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Recently the use of fungal entomopathogens against bark beetles has gained increasing attention throughout the world and researchers continue to seek highly pathogenic fungal isolates for controlling beetle pests. In the present study, the efficacy of three entomopathogenic fungi, namely Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo) Vuillemin, Metarhizium anisopliae sensu lato (Metchnikoff) Sorokin and Lecanicillium lecanii (Zimmerman) Zare & Gams, was tested against Polygraphus major Stebbing, 1903 under laboratory conditions. Each fungal suspension contained 1.0 × 10⁹ spores of fungi in 1 ml. An insecticide - Cyclone was also used as positive control in the experiment. The mortality caused by these fungi was recorded in treated branches and petri plate assay. In treated branches, B. bassiana and M. anisopliae s. l. caused higher mortality, i.e. 57.77 and 46%, respectively, after 10 days of treatment and 98 and 92.77%, respectively, after 20 days of treatment. The results of the petri plate assay revealed that P. major adults were highly susceptible to both applied fungal species and insecticide. However, B. bassiana and M. anisopliae s. l. caused higher percentage mortalities after six days of treatment, i.e. 100 and 91.66%, respectively. The percentage mortality caused by application of the insecticide was 69%. L. lecanii was observed to be significantly less virulent (mortality 46.66%) in all fugal treatments. After observing the promising nature of the three entomopathogenic fungi by testing them, we arrive at the conclusion that the tested fungi have a potential for the control of P. major, and further field experiments are warranted to investigate their efficacy under more practical conditions.

The study was focused on the wild pathosystem Lactuca serriola-lettuce downy mildew (Bremia lactucae) and lettuce powdery mildew (Golovinomyces cichoracearum). Observations were focused mainly on recording natural infection of prickly lettuce (Lactuca serriola) by downy and powdery mildews in the East Bohemia and Moravia (the Czech Republic) in the May-September period of 2007-2011, and on the influence of environmental conditions on disease incidence. Only data for July and August were used for the detailed comparisons of occurrence of both pathogens, because intensity of disease in this period was the highest. Data were linked with the average monthly temperature and rainfall rate in the Czech Republic. G. cichoracearum prefers rather low levels of precipitation and temperatures around 20°C, therefore significantly higher incidence of this pathogen was recorded in August 2007. On the other hand in July 2009 and 2010, when the intensities of precipitation were higher, incidence of Bremia lactucae prevailed. In August 2010 and 2011 incidence of both pathogens were more or less similar at all locations. Our observations showed that climatic conditions influence the incidence and prevalence of both pathogens in weedy growing populations of Lactuca serriola.

The aim of this study was to determine the basic reproductive parameters, i.e., litter size, gestation length, neonatal mortality rate and the type of delivery in Yorkshire terrier dogs, one of the most popular breeds in Poland. We have verified a hypothesis put forward by breeders that larger females have fewer whelping difficulties and produce larger litters and that pregnancies of females having one or two pups last longer. The focus of investigation was reproductive data from 66 Yorkshire terrier females registered in the Lublin Branch of the Polish Kennel Club, an FCI (Federation Cynologique Internationale) member, which whelped 124 litters comprising in total 508 pups from 37 fathers. The data were collected between August 2009 and December 2014. The significance of differences was verified using Mann-Whitney U and Kruskal-Wallis H-tests. The relationships between the recorded dogs' reproduction traits were estimated by calculation of Spearman's correlation coefficients with the use of the statistical programmes Statistica and SPSS 20. The investigations have confirmed the hypothesis concerning the larger litter size produced by larger females and the lower incidence of postpartum dystocia; however, the hypothesis of the impact of body weight on the length of pregnancy was rejected. The differences between the body weights of stud females and males reached 125%. The Yorkshire terrier appears to be a good reproductive breed with normal reproductive functions and good reproductive parameters.

