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A competitive indirect chemiluminescent enzyme immunoassay (ic-CLEIA) has been developed for the determination of chloramphenicol (CAP) residues in shrimp. After the optimisation of four physico-chemical parameters, i.e. incubation time, concentration of Tween-20, concentration of PBS and its pH, the method developed gave a limit of detection of 0.01 ng/ml and a detection range from 0.03 ng/ml to 23.7 ng/ml, with an ED₅₀ of 0.47 ng/ml. The developed method has been validated on spiked shrimp samples in terms of precision (intra- and interassay coefficient variations of less than 10% and 15%, respectively), and of accuracy (mean recovery from 95% to 123%). All these parameters being better than those of the ELISA method which is widely used to detect chloramphenicol, it may be suggested that the CLEIA method can be used to detect aquatic samples instead of ELISA.

A microarray chip representing approximately 20 000 barley unigenes was produced as part of a USA project entitled "An integrated physical and expression map of barley for Triticeae improvement". The content of the chip was derived from more than 400 000 barley "Expressed Sequence Tag" (EST) sequences received from cooperators inUSA,Germany,Australia,Japan,Scotland, andFinland, plus about 1000 sequences retrieved from the GenBank nr database or GrainGenes. All EST sequences were trimmed to high quality regions, contaminants were identified and removed, and the remaining information was compiled using the CAP3 assembly program. A "stringent" assembly (paralogs separated) contained about 53 000 "unigenes" (the sum of contigs plus singletons), among which about 50% had reliable 3' ends and were therefore suitable for chip content. From these, probe sets were designed and the "Barley1" chip fabricated by Affymetrix. Complete details on the content of the barley microarray, and enhanced probe-set annotations, can be obtained using the software HarvEST:Barley, available from http://harvest.ucr.edu. The availability of an Affymetrix barley microarray has facilitated the study of gene expression on a large scale. Replicated experiments have revealed commonalities and differences between responses to abiotic stresses, and inherent differences between barley genotypes. The design and a brief summary of the results of drought stress experiments are stated.

The insecticidal efficacy of aqueous extracts of five Nigerian spices (Piper guineense Schum and Thonn., Aframomum melegueta (Roscoe), Xylopia aethiopica (Dunal) A. Rich., Zingiber officinale L. and Capsicum annuum L.) was tested in a field study for the control of two important post-flowering insect pests, Maruca vitrata Fab. (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) and Clavigralla tomentosicollis Stal. (Hemiptera: Coreidae) of cowpea. The extracts were applied at 10% (w/v) and sprayed every week for 4 weeks. P. guineense, followed by A. melegueta, significantly reduced (P < 0.01) abundance of the pests and decreased the damage to cowpea pods. Grain yields were significantly higher in plots treated with P. guineense and A. melegueta extracts compared to plots treated with other extracts. This technology is cheap, safe, environmentally friendly and easy to adopt by limited resource farmers in third world countries.

The efficiency of medroxyprogesterone acetate (MAP) and fluorogestone acetate (FGA) sponges with or without PGF_2α (cloprostenol) for synchronizing estrous in non-lactating does was investigated during the natural breeding season. Does were treated for 11 days with 60 mg MAP (n = 38) or 40 mg FGA (n = 32) sponges. All does also received intramuscular injections of 500 IU PMSG. In addition, 19 and 14 of the does synchronized with MAP and FGA respectively, were injected with 125 μg cloprostenol and the remaining does from both groups were injected with 1.5 ml of sterile saline solution, 48 h prior the sponge removal. Cervical artificial insemination (AI) with diluted fresh semen was performed at a fixed time (36 and 48 h) following progestagen withdrawal. The different groups estrous response for the first 12 ± 6 h and within 66 h, time to onset and duration of the induced estrous, and pregnancy rate was found to be 52.6%, 92.9%, 20.6 ± 0.8 h, 29.7 ± 1.3 h, and 70.0%, respectively. There were significant differences between groups FGA/PMSG/PGF_2α and MAP/PMSG in terms of the duration of induced estrous (P < 0.05) and between groups FGA/PMSG/PGF_2α and FGA/PMSG in terms of estrous response at the first 12 ± 6 h (P < 0.05). These results indicate that, the use of MAP/PMSG and FGA/PMSG intravaginal progestagen treatments with or without cloprostenol are equally efficient in synchronizing estrous in non-lactating hair goats during the natural breeding season.

