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The aim of the present investigation was to evaluate how the order in which the ewes in a milking group enter the milking parlour affects their milkability and milk composition. Therefore, the order of entry into the milking parlour was evaluated in ewes of one flock (n = 353) during six evening milkings. In all, the sheep were milked in 15 milking groups. The sheep entering the milking parlour in the first milking group achieved 15 points and the sheep of each next milking group one point less, i.e. the sheep of the last group achieved 1 point. In the analysis, only the ewes with the highest and the lowest average number of points were included and assigned to the first (FG, n = 19) and the last group (LG, n = 29), respectively. After the last milking, the individual milk samples were collected from the jar to analyze the composition and somatic cell count. Machine milk yield in 30 s (0.15 ± 0.09 and 0.11 ± 0.05 l) and 60 s (0.26 ± 0.16 and 0.19 ± 0.10 l), peak flow rate (1.04 ± 0.39 and 0.77 ± 0.29 l/min), and latency time (14 ± 3 and 20 ± 13 s) significantly differed (P < 0.05) between FG and LG, respectively. Total milk yield (0.41 ± 0.17 and 0.35 ± 0.14 l) and machine milk yield (0.27 ± 0.15 and 0.22 ± 0.10 l) tended to be higher (P = 0.05 and P = 0.09) in FG than in LG, respectively. No significant differences were observed in milk composition between FG and LG. It seems that ewes which enter the milking parlour in early milking groups have better parameters of milkability than those milked in later groups.

Barren brome (Bromus sterilis L.) is a troublesome weed of winter cereals in western and central Europe and its control requires an exact estimation of emergence time. The study focused on the germination response of populations from the Czech Republic to water availability at different temperatures and under different light regimes. Seeds were able to germinate even at very low water potential (Ψ) close to the wilting point, but decreasing temperatures below 25°C and exposure to light decreased the germination percentage (GP) and prolonged the time to reach 50% germination (T₅₀). At higher temperatures of 15, 20, and 25°C, seeds germinated up to a Ψ value of-1.5 MPa; however, the GP differed between light (0-3%) and darkness (50-75%). At the highest temperature of 25°C and germination in water, T₅₀ was less than 1 day, but a decrease in Ψ to -1.5 MPa prolonged the T₅₀ to 5 days; however, this occurred without any significant effect of light regime. With decreasing temperature and Ψ, seeds were more sensitive to the light regime and the disproportion between T₅₀ in light and darkness increased. At a Ψ of less than -1.0 MPa, seeds needed twice as long for germination in light than in darkness when germinating at 20°C or 15°C. The results may be of value for the development of predictive models and for identifying times when weed control may be the most effective.

The financial markets are impacted by various seasonal anomalies. One of the best known of them is the Halloween effect. The Halloween effect means that the summer period (May-October) asset returns are lower compared to the winter period (November-April) asset returns. In the paper, price series of 20 major agricultural commodities over the 1980-2015-time period are tested for the presence of the Halloween effect. The data show that 15 out of the 20 commodities recorded a higher average winter period than summer period returns and in 10 cases, the differences are statistically significant. The data also show that out of the 5 commodities with higher summer period returns, only in the case of poultry the differences are statistically significant.

The paper analyses the growth, structure, production and soil chemistry of different tree species stands 20 years after allochthonous spruce dieback. The experiment was carried out at lower altitudes (300 m a.s.l.) at rich sites of the Central Europe region. Norway spruce (Picea abies Linnaeus) and beech (Fagus sylvatica Linnaeus) stands established by artificial regeneration were compared with silver birch (Betula pendula Roth), aspen (Populus tremula Linnaeus) and birch-aspen stands, which were regenerated naturally. Spruce stands showed a decrease of site index (site index 3), compared with the previous generation (site index 2). This leads to an expected lower production at the age of 100 years, compared to mature beech stands, which showed a site index of 1. The highest production (tree overbark volume) was found out in the aspen stand - 294 m³.ha^-1. The production (tree overbark volume) of other monoculture stands was comparable and reached 201-222 m³.ha^-1. Most of the soil chemical characteristics under the compared stands (Ca and Mg content, Al content and active and potential soil reaction) were significantly better under aspen and decreased in the following trend: birch - beech - spruce.

