Fulltext search in archive

In this study, the quality of northern pike eggs collected by the traditional method (hand stripping) and the pneumatic method (air stripping) was compared. Additionally, different activation solutions (Billard solution, hatchery water, and Woynarovich solution) were tested for their effects on egg fertilization under artificial conditions. After the eggs were collected, the Pseudo-Gonado-Somatic Index (PGSI) was measured. Although the values of the PGSI in the samples obtained with use of air stripping were lower (13.8 ± 3.9%), they did not differ statistically from those obtained by hand stripping (16.5 ± 5.4%). Hatchery water and Woynarovich solution were found to be the most suitable solutions for sperm activation using the Computer-Assisted Sperm Analysis (CASA) system as compared to the Billard solution. Hand stripping was found to negatively affect the percentage of fertilized eggs and the percentage of hatched larvae in samples fertilized in hatchery water and Woynarovich solution. When the traditional method of egg collection was used, there were no differences in the percentage of fertilization and the percentage of hatched larvae between Billard solution (54.0 ± 21.5% and 44.1 ± 21.9%, respectively), hatchery water (60.0 ± 22.5% and 55.9 ± 22.8%, respectively), and Woynarovich solution (72.0 ± 25.8% and 69.0 ± 23.9%, respectively) treatments. Air stripped eggs showed a higher fertilization rate when hatchery water or Woynarovich solution was applied (86.2 ± 9.3% and 92.4 ± 3.9%, respectively). Also hatching rate was the highest in these samples (83.0 ± 8.4% and 88.3 ± 6.2%). The application of the pneumatic method and Woynarovich solution to northern pike artificial fertilization resulted in higher fertilization and hatching rates as compared to other techniques. Because this was successful in northern pike, the use of air stripping is a promising option for artificial reproduction in other fish species.

The paper deals with the evaluation of economy of forestry companies. The evaluation stems from the results of economic analyses of enterprises that are further monitored in the context of forestry and development of economic financial ratios of evaluated companies. Furthermore, the evaluation is based on real possibilities of companies stemming from resources which they have at their disposal and on the facts that occurred in the selected companies in the monitored period. The development of important factors influencing the whole branch of forestry and their real state are introduced in the first part of the paper. After that, methods used in financial analysis of enterprises are described. The fact that forest land in the Czech Republic covered 2.66 million hectares in 2014 and its proportion in the total area of the country is 34% adds importance to the topic (Czech Statistical Yearbook 2015).

Six onion cultivars Bingo, Dormo, Elenka, Elbrus, Spirit, and Sturon grown in the Czech Republic for commercial purposes were analysed to investigate the content of health-promoting compounds. The results showed that at harvest time, cysteine sulfoxide content varied from 32.38 to 44.16 g/kg of dry weight, polyphenol content was between 2.66 and 3.37 g/kg of dry weight, and antioxidant activity ranged from 0.75 to 0.83 g/kg. Cv. Bingo had the highest level of the analysed compounds. The cultivars were concurrently analysed by DNA (microsatellite) markers. Dendrograms based on the chemical composition and DNA analysis were almost identical. This finding confirms the dependence of the secondary metabolite content on onion genotype.

The effect of curd cooking temperature (40 and 42°C), pressing, and ripening on textural and sensory properties of vacuum packaged semi-cooked ewe's milk cheese was studied. Chemical and microbiological analyses, colour, texture, and sensory characteristics were determined. Curd cooking temperature and pressing influenced a_w, moisture and salt-in-moisture content. Texture parameters were partially modified by pressing. On the contrary, cooking temperature resulted mainly in changes of cheese colour. Storage time was the most important factor in changing cheese characteristics, including sensory characteristics, whereas an increase of bitter aftertaste was observed during storage, likely due to packaging in a plastic pouch.