This study investigated the effects of some sweeteners (sucrose, honey and stevia) on the quality and thermal properties of plain (P) and cocoa (C) yogurt ice cream. For this purpose, six different yogurt ice cream samples were prepared with sucrose (control: AP, AC), with honey (BP, BC) and with stevia (CP, CC). The highest values of protein, ash, fat, lactose ratios and lightness (L*) were measured in samples with stevia. The addition of honey increased the b* values. The addition of cocoa increased pH and viscosity, but decreased overrun ratios. Although the addition of stevia reduced the lactic acid bacteria (LAB) counts, in all samples the LAB count was above 6 log CFU/g during storage. Results of the thermal and melting analysis showed that the use of stevia had a positive effect on the ice cream stability by increasing the freezing and melting point peak temperatures (Tf, Tm), the enthalpy (ΔHf, ΔHm), and the initial ice crystal melting temperatures (T'm).

The aim of this study was to investigate the contamination of beer of Slovak origin with fumonisins. A suitable analytical procedure was suggested - the limit of detection at the level close to 1 µg/l was achieved for both fumonisins B₁ and B₂. The recovery was determined at 93% for fumonisin B₁ and at 78% for fumonisin B₂. Fluorescence detection was used after derivatisation with a mixture of o-phthaldialdehyde and 2-mercaptoethanol. Phosphate buffer usually applied resulted in a poor separation of derivatised fumonisins. Peak splitting was observed depending on the pH of the eluent. The pH value of 2.6 was found suitable for the peak splitting elimination. A convenient gradient elution metod was suggested avoiding the possible interference in fumonisin contents determination. For the preparation of samples, immunoaffinity cleaning procedure was applied. Beer samples from all domestic producers were analysed. The content of fumonisins determined was under the limit of detection in all cases. All the beers tested were produced from the barley grown in 2003.

An acute phase index based on a combination of acute phase proteins which permitted monitoring the response to therapy of canine leishmaniasis was developed and evaluated in this study. Six dogs naturally infected by Leishmania infantum were treated with meglumine antimoniate (Glucantime®, Merial, Lyon, France) 100 mg/kg/day sc, given concurrently for 20 days with allopurinol (Zyloric®, Glaxo Wellcome, Madrid, Spain) 30 mg/kg/day po and then, allopurinol alone for one month at the same dosage. Blood samples for acute phase proteins were obtained on different days before and after the beginning of treatment and two groups of indexes were calculated: (1) Indexes that combined one positive and one negative acute phase protein and (2) Indexes that combined two positive and one negative acute phase proteins. All calculated indexes were significantly higher in animals with leishmaniasis compared with clinically healthy dogs (n = 8) and a decrease was observed in all dogs tested during the treatment. Indexes that combined C-reactive protein (CRP) and ceruloplasmin (CP) with other proteins showed greater percentages of decrease that were statistically significant. Among these, the index CRP*CP/Alb was selected as the optimum since it showed a larger and faster decrease compared with the others as well as with individual proteins alone. These results would support the use of selected acute phase indexes, especially the CRP*CP/Alb index, to suspect about a leishmaniotic dogs and to monitor their response to treatment.

