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A pot greenhouse experiment was performed to determine the effect of contamination with nickel interacting with other heavy metals on the microbiological properties of soil. The study was conducted on samples of soils classified under natural conditions as typical Eutric Cambisol developed from heavy loamy sand and typical Eutric Cambisol developed from light silty loam. Soil material was contaminated with nickel in the amount of 50 and 200 mg Ni²⁺/kg. The treatments with 200 mg Ni²⁺/kg were additionally contaminated with other heavy metals (Zn²⁺, Cu²⁺, Pb²⁺, Cd²⁺, Cr⁶⁺), in the amount of 50 mg/kg soil. The following treatments, in which the soil was contaminated with heavy metals applied alone or in combinations, were compared in the study: Ni, Zn, Cu, Pb, Cd, Cr, NiZn, NiCu, NiPb, NiCd, NiCr, NiZnCu, NiZnPb, NiZnCd, NiZnCr, NiZnCuPb, NiZnCuCd, NiZnCuCr, NiZnCuPbCd, NiZnCuPbCr, NiZnCuPbCdCr. The experiment was carried out in four replications. A microbiological analysis was performed on days 28 and 56. The tested crop was oat. It was found that the impact of particular heavy metals on microbiological properties of soils depended on their type, interactions between nickel and zinc, copper, lead, cadmium and chromium (VI), date of analysis and soil species. Soil contamination with heavy metals reduced the population size of Azotobacter spp. The counts of other microbial groups, i.e. copiotrophic bacteria, spore-forming copiotrophic bacteria, oligotrophic bacteria, spore-forming oligotrophic bacteria, ammonifying bacteria, nitrogen immobilizing bacteria, cellulose-decomposing bacteria, Arthrobacter spp., Pseudomonas spp., actinomyces and fungi, showed varied susceptibility to heavy metals.

In the territory of the Czech Republic there are more than 50% of agricultural soils exposed to water erosion; it is a very urgent problem both at present and for the future. It must be solved now when there is still something to be protected. It is rather complicated to describe the soil properties in terms of soil susceptibility to water erosion because it is a complex relation in which many factors participate. For the complex evaluation of all main factors participating in erosion origination it is possible to apply the Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE). It consists of six factors interacting with each other and participating in the origination of soil erosion. One of these factors is the soil erodibility factor (K-factor), the revision of which for soil conditions of the CR is the subject of this study. In total ca. 5000 soil pits from the whole territory of the country were processed and evaluated in detail. The main results of this study are K-factor values (means and variances) for the soil types, subtypes and varieties (represented in the database) according to the Taxonomic Classification System of Soils of the Czech Republic.

In this paper, the authors summarise the land use changes in the upper reaches of the Krupá river catchment, which is a left tributary of the Morava River. During last 70 years, the catchment was exposed to many important historical events that have been inscribed in the physique of the landscape in a very interesting way. The land use changes, which occurred during the last eight decades in the subcatchment of the Krupá river basin, have been analysed using historical maps, cadastral maps, and both historical and recent aerial photographs of the area. The next step is to estimate, through the CN method and DesQ hydrological model, how the runoff processes in the Krupá River catchment could be influenced by the land use changes.

The first outbreaks of a disease connected with high mortality of common carp and koi carp caused by koi herpesvirus (KHV) were reported in 1998 in Israel and in the United States. Since then, several cases have been confirmed all over the world. At present, this viral disease is considered to be one of the most risky factors affecting populations of common carp and koi carp. Affected fish become disoriented and swim erratically with high breathing frequency, swollen gills and partially local skin lesions. The virus was isolated from the tissues of fish showing signs of the disease and subsequently cultured on koi fin (KF-1) cells. Electron microscopic examinations revealed morphological signs identical with viruses of the family Herpesviridae. Analysis of virion polypeptides and gene DNA showed the differences between KHV and the well-known herpesvirus of cyprinids, Herpesvirus cyprini (CHV), and Channel catfish virus (CCV). Water temperature is a factor influencing the onset and severity of disease. Fish seem most susceptible at water temperatures of 18-28°C, no morbidities occur at 13°C and 30°C. At present, diagnosis of KHV is mainly based on detection of viral DNA by PCR method.

