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Rumex obtusifolius is a troublesome weed widely spread in temperate grasslands and can be potentially used for detection of soils contaminated by trace elements. We asked how emergence and survival of its seedlings are affected by application of quick lime (Ca) and superphosphate (P) additives in soils contaminated by trace elements. We performed the pot seeding experiment with slightly acid Litavka soil contaminated by arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), and zinc (Zn) and alkaline Malín soil contaminated by As, Cd, and Zn. We used a control without any additives, Ca and P treatments in both soils. Higher and quicker emergence, together with substantially higher mortality of seedlings, was recorded in Litavka than in Malín. A positive effect of the Ca treatment on seedlings was recorded in Litavka, but a negative in Malín. Small seedlings with narrow and long leaves of reddish colour were recorded in Litavka in the control and in the P treatment both with high availability of Zn, Cd, and Pb. In the Ca treatment, leaves of seedlings were more elliptic and less reddish. In Malín, seedlings were green and substantially more vital in the control and in the P treatment than in Litavka. In the Ca treatment, small and unviable seedlings were recorded. Seedlings of R. obtusifolius are sensitive on high availability of Ca, Zn, Cd, and Pb in the soil.

The SBM (stabiliser of biomass) mechanical plant model is designed for the hydrothermal treatment of biologically degradable materials with using the principle of thermal hydrolysis. The primary task of this equipment is to subject biologically degradable materials to hydrothermal treatment and to recover the materials for a further use or to eliminate them. These entities could use the mechanical plant for economic and environment-friendly methods of handling biologically degradable wastes or materials. The objective of the experiment with various types of biologically degradable materials was to establish the level for the transformation of input characteristics of tested materials after conversion in the SBM mechanical plant and to assess the suitability of the processing by using this method with respect to the use of the final product. Materials tested in the first experiments included stable manure heated or unheated during the processing and maize silage wastes in mixture with wood chips.

The operating and economical parameters of agricultural products harvesting are important aspects from production costs point of view. Profitability of the crops depends on quantity and quality of end products and efficiency of growing and harvesting operations. In case of linseeds harvesting by combine harvester statistically important impact of cutting mechanisms state on energy, exploitation and economical parameters was determined.

The Hrubý Jeseník Natural Forest Region (NFR) is a border mountain territory which belongs to the areas most heavily impacted by air pollution in the Czech Republic. This paper compares results for soil properties investigated in non-limed forest stands during the years 1994 to 2007. Differences between the 2007 and 2000/01 surveys concerning Al, Ca and Mg content and pH in particular soil horizons are depicted using kriged maps. This means of interpreting laboratory analysis results allowed us to highlight the most endangered NFR areas from an acidification standpoint. Evaluation of results for Al, Ca and Mg content, their available forms and pH values in the Hrubý Jeseník NFR in the 1994-2007 period revealed the presence of an ongoing acidification process. The southern (Praděd region) and northwestern areas (Králický Sněžník region) may be singled out as the most depleted.

Described is the first outbreak of Border disease in a sheep flock in Austria and its impact on the cattle housed on the same farm. Border disease virus infected sheep are a high risk for pestivirus introduction in susceptible cattle herds and should therefore induce a complete revision of the Austrian Bovine viral diarrhea virus program.

Freeze-dried bovine bone transplantation is commonly used for orthopaedic surgery. Equine bone, which is available in great quantity, can be obtained as easily as bovine bone, and so represents a potential source of bone for transplantation. In the present study freeze-dried equine cortical bones were transplanted into experimentally-induced fibular defects in canines to evaluate xenogenic implantation of equine bone. Cortical bones that had been freed of antigens and defatted with chloroform and methanol were freeze-dried at -80 °C for preservation of bone morphogenetic protein, sterilized with ethylene oxide gas and stored at room temperature. The experimental osteotomy was performed in a 15 mm-long bilateral region of each proximal metaphyseal fibula. The area of defect in eight beagle dogs (n = 16) received a transplanted freeze-dried equine cortical implant. The control group consisting of two beagles dogs (n = 4) received an autograft of a similar implant. The experiment region was radiographically monitored for bone union and host serum osteocalcin level was determined to assess osteoblast activity every two weeks for 24 weeks. In 14 of the 16 experimental cases, the graft was not associated with new bone formation. Resorption after new bone formation and remodelling with new bone formation each occurred in a single case. The results support the potential of using freeze-dried equine cortical bones as a xenogenic bone graft material in canines.

