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This study was conducted to investigate the effects of cage stocking density on egg yield, some egg quality traits and plumage condition in laying hens. Eighteen weeks-old 264 ISA-Brown pullets were divided into four cage density groups. The densities were 2 000, 1 000, 667 and 500 cm² per hen (by allocating 1, 2, 3 and 4 hens per cage; floor area 40 × 50 cm) with 48, 30, 24 and 21 replicate cages, totally 123 three-tier battery cages. During the experimental period from 18 to 53 weeks of age, all birds were provided illumination for 16 hours a day. The hens were fed a diet containing 11.7 MJ ME/kg and 180 g CP during the period of 18 to 40 weeks of age and 11.3 MJ ME/kg and 170 g CP during the period of 41 to 54 weeks of age. Feed and water were available for ad libitum. Egg yield, mortality, live weights at 50% egg production age and at the end of experiment, pecking related mortalities, some egg quality traits and plumage condition were recorded weekly. Hen-housed egg production, egg mass, viability, and live weights were significantly decreased by higher densities. Most of the egg quality traits were not affected by cage densities. Pecking related mortalities increased in cage densities of 667 cm² and 500 cm² per hen compared to the other densities (P < 0.05) while plumage scores were higher in all body parts of hens kept in cages of 2 000 cm² and 1 000 cm² densities compared to the higher densities. The results showed that brown laying hens should be kept in cages having 1 000-2 000 cm² densities in order to improve their welfare and performance.

The objective of this study was to examine the effect of microbial oil (MO, n-6 fatty acids) and fish oil (FO, n-3fatty acids) used in their blends as supplements (5% wt/wt) to the diet containing 80% of hay and 20% of barley on rumen fermentation and lipid metabolism in artificial rumen. Overall, three different ratios of n-6 and n-3 fatty acids (1:1, 3:1, and 5:1) as the blends of MO and FO were used. Two similar consecutive experiments were carried out within 2 months. Each experiment lasted for 12 days with 6 days of stabilization period. The addition of all three oil blends did not affect the parameters of fermentation such as degradation of dry matter (DM), detergent fibre, total gas production, but increased the degradation of cellulose and hemicellulose in the diets. The supplementation of oil blends to the diet insignificantly (NS) decreased the methane production (mostly the n-6/n-3 ratio 1:1, about 23.5%), increased (P < 0.01) mol% of propionate (mostly the n-6/n-3 ratio 1:1, about 24.1%) and decreased (P < 0.05) mol% of acetate (mostly the n-6/n-3 ratio, 1:1, about 7.7%). The lipid metabolism in artificial rumen was also affected, when the oil blends increased (P < 0.001) the concentration of total fatty acids (FA) and long-chain FA (LCFA) in effluent. The concentration (mg/g rumen fluid DM) of trans (trans 11 C_18:1, TVA-vaccenic acid), cis C_18:1 isomers and CLA-conjugated linoleic acid (cis 9, trans 11 C_18:2) was also increased (P < 0.001) by the oil blends. Finally, the oil blends caused the incomplete FA biohydrogenation by an increase in TVA concentration and TVA/C_18:0 ratio in effluent in artificial rumen.

The serum concentration and muscle residue of florfenicol following oral administration were evaluated in topmouth culter (Culter alburnus) under field conditions. Fishes were cultured in tanks and fed a commercial medicated diet containing 2000 mg/kg florfenicol in a single dose. The sampling was conducted at different intervals (0, 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, 3, 4, 8, 10, 12, 16, 24, 36, 48, 72, 96, 120, 144, 168 h) after the cessation of medication. Drug analysis was carried out by HPLC. The maximum concentration (C_max) of 10.8 μg/g in serum and 4.2 μg/g in muscle were reached at the same time (t_max) of 8 hours. If the EU MRL value of 1.0 μg/g is quoted for the topmouth culter tissue, the extrapolation of the data indicated that it will be passed after a 40.6 h withdrawal period for florfenicol in topmouth culter muscle.

