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The objective of this study was to compare the effects of calf starters of different starch and fibre content on the growth, blood and rumen parameters of Holstein female calves during the pre-weaning period. A total of 60 calves were divided into two groups. Group A/B was fed according to a two-phase calf nutrition system: the calves received calf starter "A" (28.5% starch content, 16% neutral detergent fibre (NDF), 9.2% acid detergent fibre (ADF)) in days 7-45 and then calf starter "B" (14.2% starch content, 32.4% NDF, 14.3% ADF) in days 46-70. Calves of group B received calf starter "B" throughout the experimental period. The calves were weaned between 52 and 61 days of life. The data on body weight, weight gain, starter feed intake, blood metabolites and rumen fermentation parameters were collected individually. In the first phase of experiment, the starter feed consumption of A/B group was higher than that of B group (P < 0.05), but it did not manifest in differences in body weight at weaning time. At some of the sampling times, the different composition of starter diets significantly (P < 0.05) influenced the plasma urea, albumin, glucose and triglyceride concentrations. The consumption of diet with different starch and NDF content had no significant effect either on the composition of the rumen microbiota or on the ruminal concentration of volatile fatty acids (VFA) and ammonia. In some cases significant correlations (-0.83 and -0.93; 0.82 and 0.90) were found between the composition of rumen microbiota and ruminal VFA concentration. Feeding a diet of higher starch content (28.5 vs 14.2%) in the first 45 days of life did not affect rumen fermentation, rumen microbiota and the most important blood metabolites, apart from a few exceptions. The production parameters of calves, including total feed intake and body weight gain, were similar in the experiment.

Techniques of drip irrigation are broadly applied for the reclamation of saline-alkali lands, during which effective management of water use to accelerate salt leaching is essential for crop production. In 2017, a field experiment with five treatments of soil matric potential (SMP) levels of -5, -10, -15, -20, and -25 kPa was conducted in heavy saline silty soil land in Bohai Bay, China to study the effects of drip irrigation on salt leaching. The results showed that salt leaching was enhanced with increasing SMP, particularly under an SMP of -5 kPa within a 30 cm soil profile depth and 15 cm distance from the dripper, and the average electrical conductivity of saturated paste extracts (ECe) decreased from 13.8 to 1.52 dS/m. Water consumption increased with increasing SMP, but the yield of oil sunflower did not differ significantly between SMPs of -5 and -10 kPa. These findings indicated that a relatively high crop yield of oil sunflower and effective salt leaching can be achieved if the SMP can be controlled at -10 kPa in heavy saline silty soil.

The cones of the giant sequoia contain red, water-soluble crystalline substances known as cone crystals. The inhibitory effect of this extracted material on Norway spruce, Scots pine and European larch germination was newly examined. Sown seed representative samples without and with added cone crystals were compared after their incubation in the same appropriate conditions. All these cases have brought compelling evidence that cone crystals totally inhibit germination. However, the chemically inhibited seeds being rinsed afterwards germinated very well. This switch effect caused by the cone crystals of the three above-mentioned conifers proved to be a nonspecific tool. Seeds of the giant sequoia, naturally affected by the cone crystals, were sown as rinsed and non-rinsed samples. Both the samples, grown on a wet peat substrate in appropriate conditions for 16 weeks, exhibited an equal, yet very low viability of 1.3% at the same time. This low number, fixed in seeds of the tree being far from the ecological optimum, does not allow any disputation with other authors.

Milk production is one of the most important areas of the Czech agrarian sector, as evidenced by its 50% share (at 2017 prices) in revenues from livestock production. As for any business, a certain level of profitability is a prerequisite for long-term and sustainable development of dairy farms. This study's aim was to evaluate the economic efficiency of milk production from both Czech Fleckvieh (C) and Holstein (H) cows based on data collected each year from 48 to 70 Czech dairy farms in the period from 2012 to 2017. Total costs per feeding day and litre of milk, level of profitability, and income over feed costs were calculated. The influences of herd size and milk yield on profitability and break-even points were examined while sensitivity analysis and model calculations were utilised to predict profitability. The farms with higher average milk yields (>7 500 and >9 500 L per lactation for C and H, respectively) had higher costs per feeding day, lower costs per litre of milk, and improved profitability (p < 0.05). Average break-even points were estimated for milk price (0.31 and 0.32 EUR) and milk yield (7 257 and 9 209 L) in C and H herds, respectively.

