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The study focused on the relationship between leaf-to-fruit ratio (LFR) and walnut kernel quality in Juglans regia ‘Wen 185’. It was investigated how LFR influences single kernel weight, the contents and percentages of organic matter in kernels, the 13C distribution proportion (¹³C_DP) in crude fat and protein, and the number and size of oil bodies within the kernels. A gradually decreasing LFR led to reduced single kernel weight, the contents of crude fat, crude protein, and soluble sugar dramatically (P < 0.05), with no significant changes in the percentages and (¹³C_DP) of crude fat, crude protein, and soluble sugar (P > 0.05). Moreover, there were no significant differences in the number of oil bodies per unit area and the size of oil bodies in kernel cotyledons and endosperm storage cells among the different LFR (P > 0.05). We propose that the walnut kernel quality depends on the proportion of sugar converted into fat and protein in the kernels, that the changes in LFR affect the amount of sugar accumulated in kernels but not the proportion of sugar converted to fat and protein, and that the LFR, therefore, have no effect on the percentages of crude fat and crude protein in walnut kernels.

Banana quality is influenced by many factors, including variety and level of fruit ripeness. This quality can be evaluated from various points of view, one of which is the rheological consideration. Rheological properties are very important to study because they determine the design of equipment and processes, and minimise product damage. The aim of this research was to analyse and model the effect of variety and ripeness level on the rheological properties of banana fruit by applying a creep test. This research was carried out using a factorial experimental design 3 × 3 with 5 replications. Three varieties of banana, namely Ambon (Musa parasidiaca var. sapientum L. Kunt.), Raja (Musa parasidiaca L.), and Kepok (Musa acuminata balbisiana Colla) and each in three levels of ripeness, namely mature green, half ripe, and ripe. It was found that the parameters of the rheological properties of bananas changed according to the ripeness level (P < 0.05). The values of these rheological parameters decreased as the bananas ripened. Meanwhile, the variety and the interaction between variety and ripeness had no significant influence on the rheological parameters measured (P > 0.05). The constants of the four-element Burger model changed with the ripeness in all banana varieties. The Burger model with four elements could accurately predict the strain value of bananas tested in the creep test.

This study investigated the effects of slaughter weight and breed on carcass characteristics, meat quality, and technological properties in purebred Balkan and F1 crossbred (Balkan × Saanen) male goats. A total of 48 animals, divided into four slaughter weight groups (10, 15, 18, and 22 kg), were analysed for carcass composition, muscle traits, and fat distribution. ANOVA and multivariate analyses (PCA and HCA) revealed significant effects of weight and breed on key carcass and meat quality parameters. Heavier animals exhibited higher intramuscular fat and primal cut yields with superior water-holding capacity (WHC), while lighter goats had leaner carcasses with less muscle pigment. Crossbred F1 goats demonstrated a more balanced muscle-to-fat ratio, whereas pure Balkan goats tended to accumulate fat more rapidly at higher weights. These findings indicate that optimal slaughter weight selection should align with market demands, such as producing leaner meat in lighter Balkan goats, or achieving increased marbling and better economic returns in heavier crossbred animals. Future research should explore genetic effects on muscle and fat deposition and assess consumer preferences to refine breeding and production strategies.

Pulmonary fibrosis is not only a consequence of the recent COVID-19 pandemic, but is increasingly recognised by both human and veterinary healthcare providers. Pulmonary fibrosis is a progressive condition that leads to a decline in respiratory function and even death. In this work, we compared MSC-derived exosomes with conventional anti-inflammatory drug treatments. Exosomes from stimulated MSCs displayed higher miRNA concentrations (in particular, miRNA-30b was significantly increased). A set of rats with induced lung fibrosis were divided into four groups: NC (control – no treatment), A2 (exosome infusion), A3 (exosome infusion combined with ultrasound stimulation), and F1 (tamoxifen/metformin drug treatment). The rats’ lungs were subjected to histological analysis; the fibrosis scores for groups F1 and A3 were very similar and decreased significantly compared with group NC. Ultrasound-facilitated diffusion of exosomes from the capillaries into the lung tissue could represent an innovative therapeutic approach for slowing fibrosis and prolonging the active life of the organism.

