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This study uses micro-financial data to examine the efficiency of agricultural enterprises in Germany and its neighbouring countries. The aim of the study is to introduce a model for the agricultural sector and conduct an efficiency analysis using these data, interpreting the results with specific knowledge in the management of an agriculture company. Both technical and allocative efficiencies were determined, and the companies were ranked. Possible correlations between company size, measured by turnover, and the determined efficiency were analysed. At present, there is a lack of studies in the agricultural sector with high aggregated financial data, which are the basis and necessity for well-founded decision support to increase efficiency. The data envelopment analysis method was used, as a non-parametric procedure from operations research and economics field. Both the constant returns to scale (CCR) and variable returns to scale (BCC) models were used to calculate the efficiency values. The results showed that large and very large companies achieved the highest levels of efficiency. Interestingly, very large companies lost efficiency compared to large companies, suggesting that the optimal efficiency level lies with the latter. Furthermore, the Netherlands was the absolute efficiency leader, while the other countries achieved similar lower efficiencies. This study contributes to the literature by providing a comprehensive efficiency analysis in the agricultural sector based on financial data, thus offering a basis for future studies and political decisions.

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are commonly used in many European and Asian traditional fermented foods such as yogurt, cheese, sourdough, meat, fruit, vegetables, cereal products, sour spring rolls, fish sauce, sour shrimp, chao, ruou nep, tofu. They not only improve the flavour and texture of fermented products but also they inhibit the development of spoilage bacteria as antimicrobial agents. In this study, thirty-five traditional Vietnamese fermented products were collected for isolation, identification, and characterisation of LAB and bacilli. There were fifty-three species of LAB isolated from samples such as Lactococcus lactis, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum, Limosilactobacillus fermentum, Liquorilactobacillus nagelli, Companilactobacillus farciminis, Levilactobacillus brevis, Lactiplantibacillus pentosus, Lactococcus garvieae, Lactilactobacillus sakei, and twenty-one species of bacilli such as Priestia megaterium, Bacillus cereus, Bacillus pumilus, Metabacillus indicus. This study aimed to provide information about the occurrence of LAB and bacilli in traditional fermented foods in Vietnam and their brief characterisation.

Agriculture and energy are intricately connected, with agriculture being a significant energy consumer and supplier. In this comprehensive study, SPSS and Jupyter Notebook were used to model and predict the energy requirements of potato plants during cultivation. A system using deep learning methods, specifically the Convolutional Neural Network (CNN), was also developed to accurately predict the classification of potato plant growth phases using image data. The CNN model, developed with 100 epochs and 5 layers, used 1 125 image data of potato plants, categorising them into two classes: the vegetative phase, with an energy requirement of 4 195.80 MJ·ha^–1, and the generative phase, with an energy requirement of 746.45 MJ·ha^–1. The model‘s accuracy in reflecting the actual data, with a mean absolute error of 0.11, mean square error of 0.01, and root mean square of 0.13, indicates no significant issues. The test predicted categorization with 99% precision, underscoring the thoroughness and validity of this study and reassuring the audience about the accuracy of the results. The study findings not only validate the use of deep learning in agriculture but also inspire the development of applications to predict the energy demand for each growth phase using plant image data.

Genetic diversity is referred to as any variation at the phenotypic, DNA or genomic level of an individual, population or species. The appraisal of diversity is important to understand its pattern and evolutionary relationships between germplasms or genotypes, which will aid in sampling the genetic resources in a more systematic manner for conservation and crop improvement. The present study employed 50 simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers linked to the yield and fibre quality/colour traits for estimating the genetic diversity in 33 cotton genotypes of diploid and tetraploid species differing in fibre colour. The diversity analysis was performed in GenAlEx (Ver. 6.41) and Powermarker (Ver. 3.25) while DARwin (Ver. 6.0.21) software was used to establish the phylogenetic relationships following neighbour-joining (NJ) and unweighted pair group method with arithmetic (UPGMA) mean method. Markers generated 186 polymorphic loci as genotypic data with an average of 3.72 alleles and an average polymorphic information content (PIC) value of 0.59 per SSR locus. The NJ and UPGMA grouped 33 genotypes into three major clusters I, II and III consisting of 21 tetraploid Gossypium hirsutum, 10 G. arboreum coloured and 2 white cotton genotypes, respectively. In the PCA, the first two components (PC1 and PC2) explained 74.69% of the variation and the biplot plotted the 33 genotypes in three groups. The study established the diverse nature of 33 cotton genotypes based on their fibre colour and ploidy level. With confirmation of the prevalent genetic diversity, we suggest that hybridisation can be planned among diverse genotypes to unleash greater variation in the fibre colour or to derive superior cross combinations.