The aim of this review was to elaborate a conceptual framework of the most important aspects of the main biochemical processes of synthesis and breakdown of energy substrates that human and pig foetuses and newborns can use during the transition from foetus to newborn. Under normal physiological conditions, the growth and development of the foetus depends upon nutrients such as glucose, lipids and amino acids. In addition to the maternal and foetal status, genetic factors are also reported to play a role. The main function of the placenta in all species is to promote the selective transport of nutrients and waste products between mother and foetus. This transport is facilitated by the close proximity of the maternal and foetal vascular systems in the placenta. The foetus depends on the placental supply of nutrients, which regulates energy reserves by means of glycogen storage. Also, the synthesis of foetal hepatic glycogen guarantees energy reserves during perinatal asphyxia or maternal hypoglycaemia. However, the foetus can also obtain energy from other resources, such as gluconeogenesis from the intermediary metabolism of the Krebs cycle and most amino acids. Later, when the placental glucose contribution ends during the transition to the postnatal period, the maturation of biological systems and essential metabolic adaptations for survival and growth is required. The maintenance of normoglycaemia depends on the conditions that determine nutrient status throughout life: the adequacy of glycogen stores, the maturation of the glycogenolytic and gluconeogenic pathway, and an integrated endocrine response.

This paper describes the partial results of an echocardiographic study in sixty outbreed Wistar rats. Animals of parity sex ratio were chosen for the experiment. The animals were grown up during the observation period (the minimum weight was 220 g; the maximum weight was 909 g) and were then sequentially anaesthetised (2-2.5% of isoflurane, 3 l/min O₂). The second, fourth and fifth examinations were performed under anaesthesia maintained by intramuscular injections with diazepam (2 mg/kg), xylazine (5 mg/kg) and ketamine (35 mg/kg). Transthoracal examination was done using the SonoSite Titan echo system (SonoSite Ltd.) with a microconvex transducer C11 (8-5 MHz). M-mode (according to the leading-edge method of American Society of Echocardiography) echocardiography data were acquired at the papillary muscle: systolic and diastolic interventricular septum (IVSs, d) and left vetricular posterior wall (LVPWs, d) thickness, systolic and diastolic left ventricular dimension (LVDs, d), aorta (Ao) and left atrium (LA) dimensions. According to standard formulas, the following parameters were obtained: ejection fraction (EF), cardiac output (CO), stroke volume (SV), left ventricle end systolic volume (LVESV), left ventricle end diastolic volume (LVEDV), interventricular septum fractional thickening (IVSFT), left ventricular dimension fraction shortening (LVDFS), and left ventricle posterior wall fraction thickening (LVPWFS). In our study we performed 300 examinations both in male and female Wistar rats of various body weights and calculated regression equations to predict expected normal echocardiographic parameters for rats with arbitrary weights. The rats were examined by an echo scan. The first and third examinations were performed during mono-anaesthesia induced by inhalation of isoflurane. Correlations, with one exception (LVDs), were very close, which means that the results of the calculations based on regression equations are very reliable.

Sow batch management systems have become more popular due to advantages in labour planning, piglet batch sizes, all-in all-out practices and health management. The present study investigated the potential health advantages of 10 selected farrow-to-finish pig herds before and after transition from a one week batch management system to a four or five week batch management system. Five different animal categories (gilts, sows, piglets, growers and finishers) were sampled at three time points (T0, T1 and T2) before and after transition to a four or five week batch management system. Different matrices of the animals were collected: blood, nasal swabs and faeces. Several economically important diseases were monitored through serology: Lawsonia intracellularis, Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome virus (PRRSv), Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae, Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae; and PCR-testing: Pasteurella multocida dermonecrotic toxin (DNT) and Brachyspira species, especially the major pathogenic Brachyspira hyodysenteriae. Following serological analysis, the percentage of positive animals per category and sampling occasion were calculated. Health improvement based on serology was defined as the reduction in the percentage of positive animals for a specific disease in a specified animal category. All samples were negative for P. multocida DNT and B. hyodysenteriae. Little to no improvement could be observed for PRRSv. For L. intracellularis an improvement could be observed in piglets (71%) and growers (56%; P < 0.05). For both of the respiratory pathogens, M. hyopneumoniae and A. pleuropneumoniae, significant improvement was observed in finishers (34 and 24%, respectively). In growers, only M. hyopneumoniae showed a significant improvement (34%). In conclusion, the transition from a one week batch management system to a four or five week batch management system in the present herds resulted in a reduction of the percentage of seropositive animals for three of the monitored economically important diseases: L. intracellularis, M. hyopneumoniae and A. pleuropneumoniae.

