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The present study applies the discontinuous Galerkin finite element method to a numerical simulation of a compressible fluid flow through a labyrinth seal. This paper is proposes a curvilinear hexahedral element, which is deformed in such a way that it matches the rotated walls of the labyrinth seal exactly. A numerical study is performed on the staggered labyrinth seal with two teeth on the rotor and one tooth on the stator. For numerical simulation, three computational meshes with different refinement are considered. All of the numerical simulations are performed for both stationary rotor and for rotor rotating at 50 Hz. The obtained numerical results are compared with results computed by the commercial CFD software Ansys Fluent.

Due to insufficient appreciation for the breeding of dairy sheep, breeds of sheep without market milk production have started to gain popularity in Slovakia. Particularly, meat breeds are coming to the forefront, with their breeding being less demanding and more efficient, reflected mainly in the daily weight gains of growing lambs. Study aimed to analyse the utility and reproductive parameters of breeding the meat breeds Suffolk, located in central Slovakia, in the Rimavská Sobota district. Analysis is supplemented by a detailed description of the breed standard and devotes attention to all the tasks carried out on the farm during the sheep farming year. It focuses mainly on a simple year-round grazing system without housing, utilizing only shelters for protection against adverse weather conditions. Analysed utility and reproductive parameters such as average daily gains, loin muscle thickness, backfat thickness, and fertility were compared and evaluated over the last seven years. Results indicate that the evaluated parameters are mainly influenced by the size of the flock, the number of ewes put to ram, the individual approach to each breeding ewe, and environmental factors. Number of offspring is mainly influenced by the nutrition of the dam in the last third of pregnancy. Despite the simplicity of the breeding system, monitored breeding can achieve above-average results with proper management and innovative approaches.

Background: Improved technologies for chromatin accessibility sequencing such as ATAC-seq have increased our understanding of gene regulation mechanisms, particularly in disease conditions such as cancer. Methods: This study introduces a computational tool that quantifies and establishes connections between chromatin accessibility, transcription factor binding, transcription factor mutations, and gene expression using publicly available colorectal cancer data. The tool has been packaged using a workflow management system to allow biologists and researchers to reproduce the results of this study. Results: We present compelling evidence linking chromatin accessibility to gene expression, with particular emphasis on SNP mutations and the accessibility of transcription factor genes. Furthermore, we have identified significant upregulation of key transcription factor interactions in colon cancer patients, including the apoptotic regulation facilitated by E2F1, MYC, and MYCN, as well as activation of the BCL-2 protein family facilitated by TP73. Conclusion: This study demonstrates the effectiveness of the computational tool in linking chromatin accessibility to gene expression and highlights significant transcription factor interactions in colorectal cancer. The code for this project is openly available on GitHub.

The widespread adoption of the Internet of Things (IoT) partly depends on the successful design and deployment of IoT nodes that can operate for several years without any service outage and the need to replace their energy storage systems (ESSs) (e.g., battery, capacitor, or supercapacitor) when all the stored energy is depleted or when the cycle life of the ESSs is reached. Replacing batteries in the case of large-scale IoT networks and nodes located in places that are hard to reach is very challenging and costly, requiring the design of IoT nodes that can operate for several years without the need for human intervention. One such example is the deployment of IoT nodes in large agricultural fields (for soil or crop monitoring) or a long-distance pipeline (for pipeline monitoring). In this paper, we investigated the practical implications of imposing energy-saving thresholds on the energy performance metrics of green IoT nodes. We propose an energy packet-based model for the evaluation of the energy performance of a green IoT node with the possibility of switching the node to energy-saving regimes on the fly when the energy content of the ESS reaches defined thresholds. Configuring single or multiple thresholds improves the energy performance of the node significantly (e.g., increases the lifetime of the node and reduces the probability of service outage and energy wastage), and the value of the threshold(s) should be carefully chosen. The energy performance of the IoT node can also be improved by dimensioning the energy harvesting system to ensure that the node operates for several years without running out of energy (e.g., maximizing the lifetime of the nodes and minimizing the probability of service outage and energy wastage).

