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Conditioning is a simple and effective method of post-harvest longevity of both flowers and florists' greens. Performing this treatment immediately after harvest by the producer increases the quality of floral products expressed as their post-harvest longevity. The purpose of this study was to assess the influence of four growth regulators from the gibberellin and cytokinin groups applied as a 4-h conditioning treatment of leaf blades and to determine any effects on post-harvest longevity of leaves of Limonium latifolium. The leaves were harvested early in the morning from the department of ornamental plants collection. Selected leaves were fully-developed and had no damage or discolouring. Gibberellic acid, benzyladenine, meta- methoxytopolin and its riboside at the concentrations of 25, 50 and 75 mg/dm³ were taken up in a solution for 4-h leaf-conditioning of Limonium latifolium at the temperature of 18-20°C. After the conditioning treatment the leaves were placed in distilled water. Leaves placed into distilled water immediately after cutting served as control. Gibberellic acid, benzyladenine and topolins applied as leaf conditioning treatment extended the post-harvest longevity of leaves of Limonium latifolium. Examined growth regulators, with the exception of riboside of meta-methoxytopolin, also had a favourable effect on the index of leaf greenness.

Current British Columbia forest regulations drive the regeneration management towards pure conifer stands rather than remaining in a mixed-species condition. This approach may result in unnecessary vegetation control. The main objective of this investigation was to study the impact of variable paper birch densities on white spruce growth in 15-20 years old stands for management implications. Regression analysis was used to examine the effect of birch density and two competition indices to predict spruce growth. A mixed model ANOVA showed that spruce mean annual DBH and basal area increment differed significantly among sites and density. From the regression analysis it appears that birch density up to 4,000 stems.ha^-1 had no significant influence on spruce growth which is much higher than the current BC reforestation guideline (1,000 stems.ha^-1 broadleaves). Similarly, birch relative density index (RDI) had to exceed 3 to affect spruce DBH growth significantly on all sites except one. On most sites, spruce had a larger DBH than birch. Our results also suggest that rather than following the current broadcast approach to vegetation management, a targeted approach could enhance forest productivity and stand diversity.

Forty female chickens were allocated to four groups of ten birds each. The control group (K) was fed a basal diet without supplementation. The second control group received a basal diet with humic acid (HA) at a dose of 0.5 g per chicken/day. The first experimental group was fed the basal diet with methyl-mercury (MeHg) at a dose of 0.02 mg per chicken/day and the group of chickens MeHg + HA received 0.5 g HA per chicken/day. After slaughter, mercury levels were assessed in liver, kidney, brain and muscle tissue samples. After 10-day treatment of the chickens with MeHg, significantly increased (P < 0.001) Hg concentrations were detected in all examined tissues in comparison with the groups K and HA. The average concentrations in liver, kidneys, brain and muscle tissues were 424, 398, 81.6 and 79.2 µg Hg/kg, respectively. After concurrent treatment with HA and MeHg, Hg concentrations were lower by 20.6%, 23.8%, 23.0% and 18.6% in liver, kidneys, brain and muscle tissues (P < 0.001). Biological accumulation of Hg was 25.5% and 20.4% in MeHg and MeHg + HA groups, respectively.

By taking two different tile-drained agricultural basins with porous aquifers in the lowlands of northern Germany as examples, it is demonstrated with an integrated study approach that this type of basin responds similarly to an input as forested mountainous basins with dominant fractured rock aquifers in the central European highlands do. The control mechanism is local rise of pressure heads of aquifers starting with the infiltration process. It is shown that drain laterals in agricultural basins function like fractures and faults in those hard rock basins, i.e. as efficient drain pipe lines. This effect is amplified by hydraulic pressure transmission in the course of single input events, and additionally verified here with the help of artificial and environmental tracers. As a result stream flow is predominantly generated by exfiltrating groundwater. For this process drain laterals constitute fast hydraulic short cuts in the sense of preferential flow paths preferably in case that groundwater tables reach up to the level tile-drain networks.

