Fulltext search in archive

This article describes the procedure of ventriculo-peritoneal shunt implantation in an English bulldog with laparoscopy-assisted placement of the peritoneal catheter in the abdominal cavity. Prior to surgery, the patient was subjected to physical and neurological examinations involving a complete blood count (CBC), biochemistry profiling, EEG and MRI. This case report also describes the patient's pharmacological treatment before the procedure, the applied surgical technique and the benefits of the laparoscopy-assisted approach.

The agro-forestry system is one of the best known indigenous practices for livelihood. In view of instant decline in the rainfed hill agro-forestry system the present study was undertaken in the hilly villages of Uttarakhand state of India with the major objective to assess the status and effects of various factors on this centuries old indigenous agro-forestry system. The survey documented a total of 26 herbaceous food crop species and 21 woody species that were raised by farmers in the selected villages of Uttarakhand. A total of 37 plant species available in the agro-forestry system and used for curing various ailments by traditional healers were also documented during the survey. The major cereals produced by farmers were Oryza sativa L., Echinochloa frumentoacea Link., Eleusine coracana (L.) Gaertner and Triticum aestivum L. The indigenous system of cropping was locally called as Baranaja that revolved around the production of > 12 varieties of crops. Besides food, the species grown in the agro-forestry system were used for multiple purposes. Water scarcity, migration of youth in search of employment and changing socio-economic and climatic conditions were some of the major reasons for declining agro-forestry system and abandoning the agricultural land.

Changbai Mountain Natural Reserve (1,985 km² and 2,734 m a.s.l.) of Northeast China is a typical ecosystem representing the temperate biosphere. The vegetation is vertically divided into 4 dominant zones: broadleaved Korean pine forest (annual temperature 2.32°C, annual precipitation 703.62 mm), dark coniferous forest (annual temperature -1.78°C, annual precipitation 933.67 mm), Erman's birch forest (annual temperature -2.80°C, annual precipitation 1,002.09 mm) and Alpine tundra (annual temperature -3.82°C, annual precipitation 1,075.53 mm). Studies of soil carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) mineralization have attracted wide attention in the context of global climate change. Based on the data of a 42-day laboratory incubation experiment, this paper investigated the relationship between soil moisture and mineralization of C and N in soils with different vegetation types on the northern slope of the Natural Reserve Zone of Changbai Mountain. The elevation influence on soil C and N mineralization was also discussed. The results indicated that for the given vegetation type of Changbai Mountain the C and N mineralization rate, potential mineralizable C (C0) and potential rate of initial C mineralization (C₀k) all increased as the soil moisture rose. The elevation or vegetation type partially affected the soil C and N mineralization but without a clear pattern. The moisture-elevation interaction significantly affected soil C and NO₃^--N mineralization, but the effect on NH₄⁺-N mineralization was not significant. The complex mechanism of their impact on the soil C and N mineralization of Changbai Mountain remains to be studied further based on data of field measurements in the future.

Little is known about the effects of air-drying and freezing on the transformation of phosphorus (P) fractions in soils. It is important that the way in which soils respond to such perturbations is better understood as there are implications for both P availability and loss to surface waters from soils. In this study, the effects of air-drying and freezing were investigated using two soils, one being a forest soil (FS) high in organic matter and the other being a sterile soil (SS) low in organic matter. Soil P was fractionated using a modified Hedley fractionation method to examine the changes of phosphorus fractions induced by air-drying and freezing. Generally, there were no significant differences of total phosphorus among the three treatments (CV% < 10%). Compared with field moist soils, freezing the soil evoked few changes on phosphorus fractions except that the resin-P increased in FS soil. On the contrary, air-drying significantly changed the distribution of phosphors fractions for both soils: increased the labile-P (especially resin-P) and organic-P (NaHCO₃-Po, NaOH-Po and Con.HCl-Po) at the expense of NaOH-Pi and occlude-P (Dil.HCl-P and Con.HCl-Pi). Resin-P significantly increased by 31% for SS soil and by 121% for FS soil upon air-drying. The effect of air-drying seemed to be more pronounced in the FS soil with high organic matter content. These results indicated that drying seem to drive the P transformation form occlude-P to labile-P and organic-P and accelerated the weathering of stable P pool. This potentially could be significant for soil P supply to plants and P losses from soils to surface waters under changing patterns of rainfall and temperature as predicted by some climate change scenarios.

