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The objective of this study was to calculate economic weights for ten current breeding objective traits and for four new traits characterising claw health and feed efficiency in Czech Holstein cattle and to investigate the impact of different selection indices on the genetic responses for these traits. Economic weights were estimated using a bio-economic model, while applying actual (2017) and predicted (2025) production and economic circumstances. For the actual situation, the economic weights of claw disease incidence were -100.1 € per case, and those of daily residual feed intake in cows, breeding heifers, and fattened animals were -79.37, -37.16, and -6.33 €/kg dry matter intake per day, respectively. In the predicted situation, the marginal economic weights for claw disease and feed efficiency traits increased on average by 38% and 20%, respectively. The new traits, claw disease incidence and daily residual feed intake, were gradually added to the 17 current Holstein selection index traits to improve the new traits. Constructing a comprehensive index with 21 traits and applying the general principles of the selection index theory, a favourable annual genetic selection response was obtained for the new traits (-0.008 cases of claw disease incidence and -0.006 kg of daily residual feed intake across all cattle categories), keeping the annual selection response of the most important current breeding objective traits at a satisfactory level (e.g., 73 kg of milk yield per lactation, 0.016% of milk fat). Claw health and feed efficiency should be defined as new breeding objectives and new selection index traits of local dairy population.

To understand the hydrological outcomes of interception by gravel mulches, rainfall simulation experiments were conducted in the loess regions of northwestern China. The rainfall interception decreased with gravel size but increased with the thickness of the gravel mulch layer, following two exponential functions. Interception was 15.1% of the gross rainfall at 1 cm thickness, followed by 17.2, 20.9, 30.5 and 45.6 % at 3, 5, 7 and 10 cm thickness, respectively. For the equivalent gravel grain size of 3.43 mm, relative interception was 45.6%, which was about 1.1, 1.2, 1.4 and 2.3 times higher than that for the equivalent grain size of 11.01, 19.31, 32.8 and 43.72 mm, respectively.

This study was conducted in the period 2010-2015 to assess the influence of rootstocks on the growth and fruiting of apple trees of the 'Golden Delicious Reinders' cultivar. The experiment was conducted in an experimental orchard in Dąbrowice, Poland. The experimental material consisted of the Polish rootstocks P 66, P 67, P 68 and P 16, and the following American rootstocks of the Cornell Geneva series resistant to fire blight: CG.11, CG.41, CG.013 and CG.202. The rootstocks M.9T337, M.26, P 14 and P 60 were used as the control combination. The best-yielding trees were those from the CG.11 rootstock, while those from P 14 and P 67 were the lowest-yielding. Trees from the latter rootstocks grew most vigorously and had the lowest productivity index.

This paper describes the results of a retrospective study performed on 385 cats with feline lower urinary tract disease. The study was conducted to obtain epidemiological data and to evaluate clinical symptoms and the results of laboratory tests in a population of Polish cats with symptoms of lower urinary tract disease. The analysed population comprised feline patients of the veterinary clinic at the University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn who had not been treated prior to admission. Medical history was obtained for all patients. Urine samples were collected mostly, but not solely, by cystocentesis. Feline idiopathic cystitis was diagnosed in most cats (60.7%), while urinary tract infections were noted in only 7.8% of patients. Urethral obstruction caused by mucus plugs was observed in 17.4% of animals. Urolithiasis was observed in 13% of cats, 5% of whom were also diagnosed with urinary tract infections. Hyperplastic changes were identified in only 1% of the studied population. In 59% of cats, feline lower urinary tract disease was accompanied by urethral obstruction. Cats with feline idiopathic cystitis were the youngest animals in the analysed population, and the risk of urinary tract infections and neoplasia increased with age. Our results, obtained over a period of six years in a Polish feline population, show that sex, neutering, age, living conditions and diet influence the type of urinary tract disease, data which are consistent with those obtained in other countries.