Manganese (Mn) is an important micronutrient for growth and development in plants, however, excess Mn is harmful by disrupting photosynthesis system and inducing oxidative damage in leaves. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play key roles in regulating Mn toxicity tolerance in plants. Here, we identified Mn toxicity-responsive miRNAs in Arabidopsis by using small RNA sequencing. Eighteen differentially expressed miRNAs were identified in Arabidopsis thaliana seedlings in response to Mn toxicity. These differentially expressed miRNAs are involved in regulating nutrition homeostasis, transport, stress response, and developmental processes. Our results indicated that these miRNAs play a key role in Mn toxicity response in plants.

A field experiment was carried out in the years 2012-2018 in Poland in a split-plot design. The aim of the study was to determine the long-term effect of legumes as forecrops on the productivity of rotation with nitrogen fertilization. The rotation included: legumes + spring barley (SB), winter rape (WR), winter wheat (WW) and winter wheat. The study was conducted as a two-factorial field experiment with four replications. The present study showed that legumes as forecrops increased the yield of all after-harvest crops in rotation. Yielding of these crops also depended on nitrogen fertilization and position in the rotation. After comparison of the influence of nitrogen fertilization on yield of cereals, it was observed that the effect of this factor was greater for WW cultivated in the fourth year of rotation than for WW cultivated in the third year of rotation. In relation with control, each dose of nitrogen fertilization caused a significant increase of WR and cereals yield, but the dose of 180 kg N/ha did not increase yield significantly in comparison to the dose of 120 kg N/ha. There was also negative agronomic N-efficiency observed between doses of 120-180 kg N/ha, which means that it is not necessary to use 180 kg N/ha, especially if there are legumes in crop rotation.

To assess the response of promising safflower genotypes to late-season drought stress in delayed planting conditions, an experiment was conducted in two years (2016-2017 and 2017-2018) in Iran. The irrigation regime was specified in two levels, including normal irrigation and irrigation cut off in the seed filling stage in main plots, and five safflower genotypes, including Soffe, Goldasht, Golmehr, Padideh, and Parnian were categorized in subplots. Applied drought stress significantly reduced the seed yield and yield components of all genotypes, which accompanied with a substantial decrease in oil content and oil yield of all genotypes. However, the highest seed and oil yield in drought stress conditions obtained in the Parnian genotype by value 2338 and 561 kg/ha, respectively. Moreover, a significant drought-induced increase in palmitic, stearic, and oleic acids, as well as a decrease in linoleic acid content, was observed in all genotypes. Parnian genotype with high unsaturated fatty acids content (90.9%) and the minimum amount of saturated fatty acids (8.7%) might be a promising genotype to starting a formal crop improvement program to achieve more drought-tolerant safflower genotype.

Dormant bud cryopreservation is a valuable tool for the germplasm of temperate trees preservation. Freezable water content, as an important cryopreservation characteristic, was analysed by DSC. Scions of modern apple tree varieties (Malus domestica) were collected during the winter season from orchards, freeze-dehydrated to 26-32% of water content at -5°C and cryopreserved by the two-step procedure. Samples were rehydrated in moist peat after 4 months of cryopreservation and grafted on rootstocks in a field. Regeneration by sprouting buds on rootstocks was evaluated. The varieties were divided into three groups according to their water content and percentage of crystallized water. The regeneration in the three groups decreased with decreasing bud water content. Regeneration was higher than 80% in most of the varieties and reached 100% in almost 1/3 of the tested varieties. In only one variety, was regeneration lower than 40%, which is still a high regeneration rate for considering apple genotypes as successfully cryopreserved. According to this study, the two-step cryoprotocol was successfully optimized for Central European conditions.

Estimation of farm economic sustainability and viability became more topical when redesigning the Common Agricultural Policy which should stabilise farm income and make agribusiness more viable and sustainable (typically in Czech areas facing natural constraints). The key question is how to calculate the income of farms or farm households not only to survive but also to grow sustainably. The article summarises and compares knowledge from 51 studies to provide a comprehensive discussion on different ways how to measure economic viability and sustainability to set income support for farms in the areas with natural constraints optimally. The authors found family farms and off-farm income as important limitations of FADN database (Farm Accountancy Data Network) for evaluation of the economic sustainability of farm household. Moreover, some financial ratios (Return on Assets - ROA and assets turnover) are not suitable viability indicators for farms with a high share of hired land (typically large legal entities). Joining family farms and legal entities, the authors recommend using modified Farm Net Value Added (MFNVA) allowing for opportunity costs of own land and non-land assets. The average wage in the economy or region is a better proxy for opportunity labour costs of unpaid work rather than average agricultural wage.