Crown and root rot, caused by the Oomycete pathogen Phytophthora palmivora, has become a destructive disease of apricot and cherry in eastern Turkey. There are no currently registered fungicides labeled for its control. In greenhouse experiments conducted in 2012 and 2013, 1-year-old potted apricot rootstock Zerdali and cherry rootstock Mahaleb plants were treated either with foliar spray of fosetyl-Al (140, 160, and 180 g a.i./100 l) or phosphorous acid (187.5, 200, and 215 g a.i./100 l) or soil drench of 100 ml of metalaxyl-M (= mefenoxam)+mancozeb (12+192, 16+256, and 20+320 g a.i./100 l) one day after wound inoculation of crowns and roots. In both years, phosphorous acid at 200 and 215 g a.i./100 l, fosetyl-Al at 160 and 180 g a.i./100 l, and metalaxyl-M+mancozeb at 20+320 g a.i./100 l significantly reduced the root rot severity on Zerdali by 70.68-80.00% and crown rot severity on both Zerdali and Mahaleb, by 68.32-91.96 and 74.21-82.60%, respectively, compared with phosphorous acid at 187.5 g a.i./100 l, fosetyl-Al at 140 g a.i./100 l, metalaxyl-M+mancozeb at 12+192 and 16+256 g a.i./100 l and control. Moreover, fosetyl-Al at 180 g a.i./100 l and metalaxyl-M+mancozeb at 20+320 g a.i./100 l significantly reduced the root rot severity on Mahaleb compared to fosetyl-Al at 140 and 160 g a.i./100 l, metalaxyl-M+mancozeb at 12+192 and 16+256 g a.i./100 l, phosphorous acid treatments and control in 2012, providing the best control of the disease by 88.00-90.68%. Two/three phosphorous acid foliar applications at 200 g a.i./100 l suppressed symptom development when field applications were made on a curative basis in 2014 and 2015.

Cryptosporidium spp. are important emerging pathogens that can cause infections in humans, especially in immunosuppressed patients. Treatment of diseased calves that shed the infectious stage of the protozoon is critically important to prevent contamination by Cryptosporidium spp. oocysts. The objective of this study was to determine if a combination of azithromycin and toltrazuril provides a better treatment option for calf cryptosporidiosis compared to the use of either agent alone. A total of 55 Holstein calves with cryptosporidiosis were randomly assigned into four groups. Group A (n = 15) received azithromycin at a dose of 20 mg/kg/day per os for six days, group T (n = 15) received toltrazuril at a dose of 20 mg/kg per os every other day on a total of three occasions, and group AT (n = 15) received the combination of both drugs. The control group (n = 10) received purified water. A randomised, placebo-controlled, double-blinded clinical study was designed. The number of oocysts in faeces and clinical parameters were followed daily. Selected haematological and biochemical parameters were measured at the beginning and end of the study. The calves receiving the combination of azithromycin and toltrazuril exhibited a better clinical score as well as the lowest number of oocysts at all time-points. In conclusion, the combination of azithromycin and toltrazuril promotes rapid clinical recovery in calves infected with cryptosporidiosis and stops oocyst shedding. Thus, the combination of azithromycin and toltrazuril is an effective alternative treatment option for calf cryptosporidiosis.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of closure best management practices (BMPs) on runoff volume and soil loss on skid trails that received two densities of soil cover mats and were located on two slope gradients in an Iranian temperate mountainous forest. The treatments included combinations of three closure BMPs (water bar only, water bar + sawdust, and water bar + hardwood slash), two amounts (densities) of mats (7.5 and 15 kg.m^-2), and two levels of slope gradients (≤ 20% and > 20%). Results showed that the water bar treatment was the least effective erosion control treatment, followed by the hardwood slash and sawdust treatments. Averaged over mat densities and both slope gradients, the average runoff rates and amounts of soil loss from the skid trails with the water bar treatment were 46.7 l per plot and 6.1 g.m^-2, respectively, 16.8 l per plot, 2.8 g.m^-2, respectively, with the hardwood slash treatment and 11.7 l per plot, 1.9 g.m^-2, respectively, with the sawdust treatment. The results indicated that surface cover is a necessary element for controlling erosion losses following a skidding disturbance, particularly on steep slopes.

