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The object of an experiment was inorganic and organic forms of zinc, copper and manganese applied in mineral mixtures to dairy cows. The experiment was carried out on 90 cows with average milk yield for previous lactation of about 9 500 kg milk. The cows received mineral mixtures containing inorganic or organic forms of zinc, copper and manganese for 6 weeks before calving and during the first three months of lactation. The application of microelements as bioplexes in amounts covering 30% of daily requirements of cows had a positive effect on an increase in colostrum dry matter content from 20.9 to 23.35% as well as on the concentration of protein and fat, and the level of minerals - calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, zinc and copper. In cows' milk in the 2^nd and 3^rd month of lactation there were no differences in contents of minerals. However in the blood serum of cows in the 1^st and 2^nd month of lactation an increase in calcium concentration from 1.96 to 2.14 g/kg was observed while the content of phosphorus also increased average from 1.76 to 2.22 g/kg in the first trimester of lactation.

This article describes the problem of forest reclamation of settling basins after industrial processing of manganese ore and pyritic shale at the age of 20-30 years. Soil properties of anthropogenic soil (overlaid layers, deposited sediments), nutrition state of assimilation organs, vitality of aboveground organs of tree species were investigated by instant visual evaluation using recommended macromorphological criteria and architecture of the Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) root system.

In this research, the growth and survival of E. coli O157:H7, Salmonella typhimurium and Staphylococcus aureus were investigated during kefir fermentation. Two different levels of inoculation of the strains were conducted; the levels of 102 CFU/ml (EC-1, SA-1 and S-1) and 103 CFU/ml (EC-2, SA-2 and S-2). At 0, 2, 6, 12, and 24 hours of kefir fermentation at 23 ± 1°C, samples were taken and the counts of E. coli O157:H7, S. typhimurium, and S. aureus were determined. EC-1 grew from 2.29 ± 0.02 log CFU/ml to 4.13 ± 0.18 log CFU/ml whereas EC-2 grew from 3.22 ± 0.04 log CFU/ml to 6.78 ± 0.99 log CFU/ml. Both S-1 and S-2 viable populations grew during the fermentation period, where sample S-1 grew from 2.37 ± 0.20 log CFU/ml to 4.64 ± 0.67 log CFU/ml and sample S-2 grew from 3.52 ± 0.07 log CFU/ml to 5.60 ± 0.10 log CFU/ml. SA-2 strains grew from 3.06 log CFU/ml to 3.64 log CFU/ml, SA-1 strains grew from 2.28 log CFU/ml to 2.66 log CFU/ml. According to the findings, E. coli O157:H7, S. typhimurium, and S. aureus can survive in kefir during fermentation.

The contribution demonstrates gynaecomastia in an adult, noncastrated tom-cat, caused by an antiandrogenic preparation Androcur tablets (Schering AG, BRD), administrated at the dose of 5 mg/day for one week. Two months after the treatment, the enlargement of all mammary glands was apparent and one month later (i.e. three months after the end of drug administration) the mammary chains reached the size of 30 × 15 × 20 cm. The general health state of the animal was altered due to the conspicuous enlargement and inflammation of mammary glands. Radical mastectomy was done under general anaesthesia using Isoflurane Rhone-Poulenc inh. The weight of the extirpated mammary chains was 1.75 kg. The healing of operative wounds and convalescence occurred without complications. Fibroepithelial hyperplasia of mammary glands was diagnosed histologically.

Limited information is available on the pharmacokinetics and bioavailability of aspirin and acetaminophen in young chicks. The purpose of the present study was to examine the pharmacokinetics of acetyl salicylic acid (aspirin) and acetaminophen in 12-day old chicks after a single intraperitoneal administration of each drug alone at the dose of 100 mg/kg body weight. Blood samples were collected from chicks (six/each time period) at 10, 20, 30, 60 and 120 min after each drug administration. The concentrations of aspirin and acetaminophen in the plasma were determined by spectrophotometric methods. The pharmacokinetic parameters of the drugs were calculated by a non-compartmental analysis. The elimination half-lives of aspirin and acetaminophen were 1.68 and 1.36 h with steady state volume of distributions 0.079 and 1.11 l/kg and total body clearances of 0.029 and 0.53 l/h/kg, respectively. The mean residence times of the drugs were 2.74 and 2.09 h and their area under the plasma concentration-time curves (0-∞) were 3486 and 188 μg/h/ml, respectively. In conclusion, the data show the pharmacokinetic profiles of single intraperitoneal doses of aspirin and acetaminophen in chicks and suggest that acetaminophen is well distributed in the body of the chicks and eliminated faster from the body compared to aspirin. These parameters should be taken into consideration in further therapeutic and toxicological studies of drugs in chickens.

