Fulltext search in archive

Soil properties of forest ecosystems depend on synergy of both parent material and organisms living in the soil, i.e. tree species communities including related plant and animal species. However these soils were not left intact being converted into agricultural land; addition of both nutrients and organic matter and cultivation using tillage led to increased fertility of topsoil. Even long-term afforested soils show differences which are considered as legacy of past agriculture. The change remains detectable for decades; though the altered properties are obvious especially couple of years after planting (approximately 10 years). We found increased concentrations of nutrients (P, K, Ca, and Mg) and subsequent increased base saturation (V %) in former tilled soil only. Moreover, there were no differences between topsoil and subsoil properties (69% and 72%, respectively). In addition to significantly lower saturation (both 0-10 cm and 11-30 cm layers) detected in the long-term-forest and 50-year-afforested (both covered with Norway spruce stands) soils in comparison with adjacent 10-year-old afforestations, there was found significantly lower base saturation in topsoil horizons compared to underlying ones.

Effective forest management demands detailed knowledge of resources. Local forest users are usually the best source of information. In the Democratic Republic of Congo forest management partnerships between local people and government staff have become more common. A proper understanding of local perceptions of the forest is needed. This study was designed and guided by a multidisciplinary team including a sociologist, a linguist and a forester. It identified and compared classification and management units. It also touched on the different uses of the forest products, the species that provided these products and the locations of these species.

This paper addresses (ex ante) the issue of the potential impact of the modulation of direct payments on a sector and regional scale in the Czech Republic. The ultimate version of the compulsory modulation measure adopted under the Health Check of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) assumes the reduction of direct payments if the total individual claim exceeds 5 thousand € or 300 thousand € level. The Czech agricultural sector will be impacted by this measure substantially, given the large scale farming enterprises. In 2013, the total farmers' direct payments will be cut by more than 10% (€ 91 million). Moreover, there are regional differences in farm structures (the average farm size and the extent of collectivization) which will bring about various effects of policies in the heterogeneous regions. The analysis further shows that the regions that are least affected are at the same time more environmental sensitive and are mostly situated in the mountainous or sub-mountainous parts of the country or more urban areas than the average. Hence the effect of the modulation, from a purely environmental perspective, may not contradict the objectives of other environmental policies. That is to say the regions that need support the most will be reduced the least. However, the picture is less obvious in the regional economies where more rural regions (potentially more vulnerable with socio-economic problems) tend to be more affected.

Proteolysis is the principal and most complex biochemical event occurring during the maturation of the majority of ripened cheese varieties. In addition to softening the cheese body, proteolysis influences the development of cheese flavour via the formation of amino acid and peptides which make a direct contribution to flavour. Goat, cow and sheep cheeses have been elaborated with raw milk and calf rennet. The extent of proteolysis was monitored over six months of ripening and means of HPLC peptide profile analysis. The influence of season on the changes in hydrophobic and hydrophilic peptides and the HO/HI ratio during the ripening of the cheeses were studied.

The problems of soil hygiene and contents of the following heavy metals: cadmium, cobalt and nickel in the productive parts of plants in the location of Agricultural Cooperative Štrba in Poprad County were discussed in the presented work. Above-mentioned location is found in the neighbourhood with a chemical factory Chemosvit Svit. The achieved results show that the soil hygiene in this region is mainly affected by the activity of this chemical factory. This factory is producing many risky substances and their results can be seen in the condition of soil hygiene and in the quality of farmed plants. The results of monitored heavy metals (Cd, Co, Ni) prove that the content of cadmium and nickel is the main polluting factor of soil in this region. The increased contents of these elements in soil produce a high risk of the uptake to plants. This further affects the technological quality along with the quality of hygiene of farmed products and finally the food itself as well. A higher attention needs to be paid to cobalt too, because it proved quite high cumulation ability in soil.

An evaluation of the effects of soil structural heterogeneity on maize (Zea mays L.) root system architecture was carried out on plants grown in boxes containing fine soil and clods. The clods were prepared at two levels of moisture (0.17 and 0.20 g/g) and bulk density (ranges 1.45-1.61 g/ml and 1.63-1.79 g/ml). Soil moisture directly affected the probability of clod penetration by maize roots. Primary roots inside the clods manifested morphological deformations in the form of bends. We observed a significant increase of bends per root length at lower soil moisture (P = 0.02). Root diameter and branching density increased, and lateral root length decreased considerably inside the clods. However, once emerging out of the clods and into free soil, values of all three characteristics remained low. While changes in root diameter were caused mainly by clod moisture (P < 0.05), length of lateral roots was related to bulk density (P < 0.01). Branching density was modified exclusively by an interactive effect of both factors (P < 0.05).