The aim of the study was to analyse the relationship between the somatic cell counts in the milk (the udder health status indicator) and the cow's fertility, taking the influence of the selected factors into account. The udder health status was determined based on the somatic cell count of the milk from 88 745 test-day records from 55 685 Polish Holstein-Friesian cows. The test-day measurements were made up to 30 days before the first insemination, during the period up to 180 days of the first and second lactation. Because the somatic cell count showed high variation and is not normally distributed, the data were transformed to the natural logarithm scale. Based on the results of the statistical analysis, it was shown that with the increase in the number of somatic cells in the milk, the calving intervals were extended by 11 days (P ≤ 0.01), the service period by around 4 days (P ≤ 0.05), the increase in the services per conception by 0.11 (P ≤ 0.01). There was a statistically significant correlation, weak on the Guilford scale, between the natural logarithm of the somatic cell count and the fertility of the cows: the calving interval - CI (r = 0.050**, P ≤ 0.01), service period - SP (r = 0.016**) end services per conception - SPC (r = 0.019**). Monitoring the number of somatic cells in the milk could contribute to improving the fertility of the cows in particular: in the second lactation in the double lactation (for the CI (r = 0.059**)); in herds with a production level of 7000-9000 kg of milk (for the CI (r = 0.055**), the SP (r = 0.022**) and the SPC (r = 0.024**)); the daily productivity of > 40 kg (for the CI (r = 0.052**), the SP (r = 0.033**) and the SPC (r = 0.029**)), the number of cows in the herd of > 200 (for the CI (r = 0.061**), the SP (r = 0.034**) and the SPC (r = 0.033**)), in the autumn season of the first insemination (for the CI (r = 0.072**), the SP (r = 0.027**) and the SPC (r = 0.031**)). The magnitude of these correlations varied within the classes of the factors such as the daily production level, the age of cows´ lactation number, the season of the first insemination, the herd production level, and the herd size. It appears that the somatic cell count results obtained from the periodic milk recording, considered as an indirect measure of the udder health and used when deciding on the mastitis treatment, could be a useful tool for controlling the fertility in the cows.

Filamentous fungi were isolated from ten spices collected from markets in Indonesia. The aim was to enumerate fungal contamination and to determine the toxigenicity of Aspergillus flavus strains on each of the spices. Viable fungal populations were determined using a dilution method. Toxigenicity of Aspergillus flavus was determined by culture on a quick screening coconut agar and by PCR using four sets of primers specific for aflatoxin pathway genes. All the tested spices were contaminated by storage fungi, Species of Aspergillus was the most commonly isolated moulds followed by species of Fusarium, Mucor, Penicillium and Rhizopus. The greatest number of Aspergillus flavus isolates were found on white pepper, followed by nutmeg, cardamom, and black pepper. The greatest number of Aspergillus chevalieri isolates were found on coriander, followed by nutmeg. Fifty strains of A. flavus were isolated, all of the strains produced large sclerotia and biseriate conidiophores. Their toxigenicity was assayed by the presence of yellow pigment on a quick screening coconut agar medium and PCR amplification of regulatory and structural genes in the aflatoxin pathway.

Optimal soil nitrogen management is vital to crop production and environment protection. Little knowledge is available on crop yield, nitrogen uptake, use efficiency and balance in paddy rice-upland wheat cropping system of China. A thirty-five-year long-term field experiment was designed with nine treatments, including an unfertilized treatment (control), nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K) fertilizer, manure (M), and manure combined with mineral fertilizer treatments. Crop yield, N uptake, use efficiency, and N surplus or deficit amount were determined. The results indicated that rice, wheat yield and N uptake amount in the manure combined with mineral fertilizer treatments were higher than that in the manure alone or mineral fertilizer alone treatments. N use efficiency was the highest in the treatment with manure alone. Soil N input indicated a surplus in the mineral fertilizer in combination with manure treatment, but soil N input indicated a deficit in the control, NPK and M treatments. Considering crop yields, N use efficiency and N balance, recommended N application amount is almost 220 kg N/ha/year in the paddy rice-upland wheat cropping system. Taking into account labour and fertilizer sources, half mineral N and half organic N applications were recommended.

