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Sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.) is a key cash crop, and its production is influenced by a variety of phytopathogens in different parts of the world. During consecutive field surveys, sugarcane stalks with red rot symptoms were observed in three provinces of Pakistan (Punjab, Sindh, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa). Cane samples with visible symptoms were plated on Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA) media. Morphological and microscopic observations identified this pathogen as Colletotrichum falcatum. Comparative molecular study of amplified sequences of β-tubulin (Bt) and Actin (ACT) genes showed 100% similarity and ITS sequence showed 99% similarity with C. falcatum. For in vitro control of red rot, eight bacterial strains from the rhizosphere of sugarcane were isolated. These strains showed variable growth inhibition of C. falcatum in dual culture method. Among all tested strains, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens and B. altitudinis exhibited best antifungal activities. Based on these results, tested bacterial strains (B. amyloliquefaciens and B. altitudinis) can be recommended as effective biocontrol agents to manage red rot disease of sugarcane.

The choice of variety, sowing time and optimum nutrition are important management options to optimise the seed yield. Accordingly, an experiment comprising of 18 treatments was conducted during the winter 2017–2018 and 2018–2019 in a factorial randomized block design, replicated three times to assess the response of pea genotypes (DPP-SP-6, Him Palam Matar-1 and Pb-89) to the seeding time (26th October and 10th November) and nutrient levels (0, 100 and 125% of the recommended NPK). The individual treatment effects revealed that early sowing, application of 125% NPK and DPP-SP-6 were significantly superior for the seed yield and related traits. The interaction effects indicated a significant response of the 125% NPK on the early sown crop for the seed yield, harvest index and NPK uptake. Significantly highest soil available NPK were obtained at 125% NPK with a respective increase of 41.54, 5.90 and 30.82 kg/ha, respectively, over the initial status. Early sowing of DPP-SP-6 with an application of 125% NPK is a better preposition for enhancing the productivity of peas.

The negative consequences faced by the entire planet, the intensification of natural disasters, global warming, lowering the level of groundwater, deforestation, deterioration of corals and the underwater world, soil degradation, and the change of species diversity, testify to the necessity of introducing reforms in the agricultural-food complex. Fulfilling such a goal and creating added value of innovation potential can only be created in the conditions of functioning structures strengthened by system support, which requires reviewing and introducing change in food systems. The recent financial crisis, later the pandemic, and the current going military conflict in Ukraine, caused problems in supplier-customer relations, and made humanity feel how the issue of food security and self-sufficiency can be easily and quickly disrupted. If farmers and food producers are to be able to respond to challenges and at the same time ensure the EU’s strategic goals, it is necessary to have support in research and innovation. Agricultural research and innovation in the EU is characterised by a long-term strategic approach that focuses on creating value from the land through sustainable primary production and strengthening rural innovation. It is an important tool in the fight against challenges such as climate change, environmental degradation, and biodiversity loss. In view of the above, it is necessary to transform food systems, apply regenerative agriculture, introduce alternative land-saving farming systems, observe the principles of sowing procedures and greater diversification of crops in the sowing procedure, reduce the consumption of agrochemicals, naturally integrate plant and animal production into agricultural business entities in relation to the circular economy, use farm waste for bioenergy production, protect agricultural land, implement measures to retain water in the country and support regions

Among the varieties of pineapples, honey pineapple is suitable to be processed as a probiotic beverage. The study aimed to evaluate the honey pineapple juice as a growth medium for Lactiplantibacillus plantarum subsp. plantarum Dad-13 probiotic strain. The pineapple juice was fermented by adding a starter culture of L. plantarum Dad-13. The fermentation time (0, 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, and 24 h) was used as a variable. The number of L. plantarum Dad-13 cells increased significantly after fermentation (P < 0.05). In acidic pineapple juice L. plantarum Dad-13 can still grow more than 2 log cycles. After 16 h, the results showed the best characteristics with cell count (8.86 log CFU·mL^–1), pH (3.52), and titratable acidity (0.59%). To balance the sour taste, the 8% sucrose addition was the most preferred by the panellists (n = 67), with a 5.74 (slightly like) overall acceptance score. After 42 days, there was no significant decrease in cell viability. The number of cells on day 42 was 8.81 log CFU·mL^–1 with significant changes in pH and titratable acidity. The study showed that honey pineapple juice is a suitable growth medium for L. plantarum Dad-13.

