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The paper presents the results of over 30-years of field experiment on soil organic carbon accumulation under different crop rotation, manure and mineral N fertilization. The experiment was conducted with two crop rotations: A - recognized as soil exhausting from humus (potatoes, winter wheat, spring barley and corn) and B enriching soil with humus (potatoes, winter wheat, spring barley, and clover with grass mixture). In each crop rotation, five rates of manure - 0, 20, 40, 60 and 80 t/ha and four rates of mineral fertilizers N1, N2, N3 and N4 were applied. At the beginning of the experiment in 1979, the initial organic carbon content amounted to 0.74%, and after 33 years dropped to 0.61% in crop rotation without legumes. On the contrary, in crop rotation with clover - grass mixture, the tendency to stabilization of organic carbon quantity in soil was observed with the highest value 0.79% and the lowest one 0.72%. It was found that crop rotation enriching soil with humus produced organic matter ever more than those depleting the soil with humus, regardless of the manure fertilization. Mineral fertilization has modified soil organic carbon content.

Transmissible venereal tumours (TVT) are normally seen on the genitalia of both male and female dogs, and at times may be observed on extra-genital sites such as lips, oral mucosa, and peritoneum, or in organs such as the tonsils, eye, liver, spleen, kidney, lung, and musculature. The present communication deals with two rare cases of primary extragenital TVT involving the mammary glands of dogs and their pathology and immunohistochemistry. The study indicated that apart from routinely used markers such as vimentin, p53, PCNA, Ki-67 and c-myc, the oncogenes Rb and cyclin D1 proved to be novel markers of TVT in dogs. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first report of extra-genital mammary TVT in canines.

The aim of this study was to evaluate a new device for the ultrasound-guided transvaginal aspiration of follicular fluid for acid-base balance analysis (ABB set) in comparison with the original modified commercial OPU set. In the ABB set, an aspiration syringe was placed in the front part of the new tool's handle, next to the transducer, so as to enable direct collection of the sample into the syringe. To obtain a sufficient amount of testable fluid, reservoirs of urine (rubber balloons) were used for later aspiration under laboratory conditions in Experiment 1. Fifteen triads of samples (each triad with two punctures) were collected. While the first sample of each triad was taken using the ABB set (ABB sample), two samples were taken by one puncture using the original modified commercial OPU set: aerobic phase of sampling (AE sample) with air present in the tubing at the start of sampling and the subsequent anaerobic phase of sampling (AN sample). Values determined in the second sample from the triad (AE) varied from the values in both ABB and AN samples (pH 7.685 vs. 7.704 vs. 7.692, pCO₂ 11.13 vs. 10.3 vs. 10.85, pO₂ 6.87 vs. 8.67 vs. 7.02). In Experiment 2, ultrasound-guided transvaginal aspirations were carried out in 13 cows bearing ovarian cysts with diameters of at least 3 cm, using plastic aspiration syringes (Experiment 2P) and in 12 cows using glass aspiration syringes (Experiment 2G). The sequence of samples was the same as in Experiment 1. We found a significantly higher pH in AE in comparison to AN (7.357 vs. 7.348), lower pCO₂ (6.85) and higher O₂ (14.12) in samples of AE in comparison to samples of ABB and AN (pCO₂ 7.36, 7.30; O₂ 9.95, 10.63 respectively) in cystic fluid in Experiment 2P. We found a significantly higher pH (7.4), lower pCO₂ (5.98) and a higher pO₂ (12.35) in AE samples in comparison to ABB and AN samples of cystic fluid (pH 7.386, 7.385; pCO₂ 6.39, 6.35 and O₂ 10.56, 10.65, respectively) from Experiment 2G. We conclude that the acid-base balance assay was affected by air, present in the tubing during aerobic sampling in comparison to anaerobic and ABB set sampling. These pre-analytical changes can be prevented by the use of the ABB set because the results obtained with the ABB set were not different from that of the AN samples. We also confirmed pre-analytical changes in acid-base balance parameters in the cystic fluid after it had been stored in plastic aspiration syringes. Our new ABB set equipped with a glass aspiration syringe is suitable for sampling follicular fluid for both acid-base balance and gas analysis.

