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The aim of the paper was to contribute to the acquisition of background data for the specification of safe boron levels in soils in relation to diagnostics by multi-nutrient soil tests and to CEC (cation exchange capacity) value of soil, pH and soil organic matter. The research was conducted on 24 soils. Sorption was determined after 97 days from the application of B at the rates of 0, 1, 2.5, 5 mg B/kg in H₃BO₃. The closest regression of B-sorption was with the CEC value of soil in NH₄-acetate and water tests and it increased with the increasing application of B (regression at a rate of 5 ppm B; NH₄-acetate: linear R

Actual yields of maize harvested by farmers are at level much below attainable yield potential of currently cultivated varieties. Among many growth factors zinc was recognized as one of main limiting factors of maize crop growth and yielding. This hypothesis has been verified within a three-year field study, where zinc fertilizer was applied to maize plants at the 5^th leaf stage. Maize crop responded significantly to zinc foliar application in two of three years of study. The optimal rate of zinc foliar spray for achieving significant grain yield response was in the range from 1.0 to 1.5 kg Zn/ha. Grain yield increase was circa 18% (mean of three years) as compared to the treatment fertilized only with NPK. Plants fertilized with 1.0 kg Zn/ha significantly increased both total N uptake and grain yield. Yield forming effect of zinc fertilizer revealed via improvement of yield structure elements. The number of kernels per plant showed the highest response (+17.8% as compared to the NPK plot) and simultaneously the highest dependence on N uptake (R² = 0.79). For this particular zinc treatment, however, the length of cob can also be applied as a component of yield structure significantly shaping the final grain yield.

The article describes the impact of the Sectoral Operational Programme Agriculture and Rural Development and the Rural Development Plan 2004-2006 on the rural development in 2004-2007. In addition to the implementation analysis of these programming documents, the article also describes territorial distribution of direct subsidies and state aid over the monitored period of 2004-2007. A summarized overview is given for the drawdown of all types of subsidies and their proportionate amounts. The evaluation of all subsidies has shown that most of them were paid to the Northern and Eastern parts of Slovakia, due to the agroenvironmental and direct payments (mostly LFA). The article also describes, in quantitative terms, the social and economic impact of investment subsidies from the Sectoral Operational Programme Agriculture and Rural Development and the Rural Development Plan 2004-2006, based on the monitoring indicators of result and impact. The comparison of the socio-economic development of the beneficiaries and non-beneficiaries of investment subsidies from the SOP and RDP has shown a faster growth in income of the beneficiaries, as well as a faster growth of labour productivity. Also, the subsidies significantly helped to reduce the decrease in employment and/or helped to maintain the employment in agriculture.

Wild cherry is one of the noble hardwood species that increase the biodiversity of our forests and at the same time it could increase the income for forest owners. The preconditions for achieving these goals are the high quality of stem and appropriate silvicultural management. This means that wild cherry should occupy the main crown layer in the stand. The height/frequency diagram depicts two groups of wild cherry trees in the stand belonging to dominant/codominant and suppressed tree classes. Height periodic increment (measured between the years 2001 and 2007) is significantly (p < 0.01) different in these two groups confirming that there is no transition chance for the trees from the suppressed group to become a part of the main crown layer and play the role of future crop tree. The same is true of the diameter/frequency diagram which also has a two-peak shape remaining also at the end of the surveyed period. Our result suggests that silvicultural care should be focused only on trees belonging to future crop trees.

The aim of the study is to evaluate the role of the Grand fir (Abies grandis [Dougl. ex D. Don] Lindl.) as a soil-improving species in the area of the University Training Forest in Kostelec nad Černými lesy, Jevany district. The state of humus forms in the stand part with Grand fir was compared with the mature Norway spruce (Picea abies [L.] Karst.) without regeneration, with young beech (Fagus sylvatica L.), Norway spruce (Picea abies [L.] Karst.) and oak (Quercus spp. L.) stands (all of pole stage). The site is characterized as 4P1 - acid oak-fir site with Luzula pilosa, the geological bedrock is formed of cretaceous sandstone with loess overlays, the soils are Luvisols, the terrain is flat at the altitude of 420-440 m a.s.l. The humus form samples (L, F, H, Ah horizons) were taken in 4 replications, quantitatively for the holorganic layers. The dry mass amount and total nutrient contents were analyzed for holorganic horizons, the basic pedochemical characteristics (pH, soil adsorption complex characteristics, exchangeable acidity and exchangeable nutrients) were determined for all horizons. The results confirmed marked and positive effects of the Grand fir litter on the surface layer characteristics. This tree species supports the litter of good composition, transforming easily and forming humus forms of higher quality compared to coniferous as well as studied broadleaved species.

