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Measures for consumer protection against food adulteration and misleading labelling are integrated into EU legislation, including methods for detecting misleading practices. Verification of the meat content is available for marine products, but not for salmonid fish due to the lack of standard nitrogen factors. This study aimed to establish nitrogen factors for rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) and brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis). The study analysed 340 fish from Czech fisheries obtained in the summer of 2018-2020. According to the established ISO methods, fillet samples with and without skin were analysed for their nitrogen content (protein), dry matter, ash, and fat. The recommended nitrogen factor for rainbow trout fillets with and without the skin is 3.07 ± 0.12 and 3.06 ± 0.14, respectively, and the nitrogen factor for fat-free rainbow trout fillets with and without the skin is 3.33 ± 0.15 and 3.29 ± 0.15, respectively. The recommended nitrogen factor for brook trout fillets with and without the skin is 3.16 ± 0.10 and 3.12 ± 0.09, respectively, and the nitrogen factor for fat-free brook trout fillets with and without the skin is 3.42 ± 0.13 and 3.36 ± 0.12, respectively. The established nitrogen factors will enable the analysis of the meat content to ensure that consumers purchase correctly described and labelled fish products.

Field studies were conducted on Vitis vinifera cv. 'Cabernet Sauvignon' to evaluate the effects of the defoliation time (pre- and post-flowering and veraison) and severity on the 3-isobutyl-2-methoxypyrazine (IBMP) concentration and expression levels of the key related genes in grape berries. The IBMP concentration in the grapes decreased significantly at harvest after all the defoliation treatments. The earlier and heavier the defoliation treatment, the lower the IBMP concentration. The relative expression level of VvOMT3 in the berry skin was closely positively correlated with the IBMP accumulation in all the treatments. Early defoliation coupled with a 1-week delay in the harvest time may be an effective management strategy to control the IBMP concentration in grapes.

The strong market competition forces forest owners to find innovative approaches to forest management, and business models are becoming integral parts of successful innovations and business strategies. This paper deals with the applicability of a business model (as an innovation tool) for small forest owners. The main objectives were to design a business model applicable in the forestry sector and to find the innovative business alternatives for the small-scale forest owner reflecting the local situation (in a case study in the Czech Republic). The extended business model CANVAS was used. The embedded data was evaluated on the software developed at the Savonia University in Finland where business opportunity and competitive advantage were the main evaluation criteria. As a result, a proposed strategy was advised to be followed. The biggest added value of the extended CANVAS model is giving an objective and unbiased evaluation of the situation of small forest owners. The business model design proved a usable and applicable tool to be used in forest management, for the research has shown that the quantitative data should be complemented by qualitative research in order to get the complex view.

Ditylenchus weischeri was recently reported in the provinces of Manitoba and Saskatchewan, Canada. Populations of D. weischeri from creeping thistle (Cirsium arvense L.) in Manitoba and D. dipsaci from garlic (Allium cepa L.) in Ontario were examined for their potential to grow on callused carrot (Daucus carota subsp. sativus) disks, alfalfa (Medi- cago sativa L.) and creeping thistle callus tissues, and pure cultures of eight fungal species, Botrytis cinerea, Fusarium solani, Rhizoctonia solani, Verticillium dahliae, Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, Cladosporium cucumerinum, Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, and Chaetomium spp. Ditylenchus weischeri and D. dipsaci could not be reared on any of the fungal isolates nor in the callus tissues of creeping thistle. In contrast to D. weischeri, D. dipsaci was successfully reared on the alfalfa callus tissue. On the callused carrot disks, with no media, an increase of 54 and 244 times the initial density of 80 nematodes was obtained for D. weischeri and D. dipsaci, respectively. Monoxenic rearing was performed using callused carrot disks to provide sufficient D. weischeri inoculum for the microplot study. The effect of D. weischeri on yellow pea varieties Agassiz and Bronco was determined in a microplot trial using initial densities of 0, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600, and 3200 nematodes/plant. While it had no impact on pea grain yield, D. weischeri slightly reduced plant height, aboveground biomass, and pod length at the population densities of 1600 and 3200 nematodes/plant. The final population densities at harvest were not significantly different from the initial densities indicating the pea varieties were poor hosts to D. weischeri. The results of the present study indicate that D. weischeri is unlikely to be a pest of yellow pea for weather conditions of the Canadian Prairies.

