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Many studies show that the consumption of juices rich in polyphenols may increase serum antioxidant capacity, improve blood lipid profile, and endothelial function. The relation between the consumption of chokeberry juice and changes in the antioxidant capacity, blood lipid profile, and endothelial function as important indicators in the assessment of cardiovascular risk were determined. The study was conducted on a group of 11 healthy volunteers, who consumed chokeberry juice for three weeks. The research included determination of serum antioxidant capacity, blood lipid profile analysis, and measurements of endothelial function. The 3-week consumption of chokeberry juice significantly increased serum antioxidant capacity, and the best results were observed just after one week of the experiment. However, there was no significant change in the blood lipid profile, except for the persons with a higher level of triglycerides, in whom the consumption of chokeberry juice reduced these compounds to normal values. The endothelial function was normal in all patients and did not significantly change during the study.

Toxic metals (cadmium, lead, and mercury) in the tissues of common carp fished from three reservoirs (Pilská, Domaninský, and Matějovský) in the Bohemian-Moravian Highlands were measured in the period from April 2013 to September 2014 and the risk of consuming the fish from these localities was evaluated. During this project 25 fish specimens from each locality were analysed. The concentration of metals in muscle tissue and liver was determined by atomic absorption spectrometry. A variation in the content of heavy metals in fish samples and fish tissues was demonstrated and discussed. Higher concentrations of cadmium in the fish tissue were found in 50 samples of carp liver. Because the fish liver is not commonly consumed, common carp from the Moravian-Moravian Highlands does not pose any health risk for consumers. Concentrations of the other monitored toxic metals in fish tissue were low and were complying with the maximum residue limit in all cases.

Studies were performed to determine the loss of soluble forms of organic carbon in differently used meadows on mineral soil. In a long-term experiment two variants were distinguished: a productive meadow (N120-AN and N120-CN) and a non-productive one (Kp-AN, Kp-CN, Kz-AN, Kz-CN). Productive meadows were fertilized with 120 kg N/ha/year, 34.9 kg P/ha/year, and 149.4 kg K/ha/year and mown three times a year. Nitrogen fertilization was applied in a form of ammonium nitrate (AN) and calcium nitrate (CN). The only agro-technical measure applied to non-productive meadows was the regular cutting of vegetation and leaving it on the plots (variants: Kp-AN and Kp-CN) or taking it away from the plots (variants: Kz-AN, Kz-CN). Significant positive Pearson's linear correlations were found between pH (in CaCl₂) of mineral soil and total organic carbon (TOC) content in the following variants: Kz-AN (r = 0.457**), N120-AN (r = 0.491**), and N120-CN (r = 0.424**) and in all meadows fertilized with AN (r = 0.243**). The obtained linear correlation coefficients between pH and TOC indicate that soil organic carbon may be lost as a result of progressive acidification of the soil. Dissolved organic carbon in the mineral meadow soil increased in the following order: Kp-CN > N120-CN > Kz-CN > N120-AN > Kp-AN > Kz-AN.

Fusarium head blight (FHB) is a disease of small grain cereals caused by Fusarium species. The pathogens affect spikes and kernels, resulting in reductions of yield and its quality. The present study was conducted to evaluate variation in the FHB resistance of wheat F₂ hybrids derived from 16 crosses between winter wheat cultivars of various origin and with different susceptibility to FHB. Plants were inoculated with a conidial suspension consisting of a mixture of F. culmorum, F. graminearum and F. avenaceum isolates. After harvest 1000-kernel weight, number of kernels per spike and kernel weight per spike were evaluated in inoculated and control plants. Disease symptoms were observed on kernels of infected plants and the percentage of Fusarium-damaged kernels (FDK) was calculated. The data were statistically evaluated using uni- and multivariate analyses. A significant influence of genotype and treatment on all observed characteristics was detected. Contrasts between control and inoculated plants showed that inoculation lowered the mean values of all the yield-related traits significantly (in the statistical sense). Results of uni- and multivariate analyses enabled us to find three cross combinations which exhibited a low FDK percentage and simultaneously a relatively low reduction of 1000-kernel weight after inoculation. They may be promising for breeding wheat with improved resistance to FHB.