The domestic population of walnut (Juglans regia L.) in Serbia is highly heterogeneous as a result of many centuries of propagation from seed. This paper describes variation observed in this population over the past four decades. The date of budbreak showed a 50-day range, and the date of leaf drop a 32-day range. Average nut weight ranged from 3.3 g to 29.0 g and the kernel percentage from 26.2% to 64.3%. The number of female flowers per inflorescence ranged from 1 to 32 and the number of nuts per cluster from 1 to 15. The majority of Serbian walnut seedlings had inferior traits, although a few genotypes with excellent traits were also found. Five superior selections have been released as cultivars, and additional selections await official release. To date, over 1,000 ha of orchards have been planted in Serbia using these walnut cultivars and selections.

This research deals with productivity and cost of rock disintegration and side casting of materials with the use of a hydraulic hammer mounted on a PC 220 Komatsu crawler excavator, which is used on rocky slopes of Hyrcanian forests of Iran. A continuing time study was applied during the road construction. To estimate the volume of rock disintegration, the average end area equation was used. The increasing cut-slope height decreased productivity. The productivity of hydraulic hammer averaged at 5.5 m³.h^-1 for the mean work volume of 5.07 m³.m^-1. The unit cost of the system was 7.7 €.m^-3. From the economic point of view a new machine with multipurpose system could be recommended for forest road construction operations in rocky areas.

Ornamental nurseries, garden centres, public gardens and urban greenery in the Czech Republic were surveyed in 2006-2009 for the presence of Phytophthora spp. and the diseases they cause on ericaceous plants. Diseased plants such as Rhododendron spp., Pieris floribunda, Vaccinium sp., and Azalea sp. showed various symptoms including leaf spot, shoot blight, twig lesions or stem, root and collar rot. Nearly 140 Phytophthora isolates were collected from symptomatic plants in different areas of the country. Of the Phytophthora spp. on ericaceous plants or in their surroundings, P. plurivora appeared to be the most common species. Herein, we focus on the most frequently occurring species, P. plurivora, and describe its morpho-physiological and pathogenicity features and confirm its identity based on ITS sequences of rDNA. In addition, we give a list of other Phytophthora spp. including P. cactorum, P. cambivora, P. cinnamomi, P. citrophthora, P. megasperma, P. multivora, P. ramorum, and P. gonapodyides that we identified on the basis of their cultural and morphological characteristics and DNA sequences. We also discuss their importance in cultivated and natural ecosystems.

Bread-making quality of wheat flour is influenced by wheat storage proteins. The percentage of sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS)-unextracted polymeric proteins in total polymeric proteins (% UPP), as one important factors determining bread-making quality, is largely influenced by the individual and interactive effect of genetical background and environmental conditions. Four spring wheat cultivars were grown in green house. Two of the cultivars have high molecular weight glutenin subunits 5+10 while the other two have 2+12. Four different nitrogen regimes and two different temperature levels (distinguished as low and high temperature) were used. The results highlighted the importance of interactive influence of cultivars, nitrogen regimes and temperature levels for creating differences in the amount of % UPP during grain maturation period (GMP) and at maturity. The shift to end up with either high or low % UPP at maturity happened early during GMP (around 12 days after anthesis). Influences of cultivars on % UPP was found early during the GMP while influences of temperature and nitrogen regimes were seen much later during the GMP. The results will help in understanding the relationship between quality parameters of wheat flour and how these are influenced by different environmental and genetic factors.

Hop purchasers impose still higher requirements on the quality of the final product, which is why hop granules have to be divested of all possible impurities. One of the places that are most at risk from the given point of view is the making of hop strings and the way they are attached to the hop-field supporting structure. Commonly used hop string attachments very often remain on the supporting structure after the harvest, spontaneously loosen in the following years, penetrate into the post-harvest processing stage of the technological procedure and negatively influence the output quality of the hops. The article summarizes the results of field experiments done during the pull-down of hop vines using a common hop string, but with various attachments with the aim of looking for the most suitable treatment which would exclude the risk of impurities penetrating from this stage of the technological procedure into the final product. The measurement carried out shows that so far the most advantageous treatment is hop string with simple attachment formed by twine 12 500. Breakage of hop strings occurred in 93% in twine, while with the rest of the vines only in wire.