This study investigated microbial biomass-N (MB-N) and N-mineralization in soils of four different vegetation systems including forest (sal), mixed forest, savanna and cropland ecosystems in the Vindhyan region, India. A change was noted in the above region due to physiographic differences and anthropogenic disturbances. Annually the soil moisture (SM) content across the different study sites ranged from 7.5 to 24.3% being maximum in forest sites compared to savanna and cropland sites. The NH₄⁺-N, NO ^-₃ -N and MB-N concentrations varied from 4.3 to 10.2 μg/g, 1.1 to 5.8 μg/g and 21.3 to 90.2 μg/g dry soil, respectively, with minimum values in the wet and maximum values in the dry season. The trend of seasonal variation in net N-mineralization was similar to that of moisture content but counter to the concentrations of inorganic-N and MB-N. The net N-mineralization rates at different investigated sites ranged from 4.5 to 37.6 μg/g month. Cultivation reduced the N-mineralization and MB-N by 58.5% and 63.5%, respectively. Experiments showed that the percentage contribution of MB-N to total-N was 8.01 to 19.15%. MB-N was positively correlated with the inorganic-N (n = 180,r.80,P < 0.001) but negatively with soil moisture (n = 180, r = 0.79, P < 0.001) and net N-mineralization rates (n = 180, r = 0.92, P < 0.0001). The higher N-mineralization and MB-N in the soil of forest ecosystem was reported compared to savanna and cropland and the order of soil MB-N levels and net N-mineralization followed the sequence: forest (sal) > mixed forest > savanna > cropland.

Three hundred Hyplus rabbits reared on a commercial farm were weaned at the age of 25 days and 300 rabbits were weaned at the age of 35 days. Early-weaned and conventionally weaned rabbits were assigned to three groups and fed diets supplemented with protected palm fat (PPF), coconut oil (CO) and an oil containing triacylglycerols (TAG) of caprylic and capric acid (Akomed R) at 10 g/kg. The principal fatty acids in these supplements were palmitic, lauric and caprylic acid, respectively. Diets were fed until slaughter at 77 days of age. Mortality of early-weaned rabbits fed the diet supplemented with oil containing TAG of caprylic and capric acid (23%) was significantly lower than that of rabbits fed PPF (45%), and non-significantly lower than mortality of rabbits fed CO (37%). Corresponding mortality rates in rabbits weaned at 35 days of age were 6, 14 and 16%. In all groups, the highest mortality occurred in the 2^nd and the 3^rd week after weaning. The final body weights of surviving early-weaned rabbits were not significantly different. In conventionally weaned rabbits, however, final body weight was significantly lower in rabbits fed PPF. It can be concluded that under practical field conditions early weaning represents a risk for animal health and leads to a high mortality of young rabbits. The negative effect of early weaning can be alleviated by commercially available TAG of caprylic and capric acid.

The influence of microwave heating (microwave oven Electrolux, 2450 MHz, 400 W) from 8 up to 24 min on the oxidation and fatty acid composition of lipids of common carp (Cyprinus carpio) and Atlantic mackerel (Scomber scombrus) minced fish flesh were studied. The heating treatment at all conditions reduced moisture and therefore, increased lipid and dry matter contents. The isolated lipids were subjected to the following analyses: peroxide value, acid value and content of conjugated dienes (by absorbance at 232 nm). The free fatty acid content in the lipid fraction of the fish flesh was significantly reduced by cooking. Conjugated diene levels in fish muscle increased and peroxide values decreased for all cooked samples. Changes in fatty acids composition were only small.

