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A ¹⁵N-labelling technique was carried out to investigate the effect of wheat straw co-application with Bacillus nealsonii, Cohnella, and Paenibacillus lautus on N uptake and assimilation in Diospyros lotus. Wheat straw combined with Bacillus increased the plant height, biomass accumulation, photosynthetic capacity, and uptake of ¹⁵N by roots, with ¹⁵N accumulating mainly in leaves of D. lotus. The NO₃^–-N content in roots and leaves were decreased by wheat straw co-application with Bacillus, whereas NH₄⁺-N, soluble protein, and total N contents were increased. Wheat straw addition promoted the activities of nitrate reductase, glutamine synthase and glutamate synthase in roots rather than in leaves. These N assimilation enzymatic activities, and glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase and glutamic pyruvic transaminase activities were markedly increased by wheat straw combined with Bacillus. Moreover, the combined application of wheat straw and Bacillus, particularly B. nealsonii, improved the N use efficiency. These findings suggest that the combined application of wheat straw and Bacillus improved D. lotus growth by increasing N uptake, metabolism, and utilisation efficiency.

A 3-year-old, 420 g, intact male African pygmy hedgehog (Atelerix albiventris) was presented with a sudden appearance of a mass protruding from its preputium. A detailed physical examination revealed the presence of a polyp-like mass, connected to the mucous membrane of the penis and a second, multilobular mass with a larger base. Both masses were surgically removed. While the histopathological examination of the polyp-like mass revealed only a chronic active inflammatory reaction, the histopathological examination of the multilobular mass revealed a tumorous tissue composed of spindle-shaped cells, irregularly oval or polygonal in some places. Focal tumour cells with a myxoid differentiation were observed in the greater part of this tumour. The stroma was made up of sparse fibrous tissue. The surface epithelium was hyperplastic with ulcerations and necrosis. The tumour was classified as a myxofibrosarcoma. Two weeks post-surgery, the patient did not show any clinical signs of the presented disease. According to our knowledge, this is the first published case of the surgical treatment of penile myxofibrosarcoma in an African pygmy hedgehog.

Salinomycin, belonging to ionophore antibiotics, has been used as a feed additive for poultry for its coccidiostatic effect. Poisoning by ionophore antibiotics has been reported in cattle and other sensitive animals due to the replacement of medicated feed and/or accidental overdoses. The aim of this paper is to report the toxicity of salinomycin for fallow deer and to describe the different levels of sensitivity of cervids to this substance. In the presented case study, a medicated feed containing ivermectin used for deworming red deer and fallow deer was accidentally contaminated with sodium salinomycinate in a concentration of 252.6 mg/kg. The contaminated feed was consumed by the animals over a period of four days. The mortality of fallow deer within 12 days was 58%. No mortality was recorded in the red deer. In the affected animals, clinical signs associated with acute and congestive heart failure were observed. The biochemical examination indicated prerenal azotaemia caused by circulatory insufficiency and ion imbalance. The histological examination revealed pronounced focal acute cardiomyopathy and massive subacute myopathy in the skeletal muscles.

The sorption isotherm (SI) of dried tomatoes was studied at three different temperatures, 15, 25, and 35 °C, using a static gravimetric method. The modified forms of the Guggenheim-Anderson-de Boer (mGAB), Halsey (mHAL), Henderson (mHEN), and Oswin (mOSW) models that incorporate the temperature term in their equation were selected and used to describe the experimental data of dried tomatoes. The mGAB model best described the SI of dried tomato samples at individual temperatures, having the highest coefficient of determination (R²) and the lowest sum of squares of errors (SSE), the root mean square error (RMSE), and the corrected Akaike information criterion values (AIC_c). However, based on the statistical indices, three other tested models outperformed the mGAB model in describing the multi-temperature estimation to differentiate the temperature effect. The mOSW and mHAL models were superior in this case.

