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This paper investigates the effect of pre-COVID credit constraints and the moderating role of government support on agribusiness resilience following the outbreak of COVID-19. Using a dataset covering 42 countries, we provide empirical evidence on how firm characteristics and credit constraints affect agribusinesses’ likelihood of survival and performance during the pandemic. On the enterprise level, size, foreign ownership and gender of the manager are found to display a statistically significant relationship with closure and sales performance. The findings reveal that pre-existing credit constraints tended to magnify the negative impacts of the pandemic. Specifically, agribusinesses with better access to finance were less likely to experience a decline in sales and exit from the market and, hence, were in a better position to withstand pandemic-induced shock. The results further highlighted the positive role of government support on agribusiness resilience, whereas obtaining government aid was found to have no significant effect on moderating the link between financial conditions and resilience. Finally, the results showed that financially constrained agribusinesses are more likely to suffer from liquidity/cash flow problems and experience overdue financial obligations during the pandemic. In coping with their liquidity shortfalls, these agribusinesses were less likely to access formal credit and more likely to delay payments to suppliers/workers.

The aim of the study was to prepare and test the effect of diets with 50% and 100% replacement of soybean meal with dehulled seeds of white lupin (Lupinus albus) variety Zulika. Two hundred and forty ROSS 308 broiler chickens were divided into control group (C) and two experimental groups E₅₀ (50% replacement of soybean meal with dehulled white lupin meal) and E₁₀₀ (100% replacement of soybean meal with dehulled white lupin meal). The production parameters and the amino acid spectrum of breast and thigh muscles were evaluated up to 34 days of age. Final live weight of broiler chickens was not significantly affected by the substitution of soybean meal in starter, grower and finisher diets (C 2.3 ± 0.3 kg, E₅₀ 2.4 ± 0.3 kg, E₁₀₀ 2.4 ± 0.3 kg). Lupine meal-based diets positively influenced chicken health, which was reflected in a lower mortality rate in the experimental groups (E₅₀ 5.0 %, E₁₀₀ 2.5 %) compared to the control group (C 7.5 %). Differences in feed conversion were minimal (C 1.47 kg/kg, E₅₀ 1.48 kg/kg, E₁₀₀ 1.45 kg/kg). When evaluating the total amino acid content in the breast and thigh muscle of broiler chickens of the experimental groups (E₅₀, E₁₀₀), it can be noted that compared to the C group, the total contents of both essential and non-essential amino acids were significantly (P ≤ 0.05) lower in the dry matter of thigh muscle.

The external fruit colour is an important parameter of the fig fruit quality. Fig anthocyanin content is critical for the peel colour. The peel of mature fruits of the fig cultivar Orphan and its red peel bud mutant Hongyan were separated for a transcriptomic and proteomic analysis. A total of 162 different abundance proteins (DAPs) and 5 015 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified. The correlation analysis revealed that only two and 15 genes were downregulated and upregulated, respectively, at both the transcriptome and proteome levels. The Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis indicated that the enrichment pathways including Tropane, piperidine and pyridine alkaloid biosynthesis, phenylalanine metabolism and isoquinoline alkaloid biosynthesis for DEGs, and protein processing in the endoplasmic reticulum and flavonoid biosynthesis may contribute to the mutant color phenotype. Our results provide transcriptomic and proteomic information for two fig cultivars and may help to clarify the potential mechanisms of fig colouration.

Neoplasms account for approximately half of the deaths of dogs over ten years of age. This finding, associated with the fact that canine cancer patients will often suffer from the consequences of the systemic spread of the tumour and paraneoplastic syndromes, shows the importance of understanding palliative care by veterinarians and owners. In view of this, this review aims to address palliative care that can be used in veterinary medicine to promote the patient’s well-being and quality of life.

Bacterial leaf blight (BLB) disease of rice caused by Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo) is one of the significant constraints for rice production. A study was carried out to analyze the virulence, genetic diversity, and population structure of Xoo isolates collected from different rice ecosystems of Karnataka, India. The taxonomic identity of all 54 isolates was confirmed using a Xoo-specific PCR assay. The virulence assay on a set of twenty-eight near-isogenic differentials identified nine pathotype groups (KPthX-1 to KPthX-9). Among them, KPthX-6 was highly virulent, whereas KPthx-2 was less virulent. Differentials with four and five resistance (R) genes (Xa4+xa5+xa13+Xa21, Xa4+Xa7+xa13+Xa21, and Xa4+xa5+Xa7+xa13+Xa21) were effective against all the pathotypes. Further, genetic diversity was deduced using a universal marker set, JEL-1, and JEL-2, complementary to a conserved repetitive sequence IS1112. The amplicon size and numbers varied from 100 bp to 3 Kb and 1 to 25. Based on the amplicon counts, Jaccard’s co-efficient and phylogenetic analyses were carried out and categorized the 54 isolates into three clusters (I to III). Cluster-II contains the maximum number of isolates (27), followed by cluster-I (23 isolates) and cluster-III (one isolate). The structure analysis categorized the isolates into five subgroups, viz. SG1, SG2, SG3, SG4, and SG5 indicate the existence of five subpopulations. The present study has identified the genetic and virulence diversity of the Xoo population and reported the effective R gene/s for different rice ecosystems, which can be used in the breeding program for the eco-specific management of BLB of rice.