To determine stem rust resistance genes of wheat varieties in Yunnan province, 11 Chinese strains of Puccinia graminis f.sp. tritici with different virulence and 1 artificial mutant strain were used in 110 wheat varieties. The results indicated that among the 45 Sr genes, Sr31, Sr5, SrTmp, Sr30, Sr36, Sr8a, Sr11, Sr24, Sr29, Sr34, Sr9e, Sr26, Sr38, Sr47, and SrTt3 were characterised in 55 wheat varieties singly or in combination. Sr5, Sr31, SrTmp, Sr36, and Sr30 were contained in 17, 16, 5, 5, and 3 cultivars, respectively. Six cultivars contained Sr24 and/or Sr34. Three plant materials likely contained one or more of Sr8a, Sr11, Sr34, and Sr23 genes as well as other unknown genes. The 16 immune or highly resistant varieties contained one or more of Sr9e, Sr26, Sr38, Sr47, SrTt3, and other unknown resistance genes. The reaction types on 22 of the tested cultivars were different from those on Sr genes tested, and their resistance genes could not be analysed. Additionally, 17 varieties were susceptible to all the tested strains, having no postulation value. Our study provides a basis for improved breeding of stem rust resistant wheat in China.

Knowledge of genetic relationship is an important control mechanism for animal performance-testing schemes. Genetic relationship between and within pig herds was calculated for two dam breeds, Czech Large White (CLW) and Czech Landrace (CLA). The impacts of different field data types (production and reproduction) and various numbers of generations within the pedigrees on genetic relationship were studied. The degree of genetic relationship between analyzed herds was generally low. It ranged from 1.01% (for CLW based on reproduction data and considering three generations of ancestors within the pedigree) to 2.57% (for CLA based on production data with seven generations of ancestors in the pedigree). In contrast, relationship within herds was high and ranged from 16.62% to 44.69% (when three and seven generations within the pedigree were taken into account, respectively), both for production data of the CLA breed. When considering the type of data, an impact on the observed genetic relationship between and within herds was found. Slightly higher genetic relationship between herds was determined in both breeds when using production data (1.64%) compared to reproduction data (1.40%). In contrast, a negligible influence between herds on genetic relationship was found from the number of ancestors' generations included into the calculations. That was especially so after five or six generations. Our results show that the relationship between herds is population specific and, consequently, must be analyzed on a case-by-case basis. Knowledge of genetic relationship between and within herds should be taken into account in regard to the complexity of genetic evaluation.

The purpose of this report is to describe the T-staple tenodesis of biceps brachii in three client-owned dogs and long-term ultrasonographic follow-ups. The orthopaedic examination revealed grade 2/4 (n = 2) and 3/4 (n = 1) lameness, moderate pain on passive movement and positivity to the tendon biceps test with a complete extension of the elbow during the flexion of the shoulder (Cases 1 and 2). Ultrasound examination was crucial for diagnosis of partial or complete rupture and tenosynovitis of biceps tendon. Surgical tenodesis was carried out with a metal T-staple. One-year ultrasound follow-up was performed, confirming the correct integration of the staple on the bicipital fibres and the absence of macroscopic tendon injury or degenerative disease. The results suggest that the metal T-staple could be a good alternative for bicipital tenodesis in dogs.

This study was carried out to compare the most relevant biological characteristics and field resistance to economically important diseases of the new (Zlatka and Pozna Plava) and standard plum cultivars (Čačanska Lepotica and Čačanska Rodna) in the Region of Čačak. The experimental area climate belongs to the temperate type. The mean annual air temperature during the experimental period was 12.65°C, and humidity was 80.4%. The average annual rainfall was 571.2 mm. The ripening time of the cv. Zlatka occurred between August 3-23, while the cv. Pozna Plava ripened between August 26-September 25. Compared to cv. Čačanska Lepotica, cv. Zlatka had a significantly lower mean fruit weight, reducing sugars and total acids content, but a significantly higher proportion of flesh, yield and sucrose content. Compared to cv. Čačanska Rodna as the standard cultivar, cv. Pozna Plava had a significantly higher mean individual fruit weight and total acids content, but also a significantly lower orchard yield and sweetness measured as fruit soluble solids, total sugars, reducing sugars and sucrose content. As regards the field resistance to economically important diseases such as red leaf spot, rust, fruit root, pockets plum disease and sharka disease, both new cultivars demonstrated better results than the reference cultivars.