Some species of invertebrates especially bryozoans (Bryozoa syn. Ectoprocta) and marine sponges (Porifera) are very important sources of pharmacologically exploitable compounds. These substances are probably produced to protect themselves from fish predators and may be an advantage in competition. The real sources of compounds with these antipredatory effects are probably not marine invertebrates themselves, but microscopic symbionts or food which they feed on. Bryostatins from bryozoan species Bugula neritina are produced by a bacterial symbiont called Candidatus Endobugula sertula. They have significant anti-cancer effects, but also other therapeutic benefits. Compounds with the structure of bryostatins were also discovered in some other invertebrates. Sponges are a source of many compounds, e.g., ara-A (vidarabine), manzamine, lasonolides, spongistatins, peloruside and others with antimicrobial, anti-cancer, immunosuppressive and similar activities. Other important sources of compounds with medical effects are tunicates (Tunicata syn. Urochordata) and some snails (Mollusca). One drug was developed from tunicates - Yondelis against refractory soft-tissue sarcomas. Certain other drugs originate from snails: e.g., prialt, which acts against chronic pain in spinal cord injury.

Peat used as a feed supplement for piglets has favourable dietetic qualities; however, its frequent contamination with potentially pathogenic mycobacteria (PPM) has been shown to pose a potential risk to piglet health. The purpose of the present study was to investigate possible ways of devitalising mycobacteria. Examination of 118 samples from various types of commercially available peat (natural peat, packed peat for horticulture and specially processed peat intended for piglet feeding) showed that PPM were present in 84 (71.1%) samples. Mycobacterium avium subsp. hominissuis (82.1%) was the most frequent mycobacterial isolate. In addition, from a natural locality where peat is mined and stored in large piles for up to four months, mycobacteria were detected in peat samples collected from the surface and from up to 25 cm in depth. We used different physical and chemical procedures for peat decontamination (peracetic acid, formaldehyde, steam, and microwave radiation) in attempting to devitalise the mycobacteria in peat. We found that PPM can be reliably devitalised with 1.0% peracetic acid, or 5.0% formaldehyde. However, under field conditions, when using bulk amounts of peat, none of the above procedures were shown to be suitable. Based on these results, the feeding of peat to piglets is confirmed as a high-risk practice.

Juvenile cynomolgus monkeys are valuable models for studying human diseases. Reference data of clinical chemistry, haematology and blood coagulation parameters of juvenile cynomolgus monkeys are very important for clinical diagnosis and conducting research. In this study, 72 blood samples (obtained from 35 males and 37 females) and 20 blood samples (obtained from 10 males and 10 females) were used to determine normal data of clinical serum chemistry, haematological profiles and normal blood coagulation parameters in juvenile cynomolgus monkeys. Seventeen markers of clinical serum chemistry, twenty-nine markers of haematology and two parameters of blood coagulation were analysed. These data may provide valuable information for veterinarians and investigators using juvenile cynomolgus monkeys in research on disease treatment and in experimental studies.