The present study aimed to evaluate the use of biochar as a feed additive on nutrient utilization and livestock performance by employing a meta-analysis method. Various in vitro and in vivo studies regarding the effects of biochar on rumen fermentation, nutrient disappearance, total gas, methane production, microbial population, feed intake, growth performance, blood constituents, nutrient digestibility and nitrogen retention were tabulated in a database. Data were analysed using the mixed model method in which the different studies were considered as random effects while the biochar addition was treated as a fixed effect. The addition of biochar reduced methane production (quadratic pattern; P < 0.05), but increased the total gas production (P < 0.001). Addition of biochar decreased (quadratic pattern; P < 0.05) volatile fatty acids and acetic acid in the in vitro rumen fermentation data. In the in vivo data, a reduction in feed conversion ratio (quadratic pattern; P < 0.05), as well as a reduction (P < 0.05) in the feed intake parameters of dry matter, organic matter, crude protein, and neutral detergent fibre were observed with biochar addition. Ammonia production and propionic acid tended to increase linearly (P < 0.05) with the biochar supplementation. The biochar supplementation increased (P < 0.05) the nutrient digestibility (dry matter, organic matter, crude protein, neutral detergent fibre) and nitrogen retention. In conclusion, biochar supplementation of ruminant diet modulates rumen fermentation by increasing propionic acid but decreasing methane emissions, and enhances livestock performance by increasing nutrient digestibility, growth performance as well as nitrogen retention.

This study aims to verify the application effect of Fluvic acid (FA) with different molecular weights (MW) on the growth and quality of winter wheat. FA extracted from lignite was divided into 3 MWs (W1≤3000 D, 3000 D<W2≤10000 D, and W3>10000 D) by dialysis, and its structure was analyzed. Three application rates were set for each MW FA in the pot experiment, which were 10, 25 and 50 mg/kg in soil, respectively, and water was the control. There were significant interactive effects of MW and application rates of FAs. Compared with the control, all the FA treatments significantly increased grain yields, nitrogen uptake efficiencies, grain iron concentration, and soil available nitrogen concentration. Heatmap analysis revealed that the W1C2 (10 mg/kg W1) treatment had the most significant impacts for all analyzed indexes, whereas W3C3 (50 mg/kg W3) showed the weakest impacts. The results showed that at a low application rate (10 mg/kg in soil), the promotion effects of the three MW FAs were similar. W1 showed the most significant promotion effects, which was attributed to the combined effects of its lower MW and functional group characteristics.

Dried fruits are popular ready-to-eat snacks. However, due to cross-contamination or contact with infected persons, Escherichia coli could be present, of which some strains are pathogenic, thus, the consumption of contaminated dried fruits could pose a public health risk. Microbial cells subjected to stress factors such as osmotic shock, radiation and antimicrobials could induce complex stress response systems and adaptation. Radiation and antimicrobials have been shown to cause an SOS response in E. coli, which affects cellular metabolism, such as the enhanced ability to repair DNA and mutagenesis. Studies have shown that glucose plays a critical role in the down- or upregulation of locus for enterocyte effacement (LEE)-encoded virulence of E. coli. Gamma radiation could also cause the formation of viable but nonculturable (VBNC) cells. If these cells are present in a sample, the number of viable cells will be underestimated by the plate count method leading to the false conclusion that the product is germ-free. We have reviewed in this article how stressors such as high sugar content, gamma radiation, and antimicrobials affect the survival of E. coli in dried fruits.