The aim of the study was to assess the quantitative and qualitative changes in crude protein of the white lupin (Lupinus albus L.) green mass during the growing season in stands of three cultivars of white lupin (ZULIKA, AMIGA, DIETA), intended for feeding purposes as protein roughage, when grown under the same soil and climatic conditions in the Czech Republic. Changes in the crude protein and amino acid content were monitored during the growing season from the 9^th to the 18^th week of stand age. Changes in the crop dry weight were characterised by a statistically significant (P ≤ 0.05) decrease in crude protein from the 9^th to the 15^th week of stand age (ZULIKA 203.50–176.82 g/kg, AMIGA 190.58–161.59 g/kg, DIETA 201.41–175.84 g/kg). In the following period, during the maturation of lupin pods, from the 15^th to the 18^th week, the change in the crude protein content of the green matter was not statistically significant (ZULIKA 176.82–162.12 g/kg, AMIGA 161.59–150.95 g/kg, DIETA 175.84–175.24 g/kg). For most of the amino acids studied, a decrease in their content in the dry weight of the green matter was demonstrated from the 9^th to the 15^th week, with a subsequent statistically significant (P ≤ 0.05) increase from the 15^th to the 18^th week of stand age. Interesting differences were observed in the arginine content, which showed a statistically significant increase (P ≤ 0.05) during the growing season (ZULIKA 7.93–16.03 g/kg, AMIGA 6.88–13.04 g/kg, DIETA 7.56–17.45 g/kg). Changes in the dry weight of the crop in the crude protein and amino acid content can be considered characteristic of lupin crops because of the identical evidence in all three white lupin cultivars studied.

The aim of this study was to analyse the effects of harvest timing on the total phenolic and flavonoid contents, in addition to the total antioxidant capacity in the berries of ‘Žilavka’ and ‘Vranac’ varieties grown in the Trebinje vineyard area. Grape samples for both varieties were collected at three distinct points during their ripening. The chosen harvest dates were set 10 days apart, and the optimal date for grape harvesting was determined by assessing the sugar content and titratable acidity present in the grapes. Total phenolics, total flavonoids and total antioxidant activity of grape samples were determined by the Folin-Ciocalteu method, aluminium chloride method, and ferric reducing antioxidant power assay, respectively. The total phenolic and flavonoid contents, along with the total antioxidant capacity in the ‘Vranac’ grape, increased from the first to the second harvest date, but a decline was noted at the third harvest. ‘Žilavka’ grape exhibited an increase in total phenolic and flavonoid contents, as well as total antioxidant capacity from the first to the second harvest date, with no decrease recorded by the third harvest. As expected, the red grape variety ‘Vranac’ contained higher levels of phenolics and flavonoids than the light-skinned grape variety ‘Žilavka’.

In recent decades, farmland markets have risen sharply due to their attractiveness as safe investment and savings allocation instruments. This growth has occurred globally at different rates due to the uneven expected returns, and potential land uses in different regions. This paper provides evidence of the convergence of Italian farmland markets between 1990 and 2019 by using data on average land prices with a geographically detailed resolution that considers both administrative and altitude aspects of territories. The analysis combines traditional economic convergence approaches with spatial data exploration techniques. The results are consistent and show that territorial disparities in Italian farmland markets tend to increase over the study period. This proves that divergence patterns reflect the well-established North-South dualism and disparities in socio-economic characteristics.

Sprouting has been used widely to enrich the nutritional quality of cereals and legumes. It improves the bioavailability of nutrients, especially those bound to phytic acid. However, sprouting is a good medium for microbial growth; thus, producing safe sprouts from harmful microbial growth is challenging. In food biotechnology, lactic acid bacteria (LAB) can be potentially used to improve nutrition and play a vital role as competitive microbes in food preservation. Therefore, supporting natural LAB growth by adding glucose sources during sprouting can produce a safer sprouting medium. Chickpeas (Cicer arietinum L.) sprouted for up to 50 h with glucose (0.1% and 1%) under aero-anaerobic conditions, with recycled water periodically spraying on the sprouts to support the natural LAB growth. Results show increased LAB counts, lactic acid and acetic acid, and decreased pH. Moreover, the addition of glucose had no significant detrimental effects on sprout quality compared to the control sample relative to nutritional compounds, such as saccharides, which remained similar. This sprouting method can be scaled up to production levels and is considerably cheaper than other treatments.