The functional role of the insect pathogen fungus Metarhizium anisopliae strain NCAIM 362 against the white grub cockchafer (Melolontha melolontha) larvae and southern European marshland pyralid (Duponchelia fovealis) larvae in a sweet potato cultivation was tested under greenhouse conditions. As a positive control, the effect of the same strain of M. anisopliae were compared with the effect of the synthetic insecticide alpha-cypermethrin. According to the results, alpha-cypermethrin was more effective against both the Coleoptera and Lepidoptera larvae, a lower number of surviving individuals as well as less damaged tubers were detected after the chemical treatment, compared with M. anisopliae.

The aim of this study was to describe the influence of pelvis rotation on the projected radiographic position of the femoral head in relationship to the acetabulum in the standard ventrodorsal hip extended view, i.e. Norberg angle, pelvic thickness at the level of the cranial effective acetabular rim, femoral head subluxation index, femoral head subluxation category and femoral head-acetabular distance. Twelve adult dogs of large and giant breeds were radiographed in standard hip extended view and with 2°, 4° and 6° of rotation on the right and left sides. Norberg angle, pelvic thickness, subluxation index, subluxation category and femoral head-acetabular distance were measured on radiographs and analysed comparing a normal position with positions of different degrees of rotation for the dependent and non-dependent side. All the studied parameters showed adequate repeatability. Norberg angle and femoral head-acetabular distance did not show significant mean differences in all degrees of rotated pelvis (P > 0.05). The pelvic thickness showed an increase with the degree of rotation on the dependent side (P < 0.05) and a slight decrease on the non-dependent side (P > 0.05). The subluxation index and subluxation category showed an increase with the degree of rotation on the dependent side and a decrease on the non-dependent side (P < 0.05). As the subluxation index and subluxation category are parameters used in the classification of the main international hip dysplasia scoring systems, pelvic rotation can impair the final hip score, especially in scoring systems that are based on the worst joint.

One of the main objectives of walnut crossbreeding programmes is to produce cultivars with late leafing dates. Sixteen years ago, a walnut crossbreeding programme was initiated by Prof. Mehmet Sütyemez, and now a new walnut genotype, namely 'Ahir Nut', has been generated with a leafing date that starts later than all commercially-famous walnut cultivars in the world. The present study describes this walnut genotype. For a detailed analysis, 'Ahir Nut' was compared with two French-origin walnut cultivars, i.e., 'Franquette' and 'Ronde de Montignac', which have had the latest leafing dates until now. In an experimental orchard in Turkey, the leafing date in 'Ahir Nut' was 14 May, whereas the leafing date in 'Franquette' and 'Ronde de Montignac' were 23 April and 25 April, respectively. This approximately 3-week difference between 'Franquette' and 'Ronde de Montignac' to 'Ahir Nut' reveals how valuable this genotype is for walnut breeding studies. The harvest dates for 'Ahir Nut', 'Franquette' and 'Ronde de Montignac' were 4 October, 3 October, and 7 October, respectively. The defoliation date for 'Ahir Nut' was 4 December. The nut weight and kernel percentage of 'Ahir Nut' were calculated as 11.61 g and 49.84%, respectively. Remarkable phenological traits were found in 'Ahir Nut', making it a promising option for future walnut cultivation. In the present study, the late leafing date of 'Ahir Nut' prompted further research into the molecular and walnut crossbreeding potentials. This new genotype has been conserved as an important genetic resource for future walnut breeding programmes around the world.