Massive deaths were reported on a chinchilla (Chinchilla lanigera) farm, which over 10 months led to the elimination of the herd. After three months of feeding, longitudinal precipitates inside the pellets were noted. The first symptoms were observed two weeks after the introduction of feed, and included lethargy, decreased mobility, and reduced appetite, as well as increased reactions to external stimuli. Over time, single deaths, hair loss and gnawing, white discolorations on teeth, and polyuria were reported. Haemorrhages of the reproductive tract and mass abortions were observed. Necropsy revealed the presence of transudate with pH = 10, severe hyperaemia of the intestinal mesentery, and extensive regressive lesions in the gastric and intestinal mucosa. Both grossly and microscopically, lesions were noted in the liver, kidneys, adrenal glands, and lungs. The urinary bladder was overfilled. No lesions were observed in the spleen or mesenteric lymph nodes. Histopathology of skin specimens revealed atrophy of the hair follicles. Diagnosis was sodium carbonate intoxication. Owing to the specific features of this species, it was impossible to introduce emetic-based treatment in order to eliminate the toxic agent from the body. No therapeutic measures were undertaken because of the late diagnosis of the toxic agent and late removal of feed, as well as extensive lesions on the gastrointestinal mucosa.

Ectopic ACTH secretion is provoked by extra-pituitary tumours that secrete ACTH, constituting an infrequent type of Cushing Syndrome in the dog. Neuroendocrine tumours (NET) are characterised by the synthesis of peptides with hormone activity. A dog with clinical diagnosis of Cushing's syndrome and presenting an abdominal tumour located in the area of the left adrenal gland was sent to the hospital. Cortisol was not inhibited at four and eight hours after the application of low-dose dexamethasone and the cortisol/creatinine ratio was elevated (93 × 10^-6, referencevalues < 10 × 10^-6). Plasma ACTH measurements were high (28.6 pmol/l, reference values 5.5-14.3 pmol/l). On computed tomography, the tumour was found in the meso-epigastrium, with both adrenal glands hyperplasic and no alteration of the pituitary image. The tumour was located between the two layers of the meso-colon and was removed using laparoscopy. After surgery, ACTH concentrations became normal and clinical signs remitted. The histopathological diagnosis was NET, with positive ACTH immunostaining.

The article discusses monitoring of the impact of tyre inflation pressure on tensile properties of forest tractors. The LKT 81 T forest tractor, manufactured byZŤS TEES, Martin (Slovak Republic) and widely used in Slovakia, was specifically chosen as the mechanised vehicle to be monitored. Tensile properties were examined using standard tensile tests, with a Tatra freight vehicle serving as the load vehicle. Actual measurements were performed on a concrete surface and on soil characterised as gravelly loam whose average moisture was 38%. The statistical methods used to verify the impact of significance from changes in tyre inflation pressure on selected tensile indicators were multi-factor analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Student's t-test. Even though statistical analysis failed to directly confirm significance in the impact of changes of tyre inflation pressure on selected load indicators for a forest tractor fitted with standard tyres, positive changes can be discerned in measured dependencies. The article concludes with a discussion of the results obtained and their possible application in operational practice.

Six novel peach genotypes, designated BN-1, BN-3, BN-4, BN-7, BN-8 and BN-45, were assessed for usefulness as sources of seeds for production of generative rootstocks for peach cultivars. The genotypes BN-8 and BN-1 were the most intensely flowering, while the most abundantly and regularly fruiting genotype was BN-8, which also produced the smallest stones. The smallest fruits and the highest seed yields were produced by the genotypes BN-8 and BN-7. All of the genotypes under assessment produced seeds with higher germination capacities compared with the two control cultivars, Mandżurska and Siberian C, with the seeds of the genotypes BN-8, BN-4 and BN-3 exhibiting the most significantly elevated germination capacities. The most stones with two seeds were produced by the genotypes BN-45 and BN-3; however, produced a smaller fruit crop than did BN-8. Considering the characteristics assessed, the best as a seed source trees was genotype BN-8.