Thirty-nine multiparous ewes (19 Pelibuey and 20 Romanov × Pelibuey) treated with fluorogestone acetate impregnated intravaginal sponges were used to evaluate the effects of low pregnant mare serum gonadotropin (PMSG) doses and genotype on their reproductive efficiency under heat stress conditions. The sponge treatment lasted for 12 days, and 24 h before sponge removal, ewes of each genotype were injected with 140 or 280 IU of PMSG. Ewes showing estrus were naturally mated twice. Reproductive performance was not affected (P > 0.05) by the dose × genotype interaction. All treated ewes presented estrus signs within a 48-h period after sponge removal. Shorter (P < 0.05) estrus interval and higher (P < 0.05) fecundity were observed in ewes treated with 280 IU of PMSG compared to those treated with 140 IU. Pelibuey ewes exhibited shorter (P < 0.01) estrus interval and greater (P < 0.01) fertility as compared with Romanov × Pelibuey ewes. The response to estrus, gestation length, prolificacy, and percentage of single and multiple lambing were not affected (P > 0.05) by dose or genotype. In conclusion, under heat stress conditions, low PMSG doses as 140 or 280 IU can be used to successfully induce and/or synchronize the estrus in Pelibuey ewes and their crosses with Romanov, regardless of reduced fertility observed in crossed Pelibuey ewes. If a more predictable and compact estrus is required, administration of 280 IU of PMSG is recommended.

The aim of the study was to assess terrestrial ecosystem development (mainly vegetation and soil characteristics) in the area of a sand mine cast (located in southern Poland) that has been either reclaimed or left for natural succession. A total of 20 sites in a chronosequence of 5, 17, 20 and 25 years were set up in two site categories: reclaimed and non-reclaimed sites. Selected properties of initial soils and features of vegetation were measured and they included carbon accumulation in soil; biomass and diversity of communities were also estimated. Next, based on carbon accumulation, the energy trapped in ecosystem components was estimated. Although the results of plant community investigation did not show the same distinct differences between site categories, the case study suggests that reclamation significantly accelerates ecosystem development. In comparison with spontaneous succession, the complete forest reclamation was found to increase the amount of carbon accumulation, thickness of humus horizon, and energy trapped in soil organic carbon and plant biomass in the developing ecosystem 2-3 times and nitrogen accumulation 5 times.

After harvesting, soybean seed must be thermally treated because of the increased moisture content. The most common thermal treatment of soybean is roasting, with three indicators that are critical for the process itself: seed moisture content, roasting period and process temperature. Following the above-mentioned, the aim of this paper was to determine nutritional and energy changes in three soybean varieties ('Gordana', 'Sivka' and 'Slavonka'). After collecting the samples, the nutrient structure of the core and energy components of seed hull for each variety were determined before and after the heat treatment by roasting. The roasted soybean seeds of the specified varieties were dried by exposure to temperatures of 125°C and 135°C in the duration of 10, 20 and 30 minutes. The results show that significant changes occurred in nutritional properties of soybean seed core in relation to temperature and time of roasting, as well as to assortment. There are also significant differences in elements, which affects the energy properties of soy seed hulls depending on temperature and duration of the procedure.

The aim of this study was to investigate the possible harmful effect of Sarcocystis parasites on bovine diaphragm meat quality. Meat samples were collected from 120 bulls aged 20-24 months. Meat quality was investigated using microbiological and physico-chemical (RP-HPLC, GC) methods 48 hours after slaughter. Sarcocystis infection was associated with increased fat content, lightness L* and drip loss, and decreased ash and protein percentages. Infection also had a significant effect on the amount of amino acids (AAs), which slowly decreased as the number of sarcocysts increased. The total amount of AAs correlated with glutamic acid content (R = 0.966, P < 0.05). Heavily infected samples contained significantly lower amounts of putrescine, histamine, spermine and spermidine (P < 0.05) and a noticeable increase in the total count of aerobic microorganisms, but no change in the numbers of E. coli and coliform bacteria in comparison with no infected samples. Sarcocysts in beef diaphragms did not cause serious changes in the technological quality of the meat, but the biological quality of infected meat was reduced.