Coenurosis caused by Coenurus cerebralis, the larval stage of Taenia multiceps, particularly affects sheep and goats. In this case report, two coenurus cysts were detected under the lumbar spinal cord (outside the CNS) in a goat. We first described cysts in the macro- and micro-morphological examination. The cysts were identified as C. cerebralis on the basis of the arrangement of scolices and the number and size of hooks in the scolices. The morphology of the larval cyst was similar to that of T. multiceps: the scolices had four suckers and a rostellum with a double crown of hooks. The hooks and hooklets were 178 and 132 µm in length, respectively. T. gaigeri may be synonymous with T. multiceps. This may reflect a different host response to the parasite in goats. The difficulty of making a species identification in C. cerebralis or C. gaigeri based on their morphology is discussed.

In this study, the brachial plexus in the mole-rat was investigated. Six adult mole-rats were used and the brachial plexus of each was dissected. It was found that the brachial plexus in the mole-rat was formed by the rami ventralis of C5. A single root was formed from a major part of the ramus ventralis of C5 and through the joining of the whole of the ramus ventralis of C6, C7, C8 and T1. Thus, in mole-rats, the spinal nerves forming the brachial plexus and the joining of these spinal nerves to each other differ from other rodents and mammals.

In human medicine, the association between intussusceptions and inflammatory bowel disease is well known, even if referred to only in case reports or a small series of patients. The exact cause of intussusceptions, in general, is unknown; however, any lesion in the bowel wall or irritant in the lumen that alters the normal peristaltic pattern may initiate invagination. In Crohn's disease the lead point may be dysrhytmic contractions secondary to the on-going inflammatory process of a thickened, inflamed segment of bowel wall. In veterinary medicine, the information available related to the association of intussusceptions and inflammatory bowel disease is limited. The present study is the first reported case of a dog in which ileocolic intussusception and histiocytic ulcerative colitis appear to be associated. Moreover, this is also the first description of the involvement of the caecum in canine histiocytic ulcerative colitis. Herein, we document a condition previously reported in humans with inflammatory bowel disease, and we believe that this work contributes to identifying the similarities between human and canine inflammatory bowel disease.

The parasite load of brown hares (Lepus europaeus) is of great interest to hunting ground managers and veterinarians. We compared the prevalence and intensity of parasitic infections in 362 hares from Austria and the Czech Republic with respect to age and body weight. Samples of the entire gastrointestinal tract, liver and lungs were collected during autumn hunting events in 2007. The parasite spectrum of hares included Protostrongylus pulmonalis, Graphidium strigosum, Trichostrongylus retortaeformis, Trichuris leporis, Eimeria spp. and tapeworms. The most prevalent gastrointestinal nematode was Trichostrongylus retortaeformis, while only individual specimens of tapeworms such as Andrya rhopalocephala, Mosgovoyia pectinata, Cittotaenia denticulata and Ctenotaenia ctenoides were found in subadult hares. A single hare was infected with Cysticercus pisiformis in Austria. Lungworms Protostrongylus pulmonalis and findings of pneumonia were significantly less prevalent in subadult than adult hares (P < 0.01) from both countries and were much less prevalent overall in the Czech Republic (P < 0.01). Graphidium strigosum, Trichostrongylus retortaeformis, Eimeria spp. and enteritis were more prevalent in subadult hares. The nematode Trichuris leporis, on the other hand, prevailed in adults. The body weight of adult hares was negatively correlated with the intensity of infection by Protostrongylus pulmonalis (r = -0.67) and Trichostrongylus retortaeformis (r = -0.73) and the parasite loads served as significant weight predictors in multiple regression equations. This study revealed that parasitic infections of the lungs and intestines influences the health and decreases the body weight of hares in Austrian and Czech hunting grounds.