The objective the present study was to determine the influence of a supplemental methionine analogue, the isopropyl ester of 2-hydroxy-4-(methylthio)-butanoic acid, commercially available as MetaSmart^TM, on lactation performance, particularly milk protein production. The effects of this preparation were compared with those of a rumen-protected form of methionine, marketed as Smartamine^TM M. Experiments were conducted according to a 3 × 3 Latin square design and included 30 high-yielding dairy cows (22 Holstein and 8 Czech Fleckvieh) randomly allocated to three balanced groups. Cows were fed a basal diet based on maize silage, lucerne silage, lucerne hay, fresh brewer's grains, and a concentrate mixture in the form of a total mixed ration ad libitum. The diet M was supplemented with MetaSmart^TM (42.5 g/day) and diet S was supplemented with Smartamine^TM M (19 g/day), while control diet C contained solvent-extracted soybean meal, which was added to achieve required levels of dietary protein. Each period lasted four weeks in total, including three preliminary weeks and one experimental week during which samples of milk and tail vein blood were taken. Supplementation of MetaSmart^TM decreased dry matter intake of cows (18.96 kg) in contrast to the diet containing Smartamine^TM M, for which dry matter intake was the highest (20.48 kg; P < 0.001). Despite decreased dry matter intake, the highest average milk yields were recorded for cows supplemented with MetaSmart^TM (31.34 kg), which produced by approximately 1.14 kg (P < 0.001) and 0.78 kg (P < 0.01) more milk than cows fed diets C and S, respectively. As expressed by greater ratios milk/DMI, FCM/DMI, and ECM/DMI, the feed efficiency was improved in cows supplemented with MetaSmart^TM.Both MetaSmart^TM and Smartamine^TM M dietary supplementation increased milk yield, milk protein concentrations, and yields and increased the prevalence of β-casein fraction in milk protein.

The aim of this trial was to compare the effect of supplementation of goats with different forms of selenium on the metabolism of their kids at the time of weaning. The experiment was performed with 45 kids of mothers supplemented with various forms of selenium. Group C was control while the other four groups were supplemented with selenium for six weeks before (0.3 mg/goat/day) and after parturition (0.9 mg/goat/day). Group Se-I received sodium selenite while the other groups received organic forms: Se-lactate-protein complex (Se-L), Se-proteinate (Se-P) and Se-yeast (Se-Y). The kids were weaned at three months of age and samples of blood and urine were taken. Parameters monitored in the blood included Se, glutathione peroxidase (GPx), Zn, Cu, thyroxine, triiodothyronine, protein, immunoglobulins, muscle enzymes, total antioxidant status, vitamin A and E. Se levels were determined In the urine. Selenium supplementation of goats from six weeks before delivery significantly influenced selenium concentrations in the blood of kids. Significant differences (P < 0.0002) were found between the control and all experimental groups and further between Se-Y and the other experimental groups (Se-Y: 243.0 ± 20.3 μg/l; Se-I: 156.3 ± 34.3 μg/l; Se-P: 152.6 ± 41.5 μg/l; Se-L: 146.7 ± 20 0 μg/l; C: 67.6 ± 13.1 μg/l). The highest concentration was found in the group supplemented with Se-yeast with a high content of selenomethionine. The other two organic forms of selenium (proteinate and lactate-protein complex) increased the concentration of Se in blood and the activity of GPx to the same extent as the inorganic form of selenium. Se supplementation did not have a negative effect on the concentration of copper and zinc in the blood serum of kids, but we found decreased concentrations of thyroxine in the experimental groups (Se-Y: 79.8 ± 12.8 nmol/l; Se-I: 66.5 ± 13.2 nmol/l; Se-P: 76.2 ± 25.7 nmol/l; Se-L: 84.5 ± 14.8 nmol/l; C: 92.7 ± 13.4 nmol/l). Significant differences were found between the group C and groups Se-I and Se-P (P < 0.05). The supplementation of mothers with Se both in organic and inorganic forms was sufficient to prevent Se deficiency in kids at the time of weaning.