This research investigated the influence of the storage duration on the health promoting tyrosine, tryptophan and total phenolics in potato tubers. In the course of storage, the total amount of accumulated compounds in the dry mass of organically grown potato tubers increases. This is determined by individual properties of potato variety, storage time, and interaction of these two factors (P < 0.05). Organic potato tubers show increased total phenolic compounds in their dry matter during storage. This is due to a variety of characteristics, storage time and the interaction of these two factors (P < 0.05). A more pronounced increase in total phenolic compounds during storage was observed in 2022 than in 2021.

Drunken horse grass (Achnatherum inebrians (Hance) Keng) is a toxic perennial bunchgrass native to Northwestern China. Epichloë endophytic fungi infection could enhance the stress tolerance of drunken horse grass. However, there is a scarcity of literature regarding the effects of intraspecific competition. As a result, we anticipated that the intraspecific competitive dynamics between endophyte-infected (EI) and endophyte-free (EF) plants would become more transparent for four years by planted as the proportions of 2 : 1, 1 : 1, and 1 : 2. The results showed the EI plants exhibited more biomass, seed yields, and survival rates than EF plants. Endophyte infection also facilitated a competitive advantage by enhancing photosynthesis and soil nutrition. Our findings constituted the inaugural investigation into the influence of the intraspecific competitive ability of grass infected with Epichloë endophyte fungi. EI plants caused them to become stronger and stronger, while EF became weaker and weaker by timing and planting proportion increasing, and EF drunken horse grass could be replaced by EI. These conclusions were instrumental in elucidating why the endophytic fungal infection rate of drunken horse grass is 100% observed in natural wilderness. Epichloë endophyte could reduce plant diversity and enhance the dominance of EI plants in intraspecific competition; drunken horse grass may be threatening the persistence of native plant species.

This study investigates peer effects and agglomeration impacts on the cost efficiency of South Korean rice farms using a five-year panel dataset of production costs. We employed a time-varying stochastic frontier cost function approach to estimate cost efficiency and a linear-in-means model to quantify peer influences. The findings underscore peer effects as central to understanding and enhancing farm productivity, particularly in rice farming regions. Both specialisation and diversity of agglomeration positively influenced efficiency, with specialisation having a larger impact. Peer effects were stronger in highly rice-specialised areas. These findings indicate the necessity of incorporating peer influences and regional specialisation in agricultural policymaking for productivity enhancement. A nuanced, evidence-based approach leveraging peer dynamics and agglomeration economies is advocated to boost the efficiency of farming practices.

This study explored whether and how prohexadione calcium (Pro-Ca) regulated wheat tolerance to drought stress (DS). Findings displayed that DS had significant influence on antioxidant metabolism, water balance and the photosynthesis. DS significantly improved the activity level of enzymatic antioxidants superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POD) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX), the contents of non-enzymatic antioxidants ascorbic acid (AsA) and glutathione (GSH), electrolyte leakage (EL), malondialdehyde (MDA), and the contents of osmotic regulatory substances soluble protein (SP), soluble sugars (SS) and proline (Pro), compared with control. Whereas DS significantly reduced transpiration rate (T_r), stomatal conductance (g_s) and relative water content (RWC), photosynthetic pigments chlorophyll and carotenoid contents, net photosynthetic rate (P_n), maximum photochemical efficiency of PSII (F_v/F_m), plant height and biomass. Compared to DS, Pro-Ca plus DS significantly promoted the antioxidant metabolism by improving the activity level of SOD, CAT, POD and APX and increasing AsA and GSH contents, which in turn reduced MDA content and EL. In addition, Pro-Ca plus DS significantly maintained water balance by promoting the accumulation of osmolytes SP, SS and Pro, which in turn increased RWC, T_r and g_s. Pro-Ca plus DS also significantly promoted photosynthesis by increasing the contents of the above photosynthetic pigments, P_n and F_v/F_m, thereby promoting plant growth. These findings indicated that Pro-Ca was a potential agent to improve wheat tolerance under water deficit.