In this work preliminary studies on application of immunochromatographic method to detection of pesticides in food samples, in particular fruit juices, are presented. The aim was to develop immunochromatographic technique on a porous membrane for rapid detection of the pesticides thiabendazole and methiocarb in fruit juices. For detection colloidal carbon conjugated with secondary antibody was used. The tests were evaluated visually. Our results show that in the fruit juices samples examined the detection limit for thiabendazole covered the MRL (maximum residue limit) for food of plant origin established by the legislative and for methiocarb the method has to be further optimised in order to decrease the detection limit below the MRL.

The basis of the biogas production in agriculture is the processing of waste agricultural products (particularly excrements of farm animals but also phytomass). Different but rather similar is the biogas production from biologically degradable municipal waste (BDMW) and biologically degradable industrial waste (BDIW) coming mainly from food industry. The processing of these wastes in agricultural biogas stations could significantly improve their economy. It is necessary to note that all these biogas stations differ from the wastewater cleaning plants where municipal sludge water from public sewers is processed. The municipal sludge water processing to biogas by anaerobic fermentation is a classical technology introduced all over the world. At present, about 100 wastewater cleaning plants operate in the Czech Republic using regular sludge processing into biogas. Electricity produced is utilised mainly for the needs of own operation of waste water treatment plant (WWTP), partly it is sold into public power net. The heat energy is used for heating in the process and its surplus is utilised for operational and administrative facilities. Usually, the heat and electricity quantities produced do not cover the wastewater cleaning plant operation. Agricultural biogas stations and biogas stations for BDMW processing provide considerably higher gas yields because they work with higher dry matter contents in substratum, i.e. 8-12% (compared with waste water treatment plants - 2-6%), and are able to produce high gas surpluses for following applications. Frequently discussed issue are the processing of slaughter waste and grass (or public green areas at biogas stations).

The aim of the present study is to understand the hormonal mechanisms of the effect of malnutrition on ovarian follicle functions. For this purpose, we examined the effect of malnutrition/serum deprivation, addition of metabolic hormones and gonadotropin (IGF-I, leptin and FSH) and their combination on the release of progesterone (P₄), testosterone (T), estradiol (E₂) and insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) by cultured whole ovarian follicles and on P₄ and IGF-I output by cultured granulosa cells isolated from porcine ovaries. It was observed that in ovarian follicles cultured with nutrients/serum addition of IGF-I reduced release of P₄, but not of T or E₂. Exogenous leptin reduced output of E₂, but not of P₄ or T, and increased IGF-I output. No significant effect of FSH on release of steroid hormones by isolated follicles was found. Serum deprivation did not affect release of P₄, but reduced output of T and E₂, and promoted IGF-I release by cultured ovarian follicles. Addition of hormones failed to prevent the effect of malnutrition on the secretory activity of cultured ovarian follicles. In cultured granulose cells, all the tested hormones promoted release of both P₄ and IGF-I. Food restriction/serum deprivation reduced both P₄ and IGF-I output. Additions of either IGF-I, leptin and FSH prevented the inhibitory action of malnutrition on both P₄ and IGF-I release. The present observations (1) confirm the involvement of the hormones IGF-I, leptin and FSH in the control of secretory activity of ovarian cells, (2) demonstrate, that both isolated ovarian granulosa cells and whole follicles cultured in the absence of serum nutrients could be an adequate in-vitro model for studying the effect of malnutrition on ovarian secretory functions, and (3) suggest, that malnutrition could affect ovarian functions through changes in the release of ovarian hormones.