So far, a large number of transformation systems have been established for japonica rice, but only a few have been reported for cold-region varieties. In our study, we established highly efficient tissue culture systems for two cold-region rice cultivars, Dongnong 427 and Longdao 14. Plant growth regulator (PGR) levels were optimized by an orthogonal experimental design. The culture ability, constituted by induction and differentiation rate, served as the detection index of orthogonal experiments. The optimal combinations of PGRs for callus induction and regeneration of Dongnong 427 and Longdao 14 were 1 mg/l 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) + 2 mg/l 6-benzyladenine (BA) + 4 mg/l kinetin (KIN) + 0.2 mg/l α-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) and 1 mg/l 2,4-D + 4 mg/l 6-BA + 4 mg/l KIN + 0.5 mg/l NAA, respectively. Agrobacterium strain EHA 105 containing the plasmid pCAMBIA1301 was used for transformation. The frequency of transient transformation was expressed as the ratio between the number of calli showing GUS expression and the total number of calli kept for staining. The highest transformation efficiency in Dongnong 427 was obtained when calli were immersed in 0.272 OD₆₀₀ (optical density determined at 600 nm) for 10 min. While it was best for Longdao 14 calli to be infected with 0.592 OD₆₀₀ for 20 min. Infected calli of the two varieties were co-cultivated on two pieces of sterile filter paper moistened with 1 ml liquid co-cultivation medium for three days. The expression of the GUS gene was confirmed by PCR analysis of plants of both varieties.

Genetic parameters for total number of piglets born per litter, number of piglets weaned per litter, lean meat content, and average daily gain from birth till the end of the field test were estimated for Czech Large White (445 589 records) and Czech Landrace (149 057 records) pigs using a four-trait animal model. The following heritabilities were estimated (first number: Large White, second number: Landrace): 0.10 ± 0.004 and 0.09 ± 0.007 for total number born; 0.09 ± 0.005 and 0.07 ± 0.008 for number weaned; 0.39 ± 0.004 and 0.36 ± 0.009 for lean meat content; 0.21 ± 0.004 and 0.18 ± 0.006 for daily gain. The highest genetic correlation (approximately 0.85 in both breeds) was estimated between both litter size traits. In Czech Landrace, all remaining genetic correlations were < 0.20 in their absolute value. Negative correlations of approximately ‑0.25 were estimated in Czech Large White between daily gain and both reproduction traits. All remaining correlations in Czech Large White were also < 0.20 in their absolute value. The estimated non-zero correlations between production and reproduction traits are, besides of other arguments, one reason to recommend a joint genetic evaluation of production and reproduction traits. If more than one litter trait is included in the genetic evaluation, repeatability models should be used instead of separate treating the first and the second and subsequent litters; this is because of the high correlations among litter size traits which are expected to cause numerical problems if multi-parity models are used.

Soil microbial properties are varied by growing different crops, ultimately reflecting the growth and reproduction of crops. In this study, two types of oilseed rape (Brassica napus L. ZS11 and ZY821) and wheat (Triticum aestivum L. ZM9023) were planted in the Jianghan plain of China. Rhizosphere soil samples were collected three months after sowing. Soil physicochemical properties, enzyme activities and microbial diversity were determined. The results showed that soil available phosphorus significantly increased from 25.57 mg/kg (ZM9023) to 33.20 mg/kg (ZS11) and 35.72 mg/kg (ZY821), respectively. Invertase activity of ZS821 (0.86 mg glucose/g) was significantly lower than in ZS11 (1.04 mg glucose/g). Acid phosphatase activity under planting rapes was significantly higher than that under wheat. Urease activities significantly increased from 40.88 mg NH₄⁺-N/g soil/24 h (NFP) to 49.04 mg NH₄⁺-N/g soil/24 h (FNP) and 51.28 mg NH₄⁺-N/g soil/24 h (ZM9023), 51.60 mg NH₄⁺-N/g soil/24 h (ZY821) and 52.28 mg NH₄⁺-N/g soil/24 h (ZS11), respectively. The ACE (abundance based coverage estimator) and Chao1 indexes of bacteria of ZS11 were lower than ZY821, which were similar to ZM9023. Fertilization increased soil bacterial ACE and Chao1 indexes. However, ACE and Chao1, Shannon and Simpson indexes of soil fungi for ZS11 were significantly higher than in ZY821, which were similar to ZM9023 (except for the Shannon index).