Uric acid has stronger pro-oxidant than antioxidant properties during equine endurance events and thus, limits performance and has serious repercussions on health. The aim of the study was to investigate the changes in uric acid, leucocytes, plasma biochemical parameters and heart rate in metabolic endurance horses. Thirty Arabian endurance horses were physically examined and blood samples were collected pre and post-race. After physical examination, the successfully completed (n = 10) and metabolic disordered (n = 20) endurance horses were identified. Blood samples in heparinised vacutainer tubes were used for the determination of uric acid, triglyceride, creatine kinase, aspartate transaminase, packed cell volume, lactate, total protein and plasma protein. Blood sample in ethyl diaminotetra-acetic acid vacutainer tubes were used for the analysis of leucocytes. The age, body weight, heart rate, humidity and ambient temperature were also recorded. One way Analysis of variance and pairwise correlations were used for the analysis. A value of P ≤ 0.05 was considered as significantly different. The mean values of uric acid, lactate, leucocytes, plasma protein, total protein, heart rate, creatine pinase and Packed cell volume were significantly different between the successfully completed and metabolic disordered endurance horses P < 0.0001), respectively. The mean values of aspartate transaminase and triglyceride were significantly different between the successfully completed and metabolic disordered endurance horses: P < 0.0130 and P < 0.0004, respectively. There were significant positive correlations between uric acid and lactate (r = 0.5196; P < 0.0271), between uric acid and plasma protein (r = 0.6025; P < 0.0175), between uric and Packed cell volume (r = 0.5206; P < 0.0268), between uric acid and triglyceride (r = 0.5541; P < 0.0170) and between uric acid and heart rate (r = 0.5629; P < 0.0150) in the metabolic disordered endurance horses. In conclusion, heart rate, triglyceride, blood lactate and packed cell volume were significantly associated with uric acid, a biomarker of oxidative stress. Therefore, uric acid could be used to evaluate performance and health status in endurance horses during training and endurance events.

The cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) provides cranio-caudal stability, prevents hyperextension and constrains medial rotation of the tibia in the canine stifle joint and CCL rupture is the leading cause of hind leg lameness in dogs. Treatment of CCL rupture aims to resolve lameness caused by joint instability and provide good long-term function of the affected hind limb. The extracapsular technique is one of the most popular methods to restore joint stability. The technique involves a suture loop that is placed around the lateral fabella and through the tibial tuberosity. The ideal suture material should be strong, aseptic, easily handled, inexpensive, and provide excellent knot security and knot compactness. A critical property of the loop is the application of either a knot or crimp to maintain the tension on the loop. There is a variety of orthopaedic suture materials used for the extracapsular technique. Our aim was to compare the mechanical properties of four commercially available materials in pure tension. The materials tested were monofilament nylon leader (MNL) 100 lb, MNL 80 lb, Supramid and Silon. Our second objective was to compare the interoperator variability of applying either a knot or a crimp to secure the suture loop. Ultimate tensile strength was greatest with MNL 100 lb (373 N) followed by MNL 80 lb (285 N), Supramid (160 N) and Silon (103 N). Based on our results, we conclude that MNL 100 lb and MNL 80 lb are mechanically superior to Silon and Supramid. Our study also shows significant effects for the operator and method of loop fixation (P < 0.0001). Intraoperator differences were also found to be significant, for operator 1 (P < 0.0001), for operator 2 (P < 0.001) and operator 3 (P < 0.01). Our findings indicate that MNL is most suitable orthopaedic material and that loop fixation should remain the method of choice for surgeons treating CCL.

A five-year-old dog was referred with a five-month history of lethargy, decreased appetite, cough and intermittent forelimb lameness. Radiographs revealed an intra-thoracic lesion and a marked periosteal bone apposition of the second digit on the left forelimb. As it was palisading and circumferential, the latter appeared typical of hypertrophic osteopathy (HO). A grass awn in a sub-lobar ramification of the right caudal bronchus was identified and removed by bronchoscopy. At three months follow-up, the digit appeared clinically normal. On radiographs the periosteal bone reaction had decreased, indicative of resolving hypertrophic osteopathy. Thoracic radiographs showed no abnormalities five months after foreign body removal and the bone lesion on the digit had disappeared. Successful treatment of the pulmonary foreign body abscess led to spontaneous regression of HO and eventually to complete resolution of clinical signs. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first reported case of HO secondary to a bronchial-pulmonary grass an abscess.