This study aimed to analyse the influence of adding Lycium ruthenicum Murr. fruit (LRF) on physicochemical, sensory characteristics and antioxidant capacity in goat milk yoghurt (GMY) during 21 days of refrigerated storage. Three different yoghurt formulations were processed using varying amounts of added LRF (1.0, 1.5, and 2.0%). LRF supplementation improved some of the physicochemical characteristics and sensory characteristics of GMY. With the increase of LRF addition, the pH of GMY showed a downward trend, and the titrated acidity showed an upward trend. The corresponding number of colonies in the storage period was higher than that of yoghurt without LRF. The addition of a concentration of 1.0–2.0% LRF played a role in the proliferation of lactic acid bacteria, and viscosity and hardness increased with increasing LRF addition. Although the susceptibility to syneresis of GMY showed a downward trend with increasing LRF addition, the scavenging rate of DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl), •OH (hydroxyl free radicals), and the reducing power of Fe³⁺ of the corresponding concentration of GMY increased. In general, GMY with LRF addition can combine the two nutrients and have higher nutritional value, which is a good supplement to the same types of products in the market.

The soil seed bank, as a potential source of ground vegetation renewal, plays an important role in the natural recovery and succession of vegetation as well as in the construction of ecosystems. To clarify the characteristics of the soil seed bank of Achnatherum inebrians and its relationship with the aboveground vegetation, the soil seed bank density, species composition and aboveground vegetation of three different grassland types, namely, desert, steppe and meadow, were investigated by means of field survey sampling and indoor germination experiments. The results showed that the seed bank densities of the three habitats were ranked as desert (1 422.22 seeds/m²), steppe (2 077.78 seeds/m²) and meadow (3 722.22 seeds/m²). The numbers of species were 16, 11 and 17, respectively. With respect to the vertical allocation, the soil seed banks in each habitat were shallow, and the seeds were mainly concentrated in the soil surface layer (0–5 cm). The species richness of the soil seed banks in the three habitats was higher than that of the aboveground vegetation, but there were some differences in richness, evenness and dominance. The species richness and diversity of soil seed banks and aboveground vegetation in meadow habitats were higher than those in desert and steppe habitats, indicating that the soil seed banks and aboveground vegetation in meadow habitats had higher stability. There was a significant positive correlation between the density of temporary soil seed banks and the density of aboveground plant communities in grassland habitats. The results may provide some reference for the prevention and control of Achnatherum inebrians in the three habitats.

This study focuses on the effect of agricultural soil management on soil organic matter (SOM) composition. The addition of manure and crop residues was tested under different pedoclimatic conditions. The quality of SOM was assessed using diffuse reflectance infrared spectroscopy. The following parameters were calculated from the spectra:   sum of aliphatic bands (ΣAL), aromatic bands at wave numbers 1 620 and 1 520 cm^–1 (AR₁₆₂₀ and AR₁₅₂₀), potential wettability (PWI), organic matter quality (OMQ), and decomposability (DI) indexes. The addition of manure or crop residues may not cause fundamental changes in the qualitative composition of SOM. Rather, pedoclimatic conditions determine which components are fixed in the soil on a long-term scale. A dominant effect of soil type was found in the distribution of all spectral parameters studied using main effect ANOVA. The main differences between the soil types concern the aromatic, oxygen and nitrogen groups contained in the SOM. Chernozems are soils with higher OMQ and DI, whereas Cambisols are soils with low OMQ and DI and the highest PWI. The stabilisation of SOM in soils can thus be based on the biochemical persistence of organic molecules, their specific affinity for minerals and the formation of aggregates that protect enclosed SOM.

The clinical implications and efficacy of newly developed modified cellulose materials were evaluated in an acute wound animal model. In the current study, sixty male rats were divided into four groups. A full-thickness circular excision wound was created in the suprascapular area. Newly developed matrices (acidic partially carboxymethylated cellulose; acidic partially carboxymethylated cellulose impregnated with a povidone-iodine solution) were applied in two test groups, while fifteen animals were used as a control group without any primary dressing. Aquacel Ag, a clinically used dressing, was selected as the reference material. To compare the efficacy in vivo, the wound size and production of selected cytokines and growth factors (TNF-α, TGF-β1, and VEGF), which play a key role in the healing process, were measured at two, seven, and fourteen days after surgery. The activity of matrix metalloproteinases 2 and 9, which actively participate in cell signalling and are essential for tissue remodelling, was determined in wound tissue by gelatin zymography. A positive effect of the newly developed dressing materials on the healing process, tissue granulation, and wound re-epithelialisation was demonstrated.