The objective of this study was to compare, in client-owned patients, the analgesic effects of the centrally acting analgesics tramadol and buprenorphine in continuous intravenous anaesthesia (TIVA) with propofol. The study included forty dogs aged two to seven years and weighing 6-27 kg undergoing prophylactic dental treatment. The animals were classified into ASA (American Society of Anaesthesiologists) I. and II. risk groups. One group of dogs received intravenous administration of tramadol (2 mg/kg) and the second one buprenorphine (0.02 mg/kg) 30 min prior to sedation induced by midazolam (0.3 mg/kg) and xylazine (0.5 mg/kg) i.v. General anaesthesia was induced by propofol (2 mg/kg) and maintained by a 120-minute propofol infusion (0.2 mg/kg min). Arterial blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate, saturation of haemoglobin with oxygen, body temperature and deep pain sensation elicited by haemostat forceps pressure on the fingers were recorded at ten minute intervals. The tramadol group of dogs showed significantly better blood pressure values (P < 0.001), minimal tendency to bradycardia (P < 0.05) and respiratory rate (P < 0.001), without any negative effects on oxygen saturation. Significantly better deep pain sensation was achieved in the tramadol group (P < 0.001). Blood gas/acid base profile analysis showed a non-significant increase in the tramadol group of dogs. In conclusion, in comparison with buprenorphine, tramadol provided significantly better results with respect to degree of analgesia, as well as the tendency towards cardiopulmonary complications arising during anaesthesia. Significantly better analgesia and a lower depressive effect of tramadol on vital functions allows better control and management of the continuous intravenous propofol anaesthesia.

The aim of this study was to evaluate changes in coagulation tests, haptoglobin concentrations and leukocyte counts in rabbits with right-ventricle pacing medicated with acetylsalicylic acid (ASA). Blood was collected from 35 non-anaesthetised males from the jugular vein at baseline, one and two months after pacemaker implantation. Animals were divided into two groups: non-medicated and medicated with ASA. Total leukocyte and platelet counts were measured on an automatic veterinary flow cytometry haematological analyser. Prothrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time, fibrinogen levels and D-dimers were determined from citrated blood. We found significantly elevated activated partial thromboplastin times and prothrombin times in ASA in comparison to the control group, but not within the ASA group over time. We also observed a decrease in platelet counts in the control group over time, but not in comparison to the ASA group. No significant changes in total leukocyte counts and haptoglobin concentrations were detected. Medication with ASA may alter coagulation profiles in rabbits with permanent transvenous pacing.

The occurrence of both diseases was evaluated for four years in a selected orchard where 22 different apple progenies, totalling 699 seedlings were planted. During this period, no chemical protection against the diseases was applied in the orchard, and the incidence of the diseases was rated using a 9-point scale (from 9 = not infected to 1 = very highly infected). For the finalisation of the results, each seedling was characterised by the highest rate of infection from all four years of the evaluation. The lowest mean level of mildew infection equal to 7.47 was observed in the progeny of Resista × McIntosh Wijcik. Concerning the scab, the best was the progeny of Resista × Karmína having a rating equal to 8.27. The highest level of segregation of seedlings having joint resistance to both diseases was found out in the progenies obtained by crossings of HL665 × HL782 and Resista × HL447.

In this article, the effect of increasing dry matter content and reaction time of hydrothermal carbonization on mass yield of biochar was studied. Carbonization took place in batch experiments in a pressure vessel. Results have confirmed the assumption that the mass yield of biochar would increase with growing dry matter content in the initial solution and also with reaction time at reaction temperature of 200°C. It was found that components of the liquid product that remain in the biochar have a measurable impact on its mass yield. Mixing of the reactor proved to have a considerable effect on the mass yield as well. Biochar produced in absence of mixing had higher pore volume and higher yield. This was evident even after subtracting the equivalent liquid phase dry matter in the biochar after drying.

The study compares the role of agricultural green subsidies in rural development of the Czech Republic before and after joining the European Union (EU) in 2004. We use the perspective of multifunctional agriculture and contribute to the research on the contemporary trends in Czech agriculture by using the data collected through surveys in 2000 and 2006, as well as 2008 comparative statistical support, to ask if there have been significant changes and improvements in farmers' evaluations of these programs. The empirical case study results show some positive changes connected with the participation in the Common Agriculture Policy (CAP). In spite of improvements, farmers continue to cite two primary weaknesses and constraints - administrative procedures and shifting program guidelines - that were evident prior to joining the EU. It can be assumed that the environmental subsidies in the Horizontal Rural Development Plan 2004-2006 have had an effect on the stabilization of the livelihoods of rural inhabitants. In general, there is a positive shift of valuation of the CAP among farmers in the Czech Republic.

