection management "system". This is logically followed by an analysis of the experimental model's efficiency, rounded off with its conclusions. The final chapter contains the results of the research aimed at the current level of knowledge of the examined issue in compressed form, further the outcomes of the research concerned with original unsystematic debt collection management, also results of the implementation of the experimental model, and the assessment of the significance belonging to the results of implementing the experimental model for the entire national economy of the Czech Republic.

The paper presents selected results of the sociological research focused on social inclusive activities that use and are located in the natural environment of rural areas. The paper is based on the contemporary form of the concept of a fully integrated modern society, and deals with the implementation of this concept within the strategy of social inclusion in both the European and Czech context. The authors have created, based on secondary research, a typology of social inclusive activities within Czech rural areas. Primary research, consisting of a questionnaire survey, was used to study the awareness of these issues among the rural population. Based on the selected results of both the primary and secondary research, the authors conclude that a possible path to social inclusion, is, alongside specific social services, social farming, which harmonizes the potential of the rural natural environment with the attitudes of the rural population (the actors and observers of social inclusive activities within their locality).The ongoing research is focused on monitoring barriers to the development of this business sector, which are crucial for the rural actors.

In the paper, the price volatility was examined. The authors used 650 weekly observations from 2003 to 2015. Such a long period of analysis helped to reveal periods with high volatility. The objective of the paper was to recognize price volatility of agricultural commodities in Poland. The authors chose beef, pork and wheat markets to show the differentiation of price volatility. It revealed periods of large and small volatility. The global market situation impacted Polish agricultural markets with the opening markets and a greater access to the new markets. The periods having the strongest impact on Polish agricultural markets were the integration with the EU, the global crisis in 2008, and problems in the EU zone. The prices of analysed agricultural commodities differed in various EU countries. The prices of wheat increased most in France, Hungary and Lithuania. The prices of store cattle increased most in the years 2004-2015 in Estonia, Sweden and Luxemburg. The prices of pigs increased most in Malta, Sweden and Cyprus.

This review focuses on Czech implementation of standards for soil and water protection called Good Agricultural and Environmental Conditions (GAEC), with linkage to the European Union (EU) level. I investigate different elements of adaptive institutional economics: (i) summarise current knowledge regarding the social reasons for introducing GAEC; (ii) assess the evidence linked to GAEC to better understand the potential as well as boundaries of formalizing cause-effect links; (iii) clarify the pertinence of producers' claims on costs accruing from GAEC implementation. These three points highlight the thesis of this paper: implementation in farmers' practices of the theoretical concept of sustainability in terms of bridging together economics, society and the environment. The economic reasoning for GAEC introduction within adaptive institutional economics stems from the relational positioning of the knowledge of the costs of the impact of agricultural land use on other characteristic rural land uses. GAEC are needed, albeit the size of support obtained by producers surpasses the costs of complying; therefore, the result pays off for farms. We have learned that GAEC implementation is important from regional to EU levels and that its role is more related to economic institutional adaptation than to regulation. Adaptation of institutional economics is therefore feasible, making it possible to understand GAEC as a network which manages and enables knowledge transfer linked directly to regulation. Institutional economics can link sustainability with farmers' practices and accounts for the behaviour of the farmers. In this review, I find that, for society, it is necessary to require measurement of agri-environmental outcomes for water resources, soil and biodiversity through GAEC at appropriate scales. These scales are likely to be relevant to adaptive institutional economy localities perceived by the rural public.

Shiitake [Lentinula edodes (Berk.) Pegler] stipe was incorporated into steamed bun. Quality attributes including the specific volume, colour and sensory evaluation, and taste components in shiitake stipe steamed buns were analysed and compared with those of white steamed buns. With 2% and 5% additions of shiitake stipe flour, specific volumes of steamed buns increased by 5.8% and 5.0%, respectively. White steamed buns contained more reducing sugar, fat, and protein whereas fiber and soluble polysaccharide contents were higher in shiitake stipe steamed buns. Furthermore, shiitake stipe steamed buns contained more total soluble sugars and total free amino acids. Shiitake stipe steamed buns showed lower lightness and whiteness index values and became browner with more shiitake stipe flour added. On a seven-point hedonic scale, all sensory results were 4.07-5.80. Overall, shiitake stipe could be added into steamed bun formula to provide its beneficial health effects.

