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Phenolic compounds limit micropropagation of many orchids in vitro. The aim of the study was to estimate the effect of activated charcoal (AC);1, 2 or 4 g/L) or ascorbic acid (AA; 10, 20 or 30 mg/L) added to the half strength MS medium on the growth and o-dihydroxyphenols content in Paphiopedilum insigne in vitro. A positive effect of AC on the shoot and root formation has been found. The highest multiplication rate (5.6 shoots/explant) and rooting frequency were obtained on medium containing 2 g/L of AC. However, AC reduced the leaf number as compared to the control. The lowest content of o-dihydroxyphenols was marked in Paphiopedilum insigne leaves when the shoots were grown on medium with 10 mg/L AA, followed by AC at 1 or 2 g/L.

It is well known that mechanochemically activated phosphate rock (MAPR) could improve extractable phosphorus (P) (extracted in 2% citric acid) greatly in an ecological way. To evaluate the agronomic effectiveness of MAPR, we conducted a field experiment using spring maize in Luvisol (pH 6.47) soil in Northeast China for three consecutive years. Treatments consist of variation of P levels for substitution of triple superphosphate (TSP) (100% TSP, 10% MAPR, 20% MAPR, 50% MAPR, 100% MAPR). Compared with 100% TSP, all the combined applications of MAPR and TSP were as effective on straw yield. Treatments of 10% MAPR and 20% MAPR had similar effect on grain yield and P uptake, while 50% MAPR and 100% MAPR were significantly lower. For P partial nutrient productivity and apparent P recovery with the treatment of 20% MAPR had equal effectivity, likewise. For soil P_Olsen, treatment of 10% MAPR was equally operative, while 20% MAPR had the similar performance only in the last year (i.e. 2016). It is concluded that 10-20% of TSP can be effectively replaced by MAPR without affecting spring maize yield in soil with neutral pH.

This study investigated the expression levels of FAD2 genes important for the conversion of oleic acid to linoleic acid at cotyledon, root and leaf tissues of four different safflower cultivars (Olas, Remzibey, Dincer and Gokturk) subjected to B by qRT-PCR. Safflower species were grown in a controlled environmental growth chamber for 21 days and then exposed to different B concentrations ranging from 20 to 1 280 μmol for 24 h. RNA isolation, cDNA synthesis and RT-PCR analysis were performed on root, cotyledon and leaf tissues exposed to B stress for 24 h. It was determined that the expression levels of FAD2 genes decreased in the safflower cultivars exposed to increasing B concentrations. Under B stress conditions, the expression levels of FAD2 genes revealed an overall pattern of increase and reduction up to 160 μmol relative to the control group, and they reached the highest expression level. After 320 μmol, the activity of FAD2 genes was almost absent at increasing concentrations. All results show that the application of B causes significant changes in the expression of FAD2 genes and plays an important role in the defence mechanism against increased B toxicity.

This study aimed to examine consumer satisfaction and repurchase intention for a chicken soup meal kit. Thus, this study was conducted on 135 Korean adults in their twenties and older who purchased a chicken soup meal kit from August 1 to August 31, 2021. In this study, after excluding 7 questionnaires who responded insincerely, the questionnaires of 128 people were finally analysed. For the collected data, frequency analysis, reliability analysis, factor analysis, and correlation analysis were performed using the statistical package SPSS 20.0, and multiple regression analysis was performed to test the hypothesis. Convenience (β = 0.442) and price (β = 0.337) among the selection attributes of chicken soup meal kit products had a significant effect on satisfaction, while diversity (β = 0.0.27) and quality (β = 0.047) were not significant. Also, convenience (β = 0.504) and price (β = 0.337) affected repurchase intention among the purchasing attributes of the meal kit. However, diversity (β = 0.101) and quality (β = 0.045) did not exert any significant effects on repurchase intention. Finally, it was confirmed that satisfaction with the meal kit had a significant effect on the repurchase intention. Therefore, this study predicts that enhancing convenience and price competitiveness rather than quality or variety among chicken soup meal kit purchasing attributes will increase consumer satisfaction and repurchase intention.