The aim of the study was to investigate acute toxicity of clove oil for common carp and, using values of haematological and biochemical profiles of blood and histological tissue examinations, to assess the effects of the fish exposure to that anaesthetic. Acute toxicity values of clove oil for carp were found 10 minLC50 74.3 mg/l; 10minLC0.1 51.6 mg/l; 10minLC99.9 110.1 mg/l; 96hLC50 18.10 mg/l; 96hLC0.1 15.45 mg/l; and 96hLC99.9 19.80 mg/l. The fish were divided into four groups for haematological and biochemical examinations of blood and histological examinations of tissues. The groups were Control I (before the anaesthetic administration), Experiment I (immediately after 10 min anaesthesia at the concentration of 30 mg/l), Experiment II (24 hrs after 10 min anaesthesia) and Control II (controls examined in parallel with Experiment II). A total of 40 carp were examined. Clove oil anaesthesia had not effect on the haematological profile. The 10-min exposure to clove oil at a concentration of 30 mg/l caused a significant (P < 0.01) increase in the concentration of glucose (GLU) and inorganic phosphate (PHOS) immediately after anaesthesia. Clove oil anaesthesia had not effect on other biochemical indices. Histological examination showed capillary ectasia of gill filaments immediately after clove oil anaesthesia. Twenty-four hours after anaesthesia, no ectasia was observed. No histopathological changes were demonstrated in other tissues following anaesthesia. Results of the examinations suggest that the use of clove oil at a concentration of 30 mg/l does not cause irreversible damage in carp.

Different mastitis pathogens induce different courses of infection, i.e. more or less severe. Mammary epithelial cells play an important role in the initial combat against microorganisms by expression of cytokines and acute phase proteins that regulate the immune response. The objective of the present study was to investigate the involvement of the epithelial cells into the outcome of mastitis induced by different pathogens. Primary epithelial cell cultures isolated from milk were used to test the immune response by measuring the mRNA expression of immunomodulators and their influence on polymorph nuclear chemotaxis. Because the cells showed different responses to isolated bacterial endotoxins (lipopolysaccharide, lipoteichoic acid, and peptidoglycans) compared to whole bacteria, they were treated with heat inactivated (10 MOI) gram-negative Escherichia coli, a very common pathogen causing acute intra-mammary infections, with Staphylococcus aureus, a prevalent cause of chronic, and, Streptococcus uberis, an inducer of acute and chronic mastitis. E. coli induced an increased mRNA expression of interleukin (IL)-8 within a 1 h treatment. A treatment for 6 h with E. coli and S. aureus induced increased mRNA expression of IL-6, IL-8, TNF-á and serum amyloid A (SAA). After a 24 h treatment the expression of these immunomodulators was still elevated, except in the E. coli treatment the SAA expression showed no differences to control cells anymore. Interestingly, Str. uberis in the same concentration did only induce the expression of IL-8 after a 6 h treatment but had no influence on other immunomodulator mRNA expression. Cell culture supernatants of E. coli and S. aureus treated cells for 12 h increased leukocyte chemotaxis in a 96-well MultiScreen^TMMIC-plate. S. aureus seemed to induce increased chemotaxis after shorter treatments than E. coli. In conclusion, mammary epithelial cells are involved in the different immune response to various mastitis pathogens, and the induction of chemotaxis of leukocytes from blood to milk during mastitis. Therefore, most likely epithelial cells play a role in the differential pattern of immunomediators stimulated by different pathogens.

In this study, pathogenic strains of Y. enterocolitica were identified by microbiological and PCR methods. The samples were collected from pigs, cattle, poultry, and slaughter houses. Three common techniques were used to isolate Y. enterocolitica from the samples - ITC, PSB, and direct on the CIN. Primers A1/A2, Y1/Y2, and rfbC 1/rfbC 2 were used for the specific detection of the pathogenic strains of Y. enterocolitica. Traditional microbiological methods were found to be insufficient for the specific identification of the Y. enterocolitica pathogen. In comparison with PCR which was able to detect 149 strains, the biochemical test could detect only 138 species. These results show that the use of biochemical methods of cultivation did not allow the identification of all Y. enterocolitica pathogens. In total, 149 strains of pathogenic Y. enterocolitica were examined of which 120 were from pigs, 19 from poultry, 8 were cattle strains, and 2 came from the environments of slaughterhouses.