In this paper, a numerical simulation and experimental measurements of compressible viscous fluid flow in simplified blade cascade are compared. The cascade consists of five flat plates three of which perform prescribed harmonic motion. The computed unsteady velocity field is compared with experimental measurements at selected points. Moreover, the power spectral density corresponding to the frequency of harmonic motion is computed for both the numerical and experimental data and compared. The numerical simulation was performed using the developed in-house CFD software based on the discontinuous Galerkin method, which offers high order of accuracy.

AbstractAnalysis of the qualitative signature of fatty acids in tissues of organisms is an increasingly utilized tool in studies of trophic ecology in aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. Here, we studied a colonial waterbird, the black-headed gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus, nesting in three colonies. We aimed to investigate whether fatty acid composition of its eggs is affected by the location of the colony (reflecting the spatial variation in habitat composition and, in turn, female diet at the time of egg formation), and the egg laying sequence (reflecting the temporal variation in female diet). We found that the composition of fatty acids in eggs of black-headed gulls differed among colonies, but not among subsequent eggs within the clutch. We interpret these results in the context of spatial differences in the diet of females breeding in different colonies and a lack of temporal variation in the diet of individual females. The pattern of the ratio of omega-3 to omega-6 fatty acids reflected the contribution of aquatic/terrestrial prey to their diet, and was consistent with the area of water courses around the colonies. High levels of omega-6:omega-3 can promote inflammation and thus lead to increased susceptibility to antigens. Further studies with prey sampling are required to reconstruct the diet composition of females during egg formation in more detail.

Reducing the emission of global warming gases currently remains one of the strategic tasks. Therefore, the objective of our work was to determine the effect of saponite clay on fermentation in the rumen of cows. The pH, total gas production, CH4, and volatile fatty acid (VFA) production in ruminal fluid was determined in vitro. Saponite clay from the Tashkiv deposit (Ukraine) has a high content of silicon, iron, aluminum, and magnesium. The addition of 0.15 and 0.25 g of saponite clay to the incubated mixture did not change the pH but reduced the total production (19% and 31%, respectively) and CH4 (24% and 46%, respectively) in the ruminal fluid compared to the control group and had no significant effect on the total VFA levels, but propionic acid increased by 15% and 21% and butyric acid decreased by 39% and 32%, respectively. We observed a decrease in the fermentation rates, with a simultaneous increase in the P:B ratio and an increase in the fermentation efficiency (FE) in the groups fermented with saponite clay, probably a consequence of the high efficiency in the breakdown of starch in the rumen. Therefore, further in vivo studies to determine the effective dose and effect of saponite clay on cow productivity and the reduction of gas emissions are promising and important.