Small towns are defined as towns with the population not exceeding 15,000 (20,000) residents. They are organisms that can be embraced visually, mostly with the clearly demarcated area. Residents know their small town very well, the majority of buildings and structures is constructed at a reasonable scale and architectonic dominants allow easy orientation. Verdure in a small town is either a separate functional space (park, landscaped area, forest, scattered green vegetation) or it is associated with another function (residential green spaces, green spaces of housing estates, line verdure, verdure of self-retained areas - sports grounds, cemeteries, schools, etc.). The verdure of a small town is formed to make up a system. It may be realised but its functionality may be diminished by barriers of different type. Verdure significantly contributes to the image of a small town and its particular spaces. From the recreation aspect it is important to create near and easily accessible green spaces that may be used for the short- or long-time recreation of residents and visitors; the good connection of the urban verdure system with suburban landscape is desirable. To accentuate the basic landscape values and to realise the potential of the verdure system of a small town it is advisable to use the system of land-use planning while the landscape plan becomes its integral part.

Dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) has high bioavailability and is an important source of soil nutrients. In order to determine the concentrations and the composition of DON in different depths (0-30 cm), and provide a theoretical basis for further deep research into the paddy soil nitrogen supply, experiments based on the lysimeter method were carried out to investigate the effect of fertilization on composition and spatial distribution of DON in paddy soil. Paddy soil was treated under chemical fertilization treatment (CT) and mixed fertilization treatment (MT). With methods of PCR-DGGE and HPLC-MS, the results of the experiments suggested that the samples in 10-20 cm and 20-30 cm under MT had significantly higher bacterial diversity than those under CT except in 0-10 cm. DON had a high percentage (63.1-79.9%) in N_tot of soil solution. The results of the correlation analysis revealed that DON had a significant positive correlation with organic matter content, Shannon-Wiener diversity index (H') and a significant negative correlation with pH. The possible results of HPLC-MS identification of DON from paddy soil solution were that (a) 3-(4-thiazolyl)-l-alanine; (b) 2-phenylbenzimidazole-5-sulfonic acid; (c) 4-(2, 4-difluorophenyl)-3-nitrobenzene carbaldehyde; (d) fendizoic acid.

The antilisterial activity of E. mundtii 1282 strain and its cell-free neutralised supernatant was observed against five persistent L. monocytogenes strains using the agar spot method. The enterococcal metabolite was consequently characterised as a proteinaceous substance - the bacteriocin-like substance, which was heat-stable at heating to 100°C for 30 min, stable at pH 2-12, and still active after eight-week long storage at 6°C and -20°C. The bacteriocin-like substance reached the highest activity of 6400 AU/ml after ten hours of cultivation of E. mundtii 1282 strain, when it was at the stationary phase of its growth. E. mundtii 1282 strain produced the bacteriocin-like substance: in BHI broth with pH 4-6, at the cultivation temperature 12-45°C, and in BHI broth with 1-6% (w/w) NaCl.

This paper presents research results on the performance of the Timberjack 450C skidder in timber skidding at two working sites of broadleaved trees in mountainous conditions in the Hyrcanian forest. To evaluate the current skidding system in the Hyrcanian forest in northern Iran and possibility of finding out better techniques and group organization an empirical time study has been conducted. The elements of the skidding work phase were identified and 123 cycles were recorded for short-log and long-log method. The models for effective time consumption, total productivity and unit cost of skidding in short-log and long-log method were calculated. The time consumption and productivity of skidding depend on several variables such as distances and slope, number of logs per cycle and volume. The average load per cycle in short-log and long-log method was 2.77 m³ and 3.08 m³, the average one-way skidding distance was 380 and 497 m, the average slope was 18 and 20% in the short-log and long-log method, respectively. The average travel speeds of unloaded skidder were 5.74 km.h^-1 and the average speeds of loaded skidder were 7.67 and 6.16 km.h^-1 in short-log and long-log method, respectively. The average speeds of pulling the cable were 1.71 km.h^-1, and of load winching 0.72 km.h^-1 and 0.69 km.h^-1. The average outputs in short-log and long-log method were 10.86, 11.11 m³.effective h^-1. Results indicated that hourly costs of operation were higher for the short-log method than for the long-log method (12.69 vs.12.40 USD.m^-3).