In this case report, we describe a five-year-old, mixed-breed, neutered male cat weighing 5.7 kg, that was referred to the Near East University Animal Hospital with complaints of dyspnoea, cough and lack of appetite over the preceding two days. Clinical examination revealed marked wheezing during expiration, severe shortness of breath and associated cyanosis. A blood sample was drawn for full blood count, serum biochemical and blood gas analyses. Laterolateral and ventrodorsal radiographic images of the thorax and abdominal region were obtained. A radiopaque foreign body measuring 3 × 9 × 13 mm was detected at the carina of the trachea, aligned in the midst of the fifth-sixth intercostal space. Considering that this foreign body obstructed the tracheal lumen almost completely and had been creating pressure on the tracheal wall for at least two days and also with the aim of preventing potential complications (tracheal rupture, laceration, etc.), after repeated unsuccessful interventions to minimise the time spent under anaesthesia, the object was removed by intercostal thoracotomy. The subject was discharged on the sixth postoperative day and regained its normal state within a short time.

Biosolids are organic fertilisers derived from treated and stabilised sewage sludge that increase soil fertility and supply nitrogen to crops over a long period, but can also increase the risk of nitrogen (N) leaching. In this work, spring barley was grown in lysimeters filled with soil amended with biosolids, and with and without mineral N fertilisation. Biomass and the N concentration and content of shoots and roots were determined at flowering and maturity, and the N remobilization was calculated during grain filling. Drainage water was collected and analysed for N leaching. Biosolids increased soil porosity and soil nitrate, and positively affected the growth and N uptake of barley. Compared to mineral fertilisers, biosolids produced 18% higher vegetative biomass and 40% higher grain yield. During grain filling, both N uptake and N remobilization were higher with biosolids, which increased the grain N content by 32%. Nitrogen loss in leachates was 1.2% of plant uptake with mineral fertilisers and 1.7% with biosolids. Thus, soil fertilisation with biosolids greatly benefits spring barley, only slightly increasing N leaching.

Mehlich 3 is an extractant used worldwide for extracting bioavailable nutrients in soils; however, its extraction abilities for sulfur (S) are still not well described. The aim of this preliminary study was to compare the results of Mehlich 3 determined soil S fraction (S_M3) with the results of sulfur fractionation, mainly focusing on bioavailable S (S_av - sum of water-extractable (S_w) and adsorbed (S_ads) sulfur). Air dried soil samples from commonly used agricultural soils were chosen for the analyses. The following S fractions were determined: (i) S_w; (ii) S_ads; (iii) S_av; (iv) 1 mol/L HCl extractable (S_HCl); (v) estersulfate (S_es); (vi) organic (S_org) and (vii) total (S_tot). The median value of S_M3 (18.3 mg/kg) was similar to S_av (17.9 mg/kg). From the correlation and regression analysis it is clear that S_M3 results are in close relationship with S_av form. On the other hand, the relationships between S_M3 and organic S (including S_HCl) were very weak. Based on the obtained results it can be concluded that Mehlich 3 method has a good potential to determine bioavailable sulfur in commonly used agricultural soils. However, especially the plant response should be further studied to confirm this theory.

This paper provides a comparative analysis of the legal content of animal protection legislation in the Slovak Republic with that of Italian legislation. Firstly, we compare the legal systems in the Slovak Republic and Italy with respect to the animal protection laws, especially criminal law in both countries. This comparison of the two different legislations allows detection of identical or different characteristics in the area of animal protection, which could be used later as an inspiration for lawmakers in both countries.

Sixty-five Czech Meligethes populations were tested against lambda-cyhalothrin and chlorpyrifos-ethyl in 2014. In 2015, totally sixty Meligethes populations, some of which sampled also in Slovakia, were tested against the two insecticides. Adult vial tests by IRAC (Insecticide Resistance Action Committee) were used for testing (No. 011 v. 3 for lambda-cyhalothrin and No. 025 for chlorpyrifos-ethyl). For each of the tested populations the LC₅₀, LC₉₀, and in 2015 also LC₉₅ values were determined for both these insecticides. Correlation analyses were made with transformed (log10 transformation) LC values. No significant correlation was recorded between the LC₅₀ values. Contrary to that, significant (P < 0.05) negative (r values for negative) correlations were recorded between the LC₉₀ and LC₉₅ values. Pyrethroid resistance in pollen beetle populations should indicate their slightly higher susceptibility to chlorpyrifos-ethyl.

