Fulltext search in archive

The visual impact of primary landscape is overwritten, historical references and spiritual ties to the current local population are losing. Rational planning and evaluation of the landscape must correspond to this situation. In the Czech Republic methodologies of landscape assessment (for its identification, typology) exist, but there is no finalizing material to specify procedures for creating landscape designs in accordance with a particular landscape type or vegetation zone. As a response, the new methodology of compositional preconditions assessment in the beech vegetation zone and the model etalon applying generally valid compositional principles on landscape designs were created. In a verification study the new methodology was applied in a specific micro region association - the Svidník. For the worst evaluated units proposals according to the model etalon has been prepared to highlight the characteristics of the appropriate vegetation zone.

European ash (Fraxinus excelsior) and sycamore maple (Acer pseudoplatanus) are considered amongst tree species as some of the most attractive forage for red deer (Cervus elaphus). The aim of this paper is to estimate branch and foliage mass browsing by red deer in young Sycamore maple and European ash in Central Slovakia and to analyze interspecific differences in browsing frequency and quantity. Altogether 665 ash trees and 701 maple trees were measured for height and stem diameter at the ground level. Red deer browsing, defined as leader shoot or lateral branch cropping, was recorded for all trees. A combination of the diameter of browsed branches and branch regression models allowed for the estimation of browsed (potentially consumed) mass by red deer. Results show that browsing occurred more frequently on maple (5 cases per tree) compared to ash (3 cases per tree); however, more total branch biomass was consumed in ash (10.7 g per tree) compared to maple (2.6 g per tree). This is because browsed branches were larger in ash than in maple. We assume that the difference in the size of browsed branches between ash and maple is relative to species-specific branch morphological and structural features.

After the official start of the Montenegrin accession negotiations with the EU in June 2012, it is important to plan a significant increase in the agricultural budget financing well ahead of the accession. Considering the structure and economic importance of agriculture for the generation of Montenegrin GDP, the balanced trade deficit, the reduction of poverty and the regional disparities in development and reversing the negative demographic trends, the proposed reformed agricultural budget of Montenegro in the period 2014-2018 outlines significantly higher levels of the funding both as a share of the state budget and the GDP. The proposed proportions of financing of the key measure groups in the subsequent tables utilize as a starting point the model defined in the Montenegrin National Program of Food Production and Rural Development 2009-2013. Some changes in the proportion of the measures are also proposed according to the agricultural sector needs and the institutional capacity building for the next phase of the EU accession negotiations. In order to prepare the Montenegrin agriculture to cope with the competitive pressures of the EU single market, the indisputable conclusion of this study is that the proposed future levels of agricultural funding in the agricultural budget should be at least near to those (in the relative terms) of the comparable economies of the Western Balkans countries.

A case of surgical resolution of type I or "sliding" hiatal hernia is reported. A seven-month-old kitten was presented because of abdominal discomfort, accelerated breathing after eating and chronic vomiting. The clinical examination was unremarkable. Thoracic radiographs and gastroscopy led to the diagnosis of type I hiatal hernia. The surgical resolution consisted of hiatal plication, oesophagopexy and left-flank incisional gastropexy. All procedures were carried out using a 6 mm videoendoscope positioned in the stomach to evaluate the right oesophago-gastric junction reduction. One week after surgery there was a recurrence of symptoms and a second laparotomy was performed. During the second surgery additional hiatal plication was necessary and an oesophagopexy was repeated after dissection of the phrenico-oesophageal ligament. Moreover, a new incisional gastropexy was carried out after resolution of the first one. The cat recovered without complications and at one-year follow-up did show no signs related to the hiatal hernia. This communication reports on possible additional surgical techniques in cases of type I hiatal hernia and contributes to an understanding of the importance of oesophagopexy in cases of hiatus malformation.

