Fulltext search in archive

The present text is focused on an actual problem of planting of inappropriate tree taxa in many cities. It explains the causes of contaminated soils by winter salt management and principles of the toxic effect on plants. The paper summarizes the problem and brings solution. Town places with salt-contaminated soil should not be fitted with: spruce (Picea), pine (Pinus), linden (Tilia) and maples (Acer). On the other hand, resistant species are: ash (Fraxinus), poplar (Populus), willow (Salix), silverberry (Eleagnus), black locust (Robinia). Both lists of sensitive and salt-tolerant tree species have been presented. Salt-tolerant tree should be preferred before all the others species.

The aim of the present study was to analyse the impacts of different logging intensities after five years from logging including non-logged, low (3.4 felled stems per hectare), medium (5.2 felled stems per hectare) and high (7.1 felled stems per hectare) treatments on stem density, basal area, canopy cover, and forest biodiversity indices. The study area was located in northern Iran. Data was collected on a set of 120 circular plots with 5 m radius from both non-logged and logging areas. Stem density, basal area, and percentage of canopy cover were measured. Biodiversity study was done by measuring two diversity indices including Simpson's and Shannon-Wiener's, two richness indices including Margalef's and Menhinick's and two evenness indices including Pielou's and Hill's indices. The results indicated that the treatment with the medium logging intensity was found to cause the highest amount of positive effects on stem density, basal area, and biodiversity indices. It is concluded that harvesting intensity should be limited to a medium level (approximately 5 felled trees per hectare) during each logging operation to improve forest biodiversity indices.

Polyphenols, flavonoids, triterpenoids, and vitamin C from Clinacanthus nutans were extracted by an ultrasonic microwave-assisted method. The optimal extraction conditions were established in distilled water, solid-liquid ratio 1 : 55 g/ml, irradiation power 90 W, and extraction cycle with 75 seconds. Results revealed that the solid-liquid ratio exerted a significant effect on polyphenols, whereas the irradiation power played a key role in the extraction of flavonoids, triterpenoids, and vitamin C. Under these conditions the extraction yield of each component was: polyphenols 8.893, flavonoids 25 936, triterpenoids 16 789, and vitamin C 0.166 mg/g. These results showed that the ultrasonic microwave-assisted extraction was an efficient technology to extract bioactive substances from Clinacanthus nutans and Clinacanthus nutans could potentially be a source of natural antioxidants.

The aim of this study was to analyse ovarian activity and pregnancy in 140 Pura Raza Espanola mares over a period of two consecutive years. The data were analysed using SPSS software to evaluate the effects of age, category of mares and season on pre-ovulatory follicle size, ovulation rate, interval from foaling to pregnancy, gestation length, incidence of twin pregnancies and pregnancy losses. The results showed that follicular diameter was significantly (P < 0.05) smaller in fillies (3-year-old) and maiden mares than in older and multiparous mares. Within the group of animals treated with gonadotropin hormone hCG, 87.23% ovulated 48 h following administration. Length of gestation varied from 305 to 356 days and all gestation pregnancies of less than 305 days resulted in a non-viable foal. In addition, foaling season affected (P < 0.05) the post-partum conception interval and the length of gestation, which were shorter and longer in the winter foaling, respectively. Regarding the other parameters, mares of this stud exhibited relatively very low rates of double ovulations, twin pregnancies and pregnancy losses. We conclude that age and category of mares and foaling season influence fertility and foaling rates by affecting pre-ovulatory follicle size, pregnancy loss and gestation length.

A 12-year-old castrated male miniature pinscher dog presented with right forelimb lameness. An expansile osteolytic lesion of the right humerus was conspicuous on right forelimb radiographs. Thoracic and abdominal radiographs showed multiple lytic bone lesions on the right scapula, ribs, vertebrae, femurs and pelvis. Additionally, an expansile osteolytic lesion was observed in two thoracic vertebrae and two ribs. Many plasma cells were identified on fine-needle aspiration of the right humerus expansile osteolytic lesion, and monoclonal gammopathy consistent with multiple myeloma was confirmed on serum protein electrophoresis. The expansile osteolytic lesion, an extraordinary radiographic feature of multiple myeloma in dogs, should be considered as a possible radiographic finding of multiple myeloma.