Heart rate variability analyses using Poincaré plots can be useful for evaluating the autonomic nervous system function. However, the interpretation of the quantitative indicators of Poincaré plots remains controversial. Thus, few studies have verified the effectiveness of the quantitative indicators in veterinary medicine. This study aimed to verify the reliability of Poincaré plot indicators using pharmacological models in dogs. Four healthy beagles were used in this study. Each dog was treated with propranolol, atropine, and propranolol–atropine to block the sympathetic, parasympathetic, and sympathetic–parasympathetic functions, respectively. The quantitative indicators of the Poincaré plots were calculated based on data from 300 electrocardiogram beats collected before and after the administration of each drug and statistically analysed. The quantitative indicators of the Poincaré plots, such as the standard deviation perpendicular to the major axis (SD1), standard deviation along the major axis (SD2), and SD1 × SD2, significantly decreased after the drug administration in both the parasympathetic and sympathetic–parasympathetic blockade models. However, no significant differences were observed in SD1/SD2 between the groups. The Poincaré plots reflected the changes in the autonomic nervous system of dogs. In dogs, SD1, SD2, and SD1 × SD2 can detect a state in which parasympathetic nerve activity is suppressed.

Reproductive performance in pig production has gained genetic momentum resulting in large litters. Several strategies have been used to raise the number of piglets to address the challenge of a large litter size. This review provides a rationale for employing the nurse sow system as a biological way of handling large litters, exploring its step-by-step processes and its selected impacts. By exposing these steps, pig farmers will use the information to pinpoint their weak points in the chain and customize the procedures to meet their farm-specific goals for improved productivity. The nurse sow system helps to maximize pre-weaning survival by boosting the overall worth of low birth weight piglets. When piglets weaned per sow/year are used as a performance benchmark, nurse sows weaning double litters become economically advantageous. Extended time in lactation for nurse sows gives them an ample time for their uterus to involute before the next pregnancy. However, nurse sows lose their body reserves reflected in backfat thickness from high milk production. Prolonged confinement in lactation deteriorates the physical condition of nurse sows, resulting in leg ulcers and teat damage. Additionally, piglets are more distressed when taken away from their biological sow to a new sow.

Tomato spotted wilt orthotospovirus (TSWV) is destroying tomato and pepper resistance all over the world, including Antalya (Türkiye). Two greenhouses that show infection of TSWV in the Serik (coastal) and Elmali (highland) areas were chosen for research between 2019 and 2021 to better understand the disease's life cycle. During the surveys, we focused on weed hosts to better understand TSWV disease's cycle. TSWV infection was determined in 58 peppers, 34 tomatoes, 270 weeds, and 20 other vegetable samples. Weed samples revealed essentially no symptoms, however, grown plants showed classic TSWV symptoms. The Asteraceae family had the highest infection rate among infected weeds, followed by weed species from the Poaceae and Solanaceae families. In addition, to determine the viral strain in the infected plant samples, qRT-PCR and Melt-curve analysis were done using a specially designed primer pair for the study. This primer identifies the point mutation on the NSm-movement protein in the viral genome's medium segment. The non-resistance breaking isolate of TSWV was included in the optimisation studies to evaluate differences between the two isolates at two thermal melting values established by this comparison. These findings demonstrated that the kits, procedures, and primers employed in this investigation can serve as a quick and reliable diagnostic tool for identifying TSWV isolates and that weeds are a key intermediate source for new TSWV infection, as confirmed by sequence data.

In the production of grafted vines, losses are caused by fungal pathogens during callus forming or after planting in the soil. To control or reduce natural soil-born fungal infections in nurseries, certain applications were conducted in the sapling cultivation stage to analyse the efficacy of cyprodinil + fludioxonil, fluopyram + tebuconazole active substances, and Trichoderma harzianum biological preparation: 1103 Paulsen rootstock and Vitis viniferea L. cv. In the study, Sultana cultivars were stored in fungicide suspensions for 60 min before and after grafting. After grafting, the saplings were divided into (i) cutting + sawdust (ii) cutting + sawdust + soil application groups and transferred to the callus room. After nine months in the nursery, the plants were uprooted, classified as diseased or healthy, and analysed for morphological and molecular diagnosis of fungal species, isolation incidence, and sapling quality and yield. Boeremia exigua var. exigua was isolated for the first time from cuttings during grapevine sapling production and was first registered in NCBI Genbank. After callus development, Fusarium solani was most frequently isolated pathogen in the roots (21.5%); cyprodinil + fludioxonil reduced the Ilyonectria sp. isolation rate in both shoots and roots. Botryosphaeria dothidae and I. liriodendri pathogens were not detected in disease and healthy cyprodinil + fludioxonil treated saplings. The highest sapling yield was observed in fludioxonil + cyprodinil, cutting + sawdust + soil (78.75%) and cutting + sawdust (70.63%) applications.