The reaction of winter and spring wheat to infection with barley yellow dwarf virus (BYDV-PAV) was evaluated in three-year small-plot field trials on 71 wheat varieties registered in the Czech Republic and at two locations for two years on 63 selected potential sources of resistance. Disease symptoms (VSS) were visually recorded using a 0-9 scale and the percent reduction of grain weight per spike (GWS-R) was measured on twenty plants per plot. The evaluation showed that among the registered varieties of winter and spring wheat no variety had a high resistance to BYDV (with VSS lower than 3.5). GWS-R ranged between 24% and 60%. Higher variability in VSS was detected for the registered varieties of spring wheat compared to winter wheat. Among the registered varieties of winter wheat, Saskia, Rialto, Meritto, Rexia, and Svitava, as well as the spring wheat Leguan, received the best long-term evaluations. The highest level of resistance was detected for the PSR 3628 line (a hybrid of wheat and couch-grass), but in connection with a low agronomic value. The WKL91-138 line of spring wheat and some varieties (lines) with the detected moderate level of resistance, in particular, could offer good prospects for use in breeding. The presence of the Bdv2 gene was expressed only in the reduction of virus content on the 11^th day after inoculation. Nevertheless, genotypes carrying this gene were evaluated in field trials as susceptible or very susceptible to infection with the Czech PAV isolate. Similarly, the presence of the Bdv1 gene detected with the help of WMS130 marker was no assurance of an increased level of resistance to BYDV. Hybridological analyses of crosses with the WKL91-138 line showed a polygenic nature of inheritance. Thus, the marker-assisted selection does not obviously promise success without a focus on detecting a larger number of QTLs.

The effect of carbohydrates included in grass silage-based diets on in sacco degradability of dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fibre (NDF) and cellulose (CE) of barley (Hordeum vulgare L. cv. Lomerit) grain ground to different particle sizes was studied using 3 ruminally cannulated cows. The measurements were carried out as a 3 × 2 Latin square design with treatments being carbohydrates in the concentrate portion of diets (starch in diet I vs. pectin in diet II vs. sucrose in diet III) and particle size of ground barley grain (1.0 vs. 5.7 mm). The diet synchronization index between N and energy supply during the day was an average of 0.8. The rumen degradability of barley grain compounds was influenced by the type of carbohydrates included in grass silage-based diets. Higher rumen degradation rates (P < 0.05) of barley CP, NDF and CE after 8 h of incubation and of CP and CE after 16 h of incubation were found in the rumen of cows receiving the diet containing sucrose compared with degradation rates found in the rumen of cows receiving the diet containing pectin or starch. The effective degradability of DM, CP, NDF and CE of barley grain in the rumen of cows receiving diets I, II and III was similar (77, 74, 39 and 41%, respectively). Replacing barley starch or beet pulp pectin with molasses sucrose in the grass silage-based diet resulted in the higher rate of barley CP, NDF and CE degradation after 8 h of incubation and of CP and CE after 16 h of incubation. It seems that the energy availability from carbohydrates affected the ruminal microbial activity as a consequence of the degradation rate of substrates. Higher (P < 0.01) rumen degradability of CP, NDF and CE after 2, 4, 8, 16 and 24 h of incubation was estimated for 1.0 mm particle size in comparison with that found for grain ground to 5.7 mm particle size, and the degradability of CP after 48 h of incubation was not different (P > 0.05). The degradability of barley grain CP, NDF and CE during incubation time was not influenced by the diet composition by particle size interaction (P > 0.05). The increase in barley grain particle size from 1.0 to 5.7 mm slowed down the rumen digestion of barley DM, CP, NDF and CE, probably due to restricted access to microbial digestion.

Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the effect of endothelin-1(ET-1) on pulmonary arterial pressure (PAP) and pulmonary hypertension syndrome (PHS, ascites) morbidity in broilers. Two hundred and seventy of one-day-old Arbor Acre commercial broiler chickens were randomly allocated into two experiments. In Experiment 1, 40 broilers (28 days of age) were intravenously with five different dose groups of ET-1, and the PAP was measured from time 0 to 30 min. The results indicated that the PAP increased from time 0.5 to 5 min after the broilers were injected with ET-1 at concentrations of 24 ng/kg (Group T1), 120 ng/kg (Group T2), and 240 ng/kg (Group T3). When the broilers were injected with ET-1 at a concentration of 360 ng/kg (Group T4), the PAP decreased immediately from time 0 to 0.5 min but increased from time 0.5 to 10 min. The change from baseline (at time 0, before the injection) of PAP values from the four treatment groups were statistically compared with that from the control group (Group C). The statistical analysis has demonstrated that there is no significant difference of the changes from the baseline between Group T1 or Group T2 and control group (Group C). However, there are significant differences in the changes between Group T3 or Group T4 and control group (Group C). In Experiment 2, 230 broilers were divided into four groups: a control group (Group C, n = 50) and three treatment groups (Groups A, B, and D). The chickens in the two treatment groups (Groups A and B, nn = 60 each) were intravenously injected with ET-1 at 240 ng/kg and 360 ng/kg, respectively. Those in Group D (n = 60) were exposed to cool temperatures (10°C to 14°C). The PHS morbidity, right/total ventricular weight (RV/TV) ratio, PCV, plasma nitric oxide (NO), and PAP were recorded and statistically compared. The results showed that PHS mortality did not occur in Group C, and trends toward increases in PHS mortality in Groups A, B and D were not significant. The RV/TV ratio and PAP were higher in groups A, B and D than in group C. The values for PCV and plasma nitric oxide (NO) followed the same tendencies as the RV/TV ratio. The results suggest that ET-1 at higher doses (240 ng/kg to 360 ng/kg) can initiate pulmonary hypertension and right ventricular hypertrophy, leading to PHS in broilers.