Wheat is one of the most important crops in the world. Its yield is greatly influenced by global climate change and scarcity of water in the arid and semi-arid areas of the world. So, exploration of gene resources is of importance to wheat breeding in order to improve the crop ability of coping with abiotic stress environment. Wild relatives of wheat are rich repositories of beneficial genes that confer tolerance or resistance not only to drought but also to other environmental stresses. In the present study, the changes in leaf relative water content (RWC), free proline content, and malondialdehyde (MDA) accumulation of five wild wheat species including T. boeticum (YS-1L), T. dicoccum var. dicoccoides (YS-2L), T. araraticum (ALLT), and two cultivated varieties of T. turgidum ssp. durum (MXLK and 87341), with two well-known common wheat cultivars (SH6 and ZY1) possessing strong drought resistance and sensitiveness, respectively, as references were investigated during 3-day water stress and 2-day recovery, in order to assess the drought tolerance of these wild wheat species. The laboratory experiment was conducted under two water regimes (stress and non-stress treatments). Stress was induced to hydroponically grown two weeks old wheat seedlings with 20% PEG 6000. Stress treatment caused a much smaller decrease in the leaf RWC and rise in MDA content in YS-1L compared to the other wheat species. From the data it was obvious that YS-1L was the most drought tolerant among studied species having significantly higher proline and RWC while lower MDA content under water stress conditions. The order of water stress tolerance of these species according to the three parameters is: YS-1L > YS-2L > SH6 > 87341 > ZY1 > MXLK > ALLT. We speculate that the observed drought stress tolerance at a cellular level was associated with the ability to accumulate proline and high water level conservation.

During the past few years, there has been an increasing interest in rapid visual tests that could be performed outside the laboratory, for example on farms, in store houses or in food production plants. Hence, cost effective and simple screening methods are required for residual analysis of environmental and food samples on-site. Here, a simple and instrumental independent dipstick immunoassay for sulfamethazine detection is described. The polyclonal antibody was optimised in terms of coating dilution on a nitrocellulose membrane, dilution of peroxidase tracer conjugate, blocking agents and incubation times. Test results assessed by visual measurement can be available within 20 minutes. In buffer, water, skimmed milk and pig manure extract, sulfamethazine fortified at 50 and 100 µg/l has exhibited clear visual differentiation in colour development (lower intensity) in comparison to the control spot intensity (high intensity) of the dipstick.

Bovine tuberculosis (TB) is an important neglected zoonosis in Cameroon, where many communities depend on their livestock for livelihood and the incidence of human TB and TB-HIV/AIDS co-infection are high and increasing annually. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of bovine TB in cattle in the highlands of Cameroon. The magnitude and trend of detecting TB lesions in slaughtered cattle (1994 to 2010) and tuberculin skin tests (TST) in 2853 cattle (84 herds) of 39 livestock rearing communities were analysed. Of 129 165 slaughtered cattle inspected, 599 (0.46%; 95% CI: 0.43%-0.50%) showed suspected TB lesions among a total of 983 (0.76%; 95% CI: 0.71%-0.81%) identified pathologies. The monthly TB detection rates ranged from 0.30% (95% CI: 0.20%-0.40%) to 0.81% (95% CI: 0.64%-0.98%) and annual rates from 0.04% (95% CI: 0%-0.11%) to 1.46% (95% CI: 1.22%-1.69%). The rates were not affected (P < 0.05) by season and fluctuating peaks were also recorded. The comparative TST revealed that bovine TB was widely distributed in live cattle (4.67%; 95% CI: 3.89%-5.44%) and was higher (χ² = 17.50, P ≤ 0.001) in the Western highlands than Adamawa plateaux. Comparative TST bovine TB reactors were higher (P < 0.05) in cattle managed in semi-intensive and beef production systems compared to the others. Animals in small herds showed higher (χ² = 4.283, P = 0.038) rates than those in large herds. Bovine TB prevalence in exotic/upgraded cattle was comparable to that of the Red Bororo zebu but higher than the rates in Guadali (χ² = 4.971, P = 0.026) and White Fulani (χ² = 5.6, P = 0.018) zebus. Among the indigenous zebus, the rate was higher in Red Bororo than the Guadali (χ² = 6.244, P = 0.012) and White Fulani (χ² = 6.568, P = 0.010). Sex did not influence (χ² = 0.410, P = 0.522) bovine TB prevalence in this study but diagnosis of the disease was higher (χ² = 5.787; P = 0.016) among adult/older cattle than in younger animals. Further analysis of the TST responses revealed that atypical mycobacterial infections was widespread and 6.83% of tested animals showed positive reactions at both bovine and avian tuberculin injection sites and a strong association (χ² = 2.512; P = 0.113) between skin responses to both tuberculins. The study confirms that bovine TB is prevalent in live cattle and meat production abattoirs in Cameroon and we recommend strict a interpretation of TST results for maximum diagnosis of the disease in the local environment. A need for comprehensive investigation of the molecular epidemiology, zoonotic risks and the public health importance of bovine TB in Cameroon cannot be overemphasised.