The present study was to determine the genotypic and environmental variability and stability in seed yield, oil content, oil yield, oleic and linoleic acid of 10 safflower lines derived from a cross of Dinçer 5-18-1 × Montola 2000 together with six cultivars under six environments at five locations. The effects of genotypes, environments and genotype × environment interactions were highly significant (P < 0.01) for seed yield and oil content. Averaged across all environments, the seed yield was lowest in the cultivar Olas (2 352 kg/ha), and highest in the line Bay-Er 5 (2 869 kg/ha). According to mean (x_i) and regression coefficient (b_i) values, the Bay-Er 16 was better adapted to unfavourable environmental conditions, whereas the Bay-Er 1, Bay-Er 5 and Bay-Er 14 were better adapted to favourable environmental conditions. The highest oil content across environments, over 35%, was recorded in the line Bay-Er 15 and the cultivars Olas and Linas. The best adaptability to the environments was observed in the cultivar Olas. The oleic acid content of genotypes increased and the linoleic acid contents decreased from the north to the south latitudes. The oil content of genotypes grown in Southeastern Anatolia was higher than in the other regions. Within the regions, seed yield and oil content was higher after autumn sowing than after spring sowing.

Powdery mildew (PM) is a fungus that causes disease in both the field and the greenhouse. Utilizing resistant cultivars is the most effective approach of disease management. To develop insertion-deletion (InDel) markers associated to this trait, the whole genomes of the PM resistant line M17050 (P1) and the PM-susceptible line 28-1-1 (P2) were sequenced. A total of 1 200 InDels, with an average of 100 markers per chromosome, were arbitrarily chosen from the sequencing data for experimental validation. One hundred InDel markers were ultimately selected due to their informative genetic bands. Further, an F₂ segregating population of melons generated from these two parents was inoculated by the PM pathogen. Based on bulk segregant analysis (BSA) using these 100 InDel markers, the powdery mildew resistance was associated with the genomic region LVpm12.1 on the melon chromosome 12. This region overlapped the previously described quantitative trait locus (QTL)-hotspot area carrying multiple PM-resistance QTLs. Moreover, conventional QTL mapping analysis was done, which located LVpm12.1 in the region between 22.72 and 23.34 Mb, where three highly polymorphic InDel markers MInDel89, MInDel92, and MInDel93 were detected. Therefore, these markers could be used to track this resistance locus in melon while the lines carrying this locus could be employed in PM melon resistance breeding programs after validation tests.

The present study aimed to determine the chemical composition and in vitro antimicrobial potential for the first time of essential oils (EOs) from six cultivars (Druzhba, Raya, Hebar, Hemus, Yubileina, Sevtapolis) of lavender (Lavandula angustifolia Mill.) cultivated in Türkiye (Tekirdağ) against a panel of pathogenic and non-pathogenic microorganisms. The chemical composition of EOs, analysed using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS), revealed 34 different components in the six cultivars. The results indicate that the main major constituents of all EOs were monoterpenoid linalool (47.60–64.13%) and linalyl acetate (12.92–26.08%). Based on principal component analysis (PCA) cvs. Druzhba, Raya and Hebar were situated in the centre right quadrant of the plot and were characterised by linalool and linalyl acetate in subgroup one. The results of antimicrobial assays revealed that lavender EOs were active against all strains of bacteria tested. For bacteria, the strongest activity of cv. Hemus was observed against Enterococcus faecalis (IZ = 19 ± 0.10 mm, MIC = MMC = 6.25 (µg/mL), while the weakest potency was seen against the gram-negative Salmonella enterica (IZ = 21 ± 1.00 mm, MIC = MMC = 31.25 (µg/mL). Based on PCA, the first subgroup of cvs. Hebar and Raya was characterised by Lactobacillus rhamnosus, E. faecalis and Lactobacillus pentosus and was situated in the bottom right quadrant of the plot.