Genetic and economic responses to genetic gain were evaluated for these breeding arrangements: single use of bulls under testing; single and repeated use of proved bulls for two years and for three years (in combination with selection intensity 1%, 5% or 10% of the best bulls for the use of proved bulls); negative selection of cows in the herd - 10%, 20% or 30% of animals are discarded from reproduction and the animals are left in the herd and used for breeding by beef bulls; negative selection of first-calvers in the herd - 10%, 20% or 25% of animals are discarded for slaughter; discarding of heifers and purchase of animals with higher breeding value, and embryo transfer - a group of selected recipients accounts for 10%, 20% or 30% of the cows with lover breeding value in the dairy herds. Simulations for single use of breeding arrangements and their consequences over a fifty-year period were carried out for the above models using the gene flow method. Only minimum changes will occur since the 25^th year of observation. A comparison of the particular models showed the highest gain of proved bulls selected from 1% of the best bulls whose cumulative genetic gain was 41.558 kg of milk proteins on average per cow for the whole observed period. Single use of bulls under testing in the herd resulted in the second highest cumulative genetic gain. Use of proved bulls selected with lower selection intensity (5% or 10%) had worse results. Culling of cows and discarding of first-calvers for slaughter led to lower genetic and economic contribution. The gain of embryo transfer was also lower; moreover, it is not economically advantageous for its very high costs, so it should not be used in production herds generally. High genetic and economic gain was recorded for replacement of all heifers by animals with higher breeding value from other populations.

Rooted leaves and cotyledons of various cruciferous crops were used for the screening of Brassica germplasm response to two obligatory pathogens: clubroot (Plasmodiophora brassicae) and downy mildew (Hyalope-ronospora parasitica). The development of roots was induced after 20-hour dipping of leaf pedicels in the mixture of growth regulators: indolyl-butyric acid (10 mg/l) and nicotinic acid (5 mg/l). The detached rooted leaves and cotyledons were maintained in 250ml plastic containers with perlite under fluorescent tubes in a growth chamber. With additional foliar fertilizing they remain vital for four months, producing clubroot galls on roots when dip-inoculated with Plasmodiophora spores and sporulating mycelia of downy mildew on leaves after drop inoculation with Hyaloperonospora parasitica. The possibilities of enhancing the sensitivity of this alternative assay in combination with immunochemical methods are discussed.

Mixolab has been used for rapid assessment of common wheat quality, but data about hulled wheats quality are rare. The aim of this work was to test the potential of Mixolab II in the baking quality evaluation of emmer wheat varieties. The varieties were characterised by low both - gluten content (1.7-11.0%) and Zeleny sedimentation (11.3-12.8 ml), as well as rheological properties showed lower baking quality. Significant differences in protein and starch-amylase part of Mixolab curve indicate the genotype and climatic effect. In average, emmer varieties were characterised by high protein weakening (C2 - 0.29 Nm), speed of protein weakening at the level of α = -0.05 Nm/min, starch gelatinisation (C3 - 1.61 Nm), amylolytic activity (C4 - 1.35 Nm) and starch retrogradation (C5 - 1.98 Nm). Zeleny test positively correlated with difference C1-C2 and slope α. Falling number positively correlated with C3, C4, C5 and slope γ. Farinograph dough stability, gluten content together with Mixolab parameter C2 are the most promising characteristics to predict baking quality of emmer.

Methylated EGCG was separated from the crude extract using Sephadex LH-20 column chromatography with methanol as the mobile phase, and a semi-preparative HPLC method with water-dimethylformamide-methanol-acetic acid (157:40:2:1, v/v/v/v) as the mobile phase. The chemical structure of the separated catechin was confirmed by ESI-MS in the negative-ion mode. Three different mobile phases were used for silica gel and reversed phase TLC of EGCG and methylated EGCG. R_f values of both catechins were calculated and are reported. In the normal phase, the best condition of separation was with chloroform-methanol-water (65:35:10; v/v/v; lower phase) being used as the mobile phase. On octadodecylsilanised silica gel plates, the phase water-acetonitrile-methanol-acetic acid (79.5:18:2:0.5; v/v/v/v) offered the best separation of catechins.