In the present study, the effect of immunocastration on carcass traits, meat quality, reproductive organs development, and boar taint compounds was investigated. Male piglets (50% Duroc crosses) were randomly assigned to three treatment groups: entire males (EM; n = 19), surgical castrates (SC; n = 20) and immunocastrates (IC, vaccinated with Improvac^® at the age of 79 and 142 days; n = 21). Pigs were fed ad libitum and weighed at the time of first and second vaccination and before slaughter (176 days of age). No differences between treatment groups were detected for carcass weight. In the case of backfat thickness, carcass lean meat content, and belly leanness score, IC were intermediate between EM (the leanest) and SC (the fattest), differing (P < 0.05) from both control groups. Regarding loin eye fat area, neck intermuscular fatness, ham leanness, and leaf fat weight, IC were similar to EM and were less fat than SC (P < 0.01). IC had lower intramuscular fat than SC (P < 0.01) and higher average pH 24 than both EM and SC (P < 0.01), resulting in darker colour. IC also demonstrated lower drip loss than EM (P < 0.05). Immunocastration caused a significant reduction of reproductive organs and concentrations of boar taint compounds (P < 0.01) which were comparable with the levels observed for SC.

The effects of irrigation regimes (full irrigation and water-withholding at anthesis) and post-anthesis nitrogen supplies (LN: 0, MN: 20 and HN: 40 kg N/ha) on grain yield and its components in winter wheat were studied, with attention to biomass gain by assimilation and its loss by respiration. Fully-irrigated wheat responded to N fertilization with increased grain number (GN) and decreased grain weight (GW) and achieved similar grain yields (5.2 to 5.5 t/ha) at different N supplies. However, drought-stressed wheat responded to N with higher GN without significant changes in GW, and achieved higher grain yields (2.7 vs. 3.3 t/ha) with HN compared to LN. Net assimilation rates during grain filling (NARg) increased with increasing post-anthesis N fertilization for drought-stressed wheat (NARg: 3.8 and 4.5 g/m/day for LN and HN). Apparent whole-plant respiration (R_A) was not influenced by increased post-anthesis N fertilizer. Thus, in drought-stressed wheat, the total biomass and straw yield at maturity were increased by increasing N supply. These results suggest that high N supply at anthesis satisfied the grains' increased demand for N by increasing post-floral assimilation, and the surplus assimilates not only compensated for the low-N-induced biomass loss by respiration but may also have increased the

Following measurements of dead wood (20 to 40 years) at various developmental stages of the life cycle of selected virgin forests of the 1^st to 7^th altitudinal zone the relation of its course was derived. The dynamics and course of dead wood in the life cycle of virgin forests were best represented by a polynomial of the third degree. An analysis confirmed that virgin forests consisting of stable tree species with approximately the same physical age (Boky) showed small differences between maximal increase and decrease in necromass during the whole development cycle. Virgin forests at sites rich in nutrients consisting of several tree species with various physical age had high values of necromass during their whole development cycle. Spruce stands at the upper forest boundary also had a relatively high ratio of necromass at the advanced optimum stage.

Organic nitrogen is an important but yet not very well explored component of nitrogen deposition. In this study concentrations and fluxes of organic and inorganic nitrogen in bulk precipitation in an open field (BOF) and in throughfall (THR) were evaluated at the Bílý Kříž experimental site (Moravian-Silesian Beskydy Mts., Czech Republic, 908 m a.s.l.) with a young Norway spruce stand. The results of a two-year study (2008 and 2009) were compared with the results obtained during the same time period on forest plots included in ICP Forests Programme in the Czech Republic. Total nitrogen deposition in BOF at the Bílý Kříž site amounted to about 918 mg.m^-2.a^-1, the contribution of organic nitrogen was about 8%. Total nitrogen flux with THR at Bílý Kříž was about 1,305 mg.m^-2.a^-1 during the studied years and organic N accounted for 12% of this amount. The ranges of the two-year average values found for total nitrogen flux on ICP Forests plots throughout the Czech Republic were as follows: 759-1,857 mg N.m^-2.a^-1 with 7-38% contribution of organic N in BOF and 928-3,816 mg N.m^-2.a^-1 with 7-20% contribution of organic N in THR. The share of organic nitrogen in THR nitrogen fluxes at Bílý Kříž proved clear seasonality with maxima in July. A highly significant correlation between N-NH₄⁺ and N-NO₃^- concentrations in BOF suggested the common anthropogenic source of these substances at the Bílý Kříž site. No significant correlation was found either between organic N and N-NH₄⁺ or between organic N and N-NO₃^- concentrations in BOF. Cumulative deposition charts showed different behaviour of particular nitrogen deposition components while passing through the canopy.