Nine Bornean river turtles (Orlitia borneensis, Gray, 1873) suffering from lethargy, ulcerations and caseous necrosis of the plastron were evaluated for haematology and plasma chemistry. Intra-erythrocytic haemogregarine parasites were associated with anaemia, low haemoglobin, basophilia, eosinophilia, heterophilia and azurophilia. After eight months of treatment consisting of antibiotics, debridement and scrubbing of lesions with enilconazole or povidone iodine, rehydration, deworming and tube feeding, lymphocytes, basophils, eosinophils, heterophils and azurophils returned to the normal ranges. Haematocrit, RBC and haemoglobin concentration were under the normal ranges in 24 months. A progressive decrease in haemogregarine parasitaemia was also seen, however, haematologic changes could not be definitely attributed to these parasites.

Certain physicochemical and sensory characteristics of the flavoured kefir drink were studied during refrigerated storage. Kefir drink batches were prepared using 2% addition of kefir grains, incubation for 18 h and subsequent filtration. The batches were then flavoured with blackberry, raspberry and strawberry aromas in the concentrations of 0.05, 0.10 and 0.15%, respectively. The samples were taken for analysis on 1^st, 4^th, 7^th, and 10^th days of storage at 4 ± 1°C. The sensory analysis of the flavoured kefir samples revealed the best acceptability level on the 4^th day of storage. Nevertheless, the samples were acceptable all throughout the storage. The percentage of the aroma addition significantly influenced the odour, flavour, texture, and mouth-feel, and the overall acceptability ratings. The higher percentage of the added aroma the more sensed, however, the lowest aroma addition was preferable. The pHs of the flavoured kefir drinks decreased throughout the storage time whereas, the titratable acidity, alcohol content and CO₂ values increased.

Three experiments with dairy cows were conducted in an air-conditioned stable under controlled conditions. The objective of the study was to determine the effect of the regulated ionic microclimate on the emission of dust particles (aerosol) up to the diameter of 10 μm (PM₁₀). Four dairy cows were housed in common straw-bedded boxes and the stable was equipped with a vacuum ventilation system. To regulate the ionic microclimate, the apparatus Agri 1 000 (maximum voltage 7 kV, current 25 μA) was used. Thus the airborne dust concentration in the stable (42-132 μg/m³) was reduced by 12.7-26.2%. In experiments B and C statistical significance P ≤ 0.05 was reached. The emissive flow from the stable was decreased from 7.41-8.63 mg/h to 5.30-6.55 mg/h per one animal, i.e. by 24.1-31.3%. Owing to ionisation the ratio of n⁺ to n^- ions was changed. A unipolarity coefficient (P) was changed from 1.65-1.93 to 0.82-0.89, i.e. superiority of n^- ions.

Campylobacter species, in particular C. jejuni and C. coli, cause infections which vary in symptoms, ranging from asymptomatic to severe chronic illness. The only ISO method for the detection of Campylobacter spp. until now has been the cultivation by selective enrichment and distinct conditions of growth taking several days to complete. We compared the Singlepath^® Campylobacter test which involved 24 h of enrichment in Bolton broth, with PCR-based identification. Chicken meat salad with mayonnaise was spiked with C. jejuni and C. coli and the detection limit was determined. PCR provided the same detection limit of 10² CFU/ml for both strains. The immunotest Singlepath^® was positive with C. jejuni only, the quantity of cells being 10³ CFU/ml. C. coli was undetectable by Singlepath^®, even the concentration of 10⁵ did not reveal a positive reaction.