The widespread adoption of the Internet of Things (IoT) partly depends on the successful design and deployment of IoT nodes that can operate for several years without any service outage and the need to replace their energy storage systems (ESSs) (e.g., battery, capacitor, or supercapacitor) when all the stored energy is depleted or when the cycle life of the ESSs is reached. Replacing batteries in the case of large-scale IoT networks and nodes located in places that are hard to reach is very challenging and costly, requiring the design of IoT nodes that can operate for several years without the need for human intervention. One such example is the deployment of IoT nodes in large agricultural fields (for soil or crop monitoring) or a long-distance pipeline (for pipeline monitoring). In this paper, we investigated the practical implications of imposing energy-saving thresholds on the energy performance metrics of green IoT nodes. We propose an energy packet-based model for the evaluation of the energy performance of a green IoT node with the possibility of switching the node to energy-saving regimes on the fly when the energy content of the ESS reaches defined thresholds. Configuring single or multiple thresholds improves the energy performance of the node significantly (e.g., increases the lifetime of the node and reduces the probability of service outage and energy wastage), and the value of the threshold(s) should be carefully chosen. The energy performance of the IoT node can also be improved by dimensioning the energy harvesting system to ensure that the node operates for several years without running out of energy (e.g., maximizing the lifetime of the nodes and minimizing the probability of service outage and energy wastage). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water deficit is one of the most important stress factors affecting yield and production quality. Breeders are focusing on breeding wheat cultivars and crop lines that are more resistant to water deficit, so there is a possibility that plants with changes in their ear morphologies, such as long chaff and multi-rowed varieties, will be more resistant to water deficit. Therefore, our research focused on the study of changes in the physiological parameters of wheat cultivar ‘Bohemia’ (normal cob) with an altered morphotype (genotypes ‘284-17’ (long chaff) and genotype ‘29-17’ (multirow cob)), in relation to the duration of the water deficit. The experiment was set up as a container experiment under partially controlled greenhouse conditions. The experimental design included four treatments. The control (C) variant was irrigated regularly. The other treatments were stressed by water deficit, which was induced through the method of gradually drying the substrate: treatment D1 involved 10 days without irrigation, 4 days of watering, 10 days with a re-induced water deficit and 4 days of watering; treatment D2 involved 10 days of watering, and then stress was induced via water deficit until the end of the experiment; treatment D3 involved 10 days of stress and then irrigation until the end of the experiment. The pigment content, gas exchange rate, chlorophyll fluorescence and water potential were monitored in the juvenile wheat plants. The obtained results showed that the contents of photosynthetically active pigments (chlorophyll a and b and carotenoids) were influenced by the gene type. The chlorophyll and carotenoid content were higher in genotype ‘29-17’ (0.080 and 1.925 nM cm−2, respectively) and lowest in cultivar ‘Bohemia’ (0.080 and 0.080 nM cm−2, respectively). The chlorophyll content decreased due to water deficit most significantly in the D2 variant (0.071 nM cm−2), compared to the control (0.138 nM cm−2). The carotenoid content significantly decreased due to water deficiency in the cultivar ‘Bohemia’, D2 (0.061 nM cm−2) and the genotype ‘284-17’ (0.075 nM cm−2) and non-significantly decreased in ‘29-17’ (1.785 nM cm−2). In the control plants, the carotenoid content decreased in the following order: genotype ‘29-17’ (1.853 nM cm−2) > genotype ‘284-17’ (0.088 nM cm−2) > cv. ‘Bohemia’ (0.087 nM cm−2). Wheat plants had a decreased photosynthetic rate due to the closure of stomata and reduction in substomatal CO2 levels, which were caused by water deficit. The above effect was observed in genotype ‘29-17’ and cultivar ‘Bohemia’. The transpiration rate increased by 0.099 mM m−2 s−1 (5.69%) in the variety ‘Bohemia’, due to water deficit. On the other hand, the transpiration rate of genotype ‘29-17’ and genotype ‘284-17’ decreased by 0.261 mM m−2 s−1 (88.19%) and 0.325 mM m−2 s−1 (81.67%), respectively, compared to the control. Among the genotypes studied, genotype ‘29-17’ showed higher photosynthesis and transpiration rates, compared to genotype ‘284-17’ and the variety ‘Bohemia’. The effect of genotype and water deficit on chlorophyll fluorescence parameters was also shown. In all genotypes studied, there was a significant decrease in water potential due to water deficit, most significantly in the Bohemia variety, then in the genotype ‘284-17’, and the least significant decrease in water potential was seen in the genotype ‘29-17’. Genotype ‘29-17’ appears promising with respect to drought tolerance and photosynthetic rate, despite increased transpiration and reduced water potential; it also appears promising for better water management, with respect to reduced water potential in aboveground organs. On the other hand, the variety Bohemia appears to be less suitable for dry areas, since, despite its relative plasticity, it shows not only high water potential values in the water deficit region but also the most significant decrease in water potential.

The ability to localize a sound source in complex environments is essential for communication and navigation. Spatial hearing relies predominantly on the comparison of differences in the arrival time of sound between the two ears, the interaural time differences (ITDs). Hearing impairments are highly detrimental to sound localization. While cochlear implants (CIs) have been successful in restoring many crucial hearing capabilities, sound localization via ITD detection with bilateral CIs remains poor. The underlying reasons are not well understood. Neuronally, ITD sensitivity is generated by coincidence detection between excitatory and inhibitory inputs from the two ears performed by specialized brainstem neurons. Due to the lack of electrophysiological brainstem recordings during CI stimulation, it is unclear to what extent the apparent deficits are caused by the binaural comparator neurons or arise already on the input level. Here, we use a bottom-up approach to compare response features between electric and acoustic stimulation in an animal model of CI hearing. Conducting extracellular single neuron recordings in gerbils, we find severe hyper-precision and moderate hyper-entrainment of both the excitatory and inhibitory brainstem inputs to the binaural comparator neurons during electrical pulse-train stimulation. This finding establishes conclusively that the binaural processing stage must cope with highly altered input statistics during CI stimulation. To estimate the consequences of these effects on ITD sensitivity, we used a computational model of the auditory brainstem. After tuning the model parameters to match its response properties to our physiological data during either stimulation type, the model predicted that ITD sensitivity to electrical pulses is maintained even for the hyper-precise inputs. However, the model exhibits severely altered spatial sensitivity during electrical stimulation compared to acoustic: while resolution of ITDs near midline was increased, more lateralized adjacent source locations became inseparable. These results directly resemble recent findings in rodent and human CI listeners. Notably, decreasing the phase-locking precision of inputs during electrical stimulation recovered a wider range of separable ITDs. Together, our findings suggest that a central problem underlying the diminished ITD sensitivity in CI users might be the temporal hyper-precision of inputs to the binaural comparator stage induced by electrical stimulation.