The economic diversification of rural territories specialised in olive growing is key to the sustainability and resilience of these communities. In this context, olive oil tourism is presented as an innovative strategy to add value to the olive sector, attract visitors and promote public–private synergies. This study aims to determine the competitive advantages of olive oil tourism in the province of Jaén, Spain, using strategic analysis tools that align tourism resources with effective management strategies. Hence, in addition to a questionnaire completed by experts and a specialised literature review, we used the Quality Function Deployment (QFD) matrix, adapted to territorial analysis focused on tourism. This methodology correlates the territorial resources of olive oil tourism (TRs, the ‚what') with management specifications (MSs, the ‚how'). The analysis determines the relative importance of the TRs, the objective values and the technical importance of the MSs, and the direction of improvement. Furthermore, it includes an evaluation of competitiveness and estimates the technical-competitive positioning index. Nine TRs and eight MSs were identified and correlated, and Jaén's performance was compared to that of six other Spanish olive-growing provinces. Nine competitive advantages were identified, linked to five TRs (olive grove heritage landscape, tasting areas, exhibition centres, olive oil mills and greenways) and four MSs (olive mills, environmental education, diversification of supply and heritage promotion and innovation). This work proposes a useful tool to align resources and management, improve decision-making and move towards a more strategic governance in the olive oil tourism sector.

Adopting the concept of the waste to wealth approach, agricultural waste from maize cob could be transformed into a renewable form of energy through thermo-chemical methods of treating the biomass. This method can be utilised for biochar production. The utilisation of biochar has several significant applications. These applications include the enhancement of the soil through amendment, stimulation of crop production by a variety nutrient inputs in the soil, etc. In this research work, a biochar was obtained through a slow pyrolysis process of maize cob waste. This experiment was carried out using a small-scale muffle furnace and subjecting the feedstock to heating at different temperatures (300, 400, 500 °C). The biochar was produced and characterised by a proximate analysis, scan electron microscope (SEM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, while the surface area was determined by Saer's method. The effect of the temperature on the yield of the biochar was investigated. The results show that the biochar yield decreases with an increasing temperature for the maize cob biochar at 300, 400 and 500 °C. The results of the physiochemical properties showed that the temperature has a great impact on the physicochemical properties of the biochar. The biochar produced at 300 °C has the highest fixed carbon content of 60.5%. The largest surface area was (281.8 m2.g^-1) at 500 °C.

This study was conducted to evaluate the sufficiency of food safety practices in a catering company. The presence of some pathogenic and indicator bacteria was monitored in the samples collected from raw materials, food, food contact surfaces and workers' hands and various steps of the tas kebab (a Turkish meat stew) and salad processing lines. Bacillus cereus was found in ready-to-eat (RTE) tas kebab and RTE salad, while Listeria monocytogenes was isolated from RTE salad. Furthermore, it was observed that RTE salad contained coagulase-positive Staphylococcus aureus without staphylococcal enterotoxin production. The swab samples obtained from cutting board surfaces, knives and workers' hands contained high counts of total aerobic bacteria and some samples were contaminated with coliforms and coagulase-positive/negative staphylococci. The presence of B. cereus and L. monocytogenes in RTE foods is a serious threat to public health, especially in the catering business. Preventing the presence of toxin-producing bacteria in RTE food is a fundamental action. Also, the occurrence of L. monocytogenes in RTE salad and B. cereus in RTE tas kebab/salad samples showed insufficient cleaning/disinfection practices. As a result, hygiene practices and regular monitoring in the catering business are necessary for food safety.

Current efforts are focused on the search for efficient methods of pathogen management that will not result in damage to the environment or cause an imbalance in the existing biota. One of the strategies for this is the use of nanoparticles in agriculture for disease management. This review presents a summative view on the various applications of nanoparticles in conferring disease resistance to crops and the possibility of using nanoparticles as carriers of genetic material for the generation of disease resistant crops. Nanoparticles are directly being used for the control of pathogens. Nanoparticles have been used as antiviral, antifungal and antibacterial agents. The nano-encapsulation of pesticides in controlled release matrices is one of the most promising research areas for the future. Nano-encapsulation has been shown to increase the efficiency of pesticides, reduce their volatilisation and decrease the toxicity and environmental contamination in crops. Nano-encapsulated agrochemicals or biomolecules can be engineered to be released in a controlled manner and in a target-specific location. Nanoparticles also have great scope in the field of transgenics vis-à-vis pathogen resistance. The field of agriculture can be revolutionised by the use of nanoparticles for imparting disease resistance in crops. The field is so versatile that the possibilities are endless.