Functional diploid Acipenser ruthenus, functional tetraploid Acipenser gueldenstaedtii and functional hexaploid Acipenser brevirostrum juveniles were sampled monthly for one year, and the white blood cell indicators were determined. The total number of leukocytes (TL) was 40.93 ± 17.24 × 10⁹/l for the diploids, 20.63 ± 11.20 × 10⁹/l for the tetraploids, 14.13 ± 7.72 × 10⁹/l for the hexaploids. The TL decreased with an increasing ploidy level. The highest number of leukocytes was reached during September and October for A. ruthenus and A. brevirostrum, from October to January for A. gueldenstaedtii (a statistically significant finding). The lymphocytes dominated (76.89-80.14%) in the differential counts and were found to be reduced in June and July in each group. Granulocytes were represented by neutrophils and eosinophils. Counting from all the leukocytes, the neutrophils represented 13.0-18.7% and eosinophils represented 5.7-6.1%. Increasing number of nuclear segments in the granulocytes was dependent on the increasing ploidy level. Nuclear segmentation in the lymphocytes was a common finding in higher ploidy level groups. The data suggest a significant effect of ploidy level on the total number of leukocytes and morphological nuclear changes in the granulocytes and lymphocytes. The seasonal variation in the differential leukocyte counts depends on the species and the influence of various external conditions rather than the ploidy level.

Forest management of durmast oak stands [Quercus petraea (Matt.) Liebl.] is focused on the production of high-quality assortments for the furniture industry. Due to various forest management factors and impacts of climate change, their vitality and quality are often reduced. Sudden illumination of the oak trunk caused by management cuts can lead to epicormic shoot formation. This study compared two localities and nine long-term research plots at the stand age of 62–68 years in Slovakia. While one locality was affected by the massive dieback of oak in the past, the other was not. The epicormic shoot occurrence was monitored separately in the lower and upper parts of the trunk, depending on selected quantitative tree parameters and on the various management methods. The formation of epicormic shoot was influenced especially by DBH, crown width and crown volume. The occurrence of shoots was always markedly higher in the upper part of the trunk compared to the lower one. During a 35-year period, the development of the proportion of epicormic shoots in the lower part of the trunk in the locality with massive dieback of oak confirmed a higher occurrence on control plots compared to the managed plots with thinning interventions. It showed that the occurrence of epicormic shoots in durmast oak stands was influenced not only by different methods of management but also by the dieback effect in the past. Promoting more intensive thinning in early-stage oak stands is advised, as it prompts trees to develop larger crowns with limiting formation of epicormic shoots.

Land abandonment and the emergence of new forest areas create novel dynamics for forest ecosystems and landscapes. Modelling is often used to forecast tree species composition, age group distribution and spatial patterns in the future. The aim of this study was to develop three scenarios for changes in tree species composition, stand age distribution and spatial patterns of new forest areas and permanent forests using Latvia as a case study. We selected 19 study areas of the size 10 km × 10 km to sample the variety of forest cover patterns, tree species, and stand age. Using GIS tools, we developed three scenarios: baseline, commercial and conservation. Results showed that the conservation scenario resulted in the most even-aged group distribution. Scenarios predicted the increase of Picea abies area (reaching 29.3% in permanent forests and even 45.7% in new forests) and the reduction of Pinus sylvestris in most cases. Changes in the median patch area were the best indicator for evaluation of different scenarios with the largest patches of new forest areas for the conservation scenario (1.92 ± 1.23 ha). The existing structural and compositional integrity of sampled forest landscapes was best retained under the baseline and conservation scenarios, while the commercial scenario indicated more fragmented forest landscapes in the future.

White root disease is a significant disease of cashew caused by Rigidoporus sp. Five endophytic fungal isolates, namely AR31D (Fusarium proliferatum), AR42D (Penicillium citrinum), BR32C (Trichoderma asperellum), VNTB1 (Chaetomium sp.), and EAGS14 (Curvularia lunata), were assessed as the biocontrol agents against Rigidoporus sp. in vitro and in planta. The research objective was to obtain endophytic fungi that effectively control Rigidoporus sp. and their mechanisms. The in vitro test results showed that all isolates could inhibit Rigidoporus sp. and promote plant growth by producing volatile organic compounds, chitinase enzymes, and indole acetic acid. Meanwhile, only four isolates could solubilize phosphate with low-medium solubilization efficiency. The isolates successfully colonized the root of cashew saplings in 10–65%. The effectiveness of endophytic fungal isolates in controlling white root disease was determined by the mechanisms involved, such as resistance induction (increased activity of defense enzymes like polyphenol oxidase), chitinase enzyme production, indole acetic acid production, phosphate solubilization, and suppression of plant stress which observed from decreased malondialdehyde concentrations in saplings’ roots. Trichoderma asperellum and Chaetomium sp. were the best isolates with the highest control effectiveness and stimulating plant growth.