The case of the two year old thoroughbred filly presented here has been diagnosed with and treated for equine gastric ulceration syndrome (EGUS). The results of her examination are documented over a five month period. The patient was finally hospitalised with acute severe colic. Absence of chronic clinical problems common for pyloric stenosis can be attributed to the permanent antiulceration medication of the filly. The diagnosis of pyloric stenosis was made by exploratory laparotomy and confirmed by necropsy.

Concentrations of 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) were determined in porcine and bovine kidney, liver, lung, muscle and adipose tissue samples, and in eyeballs (lens and vitreous humour) in fattener pigs and cows. The total average PAH concentrations in individual organs were: 5.4, 6.3 (kidney); 3.8, 2.7 (liver); 4.6, 5.4 (lung); 3.6, 5.1 (muscle tissue); 0.05, 0.11 (adipose tissue); 57.9, 16.3 (lens) and 14, 6.4 (vitreous humour) for pigs and cows in ng/g of wet weight, respectively. Phenanthrene, naphthalene, pyrene and fluoranthene were predominant PAH present in samples. No significant differences (P > 0.05) were found among distribution of PAH in animal bodies from several localities with various PAH exposure or between their levels in porcine and bovine organs and tissues, except for eyeballs. On the contrary, significant variations of PAH concentrations (P < 0.01) were found between species in the same tissues from the same stable. The highest total concentrations of PAH were found in porcine and bovine lenses. Analyses of porcine and/or bovine lenses for PAH content could be used for determination of animal exposure to these compounds.

A six year old male iguana (Iguana iguana) was brought to our clinic after a fall from a height of 1.5 meters. The patient showed apathy, dehydration, and paresis of all the limbs. Postural reflexes, palpebral reflex, and response to painful stimuli were minimal. The patient had extremely high levels of uric acid (1 734.0 µmol/l) and phosphorus (9.80 mmol/l), ratio of calcium to phosphorus (0.18), leucocytosis (23.3×10⁹/l) with heterophilia (17.10×10⁹/l), and high activity of ALT, AST and CK (2.09, 6.59, and 260.0 µkat/l). Tracheoscopy and pneumoscopy revealed presence of blood clots in the trachea and lungs with haemorrhage within the parenchyma. Based on the results of the clinical examination, endoscopy and laboratory diagnostics, the clinical diagnosis was chronic kidney failure, liver lipidosis and lung haemorrhage. Because of a very poor prognosis, the patient was euthanised. At necropsy, the signs of visceral gout and hepatomegaly with diffuse yellowish white discoloration and with dotted brown pigmentation were also observed. The kidneys were enlarged, and stained brown grayish. The gross and histopathological examination confirmed the clinical diagnosis of visceral gout, chronic kidney failure, liver steatosis and granulomatous pneumonia, with lung haemorrhage associated with urate deposits in lung tissue and posttraumatic status.

