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To provide reference for scientific management of nitrogen (N) fertiliser on tartary buckwheat, the effects of the mixed application of controlled-release N fertiliser (a kind of thermoplastic polymer-coated urea types that are characterised by a semi-permeable membrane) and common urea was studied in the main tartary buckwheat production area in China. In 2018 and 2019, a two-year field experiment was conducted a randomised block design with five treatments: (1) no nitrogen fertilisation (CK); (2) 100% N from common urea (T1); (3) 15% N from controlled-released urea fertiliser (plastic coated) + 85% N from common urea (T2); (4) 30% N from controlled-released fertiliser + 70% N from urea (T3); (5) 45% N from controlled-released fertiliser + 55% N of urea (T4). The N fertilisation rate was 90 kg N/ha in all fertilisation treatments. The results showed: (1) the mixed application of controlled-release N fertiliser and common urea was conductive to enhance the yield, dry mass, N uptake and apparent N fertiliser efficiency (NFE), compared with a single application of common urea. In two seasons, NFE was 38.6% (T1), 48.6% (T2), 53.6% (T3) and 53% (T4), separately; (2) the mixed application of controlled-release N fertiliser and common urea could significantly increase the soil inorganic N content in the soil surface layer and decreased the leaching loss of N; (3) with the increasing ration of controlled-release N fertiliser, the tendency of increasing N content of crop uptake and soil residual and decreasing rate of N loss and N surplus was visible. Overall, considered the indicators of grain yield, input cost, N utilisation and N balance, the suitable N fertilisation mode for tartary buckwheat production is the mixed application of 30% controlled-release N fertiliser and 70% common urea when 90 kg N/ha is applied.

Soil properties can be influenced by long-term agricultural management practices as described in pedological literature. In this study, selected physical properties (particle density and bulk density, total porosity, maximum capillary water capacity, minimum air capacity, field capacity, permanent wilting point and available water capacity) of topsoils from different reference soil groups (Cambisols, Luvisols, Fluvisols, Chernozems and Phaeozems, Leptosols, Stagnosols and Gleysols) were sampled and analysed in the years 2016-2017. The topsoil samples were taken from points of so-called S (specific) soil pits to be sampled from the General Soil Survey of Agricultural Soils (GSSAS) which was accomplished in the years 1961-1970. In addition, some of the properties were also compared with those measured during the GSSAS. Recognising the properties, only the particle density, the maximum capillary water capacity, the permanent wilting point and the available water capacity of the topsoil of the individual soil groups were statistically significantly (P < 0.05) different. A comparison of the physical properties with those analysed after more than 40 years was performed, the bulk density increased and the total porosity decreased in the topsoil of the major part of the studied soil groups.

In the last decade, the pig sector in Slovakia has been changing continuously, especially in regard to the proportion of pigs coming from foreign breeding programs. These changes lead to changes in carcass characteristics and to a change in the distribution of carcasses within the classes of the Union scale for the classification of pig carcasses. Therefore, this study was undertaken to analyse the actual state of pig carcass classification in the Slovak Republic and to investigate the needs of updating the equations for the classification methods and possible steps to improve the quality of pork produced within the country. Results showed that an increased number of pig carcasses originated from Danish breeding program, and also from the Czech Republic and Poland. When compared to carcasses in 2009, these changes resulted in lower backfat thickness and higher muscle thickness of the longissimus dorsi muscle and thus higher lean meat content of carcasses. This results in a higher number of carcasses classified in the S and E classes. Slight differences between two instrumental classification methods were calculated. The study showed the need for updating the equations for classification methods, and also suggested possible further steps in order to improve the quality of pork.