The aetiology of Crohn's disease and paratuberculosis are the subjects of intensive study and also frequently, of dispute. However, a number of other nosological entities have a similar history, namely type 1 diabetes, multiple sclerosis, sarcoidosis, asthma, psoriasis, spondylarthritis, Blau syndrom etc. The zoonotic risk of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP) has been discussed for more than one hundred years. "The problem remains open, further research is needed", is the sentence which seems to be obligatory in the conclusions of many scientific articles. A number of hypotheses have been suggested, all with a grain of truth in them. The infection hypothesis has many supporters and opponents, but it does not fit to all Crohn's disease cases. The contribution of the genetic factor has been admitted a long time ago and has been experimentally confirmed by recent excellent studies. An environmental factor is expected and has been often mentioned, but has yet to be discovered. Muramyl dipeptide, derived from peptidoglycans of the bacterial cell wall is one of the triggers, mentioned in connection with chronic inflammatory diseases. The immunomodulatory ability of this compound has been recognised for decades and is exploited in Freund's adjuvant. A critical amount of muramyl dipeptide can affect immunity during some bacterial infections but the long latent period between infection and onset of the clinical form of the disease could explain why a causative relationship between the primary infection and chronic inflammation is not considered. Different species of mycobacteria can be found in the environment, in water, dust, soil and aerosol. Although severe infections with mycobacteria have been described, these species are not thought to be typical zoonotic pathogens. Muramyl dipeptide derived from mycobacteria obviously plays a starring role as a bacterial trigger in the aetiology of many autoimmune and autoinflammatory diseases. Paratuberculosis in cattle and other ruminants is a source of enormous contamination of the environment but also of milk and meat by MAP. Muramyl dipeptide from mycobacteria, namely MAP, and Crohn's disease as a representative of diseases often called civilization threats, are important pieces of the gigantic puzzle. Mycobacteria in the environment and foodstuffs have to be acknowledged as a public health risk, which can never be completely eliminated. There is no reason to push the panic button, but we must learn how to live together with this microorganism, how the pool of immunomodulator sources can be diminished, and how the pathogenic relationship between triggers and target tissues can be disrupted. The dissemination of knowledge, the availability of rapid and inexpensive tools for identification of mycobacteria in different matrices, and the establishment of a maximal allowed limit for mycobacteria in milk and meat should contribute to food safety and consumer protection.

Camelina sativa can be identified as a promising oilseed crop due to its short growth cycle, tolerance to drought and frost, low-input requirements, resistance to pests and diseases, feed, and non-feed applications. Compared to other Brassicaceae family plants, camelina is mainly distinguished by high levels of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and antioxidant content. However, camelina contains secondary plant metabolites, such as glucosinolates, phytic acid, sinapine, etc., and their presence limits the use of camelina by-products (oil, seed or cake) in poultry feeding. The breakdown of these compounds forms complexes that can inhibit digestive enzymes, reduce the absorption of nutrients, and ultimately modify product quality. The content of these anti-nutritional compounds and plant seed quality can be modified by various techniques: hybridisation, mutation induction, gene engineering, etc. Moreover, methods such as infrared irradiation, multi-enzyme and copper supplementation, etc., can counter or mitigate the effect of plant secondary metabolites present in camelina seed or cake. In general, dietary inclusion of camelina seed or cake at high inclusion levels (> 10%) worsened the nutrient digestibility and thus reduced growth performances. However, carcass traits and meat proximate composition were comparable in birds-fed diets containing camelina by-products. The fatty acid profile of meat cuts and abdominal fat was significantly higher in alpha-linolenic acid and lower n-6/n-3 ratio, thus promoting the healthiness of products for human consumption. Also, the dietary inclusion of camelina did not modify the sensory profile of the products. The present article is a comprehensive and critical review of research carried out to improve the quality of camelina and its by-products to be used in broiler poultry feeding. This review gives information on the feeding value of camelina by-products, as well as a survey of the literature on their use in poultry diets to evaluate digestibility, performance, carcass traits, and meat quality.

Flow cytometry (FC) is a very powerful method for the assessment of spermatozoa quality in multiple livestock species, including bulls. Nowadays, many flow cytometric tests are available for quality detection of bull sperm. These tests are based on fluorochromes (fluorescent tags or dyes) and the use of correct concentrations of fluorochromes is an essential aspect of the successful optimization of experimental methodology. Modern flow cytometers are much more affordable, such that spermatologists are now able to use FC methodology (and even image cytometry) in their studies. The present review aims to give a summary of current flow cytometric methodologies used to assess bull sperm quality by flow cytometry. Namely, we give here the concentrations of fluorochromes used in the studies related to bull sperm quality evaluation by flow cytometry published in the last three years (from 2021 to 2023). Importantly, in the present review, the concentration of fluorochromes is unified and presented using comparable molarity units. Furthermore, the rationale of each flow cytometric methodology for particular fluorescent tests, and the citation for the corresponding original methodology, are given. This review will help spermatologists shorten the time needed for the optimization of their flow cytometry methodology for the assessment of bull sperm quality.