New requirements regarding agriculture production together with the increased pressure on environmentally friendly practices leave almost no space for the routine agriculture production. Innovations that include environmental changes are therefore essential. Agricultural research faces various challenges associated with the quality and effectiveness of agriculture production and recently also with the environmental and sustainability issues. The paper provides a case study focused on the environmental and social evaluation of a biological asset that constitutes an agricultural innovation. This paper also shows a concrete example of how the social and environmental reporting can be constructed and implemented by providing an evaluation of a Bumblebee Nest. As a result, the total value consisting of the market, ecosystem and aesthetic value is provided. Although the market value comprises the largest proportion of the total value, it does not exceed 64%.

Road cross section, as one the main effective factors in relation to fill and cut volume, was effective in costs and disturbance of forest road constructions. In this research, the effect of a few physiographic parameters on forest road cross section was evaluated. For this purpose, 192 cross sections on forest roads were delineated selectively in mountain forests in the north of Iran. The physiographic factors including elevation, hillside slope, slope aspect, rock base, and soil texture as well as cross section width were measured. After evaluating the data in terms of normality and homogeneity, it was analysed by Spearman's and Pearson's correlation tests using SPSS20. One-way ANOVA, two-way ANOVA, and Duncan grouping tests were used to determine the effect of the above-mentioned factors both separately and simultaneously. Results showed that the parameters including hillside slope, rock base, and soil texture had a significant effect. Elevation was recognized as a regional parameter due to the lack of any relationship with cross section. There was no significant relation between slope aspect and cross section. The hillside slope was defined as the most effective parameter on the cross section.

With the advantage of Structure from Motion technique, we reconstructed three-dimensional structures from two-dimensional image sequences in a circular plot with a radius of 6 m. The main objective of this research was to clarify the potential of using a low cost hand-held camera for evaluation of the stem accuracy reconstruction, through the comparison of data from two different point clouds. The first cloud comprises data collected with a digital camera that are compared with those collected by direct measurement of the FARO^® Focus3D S120 laser scanner. Photos were taken in a circular plot of pine trees using the stop-and-go method. We estimated the Euclidean distance for corresponding points for both clouds and we found out that most of the points with error less than 11 cm are concentrated mainly on the ground. Regression analysis showed a significant relationship between height above ground and error, the error is more pronounced for points located higher on the stems. As expected, no dependence was found between the error of the points and the diameter at breast height of their respective stems.

The fucoidans were obtained by extraction with water and gradient precipitation with different concentrations of ethanol. The main structural characterisations and bioactivities were achieved. Four fractions of water-soluble crude fucoidans with different molecular weights - SPC60, SPC70, SPH60, SPH70 - were extracted from S. pallidum collected from the Yellow Sea, China, using cold water and hot water extraction, and fractional precipitation with gradient concentrations of ethanol. Chemical analysis demonstrated that all of these fucoidan fractions consisted of fucose, rhamnose, xylose, mannose, glucose, and galactose with different monosaccharide mole ratios. Fractions SPC60, SPC70, and SPH70 showed moderate cytotoxic activity against P388 murine leukaemia cells. Fucoidan is a kind of bioactive polysaccharide from the brown algae. This study provides a fast and feasible method to obtain fucoidans from S. pallidum, which can be used as pharmaceutical material and functional food.

Ultrasound scans were used to image pathological features in sea turtles. Scans were carried out in 19 loggerhead sea turtles, weighing from 2 to 21 kg, during the course of clinical examinations using 3.5 and 7.5 MHz sector transducers. The examination was performed after placing turtles in dorsal recumbency. Turtles were manually restrained and, in order to find the most suitable acoustic windows, were held down either by their heads (left and right cervicobrachial windows), front flippers (left and right axillary windows) or back flippers (left and right prefemoral and postfemoral windows). The right and left cervicobrachial windows allowed visualisation of the liver and gallbladder; the stomach was localised through the left prefemoral acoustic window; the intestinal loops were observed through the left and right prefemoral acoustic windows; the bladder was identified through both prefemoral acoustic windows. The pathological findings were as follows: idiopathic ileus, an intestinal linear foreign body and smooth muscle hypertrophy, presence of calculi and sediment in the gallbladder. These results highlight the importance of ultrasound examination along with clinical examination in sea turtles for the evaluation of coelomic pathologies.