Long-term field experiments provide a valuable dataset for predicting changes in soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks in different agricultural systems. The RothC-26.3 model was used to simulate changes in SOC in the monoculture of spring barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) and the Norfolk crop rotation during 1972–2100. The potential of the Gleyic Fluvisol Clayic to sequester organic carbon was investigated. The studied soil was heavily textured, with medium organic carbon content. Four management scenarios in the monoculture and six management scenarios in the Norfolk crop rotation were evaluated. Three different global climate models (MPI, MRI, CMSS) representing the uncertainty of future climate conditions were used. Results showed that carbon stocks were mainly influenced by plant residue inputs and exogenous organic materials application. The projection showed trends of carbon stocks decreasing in the case of monoculture management. Results also documented that management scenario D with straw incorporation and intercrops represented sustainability and carbon stock increase during all modelled climate scenarios. The SOC stock at the end of the century was approximately 66 t/ha. This represents a moderate sequestration of SOC of approximately 0.09 t/ha/year.

A suitable irrigation pattern is of great significance for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. In this study, field experiments and a denitrification-decomposition (DNDC) model were used to study the global warming potential based on CH₄, N₂O and CO₂ fluxes under flooding irrigation and controlled irrigation in paddy fields in the Erhai Lake basin. The results showed that the average value of CH₄ flux under controlled irrigation was lower than that under flooding irrigation, with a reduction range of 43.21% to 48.88%, however, the average value of the N₂O and CO₂ fluxes from paddy field under controlled irrigation were higher than those under flooding irrigation. Controlled irrigation patterns can significantly reduce the global warming potential in paddy fields based on CH₄, N₂O and CO₂ fluxes. Controlled irrigation can effectively reduce the global warming potential per unit yield. For water management in the Erhai Lake basin, it is recommended the controlled irrigation treatment of soil moisture with an upper limit of 100% and a lower limit of 75–85% with irrigation, and a maximum surface water depth of 150–200 mm lasting for five days after precipitation from the jointing-booting stage to the milk stage.

Barnyardgrass (Echinochloa crus-galli (L.) P. Beauv.) is one of the most yield-limiting weeds in rice in Turkey. Barnyardgrass resistance to common herbicides has been reported worldwide; however, such information is largely lacking in the country. The objective of this study was to determine the resistance spectrum of different barnyardgrass populations to the most commonly-used herbicides in rice in Turkey. The susceptibility of 40 barnyardgrass populations was evaluated. The samples were collected from fields with intensive rice cultivation in Balikesir and Çanakkale provinces. Seeds were picked from barnyardgrass plants suspected to be herbicide-resistant because of their survival in the rice fields after herbicides application. A total of 38 populations were resistant to penoxsulam, and the resistance index of these populations ranged from 2 to 39. A total of 24 out of the 38 barnyardgrass populations showed a GR₅₀ (herbicide dose causing a 50% reduction in plant dry matter) value higher than the recommended penoxsulam dose (20.2 g a.i./ha) in rice. Among these 24 barnyardgrass populations, 25, 29.2 and 45.8% populations exhibited high, moderate and low level of penoxsulam resistance, respectively. From the penoxsulam-resistant populations (38), the response of 14 populations (low to high resistance to penoxsulam) to six commonly-used herbicides for barnyardgrass control in rice was evaluated. The selected 14 populations showed resistance to almost all herbicides tested, with the lowest average resistance being determined against profoxydim and the highest average resistance against molinate herbicide. Resistance levels against six commonly-used herbicides in rice ranged from 2 to 34.

The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of intestinal alkaline phosphatase (IAP) added to diets on growth performance, diarrhoea incidence (DI), blood metabolites, relative organ weight, and intestinal morphometry of weaned piglets challenged with enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli F4 (K88). A total of 64 crossbred entire male piglets (25-day-old and 7.16 ± 0.28 kg body weight) were allocated into four treatments: control diet (CD^-), CD^- + antimicrobial growth promoter (AGP), CD^- + 15 mg IAP/kg of diet and CD^- + 30 mg IAP/kg of diet, with eight replications. At 15 days, all piglets were orally challenged with 6 ml of a solution containing K88 (10⁶ colony forming units/ml). Microencapsulated IAP in acid solution showed 14.43% solubility and pH values of 1.69, 1.72, 1.51, and 1.52 at the different times measured (0.5 h, 1.0 h, 17.0 h, and 24 h); differently, IAP in basic solution had 4.10% solubility and pH values increased (5.95, 6.10, 6.32 and 6.63) according to the different times, respectively. On days 25-35, piglets that received 30 mg IAP and CD^- showed a better feed conversion ratio (P = 0.075) compared to those fed 15 mg IAP. Piglets that consumed 30 mg IAP or CD^- had higher (P = 0.004) average daily gain on days 35-44. On days 35-44, the piglet average daily feed intake was lower (P = 0.033) with 15 mg IAP compared to AGP. In the entire period, piglets fed 15 mg IAP showed a reduction in average daily gain (P = 0.040) and average daily feed intake (P = 0.092). Piglets on 30 mg IAP showed an improvement (P ≤ 0.05) in DI in the pre-and post-challenge periods. The relative spleen weight of the piglet increased (P = 0.043) in response to 30 mg IAP. Overall, the addition of 30 mg IAP to diets improves the growth performance, attenuates DI, and promotes an increase in spleen relative weight to maintain the healthy state of piglets.