The development of bioanalytical methods has become challenging due to sample complexity, requirements for method reliability, and speed of analysis with triple quadrupole LC-MS/MS used widely for the routine analysis of biological materials. The article presents the method development and validation results for pelargonidin and malvidin in potato tubers. The developed method uses a short C18 column, is able to measure all six common anthocyanidins, uses a binary mobile phase with acetonitrile and water both with added 1% formic acid, ESI ionisation in positive mode, 3-h hydrolysis with 2.7 M methanolic HCl at 90°C. For pelargonidin and malvidin, the method shows high recovery of 98-100%, intra-day repeatability of 6.7-17.9% (depending on the analyte and concentration level), uncertainty below 20%, and uses quadratic calibration.

In this study, the antibacterial substances ZnO, organic acids and a bacteriophage cocktail were added to the diet of weanling pigs to evaluate the effects on gut health. Dietary treatments were basal diet without any supplementation (Control) and basal diet either supplemented with 0.34% (2500 ppm) ZnO, 0.20% organic acids or with 0.10% bacteriophage cocktail. Faecal score was decreased in ZnO and bacteriophage cocktail treatments. The total number of ileal anaerobic bacteria, Bifidobacterium spp. and Lactobacillus spp. were higher in ZnO, bacteriophage cocktail and organic acids, while ileal coliforms and caecal Clostridium spp. were decreased in comparison to Control. Faecal coliforms (Day 7 and Day 21) and Clostridium spp. (Day 21 and Day 35) were lower in bacteriophage cocktail. The gain to feed ratio was improved in all supplemented groups. The digestibility of dry matter was increased at the end of the experiment in all supplemented groups, while that of crude protein was increased only at Day 21 in bacteriophage cocktail. Duodenal villus height was increased in ZnO and bacteriophage cocktail. Bacteriophage cocktail also showed a greater villus height in the small intestine. Supplementation of bacteriophage cocktail in weaning pig diets resulted in better growth performance, digestibility and gut development compared to Control, and thus, it can be concluded that its effects are comparable to ZnO or organic acids supplementation.

Little information is available on how fertilizer application affects concentration of many elements in peeled potato (Solanum tuberosum) tubers and peels. We analyzed how long-term application of cattle slurry and mineral N, P and K fertilizers affects the yield of tubers, their dry matter content and concentrations of elements. In 2009, potatoes tubers were collected in control, cattle slurry (CS), mineral N₄P₂K₂ and combined CSN₄P₂K₂ treatment of the Ruzyně Fertilizer and Crop Rotation Experiment established on Illimerized Luvisol in Prague (Czech Republic) in 1955. Amount of N, P and K supplied by CS was 138, 30 and 172 kg/ha and the amount supplied by N₄P₂K₂ was 110, 31 and 186 kg/ha. Yield of fresh potatoes ranged from 20.6 in the control up to 31.2 t/ha in CSN₄P₂K₂ treatment. Dry matter content of unpeeled tubers, peeled tubers and potato peels was not significantly affected by fertilizer treatments probably because of not excessive N application. Normal cropping practices with application of CS and mineral N, P and K fertilizers did not significantly increase concentrations of trace elements in peeled tubers or potato peels on neutral soil with low trace elements availability. Concentrations of many elements (N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Cd, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, and Zn) were higher in potato peels than in peeled tubers, but the differences in the case of trace elements were relatively small.