The goal of the trial was to reduce the content of antinutritional substances in pea (Pisum sativum L.) seeds in order to enhance its use in livestock nutrition. A variety of field pea (Pisum sativum L.) with a high content of antinutritional substances and favourable production traits (Gotik) was chosen. Native and heat-treated pea seeds were used to collect representative samples (n = 6) for analytical purposes. The technology (V-0 technology, Czech patent No. 285745) was further modified by adjusting the reactor temperature, the duration of exposure to that temperature, and the duration of ageing of the material treated in this way (V-I and V-II technologies). The methodology of treatment is based on exposing pea seeds to vapour, organic acids and selected oxides.The monitored parameters included antinutritional substances. As far as the antinutritional substances were concerned, the content of trypsin inhibitors in native pea seeds (P) was around 15.4 ± 0.5 TIU. After treatment with technologies V-0, V-I, and V-II its activity dropped by 83.8, 80.5 and 83.8%, respectively. The pre-treatment titre of lectins (P) was 717 ± 376. It dropped by 70.3, 35.7 and 73.2% after treatment with technologies V-0, V-I and V-II, respectively. The content of tannins measured by the amount of gallic acid in native pea seeds was 49.1 ± 2.7 mg per kg. It dropped by 41.4, 32.0 and 46.2% after the application of the above-mentioned technologies. The content of indigestible oligosaccharides causing flatulence was less affected by the treatments. The pre-treatment content of raffinose was 9.5 ± 0.5 g/kg. The drop associated with the treatment was 9.5, 6.3 and 10.5%, respectively. The pre-treatment content of stachyose was 21.4 ± 0.8 g/kg and after treatment with technologies V-0 and V-II it dropped by 7.0% and by 16.4%, respectively. The application of technology V-I did not result in a drop in the content of stachyose. The content of verbascose in native pea seeds was 16.1 g/kgand the treatment with technologies V-0; V-I and V-II resulted in a drop by 7.5, 5.6 and 20.5%, respectively. As for the detected phenolic acids, with the exception of caffeic acid, not a drop, but an increase in their content was recorded. Isoflavone oestrogens such as daidzein and genistein also recorded a small increase in their content. The results of the trial lead us to conclude that the above-described methods of pea seed treatment, especially the V-II variant, proved to be useful and can be recommended for practical use.

Whole grain wheat flour (WG) of three different particles sizes (194.9, 609.4, and 830.0 µm) was prepared by milling whole grain. The effect of particle size on the thermo-mechanical properties of flour was investigated using Mixolab equipment and solvent retention capacity (SRC). The results showed that particle size influences the functionality of the gluten network. The SRC test revealed that the water absorption increased from 77.43% to 85.76%, with decrease in particle size. The C2 (protein weakening) values were correlated with the values for water absorption in the SRC and wet gluten test, respectively. The degree of gelatinization of starch (C3) showed that the presence of the fibers in the WG samples limited the availability of water to the starch, and this effect was especially true for flour with smaller particle size. In summary, the Mixolab equipment allowed a better understanding of the functionality of WG with regard to the behavior of protein properties. WG with coarse particles demonstrated a greater impact on the gluten network, indicating a negative effect on the baking quality.

The objective of this study was to examine the effects of microbial oil, evening primrose oil and borage oil on rumen fermentation of a diet consisting of 80% of hay and 20% of barley in an artificial rumen (Rusitec). All three oils contained gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), microbial oil - 8.4%, evening primrose oil - 9.2% and borage oil - 23.7% out of the total fatty acid content. The experiment in Rusitec lasted 11 days. After a stabilization period (5 days), microbial oil (5% wt/wt) was added into fermentation vessel V₂, evening primrose oil (5% wt/wt) into V₃ and borage oil (5%wt/wt) into V₄ (6 days). Fermentation vessel V₁ served as a control (without oils). The results showed that the oils did not affect any of the basal parameters of rumen fermentation (pH, NH₃-N, degradation of dry matter, organic matter, neutral detergent fibre, acid detergent fibre). Methane production (mmol/day) was reduced numerically by the oils; microbial oil, evening primrose oil and borage oil decreased CH₄ production about 11.32%, 11.45% and 2.04%, respectively. The supplementation of the oils to the total mixed ration (TMR) significantly decreased percentage proportions of short-chain fatty acids (SCFA, about 0.1-0.3%), medium-chain fatty acids (MCFA, about 8%) and increased long-chain fatty acids (LCFA, about 8%) in the effluent. Stearic acid C_18:0 was the major FA in the effluent and was significantly reduced in oil supplemented diets. The percentage proportion of trans C_18:1 isomers significantly increased (1.7-2 times) in all oil supplemented diets. The main intermediates - cis 9, trans 11 C_18:2 (CLA) and trans 11 C_18:1 (TVA) also increased after oil supplementation of the diet. TVA concentration with microbial oil, evening primrose oil and borage oil supplementation was 3.17%, 8.19% and 9.3% in comparison with the control (1.38%). CLA concentration significantly increased 2.3, 1.2, and 2.1 times after microbial oil, evening primrose oil and borage oil supplementation in Rusitec. Finally, the oil supplementation caused incomplete biohydrogenation of unsaturated FA and it was characterized by an increase in TVA concentration and TVA to C_18:0 ratio in oil supplemented diets.