The aim of the paper was to analyse congenital disorders in the Czech cattle population in 1986-2001. The offspring of 474 sires - 215 Czech Simmental, 236 Holstein, and 23 beef - were diagnosed with congenital disorders which were unevenly distributed because only 18 occurred in the progeny of 10 and more sires, in contrast to 88 occurring in the progeny of 1 sire only. Umbilical hernia was the most frequently noted disorder, and 136 sires fathered progeny with limb anomalies. The most frequent gestational accident was schistosomus reflexus, the results suggesting a familial burden. Three sires fathering offspring with the afflicted spinal column and limbs were heterozygous for Complex Vertebral Malformation (CVM) though they had not been reported as such. Foetal defects and stillbirth were quite frequent, and the calves affected were fathered by 56 sires. In rare disorders with a low incidence, an accurate genetic analysis or even simple discrimination between inherited and acquired defects is problematic. It would be our recommendation that those sires with a higher incidence of defects among their offspring should be disqualified from fathering stock bulls, or culled.

The heavy metal contents and their bioavailability were monitored in soils of Central Spiš region of SR. This area belongs to long term contaminated and hygienically loaded areas. Soil contamination by heavy metals is caused especially by ore mining, processing and treatment. Soil samples from the Central Spiš contained higher proportions of mobile forms which corresponded to the following sequence Pb > Zn > Cu, while for mobilizable forms the sequence of investigated metals was as follows: Cu > Zn > Pb. Soil pH is one of the parameters that affect significantly the share of bioavailable forms of metals. Higher proportions of mobile fractions of metals were detected in samples taken from soils with acidic pH. Statistical processing confirmed a relationship between the percentage share of lead and zinc in the mobile form and the level of pH/KCl, which was significant for Zn: r = -0.53. The relationships for lead and copper were insignificant.

The seeds of two medicinal plants, namely Chamomilla recutita (Babong) and Origanum majorana (Bardaqoush) were subjected to germination in different NaCl concentrations, polyamines (putrescine, spermidine, spermine) and to combination of both. The results revealed that the growth alterations induced by NaCl were alleviated by various levels of polyamines. The organic solutes of both plant seedlings exhibited somewhat variable responses to various salinity levels or polyamines treatments and in combination of both treatments. Putrescine in Ch. recutita seedlings was more effective in alleviating the stress effects of salinization than spermidine and spermine, while in O. majorana seedlings spermidine was more effective. Generally, the degree of stimulation differed according to the type, concentration of the additive used and the type of the plant tested.

Global trends in world economy intervene into each sector of national economy. In the article, we focused on the dairy industry. The research was oriented at the national market of dairy products with the goal to assess the current situation on the market with these commodities. According to the acquired data, we compiled an overview of the current situation in the market and we pointed out the direction that should be followed by producers. The implementation of information systems is a necessary requirement to increase competitiveness in accordance with the specifics of dairy production.

The spruce-fir-beech dominated forest stands in Litschau in the Austrian part of the Bohemian Massif were converted by former forest management practices into pure Norway spruce stands and are now discussed to be reconverted into the potential natural vegetation type. The targeted potential natural vegetation type is usually defined by experts in vegetation sciences. Because meanwhile individual-tree growth simulators are a well acknowledged tool for predicting future forest stand development, in this study we investigate if PROGNAUS can also be used to predict the redevelopment of managed forest ecosystems into natural forest ecosystems regarding species composition. The development of 23 stands in Litschau has been simulated over 1,000 years under the "no-management" option. Generally, the simulated species distribution agrees quite well with the expectations of the potential natural vegetation type. However, the predicted amounts of silver fir and maple species are lower than expected, which probably is due to browsing and management effects represented in the parameterization data for PROGNAUS.

A young speckled alder (Alnus incana [L.] Moench) stand was planted on a tract clear-felled due to air pollution and located on a summit plateau of the Jizerské hory Mts. (Central Europe, Czech Republic) at an altitude of 950 m a.s.l. The aim of the experiment was to test the suitability of Alnus incana to form preparatory stands covering the site and thus enabling the reintroduction of more sensitive target species. A potential of Alnus incana to respond to slow-release fertilizing was tested as well. The control treatment showed sufficient growth dynamics, nevertheless, the fertilization significantly promoted the growth (documented by height, height increment and stem-base diameter). If some limitations of alder such as high light requirements are respected, the speckled alder can be recommended as a suitable species for preparatory stands even in the 7^th and 8^th altitudinal (vegetation) zones, especially when fertilized.