The adverse economic and social effects of the recent increases in food prices have prompted policymakers and academics to reconsider the potential causes of such increases. This paper contributes to the existing literature by investigating the causal effects of oil prices, fertiliser prices, global economic activity, and geopolitical risk on international food price volatility between January 1993 and December 2021. The research considers the aggregate food price index and the prices of various specific foods, including cereal, vegetable oils, dairy, meat, and sugar. The Glosten, Jagannathan, and Runkle-generalised autoregressive conditional heteroskedasticity (1,1) [GJR-GARCH(1,1)] model is employed to estimate the food price volatility series, while the causality-in-quantiles test is conducted to identify the drivers of food price volatility for different volatility regimes. The analysis suggests heterogeneous results regarding the significance of causal linkages. More specifically, the aggregate food price volatility is affected by oil prices, global economic activity, and geopolitical risk under different market conditions. The causality analysis also indicates that the volatility of cereal prices is the most sensitive to the four considered variables. Likewise, geopolitical risk is the most critical factor affecting all food commodities during almost all market conditions, while oil prices and global economic activity have limited predictive power. Finally, there is strong evidence that most causal linkages are confirmed during normal market conditions. Policy recommendations are subsequently derived.

Neonicotinoids are one of the newest groups of systemic pesticides, effective on a wide range of invertebrate pests. The success of neonicotinoids can be assessed according to the amount used, for example, in the Czech Republic, which now accounts for 1/3 of the insecticide market. The European Union (EU) has a relatively interesting attitude towards neonicotinoids. Three neonicotinoid substances (imidacloprid, clothianidin and thiamethoxam) were severely restricted in 2013. In 2019, imidacloprid and clothianidin were banned, while thiamethoxam and thiacloprid were banned in 2020. In 2022, another substance, sulfoxaflor, was banned. Therefore, only two neonicotinoid substances (acetamiprid and flupyradifurone) are approved for outdoor use in the EU. Neonicotinoids enter aquatic ecosystems in many ways. In European rivers, neonicotinoids usually occur in nanograms per litre. Due to the low toxicity of neonicotinoids to standard test species, they were not expected to significantly impact the aquatic ecosystem until later studies showed that aquatic invertebrates, especially insects, are much more sensitive to neonicotinoids. In addition to the lethal effects, many studies point to sublethal impacts - reduced reproductive capacity, initiation of downstream drift of organisms, reduced ability to eat, or a change in feeding strategies. Neonicotinoids can affect individuals, populations, and entire ecosystems.

Global warming has altered regional temperatures and precipitation, potentially leading to deviations from planned biofuel production and emission-reduction targets. This study revisits the market equilibrium of agricultural and biofuel production under climate risk, using updated IPCC projections. It employs a two-stage stochastic programming model to examine the overall effect of climate change on Taiwan's biofuel production. The results indicate that biofuel production depends on the level of climate impact and emission prices. In addition, total input use is generally between 2.79 and 4.72 million tonnes. The higher the gasoline price, the sooner the producer will exhaust its production capacity. While Taiwan could sustain biofuel production when gasoline and emission prices are high, a substantial land-use change would occur. Approximately 74 500–81 900 hectares of idle land will return to production. However, the increase in cropland supply may not lead to biofuel expansion, as it has a limited ability to offset emissions.

This review focuses on the behaviour of four psychoactive compounds (carbamazepine, tramadol, sertraline and citalopram) in the environment. The review presents how they may directly affect freshwater systems, soils and living organisms and to which extent. The transformation of these very stable compounds in soils were controlled by oxidation, demethylation, decarboxylation and hydroxylation. Sorption to organic matter and clay particles controlled their mobility. Despite their expected sorption in soils, sediments and sludge, all compounds can be taken up by plants and by fish. In plants, all compounds and several of their metabolites were found in the leaves, indicating the mobility and transformation of the compounds within the plant systems. Factors that control the compounds mobility in plants were found to be the pH of soils and the xylem flow. As for fish, many of the compounds were found in the brain and muscles of fish, some of which, depending on the species, affected the behaviour of the fish. The implications of these compounds so widely present in the environment indicate the need for certain measures to be put into place to prevent these compounds from continuously entering plant and animal systems.