The first purpose of this experiment was to investigate the effect of ad libitum feeding of peat as a supplement to piglets from the age of five days up 23 days of age on their growth performance and health status. The second purpose was to assess the risk of the occurrence of conditionally pathogenic mycobacteria (CPM) in peat treated with ionizing radiation (Group PI) or per acetic acid (Group PP) and fed as a supplement to piglets. In respective experimental periods (at the age of 4, 23, 41 and 67 days), no significant differences in the average body weight between control group (C) and experimental Groups PI and PP were detected. Levels of selected biochemical (total protein, albumin, glucose, cholesterol, Ca, P, Fe and I) and haematological (erythrocytes, leukocytes and immunoglobulin - Ig) parameters of the health status of the piglets from all three Groups C, PI and PP were comparable at the age of 41 and 67 days. Mycobacteria were detected by culture in one diet sample (Mycobacterium intracellulare), in all 10 peat samples (7 M. a. hominissuis isolates, 2 M. intracellulare isolates and 1 M. xenopi isolate) and in 4 samples of biofilm from the drinking water pipeline system in the stables (M. xenopi, M. a. hominissuis, M. gordonae and Mycobacterium sp., one isolate in each). In 15 slaughtered pigs (at 67 days of age), no gross lesions that would give evidence of tuberculosis were found either in lymph nodes or parenchymatous organs. In Group C, mycobacteria were detected in tissues from two piglets (Mycobacterium sp. and M. a. hominissuis), Group PI in four piglets (M. a. hominissuis) and in Group PP in all five piglets (Mycobacterium sp., M. a. hominissuis, M. terrae and M. intracellulare). High positivity for CPM in both types of treated peat caused disseminated infection of the digestive tract of piglets from Groups PI and PP. Based on these results, feeding peat treated with ionisation or per acetic acid may be viewed as risky.

This article describes the cardiac anatomy of an 18-years-old male tiger that died at a local zoo. In general, the cardiac anatomy of this animal corresponded with that described for domestic carnivores. The left atrium received four pulmonary veins. In the right ventricle the musculus papillaris magnus and m. papillaris subarterial had the same size. In the left ventricle there was a greater development of the musculus papillaris subauricularis. The trabeculae carnae had a conspicuous size in a large part of the ventricles. The left coronary artery predominated, being responsible for the irrigation of the majority of the cardiac region; it divided itself into the ramus interventricularis paraconalis and circumflexus, the latter giving off the ramus interventricularis subsinuosus.

High mortality of nestling cockatiels (Nymphicus hollandicus) was observed in one breeding flock in Slovakia. The nestling mortality affected 50% of all breeding pairs. In general, all the nestlings in affected nests died. Death occurred suddenly in 4- to 6-day-old birds, most of which had full crops. No feather disorders were diagnosed in this flock. Two dead nestlings were tested by nested PCR for the presence of avian polyomavirus (APV) and Chlamydophila psittaci and by single-round PCR for the presence of beak and feather disease virus (BFDV). After the breeding season ended, a breeding pair of cockatiels together with their young one and a fledgling budgerigar (Melopsittacus undulatus) were examined. No clinical alterations were observed in these birds. Haemorrhages in the proventriculus and irregular foci of yellow liver discoloration were found during necropsy in the young cockatiel and the fledgling budgerigar. Microscopy revealed liver necroses and acute haemolysis in the young cockatiel and confluent liver necroses and heart and kidney haemorrhages in the budgerigar. Two dead cockatiel nestlings, the young cockatiel and the fledgling budgerigar were tested positive for APV, while the cockatiel adults were negative. The presence of BFDV or Chlamydophila psittaci DNA was detected in none of the birds. The specificity of PCR was confirmed by the sequencing of PCR products amplified from the samples from the young cockatiel and the fledgling budgerigar. The sequences showed 99.6-100% homology with the previously reported sequences. To our knowledge, this is the first report of APV infection which caused a fatal disease in parent-raised cockatiel nestlings and merely subclinical infection in budgerigar nestlings.

Quantitative real-time RT-PCR (qRT-PCR) assay was developed for the detection and quantification of bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) in clinical samples from persistently infected cattle. qRT-PCR was optimized to quantify the number of BVD virus copies using Light Cycler^® detection system and intercalation fluorogenic dye SYBR Green I. A universal set of primers was selected from a highly conserved 5' untranslated region (5'UTR) to detect BVDV type I and II simultaneously. Quantification of BVDV cDNA was accomplished using a calibration curve generated from 10-fold serial dilutions of standard plasmid DNA in the range 1-10⁸ copies/μl. Analysis of 290 bp amplicons enabled monitoring of the viral RNA/BVDV level in a total of five BVDV strains (BVD-NADL, A03/3004, DB03/2943, KA04/3124, KV05/3412) and sixteen bulk milk samples, and in bovine sera of persistent carriers originating from Czech farms, as well as in a batch of calf serum for cell culture. Melting temperatures of amplicons (Tm) of BVDV strains of the same genotype group I as the NADL reference strain showed variability of the thermal points, however significant differences were observed in Tm values between the representatives of genotype group I and II. Low concentrations of BVD virus in bulk milk samples were also qualitatively identified by conventional RT-PCR. Highly reproducible data were obtained as the coefficients of variation of threshold cycles values in intra-assay and inter-assay were less than 0.85% and 2.76%, respectively. The results give enough evidence of suitability of qRT-PCR assay for quantitative analysis of BVDV in clinical samples.