Sweet chestnut Castanea sativa Mill. is an introduced species in the Czech Republic. It is recorded roughly from 300 localities. To the end of 2002, the occurrence of chestnut was verified at about 140 macrolocalities. The most northern locality recorded so far was Choustníkovo Hradiště in the region of Hradec Králové. Chestnuts occur generally to an altitude of 500 m (80% of all examined localities), at higher altitudes they suffer from climatic extremes particularly late frosts. The occurrence of chestnut was recorded at 27 localities (ca. 20% localities under investigation) where altitudes exceed 500 m. The highest location of chestnut is locality Nejdek, Karlovy Vary District where chestnut trees thrive at an altitude of 678 m. At altitudes over 600 m, two other localities were recorded. The health condition of chestnut is relatively good. At some localities, however, crown drying occurs as a result of not quite ideal climatic conditions. Within our research, quarantine Cryphonectria parasitica (Murr.) Barr. was determined for the first time in the Czech Republic at the only examined locality.

The pathogen causing Phalaenopsis soft rot disease and developed detached leaf inoculation methods were identified. Based on its 16S rDNA sequences, the pathogen causing soft rot disease in Phalaenopsis was Erwinia chrysanthemi/Dickeya chrysanthemi. Both virulent and avirulent strains were revealed. The detached leaf inoculation assay for E. chrysanthemi/D. chrysanthemi resistance evaluation included wounding and inoculating the detached leaf with 108 CFU/ml of bacteria. Soft rot disease symptoms in the inoculated detached leaf were measurable at 20 h after inoculation. The detached leaf assay was applicable for evaluating Phalaenopsis germplasm and progeny resistance in Phalaenopsis breeding programs.

This study aimed to investigate the effects of selenium (Se) on the selenoproteins synthesis and antioxidant parameters of bovine mammary epithelial cells (BMECs). The experiment was conducted as a single factor completely randomized design to explore the effect of different levels of Se supplementation (0, 10, 20, 50, and 100 nmol/l) on selenoproteins synthesis and antioxidant parameters of BMECs, and to screen the appropriate dose of Se supplementation ensuring a better antioxidant function. Se supplementation increased cell proliferation, the activities of glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and superoxide dismutase, total antioxidant capacity and seleoprotein P (SelP) content, and decreased reactive oxygen species and malondialdehyde levels in a dose-dependent manner. Se supplementation of 50-100 nmol/l had a better effect. Se supplementation also increased thioredoxin reductase (TrxR) activity in a dose-dependent manner, and Se supplementation of 20-50 nmol/l had a better promoting effect. The dose-dependent response between Se supplementation and mRNA and protein expression of GPx1 and TrxR1, as well as SelP mRNA expression was also observed in this experiment. The mRNA and protein expression of GPx1 was up-regulated with the addition of 50-100 nmol/l Se, and the mRNA expression of TrxR1 and SelP was up-regulated with the addition of 20-100 nmol/l Se. Results indicated that Se supplementation of 50 nmol/l had a better promoting effect on the selenoproteins synthesis and antioxidant parameters of BMECs.

The study was carried out in the experiment with 16 provenances of common ash (Fraxinus excelsior Linnaeus) and 2 provenances of narrow-leaved ash (Fraxinus angustifolia Vahl) at a series of 5 parallel trial plots established in a gradient from lowland riverine to upland ravine sites. The role of the site, ash species and the provenance of common ash proved to have significant effects on the intensity of ash dieback (ADB) associated with the infection by Hymenoscyphus fraxineus (T. Kowalski) Baral, Queloz & Hosoya at the age of 20 years. Narrow-leaved ash was healthier, surviving and growing better than common ash on the trials situated inside as well as beyond its natural range. The ADB intensity was lower in the medium altitude and more easterly located trial plots with a more continental climate. The provenance of forest reproductive material proved to have a significant effect on the ADB damage and survival rate as well as the growth of ash across the trial plots of the experiment.

A novel drying method based on vacuum-microwave dehydration was developed to investigate the effects of different microwave gap ratios (MGR), microwave times, power densities and degrees of vacuum after osmotic pre-treatment on tilapia fillets. The results showed that the moisture value of fillets was decreased with the increased drying time, power density and vacuum degree. The shrinkage ratio, rehydration ratio and total colour change increased with elevated microwave time and power density. A high degree of vacuum was beneficial to the qualities of fillets. In conclusion, tilapia fillets retained their original quality properties after osmotically dehydrated vacuum-microwave drying (OD-VMD); optimum process parameters were MGR = 2, microwave time = 10 min, power density = 20 W/g, and vacuum degree = 0.08 MPa.