The Agricultural Economics Research Institute has launched a research project with the aim to analyse the Hungarian land market and the changes occurred since the EU accession as well as to present the tendencies of the development. The statistical data on the land market is rather deficient and cannot be considered representative, therefore, we also included some empirical experiments summarising experts' opinion referring to all the counties of Hungary. In our paper, we provide our statements and conclusions. The survey shows that the landed property market in Hungary is in a state of anticipation. Demand is primarily for outstanding and good quality land of favourable location in certain countries or larger plots of arable and forestry land. Characteristically, the poorer quality, less accessible land of less favourable location in the neighbourhood of the depopulated, cul-de-sac villages is in oversupply. Scattered, wedged properties of small size or of unclear ownership (undivided common land) are difficult to sell. Many of the vendors are older people with subsistence worries or people who obtained the title by compensation but do not wish to get involved in cultivation. Increasingly more buyers are well capitalised farmers, who wish to increase their holdings, or to unite their property (by land swap). Another significant group of buyers wish to invest into landed property located in the neighbourhood of larger cities, at popular sites, next to main roads or motorways. According to our survey, in the immediate years before the EU accession land and lease prices increased significantly, many fold in relation to quality. Increases in land prices are due to a process of convergence to the EU prices intending to take advantage of the projected unified land market. Increases in lease prices are due to apportioning of the projected land based support between owner and lease holder. According to land sale experts (estate or realty agents) the land market will in the 5-10 years liven up resulting in increases in land and lease prices, although the extent of this cannot yet be prognosticated.

Bulgaria faced and still is facing many challenges in the accession process to the EU. Free movement of capital, and especially the development of the land market, is one of them. Although the progress is made, the market is still developing and the land prices are still below the average prices in EU. There are different reasons for this: very fragmented land after the restitution process, chaotic transactions, lack of bank credits for agricultural purposes, unrealistic expectations after the accession to the EU, etc. The land lease continues to be the preferred way for land cultivation instead of buying of land. All those problems are studied in the current paper. A concept for e-service that could contribute to solving the problems is introduced; relevant e-services are summarized and a particular solution is presented that uses results of the eTen project Bizmap.net. It is described how this solution could be used in the Bulgarian land market.

The changing context within which businesses today compete requires deployment of intangible assets in order to achieve competitive position on the market. The growing importance of intellectual capital has been challenging the traditional financial reporting system, which is not capable to meet the information needs any more. The article provides an overview of various intellectual capital reporting systems and highlights their key concerns. The selected list of intellectual capital reporting practices serves as an information basis for business leaders to raise the awareness, to consider pros and cons of intellectual capital reporting and to facilitate a broader acceptance of a new reporting practice.

The basic financial purpose of the firm is maximization of its value. An inventory management should also contribute to the realization of this basic aim. Many current assets management models which we can find in the literature relating to financial management were constructed with the assumption of book profit maximization as the basic aim. These models could be lacking what relates to another aim, i.e., maximization of the enterprise value. This article presents the value based inventory management model modification.

After 1989, Czech economy was transformed into free market economy and this brought many changes into agricultural sector. One of the changes was the decline of the volume of agricultural production which caused that many of objects used in agriculture lost their function and were not needed any more. Here begins the origin of agricultural brownfields. There was no interest in this problem for a long period; a bigger attention paid to brownfields started in the context of the Czech Republic entrance into the EU and with the possibility to draw finances for the brownfields' regeneration from the structural funds of the EU. This article deals with the problematic of agricultural brownfields in the Vysocina Region since there were located 44 brownfields of this type and it is important to know about this and to set up a strategy to solve this problem.

An improved routine, simple and sensitive method is presented for the determination of free and bound 3-chloropropane-1,2-diol (3-MCPD) in different foods using capillary gas chromatography with mass spectrometric detection and deuterated 3-MCPD as internal standard. The optimised method was linear within the working calibration standard concentrations in the range of 0.009-1.3 mg 3-MCPD per 1 kg of sample. The LOD and LOQ were 0.003 µg/kg and 0.009 µg/kg, respectively. Validation of the method was carried out by analysing standards of 3-MCPD, acid-HVP, roasted coffee samples, and the same samples spiked with 3-MCPD. Repeatability (expressed as RSD) of the method was in the range 1.0-4.2%, the average spike recoveries were 99.1-99.5% (RSD = 0.8-1.4%), respectively. 3-MCPD bound in esters with higher fatty acids was isolated as fat, the isolated fat was subjected to methanolysis and 3-MCPD generated was quantified using the same method. The LOD and LOQ were determined to be 1.1 mg/kg of lipids and 3.3 mg/kg of lipids, respectively. Using the optimised method, 20 samples of retail food products were analysed for their free and bound 3-MCPD. All samples contained free 3-MCPD at 9.6-83 µg/kg (RSD = 0.4-7.0%). The level of the bound 3-MCPD varied between the LOD and 2.4 mg/kg with RSD = 0.3-2.4%.