A method based on the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) principle was validated for detecting cow's milk in goat and sheep cheeses. DNA was isolated from the cheeses using the isolation kit Invisorb Spin Food I by Invitek Co., designed for the samples of animal origin. The PCR method applied utilizes the sequence of the mitochondrial gene coding cytochrome b which is specific for mammals. It uses the common forward primer and the reverse primer species-specific. After electrophoresis, cow DNA was characterised by the fragment of the size of 274 bp, goat DNA by the fragment of 157 bp, and sheep DNA by the fragment of 331 bp. The detection limit of the PCR method described (1%) was determined with model samples made from pure goat cheese with a defined addition of cheese made from cow's milk. The method validated was applied in the analysis of 17 goat cheeses and 7 sheep cheeses obtained from retail trade. Products of Czech, Slovak, French, Dutch, and Italian origin were examined. The presence of undeclared cow's milk was detected in three kinds of goat cheese and in one of sheep cheese.

It is evident that the presence of organic matters in soil considerably influences by its microbial oxidation to CO₂ the requirement for calcareous compounds as well as the necessary amelioration dose of lime to reduce incurred soil acidity as the impact of balanced buffering CO₂-HCO₃^- system, the more labile the organic matters are. If we take into consideration that the content of soil water per hectare of topsoil is, at the total weight of 6 × 10⁶ kg, approximately, in analyzed sandy-loam soils 1.2 × 10⁶ litre, in the given experiment soil water is just able to use up to 220 kg CaCO₃/ha for the fixation of free surplus CO₂ to the value of equilibrium CO₂, at zero elution! From this process, even 300-400 kg water-soluble Ca(HCO₃)₂ result. Of course, the ion exchange and the buffering system of the soil have further requirements for Ca compounds. Consequently, an unambiguous conclusion is: doses of calcareous compounds cannot be calculated only with the aim of reducing soil acidity and consumption of Ca nutrient by plants as it is common in the other nutrients. In a practical experiment in watersheds of nine Šumava brooks of the total area of 78.5 km² we studied changes in the stability of soil organic matters in the soils of these brooks in relation to variations in calcium carbonate equilibriums in waters from these watersheds in 1986-2004. The loss of the least stable fraction of soil organic matters, and the associated loss of the microbial activity of soils, were found to lead to a decrease in Langelier saturation index I_s in the waters, hence to a reduction in water corrosivity against CaCO₃, and so to a smaller need of liming to establish the calcium carbonate equilibrium in soil solutions even though exchange and active acidity of soil increased.

The efficiency of medroxyprogesterone acetate (MAP) sponges in combination with either pregnant mare serum gonadotrophin (PMSG) or cloprostenol (PGF_2α) for inducing and synchronizing the estrous cycle in non-lactating Kivircik ewes was investigated during the natural non-breeding season. All ewes (n = 69) were treated with 60 mg MAP sponges for 12 days. In addition, each ewe received an intramuscular injection of either 1.5 ml sterile saline solution (n = 18); 125 μg PGF_2α (n = 14); 500 IU PMSG (n = 18) or 500 IU PMSG and 125 μg PGF_2α (n = 19), 48 h before the sponge removal. Cervical artificial insemination (AI) with diluted fresh semen was performed at a fixed time (48 and 60 h) following progestagen withdrawal. The different groups estrous response for the first 24 ± 6 h and within 120 h, time to onset and duration of the induced estrous, and pregnancy rate was found to be 36.2%, 81.6%, 41.7 ± 2.3 h, 29.6 ± 1.5 h, and 54.5%, respectively. There were significant differences between groups MAP and MAP/PGF_2α and their with the two latter groups (MAP/PMSG, MAP/PMSG/PGF_2α) in terms of the onset of induced estrous (P < 0.05) and between groups MAP and MAP/PGF_2α in terms of the duration of induced estrous (P < 0.05) and between the first two groups (MAP, MAP/PGF_2α) and the latter two groups (MAP/PMSG, MAP/PMSG/PGF_2α) in terms of estrous response at the first 24 ± 6 h (P < 0.05). These results indicate that, the use of MAP/PMSG, rather than MAP or MAP/PGF_2α, was effective in the attainment of early and compact induction and synchronization of estrous in non-lactating Kivircik ewes during the natural non-breeding season.