The ileal digestibility of amino acids and fatty acids in young chickens fed control diet or experimental diets supplemented with freeze-dried pasture herbage at 20 or 40 g/kg was studied. Control diet contained wheat, maize, and soybean meal. Predominant species in the pasture herbage harvested in May were Lolium perenne, Festuca pratensis, and Trifolium pratense. Freeze-dried pasture herbage contained less protein (169 g/kg) and fat (24 g/kg) and more neutral detergent and acid detergent fibre (340 and 210 g/kg) and tannins (12.38 g/kg) than control diet. Concentrations of amino acids, except phenylalanine and threonine, were lower in pasture herbage than in control feed. In both the control feed and freeze-dried pasture herbage, unsaturated fatty acids occurred in higher proportions than saturated fatty acids. In freeze-dried pasture herbage linolenic acid was the main fatty acid. In chickens fed freeze-dried pasture herbage the ileal digestibility of amino acids and fatty acids decreased in a dose-dependent manner. Freeze-dried pasture herbage at 4% in diet had negative effect (P < 0.05) on the digestibility of amino acids and fatty acids in comparison with control diet. But there was no significant effect of 2% freeze-dried pasture herbage in diet on amino acids digestibility. This suggests that pasture herbage contains anti-nutritional factors that inhibit proteolysis and lipolysis. The effect of pasture herbage on digestibility was variable. In chickens fed diets containing 4% freeze-dried pasture herbage, apparent ileal digestibility of amino acids varied from 0.39 (cysteine) to 0.91 (methionine). Variability in the ileal digestibility of fatty acids was less pronounced (from 0.65 to 0.89).

Soil carbon transformation was observed in long-term stationary field experiments (longer than 20 years) at two sites with different soil-climatic conditions (Luvisol, Chernozem). The following crops were rotated within the trial: row crops (potatoes or maize)-winter wheat-spring barley. All three crops were grown each year. Four different fertilization treatments were used: (a) no fertilizer (control); (b) sewage sludge (9.383 t dry matter/ha/3 years); (c) farmyard manure (15.818 t dry matter/ha/3 years); (d) mineral NPK fertilization (330 kg N, 90 kg P, 300 kg K/ha/3 years). At the Luvisol site, the control treatment showed a tendency to decrease organic carbon (C_org) in topsoil. At organic fertilization treatments the content of C_org increased: sewage sludge - +15.0% (Luvisol) and +21.8% (Chernozem), farmyard manure - +19.0% (Luvisol) and +15.9% (Chernozem). At the NPK fertilization, the increase was +4.8% (Luvisol) and +4.7% (Chernozem). The increased C_org content was also associated with an increase of microbial biomass carbon (C_mic) and extractable organic carbon (0.01 mol/L CaCl₂ and hot water extraction). The ratio of C_mic in C_org was within the range 0.93-1.37%.

The stabilisation treatments of rice bran were performed using microwave heating (100% power, 1-2 min) and dry heating (120°C, 10-20 min), respectively, and then protein was prepared by alkaline extraction (pH 9.5) and acid precipitation (pH 4.5). Stabilisation treatments resulted in a decrease in the protein yield, but an increase in the pro­tein purity. Heat-stabilisation was effective in inhibiting the rancidity of rice bran, and microwave heating was more effective than dry heating. The functional properties of proteins such as the emulsifying properties and oil holding capacity were improved with the stabilised rice bran, while the foaming properties, water holding capacity and nitrogen solubility of protein were slightly impaired. By comparison, dry heating treatment at 120°C for 20 min was effective and suitable for the stabilisation of rice bran for long term storage, as well as improving some functional properties of rice bran proteins. These results could provide basic information for industrial preparation of rice bran protein and its application in various food formulas.

In the scientific literature, there is not reliable information about the vitamin E content of commercially prepared fried foods. Therefore, tocochromanols were determined in 44 samples of french fries and 33 samples of potato chips and similar fried snacks. The total tocochromanol content of the french fries varied in the range of 1.7-96.9 mg/kg, α-tocopherol 0.3-76.1 mg/kg, and vitamin E (expressed in α-tocopherol equivalents) 0.6-76.4 mg/kg. The total content of tocochromanols in the fried snack products varied in the range of 39.9-204.6 mg/kg, α-tocopherol 20.4-133.7 mg kg, and vitamin E 29.8-134.6 mg α-tocopherol equivalent/kg. After a comparison of fat content, and taking into account the reference intake of fat and vitamin E, the french fries were generally a worse source of vitamin E than fat. The fried snack products were usually a better source of vitamin E than fat. In the both types of fried foods, the total content of tocochromanols was most influenced by the total content of fat. The content of α-tocopherol and the vitamin E content were mainly affected by the kind of fat (oil) used for frying.