The aim of the experiment was to determine the impact of sorting on the growth, survival, and cannibalism of pikeperch larvae during intensive culture in recirculation systems. Larvae aged 48 days post-hatch (DPH) were reared in three groups - small specimens (group S - average body weight 40 mg), large specimens (group L - average body weight 76 mg), and unsorted ones (group U - average body weight 55 mg). After three weeks of rearing, there were no statistically significant differences in specific growth rates among the groups. However, increases in biomass were higher in the sorted groups. Survival exceeded 50% in the sorted groups and 39% in group U. Higher cannibalism was noted in group U than in the sorted groups. Significant differences among the sorted groups were observed in cannibalism, which was higher in group L, and in natural and manipulation losses, which were higher in group S (P < 0.05). During the first two weeks of rearing, the lowest cannibalism rates were observed in group S, the difference between groups S and U was statistically significant (P < 0.05). The results of the experiment indicate that the sorting of pikeperch larvae has a positive impact on the survival rate, however, it has no impact on growth during their rearing in the RAS.

The relationship of various clinical forms of uterine inflammation to bacterial contamination and the applicability of hydrogen peroxide for intrauterine treatment of clinical endometritis was the subject of this trial. Uterine contamination was compared among groups of cows according to clinical findings on days 10 ± 3 (mild or severe puerperal metritis and controls without symptoms of the disease: MM, n = 16 or SM, n = 8 and CM, n = 13) and 25 ± 3 (mild or severe clinical endometritis and controls without symptoms of the disease: ME, n = 28 or SE, n = 40 and CE, n = 10). The applicability of 3% hydrogen peroxide was evaluated on the basis of macroscopic examination of intact and closed uteri from slaughtered cows after infusion of 50, 80, and 100 ml of the solution, clinical as well as bacteriological examination of uteri in cows suffering from clinical endometritis (Group E1 - treatment for the first time, n = 18 and Group E2 - previous treatment for retained placenta or puerperal metritis, n = 12) before and seven days after intrauterine administration of 80 ml of the solution as well as subsequent reproductive performance of treated cows in comparison with untreated controls without symptoms of the disease (Group C, n = 20). A wider bacterial spectrum was found in the cows on day 10 ± 3 compared to day 25 ± 3. Arcanobacterium pyogenes was the main uterine contaminant in cows suffering from all clinical types of uterine inflammation while this bacterium was not shown to be present in any of the control cows (MM 7/16 and SM 6/8 vs. CM 0/13, P < 0.05 and P < 0.01; ME 14/28 and SE 18/40 vs. CE 0/10, P < 0.05). No macroscopic changes in uteri were found after infusion of various volumes of 3% hydrogen peroxide, only gas infiltration to the surrounding tissue occurred in completely closed uteri after deposition of 100 ml of the solution. Clinical symptoms of endometritis disappeared in 83% (E1) and 67% (E2) of affected cows and bacterial contamination decreased markedly (but not significantly) in both groups up to day 7 after intrauterine treatment. Reproductive parameters in treated cows compared to controls were not different. The results show an important role of A. pyogenes in the etiopathogenesis of all clinical forms of uterine inflammations in postpartum cows and support the use of 3% hydrogen peroxide for intrauterine treatment of clinical endometritis even though sufficient antibacterial effects of the treatment are still to be confirmed.

This article describes osteomyelitis of the sphenoid skull bone in a maltanese dog due to Cryptococcus neoformans var. neoformans infection. The affected dog was subjected to physical and neurological examinations. Complete blood count (CBC), biochemistry profile, lymph node biopsy, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) examination were also performed. This case report describes abnormalities in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examination as well as the histhopathologic lesions of the skull bones and neurological symptoms of the dog.