The present study investigated the impact of transgenic Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) cotton on several aspects of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungus Funneliformis mosseae. The results showed that Bt cotton significantly inhibited spore germination and pre-symbiotic hyphal growth. The appressorium density, arbuscule frequency and colonization intensity in Bt roots were also decreased. The statistical analysis demonstrated that the transformation event resulted in the inhibition of hyphal development and colonization. The reduced interaction between AM fungi and plants could affect nutrient uptake and transportation in plant-fungus symbiosis. The mechanism might involve the direct toxicity of Bt toxins or the interference of signal perception between AM fungus and Bt cotton.

The complex interaction process of the abiotic factors (sunlight, air temperature and soil water) in regulating maize (Zea mays L.) photosynthesis has not been fully understood. Our field experiment explored the changed sensitivity (or role) of the abiotic factors in regulating maize photosynthesis under a drought development process. The experiment established a scenario with a long-term drought and an instantaneous cloud cover. The results revealed that long-term drought stress causes the sensitivity (or role) of sunlight and temperature exchanged in regulating maize photosynthesis. The maize photosynthesis was more sensitive to instantaneous sunlight rather than temperature in the absence of drought. However, a diminishing photosynthetic sensitivity to sunlight but an increasing photosynthetic sensitivity to temperature was observed with drought development process. The variable photosynthetic sensitivity indicated that the roles of temperature and sunlight in regulating maize photosynthesis were exchanged, so it is expected that higher photosynthetic rate could be achieved by adjusting temperature rather than sunlight after severe drought. Nevertheless, further studies are needed to provide more evidence and mechanism explanations.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of bacterial and chemical additives on the number of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and on fermentation indicators in whole maize silage at 1, 3, 5, 10, and 90 days of fermentation. Maize forage was harvested at approximately 34% dry matter (DM) and treated with (1) no additive (control; C); (2) bacterial inoculant (2 g/t of forage; B) containing the homofermentative LAB Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus paracasei, and Pediococcus pentosaceus (1.5 × 10¹¹ cfu/g of inoculant); and (3) chemical additive (4 l/t of forage; CH) containing formic acid, propionic acid, ammonium formate, and benzoic acid. Both treatments decreased pH of silage at day 1 of ensiling (P < 0.05), and the lowest value of 4.34 was observed in the CH-treated silage. All silages were well fermented and had pH < 4.0 by day 10 of fermentation. The concentration of lactic acid and the lactic acid : acetic acid ratio increased over time in all treatment groups, and the highest values were 87.5 and 3.62 g/kg of DM, respectively, observed for group B at day 90 (P < 0.05). The concentrations of water-soluble carbohydrates were higher (P < 0.05) for CH compared to C and B at days 3, 5, 10, and 90 of fermentation. The CH silage had fewer LAB (P < 0.05) than did either C or B silages regardless of the days of fermentation. Both additives used in the present study improved fermentation dynamics of the whole crop maize silage.

Agriculture is the sector that consumes by far most water globally. Much research efforts aim at minimizing losses through the use of drip irrigation. Rural agricultural areas often do not have access to a main electrical grid to power the pumps needed for drip irrigation; it reduces the options in paying for a grid extension, getting a diesel generator or investing in an off-grid renewable energy system. In this paper, these alternatives are assessed technically and economically under real world conditions through the Jordan Valley case study. The results show that the autonomous photovoltaic (PV)-battery system is preferable to the use of a diesel generator, as well as it is preferable to the main grid extension in many cases depending on the cost of grid electricity and distance from the grid. For current subsidized grid electricity retail price to farmers, the PV-battery system becomes more attractive above a 300 m distance from the grid, while if the actual cost of electricity production in Jordan is taken into account, then it breaks even to 128 m.

The Single Minute Exchange of Die (SMED) methodology is well-known. A great variety of studies in the field of manufacturing and production process use it, but there are few applications of this methodology in the area of the supply chain management. In the paper, the philosophy of the SMED methodology is applied to the part of the supply chain that includes the spare parts and fixtures in the food sector. This involves studying the relationship with the supplier of the installation of spare parts and fixture on the machine. The study shows how the spare parts management has several phases: the coordination and purchase of the spare parts to the supplier, the storage of these spare parts, the coordination of these spare parts and the scheduled maintenance, and the installation of these spare parts on the machine. The implantation of the developed working methodology has obtained a relevant improvement in the coordination and management of the spare parts. In such a way, that storage time has been reduced (inside the company's storages) and the performance has been increased, focusing on and detailing the maintenance task and scheduling the available resources.