In 2003 to 2005, Chrysomela populi L. gradated on yearly cut Populus nigra var. italica in street alleys in Brno and elsewhere. Imagoes occurred on trees from the end of April or from the beginning of May. In rearing, the chrysomelid consumed unwillingly leaves of 2-year shoots and laid on average 142 eggs. On leaves of shoots, imagoes damaged 100 to 200 cm² during 5 to 7 weeks, produced 480 to 900 frass pellets and laid on average 506 eggs. Oviposition was continual with breaks amounting to on average 2.6 days. Embryonal development took 6 to 8 (in the laboratory 5) days. Larvae of the 1^st generation occurred from mid-May to mid-July. In the course of 2 weeks (in the laboratory during 10 days) of life, they damaged about 20 cm² leaves and produced about 300 frass pallets. In the laboratory, prepupae took 2 days and pupae 4 days. Imagoes of the 1^st generation occurred from June to September. They damaged on average 113 cm² and produced on average 553 frass pellets and 653 eggs. At a temperature of 24 to 28°C, imagoes damaged on average 84 cm² during 2 to 3 weeks and diapaused until the next year. On growing up leaves, imagoes lived longer showing higher consumption of food and higher fecundity as against new fully-grown leaves. Larvae of the 2^nd generation destroyed on average 2 cm² smaller area than larvae of the 1^st generation. Part or all imagoes of the 2^nd generation diapaused. Imagoes of the 3^rd generation damaged 40 to 70 cm² leaves before departure to wintering grounds. In our natural conditions, the prospective 3^rd generation is always incomplete. Cleonice callida Meig. and Schizonotus sieboldi (Ratz.) rank among important enemies.

Land market in the Czech Republic is monitored by the Research Institute of Agricultural Economics on the sample of 24 districts (1/3 of the CR). Land prices depend on the area, culture and region of the plot. Sales of small plots (up to 1 ha) prevail. These plots are usually purchased for non-agricultural use and their prices are many times higher than prices of large plots (above 5 ha) which are usually bought for agricultural purpose. Land market is not well developed, only 0.2-0.4% of the monitored area is sold each year. But in the last years, it is increasing. Compared with land prices in the west EU countries, land market prices in the CR are low.

This study was performed to determine the influence of fermented goat and cow milk produced by the use of Bifidobacterium longum Bb-46 on pathogenic Serratia marcescens and Campylobacter jejuni strains. The correlation between the inhibitory effect and some fermentation parameters (the number of viable probiotic cells and pH of fermented milk) was also determined. Bifidobacterium longum counts and pH values were also measured in milk samples during fermentation. The results showed that the inhibitory effect of Bifidobacterium longum Bb-46 fermented goat milk on Serratia marcescens increased with the fermentation time. The highest inhibitory effect of fermented cow milk occurred in the middle course of fermentation. Statistically significant correlation between the inhibition degree of Serratia marcescens growth and pH values of fermented goat milk was noted as opposed to the correlation between the inhibition degree of Serratia marcescens growth and pH values of fermented cow milk which was not statistically significant. All samples of goat and cow fermented milk exhibited inhibitory effects on the growth of Campylobacter jejuni.

The paper presents data on the induction of necroses after small injuries to beech stems caused by electrodes during measuring cambium electric resistance. Altogether 121 beech stems of tree class 1-3 (according to Kraft) were evaluated. Among 2,904 mechanical injuries in 121 stems evaluated (24 per stem), 155 injuries induced necroses, hence each 19^th injury induced necrosis. Most stems (33.06%) showed one necrosis, few stems (4.96%) showed even four necroses. 28.93% of stems did not show any necrosis. In order to prevent the infection of wounds and subsequent induction of necroses the authors recommend to treat any wounds with a suitable fungicide after using an equipment causing even negligible wounds of stems.

The factors important for the acrylamide formation in model systems were studied. The effects of two starch matrices (potato, wheat), the share of two monosaccharides (glucose and fructose) on the formation of acrylamide, and the impact of water addition were compared in model systems under isothermal conditions. Acrylamide was determined by GC/MS-NCI technique. The results showed that the water content is one of the most important factors in the formation of acrylamide, besides the reaction temperature and time. The minimum of acrylamide formation was observed at the water content between 25 and 40%; outside of this range, the acrylamide concentration was higher. The presence of starch reduced the amount of acrylamide formed from asparagine and saccharide, moreover, the effects of potato and wheat starches were similar. Fructose was more effective for the acrylamide formation in comparison with glucose. The combined contribution of glucose and fructose in the mixture with asparagine and starch to the acrylamide level corresponded to the sum of separate contributions of saccharides only at the middle content of added water.