For the monitoring of distribution and accumulation of phthalic acid esters (PAE) in animal tissues, samples of muscle, mesenteric fat (fat), skin and liver from broiler chicks ROSS 308 were used. The chicks were divided into four groups (50 chicks each). All the chicks were given commercial diets (complete feed, KKS) for broiler chicks (starter - BR1; grower - BR2 and finisher - BR3). The experimental diets were supplemented with vegetable oil (RV) with low (group N) or high (group V) phthalate contents, or animal fat with a high phthalate content (group Z). Neither the control diets (K), nor the grower (BR1) diets contained vegetable oils or animal fat. The N chicks were given the grower (BR2) and finisher (BR3) diets supplemented with 5% and 3% vegetable oil, respectively. The V chicks were given BR2 and BR3 diets with 5% and 3% vegetable oil, respectively. The Z chicks were given BR2 and BR3 diets with 5% and 3% animal fat, respectively. The chicks were fattened till 42 days of age. Dibutyl phthalate (DBP) and di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) were found in the tissues of chicks in all the experimental groups. The DBP content in the muscle ranged from 0.03 to 0.55 mg/kg, in the adipose tissue from < 0.20 to 2.56 mg/kg, in the skin from < 0.20 to 1.49 mg/kg, and in the liver from 0.03 to 0.13 mg/kg. The content of DEHP in the muscle ranged from 0.03 to 1.15 mg/kg, in the adipose tissue from 0.25 to 9.85 mg/kg, in the skin from < 0.20 to 4.68 mg/kg, and in the liver from 0.16 to 0.24 mg/kg. The highest concentrations of DBP of 1.28 ± 1.00 mg/kg of fresh sample (an average value from eight chicks) was determined in the adipose tissue of V chicks. The highest concentration of DEHP of 3.27 ± 2.87 mg/kg of fresh sample (mean of eight chicks) was also determined in the V group. The accumulation of DEHP was 3.2; 2.6 and 2.9 times higher than that of DBP in the muscle, adipose tissue and skin, respectively. The V and Z chicks showed higher phthalate contents (the sum of DBP and DEHP) in the adipose tissue, skin and liver than the K and N chicks.

Cambisols, Luvisols and Stagnosols are main soil taxonomical units covering 78% of the total area of the Czech Republic. In the period 2001-2008 soil samples from 13 arable and 2 grassed localities were collected and tested. Microbial biomass carbon (MBC) was determined using microwave irradiation method (MW), chloroform fumigation extraction method (FE) and re-hydration technique (RHD). Soil samples were moistened, according to the content of organic carbon (C_org), by deionized water addition (%C_org × 0.19 ml/g DM - dry mass of soil) immediately before MBC determination. Microwave sterilization (800 J/g DM = 600 W, 2 × 67 s, 100 g DM (10 soil samples) and microwave soil extracts digestion (800 J/ml = 250 W, 77 s, 24 ml) give the lowest values of MBC (204 ± 67 mg/kg DM; 100%) in comparison with FE (236 ± 57 mg/kg DM; 116%) and RHD (478 ± 138 mg/kg DM; 235%), respectively. High significant correlation (r = 0.9713) was found between TC (total carbon; 1.36 ± 0.29%) and TN (total nitrogen; 0.15 ± 0.03%) determined by CNS analyzer. Furthermore, high significant correlations were found between MBC-MW and MBC-RHD (r = 0.8965) as well as MBC-FE and DHA (dehydrogenase activity; r = 0.8094), respectively. DHA in studied soils reached 147 ± 68 mg of triphenylformazan/kg DM/24 h. C_org formed 96% of TC and total Kjeldahl nitrogen 97% of TN, respectively. According our results MW is fully acceptable for MBC determination.