Background: Improved technologies for chromatin accessibility sequencing such as ATAC-seq have increased our understanding of gene regulation mechanisms, particularly in disease conditions such as cancer. Methods: This study introduces a computational tool that quantifies and establishes connections between chromatin accessibility, transcription factor binding, transcription factor mutations, and gene expression using publicly available colorectal cancer data. The tool has been packaged using a workflow management system to allow biologists and researchers to reproduce the results of this study. Results: We present compelling evidence linking chromatin accessibility to gene expression, with particular emphasis on SNP mutations and the accessibility of transcription factor genes. Furthermore, we have identified significant upregulation of key transcription factor interactions in colon cancer patients, including the apoptotic regulation facilitated by E2F1, MYC, and MYCN, as well as activation of the BCL-2 protein family facilitated by TP73. Conclusion: This study demonstrates the effectiveness of the computational tool in linking chromatin accessibility to gene expression and highlights significant transcription factor interactions in colorectal cancer. The code for this project is openly available on GitHub. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our perception is based on active sensing, i.e., the relationship between self-motion and resulting changes to sensory inputs. Yet, traditional experimental paradigms are characterized by delayed reactions to a predetermined stimulus sequence. To increase the engagement of subjects and potentially provide richer behavioral responses, we developed Sensory Island Task for humans (SITh), a freely-moving search paradigm to study auditory perception. In SITh, subjects navigate an arena in search of an auditory target, relying solely on changes in the presented stimulus frequency, which is controlled by closed-loop position tracking. A “target frequency” was played when subjects entered a circular sub-area of the arena, the “island”, while different frequencies were presented outside the island. Island locations were randomized across trials, making stimulus frequency the only informative cue for task completion. Two versions of SITh were studied: binary discrimination, and gradual change of the stimulus frequency. The latter version allowed determining frequency discrimination thresholds based on the subjects’ report of the perceived island location (i.e., target frequency). Surprisingly, subjects exhibited similar thresholds as reported in traditional “stationary” forced-choice experiments after performing only 30 trials, highlighting the intuitive nature of SITh. Notably, subjects spontaneously employed a small variety of stereotypical search patterns, and their usage proportions varied between task versions. Moreover, frequency discrimination performance depended on the search pattern used. Overall, we demonstrate that the use of an ecologically driven paradigm is able to reproduce established findings while simultaneously providing rich behavioral data for the description of sensory ethology.

Although fiber-reinforced polymers (FRPs) have achieved increasing popularity in strengthening concrete structures and reinforcing new ones, there is to date insufficient knowledge about their long-term behavior. The long-term properties of FRPs specified in design codes lead to the low utilization capacity of these materials and are not supposed to be correct according to the actual behavior of structures reinforced with FRPs after 20 or 30 years of their use. Environmental impact reduction factors limit the mechanical properties of FRP composites in a range from 0.95 for CFRP to 0.5 for GFRP; the creep rupture factor is from 0.9 to 0.2. The paper summarizes previous research and experimental studies on the long-term properties of FRP reinforcements and also their comparison with the actual structures in which this reinforcement has been used; it presents the first part of an experimental investigation with comparative calculations.