Poor welfare is the cause of high mortality among hens and roosters transported to poultry processing plants. In the Czech Republic, death rates among hens and roosters in transport to poultry slaughter plants were monitored between 1997 and 2004, and their total mortality rate was in the 0.925% ± 0.479% range. Death rates among hens and roosters were influenced by the transport distance to poultry processing plants. The percentage of dead birds increased from 0.592% ± 0.575% at transport distances up to 50 km to 1.638% ± 0.952% at transport distances up to 300 km. The bird mortality was also influenced by the season of the year. Higher mortality rates were ascertained during the cold months of the year, specifically in October through to April.

This review of chemosignals in birds considers intraspecific oriented chemosignals such as pheromones, interspecific chemosignals, and chemical interactions with parasites. Intraspecific chemosignals are known in some seabirds, especially burrow- or crevice-nesting auklets and petrels that breed in large colonies and are often nocturnal on land. Crested Auklets secrete a distinctive scent closely associated with courtship and important in sexual selection. Individually distinctive odours of petrels allow them to identify their own nest and can have a significant role in social relationships. Substances considered as sex pheromones, diesters of 3-hydroxy fatty acids, are produced by female mallards in their uropygial glands during the mating season. In many species of Charadriiformes during nesting monoester waxes are substituted with mixtures of less volatile diester waxes, less easily detected by mammals searching for nests. The tissues, mainly skin and feather of the New Guinean Passerines of the genus Pitohui and Ifrita contain steroidal alkaloids from the batrachotoxin group probably as a chemical defense. The variation of preen gland secretion in some other Passerines is apparently due to selective pressures caused by ectosymbionts. The auklets' odour, considered as a signal of mate quality, has also a function as ectoparasite repellent: aldehyde constituents of this odour kill and repel ectoparasites. Parasitic nematodes influence grouse digestion and thereby scent emission, making parasitized birds more vulnerable to depredation by mammals. Conversely, scents of some mammalian predators can function as a bird repellent.

There has recently been a growing interest in checking the state of health of European brown hares in hunting grounds because they are a susceptible bio-indicator of environmental changes and because of the dramatic decline in populations across Europe. A total of 1 051 (384, 302, and 365, respectively) blood sera were collected from hares during autumn hunting events and examined for tularaemia, brucellosis and leptospirosis in 2004, 2005 and 2006. Antibodies were found in 6.5, 1.6 and 7.5% of cases, respectively. Antibodies against Francisella tularensis, Brucella suis and leptospires were found in 7.9, 1.7 and 7.7% of females and 4.5, 1.4 and 7.9% of males, respectively. Higher seroprevalence of tularaemia was found in females (P = 0.05). Brucellosis was more prevalent in adult animals compared to subadult ones (P = 0.05). Only the L. grippotyphosa serotype was found and the titres mostly ranged from 100 to 400 (89.9%). Higher titres from 800 to 3 200 were found in the remaining 10.1% of the examined European brown hare sera. Antibodies against F. tularensis as well as B. suis were most frequent in low titres of 10 to 80. Higher titres were only exceptional. Confirming that hares are susceptible to various zoonotic agents, it is necessary to be careful when handling the animals killed. On the other hand, blood sera from hares may be used to survey the occurrence of natural nidi of zoonoses in hunting grounds.