Fractures of long bones in limbs are rare traumatic events in horses. This study investigates whether the incidence and types of fractures can be related to the histomorphometric features of the radius and tibia, which experience different biomechanical stresses and exhibit varying incidences and types of fractures. Clinical observations suggest that, in adults, slightly transverse and comminuted fractures are present in the radius, while the tibia shows a higher frequency of longitudinal and spiral fractures. Microscopic observations reveal no apparent distinctive characteristics between the radius and tibia, whereas the histomorphometric data highlight differences in the osteon density, eccentricity, and diameters of the osteons and Haversian canals. To sum up, tibial osteons are more numerous and smaller than those in the radius, resulting in a 15% higher total extension of the cement line in the tibia compared to the radius. These histomorphometric differences are an evolutionary adaptation to the different biomechanical stresses that involve the thoracic and pelvic limbs. Our results could help better understand numerous clinical realities detectable through retrospective analyses and aid in evaluating a specific bone’s predisposition towards traumatic events in all mammals, including humans.

The brown marmorated stink bug [Halyomorpha halys (Stål)] is an invasive pest species. This polyphagous insect, native to Eastern Asia, threatens various cultivated plant species. Control methods often rely on chemical insecticides, but the decreasing use of such agents has prompted a shift towards preventive measures. As a defence mechanism, natural compounds released by plants have gained attention for their potential deterrent or attractant properties. In this study, we evaluated the response of the brown marmorated stink bug to selected chemical substances, including citronellal, hexanal, nonanol, β-caryophyllene, linalool, ocimene, nerolidol, terpinolen, α-humulene, dimethyl sulfide, aggregation pheromone, and ethanol. The experiment was conducted using an olfactometer. Two experiments were performed, comparing the substances against dimethyl sulfoxide and then refining the selection based on initial results; in the first series, nerolidol, ocimene, and terpinolene exhibited promising results as complete deterrents. The second series confirmed nerolidol as the most effective deterrent among all tested substances. These findings contribute to developing preventive strategies for managing the brown marmorated stink bug and reducing reliance on chemical insecticides.

Indications for implant removal after fracture healing are still under debate in both human and veterinary medicine. Although hardware removal is a common procedure, it should not be undertaken lightly. Intra and post-operative complications are common and a thorough evaluation of the risks and benefits should be performed. This review aimed to collect and summarise published data on the indications for implant removal in small animals, compare the collected data with human and equine medicine, and investigate the existence of guidelines for this purpose. There is no international consensual agreement for implant removal after fracture healing, neither in small animals nor in human orthopaedics. Decision-making processes are still controversial in some scenarios, thus clear evidence-based protocols for implant removal are needed.

The Alpine ecosystem is very sensitive to climatic changes, which have an influence on glaciers, snow, vegetation and soils. The aim of this review is to illustrate the effects of global change on the Alpine soil ecosystem, which is an optimal marker to record them. The manuscript enhances our understanding of the global change effect on the Alpine environment: on morphology, on ice, on vegetation and points out how the cycles of soil nutrients equilibrium have been changed with a direct effect on soils that support plant species. The changes in cryosphere, glacier reduction and periglacial environment as glaciers retreat, decrease in the snow cover extent and earlier snowmelt, determine an effect on soils (on the structure, organic matter and humus forms, soil processes and soil types) from the top of the Alpine horizon to the bottom. The processes induced by climate change (such as erosion and tree line shifting) have a direct effect on water balance that can be observed on soil profile characters with an effect on upward migration, change in phenology, extensive losses of species. The equilibrium of the biogeochemical cycles has been changed and this has a direct effect on soils that support plant species.