Propolis is a popular subject of research worldwide due to its therapeutic potential. The antimicrobial activity of propolis appears to be promising but depends on many variables related to its origin such as the content of phenolics and flavonoids. To address this issue with Croatian propolis, which has two major origins (Mediterranean and continental), we exposed bacteria (Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus) and yeasts (Candida albicans and Aspergillus niger) to different propolis concentrations (two-fold microdilution method with TCC/formazan endpoint). Total phenolic and flavonoid content and chromatographic profile along with antioxidant activity were assessed. The majority of the 24 propolis samples tested exhibited potent antimicrobial activity against S. aureus bacteria and the yeast C. albicans. Most propolis samples also exhibited robust antioxidative capacity which correlated polyphenol and flavonoid content. To the best of our knowledge this is the first study in which the antimicrobial activity of Croatian propolis is correlated with its constituents.

Principal component analysis (PCA) and cluster analysis (CA) were used to define the geographical origin of three types of monofloral (chestnut, linden, and acacia), two types of multifloral (meadow and mixed), and forest honey produced over two consecutive harvest seasons in the Una-Sana Canton (Bosnia and Herzegovina), which is geographically divided into eight sub-regions. Statistical analysis was applied to the measurement of physico-chemical and sensory parameters, as well as micro- and macronutrient (K, Na, Mg, Zn, Fe, Mn, and Al) content, along with some heavy metals (Cd, Pb, and As). Using the PCA method the characteristic parameters for all eight sub-regions were determined, while the CA grouping method was used to determine the characteristic parameters for six sub-regions. Chestnut honey is predominantly found in Cazin, chestnut and linden honey in Bosanska Krupa, chestnut and acacia honey in Bužim, acacia honey in Sanski Most, mixed honey in Velika Kladuša and forest honey in Ključ.

The effects of wheat flour replacement at different levels (5, 7.5, 10, and 20%) by celery root and sugar beet pulp powder on rheological parameters and quality properties of enriched pasta were studied. Sensory evaluation was also investigated. Incorporation of fibre powders increased water absorption and prolonged dough stability and dough development time. Enriched pasta had higher moisture content than control pasta. Addition of fibre powders also modified the cooking quality of pasta (cooking loss and water absorption were increased and optimal cooking time was reduced). Moreover cooked pasta with the higher addition level of celery root powder was characterised by higher intensity of vegetable taste and had pleasant flavour and colour. Sensory evaluation showed that pasta with the addition of 7.5% celery root powder was the most acceptable for assessors.

DNA extraction is a crucial step in PCR analysis especially when analysing food samples that can be degraded and can potentially contain PCR-inhibiting substances. In this study, we compared the suitability of three DNA extraction methods - two kits: DNeasy^® Plant Mini Kit and NucleoSpin^® Food, and the CTAB method - for DNA extraction from commercial fruit jams. Fourteen jams with different contents of fruit, sugar and other additives were extracted in triplicate using the above-mentioned methods directly and after a washing step. The concentration and optical density were analysed using UV spectrophotometry and the amplifiability of the obtained DNA was evaluated using a PCR assay targeting a sequence coding for chloroplast tRNA-Leu. Samples isolated using the NucleoSpin^® Food kit contained non-amplifiable DNA in eight cases, and samples isolated using the CTAB method could not be quantified. The DNeasy^® Plant Mini Kit thus proved to be the most suitable method, since well-amplifiable DNA was obtained for all the analysed samples.