Despite all the complications that arise with root research, such as slow, laborious, and unclear genetics, roots are a promising object of interest for breeders because many root traits are compatible with high yield potential. It is a great challenge for further research that there is a wide demand for information on the “hidden half of plant metabolism” from many research fields. We have summarized the main obstacles in root system research and sketched a solution for breeding in field conditions so that the result was more meaningful to the farmer. (i) The most important challenge in root research is linking the functional identification of root system properties with the aboveground parts. (ii) Field breeding is irreplaceable, and methods allowing the evaluation of roots under field conditions are indispensable. (iii) Low heritability of root system trait discourages breeders. However, root properties show broad genotypic variability, allowing the efficient use of these traits as selection criteria. (iv) The root traits are variable, and many fluctuate under the influence of environmental factors, which complicates efforts to define ideotypes and explains the different conclusions obtained by researchers from different environments. The breeding programs targeting the root system are sporadic even in a global context. This is a great reserve for breeding progress in the era of climate change, water scarcity, a possible shift to extensive farming systems, and in the era of environmental programs.

The presence of immature coffee beans reduces the quality of the coffee brew. This study evaluated how the acetic acid affected the aroma and taste of immature compared to mature Robusta coffee. The naturally processed immature Robusta green beans were immersed in acetic acid (0–5%) for 30–90 min. The naturally processed mature Robusta green beans were used as a control treatment. The samples were roasted at a medium level (240 °C, 14 min). The sensory analysis was evaluated by the cupping test by a trained and certified panellist (Q-Grader). Acetic acid immersion significantly improved the sensory quality of immature beans (P < 0.05). Specifically, immersion in 3% acetic acid for 90 min yielded the highest sensory score of 84.92. According to the Coffee Quality Institute (CQI) classification, this score falls into the 'Fine' Robusta classification. The 0% 30-min, 3% 30-min, and 3% 90-min treated immature samples and an untreated control mature sample were analysed for pH, caffeine, chlorogenic acid, and volatile compounds. The treatment significantly decreased the chlorogenic acid (P < 0.05) and increased the volatile compound concentration of furans, ketone, pyrrole, aldehyde, and ester while decreasing pyrazines, sulphur, phenol, and alcohol. This study effectively enhanced immature Robusta taste and aroma quality to a degree comparable with mature Robusta coffee beans.

Lameness and mastitis are two of the most economically important issues for the dairy industry. This study aimed to obtain a clearer analysis of the link between mastitis and lameness in dairy cows using the Mastitis Score and detecting the pathogens that predominate in dairy cows’ milk samples with claw diseases. During routine claw trimming, milk samples were collected from dairy cows in two Slovak dairy farms. Out of 558 cows presented for claw trimming, 144 cows (25.8%) exhibited lameness from claw diseases. The most prevalent disease in our study was digital dermatitis (43.1%), followed by toe necrosis (41.7%), and Rusterholz ulcer (15.3%). Udder inflammation in clinical form was diagnosed based on clinical examination of individual udder quarters, and sensory evaluation of milk from each quarter and in the subclinical form by the CMT. Mastitis was detected in 80 cows with claw diseases, clinical mastitis in 14 cows (17.5%), and subclinical mastitis in 66 cows (82.5%). On both farms, Mastitis Scores were significantly higher in dairy cows affected by claw diseases than in the non-lame ones. In mastitic cows affected by claw diseases, environmental pathogens dominated the infected milk samples. Our findings showed that cows with claw disease were more likely to have mastitis.