The first case of post anaesthetic myelopathy in a horse is described. A two year old 530 kg Shire stallion underwent surgical removal of a granuloma in the ventral sternal region under general inhalation anaesthesia in dorsal recumbency. Total duration of the operation was 85 min. The anaesthesia was uneventful except for profuse sweating and arterial hypertension observed during the whole period. During recovery the horse was not able to stand, and flaccid paralysis of hind limbs, absence of reaction to an induced pain stimulus on the hind limbs and no patellar or anal reflex was recorded; in addition, tail tonus was weak. Panniculus reflex was absent distally from the 17^th intercostal space. Head, neck and front limb movement was not affected. The horse did not respond to treatment by intravenous administration of dexamethasone, hypertonic or isotonic saline. The status deteriorated and the horse was euthanised 4 h after the end of anaesthesia. The main pathological findings were haemorrhage, oedema and malacia of L5-L6 spinal cord segments and cauda equina. Histological examination of the spinal cord revealed haemorrhage and areas of necrosis predominantly in the grey matter of L5 and L6 segments. Impairment of spinal cord perfusion due to haemodynamic changes associated with dorsal recumbency and general anaesthesia is presumed. Predisposition factors could include young age, dorsal recumbency and high weight.

Caprylic acid (CA) and Yucca schidigera (YS) extract have many functional and nutritional properties that may have applications in animal nutrition. These beneficial effects include improvement of growth performance, immunity and anti-microbial activity. This study was conducted to assess the effects of dietary supplementation with CA and YS extract on growth performance, relative organ weight, meat quality, blood characteristics and caecal microbial shedding in broilers. In total, 672 one-day-old Ross 308 (BW of 34.05 ± 0.21 g) mixed-sex broiler chicks were allotted randomly into three dietary treatment groups with 14 replicate pens per treatment and 16 birds per pen. The experiment lasted for five weeks and dietary treatments were as follows: (1) PC, basal diet; (2) PC, basal diet + 44 mg/kg of avilamycin; and (3) CAY100 (basal diet + 100 mg/kg CA + 100 mg/kg YS extract). Chicks fed the CAY100 diet exhibited improved overall body weight gain (BWG) and feed intake (FI), and reduced feed conversion ratio (FCR) compared with those fed the NC diet (P < 0.05). Compared with the NC and PC treatments, mortality was decreased in chicks fed the CAY100 diet during the finisher phase and also overall. Broilers fed the CAY100 diet exhibited increased (P < 0.05) relative organ weight of bursa of Fabricius, compared with the PC diet and demonstrated decreased relative organ weight of the gizzard compared with those fed the NC diet. The relative organ weight of the liver, spleen, breast, and abdominal fat was unaffected by any of the dietary supplements tested. The breast meat redness (a*) was reduced (P < 0.05) in the CAY100 diet compared with the NC and PC diets. White blood cell (WBC) counts were increased in the CAY100 treatment compared with the NC treatment (P < 0.05). Moreover, the CAY100 diet resulted in improved lymphocyte counts compared with the PC and NC diets (P < 0.05). Broilers fed the CAY100 diet exhibited reduced caecal E. coli counts compared with those fed the NC diet (P < 0.05). In conclusion, the CAY extract-supplemented diet improved growth performance, relative weight of bursa of Fabricius and reduced mortality rate, breast muscle a* and caecal E. coli counts in broiler chickens.

Silvertop is a serious disease of grasses, and severe infestations cause a great deal of damage every year (particularly to seed producers). Inflorescences of infected plants dry prematurely and are sterile. The genera Festuca, Poa, Agrostis, Trisetum, and Cynosurus are the most frequent hosts of this disease, which has newly been reported in a loloid-type intergeneric Festulolium hybrid. The disease was also observed in the genus Lolium, with only rare previous description. The suspicion that Fusarium poae is the causal agent of severe silvertop was confirmed, and the pathogen was morphologically described and confirmed by molecular analysis. The meadow plant bug (Leptopterna dolabrata) may be a vector transferring the pathogen to plants, although a direct pathogen transfer was not demonstrated. Grass colonisation by the pathogen therefore apparently occurs after plant tissues injury by sucking of the meadow plant bug.