Innate immunity is the organism’s first line of defence, and the receptors of immune cells play a key role. Interleukin 1 receptor-associated kinase 1 and 4 (IRAK1 and IRAK4) are necessary for signal transmission from Toll-like receptors, which are the most important receptors of immune cells. The main objective of this study was to investigate the gene polymorphisms of IRAK1 and IRAK4 in Czech Fleckvieh cattle (CF) and to compare their diversity with other cattle breeds as there is still little information about these genes. PacBio Technology of next-generation sequencing (NGS) was used to detect genetic variability in 164 CF bulls. The results revealed 17 single nucleotide variants (SNVs) in the IRAK1 gene and 12 SNVs and three deletions in the IRAK4 gene. Three methods were then used to determine allelic variability: Sanger sequencing, the primer extension method and Illumina DNA BeadChip microarray in cooperation with the Czech Moravian Breeder’s Corporation. Sanger sequencing enabled analysis of the population variability in single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) rs210710958 and rs48726521 of IRAK1 in 164 CF bulls. SNaPshot genotyping was employed to determine the allelic frequencies of SNP rs211379365 and a novel polymorphism in IRAK1, and rs380202447 in the IRAK4 gene. DNA microarray method, which was applied to 74 CF dairy cows, revealed the allelic frequency of IRAK1 rs110533802 including the frequency 0.07 of mutant allele T. Additional microarray data allowed the comparison of the allelic frequencies among the Czech and Hungarian populations of Holstein dairy cows and beef breed populations. The results show that the functionally significant diversity in the IRAK1 and IRAK4 genes in the studied CF population is rather limited. The higher frequency 0.4 of the T mutant allele of SNP rs110533802 of IRAK1 in Holstein cattle could be the consequence of breeding for milk performance.

The present review deals with a particularly important topic: the use of functional amino acids in different categories of pigs. It is especially relevant in the context of the current efforts to reduce the use of antibiotics in pig farming and the search for possible alternatives to replace them. The review is based on the definition that functional amino acids (FAAs) are classified as dispensable amino acids, but with additional biological functions, i.e., not only are they used for protein formation, but they are also involved in regulating essential metabolic pathways to improve health, survival, growth, and development. We describe the mechanism of action of individual FAAs and their potential use in pigs, including glutamate, glutamine, arginine, branched-chain amino acids (i.e., leucine, isoleucine, and valine), tryptophan and glycine. The work is divided into three parts. The first part deals with the FAAs and their role in the overall health of sows and their offspring. The second part describes the use of functional amino acids in piglets after weaning. Part three examines the use of functional amino acids in growing and fattening pigs and their impact on meat quality.

Bisphenols (BP) are pollutants that are globally and widely distributed and adversely affect the health of humans. However, knowledge of their presence in animals, especially farm animals such as pigs, remains limited. In this study, the incidence of bisphenol A (BPA) and its five analogues – bisphenol B (BPB), bisphenol F (BPF), bisphenol S (BPS), bisphenol Z (BPZ) and bisphenol AF (BPAF) – was monitored in lactating sows on an actual pig farm. The urine samples of 27 sows were collected twice on the 3^rd day after parturition, and stored at –20 °C until analysis using MDGC/MS. None of the lactating sows produced bisphenol-free urine. In contrast, the urine of all sows contained at least two bisphenols (eight females), most often five (10 females) or all six bisphenols (five females). The average concentrations of bisphenols in urine were in the order of BPB > BPA and BPS > BPZ > BPAF > BPF. The most frequently detected bisphenol was BPB (96.0% of samples) followed by BPA (89.0%), BPAF (78.0%), BPS (63.0%), BPF (52.0%) and BPZ (37.0%). Additionally, the proportion of BPB in the total bisphenol concentration in urine samples was the highest (28.74 to 93.85%) while that of BPF was the lowest (2.33 to 16.70%). Estimated daily intakes of bisphenols as well as hazard quotients were much lower than risk thresholds established for the human population, indicating safe doses for the health status of lactating sows. However, these findings are limited as the mechanism of BPA analogue’ activity is still unclear, and the long-term effects of small doses of bisphenols and the potential harmful impact of BP mixtures are unknown. Knowledge of the occurrence of bisphenols in pig farming may contribute to the elimination of BPA and its analogues from this sector, which is crucial for the safety of animal products as well as the welfare of pigs.