Key scale insects that have long been considered as having high economic importance in Tunisia and for which several research studies and pest management programs have been undertaken include the mealybug species Planococcus ficus (Signoret) and Planococcus citri Risso, the soft scale Saissetia oleae (Olivier) and the armoured scale Parlatoria ziziphi (Lucas). The host plants, bio-ecological aspects, auxiliary fauna of each of the aforementioned species as well as the related economic losses and pest management strategies adopted are explored and discussed. Among these species, P. ficus is considered herein as the most economically important in Tunisia. Still, the present contribution constitutes the first review article on key scale insects infesting plants in the South Mediterranean Maghreb area.

Historically, species of the family Lamiaceae have enjoyed a rich tradition of use for flavouring, food preservation, and medicinal purposes, due to both their curative and their preventive properties. It is well known that each species has a special, complex mixture of bioactive compounds in which each component contributes to its overall bioactivity. Their value lays in the production of a wide range of secondary metabolites with potent antibacterial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antiviral, and anticancer activities. This review focuses on the Lamiaceae species and their secondary metabolites encompassing a wide array of beneficial functions and their applicability as sources of functional foods. It could help in addressing specific consumer needs as healthy diet is a part of the lifestyle that maintains or improves overall health.

Principal component analysis (PCA) and cluster analysis (CA) were used to define the geographical origin of three types of monofloral (chestnut, linden, and acacia), two types of multifloral (meadow and mixed), and forest honey produced over two consecutive harvest seasons in the Una-Sana Canton (Bosnia and Herzegovina), which is geographically divided into eight sub-regions. Statistical analysis was applied to the measurement of physico-chemical and sensory parameters, as well as micro- and macronutrient (K, Na, Mg, Zn, Fe, Mn, and Al) content, along with some heavy metals (Cd, Pb, and As). Using the PCA method the characteristic parameters for all eight sub-regions were determined, while the CA grouping method was used to determine the characteristic parameters for six sub-regions. Chestnut honey is predominantly found in Cazin, chestnut and linden honey in Bosanska Krupa, chestnut and acacia honey in Bužim, acacia honey in Sanski Most, mixed honey in Velika Kladuša and forest honey in Ključ.

The aetiology of Crohn's disease and paratuberculosis are the subjects of intensive study and also frequently, of dispute. However, a number of other nosological entities have a similar history, namely type 1 diabetes, multiple sclerosis, sarcoidosis, asthma, psoriasis, spondylarthritis, Blau syndrom etc. The zoonotic risk of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP) has been discussed for more than one hundred years. "The problem remains open, further research is needed", is the sentence which seems to be obligatory in the conclusions of many scientific articles. A number of hypotheses have been suggested, all with a grain of truth in them. The infection hypothesis has many supporters and opponents, but it does not fit to all Crohn's disease cases. The contribution of the genetic factor has been admitted a long time ago and has been experimentally confirmed by recent excellent studies. An environmental factor is expected and has been often mentioned, but has yet to be discovered. Muramyl dipeptide, derived from peptidoglycans of the bacterial cell wall is one of the triggers, mentioned in connection with chronic inflammatory diseases. The immunomodulatory ability of this compound has been recognised for decades and is exploited in Freund's adjuvant. A critical amount of muramyl dipeptide can affect immunity during some bacterial infections but the long latent period between infection and onset of the clinical form of the disease could explain why a causative relationship between the primary infection and chronic inflammation is not considered. Different species of mycobacteria can be found in the environment, in water, dust, soil and aerosol. Although severe infections with mycobacteria have been described, these species are not thought to be typical zoonotic pathogens. Muramyl dipeptide derived from mycobacteria obviously plays a starring role as a bacterial trigger in the aetiology of many autoimmune and autoinflammatory diseases. Paratuberculosis in cattle and other ruminants is a source of enormous contamination of the environment but also of milk and meat by MAP. Muramyl dipeptide from mycobacteria, namely MAP, and Crohn's disease as a representative of diseases often called civilization threats, are important pieces of the gigantic puzzle. Mycobacteria in the environment and foodstuffs have to be acknowledged as a public health risk, which can never be completely eliminated. There is no reason to push the panic button, but we must learn how to live together with this microorganism, how the pool of immunomodulator sources can be diminished, and how the pathogenic relationship between triggers and target tissues can be disrupted. The dissemination of knowledge, the availability of rapid and inexpensive tools for identification of mycobacteria in different matrices, and the establishment of a maximal allowed limit for mycobacteria in milk and meat should contribute to food safety and consumer protection.