In 2003, 2004 and 2005 milk fat composition was determined three times in 55 dairy cows of Czech Pied cattle housed in a byre with stanchions and fed under conditions usual on Czech production farms. Fatty acids were determined by a gas chromatographic method, 26 acids out of the total 37 acids observed in chromatograms were identified. The highest proportions were observed for palmitic acid (29.25 ± 2.98%), oleic acid (24.47 ± 3.27%), myristic acid (12.14 ± 1.80%) and stearic acid (8.91 ± 2.44%). The proportions of saturated, unsaturated and monounsaturated fatty acids were 64.71 ± 4.18, 31.96 ± 4.20 and 27.45 ± 3.42% of total acids, respectively. The total proportion of nutritionally undesirable lauric, myristic and palmitic acid was 45.26 ± 4.77%, while that of the desirable group of polyunsaturated fatty acids was 4.51 ± 1.09%. The observed relatively wide ranges of the individual groups of fatty acids indicate that it is possible to improve the milk fat composition in Czech Pied cows.

The study deals with the influence of the structure, texture and dynamics of a spruce-beech primeval forest on the bird community in Skalná Alpa National Nature Reserve in the Veľká Fatra Mts. (West Carpathians, Slovakia) in the years 1982-2002. The abundance of Norway spruce (Picea excelsa Lam.) was highest both in the optimum and decomposition stage. In the growth stage the number of Norway spruce (Picea excelsa Lam.) trees was quite low. The texture of spruce-beech virgin forest was very variable. Percentage ratios of individual stages on the area of 42.16 ha were as follows: growth stage 38.3%, optimum stage 20.1% and decomposition stage 41.6%. Altogether 46 bird species were represented in the bird community during the spring season. Mean total density was 85.8 ind/10 ha. The bird community consisted of 52 species in the summer season, 45 in the autumn migration season, 34 in the winter season, and of 47 in the spring migration season. The highest density was found in the bird community during the autumn migration season (109.8 ind/10 ha), the lowest in the winter season (24.6 ind/10 ha). During the spring migration season, both the spectrum of bird species and total density of bird community increased by the number of migratory species that came back from winter habitats.

The differences in C isotope ratio of C₃ and C₄ plant species have been used to determine relative contributions of carbon (C) sources to total CO₂ efflux. The objective of this study was to estimate the contribution of soil organic C and C₃ sugar to total CO₂ of corn and wheat monocultures during a short-term incubation. Control soils and soils amended with sugar were incubated at 25°C for 48 hours and total CO₂ concentration and δ¹³C values of evolved CO₂ were measured. The proportional contribution of C sources on CO₂ efflux was determined by using isotopic composition of soil organic C and C₃ sugar. δ¹³C values of soils are highly affected by the type of vegetation and the soil management. The C₃ sugar addition in soils double the CO₂ efflux in the corn soil, but it did not affect CO₂ efflux in the wheat soil. This indicated a larger turnover of microbial biomass in the corn soil. The greatest significant (P < 0.05) difference in δ¹³C values between the control and sugar added soils occurred at 12 hours in the corn soil (11.2‰) and at 24 hours in the wheat soil (9.4‰). The estimated relative contribution of sugar to CO₂efflux was stronger at 12 hours incubation in the corn soil.

The object of the study was to determine if apoptosis of neutrophils and their subsequent elimination from the mammary gland by macrophages are modulated by an infection of Streptococcus uberis. The experiments were carried out in 5 clinically normal Holstein × Bohemian Red Pied crossbred heifers, aged 14 to 18 months. Before the experimental infection mammary glands were stimulated by PBS as a control. The samples of cell populations were obtained by lavages of the mammary glands in 4 intervals (24, 48, 72 and 168 h) after the PBS and after the experimental infection. Flow cytometry was used to determine the Annexin V positive and propidium jodide negative neutrophils (Annexin V⁺/PI^-). The light microscopy was used to determine apoptotic neutrophils and myeloperoxidase (MPO) positive macrophages. After PBS and S. uberis administration the total number of both Annexin V⁺/PI^- neutrophils and karyopycnotic neutrophils peaked at 24 hours. The highest percentages of Annexin V⁺/PI^- neutrophils were detected at 72 h after PBS and S. uberis, respectively. The highest percentages of karyopycnotic neutrophils were detected at 72 h after PBS and 168 h after S. uberis, respectively. The total number of MPO+ macrophages was the highest at 24 h after PBS and 72 h after S. uberis. The percentage of MPO+ macrophages was the highest at 72 h after PBS and S. uberis. The results of this study demonstrate that during experimental infection of the mammary gland by S. uberis, the apoptosis of neutrophils is modulated. Apoptosis of neutrophils and the subsequent phagocytosis of apoptotic neutrophils by macrophages were delayed. This may cause the transition of the acute inflammatory reaction to a chronic state.

