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Dimethyl sulphoxide has a variety of biological effects that have made it the subject of numerous pharmacological studies. The first dimethyl sulphoxide therapeutic indication approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1978 was for intravesical instillation in cases of interstitial cystitis. Since then, due to its distinctive properties, it has been the subject of studies in several areas. This review describes indications, adverse effects and contraindications, as takes a critical approach to the main articles addressing the clinical use of dimethyl sulphoxide.

The purpose of the present studies was to determine the antagonistic effect of bacteria Bacillus spp. and Pseudomonas spp. towards selected fungi from the soil environment of carrot. Oats (Avena sativa L.), tansy phacelia (Phacelia tanacetifolia Bentham) and vetch (Vicia satica L.) were used as cover crops in the cultivation of this plant. In the traditional cultivation of carrot the population of bacteria was the smallest, while after the application of oats it was the largest. Laboratory tests showed that cover crops promoted the development of antagonistic Bacillus spp. and Pseudomonas spp. Irrespective of the experimental treatment, those bacteria were the most effective in limiting the growth and development of Fusarium oxysporum and Thanatephorus cucumeris (syn. Rhizoctonia solani), while being less effective towards Altenaria dauci and Alternaria radicina, and the least towards Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. The best total antagonistic effect of Pseudomonas spp. and Bacillus spp. towards the tested fungi was found after using oats and vetch, while the worst - in the traditional cultivation of carrot.

The studies determined the effect of bacteria Bacillus spp. and Pseudomonas spp. isolated from the soil after carrot cultivation on pathogenic fungi Altenaria dauci, A. radicina, Fusarium oxysporum, F. solani, Rhizoctonia solani and Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. A field experiment on carrot cultivation considered different intercrop plants (rye, buckwheat, white mustard, sunflower). Rye and buckwheat were the most conducive to the growth of Bacillus spp. and Pseudomonas spp. Those bacteria were the most effective in inhibiting the growth of F. solani, F. oxysporum and R. solani. The antagonistic effect of soil-borne Bacillus spp. and Pseudomonas spp. towards the tested fungi was the largest after the application of rye and white mustard as intercrop plants in the cultivation of carrot. Buckwheat and sunflower showed a slightly smaller influence on the antagonistic activity of the studied bacteria. Bacillus ssp. had a significantly lesser antagonistic effect than Pseudomonas ssp.

This study evaluated how organic manures and mineral fertilizers affect winter wheat grain and straw yields and grain quality properties. The analysed period of the long-term fertilizer experiment was established in Čáslav, Czech Republic, in 1955 and covers the seasons 2011-2014. The fertilizer treatments were: control; farmyard manure (FYM); FYM + P; FYM + K; FYM + PK; FYM + N₁; FYM + N₂; FYM + N₁PK; FYM + N₂PK and FYM + N₃PK. The highest grain yields were recorded in the FYM + P and FYM + N₃PK treatments (8.9 t/ha). The highest straw yields were recorded in the FYM + N₃PK treatment (6.52 t/ha). The lowest yields were provided in the unfertilized control and FYM treatments. Qualitative parameters were evaluated in the control, FYM and FYM + N₃PK treatments between the years 2011 and 2013. The best quality of wheat grain was provided by the FYM + N₃PK treatment. Combination of the farmyard manure with NPK is the best way to achieve high grain yields with good quality and leads to sustainable food production.

The objective of this study was to calculate economic weights for ten current breeding objective traits and for four new traits characterising claw health and feed efficiency in Czech Holstein cattle and to investigate the impact of different selection indices on the genetic responses for these traits. Economic weights were estimated using a bio-economic model, while applying actual (2017) and predicted (2025) production and economic circumstances. For the actual situation, the economic weights of claw disease incidence were -100.1 € per case, and those of daily residual feed intake in cows, breeding heifers, and fattened animals were -79.37, -37.16, and -6.33 €/kg dry matter intake per day, respectively. In the predicted situation, the marginal economic weights for claw disease and feed efficiency traits increased on average by 38% and 20%, respectively. The new traits, claw disease incidence and daily residual feed intake, were gradually added to the 17 current Holstein selection index traits to improve the new traits. Constructing a comprehensive index with 21 traits and applying the general principles of the selection index theory, a favourable annual genetic selection response was obtained for the new traits (-0.008 cases of claw disease incidence and -0.006 kg of daily residual feed intake across all cattle categories), keeping the annual selection response of the most important current breeding objective traits at a satisfactory level (e.g., 73 kg of milk yield per lactation, 0.016% of milk fat). Claw health and feed efficiency should be defined as new breeding objectives and new selection index traits of local dairy population.