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether milk consumption (MC) could be used as a simple farmer-friendly indicator for providing advanced treatment to limited fed diarrhoeic neonatal calves. Complementarily, it was evaluated whether the standard indications for veterinary care (severe dehydration and/or acidosis-septicaemia) are associated with different patterns in MC. The MC and health records of 103 calves with diarrhoeathat were fed a milk replacer at the volume of 10% of their body weight were used in the study. The MC reduction rate (MCRR) was calculated after each feeding (MC_t) during the diarrhoea course, based on the MC prior to the diarrhoea onset for each calf (MC₀) using the formula MCRR = 100 × (MC₀ - MC_t)/MC₀. The calves were assigned into the ST group (n = 58) if they only received the standard treatment (oral rehydration solutions between milk feedings) until recovery, and into the advanced treatment (VT) group (n = 45) if they needed advanced treatment (i.v. fluids ± antibiotics) directly or after the standard treatment. The calves in the VT group that only had dehydration, were further assigned into the DH subgroup (n = 22) and those with signs of acidosis-septicaemia with or without dehydration were assigned into the ASD subgroup (n = 23). The MC was practically stable in the ST group throughout the diarrhoea course. In the VT group, the MC was significantly reduced during the last 36 hours prior to the advanced treatment administration. This reduction was significantly higher in the ASD subgroup than the DH subgroup. The MCRR on the last meal prior to treatment administration was proven to be a very reliable indicator for the detection of diarrhoeic calves needing advanced treatment (cut-off: ≥ 24.5%; sensitivity: 95.6%; specificity: 98.7%) and of those with acidosis-septicaemia (cut-off: ≥ 29.6%; sensitivity: 91.7%; specificity: 99.1%). The results of the study show thatfarmers employing this feeding regimen should seek veterinary assistance when the milk consumption of calves is reduced by ≥ 24.5%.

Zinc deficiency limits pecan nut production. The objective of this study was to evaluate changes in nutrient concentration and oxidative metabolism in pecan leaflets in response to the application at different doses of zinc. The foliar concentration of nutrients, leaflet area, total chlorophyll, dry weight (leaflets and root), superoxide dismutase (SOD), hydrogen peroxide, catalase (CAT), guaiacol peroxidase (GP) and antioxidant capacity were evaluated. Statistical analysis indicates that the application of 200 µmol Zn²⁺ affected the foliar concentration of N-total (24.50 ± 2.51 g/kg), P (10.34 ± 2.53 g/kg), Fe²⁺ (153.33 ± 6.27 mg/kg) and Zn²⁺ (42.00 ± 2.84 mg/kg), showing a greater area of the leaflet, total chlorophyll content and dry weight (leaflets and root). Plants treated with 50 µmol Zn²⁺ showed a higher level of SOD activity (1.38 ± 0.016 units/min/g), GP (5.56 ± 0.229 nmol glutathione/min/g), and the production of hydrogen peroxide, without exceeding the control. On the other hand, Zn treatments caused a significant decrease in CAT activity. Zn is an essential micronutrient for the growth and development of pecan, which promotes the accumulation of other nutrients. Therefore, its absence affects the generation of oxidative stress with the subsequent activation of the antioxidant defense enzyme system.

The purpose of this experiment is to study the relationship between the difference in production performance between Sichuan White (SC) rabbits and New Zealand (NZL) rabbits and the diversity of caecal flora. Twelve pregnant SC rabbits and 12 NZL female rabbits were selected for this experiment. After delivery, the young rabbits were divided into two groups according to breeds, each group had 30 replicates, and each replicate had one rabbit. During the experiments, these rabbits were kept in the same room, and the temperature in the room was controlled at 12-25 °C, with a 16-hour light cycle every 24 hours. The nutritional composition of the feed and other environmental conditions were consistent. On the 59^th day of the experiment, the caecum contents of the two groups of young rabbits were collected. The results showed that the survival rate of the SC rabbit group was higher than that of the NZL rabbit group, and the diarrhoea rate and average daily gain were lower than those of the NZL rabbit group (P < 0.05). The results of high-throughput sequencing of the 16S gene showed that compared with the NZL rabbit group, the relative abundance of Bacteroides increased, and the abundance of harmful flora Verrucomicrobia and Proteobacteria decreased (P < 0.05). Functional analysis of the microflora showed that the relative abundance of carbohydrate metabolism genes in the SC rabbit group was higher than in the NZL rabbit group. In conclusion, compared with the NZL rabbits, the SC rabbits have a more optimized intestinal flora structure and lower abundance of harmful bacteria. Moreover, the intestinal health level of SC rabbits is improved, and the tolerance to roughage of SC rabbits is increased.