Ohmic heating is an emerging technology currently in high demand for application in various processes. In this research, a prototype of a multipurpose ohmic heating apparatus was successfully designed, fabricated, and tested. This apparatus was designed based on low-cost and versatile sensors and components available worldwide. Three independent chambers could be operated parallelly and individually with different treatments. Parameter data, i.e., voltage, electrical current, the temperature of heated material and environmental humidity-temperature, could be recorded by an embedded data logging system. The sensor had been tested and validated by comparing all the sensors used with commercial standard instruments. The result showed that all sensors had high measurement accuracy, indicated by very low mean absolute error (MAE) and mean absolute percentage error (MAPE), with R² > 0.999. The performance test revealed that product temperature could be accurately maintained according to the set point temperature with a deviation value lower than 0.1 °C. The data logging system was able to record and store the parameter data in SD card memory for up  to several days without interruption. The prototype of the ohmic heating apparatus could be  an effective alternative to process many purposes such as pasteurisation, cooking, warming, and fermentation based on the ohmic heating principle.

The ecological and human health risks of heavy metal(loid)s (HMs) in soils around tungsten (W) mining sites have often disregarded the presence of W. In this study, we aimed to investigate the concentrations of 10 HMs (including W and other accompanying elements) in 18 agricultural soil samples obtained around a W mining site in southern Jiangxi, China. Furthermore, we determined the contamination status, source identification, and ecological and health risks of HMs in soils. Our findings revealed that HMs were extensively accumulated in soils within the study area, with the highest mean concentrations of W found. W concentrations were above background values at all sites. Multivariate analysis revealed that W mining activities, including extracting and transporting W ore, were the primary source of HMs in the soil (61.40%). The ecological risk assessment revealed that the potential ecological risk across the survey area exhibited a high risk, and the cadmium (Cd) and W should be prioritised as control pollutants for soils around the W mine site. The human health risk assessment displayed that 73.43% of children with an unacceptable non-carcinogenic risk, and W contributed the most to the overall non-carcinogenic risk (42.32%), followed by Cd and arsenic (As). In addition, 22.03% of children and 13.4% of adults were under a significant carcinogenic risk. Overall, our findings emphasise the importance of considering element W in future studies investigating the contamination of HMs around W mining areas. As such, we calculated a safe limit value for element W in soil (141.01 mg/kg) to facilitate the conservation and development of soils in W mining areas in China. Our study provides valuable information for pollution prevention and soil contamination risk mitigation in W mining areas.

In 2024, the journal Plant Protection Science (PPS) completes 60 years of publication (1965–2024). Its roots extend back to the year 1921. In recent years, PPS has developed into an international scientific journal focused on all aspects of plant protection science, published exclusively in English, and with an international editorial board. The publisher is the Czech Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), celebrating its 100th anniversary (1924–2024). PPS is one of eleven agricultural journals published by CAAS. On its 50th anniversary, PPS published a detailed overview of its history and development. This latest critical review summarises developments during the last ten years; however, in special cases, also with a longer-term perspective. During the last decade, PPS has made impressive progress and is now among the world's key scientific journals. Recently, the journal has been added to the indexing and abstracts of many international databases, e.g. BIOSIS Previews, SCOPUS and Web of Science. In 2014, PPS had an impact factor of 0.597, but during the last few years, PPS's IF has ranged between 1.3 and 1.4 (for 2023, IF = 1.7), with the possibility of further increase. Each year, PPS is published quarterly, with a total of around 40 papers (original papers, reviews, short communications, biographical notices, and book reviews). Per year, about 70–80% of papers by authors/co-authors from abroad are published (Europe, America, Asia, Australia and Oceania). In the final part of this presentation, we describe some recent achievements and discuss key topics related to PPS's future development.

Many methods are used in a laboratory for packing sieved soil. Determination of soil properties is expected to vary with the applied packing method. The objective of this investigation was to test the impact of initial soil sieving duration and scraping of exposed soil surfaces on saturated hydraulic conductivity (K_s) of an initially air-dry loam soil determined by the simplified falling-head technique. Two sieving durations (5 and 30 min) were considered. A brush was used to scrape exposed surfaces for half of the tested soil columns. A long sieving yielded finer soil than a short sieving and 9–22% smaller values of K_s. Scraping the exposed soil surfaces yielded 4–17% smaller K_s values than those obtained on the not scraped columns. None of the observed differences was statistically significant. Therefore, sieving duration and treatment of the exposed soil surfaces were minor factors influencing the determination of K_s. Reaching general conclusions about sieving duration and scraping effects requires testing these factors with other soils, initial soil water conditions and K_s measurement techniques.