In this case report, we describe the clinical and radiological features of a calf mandibular symphyseal fracture and evaluate the treatment results. A 1.5-month-old male Holstein weighing 65 kg was presented to the Surgery Clinic, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Adnan Menderes University with a history of salivation and anorexia for three days. After clinical and radiographic assessments, a mandibular symphyseal fracture was determined. Stabilisation of the fracture region was achieved using cerclage wire with a continuous wire-loop technique under general anaesthesia. The cerclage wire was removed five weeks post-surgery. The calf was clinically healthy.

Relation between wheat (Triticum aestivum) nutritional status determined at the beginning of stem elongation and during anthesis, respectively, and available content of phosphorus (P-M3) and zinc (Zn-M3) determined by the Mehlich 3 extractant was studied. Both one-year pot experiment with spring wheat and two-year on-farm trials with winter wheat were run on various calcareous soils (pH values of 7.18-7.94, median 7.80, P-M3 1-289 ppm, median 54, and Zn-M3 2-14 ppm, median 4), in the Czech Republic (Central Europe). Phosphorus nutrition index (ratio of phosphorus concentration in shoot biomass to critical phosphorus concentration - P_c) was calculated using the Belanger et al.'s model: P_c = -0.677 + 0.221N - 0.00292N(2), where both phosphorus and nitrogen concentrations were expressed in g/kg shoot dry matter. Unlike phosphorus concentration in shoot biomass, phosphorus nutrition index significantly correlated with P-M3 content in soil. Optimal values of the phosphorus nutrition index were recorded if P-M3 was 51-68 ppm. Zinc concentration in shoot biomass more strongly correlated with P:Zn ratio (M3) in soil compared to Zn-M3 content in soil. P:Zn ratio in shoot biomass of 130:1 did not lead to phosphorus deficiency and corresponded to P:Zn (M3) ratio in soil of 9.3:1-14.3:1.

Spectral data contain information on soil organic and mineral composition, which can be useful for soil quality monitoring. The objective of research was to evaluate hyperspectral visible and near infrared reflectance (VNIR) spectroscopy for field-scale prediction of soil properties and assessment of factors affecting soil spectra. Two hundred soil samples taken from the experiment field (soil depth: 30 cm; sampling grid: 15 × 15 m) were scanned using portable spectroradiometer (350-1050 nm) to identify spectral differences of soil treated with ten different rates of mineral nitrogen (N) fertilizer (0-300 kg N/ha). Principal component analysis revealed distinction between higher- and lower-N level treatments conditioned by differences in soil pH, texture and soil organic matter (SOM) composition. Partial least square regression resulted in very strong correlation and low root mean square error (RMSE) between predicted and measured values for the calibration (C) and validation (V) dataset, respectively (SOM, %: R_C² = 0.75 and R_V² = 0.74; RMSE_C = 0.334 and RMSE_V = 0.346; soil pH: R_C² = 0.78 and R_V² = 0.62; RMSE_C = 0.448 and RMSE_V = 0.591). Results indicated that hyperspectral VNIR spectroscopy is an efficient method for measurement of soil functional attributes within precision farming framework.

While it is known that heat treatment of cereal grains generally improves the nutritional value for ruminants, simultaneous information on rumen degradability and intestinal digestibility of the rumen by-pass is scarce, especially for non-starch constituents. The effect of steam flaking at 90°C for 30 min on protein quality of maize, wheat, and barley was studied. In addition to proximal chemical analyses, protein rumen degradability was determined in vitro and intestinal digestibility of rumen undegraded protein was determined using the mobile bag method. No significant effects of steam flaking on chemical composition of cereal grains (crude protein, acid detergent fibre, neutral detergent fibre, and starch) were observed. The protein fractions that are relevant to rumen degradability were significantly influenced by the steam flaking: the non-protein nitrogen fraction (A) was reduced (P < 0.05) by 43-93% for all three cereal grains, whereas the fraction that represents true soluble protein (B1) was reduced (P < 0.05) for wheat grains (by 77%) and barley (by 93%). Although the difference was not significant, a decrease of 41% for B1 fraction was also observed for maize. On the other hand, steam flaking markedly increased buffer insoluble but neutral detergent soluble protein fraction (B2) by 15-25% for all three cereal grains, whereas effects on B3 fraction were not significant. Steam flaking was also associated with an increase of the rumen undegradable protein fraction (C) in the case of barley, from 6.6 to 11.1% of total N (P < 0.05) and wheat, from 5.2 to 8.4% of the total N (P < 0.05). Overall, the changes of the protein fractions led to a considerable increase of the rumen undegradable protein (RUP) for all steam-flaked cereal grains (P < 0.05). Steam flaking also increased (P < 0.05) intestinal digestibility of RUP of the cereal grains (by 3.6-34.8%), leading to a more efficient protein use in ruminants.