The aim of the submitted work was to analyze the outlook of logging perspectives in the next two decades (2013-2032) for all forests in the territory of the Czech Republic. The analyses made use of the national database of forest management plans and guidelines. For the purpose of these analyses, the forests were divided into commercially exploitable forests and forests commercially exploitable with restrictions. The latter ones included protection forests and the category of special purpose forests, i.e. 31c - forests in the territory of national parks and national nature reserves, and 32a - forests occurring in the first zones of protected landscape areas, and forests occurring in nature preserves and nature monuments. In addition to the potential total volume of timber logging, perspectives were studied separately for coniferous and broadleaved tree species as well as for individual main tree species. The derived model mean annual cut of 15.51 mil. m³ corresponds to the current timber production in the Czech Republic. Results of the analyses indicate that reduced logging of coniferous, namely spruce, timber is to be expected in the next twenty years.

Communities of xylotrophic fungi were studied in wood of Pinus mugo of different qualities: (i) living stems, (ii) cut stumps, (iii) burned snags, (iv) cut burned stumps, (v) stems recently killed by root rot, and (vi) old snags of root rot-killed trees. A total of 277 isolates representing 58 fungal taxa were obtained from 300 wood samples (50 samples per each substrate category). Results of the present study suggested that following different disturbances (tree felling, forest fire or root rot), fungal communities likely evolve in different directions: depending on its origin (cut, burned or killed by the disease), dead wood might be inhabited by principally different microbial assemblages, and that fire has less effect on community structures than tree felling or root rot.

We investigate the effects of consumption of MRPs from the glucose-lysine model system heated 15°C-90 min on protein digestibility and its utilisation in young (3-week) and adult (12-week) rats. Nitrogen faecal excretion significantly increased after MRP consumption, especially during the third week. Protein digestibility was lower in both age groups studied, but the utilisation was unaffected. Parallelly, the nitrogen retention and its net utilisation for the entire experimental period did not vary. In young rats the faecal nitrogen exceeded the amount of ingested nitrogen coming from MRPs, suggesting that digestibility of undamaged nitrogen was affected. The same action is suspected in adult animals, but the results were not quantitatively conclusive, and therefore the effect should be moderate in this period.

Mendel's impact on science is overwhelming. Although based on the number of scientific papers he published he might be considered a meteorologist, his most significant contribution is his study of plant hybrids. This single work puts Mendel on a par with Darwin's evolutionary theory and establishes him firmly in the frame of today's biology. The aim of this article is to introduce the personality of Gregor Johann Mendel, focussing not just on his scientific work, but also on his background and what or who influenced him. To understand Mendel's use of quantification and mathematical analysis of obtained results, representing a radical departure from methods of his predecessors, it is important to know something about their arguments, beliefs, and practices. He designed his experiments to answer a long standing question of hybridization, not inheritance as we perceive it today, since the science of genetics was born considerably later. He studied many genera of plants, but his famous research was on garden peas. To choose a single species for his crosses was fundamental to his success, but also fuelled most of criticism at the time he presented his results. The reason for his success was partly due to being a hybrid himself: of a biological scientist, a physical scientist and a mathematician. Mendel's other fields of interest such as meteorology and bee keeping are also introduced in this article.