One-year-old 'Florida Prince' cultivar peach trees grafted on a 'Nemaguard' rootstock were planted in the early spring of 2018 at the Centre of Agricultural Research and Experiments, Minia University, located in southwest Egypt. The trees were planted 5 × 5 m in a randomised complete block design with four replicates, with ten trees in each replicate. In the late spring, two different pruning systems were applied; traditional open centre (OC) and de-branched top trees (DBT). The OC trees were headed at 80 cm above the ground. DBT is a modification of the OC, but no heading was undertaken and the new shoot growth arising from the 20 cm at the top of the plant were removed. Before the winter pruning took place, measurements were taken on the upper two opposite branches. The average length and diameter values of the upper two opposite branches at the top of the trees trained to the OC were higher than those trained with the DBT. In contrast, the distance between the upper two branches (25 cm) at the top of the DBT trees was significantly higher. Likewise, the values of the crotch angles (48°) and the number of branches (81 of 100 branches) that showed desired crotch angles (more than 40°) were remarkably higher in the trees trained with the DBT. After the winter pruning took place, the DBT trees were higher than the OC trees. Additionally, the trees trained with the DBT had low pruning costs and took less time. Moreover, the pruning wood weight of the DBT trees was about half of the pruning wood weight of the OC trees. In conclusion, the DBT training system showed the desired impact on the crotch angles and the tested pruning characteristics.

This paper considers the developments whose application is promising for the fishing industry under the production of dried snack products. Fish chips are non-traditional dried products. The goal of this research was to study the functional and technological properties of minced systems consisting of fish and seafood. Minced systems were pre-treated with special food additives to improve their rheological properties and organoleptic indicators. The objects of research were stuffed meat products which included 65% to 75% of pollock, 15% of Pacific herring, and 10% to 20% of seafood. A study of technochemical indicators showed that minced systems were high-protein. They contained 30.0-34.8% of protein, 2.2-3.7% of lipids, and 0.8-2.5% of carbohydrates. Minced systems made of hydrobionts are characterised by the high water-holding capacity of 74.52-90.3%, which indicates good lyophilic properties of raw materials. When studying the rheological parameters of minced systems from hydrobionts, it was found that the maximum shift tension was 6.0-8.1 kPa. The stickiness index was 2 400-3 200 Pa, the dynamic viscosity was within the range of 650-850 Pa s (pascal seconds). The effective viscosity index for fish mince with good mouldability is 600-900 Pa s. The organoleptic evaluation showed that minced systems from hydrobionts pre-treated with food additives had high sensory characteristics.

This contribution presents a calculation method of indicators in agricultural transport. The tractor Zetor Forterra 8641 with a silage trailer was used. Calculations were performed with various weights of transported material: 2.5, 3.6, 5.8, 7.4 and 9.0 tons. The model was created concerning significant parameters of the transport set, engine characteristics and route. It considered splitting of the route into elementary sections, in which important route parameters were regarded as constant. Indicators were defined in every section (fuel consumption, emissions, etc.) and overall values were calculated as a sum. The set with 7.4 t of load reached the lowest unit costs 20.62 CZK.tkm^-1, transport output 79.51 tkm.h^-1 and unit consumption 0.14 L.tkm^-1. The set with the maximum load 9.0 t reached output 86.05 tkm.h^-1 but unit costs were 20.68 CZK.tkm^-1. Using the maximum capacity was not the most effective option. When the weight of a load increased (from 2.5 to 9.0 t), driving time extended from 0.28 to 0.46 h and hourly transportation output increased from 38.60 to 86.05 tkm.h^-1, unit consumption decreased from 0.24 to 0.13 L.tkm^-1. Total emissions significantly increased, but unit emissions decreased in average two times for each pollutant.

Durum semolina was replaced with 10, 15, and 20% of chestnut flour. Pasta was produced on a single screw extruder with the temperature profile of 80/90/90°C and on a laboratory minipress. Pasta samples were dried at room temperature and physical and sensory properties were determined. Generally, the chestnut flour addition to durum wheat pasta decreased optimum cooking time, hardness, cohesiveness, and chewiness, but increased cooking losses and pasta adhesiveness. Samples made on an extruder showed shorter optimum cooking times in relation to samples made on a minipress. Absorbed water was decreased with chestnut flour addition. Pasta made on an extruder showed a higher sensory score in comparison with pasta made on a minipress. The addition of chestnut flour influenced the colour of the samples. Samples made on an extruder showed darker colour in dried and cooked pasta samples in relation to minipress samples. In dried pasta samples, the extruder gave yellower samples in relation to the minipress, while in cooked pasta samples it was reversed. Overall, the extruder gave higher-quality pasta compared to the minipress.