Ornamental sunflowers are widely cultivated for use as cut flowers and/or as garden plants. The objective of the study was to investigate breeding values of new F₁ ornamental sunflower hybrids using incomplete diallel crossing of four ornamental inbred lines: Heliopa, Talia, Iskra and Neoplanta. Six traits important for ornamental market use were studied. Additive gene effects prevailed in most tested traits except for lateral floral diameter and duration of lateral flowering, which exhibited non-additive effects. The results indicated that the Talia × Neoplanta hybrid combination was the most promising for cut flowers due to long and strong branches, relatively big lateral flowers while Heliopa × Iskra and Heliopa × Talia hybrids were suitable for use as garden plants due to strong plant habit, long flowering time and desirable plant height. The results obtained from this study will be helpful for further ornamental sunflower breeding.

Staphylococcus pseudintermedius is a genuine opportunistic pathogen of the skin, especially in canids. However, characterisation of virulence, antimicrobial resistance and genotypic variability in methicillin-susceptible S. pseudintermedius isolates has not been fully explored. In this study, coagulase-positive staphylococcal isolates collected from dogs of various breeds and ages suffering from dermatitis (n = 70), pyoderma (n = 7), and otitis (n = 7), from districts of Prague (Czech Republic) and surrounding areas, were characterised using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation time-of-flight mass spectrometry, and repetitive sequence-based PCR fingerprinting. Susceptibility to antimicrobial agents was determined, virulence factor genes for leukocidin (lukSF-I), exfoliatins (exi, expB, and siet), enterotoxin C (sec_canine) and enterotoxin-related genes (se-int and sel) were detected using multiplex PCR and the genotypes of S. pseudintermedius isolates were determined using SmaI macrorestriction analysis. The majority of the staphylococcal isolates (n = 84) were identified as S. pseudintermedius (n = 79) and all of them were susceptible to methicillin/oxacillin (MSSP). About half of the strains (n = 41) were resistant to macrolide-lincosamide-streptogramin B antimicrobial agents and resistance was mediated in all but one of the strains by the erm(B) gene. The genes for lukSF-I, siet, se-int, and sel were detected in the majority of the MSSP strains (96.2%, 100%, 100%, and 73.4%, respectively). Investigated canine S. pseudintermedius isolates were highly heterogeneous, which prevented the correlation of any specific lineage to a particular infection, dog breed, or region of origin.

Three moss (Pleurosium spp., Polytrichum spp., Rhytidiadelphus spp.) and two lichen taxa (Hypogymnia physodes L., Pseudevernia furfuracea L.), were exposed for four weeks in six petrol stations, two consecutive years (2015-2016), in urban area of the Prešov city (Slovakia), to assess accumulation of selected airborne elements Cd, Co, Cu, Fe, Hg, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn. Significantly highest (P < 0.01) ability to accumulate Zn, Ni, Co and Fe was found in Pleurosium spp.; Pseudevernia furfuracea was determined the best accumulator of Hg, whereas Rhytidiadelphus spp. was found as the least suitable for this purpose. No significant differences in heavy metal accumulation between moss and lichen taxonomic group were found. Samples of conifer (used as a moss/lichen bag holder) showed significantly lower content of heavy metals compared to mosses and lichens. Major content of heavy metals trapped in the air around petrol stations, did not originate from the petrol combustion, but predominantly from the car body, which is mechanically disrupted during fuelling.