Poplar species such as aspen (Populus tremula L.) play a very important role in the forest formation process not only in Eastern European regions. Unfortunately, such aspen stands are often severely affected by fungal diseases, causing mainly core rot. In this study, the indirect effects of thinning on the phytosanitary condition of aspen by promotion of tree growth were investigated. Two thinning methods, manual (thinning from below) and mechanical thinning (schematic), were applied to young stands dominated by Eurasian aspen to study their effects on tree growth and health. All trees were measured at breast height and diameter frequency distribution was determined twice, i.e. three and 24 years after the beginning of the experiment. In addition, during the second measurement, tree-ring samples were obtained from individual trees to evaluate growth and wood decay damage. Neither manual nor mechanical thinning of aspen significantly increased its growth at the stand level, but positive effects on individual trees were observed in plots where mechanical thinning was applied. The thicker the trees, the less decayed they were. The analysis suggests that thinning in general should not be used to increase stand production, but the positive effects of mechanical thinning on individual aspens can be recommended to promote the growth of individual vigorous trees.

The last years have seen a momentous transformation in Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). The focus of interventions has shifted from production toward rural development but recognising the role of farmers. Although the attitudes of farmers to CAP have long been previously studied, little attention has been focused on the views of citizens. Using data from the ‘Special Eurobarometer 520: Europeans, Agriculture and the CAP’, we sought to provide a clearer understanding of citizens’ opinions about the future of agriculture and rural areas in the European Union. In particular, we assessed rural-urban differences and examined disparities across countries, paying attention to the importance of rural development in the planned expenditure under CAP 2023–2027. The results showed that the perceived importance is higher for respondents living in rural areas and that there are disparities across countries. From a policy perspective, targeted efforts should be made in each country to address the specific challenges each country faces.

The present study aimed to investigate the effect of catalase (CAT) on the growth performance, antioxidation, and microbial metabolism of weaned rabbits. Dietary treatments consisted of control and CAT supplementation at 100 (T1), 150 (T2), and 200 IU/kg of diet (T3). A total of 240 weaned rabbits were randomly assigned to 4 groups with 6 replicates of 10 rabbits each. The feeding trial lasted for 28 days. Results showed that T2 and T3 increased (P < 0.05) body weight gain and gain/feed ratio, and decreased (P < 0.05) diarrhoea rate, compared to the control. Also, serum antioxidative parameters and oxidative stress products were beneficially regulated (P < 0.05) by the dietary CAT administration. Faecal microbiota including Bacteroidetes, Prevotella, and Bifidobacterium in T2 or T3 was increased (P < 0.05). Dietary CAT with changed microbiota further influenced the metabolites from carbohydrates and proteins, evidenced by increased lactic acid, acetate, branched-chain fatty acids, and short-chain fatty acids, and decreased valerate, isovalerate, methylamine, tryptamine, putrescine, cadaverine, spermidine, and total amines. It is concluded that CAT can be used to improve growth performance by beneficially regulating the antioxidation, microbiota, and metabolites in weaned rabbits.

The gilt development level is a critical factor for profitability in the pig industry. To evaluate the impact of different gilt development levels on the age structure and production efficiency of female herds we used the performance data of a pig farm that was simulated over a ten-year period, with current production statistics from the Chinese pig industry as a basis for the model. In a herd of 600 breeding sows, we compared age structure, number born alive (NBA), longevity and sow lifetime productivity in three scenarios with gilt culling rates of 10%, 20%, and 30%. The results show that the gilt development has no significant effects on the age structure. The gilt development had no significant effects either on sow reproductive performance or production efficiency. However, the annual replacement rate, longevity, and sow lifetime productivity varied significantly in the three levels of gilt development (P < 0.01). We conclude that the gilt development is closely related to herd turnover and reproductive performance, and ultimately affects the cost of pig production. Gilt development is, therefore, an extremely important factor in an integrated pig production system.