The aim of this study was to analyse the conformation traits and body dimensions of Haflinger mares registered in the Czech Republic studbook. The study focused on the effects of age at studbook entry, year of birth, proportion of Arabian genes, and country of origin on various parameters. Data were collected from 825 mares, including scores obtained during the studbook entry evaluation and body measurements such as withers height measured with a stick (WHS), withers height measured with a tape (WHT), chest girth (CG), and cannon bone circumference (CBC). Based on these data, the bone index (BI) and body massiveness index (MI) were calculated. Statistical analysis was performed using multifactor analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Scheffe’s post-hoc testing method. The results showed that the age at studbook entry significantly affected conformation scores, chest girth, cannon bone circumference, and both indices (MI, BI). Mares aged 3–4 years had significantly higher conformation scores compared to mares aged 5–6 years (P = 0.001) and mares aged 7 years and older (P = 0.000). Mares aged 5–6 years and those aged 7 years and older showed higher CG values (P = 0.002, P = 0.000) and CBC values (P = 0.010, P = 0.001). Furthermore, the year of birth had a highly significant impact on all variables studied. The withers height of mares born between 2011 and 2020 was, on average, 3.49 cm higher (144.84 cm) than that of mares born between 1987 and 2000 (141.35 cm) (P < 0.000). Regarding CG, a statistically significant increase was observed in mares born in 1987–2000 and 2001–2010, with chest girth increasing from 180.45 cm to 183.76 cm (P = 0.016). However, a subsequent decrease to 179.91 cm was noted in mares born between 2011 and 2020 (P = 0.002). The influence of the proportion of Arabian genes was significant for WHS, where mares with a higher proportion of Arabian genes (>1.56%) showed lower WHS (141.74 cm) compared to mares with a lower proportion (143.86 cm) or no Arabian genes (143.01 cm). While ANOVA demonstrated a significant effect of Arabian genes on CBC, Scheffe’s post-hoc test did not confirm this finding. No statistically significant differences were observed in other body dimensions based on the proportion of Arabian genes. The influence of the country of origin was statistically significant for all variables except WHS and WHT. Regarding the conformation scores, mares from the Czech Republic scored lower (6.98) than Austrian mares (7.22, P = 0.000). Additionally, CG was significantly lower in Austrian mares (178.58 cm) compared to Czech mares (182.54 cm, P = 0.000). Austrian mares also had significantly lower MI (P = 0.000) and BI (P = 0.040), with Austrian indices at 124.71/13.31 and Czech indices at 127.77/13.41. Based on this empirical evaluation of the current and original population of Haflingers in the Czech Republic, the connections and influence of individual factors during breeding are revealed. The results of our analysis have built an objective scientific basis and they allow the breeding organisation to determine the further breeding process.

Sorbus domestica L. is a deciduous shrub-like tree in the Rosaceae family that reaches different heights (3–25 m). The service tree commonly grows in the Marmara region, Central and Western Black Sea regions, and Central Anatolia in Türkiye. The fruit of the service tree called Sorbus domestica, has an essential place in regards to human health in terms of its antioxidant values. The aroma components and phenolic compounds it contains display a variety of physiological traits. This study was carried out to determine the changes in the pomological characteristics and volatile compounds of Sorbus domestica L. fruits in the Tokat region at harvest and the consuming maturities in 2019 and 2020. The aroma extraction from the Sorbus fruits identified esters, alcohols, ketones, aldehydes, terpenes, and other volatile aroma compounds. As a result of the study, differences in aldehydes, esters, and terpene compounds were notable within the scope of the volatile aroma compounds. According to the obtained information, our results identified total aldehydes of 70.64%, esters of 7.49%, and terpenes of 21.35% in Sorbus domestica during the harvest maturity. When Sorbus fruits were left at room temperature until consuming for consumption was reached, the volatile compound rates varied which were 60.59% for the aldehydes, 22.49% for the esters, and 13.20% for the terpenes.