This research was conducted to assess the influence of long-term tillage system on soil organic carbon, microbial biomass carbon, root biomass and crop yield in spring wheat-field pea rotation fields in a rainfed semi-arid environment from 2013 through 2015. The treatments were; conventional tillage with stubble removed (T); no-till with stubble removed (NT); no-till with stubble retained (NTS) and conventional tillage with stubble incorporated (TS) arranged in a randomised complete block design with three replicates. The soil organic carbon in NTS increased by 16% and 14% over T and NT. Compared with the T and NT, NTS increased soil microbial biomass carbon by 42% and 38% in 0-30 cm depth, respectively. Root biomass was significantly increased in NTS by 47% and 54% over T and NT, respectively. Across the three years, NTS had an average grain yield of 53% and 41% higher than T and NT, respectively. Compared with NTS, T and NT decreased root biomass by 54% and 48%, respectively. In view of the limited and erratic biomass production in this region, integration of no-till with straw mulching is recommended for soil fertility improvement, environmental quality and sustainable crop production.

Human scent is a complex combination of many chemical substances. Skin is supposed to be one of sources of scent traces. The values of the boiling points of human scent compounds were supposed to be lower than 300°C. The purpose of the study was to determine the temperature at which the human scent is degraded so that a dog would not be able to identify it. In contrast to expectations, eight dogs used in the experiment almost flawlessly identified human scents from five scent donors exposed to temperatures of 100°C, 200°C, 300°C, 400°C, 500°C, 600°C, 700°C, and 800°C. Only two of the dogs were able to identify 5 of 15 scent samples exposed to 900°C. No dog identified a scent exposed to 1000°C. Our study verified heat survivability of human scent far beyond existing expectations. There may be an extremely heat resistant, previously undetected, compound of human scent, unsusceptible to heat which exceeds standard temperatures used for sterilization. We anticipate our results to be a starting point for cardinal change of our view of factors affecting the vulnerability of human scent, resulting in the need to alter the approach of forensic methodology dealing with identification of human scent.

A system for evaluating outdoor recreation as a cultural agroecosystem service is presented. Every agroecosystem presumably has the potential for providing some kind of outdoor recreation. Two approaches to mapping the recreation potential were used and compared - the Social Values for Ecosystem Services (SolVES) model and the regional model (RegMOD). From the possibilities of recreation activities, hiking, biking, and cross-country skiing were chosen. The comparison of the two approaches showed that the RegMOD incorporates a wider range of categories than the SolVES model, particularly for hiking. The robust character of the SolVES model is reflected by narrowing the spectrum of categories of this recreation activity. The differences in the map view are marked in the case of biking and cross-country skiing. Overall, the grasslands of the study area in Slovakia offer mainly medium relevant capacity (53.90% by the results of the SolVES, 64.90% by the results of the RegMOD) for providing selected outdoor recreation activities. The less productive (53.88% of all non-productive grasslands by the results of the SolVES, 48.00% by the results of the RegMOD) and non-productive grasslands represent a higher relevant capacity (41.18% of all non-productive grasslands by the results of the SolVES, 54.40% by the results of the RegMOD) for providing outdoor recreation activities. This brings about a new view of their management as well as use. The RegMOD developed in this paper is replicable and could be applied by managers mainly at the regional level on condition of their proficiency in geographical information systems.