Recycled paper is commonly used in food packaging industry, especially for disposable products. The material coming into direct contact with food products must not represent a source of contamination for food in accordance with the Framework Regulation (EC) No. 1935/2004 containing the general requirements on all food contact materials. In the present study, the microbial purity of 31 paper-based materials with different contents of recycled matter (0-100%) was evaluated using a standard method based on the disintegration of paper. The results of the present study indicate the existing relation between the use of recycled fibers and the content of microorganisms. The increased amount of recycled fibers significantly increased the amount of bacteria in the paper samples. The highest content of microorganisms was observed in the case of paper with the highest recycled fiber content. Total counts of bacteria ranged from 5.0 × 10¹ to 1.2 × 10⁵ CFU/g. Moulds were detected only in three paper samples. As the microorganisms present in food packaging may penetrate into foodstuffs (particularly those with high contents of water or fat) and have an adverse effect on end-consumers' health, microbial criteria for food packaging should be included into the EU legislation.

Long-term experiments facilitate the observations of changes in soil properties affected by agricultural activity as well as the reactions of crops to those properties. The aim of the study was the assessment of the relationship between the soil pH as well as contents of organic carbon, total nitrogen, available forms of phosphorus, potassium (K_av), magnesium (Mg_av) and the magnesium content in flag leaves (Mg_fl) in winter wheat. There was also determined the correlations between the Mg_fl content and the nitrogen (N_fl), phosphorus, potassium (K_fl) and calcium (Ca_fl) contents in those leaves. The Mg_fl content was at-the-highest-level linearly positively correlated with soil pH and its richness in Mg_av. The dependence of the Mg_fl content on soil properties and the wheat leaves chemical composition was best described by polynomial equations of the 2^nd degree, except for the K_av and K_fl contents. The Mg_fl content depending on the Mg_av content × soil pH and Mg_av × K_av interaction. The winter wheat containing more N_fl and Ca_fl and less K_fl, accumulated more Mg_fl.

The yield forming response of maize cultivar to zinc (Zn) application depends on its timing. This hypothesis was validated in 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010 growing seasons. The zinc treatments as the first factor were: NPK; NPK + Zn applied before sowing; NPK + Zn applied to maize at the stage of 4^th leaf. The second factor was the maize type: stay-green (modern cultivars) - Paroli, Veritis, Anamur; classical (old cultivars) - Inagua, Kirola. The grain yield of modern cultivars responded the best to zinc applied before sowing, whereas the old ones, when applied to foliage. The yield of the stay-green maize depended upon the number of kernels per row, whereas the classical one on all yield structural components. The zinc management in the modern cultivars should be oriented towards maximization of the number of kernels per row, whereas in the old one on its optimization with the simultaneous kernel weight increase. The positive impact of zinc application before sowing on dry matter translocation from vegetative tissues to growing kernels underlines its practical usefulness, especially in areas with frequent water shortage during maize growth.

Statistical methods of imputation allow predicting genotypes of markers (which were not genotyped in the whole population) based on known linkage disequilibrium relationships between the flanking polymorphisms and the information obtained from reference datasets used as a pattern. In this study we attempted to predict genotypes of two bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) susceptibility associated indel polymorphisms located in the promoter region of PRNP gene relying on the data obtained from middle density SNPs arrays in a sample of the population of Holstein cattle. The two SNPs panels spanning PRNP locus were tested in terms of imputation efficiency. Both panels gave satisfactory imputation results showing high accuracy and high probabilities of imputed genotypes. Our results suggest that the approach applied can be used to evaluate the frequency of the disease associated polymorphisms in large populations of animals genotyped with whole-genome SNPs panels based on a limited-size reference population and small financial outlays.

Seedlots of sycamore maple (Acer pseudoplatanus L.) originating from three different provenance regions were collected in autumn 2012. The seed quality, namely vitality and germination rate, was assessed according to Czech conventions. There were four replications within each seedlot, i.e. twelve treatments altogether for each experimental variant. The effect of gibberellic acid on germination and vitality was studied using three treatments including a control for germination capacity and three treatments including a control for emergence rate. The data shows that the gibberellic acid did not substitute for the stratification procedure as it did not improve the germination capacity of seeds with pericarp when compared with stratified seeds; however for seeds without pericarp the gibberellic acid improved the germination capacity to the level of stratified seeds. The data also shows the positive influence of gibberellic acid on emergence rate. All variants where acid gibberellic was applied have a statistically higher emergence rate than the control. The increase was about 50% higher than in the control, i.e. without the influence of gibberellic acid.