Soil structure is a key determinant of many soil environmental processes and is essential for supporting terrestrial ecosystem productivity. Management of arable soils plays a significant role in forming and maintaining their structure. Between 1994 and 2011, we studied the influence of soil tillage and fertilisation regimes on the stability of soil structure of loamy Haplic Luvisol in a replicated long-term field experiment in the Dolná Malanta locality (Slovakia). Soil samples were repeatedly collected from plots exposed to the following treatments: conventional tillage (CT) and minimum tillage (MT) combined with conventional (NPK) and crop residue-enhanced fertilisation (CR+NPK). MT resulted in an increase of critical soil organic matter content (St) by 7% in comparison with CT. Addition of crop residues and NPK fertilisers significantly increased St values (by 7%) in comparison with NPK-only treatments. Soil tillage and fertilisation did not have any significant impact on other parameters of soil structure such as dry sieving mean weight diameters (MWD), mean weight diameter of water-stable aggregates (MWD_WSA), vulnerability coefficient (Kv), stability index of water-stable aggregates (Sw), index of crusting (Ic), contents of water-stable macro- (WSA_ma) and micro-aggregates (WSA_mi). Ic was correlated with organic matter content in all combinations of treatments. Surprisingly, humus quality did not interact with soil management practices to affect soil structure parameters. Higher sums of base cations, CEC and base saturation (Bs) were linked to higher Sw values, however higher values of hydrolytic acidity (Ha) resulted in lower aggregate stability in CT treatments. Higher content of K⁺ was responsible for higher values of MWD_WSA and MWD in CT. In MT, contents of Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺ and Na⁺ were significantly correlated with contents of WSA_mi and WSA_ma. Higher contents of Na⁺ negatively affected St values and positive correlations were detected between Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺ and Na⁺ and Ic in NPK treatments.

Apple trees which grafted on M.M. 106 stocks were planted at the beginning of spring 2014 in pots at the Research Institute of Horticulture in Skierniewice, Poland. The used treatments in the experiment were: NPK fertilization and bioproducts: Fertigo (Manure), Micosat, Humus UP, Humus Active + Aktywit PM, BioFeed Quality, BioFeed Amin, Vinassa, Florovit Natura and Florovit Eko. In the spring, these treatments were applied to apple trees alone or enriched with Pantoea sp., Pseudomonas fluorescens, Klebsiella oxytoca and Rhizobium sp. bacterial strains. Growth, yield and fruit quality parameters were evaluated. The results revealed that photosynthetic rate was greatly improved by the addition of bacteria to Fertigo (Manure), Micosat, Humus UP and Humus Active + Aktywit PM as compared to NPK. Tree trunk thickness was significantly enhanced with Vinassa, Florovit Natura and Florovit Eko enriched with bacteria. The application of bacterial strains increased the effectiveness of Fertigo (Manure), Humus UP, Humus Active + Aktywit PM, Biofeed Amin and Yeast in increasing significantly number and weight of fruits as compared to NPK.

A prototype of electronic nose (e-nose) with the gas sensor system for evaluation of fresh chicken meat freshness was developed. In this paper a rapid, simple and not expensive system for fresh chicken meat spoilage detection was investigated that provides objective and reliable results. Quality changes in fresh chicken meat during storage were monitored by the metal oxide sensor (MOS) system and compared with the results of traditional chemical measurements. Gas sensor selection was tested for evaluation of volatile fatty acids (VFA) mainly representing meat spoilage.The study demonstrated that a correlation coefficient (R² = 0.89) between e-nose signals and traditional chemical method was high. These results prove that the developed e-nose prototype has a potential for assessing fresh chicken meat freshness and allows discriminating meat into fresh, unsafe and spoiled.