Understanding buying behaviour for sustainable products is important for food producers and distributors. This study aims to examine the effect of knowledge of the product, interest in sustainability, and characteristics of consumers on the frequency of buying sustainably produced butter using the Stimulus-Organism-Response (SOR) model. In this study, two different types of butter were used, one produced by a well-known brand and the other by a less-known dairy. Data were collected through a structured online survey of 825 respondents from Poland. The research found that knowledge about the product and the sustainability-related product attributes does not positively influence the frequency of purchasing sustainable butter. The results indicate that consumers living in smaller towns, having higher incomes and smaller households, are more frequent buyers of sustainably produced butter.

The present study aimed to evaluate the Clostridium spp. counts in corn silage, raw milk and Kaşar cheese and to identify the clostridial isolates causing a late-blowing defect (LBD) potential using matrix-assisted laser desorption-ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS). Lactate-fermenting clostridial spores (LFCS) were determined by the most probable number method (MPN) in 14 samples of corn silage, 12 samples of raw milk and 20 samples of Kaşar cheese. 181 isolates were obtained from MPN gas-positive tubes. Gram staining, catalase and oxidase activity, anaerobic development tests and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) imaging showed that 95 isolates were typical clostridial bacteria. Sixty-six isolates could maintain viability during the passage and stock stages. A confirmatory identification technique was then performed using MALDI-TOF MS. The results revealed that (49 out of 66 isolates) of bacteria were correctly identified as 38 (77.55%) Clostridium sporogenes, 6 (12.24%) Clostridium butyricum, 3 (6.12%) Clostridium beijerinckii, 1 (2.04%) Clostridium bifermentans and 1 (2.04%) Clostridium sartagoforme. This study determined that clostridial isolates that cause LBD can be identified successfully and quickly by MALDI-TOF MS, a novel method for detecting anaerobic bacteria.

Herbivorous ungulate diets affect population performance and overall forest health through balanced interactions on plant-herbivore relations; therefore, understanding them is critical. Faeces are frequently used in ungulate nutritional ecology because they can provide information about animals’ digestive efficiency. Roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) and red deer (Cervus elaphus) have different morpho-physiological and ecological constraints, and these differences should be reflected in their faeces. On the other hand, the lack of information about the animal (sex, age, reproductive status, diet selection, etc.) may be challenging for such studies. This study aimed to detect species’ different susceptibility to these factors reflected in animals’ faeces. Thus, we hypothesised that near-infrared reflectance spectrometry (NIRS) could distinguish between the faecal nutrients of two cervids. We collected 94 usable faeces from both species along the forest transect in Bohemian forests in the Czech Republic, covering 2 500 ha. Roe and red deer overlap was determined using the four faecal nutritional components on two axes. No discrimination occurred, refuting our hypothesis and highlighting that out-of-control variables are critical for faecal studies in uncontrolled settings. Fibrous parts explained the most variance (48%), indicating animals’ strong reliance on nutrition quality. Apparently, uncontrolled supplementary feeding produced similar faecal nutrient outcomes during the nutrition-limiting winter, which was theoretically supported by the animal’s response to predation and hunting pressure. The inability of NIRS to identify the source of N in faeces may also explain the lack of discrimination.

Raspberry has acquired great interest in human health due to its content of bioactive compounds that provide protection against diseases caused by non-communicable diseases. Bioactive compounds are mainly represented by secondary metabolites such as phenols, anthocyanins, and flavonoids. Biostimulants and elicitors are substances or microorganisms that provide protection and defence to the physiological processes of plants. The present study evaluated the effect of two elicitors (hydrogen peroxide, salicylic acid) and three biostimulants (humic and fulvic acids, glutamic acid, seaweed extracts) on the content of bioactive compounds in raspberry fruits, agronomic and fruit yield parameters in plants. Hydrogen peroxide increased the content of bioactive compounds such as flavonoids, anthocyanins, omega 3 and oleic acid. Salicylic acid increased the content of flavonoids, anthocyanins, and citric acid in raspberry fruits; the number of fruit loaders and fruits per plant was also increased. Humic and fulvic acids, glutamic acid, and glutamic acid combined with seaweed extracts increased the content of flavonoids and anthocyanins, without affecting growth parameters and fruit yield. Glutamic acid and seaweed extracts were the only treatments that increased the content of palmitic acid, while seaweed extracts increased °Brix content in fruits.