Fencing is the common management practice to restore degraded grasslands. However, long-term fencing decreases grassland productivity and species diversity. The study was therefore conducted as a three-year (2011-2013) experiment with a randomized complete block in a grassland fenced for 20 years in the Loess Plateau of China, and the effects of fertilization, burning and grazing on aboveground biomass, species and functional group composition, species and some functional group diversity were analysed. Our results showed that the functional group of perennial bunchgrasses dominated the grassland regardless of management practices. However, burning altered species composition (i.e. the unpalatable species, Artemisia sacrorum) more significantly than fertilization or grazing, and surprisingly, nearly quadrupled the functional group of shrubs and semi-shrubs. Fertilization had a positive effect on the aboveground biomass (44.0%), while clearly reducing species diversity (21.9%). Grazing decreased aboveground biomass, but increased species diversity by 15.9%. This study indicated that fertilization influenced plant community through its impact on aboveground biomass, while burning changed plant community by altering dominant species. Thus, it was concluded that fertilizer could further improve community biomass while burning reduced the edibility of grass. Grazing could be carried out to enhance the biodiversity in the long-term fenced grasslands.

Elastomer seals in fuel systems have to evince required mechanical properties also at exposure to fuels. The aim of the research was to determine an influence of various concentrations of rapeseed methyl ester (RME) on a change of mechanical properties of sealing O-rings made from polyacrylate elastomer (an indication ACM). A permanent deformation - compression set (CS), a tensile strength and an elongation after the exposure to the tested environment for the time 20 months were evaluated within the experiment. A fall of the tensile strength, the elongation and the permanent deformation - compression set CS was proved depending on the type of the fuel. The increased negative influence of various concentrations of RME (20% to 100%) on the tested properties of the sealing O-rings compared with the diesel oil complying with the standard EN 590:2004 was not proved. So a significant negative influence of degradation aspects on the tested properties of the O-rings of the ACM type (polyacrylate elastomer) was not proved.

Mycorrhizal fungi form mutualistic symbioses with the roots of 80% of plants which increase growth and nutrient uptake for the host plants. This research was conducted to determine the effect of individual Glomus intraradices Schenck & Smith and Trichoderma harzianum Rifai species on the root colonization, biomass allocation, physiological characteristics and nutrient uptake of hazelnut (Corylus avellana Linnaeus) seedlings in the nursery. The results showed that both G. intraradices and T. harzianum improved biomass, physiological characteristics and nutrient uptake of hazelnut seedlings as well as simultaneous root colonization. However, the growth rate for G. intraradices treatment was significantly higher than that for T. harzianum treatment. The highest leaf dry mass (2.66 g), root dry mass (3.39 g), root volume (11.31 cm³), total plant dry weight (11.20 g) were detected in seedlings inoculated with G. intraradices. Inoculation with G. intraradices and T. harzianum increased net photosynthesis (64 and 26%), stomatal conductance (66.1 and 31.4%) and water use efficiency (50 and 22%). Both G. intraradices and T. harzianum showed increased nutrient accumulation. The G. intraradices treatment resulted in the most efficient nutrient absorption with increases of 58.4% (N), 85.2% (P) and 83.2% (K) in plants. It can be deduced that although G. intraradices in comparison with T. harzianum more favourably affected the growth and leaf gas exchange as well as nutrient uptake of hazelnut seedlings, it can be suggested that the inoculation of hazelnut roots with both arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi is a proper measure to produce the healthy and strong seedlings of this species in the nursery.

A study of Auchenorrhyncha was carried out in 2014 and 2015 in 7 vineyard plots with different varieties and pest management strategies in the Nitra wine region and Lesser Carpathian wine region in western Slovakia. The aim of this study was to obtain information related to the presence of potential vector insects associated with grapevine yellows phytoplasmas from the Flavescence dorée and Bois noir groups. Insects were collected by sweeping with an entomological net. Thirty species of Auchenorrhyncha were identified as belonging to 6 families. Cicadellidae were the most abundant, comprising 20 species. Scaphoideus titanus was collected at 4 localities. Identification of the phytoplasma vector is critical to the national strategy for assessment and control of vectors spreading the phytoplasma disease in Slovakian vineyards. The first finding of Metcalfa pruinosa was noticed in vineyards in Slovakia.

