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TCP transcription factor is a plant-specific gene family which plays important roles in many developmental control pathways, regulating secondary metabolites and plant responses to abiotic and biotic stresses. Nevertheless, this gene family remains unknown in Scutellaria baicalensis. Here, by identifying and analysing all the TCP transcription factor family members based on the transcriptome of S. baicalensis, a total of 19 SbTCP genes were obtained following gene classification, the phylogenetic relationship, conserved domain structure, functional differentiation, and an expression activity analysis. Phylogenetic analysis grouped the SbTCP genes into two subfamilies; we also found that SbTCP with the same motif structure clustered together in the evolutionary tree, and these results suggest that SbTCP proteins with the same gene structure have similar functions. Gene Ontology (GO) categorised the SbTCP genes into 17 functional subcategories, suggesting that they have diversified in functionality, even though their putative proteins share a number of conserved motifs. After the MeJA and SA treatments, the expression of SbTCP candidate genes containing MeJA and SA promoter elements was significantly higher or lower compared with the control, indicating that these candidate SbTCP genes could respond to different concentrations of MeJA and SA treatments. These comprehensive data provide a reference for elucidating the functions of TCP transcription factor family in the growth, development, and MeJA and SA stress response of S. baicalensis, this study can create a new avenue for understanding the role of TCP gene family in S. baicalensis.

Industrial dairy farms boast highly advanced health monitoring and disease diagnosis systems. But without easily accessible, user-friendly web platforms for real-time decision-making, most dairy farmers cannot proactively manage herd health management and optimize treatments based on disease prediction and prevention. To bridge this gap, we have developed a web application of a Decision support system (DSS) for dairy health management based on machine learning. The system architecture combines a Flask backend with a React frontend and scalable cloud data storage and includes preprocessing, data integration, predictive modelling, and cost analysis. DSS forecasts herd diseases with an accuracy 6.66 mean absolute error and 2.35 median absolute deviation across predictions. Its core predictive capabilities rely on long short-term memory (LSTM) neural networks to forecast disease progression from historical records and on a linear trend model to project cuts in treatment costs. The system calculates medication dosages and cost per disease, streamlines supplier selection, and simulates various treatment scenarios, thereby identifying high-cost diseases with potential savings. In other words, this DSS application processes disease and treatment data by incorporating veterinary records into advanced data analytics and neural networks, thereby predicting diseases, optimizing disease prevention and treatment strategies, and reducing costs. As such, this DSS application provides dairy farmers with a tool for strategic decision-making, veterinary treatment planning, and cost-effective disease management towards improving animal welfare and increasing milk yield.

Forests cover almost one half of European land. Therefore, land taxes, including taxes from forests, are essential for a municipality's income. The land tax system is implemented on different levels, mainly nationally and locally. Therefore, many land tax features are settled by federal law, and others differ according to the local tax administrators. The objective of the paper is to compare the current laws and principles and the implementation process of forest land in Slovakia and Portugal. We have selected countries from different geographical areas of Europe. Even though the forest compositions and forest ownership differ, we aimed to identify whether the forest land tax systems can be similar. We analysed the legislation and strategic documents on the national level that helped us to describe the land tax system and its general features (e.g. taxpayer, tax rate, tax base, exemption options, tax period, or penalties). In both countries, the national tax law governs the tax implementation and settles any basic processes related to tax collection. The municipalities have the right to revise both the tax rates and exemptions. The results also show that forest owners in Slovakia have more options for tax exemptions than in Portugal.

This work addresses short-run fluctuations of nominal global meat commodity prices, that is, beef, lamb, pork, and poultry, from January 1980 to October 2023, thus including the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russo-Ukrainian conflict. It tries to answer the following questions: how do fluctuations in meat commodity prices behave historically? Are meat commodity prices synchronised? Do their co-movements show specific features during recent global crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russo-Ukrainian war? Using a ‘classical’ framework of cycle analysis, the work provides a series of turning points upon which statistics on phase and cycle durations and amplitudes are generated. Care is put into highlighting the pros and cons of employing algorithms based on turning points instead of harmonic models. Global nominal meat prices feature cycles lasting between 3.8 and 4.6 years on average. Pork prices, contrary to other meat prices, are characterised by a highly volatile and prevalently contractionary behaviour. From a policy perspective, the article provides results on the synchronisation of couples of meat prices and on the existence of a common meat price cycle both historically and during the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russo-Ukrainian war.