Potato yields and infestation by P. infestans are related to the supply of potassium. Potassium was applied as soil fertilisation combined with split foliar applications or only as split foliar treatments at a maximum dose of 150 kg/ha K₂O in both strategies, Lord and Ditta cultivars were used. Additionally, water spraying was included as an alternative treatment in order to maintain uniform moisture in the rows of plants. Plants fertilised with foliar spraying only were more infested than plants fertilised with combined methods. The fertiliser increased the protection impact of copper treatments against P. infestans. This may suggest a possible synergistic effect in reducing the symptoms of the disease, however not always statistically significant in both cultivars. Plants sprayed with water but without soil application of fertiliser showed a statistically significantly higher infestation rate, both in Lord and Ditta cultivars, compared to plants with soil application of fertiliser but without watering.

Hepatitis A and E viruses (HAV and HEV) are recognised as food- and water-borne infections and shellfish are a well-documented source of these viruses. The presence of HAV and HEV in mussels has not previously been investigated in Bosphorus, Istanbul, Turkey, and therefore the aim of this study was to investigate the frequency of HAV and HEV in mussels collected from this location. A total of 92 pooled samples representing 736 mussels originating along the Bosphorus coast were collected from fish distributors. RNA was extracted using the RNeasy Plant Mini Kit and a TaqMan real-time RT-PCR was performed using primers specific to HAV and HEV. Amongst the 92 pooled samples tested, 3 (3.3%) were found to be positive for HAV by the TaqMan real-time RT-PCR. No HEV was detected in any of the mussels tested. A 174 bp product was observed on gel electrophoresis with HAV positive samples detected by SYBR Green real-time PCR after reverse transcription. This product was sequenced and confirmed to contain HAV sequences by alignment using the data in GenBank. This is the first report describing the presence of HAV in mussels harvested in the Bosphorus, Istanbul, Turkey, indicating the potential contamination of aquatic environment and risk to public health.

Relation between wheat (Triticum aestivum) nutritional status determined at the beginning of stem elongation and during anthesis, respectively, and available content of phosphorus (P-M3) and zinc (Zn-M3) determined by the Mehlich 3 extractant was studied. Both one-year pot experiment with spring wheat and two-year on-farm trials with winter wheat were run on various calcareous soils (pH values of 7.18-7.94, median 7.80, P-M3 1-289 ppm, median 54, and Zn-M3 2-14 ppm, median 4), in the Czech Republic (Central Europe). Phosphorus nutrition index (ratio of phosphorus concentration in shoot biomass to critical phosphorus concentration - P_c) was calculated using the Belanger et al.'s model: P_c = -0.677 + 0.221N - 0.00292N(2), where both phosphorus and nitrogen concentrations were expressed in g/kg shoot dry matter. Unlike phosphorus concentration in shoot biomass, phosphorus nutrition index significantly correlated with P-M3 content in soil. Optimal values of the phosphorus nutrition index were recorded if P-M3 was 51-68 ppm. Zinc concentration in shoot biomass more strongly correlated with P:Zn ratio (M3) in soil compared to Zn-M3 content in soil. P:Zn ratio in shoot biomass of 130:1 did not lead to phosphorus deficiency and corresponded to P:Zn (M3) ratio in soil of 9.3:1-14.3:1.

Physicochemical properties of the tuber as a commercial product differ according to environmental conditions of the area and the growing season. The knowledge about how weather affects these characteristics, allows estimating the correct selection of the cultivars in order to obtain the highest yields or desired physicochemical qualities. In this sense, the effect of the main meteorological factors on the physicochemical characteristics (size, texture, dry matter, soluble solids, phenols, flavonoids, carotenoids and inhibitor concentration (IC₅₀)) of 8 potato cultivars growing in A Limia (North-West Spain) was analysed. The study was conducted during three consecutive years (2014-2016) and the results presented significant differences in the analyzed parameters between years (P < 0.05). Spearman's correlations and principal component analysis showed that the tubers of 2014 (with colder weather conditions) had the highest phenol content and the lowest flavonoids and carotenoids content. Therefore, the temperature positively favoured the flavonoid content and carotenoid content (samples from 2016), although the size of potato tubers was considerably smaller.