The paper continues the debate over the nature and the role of social capital in the Czech agriculture. This issue is not marginal because social capital is also emphasized in the Czech SAPARD Plan. The paper develops the thoughts of J. Chloupková and C. Bjřrnskov published in this journal in their paper "Could social capital help Czech agriculture?" (No. 6 in 2002). Differing form mentioned authors, this paper coins dual nature of understanding social capital. This understanding forms the background of the concept of social capital in the works of French sociologist P. Bourdieu. Dual concept of social capital interconnects the most often use of understanding social capital as coined by such authors like R. Putnam or J. Coleman (social capital is understood as supra-personal collective element enabling the co-ordination of activities of free individuals with equal rights thus enabling the effective operation of certain system as a collective entity) with understanding of social capital related to social status of an individual which creates the hierarchies related to power thus enabling an individual to achieve his/her goals. Using empirical data and the case study, the paper outlines the application of dual understanding of social capital in the analysis of some processes in the Czech farming. Dual concept of social capital enables to explain some circumstances, which might be in the case of one-way orientation of understanding social capital presented in rather simplified way (e.g. if and what form of social capital was weak or destroyed in the Czech agriculture and which continues to exist). This fact is documented through the case study of the changes inside large-scale farms and outside these farms (in the field of their external relations). This study documents the presence of both forms (dual concept) of social capital. Similarly, the dual concept of social capital is used in the analysis of social structure of the Czech agriculture. It is done in the comparison with the model of agriculture in European Union and in the projections into the questions of the action of actors in agriculture.

Data collection, data processing, data presentation and data application in the System of Precision farming guarantee a success of this system in the market. Difficulties of technologies, which are currently and continually involved in this system, argue against its practical using by farmers. In this case, service company wants to create a suitable environment not only for data collection, but also for the high quality of the information distribution to customers. One of such tools is the MapServer placed on Internet web sites.

The authors studied an extension of the sources of plant products for the diet in coeliac disease. This disease is induced by the components of glutenin proteins. In a collection of crops, they examined the contents of the total and protein nitrogen, the composition of protein fractions, the electrophoretic composition of reserve gluten and prolamine proteins, and the immunological determination of the gliadin amount using ELISA test. By immunological tests, gliadin content below 10 mg per 100 g of sample was found in the following species: amaranth (Amaranthus hypochondriacus and A. cruentus) followed by quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa), sorghum species - grain sorghum and sweet sorghum (Sorghum bicolor and S. saccharatum), millet (Panicum miliaceum), foxtail millet (Setaria italica ssp. maxima), broadrood (Digitaria sanguinalis) and buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum). These species can be considered as suitable for the diet in coeliac disease. Below-limit values were found in triticale (Triticosecale) and some oats varieties; this, however, will need some other tests. The analysed samples differred by the contents of crude protein and fraction structures of the protein complex. In pseudocereals amaranth, quinoa and buckwheat, the proportion of the soluble fractions of albumin and globulin was 50-65%. In grain sorghum, their proportion was 20.5%, in sweet sorghum 7.8%. In millet, foxtail millet, and broadrood, their proportion amounted to 12-13%. The proportion of prolamines was higher in sweet sorghum than in grain sorghum. Pseudocereals and millet contained 3-6% of prolamines, Italian millet 38.7%, and broadrood 23.1%, respectively. The two latter species had, however, lower contents of glutenins. In the other species studied, the contents of glutenins ranged from 12 to 22%. Electrophoretic analysis PAGE of prolamine proteins or SDS-PAGE ISTA, developed for gluten proteins, confirmed the results of immunological tests on the suitability of quinoa, grain sorghum, sweet sorghum, buckwheat, amaranth, broadrood, millet and foxtail millet for the diet in coeliac disease. These species did not contain prolamins or the content of -prolamins was negligible in the given samples. The tested species of wheat, triticale, and oats species were manifested as substandard or unhealthy for the diet.