The noctuid C. trapezina (CT) has been considered an occasional predator of other Lepidoptera larvae. Functional/numerical response of predator and/or prey was estimated using 27 years of time-series data from Slovakia and stepwise multiple regression models (SMRM). SMRM were used to examine a possible delayed density-dependent feedback. We constructed 12 order-three autoregressive models [AR(3)] for CT and candidate prey. Independent variables were abundance of C. trapezina and abundance of candidate prey in lags 1, 2, and 3. Model variants were: (1) predation on free feeder models (FFM); (2) predation on shelter feeder models (SFM); (3) predation on the sum of 8 species models (S8M); (4) predation on all Lepidoptera models (ALM). Models were constructed for three areas (created by grouping sites based on significant correlations among CT populations). Additional comparative models were constructed for another three noctuid species and one geometrid species to compare their regression parameters under the same conditions as for CT. In total, 48 AR(3) SMRM were constructed for comparative species. A negative response of shelter feeders was found in models mainly for CT. We also found the positive response of CT growth rate to abundance of shelter feeders in lag 3 on two out of three models. This pattern was not found for any other comparison of species in the analysis. Possible mechanisms for these results are discussed.

This paper analyses the development of agricultural foreign trade in Austria, Hungary and the Czech Republic with the aim of uncovering the changes that have impacted the Central European agricultural trade over the ten year period (1999-2008). It issues from the results of the analysis of agricultural trade in the aforementioned countries, which has changed dramatically in terms of the commodity structure, the territorial structure and primarily the value structure. The main changes to have caused most of the changes to the individual characteristics of agricultural foreign trade in the particular countries under analysis are the process of the EU enlargementy, the adoption of obligations to ensue from the EU membership and the concentration in the internal market of the EU countries. We can see the actual changes in the commodity and territorial structure of the trade carried out in the individual countries under analysis. The changes which have occurred resulted in a dominant share of the member countries of the EU 27 in the agricultural trade of the individual countries under analysis.

This article examines the factor content of agricultural trade in the Central and East European (CEE) transition countries. It relates the factor content of agricultural trade to the cross-country differences in technology stemming from different farm organisations between the CEE countries agricultural sectors and to the differences in relative factor endowments. The relative factor endowments alone do not satisfactorily explain agricultural trade flows in the CEE countries. We find that transaction costs and market imperfections that affect the organisation of production also distort farm specialisation and hence V the actor content of agricultural trade.

Overgrazing affects typical steppe community in ways similar to grasslands in other areas. Exclusion of livestock grazing is one of the main management practices used to protect grasslands. However, it is not known if long-term exclusion of livestock grazing has positive effect on above- and belowground community properties in typical steppe of the Loess Plateau. We studied the long-term (20-year) cumulative effects of exclusion of livestock grazing on above- and belowground community properties compared with that before exclusion of livestock grazing in a typical steppe of the Loess Plateau, NW China. Our results show that twenty-year exclusion of livestock grazing significantly increased above- and belowground biomass, species richness, cover and height for five different communities. Most of belowground biomass was in the 0-20 cm horizon and grazing exclusion increased biomass especially at the depth of 0-10 cm. Our study suggests that long-term exclusion of livestock grazing can greatly improve community properties of typical steppe in the Loess Plateau.

The effects of temperature pre-treatment, thidiazuron, naphthaleneacetic acid, and 6-benzylaminopurine on in vitro gynogenic plant production from un-pollinated melon (Cucumis melo L.) ovaries were investigated. Simple sequence repeat (SSR) marker analysis was conducted to identify the homozygous diploid individuals. The temperature pre-treatment (4°C) for 4 days increased embryo formation frequency (63.3%) significantly. Addition of thidiazuron (0.04 and 0.02 mg/l) in the induction medium significantly increased the number of responding ovaries (46.6%, 65.83%), respectively. The maximum number of plantlet regeneration (22.5%) was achieved by culturing the ovary derived embryos on Murashigue and Skoog medium (MS medium) supplement with 0.6 mg/l 6-benzylaminopurine. Spontaneous doubled haploids originated directly through embryogenesis were subjected to genetic analysis using SSR molecular marker with 23 primers pair for homozygosity. SSR markers with microsatellite CMGA172, confirmed that the alleles in the parental material were also present in the gynogenic plantlets, but amplified only two alleles as compared to four alleles of the heterozygous parent material at same locus. Therefore these regenerated plantlets were consider homozygous and produced through a process of gametophytic embryogenesis.