The aim of this study was to describe the influence of pelvis rotation on the projected radiographic position of the femoral head in relationship to the acetabulum in the standard ventrodorsal hip extended view, i.e. Norberg angle, pelvic thickness at the level of the cranial effective acetabular rim, femoral head subluxation index, femoral head subluxation category and femoral head-acetabular distance. Twelve adult dogs of large and giant breeds were radiographed in standard hip extended view and with 2°, 4° and 6° of rotation on the right and left sides. Norberg angle, pelvic thickness, subluxation index, subluxation category and femoral head-acetabular distance were measured on radiographs and analysed comparing a normal position with positions of different degrees of rotation for the dependent and non-dependent side. All the studied parameters showed adequate repeatability. Norberg angle and femoral head-acetabular distance did not show significant mean differences in all degrees of rotated pelvis (P > 0.05). The pelvic thickness showed an increase with the degree of rotation on the dependent side (P < 0.05) and a slight decrease on the non-dependent side (P > 0.05). The subluxation index and subluxation category showed an increase with the degree of rotation on the dependent side and a decrease on the non-dependent side (P < 0.05). As the subluxation index and subluxation category are parameters used in the classification of the main international hip dysplasia scoring systems, pelvic rotation can impair the final hip score, especially in scoring systems that are based on the worst joint.

Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is a plant typical mainly for temperate climate and develops best at about 20°C. Heat stress due to increased temperatures is an agricultural problem in many areas in the world. The aim of our work was to assess the response of selected new potato cultivars to heat and drought stress during the subsequent stages of plant growth starting from buds forming. The pot experiment was carried out over the course of two years with the following early cultivars: Lord, Miłek, Gwiazda, Hubal, Oberon and Tetyda. The impact of heat (38°C/25°C) and drought stress on potato plants was tested in four periods of two weeks. In these periods half of the plants were watered to a level close to optimal while the other half remained without irrigation. Our studies demonstrated that tested potato cultivars' response to heat stress depends on the growth stage, in which the temperature acts on the plants and on the soil moisture. Besides the decrease in yield and tubers' diminution, the biggest problem was the presence of tubers with physiological defects, particularly of immature tubers. The response of cultivars was differentiated.

Temporal changes in the concentrations of plant-available phosphorus (P) in soil (Olsen-P), total soil-P and P activation coefficient (the ratio of Olsen-P to residual-P (i.e. an approximation to total-P)) were measured in plots that received consistent inorganic nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium plus organic fertilizers annually. Maize and winter wheat crops were grown in rotation for 24 years. Olsen-P and P activation coefficient declined significantly in the earlier years (< 12 years) for treatments that did not include any P fertilizer, and increased over the same period for the P-fertilized treatments. The rates of change in the Olsen-P and P activation coefficient values were positively related to P balance. In the later years, the Olsen-P and P activation coefficient plateau values were positively related to the P balance.

In four-year experiments, hop was treated with 7 biologically active substances in two terms during vegetation: Lignohumate max (a mixture of humic acids and fulvic acids), Lexin (a mixture of humic acids and fulvic acids enriched with auxins), Lexenzym (a mixture of humic acids and fulvic acids enriched with auxins, phytohormones and enzymes precursors), Ascophyllum nodosum seaweed extract, synthetic auxin, humic acids and fulvic acids alone. The chlorophyll content was monitored after the application both in the vine leaves and in the branch leaves. After harvesting of the hops from the individual treatments, the yield of dry hops was determined and the cones were analysed for the content of alpha bitter acids. The results show that the most effective hop treatment was the application of Lexin and Lexenzym. The Lexenzym treatment provided a yield of dry hops of 1.86 t/ha, i.e. 0.47 t/ha higher compared with untreated control. The Lexin treatment provided yield higher by 0.41 t/ha of dry hops compared with the untreated control, while the harvested cones contained the most alpha-bitter acids (4.57%).

The potential impact of future climate change on fruit fly species distribution was assessed in Uganda using two general circulation models (HADCM and CCCMA) and two future predicted CO₂ emission scenarios (A2 and B2), under both full and no species dispersal modes. Future ranges were overall projected to decline by 25.4% by year 2050. Under full-dispersal, D. ciliatus > C. cosyra > B. invadens ranges were predicted to increase, while the rest are likely to decrease. In the no-dispersal scenario, a significant average decrease in size of niches is predicted. Range losses are predicted higher under B2 than A2. Future niches will likely shift to northern Uganda. The results should assist in the development of climate change adaptive pest management strategies.