Browning reactions of oxidised lipids with amino acids were studied in mixtures of refined soybean or rapeseed oil with alanine, valine, lysine, serine, cystine, cysteine, methionine, proline, and tryptophan. Oils were deposited in thin layers on cellulose fibres impregnated with the individual amino acids. The reaction proceeded in the dark, in dry air, at 50°C and at free access of oxygen. The browning determined at 430 nm followed a nearly zeroth order reaction without any induction period. The browning was very weak in the absence of amino acids, and all amino acids increased the browning rate, especially cysteine, methionine, and even more proline and tryptophan. The reaction rates were nearly the same in mixtures with rapeseed and soybean oils. Small amounts of hydroperoxides did not appreciably affect the browning rate. In the presence of copper ions, which belong to the most active catalysts of oxidation, the reaction rate was substantially higher. On the contrary, in the presence of antioxidants, the reaction rate was reduced to a marked degree but no induction period was observed. The probable main reaction mechanism was the reaction of lipid hydroperoxides, free radicals produced by their decomposition and/or unsaturated aldehydes under the formation of unsaturated imines which further polymerised into brown macromolecular substances.

We provide here for the first time the evidence that 3-chloropropane-1,2-diol (3-MCPD) occurs in foodstuffs in its free form and also in the form of esters with higher fatty acids. These esters represent a new class of food contaminants as 3-MCPD may be released in vivoby a lipase-catalysed hydrolysis reaction. We analysed 20 samples of selected retail food products for their free and bound 3-MCPD content. All samples contained free 3-MCPD at approximately 9.6-82.7 µg/kg food (3 replications, RSD = 0.4-7.0%). The levels of bound 3-MCPD (monoesters and diesters of 3-MCPD with higher fatty acids) found in the foodstuffs analysed varied between the LOD (1.1 mg per kg of fat) and 36.8 mg/kg fat with RSD = 0.3-3.3%. Five foodstuffs of plant origin processed at high temperatures contained elevated levels of bound 3-MCPD (0.14-6.10 mg/kg). A high level of bound 3-MCPD (0.28 mg/kg) was also found in a sample of pickled fish. Some variables potentially influencing the levels of either free or bound 3-MCPD in foodstuffs were determined (pH, water, chlorides, glycerol, fat and its components) and their significance was discussed.

Browning of stored food products, not exposed to heat treatment, is generally considered as a negative process. The formation of brown pigments at a temperature close to storage temperatures was followed in mixtures of either free fatty acids or vegetable oils with amino acids, deposited on cellulose fibres. The mixtures were studied at 50°C at free access of oxygen, and the browning process was monitored by reading the absorbance of brown products at 430 nm. Mixtures of free fatty acids and amino acids were turning brown in relation to their unsaturation degree. Mixtures of vegetable oils deposited on cellulose fibres were less coloured than if they were oxidized in presence of amino acids. The rate of browning increased with the degree of unsaturation in case of vegetable oils similarly as in case of free fatty acids. The browning degree was nearly the same in mixtures of oxidized fatty acids or vegetable oils with alanine, valine, lysine, serine or cystine, the browning was intermediate in mixtures with cysteine or methionine, but it was substantially more intensive in mixtures with proline or tryptophan. No significant difference was observed among different oils, but the discolouration was less rapid in case of low unsaturated peanut oil and more rapid in case of highly unsaturated linseed oil. The browning rate increased to a substantial degree with increasing cupric ion content, but decreased after addition of both synthetic and natural antioxidants, which decrease the oxidation rate.