One of several important pests that attack tomato plants is the silverleaf whitefly (Bemisia tabaci) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae). An eco-friendly method to control B. tabaci utilizes the entomopathogenic fungus, namely Aschersonia aleyrodis. This study aimed to determine the effect of A. aleyrodis conidia density and the frequency of its application to control silverleaf whitefly (B. tabaci) pest on tomato plants under screen house conditions. This study used a randomized completely block design (RCBD) to test ten combination treatments. Each treatment was repeated three times. The results showed that application of A. aleyrodis at conidia densities of 106 conidia/mL, 107 conidia/mL, and 108 conidia/mL with an application frequency of up to once every three weeks was still effective in controlling B. tabaci populations on tomato plants. The highest population suppression rates for B. tabaci (90.6%), tomato yield (1 009 g/plant and 16 fruits/plant), percentage of mycosis (96.6%), and percentage of mummification (97.3%) were found to occur at a conidia density of 108 conidia/mL with the application frequency of once a week.

In recent years, the concept of digitalization has gained increasing attention in the field of agriculture. The adoption of digital technologies such as sensors, drones, and precision farming tools has the potential to revolutionize how agricultural production is carried out, leading to increased efficiency, productivity, and sustainability. This study examines the current state of digitisation and the use of digital tools in agriculture among Hungarian farmers. The uptake of digitalisation has been slow, and more comprehensive policies and strategies are needed to improve progress. The study shows that while there are positive developments, such as the increasing use of precision technologies, there is still a lack of digital infrastructure and skills, as well as limited access to finance and information. The study concludes by making recommendations for policy makers, stakeholders and farmers to enhance the digitalisation of agriculture in Hungary.

This study was conducted to investigate the effects and mechanisms of glutamine (Gln) on the repair of acid-induced injury in dairy cow ruminal epithelial cells (RECs) in vitro. Dairy cow RECs were cultured in a medium with pH of 5.5 for 3 h and subsequently treated with various concentrations of Gln (4, 8, 12, 32 mmol/l) for 12 h. The messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) expression levels of occludin (OCLN), claudin 1 (CLDN1), toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2), toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) and genes for inflammatory factors were measured using reverse transcription-quantitative real-time PCR (RT-qPCR). The results showed that cellular activity and OCLN expression were significantly highest at 8 mmol/l Gln (P < 0.05). CLDN1 expression was significantly higher at 4 mmol/l Gln compared to the other groups (P < 0.05). The relative expression levels of tumour necrosis factor (TNF), interleukin 1B (IL1B), C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 8 (CXCL8), TLR2 and TLR4 in the acid treatment group were significantly higher than those in the control group (P < 0.05), but they were lower in the Gln-treated groups than in the acid treatment group (P < 0.05). These findings demonstrate that Gln promotes the proliferation of RECs, enhances the expression of epithelial cell junction proteins, and inhibits the expression of inflammatory factors and surface receptors. In conclusion, Gln shows a potential for repairing acid-induced injury in RECs.

Contour tillage is an agricultural practice that significantly contributes to enhancing water retention, reducing the risk of flooding, and mitigating soil erosion. Information about the tillage direction is used for modelling water and tillage erosion. In our study, we used Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) visualizations, originally developed for archaeological research, to visualise tillage traces and map tillage direction in the Nitra district (SW Slovakia). The tillage traces were visible in all agricultural parcels, on various agricultural fields, under various agricultural crops. The LiDAR visualisations also revealed pre-collectivization field patterns and even prehistorical field patterns in certain areas. Among the 5 961 investigated points, we recorded the application of contour tillage in 30.63% of the cases. The preference for contour tillage varied among farmers, with the highest reported percentage reaching 49.74%. Our analysis did not reveal a significant correlation between the preference for contour tillage and the slope steepness.