Acquired megaoesophagus was diagnosed in a seven-month-old Holstein steer. Clinical signs included salivation, mild recurrent bloat, dysphagia or regurgitation of ingesta after swallowing and coughing lasting three days. Endoscopic examination revealed mild rhinitis and pharyngitis. Positive contrast radiography of the oesophagus outlined dilatation in the cervical oesophagus without evidence of obstruction. Treatment consisted of feeding management, oral electrolytes, intravenous fluids, and systemic antimicrobial therapy. Clinical signs of megaoesophagus resolved gradually after prolonged antimicrobial therapy and supportive care. However, the steer persisted with episodes of regurgitation and coughing. In conclusion, oesophagitis may have been the principle cause of megaoesophagus in this case but this could not be confirmed because a postmortem examination was not performed.

The effects of different concentrations of thyme (group T), clove (group Cl), and rosemary (group R) extracts on the microbiological, chemical, and sensory attributes of fish patty made from the bonito fish (Sarda sarda Bloch, 1793) were investigated. The numbers of total mesophilic aerobic bacteria, coliform bacteria, Staphylococcus-Micrococcus spp. and yeasts and moulds in group R were lower than those of the other groups during storage (P < 0.05). During the storage period, total volatile basic nitrogen (TVB-N), thiobarbituric acid index (TBA-i), peroxide values, and free fatty acid content gradually increased in all groups, and significant differences were found between the groups (P < 0.05). The results of sensory evaluation showed that the shelf life of fish patties was 4 days for the control group, and 8, 10, and 14 days for the groups treated with thyme, clove and rosemary essential oil, respectively (P < 0.05). In conclusion, the addition of essential oils showed a positive effect on the product shelf-life; and in particular, rosemary essential oil produced a remarkable effect.

Chlorine, one of the most abundant elements in nature, undergoes a complex biogeochemical cycle in the environment, involved in the formation of volatile organochlorines (VOCls), which in turn can contribute to environmental problems, contaminate natural ecosystems, and are of public health concern. Several industrial and natural sources of VOCls have already been identified; however, data - particularly on the natural sources - are still scarce. The aim of this study was to investigate the diversity of emission of VOCls from soil and several undergrowth plants collected in temperate spruce forest ecosystem and the effect of salting on the VOCl emission of plants. Undergrowth plants were found to emit chloroform (CHCl₃) in the range of 2.2-201 pmol/day/g dry weight (DW), tetrachloromethane (CCl₄) 0-23.5 pmol/day/g DW, and tetrachloroethene (C₂Cl₄) 0-13.5 pmol/day/g DW; the average emission rates were about 10 times higher than that of soil (2.9-47.2; 0-5.8; 0-3.6 pmol/day/g DW of CHCl₃; CCl₄; C₂Cl₄ emission, respectively). Addition of sodium chloride solution in most cases caused an increase in the emission of CHCl₃ and caused a species specific - effect on the emissions of CCl₄ and C₂Cl₄. The results suggest that the emission of VOCls from spruce forest contribute to the atmospheric input of reactive chlorine; however, on a global scale it is only a minor net source.

Root-released organic acids are reported to increase phosphorus (P) availability in the soil. In this study a dynamic study of P release from soil was conducted to get more exact information of the organic acids role in P availability in soil. The results show that organic acids in different concentrations significantly affected P release. In a concentration of 10 mmol/L, no significant differences can be observed among citric acid, malic acid and acetic acid in terms of their effect on the release of soil P. However, when the concentration reduced to 1 mmol/L, both the total release amount and the maximum release amount of soil P significantly declined, and the decline degree were citric acid < malic acid < oxalic acid and acetic acid. When the concentration of organic acids was 0.1 mmol/L no P has been leached in the leaching solution of any of the four types of organic acids. The parabolic diffusion equation showed that organic acids can improve the migration rate of P in the soil, with the following order of citric acid > malic acid > acetic acid > oxalic acid. The higher the concentration of the organic acids was, the higher the migration rate of P would be. Given that the P needed by plants basically migrates by means of diffusion, under the condition of P deficiency of plants, improving the secretion amount of organic acids can effectively increase the biological utilization rate of P.