The problems of soil hygiene and contents of the following heavy metals: cadmium, cobalt and nickel in the productive parts of plants in the location of Agricultural Cooperative Štrba in Poprad County were discussed in the presented work. Above-mentioned location is found in the neighbourhood with a chemical factory Chemosvit Svit. The achieved results show that the soil hygiene in this region is mainly affected by the activity of this chemical factory. This factory is producing many risky substances and their results can be seen in the condition of soil hygiene and in the quality of farmed plants. The results of monitored heavy metals (Cd, Co, Ni) prove that the content of cadmium and nickel is the main polluting factor of soil in this region. The increased contents of these elements in soil produce a high risk of the uptake to plants. This further affects the technological quality along with the quality of hygiene of farmed products and finally the food itself as well. A higher attention needs to be paid to cobalt too, because it proved quite high cumulation ability in soil.

The application of the distributed hydrological model brings the benefits of assessment of the spatially distributed quantities which are hard to measure in the field over a larger area, e.g. evapotranspiration. The Malše River basin has been chosen for the evaluation of evapotranspiration simulation by the distributed hydrological model, SWIM (Soil and Water Integrated Model). The primary interest in this analysis was to assess the ability of the hydrological model to simulate the actual evapotranspiration on larger scales and to evaluate its dependence on the landscape characteristics such as the vegetation cover, soil type, and average precipitation amount during the simulation. Annual actual evapotranspiration in each hydrotope was evaluated in the simulation period of 1985-1998. Because of the lack of the data observed (evapotranspiration), the model was calibrated on the discharge time series. The credibility was quantified using Nash Sutcliffe efficiency which was more than 0.7. The main trends of the simulated actual evapotranspiration were evaluated and assessed as satisfactory. The differences in the soil types did not seem significant for the evapotranspiration variation, the monthly average values among soil types differing by ± 10% except histosol. On the other hand the differences in the land-use categories strongly influenced the amount of evapotranspiration (-30; +50%). It appears that the model SWIM overestimates the actual evapotranspiration in the spring and, on the other hand, underestimates that in the autumn according to the comparison with the only data available in the entire Climate Atlas of the Czech Republic.

In this study the nerves originating from the plexus lumbosacrales of porcupines (Hystrix cristata) were investigated. Four porcupines (two males and two females) were used. The plexus lumbosacrales of animals were appropriately dissected and dissemination of pelvic limb nerves originating from the plexus lumbosacrales was examined. The nerves originated from the plexus lumbosacrales of porcupines (Hystrix cristata): iliohypogastric nerve from T15, ilioinguinal nerve (on the left side of only one animal) genitofemoral and lateral femoral cutaneous nerves from T15 and L1, the femoral and obturator nerves from T15, L1, L2 and L3. The femoral nerve divided into two as the common dorsal digital nerve I and II after it branched into motor and skin nerves. The cranial gluteal nerve originated from L3 and L4 in males and from only L3 in females. The caudal gluteal nerve and the caudal femoral cutaneous and sciatic nerves originated from the common root which was formed by the union of L3, L4 and S1 in one animal, and by the union of L3, L4, S1 and S2 in the three other animals. The sciatic nerve divided into the tibial and fibular nerve. The fibular nerve divided into two as the common dorsal digital nerve III and IV, and extended after branching in one direction to extensor muscles. The tibial nerve divided into the common palmares digital nerve I, II, III and IV, and extended after branching into the cutaneous surae caudales nerve and rami muscle distales. The cutaneous surae caudales nerve divided into the common palmar and dorsal digital nerve V. The pudendal and caudal rectal nerves originated from S2 in three animals and from S1 in the remaining animal. In the point of origin from the branches of spinal nerves originating from the plexus lumbosacrales, and also in the absence of the ilioinguinal nerve (on left side abroad of only one animal), originating from T15 and L1 of the genitofemoral and lateral femoral cutaneous nerves, from T15 of the iliohypogastric nerve, the studied porcupines differed from rodentia and other mammals