In this study, 30 lactic acid bacteria (LAB) were isolated from 20 different fermented meat products obtained from the Afyonkarahisar province (Turkey). Molecular identification of these isolates was performed by amplification of the 16S rDNA gene using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method. LAB isolated from 'sucuk' (spicy and fermented sausage) samples were identified as Enterococcus faecalis (2 isolates), Enterococcus durans (1 isolate), Lactobacillus sakei (3 isolates), Lactobacillus curvatus (2 isolates), Weissella viridescens (3 isolates), Weissella cibaria (2 isolates) and Weissella hellenica (1 isolate). LAB, isolated from salami samples, were identified as W. viridescens (1 isolate), E. durans (3 isolates), Leuconostoc mesenteroides (4 isolates), Carnobacterium maltaromaticum (1 isolate), Macrococcus caseolyticus (1 isolate). Also, LAB, isolated from sausages samples, were identified as E. faecalis (1 isolate), E. durans (4 isolates), Lactobacillus plantarum (1 isolate). Both agar spot and agar well diffusion assay methods were used to determine the antimicrobial activity of the LAB isolates. Isolates of LAB showed higher antimicrobial activity against Listeria monocytogenes ATCC 19115, Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923, Klebsiella pneumoniae NRRL B 4420, Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 11778, Streptococcus faecalis NRRL B 14617 than against Escherichia coli ATCC 35218 and Bacillus subtilis NRS 744. Results showed that the LAB isolates produced antimicrobial substances that have a potential for different industrial and biotechnological uses.

In this study, two experiments were performed with the aim to optimize intensive aquaculture of largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides). In the first 140-day experiment the effect of the initial fish density was assessed at three levels: low density (LD) 23 kg/m³, medium density (MD) 35 kg/m³ and high density (HD) 46 kg/m³. All three densities provided the same final Fulton's condition coefficient (FC = 1.24-1.28), specific growth rate (SGR = 0.22-0.24%/day) and survival rate (97-100%). No cannibalism was observed at all tested densities. Feed conversion ratio (FCR = 1.39 ± 0.21 g/g) was the lowest for LD and the highest (1.61 ± 0.08 g/g) for MD. The highest fish biomass (25.7 ± 2.7 kg/m³) was obtained at HD and this density was considered as the most effective density of all tested ones during the intensive culture of largemouth bass. The second 60-day experiment tested the effect of largemouth bass and pikeperch (Sander lucioperca) monoculture and biculture of both species on production efficiency. Higher size heterogeneity was obtained in both (mono- and bicultural) groups of pikeperch (308.91-314.56‰/day) compared to the groups of largemouth bass (279.26-284.05 ‰/day). The higher FC (1.09) was found in both types of culture in largemouth bass compared to both methods of culture in pikeperch (0.74-0.78). The lowest SGR was evident in both types of largemouth bass cultures (1.20-1.28%/day). In contrast, the highest SGR was achieved in the bicultural pikeperch (1.88%/day). Similar results like for SGR were also assessed for FCR, where the highest value of FCR was in both cultures of largemouth bass (1.44-1.48 g/g) compared to the lowest FCR in the bicultural of pikeperch (0.73 g/g). Largemouth bass in both tested types of culture had higher survival rates (99.95-99.99%) compared to pikeperch (98.61-98.63%).

The objective of this study was to evaluate the beneficial effects of erythromycin (Emy), a prokinetic drug active at the level of the abomasum, duodenum and proximal duodenum, in dairy cows undergoing a laparoscopic repositioning of left abomasal displacement (LAD). A total of 71 German Holstein cows were randomly assigned into three groups. Cows of the group Emy1 received erythromycin once preoperatively (10 mg/kg; intramuscularly). Animals of the group Emy3 were additionally treated twice after surgery at intervals of 24 h each (10 mg/kg; intramuscularly), while cows in the control group did not receive erythromycin. The milk yield of the patients was documented on Days 0, 1, 2, 3, 6 and 10 and the rumen contraction rate (RCR) was determined on Days 1 and 3. Additionally, the measurement of the concentration of beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) in whole blood samples was performed on Days 0, 1 and 3. Significant differences between the study groups regarding the cure rates, milk yield (in relation to Day 0); BHB concentrations and RCR could not be determined on the observation dates. With respect to a prudent use of antibiotics in livestock, the application of erythromycin as a prokinetic drug cannot be recommended for the present in cows undergoing a laparoscopic correction of LAD.