Reactive oxygen species overgeneration as a side effect of semen cryopreservation may lead to lipid peroxidation, protein degradation, DNA fragmentation and cell death, resulting in a decrease of sperm survival and fertilisation ability. Lycopene has been proposed as a potential supplement to semen extenders because of its antioxidant properties. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of lycopene on the structural integrity, functional activity and selected oxidative stress parameters of cryopreserved bovine sperm. Thirty bovine ejaculates were split into two aliquots and diluted with a commercial semen extender supplemented with 1.5 mmol/l lycopene or containing no supplement (control), cooled down to 4 °C, frozen and kept in liquid nitrogen. Prior to experiments, frozen straws were thawed at 37 °C for 20 s. Lycopene addition resulted in a higher sperm motility (P < 0.001), progressive motility (P < 0.001) and all secondary motion characteristics (P < 0.001 with respect to the average path velocity, linear velocity, velocity of curvilinear motion, beat cross frequency, path straightness and linearity; P < 0.01 in the case of the amplitude of lateral head displacement). Furthermore, lycopene exhibited protective effects on the sperm membrane (P < 0.05) and acrosomal (P < 0.01) integrity in comparison to control. An assay for metabolic function revealed that lycopene supplementation to the cryopreservation medium resulted in a higher preservation of the sperm mitochondrial activity (P < 0.001). Reactive oxygen species production as well as intracellular superoxide generation were decreased following lycopene addition (P < 0.01 in the case of reactive oxygen species; P < 0.001 with respect to superoxide production). Finally, the presence of lycopene led to a decrease in protein carbonyl production (P < 0.01), lipid peroxidation (P < 0.001) as well as oxidative DNA damage (P < 0.05) when compared to control. In conclusion, lycopene exhibited significant reactive oxygen species-trapping and antioxidant properties which may prevent oxidative damage to frozen-thawed sperm, and, thus, enhance the post-thaw vitality of male reproductive cells in cattle breeding.

Genistein (GEN) and zearalenone (ZEA), environmental oestrogens commonly present in feedstuff for pigs, are known for their effects on reproductive functions. The aim was to verify the in vitro effects of 0.5-20 µM concentrations of GEN, ZEA and its metabolite α-zearalenol (α-ZOL) on pig sperm motility. A dose-dependent increase of the immotile sperm amount against fast and medium-fast sperm clusters was observed with all three oestrogens from the lowest concentrations tested. Individual CASA (computer-assisted sperm analysis) parameters of motile sperms seemed to be less sensitive indicators. This should be considered especially in toxicological research on a sperm model. Background of inconsistencies in to date-published papers is discussed. The results shift the effective concentrations of ZEA, α-ZOL, and GEN to values achievable in vivo and raises the questions of risk assessment of these compounds in pig reproduction.

An ideal strain for crude oil degradation in saline soils would be one with high salt-tolerance. A novel bacterial strain, Serratia sp. BF40, was isolated from crude oil contaminated saline soils. Its salt-tolerance, surface activity and ability to degrade crude oil in saline soils were evaluated. It can grow in liquid culture with NaCl concentration less than 6.0%. Its surface activity characterized as an efficient surface tension reduction, was significantly affected by salinity above 2.0%. BF40 inoculation could decrease surface tension of soil solutions and facilitate crude oil removal in soils with 0.22-1.20% salinity, but the efficiency was both significantly lower than its biosurfactant addition. The BF40 strain has a high potential for biodegradation of crude oil contaminated saline soils in view of its high surface activity and salt-tolerance, which is the first report of biosurfactant producing by the genus Serratia for petroleum degrading. We suggest that biosurfactant addition is an efficient strategy. Simultaneously, the growing status of the strain and how to boost its surface activity in saline soils should deserve further studies in order to achieve a continuous biosurfactant supply.