The common ear tag production and application do not take into regard the demographic environment and climate of a target destination which are specified. However, this fact becomes a core of the problem. The necessity to characterize the ear tag bond comes out from the practical experience when applying incorrect exchange spike in the application punch by mistake. The aim of the experimental research was to carry out the evaluation of the ear tag mechanical qualities under increased and decreased temperatures on the base of the laboratory experiments together with the suitable and incorrect application of the exchange spike in the application punch. Different environment temperatures in the tested interval -20°C till 60°C should simulate one of the possible attribute of the potential application in the different climate. The constructional design of the ear tag bond was proposed on the basis of the laboratory tests.

Production of food and beverages is one of the Czech traditional branches of processing industry. The article tries to describe the model prediction on the sector structure development oriented on labour and personal costs in food industry sector up to 2013 and it is based on the continuous monitoring of these indicators in the period 2000-2005. Except regress analysis of time orders, there was used the method of exponential smoothing. With regard to certain antagonistic tendencies, i.e. the lasting fall of the number of workers in the monitored period but at the same time the growth of personal costs, there were projected separate predictions of these indicators up to 2013, aimed namely at the set of companies with 20 and more employees. The prediction of the selected data up to the year 2013 is based on the running results of the Research Plan of the Research Institute of Agricultural Economics (VÚZE). The probable development of the number of workers and personal costs in the individual branches of food industry is characterised.

It has been demonstrated that endophyte-infected (EI) ryegrass performed better in response to N deficiency than its endophyte-free (EF) counterpart. When P is considered, there is a lack of related information. In this study, Lolium perenne L. infected with Neotyphodium lolii was employed to establish EI and EF populations. Soil-grown EI and EF ryegrass were tested for their responses to P deficiency. The results showed that the endophyte infection improved the adaptability of ryegrass to P deficiency. When P was limited, EI roots were significantly longer (EI, 398.8; EF, 323.4 m/pot) and heavier (EI, 30.58; EF, 23.20 g/pot) than EF roots; the root: shoot ratio of EI plants was greater than that of EF plants (P < 0.05). The content of total phenolics and organic acids was significantly greater for EI roots than for EF roots at low P supply; the concentration of both, however, was not improved by the endophyte infection. This suggested that it was the higher root dry weight (DW) that contributed to the higher content of total phenolics and organic acids for EI plants, and the endophyte infection might have negligible effects on chemical modification of perennial ryegrass. Endophyte infection did not increase P uptake rate but did significantly improve P use efficiency of ryegrass in response to P deficiency (EI, 0.734; EF, 0.622 g DW/mg P).

The use of switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) as an energy crop has gained great importance in past two decades due to its high biomass yields on marginal lands with low agricultural inputs and low maintenance requirements. Information on the allocation of photosynthetically fixed C in the switchgrass-soil system is important to understand the C flow and to quantify the sequestration of C in soils. The allocation of ¹³C labeled photosynthates in shoot, root, soil, and in microbial biomass carbon (MBC) of rhizosphere and bulk soil of 45 days old, greenhouse grown-switchgrass was examined during 20 days ¹³C-CO₂ pulse labeling period. The total ¹³C recovered in the plant-soil system varied from 79% after 1 day to 42% after 20 days of labeling. After labeling, 54%, 40%, and 6% excess ¹³C resided in shoot, root and soil, respectively on day 1; 27%, 61% and 11%, respectively on day 5 and 20%, 63% and 17%, respectively day 20 after labeling. The maximum incorporation of ¹³C from roots into the MB of rhizosphere soil occurred within the first 24 h of labeling. The excess ¹³C values of rhizosphere soil and rhizosphere MBC were significantly higher than excess ¹³C values of bulk soil and the bulk soil MBC, respectively. The proportion of excess ¹³C in soil as MBC declined from 92 to 15% in rhizosphere soil and from 79 to 18% in bulk soil, for 1 day and 20 days after labeling, respectively. The present study showed the effectiveness of ¹³C labeling to examine the fate of recently photosynthesized C in soil-plant (switchgrass) system and dynamics of MBC.