The design of animal housing and manure management systems are key factors in livestock farming. Frequent removal methods, in fact, allow for the reduction of gasses produced from fermentations of the organic matter contained in manure, that affect animal welfare and farmer health and are emitted from animal housings into the atmosphere as a consequence of ventilation. The present study aims to evaluate the performance of a Robotic Scraper (RS) operating on the floors in a full-scale, operative free-stall dairy barn. The research is focused on the evaluation of gaseous emissions from the two types of floors (concrete and rubber mat coated), and with and without RS operation. The floors with rubber coating demonstrated higher emission rates of ammonia (NH₃), carbon dioxide (CO₂), nitrous oxide (N₂O), and methane (CH₄) compared to the uncovered concrete floors, both before and after RS operations. The operation of RS, furthermore, determined significant reduction of greenhouse gasses (GHG) but did not have relevant effect in terms of NH₃ emission, which reduced only of 1.4% from concrete floors, but increase of 12.7% from rubber coated floors.

Apple trees which grafted on M.M. 106 stocks were planted at the beginning of spring 2014 in pots at the Research Institute of Horticulture in Skierniewice, Poland. The used treatments in the experiment were: NPK fertilization and bioproducts: Fertigo (Manure), Micosat, Humus UP, Humus Active + Aktywit PM, BioFeed Quality, BioFeed Amin, Vinassa, Florovit Natura and Florovit Eko. In the spring, these treatments were applied to apple trees alone or enriched with Pantoea sp., Pseudomonas fluorescens, Klebsiella oxytoca and Rhizobium sp. bacterial strains. Growth, yield and fruit quality parameters were evaluated. The results revealed that photosynthetic rate was greatly improved by the addition of bacteria to Fertigo (Manure), Micosat, Humus UP and Humus Active + Aktywit PM as compared to NPK. Tree trunk thickness was significantly enhanced with Vinassa, Florovit Natura and Florovit Eko enriched with bacteria. The application of bacterial strains increased the effectiveness of Fertigo (Manure), Humus UP, Humus Active + Aktywit PM, Biofeed Amin and Yeast in increasing significantly number and weight of fruits as compared to NPK.

Foreign bodies that affect airways are a well-recognised problem in small-animal practice. Cats in par­ticular, may be especially at risk of aspiration due to their predatory behaviour. Here, we report a case of an insect as a foreign body, namely a beetle in the tracheal bifurcation of a cat. Radiographs suggested a wide range of possibilities for differential diagnosis, but the presence of a foreign body was initially suspected. A final diagnosis was not pursued by the owner and the cat was euthanised. The presence of a summer chafer was then confirmed. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first time such a foreign body and radiographic findings are reported in the literature.

This review focuses on Czech implementation of standards for soil and water protection called Good Agricultural and Environmental Conditions (GAEC), with linkage to the European Union (EU) level. I investigate different elements of adaptive institutional economics: (i) summarise current knowledge regarding the social reasons for introducing GAEC; (ii) assess the evidence linked to GAEC to better understand the potential as well as boundaries of formalizing cause-effect links; (iii) clarify the pertinence of producers' claims on costs accruing from GAEC implementation. These three points highlight the thesis of this paper: implementation in farmers' practices of the theoretical concept of sustainability in terms of bridging together economics, society and the environment. The economic reasoning for GAEC introduction within adaptive institutional economics stems from the relational positioning of the knowledge of the costs of the impact of agricultural land use on other characteristic rural land uses. GAEC are needed, albeit the size of support obtained by producers surpasses the costs of complying; therefore, the result pays off for farms. We have learned that GAEC implementation is important from regional to EU levels and that its role is more related to economic institutional adaptation than to regulation. Adaptation of institutional economics is therefore feasible, making it possible to understand GAEC as a network which manages and enables knowledge transfer linked directly to regulation. Institutional economics can link sustainability with farmers' practices and accounts for the behaviour of the farmers. In this review, I find that, for society, it is necessary to require measurement of agri-environmental outcomes for water resources, soil and biodiversity through GAEC at appropriate scales. These scales are likely to be relevant to adaptive institutional economy localities perceived by the rural public.