Information provided in the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) portal database of the European Commission on "crustaceans and products thereof" for Bangladesh during 2000-2012 was investigated to analyse the trends of occurrences. A total of 159 (10.56%) notifications (alert - 40; border rejection - 47; information - 72) were recorded for Bangladesh against a worldwide 1505 notifications. During the period 120 (20.27%) notifications were identified for residue of veterinary medicinal products against 592 notifications recorded in the portal. Forty-eight consignments were re-despatched to Bangladesh while 11 consignments were destroyed at the European border as a consequence of the notifications by the European countries.

Early diagnosis and treatment of sepsis in patients are crucial for their survival and can help reduce mortality rates. Novel biomarkers, such as thrombomodulin and pentraxin-3, have been used as diagnostic, prognostic and mortality indicators in patients with sepsis. Plasma thrombomodulin is a vascular endothelial membrane-bound glycoprotein and pentraxin-3 is an acute-phase protein. In the present study, thrombomodulin and pentraxin-3 levels were determined in calves with sepsis, to determine their diagnostic values as well as usefulness as indicators of health status. To this end, 20 neonatal calves with sepsis (G1) and ten healthy neonatal calves (G2) were used. Additionally, group G1 was also divided into two groups consisting of surviving (G1-S; n = 9) and non-surviving calves (G1-NS; n = 11). A single blood sample was collected from all the calves and the prepared serum samples were used to measure thrombomodulin and pentraxin-3 levels using bovine-specific ELISA kits. The serum concentrations of thrombomodulin and pentraxin-3 were found to be significantly higher (P < 0.01) in the G1 group than in G2. Thrombomodulin and pentraxin-3 levels were also found to be higher in the G1-NS group than in G1-S but the difference was not significant. We conclude that thrombomodulin and pentraxin-3 may have some diagnostic value in calves with sepsis. Furthermore, these findings may also help in understanding the pathogenesis of sepsis in neonatal calves. Further studies are required to determine the importance of thrombomodulin and pentraxin-3 as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers in calves with sepsis and to evaluate the concentrations of these biomarkers also in other disease states.

Gonad development in fish is generally assumed to be negatively influenced by interspecific hybridization, resulting in sterility or sub-sterility. However, this is not the case in sturgeons (Acipenseridae), in which fertile hybrids are common. In the present study, we investigated gonad development in several sturgeon interspecific hybrids and purebred species. Six interspecific hybrid groups and three purebred groups were analyzed including 20 hybrid specimens with even ploidy, 40 specimens having odd ploidy levels, and 30 purebred specimens. Hybrids of species with the same ploidy (even ploidy - 2n, 4n) exhibited normally developed gonads similar to those seen in purebred specimens. In contrast, hybrids of species differing in ploidy (odd ploidy - 3n) did not display fully developed gonads. Ovaries were composed of oocytes or nests of differentiating oocytes that ceased development in early stages of meiosis (pachytene to zygotene) with a higher content of adipose and apoptotic tissue. Testes contained single spermatogonia along with Sertoli cells and spaces lacking germ cells. The obtained results showed that gonad development was influenced by genetic origin and ploidy of the sturgeon hybrids and were consistent with full fertility of hybrids with even ploidy. Sterility of females, but possibly limited fertility of males, is suggested for hybrids with odd ploidy.

The paper presents the results of a conceptual study of lightweight wooden construction hall building with polygonal ground plan, suitable for agriculture. It comprises evaluation of chosen technical and functional characteristics and possibilities for animal production. The results of the study confirm advantages (mainly lower material and costs demandingness, environmentally friendliness, light-weight construction, fast assembly operations) and disadvantages (mainly larger range of groundwork, higher demandingness on roof structure, foundation of slab constructions and anchoring of vertical bearing constructions). Values of radial tensile stress at an interval of 9.0 to 21.0 MPa and tangential tensile stress at an interval of 1.4 to 16.0 MPa were calculated on vertical load 100 kN at the top of the construction). The construction makes possible to achieve a span as far as 60 m with effective canvas strain at large radius curvature from 80 m to 100 m.