The aims of this study are to determine the cooperation of milk producers and to analyze the milk marketing structure in Menemen-Izmir, West Turkey. According to the results of this study, 70% of the producers are the shareholders of the cooperatives, 49.2% of the producers are members of the National Chamber of Agriculture. In this study, 47.20% of total milk production in the farms is marketing to street sellers, 36.11% is marketing to small scale milk processing plants, 10.1% is marketing directly to consumer and 6.6% is marketing to dairy factories. Also, feed prices in the market are 5% higher than the prices of cooperatives. The main problems related to organization and marketing together are the lack of knowledge in production, low milk prices and the high cost of production.

The results of research on the production of raw timber assortments for the stands of poplar clones Robusta and I-214 in Slovakia are presented in this paper. Models of assortment yield tables were constructed, separately for each clone, in dependence on the yield class and stand age. The construction was based on the models of yield tables, stand assortment tables, models of external quality and damage to stems. Robusta clone produces by about 15-20% higher proportions of the highest quality assortments than I-214 clone. I-214 clone produces faster and higher proportions of average- and below-average quality assortments.

Livestock production significantly contributes to emissions of polluting gases emissions like ammonia (NH₃) and greenhouse gases. Pig production is globally responsible for about 15% of ammonia emissions. The aims of this paper were the comparison of the ammonia concentrations in the farrowing pens with permanent limited range of motion between the zones of lactating sows and piglets and the impact of the day hour on ammonia concentration in this place. Photoacoustic infrared measuring devices INNOVA were used. The average values of NH₃ concentration ranged from 0.787738 ppm (0.547478 mg/m³) to 0.818091 ppm (0.568573 mg/m³). The minimum concentration of NH₃ was measured in the second lactating sows zone (0.262535 ppm, 0.182462 mg/m³) and the maximum concentration was measured in the piglets zone (1.61803 ppm, 1.124531 mg/m³). Values measured met the requirements of the Decree No. 230/1998 of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of the Slovak Republic which allows the maximum concentration of NH₃ in the pig building 20 ppm (13.9 mg/m³). There were no differences between the concentrations of the greenhouse gases (GHGes) in the zones of lactating sows and piglets.

The preservation and reproduction of gene resources of rare and endemic rowan species were the main aims of this study. Rowan species represent important woody trees from the aspect of forest biodiversity. There are only several endemic rowan species in the Czech Republic which are of hybridogenous origin from the whitebeam (Sorbus aria) range. Most of them have been described only at the end of the 20^th century. For these species, the new procedures of vegetative reproduction were developed. In vitro cultures from dormant buds of 57 mature trees were established. The successful induction of organogenesis was achieved in a MS modified medium with 0.2 mg.l^-1 of BAP, 0.1 mg.l^-1 of IBA, 200 mg.l^-1 of glutamine, 2 mg.l^-1 of glycine, 200 mg.l^-1 of casein hydrolysate, 30 mg.l^-1 of sucrose, and 6 mg.l^-1 of agar. The pH was adjusted to 5.8. NAA in the concentration of 13.5 mg.l^-1 was efficient for the rooting of microcuttings. An efficient protocol for the reproduction of endemic rowan species by means of organogenesis induction in apical meristems of dormant buds is reported.

Silicon content of Korean domestic beer was approximately 13.2 mg/l, which was 142% higher than 9.24 mg/l in imported beer. The contents of Ca and Mg were in the range of 31-33 mg/l and 39-41 mg/l, respectively, which were similar in Korean domestic and imported beers. Through beer ingestion, the men's average Si intake was approximately 24.3 mg/day, which was 195% higher than the women's average Si intake (12.4 mg/day). In addition, it was found that 20-29 aged men and women took approximately 33.7 and 25.1 mg/day of Si, respectively, which are higher Si intakes through beer ingestion as compared to other age ranges. As to people in other age-ranges, the women's Si intake through beer ingestion was half that of men's. Domestic beer-1 and beer-2 had 8.50 and 6.45 Si μg/won of Si content per unit price, respectively. Taken together with these results, it was estimated that the more expensive the price of beer, the lower the Si content per unit price. Therefore, it is supposed that the cheap Korean domestic beer is an effective supplier of Si, the beer being considered the major resource for Si intake by humans inKorea.