The aim of the study was to compare parameters of passage of nylon capsules and digesta represented by Cr-labelled maize silage through the digestive tract of dairy cows. The capsules were made of nylon cloth (42 µm pore size, 10 mm outside diameter) and applied orally. The evaluation was carried out in dairy cows with milk yield of 19.0 kg/day. The diet (17.6 kg DM/day) consisted of maize silage, lucerne hay and concentrate. Total mean retention time (TMRT), delay time (τ), summarised compartmental mean retention time (CMRTS), and mean individual compartmental retention times (CMRT1 and CMRT2) were calculated. TMRT, τ, CMRTS, CMRT1 and CMRT2 values of nylon capsules and Cr-labelled silage were 36.2 and 45.4 h (P < 0.01), 16.2 and 8.3 h (P < 0.01), 20.1 and 37.2 h (P < 0.01), 7.8 and 8.5 h, 12.2 and 28.7 h (P < 0.05), respectively. The calculated mean retention time of nylon capsules in the reticulo-rumen (CMRTS) was shorter and in the intestines (τ) was longer than that of digesta. For this reason the estimation of digestibility using the nylon capsule method can be questionable.

The aim of the study was to determine the effect of soil contamination with diesel oil (3, 6, 9, 12 and 24 g/kg soil) on the yield and the content of macroelements in oat and maize cultivated in soil supplemented with nitrogen and sawdust. The correlation between the content of macroelements in the crops and the soil enzymatic activity was also determined. High doses of diesel oil had a definite negative effect on the content of all macroelements in oat, excluding phosphorus. The presence of diesel oil had a favourable effect on the accumulation of most of macroelements in the above-ground parts of maize. Nitrogen application to the soil caused an increase in the content of nitrogen and in the accumulation of calcium and magnesium in the above-ground parts of both crops as well as an increase in sodium content in maize. Sawdust applied to the soil had a considerably lower effect (several to less than 20%) on the content of macroelements in plants. A correlation between the activity of urease and acid and alkaline phosphatase in the soil and the content of macroelements in plants cultivated in diesel oil contaminated soil was observed. This correlation was positive only in the case of alkaline phosphatase activity and phosphorus content in oats.

The paper summarizes the results of long-term measurements of soil temperature. The measurements were performed at two depths: 5 cm and 20 cm, on a series of five experimental plots with different stocking. The temperature of soil in the submontane beech forest at the Ecological Experimental Site (EES) Kremnické vrchy Mts. reached maximum values in August, minimum ones in February. The obtained data were processed using t-test and regression analysis - to evaluate the influence of soil temperature at the discussed soil depths on the biomass production in plants. An important influence of this factor was confirmed at both depths.

It was confirmed in metabolic experiments with 4 individuals of roe deer (2 males and 2 females with the live weight of 20.8 and 17.9 kg, respectively) that due to the animals' selective choice of a part of feeds there was no significant difference in the intake of lucerne hay of different quality and high-quality meadow hay (515.86 ± 66.97 and 597.82 ± 94.87 g, respectively). However, different quality of lucerne hay influenced the animals' intake of crude protein and crude fibre. When the animals were fed meadow hay, they took in significantly less crude protein and fibre and significantly more nitrogen-free extract, fat and ash. Digestibility of crude protein was observed to be significantly decreased in hay of lower quality (by 10.1%). Digestibility coefficients for crude protein, crude fibre, organic matter and fat were significantly lower in grass hay compared to lucerne hay. Based on the coefficients of nutrient digestibility it can be stated that meadow hay, even if of excellent quality, is not a suitable supplement for the roe deer.