Development of methods for bioremediation of soils contaminated with petroleum products is one of the most urgent tasks of our time. This task is more difficult to perform in high-mountainous landscapes, at an altitude of more than 4 000 m a.s.l. Moreover, these high-mountain ecosystems are the most vulnerable to various kinds of anthropogenic impacts, and therefore the relevance of bioremediation is obvious. The research was conducted in the high-altitude ecosystems of the Kyrgyz Republic at the Kumtor mine. In this study was carried out on the bioremediation of oil contaminated soil using biostimulation, bioaugmentation and biostimulation + bioaugmentation remediation techniques for 90 days in the climatic conditions of high mountain region. The biostimulation treatment showed the highest total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH) biodegradation percentage 62.78% compared to the bioaugmentation 50.63% and biostimulation + bioaugmentation 49.11%. Thus, the method of biostimulation proved to be the most effective method for bioremediation of soils contaminated with petroleum products. The application of this method could be one of the successful methods of recycling contaminated soils. This study demonstrated the possibility of restoring TPH-polluted soils using biological methods of soil treatment in climatic cold conditions of high mountains.

Tail biting in pigs represents a very serious problem in modern pig farming, particularly with the intensification of the industry. It is considered a multifactorial syndrome and can be caused by various factors, leading to significant economic losses through reduced weight gain and partial or total condemnation of slaughtered carcasses due to secondary bacterial infections. The aim of this article is to summarise the current knowledge regarding tail biting in pigs, with a primary focus on the use of slaughterhouses for evaluating tail lesions and monitoring their prevalence. The introduction addresses the factors influencing the incidence of tail biting in pig farms and prevention strategies. Subsequent sections cover topics such as tail docking, the negative effects of pig tail biting, the advantages and drawbacks of examining tail lesions in slaughterhouses, and the methodical procedure for evaluating such lesions. Additionally, the article discusses the relationship between tail lesions and meat inspection findings, as well as the prevalence of tail lesions in various European countries.

Sorghum production energy input-output balance was studied during the 2020/2021 production year in Hararghe lowland areas of Ethiopia under farming methods practised by the farmers. The study aimed to assess the energy input and output and to analyse the energy use efficiency of sorghum production under farming practices of the farmers using the recently adopted early maturing varieties. Three sorghum varieties were used with Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) in 3 replications. Production inputs were uniformly applied to the entire unit plots. The average total production energy input was 12 188.07 MJ·ha^–1 in which chemical fertiliser and mechanical energy contributed 47.40% (5 771.48 MJ·ha^–1) and 43.60% (5 314.10 MJ·ha^–1), respectively. The highest energy consumer stage was top-dressing followed by land preparation and sowing stages with values of 33.7, 25.20 and 20.20% of the total input, respectively. The remaining 20.90% of the input was distributed among the rest production operations. The mean energy output of 77 284.59 MJ·ha^–1 for Makko was significantly higher than that of Qaqaba and Malkam varieties. Makko was also superior to Malkam and Qaqaba in mean energy ratio with values of 6.31, 5.48 and 5.84, respectively.

This study explored the regulatory effect of temperature stress on fatty acid biosynthesis in the early stage of common carp (Cyprinus carpio) based on Δ6-fatty acids desaturase (Δ6FAD) and elongase-5 (ELOVL5) gene expression and fatty acid composition. One-day-old carp larvae were selected, and after seven days of acclimatisation at 25 °C, the larvae were subjected to temperature stress for 96 h in water at 32 °C or 10 °C. In the post-larval stage, 30-day-old carp juveniles were selected and, after seven days of acclimatisation at 25 °C, were subjected to temperature stress for seven days in water at 32 °C or 10 °C. The results showed that common carp larvae could rapidly and highly express Δ6FAD and ELOVL5 genes within 48 h at high temperature (32 °C) compared with the 0 h group (P < 0.05), while gene expression began to gradually increase after 48 h at low temperature (10 °C). There was a significant improvement in C22:6n-3 and C20:5n-3 after 96 h at low temperature compared with the 0 h group (P < 0.05). In common carp juveniles, the Δ6FAD gene in the intestine, brain and liver was sensitive to low temperature, but the ELOVL5 gene in the intestine, brain and liver of common carp was sensitive to high temperature. The low temperature increased the amount of highly unsaturated fatty acids (HUFA) in the common carp juveniles. The results indicated that temperature could regulate the expression of the Δ6FAD and ELOVL5 genes for HUFA production, as well as for participation in the biosynthesis of fatty acids in the body during the early development of common carp. The results of this study help clarify the regulatory effects of temperature on fatty acid biosynthesis during the early development of common carp.