This article focuses on the development possibilities of the venison market in the Czech Republic. The main factors affecting the primary game market were investigated, both production limitations on the side of the hunters and on the side of the game production purchase prices. These factors were analysed in the context of the consumer prices of general meat production and the purchase prices of common meat (beef, pork). Furthermore, the size of the total game market was estimated, taking into account the export and import of this commodity. The potential venison market size for the Czech Republic was also established in the study. The gap between the development of the market consumer prices and purchase prices of the venison was analysed. The conducted research further revealed that the respondents do not perceive a relationship between the production of venison and the protection of forest ecosystems. With few exceptions, they do not realise that by buying and consuming venison, they can contribute to the support of forestry. Furthermore, the perception of the role of the forest environment in relation to game meat by the public does not correspond to the need to regulate the game density to limit damage to forest stands. The results of this research are recommendations which mainly consist in expanding the offer of the primary production to products significantly closer to the consumer market (moving from a producer market to a consumer market), and the implementation of activation campaigns (tastings, presentations of opinion makers). At the same time, our work revealed the need for further development, and by increasing the value for the customer who, with the appropriate marketing strategy, can perceive this product as a premium organic food through which they contribute to sustainable forest management.

Deep placement of controlled-release urea is an effective fertiliser management strategy for improving the maize productivity, but it is not clear whether and how controlled-release urea depth affects the stem and root lodging of spring maize. Two consecutive years of field experiments were conducted to elucidate stem and root lodging properties and their relationship between grain yield and lodging behaviours under various controlled-release urea placement depths. Results depicted that compared to broadcast nitrogen treatment (D0), deep controlled-release urea significantly decreased the stem lodging rate by 34.7–80.4%, which contributed to improving the mechanical characteristics of the internode by optimising the internode diameter and dry matter in the third basal internode as well as higher lignin content. In addition, due to a greater and deeper root system (root dry weight, root surface area, root length and root width) as well as larger angle, diameter, and tension of aerial root that significantly decreased root lodging rate (37.0–88.4%). Furthermore, deep placement of controlled-release urea significantly increased the 100-grain weight, grain number and harvested index by constructing a deeper and larger root system, which significantly improved maize grain yield by 14.2–38.5%, and the nitrogen use efficiency increased by 4.8–10.7%. The highest grain yield, nitrogen use efficiency and lowest lodging rate occurred in controlled-release urea placement depths of 15 cm. Hence, our study suggests that controlled-release urea placement depths of 15 cm were an efficient nitrogen fertiliser management strategy to improve crop productivity as well as lodging resistance in spring maize.

Amorphophallus spp. is an important group of crop and medicinal plants, but it is susceptible to infection by soft rot disease during both field growth and storage stages. This results in huge economic and yield losses, which must be properly addressed. Combined applications of Biological Control Agents (BCAs) and compatible chemicals have been recently considered as a more effective and reliable method to control bacterial soft rot. In the present study, we investigated the control effects against soft rot pathogenic bacteria Pectobacterium aroidearum MY11, using a BCA strain (i.e. Bacillus velezensis BCP6) and screening for three different bactericides, i.e. Jinggangmycin (JGM), Thiodiazole copper and Qingkulike. After exploring a joint application of BCP6 with chemicals, we found that JGM was the most effective and compatible bactericide to be compounded with BCP6. First, in the in vitro experiment, the mixture of JGM (34 mg/L) and suspension of BCP6 (1.0 × 108 cfu/mL) at 4:6 volume ratio performed with the strongest inhibitory effect on P. aroidearum MY11 (53.40%) and synergistic effect (1.78); this combination also significantly increased the biofilm production by BCP6, and constrained the swimming motility of P. aroidearum MY11 in agar plates and inhibited activities of cell wall-degrading enzymes. Second, the combined application of JGM and BPC6 reached up to 95.81% of control efficacy against P. aroidearum MY11 in a greenhouse experiment, and compared to JGM or BCP6 alone, combined application effectively increased konjac plant resistance to soft rot in the field, showing a synergistic action. Collectively, these results provided an alternative method for the management of soft rot disease in konjac planting.

The plate diffusion method is a reference method in the Czech Republic for determination of residues of antimicrobial agents in raw materials and foodstuffs of animal origin. A new method using the E. coli strain ATCC 11303 for the detection of fluoroquinolones was introduced in 2008. The aim of this study was to determine the detection capability (CCβ) of this modified method using this E. coli strain for selected fluoroquinolones registered in the Czech Republic for treating diseases in cattle - danofloxacin, marbofloxacin, ciprofloxacin, enrofloxacin, and flumequine. When comparing the maximum residue limits for individual fluoroquinolones and the CCβ values determined, we can state that the method displays very good sensitivity to ciprofloxacin and enrofloxacin (20 and 40 µg/l), marbofloxacin (70 µg/l), and danofloxacin (30 µg/l). The CCβ of the method for flumequine was not found in concentrations ≤ MRL. The method did not display sensitivity to flumequine even in a concentration equal to twelve times the MRL.