European winter wheat landraces and obsolete cultivars (121 accessions in set I and 101 accessions in set II) with modern check cultivars were evaluated in three-year field trials. Increased spike productivity in modern cultivars could be attributed mainly to increased number of grains in spikelet and increased HI, whereas TGW has marginal effect. Old cultivars had on average by 2-3% higher crude protein content in grain than modern ones. Among selected 10 characters, relatively wide diversity (C.V. 11-20%) has been estimated in spike length and characters of spike productivity (except of grain weight with C.V. close to 9%). It was difficult to distinguish the cultivars according to the country of origin, however, earliness and lower spike productivity seems to be characteristic for South-East origin whereas cultivars from North-West Europe showed opposite characters. Correlation analyses showed close relations between earliness in heading and in maturity and negative relation between late heading and grain filling period, which was positively correlated with TGW and HI (r = 0.26 to 0.38). Number of grains in spikelets was highly correlated with spike productivity and HI (r = 0.62 to 0.69) whereas relations between these two characters and TGW were lower (r = 0.20 to 0.51). Spike productivity characters, except of TGW, are in negative correlation with crude protein content in grain (r = -0.34 to -0.50). Regression analyses confirmed that main determining character for the spike productivity is number of kernels in spikelet (about 40% of variation) while effects of TGW are about half-size. Crude protein content was positively affected by plant height (15-30% of variation) impact of grain weight per spike was lower (14-17% of variation) and negative. Potentially valuable donors of earliness and longer grain filling period were identified for further studies and/or utilization in breeding programs. As especially valuable character can be considered very high crude protein content (around 18% in cvs Berg-land, Ukrajinka, Sippbachzeller, Innichen Nr. 25001 and Barbu du Finistre). High crude protein content combined with relatively good spike productivity and/or long grain filling period or earliness was found in cvs Visperterminen 640 E, Hatvan, Szekacz 1242, Berchtesgardener Vogel, Ble du Lot and Barbu du Finistere.

Activity time budget patterns and grazing response to sward and environmental conditions were investigated for paddocks of sheep and goats co-grazing for conservation purposes on a semi-natural species-rich dry grassland community endangered by shrub and tall perennial plant encroachment in a protected nature reserve in South Moravia (Czech Republic). Grazing was conducted by a rotational stocking system for 14 weeks in late grazing season in 2008 with 60 dry ewes and 20 goats. Twelve ewes and four goats were observed; grazing, ruminating, idling and other activities (salt licking, social interactions, walking), along with topographical position in the paddock were recorded at 5-minute intervals within 14 hours of daylight. Sheep and goats did not differ in their principal activity time budgets, such as the average total daylight time spent grazing (sheep: 8.57 h, goats: 8.59 h), ruminating (sheep: 1.42 h, goats: 1.44 h), or idling (sheep: 3.23 h, goats: 3.18 h), the duration of bouts of each activity, or the number of bouts of grazing and ruminating. There was no pattern in activity time budgets indicating dynamics in progressing season, nor was there a response to daily average temperature or to paddock size. Sheep and goats showed similar responses to groundcover of particular plant functional types. The animals showed a positive trend in response of total daylight grazing time to grass available biomass and a negative response of total daylight grazing time to herbaceous biomass for both sheep and goats. The total daylight grazing time was independent of availability of woody plants. Goats devoted more time (1.51 h) to other activities than sheep (1.34 h), especially to social interactions and salt licking. On the other hand, sheep spent proportionally more time walking. Both sheep and goats showed similar patterns in spatial use of paddocks on hill slopes, spending the most time in the middle part and the least time in the lower part of paddocks.