DNA extraction is a crucial step in PCR analysis especially when analysing food samples that can be degraded and can potentially contain PCR-inhibiting substances. In this study, we compared the suitability of three DNA extraction methods - two kits: DNeasy^® Plant Mini Kit and NucleoSpin^® Food, and the CTAB method - for DNA extraction from commercial fruit jams. Fourteen jams with different contents of fruit, sugar and other additives were extracted in triplicate using the above-mentioned methods directly and after a washing step. The concentration and optical density were analysed using UV spectrophotometry and the amplifiability of the obtained DNA was evaluated using a PCR assay targeting a sequence coding for chloroplast tRNA-Leu. Samples isolated using the NucleoSpin^® Food kit contained non-amplifiable DNA in eight cases, and samples isolated using the CTAB method could not be quantified. The DNeasy^® Plant Mini Kit thus proved to be the most suitable method, since well-amplifiable DNA was obtained for all the analysed samples.

Different solvents and extraction solutions (distilled water, NaCl, Tween 80, citrate buffer, and acetate buffer) were evaluated for enzymes recovery. The independent variables evaluated were agitation (12-348 rpm), time (4.8-55.2 min), and temperature (13.2-46.8°C) and 10 extraction cycles, using an experimental design (Central composite rotatable design 2³). Pectin methyl esterase maximum recovery by solid state culture of Aspergillus niger was 11 U/g_wm (31 U/g_dm) using NaCl (0.1 mol/l) as solvent at a 5 : 1 (v/w) ratio, 30°C for 55.2 min, at 180 rpm, with one extraction cycle.

The harvest season of apricots is short and fruit cannot be protected in cold stores for a long time. For those reasons, apricot production and consumption are lower than in other fruit species. This study was conducted for the purpose of breeding new late ripening apricot varieties. To this aim, a total of 3718 hybrid genotypes of apricots were obtained from 42 crosses. Phenological, pomological and yield analyses were performed and variations of fruit development period, fruit size, polarimetric dry matter (Brix), total acidity, yield and other traits were determined. Two years of results for important traits are given for 12 promising genotypes. Fruit development period varied between 148 and 167 days, fruit weight 25.2 and 41.2 g, Brix 16.3 and 22.6% and total acidity 0.56 and 1.25%.

In a two-year pot experiment, the effect of five growing media on the growth, flowering, decorative value of Pelargonium peltatum cv. Maxime as well as on their uptake of the nutrients and heavy metals were studied. The media were prepared from four composts (made from: sewage sludge 70% or 35%, potato pulp 35%, straw 30% or sawdust 30%) and peat in 1:1, V:V ratio. In the 1^st year of research 7-month-old composts and in the 2^nd year 18-month-old composts were used. Plants cultivated in 7-month-old composts showed better growth-related parameters, created more inflorescences and were more decorative than those cultivated in 18-month-old ones. The medium with compost consisting of 70% sewage sludge and 30% straw gave the best results. Composts application increased nutrients and heavy metals content in pelargonium leaves. Heavy metals content was definitely lower than the value considered toxic to plants.