The aim of this work is to evaluate the changes of Mehlich 3 - P, K, Ca and Mg contents in soil during a long-term field experiments with sewage sludge, farmyard manure (FYM) and mineral NPK (NPK) application, compared to the control non-fertilized treatment. The experiment was established at the Humpolec and Suchdol sites (Czech Republic). Potatoes, wheat and barley were grown in crop rotation. Fertilizing system was based on the same nitrogen dose of 330 kg N/ha per one crop rotation. Archive soil samples from the beginning of the experiment (1996) and from the end of each year's crop rotation (1999, 2002, 2005, 2008 and 2011) were analyzed. In spite of the different soil-climatic conditions of the studied sites, very similar tendencies of P, K, Ca and Mg contents changes after the fertilizing systems used were observed in the soil. In case of the same nitrogen dose (330 kg N/ha), sewage sludge appeared to be better source of bioavailable soil phosphorus compared to the farmyard manure and NPK. On the contrary, FYM was a better source of bioavailable potassium and magnesium, despite the lower total magnesium content in FYM. The NPK treatment was the best long-term source of bioavailable potassium.

The article presents the possibilities of visual and statistical outputs from the telemetric tracking of game: activity data, heat map, home regions, movement routes and the points of occurrence. Nowadays the methods of the telemetric tracking of game are also used for finding the best ways to eliminate damage caused by wild boar generally, and field crops damage specifically. From telemetrically gained data it is possible to study the local habits of wild boar and their preference of crops and cultivars in various periods. On the basis of this knowledge it is possible to implement the necessary agrotechnical measures. The pilot processing and verification is run on the portal Zvěř (game) online (http://zver.agris.cz/). Currently there are 11 wild boars marked and tracked. The public part of portal is used for the basic presentation of data; in the non-public part the data of private subjects (agricultural companies and hunting organizations) that are not interested in public presentation are processed in the same way. In this way there is at disposal an integral system of wild boar tracking: capturing, marking, data collection, processing and presentation. This system can be used by research institutions, farmers and hunters.

The objective of the present study was to determine the association between the uterine size and age, body weight, growth rate, and reproductive status in Landrace × Yorkshire crossbred gilts. Genital organs from 310 gilts (302.6 ± 2.9 days of age, 145.2 ± 1.2 kg body weight) were examined. The gilts were classified into two groups according to reproductive status: non-cyclic (n = 86) and cyclic (n = 224). The uterine weight in non-cyclic gilts was lower than that in cyclic ones (128 ± 8.1 and 694 ± 17.9 g, P < 0.001). Likewise, the length of the uterus in non-cyclic gilts was shorter than that in cyclic gilts (123 ± 2.9 and 252 ± 4.6 cm, P < 0.001). The weight of the uteri correlated with the body weight (r = 0.48, P < 0.001) and growth rate (r = 0.33, P < 0.001) of the gilts but not with their age (P > 0.05). For every 10 kg increase in the body weight of the gilts, an increase of 67 g in uterine weight (P < 0.001) and 21 cm in uterine length (P < 0.001) was observed.

Here, we describe a case of a wild female badger (a sow) with disseminated serous adenocarcinoma of the ovary which corresponds to a group of low grade serous carcinomas of the ovary in humans. Beside grossly apparent dissemination of the disease we observed a scale of histological features classifiable as a precursor lesion - borderline serous tumour of the ovary with implant metastases at the peritoneum, and features of the borderline tumour transformation in the carcinoma. The latter features included invasion of some of the metastatic peritoneal implants into the adipose tissue of the mesentery, retroperitoneum, and in the muscle of diaphragm with lymphangioinvasion and with blood-borne metastatic disease in the lungs. The primary tumour and its metastases had a uniform cytological appearance without atypia of the tumour cells. Mitotic activity was exceptional. The proliferation activity as demonstrated by immunohistochemical investigation of Ki-67 protein expression (revealing all active phases of the cell cycle - G1, S, G2, M) showed a low proliferation activity of the tumour cells, comparable with findings in low grade carcinomas or borderline tumours of the ovaries in women. WT1 protein was expressed in the whole tumour cell population. All these features were diagnostic of serous carcinoma of the ovary with low grade malignant potential. Tumours of the ovaries in wildlife have been described previously but they are infrequent and are rarely classified histopathologically. This case report offers a parallel with serous carcinomas in human pathology including features of transformation from a precursor lesion of a borderline serous tumour into a serous low grade carcinoma.