Based on two species of Coastal Mangrove in Hainan of China, Sonneratia Apetala Buch-Ham and Sonneratia caseoli, we estimated the density of the two species to evaluate the efficiency of adaptive cluster sampling (ACS), simple random sampling (SRS) and traditional systematic sampling (SYS). Our initial experimental designs for ACS consisted of 5 unit areas, 6 initial sampling proportions, 4 initial sample sizes and 5 criterion values in 1,000 repetitions. From the aspect of factors influencing efficiency, we analysed the efficiency of ACS in various designs. We also compared the efficiencies of the three methods on the indexes of the relative error, the variance of density estimator and the relative sampling efficiencies. We found that ACS yielded smaller variance than the traditional sampling methods. ACS was a powerful sampling method when a population was spatially aggregated. We also determined the optimum unit area for the two species studied using the two estimators (HT and HH) of adaptive cluster sampling. They were 20 m² (2 × 10 m), 15 m² (3 × 5 m) for S. Apetala Buch-Ham and 25 m² (5 × 5 m), 15 m² (3 × 5 m) for S. caseolari, respectively.

Sisal purple leafroll disease (SPLD) is a destructive disease affecting sisal in China, however, its etiology remains unknown. This disease is characterized by purple margins and rolling and yellowing of the leaves. Recently, phytoplasma was found to be present in SPLD-affected sisal according to PCR assay. To further verify the presence of phytoplasma, determine its association with SPLD and identify the possible pathogenic phytoplasma infecting sisal, 80 symptomatic and 65 asymptomatic sisal samples were collected from the main sisal farms in three Chinese provinces, including Hainan, Guangdong and Guangxi provinces, from 2018 to 2021. PCR assays and transmission electron microscopy further revealed the presence of phytoplasma. Nested PCR using the universal primer R16mF2/R16mR1 followed by R16F2n/R16R2 was confirmed as the most effective molecular method for the detection of phytoplasma in sisal. A comparison of the detection rate of phytoplasma in symptomatic (83%) versus asymptomatic (17%) sisal populations showed some association between phytoplasma and SPLD. Sequencing analyses, phylogenetic analyses, and virtual restriction fragment length polymorphism analyses confirmed the presence of phytoplasma in sisal belonging to 16SrI-B. This is the first report of 16SrI-B phytoplasma infecting sisal in China.

This study aims to describe the most important cardiac structures in the Heterodon nasicus through echocardiography and anatomical dissection. Echocardiographic and echo-Doppler measurements were performed on twenty healthy adult Heterodon nasicus (10.10). The values of the ventricular length, aortic diameter, pulmonary trunk diameter, the mean thickness of the interventricular septum, and thicknesses of the wall of the cavum pulmonale (Cav. P) and cavum arteriosum (Cav. A), were measured. The aortic flow and pulmonary trunk flow were recorded. Two dead specimens (1.1) were dissected. The male’s pulmonary trunk diameter was bigger compared to the female’s in both the long and short axis. The reproductive ecology of Heterodon nasicus has yet to be fully elucidated upon, however, male territorialism and dispersal from the hibernacula, and multiple male courtships toward a single female were described, hence, the more active reproductive activity of the male and the consequent sexual selection toward a higher aerobic performance can be hypothesised. A moderate interventricular right to left shunt was noticed in the Cav. V of all the specimens, which is considered normal and should not confuse the clinician. Congenital defects, cardiomyopathies, valvulopathies, and pericardial diseases are known to occur in ophidians and other reptiles. Reliable data and profound knowledge of the anatomy and physiology of the ophidian heart are fundamental for the in vivo diagnosis of cardiac diseases in snakes.