An expert estimate of the weight of emissions produced in agriculture has been up to now made only through a final counting to the total REZZO 4 emission balance in the category of "other mobile sources" The existing situation is however unbearable since a proper methodology to determine the production of emissions in agriculture, i.e. in the department with a considerable consumption of fossil fuels, is still missing. The solution consists in a more precise specification of the weight of generated limited pollutants (CO, NO_x, SO₂, PM and VOC including CO₂) in the department of agriculture on the basis of the measured annual consumption of fuels in agriculture and with using the emission factors of fuels. Calculated results are compared with the original values finally counted for the REZZO 4 category of "other mobile sources" in 2000 and 2001 (Adamec 2002; Adamec et el. 2003). The calculation revealed that the weight production of individual pollutants in 2000 and 2001 reached only 28% and 27% for CO, 52% and 50% for NO_x, 69% and 66% for SO₂, 87% and 83% for PM, and 26% and 24% for VOC of the original estimates with final counts and was therefore much lower. The share of agriculture in the weight production of emissions from mobile sources in 2000 and 2001 was 3.1% and 3.1% for CO, 11.5% and 11.5% for NO_x, 19.8% and 18.8% for SO₂, 38.3% and 34.6% for PM, and 3.5% and 3.6% for VOC. The development of weight production for individual pollutants in the period from 1995-2005 is expressed by means of regression equations. Coefficients of reliability indicate that the measure of reliability of the interval determined by calculation is much higher than that of the reliability interval determined by values estimated through final counting that appear incidental. There are increasing efforts today focused on the replacement of diesel oil as a traditional fossil fuel in agriculture with biodiesel oil as a more environment-friendly fuel. The second part of results includes a monitoring of the impact of biodiesel oil emissions in cases where diesel oil was replaced by this ecological fuel in agriculture in the period from 2000-2005. It follows from the analysis that the weight production of pollutants in 2000-2005 would have been reduced by 4% in CO, by 28% in SO₂, by 52% in PM and by 4% in VOC while an increase by 20% and 32% would have been recorded in CO₂ and NO_x, respectively. Regression equations are used to express the development of the weight production of individual diesel oil and biodiesel oil pollutants in the period from 2000-2005. Reliability coefficients that are of constant character indicate that the development of the weight of pollutants from diesel oil replicates the development of biodiesel oil pollutants. The significance of achieved results consists in the provision of a more accurate general balance of emissions from one of so called other mobile sources in Czech Republic (apart from the department of transport), thus contributing among other things to a more accurate expression of the total weight of emission production within REZZO 4.

Resistant starch (RS) has been recognised as a functional fibre with many health-promoting effects. RS exists in four forms - RS₁, RS₂, RS₃, and RS₄. The RS₃ type is generated by amylose retrogradation typically resulting from food processing procedures. The aim of this study was to demonstrate the potential ability of six agriculturally important cereals to generate type RS₃ resistant starch after retrogradation of their amylose. In comparison with all tested cereals, the statistically significant highest level of RS₃ (5.28% ± 0.68) was detected in triticale, mainly in the Pinokio, Presto, Tricolor, and Kendo cultivars. Significant highly content was also found in rye (4.93% ± 0.73), especially in Selgo, Esprit, Dankowskie Nowe, and Apart cultivars, in comparison with wheat, spring and winter barley, tritordeum and oat. There were unsignificant differences between triticale and rye in RS₃ levels. Wheat contained less RS₃ (3.87% ± 0.55) in comparison to triticale and rye. The best wheats with this trait were the Athlet, Boka, Trane, Versailles, and Torysa cultivars. The content of RS₃ in barley was not high (2.35% ± 0.45 in winter barley, 2.51% ± 0.25 in spring barley), similar to tritordeum (2.26% ± 0.36). The RS₃ content in high amylose barley mutant Glacier was two-fold higher than in other tested barley cultivars (P < 0.01). Only minimal level of RS₃ can be generated from oat seed starch (0.41% ± 0.09). These results indicate that plant species as well as crop cultivar screening are important for the identification of suitable natural sources of resistant starch. Concerning the production of functional foods, it is important to recognize that valuable bread cereals such as wheat and rye are superior sources of this type of dietary fibre and are highly beneficial to the human health. However, it is advisable to continue for other years in these annual results and localities too.