Fugate, a waste product from biogas production, regularly used in agriculture as a fertiliser, may contain bacterial pathogens that cause zoonoses. Anaerobic digestion (AD) can inactivate viable pathogens, including parasites, viruses, and pathogens containing antibiotic resistance genes. This study aimed to compare the numbers of pathogenic bacteria and diversity of potential bacterial pathogens in the fugate using three different types of slurry: cattle, swine, and poultry manure. The swine fugate showed higher numbers of Clostridium perfringens and Campylobacter sp. than the poultry and cattle fugate. In the cattle fugate, the lowest total number of pathogenic bacteria and a low number of coliforms were detected after the AD. The use of cattle manure in biogas plants presents a lower potential for soil contamination with pathogens. The fugate produced using poultry or swine manure can be used carefully to avoid possibility of contamination of aquifers or surface waters. Also fugate produced from manure of cows suffering from chronic botulism  can be used only with carefulness because of the presence of Clostridium botulinum spores in biogas waste of diseased cows.

The aim of this study was to investigate the physiological characteristics and quality of hypocotyls in the production of selenium-enriched sprouts from peanut seeds soaked in selenium (Se) solution. Peanut seeds were soaked with 0, 2.5, 5.0, 7.5, and 10 μmol/L Na₂SeO₃ for 12 h and then germinated. The results showed that the selenium concentration in peanut shoots increased with increasing levels of selenite soaking, and there existed a crossroads of selenite soaking concentration (5.0 μmol/L) when selenium concentrations in cotyledons and hypocotyls were equal. Below and above this concentration, Se concentrations in shoots were radicle > cotyledon > hypocotyl or cotyledon > radicle > hypocotyl, respectively. In addition, Se significantly promoted the elongation of hypocotyls and radicles, increased shoot biomass, increased the activity of antioxidant enzymes and the concentration of antioxidants in hypocotyls, and decreased malondialdehyde levels. Moreover, Se significantly increased the concentrations of soluble sugars, proteins, free amino acids and resveratrol in hypocotyls. These results indicate that soaking peanut seeds with selenite significantly increased Se concentration, biomass, antioxidant capacity and quality of peanut shoots. This study provides a theoretical basis for the rapid and standardised production of Se-enriched peanut shoots from selenite-soaked seeds.

Chickpeas and oats are rich in essential nutrients and bioactive compounds, such as phenolics and flavonoids. Extrusion technology enhances food digestibility, nutrition, and shelf life, thus meeting consumer demands. Instant food products are experiencing market growth due to advancements in processing technologies that cater to healthier ingredients. This study aims to evaluate pre-gelatinised flours produced through extrusion using different proportions of chickpeas and oats (100 : 0, 90 : 10, and 80 : 20) and compare them with their respective raw versions. The physicochemical properties, technological characteristics [Rapid Viscosity Analysis (RVA) and Water Absorption Index (WAI)], applications within the instant food industry, and their potential for acceptance were evaluated. The extruded flours showed lower moisture content and water activity – finally, their application in instant soups, mainly at 10%, increased consumer acceptance. Incorporating oats in the flours resulted in higher water activity, WAI, final viscosity, peak viscosity and pasting temperature. Our results demonstrate that flours with suitable physicochemical and technological properties could be obtained using chickpeas, oats, and extrusion. Its incorporation into instant soups resulted in products with suitable acceptance by consumers.

Antimony (Sb) pollution from industrial activities poses a severe global threat, particularly impacting valuable medicinal crops like linseed, which are highly sensitive to heavy metals. This study reveals the remarkable potential of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) as a sustainable solution to this challenge. Our research demonstrates that while Sb stress significantly impairs linseed growth and photosynthesis, it also triggers oxidative damage. AMF improved photosynthetic performance and water status, and notably enhanced the biosynthesis of crucial phytochemicals like phenolics, flavonoids, and citric acid. These compounds are vital for both plant defence and human health. Furthermore, AMF promoted the accumulation of essential detoxifying agents, leading to a better redox balance and significantly reducing Sb uptake and translocation by 47%. This dual action not only bolsters the plant’s tolerance to Sb but also enhances its medicinal value by boosting health-promoting bioactive metabolites. These promising findings underscore AMF’s dual role: a powerful tool for phytoremediation and a natural enhancer of phytochemical quality. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi provide a sustainable, nature-inspired approach to safely cultivate medicinal plants in environments contaminated with heavy metals, underscoring the vital role of plant-microbe interactions in alleviating environmental stresses.