An attempt was made to ascertain the environmental effects of animal wastes pollution on agricultural soil and water quality at the oldest teaching and research farm, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria. Physical, chemical, and bacteriological analyses of water (shallow well) and soil samples were carried out to determine the present quality status. Fifteen soil samples collected at the centre of the animal wastes dump and at a distance of 5 and 10 m, and three different samplings done on the water source were analyzed. The parameters determined using APHA standard procedures included: turbidity, temperature, pH, alkalinity, sulphide, phosphate, dissolved oxygen, total dissolved solids, total hardness, biochemical oxygen demand, total iron, nitrate, chloride, calcium, and heavy metals like copper, zinc, and lead. Most of the parameters indicated pollution including heavy metals presence with the exception of Pb, Zn, Mn, Cu, and Cr that were not detected in water samples. Concentrations of nitrate, biochemical oxygen demand, SO₄^2-, PO₄^3-, and Cl^- were 0.20, 3.20, 10.50, 3.5, and 20.4 mg/l respectively, while those of detected heavy metals such as Mg and Ni were 1.98 and 10.03 mg/l, respectively. Soil water holding capacity, porosity, pH, organic matter, organic carbon, and organic nitrogen ranged from 33.34 ± 3.73 to 59.06 ± 5.69, 34.6 ± 3.28 to 52.43 ± 5.5, 6.56 ± 0.03 to 7.54 ± 0.03, 2.32 ± 0.03 to 5.35 ± 0.03, 1.33 ± 0.01 to 3.11 ± 0.01, and 0.58 ± 0.07 to 1.13 ± 0.03%, respectively. The results showed that the well is strongly polluted with bacteria and pathogens and requires considerable treatment before use while the soil is suitable for crop production.

Field experiments were conducted at two locations in 2014-2015 and 2015-2016 to investigate the weed suppressive ability of cover crop mulches in sugar beets. Three cover crops and two cover crop mixtures were tested in all four experiments. Weed densities ranged from 2 up to 210 plants/m² in Chenopodium album L. and Stellaria media (L.) Vill. as predominant species. Sinapis alba grew significantly faster than Vicia sativa, Raphanus sativus var. niger, and both cover crop mixtures. Sinapis alba, Vicia sativa, Raphanus sativus var. niger reduced weed density by 57, 22, and 15% across all locations, respectively. A mixture of seven different cover crops reduced weed emergence by 64% compared to the control plot without cover crop mulch. Early sugar beet growth was enhanced by all mulch treatments in 2015 and decelerated in 2016.

The growth behaviour of foodborne pathogens (Staphylococcus aureus, Listeria monocytogenes, E. coli O157:H7 and Salmonella spp.) was investigated in pasteurised camel milk and compared with pasteurised bovine milk at different incubation temperatures. This study also aimed to compare the growth patterns of these four foodborne pathogens in pasteurised and raw camel milk. Pasteurised or raw camel milk and pasteurised bovine milk were separately inoculated with a cocktail of three strains of each foodborne pathogen. The inoculated milk samples were incubated at 10, 25, and 37°C. The total bacterial count (TBC) in raw milk and the total thermoduric bacteria count (TDB) in pasteurised milk samples were monitored. Greater growth inhibition rates of four pathogens were obtained for the pasteurised camel milk compared to the pasteurised bovine milk. Raw and pasteurised camel milk exerted bacteriostatic effect against all tested pathogens, particularly for the first 8 h of incubation in milk at the different temperatures. Pasteurised camel milk exerted an inhibitory activity that was equivalent to that of raw camel milk.

The objective of this study was to determine the suitability of carprofen, flunixin meglumine and meloxicam for use in emergency contraception. Forty-eight pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats were used as material. Five groups were subjected to treatments while one group served as a control. The numbers of animals in each group were equal (n = 8). Treatment groups were administered carprofen (10 mg/kg, single or double dose, s.c.), flunixin meglumine (5 mg/kg, single or double dose, i.m.) and meloxicam (2 mg/kg, a single dose, s.c.) on the third day after mating. The control group received saline. The rats were sacrificed on Day 7 of gestation. Luteal spots and implantation sites were recorded. Pre-implantation loss was calculated by subtracting the number of luteal spots from the number of implantation sites. Compared with the control, the administration of flunixin meglumine (double dose), carprofen (double dose) and meloxicam highly significantly decreased the implantation rate (P < 0.001). Single dose administration of flunixin meglumine and carprofen led to significant decreases (P < 0.01). In conclusion, this study indicates that carprofen, flunixin meglumine and meloxicam treatment cause a decline in implantation rate in rats.