Two-way field experiment was carried out in a split-plot design in 4 growing seasons at the Experimental Station of the Bydgoszcz University of Science and Technology in Mochełek (Poland). The forecrops for winter triticale cv. Tulus were lupins: yellow, blue and white, field pea and spring barley. Nitrogen (N) fertilization in triticale after harvesting forecrops was: 0-60-120-180 kg N per ha. Average long-term yields of grain and protein in triticale after leguminous forecrops were statistically similar, by 0.84 t/ha and 86 kg/ha higher than after spring barley. On plots without mineral N fertilization, by over 1.5 t/ha more grain was obtained after leguminous forecrops, and by 142 kg/ha more protein than on the plot after spring barley. However, the rate of 180 kg N/ha guaranteed obtaining a significantly highest mean protein yield in triticale. The applied mineral N fertilization at rates from 60 to 180 kg N/ha did not significantly vary the average yield of winter triticale. Mineral nitrogen (N_min) content in the layer 0-60 cm after harvesting the leguminous forecrop without mineral N fertilization was by 25.5% higher than after harvesting spring barley fertilized with a rate of 60 kg N per ha.

Analyses of root mycorrhizal samples and monitoring of fruiting bodies of macromycetes from Norway spruce stands at mountain and foothill localities in the Krkonoše and Orlické Mts. provided several data series allowing to assess and compare (albeit somewhat preliminarily) mycorrhizal conditions and macromycete incidence related to stand ages and location conditions. The overall mycorrhizal conditions in young (10 years old) and older (80 years old) stands on formerly agricultural soils are comparable to those in 80- and 90-year-old forests growing on standard forest soils, but young spruce stands in the Orlické Mts. replanted on forest soils do not surprisingly show any favourable mycorrhizal characteristics. The research documents a marked diversity of macromycete species composition in mountain spruce stands compared to foothill spruce stands on former agricultural soils. While in the younger mountain spruce stands of the Orlické Mts. the expansion of macromycete species composition began to develop in a similar fashion to that in the Krkonoše Mts., the comparison of older (80-year-old) stands on formerly agricultural soils in the Orlické Mts. foothills and Krkonoše Mts. implies that the macromycete species composition developed quite differently but with a similar success.

A pot experiment was carried out to examine the effect of inoculation with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (originated from a soil polluted with Pb) on root mycorrhizal colonization, survival, growth and volume production of black and white poplar plants grown on polluted (Pb) and non-polluted soils. In July, mycorrhizal inoculation had no significant effect on stem growth and volume production of black and white poplar plants grown on polluted and non-polluted soils. In October, mycorrhizal inoculation improved only parameters of white poplar plants (survival on polluted soil; growth and volume production on polluted and non-polluted soils). Mycorrhizal inoculation increased the root colonization percentage of black and white poplar plants on both soils. Generally, black poplar plants had significantly better survival, root mycorrhizal colonization, stem growth and volume production than white poplar plants. Although mycorrhizal and non-mycorrhizal plants of black poplar on polluted soil had higher survival, growth and volume production than white poplar, however in white poplar mycorrhizal inoculation improved the efficiency of plants on polluted soil.

Due to the absence of literature on the brachial plexus in the Spix's yellow-toothed cavy, this study was conducted to examine the origin and neural distribution of this rodent's brachial plexus. Ten adult animals obtained from previous experiments were thawed, fixed in 10% formalin solution for 72 h and then dissected. Cotton blocks soaked in 2% hydrogen peroxide were placed on the ventral roots of the plexus. Photographs of the most representative specimens were taken and schematic sketches were prepared to illustrate the results. The Spix's yellow-toothed cavy's brachial plexus primarily originated from the ventral roots of the sixth (C₆), seventh (C₇) and eighth (C₈) cervical nerves and from the first two thoracic nerves (T₁, T₂), and less frequently from C₆-T₁ or C₆-T₃. The peripheral nerve trunks of the Spix's yellow-toothed cavy's brachial plexus are the following: suprascapularis (C₆-C₇), axillaris (C₆-C₇), subscapulares (C₆-C₇), cranial pectoral (C₆-C₇), musculocutaneous (C₇-C₈), radialis (C₇-T₂), medianus (C₇-T₂), ulnaris (C₇-T₂), pectorales caudales (C₇-C₈), thoracicus longus (C₇-C₈), thoracicus lateralis (C₇-T₂) and thoracodorsalis (C₇-T₂).