The principal importance and global dimension of sustainable agriculture in frame of a strategy of civilization development is beyond discussion. The actual character of the topic of looking for ways to sustainable development is confirmed by the extensive worldwide program "Millennium Ecosystem Assessment" the purpose of which is to map and subsequently monitor the health of the planet Earth. The contribution is focused on various aspects of the non-substitutable role of agriculture regarding sustainable development on the level of developing and developed countries and on the regional and global level.

The power requirement of tillage implements is an important design consideration particularly for animal-drawn implements where the power is limited. The paper presents the possibility of reduction in the draught requirements of animal-drawn mouldboard plough by using enamel coating on the soil-engaged components such as the mouldboard, share and the landside. Trials were conducted to compare enamel-coated Maun Series single mouldboard plough (manufactured by Zimplow Limited, Bulawayo,Zimbabwe) with similar uncoated plough, both animal-drawn, under comparable working conditions. Experiments were done at 25% and 32% d.b. soil moisture content on a red clay soil inZimbabwe. The parameters measured in evaluating the draught performance of both ploughs were the tractive effort (pull), speed of ploughing, depth and width of ploughing, and soil conditions (i.e. soil moisture content, soil bulk density and soil penetration resistance). It was found that for similar working conditions the enamel coating reduced the specific draught by 20 to 26% depending upon soil moisture content.

This study was conducted to evaluate the mineral status of various bovine categories reared on the same farm, and to monitor the quality of their mineral nutrition in this way. Blood samples were collected on 20 farms in various regions of the CzechRepublicto diagnose the selenium (Se), copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) status of dairy cows, calves, heifers and bulls. Blood samples were collected from 5 dairy cows and their calves, 5 heifers and, whenever possible, also from 5 bullocks (10 farms). To assess the Cu and Zn status of the cattle, blood serum concentrations of the elements were determined by flame AAS. The Se status assessment was based on the glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity in whole blood. Dairy cows and calves showed the higher GSH-Px activity in comparison with heifers and bulls (P < 0.001). Overall mean GSH-Px activity in the blood of dairy cows, calves, heifers and bulls was 720.47 ± 174.47 µkat/l, 688.34 ± 204.12 µkat/l, 555.69 ± 318.36 µkat/l and 516.17 ± 214.70 µkat/l, respectively. Se deficiency was diagnosed in 23% of the examined dairy cows (20% herds), 31% calves (25% herds), 51% heifers (50% herds) and in 58% of bulls (50% herds). Dairy cows showed lower Zn and higher Cu concentrations in comparison with the other categories (P < 0.001). Mean Zn concentrations in blood serum of dairy cows, calves, heifers and bulls were 12.21 ± 3.19 µmol/l, 18.91 ± 5.78 µmol/l, 17.80 ± 2.76 µmol/l and 16.69 ± 3.08 µmol/l, respectively. Zn deficiency was diagnosed in 41% of the examined dairy cows (45% herds) and 13% of bulls (10% herds). None of the calf or heifer herds was classified as Zn deficient when Zn deficiency was found in only 9% of calves and 1% of the examined heifers. Mean Cu concentrations in blood serum of dairy cows, calves, heifers and bulls were 13.62 ± 2.62 µmol/l, 10.18 ± 3.22 µmol/l, 10.96 ± 2.52 µmol/l and 11.18 ± 2.40 µmol/l, respectively. Cu deficiency was diagnosed in 28% of the examined dairy cows (20% herds), 70% of calves (80% herds), 65% of heifers (75% herds) and 70% of bulls (60% herds). Deficiency of at least one of the microelements monitored was diagnosed on all investigated farms.

The effect of an abiotic stress caused by cadmium on the total flavonoid content in roots, shoots and leaf blades of spring barley variety Kompakt grown in a climate-control room for 28 days was investigated. Total flavonoid content (F) was determined spectrophotometrically with sodium nitrite, Cd content by atomic absorption spectrometry. Treatment of barley plants with Cd (1.10^-6 mol/l) in nutrition solution caused the decrease of F in the all parts of the plant. The relatively highest decrease was found in the roots (from 20.0 to 3.05 g/kg dry matter), lesser decrease in the shoots (from 24.2 to 9.33 g/kg dry matter) and the leaf blades (from 58.3 to 27.3 g/kg dry matter). Statistically significant decrease (at least p < 0.05) of F and increase of Cd contents in all the investigated parts of the plant was found. Statistically significant differences of F and Cd contents among barley roots, shoots, and leaf blades were found.