The advances in the production traits of Oreochromis niloticus are due to the development of genetically superior broodstock animals. Understanding the genetic variability of fish stocks is crucial to any animal breeding program. The aim of this study was to perform a meta-analysis of genetic parameters that considers the variability between studies for economically important traits in the Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) production. The final dataset from literature review contained 226 estimates of heritability and 53 estimates of genetic correlation across 37 peer-reviewed articles published between 2002 and 2022. Weighted genetic parameter estimates were obtained by fitting a random effect model for all traits studied. Heterogeneity across studies were assessed using the Q statistic and I² index. Heritability estimates ranged from low to moderate magnitude, indicating that a greater response to selection is expected for body length (0.37), body weight (0.29), body width (0.28), and daily weight gain (0.28), compared to the other traits, body height (0.25) and fillet yield (0.19). Genetic correlations ranged from moderate to high magnitude (0.47 to 0.94), which suggests that part of expression of traits is regulated by the same gene groups. The meta-analysis study provided reliable genetic parameter estimates and these findings may be served as the baseline reference for new Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) breeding programs.

Horsegram (Macrotyloma uniflorum) – an important, self-pollinated food legume, however due to limited genomic and genetic resources the genetic improvement could not be achieved as compare to other major legumes. Our work aims at finding novel microsatellite markers and their use for the construction of a linkage map from 157 individuals of F₉ recombinant inbred lines (RILs) of horsegram. The determinate growth habit and plant height are important traits for its suitability for different cropping systems. The genotypic data were generated by screening 2 395 molecular markers, of which 600 (25.05 %) polymorphic markers were selected. Two-hundred eighty-seven (287) markers were mapped on ten linkage groups (LGs) at a log of odds (LOD) of 3.5 straddling 796.76 cM with 2.78 cM of marker density. For the identification of the quantitative trait loci (QTLs), the phenotypic data recorded on the RILs for the plant height and growth habit were analysed using the statistical tools JoinMap®and Windows QTL cartographer, based on the composite interval mapping (CIM) technique. Across the ten linkage groups, we detected four QTLs (LOD ≥ 2.5) for four traits. All the traits were major QTLs as indicated by the percentage of phenotypic variance (PVE) (≥ 10%) that ranged from 13.5% to 40.3%, therefore, this is very important information which can be used in marker-assisted selection (MAS). The present genomic information generated in this orphan crop, thus, provides the base for genetic improvements by devising molecular breeding strategies.

Coxiella burnetii is the aetiological agent of Q fever, which is highly prevalent in Turkiye, but information on the genetic profiles of the bacterium is limited. This study aimed to investigate the presence of C. burnetii in bovine bulk tank milk (BTM) samples by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and to investigate the genotypes by means of multiple-locus variable-number tandem repeat analysis (MLVA). A total of 25 markets that sold raw cow’s milk were analysed by conventional PCR analysis. An MLVA analysis was performed at six loci, namely MS23, MS24, MS27, MS28, MS33, and MS34, to determine the genotypic variations of C. burnetii found in the positive DNA samples. The DNA of C. burnetii was detected in 16% of the BTM samples. The C. burnetii strains identified in the bovine milk samples collected in this study were found to belong to the same genotypic group as those detected in the bovine milk samples gathered in Greece. As a result, both the presence and genotyping studies of C. burnetii on the BTM samples in Turkiye will contribute to the determination of the geographical distribution of the agent.

Medicago sativa is the most widely cultivated forage legume and one of the most economically valuable crops throughout the world. Qingda no.1 (Medicago sativa L. cv. Qingda no.1) is an excellent alfalfa local variety with strong cold, drought and salt resistance in the three rivers source area of Qinghai. In this study, the whole chloroplast (cp) genome of Qingda no.1 was sequenced, assembled and its structure was analysed by the Illumina high-throughput sequencing technology. The results showed that the chloroplast genome of Qingda no.1 exhibits no obvious typical quadripartite structure; the total length of the chloroplast genome is 125 637 bp; the chloroplast genome contained 111 genes, including 77 protein-coding genes, 30 tRNA genes, and 4 rRNA genes, with an overall GC content of 38.33%. The relative synonymous codon usage showed that 68.67% of the codons RSCU > 1 in Qingda no.1, with the preference ending with A and T. The simple sequence repeat (SSR) analysis identified 62 SSR loci. The phylogenetic analysis of the cp genome, Qingda no.1 clustered closely with Medicago sativa KU321683 (Medicago sativa L. cv. KU321683). These results are helpful for the further study of the Qingda no.1 adaptation mechanism to high altitude stress environments.

A number of stimuli lead to what is termed "seasonal fatigue", where the only firm interconnection is the fact that this form of fatigue only occurs during a certain period of the season. The interior of the cabin and its effect on the machine operator is notable. The microclimate of the environment in which the operator works has a direct impact on his/her condition and, consequentially, the extent of his/her fatigue. The development of microclimate in a modern agricultural machine must be identified, and based on such findings, recommendation should be given regarding procedures for improving the current situation in agricultural technology. For testing, the New Holland T6.165 tractor was therefore selected. The individual measurements show that a certain drop of oxygen occurs in the cabin during the first half hour of driving. This leads to  an increase in CO₂, which is in turn caused by the higher ventilation of the given individuals present in the vehicle. To eliminate said drops in O₂, the use of oxygen concentrators may be recommended.