Fusarium head blight (FHB) is a serious cereal disease in the CzechRepublic. The most important pathogen associated with FBH is Fusarium graminearum, which can produce trichothecenes, mainly deoxynivalenol (DON) and its derivates. A set of 103 F. graminearum isolates were isolated from naturally infected wheat ears collected from 20 localities (25 ears from one locality) within the Czech Republic, in the year 2004. The ears were evaluated for DON content by ELISA. Maximum detected value was 30.7 mg/kg. A group of PCR assays targeting the segments of the Tri7, Tri13 and Tri3 genes were used to determine the chemotypes of F. graminearum isolates. All the isolates belonged to DON producing chemotype. Further discrimination revealed that almost all (99.03%) isolates belonged to 15-ADON chemotype, and only one (0.97%) isolate belonged to 3-ADON chemotype. The genetic variability of the isolates was assessed from their AFLP fingerprints. The populations were highly heterogeneous both within and between locations, and no clear evidence for the association between AFLP profile and geographic origin was found out.

Combined retrograde tracing and double labelling immunohistochemistry were applied to study the distribution and chemical coding of autonomic neurons projecting to the ovine hip joint capsule. As revealed by retrograde tracing, fast blue-positive autonomic neurons supplying the lateral side of the hip joint capsule and the medial side of the hip joint capsule were located within the lumbar and sacral of the ipsilateral sympathetic chain ganglia and within the caudal mesenteric ganglion. Immunohistochemistry revealed that nearly all (sympathetic chain ganglia: 96% and caudal mesenteric ganglion: 98.8%) the neurons were adrenergic in nature (positive for dopamine β-hydroxylase). Many retrogradely labelled neurons also displayed immunoreactivity to neuropeptide Y (approximately 34% of fast blue-positive neurons within caudal mesenteric ganglion and sympathetic chain ganglia). Populations of Met-Enk⁺ (20%) and Leu-Enk⁺ (6%) neurons were present only in the sympathetic chain ganglia while within caudal mesenteric ganglion no enkephalinergic-labelled neurons were noted. Only a small population (2.2%) of hip joint capsule-projecting neurons were Gal-IR and they were observed only within the caudal mesenteric ganglion. No cholinergic neurons involved in the innervation of the hip joint capsule were found. However, fast blue-positive nerve cell bodies were surrounded by numerous cholinergic nerve fibres often forming basket-like formations. Single Gal⁺ nerve fibres were found in the intraganglionic connective tissue. Substance P-positive or calcitonin gene-related peptide-positive intraganglionic nerve terminals were very numerous and formed "baskets" surrounding fast blue-positive perikarya within sympathetic chain ganglias and caudal mesenteric ganglion.

Benzodiazepines exert hypnotic/sedative effects through their inhibitory actions on the γ-aminobutyric acid receptor type A. Since flumazenil antagonises these effects through competitive inhibition of the receptor, it has been used to reverse the effect of benzodiazepines. The goal of this study was to characterise the antagonistic effect of flumazenil on anaesthesia induced by tiletamine-zolazepam in dogs. Nine healthy Beagle dogs (four males, five females) were used in this study. The dogs were administered 20 mg/kg of tiletamine-zolazepam intravenously and were then intravenously treated with saline solution (2 ml; control) or flumazenil twenty minutes after tiletamine-zolazepam administration at doses of 0.02, 0.04, 0.06, 0.08 or 0.16 mg/kg. Recovery times after the anaesthesia and cardiorespiratory variation were recorded for each dog. The results of this study indicate that the duration of reversal produced by doses of 0.04 and 0.06 mg/kg flumazenil was more effective than that produced by any of the other doses. In addition, sedation was rapidly reversible at 0.04 and 0.06 mg/kg without resedation. However, at doses of 0.08 and 0.16 mg/kg adverse effects such as shivering, rigidity and opisthotonos were observed. Thus, treatment with flumazenil at doses of 0.04 and 0.06 mg/kg could successfully reverse the anaesthetic effects induced by tiletamine-zolazepam.