The recovery and utilization of onion processing waste would contribute to the solution of environmental problems. This research presents the way of successful supplementation of onion processing waste in mayonnaise. Different levels (0, 1, 2, and 3%) of onion waste powder (OWP) were used as an additive to mayonnaise, based on sunflower oil. The final mayonnaise formulations were evaluated for sensory properties, rheological behaviour, oxidative stability, total phenolic content, total flavonoids, and antioxidant activity. The results indicated that OWP could be used as a potential health-promoting functional ingredient in amounts of 2% to produce mayonnaise enriched with total phenolic compounds and flavonoids, having high antioxidant activity, acceptable quality, and overall consumer preference.

Companies must provide economic, environmental and social added value based on innovation strategies, design and creative thinking in a globalised and competitive world characterised by rapid change and constantly evolving technologies. In this context, this paper analyses the role of design practice in companies in the agri-food sector (i.e. what is the design component present like; what are its relevance and importance?) An exploratory, descriptive study was conducted with 30 companies in southeast (SE) Spain’s fruit/vegetable sector. The findings reveal that all the surveyed companies make financial investments in design and positively value this (7.6 out of 10), which indicates they recognise its strategic and operative importance. However, integration, training and design promotion in the agri-food sector remains somewhat limited. Most companies lack an in-house design department or design professionals as staff members and perform mainly design activities limited to the visual and communication tasks related to marketing initiatives. These results unveil opportunities for enhancing design incorporation and appreciation in the agri-food sector, which could boost its competitiveness and differentiation in the market. Finally, this study can be considered a starting point for future development in line with the horticultural sector’s theory, practice, and design management policies.

The development and provision of soil spectral library (SSL) could facilitate the application of near infrared (NIR) spectroscopy for economical, accurate, and efficient determination of soil organic matter (SOM). In this work, the performances of partial least squares regression (PLSR) and convolutional neural network (CNN) combined with the datasets of Zhejiang provincial SSL (ZSSL) and the feature subset (FS) were compared for the prediction of SOM at the target field. The FS dataset was chosen from ZSSL based on similarity to the spectral characteristics of the target samples. The results showed that compared with modelling using ZSSL, modelling using FS can greatly improve the prediction accuracy of the PLSR model, but the impact on the performance of the CNN model was limited. The method of mean squared Euclidean distance (MSD) was an effective way for determining the optimal spiking sample size for the PLSR model only using the spectral data of the spiking subset and the prediction set. The PLSR model combined with the FS dataset and the spiking subset determined by MSD achieved the optimal prediction results among all developed models, which is an accurate and easy-to-implement solution for the SOM determination based on ZSSL.

The gliding arc cold plasma treatment of wheat seeds is an alternative to chemical seed dressing, but this treatment is not very effective. This study was focused on testing the addition of salt, water and nitrogenous compounds during plasma treatment to increase the efficiency of the plasma seed treatment. The additives were not supplied in the gaseous state, as usual, but in an aqueous solution by spraying under a plasma nozzle during the treatment. The phytosanitary effect of the plasma treatment was evaluated based on the germination of Tilletia caries spores from artificially infected seeds on water agar. The viability of the seeds, growth and yield characteristics of the plasma-treated seeds were evaluated in the laboratory, greenhouse and even in field experiments with the primary goal of reducing spore vitality. The germination of T. caries spores was mostly limited to the variant with the addition of water during plasma treatment, where spore germination reached only 32.7% of the control variant while maintaining sufficient growth properties. The experiment demonstrated the suitability of using the addition of various substances during plasma treatment in the form of aqueous solutions and increasing the effectiveness of this treatment.