The paper analyses the root system development in the artificially established stands of Douglas fir aged 10, 20, 30, 60 and 80 years on aerated soils (Cambisols) without skeleton. On these sites, the Douglas fir develops a uniform root system of substitute taproots and anchors, which has great predispositions to assure the good mechanical stability of trees as well as its resistance to sudden changes in upper soil horizons. Several anchors growing in positive geotropic direction shoot from the stem base, several slant anchors shooting from the side of the stem base turn into the positive geotropic direction of growth. In humus horizons, horizontal skeletal roots shoot from the stem base, which turn into lower soil horizons in an "elbow-pipe" manner and from which shoot positively geotropically growing anchors. Trees of Douglas fir develop this type of root system already at an age of twenty years.

We report here the suitable explant with high efficiency of transformation and the positive effects of timentin over other antibiotics like carbenicillin and cefotaxime on the elimination of Agrobacterium tumefaciens during the genetic transformation of popular indica rice (Oryza sativa L.). The tissues assayed were embryogenic calli, embryos with endosperm contamination, intact seeds, leaf blades, leaf bases and coleoptiles. The frequency of transient β-glucuronidase (GUS) expression as revealed by histochemical assay was 90% for embryogenic calli, which was the highest among the explants used. On the basis of disc-diffusion assay, the maximum zone of inhibition (29 mm) at 250 mg/l was obtained for timentin. In tissue culture conditions the frequency of Agrobacterium recurrence after 20 days of infection was minimum (2.3%) at 200 mg/l of timentin. At 250 mg/l of timentin there was no Agrobacterium growth, besides, there were no negative effects on the callus growth unlike other antibiotics, hence it was selected as the optimum concentration for high frequency callus proliferation and regeneration.The effect of the parameters evaluated was determined by the callus proliferation during selection, reduction in browning, transient GUS expression and stable transformation efficiency (23.3%). The resultant plants were stable transformants as confirmed by a molecular analysis of the gus and hpt genes. The developed transformation protocol will be very helpful for the information on indica rice cultivars in general and on IR 64 in particular.

The set of 7 flowering plant species (Anethum graveolens, Calendula officinalis, Centaurea cyanus, Fagopyrum esculentum, Foeniculum vulgare, Tagetes patula and Vicia faba) was compared for their attractiveness to natural enemies such as ladybeetles (Coccinellidae), hoverflies (Syrphidae), ichneumon wasps (Ichneumonidae) and predatory bugs (Orius spp.) during the years 2008-2010. The trial was held in an organic open field located at the Faculty of Horticulture of Mendel University in Brno, Lednice, Czech Republic. The software Canoco (RDA analysis) was used in order to see the relations between plant and insect communities. Flowering plants A. graveolens, C. cyanus, C. officinalis, F. vulgare and F. esculentum were found to be the most attractive for the evaluated beneficial insects. The most abundant beneficial insects were hoverflies (56₂₀₀₈, 154₂₀₀₉, 1324₂₀₁₀) and ladybeetles (65₂₀₀₈, 116₂₀₀₉, 511₂₀₁₀) followed by predatory bugs (14₂₀₀₈, 47₂₀₀₉, 138₂₀₁₀) and ichneumon wasps (20₂₀₀₈, 14₂₀₀₉, 82₂₀₁₀).

When modelling an employee competency, several facets of this theoretical construct could be identified. One of them is grounded in the employee's attitudes to work and organization, namely in her/his job involvement, organizational commitment, responsibility etc. The paper deals with results of a survey comparing work and organizational attitudes of four groups of subjects. The groups differed in age (20-30 and 50-60) and gender. The survey was a part of a wider research effort aimed at building up a new method of work attitudes measurement. The previous research has shown a rather specific response pattern in the Czech respondents. The survey dealt with presently tries to find more details as goes about the patterns mentioned and to help in constructing a final version of the method. The authors expect that the method will prove to be useful both in theory development and in the field.