Respiratory problems in cats have a multifactorial character. Therapy without the detection of pathogen is often ineffective. Our study was therefore focused on the detection of important feline respiratory bacterial pathogens such as Mycoplasma felis, Chlamydia felis and Bordetella bronchiseptica and viral pathogens such as Felid alphaherpesvirus-1 and feline calicivirus. The goal of this study was to map the occurrence of these pathogens in cat populations in the Czech Republic with the aim of introducing rapid and highly sensitive methods into routine diagnostics and to provide consulting services to animal health professionals based on the acquired data. A total of 218 cats were investigated in the study: 69 were outdoor and 149 were indoor cats. Three groups of animals were compared: up to one year of age (60 cats), one to three years of age (68 cats) and more than three years of age (90 cats). Samples were taken from conjunctiva and/or the oropharynx. Samples originated from cats with various forms of respiratory disease or from healthy cats from different parts of the Czech Republic. Real-Time RT-PCR, multiplex Real-Time PCR, nested PCR and sequencing analyses were performed. Outdoor cats were infected more often (84 detected pathogens in 69 cats) than indoor cats (110 detected infections in 149 cats). More than one pathogen was detected in a total of 38 cats, and six cats were infected with more than two pathogens. The difference was statistically significant in the case of co-infections, but not for mono-infections (P < 0.05). Kittens and young adults up to the age of one year were the most common reservoirs of respiratory infections (only 19 cats out of 60 were negative and positive cats often harboured coinfections). The difference in age groups were not statistically significant (P > 0.05). Concerning the site of the sampling, feline calicivirus, M. felis and B. bronchiseptica were detected more often from oropharynx than from conjunctival swabs. M. felis was slightly more common in clinically diseased animals (39.6%) than in healthy ones (26.1%). The obtained results reveal the frequency of individual pathogens and their co-infections in cats kept on the territory of the Czech Republic, data which can be used to make the treatment of respiratory infections and breeding measures more effective. Therefore, the diagnostic methods are now available to veterinary surgeons with the possibility of consultation and discussion of the results.

In human medicine, skin grafting is an innovative surgical technique widely used in reconstructive surgery to repair skin loss. This case evaluated the effectiveness of a treatment with dermal micro-grafting obtained through the Rigenera^® technology in a chronic open wound resulting from a suture dehiscence of a limb amputation in a cat. Significant differences were observed between the aesthetic aspects of the injury using traditional treatments (cleaning and curettage) and the regenerative technology. The results showed that the healing periods were significantly reduced after the Rigenera^® treatment and that, moreover, a perfect skin status and a complete reduction in the wound area (100%) were achieved in one month. Given these results, Rigenera^® has proven to be a simple yet highly effective method in the treatment of inactivated chronic wounds.

The goal of the paper was to define recommendations of a suitable business strategy for SMEs in the area of primary agricultural production. First, the external environment was analysed to define suitable recommendations for the industry, and also to discover opportunities and threats through fitting strategic analyses, that affect the aforementioned businesses. Secondly, it was necessary to get familiar with the internal environment and functioning of specific businesses in the industry (namely those that operate in the Western region of Prostějov at the foot of the Drahanska Highlands) and to evaluate their efficiency to define their strengths and weaknesses. The paper demonstrates that there is a wide range of means that can be taken advantage of when defining fitting strategies for agricultural businesses, e.g. the Porter's Five Forces Model, the IFE and the IE Matrix, the SWOT Matrix as well as the general strategies by Ansoff. Among the most important recommendations for increasing the competitiveness of SMEs in the agricultural industry, there belong: taking advantage of all the suitable agricultural subsidies, taking advantage of accredited agricultural advisors, making sure that the legal requirements of governmental bodies are met, increasing revenues for arable farming (through a good quality seed stock, chemicals and fertilizers, the foundation of suitable storage facilities in order to postpone the sales of the grain after the harvest season), creating sales cooperatives/associations to balance the competing force of buyers, rejuvenating the workforce, solidifying the ownership structure in the businesses, entrepreneurial diversification (electrical energy production), increasing quality in animal farming.