A 4-year-old domestic long-haired cat presented with acute, progressive, non-weight-bearing lameness of the left pelvic limb and reluctance to climb. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed decreased T2-weighted signal intensity of the nucleus pulposus in all lumbar intervertebral discs except L7-S1, with far-lateral T2-weighted low-signal material at L6–L7 surrounding the sixth lumbar nerve root. A diagnosis of far-lateral intervertebral disc extrusion at L6–L7 was made. Clinical signs resolved almost completely within 15 days of conservative management. To our knowledge, this is the first report describing MRI findings of far-lateral intervertebral disc extrusion in a cat, highlighting the importance of considering this condition in the differential diagnosis of acute unilateral pelvic limb lameness.

Employing the Comprehensive Demonstration of E-commerce in Rural Areas (CDERA) policy as a quasi-natural experiment, this paper explores the impact of rural e-commerce development on agricultural total factor productivity (ATFP) and its underlying mechanisms, using a difference-in-differences model. The analysis utilises panel data from 1 495 counties in China from 2001 to 2021. The findings indicate that the CDERA policy implementation enhanced ATFP in treated counties by approximately 1.6 percentage points compared to control counties, other factors being equal. Mechanism analysis further reveals that the CDERA policy enhances ATFP by improving agricultural technological efficiency and fostering agricultural industrial development. This study highlights the significant role of CDERA policy in enhancing agricultural productivity in China and offers policy insights for advancing rural e-commerce and promoting sustainable agricultural development.

With the growing population, increasing income, and high-speed lifestyle, people pay more attention to a healthy diet and nutritional food. Organic food, also regarded as healthy, sustainable, or eco-friendly eating, has gained global popularity. This trend has been particularly amplified by the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to a surge in demand for nutritious foods worldwide. Organic food originated in Europe, with the highest development globally. Its progress varies by country. China's organic food industry began decades ago, growing rapidly. As globalisation advances and China's economy accelerates, it is valuable to examine the organic food industries in Hungary and China. In order to understand the willingness of consumers to buy organic food, we conducted a survey for a month in 2021 from 581 respondents in Hungary (185), China (374), and other countries, compared the respondents' demographic data, organic food consumption and their buying willingness and attitude to recommend organic food to other consumers. The decision tree analysis was deployed to analyse the statistical data via SPSS software. It showed that organic food has a positive demand in both Hungary and China, but some purchase habits are different in these two countries.

Regulation (EU) 2023/1115 on deforestation-free products (EUDR) establishes a substantially revised legal framework that extends beyond the previous EU Timber Regulation (EUTR 995/2010) by integrating legality, sustainability, and traceability obligations. This article provides a legal and comparative assessment of the implications of the EUDR for the Czech forestry and timber sector. The methodological approach combines doctrinal interpretation of EU legislation, comparative analysis of national implementation models, and an examination of relevant case law. Experiences from selected EU Member States are used to illustrate institutional, technological, and administrative challenges linked to EUDR implementation. The results indicate that, although the Czech Republic has an established regulatory framework under Act No. 251/2025 Coll., effective compliance with the EUDR will require improved coordination among supervisory authorities and the development of a unified digital platform for submitting and verifying due diligence declarations. Evidence from other European countries shows that integrated monitoring systems and the use of third-party certification can enhance both efficiency and transparency. The study concludes that the successful implementation of the EUDR in the Czech context will depend on institutional capacity, digital readiness, and the ability of forest managers and traders to adapt to more stringent environmental and traceability requirements.

The objectives of this study were to investigate the nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) balance fertilization strategy in paddy fields, and to evaluate the effects on N uptake and utilization in rice. In 2017-2018, the experiment was conducted using Deyou4727 hybrid rice with four different P fertilizer levels (0, 30, 60, and 90 kg/ha), marked as P0, P1, P2, P3 in turn, and four different N levels (0, 90, 150, and 270 kg/ha), similarly marked as N0, N1, N2, N3 in turn. The results showed that in the N-insufficient (N0, N1) environments, the P1 treatment increased N uptake and promoted transfer to the grain. However, high-P (P3) application increased the dry matter accumulation than other P levels, but limited the production and translocation of dry matter to some extent. In N-sufficient (N2, N3) environments, P2 level increased crop yield and N use efficiency by 11.35% and 37.01%. Unlike P2, none-P (P0) and high-P levels decreased rice dry matter translocation and transport capacity, which further affected N uptake and utilization in N-sufficient environments. Overall, the combination of the N application rate of 90 kg/ha and P application rate of 30 kg/ha, N application rate of 150, 270 kg/ha, and P application rate of 60 kg/ha had a high yield; strong nutrient accumulation and transfer ability. It was more inclined to balance N and P, which was beneficial to plant N absorption and utilization.