Destroying of forest lands and landuse changes have caused undesirable effects in the watershed hydrologic conditions. Landuse and vegetation are important factors in soil erosion and runoff generation. This research has been done using a runoff-rainfall model, sediment-erosion model, Geographical Information System and remote sensing to determine the hydrologic effects of deforestation on Kasilian watershed (north of Iran). A runoff-rainfall model has been presented using GIS (HEC-GeoHMS extension) and hydrologic model (HEC-HMS). The SCS method has been used for presenting the hydrologic model. It is to note that the optimized model is evaluated by other six events of floods. Then, the optimized model has been validated. Erosion potential method model has been applied in GIS environment to simulate soil erosion and sediment rate. According to the obtained results, the runoff and sediment generation potential have been increased in the Kasilian watershed due to deforestation during the last forty years.

The tolerance, accumulation and subcellular distribution characteristics of cadmium (Cd) in ramie (Boehmeria nivea L. Gaud.) were investigated using a 2-year field experiment. The results indicated that ramie has a certain extent of tolerance to soil Cd (≤ 20 mg/kg) contamination with no significant decrease in shoot biomass and fibre yield relative to control conditions. Although ramie did not hyperaccumulate Cd, it accumulated considerable amount of Cd in the aboveground parts (approximately 0.19 to 1.09 kg/ha annually). The Cd contents retained in ramie tissues were found in order of roots > stems > leaves. Further, regarding the subcellular distribution of Cd in ramie tissues, 80% of the total Cd was bound to the cell walls of the roots and stems, whereas in leaves the proportion of Cd stored in the cell wall fraction was around 60% and a lesser amount of Cd was stored in the soluble fraction (24.1-25.5%). Our collective results indicated that ramie adapts to Cd stress via the store of a large amount of Cd in cell walls, and suggested potential usefulness of ramie in the phytoremediation of Cd-contaminated farmlands.

The paper presents the results from three different experimental plots in mountain areas in Slovakia. Annual interception losses varied in mature forest stand in Poľana Mts. (850 m a.s.l.) in mixtured (spruce, fir, beech) from 10.6 to 23.5%, in spruce from 20.5 to 35.5% and in beech forest from 8.8 to 26.9%. Horizontal precipitation reduces long-term average of interception loss by 3.2% (mixtured and spruce) and 2.9% for beech forest. Decline process in supramontane spruce forest has significant influence on interception process in climax spruce stand in Červenec. Mean biweekly interception loss in the central crown zone near the stem during growing seasons was 76.9% in living and 69.2% in dead forest. In the gap canopy interception loss was observed 11.7% in living and 17.9% in dead forest, in the dripping zone under the crown periphery 11.1% in living and 25.7% in dead forest. Results from the experimental catchment Lomnistá dolina showed that forest ecosystems increase the variability of rainfall amounts infiltrated to the soil environment in mountain watersheds, interception loss varied in a wide range: from 42 up to -10% due to altitudinal influence, tree species composition, stand age, and horizontal precipitation occurence.

The population genetic evaluation of the Hungarian Hucul horse population was performed based on pedigree records. Herd book data of registered Hucul horses available up to 2016 were analysed using ENDOG (Gutierrez and Goyache 2005) and POPREP (Groeneveld et al. 2009) on the whole population (WP) as well as on the reference stock (RS) (breeding stock registered in 2016). Inbreeding coefficients were 5.57% (WP) and 7.18% (RS). Average relatedness was 10.39% in WP and higher in RS (12.67%). Effective population size was 52.32. Generation interval was 13.01 years for WP and 10.99 years for RS. The values for equivalent complete generations were 6.07 and 8.75, for the maximum number of generations 14.11 and 19.16, and for the number of full generations traced 3.77 and 5.50 for WP and RS, respectively. The effective number of founders (f_e) was 23 both for WP and RS. The effective number of ancestors (f_a) was 20 in WP and lower in RS (16). The f_a/f_e ratio was 0.869 in WP and 0.696 in RS. Founder genome equivalent (f_g) was 9.618 in WP and 5.790 in RS. The f_g/f_e ratio was 0.481 in WP and 0.361 in RS. The study revealed that both the inbreeding coefficient and the average relatedness were high. The above mentioned ratios indicated loss of genetic diversity in the Hungarian Hucul population.