The efficacy of using maize (Zea mays L.) as a suitable substitute for other crops with high arsenic (As) accumulation in As-contaminated farmlands remains debated. Here, the As uptake capacity and the stability of accumulated As of different maize cultivars were studied using pot and field experiments, outdoor investigations and literature data analysis. When the total and available soil As levels were 238.8 and 8.1 mg/kg, respectively, grain As ranged from 0.03 to 0.07 mg/kg, significantly lower than the acceptable As limit (0.5 mg/kg) for maize in China. The results of field investigations and literature data analysis also supported this observation. Maize is a crop with low grain As, thus, making it suitable for substitution planting in As-contaminated farmlands. Further, grain As concentration varied among different maize cultivars. The planting of normal and waxy maize is prioritized over the sweet maize as the first one has lower available bio-concentration factor (aBCF) of 0.007 for grain and higher accumulated As stability among its cultivars (CV < 10%) than those for sweet maize (aBCF = 0.01 and CV = 35.5%). Arsenic compartmentalization in the roots and low As upward migration into the grain were responsible for the low grain As of maize.

The objective of the present study was to estimate the effect of breed on milk fatty acid (FA) composition of dairy (Brown Swiss, Holstein-Friesian, and Jersey) and dual-purpose cows (Simmental and Alpine Grey) in multi-breed herds. Information on individual milk samples was collected during routine cow milk testing between 2011 and 2014, and consisted of 285 606 observations from 17 445 cows in 617 herds. Fixed effects included in the mixed model were breed, parity, stage of lactation and the interaction between parity and stage of lactation, and random effects were cow, herd-test-date and residual. Contrast estimates for the studied traits were used to compare specific sets of breeds. Holstein-Friesian produced more milk than the other cattle breeds, with the greatest trans FA and C18:1 and the lowest C18:0 content. Comparison between the specialised dairy vs the dual-purpose breeds highlighted significant differences for all traits except for polyunsaturated FA and trans FA content. Specialised dairy breeds had greater milk saturated FA, short-chain FA, medium-chain FA, C14:0 and C16:0 content, and dual-purpose breeds produced milk with greater content of monounsaturated FA, long-chain FA, C18:0 and C18:1. Results demonstrated that, although specialised dairy produced more milk than dual-purpose breeds, milk FA profile of the latter was more favourable from a human nutrition point of view.

Growth and flowering of lachenalia 'Romaud' was studied with reference to its commercial potential as pot plant and the need to obtain flowering plants at a specific time. The experiment was carried out in a heated glasshouse. Lachenalia bulbs were planted in November, December, January and February. The plants were exposed to two lighting regimes, natural lighting and natural lighting with supplemental irradiation (HPS lamps). The later the planting date was, the faster the bulbs flowered, and they produced thicker inflorescence stems with greater number of florets. Depending on the bulb planting date and light conditions, the plants flowered from February to May. The leaves obtained from the bulbs planted in November and December were longer than those produced by the bulbs planted in January and February. Compared with control, supplemental irradiation accelerated flowering by 10-13 days and positively affected plant features by promoting the growth of thicker inflorescence stems with more abundant and longer florets. The leaves of irradiated bulbs were shorter (apart from the bulbs planted in February) and were characterised by a higher content of chlorophyll a, chlorophyll a + b and carotenoids as compared with control. Plants grown under HPS light also had the higher dry weight of bulbs, leaves and stems.

In Catalonia, agroecological cooperativism is part of a set of alternatives that appeared as a response to the current hegemonic food consumption model, controlled by large commercial establishments. It is defined by its promotion of short food supply chains (SFSCs), operates under the values of the social and solidarity economy (SSE) and holds a strong political commitment. This article, on the one hand, studies the setup of agroecological cooperativism understood as the outcome of a network of producers, intermediaries and consumers and, on the other hand, examines the impact of information and communication technologies (ICT) in the development of this consumption model. The data has been obtained through on-site interviews and online research on the 56 consumer groups and cooperatives present in Barcelona. Descriptive statistics and correlation analysis have been used to study them. The results prove the salient role that ICT has as a facilitator in the relational network established between the agents that take part in it, thus becoming a key characteristic element of the new agroecological consumer cooperativism.