The impact of material solution of cover shells on stable daylight. Light is supplied to the stable via a roof skylight, where wired glass is the infill of skylight structure, through open side walls, whereby the influx of light on one side is influenced by the shelter, and through the open gates, which are located in the front walls of the stable were assessed. Measurements of light intensity inside the stable were carried out in two height levels. Simultaneously, measurements were performed outside, on non-shadowed plane. Daylight factor was calculated from the measured values of internal and external comparative illuminance. Resulting values were processed into tables and graphs. The roof skylight has clearly the greatest influence on the lighting of the stable. Its disadvantage is that the stable overheats in these places in summer. Here, it would be appropriate to replace the fill of the skylight with translucent light elements.

Economic viability of sustainable forest management has been included in particular forestry strategic documents since 2003. In these documents, it is stated, among other things, that economic viability is a key pillar of sustainable forest management and is of conclusive significance in preserving forests and their multiple benefits for the society. At the same time - the economic viability of sustainable forest management depends essentially on wood-producing functions of forestry. The paper aims at an identification of this key concept and at a situation analysis of economic viability under current conditions of the forestry and wood sector in the Czech Republic with a special focus on the wood-processing industry as part of the forestry and wood sector using a financial analysis.

For more than a century, and almost everywhere in the world, rural areas suffered a steady decline, due to the decrease of the real income from the agricultural activities, the lack of serious economic alternatives, and demographic issues. Rural tourism could contribute to the rural sustainable development through small local businesses valorising the natural, cultural and ethnographic resources. However, most of them need the financial support from private creditors (banks). The survey-based research conducted among banks' representatives has identified several strengths of small rural ventures, such as the small scale and the associated risks, the endurance to external shocks, the openness to market opportunities, as well as some of their weaknesses: e.g. a poor management experience, seasonality etc. We have also identified the actions necessary to be performed by these firms to attract financial resources from the banks' side, i.e. the diversification of income sources, the association and the adherence to recognized brands and maintaining a reasonable leverage ratio. It was found that the bank's size does not matter, but the nature of the bank's capital does: the private domestic banks are more willing to finance such businesses. The banks' involvement in co-financing the EU projects could be a way to foster and strengthen the rural businesses.

Meningiomas are the most common primary tumours of the canine central nervous system. The incidence of these tumours increases with age and they are more frequently encountered in dogs older than seven years. Meningiomas are solitary, well-defined neoplasias that more commonly grow via compression and less commonly by infiltrating the nervous tissue. Meningiomas exhibit 82% intracranial, 15% intraspinal and 3% retrobulbar location. Meningiomas of the spinal cord are mostly benign in character with intradural-extramedullary location in the cervical segments. The case reported here consisted of a 10-year old male Boxer presenting with a complaint of inability to use its left foreleg. In the neurological examination, upper motor neuron findings were recorded and direct radiography, myelography and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the cervical region were performed. Interpretation of the transversal, coronal and sagittal cross-section magnetic resonance images taken of T1-weighted, T2-weighted and T1-weighted with contrast sequences, revealed a well-defined intramedullary mass at the level of the C5-C6 vertebra. Histopathological examination of the neoplastic mass revealed it to be a transitional (mixed) meningioma which had infiltrated into the spinal cord.

The aim of this study was to establish reference intervals for the haematological profile of alpacas on the basis of a large population of clinically healthy animals, and to determine the influence of sex, age and season on these indicators. Blood samples were collected from 243 alpacas (53 males and 156 females over six months of age and 34 crias - 12 males and 22 females - under six months of age). The selected farms were located in Central Europe (Czech Republic and Germany). We determined 13 haematological indicators. Comparison of the results was performed with respect to the sex of animals and for the older group also with regard to the season and to the feeding period. We found no highly significant (P > 0.001) differences between males and females. We did find highly significant differences (P < 0.001) between the group of crias under six months of age and the older alpacas (mean corpuscular volume - MCV, mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration - MCHC, red cell distribution width - RDW, white blood cell count - WBC, neutrophil count). Based on our findings we suggest that for some indicators different reference intervals (esp. WBC and differential cell counts) be used for the two above mentioned age groups. We found some highly significant differences (P < 0.001) in haematological indicators in the older group of alpacas between the summer and winter feeding period (haemoglobin concentration, MCHC). Clinical laboratory diagnosis may be improved by the use of age-based and season-based haematological reference values.