Three most frequently used methods for fat transesterification were compared using rendering plant fat (RPF) as model. Acid-catalysed transesterification was found to be the most effective (conversion 90%) at optimum conditions (fat: methanol ratio 1:10, sulphuric acid amount of 2% v/v, temperature 95°C). Base-catalysed transesterification of RPF on the other hand, results in much lower conversion (45%) at optimum conditions (fat:methanol ratio 1:20, NaOH amount 8% w/v, optimum temperature 95°C). The difference is done (among others) by the fact that RPF has high concentration of free acid (high acidity number) compared with the fats usually used for transesterification and that free acids are not esterified in alkaline media. Enzyme-(lipase) catalysed reaction could lead to partial esterification of free fatty acids, but with much lower reaction velocity. This fact leads to higher conversion in the case of enzyme-catalysed transesterification of RPF compared with base-catalysed reaction; nevertheless, even in this case the conversion is much lower in comparison with acid-catalysed reaction. The optimum conversion in enzyme-catalysed reaction was 55%.

The typical red colour of paprika salamis is a very important quality attribute but it is also very susceptible to oxidation. Rosemary extracts and lycopene appear to be efficient antioxidants for dry fermented sausages. The complicated structure of dried sausages with different kinetics of colour changes was evaluated using VIA software NIS-Elements 2.20 and lightness L*, redness a*, yellowness b*, mean red (R), mean green (G), and mean blue (B) were measured; the ratio of red r = R/(R + G + B) and hue h = arctg (a*/b*) were calculated. The addition of rosemary extract has positively affected the colour and suppressed lipid oxidation in both meat and lard particles in the paprika salami. Even more satisfactory results were obtained by adding both the rosemary extract and lycopene. Video image analysis enabled to perform colour measurements of meat and lard particles separately, which could not be done by any available method (reflective spectrophotometry).

Psittacine beak and feather disease (PBFD) is a common viral disease of psittacine birds. The causative agent, beak and feather disease virus (BFDV) is a small circular single-stranded DNA virus belonging to the genus Circovirus. We report the detection of viral DNA predominantly in the heart, intestine and liver, but also in the testes and digestive organs. Additionally, BFDV transmission was investigated. We discuss the possibility that BFDV is transmitted horizontally. In our experiments, embryonated and non-embryonated budgerigar eggs were analysed for the presence of BFDV DNA. In 35.3% of non-embryonated and 20% of embryonated eggs viral DNA was detected, suggesting that BFDV can be transmitted horizontally and vertically.

The effect of the chemotherapy with ribavirin on the elimination of the pome fruit viruses from in vitro grown plants of infected apple cv. Fragnance has been investigated. The results of ELISA and RT-PCR testing proved the presence of mixed infection of Apple stem pitting virus (ASPV), Apple chlorotic leaf spot virus (ACLSV) and Apple stem grooving virus (ASGV) in the initial field-grown tree of this apple cultivar. Obtained actively growing in vitro shoots with well-developed leaves and shoot tips were subsequently used for chemotherapy with ribavirin. Attempts to fully eliminate viruses by ribavirin in lower concentration 20 mg/l were not successful. However in vitro plants of one mericlone (FR1R20) sanitated from ASPV and ASGV, which were infected with ACLSV only after the first chemotherapy cycle, were subjected to repeated treatment on medium with higher ribavirin concentration 100 mg/l. The success of chemotherapy with ribavirin at 100 mg/l was 76% for ACLSV elimination after the second round. In the course of both chemotherapy cycles (20 mg/l and 100 mg/l), in vitro plants did not display symptoms of phytotoxicity.