Soil samples from 100 cultivated and natural sites were assessed for the presence of entomopathogenic nematodes. Heterorhabditid nematodes were recovered from three soil samples during spring months, with the overall positive sample rate of 3%. The isolates of entomopathogenic nematodes were identified as three different strains conspecific with Heterorhabditis bacteriophora (Heterorhabditidae). They were found from natural sites and vineyard, while no recovery occurred from intensively cultivated agricultural fields. The morphometrical characteristics of infective juveniles and males showed differences between all Croatian strains and from the original description. Heterorhabditis bacteriophora ISO9 was bioassayed on Lasioptera rubi (Cecidomyiidae) (the raspberry gall midge) larvae at different nematode concentrations under laboratory conditions. The significantly highest mortality was observed in treatments with 50 and 200 infective juveniles per insect larvae within 8 days after inoculation. This is the first report of entomopathogenic nematodes of the family Heterorhabditidae from Croatia, and susceptibility of L. rubi larvae to entomopathogenic nematodes. The Croatian strain H. bacteriophora ISO9 was proved to possess strong insecticidal properties against L. rubi larvae.

The effect of different type of fish, marination methods, temperature, and cooking time as well as foil type on Al leaching into baked fish, was determinated. Two fish types, Al foils, and marinating ingredients were procured from a hypermarket. Fish was cooked in the baking tray of oven, using two foil types, at 150°C for 40 min and at 200°C for 20 min. Al content was determined. It was found that increase in acidity caused significant increase in Al leaching. When the relationship between temperature-time and Al leaching based on meat type was analysed, it was found that when the temperature was increased the extent of Al leaching was higher in salmon. Even in the highest estimated weekly exposure to Al (1.228 ± 0.1631 mg/kg per week), Al PTWI suggested by JECFA was not exceeded. Although using different Al foil did not leach significant amounts of Al into the fish and exposure values of Al did not exceed the PTWI, exposure of Al from fish samples may be dangerous to vulnerable groups such as children, elderly and people with kidney disease.

The effects of the exogenous fibrolytic enzyme (ENZ) commercial preparation Dyadic^® xylanase PLUS (Dyadic International, Inc., Jupiter, USA), containing endo-1,4-β-d-xylanase, on ruminal fermentation of maize stover, oat straw, and sugarcane bagasse were examined using the in vitro gas production (GP) technique. The ENZ commercial preparation was added at 0 (control), 60 (low), 120 (medium), and 240 (high) µg/g dry matter of substrate, and at two times of application (direct addition just before fermentation or with a 72-h pre-incubation before fermentation). Ruminal GP volumes were recorded at 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 24, and 48 h of incubation, and substrate degradability and concentration of fermentation end-products (volatile fatty acids, ammonia, methane) in the cultures were determined at 48 h of incubation. Increased (P < 0.05) GP volume was observed in fibrous feeds treated with ENZ compared with untreated substrates. The pre-incubation vs the direct addition of ENZ resulted in greater GP volume (P < 0.05) with the three tested feeds. Enzyme addition decreased (P < 0.05) rumen pH compared to control when maize stover and sugarcane bagasse were incubated. Ammonia-N and total volatile fatty acids (VFA) were not affected (P > 0.05) by ENZ application in maize stover and oat straw. However, total and individual VFA concentrations, and CH₄ and CO₂ volumes were greater (P < 0.05) when sugarcane bagasse was incubated with 240 µg ENZ/g (P < 0.05). It can be concluded that the application of endo-1,4-β-d-xylanase enhances rumen fermentation of roughages, although the magnitude of the effects depends on the fibrous substrate fermented, the time of application, and the amount of enzyme added.