In four-year experiments, hop was treated with 7 biologically active substances in two terms during vegetation: Lignohumate max (a mixture of humic acids and fulvic acids), Lexin (a mixture of humic acids and fulvic acids enriched with auxins), Lexenzym (a mixture of humic acids and fulvic acids enriched with auxins, phytohormones and enzymes precursors), Ascophyllum nodosum seaweed extract, synthetic auxin, humic acids and fulvic acids alone. The chlorophyll content was monitored after the application both in the vine leaves and in the branch leaves. After harvesting of the hops from the individual treatments, the yield of dry hops was determined and the cones were analysed for the content of alpha bitter acids. The results show that the most effective hop treatment was the application of Lexin and Lexenzym. The Lexenzym treatment provided a yield of dry hops of 1.86 t/ha, i.e. 0.47 t/ha higher compared with untreated control. The Lexin treatment provided yield higher by 0.41 t/ha of dry hops compared with the untreated control, while the harvested cones contained the most alpha-bitter acids (4.57%).

The article demonstrates a multilevel method of soil degradation analysis on land within South Moravia (Czech Republic (CZ)), in the Hodonín region, which is among the highest producing agricultural regions in CZ. The analysis takes a top-down approach, from a regional scale, through cadastres, to individual blocks of land. In the initial (rough) phase, selection was based on the Soil Degradation Model created for the Czech Republic, which classifies the extent of soil degradation to a cadastral level. Within the chosen region, the Čejkovice cadastre is the most burdened in terms of the combination of various degradation factors, and was therefore chosen for a further level of analysis in the form of remote sensing. The results of remote sensing and image classification identify areas with a high level of water erosion, which is the most significant degradation factor within CZ. Pedological research was then carried out in these identified areas. The results of both approaches were compared, and showed significant differences between erosional areas and depositional areas of slopes, which confirms their suitability for the given form of research and analysis. A combination of the given general (Degradation Model) and more detailed methods (erosion modelling, image classification and soil sample analysis) can find practical application in the optimization of farm production in the rural landscape.

This 12-year study was conducted to evaluate the performance of new plum cultivars from the Czech Republic. A new cultivar, 'Stáňa', was the most productive, followed by 'Kamir' and the standard cultivar 'Stanley'. The new plum cultivar 'Stáňa' also had the highest mean yield per cubic meter of tree canopy. Next in order of production efficiency were 'Stanley', 'Amátka', 'Kamir' and 'Čačanska lepotica'. According to canopy volume, the most vigorous cultivar was 'Kamir' followed by 'Samera' and 'Stáňa'. The least vigorous was 'Dwarf', having a canopy volume distinctly smaller than 'Amátka', which was next in the order. The shape of tree canopies ranged from 'Dwarf', which had the most upright canopy, to 'Simona' with a more distinctly overhanging canopy at the opposite extreme. The highest percentages of fruiting on first and second year wood were observed on trees of 'Simona' and 'Čačanska lepotica'.

The aim of this study was to analyse the microscopic and ultrastructural lesions of the livers of broiler chickens during fattening. Three genetic lines of broiler chickens (Ross 308, Cobb 500, Hubbard F15) were investigated. The liver samples were taken on the 3^rd, 10^th, 17^th, 24^th, 31^st, and 38^th day of life from six healthy broiler chickens from each commercial broiler flock. The dominant microscopic lesions were associated with prolonged hypoxia and bile ductules, including: fatty, vacuolar and parenchymatous degeneration, necrosis of epithelial cells of bile ductules, necrosis of hepatocytes around the proliferating bile ductules, lymphoid cell infiltration around the bile ductules and blood vessels, proliferation of the bile ductules, proliferation of the connective tissue around bile ductules and stimulation of the lymph nodules. Ultrastructural evaluation revealed abnormalities involving mitochondria and rough endoplasmic reticulum. The mitochondria underwent swelling, polymorphism, proliferation and damage. The rough endoplasmic reticulum underwent defragmentation and acinar transformation. The cytoplasm of most hepatocytes showed vacuoles of varying size or lipid droplets and the presence of cytoplasmic myelin-like structures. This study shows that the livers of broiler chickens are the most predisposed to the occurrence of lesions on the 17^th, 31^st and 38^th days of life.