We describe here a case study of a 16-month-old female European shorthair cat examined about 6 months after the osteosynthesis of a femoral fracture. Clinical examination revealed a non-weightbearing left limb, pain upon manipulation of the hip joint, complete immobilisation of the stifle joint and muscle atrophy in the left thigh. Low-field magnetic resonance images were acquired in sagittal, transverse and dorsal planes with T1-weighted spin echo, T2-weighted fast spin echo, T1-weighted gradient echo, gradient echo short tau inversion recovery and T1-weighted XBone sequences. Total examination time was 59 min 20 s. The obtained images revealed the presence of osteophytes on the surface of the femoral head, subluxation of the hip joint, atrophy and fatty infiltration of the quadriceps femoris muscle. The symmetry and size of callus in the fracture site were also evaluated. Based on the results of the magnetic resonance imaging exam, the patient was diagnosed with hip osteoarthritis, atrophy and fatty degeneration of the quadriceps femoris muscle with homogeneous and symmetrical distribution of callus in the fracture site. The results of this study confirm the high diagnostic value of low-field magnetic resonance imaging in diagnostics of musculoskeletal injuries in cats.

Vegetation restorations of degraded meadows have been widely implemented. The evaluation of soil nutrient changes as affected by degradation is vital for efficient restorations. However, while macronutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium) have been widely investigated, sulfur (S) as one important element correlated tightly with other nutrients has not been thoroughly studied. Two studies were conducted to determine changes of sulfur as affected by degradation and elevation gradients. The results showed that available S (AS) changed non-linearly with elevation and the first principal component based on other soil nutrient variables. Soil AS depended on degradation levels and contributed substantially to the separation of meadows with different degradation levels. Moreover, AS responded stronger to changes in elevation gradients and degradation levels compared with other major nutrients. Thereby, AS could be an important nutrient responding to meadow disturbance, which should be considered in future studies on meadow soil nutrients cycling and vegetation restorations. The findings have implications for ecological restoration of degraded meadows with respect to soil nutrient management and conservations.

This study was conducted in order to determine the antioxidant activities of certain apple varieties. 'Galaxy Gala', 'Scarlet Spur', 'Fuji', 'Pink Lady' and 'Granny Smith' were characterized in this study. The antioxidant activities among the varieties were determined via three different procedures. Antiradical activity figures of the apple varieties were between 0.592 ('Galaxy Gala') and 0.802 ('Scarlet Spur'). Inhibition levels of chelating activity with Fe⁺² varied between 40.20-55.50%; 'Scarlet Spur' and 'Pink Lady' extracts had the highest inhibition with 55.50% and 'Granny Smith' extract had the lowest with the level. Among the extracts showing H₂O₂ clearance effect, Granny Smith (62.54%) and Scarlet Spur (44.67%) extracts had the highest inhibition levels. In this study conducted on apple varieties, total phenolic matter levels were determined in 'Scarlet Spur', 'Pink Lady', 'Fuji', 'Galaxy Gala' and 'Granny Smith'.

Excise duties are an important source of the government revenue and their rates change relatively often in the Czech Republic. Reforms of excise duties change the prices of goods, a change to which the households respond by adjusting their expenditures. In the contribution, there are used detailed Czech Statistical Office data and the estimates of own- and cross-price and income elasticities for the individual households to create a microeconomic simulation model that enables to simulate the impact of changes in excise duties on the households' demands. There is shown the distributional impact of the current excise duties and then the impact of the hypothetical increases of 10 per cent in each of them is simulated. Further, there is simulated the impact of certain approved or proposed changes in the excise duties including the unsuccessful 2012 proposal to introduce an excise duty on wine.

The paper is an attempt to address the advantages and risks connected with the wave of financial globalisation, with a focus on its impact on financial policy in European agriculture. The aim of the paper is to identify the basic conditions of the functioning and change of the financial system of agriculture under the conditions of the globalisation of financial markets. Financial globalisation, also referred to as financial integration or openness, is understood as an increase in global ties and interdependences caused by capital flows. Potentially, globalisation can bring a lot of benefits, which are manifested in an acceleration of economic growth and decreased fluctuation in consumption, which should further improve the level of overall prosperity. On the other hand, however, internationalisation of financial flows entails a range of threats, including the possibility of crisis.