Recently, plant-available sulphur (S) in the soil is decreasing due to the limited use of S containing fertilisers and the reduction of atmospheric S deposition. The aim of this work was to evaluate the S status in a long-term fertilisation experiment on a Chernozem in Hungary, with control and 2 NPK rate treatments, considering that after 27 years of superphosphate (SP) use, SP was replaced by monoammonium phosphate in 2010. Plant and soil sampling were performed in 2017 at three different development stages of winter wheat. To assess the S status, the S balance was estimated (for 34 years), KCl soluble soil sulphate, S as well as nitrogen (N) concentration and some amino acids in wheat grain were measured. N/S ratios, S and N uptake of wheat were calculated. The residual effect of SP could be measured only in terms of KCl soluble SO₄^2--S in soil. According to the wheat grain S concentration (0.08-0.10%) and N/S ratio (14.9-22.0), wheat was S deficient, despite the positive S balance in the fertilised plots. In this experiment, where S fertiliser was applied with 84 kg S/ha dose in 1983-2010, followed by a 7-year period without S fertilisation, S supply is necessary for achieving adequate wheat quality.

Honey is an important functional food for human health and nutrition that is collected by honey bees and stored in the honeycombs. In this study, total phenolic content, antioxidant activity and volatile compounds of 13 different honey samples collected from various districts of Malatya province were investigated. As a result of this study, it was determined that the total phenolic content varied between 8.50 mg GAE 100 g^-1 and 73.90 mg GAE 100 g^-1 and it was observed that the honey samples were rich in aldehydes, aliphatic acid and esters, alcohols, hydrocarbons, carboxylic acid esters, ketones, terpenes, fatty acids and esters. In addition, the antibacterial effects of honey samples were determined against 18 different pathogenic bacteria using agar well diffusion (AWD) method, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC). In AWD assay, it was recorded that inhibition zone diameters varied between 9 mm and 14 mm and honey samples were found to have a partial inhibitory effect against selected target pathogens.

Dog barking, which reaches around 100 dB, often becomes a noise issue in urban environments. One potential solution, a simple soundproof cage, has recently been marketed. To our knowledge, no study has been conducted to investigate what sort of stress burden is imposed on dogs kept in cages, and it may raise animal welfare concerns. The purpose of this study was, therefore, to reveal whether staying in a soundproof cage caused stress for the dogs or not. Ten healthy domestic dogs (5 males, 5 females) of small body size were evaluated. The heart rate variability (HRV), behaviour, and internal and external temperature during confinement in a soundproof cage for each dog were analysed. The HRV analyses revealed no significant differences for any variables between confinement and non-confinement (HR, P > 0.999 9; rMSSD, P = 0.359 4; SDNN, P = 0.359 4; LF, P = 0.652 3; HF, P = 0.128 9; LF/HF, P = 0.222 7). Overall, in our behavioural analysis, there were no significant differences between confinement and non-confinement (P = 0.105 5). In conclusion, the HRV and behavioural analyses did not indicate an increased stress burden on the dogs during confinement in the soundproof cage compared with non-confinement. The inner temperature of the cage was not elevated either. Nevertheless, the stress imposed on dogs caused by a soundproof cage should always be considered on an individual basis, and the time spent in such a cage should always be kept to a minimum.

Excise duties are an important source of the government revenue and their rates change relatively often in the Czech Republic. Reforms of excise duties change the prices of goods, a change to which the households respond by adjusting their expenditures. In the contribution, there are used detailed Czech Statistical Office data and the estimates of own- and cross-price and income elasticities for the individual households to create a microeconomic simulation model that enables to simulate the impact of changes in excise duties on the households' demands. There is shown the distributional impact of the current excise duties and then the impact of the hypothetical increases of 10 per cent in each of them is simulated. Further, there is simulated the impact of certain approved or proposed changes in the excise duties including the unsuccessful 2012 proposal to introduce an excise duty on wine.

Drought stress is a major environmental factor limiting crop growth and productivity. Hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) plays an essential role during stress response by acting as a signal molecule that activates multiple stress tolerance mechanisms. In this study, the effects of H₂O₂ on agronomic traits were studied in rice (Oryza sativa L.) cv. Khao Dawk Mali 105 (KDML 105) was subjected to drought stress. H₂O₂ was applied by either seed priming or foliar application method with a concentration of 1, 5, and 15 mmol/L. The results showed that both seed priming and foliar application with H₂O₂ improved some yield components. The tiller numbers, number of panicles, number of filled grains, filled grain weight, and harvest index were improved approximately 1.13, 1.04, 1.23, 1.21, and 1.1 times compared to the untreated plants. Foliar application, however, helps the plant by reducing yield loss as indicated by a 0.5-time reduction in the number of unfilled grain and lower unfilled grain weight. It was suggested that 5 mmol/L H₂O₂ was the most effective concentration to alleviate the effect of drought stress during the reproductive stage in rice.