This paper documents the development of soil conditions in the set of 32 permanent research plots in the Krkonoše (Giant) Mts. These plots represent an altitudinal gradient covering the ecosystems of beech, mixed beech-spruce and spruce stands. In all plots, representing the site conditions of the highest areas of the mountain range, standard soil pits were prepared and the soil sampling was performed in autumn of years 1980, 1993, 1998, 2003 and 2009. The results reflect extreme site conditions, soil acidification, large scale surface liming and in minor extent also different tree species composition of the stands. The general type of the soil-genesis is represented by the podzolisation, overlapping the other soil-genetic factors, including the tree species composition. Nevertheless, this development is mostly expressed in the spruce stands. The beech dominance and/or co-dominance are reflected especially by more efficient N-cycling, higher pH, S and V values and fluctuation and lower extractable Al3+ content. More efficient cycling in beech ecosystems is insignificantly documented for plant available phosphorus, calcium and magnesium contents; on the contrary higher dynamics for iron ions was registered in the spruce stands. The long-term soil dynamics with a hysteresis (evident on the base of ordination analysis) can be divided into some periods - processes of acidification (typical in the 1980's samples), liming (main effect in 1993 and 1998) and regeneration (2003, 2009). Other features, important for the soil development, are probably related to the vegetation change, but this relation is not statistically significant.

Different variants of regeneration felling or different light conditions (total site factor 15-95%) and weed control were evaluated in relation to the 4-year development of individuals of regenerated sessile oak. The regeneration density is not dependent on light conditions. The highest mortality occurs on the open area of clear felling. For a certain time in youth, it is possible to consider oak as a shade-tolerating species. With the increasing light intensity the diameter and height growth of oak seedlings increases proportionally, being the highest at 100% light intensity. However, to support at least medium-fast growth, the species requires minimally 50% light intensity (smaller closed clear-felled areas). On the other hand, more extensive unprotected cleared areas appear to be quite unsuitable at the initial stages of regeneration. The positive effect of weed control on the success and growth of natural regeneration is questionable. We recommend developing the regenerated stand by means of a series of small-area (about ≤ 0.3 ha) two-stage felling with a medium-long regeneration period (15-20 years).

The cell survival in the digestive tract is one of the main criteria required for the probiotics. The aim of this study was to evaluate the stability of the selected lactobacilli (Lactobacillus acidophilus CCDM 151; L. casei CCDM 198; L. rhamnosus CCDM 150, and L. fermentum ST 68) in conditions simulating those in the gastrointestinal tract as compared to the commercial probiotic strain Lactobacillus casei LAFTI L-26. The growth of lactobacilli decreased both after 2 h and 4 h incubation in MRS media with increasing concentration of bile salt but all lactobacilli had the ability to adapt in the environment of bile salt. Great differences in viability were detected between the isolated cells in the stomach simulating conditions. L. casei LAFTI L-26 and L. acidophilus CCDM 151 were most stable, L. rhamnosus CCDM 150 did not survive under these conditions. Milk revealed a strong protective influence on the viability of all lactobacilli in the stomach simulating conditions. The conditions existing in the small intestine did not influence the cell viability. Differences in autoaggregation were also observed.

One peculiar feature of the inland valleys abundant in West Africa is their site-specific hydrology, underlain mainly by the prevailing landforms and topography. Development and management of these land resources under the increasingly popular sawah (a system of bunded, puddled and levelled rice field with facilities for irrigation and drainage) technology is a promising opportunity for enhancing rice (Oryza sativa L.) production in the region. Information on the variations in selected soil physical properties as influenced by the prevailing landforms may serve as a useful guide in site selection. This is of practical importance since majority of the inland valleys are potentially unsuitable for sawah development and most farmers in the region are of low technical level. Three landforms (river levee, elevated area and depressed area) were identified within a sawah field located in an inland valley at Ahafo Ano South District of Ghana. Each of these landforms was topsoil-sampled along on identified gradient (top, mid and bottom slope positions). Parameters determined included particle size distribution, bulk density, total porosity and field moisture content. The soil is predominantly clayey. There were no variations in the particle size distribution among the slope positions in the river levee. Overall, the river levee had lower silt content than the elevated and the depressed landforms. The bulk density, total porosity, and gravimetric moisture content indicated relative improvements only in the depressed area in the order, bottom > mid > top slope. Irrespective of slope position, the three landforms differed in these parameters in the order, depressed > river levee > elevated. The sand fraction impacted negatively on the silt fraction and bulk density of the soil, both of which controlled the soil moisture status. Despite the fairly low silt content of the soil, the silt fraction strongly influenced the gravimetric moisture content (R² = 0.80). So too did the soil bulk density on the gravimetric moisture content (R² = 0.90). It is concluded that: (1) since the landforms more prominently influenced the measured parameters than the slope positions, the former should take pre-eminence over the latter in soil suitability judgment; (2) with respect to moisture retention, variations in silt fraction and bulk density of this and other clayey inland-valley soils should be used as guide in site selection for sawah development.