Comparative study was conducted on the basis of free amino acids and biogenic amines of Hungarian sparkling wines originated from 3 producers (Törley, Hungária, Balaton Boglár). Determination of amino acids and biogenic amines was accomplished by ion-exchange chromatography using an amino acid analyser. The dominant free amino acids in sparkling wines were proline and arginine and the major biogenic amine was spermidine. Based on results of chemometric analyses, free amino acid and biogenic amine contents seemed to be closely related to quality and the technology of sparkling wine making.

Changes in the concentrations of free fatty acids in Niva cheese were monitored over the ripening period. Fatty acids were analyzed as methyl esters using gas chromatography with flame ionization detection. Identification has been carried out by comparison of the retention times with those of standard substances. Methanol esterification method using potassium hydroxide catalysis was used for preparing the sample of the fatty acids. The method is simple in respect to instrumentation and chemicals. It can be applied directly to the cheese matrix, which significantly decreases the time for sample preparation. There were total of 30 fatty acids identified in the cheese. Capric, myristic, palmitic, stearic and oleic acids represented the largest proportion of acid content and the most significant changes during ripening.

Fifteen coffee creamers, 10 cream aerosols, and 5 bouillon cubes from the retail market were analysed, principally for their contents of trans-fatty acids that are known to increase the risk of coronary heart disease, and for their contents of 3-chloropropane-1,2-diol (3-MCPD) fatty acid esters that possibly have a bioaccumulation potential. The contents of trans-fatty acids in coffee creamers, cream aerosols and bouillon cubes were in the range of 0.2-32.8%, < LOD - 6.0%, and 0.5-2.1% of total fatty acids, respectively. All samples contained high levels of 3-MCPD fatty acid esters that were determined after releasing the free 3-MCPD by methanolysis. The 3-MCPD levels in coffee creamers, cream aerosols, and bouillon cubes were in the range of 130-730 µg/kg (540-4480 µg/kg fat), 50-730 µg/kg (220-2880 µg/kg fat), and 380-670 µg/kg (2650-4840 µg/kg fat), respectively. The results showed that the refined and hydrogenated oils may represent a certain risk. The highest levels of 3-MCPD esters were found in a sample of refined palm oil (4170 µg/kg). Currently, there is no information available on how these 3-MCPD esters are metabolised, to which extent they are hydrolysed or biosynthesised in the body, to which extent they are deposited in tissues, and how they influence the properties and functions of tissues (if they really do it).

Cocoa liquor used in the confectionery industry comes from a wide range of geographical areas and may have different chemical compositions, sensory properties, and nutritional values. We found it interesting to study the polyphenolic content and composition of cocoa liquors for their potential use in industrial production. Six defatted samples originating from different countries were extracted with aqueous methanol (70%, v/v), and the polyphenolic profiles were determined using RP-HPLC method. According to our results, all samples of cocoa liquors have similar polyphenolic profiles, however, quantitatively varied. In the samples, about 13 compounds were identified by comparison of their retention times and UV spectra, and the quantified peaks were (+)-catechin, (-)-epicatechin, (-)-gallocatechin, (-)-epigallocatechin, caffeic acid derivative, caffeine, and theobromine. Also, several peaks were identified as oligomeric procyanidins. The free-radical scavenging activity was determined by the DPPH* (1,1'-dipheny-2-picrylhydrazyl) and Oxygen Radical Antioxidant Capacity (ORAC) assays. The order of antioxidant activity of the cocoa liquors studied was the same with both methods (Madagascar > Mexico > Ecuador > Venezuela > Sao Tome > Ghana samples). In addition, correlation between the antioxidant capacity and polyphenolic content was also determined, a high correlation coefficient having been obtained by both methods (R^{2 = 0.9868 for DPPH, and 0.9375 for ORAC).}