: Stamen morphologies of six cornelian cherry cultivars (Degirmendere, Erkenci Degirmendere, İri Bardak, Yuvarlak Bardak, Uzun Memeli, and Bugur) (Cornus mas L.) were evaluated using scanning electron, light and stereo microscopes. Flowers of cornelian cherry cultivars generally had four stamens, but a few of them had three or five stamens. Abnormal and normal stamens were found together in the cultivars examined. Percentages of abnormal stamens among the cultivars ranged from 12% to 22%. Various types of stamen abnormalities were identified in the cultivars such as variations in filament length, abnormalities in anther structure, fusion of stamen to other floral organs. Pollen grain numbers per anther varied between 1,380 and 4,240 among the cultivars. Abnormal anther surface morphology in the cultivars consisted of uneven and swollen epidermal cells. Anther dimensions varied between 624.00 and 1,001.25 μm in length and 460.50 and 745.50 μm in width. Anthers of all the cultivars had subprolate and prolate type of shapes.

There is little experimental evidence about the functional significance of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) colonization in providing nutrients for lowland rice. This study was undertaken to examine whether growth and nutrient deficiencies may affect plants benefit from AMF inoculation. Two contrasting rice (Oryza sativa L.) genotypes and two AMF species (Glomus mosseae and G. intraradices) were used in this experiment. Under P starvation, P uptake in the genotype tolerant to P deficiency (Fajr), declined significantly up to 36% (P < 0.05) in response to AMF inoculation, while it enhanced by about 70% (P < 0.01) in susceptible genotype (Shafagh). Under Zn starvation, Zn uptake of Zn-efficient genotype (Shafagh) increased by about 2 fold (P < 0.01), but a reduction of 52% (P < 0.05) was observed in the Zn-inefficient genotype (Fajr) upon mycorrhization. Greater genotypic differences were observed for -P-Zn plants. Our results imply that genotypic difference in responsiveness to inoculation with AMF is attributable to different contribution of mechanisms for increased nutrient uptake in mycorrhizal plants depending on nutrient, nutritional status and nutrient efficiency of genotypes.

The paper presents the results of simulations for the Bruntál district as a remote rural area and Ostrava as an adjacent urban centre, based on the Computable General Equilibrium model. The model assesses spatial impacts of various agricultural policy and other economic conditions on the regional development of the study areas. The model utilizes a regional Social Accounting Matrix with economic inter-linkages between the rural-urban localities in the study areas. Four agricultural policy scenarios are assessed. All scenarios have negative impacts on the economy of the Bruntál district. Nevertheless, the scenario based on the switch of funds from the Pillar 1 to the Pillar 2 of the Common Agricultural Policy and on the degressive modulation of direct payments shows to be the most significant for the agricultural sector and the overall economy of the district.

Effective forest management demands detailed knowledge of resources. Local forest users are usually the best source of information. In the Democratic Republic of Congo forest management partnerships between local people and government staff have become more common. A proper understanding of local perceptions of the forest is needed. This study was designed and guided by a multidisciplinary team including a sociologist, a linguist and a forester. It identified and compared classification and management units. It also touched on the different uses of the forest products, the species that provided these products and the locations of these species.

The work was aimed at the growth suppression of cultured listerias strains by cultured lactococci strains or commercial mesophilic cheese cultures during common cultivations in the model UHT milk system (0.5% w/w of milk fat content) at 30°C during 18 h aerobically. Milk was primarily fermented by lactococci at the level of 10⁸ CFU/ml and secondarily contaminated by listerias at the level of 10³ CFU/ml. The most intensive growth suppressions of both Listeria innocua (CCM 5884 or Ln-03) strains were caused by Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis (LCC 416 or CHCC 2281) strains or DELVO-ADD® 100-X DSF cheese culture; the listerias growth reductions was from the level of 10³ CFU/ml to 10⁰ CFU/ml. Obtained results should be applied to dairy industry provided that HACCP, GHP and GMP systems must be observed.