Competitiveness is one of the key concepts in economic sciences, andit is defined as the ability of businesses to compete in the market. The aim of this study was to assess the competitiveness of dairy products in Poland. The competitiveness was evaluated in a macroeconomic approach by analysing the exports, imports, and the trade balance. The results were processed and presented with the use of tabular, graphic, and descriptive methods. After Poland joined the European Union (EU) in 2004, one of the key goals was to improve the quality, storage, and applicability of dairy products, and to promote trade in milk and dairy products. The Polish dairy industry reported a positive balance in the foreign trade of milk and dairy products, which contributed to positive values in the competitiveness indicators of dairy products. The values of the export specialisation index (SI), export revealed comparative advantage (XRCA), relative import penetration index (MRCA), foreign trade coverage ratio (CRK), and the Grubel-Lloyd intra-industry trade index (IITk) were positive, which attests to the competitiveness of Polish dairy products. We proved that the COVID-19 pandemic had an impact on the competitiveness of dairy enterprises in Poland.

The effect of soil selenate application to two different soils (Phaeozem and Cambisol) on biomass yield and selenium (Se) uptake by spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) was investigated in a pot experiment. Additionally, organic amendment (fugate, i.e. liquid by-product from the biogas plant) was applied to assess (i) the effect of organic matter on the bioavailability of Se and (ii) the fugate (containing 2.3 mg/kg of Se) as a potential source of Se for plants. Selenium was applied at two levels: 6.4 µg/kg (Se1) and 32 µg/kg (Se2) of soil. The efficiency of biofortification and the distribution of selenium within individual plant compartments were assessed in this case. The highest Se contents in the grain were achieved in the treatments receiving NPK fertiliser together with selenate, 455 µg/kg (Se1) and 2 721 µg/kg (Se2) when wheat was planted in Phaeozem. Fugate in co-application with selenate significantly reduced Se content in wheat plants as compared to treatments enriched solely with selenate. The lower Se contents in the wheat plants growing in Phaeozem were due to the biodilution effect, whereas in Cambisol, the decrease in wheat Se uptake was not clearly driven by a particular factor.

Technology has made it possible to achieve the very efficient use of water resources in agriculture. However, there are a set of practices that could increase both the availability and quality of the water resources, but which are not yet widely used. In view of the scarcity situation mainly produced by the consequences of climate change, the objective of this work is to analyse the adoption of sustainable irrigation management practices in agriculture. To this end, the aim is to identify and evaluate the variables involved in adopting sustainable practices in agriculture through the use of different qualitative research tools in successive phases (literature review, in-depth interviews, Delphi method and workshop). The results indicate that the sustainable practices to be adopted to improve water management in the study area are rainwater harvesting (RWH) and pond covering (PC). The main barriers are the costs, some farm characteristics and lack of research, while the facilitators include easy access to technology and the existence of farmer-to-farmer networks. Furthermore, the most influential stakeholders for these practices are the farmers, policymakers and researchers. Proposals for the adoption of sustainable water use practices have also been made consensually with all the involved agents.

Slow-release nitrogen fertiliser can potentially increase crop production and improve fertiliser nitrogen use efficiency. However, it is unclear that are suitable for different regions and crops in the northeast of China. Therefore, according to different soil and climate characteristics, we investigated the synchronised relationships between nitrogen slow release fertiliser and nitrogen maize requirements. Experiments were conducted at Shenyang Agricultural University, Liaoning province, Northeast China, from 2016 to 2017. Stabilised fertiliser treatments increased grain yield, nitrogen use efficiency and nitrogen accumulation at each maize growth stage. Grain yield increased by 2.32% and 11.33% (2016), and 1.55% and 7.87% (2017), respectively, when compared with the urea CK1 (233 kg N/ha) and CK2 (210 kg N/ha) treatments. Additionally, during the growth period of the stabilised fertiliser treatment, the stability of the synchronisation relationship between nitrogen absorption and absorption of spring maize was significantly higher than other treatments, and the effect was the best. Therefore, we conclude that the stabilised fertiliser is the most suitable option for promotion and application in spring maize in Northeast China.