The substantial increase in grain production stimulated by traditional agricultural direct subsidies has been accompanied by a concomitant decrease in ecological quality, precipitated by excessive application of chemical fertilisers, which has generated countervailing effects that fundamentally undermine the positive effect of subsidy policies on agricultural output. Consequently, the mitigation of agricultural pollution and the elevation of ecological quality have emerged as pivotal directions for the reform of agricultural subsidies. Using both time-varying difference-in-differences (DID) models and spatial DID models in this study, we examined the effect of agricultural 'three subsidies' reform on agricultural fertiliser nonpoint source pollution (AFNSP), drawing on China's province-sector panel data from 2008 to 2022. The empirical evidence yields several salient findings. First, the three subsidies reform can significantly reduce AFNSP and improve ecological quality. Second, the large-scale operation of agricultural households and the enhancement of agricultural production efficiency serve as effective pathways for the three subsidies reform to reduce AFNSP. Third, the implementation of the three subsidies reform engenders significant spatial spillover effects, which play a crucial role in reducing overall regional AFNSP. Fourth, the efficacy of the three subsidies reform exhibits heterogeneity across diverse agroecological contexts and farming cultures. Last, the reform has resulted in notable improvements in agricultural ecological quality, thereby reinforcing food security capabilities. These findings not only offer valuable reference for refining agricultural subsidy reform but also contribute to the development of a comprehensive framework that simultaneously safeguards agroecological security and food security.

The role of preparations supporting plant growth is mainly to reduce the harmful effects of various stress factors on plants and to ensure high yields of good quality. This experiment compared the effect of the mineral stimulator Tytanit® and the biological preparation Effective Microorganisms (EM) on the physiological and biochemical activity, as well as the yield of the common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.). The photosynthetic pigments, free proline and malondialdehyde were assayed and compared at three phenological phases of the bean: 15 BBCH, 24 BBCH, 65 BBCH. The yield parameters included the average number of pods per plant, as well as their fresh and dry mass. Additionally, the nutrient content in the pods was determined according to the atomic absorption spectrometry method. The study revealed a positive effect of both preparations on increasing the content of chlorophyll a, b, and the carotenoids in the bean leaves. Plants treated with Tytanit® were characterised by the highest content of malondialdehyde and proline, while EM maintained the aldehyde content on a similar level compared to the untreated plants and significantly reduced the proline content. Both preparations significantly decreased the Mn, Mg, P, and Ca content in the pods and did not have a substantial impact on the yield.

While the benefits of using futures to manage price risk are widely recognised, only certain groups of farmers have suitable futures at their disposal. This paper discusses an innovative instrument, developed in the Belgian-Dutch pear market, that provides an alternative to futures markets by creating a market for price swaps. Thus, the instrument provides some benefits of market-traded derivatives (like futures) while remaining a relatively simple instrument, which requires fewer market transactions. The paper describes key properties of the swap contracts and the platform used to trade them. In addition, it compares the conditions required for establishing price swap markets and futures markets. Thus, our study informs the design of similar risk management instruments for commodities and contexts where futures are absent.