Soil tillage practices involving various depth, intensity, and different methods of loosening the soil and treating plant residues have changed significantly in recent years and have spread also due to technical advance. The reasons are not only in expected benefits for crop production economics but also in preserving and increasing soil fertility. Although the practices were known for decades, their greatest development and use was seen only in the last 15 years, when decreasing production costs, efficient technology and effective herbicides were the main reasons for their development. At present, they are regarded as important alternatives to conventional management practices with moldboard plowing. Minimum soil tillage practices can contribute to effective soil management, however, risks associated with using these practices in various farming conditions shall be regarded. For cereals, these risks also include disease severity that is conditioned by several circumstances, which change along with the crop management practice, variety assortment or weather in individual years. Diseases that can be of greater importance in relation to the conservation soil tillage practice are stem-base diseases, root diseases and Fusarium head blight. Our experiments did not demonstrate an increased demand for protection against Fusarium head blight, foot diseases and take-all in the given system (three-crop rotation where wheat followed white mustard). Individual years were an important factor.

The purpose of this study was to analyse the microbial diversity in the caecum of geese using a 16S ribosomal RNA gene (rRNA) clone library approach. A total of 160 clones and 124 clones were sequenced and phylogenetically analysed from the contents and mucosa of the caecum of Yang Zhou geese, respectively. The result indicated that there was a rich variety of bacteria in the caecum contents. Forty-six operational taxonomic units (OTUs) based on a 98% similarity criterion were classified in the contents of goose caecum, as compared to 29 OTUs based on a 97% similarity criterion in the mucosa of goose caecum. The sequences were assigned to 7 and 5 groups in the contents and mucosa of goose caecum, respectively. Contents of goose caecum were dominantly occupied by Clostridia-related species (58.7%) with other abundant sequences being related to Bacteroidetes (26.9%) and Erysipelotrichi (11.2%). Gammaproteobacteria (59.6%) and Clostridia (20.1%) were predominant in the mucosa of goose caecum.

This case report of multiple mammary tumours in a Spitz bitch revealed the presence of three tumour masses, T-1, T-2 and T-3, of variable size, shape and texture on different mammary glands. Histopathological examination revealed these tumours to be of different histological type (T-1 - fibrosarcoma, T-2 - malignant mixed mammary tumour and T-3 - papillary adenocarcinoma). The mitotic index and AgNOR count was high in all three tumours indicative of a higher proliferation status of neoplastic cells while T-2 and T-3 showed overexpression of the c-erbB2 oncoprotein.

This paper describes the course and variation in the brain base arteries in fallow deer. The metrical features of the brain base arteries were determined with an image analysis system. The main sources of blood supply to the brain in fallow deer are internal carotid arteries; vertebral arteries rarely participate in blood supply. The brain base arteries in fallow deer show variation both in their course and in the way of descent of particular vessels. The highest variation was observed in the way of the opening of caudal cerebral arteries. The volume of the arterial circle of brain in fallow deer is similar to the volume of the basilar artery. Considering the correlation between specific parameters, it can be concluded that the volume of the basilar artery is highly correlated with the volume of the posterior part of the arterial circle of the brain, i.e., the volume of the caudal communicating arteries.