Treatment with the water and tropical lemon juice extract powders from acerola fruit purees and leaves (100 mg/kg) significantly ameliorates the hepatic inflammatory responses such as increased serum levels of AST, ALT, and GGT in rats subjected to acute D-galactosamine (GalN) intoxication. The protective effects of their constituents could be related to their antioxidant activities to neutralise free radicals to attenuate hepatic lipid peroxidation and thus can protect liver damage. The effect of the water extract powder from fruit purees (100 mg/kg) was moderately stronger than that of ascorbic acid (10 mg/kg), but weaker than that of cyanidin-3-O-rhamnoglucoside (13.3 mg/kg). The water and lemon juice extract powders from Acerola fruit purees possess the 18.6 and 24.1-fold higher DPPH radical scavenging activities, respectively, than those from leaves, the higher so for those extracted with lemon juice than for those extracted with water. The vitamin C contents were much more higher in the extract powders from fruit purees compared with those from leaves. γ-Tocopherol predominated in the extract powders from fruit purees and α-tocopherol in those from leaves. Polyphenolic compounds were identified and analysed by GC/MS-SIM after acid hydrolysis, extraction and derivatisation to trimethylsilyl ethers.

Phytoestrogens represent biologically active compounds showing estrogenic activity similar to that of sex hormones - estrogens. Various adverse effects such as sterility, increase of females' genitals, lost of males' copulation activity, etc. were observed in farm animals after exposure to higher amounts of fodder containing phytoestrogens. On the other side, their presence in human diet is nowadays the object of many research studies concerned with prevention of breast and prostate cancer, osteoporosis and other hormone-linked diseases by dietary intake of phytoestrogens. Soya (Glycine max) is one of the main sources of these compounds in diet. Isoflavones daidzein and genistein occurring either free or bound in glycosides are the main phytoestrogens in this food crop. Coumesterol representing coumestans is another effective phytoestrogen contained in some eddible plants. In the first part of our study, analytical method for determination of free and total phytoestrogens was developed and validated. Following steps are included: (i) acid hydrolysis (only for "total phytoestrogens" analysis), (ii) extraction with methanol/water mixture, (iii) SPE preconcentration; (iv) identification/quantification using HPLC/DAD/FLD. The aim of present study was to document the fate of phytoestrogens and their forms during household/industrial processing. As documented in our experiments the most dynamic changes of phytoestrogen levels occur during soyabeans sprouting. High levels of coumestrol even exceeding other phytoestrogens were detected on this occasion.

Coffee acylglycerols hydrolysis and free fatty acids (FFA) oxidation reactions produce a FFA evolution that can affect to coffee quality during storage. The aim of this work was to study and to compare the FFA evolution of two ground roasted coffee samples: Brazilian Arabica 100% (A100) and Brazilian Arabica-India Cherry Robusta blend (A80:R20). Coffees were packaged under vacuum and stored at 25°C during 180 days. A significantly higher FFA initial concentration in A80:R20 coffee was observed. However, at 180 days, a higher increase of FFA concentration was shown in A100 sample. In conclusion, FFA oxidation seemed to be faster in A80:R20 blend than in A100.

In this work monoesters of sucrose and 􀑑-glucose with fatty acids (both even and odd) were prepared as pure substances using the direct selective esterification of free sugar with bulky acylating agent. This compounds were examined for their antibacterial activity (against Gram-positive bacteria) and antifungal activity.

The sources of reducing sugars and free asparagine of two different cracker products were identified, and acrylamide formation during baking was measured. The application of an asparaginase decreased the acrylamide content by at least 70% in both products. Replacing ammonium hydrogencarbonate by sodium hydrogencarbonate as baking agent and replacing reducing sugars by sucrose resulted in almost 80% less acrylamide in the wheat cracker. Decreasing free asparagine and reducing sugars in the ingredients and a lower end-temperature during baking lowered the acrylamide content of the potato cracker by about 50%.

Fat blends for manufacture of trans isomer-free emulsified fats are prepared by blending of 20-30% of structured fat with vegetable oil. Structured fats on the base of trisaturated triglycerides are produced by basic or enzymatic catalyzed transesterification of fully hydrogenated coconut oil with fully hydrogenated palmstearine or low erucic rapeseed oil. Physical properties of transesterificated structured fats produced by enzymatic reaction using immobilized sn-1,3 specific lipase Lipozyme TL IM or by randomization are similar. The replacement of palmitic acid with stearic acid without any changes in the ratio between medium chain FA and long chain FA was observed too. Fat blends contain mixture of β` and β crystals, the replacement of palmitic acid with stearic acid in structured fat does not influence neither crystalline modification nor SFC profiles but it has a significant effect on fat blend consistency.