The assay conditions needed to achieve maximal activity of liver and kidney arginase in diabetic and non-diabetic rats were investigated and compared. The physicochemical and kinetic properties of liver arginase in diabetic and control rats were very similar, those of kidney arginase were significantly different. It was found that preincubation temperature (68°C), preincubation period (20 min), optimum pH (10.1) of liver arginase and K_m (3.2) for its substrate, L-arginine, did not change in diabetic and non-diabetic rats. As a consequence of diabetes, the optimum Mn²⁺ concentration for liver arginase only changed from 1 to 2 mM. Although the preincubation temperature and period for activation of kidney arginase in control rats was unnecessary, they were found to be 56ºC and 12 min in diabetic rats. The pH profile of arginase in kidney of diabetic rats was different from that of control rats. The K_m value (6.7) of arginase for L-arginine in kidney is unchanged in diabetes whereas a marked decrease in V_max was found. Optimum Mn²⁺ concentration (2 mM) for kidney arginase was unchanged in diabetes. The activity of arginase in liver of diabetic animals was higher 1.5 to 1.7 times than that of controls. Diabetes caused an about 53% decrease of arginase activity in kidney of female rats, 26% in that of males. These findings may suggest an idea that encoded arginases by separate gene loci may be affected differently by the pathological and hormonal status.

The influence of mycorrhizal fungi on field pea green mass yield, dry matter yield, grain yield, number of pods per plant, number of grains per pod, average number of plants per m², grain concentration of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium were studied in the greenhouse during two investigative years. The best results with all parameters were obtained in both investigative years by seed inoculation with the mycorrhizal species G. mossae. The exceptions were mean green mass yield, dry matter yield and the number of grains per pod in the second investigation year (irrigation rate - 240 mm/m²) where better results were achieved by seed inoculation with species G. intraradices. The highest green mass yield obtained by seed inoculation with mycorrhizal species Glomus mossae was 671.45 g/m², dry matter yield 59.40 g/m², grain yield 346.20 g/m² whereas grain nitrogen concentration was 4.08%. Far better results of all yield and quality indicators of this plant compared to non-mychorrized variants were accomplished by mycorrized variants in water lacking conditions.

The procedure of processing and utilising the soil information entering the SOTER system is tested on the pilot area of the Litoměřice district. The reliability of the archive data is examined, the archive data being updated by a new soil survey, modern (geo)statistical methods, and pedotransfer rules. Using the SOTER methodology, a soil map of the district with the scale of 1:50 000 has been developed. Proposals for the adjustments to the currently valid soil classification system are processed.

The aim of this project was to determine the antimicrobial activity of honeys produced in the Czech Republic to some bacteria (Listeria monocytogenes, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella typhimurium and Escherichia coli). Another aim was to find out whether there are correlations between the antimicrobial activity of honeys and their physicochemical parameters. All honeys included in the study were directly obtained from beekeepers in Southern and Northern Moravia from the summer load of 2001. The project contains 20 honeys which were determined according to their conductivity as blossom (6), blends (10) and honeydew (4). The determination of physical and chemical parameters such as content of water, conductivity, pH, water activity, invertase and diastase activities was carried out in accordance with the methods described in Harmonised methods of the European Honey Commission. The determination of the antimicrobial activity of honey was done by the MIC (minimal inhibitory concentration) method. Statistically significant relations between the antimicrobial activity and the conductivity of honey (P < 0.05), the diastase (P < 0.05) and invertase (P < 0.001) activities were found out in the observed physicochemical parameters. The study proved that honey produced in the Czech Republic is antimicrobially effective with the highest effect in honeydew honeys (P < 0.01).