The presence of large plasmids in 30 Rhodococcus equi strains isolated from pig lymph nodes with granulomatous changes was investigated. Plasmid DNAs were isolated and digested with the restriction endonucleases BamHI, EcoRI, EcoT22I and HindIII for detailed comparison and estimation of plasmid sizes. A total of nine isolates were identified as intermediately virulent (VapB-positive), harbouring large plasmids of type 5 (n = 5) and four new variants that we tentatively designated as type 19 (n = 1), 20 (n = 1), 21 (n = 1) and 24 (n = 1). All isolates were subjected to genotyping with pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). High genetic diversity was observed: 21 distinct genotypes were detected; five were found in multiple isolates and the others were unique. Isolates of the same plasmid type exhibited different PFGE profiles and vice versa. In a few cases, multiple strains from certain farms were analysed, the majority of which exhibited diverse PFGE profiles. Our findings demonstrate the presence of a wide variety of R. equi strains even in small confined environments such as farms. This is the first molecular epidemiology study of intermediately virulent R. equi isolates from Slovenian pigs.

The noctuid C. trapezina (CT) has been considered an occasional predator of other Lepidoptera larvae. Functional/numerical response of predator and/or prey was estimated using 27 years of time-series data from Slovakia and stepwise multiple regression models (SMRM). SMRM were used to examine a possible delayed density-dependent feedback. We constructed 12 order-three autoregressive models [AR(3)] for CT and candidate prey. Independent variables were abundance of C. trapezina and abundance of candidate prey in lags 1, 2, and 3. Model variants were: (1) predation on free feeder models (FFM); (2) predation on shelter feeder models (SFM); (3) predation on the sum of 8 species models (S8M); (4) predation on all Lepidoptera models (ALM). Models were constructed for three areas (created by grouping sites based on significant correlations among CT populations). Additional comparative models were constructed for another three noctuid species and one geometrid species to compare their regression parameters under the same conditions as for CT. In total, 48 AR(3) SMRM were constructed for comparative species. A negative response of shelter feeders was found in models mainly for CT. We also found the positive response of CT growth rate to abundance of shelter feeders in lag 3 on two out of three models. This pattern was not found for any other comparison of species in the analysis. Possible mechanisms for these results are discussed.

The paper examines the role of social capital in Czech agricultural sector. It is argued that social capital, just like economic capital, can be employed as a resource for the improvement of economic performance of agricultural enterprises. This hypothesis is tested on a sample of primary data and an analysis of the selected indicators of social capital is presented. These include personal social networks, membership in agricultural associations and access to sources of information. Following the results, it is argued that the presence of informal personal ties displays a stronger relationship to the entrepreneurial success than formal membership in agricultural associations. This outcome suggests a comparatively strong role of social capital in the dynamics of the sector.

The work was targeted on the study of egg white foam forming, including the influence of pH, aluminium ions, xanthan, maltodextrin, and phosphates on the whipping and stability of egg white foams. The whipping was studied with non pasteurised and pasteurised egg white using the blender with planet motion. Both types of egg white formed good foam in the acid area (pH below 4.5) and at neutral pH. Aluminium ions had a positive effect on the foam volume and stability, especially with the non pasteurised egg white. The addition of maltodextrin or saccharose decreased the foam volume but increased the foam stability. The addition of natrium pyrophosphate or natrium hexametaphosphate had a positive effect on the volume, density, and stability of foam. Foams with hexametaphosphate were applied into confectionary products.

Clinical examination and emergency care in newborn puppies is difficult, due to their different physiological characteristics and needs from those of adult dogs. This paper reviews the physiological events during parturition and the influence of parturition on puppy health.