Soil aggregate stability (SAS) is an important factor for soil quality and fertility. There are limited possibilities to influence this soil property, but one investigated method is the application of additives which have the potential to improve SAS. We established a four-year field experiment on a clay-loam Luvisol with poor soil structure to monitor SAS following the application of additives and grassland revegetation. Treatments included: (1) the untreated control; (2) compost; (3) biochar; (4) liming; (5) cattle manure; (6) woodchips; (7) woodchips + fungi inoculation; (8) pellets; (9) pellets + fungi; (10) hydrogel and (11) the change of arable land to grassland. The lowest 23.39% average SAS value was recorded for the untreated control, and then 23.92% for lime treatment, and the highest 27.69% average value was for hydrogel treatment, followed by woodchips with 27.22% and woodchips + fungi with 27.02%. A significant SAS increase of more than 200% was evident on the grassland two years after the trial’s establishment, and this was also associated with other improved physical and chemical soil properties. Finally, while most of our applied soil additives were relatively ineffective in agricultural practice, grassland revegetation is highly recommended for its rapid increase in soil aggregate stability.

This paper aims to investigate the effects of the COVID-19 crisis on small family farms in Visegrad countries and to provide evidence of how they have responded and coped with the crisis. We conducted our investigation using an exploratory qualitative research design based on 86 semistructured in-depth interviews with owners or responsible managers, and explored the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on different areas of their businesses, such as human resources, supplier-customer relations, production, distribution channels or strategies, price of inputs and outputs and business models. Our findings showed that small family farms have been resilient in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. Several negative impacts were identified, such as a decrease in sales due to the closure of accommodation and restaurant services, delays in the supply of inputs, and minor problems with the availability of workers, but those were perceived to be moderate. However, the COVID-19 pandemic created not only difficult challenges but also opportunities for small farms. Based on our findings, three main recommendations regarding the adaptability and resilience of family farms in Visegrad countries have been formulated: i) the importance of a diversification strategy, ii) selling through short supply chains, and iii) digitalisation of agriculture.

Bone cysts are rare orthopaedic problems in dogs. There are no clear treatment guidelines. A young male Shih Tzu was referred to Small Animal Clinic with fifth-degree lameness (5/5) of the left thoracic limb, and with swelling and deformation of the distal humeral region. The radiological assessment revealed an enlargement of the distal brachium and an extensive hypodense osteolytic lesion in the distal metaphyseal region of the humerus. Diagnosis of the bone cyst was formulated and treated with a mini-invasive method using autologous non-concentrated bone marrow injections. The treatment was successful, and at the three weeks, the cyst significantly changed its structure. The follow-up at 12 weeks after the first injection, and at one year revealed complete recovery. To our knowledge, this is the first evidence of a bone cyst in a young dog successfully treated with a minimally-invasive method by using a non-concentrated autologous bone marrow injection.

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of a granular poultry manure fertiliser on the yield and the quality of white cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata), and to determine the effect on the soil agrochemical properties. The effect of the granular poultry manure fertiliser and mineral fertiliser (applied separately and combined at different times – in early spring and in autumn) on the cabbage yields was determined. Investigations were carried out in the fields of the Institute of Horticulture, the Lithuanian Research Centre for Agriculture and Forestry. The object of the research – white cabbage ‘Socrates’ H. The highest white cabbage marketable yield (80.5 t/ha) and the highest amount of vitamin C (7.80 mg per 100 g of products) was obtained by applying the granular poultry manure fertiliser in the autumn and the mineral fertiliser in the spring, where the granular poultry manure fertiliser applied in the early spring and the granular poultry manure fertiliser applied in the autumn with the mineral fertiliser applied in spring retained a higher content of humus (1.82–1.94%), organic carbon (1.06–1.12%) and total nitrogen (0.099–0.147%). The mineral nitrogen residue in the soil decreased when the cabbage was fertilised in the spring with the mineral fertiliser and when fertilised in the spring with the mineral fertiliser in combination with the granular poultry manure fertiliser by 8.1–10.8 kg/ha. The minimum content of nitrates in the heads of the white cabbage was found after using the granular poultry manure fertiliser in the autumn.