To develop rainfed agriculture in northern China, we conducted field experiments with three straw mulching rates (0, 6, and 12 t/ha) on two plant types (a compact type, Chaoshi1, and a flat type, Danyu86) during the summer maize-growing season in 2009 and 2010 to study soil moisture content, evapotranspiration, grain yield, and water-use efficiency (WUE). The results indicated that straw mulching could significantly (LSD, P < 0.05) improve soil moisture content at a depth of 20-80 cm below the ground surface during the anthesis-silking stage; however, at maturity, straw mulching decreased the soil moisture content at a depth of 0-60 cm below the ground surface. In 2009, straw mulching at the rate of 12 t/ha significantly (LSD, P < 0.05) increased the evapotranspiration in Chaoshi1 and Danyu86. In 2010, straw mulching at the rate of 6 t/ha significantly (LSD,P < 0.05) increased evapotranspiration in Danyu86 alone. The grain yields of Danyu86 in 2009 and Chaoshi1 in 2010 were significantly (LSD, P < 0.05) higher with straw mulching at the rate of 12 t/ha than on the application of other treatments. Irrespective of whether precipitation was concentrated during the beginning or the latter half of the summer maize growing stage, straw mulching increased the WUE of Chaoshi1, but not of Danyu86. These results indicated that under rainfed conditions in northern China, straw mulching could increase the grain yield and WUE of compact-type maize.

The purpose of the study was to assess, in respect of selected physical properties, the reclamation of the northern slope of the outside spoil bank of the Belchatów brown coal mine by reforestation carried out 20 years ago. Investigations were carried out on 55 permanent research plots. This study confirmed the efficiency of reclamation of strip-mine spoils, and its results allowed to point out the properties of initial soils as the most useful characteristics for the assessment of land reclamation by reforestation.

The aims of the paper were as follows: (1) to assess the applicability of speckled alder for pioneer stands on the mountainous clear-cut tracts and (2) to evaluate the effects of slow-release fertilizer on the survival and growth of speckled alder under harsh environmental conditions. On the basis of seven-year results we can presume that speckled alder is a convenient pioneer species that can be cultivated on harsh mountain sites where the climatic extremes need to be alleviated and a layer of surface humus renewed. The initial slow-release fertilization is, nonetheless, highly desirable. As contrasted to the control the surface and planting hole applications of amendment reduced the total seven-year mortality rate by 9.5% and 20.1%, respectively, and the periodic annual height increment (2003-2009) was promoted by 47% and 59%, respectively. Analogous results were obtained when the values of basal stem diameter and crown diameter were compared. As for the method of application, the placement of the slow-release amendment in the planting holes seems to be more efficient mainly in terms of survival promoting. The surface application is, nonetheless, less laborious and also yielded satisfactory results.

Composite flours containing 5%, 10%, 15%, and 20% of chia seed flour and corn were used for tortilla formulations. The effects of chia powders supplementation on the physicochemical and sensorial characteristics as well as starch digestibility of the tortillas were evaluated. Nutritionally, all chia tortillas had significantly higher levels (P < 0.001) of protein, lipids, and total dietary fibre than the control. The reduced enzymatic starch hydrolysis rate and predicted glycemic index recorded for the chia seed-added tortilla indicated slow digestion features. Sensory evaluation did not show significant (P > 0.05) differences in the attributes among tortillas. Owing to the increase in the total dietary fibre, lower digestion, and predicted glycemic index values, chia seed-added tortilla can be considered as a nutraceutical food. Therefore, the newly developed tortilla supplemented with chia seed flour could represent a valuable staple in improving the nutritional value of the original food product.