The objective of this investigation was to study the histological structure of the gall bladder in the common quail (Coturnix coturnix). Samples were obtained from six male and six female healthy adult common quail. Tissue sections were stained with haematoxylin and eosin. Histological results showed that the overall histology of the gall bladder of the common quail is similar to that in the chukar partridge except for the goblet cells. No significant sex-based differences were found. The gall bladder was composed of tunica mucosa, tunica muscularis and tunica serosa or tunica adventitia. The tunica mucosa was mainly lined with simple columnar epithelium which was covered by a continuous striated border of microvilli. Goblet cells were observed among the epithelial cells. The tunica mucosa formed some folds which appeared to be regularly distributed over the whole gall bladder luminal surface and were mostly isometric. Deep invaginations of the surface epithelium were observed to have grown down into the underlying mesenchyme, showing a tubular gland-like appearance. The muscularis mucosa was absent. The thin lamina propria-submucosa contained loose connective tissue which consisted of numerous diffuse lymphatic tissues, but no glands were observed. The tunica muscularis consisted of a thin circular layer of smooth muscle fibres. The loose connective tissue of the tunica serosa or adventitia was made up of adipose tissues and blood vessels. It is concluded that the histological structures of the gall bladder of the common quail are similar to those of the chukar partridge except for the presence of goblet cells among the epithelial cells of the tunica mucosa.

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of herb mixture (summer shield) supplementation on growth performance, nutrient utilisation, and plasma lipid profiles in broiler chickens. Thirty-six male chicks at 15 days of age were divided into three groups with three replicates of four birds. The control group of chicks was fed a basal diet and the remaining two groups of chicks were fed the basal diet supplemented with summer shield at a concentration of 1 g/kg or 2 g/kg, respectively, until 37 days of age. Although feed intake was not different among the three groups, both body weight gain and breast muscle weight were increased in chicks fed a summer shield-supplemented diet. Summer shield supplementation decreased abdominal fat weight and consequently feed efficiency was improved. Both protein and fat utilisation was improved in chickens fed a summer shield-supplemented diet although dry matter content was not influenced. In addition, summer shield supplementation improved plasma lipid profiles, i.e., total cholesterol, triglyceride, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol were decreased, whereas high-density lipoprotein cholesterol was increased. Furthermore, summer shield supplementation increased total protein, albumin, and globulin levels in plasma, while neither glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase nor glutamate pyruvate transaminase were affected. These results suggest that summer shield supplementation has positive effects on growth performance, nutrient utilisation, and plasma lipid profiles in broiler chickens.

Development of prediction models for the quality of apples is useful in guiding fruit tree nutrition and in optimising fruit management. The interrelationships between the leaf nutrient contents and some fruit quality indices were studied in five apple cultivars - Generos, Florina, Delicios de Voinesti, Jonathan and Pionier. Highly significant relationships between N and Fe contents (R² = 0.734; P < 0.01) and between Cu and K (R² = 0.702; P < 0.01) were found. Acidity was negatively correlated with soluble solids content in the cvs Generos, Delicios de Voinesti and Jonathan, whereas the respective correlation in the apple cv. Pionier was positive. In cv. Florina fruits no significant correlation was found between acidity and soluble solids content. Among macroelements, nitrogen had a considerable contribution to fruit acidity and this allows to predict this index with a high degree of safety (R² = 0.690; RMSEP_N = 0.105). Microelements have a lower contribution to acidity and a higher one to the sugar accumulation; in case of Zn are R² = 0.809; RMSEP_Zn = 4.250.