To study the difference among cytoplasm at the different nitrogen conditions, a research experiment was conducted using five different cytoplasmic male sterile (CMS) hybrid rice with nitrogen levels at N0, N1, N2, and N3; the nitrogen application rates were 0, 90, 180, and 270 kg/ha, from 2018 to 2019. Results showed that among tested cultivars of CMS hybrid rice, JW (J803A × Chenghui727) showed the highest yield in both years for the low nitrogen and high nitrogen treatments. The dry matter accumulation and translation of JW type in nutritive organs were higher than that of others during the low nitrogen level (N1). We concluded that the nutrient translocation within plants organs and dry biomass accumulation were highly dependent on CMS type and nitrogen application. This research indicates that selecting a rice cultivar with greater efficiency of nitrogen is favourable for raising the number of grains per panicle, grain yield, and nitrogen use efficiency. JW cytoplasm displayed great efficiency in low nitrogen, which is a potential cytoplasmic resource.

The forest sector development in Uruguay has been based on planted forest areas, mainly with eucalyptus and pine. The Parliament passed the Forestry Law in 1987 and since then the sector has been growing rapidly. The objective of the study is to analyse the contribution of the forest sector in the Uruguayan economy, its evolution between 1997 and 2018 and its distribution in recent years. The research used information from the new National Accounts released by the Central Bank of Uruguay, and, in this framework, the forest sector is studied for the main macroeconomic variables and production. The results show that in the period 1997-2018, while the Uruguayan economy grew 2.6% in constant terms, on average, the forest sector grew 7.6% on average, with peaks in 2007-2008 and 2013-2015. In 2016, the forest production was allocated to exports (46.76%), which surpassed intermediate use (43.05%) after initial operations of the second pulp mill in the country. Furthermore, forest exports represented 10.5% of the country's total exports of goods and services, showing an exporter profile.

Metabolites of Emericella nidulans (EN) were separated by chromatographic methods from crude hexane included emericellin and sterigmatocystin, while crude ethyl acetate found demethylsterigmatocystin. These metabolites proved to be antagonistic to Magnaporthe oryzae, the causal agent of rice blast. Crude extracts and nano-particles derived from EN inhibited M. oryzae. The ethyl acetate crude extract derived inhibited M. oryzae with an effective dose (ED₅₀) of 66 μg/mL. The nanoparticles showed better inhibition of M. oryzae than crude extracts at low concentrations. Nanoparticles, namely from crude ethyl acetate, crude methanol and crude hexane of EN were active against M. oryzae with ED₅₀ of 4.2 μg/mL, 4.5 μg/mL, 8.9 μg/mL, respectively. It detected sakuranetin (rate of flow value is 0.09) in nano-EN treated rice leaves. These nanoparticles inhibited M. oryzae and acted as a new elicitor to induce immunity.

The aim of this study was to compare the effects of midazolam-ketamine alone or in combination with dexmedetomidine or tramadol in a constant rate infusion (CRI) on the minimum infusion rate (MIR) of propofol and the cardiorespiratory function in cats undergoing an ovariohysterectomy (OH). This was a prospective, randomised, blinded clinical study. Twenty-four healthy female mixed-breed cats were premedicated with ketamine and midazolam. Propofol was used for the induction and maintenance of the anaesthesia (starting at 18 mg/kg/h). Cats were assigned to groups (n = 8) to receive one of the following intravenous treatments: midazolam-ketamine group (MKG; ketamine 0.6 mg/kg/h); midazolam-ketamine-dexmedetomidine group [MKDG; ketamine 0.6 mg/kg/h and dexmedetomidine loading dose (LD) 1 mg/kg, CRI 1 mg/kg/h)] or midazolam-ketamine-tramadol group [MKTG; ketamine 0.6 mg/kg/h and tramadol (LD 2 mg/kg, CRI 1 mg/kg/h)]. During the OH, the propofol infusion was adjusted based on the clinical signs to maintain adequate anaesthetic depth. Selected variables were measured before (T0) and after (T1) the anaesthesia induction and during six surgical time points (T2-T7). The mean arterial pressure was higher and the heart rate was lower in MKDG at T1 (than in MKG and MKTG). The mean ± SD MIR of propofol were 17.4 ± 3.2, 15.0 ± 2.8 and 12.6 ± 3.5 mg/kg/h for MKG, MKTG, and MKDG, respectively. We conclude that, compared to midazolam-ketamine alone, midazolam-ketamine-tramadol and midazolam-ketamine-dexmedetomidine reduced the MRI of propofol by 13.8% and 27.5%, respectively, without significant changes in the selected indicators.