Palm oil is a superior product from Indonesia that is continuously and widely used for daily needs such as cooking, grooming, and manufacturing. However, this potential must be supported by oil palm business actors' performance to maintain its intensity and competitiveness. This study investigates how various factors affect Indonesia's crude palm oil (CPO) export intensity and competitiveness by employing panel regression and the basic gravity model. The panel data used here is a 20-year time series with cross-sections from five major importers from 1999 to 2018. The results show that the importer's gross domestic product (GDP) and quantity of export significantly and positively affect Indonesia's CPO export intensity, while the exporter's GDP and economic distance has a significant and negative effect. The factors that positively and significantly influence competitiveness are soybean's import value and Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) certification, while Malaysian CPO's export and population of importing countries negatively affect Indonesian CPO competitiveness.

The aim of our research was to determine the effect of short pruning on the productive and vegetative characteristics of peach trees. The research was conducted on two cultivars, 'Redhaven' and 'Fayette'. Three short pruning treatments were applied, with heading of the bearing branches at 20, 30, and 40 cm in length and a control, without heading. The following characteristics were evaluated: the growth of the TCSA, the number of thinned fruitlets, the number of fruit and yield per tree, the average weight of the fruits and the diameter of the fruits. Based on our research, we made several observations: the pruning method did not affect the growth of the TCSA; the number of thinned fruitlets decreased with a reduction in the length of the bearing branches; the number of fruits and yield per tree decreased with a reduction in the length of the bearing branches. A higher average fruit weight and percentage of fruits with a bigger diameter were calculated from the trees with the short pruning, but with a different share depending on the cultivar.

The objective was to determine effects of equilibration length and freezing curve type as well as their interactions on motility and live spermatozoa proportion in bull sperm after thawing. The ejaculates of 6 sires were repeatedly collected. Fresh semen was diluted with one extender and divided into 3 groups equilibrated for 30, 120, and 240 min. Subsequently, half straws of each group were frozen using standard 3-phase or 2-phase freezing curve differing in the rate of temperature decrease. The spermatozoa motility (M) was evaluated immediately after thawing and at 30, 60, 90, and 120 min of thermodynamic test (TDT). Live spermatozoa proportion was evaluated after thawing and at the end of TDT. Average of spermatozoa motility (AM), decrease of spermatozoa motility (MD), average proportion of live spermatozoa (ALS), and decrease of live spermatozoa proportion (DLS) through the TDT were calculated. Significant inter-sire differences in AM (0.45-17.0%; P < 0.05-0.01), MD (0.76-12.57%; P < 0.05-0.01), and ALS (0.99-23.8%; P < 0.01) were detected. The longest equilibration ensured the highest M during TDT and AM (+2.72 and +4.58%; P < 0.05-0.01), however higher MD (+4.06%; P < 0.01) compared to standard length as well. Straws freezed using 2-phase curve achieved higher M through TDT, AM (+7.3%; P < 0.01) as well as ALS (+11.77%; P < 0.01). The 2-phase curve presented higher M compared to the 3-phase freezing curve within all equilibration lengths. Significant differences in AM, MD, and ALS (0.45-6.78%, 0.62-5.35%, and 20.79-21.11%; P < 0.05-0.01) between equilibration length vs freezing curve interactions were determined. Results document the importance of equilibration length, freezing curve, and their interaction effect on live spermatozoa proportion and sperm motility after thawing as well as necessity of individual conditions for bulls semen processing and insemination doses production.

Drought stress is a significant abiotic stressor that has a negative impact on crop production and global food security systems. Drought stress was applied to eggplant seedlings with various field capacities (FC), 80% FC as control, 50% FC, 35% FC, and 20% FC. AgNPs were synthesised from green chemical methods, whereas different concentrations of AgNPs (0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.5 µmol) were applied exogenously on drought-stressed eggplants. Drought stress decreased the growth parameters (plant height, fresh mass, dry mass, leaf area), photosynthetic pigments (Chl a, Chl b, carotenoids), and protein content while increased the proline, hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), malondialdehyde (MDA) content, and activity of the antioxidant enzymes, i.e., superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT). AgNPs restricted proline accumulation and reduced H₂O_2, MDA content by upregulating the antioxidant enzymes. Overall, the current study's findings indicated that AgNPs are an effective eco-friendly and low-cost application for plant growth under drought stress, with the potential to mitigate the impact of drought on plants.

A one-month-old, Piedmontese female calf was admitted to the Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Turin, for repair of a large ventral hernia. A large ventral hernia, approximately 20 cm long and 15 cm large was noticed extending from 3 cm caudal to the umbilicus down to the pubis. At ultrasonography the hernia content was represented by small intestine and omentum and no adhesions to the hernial sac could be detected. The hernial sac was composed by skin only. Because of the large dimensions of the defect and the economic value of the animal, surgical correction was recommended to the owner. A prosthetic implant with a polypropylene mesh was elected due to the dimension of the abdominal defect. The implant was placed intra-abdominally with the interposition of the omentum between the mesh and the underlying viscera. Two and six months after surgery follow-ups were performed and a positive outcome was confirmed. This is the first report of ventral hernia repair in large animals that combines the use of a tension-free polypropylene mesh with the interposition of the omentum between the viscera and the mesh. This procedure is safe, cost-effective and not associated with major complications.