Given growing concerns about the use of antibiotics in the treatment of animals, identifying organic alternatives as feed additives to improve animal health and the development of immune responses has become of interest in dairy farming. Humic acids (HA) seem to be a suitable alternative with a favorable impact on the health and production parameters of animals. This study aimed to determine the effects of an HA supplemented diet on milk parameters as well as the effects on somatic cell count (SCC) and the occurrence of mastitis in dairy cows during the peripartum period. Twenty dairy cows in the last stage of pregnancy were selected from a herd of 140 cows. The selected cows were randomly divided into two groups: control (C) and experimental (E). The two groups were fed the same feed mixture and group E was additionally supplemented with HA at a total dose of 100 g per cow per day during the last 50 days of pregnancy. The milk parameters (dry matter, lactose, fat, crude protein, casein and milk urea) and SCC of every cow, and the presence of mastitis, were checked on days 10 and 30 during the first month of lactation. The results of the study show that dietary supplementation with HA significantly reduced the milk urea (MU) content and SCC on the 10th day after calving but did not affect the other milk compositions. In addition to the decreased MU and SCC, the number of positive quarters detected by the California Mastitis Test was reduced by 20.0% and the occurrence of mastitis caused by coagulase-negative staphylococci (CNS). Based on the obtained results we can conclude that the addition of HA stabilizes the nutrient digestion, as was confirmed by a reduced MU content in the supplemented group. Their indirect beneficial effects improved the development of immune responses, resulting in decreased SCC and the occurrence of mastitis caused by CNS.

This study aimed to analyse changes in the profile of long-chain fatty acids in the ruminal fluid of cows during in vitro fermentation, using different proportions of maize DDGS (distillers dried grains with solubles) as a substrate. The serum bottles were filled with 1 g of concentrate feed (C), which consisted of cereal middlings, postextraction rapeseed meal, and soybean meal. Substrates I, II, and III contained the same ingredients as substrate C, but also included DDGS at increasing proportions, while substrate IV contained only DDGS. Ruminal fluid with a buffer was then added to the bottles and incubated for 4, 8, and 24 h. After incubation, the fatty acid profile was analysed using a gas chromatograph. The use of DDGS as a substrate resulted in a decrease in SFA, and an increase in the proportion of UFA, including oleic acid (C18:1n9c) and linoleic acid (C18:2n6c). The fermentation profile with 15% and 20% DDGS in TMR proved to be the most beneficial. These findings suggest that the byproduct of bioethanol production could potentially improve the fatty acid profile in the ruminal fluid, resulting in higher-quality animal products.

Methanogenesis plays a crucial role in the digestive process of ruminant animals. During this process, methanogenic archaea produce methane as a byproduct of their metabolism. However, the production of methane by ruminants is also a significant contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. Methane is a potent greenhouse gas that has a 28-fold greater global warming potential than carbon dioxide. Around 15% of all anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions are generated by livestock. Therefore, reducing methane emissions from ruminant livestock is an important goal for reducing the environmental impact of agriculture. There is a variety of strategies that can be used to reduce methane emissions, including dietary modifications, genetic selection, microbiome manipulation, and feed additives, such as plant secondary metabolites, methane inhibitors, lipids, essential oils, and algae. The main and important objective of this paper is to critically discuss the current strategies proposed to reduce methane emissions from livestock. Though many strategies, such as chemical intervention, have remarkably reduced methane emissions from ruminants, their usage remains unappealing because of health and safety concerns as well as consumer decisions. Hence, genetic animal selection and biological feed additives, such as probiotics and secondary plant metabolites, have emerged as promising techniques for mitigating enteric methane emissions. These strategies are highly promising, but more intensive research is needed to validate these approaches and assess their effectiveness in reducing methane production by ruminants.

Columns are one of the basic types of vertical load-bearing elements. In buildings, they are used where there is a requirement to create free spaces. This results in an effort to minimize the cross-section dimensions of the column and to maximize the use of its resistance. The need of the increase in resistance is the reason for columns strengthening. The choice of a suitable strengthening method must take into account the way the column is loaded. Some methods are universal, the others are more effective in the case of predominant compressive, or predominant bending loading. In presented research, the attention is focused on strengthening slender reinforced concrete columns by progressive methods - FRP (fibre reinforced polymer) and FRC (fibre reinforced concrete) applications. For slender columns, second-order effects must be taken into account. The current Eurocode lists three methods of analysing these effects. The simplified methods proposed for the analysis of a reinforced concrete column cannot be applied directly to the calculation of the resistance of a column strengthened by any of the progressive methods. The article is devoted to the calculation of column resistance using a general method that allows the contribution to column resistance from strengthening to be considered.