Small field plot experiments were carried out at the testing station of the Central Control and Testing Institute in Agriculture in Veľký Meder (Slovakia) in the experimental years 2014/2015, 2015/2016 and 2016/2017. Selenium salts in the form of sodium selenite and sodium selenate were applied in growth phases: end of tillering (BBCH 29) and flag leaf ligule and collar visible (BBCH 39). The effect of experimental years 2014/2015, 2015/2016 and 2016/2017 on the yield of wheat grain was not statistically significant within the observed variants. The achieved mean yields were in the range from 10.06 ± 0.81 to 11.07 ± 0.29 t/ha in 2014/2015, from 9.82 ± 0.54 to 10.32 ± 0.10 t/hain 2015/2016 and from 11.23 ± 0.76 to 11.64 ± 0.51 t/ha in 2016/2017. Selenate in comparison with selenite influenced the selenium accumulation in wheat grains more positively. However, a significant difference was recorded in variants with selenite application in the flag leaf growth phase in comparison with the end of tillering phase. The influence on the content of macroelements P, K, Ca and microelements Cu and Fe was observed in sodium selenite only; its application decreased the element content in comparison with the control variant. Statistically significantly higher values of fiber and fat were achieved after application of selenium in the flag leaf growth stage in comparison with the end of tillering.

This study aimed at investigating the effect of ontogenetic and diurnal variability on yield and quality criteria of Mentha piperita. The research was conducted in the Ordu province of Turkey for two years. The trial was established in a randomised complete block design with 3 replications according to factorial regulations. Four different harvesting periods (budding, first flowering, 50% flowering, 100% flowering) and three harvesting hours (9:00 a.m., 1:00 p.m., 5:00 p.m.) were evaluated. A significant difference was determined between the trial years in all characters examined: plant height 55.9-69.0 cm, fresh herb yield 3 236-16 438 kg/ha, drug-herb yield 1 748-2 862 kg/ha, fresh leaf yield 3 477-4 506 kg/ha, drug leaf yield 968-1 253 kg/ha, essential oil ratio 2.0-2.5% and essential oil yield that varied between 19-28 L/ha. The highest yields were obtained at the beginning of flowering in drug leaf yield and 100% flowering period for all other characteristics. Diurnal variability was statistically significant only in the rate of essential oil, and the highest rate occurred in the 9:00 a.m. harvest.

To assess the residual damage a 100% inventory method was employed in pre-hauling and post-hauling, alongside skid trails and winching strips. Inventory was executed within 6 m from each side of the skid trail or winching strip centreline (12 m width). Besides the data analysis to choose the best alternative depending on residual damage the Analysis of Multiple-criteria Approval (MA) was applied. In the winching strip, our results demonstrated that depending on the density of standing residual trees the most unfriendly alternative to standing trees was a short-length method (SLM) which damaged 27.9% of the total standing trees and the best alternative was a tree-length method (TLM) (11.89%). The most unfriendly alternative to regeneration in winching and skidding operations was SLM with damaged 21% and 9% of all seedlings, respectively. In the winching strip TLM is the best alternative depending on the number of damage trees but 72% damage degree was deep. Alongside the skid trails the highest number of damaged trees occurred in TLM (44 stems) and the lowest was in the long-length method (LLM) (10 stems); according to the density of trees also the greatest damage to trees occurred in TLM (16.73%) and the lowest was in LLM (3.13%). In addition (in winching and skidding operations), 14.31, 8.79 and 18.19% of residual trees and 9, 11 and 16% of individuals of regeneration were damaged in TLM, LLM and SLM, respectively. The results of data analysis (by SPSS and MA) indicated that the friendly alternative to residual stand in the north of Iran is a long-length method.

Historically, species of the family Lamiaceae have enjoyed a rich tradition of use for flavouring, food preservation, and medicinal purposes, due to both their curative and their preventive properties. It is well known that each species has a special, complex mixture of bioactive compounds in which each component contributes to its overall bioactivity. Their value lays in the production of a wide range of secondary metabolites with potent antibacterial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antiviral, and anticancer activities. This review focuses on the Lamiaceae species and their secondary metabolites encompassing a wide array of beneficial functions and their applicability as sources of functional foods. It could help in addressing specific consumer needs as healthy diet is a part of the lifestyle that maintains or improves overall health.