Plenty of studies have demonstrated that DIF has an effect on the fruit growth. To study the effects of day and night temperature differences on the strawberry sugar quality, an experiment using climate chambers was conducted. Five different differences between the day and night temperatures (DIF) were set, which were 6 °C (28 °C/22 °C, day/night temperature), 8 °C (29 °C/21 °C), 10 °C (30 °C/20 °C), 12 °C (31 °C/19 °C), 14 °C (32 °C/18 °C). The results showed the following indices peaked with a DIF of 12 °C, including the photosynthesis rate, glucose content, fructose content, sucrose content, soluble sugar content and sugar metabolic enzyme activity. The respiration rate increased with the DIF during the day and decreased with the DIF at night. The root dry weight peaked at a DIF of 10 °C, the stolon dry weight peaked at a DIF of 8 °C and the leaf dry weight peaked at a DIF of 6 °C; however, the fruit dry weight reached maximum values at a DIF of 12 °C. The Grey correlation analysis showed that the most important factor in our experiment affecting the fructose content was the sucrose phosphate synthase; however, for the sucrose, glucose, and soluble sugars, the most important factor was the photosynthesis. We found that a DIF of 12 °C (31 °C/19 °C, day/night temperature) was the most suitable for strawberry growth, especially for the sugar content accumulation.

An attempt was made to ascertain the environmental effects of animal wastes pollution on agricultural soil and water quality at the oldest teaching and research farm, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria. Physical, chemical, and bacteriological analyses of water (shallow well) and soil samples were carried out to determine the present quality status. Fifteen soil samples collected at the centre of the animal wastes dump and at a distance of 5 and 10 m, and three different samplings done on the water source were analyzed. The parameters determined using APHA standard procedures included: turbidity, temperature, pH, alkalinity, sulphide, phosphate, dissolved oxygen, total dissolved solids, total hardness, biochemical oxygen demand, total iron, nitrate, chloride, calcium, and heavy metals like copper, zinc, and lead. Most of the parameters indicated pollution including heavy metals presence with the exception of Pb, Zn, Mn, Cu, and Cr that were not detected in water samples. Concentrations of nitrate, biochemical oxygen demand, SO₄^2-, PO₄^3-, and Cl^- were 0.20, 3.20, 10.50, 3.5, and 20.4 mg/l respectively, while those of detected heavy metals such as Mg and Ni were 1.98 and 10.03 mg/l, respectively. Soil water holding capacity, porosity, pH, organic matter, organic carbon, and organic nitrogen ranged from 33.34 ± 3.73 to 59.06 ± 5.69, 34.6 ± 3.28 to 52.43 ± 5.5, 6.56 ± 0.03 to 7.54 ± 0.03, 2.32 ± 0.03 to 5.35 ± 0.03, 1.33 ± 0.01 to 3.11 ± 0.01, and 0.58 ± 0.07 to 1.13 ± 0.03%, respectively. The results showed that the well is strongly polluted with bacteria and pathogens and requires considerable treatment before use while the soil is suitable for crop production.

The vigorous behaviour of a rootstock modifies the growth and yield of a plant variety or hybrid, altering the plant nutritional requirements. The purpose of this work was to study four ratios of NO3-/NH4+ (100/0, 92/8, 85/15 and 80/20%) over the growth, leaf anatomy and yield of grafted and ungrafted tomato plants. We used a fully randomised experimental block design with factorial arrangement of 2 × 4 (grafted and ungrafted plants and four ratios of NO3-/NH4+), on eight treatments in total with four replicates each, using Tukey's mean comparison test (P ≤ 0.05). The rootstock was 'Silex' by Fito Seeds, with the 'El Arrojado' graft (variety) by Gene Seeds. The graft produced an increase in growth, dry biomass production, stomatal density, trichome number, epidermal cell density, fruits per plant, average fruit weight, fruit size and total soluble solids, in comparison with the ungrafted tomato plants. In most of the assessed variables, the grafted tomato plants gave their best response at an 85/15% NO3-/NH4+ ratio; while the ungrafted plants performed better at a 92/8% NO3-/NH4+ ratio. The response of the grafted plants to the different NO3-/NH4+ ratios suggests that grafting induces tolerance to NH4+.