Using double-antibody sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (DAS-ELISA), Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) was detected in 31 out of 132 symptomatic leaf samples collected from different hosts of Urmia province of Iran, during 2011-2012. In biological assays, five different host isolates caused severe mosaic in Nicotiana species and Capsicum annum without significant difference in severity. Based on phylogenetic analysis of coat protein nucleotide and deduced amino acid sequence, two isolates were clustered into subgroup IA, while other three isolates were grouped into IB subgroup of CMV. All Urmian isolates shared a common MspI, and no EcoRI and BsuRI restriction sites. In contrast to S-IA isolates, the second MspI site was found at 473-476 position of only S-IB isolates, which could be used to differentiate two S-IA and S-IB subgroups. Here, we report the first case of Abutilon theophrasti infection, as a new reservoir weed host for CMV in the world.

A method for the rapid and nondestructive determination of total nitrogen content in soy sauce was explored. Prediction models were established using near-infrared spectroscopy combined with each of the following techniques: partial least squares (PLS), interval PLS, synergy interval PLS (siPLS), and backward interval PLS. Results showed that each improved forecast model was better than the PLS model. The siPLS method exhibited the best performance. The full spectrum of light soy sauce was divided into 20 subintervals. The combination of four subintervals, namely, 6, 11, 13, and 18, showed the best effect, with a correlation coefficient of 0.9977 and an RMSECV of 0.0198. The full spectrum of dark soy sauce was divided into 20 subintervals. The combination of three subintervals, namely, 14, 17, and 19, showed the best effect, with a correlation coefficient of 0.9818 and an RMSECV of 0.0640. Therefore, the siPLS method can realise a rapid and accurate detection of total nitrogen content in soy sauce.

Polymorphic SNPs were identified using BovineSNP50 BeadChip in three groups of cervids: farmed Red deer (n = 3), and free range Red deer (n = 5) and Fallow deer (n = 2). From the total of 54 609 SNPs, 53.85% could be genotyped. Out of 28 502 successfully genotyped autosomal SNPs only 5.3% were polymorphic. The average minor allele frequency within cervids was 0.23 (number of polymorphic SNPs ranged from 467 to 686). Results of the molecular variance analysis showed that 67.38% of variation occurred within individuals and the rest was explained by a species difference (F_ST = 0.32). The value of F_IT (0.33) indicated a higher proportion of homozygote genotypes in the analyzed dataset. Pairwise F_ST values showed very clearly the genetic differentiation between Red and Fallow deer which ranged from 0.06 (farmed and free range deer) to 0.74 (farmed Red and Fallow deer). A similar result was found for Nei's genetic distances that ranged from 0.01 (among Fallow deer) to 0.79 (among farmed Red and Fallow deer). The genetic differentiation of the analyzed cervid species was evaluated also by the principal component analysis with the involvement of 6 other species from the family Cervidae, which showed a division of the Cervidae cluster into 7 subpopulations. The panels of SNPs primarily produced for a model species are becoming the marker of choice for the application in other species, but the best methods of their discovery, validation, and genotyping in non-model species need further investigations.

The effect of pre-processing conditions such as speed, die sizes and moisture content on durability of cassava flour was investigated. Densification of cassava flour was done by pelletizing the flour through die and it is necessary to determine optimum conditions for designing and constructing a suitable processing plant. The flour was mixed with water at different blend ratios to form cassava mash of different moisture contents. The pellet quality was evaluated in terms of the durability of the pellets against the moisture content of the mash (18, 20 and 22% w.b.), die size (4, 6 and 8 mm) and the screw speed (90, 100 and 120 rpm). Test results showed that maximum durability of 84.437% was recorded at 20% (w.b.) moisture content using 4 mm die and low durability of 61.26% with using 8 mm die at 18% (w.b.) moisture content. The durability result shows that it decreased with increase in die size. Statistical analysis revealed that the die size had significant (P ≤ 0.05) effect on the durability.