Chicken interferon-α (chIFN-α) is an important antiviral cytokine and represents one of the first lines of the chicken's innate immune system. The current study is the first-ever report of chicken IFN (chIFN) production in Pakistan. In this study, we have used live and UV-irradiated Newcastle disease virus (NDV) to induce the expression of chIFN-α in chicken embryo fibroblast (CEF) cells. ChIFN-α was partially purified in a two-step protocol; ultracentrifugation followed by treatment with anti-chIFN-β antibodies. The purified chIFN-α was ana-lysed via sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and the in vitro antiviral potential of chIFN-α was determined against the H9N2 avian influenza virus (AIV) via a cytopathic inhibition assay. The relative mRNA level of the IFN-stimulated genes (ISGs) in the IFN-stimulated CEF cells was measured at various time intervals by a quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). The stability of natural chIFN-α to the temperature, pH, and ultraviolet (UV) light was also determined. The in vivo therapeutic potential of chIFN-α was determined in 7-day-old broiler chickens challenged with AIV. We found that a higher chIFN-α expression level was induced by the UV-irradiated NDV in the CEF cells as compared to the live NDV. The UV-irradiated NDV induced the maximum IFN production in the CEF cells at 24 h post-infection. Two bands of 21 kDa on SDS-PAGE confirmed the presence of the chIFN-α protein. The cytopathic inhibition assay indicated the strong antiviral activity of chIFN-α against AIV. Our results of the stability analysis showed that chIFN-α was stable at a wide range of temperatures and pH levels. However, a little exposure to UV-light resulted in a significant loss of antiviral activity. We also observed that the antiviral activity of chIFN-α is related to the expression levels of the antiviral ISGs. The results of the in vivo study showed that the chIFN-α therapy via the oral route resulted in a significant improvement in the tracheal pathology of chickens challenged with AIV. In conclusion, we suggest that chIFN-α could be an important therapeutic tool to control avian influenza infection in poultry.

Sodium chloride is widely used in aquaculture due to its antiparasitic effects and its ability to reduce stress during fish transport and manipulation. The aim of this study was to assess the safety of short-term exposure to sodium chloride for the common carp (Cyprinus carpio). In our experiment, fish were placed into a sodium chloride bath (c = 30 g l^-1; T = 30 min; t = 20 °C) and the effects of the treatment were assessed immediately after the bath (T0) and 24, 48 and 240 h later (T24, T48 and T240, respectively), with non-treated fish serving as control groups. Though significant differences compared to the controls were observed in the treated fish sampled at T0, T24 and T48, these effects were only temporary and all the affected parameters (i.e., haemoglobin, haematocrit, plasmatic lactate, cholesterol, alanine aminotransferase, albumin, phosphorus and ceruloplasmin) had completely recovered within 10 days of exposure, suggesting that the treatment of carp with a sodium chloride bath represents a safe approach suitable for therapy of parasitic infections.

Potassium (K+) deficiency inhibits the transport of photosynthetic products and causes severe crop yield losses. However, the underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. In this study, we used two tomato lines 081018 (K+-deficiency-sensitive) and 081034 (K+-deficiency-tolerant), showing tolerance to K+ deficiency to investigate the relationship between the H2O2 and sucrose in the tomato under K+-deficiency. The H₂O₂ accumulation was increased by the low K+ condition (0.5 mM) after 8 h in 081018. The enzymes related to the metabolism of H₂O₂ were decreased, and more malondialdehyde (MDA) was produced. After 24 h, the sucrose content had accumulated significantly in the leaves, however, it was deficient in the roots, and the expression level of the sucrose transporters (SUT1) was inhibited. In 081034, the activity of antioxidant enzymes was increased under K+-deficiency, and then the H2O2 subsequently returned to the control treatment (4 mM) levels and did not produce more MDA. The sucrose content was not significantly different from the control treatment after 24 h. The expression of SUT1 was not suppressed. These results suggested that the H2O2 dynamics played different roles in the two different strains. The transportation of sucrose was suppressed by the H₂O₂ from the leaf (source) to the root (sink) in 081018, and unrestricted by the advantageous reactive oxygen species dynamics capacity in 081034.