The rheological behaviour of enzyme clarified Lime (Citrus aurontifolia L.) juice was studied as a function of the total soluble solid (TSS) content (7.3-55.7°Brix), corresponding water activity (a_w) (0.985-0.831) at different temperatures (20-80^oC) using co-axial controlled stress rheometer. The rheological parameter shear stress was measured up to the shear rate of 600 s^-1. The investigation showed that the enzyme clarified lime juice and its concentrate behaved like a Newtonian fluid with the viscosity (η) being in the range 3.964 to 50.290 mPa s depending upon the concentration and temperature used. The temperature dependency on the viscosity of lime juice was described by Arrhenius equation (r > 0.99) and the activation energy (E_a) of viscous flow was in the range 4.151 to 26.050 kJ/mol depending upon the total soluble solids content. The effect of total soluble solid content on the flow activation energy was described by exponential type equation (r > 0.98) and that of water activity was described by both the power law and exponential equations (r > 0.99). The effect of total soluble solid content on the viscosity of lime juice followed the second order exponential equation (r > 0.99) at the temperature used. The effect of water activity on the viscosity was described by both the power law and exponential type relationship (r > 0.97). The equations relating to the combined effect of temperature and total soluble solids content/water activity on the viscosity of enzyme clarified lime juice were established.

The toxicity of three concentrations (5%, 10% and 20% w/v) and spraying schedules (2, 4 and 6 weekly applications) of an extract from West African black pepper, Piper guineense, for managing two major post-flowering pests of cowpea, Vigna unguiculata, was investigated in two cropping seasons at the Research Farm of the Institute for Agricultural Research, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria. The insect pests were the larvae of Maruca vitrata (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) and the cowpea coreid bug, Clavigralla tomentosicollis (Hemiptera: Coreidae). The higher concentrations (10% and 20% w/v) and more frequent applications (4 and 6/week) significantly (P < 0.05) reduced the numbers of the two insect pests compared to the untreated control in both years. Pod damage was significantly reduced and grain yields consequently increased in treated plots compared with the other extract treatments and the untreated control. West African black pepper extract applied at higher concentrations and more frequently could play an important role in integrated management of pests' infestations on field cowpea managed by limited resource farmers in third world countries.

This study was conducted to evaluate changes in composition of whey proteins of Czech White Short-haired goat and East Friesian ewe milk and their comparison throughout lactation. Some differences in composition between ewe and goat milk were found. The results showed that the mean total protein (%), whey protein (g/100 g), and β-lactoglobulin (β-Lg, g/100 g) contents of goat milk were 2.75, 0.433, and 0.119 respectively and of ewe milk 6.36, 1.11, and 0.732 respectively. The contents of total protein as well as acid whey proteins in goat milk were nearly constant throughout the lactation period and fluctuated around the mean value while the contents of total protein as well as acid whey proteins in ovine milk were dependent on the period of lactation. The total protein content in ovine milk continuously increased during the lactation period. A higher content of ovine acid whey proteins was noticed at the beginning and in the final period of lactation. The average ratio of whey to total protein was 15.8 ± 2.61% in goat milk and 17.4 ± 2.68% in ewe milk and ranged from 13.0 to 20.4% in goat and from 14.0 to 20.8% in ewe milk . The total contents of two major whey proteins. α-lactalbumin and β-lactoglobulin (α-La + β-Lg = AG), averaged 87% of total whey protein, 92% in ovine milk. The main component of acid whey proteins in goat milk was α-La while in ovine milk the main component of acid whey proteins was β-Lg, however, at the end of the lactation period the content of β-Lg for both kinds of milk increased steeply, and the β-Lg/α-La ratio reached a maximum value of 1.94 in goat milk and of 9.74 in ewe milk. In addition, goat milk contains a similar amino acid profile to ewe milk but the amino acid pattern in whey proteins differs from that in milk. Total essential amino acids were approximately 40% of the total amino acids in goat and ewe milk as well as in goat and ewe whey.