The Vistula is the longest river in Poland. It stretches from the Silesian Beskids to the Gulf of Gdańsk. Water from the Vistula is the source of drinking water for many cities and is used in industry, and therefore its quality and microbiological purity is an important issue. The quality of water in the Vistula depends, among others, on the quality of water in its basin. The aim of this study is to assess microbiological hazard to the Vistula waters from its tributaries in the vicinity of Kraków. The analyses were carried out on 10 tributaries of the Vistula: Prądnik, Dłubnia, Drwina Długa, Drwinka, Raba, Uszewka, Szreniawa, Uszwica, Kisielina, and Dunajec. The examinations were carried out in four series, from May 2012 to March 2013. The numbers of coliforms, faecal coliforms, Enterococcus faecalis, and sulphate reducing Clostridium were determined using the membrane filtration method, while the serial dilutions method was used to determine the numbers of mesophilic and psychrophilic bacteria, Staphylococcus and Salmonella. There was a large variation in the number of microorganisms in the examined watercourses, however in most cases the water could be classified as clean, whereas waters of the Vistula in the vicinity of Kraków are microbiologically contaminated. Thus, the examined watercourses do not pose a serious threat to the quality of the Vistula. Among the analyzed tributaries, the waters of the Prądnik were characterized by the worst sanitary condition, while the best microbiological quality was observed in the Dunajec.

Deslorelin acetate, a GnRH agonist, is commonly used to prevent folliculogenesis in several species. However, little is known of the effect of deslorelin acetate implants on the oestrous cycle of female guinea pigs. Fifteen intact healthy female guinea pigs were investigated in this study. Signs of sexual behaviour, the presence of a vaginal membrane along with plasma concentrations of oestradiol (E₂)and progesterone (P₄), were monitored during two consecutive oestrous cycles. At the beginning of the third oestrous cycle each guinea pig was administered an implant of the GnRH analogue, deslorelin acetate, (4.7 mg). When compared to the untreated state, deslorelin implantation was associated with altered signs of oestrus. The average time to opening of the vaginal membrane was delayed. After opening, the vaginas were found to be variably opened and closed. A significant reduction in P₄ (to less than 1.0 ng/ml) and cessation of P₄ cyclical variation was observed. Plasma E₂ remained high during the whole experimental period. This study shows that cessation of the oestrous cycle by the deslorelin implant might be useful in preventing pregnancy in guinea pigs.

A total of 120 weanling pigs [(Landrace × Yorkshire) × Duroc], 21 days of age with an average initial body weight (BW) of 6.52 ± 0.22 (SE) kg were selected to investigate the effects of extruded rice product as a replacement for dried whey on growth performance, coefficient of total tract apparent digestibility (CATTD), blood profiles, faecal shedding of Lactobacillus and Escherichia coli (the microbial counts of digesta were expressed as log₁₀ colony forming units per gram), and faecal scores of weanling pigs. Pigs were randomly allocated to one of four dietary treatments, with six replicates per treatment and five pigs per pen. Pigs in the control group were fed a diet based on corn, soybean, and 20% dried whey. Experimental groups received the same diet as the control group, but dried whey was replaced by 3%, 6%, and 9% extruded rice. Throughout the experimental period (six weeks), no differences were observed in the average daily gain, average daily feed intake, and gain/feed ratio. Pigs fed 6% and 9% extruded rice had a lower (P < 0.05) CATTD than pigs fed the control diet on Day 14. The blood creatinine concentration of pigs fed 9% extruded rice was higher (P < 0.05) than that of pigs in the control group on Day 14. Pigs fed the diets containing 6% and 9% extruded rice had decreased (P < 0.05) faecal E. coli counts on Day 14 compared with pigs fed the control diet. The current results indicate that feeding extruded rice can decrease faecal E. coli counts without negative effects on growth performance in weanling pigs.

The occurrence of chestnut blight (Cryphonectria parasitica) was studied in 2011-2012 at 13 locations in the main chestnut growing areas of Romania. Infections were detected at four localities. The symptoms and the fungus were detected on European chestnut (four localities) and also on oak trees (two localities). A total of 89 isolates of C. parasitica were isolated and characterised. Based on canker and isolate morphology (culture morphology and the Bavendamm test), both virulent and hypovirulent samples were isolated; hypovirulent isolates were found at only one locality. Two vegetative compatibility types corresponding to EU-12 and EU-2 were identified among isolates. Both mating types were found, with a dominance of MAT-1 in southern Romania and MAT-2 in northern Romania.