The paper analyses the influence of an extended period of cold stratification on the germination capacity, emergence rate and yield of seedlings in the Douglas fir as well as on the morphological parameters of one-year-old seedlings. A total of ten seed lots were used for evaluating germination capacity, originating from the Czech Republic, Slovakia, France and the USA. Germination capacity, emergence rate and yield of seedlings were analysed for two seed lots of Czech provenance on seed beds in the settings of a forest tree nursery. Tested variants involved (a) no pre-sowing treatment, (b) seed stratified for 21 days, and (c) seed stratified for 49 days. The germination capacity of the stratified seed was higher than that of the control variant for all of the seed lots. The effect of the stratification period length was zero for both germination capacity and emergence rate. Differences were identified between the stratification variants as regards germination energy and emergence rate. For the control variant, seedling yield reached only 1% and 2%. For the stratified seed, yield of seedlings of two selected Czech provenances was 18% and 16% (variant 21) and 26% and 36% (variant 49). Differences in the morphological parameters of seedlings were not straightforward.

A long-term experiment was used to evaluate the effects of different nutrient management practices on the distribution of soil organic N fractions and their contribution to N nutrition of a rice-wheat system. Continuous rice-wheat cultivation for 13 years without any fertilization was unable to maintain total soil nitrogen level to its original level and resulted in a decrease at 8.3 mg N/kg/year. Likewise, amino acid N, amino sugar N, ammonia N, hydrolysable unknown N, total hydrolysable N and non-hydrolysable N decreased by 37.2, 29.6, 33.7, 10.4, 26.6 and 20.4%, respectively over their initial status. However, application of inorganic fertilizers alone or in combination with organic manures led to a marked increase in total N and its fractions. The increase in total N with the application of farmyard manure, press mud and green manure along with inorganic fertilizer over treatment with inorganic fertilizer alone was 23.1, 34.4 and 7.0%, respectively. These results imply that integrated use of inorganic fertilizers with organic manures represent a sound practice for sustaining N reserves in soil. On average, amino acid-N, amino sugar-N, ammonia-N and hydrolysable unknown-N constituted about 27.9, 10.7, 28.7 and 32.7% of the total hydrolysable-N, respectively.

Studies on glomalin-related soil protein (GRSP) have focused on soil aggregation and fungal physiology, whereas it is not known how exogenous GRSP could positively impact on these processes, soil enzyme activity and plant growth. Easily extractable GRSP [EE-GRSP, 0.022 mg protein/mL citrate buffer (20 mmol, pH 7.0)] from a 26-year-old citrus orchard was exogenously applied into 5-month-old potted trifoliate orange (Poncirus trifoliata) for 3 months to evaluate effects on soil water-stable aggregate distribution, relevant soil enzyme activities and plant growth. Depending on the applied concentrations as 1/2, 1/4 or full strength, exogenous EE-GRSP generally significantly increased the distribution of soil water-stable aggregates and mean weight diameter (MWD, an aggregate stability indicator). Values of MWD and plant biomass production curvilinearly positively correlated with exogenous EE-GRSP applications. Exogenous EE-GRSP generally significantly increased the activity of rhizospheric polyphenol oxidase, peroxidase, acid and alkaline phosphatase. Both the 1/2-strength and 1/4-strength, but not the full-strength exogenous EE-GRSP, significantly stimulated plant growth performance. Our results firstly demonstrated the positive contribution of exogenous EE-GRSP to soil aggregation, relevant rhizospheric enzyme activities and/or plant growth, which has important implications for exploring GRSP in enhancing soil structure and/or plant performance.

Mechanical parts of stock engine have a performance reserve which could be utilized when the engine is used under the race conditions. Especially normal turbocharged engines have their performance parameters designed to drive in traffic, where a good flexibility, reliability, fuel consumption and a long service life is required. It is possible to utilize the whole power of the engine, when changing or modifying some of its external parts and achieve better performance parameters without modifying or changing internal engine components. Performed changes must be realized thoughtfully and on the admittable level, so the engine and other drive train components would not be damaged. In our study we design several changes of external parts of engine which have a significant impact on the improvement of engine performance parameters. Their contribution has been verified in practice by an engine dynamometer.