Fruits and vegetables form the basis of a nutritional diet for the population. In addition to the basic determinants, such as market prices and consumer income, other factors influence consumer demand.  This paper aims to investigate how the age and gender of consumers influence the demand for fruit and vegetables in different European countries. In this paper, the demand for fruit and vegetables is understood through the population’s preferences for fruit and vegetable consumption, i.e., the proportion of the population that prefers to consume fruit and vegetables five or more times a day. The paper uses data from Eurostat. Factor, cluster and correlation analyses were performed using the SPSS software. The results of the analyses showed that the gender significantly determines the demand for fruit and vegetables in favour of women. Regarding the effect of age, this determinant was positively correlated with the preference for 5FV consumption in most countries. Potential interventions to promote fruit and vegetable consumption should mainly target men aged 15–19 and 75+ in Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Latvia, Austria, Slovenia and Sweden, men aged 35–44 and 75+ in Croatia, Italy, Poland and Romania and women aged 15–19 and 55+ in Bulgaria and Romania, where their preference for 5FV was the lowest.

Wind erosion primarily affects sandy soil in arid areas.  However, the specific winter meteorological conditions (freeze-thaw cycles) lead to the disintegration of aggregates into erosion-risk fractions even on clay soils. These changes in the winter erodibility of clay soils were investigated in an area with frequent occurrences of wind erosion in southeastern Moravia (Czech Republic, Central Europe) between the years 2014/2015 and 2020/2021.  The percentage of non-erodible fraction (NEF) before and after winter was assessed. NEF was set as particles larger than 0.84 mm and also larger than 2.00 mm (based on field observations), while soils containing less than 40% NEF have the highest susceptibility to wind erosion. Autumn NEF_0.84 content was 80 and 95%, indicating significant resistance to wind, and although there was a significant decrease in spring to 65%, it still exceeded the 40% threshold. Autumn NEF_2.00 content of 60–70% also indicates a significant resistance to wind erosion. However, spring values were well below the 40% threshold (8 to 35%), indicating significant susceptibility to wind erosion. It showed a significant negative influence of winter on NEF2.00 content and, thus, a greater susceptibility to erosion in spring compared to NEF_0.84. Our results also document vegetation efficiency on the presence of NEF.

The present study employed response surface methodology (RSM) to optimise the prevention of late blowing defects in cheese during storage. The aim was to enhance the inhibition of Clostridium sporogenes in cheese by manipulating three independent variables: Lactiplantibacillus plantarum (utilising two different strains, labelled as A and B, the total cheese inoculation rate was 2% overall and the A : B ratio ranging from 25% to 75%), and lysozyme (ranging from 0 to 0.2 mg·L^–1). The response variables considered in this model cheese study included the Clostridium count, pH, and titratable acidity. The results showed that the optimal conditions for inhibiting C. sporogenes and preventing late blowing defects in cheese were achieved with an L. plantarum A : B ratio of 49.54 : 50.46%, nisin at a concentration of 1.762 mg·L^–1, and lysozyme at 0.2 mg·L^–1. These results demonstrated not only effective inhibition of C. sporogenes, a pivotal contributor to late blowing defects in cheese but also indicated favourable outcomes in terms of acidity parameters, which are crucial quality criteria for cheese production. The application of Response Surface Methodology revealed that late blowing defects can be prevented using relatively lower concentrations of antimicrobial agents, along with a judicious selection of appropriate cultures. This research highlights the potential for more efficient and cost-effective strategies to maintain cheese quality by minimising the risk of late blowing defects.

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

Farms are key to agricultural advancement and carbon emission reduction. Understanding the influence of farm size on emissions is vital for eco-friendly farming. Our study used an econometric model with instrumental variable adjustments to examine the effect of farm size on greenhouse gas emissions, revealing an inverted U-shaped relationship. The findings revealed that emissions increased with farm size until a peak and then decreased. We identified an optimal farm size range (0.45 km² to 0.58 km²) for lower emissions, where the farm size maintaining the lowest greenhouse gas emissions per unit area was 0.58 km², while the lowest greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions per capita occured at a farm size of 0.69 km². Reducing emissions intensity per unit area is easier than reducing GHG emissions per person. Policymakers should prioritise promoting the expansion to moderately sized farms as a means of achieving emission reduction targets rather than solely increasing the number of farms. Overall, these insights offer policymakers novel approaches for ecological farm planning and the transition toward a low-carbon agriculture sector.