Soil samples (from Czech and German long-term field experiments) were used to estimate different soil phosphorus (P) fractions. More than 200 topsoil (0-30 cm) samples from different fertilizing treatments were taken. These were analyzed for P in soil solution (P_CaCl2) [0.01M CaCl₂ extract], exchangeable sorbed P (P_ex) [anion exchange (AE) membranes] and bioavailable P [Doppel-Lactat and Mehlich 3 (P_DL and P_M3)]. Other fractions analyzed were total inorganic (P_in), total (P_M-tot) and organic (P_org) P [fractionation after Marks], P sorbed on Fe and Al (P_FeAl) [fractionation after Schwertmann] and residual P (P_ar) [aqua regia extract]. Comparison of medians appeared to be better for evaluating extraction abilities. Phosphorus fractions were in the following order: (P_ar = 100%); P_CaCl2 (0.2%) < P_ex (9%) < P_DL (10%) < P_M3 (16%) < P_in (24%) < P_org (37%) < P_FeAl (55%) < P_M-tot (59%). Low amounts of P_in, P_org and P_M-tot did not verify the applicability of the Marks' fractionation for the set of studied soils. Close correlations at P ≤ 0.001 were found for all methods for estimating the fractions of bioavailable phosphates (P_CaCl2, P_ex, P_DL and P_M3). Statistically significant relations were observed between P_in with P_ar, P_M-tot and P_FeAl.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of organic (cattle manure) and inorganic fertilizers [composite NPK (15:15:15)] and natural zeolites on soil properties, vegetative growth and yield of apple plants grown on vertisol under Cacak conditions (Western Serbia). The results showed that the combined fertilization induced a decrease in acidity, an increase in humus content, a partial increase in total nitrogen (NTOT), and, primarily, a rise in available phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) levels. A highly significant (P < 0.01) interactive effect of the apple cultivars and nutrients on one-year-old shoot length and trunk cross-sectional area (TCSA) and a significant effect (P < 0.05) on yield per tree and yield per hectare were determined.

The article discusses economic development of Slovak agriculture in the period after the accession of Slovakia to the EU and after adopting the CAP. It evaluates agriculture as a whole and its contribution to the national economy, as well as the economic performance of the individual legal forms of business and production sectors. The results achieved by agriculture in 2004-2007 suggest that the income within the sector (except of 2005) has improved also due to the inflow of the EU subsidies. On the other hand, despite the growing aid the production output is shrinking, wages stagnate and the employment is falling. This suggests that the CAP should be changed after 2013, especially as regards the ways of subsidy payments. Economics of the individual products are largely affected by input prices, realisation prices, as well as by the volume of direct subsidies, namely in the plant production - the subsidies for crops grown on arable land, and in animal production - the subsidies per 1 Big Cattle Unit.

The absence of good agricultural and manufacturing practices in the production and postharvest handling of fresh produce, such as green asparagus or green onions increase the contamination risk by biological hazards like Salmonella. The objective of this work was to investigate the efficacy of chlorine (200 and 250 ppm), hydrogen peroxide (1.5% and 2%), and lactic acid (1.5% and 2%) sanitisers during different exposure times (40, 60, and 90 s) on the reduction of Salmonella enterica subspecie enterica serovar Typhimurium in inoculated fresh green asparagus and green onions. Washing with clean water only reduced < 1 log10 CFU/g in both vegetables. The most effective sanitiser evaluated for fresh green asparagus and green onions disinfection appeared to be 2% lactic acid reducing Salmonella growth close to 3 log₁₀ CFU/g. Hydrogen peroxide was the least effective agent for Salmonella Typhimurium reduction. No effect was observed of the exposure time of inoculated product to sanitiser up to 90 seconds. These results confirm that lactic acid could be used as an alternative for fresh green asparagus and green onions sanitation.