Socio-economic backwardness is usually defined by common characteristics or classification. The differences between the DMEs and DCs in the case of resources (prevalence of DCs) and in the case of outputs and performance (prevalence of DMEs) is evident. The difference in the economic level and the level of living between the DCs and DMEs had deepened during the last three decades, however, it has to be pointed out again, that this difference is increasing still more slowly what can be a presage of an approaching turn (in the sense of the possible beginning of a slow decrease of this gap). While the per capita GDP indicator is regarded as one of the most important indicators of the economic level, the HDI can be regarded as the most important indicator of the given country population level of living and as such, it is hitherto rather underestimated. Similarly, the CPM indicator (as the measure of poverty), which is a composed indicator, has a higher testifying ability than a simple income level per capita in USD defined as the poverty level. It is obvious, that economic development is impossible without social development, and vice versa. Generally, the gap between the more developed developing countries, measured through the world income distribution, is then still widening. As a positive phenomenon, there can be, however, regarded the fact that deepening of this gap occurs at a lower rate. Through a more detailed analysis by the individual indicators, the most valuable from which are the indicators composed from several partial indicators (for example HDI, CPM), a certain tendencies towards the gradual improvement of the socio-economic situation in developing countries as a whole - but with the relevant differences in the individual regions of the world - can be discerned. In general, close ties have been proven between the economic growth and the growth of the population level of living, their mutual influencing and the main elements from which they are composed.

The noctuid C. trapezina (CT) has been considered an occasional predator of other Lepidoptera larvae. Functional/numerical response of predator and/or prey was estimated using 27 years of time-series data from Slovakia and stepwise multiple regression models (SMRM). SMRM were used to examine a possible delayed density-dependent feedback. We constructed 12 order-three autoregressive models [AR(3)] for CT and candidate prey. Independent variables were abundance of C. trapezina and abundance of candidate prey in lags 1, 2, and 3. Model variants were: (1) predation on free feeder models (FFM); (2) predation on shelter feeder models (SFM); (3) predation on the sum of 8 species models (S8M); (4) predation on all Lepidoptera models (ALM). Models were constructed for three areas (created by grouping sites based on significant correlations among CT populations). Additional comparative models were constructed for another three noctuid species and one geometrid species to compare their regression parameters under the same conditions as for CT. In total, 48 AR(3) SMRM were constructed for comparative species. A negative response of shelter feeders was found in models mainly for CT. We also found the positive response of CT growth rate to abundance of shelter feeders in lag 3 on two out of three models. This pattern was not found for any other comparison of species in the analysis. Possible mechanisms for these results are discussed.

This study investigated the effects of administration of monosodium l-glutamate (MSG) on serum luteinising hormone, testosterone and cholesterol levels, libido and testicular histomorphology of male West African Dwarf (WAD) goats. Thirty-two WAD goats (28 males and four females) were used for the study. The 28 males were randomly assigned to seven groups (A, B^O, B^S, C^O, C^S, D^O and D^S) of four goats each. Goats in groups B^O, C^O, and D^O were given MSG orally at doses of 0.25, 0.50 and 1 g/kg body weight respectively for 28 days, while groups B^S, C^S and D^S goats were given MSG subcutaneously at doses of 0.25, 0.50 and 1 g/kg body weight, respectively, for 28 days. Group A goats served as untreated control. The four female goats did not receive MSG, but were used to assess the levels of expression of libido by all the males. Serum luteinising hormone and testosterone were assayed prior to MSG administration (Day 0) and on Days 2, 14 and 28 of MSG administration, while serum cholesterol was assayed on Days 0, 14 and 28 of MSG administration. Libido scores and testicular histomorphology were evaluated on Days 26 and 28 of MSG administration, respectively. Results showed that on Days 14 and 28 of MSG administration the mean serum luteinising hormone, testosterone and cholesterol levels of the treated groups were significantly (P < 0.05) lower than those of the control group. The mean libido scores of all the treated groups were significantly (P < 0.05) lower than that of the control. Sections of the testes of the male WAD goats that received varying doses of MSG orally or subcutaneously showed no obvious lesions; the seminiferous tubules and interstices were normal and comparable to those of the untreated control. It was concluded that MSG administration for up to 14 and 28 days led to a significant lowering of serum luteinising hormone, testosterone and cholesterol, as well as libido scores.