Our research was concerned with a description of the influence of variability in average temperatures on the height growth of selected young populations of spruce in the Krkonoše Mts. Several populations of spruce were evaluated while the majority of them originated by natural regeneration on plots under disturbance of the original tree layer. In addition, several planted spruce populations in similar environmental conditions were also evaluated. The main questions of this study are as follows: is there a difference in height growth between populations of natural and artificial origin? Is it possible to find a relationship between height growth and climate feature during the last several years? The growth of young spruce populations that originated by natural regeneration was different from the growth of the planted populations. The average air temperature in the growing period, estimated as average temperature during the months of May to August, was proved to have a significant influence on year-on-year variability in spruce growth. Based on this finding, it was possible to estimate an increase in the height increment of young spruce caused by warming up since the mid-70s of the 20^th century to equal approximately 16% per decade in the spruce altitudinal zone in the Krkonoše Mts.

The study investigated the consequences of maternal undernutrition during late pregnancy on hormonal status and metabolic changes in neonatal lambs. Four ewes out of twenty-eight multiparous ewes mated at a synchronized oestrus were slaughtered at day 90 of pregnancy to collect fetal blood to serve as an initial comparison group. Twenty-four animals were divided into three groups and offered 0.18 MJ ME.kg^-0.75per day (restricted group 1, RG1), 0.33 MJ ME.kg^-0.75per day (restricted group 2, RG2), and control group (ad libitum CG) during late pregnancy, respectively. Immediately after parturition, blood was collected from the neonatal lambs in each group and analyzed for growth hormone (GH), insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I), IGF-II, insulin (INS), thyroxine (T₄), triiodothyronine (T₃), glucose (GLU), nonesterified fatty acids (NEFA), and total amino acid (TAA), respectively. The results indicated that the maternal undernutrition during late gestation decreased the average lamb birth weight in both RG1 (P < 0.01) and RG2 (P < 0.05) compared to CG. During the late fetal development period, the concentrations of T4, INS, and IGF-I of neonatal lambs in CG were increased (P < 0.05) compared to those at day 90 of pregnancy; the secretions of T₄, INS, and IGF-I in RG1 and RG2 during restriction were suppressed. The neonatal INS concentrations in RG1 and RG2 were decreased (P < 0.05), but the neonatal GH concentration in RG1 was greater than that of CG (P < 0.05). The GLU concentrations of neonatal lambs in RG1 were lower than those of CG (P < 0.05). However, the neonatal NEFA (P < 0.05) and TAA (P < 0.01) concentrations in RG1 were greater than those of CG. Thus, maternal undernutrition can change the hormonal and metabolic status of neonatal lambs, which may have significant implications on postnatal growth and adult health.

The effects of breed, development, and nutrition on mRNA expression of the fat mass and obesity-associated gene (FTO) and its relationship with intramuscular fat (IMF) content in porcine muscle (m. longissimus dorsi; m.l.d.) were estimated. Purebred Jinhua, Zhongbai, Yorkshire, Duroc, Duroc × Zhongbai (DZ), and Duroc × Yorkshire × Landrace (DYL) pigs were used to investigate the effect of breed. Pigs weighing 2.5, 10, 20, 40, 60, and 100 kg were selected to study the effects of different stages of development. To study the effect of nutrition, four diets were selected: corn-soybean (CS), CS with 1.2% conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) or 0.05% creatine monohydrate (CMH), and barley-soybean (BS). All eighty animals were slaughtered, and m.l.d. samples were collected to examine FTO mRNA expression and IMF content. Results showed that breed significantly affected FTO mRNA expression and IMF content. FTO mRNA expression in the studied pigs was in the order: Zhongbai and Yorkshire > Duroc and DZ > Jinhua and DYL. The IMF content ordered by breed was Duroc > DZ > DYL > Jinhua > Zhongbai > Yorkshire. Both FTO mRNA expression and IMF content increased with age of the pigs, with the greatest difference seen between 100 kg pigs and all other weights. In the study, none of the four diets had a significant effect (P > 0.05) on FTO mRNA expression or IMF content. The study demonstrated that FTO mRNA expression increased with increasing body weight and was significantly affected by the breed of pigs. The results showed that FTO mRNA expression had an inconsistent correlation with IMF content between breeds and developmental ages.