Anthropogenic activity along the Velhas River (São Francisco River basin) has destabilized the banks of the river channel across an urban fragment. To improve the physical stabilization, the base of the slope was stabilized with urban construction waste. After this, the slope was revegetated with native species and arbuscular mycorrhiza fungi (AMF) inoculation was applied with a successfully restoration of the vegetative cover and ecological functions. This study aims to evaluate the role of the AMF population in the soil aggregation and stabilization of the revegetated slope. The soil aggregation was higher at the experimental site than at the disturbed site, especially under the AMF inoculation. The aggregates improvement was accompanied by an increase of soil humic acid and glomalin contents 24 months after the transplantation despite a flood impact 12 months after the transplantation. A scatter plot based on Principal Component Analysis of aggregates Showed that the preserved site samples clustered with most of those from experimental site. However, some samples from experimetal site were found between those from preserved and disturbed sites. This result shows that the recovering site is evolving toward the conditions of the preserved site and that the rehabilitation process is in an intermediate phase related to the aggregate formation. The AMF inoculation of woody species was indicated in the rehabilitation procedures.

An optimised protocol for the extraction of allergenic proteins in fish was developed. Twelve existing or modified extraction buffers were evaluated based on the amount and quality of obtained 12 kDa IgG-binding protein (major fish allergen parvalbumin) by SDS-PAGE, immunoblotting, and ELISA. The results indicated that using DL-Dithiothreitol during the extraction process, the stability and functionality of the final extract were significantly increased. Solution 3 (containing Tris-HCl, Glycine, and DL-Dithiothreitol) yielded the highest amount of parvalbumin. The extract also induced a higher allergenic reactivity to the three tested human sera by immunoblotting. The results indicated that solution 3 provided better results in fish allergen detection and diagnosis. In conclusion, our study discovered and established solution 3 (Tris-HCl + Glycine + DTT) as the most potential buffer to overcome the conventional allergen extraction buffer and therefore it is highly recommended as a substitute optimised extraction buffer.

Row covers are usually used to protect plants from insects and cold temperatures, and to accelerate plant growth. But they could also serve as an erosion control strategy. For this reason, fleece (FC) and net covers (NC) in white cabbage (Brassica oleracea convar. capitata (L.) Alef. var. capitata L. f. alba) cultivation were tested in a two-year field experiment to determine effects on soil erosion, plant growth and plant diseases. Soil loss under FC was reduced on average by 76% and under NC by 48% compared to the non-covered control treatment (CO). Soil temperature did not differ significantly in either of the experimental years between the treatments and ranged from 17.2-18.2°C in 2012 and from 18.7-18.9°C in 2013. Soil moisture content, air temperature and relative humidity were always highest under FC, followed by NC and CO. Leaf area index was also highest under FC across all sampling dates. The fresh matter head yield under FC and NC was significantly higher (80 t/ha) compared to CO (66 t/ha) in 2012. An opposite result was detected in 2013, with the highest yield in CO (64 t/ha) and lowest under FC (53 t/ha). Overall, for moderate climate conditions, the row covers seem to be beneficial as a suitable erosion control strategy.

The microRNAs are non-coding RNA molecules of approximately 20-22 nucleotides that are found to be implicated in a wide range of physiological processes. In this study, the suitability of 10 candidate reference RNAs was evaluated for microRNA expression data in the skin tissue of Liaoning cashmere goat including 1 small nuclear RNA (snRNA; RNU6B), 1 small nucleolar RNA (snoRNA; Z30), 1 rRNA (5S), 1 transfer RNA (tRNA; Met-tRNA), and 6 microRNAs (miR; let-7d-5p, miR-15a-5p, miR-26a-5p, miR-125a-5p, miR-214-3p, and miR-221-3p). Based on geNorm and NormFinder algorithms, we identified let-7d-5p, miR-26a-5p, and miR-15a-5p as the most stable reference RNAs. Also, three reference RNAs (let-7d-5p, miR-26a-5p, and miR-15a-5p) were sufficient for the normalization of microRNA expression data in the skin of this breed. We further assessed the suitability of let-7d-5p, miR-26a-5p, and miR-15a-5p in a combination as reference RNAs through detecting the relative expression of miR-24-3p, miR-29a-3p, miR-145a-5p, and miR-205-5p as putative genes of interest. Significant differences were revealed in the relative expression of miR-24-3p, miR-29a-3p, miR-145a-5p, and miR-205-5p at telogen stage of hair follicle cycle when a combination of let-7d-5p, miR-26a-5p, and miR-15a-5p vs a single let-7d-5p were used as reference RNA. Based on the results from this study, we suggested that the combination of let-7d-5p, miR-26a-5p, and miR-15a-5p as normalizers for microRNA expression data would be more reliable than that of single let-7d-5p, and the geometric mean of these three microRNAs (let-7d-5p, miR-26a-5p, and miR-15a-5p) can be used for the normalization of microRNAs expression data in the skin of Liaoning cashmere goat.