The effects of the foliar application of plant growth regulators (PGRs), salicylic acid (SA) and ascorbic acid (AA) were studied on yield and some qualitative traits of corn silage under drought stress in a field experiment conducted in the Agricultural and Natural Resources Research Center of Khoy in two consecutive years. The experiment was performed in four replications as a split plot in a randomised complete blocks design. Irrigation treatment was in two levels, ir75 and ir150, and the foliar applications of SA and AA at seven levels (100, 200, and 300 ppm, as well as a control treatment). The amount of water consumed in ir75 and ir150 during 10 and 7 times irrigation was 6 000 and 4 200 m3/ha, respectively. Malondialdehyde (MDA) content was increased over the plant growth period in both ir75 and ir150, but with the difference that its range was 3.72 to 12.9 nmol/g FW (fresh weight) under ir75 and 12.5–109.5 nmol/g FW under water shortage conditions. The results show that ir150 decreased plant height, forage yield, ear weight, and nitrogen uptake versus ir75. In plants treated with SA and AA, nitrogen uptake and chlorophyll content increases (45–33%) were observed compared to the control plants under ir75. In most traits, there was no significant difference between AA and SA levels, but plants treated with SA100 showed higher protein yield, dry forage yield, and ear yield.

The objective of this research is to prepare a composite packaging film by integrating oregano essential oil (OEO) into a chitosan (CS)/polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) matrix to enhance the preservative properties of food packaging films. For this purpose, the study established multiple quality evaluation methods for composite films. The composite weights for each evaluation indicator were calculated through the analytic hierarchy process-coefficient of variation (AHP-CV), deriving the comprehensive score value (OD). Employing OD as the ultimate evaluation indicator, the optimal preparation formula for the OEO composite film was ascertained by applying response surface methodology (RSM), incorporating insights gained from single-factor experiments. The results showed that the optimum formulation was CS 1.51 g, PVA 3.51 g, glycerin 1.97 g, and Tween-80 0.51 g. The OD for the OEO composite film prepared under these conditions was 83.95 ± 0.12%, closely matching the predicted value of 83.91%. Characterisation further confirmed the cross-linking action between CS and PVA, while the inclusion of OEO enhanced the antimicrobial activity of the composite film. These findings suggest incorporating OEO into composite packaging films holds considerable potential for enhancing food packaging applications.

The aim of the study was to assess the effect of selected vegetable oils on the representation of dietary fatty acids in the muscle of broiler cockerels. The experiment included three groups of one-day-old cockerels of ROSS 308 genotype, 15 individuals each. The feed mixture and drinking water were fed to the cockerels, ad libitum. In accordance with the technological instructions for the hybrid combination ROSS 308, BR1 was fed to chickens up to 9 days of age with the same nutrient and oil (soybean) composition for all three groups. From day 10 to day 28 of fattening the chicks were fed BR2 and from day 29 to day 35 BR3. The components and composition of the BR2 and BR3 feeds were identical; feed mixtures differed only in oil, soybean oil was added to Group 1 (SBO), rapeseed oil to Group 2 (RSO) and sunflower oil to Group 3 (SFO). Cockerels were fed until 35 days of age and then slaughtered. Breast and thigh muscles were collected from 10 individuals from each group to determine total fat in which individual fatty acid (FA) analysis was performed. Based on the obtained results, rapeseed oil can be clearly recommended for broiler chickens in feed mixtures, for the reasons that the cockerels from the RSO group showed the highest live weight (35 days of fattening), had the lowest feed conversion ratio, had an increased n-3 FAs content in the intramuscular fat (breast and thigh), and the narrowest n-3 : n-6 FAs ratio in the intramuscular fat (breast and thigh).