The effect of different levels of corn oil (CO) and flaxseed oil (FO) on growth performance, blood characteristics, fatty acid composition, and expression of lipogenic genes in the liver of broiler chickens was studied. Two hundred forty female Cobb-500 broiler chickens at the age of one day (body weight (BW) = 46 ± 4 g) were fed a corn soybean meal based diet containing 5% CO (LC), 3.75% CO + 1.25% FO (FO1), 2.5% CO + 2.5% FO (FO2) or 5% FO (FC). Chickens fed FO1 diet had better BW gain (P = 0.049) and gain/feed ratio (P = 0.006) than those fed LC and FC diets during days 1-21 of age. However, for the whole experimental period (1-42 days of age), the dietary lipid source had no effect on the growth performance. On day 42 of age, the hepatic percentages of 18:3n-3 (P = 0.001) and 20:5n-3 (P < 0.001) were higher in FC than in LC group, which led to a higher content of total n-3 PUFA and lower n-6/n-3 PUFA ratio. The contents of 18:2n-6 (P < 0.05) and Σ n-6 PUFA (P = 0.009) were lower in FC than in LC group. Chickens fed FO1 and FO2 diets had higher Ca²⁺-ATPase activity and lower lipoprotein lipase activity than those fed LC and FC diets, whereas activities of lactate dehydrogenase and Na⁺,K⁺-ATPase were increased by FO2 than by LC diet (P < 0.05). The relative mRNA expression level of lipin 1 in chickens fed FO2 and FC was higher (P < 0.01) than in those fed LC and FO1 diets. Our results demonstrated that higher levels of FO led to hepatic enrichment of n-3 PUFA content and lower n-6/n-3 PUFA ratios in liver and increased the expression of lipin 1 whereas the expression of lipin 2, NADH dehydrogenase subunit 2, Δ-6 fatty acid desaturase, WD and tetratricopeptide repeats 1, and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase was not affected.

Blue sticky traps with and without pheromone capsules were used to monitor and control Frankliniella occidentalis Pergande (1895) (Thysanoptera; Thripidae) in pepper crop greenhouses in Tunisia. Traps containing pheromone capsules could catch significantly more thrips than those without capsules, proving their efficiency in attracting and controlling this pest. In fact, greenhouses with traps with pheromone capsules caught 585.1, 526.7, and 668.8 adults/trap in a greenhouse with 10 traps with pheromone capsules on April 12, 19, and 26, 2012, respectively. The capture in a greenhouse with five traps with pheromone capsules was about 456.2, 412.8, and 431 adults/trap while in a greenhouse with five traps without pheromone capsules, the capture of F. occidentalis adults numbered 198, 257, and 302 adults/trap for the same three dates. Furthermore, traps with pheromone capsules captured males and females in equal numbers while traps without capsules caught much fewer males than females: 218.2 males/trap on April 26, 2012 in a greenhouse with five traps with pheromone capsules and 212.8 females/trap, 322.4 males/trap, and 342.3 females/trap in a greenhouse with 10 traps with pheromone capsules. In neither case were the differences significant. In contrast, in a greenhouse with five traps without pheromone capsules, the number of adults was about 88.6 males/trap, a significantly lower amount than the number of females/trap (213.4). This indicates that this pheromone plays a double role as a sex pheromone and as an aggregation pheromone by attracting both sexes. In fact, this double attraction approach improved the efficiency of these capsules by preventing the mating of untrapped females with males. This induced a high percentage of males and led to a decline in the thrips population on pepper flowers. Ten blue sticky traps with pheromone capsules reduced the thrips population more effectively in one week only than the use of five sticky traps, which took two weeks to achieve the control.

The present study was aimed at evaluating the usefulness of selected inflammatory and oxidative stress markers in predicting the clinical outcome of cattle infected with Anaplasma (A). marginale. The study population consisted of 39 cattle naturally infected with A. marginale. The presumptive diagnosis of this infection was initially achieved on the basis of case history, microscopy and clinical examination findings, and confirmed using A. marginale-specific PCR assays. The diseased cattle were categorised according to the clinical outcome into survivors (n = 26) and non-survivors (n = 13). For comparison, ten clinically healthy cattle were randomly selected and served as controls. Blood was drawn from all examined animals to measure the respective levels of selected cytokines, acute phase proteins, oxidative stress markers, and antioxidant enzyme levels. We found that the clinical examination alone was not conclusive and should be used in conjunction with other diagnostic methods. Nonetheless, the non-surviving animals showed anorexia, frequent coughing, dyspnoea, bloody faeces, recumbency, pale or icteric mucous membranes, and haemoglobinuria. Biochemically, tumour necrosis factor alpha, interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, serum amyloid A, fibrinogen, malondialdehye, superoxide dismutase, and catalase levels were significantly higher in diseased cattle compared with controls, and were higher in non-survivors than survivors (P < 0.05). In contrast, reduced glutathione (G-SH) was significantly lower in non-surviving cattle than survivors and controls. Interestingly, a significant correlation was found between parasitaemia of the diseased cattle and most of the measured biochemical variables, with IL-1β and G-SH showing the highest correlation. Our findings clearly demonstrate that A. marginale infection is associated with marked inflammatory and oxidative stress responses, which are higher in non-surviving cattle compared with survivors. The overall degree of cytokine and anti-oxidative disruption may have an important prognostic value for the disease outcome.