Lighvan cheese from ewe and goat milk was produced according to a traditional protocol, and with the addition of 9 log₁₀ cfu/g fresh cells of Bifidobacterium lactis subsp. animalis. Probiotic Lighvan cheese was studied to determine the survival of B. lactis subsp. animalis and biochemical changes during 60 days of ripening of probiotic Lighvan cheese. Lipolysis level and organoleptic assessments were analysed. B. lactis subsp. animalis cells survived in cheese samples at concentrations up to 6.84 log₁₀ cfu/g for at least 60 days of storage time. The lipolysis level increased continuously until the end of the ripening period.The ripening stage was the main factor affecting the cheese sensory properties.

The effect of modified atmosphere packaging (MAP 1 - 80% O₂ + 20% CO₂ and MAP 2 - 90% CO₂ + 10% N₂) on selected chemical and sensory parameters of common carp steaks stored at 3 ± 0.5°C, and determination of the shelf life of the products was studied in this research. Samples were analysed on day 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, and 17. An increase in TVB-N values in carp steaks followed the order: MAP 2 < control < MAP 1. From day 9 of storage FFA concentrations were higher (P < 0.01) in MAP 2 samples compared to control and MAP 1 samples. The presence of oxygen (MAP 1 and control) resulted in an increase in TBA values in comparison with samples packaged in the absence of oxygen. According to sensory evaluation, it was concluded that carp steaks packaged in modified atmosphere with 80% O₂ + 20% CO₂ remained acceptable up to 15 days of storage, whereas samples packaged under 90% CO₂ + 10% N₂ as well as samples kept on flaked ice remained unchanged until the end of the experiment.

Changes in mango fruit quality, malondialdehyde content, and enzymatic activities in response to pathogen Alternaria alternata infection were studied. A. alternata significantly affected the appearance of mango fruit at 5 and 7 days after treatment (DAT). The quality of pathogen-infected fruit first showed a significant decrease in titratable acidity and vitamin C content and a significant increase in pH since 3 DAT. The malondialdehyde content was higher than that in the untreated controls at 3 and 7 DAT. The enzyme activities of ascorbate peroxidase and polyphenol oxidase showed significant increases since 3 DAT. Significant increases in l-phenylalanine ammonia-lyase and superoxide dismutase activities were observed at 7 DAT. These results indicate that A. alternata infection first significantly affects some biochemical constituents and enzyme activities in mango fruit since 3 DAT and that there was no significant effect on appearance until 5 DAT.

In order to establish a clear limit between protective and harmful effects of alcohol consumption, it is necessary to define patterns of consumption. However, there is no universally recognized quantitative classification for patterns of consumption by alcohol doses. This is because the pattern of alcohol consumption does not only describe how much alcohol was consumed, but also takes into account a number of boundary conditions. This review deals with variabilities in the definitions of standard alcohol doses and patterns of alcohol consumption. These terms are being discussed with respect to the benefits and harms associated with alcohol consumption as well as the risks intrinsic to studies of such a complex phenomenon as the effect of alcoholic beverages on human health.

The colour, chemical composition, texture parameters, hydration properties and fatty acids profile of fresh wild boar meat and meat after 2 months of freezing were compared. The research material was the M. longissimus dorsi muscle cut out of wild boar carcasses (Sus crofa). Analyses of physical and chemical properties of samples taken from 16 boars were performed. Samples were packed and frozen to -18°C and stored under such conditions for a period of two months. Freezing storage significantly increased the elasticity value and the colour of the meat as indicated by the decrease in L* and b* values. In frozen meat there slightly increased thermal drip and forced drip. The changes in the fatty acid profile under the effect of freezing were found more often in fat from muscle M. longissimus dorsi than in back fat of wild boar. In conclusion, it should be noted that freezing storage in a short time does not affect negatively the quality of frozen meat.

Ruzrok, the first sorghum cultivar of Czech provenance, was selected as a multiline cultivar from sorghum collected in the Bílé Karpaty region in Moravia, Czech Republic. In the present paper, basic plant morphological and yield-related characteristics as well as characteristics related to plant resistance to major abiotic and biotic stress factors are described. The major advantages of Ruzrok consists in its earliness, plant height and high growth rate of plants leading to high biomass production. Ruzrok was registered for its high biomass yield; however, its grains can also be used for flour production and food purposes after the technological removal of tannin-rich outer layers of grains. Recommendations for basic cultural practices such as sowing date, fertilization and protection against pests and diseases are given. In conclusion, potential utilization of the novel sorghum variety as both biomass and fodder crop is discussed.