The paper summarizes the main characteristics of a mixed stand during 80-year transformation to the mixed stand with permanent selective structure. The initial main stand was mostly composed of conifers with group arrangement, broadleaves as the reserved trees created the upper storey. Partial opening by thinnings prepared the stand for regeneration. Heavy thinning in 1959 (22% of the growing stock) opened the main stand and released the advance growth of broadleaves. Subsequent stand development was negatively affected by air pollution. Mainly fir and spruce responded to air pollution by deteriorated health condition and increment reduction. Beech and other broadleaves gradually increased their proportion in the stand (64% of the growing stock in 2008). Initial diameter distribution was sinistral, reserved trees affected the frequency of thick trees. Final diameter distribution resembled the model curve for selective forests, the number of thin trees was below the model curve for broadleaved forests with selective structure in these types of localities. Mean increments of individual species changed according to their stand position. Low fecundity of trees, weed infestation and game damage limited natural regeneration, artificial regeneration dominated for the whole time. The complicated structure corresponding to selective forest occurred rarely during the monitored period, the stand was differentiated mainly by spatial arrangement.

The MRN complex is formed by the interaction of the products of the Mre11, Rad50 and Nbs1 genes. This complex plays a central role on repair of double-strand breaks (DSBs) and acts in a great number of cellular processes. In this study we have performed the analysis of the MRN complex in diploid and polyploid species of wheat. The molecular characterization was carried out in the diploid T. monococcum (genome A) and Ae. tauschii (genome D) and in the tetraploid T. turgidum (genomes A and B). The results obtained showed that in all cases the genes presented the main characteristics previously described in other species. A modified FISH protocol was used to locate the Rad50, Mre11 and the Nbs1 genes on the homoeologous chromosomes 5, 2 and 1, respectively. Analysis of expression showed that the hexaploid T. aestivum was the species with the higher level of expression whereas the rest of the species analysed showed no relation with its ploidy. Also, quantification of the expression of each homoeologous gene in the polyploid species evidenced in some cases a process of silencing after polyploidization. The study of the interaction between the proteins demonstrated that the interaction of proteins was not restricted to each genome, detecting interaction between proteins belonging to different genomes.

The present investigation was undertaken to find out efficient strains of arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM fungi) alone or in combinations with Trichoderma viride for inoculation Dendrocalamus strictus L. seedlings. The inoculated seedlings showed good response having higher plant height, phosphorous ions content in root and shoot, AM spore number and root colonization than non-inoculated (control) seedlings in both single (alone) and co-inoculation (combined consortium) experiments. T. viride showed significant growth followed by Glomus mosseae, G. fasciculatum and mixed AM with single inoculation. In co-inoculation, the best growth responses were observed with G. fasciculatum + T. viride followed by G. mosseae + T. viride, mixed vesicular arbuscular mycorrhizas (VAM) + T. viride, G. mosseae + G. fasciculatum + T. viride + mixed VAM, G. mosseae + G. fasciculatum + T. viride and G. mosseae + G. fasciculatum after 120 days and also depicted maximum increase in phosphorus content of shoot and root when compared with other inoculated seedlings. However, all the inoculated seedlings showed significant increase in phosphorus content when compared with control seedlings.

The objective of this study was to compare the metabolic and electrolytic profile as well as the morphological appearance of the umbilical cord and newly born piglets' weight that failed the vitality test scale compared to those who passed. Newborn piglets were divided into three groups according to the vitality with a modified Apgar score at birth: Group 1, failing with a score < 5 (G₁: n = 218), Group 2 had a score of 6 to 7 (G₂: n = 439) and Group 3 had scores > 8 (G₃: n = 464). Results showed significant differences among groups (P < 0.05) in the physio-metabolic pH, PCO₂, PO₂, Na⁺, Ca²⁺, glucose, lactate and bicarbonate values. Regarding weight, temperature and latency to connect the maternal teat, there were also significant differences (P < 0.05) among groups; it took 23.38 min for G₃ while neonatal piglets from G₁ took 30 min longer (P < 0.05) to make the first teat contact. The neonates from the latter group had a higher percentage (75.68%) of broken umbilical cords, with higher birth weight (+200 g, P < 0.05), showed higher than normal blood glucose concentrations, and had lower body temperature at birth (-0.7°C, P < 0.05) and PO₂ in comparison with the other groups of neonates that passed the vitality score. A novel point of this study is the profile characterization of piglets that failed and passed the vitality score; we expect that the data provided may be applicable as reference values of metabolic and electrolyte blood profiles in newborn piglets according to their vitality. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that low vitality newborn piglets had clearly undergone through perinatal asphyxia. Potential indicators increasing this condition are: high birth weight, low body temperature, vitality score ≤ 5, and the presence of the broken umbilical cord at birth.