This study assesses 24 European Union countries in terms of food security in 2021. In this paper, we develop a composite food security index considering various weights of indicators. The data were obtained from the FAOSTAT and Eurostat databases. The weights of 10 input indicators were estimated using a principal component analysis-based factor analysis model. The results showed that the harmonised index of consumer prices – food had the greatest impact on the food security index, while the impact of median equivalised net income and moderate or severe food insecurity had the lowest impact. Ireland achieved the highest ranking according to the Food Security Index. Bulgaria experienced the most unfavourable situation among EU countries. Slovakia ranked 22^nd out of 24 countries due to its lowest protein supply, including animal-derived proteins. As part of the analysis, our research compared the food security index with the official Global Food Security Index. The Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient of 0.84 indicated a robust correlation between the two indexes. Consequently, this newly developed Food Security Index is appropriate for assessing the food security status of European Union countries. Furthermore, it broadens the assessment of food security by including countries that are not in the commonly used Global Food Security Index (GFSI).

Ejaculates and blood plasma were sampled from cocks of three laying lines: Barred Plymouth Rock (BPR), Sussex Light (SU), and Rhode Island Red (RIR). Ejaculates and blood plasma were sampled four times during the laying period of hens. The following ejaculate parameters were determined: sperm motility, concentrations of sperm cells, ejaculate volume. Sperm morphology was examined. In the blood samples, concentrations of glucose, cholesterol, creatinine, calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium were analysed. The motility of spermatozoa of the cocks was 47.0% (BPR), 47.7% (RIR), and 48.3% (SU), respectively. The highest volume of ejaculate was found in BPR line (0.66 cm³), the lowest one in SU line (0.46 cm³, P ≤ 0.01); the highest sperm concentration was in SU line (2.46 × 10⁶/mm³), the lowest one in RIR line (1.96 × 10⁶/mm³, P ≤ 0.01). The number of morphologically abnormal sperm cells was similar in all lines - 47.0% BPR, 47.7% RIR, and 48.3% SU, respectively. In general, the occurrence of defective spermatozoa was high in all three lines; the most frequent were tail defects (from 20.3 to 29.7%), while sperm cells with developmental anomalies were less frequent (only 0.3 to 0.4%). Calculated phenotypic correlation between sperm motility on the one hand and the occurrence of defective sperm cells on the other was negative (r_p = -0.28, P ≤ 0.01), as well as the correlation between sperm motility and sperm numbers, and between sperm motility and ejaculate volume (r_p = -0.28, P ≤ 0.01 and r_p = -0.31, P ≤ 0.01, respectively). Negative correlations were found between the level of magnesium in blood plasma and numbers of morphologically defective spermatozoa in the ejaculate, defective heads and defective connecting pieces (r_p = -0.33, P ≤ 0.01; r_p = -0.23, P ≤ 0.05; and r_p = -0.26, P ≤ 0.05). Level of magnesium was positively correlated to sperm motility (r_p = 0.26, P ≤ 0.05). However, positive correlations existed between concentration of glucose in blood plasma of cocks and numbers of morphologically defective spermatozoa in sampled ejaculates (r_p = 0.27, P ≤ 0.01). Our finding is in accordance with the results found in mammals and other animals, and it shows an important role of magnesium as a key contributor to the quality of ejaculate in aviary species, in our case in laying lines of domestic fowl (Gallus domesticus).

The effect of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) on ovarian activity of dairy cows was determined. Experimental cows (n = 25) were fed a total mixed ration supplemented daily with 100 g/cow of an algae product All-G-Rich (Alltech, Ireland) containing 10% DHA divided into 2 doses for 52 days. Determination of DHA from milk samples taken from all cows was performed before the All-G-Rich supplementation (on Day 0, D0), and on D21 and D42 of algae supplementation. Cows were synchronized to be in oestrus on D21 and D42 of the experimental period. Monitoring of ovarian activity was performed by transrectal ultrasonography. Examinations were performed at 2-3-day intervals from D0 until D52 of the experimental period. Plasma concentrations of progesterone, oestradiol, insulin, NEFA, and cholesterol were determined. Control cows (n = 25) were examined in the same way as the experimental cows. Milk DHA concentrations on D21 and D42 were significantly higher in treated cows (D21 1.38 vs 0.28, P < 0.0001; D42 1.34 vs 0.20, P < 0.0001). There were neither important effects of DHA on ovarian structures, nor on evaluated variables in plasma. Cows in the experimental group tended to have larger corpora lutea and higher cholesterol concentrations, but differences were not significant.

The volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the packing of chicken meat in a modified atmosphere was qualitatively and quantitatively evaluated. The total number of 72 samples of chicken hindquarters were stored under two different modified atmospheres (70% O₂, 30% CO₂, and 70% argon, 30% CO₂) for 20 days. Analyses were performed on Days 0, 4, 8, 12, 16, and 20. VOCs in the headspace samples were detected and quantified by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) every fourth day of storage. Pentamethylheptane, dimethylsulphide, dimethyl disulphide, dimethyl trisulphide, dimethyl tetrasulphide, hydrogen sulphide and ammonia were detected. Pentamethylheptane and ammonia had similar values for both modified atmospheres (MA). The other compounds were found only in argon MA from the Day 16 of storage with a subsequent increase of values. The measured values for dimethylsulphide were 10.7 and 13.8 mg/l, for dimethyl disulphide they were 1.9 and 10.7 mg/l, dimethyl trisulphide levels were 15.7 and 19.3 mg/l and dimethyl tetrasulphide levels were 93.2 and 418.3 mg/l for Day 16 and 20. The hydrogen sulphide level was detected from 80 to 370 mg/l after the 8^th day of storage. We showed that the argon MA is less suitable for packaging raw chicken parts than the oxygen MA in view of the increased amount of microflora and unpleasant odour as assessed by sensory analysis. Oxygen prolonged the shelf life by about four days in comparison with argon. Sensory evaluation was similar for both atmospheres after air exhaustion. The argon MA did not extend the shelf life as compared to the oxygen MA.

The World Health Organization has recommended reducing sodium intake as well as its content in food products to reduce the risk of hypertension and cardiovascular diseases. Glasswort (Salicornia herbacea L.), a halophyte naturally growing in the salt marshes over the world, has widely been used as a salt replacer in the production of many food types. In this study, the impacts of replacement of 50% NaCl with 20 and 40 g/kg of glasswort powder on the quality characteristics of four different dry-cured pork cuts including Bulgi (semimembranosus, semitendinosus, and adduct muscles), Seolgit (biceps femoris muscle), Dogani (quadriceps femoris muscle), and Boseop (middle gluteal and gracilis muscles) were investigated. Our results revealed that the replacement of 50% salt with glasswort powder did not cause any defects of technological quality, colour, texture, and sensory quality of the finished products. As expected, the replacement of 50% salt with glasswort powder (20 g/kg) resulted in a reduction of approximately 37.30, 23.80, 33.33, and 30.89% in Bulgi, Seolgit, Dogani, and Boseop products, respectively. The present work demonstrates that the glasswort powder represents a potentially natural ingredient to be used as a salt replacer for the production of healthier dry-cured hams with lowered sodium content.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of coagulase-negative staphylococci in healthy dogs and to determine whether methicillin-resistant staphylococci expressed the mecA gene. Nasal and rectal swab samples were taken from 50 clinically healthy dogs. The prevalence of coagulase-negative staphylococci was evaluated according to phenotypic properties. The agar diffusion method was applied to evaluate antimicrobial resistance and the prevalence of methicillin resistance was determined using PCR analysing the mecA gene. A total of 59 coagulase-negative staphylococcus strains were isolated from the nostrils and rectums of 37 (74%) clinically healthy dogs. The prevalence of coagulase-negative staphylococci in female dogs was significantly higher compared with male dogs (P < 0.05). The results of antimicrobial susceptibility testing showed that 6.7% of the strains were resistant to oxacillin, 23.7% were resistant to penicillin, 22% to ampicillin and 16.9% to erythromycin. The mecA PCR revealed one oxacillin-sensitive and four oxacillin-resistant coagulase-negative staphylococci strains to be mecA carriers. Staphylococcus sciuri (60%) and Staphylococcus warneri (20%) were the most prevalent species among methicillin-resistant coagulase negative staphylococci. High antimicrobial resistance rates for these bacteria were observed against penicillin (100%), ampicillin (100%), oxacillin (80%), erythromycin (80%) and gentamicin (60%). All strains were susceptible to vancomycin and enrofloxacin. It is assumed that methicillin-resistance genes evolved in coagulase-negative staphylococcus and were then horizontally transferred among staphylococci.