The aim of this study was to identify the presence of transitional lumbosacral and sacrocaudal vertebrae in domestic mammals, to realise a comparative analysis of the localisation and conformation of this abnormal condition. The research included the following species: cattle – 29 specimens, sheep – 32 specimens, horse – 31 specimens, pig – 26 specimens, rabbit – 33 specimens, dog – 89 specimens and cat – 57 specimens. The spine of the animals was analysed post-mortem or radiologically. The investigations revealed the presence of transitional vertebrae as follows: in cattle – 3 cases (8.7%), all being about the lumbarisation of the first sacral vertebra (S1); in sheep – 3 cases (9.37%), two lumbarisation cases of S1 and one caudalisation of S4 (the last sacral vertebra); in horses – 4 cases (12.9%), all about the sacralisation of Cd1 (first caudal vertebra); in pigs – 3 cases (11.53%), two lumbarisation cases of S1 and one sacralisation of Cd1; in rabbits – 3 cases (9.09%), a lumbar supernumerary vertebra (L8) and two cases of caudalisation of S4; in dogs – 4 cases (4.49%), a lumbar supernumerary vertebra (L8) and 3 cases of sacralisation of the last lumbar vertebra (L7 or L8); in cats – 3 cases (5.26%), two sacralisation cases of the last lumbar vertebra and one case of caudalisation of the last sacral vertebra (S3). A strong lumbarisation process was observed in ruminants (especially in cattle), then in pigs, the sacralisation being prevalent in carnivores. The sacrocaudal transitional vertebra was predominant in horses. No evident influence of the sex and age of the animals was observed.

In recent decades, the interest in searching for procedures and strategies to make energetic and economic use of residues from different industries has been an important part of the political agenda. There are several methods to determine the volume of residues from the forestry industry, but they are too time-consuming to apply. The objective of the present study was to establish a simpler and more efficient method to quantify the volume of residues from the forest industry. Ten controlled piles were made with residues from a private sawmill in the city of Durango, Mexico. To calculate the volume, two manual methods and one automatic method were used to calculate the stacking coefficient of the piles, while the water immersion method was used to calculate the real volume. A completely random experimental design was used for the analysis, where an analysis of variance and mean comparisons were performed at a significance level of P ≤ 0.05. The results of the study show that the threshold segmentation method is faster, more practical and efficient than the other methods used. The estimation of the volume of these residues will contribute to generating sustainable alternatives for the development and use of forest industry resources.

The study investigated whether omega-3 fatty acids could promote bacterial growth, acid and bile tolerance, and cell adhesion onto Caco-2 cells to develop a multifunctional enteric soft capsule containing probiotics and omega-3 fatty acids. The probiotic strains used were Enterococcus faecium IDCC 2102 and Bacillus coagulans IDCC 1201. Supplementation with omega-3 fatty acids did not significantly affect the growth and viability of either strain at lower concentrations (i.e. 0.5–1.0 w/w %). In comparison, the adhesion ability to Caco-2 cells of both strains was significantly increased (up to 107.5%). Furthermore, Bacillus coagulans IDCC 1201 [1 × 10¹⁰ CFU (colony forming unit) per capsule] contained together with omega-3 fatty acids (600 mg per capsule) in the enteric soft capsules showed a stability of over 95% during 12 months of storage at room temperature, which was similar to that of unencapsulated lyophilised probiotics. Thus, these results indicate that multifunctional food supplements in the form of enteric soft capsules are feasible.

This study is focused on the comparison of production efficiency (growth, survival, and development) and economic evaluation of large-scale larvae culture in pikeperch (Sander lucioperca) using Artemia (Group A) compared to using rotifers and the subsequent combination of rotifers and Artemia (Group R) as a first exogenous feed following weaning and intensive culture of juveniles. Both experimental groups were stocked with the same initial density (100 pcs per litre) of larvae at 4 days post hatching (DPH). Each group was cultured in triplicate until 65 DPH. Assessed parameters included FBW (final body weight), FTL (final total length), SGR (specific growth rate), SR (survival rate), CR (cannibalism rate), SBI (swim bladder inflation rate), and TDR (total deformity rate). Production costs were confronted with total number of all produced and high-quality juveniles to determine the cost per one juvenile. Juveniles in Group A displayed more rapid growth (significantly higher FBW, FTL and SGR). On the other hand, parameters concerning quality of the fish (SBI, SR, Share of high quality juveniles and TDR) were significantly higher in Group R. Statistical difference in CR also benefits Group R. Production of bigger share of high-quality juveniles in Group R decreased overall production cost per one high-quality juvenile by 59.7%, from 0.72 EUR in Group A to 0.29 EUR in Group R. Use of established feeding protocols confirmed significant production and economic improvements in pikeperch larvae culture and production of high-quality juveniles. Even though the price of rotifer cultivation significantly exceeded the price of Artemia purchase and cultivation, the production cost of high-quality pikeperch juveniles significantly decreased.