Fire blight is one of the most destructive diseases of pome fruits, especially pears. In current conditions when the demand for organic products is increasing, improvement of resistant rootstock and varieties is becoming important due to the lack of an effective disease management method against fire blight caused by Erwinia amy-lovora as well as the harmful effects of chemicals on environment, human and animal health. The findings of the researchers as to which variety performs well in terms of the transmission of fire blight resistance are quite important for new breeding programs. In the study, three varieties with high commercial value (Magness, Santa Maria and Williams) were identified as the maternal parents and 21 hybridization combinations were made with seven varieties (Akça, Ankara, Conference, Güz, Kaiser Alexandre, Kieffer and Taş) as pollinators. The Magness maternal parent was found superior when compared with the other maternal parents for the variety susceptibility level to fire blight. Apart from the differences in the susceptibility level of 21 different combinations of hybrids to fire blight, the commercially superior ten hybrids (I-15-24, II-13-1, II-13-19, II-13-34, II-13-73, II-27-21, II-27-55, II -32-44, III-22-638, III-27-590) have been determined via the weighted ranking method from the parameters of disease resistance and different fruit characteristics measuring the commercial preference of the fruits such as fruit quality, attractiveness, size, firmness and rustiness

Eggshell quality is one of the most significant factors affecting poultry industry; it economically influences egg production and hatchability. Eggshell consists of shell membranes and the true shell that includes mammillary layer, palisade layer, and cuticle. Measurements of eggshell quality include eggshell weight, shell percentage, breaking strength, thickness, and density. Mainly eggshell thickness and strength are affected by the time of egg components passage through the shell gland (uterus), eggshell ultra-structure (deposition of major units), and micro-structure (crystals size and orientation). Shell quality is affected by several internal and external factors. Major factors determining the quality or structure of eggshell are oviposition time, age, genotype, and housing system. Eggshell quality can be improved through optimization of genotype, housing system, and mineral nutrition.

The effect of artificial conditions of a short daylight period (16 h darkness (D): 8 h light (L)) and exogenous melatonin on milk yield parameters of sheep during spring and summer was examined to determine the impact of using sheep for milk on the secretion level of gonadotrophic hormones. The research was conducted on 60 sheep lambed in February. After raising the lambs, the sheep were divided into 3 groups and assigned for dairy use (May-September). The mothers in the control Group 1 (G1) were maintained under natural daylight conditions. The sheep in Group 2 (G2) were maintained under conditions of an artificial photoperiod (16 h D : 8 h L). Meanwhile, the mothers in Group 3 (G3) were given melatonin implants. A 6-hour collection of blood from 6 sheep of each group was performed every 4 weeks. The concentrations of luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) in plasma were measured using radioimmunoassay. The average LH concentration in G1 gradually increased since May (5.32 ± 0.2 ng/ml), reaching the highest value in August (6.70 ± 0.2 ng/ml). In G2, the increase in LH occurred 4 weeks after the introduction of the 16 h D : 8 h L condition (6.26 ± 0.2 ng/ml). The maximum LH concentration in G3 was noted in August (7.31 ± 0.2 ng/ml). The average FSH concentration in G1 gradually increased since May (6.59 ± 0.2 ng/ml), reaching the highest value in August (10.50 ± 2.6 ng/ml). In G2, there was a significant increase in the FSH concentration in June (9.00 ± 0.3 ng/ml). In the final period during lactation, the FSH concentrations in G2 (13.51 ± 1.3 ng/ml) and G3 (13.60 ± 1.9 ng/ml) were higher than in G1. The results indicate that using sheep for milk does not inhibit the secretion of gonadotropic hormones induced by the simulation of short daylight conditions and exogenous melatonin.