The objective of this study was to investigate the influence of excessive sulfur (S) supply on iron plaque formation and arsenic (As) accumulation in rice plants. A combined soil-sand pot experiment was conducted by using two As levels (0, 20 mg/kg) combined with three S concentrations (0, 60, 120 mg/kg). The results showed that excessive S supply significantly decreased As concentration in brown rice, but As concentration in root increased with increasing rate of S supply. Moreover, bioconcentration factors for leaves and stems were 8-35 fold of that for brown rice, indicating that As was mainly accumulated in rice leaves and stems instead of brown rice. Furthermore, excessive S supply significantly decreased translocation factor of As compared to treatment without S supply. These results indicated that excessive S may reduce As translocation from soils and roots to grain. The mechanism could be ascribed to excessive S that induced the decrease of As availability, the increase of iron plaque formation under As stress, and the increase of glutathione in rice leaves and roots. Therefore, excessive S can reduce As accumulation in brown rice exposed to As contaminated soils though it may result in loss of rice yield.

Open habitats in closed forests are formed by various biotic and abiotic factors. These new habitats differ from their former parent stands in light conditions and vegetation structure facilitating their colonisation by heliophilous insects. We studied interseasonal differences (2010 and 2011) in the Orthoptera assemblages on eight clearcuts in beech forests. Using a sweeping method, altogether 20 species were recorded on the clearcuts in the first year, 26 in the second. In the second year, species number and abundance were higher in all orthopterans and also in the suborder of grasshoppers (Caelifera). In the crickets (Ensifera), interseasonal differences in the species number and abundance were not significant. The species composition differed among the plots also within individual years. In the second year, the frequency increased in 22 species (84.6%) while it decreased in four. We suggest that the ground-dwelling Caelifera species are better bioindicators of the deforested plot colonisation than the arbusticolous Ensifera.

The transformation process of even-aged forest stands to irregular forest stands on waterlogged sites after 20 years effort was analysed. Data from two 1-ha PRP was analysed with special focus on structural (Shannon Evenness Index, Simpson Index and Gini Index) and species (Shannon Evenness Index and Simpson Index) diversity. Different development on study plots confirmed that the highest structural diversity is not often compatible with the concept of species diversity. On PRP 1 high diameter differentiation has led to lower values of species diversity, while on PRP 2 rather moderate diameter differentiation supported higher species diversity in lower DBH classes. The Gini Index was confirmed to be the best indicator for monitoring the diameter differentiation in the course of stand transformation.

The study is already the 5^th account on the production potential and stability of mixed forest stands in uplands. A spruce/beech stand established in the mid-30s of the 20^thcentury is assessed. The stand is situated at an altitude of 470 m and since 1960, it is left to its spontaneous development. At that time, the stand was characterized as a silviculturally neglected dense spruce young growth to a small pole-stage stand with an admixture of beech (spruce 71%, beech 13%). In the course of 41 years, spruce proportion in the stand without intentional thinning measures decreased from 71 to 56% and, vice versa, beech proportion increased from 13 to 31%. Present dominant and co-dominant position of spruce in the stand, its health condition and development in recent years indicate that the ecosystem under evaluation is stabilized fulfilling all functions on the given site at an age of 65 years. The stand is permanently fully stocked and its initial standing volume of 109 m³/ha at an age of 24 years in 1960 increased to 560 m³/ha at an age of 65 years in 2001.

Although various studies of codon usage bias have been reported in a broad spectrum of organisms, no studies to date have examined codon usage bias for herbicide target genes. In this study, we analysed codon usage patterns for the acetolactate synthase (ALS) gene in eight monocot weeds and one model monocot. The base composition at the third codon position follows C3 > G3 > T3 > A3. The values of the effective number of codons (ENC or Nc) indicate low bias, and ENC or Nc vs. GC3 plot suggests that this low bias is due to mutational pressure. Low codon adaptation index and codon bias index values further supported the phenomenon of low bias. Additionally, the optimal codons, along with over- and under-represented codons, were identified. Gene design using optimal codons rather than overall abundant codons produce improved protein expression results. Our results can be used for further studies, including eliciting the mechanisms of herbicide resistance (occurring due to elevation of gene expression levels) and the development of new compounds, their efficiency and risk assessment for herbicide resistance evolution.