New techniques for Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann, 1824) control are being studied and developed to replace traditional organophosphate pesticide applications. A mass trapping strategy offers promising medfly control within integrated pest management (IPM) programmes. Field assays were performed to study the efficacy of two mass trapping techniques based on PheroNorm^® and Ceratrap^® lures that were compared to a conventional approach to control the medfly in Tunisian apricot orchards. The results showed that both mass trapping techniques had a similar efficiency in reducing the C. capitata population. The degrees Brix in the fruits was a determinant issue since the initial apricot fruit damage was detected at 6.4%. At harvesting, the lowest fruit damage rate was recorded in the PheroNorm^® (4.25%) and Ceratrap^® (6.50%) treated orchards, compared with the conventional approach (10.75%). Therefore, the use of 50 PheroNorm^® and Ceratrap^® traps per ha density within an IPM approach may be very useful to control the C. capitata populations in apricot orchards.

This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of ferric carboxymaltose injection in the prevention of anaemia in suckling piglets. In group A (n = 8), piglets were administered iron in the form of iron carboxymaltose complex (Ferinject^®) at a dose of 200 mg i.m. (neck muscle) at the age of 3 days. In group B (n = 8), piglets were given iron in the form of iron dextran (Ferribion^®) at a dose of 200 mg i.m. (neck muscle) at the age of 3 days. In group C (n = 8, anaemic control group), iron was not administered until the age of 10 days. During the study, no statistically significant differences were observed in the parameters of red blood cell count or blood plasma iron concentration between the group that received iron carboxymaltase and the group that received iron dextran. The results of haematological and biochemical examinations achieved in our study show that the application of iron carboxymaltase was successful in preventing iron deficiency anaemia in piglets. The results indicate comparable efficacy of iron carboxymaltase and iron dextran.

This study was undertaken to create an Asiatic black bear (Ursus thibetanus; ABB) ethogram during hibernation and to describe the time budget of hibernating behaviours in ABB. Seven captive adult ABB were included in the study and began hibernation between October and December. Data were collected for three consecutive years (2013-2015) during ABB hibernation (total 169 days) using closed-circuit television. During the study, we observed 21 distinct behaviours in hibernating ABB (4 least active and 17 active behaviours). Five bears started hibernation less than seven days after feeding cessation, and by the end of one week, all bears hibernated. The most commonly observed behaviour was "sleep curling inside nest", and "nest maintenance" was the second most common behaviour. Among the active behaviours, "sitting in the nest", "change stance", "drinking and eating" were mostly shown as documented during the observation times. Our results provide new insights into the hibernating behaviours of ABB.

A congenital defect that blocks the cerebrospinal fluid outflow is the most common cause of hydrocephalus in young cats. It usually manifests itself within a few weeks of birth. Diagnostic imaging is essential. Therefore, it was decided to report on, for the first time, a clinical case of congenital hydrocephalus in a Maine Coon foetus detected using ultrasound during pregnancy. A difference between the size of the skull bones in the Maine Coon foetuses was recognised during a routine pregnancy ultrasound. Analysis of the sonogram of the bones and brain structures of the diagnosed foetus revealed that the features were highly suggestive of a hydrocephalus. Five clinically healthy kittens and one with hydrocephalus were delivered without complications. The necropsy of the malformed foetus was consistent with the ultrasonographic findings. Bacteriological and virological tests were performed and all were negative which suggest a congenital background of the malformation. This is the first reported case of an intrauterine ultrasound diagnosis of congenital hydrocephalus in a Maine Coon of multiple gestation. The ultrasound control along with the foetometry seem to be useful tools to recognise certain pathologies of pregnancy in cats, including congenital malformations of various origins, which is of significant diagnostic and prognostic importance.

This study optimised the drying process of kaffir lime leaves (Citrus hystrix DC.) to extend the shelf life and preserve the quality by reducing the moisture content. A Central Composite Design (CCD) under the Response Surface Methodology (RSM) framework was employed, with the temperature (55 °C, 60 °C, 65 °C) and drying time (5, 5.5, 6 h) as the variables. Experiments were conducted with a mechanical food dehydrator, and the parameters evaluated included the water content and drying yields. The optimal condition was identified as 60 °C for 5 h, resulting in a drying yield of 33.3% and a final moisture content of 7.153 (% w.b.), which meets the quality standards for dried products. The novelty of this research lies in the application of RSM to determine effective drying conditions for kaffir lime leaves, which are not widely used, but have good economic potential. The research proved that drying with the right conditions can greatly improve the quality and stability of dried kaffir lime leaves.