Food raw materials and products contain inhibitors of oxidation reactions, both in the lipidic phase and the aqueous phase. The most important inhibitors are phenolic antioxidants. During food processing and storage, concentrations of antioxidants in the two phases reach an equilibrium. Phenolics react with lipidic free radicals, being converted into antioxidant free radicals, quinones, polymers and copolymers. Some degradation products possess an antioxidant activity, too. The relative antioxidant activity decreases with decreasing concentration of oxygen in the system and with increasing temperature. Antioxidants are more rapidly decomposed in surface layers. Health aspects of antioxidant degradation products are often neglected as the safety of antioxidant degradation products is mostly unknown.

The aim of our study was to investigate the influence of nutrition on the urinary excretion of Amadori products, pyrraline and pentosidine in a dietary study involving 18 healthy volunteers. Starting with day two, participants had to avoid Maillard product containing food for a period of 7 days, followed by day nine without dietary restrictions. Samples of 24 h-urine were collected and analysed for free furosine, pyrraline and pentosidine using dedicated chromatographic methods. For all MRPs, a significant decrease in the amount excreted with urine was observed due to the MRP-free diet. Urinary excretion of free pyrraline and fructoselysine, which was calculated from furosine analysis, were lowered about 90% from 3.9 ± 1.4 mg/d to 0.4 ± 0.3 mg/d and 7.2 ± 4.1 mg/d to 0.9 ± 0.2 mg/d, respectively. Urinary excretion of free pentosidine was only in the μg/d range and its decrease added up to 50% from 7.3 ± 3.7 μg/d to 3.4 ± 1.1 μg/d. These results indicate that renal excretion of MRPs is directly affected by dietary intake of those. With respect to the daily intake via heated foods, mainly as proteinbound derivatives, pyrraline seems to be of better bioavailability than the Amadori product and pentosidine. This points to different metabolic pathways. Whereas metabolic transformation of AGEs may quantitatively be of little importance, the major part of ingested Amadori products seems to be degraded in vivo.

Fish communities of the Bečva River were studied in summer and autumn 2000 and 2001. Electric fishing gear (Honda EX 1000, DC 230 V, 0.75-0.9 kW) was used for sampling. Four sampling sites (Grymov 19.6 r. km, Rybáře 35.8 r. km, Hustopeče 50.7 and Choryně 54.7 r. km) were selected. Total of 23 fish species representing 5 families were determined. The family Cyprinidae with 15 species was dominant while Salmonidae, Balitoridae, Percidae and Gadidae were the other recorded families. Species diversity ranged from 9 at Hustopeče to 20 at Grymov localities. The lowest biomass and abundance were observed at Hustopeče locality (28.93 kg/ha and 336 fishes/ha) and the highest at Choryně locality (612.90 kg/ha and 7 367 fishes/ha). Barbus barbus, Chondrostoma nasus and Leuciscus cephalus contributed 87.73-97.55% and 60.5%-87% to total biomass and abundance in different samplings, respectively. The Chondrostoma nasus population was dominated by fish of total length over 300 mm. We believe that river fragmentation, trapping and blockade of fish are the main reasons for this irregular distribution. Index of diversity ranged from 0.811 to 2.05 and equitability index from 0.449 to 0.821. Physical and chemical parameters were also measured, pH value ranged from 7.8 to 9.8, DO (7.62-12.15 mg/l), conductivity (450-639 µS/cm), N-NH₄ (0.65-2.39 mg/l), P-PO₄ (0.12-0.68 mg/l)and alkalinity (2.55 to 3.40 mg/l).