This paper documents the development of soil conditions in the set of 32 permanent research plots in the Krkonoše (Giant) Mts. These plots represent an altitudinal gradient covering the ecosystems of beech, mixed beech-spruce and spruce stands. In all plots, representing the site conditions of the highest areas of the mountain range, standard soil pits were prepared and the soil sampling was performed in autumn of years 1980, 1993, 1998, 2003 and 2009. The results reflect extreme site conditions, soil acidification, large scale surface liming and in minor extent also different tree species composition of the stands. The general type of the soil-genesis is represented by the podzolisation, overlapping the other soil-genetic factors, including the tree species composition. Nevertheless, this development is mostly expressed in the spruce stands. The beech dominance and/or co-dominance are reflected especially by more efficient N-cycling, higher pH, S and V values and fluctuation and lower extractable Al3+ content. More efficient cycling in beech ecosystems is insignificantly documented for plant available phosphorus, calcium and magnesium contents; on the contrary higher dynamics for iron ions was registered in the spruce stands. The long-term soil dynamics with a hysteresis (evident on the base of ordination analysis) can be divided into some periods - processes of acidification (typical in the 1980's samples), liming (main effect in 1993 and 1998) and regeneration (2003, 2009). Other features, important for the soil development, are probably related to the vegetation change, but this relation is not statistically significant.

Different variants of regeneration felling or different light conditions (total site factor 15-95%) and weed control were evaluated in relation to the 4-year development of individuals of regenerated sessile oak. The regeneration density is not dependent on light conditions. The highest mortality occurs on the open area of clear felling. For a certain time in youth, it is possible to consider oak as a shade-tolerating species. With the increasing light intensity the diameter and height growth of oak seedlings increases proportionally, being the highest at 100% light intensity. However, to support at least medium-fast growth, the species requires minimally 50% light intensity (smaller closed clear-felled areas). On the other hand, more extensive unprotected cleared areas appear to be quite unsuitable at the initial stages of regeneration. The positive effect of weed control on the success and growth of natural regeneration is questionable. We recommend developing the regenerated stand by means of a series of small-area (about ≤ 0.3 ha) two-stage felling with a medium-long regeneration period (15-20 years).

The problem of international debts is, by its character, one of the most complex problems which the world economy is now facing. It complicates both the global balance of payments and the financial - credit system stability, with pronounced negative impacts on the currency stabilisation. It hinders the development of international economic co-operation and its higher forms - international economic integration. It is one of the reasons that the symmetrical forms of interdependence are pushed off and displaced by the asymmetrical ones. The global debts problem deteriorates, namely during the last time in interaction with the negative manifestations of the global problems (for example, at present very strongly with the environmental problems), the complex international co-operation climate.

Leaf rust caused by Puccinia triticina is the most important disease among the three rusts of wheat in Bangladesh. The disease occurs in all wheat growing areas of the country with varying degrees of severity. Stem rust caused by P. graminis f.sp. tritici was last observed during the mid 1980s, while yellow rust caused by P. striiformis f.sp. tritici occurs occasionally in the north-western region, where a relatively cooler climate prevails during the winter months. None of the rusts has yet reached an epidemic level, but damaging epidemics may occur in future, particularly if a virulent race develops or is introduced. The genes conferring rust resistance in the breeding lines and wheat varieties released in Bangladesh were investigated at CIMMYT-Mexico and DWR-India. The resistance genes Lr1, Lr3, Lr10, Lr13, Lr23 and Lr26, Sr2, Sr5, Sr7b, Sr8b, Sr9b, Sr11 and Sr31; and Yr2KS and Yr9 were found. An adult plant slow rusting resistance gene Lr34 was also identified in some of the breeding lines and varieties based on the presence of clear leaf tip necrosis under field conditions. Considering the possible risk of migration of the devastating Ug99 race of stem rust into the Indo-Pak subcontinent, the Bangladeshi wheat lines and cultivars are being regularly sent to KARI in Kenya for testing their resistance against this race. The resistant lines have been included in multi-location yield trials and multiplied for future use in order to mitigate the threat of Ug99. The resistant lines have also been included in crossing schemes to develop genetic diversity of rust resistance.