In vitro experiments were conducted to study the effect of NaHCO₃ (alkalinity) stress on saplings of Morus alba (cv. Local and Sujanpuri) cultured from nodal explants. For shoot multiplication 2.5 mg/l of 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) with 0.3 mg/l gibberellic acid (GA₃) were used and root formation was induced with 1.0 mg/l of indolebutyric acid (IBA). NaHCO₃ salt was added to the culture medium in three concentrations, i.e. 3.57, 20.0 and 59.0mM that increased pH to 6.2, 7.2 and 8.2, respectively. The increased salt concentration affected survival and growth parameters, subsequent cultures promoted them. The cultured biomass was analyzed for proline, protein, sugars and chlorophyll content. The results indicate an increase of proline, protein and sugars; however, they declined at higher concentrations of NaHCO₃. A decrease of chlorophyll was observed at all stress regimes.

Abstract: Services become an important participant of the international economic relationships during the last 20 to 30 years. Since the sector of services used formerly to be applied rather more on the national level, we speak of the internalisation of services, which become an important article of international trade. Compared to the dynamics of world trade with tangible goods, services reach higher year-to year increases and their share in the world trade turnover still increases. The explanation lies in the growing importance of services connected to the level of the economy development and in the foreign trade with services liberalisation. The value of the services export on the world level reached approx.1.5 trill. USD in 2000. The value of the world export of tangible goods was 5.5 trill. USD in the same year, so that export of services covered approximately one fifth of the total world tangible and non-tangible goods. The share of services in the world export (tangible and non-tangible) grew continually.

Monilinia laxa (Monilia laxa), Monilinia fructicola (Monilia fructicola) and Monilinia fructigena (Monilia fructigena) are the causal agents of brown rot on pome and stone fruits in Hungary. Forty-five isolates collected from different hosts, different years in several orchards were used for characterization of the M. laxa and M. fructigena population in Hungary. The isolates were identified on species level based on morphological and molecular biological methods; out of these 24 were M. laxa, 20 were M. fructigena and 1 was M. fructicola. Populations of the three Monilinia species were studied with microsatellite primers and the degree of genetic diversity within the species was measured. The population structure analysis revealed that genetic diversity within M. laxa subpopulations was H_S= 0.1599, while within M. fructigena subpopulations was H_S= 0.2551. The total genetic diversity was H_T= 0.3846, while genetic diversity between M. laxa and M. fructigena subpopulations was D_ST= 0.1771. No clustering relationship was observed among isolates by the different years or hosts.

Juvenile cynomolgus monkeys are valuable models for studying human diseases. Reference data of clinical chemistry, haematology and blood coagulation parameters of juvenile cynomolgus monkeys are very important for clinical diagnosis and conducting research. In this study, 72 blood samples (obtained from 35 males and 37 females) and 20 blood samples (obtained from 10 males and 10 females) were used to determine normal data of clinical serum chemistry, haematological profiles and normal blood coagulation parameters in juvenile cynomolgus monkeys. Seventeen markers of clinical serum chemistry, twenty-nine markers of haematology and two parameters of blood coagulation were analysed. These data may provide valuable information for veterinarians and investigators using juvenile cynomolgus monkeys in research on disease treatment and in experimental studies.