The false chinch bug, Nysius cymoides (Spinola) is a pest of sunflower attacking sunflower fields from their weedy and cultivated hosts. The effect of sunflower and wild mustard (wild host) on the life table parameters of N. cymoides was studied under laboratory conditions (24 ± 1°C, 65 ± 5% RH, a 16:8 h (L:D) photoperiod). Data were analysed based on the age-stage, two-sex life table theory. Developmental time (sum of incubation and nymphal periods) on wild mustard was longer than on sunflower with significant difference (P < 0.05). The adult longevity was significantly shorter on wild mustard than on sunflower. The adult pre-oviposition period (APOP), total pre-oviposition period (TPOP), mean fecundity and adult longevity reared on sunflower and wild mustard showed significant differences (P < 0.05). The highest fecundity (58.72 eggs) and the longest female longevity (68.09 days) were on sunflower and lowest fecundity (5.67 eggs) was on wild mustard. The intrinsic rate of increase (r) on sunflower was higher than that on wild mustard, as it was 0.0437 ± 0.0039 on sunflower and 0.00033 ± 0.00599 per day on wild mustard and net reproductive rate (R₀) on sunflower and wild mustard was 12.94 ± 2.77 and 1.075 ± 0.34 (offspring), respectively. The mean generation time (T) was 58.01 ± 1.59 and 56.76 ± 2.43 days, on sunflower and wild mustard, respectively. The life expectancy (e_xj), survival rate (s_xj), and cumulative reproductive rate (R_x) on sunflower were higher than wild mustard. The results showed that sunflower was more suitable host than wild mustard to N. cymoides.

The aim of the study was to analyze how per os application of hydrocolloids of silver nanoparticles (22 nm) and lipid-coated silver nanoparticles (5 nm) affect the immune, redox, and lipid status of the blood of broiler chickens. The experiment was conducted on 60 chickens. The first group was the control (Group C). The chickens in Group II received a silver nanoparticle hydrocolloid (Ag-nano) at a dose of 5 mg/kg body weight (BW) per day. The chickens in Group III received a lipid-coated silver nanoparticle hydrocolloid (AgL-nano) at a dose of 5 mg/kg BW per day. Blood for analysis was collected from 24- and 38-day-old chickens and several blood parameters were determined. The increase in phagocytosis and in the metabolic activity of leukocytes observed following per os administration of chemically synthesized silver nanoparticles differing in size and in the presence or absence of a lipid coating may indicate a developing inflammatory state in the organism. The decrease in haemoglobin content and antioxidant enzyme activity and the increase in the content of iron, bilirubin, and lipid peroxidation products are indicative of oxidative stress, although in the case of administration of AgL-nano the oxidation effect appears to be greater. Administration of silver nanoparticles to the chickens, particularly 5 nm lipid-coated nanoparticles, probably led to a disturbance in protein catabolism in the organism, which is evidenced by the decrease in the activity of the liver enzymes AST and ALT and the decreased concentration of the main protein metabolism products (creatinine and urea).

Hydrothermal carbonization is a suitable method for energy and material recovery of wet heterogeneous kitchen waste. The paper examines the ability of the process to produce stable, energy-rich material without harmful by-products from lunch leftovers, raw potatoes, creamy yogurt and raw onions. Results of the batch experiments confirm the hypothesis that waste processing results in homogenous energy-rich (> 24 MJ/kg) and carbon-rich (> 63 % wt.) material. The biochar of creamy yogurt reaches the highest lower-heating value of 31.75 MJ/kg. In terms of energy use and emission concentrations, all samples meet legal requirements for incineration in combustion devices. Phytotoxicity tests prove the harmlessness of the liquid by-product for agricultural purposes.