We have tested the effect of water, methanol and dichloromethane extracts from the leaves of several species of Impatiens (I. noli-tangere, I. parviflora, I. glandulifera) on germination of seeds Leucosinapis alba and Brassica napus. All of the tested extracts had inhibitory effects to seeds of all studied plants (except the dichloromethane extracts). The highest activity revealed methanol extract and extract from I. glandulifera.

Opium poppy (Papaver somniferum L.) is currently an important agricultural commodity, with the product being used in the food industry (seed) as well as in the pharmaceutical industry (morphine and other alkaloids). Intensive production of poppy leads to a specific direction of breeding with the aim to obtain highly productive cultivars of the so-called food industry or industrial type. The paper evaluates 57 genetic resources (mostly cultivars), comparing the groups of values representing the indicators of production-significant morphologic and agricultural characters (capsule size; morphine content in poppy straw; weight of dry, empty capsule) and content of morphine in the poppy straw, in relation to the ideotype of poppy, which in these indicators represents 100% of the value. On average lower values in the above indicators were achieved by cultivars with white-coloured seed, including morphine content; concrete data are specified in three cultivars with morphine content in the poppy straw above 0.40%. In blue-seed to grey-seed cultivars, except for the high-morphine cultivar Buddha (1.85% of morphine), we found only six materials with a minimum morphine content of 0.8% in the poppy straw (maximum of 0.92%). These genetic resources also achieved very good values in the morphological indicator and average value in the economic indicator. The results will be used in the selection and classification of suitable genetic resources of poppy in breeding of industrial forms.

In this study, the aim was to investigate the anatomy of the aortic arch in ground squirrels (Spermophilus citellus). Five ground squirrels were investigated. The materials were carefully dissected and the arterial patterns of arteries originating from the aortic arch were examined. The brachiocephalic trunk and the left subclavian artery were separated from the aortic arch. The brachiocephalic trunk first gave the left common carotid artery, and then the right subclavian and common carotid artery detached from it. In all the animals examined, at the cranial thoracic entrance and after leaving from this entrance, similar branches arising from the left and right subclavian arteries were the common branch of the internal thoracic artery and the intercostal suprema artery, separate branches as the vertebral and descending scapular arteries and a common branch of the cervical superficial, the cervical profund, the suprascapular arteries and the spinal ramus. After separation of these branches, the continuation of the artery gave the external thoracic artery on the external face of the thoracic cavity and then formed the axillar artery. The axillary artery separated into the subscapular and the brachial arteries. In conclusion, the pattern of arteries originating from the aortic arch and the branches of these arteries were partially similar to what has been observed in red squirrels, and thus differ from other rodents and domestic mammals.

The paper summarizes the main characteristics of a mixed stand during 80-year transformation to the mixed stand with permanent selective structure. The initial main stand was mostly composed of conifers with group arrangement, broadleaves as the reserved trees created the upper storey. Partial opening by thinnings prepared the stand for regeneration. Heavy thinning in 1959 (22% of the growing stock) opened the main stand and released the advance growth of broadleaves. Subsequent stand development was negatively affected by air pollution. Mainly fir and spruce responded to air pollution by deteriorated health condition and increment reduction. Beech and other broadleaves gradually increased their proportion in the stand (64% of the growing stock in 2008). Initial diameter distribution was sinistral, reserved trees affected the frequency of thick trees. Final diameter distribution resembled the model curve for selective forests, the number of thin trees was below the model curve for broadleaved forests with selective structure in these types of localities. Mean increments of individual species changed according to their stand position. Low fecundity of trees, weed infestation and game damage limited natural regeneration, artificial regeneration dominated for the whole time. The complicated structure corresponding to selective forest occurred rarely during the monitored period, the stand was differentiated mainly by spatial arrangement.