Weather affects the economies worldwide and all economic sectors are to some extent weather sensitive. Agriculture is traditionally highly weather sensitive. While the catastrophic impact of weather has been long recognized, studied and managed the non-catastrophic weather risk gains in importance as the climate change becomes more pronounced. Weather derivatives provide a flexible management solution for the non-catastrophic weather risk. The paper presents weather derivatives as a new weather risk management tool and reviews and discusses the effectiveness of their application in agriculture

Balancing the use of maize (Zea mays L.) residues for soil amendment and forage is an important strategy for agricultural sustainability. Therefore, the study assessed the impacts of four proportions of maize residues to soil retention (S) and forage (F) on soil total organic carbon (TOC); total nitrogen (TN); carbon/nitrogen ratio (C/N); grain yield, economic benefits and nutritional contents of removed residues. The concentrations of TOC and TN increased when more residue returned, while the C/N ratios were S₁₀₀ + F₀ > S₃₄ + F₆₆ > S₆₆ + F₃₄. Also, crude protein, crude fat, and crude starch in the removed residues were F₃₄ > F₆₆ > F₁₀₀, while the crude fiber and ash contents exhibited the opposite trend. The crop yield improved with residue retention increased, but there were no differences on the economic benefits of the four residue-use systems. The S₃₄ + F₆₆ system maintained a TOC ranging from 11.51 to 13.37 g/kg, a TN from 1.12 to 1.16 g/kg, 92.93% of the annual yields of the S₁₀₀ + F₀ system, and 6.2 t/ha/year of forage. Therefore, the S₃₄ + F₆₆ system can balance the use of maize residues for soil amendments and forage to sustainably develop a household crop-livestock system.

We provide fundamental information about the future development of selected climate elements in relation to anticipated threat to forests in the Czech Republic. All analyses were carried out in relation to four elevation zones with specific potential forest vegetation - up to 350 m a.s.l. (oak dominance), 350-600 m a.s.l. (beech dominance), 600-900 m a.s.l. (beech-fir dominance), 900-1,100 m a.s.l. (spruce dominance). We found out that while the projected increase in mean annual air temperature is almost constant over the Czech Republic (+3.25-3.5°C in the distant future), the frequency of heat spells at lower elevations is expected to increase dramatically compared to higher elevations. The precipitation totals during the vegetation season are projected to increase in the near future by up to 10% and to decrease in the distant future by up to 10% over all vegetation zones. In general, drought is presumed to become a key limiting factor at lower elevations, while increased temperature along with the prolonged vegetation season at higher elevations can be beneficial to forest vegetation. Consequently, northward progression of forest tree species and retraction of the species lower distribution range are a generic response pattern. Such impacts are presumed to be accompanied by changes in the distribution and population dynamics of pests and pathogens. Mainly the impacts on two key forest pests, Ips typographus and Lymantria dispar, are discussed.

Eggshell quality is one of the most significant factors affecting poultry industry; it economically influences egg production and hatchability. Eggshell consists of shell membranes and the true shell that includes mammillary layer, palisade layer, and cuticle. Measurements of eggshell quality include eggshell weight, shell percentage, breaking strength, thickness, and density. Mainly eggshell thickness and strength are affected by the time of egg components passage through the shell gland (uterus), eggshell ultra-structure (deposition of major units), and micro-structure (crystals size and orientation). Shell quality is affected by several internal and external factors. Major factors determining the quality or structure of eggshell are oviposition time, age, genotype, and housing system. Eggshell quality can be improved through optimization of genotype, housing system, and mineral nutrition.