Mid-rotation responses to fertilization of Pinus radiata D. Don plantations after the first or second thinning have been observed in research experiments in many regions where the species is grown. The practice is not however common in commercial plantations. This is probably because the effects of soil-site conditions on the magnitude and duration of tree and stand growth responses are not well understood. The effects of nitrogen (150 and 300 kg N.ha-1) and phosphorus (0, 20 and 40 kg P.ha-1) including common base fertilization of boron (8 kg B.ha-1) and potassium (65 kg K.ha-1) were evaluated in three mid-rotation P. radiata plantations after thinning. The plantations were located on sites with contrasting nutrient and water availability, sandy, granitic and red-clay sites, in south-central Chile. The magnitude and duration of growth response was site specific. After 8 years, the growth response to the highest dose of fertilization relative to the control was 57 m3.ha-1 (16%) at the granitic and 24 m3.ha-1 (14%) at the sandy site. No response to either nitrogen or phosphorus fertilizer was observed at the red-clay site. Nitrogen and phosphorus were limiting at both granitic and sandy sites, and high fertilization doses considering 300 kg N.ha-1 plus 40 kg P.ha-1 would ameliorate nutrient resource limitations and yield a cost-effective increment in stand volume.

The purpose of this study was to comparatively assess the antidermatophyte and antioxidant activities of enilconazole, Nigella sativa (NS) and enilconazole with NS in the treatment of dermatophytosis in cattle. A total of 24 cattle with clinically established diagnosis of dermatophytosis were used in the study. Trichophyton verrucosum was isolated and identified from all of the specimens stemming from the dermatophytosis-suspected animals. The lesion areas in Groups 1, 2 and 3 were treated as follows: enilconazole (three times at 3-day intervals), NS (once a day for two weeks) and enilconazole with NS, respectively. There were significant increases (P < 0.05) in plasma aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase and alkaline phosphatase levels and non-significant increases (P > 0.05) in creatinine and blood urea nitrogen levels after treatment in Group 1 when compared with Groups 2 and 3. After treatment, glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione levels increased (P < 0.05) and plasma thiobarbituric acid reactive substances levels decreased (P < 0.05) in Groups 1, 2 and 3 in comparison with before treatment. However, there were significant decreases (P < 0.05) in plasma thiobarbituric acid reactive substances levels and significant increases (P < 0.05) in glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione levels after treatment in Groups 2 and 3 when compared with Group 1. This study indicates that NS might have antidermatophyte and antioxidant effects in the treatment of dermatophytosis in cattle and the antidermatophyte effects of NS plus enilconazole was stronger among all groups.

Intensification of agricultural systems through the use of intensive agriculture and the advance of deforestation have led to a decrease of soil biological quality. Soil functional and structural microbiota are sensitive parameters to monitor changes caused by agricultural use. Different sites under soybean monoculture (continuous soybean) and soybean/maize rotation practices were selected. Samples were collected from agricultural soils under different periods of implantation: 4-year rotation; 15-year rotation; 5-year monoculture; and 24-year monoculture (M24). A site of native vegetation recently under agricultural production (RUA) was also sampled. Native vegetation soils (NV) adjacent to agricultural sites were sampled as a control. In general, the results showed that RUA and M24 had lower enzyme activities, less microbial abundance and low physical and chemical soil quality than those subjected to crop rotation. In contrast, both the bacterial and total microbial biomasses were significantly higher in NV and crop rotation than in soils under monoculture systems. Although it was expected that differences in microbial activities would be due to changes in microbial community abundance, the results indicated that changes in soil management produced faster alterations to soil enzyme activities than any modifications induced in the microbial community structure. Consequently, both aspects of microbial diversity, namely function and structure, were affected independently by agricultural intensification.

After each of three consecutive winters, 2010/2011, 2011/2012 and 2012/2013, the extent of frost damage to flower buds was studied in 25 genotypes of peach growing in the collection of varieties in the Experimental Orchard in Dąbrowice near Skierniewice (central Poland). The lowest temperatures during those winters were quite similar: -22.3°C (February 22, 2011), -23.3°C (February 3 and 4, 2012), and -21.4°C (March 24, 2013). However, after the winters of 2010/2011 and 2011/2012 the extent of damage to peach flower buds was much larger than after the 2012/2013 winter. This was caused by different weather patterns during those winters. During the 2010/2011 and 2011/2012 winters, before the occurrence of the lowest temperature, there were periods of above-zero temperatures, which resulted in a reduction in tolerance of flower buds to severe winter frosts. During the 2012/2013 winter, sub-zero temperatures persisted for most of the time, which helped the flower buds to maintain high tolerance to low sub-zero temperatures until late March.