Ornamental cabbages are cultivars of cabbages grown for decorative purposes due to the varied shape and colour of their internal leaves. The aim of the study was to determine the course of growth and to assess the decorative and nutritional value of two cultivars of ornamental cabbage ('Pigeon Red', 'Coral Prince') grown in a flowerbed along with annual plants: the French marigold (Tagetes patula nana L.) and flossflower (Ageratum houstonianum Mill.), using a pine bark mulch. The impact of the marigold and flossflower on the cabbage height and foliage changed with the plant growth. Cabbages growing without the proximity to the other species had the smallest diameter and formed the least leaves; and the plant's height was lower in September. The cabbage height, foliage and leaf colour were modified by the weather in the subsequent years of research. The proximity of the marigold or flossflower and mulching of the soil with bark did not affect the colour of the leaves. The nutritional value of the ornamental cabbage was high, and the content of the mineral components in the leaves depended largely on their colour. The coloured leaves were more abundant in nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and magnesium, while the green leaves contained more calcium and sulfur, and slightly more dry matter.

At present, the fundamental development way of agricultural production lies in science and technology to achieve the agricultural sustainable and stable development and ensure the effective supply of agricultural products for a long time. Many Chinese scholars had done many researches about the agricultural science and technology innovation. Numerous scholars got much valuable research conclusions for improving the construction of agricultural science and technology innovation system. However, there were still some problems existing in the current agricultural science research system, such as that the agricultural science and technology studies were divorced from the agricultural production, the mechanism of the market was still imperfect, there was an unreasonable layout in the agricultural science and technology. Therefore, we wanted to know the dynamic and the evolution path of the international agricultural science and technology innovation. What is more, we wanted to know whether there was a significant difference between the domestic and overseas agricultural science and technology innovation and if the international experience was good for the development of the Chinese agricultural science and technology innovation. So, there was analysed the research theme, the hot-spots and frontiers of international agricultural science and technology innovation based on the Citespace III to get the situation and character of the relevant international research.

Finding an appropriate method with the highest rate of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) removal from naturally polluted soils is an important research issue. A pot factorial experiment (using contaminated soil samples from the Isfahan Refinery, Iran) was conducted in a 90-day period to compare the following bioremediation strategies: (1) natural attenuation (NA): the inherent ability of soil for bioremediation; (2) bioaugmentation (BA): inoculating soil with PAH degrading microbes Marinobacter hydrocarbonoclasticus; (3) biostimulation (BS): using N, P and K nutrients for the stimulation of bioremediating soil bacteria to achieve the C:N:P ratio of 100:10:1, and(4) bioaugmentation + biostimulation (BS + BA). Treatments NA (22.8%) and BA + BS (63.9%) resulted in the least and the highest rate of PAH removal from the soil. The 2-4 ring compounds had a significantly (P ≤ 0.05) higher rate of degradation than the 5-6 ring compounds. The highest rates were resulted by fluorene (76.41%) and acenaphthylene (72.28%) using the BA + BS treatment. However, the lowest degradation rates were resulted by indeno (1,2,3-cd) pyrene (10.05%), benzo [b] fluoranthene (10.17%), benzo (g, h, i) perylene (12.53%), and benzo [k] fluoranthene (13.67%), using NA treatment. The BA + BS treatments are the most effective method for the bioremediation of PAH polluted soils.