To enhance the induction of shoots, the excised nodes were cultured on Murashige and Skoog medium containing different cytokinins and various concentrations. The best conditions for shoot induction and growth were with 6-benzyladenine at 1.0 mg.l^-1. For axillary shoot proliferation, the excellent result was obtained using 2.0 mg.l^-1 meta-topoline. Well-developed shoots (more than 2 cm in length) were successfully rooted ex vitro at 82% by treatment with commercial rooting powder (2% indole-3-butyric acid; Rhizopon®). Rooted plantlets were acclimatized in the greenhouse and the survival rate of transplantation reached 80%.

The effect of wort filling time on the process of fermentation, maturation, and acetaldehyde content in beer was determined. The experiments were performed on an industrial scale, the fermentation and maturation took place in fermentation tanks. Three tanks were filled using three different intervals. Worts were aerated with sterile air and yeast was added after the second fermentation (third passage). During fermentation and maturation, changes in the content of the apparent extract and the amount of acetaldehyde were investigated. Experiments have shown that different filling times have a significant impact on the course of fermentation and the amount of acetaldehyde. With the increase of wort filling time, fermentation speed improved and acetaldehyde content decreased.

Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) is concluded to be the principal reservoir of Pea streak virus (PeSV, genus Carlavirus) which induces necrotic streaking symptoms in pea. This virus is prevalent in pea growing areas in the USA, but in Europe it was recorded only once almost 60 years ago. Recently, filamentous virus particles 600-700 nm long have been observed in examined plant sap of alfalfa with leaf malformation, local necrotic lesions and yellow spots on leaves. Four kilo base pairs nucleotide sequence of PeSV including partial replicase gene, triple gene block, and capsid protein (CP) gene has been determined. On the nucleotide level, the sequence of the CP has about 80% identity with the North American isolates of PeSV, however, on the amino acid level the sequence has more than 94% identity. This is the first sequence-based proof of PeSV presence in Europe.

Minituber production by traditional method is an expensive procedure due to limited productivity. In order to increase the multiplication rate of seed material in vitro, multiple techniques have been assayed in the last decades. The aeroponic system is a soilless culture system, where roots are kept in a dark environment saturated with aerosol of nutrient solution. Aeroponics technology is potentially efficient for specific potato cultivars. The aim of this study was to investigate the multiplication rate of microtubers of national cultivars in aeroponics while maintaining weekly intervals between harvests. The total number of harvests was 14 to 15 depending on year. The results of the experiments were analysed with ANOVA and means were separated with the Tukey's test at 5% P-value. The most important parameter of minituber production, their number, was on average 32.5-36.0 per plant and 1268-1396 per m² depending on cultivar. Number of minitubers was two to three times greater in the case of aeroponic production than by traditional method. A full economic analysis is necessary to prove that this production technique can be put into practice.

The study focuses on the environmental problem of diffuse pollution from agriculture (DPA) as a result of the land use and the policy intervention that can be used to mitigate the problem. Attention is paid to the use of economic instruments (EIs) in policies concerning the DPA. Also, policy options, the advantages and disadvantages of the EIs and their assessment are looked at.

The technology of a functional fermented buttermilk-based beverage was developed and the impact of beverage consumption on the health parameters of young volunteers was studied. Three functional beverages were made on the basis of buttermilk, which differed in the composition. The beverage containing the buttermilk-skimmed milk-milk protein concentrate (0.3%) as a product with the preferred quality characteristics (synaeresis, viscosity, sensory properties, and acceptability) was used for further studies regarding the impact on human health. The medical nutrition experiments did not show any statistically significant effect on the biochemical blood parameters of 25 young volunteers after a 21-day period of the consumption of fermented buttermilk beverage with milk protein concentrate, although some of them (e.g. total, low- and high-density cholesterol, triacylglycerol concentrations, etc.) slightly decreased. The anthropometric and body composition, arterial blood pressure, and pulse evaluation indicators of recipients did not change significantly.