The study reports the results of a comprehensive clinical evaluation of 18 racehorses with a history of inadequate athletic performance. The poor performance evaluation included general physical examination and laboratory screening, respiratory examination including upper airway endoscopy at rest and during maximal treadmill exercise, cardiac examination, post-exercise serum biochemistry and bronchoalveolar lavage cytology. A definitive diagnosis was established in 15 horses (83.3%). The most frequent findings were upper respiratory tract disorders, with dorsal displacement of the soft palate being most often diagnosed (eight horses) followed by axial deviation of the aryepiglottic folds (two horses) and recurrent laryngeal neuropathy (two horses). Inflammatory airway disease was diagnosed in two horses and exercise-induced pulmonary haemorrhage in one horse. Subclinical myopathy was detected in two horses. Ten horses (55.6%) had multiple concomitant problems that may have contributed to their inadequate athletic performance; therefore, a comprehensive approach is required to diagnose the cause of decreased athletic capability.

The aim of this work is to determine the compatibility, the scion biomass, and the yield of the grapevine variety Welschriesling grafted onto 12 grapevine rootstocks. As an index of compatibility, the callus development and graft success were determined. Dry weight of canes was measured at the end of the growing seasons (2011-2014), while root dry weight only in the first year in the nursery. The grape yield was measured in the first production year. Welschriesling showed good compatibility with all examined rootstocks. More than 85% of grafts had a complete callus development (8BČ rootstock 100%). The average of graft success in the nursery was 67%, but the average of 5BB, G251, and G103 was above 80%. The G103 rootstock had the highest root dry weight after one season. The dry weight of canes in vineyards was above the average with 5BB, SO4, Binova, Börner, and M V rootstocks. All Georgikon rootstocks had a lower cane dry weight per vine than the others. The highest yields were recorded on SO4, G251, and Börner rootstocks.

Green finance is a core part of the low carbon green growth, because it connects the financial industry, environmental improvement and economic growth. The objective of this paper is to study the green finance and to validate the concept as feasible in the Indian industries for balancing the ecological depreciation due to the assimilation of carbon gases in atmosphere. Green Finance is a market-based investing or lending program that factors environmental impact into risk assessment, or utilizing environmental incentives to drive business decisions. Therefore, the paper also discusses the recent trends and the future opportunities and challenges in green finance in the emerging India. Green investing recognizes the value of the environment and its natural capital and also seeks to improve the human well-being and social equity while reducing environmental risks and improving the ecological integrity.

Paddy rice is one of the most important cereal crops in China. Nitrogen (N) is closely related to crops production by influencing the photosynthetic efficiency of paddy rice. In this study, laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) technology with the help of principal component analysis (PCA) and back-propagation neural network (BPNN) is proposed to monitor leaf N content (LNC) of paddy rice. The PCA is utilized to extract the characteristic variables of LIF spectra by analysing the major attributes. The results showed that the first three principal components (PCs) can explain 95.76% and 93.53% of the total variance contained in the fluorescence spectra for tillering stage and shooting stage, respectively. Then, BPNN was utilized to inverse the LNC on the basis of the first three PCs as input variables and can obtain the satisfactory inversion results (R² of tillering stage and shooting stage are 0.952 and 0.931, respectively; residual main range from -0.2 to 0.2 mg/g). The experimental results demonstrated that LIF technique combined with multivariate analysis will be a useful method for monitoring the LNC of paddy rice, which can provide consultations for the decision-making of peasants in their N fertilization strategies.

Stable isotope ¹⁵N tracer technique was used in combination with artificial rainfall simulation to study the influence of interflow and surface-flow on nitrogen (N) migration loss of soil-plant systems on typical red soil sloping uplands. This study also investigated the utilization efficiency of fertilizer N during different peanut plant growth stages. The results indicated that soil N loss was predominantly via interflow and erosive sediment. Fertilizer N loss during the initial growth stage was mainly through surface runoff, while that occurred as interflow increased from less than 5% to around 16% during the middle and late growth stages. The loss of fertilizer N through surface runoff, erosive sediment and interflow accounted for over 18% of the total N application. The utilization rate of fertilizer N by peanut plants was around 45% through its life cycle, and that 70% of N absorbed by this plant derived from the soil. This highlighted the importance of adopting effective methods to reduce nutrient loss through interflow and surface-flow, the need to increase the utilization rate of fertilizers, and the importance to maintain soil fertility at a relatively high level.