Secretion of adequate levels of progesterone from a proper corpus luteum (CL), which develops out of the cells of a healthy preovulatory follicle, is a key-factor for establishment of a pregnancy. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between morphological and secretory characteristics of preovulatory follicles and their corresponding corpus luteum with regard to the post-partum period in high-yielding dairy cows. Therefore, ultrasound-guided aspirations of preovulatory follicles were performed repeatedly, using 20 first lactating cows between 26 and 121 days after parturition. Heat was induced with a PGF analogon followed by administration of a GnRH analogon. The dominant follicle was aspirated 21 h after administration of the GnRH analogon. The diameters of the follicles were estimated at aspiration and the morphology of the resulting luteal tissue was examined on day 14 after follicle aspiration using ultrasonographic examinations. Concentrations of progesterone (P₄) and 17-beta-oestradiol (E₂) were determined in the follicular fluids (FF) and P₄ concentration was estimated at the time of CL examination in plasma. A CL development occurred in 82% after dominant follicle aspiration. The interval of time between parturition and follicle aspiration did not affect the investigated variables. The diameter of the aspirated preovulatory follicle was positively correlated to the cross-section area of the developed luteal tissue (R = 0.60; P < 0.01) as well as to the plasma P₄ concentration on day 14 after follicle aspiration (R = 0.47; P < 0.05). Also, E₂ concentrations in FF were positively correlated to cross-section area of the luteal tissue (R = 0.54; P < 0.05). Comparing the FF of the follicles that gave rise to a CL after aspiration to follicles that did not, both types had comparable P₄, but the former type harboured higher E₂ concentrations. In conclusion, preovulatory follicle diameter as well as steroid concentrations in the follicular fluid could be used prospectively to identify cows which will have well-developed CLs and high plasma P₄ levels later. On the other hand, CL development after follicle aspiration can be used as a retrospective quality parameter of dominant follicles. These results will help to identify suitable animals for breeding or recipients for embryo transfer.

We examine the nutritional effect of selected non-traditional grain samples added into wheat flour. In a form of flour, amaranth, quinoa, lupine, 5 hemp types, 2 teff types and 2 chia types were used for wheat flour substitution on a low and high level. Samples with amaranth and lupine flour showed the best improvement in terms of protein content (in the range between 21.1 and 26.0%). The highest total dietary fibre was found in lupine composites (7.1 and 9.8%). Hemp samples contained a significant amount of minerals in comparison with the control wheat sample (from 1.16% to 1.98%). According to the above-mentioned differences, flour composites containing single tested grains were distinguished by principal component analysis. All examined plant materials could be recommended for wheat flour fortification in terms of nutritional improvement. The addition of non-traditional flours partially changed both the volume and shape of laboratory prepared bread correspondingly to the type and added amount.