The most common orthopaedic developmental disease in dogs is hip dysplasia. This condition results in coxofemoral laxity due to incongruity and lack of stabilisation of the joint by the soft tissues. Currently, there is no therapeutic plan to correct hip dysplasia without surgical intervention at a very early age. The goal of the non-surgical treatment is to relieve pain and stiffness and to increase the muscle strength, usually through hydrotherapy and the beneficial physical properties of water. Recently, there has been growing interest in regenerative medicine, which involves the use of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and their products to alleviate the characteristic clinical symptoms of osteoarthritis (OA). In vivo studies with canine MSCs have shown that an intra-articular injection of MSCs into cartilage lesions leads to the excellent regeneration of the hyaline cartilage. Regenerative medicine has undergone rapid development in recent years thanks to new therapies based on the application and combination of innovative biomaterials. One of the first known regenerative methods to be used in clinical practice was platelet-rich plasma (PRP). This review summarises the use and potential of MSCs and PRP, including their in vitro properties, their therapeutic effects in the treatment of cartilage lesions in preclinical in vivo studies, their clinical efficacy in the treatment of naturally occurring OA in dogs, and the current limitations of the studies.

Amylases are one of the biotechnologically important enzymes that have multiple applications in the food, pharmaceutical, cosmetics, textile, detergent, paper and pulp, bioremediation and nano-biotechnology industries. Amylases can be isolated from animals, plants and microbial regions, but nowadays enzymes from prokaryotic species have gained more importance. Among the microbes, amylases from Bacillus cereus have gained considerable demand in various industrial sectors. Growing industrial demand for enzymes compels the availability of enzymes in large quantities that can only be achieved by employing efficient fermentation techniques. Therefore, the current study is aimed at the statistical optimisation of the production conditions for extracellular amylase production from Bacillus strain AS2. In a recent study, the optimum amylase producing AS2 strain was identified on a molecular level, and it was found that it has close relation with the already reported strains of Bacillus cereus. The further enzyme production was optimised by using a statistical optimisation tool. A full-factorial central composite design (CCD) consisting of 53 experiments was designed using six significant variables (incubation period, pH, temperature, carbon and nitrogen source and metal ion). The analysis revealed that the optimal media concentrations were 54.34 g·L^–1 starch, 0.63 g·L^–1 CaCl₂, 1 g·L^–1 glycine, pH 7.0, 76 h, and 40 °C, respectively. A 1.23-fold increase in the enzyme yield (1 050 IU·mL^–1·min^–1) was noticed as compared to the original production level. The statistical optimisation approach gives the exact variables that influence the enzyme production and, hence, offers the best way to optimise the bioprocess. The optimised enzyme can be used in industries for various purposes such as de-sizing, de-inking, hydrolysing starch residues, etc.

We explored the role of yttrium nitrate (Y(NO3)3) in extending the longevity of campanula cut flowers. The results showed that Y(NO3)3 significantly enhanced the enzymatic antioxidant system, including the superoxide dismutase, peroxidase, ascorbate peroxidase, dehydroascorbate reductase, monodehydroascorbate reductase, glutathione reductase, glutathione peroxidase, and glutathione S-transferase. In this way, Y(NO3)3 increased the DPPH scavenging activity and decreased the malondialdehyde content and electrolyte leakage, which implied that Y(NO3)3 strengthened the antioxidant capacity. Meanwhile, Y(NO3)3 significantly improved the production of the soluble sugars, proline, and soluble protein, relative water content, average fresh weight change rate, and average water balance value, which indicated that Y(NO3)3 could maintain the water balance. Besides, Y(NO3)3 dramatically increased the flower diameter and extended the longevity. Our current research demonstrated that Y(NO3)3 improved the longevity by reinforcing the enzymatic antioxidant system and water balance, which added new information and a supportive base for the utilisation of Y(NO3)3 in the preservation of campanula cut flowers.