Enrichment of yoghurt with probiotic bacterial strains and prebiotic plant substrates has gained increasing interest among both consumers and food manufacturers. In this study, limited growth and fermentation activity of the commercial probiotic strain Lactiplantibacillus plantarum 299v were observed when cultured in ultra-high temperature (UHT) milk. Electron microscopy revealed the strain's ability to adhere to the surface of prebiotically active plant particles, specifically quinoa, lucuma, and baobab powders. Supplementation of these plant substrates at a concentration of 1% (w/v) slightly enhanced the growth of L. plantarum 299v in UHT milk and improved its viability over a 28-day storage period at 5 ± 1 °C. Co-cultivation of L. plantarum 299v with the yoghurt starter culture YC-381 (in a 1 : 0.5 ratio), along with the addition of 1% (w/v) of lucuma, quinoa, or baobab powders to UHT milk, was successfully achieved. These substrates positively influenced the stability of L. plantarum 299v during the 28-day storage and in the case of quinoa of Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus during 21-day storage at 5 ± 1 °C. Moreover, the addition of 1% (w/v) plant powders slightly stimulated the production of lactic and acetic acids in yoghurt containing L. plantarum 299v.

The purposes of this pilot study were to explore the temperature changes of the paw pads in healthy cats before and after a 6-min walking test (6MWT), and to further compare the accuracy of the point and line region of interest (ROI) selection methods of the thermal imaging. Five healthy intact cats were recruited and trained to run on the treadmill, and to keep still during the standing phase on a glass panel when capturing thermographic imaging data. The paw pad temperature was recorded using a thermal camera and then analysed using both the point and line ROI before and after the 6MWT. The symmetry index (SI) between the limbs (left and right) was further calculated. Compared to the baseline, there were significant increases in the paw pad temperature of the forelimbs (point of left P < 0.001, point of right P = 0.048, point of average P = 0.002, line of left P < 0.001, line of right P = 0.007, line of average P < 0.001), hindlimbs (point of left P < 0.001, point of right P < 0.001, point of average P < 0.001, line of left P < 0.001, line of right P < 0.001, line of average P < 0.001), and average value after the 6MWT both using the point and line ROI selection methods. However, there is no temperature difference between the point and line ROI either before or after the 6MWT. In addition, no difference in the SI was found between the baseline and post-test or between the point and line ROI. These results preliminarily indicated that a 6WMT and thermal imaging could be a good combination for further clinical practices to recognise lameness or any other gait disabilities in cats, and both the point and line ROI selection methods can be considered when analysing thermographic data.

The EU has a historical deficit of plant protein and is heavily reliant on imports to sustain domestic livestock production. Using an economic model of global agricultural markets, this article investigates three policy drivers that could have an influence on the increased production of protein-rich crops in the EU, namely coupled payments for protein-rich crops, investment in research and development leading to higher yields, and phasing out of imported high indirect land-use change risk biofuel feedstocks. Results indicate that a one per cent annual increase in yields over the medium-term has a much larger effect on EU domestic protein production than additional coupled payments of EUR 75 per ha. Moreover, phasing out palm-based biodiesel only has a small impact on protein self-sufficiency. A significant unknown is how costly it will be to increase the yields on protein crops grown in the EU.

Grapevine is a worldwide crop and it is also subject to global trade in wine, berries and grape vine plants. Various countries, including the countries of the European Union, emphasize the role of product origin designation and suitable methods are sought, able to capture distinct origins. One of the biological matrices that can theoretically be driven by individual vineyards' conditions represents DNA methylation. Despite this interesting hypothesis, there is a lack of respective information. The aim of this work is to examine whether DNA methylation can be used to relate a sample to a given vineyard and to access a relationship between a DNA methylation pattern and different geographical origin of analysed samples. For this purpose, DNA methylation landscapes of samples from completely different climatic conditions presented by the Czech Republic (Central Europe) and Armenia (Southern Caucasus) were compared. Results of the Methylation Sensitive Amplified Polymorphism method confirm uniqueness of DNA methylation landscape for individual vineyards. Factually, DNA methylation diversity within vineyards of Merlot and Pinot Noir cultivars represent only 16% and 14% of the overall diversity registered for individual cultivars. On the contrary, different geographical location of the Czech and Armenian vineyards was identified as the strongest factor affecting diversity in DNA methylation landscapes (79.9% and 70.7% for Merlot and Pinot Noir plants, respectively).