A modified electrometric method was described in sheep, goats and cattle and used to demonstrate in vitro inhibition of plasma and erythrocyte cholinesterase activities by the organophosphate and carbamate insecticides dichlorvos and carbaryl, respectively. A typical reaction mixture for the measurement of cholinesterase activity contained 3 ml distilled water, 3 ml barbital-phosphate buffer (pH 8.1), 0.2 ml plasma or erythrocytes and 0.1 ml acetylthiocholine iodide (7.5%) as a substrate. The mixture was incubated at 37^οC for 30 min in sheep, 40 min in goats and 20 min in cattle. The pH of the reaction mixture was determined by a pH meter before and after the incubation. The initial pH was measured before the substrate addition. The enzyme activity was expressed as ∆pH/incubation time = (pH1 - pH2) - ∆pH of blank. The method of inhibitor-cholinesterase incubation was used to measure the in vitro inhibition of plasma and erythrocyte cholinesterase activities. Dichlorvos in concentrations of 0.5 and 1 μm inhibited plasma and erythrocyte cholinesterase activities by 24-85%, whereas carbaryl in concentrations of 5 and 10 μm inhibited them by 50-89%. The results suggest that the described electrometric method could be efficiently used for detecting cholinesterase inhibition in ruminants, and further point to the value of the present experimental protocol of in vitro cholinesterase inhibition in preliminary toxicological examinations of anticholinesterase compounds

The paper presents the results of a regional analysis of climate change impacts on Norway spruce growth in the north-western part of Slovakia(Orava region). Radial increment was determined from nine X-tree sample plots established in the forests of natural character in the region. The analysis of PTT radial increment was done on tree disks cut from a height of 1.3 m by measurements of four perpendicular directions corresponding to the cardinal points. It was derived from the tree-ring width measured at breast height (1.3 m) while all the basic principles of tree-ring analyses were observed (transport and borehole treatment, measurements with digital positiometer to the nearest 0.01 mm, synchronisation of the tree-ring diagrams). A dendroclimatic model belongs to the category of empirical models based on the statistical evaluation of empirically derived dependences between the time series of tree-ring parameters and the monthly climatic characteristics. This statistical evaluation is based on a multiple linear regression model. Climatic models were used as basic tools for climatic change prediction. There is a scenario coming from the GCM category, which is derived from the models of Canadian Centre for Climate Modelling and Analysis in Victoria (British Columbia, Canada), used for a solution of this task. It is the latest connected model from the second generation designated CCCM 2000. For the purpose of this study the area averages were modified for the meteorological station Oravská Polhora with the 1951-1980 reference period. The modification includes two climatic characteristics, total monthly precipitation and monthly temperature means. The frequency analysis indicates that 24.4% of trees would react to the assumed climatic change negatively, i.e. by decreasing the increment, and 75.6% of trees would react positively. Most of the reactions are moderately positive. It is to conclude that 14.6% of trees will react to a climatic change significantly in a negative way, the reactions of 34.1% trees are considered to be unchanged and 51.3% of trees should react to the assumed climatic change positively (P = 0.95). It results from the analysis of the climatic change impact that the highest effect on stands situated on the upper forest limit can be expected.

We explored the ecological conditions, which influence the female Melolontha hippocastani F. in their selection of the locality for laying eggs. In the region of mass outbreak of M. hippocastani in the south-eastern part of the Czech Republic in selected experimental sample plots including 1 to 8 year-old forest plantations we explored the extent of losses caused by white grub feeding and the relation between the extent of the damage and the individual characteristics of the experimental plots. The relation between the extent of the damage and the method of establishment of the stands and degree of weed infestation at the time of swarming was evaluated statistically. The daily temperatures at the time of M. hippocastani swarming were recorded by means of automatic meteorological stations. A light trap was used to monitor the course of swarming.