Antibiotics in poultry feed are banned in many countries owing to their side effects, and insects containing antimicrobial peptides are proven to have potential as antibiotic alternatives in such feed. Thus, the primary objective of this study was to investigate the effects of dietary housefly maggot extract (HME) as the biofunctional material for antibiotic replacement in laying hens. The biofunctional properties of HME on egg production, egg quality, blood biomarkers of immune function, and microbiota were evaluated over a period of 40 to 50 weeks in laying hens under a digital livestock system. A total of 120 forty-week-old Hyline Brown laying hens were randomly divided into four groups with thirty replicates as follows: no added HME (CON), positive control (PC, 8 ppm of avilamycin), 100 ppm of HME (HME100), and 150 ppm of HME (HME150). Egg production and egg weight increased significantly in the HME150, HME100, PC, and CON groups (P < 0.05), but there were no differences between the HME and PC groups. Egg quality, such as eggshell thickness, eggshell strength, Haugh unit, and albumin height, were significantly improved in the HME and PC groups than in the CON group (P < 0.05). A blood biomarker of immune function, IgG, was significantly higher in the HME and PC groups than the CON group (P < 0.05), but there were no differences between the HME and PC groups. Blood corticosterone and heterophil to lymphocyte ratio were significantly lower in the HME and PC groups than in the CON group (P < 0.05). Microbiota Lactobacillus in the faeces were significantly higher in the HME and PC groups than in the CON group (P < 0.05). The faecal total aerobic bacteria, Escherichia coli, and coliform counts were significantly lower in the HME and PC groups than in the CON group (P < 0.05). Consequently, the HME showed the same significant effects as antibiotics on improving egg production and egg quality in laying hens. These results show that 100 ppm of HME can be used as a biofunctional material for an effective alternative to antibiotics in laying hens under a digital livestock system to improve egg production and quality by stimulating their immune functions and balancing the microbiota populations.

This paper examines changes in soil physical and chemical properties in relation to tree proximity on different slopes. Topsoil and subsoil were sampled at 12 research plots on four slope types, the soil pits being placed at the base of a tree (near tree, NT) and between the test tree and an adjacent tree (between trees, BT). We observed a significant decrease in vertical topsoil response to slope on lower, middle and upper slopes, and a decrease in fine roots (R < 2 mm) on flat ground. Overall, middle and lower slopes showed the highest similarity, and upper slopes and flat ground the least, with the greatest subsoil changes observed mainly on middle slopes and least on lower slopes. There was clear topographic dependence between subsoil water stable aggregates (WSA) and C dynamics, with BT total carbon (Ctot) higher on flat ground and lower on middle slopes; unlike topsoil, where the strongest WSA correlation was with distance from the tree. The highest N : OM (organic matter) ratios occurred on middle slopes facing north-west, and lowest on lower slopes facing north and flat ground. Our findings confirm the influence of slope type on soil characteristics, with NT soil supporting soil formation by transporting water to deeper layers, especially on slopes > 5°. These observations contribute to a better understanding of the dependence of soil properties on slope type and tree position when planning sustainable forest management.

Metabolomics analysis based on UPLC-MS/MS was used to investigate the influence of rain shelter (RS) conditions on metabolites of sweet cherry leaves. It was found that there were 134 differential metabolites. These differential metabolites were enriched in 40 metabolic pathways. Studies on the biosynthetic pathways and regulatory mechanisms of metabolites in sweet cherry leaves showed that low-light and drought stresses in RS plants were related to the amino acid biosynthesis metabolic pathway and that of flavone and flavonol biosynthesis. Sweet cherry trees exhibited improved tolerance to drought stress by regulating the increase in the content of metabolites, such as proline in the amino acid metabolic pathway and the content of flavonoids in the phenylpropane metabolic pathway. To cope with low-light stress, sweet cherry leaves can increase their photosynthetic efficiency by regulating the flavonol content in the flavone and flavonol biosynthetic pathway under the catalysis of a series of enzymes.

Enhancing the resilience of rural households against the impacts of risks and moulding their enduring strength despite modest scale holds paramount contemporary significance for a multitude of developing nations, including China. This study uses the microdata of the China Labor-Force Dynamics Survey (CLDS), systematically measures the rural household resilience index for the first time, analyses the impact of the digital economy on the resilience of rural households, and dissects the group differences and mechanism of action. We found that from 2012 to 2018, the Chinese rural household resilience index had significant differences in time and space, and village market, gentry assistance, economic organisation, and income from collective operation were the most important indicators affecting the rural household resilience index. The improvement of the digital economy index, to some extent, suppressed the improvement of the rural household resilience index. Meanwhile, heterogeneity analysis suggested that depending on family size and housing property rights, the impact of the digital economy on the resilience of rural households will be divided. Moreover, mechanism analysis showed that the digital economy further affected the resilience of rural households through the employment comprehensive effect, income structure effect and member security effect.