Uric acid has stronger pro-oxidant than antioxidant properties during equine endurance events and thus, limits performance and has serious repercussions on health. The aim of the study was to investigate the changes in uric acid, leucocytes, plasma biochemical parameters and heart rate in metabolic endurance horses. Thirty Arabian endurance horses were physically examined and blood samples were collected pre and post-race. After physical examination, the successfully completed (n = 10) and metabolic disordered (n = 20) endurance horses were identified. Blood samples in heparinised vacutainer tubes were used for the determination of uric acid, triglyceride, creatine kinase, aspartate transaminase, packed cell volume, lactate, total protein and plasma protein. Blood sample in ethyl diaminotetra-acetic acid vacutainer tubes were used for the analysis of leucocytes. The age, body weight, heart rate, humidity and ambient temperature were also recorded. One way Analysis of variance and pairwise correlations were used for the analysis. A value of P ≤ 0.05 was considered as significantly different. The mean values of uric acid, lactate, leucocytes, plasma protein, total protein, heart rate, creatine pinase and Packed cell volume were significantly different between the successfully completed and metabolic disordered endurance horses P < 0.0001), respectively. The mean values of aspartate transaminase and triglyceride were significantly different between the successfully completed and metabolic disordered endurance horses: P < 0.0130 and P < 0.0004, respectively. There were significant positive correlations between uric acid and lactate (r = 0.5196; P < 0.0271), between uric acid and plasma protein (r = 0.6025; P < 0.0175), between uric and Packed cell volume (r = 0.5206; P < 0.0268), between uric acid and triglyceride (r = 0.5541; P < 0.0170) and between uric acid and heart rate (r = 0.5629; P < 0.0150) in the metabolic disordered endurance horses. In conclusion, heart rate, triglyceride, blood lactate and packed cell volume were significantly associated with uric acid, a biomarker of oxidative stress. Therefore, uric acid could be used to evaluate performance and health status in endurance horses during training and endurance events.

The material of the present study was composed of 30 eyes with luxatio lentis occurring in 20 dogs. Unilateral lens luxation was determined in a half of the animals while bilateral luxation was determined in the other half. Lenses in 19 of the 30 eyes were luxated in the anterior direction (63.3%), three were luxated in the posterior direction (10%) and eight were subluxated (26.6%). The distribution of patient dogs based on the breeds showed that the incidence of lens luxation was higher in Terrier, Cocker Spaniel and crossbreed dogs compared to the other breeds. The results of etiological classification of the diseases which are generally seen in older dogs (on average 7.2 years old) were as follows: congenital in two patients, primary luxation in four patients, and secondary luxation in 14 patients. Secondary luxations diagnosed in 14 animals were determined to have developed as a result of trauma in two dogs, glaucoma in one dog, uveitis in one dog, and senile degeneration and/or cataract in 10 dogs. Bilateral (two dogs) and unilateral (five dogs) intracapsullar lens extraction (ICLE) was applied to these animals. The primary disease was to be kept under control by treating those with secondary lens luxation for uveitis or glaucoma. A severe progressive intraocular inflammation developed in one patient. Enucleation was conducted on this patient due to buphthalmus developing in a short time. These results may be helpful to small animal veterinarians dealing with this disease which results in blindness unless early diagnosis and surgical treatment are conducted.

In order to deliver essential information related to flexible cultivar recommendations, the cultivars which have been released have to be evaluated under different crop management treatments across agro-ecosystems using two-factorial post-registration multi-environment trials. The objective of this study was to evaluate the yield adaptive patterns of 24 winter wheat cultivars tested across 20 trial locations and three consecutive cropping seasons. The evaluated winter wheat cultivars from many Western European countries and Poland showed different adaptive responses to the Polish agro-ecosystems under each of the crop management intensities. Under the high-input management, the cultivars Rapsodia, (UK) Bogatka and Nadobna (Poland) showed a wide adaptation. The cultivars Alcazar (France), Anthus (Germany), Batuta (Poland) and Boomer (UK) were the best adapted to lower-productive environments and poorly adapted to highly productive conditions under both management treatments.