The microbiological quality of the final product and the safety of the production procedures were screened in an ice cream factory, after implementation of a Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points (HACCP) system. We analysed 30 vanilla (IC1), 30 strawberry (IC2), and 30 chocolate flavoured (IC3) samples of ice cream; 30 of water; 90 of personnel's hands flora; 150 of plastic ice cream containers flora; 50 of sanitised equipment-surfaces flora. After HACCP introduction, Staphylococcus aureus was not further detectable in ice cream and Escherichia coli was mostly less than 10 CFU/g, while the spoilage markers (total coliforms - TC, aerobic plate counts - APC) in ice cream and the environment were reduced by 20-35%. Mean log CFU/g, for IC1: TC from 2.20 reduced to 1.57, APC from 4.58 reduced to 3.62. For IC2: TC from 2.29 reduced to 1.65, APC from 4.61 reduced to 3.49. For IC3: TC from 2.67 reduced to 1.76, APC from 5.08 reduced to 3.81.

Selenium and iodine contents were analysed in goat milk coming from three commercially oriented farms in east (farm A) and south (farms B, C) Bohemia. The average iodine level found in milk from farm A was 393.6 ± 111.2 µg/kg, from farm B 584.9 ± 186.9 µg/kg, and from farm C 397.6 ± 223.4 µg/kg. The average level of selenium found in milk from farm A was 9.19 ± 2.17 µg/kg, from farm B 6.20 ± 0.53 µg/kg, and from farm C 6.57 ± 2.29 µg/kg. The results showed significantly strong correlations between selenium and iodine contents in milk and in mineral supplement (r = 0.91 and 0.92, respectively). On average, 76.6% of the iodine in milk was transferred to the whey fraction. In the case of selenium, it was found out that 23.8% was transferred from milk to the whey fraction. As a consequence of the mineral licks used, the correlation between selenium and iodine contents in time was not proved (r = 0.06).

Arginine (Arg) is considered to have beneficial effects on placental development and function, as well as reproductive performance. The well-developed placenta is highly required in late gestation for rapid fetal growth, however, it is unknown if there is a crucial role of Arg in late gestation. Likewise, the immunological response of sows to Arg needs to be determined. Therefore, this study is designed to investigate the effects of dietary Arg supplementation on reproductive performance and immunity of sows. At day 30 of gestation, sixty sows (Landrace × Large White) were allocated to 3 groups receiving corn and soybean-based control diet (control group, n = 20), control diet supplemented with 1% l-arginine HCl until day 90 of gestation (Arg90 group, n = 20), and control diet supplemented with 1% l-arginine HCl until day 114 of gestation (Arg114 group, n = 20), respectively. Litter performance was recorded at parturition. Blood samples (n = 6) collected at days 30, 90, and 110 of gestation were measured for metabolic and immunological parameters. At parturition, total litter size was not affected by dietary Arg supplementation. As a result of less pigs born dead, however, sows in Arg114 group had more pigs born alive than sows in control group (+1.6 pigs, P < 0.05), total and live litter weights were increased (+1.6~2.1 kg, P < 0.05) in Arg114 group relative to both control and Arg90 groups. Compared with control group, dietary Arg supplementation increased (+12~110%, P < 0.05) plasma levels of ornithine, proline, and arginine at either day 90 (Arg90 and Arg110 groups) or day 110 of gestation (Arg110 group). Moreover, immune response was enhanced in Arg-supplemented sows, as indicated by the increased levels of serum immunoglobulin and porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) antibody. These findings indicate dietary Arg supplementation can improve litter performance and immune response, and the beneficial effect of Arg on fetal growth is evident in late gestation.