Recent concerns over the environmental impact of peat harvesting have led to restrictions on the production of peat based potting substrates. Therefore the objective of our study was to evaluate the use of compost and biogas residues without and each with 20% additives (Perlite, Styromull, Hygromull, Lecaton, Peat, Cocofiber) as a substitute for peat. Ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.), chosen as an experimental plant, was cut four times. The results reveal that compost and biogas residues are suitable potting substrates. The incorporation of additives mixed into the basic materials partly resulted in higher yield and nutrient uptake. However, the difference among additives was mainly insignificant. Incorporation of Hygromull, especially into biogas residues favored plant growth and increased the uptake of nutrients, which is attributed to the fact that Hygromull stores nutrients and delivers them even later in the growing season. Furthermore Hygromull reduces the salt concentration of the medium, resulting in favored plant growth of younger plants.

The study of young poplar tree characteristics like initial diameter and height as well as mineral fertilization that promotes the rapid growth of trees for biomass production was the aim of this research. In two forest nurseries of northern Greece, the growth of Populus sp. clone I-214 under five fertilization treatments per dosage was studied, i.e. (i) 120 kg (NH₄)₂SO₄.ha^-1, (ii) 200 kg (NH₄)₂SO₄.ha^-1, (iii) 150 kg (NH₄)₂SO₄.ha^-1 and 300 kg mixed fertilizer 11-15-15 (i.e. 11 kg N, 15 kg P₂O₅ and 15 kg K₂O per 100 kg of fertilizer) per ha, (iv) 150 kg (NH₄)₂SO₄.ha^-1, 200 kg mixed fertilizer 16-20-0 (i.e. 16 kg N and 20 kg P₂O₅ per 100 kg of fertilizer) per ha and 100 kg K₂SO₄.ha^-1, (v) no fertilization. Results showed that initial diameter was the variable that had the greatest effect on growth, while the fertilization with 150 kg (NH₄)₂SO₄.ha^-1 and 300 kg mixed fertilizer 11-15-15 per ha improved significantly diameter growth. Nevertheless, no specific pattern was found statistically for the best fertilization treatment concerning the height growth of young poplar trees. These findings could be taken into account for the best management practices for rapid poplar tree growth and biomass production under similar edaphoclimatic Mediterranean conditions.

Information on the spatial distribution of plant nutrients is a prerequisite to predict their behaviour and to monitor the fertility in a watershed. This study was conducted to evaluate variations of plant available potassium (PAK) and non-exchangeable potassium (NEK) of a watershed with different land use and parent materials. Eight hundred soil samples were taken from 0-30 and 30-60 cm depths across the Kazova watershed of 20 656 ha in size. Average PAK was 152.8 mg/K kg in surface layers and 167.2 mg/kg in subsurface layers. NEK was 925 mg K/kg in surface and 167.2 mg K/kg in subsurface layers. All forms of K were the lowest in soils formed over serpentinite. Soils in pastures had the highest PAK and NEK. Both K forms were positively related to clay content. Spatial variability patterns of PAK and NEK were similar and consistent at both soil depths. The variation in parent material and land use is considered as the main cause for large variations of potassium forms.

The developmental toxicity of two anaesthetics, 2-phenoxyethanol and clove oil, used in aquaculture was evaluated using the Frog Embryo Teratogenesis Assay: Xenopus (FETAX) and the results were compared to outcomes in fish. Xenopus laevis embryos were exposed to 50, 100, 300, 500, 700 and 1000 mg/l of 2-phenoxyethanol or 1, 5, 10, 20, 30 and 40 mg/l of clove oil. Values of 96 h LC50, 96 h EC50 (malformation) and teratogenic index (ratio of 96 h LC50 and 96 h EC50) were determined and the types and severities of the induced malformations and minimal concentration inhibiting the growth of embryos were estimated. Teratogenic index values for 2-phenoxy-ethanol and clove oil were estimated at 1.69 and 0.61 respectively. The most frequently observed malformations produced by 2-phenoxyethanol were axial flexure and oedema and for clove oil, axial flexure, gut malformation, microphthalmia and oedema. 2-phenoxyethanol was found to induce growth inhibition of frog embryos at concentrations above 300 mg/l and clove oil at concentrations above 20 mg/l. In summary, both 2-phenoxyethanol and clove oil affected the growth of Xenopus embryos, while only 2-phenoxyethanol represented a teratogenic risk.