In this study, simultaneous quantification of allantoin, uric acid, xanthine, and hypoxanthine in cow milk by solid phase extraction (SPE) and high performance liquid chromatography-diode array detection (HPLC-DAD) method was perform. Five different SPE cartridges were tested in order to evaluate the isolation of purine derivatives (PD) from cow milk. Chromatography was carried out on ODS-2 Hypersil column and 0.05 M (NH₄)₂HPO₄ buffer solution (pH = 7.76) as mobile phase. The HPLC-DAD validated method showed a linearity with regression coefficients higher than 0.999 and the limits of detection and quantification with values in the range 0.09-0.74 µg mL^-1 and 0.27-2.24 µg mL^-1, respectively. The method showed good precision with a relative standard deviation (RSD) below 4.48%, while the accuracy ranged from 95.34 to 104.47% for all analytes. The best recovery degree of PD by SPE were obtained on Strata SCX cartridge for xanthine (87.79%) and hypoxanthine (89.02%); on Strata NH₂ for allantoin (35.09%) and on Strata C8 for uric acid (101.08%). Finally, the HPLC-DAD method with SPE on SCX cartridges was applied to quantify the PD in a batch of thirty cow milk samples.

The aim of this paper was to evaluate the cadmium concentrations in the muscles, liver, and kidney of three age categories (≤ 8 months; ≤ 2 years; ≥ 2 years) of cattle during the period of years 2014-2019 and to determine the age limit at which the concentration of cadmium in an organ with the highest accumulation increases health risk for consumers. In cattle above two years of age, there was a higher average cadmium concentration in the liver (0.10 mg/kg) and kidney (0.62 mg/kg), when compared with cadmium concentration in the liver (0.06 mg/kg) and kidney (0.24 mg/kg) of cattle under two years of age. A paired correlation coefficient r = 0.825 8 (P < 0.006) and Spearman's coefficient ρ = 0.92 (P < 0.000 1) were calculated for the dependence of the cadmium concentration on the age. The correlation analysis statistically demonstrated a significant positive correlation between the concentration of cadmium in the kidney and the age of the cattle. A non-significant difference between the maximum limit and the average concentration of the cadmium in the kidney of the cattle from the age of 6 years (P = 0.029) was demonstrated using the t-test. The cadmium concentration in the muscles was low and was not significantly affected by the cattle's age.

Backcrossing is a powerful tool for plant breeding. The improved marker-assisted backcrossing intends to transfer targeted genes or quantitative trait loci (QTLs) of interest from a donor parent into a recurrent parent. In this study, a tobacco BC4F3 population was generated using Y3 and K326 as hybrid parents and YF1-1 as F₁ parents. High-throughput sequencing data of 381 pedigree populations were used to construct high-density genetic maps containing 24 142 high-quality single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers with an average genetic distance of 0.59 cM. A genome module analysis was then performed for all the offspring. A total of forty-three candidate QTLs for six agronomics traits were identified. This study provides original biomarkers for tobacco breeding and offers clues for prospective backcrossing applications in other plants.

In an experiment with tomato and cucumber transplants, light units equipped with purpose-built LED arrays were compared with HPS sodium lamps with a power of 600 W and a voltage of 230 V. For both the LED and HPS lamps, the same PAR radiation level was used at the plant height, which was about 70-80 μmol/m2/s in conditions without daylight. The supplementary lighting was carried out for 8 to 24 hours and was switched on during the day when the solar radiation outside the greenhouse was lower than 200 W/m2. The supplementary lighting with the LED and HPS lamps did not have a significant impact on the growth of the tomato and cucumber seedlings and the fresh and dry mass of the tomato and cucumber plants. The plants grown without the additional artificial lighting were significantly smaller in height, had fewer leaves, a smaller spread and produced lower fresh and dry weights. The tomato and cucumber plants grown under the LED lamps had a higher chlorophyll index than those grown under the HPS lamps and without any lighting. The supplementary lighting with the LED lamps increased the early yield of the tomatoes compared to the HPS and control plants but has no effect on the early yield of the cucumbers. Both the LED and HPS lighting significantly increased the total and marketable yield of the tomatoes and cucumbers.