Declining water is a great concern in production of rice, because rice is more sensitive to water deficiency which restricts normal rice growth resulting in enormous economic loss. A field experiment was conducted to study the effect of hydrogel in different sowing techniques of aerobic rice viz. flat, ridge, and bed sowing. Observations on soil moisture percentage before every irrigation, yield, and yield components of rice were recorded. Application of hydrogel improved soil moisture contents in all the three sowing techniques as compared to soil without hydrogel. More soil moisture contents met the crop water needs and increased the number of germinated seeds. As a consequence of more emergence and better stand establishment, the yield components were also improved increasing the yield of rice in hydrogel amended soil in all sowing techniques. However, sowing of rice on beds with hydrogel amendment was found the most effective; it not only improved the performance of aerobic rice but also enhanced growth and yield of aerobic rice more than other sowing techniques.

The aim of the experiment was to determine the impact of sorting on the growth, survival, and cannibalism of pikeperch larvae during intensive culture in recirculation systems. Larvae aged 48 days post-hatch (DPH) were reared in three groups - small specimens (group S - average body weight 40 mg), large specimens (group L - average body weight 76 mg), and unsorted ones (group U - average body weight 55 mg). After three weeks of rearing, there were no statistically significant differences in specific growth rates among the groups. However, increases in biomass were higher in the sorted groups. Survival exceeded 50% in the sorted groups and 39% in group U. Higher cannibalism was noted in group U than in the sorted groups. Significant differences among the sorted groups were observed in cannibalism, which was higher in group L, and in natural and manipulation losses, which were higher in group S (P < 0.05). During the first two weeks of rearing, the lowest cannibalism rates were observed in group S, the difference between groups S and U was statistically significant (P < 0.05). The results of the experiment indicate that the sorting of pikeperch larvae has a positive impact on the survival rate, however, it has no impact on growth during their rearing in the RAS.

Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP) in concentrations from 48 to 32 500 cells per gram of powdered infant milk were found in 18 out of 51 investigated samples (35%) in this study. More than 10 000 cells per gram were present in four samples (7.8%). Such concentrations mean that one package of milk contains 5 million MAP cells, which are ingested by a bottle-fed baby over the course of several days. Premature babies and bottle-fed newborns can be affected by pro-inflammatory triggers from a huge number of mycobacteria despite not suffering from infection with bacteria or viruses often linked with the etiology of Crohn's disease.

The seed production area (SPA) is an improved plantation managed for production of quality seeds for a large-scale plantation programme. The soil nutrient is one of several factors affecting seed production among SPAs. The status of soil nutrients and their effect on seed production are poorly understood. Hence, the present study was undertaken in 20 seed production areas located in different seed zones of Karnataka, South India. Results showed that there was a greater variation among SPAs in various soil properties like soil pH, organic carbon, available NPK (nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium). Some of the studied parameters recorded significant variations among three different depths: 0-20 (top), 20-40 (middle) and 40-60 cm (bottom). For instance, organic carbon and available potassium showed significant variations at different depths, where the highest content was recorded in the top layer, followed by middle and bottom layers. Considering associations between soil properties and tree growth, organic carbon was positively associated with dbh (diameter at breast height; r = 0.500), stem roundness (r = 0.351) and stem volume (r = 0.250). Similarly, available nitrogen positively influenced the stem volume (r = 0.250). Though the fruit yield varied among SPAs, none of the studied soil parameters showed a significant influence on fruit yield indicating that some other factors like genetic ones, phenology, rainfall overlapping with peak flowering might control it. Data on site quality showed that all existing SPAs studied were growing in poor site conditions, however, this could be one of the factors affecting overall seed yield among SPAs. Hence, it is recommended to undertake a few important silvicultural interventions like application of fertilizer/organic manure, soil working, spraying of floral hormone and others to improve the existing seed production level.

The integration of Central and Eastern Europe into both the European and the world economy was in the last decade associated with a relatively high growth of gross domestic product and with a gradual increase in the economic level. The processes of convergence at the national level, however, were accompanied by an unbalanced spatial development. The paper analyzes, on the basis of the empirical statistical data, the impacts of the first years of the membership in the European Union on the development of regional differentiation and on development disparities between rural and urban regions. The evaluation of regional development is performed in regional units at the levels NUTS 2 and NUTS 3. Rural regions are monitored at the level of regional units NUTS 3. The examination based on the NUTS 2 units would not allow identifying of such a large number of rural areas.