An 11-month old, Piedmontese bullock was admitted to the Department of Veterinary Science, University of Turin, for urolithiasis and suspected uroperitoneum owing to urinary bladder rupture. A first episode of uroperitoneum had been treated surgically one week previously. On admission, the animal underwent physical and haematological examination, followed by transabdominal ultrasonography and biochemical screening. Clinical and laboratory findings confirmed the recurrence of uroperitoneum, possibly secondary to the previously failed surgical approach. During surgery, urine leakage from the previously treated tear was clearly visible, together with a large necrotic area surrounding the tear. To close the defect, we created a peritoneal flap. For tissue approximation we used a continuous barbed suture material, which obviated the need for knots to secure the leading and terminal ends of the suture. Postoperative monitoring included transabdominal ultrasonography and biochemical profile tests, performed at 10 and 30 days after surgery. Two months after discharge, a telephone follow-up confirmed the positive outcome of the procedure. The creation of a peritoneal flap allows for effective sealing of a bladder tear with necrotic edges. The use of barbed suture greatly simplifies the entire procedure.

Cutaneous leiomyosarcoma with osteoid metaplasia was diagnosed at the base of the right wing in a five-year-old female budgerigar. Grossly, the tumour mass was well circumscribed and solitary, and had a nodular appearance on section. On histological examination, the mass was composed of randomly arranged bundles of spindle-shaped cells that included mitotic, multi-nucleated and bizarre cells. In addition, within and between tumour areas, there were osteoid metaplasia foci. The bony trabeculae were usually localised in the areas around the haemorrhage, and exhibited focal mineralisation. Tumour cells were stained red using Masson's trichrome staining method. In addition, tumour cells were intensively positive for smooth muscle actin and focally positive for desmin and vimentin, but were negative for CD68 and S100 by immunohistochemical staining. The tumour reported here was defined as a cutaneous leiomyosarcoma with osteoid metaplasia by histopathological and immunohistochemical findings. Our findings may indicate that osteoid metaplasia should be considered in leiomyosarcoma in budgerigars.

The susceptibility of field and laboratory strains against all instars larvae of S. littoralis to spinosad pesticide after a 24- and 48-h exposure and under laboratory conditions was investigated. As a result against 1^st instar larvae, the LC₅₀ values after 24 h were 12 and 0.275 µg/ml for laboratory and field strain, respectively. In addition, the resistance ratio (RR) of 1^st instar was 43.64-fold. In this interim, the 48 h LC₅₀ values were 8.7 and 0.18 µg/ml for laboratory and field strain, respectively and the RR was 48.33-fold, which revealed the field strain was more susceptible to spinosad than the laboratory strain. Distinctly similar trend was shown for later instar larvae stages. For instance, in 6^th instar larvae, the LC₅₀ values after a 24-h exposure to spinosad were 1100 and 105 µg/ml for the laboratory and field strain, respectively, and the RR value was 10.48-fold. Furthermore, after a 48-h exposure, the LC₅₀ values for laboratory and field strains were 500 and 42 µg/ml, respectively, with RR value being 11.90-fold. On the other hand, according to relative tolerance values, the 6^th instar larvae were the most tolerant instar of all the instars tested. The susceptibility of 6^th, 5^th, and 4^th instar larvae was comparable and significantly lower than that of 3^rd, 2^nd, and 1^st instar larvae. However, the 1^st instar was the least tolerant. The results implied that spinosad may play a potential role in the control of S. littoralis and, therefore, it is considered a promising tool in integrated pest management program to control Cotton leafworm which is becoming resistant to conventional pesticides in Egypt.

The surface carbon dioxide (CO₂) fluxes together with the soil microbial biomass and activity in undisturbed soil columns were studied in three growing seasons. Soil columns had six treatments: (1) control without plants; (2) mineral fertilized without plants; (3) no fertilizer and maize plants; (4) mineral fertilized and maize plants; (5) manure and maize plants; (6) mineral fertilized plus manure and maize plants. Soil microbial biomass was measured by substrate-induced respiration (SIR) and microbial activity as fluorescein-diacetate hydrolysing activity (FDA). Treatments had a significant effect (P < 0.001) on CO₂ fluxes, SIR and FDA. The presence of maize increased CO₂ efflux, SIR and FDA compared to unplanted column. Fertilizer + manure treatment resulted in the greatest plant biomass and the greatest CO₂ efflux. Significant correlation (r = 0.680; r = 0.586 in two consecutive years) between SIR and FDA was found.