The inter-related causes of food insecurity in these countries are mainly the long lasting civil wars, a limited access to land, environmental degradation, climatic shocks and the rapid population growth resulting from the high birth rates and the return of refugees.

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 effect of temperature on the kinetics of pigment extraction during the maceration of different fruits (raspberry, blackberry, and cranberry) into a commercially available hard spirit (orujo, with 42% v/v ethanol) was evaluated. The analytical method used was UV-Vis spectrophotometry. The initial extraction rate showed an Arrhenius-type dependence with apparent energy activation of 28.8, 69.8, and 55.6 kJ/mol, respectively. Furthermore, a study about the evolution of the colour (from colourless to reddish colour appearance) during the soaking process was done by calculating the CIE tristimulus values (X, Y, Z) for illuminant C, until reaching the apparent stabilisation of colour, which occurs after about two to four weeks for the studied temperatures (5, 23, and 40°C). Studies about the evolution of colour in the soaking process of this kind of fruit liquors can lead to a better understanding of this process, and thus to a better control over the mechanisms underlying it.

We investigated the changes in omega 3 enriched carp fillets caused by pan frying. The investigated characteristics were fat uptake, fatty acid (FA) composition, and oxidation. Four different fats were used and fillets were fried plain or battered. The fillet fat content increased during frying and FA composition in the fillets reflected the composition of the frying fat. Frying with sunflower oil negatively influenced the nutritional value by decreasing the n-3/n-6 ratio in the fillets. Frying with rapeseed oil preserved the favourable n-3/n-6 ratio without increasing the saturated fatty acids (SFA). Frying with lard and butter preserved the n-3/n-6 ratio but increased the SFA content. No increased oxidation occurred with the use of rapeseed oil. We concluded that using rapeseed oil for fish seemed to preserve the nutritionally valuable composition best.

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.

We measured the long-term (28 years) sustainability of rice-wheat cropping system under integrated nutrient management practices emphasizing the trends in grain yields, sustainable yield index (SYI) and nutrient budgeting. The data of long-term experiment revealed that grain yield of both rice and wheat declined under control and sub-optimal fertilizer inputs (50% or 75% recommended fertilizer NPK). Negative yield trend (slope) was observed in control plots for rice (-0.0296) and wheat (-0.0070); whereas positive yield trend was observed under treatments receiving organic supplements. The SYI values indicate that rice yields are more sustainable than wheat. Data on apparent nutrient balance showed a deficit of N (-42.2 kg/ha/year), P (-9.1 kg/ha/year) and K (-52.2 kg/ha/year) under control plots. Surprisingly, there was net depletion of K under the organic supplemented plots. Correlation study revealed that apparent balance of K was negatively correlated with SYI (r = -0.921 for rice; r = -0.914 for wheat) and yield slope (r = -0.870 for rice; r = -0.896 for wheat). If the trend of K imbalance is not reversed, the potential to improve N and P fertilizer use efficiency and crop yields will be limited.

Sulfonamides are widely used in treatment of animals and humans but pose a risk as environmental pollutants. An analysis of 1588 publications focused on sulfonamides is presented here. The review deals with environmental pollution with sulfonamides, described in papers indexed in the database Web of Science from 1938 to 2011. More in depth details are presented regarding publication activity during the last ten years in which 1255 papers have been published by authors from 1100 institutions. Papers, published during the last three years and mainly in 2011, are listed in comprehensive tables, sorted according to five criteria: reviews, contaminated niches, risk of contamination, sulfonamide transformation and methods of analysis. Key words and shortened abstracts direct the reader to the topics of interest. Hyperlinks to full papers, published in open access journals, are another aid in knowledge dissemination. This design of the review article allows easy navigation through vast amounts of information. Finally, a case report illustrates experiences from the author's laboratory with sulfamethazine determination in pig slurry by ELISA. The reported results highlight the need for updating the legal directives for environmental protection.