The aim of this study is to evaluate the hazards in operating post-harvest lines in an agricultural organization, with emphasis on pre-cleaning and drying of grain. The paper deals with a description of technology of pre-cleaning and drying grain. Risk assessments at post-harvest line were processed by using the point method. The point method is used to review the hazards for working positions in terms of safety at work. This work identifies threats, proposes measures and solutions to eliminate or minimize the consequences of each risk. Evaluations of the hazards are processed before and after the measures were taken. Based on the results, it can be stated that the risk was reduced below the level of acceptable risk after the measures were taken.

The important nutritional characteristics of the Rubiota spelt variety, grown in the Czech Republic, were reported. We evaluated the contents of total dietary fibre, protein, wet gluten, total starch, and starch fractions, i.e. rapidly digested starch, slowly digested starch, and resistant starch in pearled grain of spelt and in pearling fines. We measured these properties depending on the degree of kernel abrasion. Small differences were found between the sequential pearling cycles in the pearled spelt but significant differences were observed in the fines. In this study we also compared two methods for determining total and resistant starch.

Red and white wines [Grüner Veltliner white wine and Blue Limberger (Blaufränkisch) red wine (vintage 2013)] were enriched with lignan hydroxymatairesinol originated from spruce knots. These spruce knots with removed resin were extracted with ethyl alcohol of agricultural origin. Ethanol extracts of lignans were then used to enrich wine sorts. Enriched wines were stored for 13 months. At 2, 6, and 13 months, samples were taken and subjected to a variety of analyses and sensory evaluations. Analyses included 7-hydroxymatairesinol and alpha-conidendrin lignan content, antioxidant activity (as determined by FRAP), total polyphenols, and sensory evaluation. The obtained data were evaluated using the analysis of variance to determine which factors e.g. wine type, quantity of added lignan extracts, additional sugar, method of preservation, and storage time had the most significant influence on lignan content, antioxidant activity and polyphenol content. In all cases the lignan content in the wines was significantly influenced by the addition of lignan extracts. After one year of storage, lignan contents changed only moderately and added lignans were stable in stored wines. Total polyphenol content in wines and the antioxidant activity of wines were significantly influenced by the type of wine (i.e., red or white). The presented method of wine enrichment with lignans opens the door for the production of extra quality wines.

The aim of this review was to elaborate a conceptual framework of the most important aspects of the main biochemical processes of synthesis and breakdown of energy substrates that human and pig foetuses and newborns can use during the transition from foetus to newborn. Under normal physiological conditions, the growth and development of the foetus depends upon nutrients such as glucose, lipids and amino acids. In addition to the maternal and foetal status, genetic factors are also reported to play a role. The main function of the placenta in all species is to promote the selective transport of nutrients and waste products between mother and foetus. This transport is facilitated by the close proximity of the maternal and foetal vascular systems in the placenta. The foetus depends on the placental supply of nutrients, which regulates energy reserves by means of glycogen storage. Also, the synthesis of foetal hepatic glycogen guarantees energy reserves during perinatal asphyxia or maternal hypoglycaemia. However, the foetus can also obtain energy from other resources, such as gluconeogenesis from the intermediary metabolism of the Krebs cycle and most amino acids. Later, when the placental glucose contribution ends during the transition to the postnatal period, the maturation of biological systems and essential metabolic adaptations for survival and growth is required. The maintenance of normoglycaemia depends on the conditions that determine nutrient status throughout life: the adequacy of glycogen stores, the maturation of the glycogenolytic and gluconeogenic pathway, and an integrated endocrine response.

A one-year-old, 2.6 kg, spayed female Maltese dog was referred with passage of faeces coming from the vulva, repeated vaginal discharge and vaginitis. Through physical examination, contrast radiograph and vaginoscopic exploration, the dog was diagnosed with rectovaginal fistula which was surgically corrected. After midline perineal incision, the rectovaginal fistula was isolated and transected. The vaginal and rectal defects were closed separately, but dehiscence of the surgical region took place three days after surgery. For the second operation, the rectal segment containing the fistula was removed by transanal rectal pull-through, and anastomosis was performed. Total follow-up time was 10 months and no sign of recurrence was reported. Early postoperative complications included perineal soiling and wound dehiscence, but the long-term outcome was good. This case is the first report of surgical correction of a rectovaginal fistula in a dog with a normal anus.