Lipid-rich bovine serum albumin (LR-BSA) has been reported to increase the survival rate of blastocysts after freezing and thawing. However studies on the early development of in vitro fertilised (IVF) embryos are still insufficient in cattle. This study investigated the blastocyst productivity of in vitro culture (IVC) medium (synthetic oviductal fluid medium with amino acids, mSOFaa) supplemented with 5% fetal bovine serum (FBS, Control) or LR-BSA (1, 2.5, 5 mg/ml dosages, respectively) and the qualitative characteristics of produced blastocysts. Cleavage rates on day 2 were similar between all groups. Significant differences were obtained in the blastocyst rate in the 2.5LR-BSA group compared with the control (23.5% vs 35.7%, P < 0.05). Hatching rates were significantly higher in all treatment groups than in control (P < 0.05). The cell number in blastocysts did not differ among groups, but the apoptotic index in the 5.0LR-BSA group was higher than the control (P < 0.05). The expression of embryo quality-related markers was affected. Octamer-binding transcription factor 4 (Oct4), placenta associated 8 (Plac8), and sex-determining region Y-box 2 (Sox2) genes expression in the 2.5LR-BSA group were significantly up-regulated compared to the control (P < 0.05). Cytoplasmic lipid contents and the lipid droplet formation-related gene, sterol regulatory element binding transcription factor 1 (Srebf1), were significantly increased in the 5.0LR-BSA group (P < 0.05). Therefore, the LR-BSA supplementation (2.5 mg/ml) to mSOFaa medium could contribute to the early development of bovine IVF embryos and the qualitative improvement of the resulting blastocysts.

Water activity (a_w) is a key factor influencing dry-cured meat products' safety. However, the standards for determining a_w do not specify how the laboratory sample for self-analysis should be prepared and adjusted for determination in this type of food. This work aimed to verify whether the place of sampling and method of sample preparation of dry-cured meat products can influence the measured value of a_w. For this purpose, samples of dry-cured heat-treated and fermented meat products were purchased from the local market. Samples before analysis were taken from the edges and centre of the meat products, and preparation consisted of: i) homogenisation; ii) dicing (4 × 4 × 4 mm); iii) slicing. The results of this work indicate that a_w is significantly affected by both the part of the product from which the sample is taken and the method of preparation of the sample itself (P < 0.05). The highest measured values of a_w were determined in samples prepared by slicing, and the lowest values were determined in homogenised samples. The place of sampling significantly affects the a_w, especially for dry-cured heat-treated products.

Portulaca oleracea is a widespread herbaceous plant particularly rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), antioxidant compounds and characterised by a healthy omega-6/omega-3 ratio. The focus of this research was to evaluate the effects of Portulaca oleracea supplementation to the diet of laying hens on productive performance, egg physical traits, fatty acid composition and cholesterol content. Twenty-six 24-week-old Warren strain layers were randomly assigned to two different groups of 18 and eight birds, respectively: one group received a commercial diet (C) whereas the other group was given the same control diet supplemented with 20% of dried Portulaca oleracea (PO). Hens were fed for 21 days. Feed and water were provided ad libitum. The poor palatability of the PO diet compromised the optimisation of the productive performance, with a significant reduction of the oviposition efficiency (0.69 vs 0.88 for PO and C, respectively; P < 0.05) and egg physical traits. Considering the egg nutritional traits, dietary PO significantly decreased the yolk proportion of saturated fatty acid (43.0% vs 44.1%, P < 0.05), while it increased the content of PUFA (19.4% vs 17.8%, P < 0.001), and within the latter, both omega-6 and omega-3 proportion significantly increased in comparison with C group (16.4% vs 17.6%, P < 0.001 and 1.46% vs 1.80%, P < 0.001, for n-6 and n-3, respectively). This resulted in an improvement of the omega-6/omega-3 ratio (10.4 vs 11.3 for PO and C, respectively; P < 0.05). Egg yolk cholesterol content did not vary between dietary treatments. It could be concluded that the use of Portulaca oleracea for producing omega-3-enriched eggs is feasible once the problem of palatability has been overcome and the energy requirements of the hens have been covered.