The sucrose monoesters of capric and lauric acid were tested for their antibacterial activity towards two foodborne enteropathogenic bacteria - Escherichia coli (CCM 3954 - serotype O6 and E22 - serotype O103) and Clostridium perfringens (CNCTC 5459 and CIP 105178). Antibacterial activity was evaluated by the plating technique. Sucrose monocaprate significantly decreased the number of viable cells of E. coli at all tested concentrations (0.1-5 mg/ml). The overnight incubation of C. perfringens with the sucrose ester of lauric acid at 0.1-5 mg/ml reduced the number of viable cells below the detection limit (2 log₁₀ CFU/ml). Incubating E. coli CCM 3954 and C. perfringens CNCTC 5459 with monoesters (0.1 and 2 mg/ml) did not influence the K⁺ permeability of the cytoplasmic membrane in cells during a 2.5-minute treatment. A 30-minute incubation of E. coli CCM 3954 and C. perfringens CNCTC 5459 with esters (0.1 and 2 mg/ml) revealed damage to cytoplasmic structures, as observed by transmission electron microscopy.

A six-month-old male domestic shorthair cat was referred with a history of acute-onset paraplegia, over the previous two months. The neurological examination revealed a thoracolumbar lesion. After myelography and myelo-computed tomography (myelo-CT), the diagnosis of a T13-L1 subarachnoid pseudocyst potentially related to a previous L1 vertebral body fracture or malformation was made. Surgical decompression consisted in dorsal laminectomy followed by durotomy and marsupialisation. Immediately after surgery the cat improved neurologically and showed progressive improvement of his neurological signs over the next few months, until he died, from unrelated causes, approximately 18 months after surgery.

Five intact male group-raised Tosa dogs were diagnosed with transmissible venereal tumours. Surgical removal with electrocautery and a cryogun was conducted because the owner wanted to maintain the fertility of the dogs. The dogs were followed up for 12 months. The surgical wounds were completely healed by five to six weeks. The dogs remained fertile without complications or recurrences. To maintain fertility in dogs suffering from transmissible venereal tumours, the combination of an electrocautery and a cryogun is suggested.

Forest roads are the most important ways of access; nevertheless, they are the main source of sediment production. The delivered sediment by forest roads causes environmental problems and pollution of water resources. This study has been done to present a model for estimating the sediment yield of forest road using a multiple regression analysis on the Caspian southern coasts (north of Iran, Lomir watershed). For this purpose, 45 wood dams were created and their sediment volume (dependent variable) was measured. The following independent variables were estimated: road length, road width, road slope, vegetation cover, height of cut slope and road age. Then, a regression analysis was done using SPSS software to present a linear model. In the next step, the accuracy and capability of the presented model were considered and validated using the model for estimating the wood dam sediment. The results showed that road length and road width have significant effects in sediment generation. Also, the presented model can estimate the forest road sediment in northern Iran.

A previously developed method of HPLC-DAD-Fl has been used for the determination of phytochemical profiles in different types of drinks: instant coffee, soft drinks, energy drinks, and different types of tea (green, white, black, and red tea). Using data on the concentrations of 20 main phytochemicals (phenolic acids, flavan-3-ols, flavonols, flavones, and alkaloids) it was possible to identify most of the sample types. Chlorogenic and caffeic acids, and caffeine are the main target compounds in instant coffee; in soft and energy drinks, only caffeine was found. Tea has a more complex phytochemical composition. Unfermented tea is mainly composed of flavan-3-ols and alkaloids, with a high caffeine concentration. Black tea is composed of alkaloids and low levels of flavan-3-ols, which are affected by oxidative reactions during the fermentation. Flavonols are present in lower concentrations in all kinds of teas. The identified phytochemical distribution patterns were used to correctly differentiate instant coffee, soft drinks, energy drinks, unfermented tea and fermented tea (within fermented tea, black tea from red tea can also be differentiated).