Dogs with uncomplicated lower urinary tract infection (LUTI) are usually treated with appropriate antibiotics for 10-14 days. In humans, a single dose of ceftriaxone is employed in the treatment of uncomplicated LUTI. The purpose of the current study was to compare the efficacy of a single dose of ceftriaxone with multiple dose (14 days) enrofloxacin administration in dogs with uncomplicated LUTI. Forty-seven non-pregnant client-owned dogs with LUTI signs were enrolled in this prospective, controlled, randomised, blinded clinical trial. The inclusion criteria were the presence of at least one type of bacteria greater than or equal to 1000 CFU/ml in each urine sample. Dogs were assigned randomly to Group ENR (n = 23) enrofloxacin treatment (5 mg/kg, s.c., s.i.d., for 14 days) and Group CEF (n = 20) ceftriaxone treatment (25 mg/kg, i.v., once). The time needed for disappearance of clinical signs ranged from 4-9 days and 1-5 days for Group ENR and Group CEF, respectively. Clinical signs significantly improved earlier in Group CEF than in Group ENR (P < 0.0001). Urine culture with less than or equal to 1000 CFU/ml was achieved on Days 17-21 after the first day of treatment in all dogs. Although a single dose of ceftriaxone can be considered as an alternative treatment to alleviate the signs of uncomplicated LUTI in dogs, its status as drug of last resort is a limiting factor for its extensive use in clinical practice.

The effect of milking on the length and diameter of the teat canal during teat regeneration immediately after milking was evaluated. The practical measurements of the teat canal were performed on 70 Holstein cows using ultrasound Aloka Prosound device 2. A special "bath method" of the teat ultrasonographic scanning was used at set time intervals - before milking, immediately after milking, and 30, 60, 90, and 120 min after milking. Before milking, the average length of the teat canal was 10.67 mm and 9.3 mm and the teat canal diameter was 1.11 mm and 1.09 mm for front and rear teats, respectively. The average length of the front and rear teat canal significantly increased by about 20.5 and 32.9% and the front and rear teat canal diameter increased by 9.0 and 9.1% on average immediately after milking compared to values detected before milking. After 120 min of regeneration the teat canal was by 3.56 and 14.95% longer than before milking for front and rear teats, respectively. Prolongation of the teat canal was significantly affected by teat position. Based on the present results, the time period of 120 min is not sufficient for the complete regeneration of the teat canal length to the pre-milking values. On the other hand, we recorded total regeneration of the teat diameter within 120 min after milking. The initial values of the front and rear teat diameter were equal to those measurd 120 min after milking.

This research was aimed at assessing the impact of different doses of nutrients on growth and flower quality of the Asiatic hybrid Lilium ((Lilium × elegans Thunb.) cv. 'Fangio') under the soilless culture. Five nutrient (fertigation) regimes were applied (T1: daily, T2: twice a week, T3: weekly, T4: twice a month and T5: control). Increasing the nutrient supply increased chlorophyll content index (SPAD, 45-93%), leaf area (30-55%), number of flowers per plant (25-67%) and substrate electrical conductivity (EC: 28-300%) compared to control. Although T3 (weekly nutrient supply) had lower shoot N, P, K⁺ and Ca⁺² concentrations than T1, this regimen increased the number of flower buds by 20% and flower longevity by 56% compared to T1. Overall, weekly nutrient application is effective at maintaining flower quality and yield in the 'Fangio' lily, and compares favourably with programs in which fertigation is more frequent and the level of total applied nutrients is higher.

Besides many natural factors, soil pH and temperature can have significant effects on the sorption of pharmaceuticals in soils. This is the first study, which aimed to evaluate the effect of soil pH and temperature on the sorption of ibuprofen in soil. Sorption-desorption experiments at 20°C indicated weak retention of ibuprofen in the soil. Sorption of ibuprofen in the soil was affected by both temperature and pH with the latter showing much greater effect. The extent of ibuprofen sorption increased with decreasing pH mainly due to the change of ibuprofen speciation from negatively charged ions at high pH to the neutral form at low pH. At pH 4, the distribution coefficient K_d was 1.30 l/kg, whereas at pH 8, it was only 0.42 l/kg. When temperature increased, the sorption of ibuprofen decreased, showing that its sorption was exothermic.