Black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia L.) is one of the most widespread tree species introduced into Europe and also into Hungary. It covers 24% of the total Hungarian forest area, providing 25% of the annual timber output of the country. Due to the demands of consumers, new cultivars are to be produced by means of improvement techniques and are to be introduced into the practical forestry use. Mono- and multiclonal cultivars were developed, then variety comparison trials and cultivation tests were established. Based on preliminary yield tests the locust cultivar 'Jászkiséri' (Robinia pseudoacacia 'Jászkiséri') proved to be one of the best black locust cultivars. Consequently, a more precise investigation of the stand structure of this cultivar may also make a significant contribution to the improvement of the relevant cultivation technology. In this study, based on full inventories of 13 stands in 7 subcompartments, age of 5 to 35 years, relationships of mean tree volume to diameter (R² = 0.9797) and basal area (R² = 0.9781), furthermore the relationship between mean tree volume and diameter of the stands (R² = 0.9993) were examined. Besides that, the comparison of 15-year-old 'Jászkiséri' and common black locust (a case study) were presented in this paper, where 'Jászkiséri' proved to be better: significant differences (P < 0.05) were found in diameter, mean tree volume and stem form.

A total of 214 cats with signs of feline lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD) were assessed in this study. There were 81.30% males (82.20% of them neutered) and 18.70% females (80.00% of them spayed) with an age range from 9 months to 17 years (mean 5.1 ± 3.7). Most of the cats (111; 51.90%) were diagnosed with feline idiopathic cystitis; in 57 (26.60%) cats, uroliths were detected. A urinary tract infection (UTI) as well as urethral plugs were diagnosed in 23 cats (10.75%). In 100 cats, a non-obstructive form of feline lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD) was present; in 114 cats (exclusively males) a urethral obstruction was diagnosed. Most of the cats (141; 65.90%) were indoor-housed. The cats with the UTI were significantly older when compared to the other cases of FLUTD. The most common clinical signs reported by the owners were dysuria (39.70%), oliguria/anuria (31.30%), and vomiting (24.80%). In the cats with the urethral obstruction, oliguria/anuria and non-specific systemic signs were dominant whereas in the non-obstructive form, signs of a lower urinary tract disease were more frequent. The urine specific gravity ranged from 1.008 to 1.080, while in the cats diagnosed with UTI, it was significantly lower than the other cats. Haematuria was the most common finding within the urinalysis which was diagnosed in 181 cats (84.60%): macroscopic haematuria was present in 94 patients (43.90%), microscopic haematuria was present in 87 cats (40.70%). Pyuria was found in 36 cats (16.80%). In the UTI cats, the most common bacterial isolate was E. coli. Results of our study are in agreement with previous reports of FLUTD in various countries, with idiopathic cystitis as the most common cause.

Foreign bodies (FBs) retained in the subcutaneous tissues are a common reason for medical consultation. In small animals, FBs usually consist of vegetal materials, especially grass awns. Failure to remove the FBs is likely to give rise to acute or late complications. The surgical removal of the FBs can be invasive, costly and technically challenging. Ultrasound has become a mainstay in the detection of FBs and it can be used to guide the extraction of the FBs with a minimally invasive technique. This study describes the detection and extraction of soft-tissue FBs in small animals. One hundred-sixty-two patients, presenting at two veterinary clinics with suspected FBs retained in the soft tissues of various body districts, were considered. Once an ultrasound diagnosis was established, the ultrasound-guided removal of the FB was performed. A high-frequency linear transducer, a skin disinfection, sedation or anaesthesia was used when needed and a scalpel and some Hartmann forceps were also used. One hundred-eighty-two FBs were successfully removed in all the patients. In six cases, the FB was identified during a second ultrasonographic examination, after recurrence of the fistula. No complications were reported after the procedure. The extraction of the FB was performed in an echographic suite in 138 cases and in a surgery room with surgical intervention in 24 cases. In the latter situation, the surgical minimally invasive dissection of tissues under ultrasound guidance was performed before the removal of the FB. In conclusion, the ultrasound-guided removal of the FBs retained in the superficial soft tissue can be considered a good alternative to surgery. However, failure to remove a FB does not preclude the removal by traditional surgery.

A forced convection automatic cabinet dryer integrated with a data logger was designed and fabricated. The okra samples were dried in the dryer at drying temperatures of 50, 60, and 70 °C and at three different load densities of 200, 300, and 400 g at a continuous air velocity of 0.7 m.s^-1. Energy and exergy analyses of the drying process were performed. The obtained results showed that the energy efficiency, energy utilisation, and utilisation ratio increased from 26.59 to 68.24%, 5.47 to 114.36 W, and 0.36 to 0.71 as the temperature increased to 70 °C, respectively. The inflow, outflow, and exergy losses were in the range of 7.02 to 26.14 W, 4.43 to 14.16 W, and 2.59 to 11.98 W, respectively, while exergy efficiency varied from 49.15 to 63.47%. The findings show that exergy efficiencies decrease with an increase in the drying temperature, but increase with a lower load rate. The index of sustainability varies from 2.14 to 2.77, the value increases as the load density decreases while it decreases with a temperature increment.