To meet rapid and non-destructive identification of selenium-enriched agricultural products selenium-enriched millet and ordinary millet were taken as objects. Image regions of interest (ROI) were selected to extract the spectral average value based on hyperspectral imaging technology. Reducing noise by the Savitzky-Golay (SG) smoothing algorithm, variables were used as inputs that were screened by successive projections algorithm (SPA), competitive adaptive reweighted sampling (CARS), uninformative variable elimination (UVE), CARS-SPA, UVE-SPA, and UVE-CARS, while sample variables were used as outputs to build support vector machine (SVM) models. The results showed that the accuracy of CARS-SPA-SVM was 100% in the training set and 99.58% in the test set equivalent to that of CARS-SVM and UVE-CARS-SVM, which was higher than that of SPA-SVM, UVE-SPA-SVM, and UVE-SVM. Therefore, the method of CARS-SPA had superiority, and CARS-SPA-SVM was suitable to identify selenium-enriched millet. Finally, 454.57 nm, 484.98 nm, 885.34 nm, and 937.1 nm, which were obtained by wavelength extraction algorithms, were considered as the sensitive wavelengths of selenium information. This study provided a reference for the identification of selenium-enriched agricultural products.

Afforestation is important for the EU forest management strategy. Afforestation of abandoned and marginal arable land is a favourable non-agricultural land use option for climate change mitigation. It may prevent threats of drought or erosion e.g. by affecting the water balance in soil via increased structural stability. The structural stability control in afforested soil is related to i.a. organic matter content, nutrient content, soil reaction, planted tree species prosperity, and amelioration. A four-year field small-plot experiment on afforestation was carried out with Chernozem covered with deciduous (oak), coniferous (pine) or mixed planting, amended with 3 doses (no-application, 0.5 kg×m^-2, and 1.5 kg×m^-2) of alginite. In 2013 and 2016, soil reaction pH_H2O, mean weight diameter (MWD), organic matter content (LOI) and total organic carbon (TOC) were determined and related to the soil structural stability to evaluate the soil precondition to sustain drought twice per vegetation period (spring and autumn). Afforestation significantly improved MWD compared to the field soil between 2013 and 2016 from 1.63 ± 0.04 mm to 1.85 ± 0.05 mm. Tree planting significantly neutralized the soil pH_H2O, mixed planting appeared to improve LOI and TOC. Four-year afforestation led also to higher structural stability, less alkaline pH and deciduous tree-related increase in LOI, which may indicate better soil sustainability to drought.

Extreme differences in agricultural holding size, existing not only among the countries within the EU as a whole but also within the farm structures of the individual countries, create a considerable uncertainty for establishing the optimal political and economic instruments to support sustainable rural development. The study explores the determinants influencing the spatial volatility of agricultural holding size at both the EU scale and the national scale of the Czech Republic, the latter of which has the largest mean agricultural holding size in the EU. While some factors are identical for both the EU and the Czech Republic, other effects can only be evaluated at the European or international scale, and still others can be evaluated only at the national scale. The only factor found in this study to be significantly associated with the agricultural holding size on the European scale was the wheat production. On the Czech national scale, land consolidation, unemployment rate, and soil fertility were significantly associated with the agricultural holding size. The study found that in the Czech Republic, the number of farms was increasing, while at the same time the agricultural holding sizes were decreasing. This is an opposite trend in comparison to the EU as a whole, where the number of farms is diminishing and the sizes increasing.