The effect of pork backfat replacement by gels containing pork skin and canola oil on some physicochemical, technological, nutritional, and sensory parameters of burgers was evaluated. Three different batches were manufactured: a control with 100% of pork backfat, and treatments T1 and T2 where 50% of pork backfat was replaced by pork skin/water/canola oil mixtures at 45 : 45 : 10 (T1) or 40 : 40 : 20 (T2) ratios. A fat reduction up to 34% and an improvement of the fatty acid profile were achieved in the reformulated burgers. Lower diameter reduction and lower cooking loss were observed in the modified samples. Although an increase in TPA parameters (hardness, gumminess, and chewiness) and lightness (L*) was observed, the overall acceptability of the reformulated burgers was not affected. Therefore, the use of pork skin and canola oil is an effective strategy to confer technological and nutritional advantages to low-fat burgers.

Genetic relationship was analyzed between type traits and longevity measures in dual-purpose cattle. Data from 91 486 Czech Fleckvieh cows first calved between 2003 and 2009 were used. Longevity was defined as the actual number of lactations initiated per cow and also as functional longevity, which incorporated an adjustment to account for variation in voluntary culling based upon milk production. Lifetime performance was defined as cumulative milk production through the 6^th parity. All cows were scored for conformation traits during their first lactation. Genetic correlations between these traits and longevity measures were estimated by bivariate analysis using the DMU variance component program package. Type trait heritabilities ranged from 0.30 to 0.59, while heritabilities for longevity and functional longevity were 0.06 and 0.05, respectively. Heritability of lifetime performance was 0.08. Genetic correlations between type traits and longevity measures ranged from low to intermediate values. Genetic correlations of the measured body size traits to the real and functional longevity ranged from -0.06 to -0.29, for udder traits from -0.02 to 0.33, and for foot and leg traits from -0.03 to 0.17. Genetic correlations between the measured body size traits and lifetime performance ranged from -0.03 to -0.30, for udder traits from 0.05 to 0.47, for foot and leg traits from -0.07 to 0.15. Genetic correlations of composite trait scores for frame, muscularity, feet and legs, and udder with longevity traits ranged from -0.20 to 0.41 and for lifetime performance -0.14 to 0.51. The highest genetic correlations between a type trait and functional longevity were for composite udder score (0.25), feet and legs (0.26), and udder depth (0.33), suggesting that these traits could serve as indicators of functional longevity. We conclude that selection based upon easily and inexpensively measured type traits could improve functional longevity of cows as well as lifetime milk production.

Air-drying of soil samples is a common practice for all-purpose soil testing. However, it may cause the cessation of microbial activity changing the biochemical attributes. For this reason, field-moist samples are commonly used in the assessment of the enzyme activity in soils. This practice may, therefore, discourage the use of enzymes in soil quality evaluations. This study evaluated the effects of air-drying on cellulase, arylsulfatase and acid phosphatase activities in soil; the hypothesis was that the activities of these enzymes determined in air-dried soil samples are similar to those obtained at field-moist samples. Soil samples were collected (0-10 cm) in a long-term experiment that received two rates (10 and 20 t/ha) of sewage sludge and mineral fertilizer and was cropped with maize. Collected soil samples were split into two groups. In the first one, the enzymes were determined at field-moist samples, while in the second one, the samples were air-dried before enzymatic analyses. Acid phosphatase was significantly affected by air-drying while the arylsulfatase activity hardly changed. The results showed that the enzymes determined in air-dried soil samples hold the capacity to identify different organic management and can, potentially, be used as soil quality indicators.

We examined the effects of nanoparticles (NPs) of TiO₂ and ZnO at 0.5, 1, 2 or 3% concentrations for 10, 20, and 30 min in stratified seeds of Prunus mahaleb Linnaeus. Then, seedlings produced were irrigated to field capacity with NP solutions at control, 1, 5, and 10% concentration for 7 months in the greenhouse conditions. Treating seeds at 1% concentrations of TiO₂-NPs for 20 min resulted in the highest germination percentage (65%) and at concentrations of 3% for 30 min it showed the lowest germination percentage (13%). The highest total seedling height was obtained after exposure of seeds to 0.5% TiO₂-NPs for 10 min. Irrigation of seedlings with TiO₂-NPs at the concentration of 1% seems to be a suitable method how to increase their total height, survival, and total dry weight. A decrease in the relative water content and an increase in proline were observed in response to the application of high levels of NPs.