This study was aimed at estimating restrainer exposure to scatter radiation in veterinary radiography using thermoluminescent dosimeters (TLDs) in different positions, and at different anatomic regions. A prospective study was conducted to measure exposure dose of two restrainers: A (cathode side) and B (anode side), and an observer C (at a 1-meter distance from the X-ray table) over two months. Protective devices included panorama mask, thyroid shield and arm shield. TLDs were placed on the inside and outside of the protective gear at five different anatomic sites (eye, thyroid, breast, gonad and arm). The study data consisted of 778 exposures, 82 patients (78 dogs, four cats), a mean kVp of 58.7 and a mean mAs of 11.4. The doses (outside the shield/inside the shield, in mSv) measured by restrainers A, B and C were eye (3.04/0.42), (2.29/0.17), (0.55/0.01), thyroid (2.93/0.01), (1.97/0.01), (0.19/0.01), breast (1.01/0.04), (0.73/0.01), (0.32/0.01), gonad (0.07/0.01), (0.01/0.01), (0.16/0.01) and arm (2.81/1.43), (1.17/0.01), (0.08/0.01), respectively. This study describes the extent of occupational radiation exposure in small animal radiography. The exposure dose for eyes outside lead protection showed the highest value in all participants. With lead protection, the reduction in the exposure dose of eyes was significant (A: 86%, B: 93%, C: 98%), and the highest reduction was 99% in the thyroid region. These results suggest the necessity of radiation shields in manual restraint, particularly for eye protection.

The Mongolian squirrel is a murine rodent widely used as an experimental model and kept as a pet. With respect to the significance of the brachial plexus, we aimed to describe the origin and the nerves that constitute it, providing new information about the neuroanatomy of this species. Twenty adult animals were used, which were fixed in a 10% formaldehyde solution at the Applied Animal Morphophysiology Laboratory of the Brazilian Federal University of the Semi-Arid Region (UFERSA). The animals were medially incised with an opening of the thoracic cavity, and then bilateral dissection was carried out. Once the nerves were identified, cotton wool soaked with a 2% hydrogen peroxide solution was added for bleaching and better visualisation of structures. The gerbil brachial plexus derived from ventral roots of the fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth cervical nerves (C₄-C₈) and the first thoracic root (T₁). The suprascapular nerve was formed from the nerve roots C₄ and C₅; the subscapular and cranial pectoral nerves from C₅ and C₆; the musculocutaneous and axillary nerves from C₅, C₆ and C₇; and the caudal pectoral, radial, median, ulnar, thoracodorsal, lateral thoracic and long thoracic nerves from C₇, C₈ and T₁. This resembles what is described in other rodents, such as the rat and capybara. The gerbil has a pre-fixed plexus conformation.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) emphasizes the right of everyone to have access to safe, sufficient and nutritious food in its Rome Declaration. This article suggests how this noble FAO goal can be achieved. We suggest that a first step could be the introduction of a global meat tax, where the size of the negative externalities from meat production could be calculated based on foresight and big data. Applying the tool of a global meat tax will lead to a "double dividend" as negative externalities are reduced and at the same time huge tax revenues will be generated which could be used to make further steps in the direction of achieving the stated FAO goal in the Rome Declaration.

One of the biotic agents of yellowing and stunting in wheat and barley cultivations is Wheat dwarf virus (WDV) which is naturally transmitted by the leafhopper Psammotettix alienus (Dahlbom). WDV-Wheat and WDV-Barley isolates of WDV were transmitted to wheat and barley, respectively, using the leafhoppers under four temperature regimes of constant 20, 25, 30, and 35°C. Infection rate, symptom development and virus content of the virus-inoculated plants were determined and the data was statistically analysed. The results showed that the temperature of 25°C was associated with the highest infection rate caused by the viruses. Moreover, P. alienus nymphs were found to be more efficient vectors of WDV than adults, highlighting the importance of nymphs in the epidemiology of wheat dwarf disease. WDV-infected plants incubated at 35°C showed less symptoms than those kept at 20, 25, and 30°C. ELISA results showed that these plants had comparatively low virus content. However, there was no significant difference between the infection rate, symptom development and virus content in plants infected by WDV-Wheat or WDV-Barley.