This study investigates the extent to which international agricultural price shocks are transmitted to domestic agricultural markets in both developed and developing economies. Using panel data from 13 major agricultural trading countries from 1990 to 2022, we applied cross-sectional dependence tests, fixed-effects panel regressions, and panel Granger causality analyses to examine the degree of interdependence and directionality in price movements. Our results reveal significant cross-sectional dependence, suggesting that global price shocks reverberate across the national markets. The panel regression estimates indicate a statistically significant and positive effect of international prices on domestic prices, with a stronger transmission observed in developed economies. Panel Granger causality tests confirm that global price indices significantly predict domestic price changes in most countries, although reverse causality is limited to large exporters, such as the United States, China, and Brazil. Robustness checks across sub-periods (1990–2005 vs. 2006–2022) and country groupings validate the stability and heterogeneity of the price transmission mechanisms. These findings underscore the increasingly integrated nature of food markets and the evolving dynamics of price volatility. The policy implications highlight the importance of multilateral coordination in food trade, differentiated policy tools tailored to country development levels, and the need for strategic buffering mechanisms to manage the growing global volatility in agricultural prices.

This study investigated the influence of soil undergoing different crop rotations on the CH₄, CO₂ emissions, and decomposition of rice straw. The studied soil undergoing crop rotation systems were rice-rice-rice (SR) and baby corn-rice-mungbean (SB). Two main microcosm set-ups: anaerobic (SR-AN, SB-AN) and aerobic (SR-AE, SB-AE) conditions. Litter bags containing rice stems were inserted into the soil and recollected at different time points for chemical analysing and the gas sampling was collected to measure the CO₂ and CH₄ emissions. The results indicated that the total carbon (TC) decreased around 30%, and the TC removal in anaerobic was significantly higher than in aerobic conditions. The residue cellulose content varied in a range from 68.2% to 78.6%, while the hemicellulose content varied from 57.4% to 69.3% at day 50 after incorporation. There were no significant differences in the total nitrogen removal, cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin contents among the microcosm set-ups. CO₂ emission increased in all the microcosm set-ups with the treatments without rice straw (CTSR, CTSB) in both aerobic and anaerobic conditions. CH₄ release in the SR-AN treatments did not differ significantly compared with the SB-AN treatments. This study confirmed that the decomposition of rice straw residues is faster in the anaerobic paddy soil condition compared to the aerobic crop rotation condition.

The rhodinol content is an essential component in determining the citronella oil qualities. This study aimed to develop a model calibrated to predict the rhodinol content in citronella oil using near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy. This research is the initial stage in developing a spectral smart sensor system that predicts the rhodinol content of citronella oil in the distillation and fractionating process. Citronella oil samples were scanned by NIRFlex liquid N-500 with a wavelength of 1 000-2 500 nm having an absorbance value (log 1/T). The accuracy of the prediction was achieved using the partial least square (PLS) model. Based on the NIR spectrum at a peak of around 1 620 nm, the rhodinol content in the citronella oil was estimated. The finest model to predict the rhodinol content was y = 0.9874x + 15.6439 with a standard error of the calibration set (SEC) = 2.78%, a standard error of the prediction set (SEP) = 2.88%, a ratio of the performance to the deviation (RPD) = 9.23, a coefficient of variation (CV) = 16.81%, and the correlation coefficient (r) = 0.99. The NIR and PLS models are possible to use for the initial stage in developing a spectral smart sensor system to determine the rhodinol content of citronella oils.

This study aimed to develop a bamboo culm flour (BCF) to be used in the formulation of cookies, replacing 15% and 30% of wheat flour (WF). The parameters analysed for bamboo flour and cookies were moisture, ash, protein, fat, fibre and carbohydrates. For the flour, the water absorption index (WAI) and water solubility index (WSI) were also determined. BCF is a good source of protein, with a low lipid content and high fibre content, presenting the potential to be used in several food products. For the cookies produced, hardness, sensory analysis and purchase intent were analysed. In the sensory analysis of acceptability, the samples that showed better acceptance were the control formulation and the 15% BCF cookie; in the same sample, crude fibre increased from 5.92 g (100 g)^-1 to 11.64 g (100 g)^-1 compared to the control, and the intention to purchase the 15% sample was worse than for the control but still good: the majority of tasters said they certainly or maybe would buy. Thus, it is possible to conclude that the use of BCF is considered an excellent option to enrich cookies while keeping them acceptable nutritionally.