Athletes, including equine athletes need high intensity training in order to achieve high performance. However, continuous high intensity training often results in injuries to the locomotive system. The buoyancy of water reduces the force born on joints; therefore, training in water has been used for rehabilitation purposes both in humans and horses. The few studies dealing with water treadmill training of horses suggest that the fitness of horses can be improved using this training method, but none tested the subsequent performance of horses after water training. Therefore, the aim of this study was to test the effect of water training of varying intensity on the fitness-related parameters of show jumpers during training and after competition. Four similarly trained show jumper sport horse (aged between 7-11 years) competing at the same level (110 cm) were selected. Horses were subjected to 44-min deep water treadmill training with three intensities (9, 11, 13 km/h maximum speed) three times a week in addition to their normal training. At the conclusion of the week, horses participated in a two-day indoor show jumping event. Blood samples (4 ml) were taken from the jugular vein during the third water training and before and after the completion of the show jumping course on each day. From the blood plasma, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), creatine kinase (CK) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activities, as well as lactate, glucose and triglyceride levels were determined. Data analysis was carried out with SAS (SAS Inst. Inc., Cary, USA) using the GLM procedure and Duncan's new multiple range test. Pearson correlation coefficients were calculated between the same blood parameters from different sampling times. No interactions were detected between training intensity and sampling time during water training. Plasma lactate and glucose levels were decreased during the water training, while values increased afterwards. In contrast, heart rate, triglyceride and cortisol levels were elevated as a result of water training. Increasing the maximum speed of the water treadmill had no influence on the average heart rate of horses subjected to the training. Plasma lactate levels decreased with the increased maximum speed of the water trainer. Activities of AST, CK, LDH, and levels of cholesterol, cortisol and bilirubin decreased when the maximum speed of the treadmill was set to 11 km/h compared to the 9 km/h training. Water training resulted in lower heart rate measured right after completing the show jumping course when horses were subjected to medium intensity water training. The AST, CK and LDH activities measured before and after water training had only weak to moderate positive correlations with values measured after competition. In conclusion, our results indicate that deep-water training alters the biochemical processes and can improve the aerobic energy supply of show jumpers. Water training is a strenuous exercise, which initially leads to increased muscle damage. However, this initial phase is followed by subsequent adaptation.

Transpiration efficiency (TE) is an important physiological trait associated with drought tolerance of plants. Currently, little is known about the grain sorghum TE and its dynamics with the age of plants. To compare the sorghum TE at different growth stages, four studies (two in the greenhouse and two in the growth chamber) were conducted under controlled environmental conditions. Plants were grown in lid-covered boxes and harvested at six-leaf, flag leaf, grain filling and maturity stages. The mean shoot TE values were 4.47 and 4.10 kg/m³ for two greenhouse studies, and 4.85 and 4.30 kg/m³ for two growth chamber studies, respectively. The shoot TE was not different among four growth stages within each study, suggesting that sorghum plants used the same amount of water per unit of biomass production for different growing periods. Because crops grown under dryland environments often run out of water during reproductive periods, result supports the ideas that soil water availability at later growth stages is crucial to achieve the yield potential of dryland sorghum.

The differences in egg production traits in six laying hen genotypes (brown-egg hens Bovans Brown, Bovans Sperwer, ISA Sussex; white-egg hen Dekalb White; laying hens with tinted shells Moravia Barred and Moravia BSL) and the interactions of genotype and oviposition on egg quality were evaluated. The genotype affected the laying rate (P ≤ 0.003), mean sequence length (P ≤ 0.001), and time of oviposition (P ≤ 0.001). The brown-egg genotypes laid eggs approximately 1 h earlier than the white-egg genotypes and approximately 2 h earlier than the tinted-egg genotypes. Egg shell strength was the lowest in tinted-egg genotypes (P ≤ 0.001) and declined with the time of oviposition (P ≤ 0.002). Egg shell percentage (P ≤ 0.011) and thickness (P ≤ 0.011) were affected by the interaction of genotype and oviposition. None of the effects affected egg weight; however, the proportion of egg components was significantly influenced by the interaction of genotype and oviposition. The study confirmed that the differences in the egg production and egg quality of various genotypes are associated with the laying pattern.