Cowpea, an annual legume widely grown and consumed in Nigeria, has been observed to contain between 27–33% impurities when freshly harvested and threshed. This poses a threat to humans when consumed and in large-scale agricultural processing. Therefore, this study is aimed at developing and evaluating the performance of a multi-variety cowpea cleaner (MVCC). Using standard methods, some selected engineering properties of the cowpea varieties were examined and used in the design of the MVCC. The cowpea had a moisture content of 8–14%, depending on the locations and varieties. Other properties investigated include the length, width, thickness, sphericity, geometric mean diameter, unit volume, arithmetic mean diameter, aspect ratio, surface area, unit weight, true density, terminal velocity, and angle of repose. The MVCC comprised the hopper, winnower, cleaning unit, fan assembly, and frame. The performance of the MVCC was also evaluated. The efficiency of separating good products of honey, drum, and Sokoto White beans was 95, 91, and 84%, respectively, while separating bad products was 87, 94, and 96%, respectively.

Geographical indication (GI) represents the specific good quality and reputation of the regional characteristics of agricultural products, which is a positive approach for stabilising the export of agricultural products, realising high quality and high prices for agricultural products and rural revitalisation. Based on the China-EU Geographical Indications Agreement, this paper discusses the differences between China and the European Union (EU) in terms of GI protection from three aspects: the institutional framework, the operational system, and the operational status of GIs. The purpose of the study is to identify the differences between China and the EU in the protection of GIs, China's shortcomings, and gaps, and to propose policy recommendations for China to protect GI products better, exploit the economic impact of GIs and enhance the competitiveness of China's exports.

This study investigated the impact of deltamethrin (DM) toxicity on brown trout (Salmo trutta fario), examining its effects on the immune system, including the white blood cell (WBC), lymphocyte (Lym), total immunoglobulin (T. Ig), and lysozyme levels, as well as its neurotoxic consequences on the brain tissue. The neurotoxic effects encompassed oxidative stress, the activity of the antioxidant enzymes, such as the superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT), acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity, and DNA damage using 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG). The DM exposure led to elevated levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), and 8-OHdG, while concurrently causing a reduction in the AChE activity, protein and lipid content, WBC count, Lym, lysozyme activity, T. Ig levels, as well as the SOD and CAT levels in the brain tissues of groups 2 and 3 when compared to those in group 1. In summary, the findings of this study strongly indicate that DM induces DNA damage, immunotoxicity, and neurotoxicity in the brain tissue of brown trout, primarily due to the excessive production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Moreover, the observed dose-dependent responses of DM to the environmental concentrations on all the investigated parameters suggest its potential utility in aquaculture risk assessment.

In this paper, desorption isotherms of two jerky products were studied (whole-muscle jerky – sample 1 and minced jerky – sample 2). The work focused on the comparison of the Dynamic Dewpoint Isotherm (DDI) method and the Saturated Salt Slurry (SSS) method and testing the newly applied model for modelling desorption isotherms for dried meat. Data were statistically processed using 8 models [Guggenheim-Anderson-de Boer (GAB), Double Log Polynomial (DLP), Henderson, Chin, Smith, Oswin, Hasley, and newly applied model] and statistically evaluated using coefficient of determination (R²), root mean squared error (RMSE) and mean relative percentage deviation (P-value). The DLP model (25 °C) reached R² ≥ 0.999, P-value ≤ 1.84 for DDI, and R² ≥ 0.998, P-value ≤ 4.37 for SSS method. The GAB model reached R² ≥ 0.997, P-value ≤ 2.58 for DDI, and for SSS method the GAB model reached R² ≥ 0.998, P-value ≤ 5.47. The new model reached P-value ≤ 5.73 for DDI and P-value ≤ 3.48 for SSS method. All models reached the P-value < 10% except for Smith and Chin models. The DDI method and newly applied model prove to be a suitable and precise approach to the evaluation of isotherms of dried meat products.