This paper brings data on ultrafiltration on inorganic membranes (MEMBRALOX, France, mean pore size 20 and 100 nm, 0.8 m long, filtration area 0.2 m²), which were used for the purification of different liquid materials from the food industry; in particular egg blend, amaranth starch suspension, and caramel (i.e. natural colorant). The ultrafiltration was carried out on a pilot plant filtration unit TIA (Bollene, France), cross-flow permeate fluxes being measured at first. Using the experimental data, mathematical models describing membrane fouling were suggested. The obtained permeate steady-state fluxes (40 l/h/m² for amaranth starch solution, 20 l/h/m² for egg blend and 5-30 l/h/m² for caramel) depended partially on the filtration temperature (15-17°C for egg blend, 40°C for amaranth, and 50-70°C for caramel) but mostly on the character of the medium filtered.

This study investigated changes in stem and spike characteristics resulting from breeding in Iranian wheat cultivars, and their relationship with grain yield. Eighty-one wheat cultivars released between 1930 and 2006 were examined under well-watered (WW) and terminal drought stress (DS) conditions in Karaj during 2007-2008 and 2008-2009 and under WW condition at Parsabad in Moghan region during 2010-2011. A genetic improvement over time in stem specific weight (SSW) along with significant positive correlations between this trait and grain yield were found at Karaj under DS conditions and at Parsabad, suggesting that SSW could be used as an indirect selection criterion for yield in these environments. Time-dependent changes in spike dry weight showed that the magnitude of partitioned photoassimilates to the spike during the phase anthesis - 16 days after anthesis (16 DAA) was not changed by breeding. However, during the 16 DAA ‒ maturity phase, modern cultivars had more photoassimilates allocated to the spike than the old ones. This suggests that the sink is more limited during early grain growth than during the end of grain filling.

Using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, 160 sweet and sour cherry trees from a germplasm collection, orchards, and wild trees in the Czech Republic were screened for the presence of Cherry necrotic rusty mottle virus (CNRMV) and Cherry green ring mottle virus (CGRMV). The viruses were detected exclusively in sweet cherry trees in the germplasm collection, with CNRMV determined in two trees and CGRMV in four trees. Using next-generation sequencing, nearly complete genomic sequences (complete ORFs) were obtained for one CNRMV and three CGRMV isolates. Their relatedness to GenBank sequences of isolates from different countries together with negative results from screening outside of the germplasm collection suggests that the viruses had been imported with accessions.

Otitis media is a common disease in clinical veterinary practice. Although low-field magnetic resonance imaging reports for otitis media in dogs exist, in cats detailed information is missing. Radiography is helpful in diagnosing chronic inflammation, but may be insufficient during the initial phase of inflammation. For this reason, this report describes the magnetic resonance findings in two cats with otitis media. In both cases, middle ear empyema was detected. Magnetic resonance imaging of middle ear disorders in cats should contain pre- and post-contrast T1-weighted sequences in the dorsal and transverse planes, a T2-weighted sequence in the dorsal and transverse planes and a fluid-attenuated inversion recovery sequence in the dorsal or transverse planes. On pre-contrast T1-weighted images, the empyema had an intensity similar to that of brain tissue with a delicate hyper-intensity in the middle. On post-contrast T1-weighted images, the material had non-uniform enhancement in the dorsolateral compartment and circumference enhancement in the ventromedial compartment of the tympanic bulla with a hypo-intense centre. On T2-weighted images, the mass had heterogeneously increased signal intensity to brain tissue, but was less intense than cerebrospinal fluid. In the fluid-attenuated inversion recovery sequence, the pathological lesion was distinctly hyper-intense in comparison to other tissues with a narrow area of increased signal intensity in the middle of the ventromedial tympanic bulla compartment. Magnetic resonance imaging is commonly used for the visualisation of different disorders of the membranous labyrinth and allows the differentiation of chronic hematomas, empyemas and middle and internal ear neoplasia. The recommended magnetic resonance protocol of the middle ear should include pre- and post-contrast T1 sequences in the dorsal and transverse planes, the T2 sequence in the dorsal and transverse planes and the fluid-attenuated inversion recovery sequence in the dorsal or transverse planes.