Over the course of Ross 308 hybrid broiler chick cock and hen rearing, whole chicken bodies including feathers were monitored for changes in the levels of nitrogenous substances, essential amino acids (EAA) and non-essential amino acids (NEAA). At five-day intervals (Days 1, 5, 9, 15, 20, 26, 30, 35 and 40 of rearing), randomly selected chickens were slaughtered after 24 h of fasting. Over the course of rearing, N-substance levels ranged from 629.1 to 429.0 g/kg dry matter in hen bodies and from 616.0 to 477.3 g/kg dry matter in cock bodies. N-substance levels were statistically significantly different in the two sexes on rearing Days 35 and 40 (P ≤ 0.01). The levels of all amino acids (AA) in dry body matter of chickens up to 15 days of age dropped significantly over time, while in the period from Day 20 to Day 40, some AA levels increased or reached the baseline. With most AA, the levels were lower in hens than in cocks over the course of the trial. At the end of the trial (Days 35 and 40), statistically significant differences between the sexes were found for most EAA (P ≤ 0.01; P ≤ 0.05). NEAA, except for Ser and Ala, were also significantly higher in cocks on Days 35 and 40 (P ≤ 0.01; P ≤ 0.05). Among the monitored EAA, the dry matter of the bodies of hens exhibited the highest levels of Leu, 8.70% on average, followed by Val 6.54%, Lys 5.26%, Ile 5.25%, Thr 4.84%, Phe 4.30%, Tyr 2.51% and Met 2.21%. Leu was also the most abundant in the cock bodies, 8.42% on average, followed by Val 6.30%, Lys 5.36%, Ile 5.06%, Thr 4.57%, Phe 4.45%, Tyr 2.88% and Met 2.17%. Knowledge of the levels of nitrogenous substances, EAA and NEAA in the whole bodies of broiler chickens including feathers will help to determine optimal rearing conditions.

The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of tractor wheeling with a light tractor on the root growth and soil properties of smooth brome in South Estonia. Field experiment was conducted on sandy loam Haplic Luvisol in 2007. Data were collected during September 2008 in both an uncompacted and compacted area. Because of the compaction, the precompression stress increased in the upper soil layer (0-10 cm) by 12.6% and 15.2% at a depth of 10-20 cm. Compaction had only a minor effect on the bulk density, values increased 4.7% in the upper soil layer and 1.8% in the deeper layer. Differences in the saturated hydraulic conductivity (k_s) were not significant; however, the decrease in the k_s was 26.6% in the upper level and 12.5% in the deeper (10-20 cm) layer. At a depth of 0 to 30 cm compaction decreased the root length by 44.7% and the root mass by 60.5% compared with the uncompacted soil. Altogether, this study confirms the unfavourable effect of wheeling on grasslands even when the wheeling is performed with a light tractor on dry soil.

Animal manure may be a primary source of cadmium (Cd) to Chinese farmlands because abnormally high values of Cd were observed in various manures. In this study, we evaluated the potential risk of Cd in soil-plant (maize and soybean) system as a result of the long-term (10 years) application of pig manure (PM). During 10 years, the loading rate of Cd through PM application ranged from 26.33-131.50 g/ha/year, while the crops removal rate of Cd was relatively small in comparison to the quantity of Cd supplied by PM application (1.03-4.36 g/ha/year). The PM application significantly increased total Cd concentration in soil. Although the Cd levels did not exceed the Chinese soil quality criteria (1.0 mg/kg dry matter (DM)), it would only take less than two years to reach this limit at high PM application rate. The same trend was also observed for the Cd concentration in maize and soybean. More seriously, Cd concentration in grain of soybean was higher than the threshold values for animal and human ingestion (0.2 mg/kg DM). Based on a mass balance calculation, we found that atmospheric deposition was also an important source of Cd in the experimental area (10.27 g/ha/year). Moreover, the application of PM enhanced the leaching loss of Cd, but they were still fairly small (0.34-0.73 g/ha/year).

The molecular techniques (C-PCR, RT-PCR) in the detection and quantification of allergic substances of hazelnut in various categories of food commodities, e.g. breakfast cereals, chocolates and biscuits, frequently involved in allergic outbreaks was implemented. For the detection of hazelnut a gene coding the major allergenic protein Cor a1 was selected. In some instances, the presence of hazelnuts is not declared on the label and the products may carry no warning for potentially allergenic substances, usually referred to as "traces". A total of 150 samples were collected from local supermarkets and analysed for the purpose of the study. From these, a total of 38 (25.3%) specimens contained hazelnut, 30 (20.0%) contained "traces" of hazelnut, 26 (17.3%) contained a label warning for the possible presence of "traces" of allergenic substances, and 56 (37.3%) specimens contained no food allergy labels. Among them, using the C-PCR, 36 (94.7%), 10 (33.3%), 5 (19.2%), and 5 (8.9%) specimens were detected as positive, respectively. Using the RT-PCR, 38 (100%), 15 (50%), 7 (26.9%) and 8 (14.3%) specimens were detected as positive, respectively. Finally, by combining both methods, 38 (100%), 17 (56.7%), 9 (34.6%), and 10 (17.9%) specimens were identified as positive, respectively.