Antioxidant capacity of foods and food supplements based on berries and flowers of medicinal plant elderberry (Sambucus nigra L.) was assessed. Reducing properties of the samples and extracts were evaluated using amperometric detection at working electrode potential -0.8 V after HPLC separation. Moreover, antiradical activity of selected samples was determined by the means of spectrophotometric DPPH radical scavenging method. Electrochemical activity (EA) of fresh juice pressed from elder fruits amounted to 0.71 g AAE/l with anthocyanins as minor contributors (10.2%). Catechins and phenolic acids were the major active groups. During production of elder berry spread, even more than 90% of the EA compounds found in raw elder berry material can be destroyed. Comparable activity may be found also in the products from elder flowers. Although elder blossom syrups possessed similar EA regardless of the technology used (0.033-0.054 g AAE/kg), their chromatographic patterns were often very different. For example, no flavonols were present in the syrups, if traditional preparation comprising 24-h maceration with citric acid was applied. Analyzing the chromatographic patterns, one can distinguish different base materials and technology, which can be used for the authenticity confirmation. Herbal infusions from elder flowers, which contain more flavonols than are in syrups, were 16-27 times richer in EA than drinks prepared from the syrups after recommended dilution. Only the syrup designed for preventing and treating upper-respiratory viral infections showed the EA (0.09 g AAE/kg) comparable to that of herbal infusion (0.13 g AAE/l).

Force and deformation curves of agricultural materials must be provided for the proper design of harvesting and processing machineries. In this research, the fracture resistance of barley grain was measured in terms of the grain rupture force and energy. In this study, 8 treatments were performed as a randomised complete block design with 10 replications. The barley grains were quasi-statically loaded in horizontal and vertical orientations with the moisture content at four levels: 7.34, 12.11, 16.82, and 21.58% dry basis, and loading rates at two levels: 5 and 10 mm/min. Based on the results obtained, the force required for initiating the grain rupture decreased from 161.97 to 93.94 N, and from 75.37 to 50.16 N, and the energy absorbed at the grain rupture increased from 36.42 to 74.70 mJ and from 27.34 to 62.65 mJ, for horizontal and vertical orientations, respectively, with the increase in the moisture content from 7.34 to 21.58% dry basis. This showed that seeds are more flexible in the horizontal orientation.

Three hundred Hyplus rabbits reared on a commercial farm were weaned at the age of 25 days and 300 rabbits were weaned at the age of 35 days. Early-weaned and conventionally weaned rabbits were assigned to three groups and fed diets supplemented with protected palm fat (PPF), coconut oil (CO) and an oil containing triacylglycerols (TAG) of caprylic and capric acid (Akomed R) at 10 g/kg. The principal fatty acids in these supplements were palmitic, lauric and caprylic acid, respectively. Diets were fed until slaughter at 77 days of age. Mortality of early-weaned rabbits fed the diet supplemented with oil containing TAG of caprylic and capric acid (23%) was significantly lower than that of rabbits fed PPF (45%), and non-significantly lower than mortality of rabbits fed CO (37%). Corresponding mortality rates in rabbits weaned at 35 days of age were 6, 14 and 16%. In all groups, the highest mortality occurred in the 2^nd and the 3^rd week after weaning. The final body weights of surviving early-weaned rabbits were not significantly different. In conventionally weaned rabbits, however, final body weight was significantly lower in rabbits fed PPF. It can be concluded that under practical field conditions early weaning represents a risk for animal health and leads to a high mortality of young rabbits. The negative effect of early weaning can be alleviated by commercially available TAG of caprylic and capric acid.

The goal of this study was to gather more clinical information about the relationship between Helicobacter species and gastric ulceration in horses. Twenty seven privately owned patients were selected for the clinical study. All horses were gastroscopically examined and biopsies were taken from the glandular mucosa. Stomach biopsies were examined using a PCR assay specific for Helicobacter pylori and/or Helicobacter equorum. In addition, faecal samples from thirteen horses were examined using a PCR assay specific for H. equorum. Twenty five horses (25/27; 93%) had lesions in their stomach. Gastric biopsies from twenty two horses were examined using the H. pylori specific PCR and the ure gene was detected in three of them (3/22; 14%). H. equorum DNA was not found in the stomach of any of the ten horses examined. H. equorum was diagnosed in only one faecal sample from the thirteen horses examined (1/13; 8%) and that case was not associated with gastric pathology. This study shows the possibility of sporadic detection of the ure gene in the equine stomach affected by mucosal ulceration.