Cryptosporidium parvum is a common intestinal protozoan parasite infecting humans and a wide range of animals, whose diagnostics present considerable difficulties. These arise from the exceptionally robust nature of the oocyst's walls, which necessitates more stringent treatments for disruption and recovery of DNA for analysis using molecular methods. In the case of water, which is the major source of Cryptosporidium oocysts, investigations concern the detection of the presence of the oocysts. Their concentration in water is very low, and moreover, many substances that may have significance as inhibitors of DNA amplification, are present in environmental water and stool. We have carried out trials in order to assess the effectiveness of recovery of C. parvum oocysts, from spiked environmental and distilled water samples, filtrated and concentrated with the use of special laboratory equipment. Inactivation of inhibitors was carried out with use of bovine serum albumin (BSA) in PCR mixes at ten different concentrations. DNA extraction was carried out from stool samples spiked with C. parvum oocysts, concentrated using two methods, and unconcentrated. Nested PCR and a TaqMan nested real time PCR assay, targeting the 18S rRNA gene, was used to detect C. parvum DNA in spiked water and additionally in spiked stool samples. The obtained results showed that losses of C. parvum oocysts occur during the filtration and concentration of spiked water samples. The addition of small amounts of BSA (5-20 ng/µl) to PCR and TaqMan PCR mixes increases the sensitivity of both methods, but a high concentration of BSA (100 ng/µl and above) has an inhibiting effect on the polymerase reaction. The extraction of DNA from C. parvum oocysts from spiked stool samples preceded by concentration with PBS, ether and Percoll resulted in a higher copy number of the 18S rRNA gene.

The therapeutic potential of amoxicillin plus sulbactam and its effect on dynamics of milk leukocytes in bovine sub clinical mastitis were investigated in this study. Therapeutic efficacy was measured by somatic cell count and total bacterial count of the milk, whereas, the dynamics of milk leukocytes were assessed by measuring phagocytosis, hydrogen peroxide production, myeloperoxidase and lactoperoxidase enzyme levels in the milk leukocytes. Forty-five crossbred cows were randomly divided into three equal groups. Group I consisting of 15 cows served as healthy control, whereas 30 cows (sub clinical mastitis) were randomly divided into Groups II and III on the basis of positive reactions in the California Mastitis Test. Group II cows received 300mg of amoxicillin plus sulbactam twice daily for three days and Group III received sterile 5 ml phosphate buffer saline (pH 7.4) for three days. Both treatments were administered via the intramammary route. Observations were made up to 15 days after initiation of treatment. The results revealed a pronounced drop in somatic cell count and total bacterial count, whereas significant (P < 0.05) enhancement of phagocytic activity (42.20%), hydrogen peroxide production (29.46%), myeloperoxidase (49.27%) and lactoperoxidase (147.10%) enzyme levels in the milk leukocytes in Group II cows during post treatment periods were observed. Such changes were statistically non-significant in Group III cows. The results of the present study indicate that intramammary use of amoxicillin plus sulbactam augments the bactericidal function of milk leukocytes during bovine sub clinical mastitis and demonstrate the strong therapeutic potential against bovine subclinical mastitis.

This study was conducted to assess the effect of forest road as a corridor on local biodiversity. For this purpose, 10 segments in a 10 year-old road were selected in Neka-Zalemrood forest in Hyrcanian zone. At each of the segments, we established two 100-m transects perpendicular to the road centre line, within which we sampled three macroplots of an area 400 m². In each macroplot, nine quadrant microplots 2 × 2 m in size were set up for regenerated tree species and herbaceous plant survey. Chemical and physical parameters of soil were measured in laboratory. Results indicated that thirty-six herbaceous species and 13 regenerated tree species were recorded within the area of 100 m from the road verge. At the different distances from the road verge and both down and up-slope, the ground cover of Carex sylvatica and Rubus caesius L. as well as regeneration density of Carpinus betulus L. were higher compared to other species. Menhenick, Margalef, Shannon and Simpson indices were higher at the distance of 0-20 m than at the distances of 40-60 m and 80-100 m. Camargo and Smith-Wilson indices decreased when increasing distance to the road. These results are expected to provide critical information for decision makers and land managers for managing plant species and maintaining the integrity of biological communities.