Invertebrate seed predation is a potential ecosystem service that substantially reduces weed seeds in crop fields, decreasing the seedling emergence and, thus, limiting the weed competition next season. It may, thus, be considered as a natural component of the long-term weed management toolbox. This study aimed to measure the post-dispersal invertebrate seed predation levels of the following relevant weed species in Hungarian maize fields: Ambrosia artemisiifolia, Datura stramonium, Chenopodium album, and Echinochloa crus-galli, and to compare the predation levels among them. We hypothesised that invertebrate seed predators will predate weed seeds, but the predation levels may vary with the weed species. Two sampling rounds were performed, in November 2019 and October 2020, in Gödöllő, Hungary. A total of 100 seed cards/round were placed on the soil surface inside a maize field prior to harvest, 10 m from the field's edge, along 25 transects, with four cards/transect. A distance of 10 m was set between the transects and 1 m between the cards. Twenty seeds of each weed species were glued onto sandpaper (25 × 10 cm, P-60), and a wire mesh was used to exclude vertebrate predators. The seed removal was calculated every 24 h, for seven days in 2019 and for five days in 2020, and then the seed predation was measured using the number of removed seeds on each card. The results showed high seed predation levels on all the seed cards, with an overall average of 85.9 ± 13.7%. Besides, there was a decrease in the % of remaining seeds on the cards starting from the first day after exposure due to seed predation in both years. The optimum exposure period for measuring the seed predation was found to be three to four days, though the number of predated seeds on days 3 and 4 significantly differed between years (P < 0.001), with higher predation rates in 2020 than in 2019. However, no differences were detected in the predation rates among the weed species (P = 0.962, 0.079). These findings indicate the potential contribution of seed predation by invertebrates to weed management in Hungarian maize fields.

A two-year-old female Prague Ratter dog was presented for evaluation of cough, exercise intolerance and worsening dyspnea. A previous treatment with antibiotics did not resolve the clinical signs. A diagnostic approach revealed peripheral eosinophilia, endoscopic bronchial changes, and bronchoalveolar lavage with eosinophilic inflammation. Thoracic radiographs revealed a solitary mass and bilateral interstitial lung pattern. These radiographic findings were confirmed by computed tomography and ultrasound-guided biopsy of the lung mass. Treatment with prednisolone and azathioprine was initiated. Two months afterwards, the granuloma was no longer detectable radiographically. All medication was gradually discontinued after nine months and currently, after almost three years, the dog remains free of clinical signs.

Several toxicological centres have reported ailments, mainly digestive inconveniences, following the intake of provably edible mushroom species. The causes of such complaints have not been explained yet. We, therefore, tested levels of biogenic amines (BAs). Fruit bodies of widely consumed wild-growing species, Imleria badia and Suillus variegatus were stewed, then preserved by freezing or canning and stored for up to 12 months. Contents of six amines were determined in the fresh matter, in each step of preservation and during storage. Histamine (HIM) and cadaverine (CAD) were not detected at all. Putrescine (PUT) occurred in fresh fruit bodies at levels of 700-1 500 mg kg^-1 dry matter (DM), however, its contents considerably decreased, particularly during stewing. Undesirable phenylethylamine (PEA) and tyramine (TYM) occurred at lower levels. Stewing, the technological step necessary in both the tested preservation treatments, reduced the contents of all the amines alike as sterilisation, whereas following storage showed a limited effect. PUT seems to be the only amine that could participate in the reported ailments.

A field experiment was undertaken in a vineyard in southern Romania to evaluate the insect species abundance in this temperate climate area, over a period of 24 consecutive weeks, starting from April 2^nd to September 27^th, 2019. A total number of 19 303 insects were collected. After their morphological analysis, 89 species of insects were identified (nine orders and 28 families), of which 52 came from beneficial fauna (six orders and 14 families, 1 316 individuals) and 37 came from pest fauna (six orders and 26 families, 17 987 individuals). The beneficial species richness of the Coleoptera and Hymenoptera orders were the best represented. The pest insects of the Coleoptera and Hemiptera orders registered a high number of families, while the Thripidae family had the highest number of individuals. The highest diversity of insect species was found in the middle of April, and the lowest was found in the middle of August. The Bray-Curtis analysis revealed the stability of the insect community in the studied grapevine growing area. Grouping insects based on their similarities revealed the highest similarity (91.05-97%) in the warmest periods (June-August) and the lowest similarity (33%) in the spring (April).