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of nitrogen (N) management on soil water recharge, available soil water at sowing (ASWS), soil water depletion, and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) yield and water use efficiency (WUE) after long-term fertilization. We collected data from 2 experiments in 2 growing seasons. Treatments varied from no fertilization (CK), single N or phosphorus (P), N and P (NP), to NP plus manure (NPM). Comparing to CK and single N or P treatments, NP and NPM reduced rainfall infiltration depth by 20-60 cm, increased water recharge by 16-21 mm, and decreased ASWS by 89-133 mm in 0-300 cm profile. However, crop yield and WUE continuously increased in NP and NPM treatments after 22 years of fertilization. Yield ranged from 3458 to 3782 kg/ha in NP or NPM but was 1246-1531 kg/ha in CK and single N or P. WUE in CK and single N or P treatments was < 6 kg/ha/mm but increased to 12.1 kg/ha/mm in a NP treatment. The NP and NPM fertilization provided benefits for increased yield and WUE but resulted in lower ASWS. Increasing ASWS may be important for sustainable yield after long-term fertilization.

The microstructure and stability of aerated whey protein gels were determined. Foamed whey protein gels were obtained using a novel method applying a simultaneous gelation and aeration process. Whey protein gels were produced at different protein concentrations and pH by calcium ion induction at ambient temperature. Two concentrations of calcium ions were used: 20 and 30mM to produce foamed gels with different microstructure. Foamed gels obtained at 30mM Ca²⁺ were composed of thick strands and irregular, large air bubbles. For these gels, larger synaeresis and bubble size reduction were observed. Fine-stranded, small bubble size aerated gels obtained at 20mM Ca²⁺ were very stable during storage. Decreased protein concentration and increased pH of the gels resulted in an increased bubble size.

The aim of this study was to examine the expression of caspase-3, caspase-7, caspase-9 and cytokeratin AE-1/AE-3 using the avidin-biotin complex (ABC) immunoperoxidase technique in 20 goats with enzootic nasal adenocarcinoma (ENA). Clinically, dyspnoea and nasal discharge were observed in all cases. Macroscopically, polypoid and sessile masses were seen in the ethmoidal area. At the histopathological examination, tubular, papillary and mixed patterns of ENA were diagnosed. Immunohistochemically, strong positive reactions were generally seen for caspase-3, while strong to moderate and slight reactions were observed for caspase-7 and caspase-9 in the cytoplasm of the tumour cells. Positive reactions for cytokeratin AE-1/AE-3 were only seen in epithelial cells. In addition, the causative agent of ENA, retrovirus, was detected immunohistochemically in tumour cells.

The impact of variation in economic conditions on the economic values of fourteen production and functional traits was examined for the Improved Valachian breed using a bio-economic model implemented in the ECOWEIGHT software. The following economic parameters were investigated: market prices of lambs, milk, and cheese (variation ± 40%), costs for roughage, concentrates, and total feeding rations , costs for labour and veterinary care, fixed costs (variation ± 20% for all costs), and discount rate of revenues and costs (0 and 3%). Results of the analyses were presented in detail for the marginal and relative economic values of the four most important traits: milk yield in the 150-day milking period, conception rate of ewes, litter size per lambed ewe, and productive lifetime of ewes. Furthermore, cumulative relative economic values of the four trait complexes - milk production, growth, functional, and wool traits - were presented. Prices for sheep products were found to be the most important factor for both the marginal and the relative economic values of the evaluated traits. The four traits with the highest relative economic values in the base calculation stayed the most important for all investigated economic parameters ranges. The relative economic values of the remaining 10 traits did not exceed 6.1%. The relative economic values of milk yield and litter size were the most sensitive to the variation in economic circumstances. For the investigated range of economic parameters, the relative economic value for the complex of milk production traits ranged 30.6-48.1%, for growth traits 6.3-9.4%, and that for functional traits 45.4-59.7%. The relative economic value for the wool trait did not exceed 0.3%.