The aim of this study was to determine the supply of 25 different macrominerals (calcium, magnesium, potassium) and trace elements (aluminium, arsenic, barium, boron, cadmium, cobalt, copper, iron, lithium, lead, manganese, molybdenum, nickel, selenium, silicon, strontium, sulphur, thallium, tin, titanium, uranium, zinc), and to ascertain the presence of any over- or undersupplies. As a second objective, we undertook a comparison of our results with existing reference values from selected literature and from laboratory analyses, with the aim of classifying the obtained results into the following categories: 'deficiency', 'adequate' and 'oversupply'. For the study, 16 sheep and four goat farms located in the Austrian states of Upper Austria (n = 12), Carinthia (n = 6) and Vorarlberg (n = 2) were selected. From every farm, five serum blood samples were obtained by puncturing the vena jugularis to evaluate the macromineral and trace element status in clinically sound female sheep (n = 80; 12 different breeds) and female goats (n = 20; Saanen goats, Boer goats). The animals were kept for dairy farming (milking and/or meat production) or for landscaping. The mean age of both sheep and goats was 3.1 years (sheep: min. 0.5, max. 10; goats: min. 1, max. 5); 44% of the studied animals were lactating and 22% were pregnant at the time of sampling. The serum blood samples were sent to a laboratory and analysed using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. In summary, the supply with macrominerals and trace elements compared with reference values from the laboratory was adequate for As, Ca, Fe and Mg in sheep and for As, Ca, Cu, K, Mg and Se in goats. Although all animals in our study were examined for clinical signs of disease by the local veterinarian, oversupplies in sheep for the elements K and Mo and in goats for Fe as well as undersupplies in sheep and goats for Zn could be found in the serum of the studied animals.

DNA methylation undergoes dynamic changes and is a crucial part of the epigenetic regulation during mammalian early development. To determine the DNA methylation levels in bovine embryos, we applied a bisulfite sequencing based method aimed at repetitive sequences including three retrotransposons (L1_BT, BovB, and ERV1-1-I_BT) and Satellite I. A more accurate estimate of the global DNA methylation level compared to previous methods using only one repeat sequence, like Alu, could be made by calculation of the weighted arithmetic mean of multiple repetitive sequences, considering the copy number of each repetitive sequence. Satellite I and L1_BT showed significant methylation reduction at the blastocyst stage, while BovB and ERV1-1-I_BT showed no difference. The mean methylation level of the repetitive sequences during preimplantation development was the lowest at the blastocyst stage. No methylation difference was found between embryos cultured in 5% and 20% O₂. Because mutations of CpGs negatively influence the calculation accuracy, we checked the mutation rate of the sequenced CpG sites. Satellite I and L1_BT showed a relatively low mutation rate (1.92 and 3.72% respectively) while that of ERV1-1-I_BT and BovB was higher (11.95 and 24% respectively). Therefore we suggest using a combination of repeats with low mutation rate, taking into account the proportion of each sequence, as a relatively quick marker for the global DNA methylation status of preimplantation stages and possibly also for other cell types.

The anaerobic co-digestion of bagasse with digested cow manure was operated in 3 l semi-continuous reactor under mesophlic temperature at 34 ± 1°C. Short hydraulic retention time and high organic loading rate applied were 10 days and 3.465 kg volatile solids (VS)/m³.day, respectively. Anaerobic co-digestion of bagasse with digested cow manure obtained higher biogas yield (69 ml/g VS) compared with the anaerobic digestion of digested cow manure alone (20.42 ml/g.VS). Kinetic assessment revealed that the maximum specific growth rate, the maximum rate of substrate consumption, half-velocity constant, endogenous decay constant and microbial growth yield obtained were 3.917 day^-1, 870.309 mg/mg, 15.09 mg/l , 8.1518 day^-1 and 0.0193 mg/mg, respectively. This result indicated that a longer retention time was required to allow the bacterial growth.

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.

In our study, a system of seven natural terraces interspersed with six field belts situated at the Knínice locality (the Ore Mts., North-West Bohemia) was selected as the experimental catchment area. Overland flow was computed using two different methods: the kinematic wave method and the SCS dimensionless Unit hydrograph (UH). For the kinematic wave method calculations the KINFIL software was used; for SCS dimensionless hydrograph the HEC-HMS software was applied. The results compare hydrographs with N-year recurrence of rainfall-runoff time, where N = 10, 20, 50, and 100 years. The comparison provides hydraulic results with terraces and without terraces computed using both mentioned software products. Although two different methods of overland flow computation were performed, the input data obtained from geodetic and hydrological measurements were identical. Results of the comparison are presented and discussed.

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.