Adequate assessment of ecosystem services is important for the development of policies and management plans related to forestry activities and the environment. Carefully identified ecosystem values can determine which options policy makers should prioritize to provide the greatest benefit. There are numerous methods used by researchers to evaluate ecosystem services. The most widely applied methods are monetary valuation methods, they are often deemed to be the most pragmatic language when it comes to communication with political and business institutions. The main goal of this review is to analyse available literature using the methodology particular to the scoping review approach in order to identify and describe valuation methods that can be applied for monetary assessment of ecosystem services. As a result of the scoping review, over 20 monetary valuation techniques (including several less common methods such as willingness to sell and Delphi method) were derived from 16 literature sources. In the process of compiling the range of different methods, a few flaws and gaps in the communication of methods were observed such as lack of consistency in the names of different methods and mixing up concepts. In addition, a few areas for future research are suggested.

SNF1-related protein kinase (SnRK2) is a critical positive regulatory factor in the abscisic acid (ABA) signalling pathway. However, the roles of the HbSnRK2 gene family members in the rubber tree, especially in response to stress, have not been thoroughly characterised. Here, we cloned six HbSnRK2 genes from the rubber tree. Based on the phylogenetic analysis, the HbSnRK2 family genes were divided into three groups. The motifs and intron numbers of HbSnRK2 were conserved. Analysis of cis-regulatory element sequences of all HbSnRK2 genes identified ABRE and TC-rich elements in the prompter of all the HbSnRK2 genes, illustrating that HbSnRK2 could be adjusted by the ABA and stress responsiveness. The qRT-PCR analysis showed that the expression patterns of the six HbSnRK2 genes differed in different tissues. The expression of these genes also differed under treatment with the plant hormone ABA, the HbSnRK2.2 gene was especially significantly expressed under the ABA treatment. Moreover, the HbSnRK2.2 gene responded to glyphosate, powdery mildew, heat stress and cold stress processes, which indicates that the HbSnRK2.2 gene plays an important role in phytohormone signalling and stress response in rubber trees. Taken together, the study provides valuable information to further define the role of the HbSnRK2 gene in rubber trees.

3D printing is widely used method. In the term of developing of components for electronic devices, it is important to provide the good physical properties of the used dielectric. The main parameters are optional and stable value of the relative permittivity and the minimum dielectric losses of the material. The paper is focused on testing of loss factor and relative permittivity of following materials: polylactic acid (PLA, in two dye modifications), polyethylene terephthalateglycol (PET- G) and acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) in the frequency range of 1-100 MHz. It was proven, that the values of permittivity of the tested materials were 2.9-4.2 and loss factor 0.8-4%. Concerning relative permittivity, the tendency to mild linear drop of relation was observed by increasing frequency, especially expressed in PLA materials. In loss factor, PLA materials displayed increasing values with increasing frequency, whereas the declining curve was observed in PET-G. Absolute value of ABS loss factor varied between 0.9-1.5%. The reasonable influence of added dyes was found out.

Brachycephalic dogs are prone to a conformation-related respiratory disorder known as brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome (BOAS). Due to its systemic consequences, BOAS should be considered a systemic disease. The aim of the present study was to investigate platelet count (PLT), mean platelet volume (MPV), and plateletcrit (PCT) in patients with various grades of BOAS and non-brachycephalic dogs. The latter served as a control group. We included 106 patients with BOAS and 41 non-brachycephalic dogs. According to the severity of the disease, BOAS patients were classified into grade 1 (17 dogs), grade 2 (42 dogs), and grade 3 (47 dogs). Thrombocytosis was found in 46% (46/106) of all BOAS patients. High platelet mass was found in 62% (66/106) of all BOAS patients. We found significantly (P < 0.05) higher PLT, MPV, and PCT in BOAS patients of all grades compared to non-brachycephalic dogs. Our results suggest that platelets may play an important role in BOAS. Our results suggest that platelets may play an important role in BOAS. However, further studies are needed to clarify the role of PLT and platelet indices in BOAS and their relationship with inflammation and hypercoagulability.