The difficult distinction between reality and virtuality, between fact and fiction, user and reader, and between author and narrator becomes the inseparable quality of digital literature. Using the example of "Datenpoesie" (2018) by the Austrian artist Jörg Piringer, the article examines the boundary between an electronic device as a medium competing with the traditional carrier such as books, and a technological format that already has effects on the genres.

As in other countries, in the Czech Republic, Streptococcus suis infection in pigs is considered an economically significant disease for the pig industry, though little is known about its population structure. We collected S. suis isolates from 144 farms in the years 2018–2022. All samples were taken from animals suffering from symptoms indicating possible S. suis infection. Serotyping revealed the presence of 23 different serotypes, and 18.94% were non-typable strains. The most common was S7 (14.96%), while other serotypes had frequencies of less than 10%. Sequence typing identified 56 different sequence types, including 31 newly assigned sequence types together with 41 new alleles in genes in the MLST schema. A large portion of isolates (25.70%) were of unknown sequence type. The most common sequence types were ST29 (14.77%) and ST28 (10.04%); the other sequence types had frequencies of less than 10%. In total, 100 different combinations of serotypes and sequence types were identified. Among them, S7ST29 was found in 72 isolates, representing 13.63% of all isolates, and was significantly associated with the central nervous system. Many other isolates of particular serotype and sequence type combinations were found in a few cases, and a number of isolates were non-typable.

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Early identification of mastitis is a serious challenge for dairy farmers and veterinarians in ensuring the health of an animal and the hygienic quality of the produced milk. The purpose of this study was to detect the occurrence and aetiology of mastitis in a dairy herd of 153 milked cows localised in a farm in west Slovakia. During the complex investigation, 606 quarter milk samples were examined (6 quarters were discarded) and classified based on the clinical status, the presence of abnormal udder secretions, the result of the California mastitis test (CMT), the somatic cell count (SCC) and the bacteriological identification of the pathogens causing the intramammary infection (IMI). The study was augmented by the detection of malondialdehyde (MDA) in the milk and the measurements of the blood enzymatic activities of glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) as potential biomarkers for the udder health screening. A positive CMT score was recorded in 19.5% (118) of the examined quarters and 12.5% (76) of the quarters were infected with bacterial pathogens causing latent mastitis (LM; 1.3%), subclinical mastitis (SM; 8.3%), and clinical mastitis (CM; 2.9%). The most commonly isolated bacteria from the infected quarters were coagulase-negative staphylococci (55.2%), Staphylococcus aureus (11.8%) and streptococci (10.5%). The concentration of MDA and SCC were significantly higher from both the SM and CM cases than in the milk samples from the healthy cows, while the blood activities of SOD and GPx were lower in the cows with CM compared to the healthy cows. The higher MDA concentrations in the SM and CM milk observed in this study showed the presence of an oxidative stress in the infected milk, accompanied by a decrease in the antioxidative enzymatic activity in the blood of the cows. Therefore, the measurement of the milk MDA concentration and the activity of the blood SOD and GPx may prove insightful for the better screening of the udder health in the early diagnosis of mastitis.

Mastitis is still one of the major causes of economic losses in dairy sector. The routine application of bacteriologic examination of milk samples is often insufficient and for this reason, alternative parameters are used to identify trends in the development of the udder health. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to determine the relationship of oxidative product levels, using malondialdehyde (MDA) as a marker on occurrence of mastitis and its causing pathogens. Dairy herd of 223 Slovak spotted cattle were tested for etiology and occurrence of mastitis based on assessment of clinical signs, abnormal udder secretions, Californian Mastitis Test (CMT) with subsequent collecting of milk samples for bacteriological examination. From 892 quarter milk samples were selected for MDA detection 51 subclinical (SM) and 26 clinical mastitis (CM) quarters with positive CMT score and positive bacteriological examination of Staphylococcus spp. and Streptococcus spp. as well 40 healthy quarters. Results showed that among the current pathogens of the mammary gland belong CNS, S. aureus, S. sanguinis, S. uberis and E. coli, which were the most frequently isolated from SM and CM. The highest MDA level was observed from clinical cases of mastitis however, increased MDA levels were detectable from subclinical cases. Bacterial isolates from subclinical quarter milk samples are different levels of MDA. In this study, we found that quarter milk samples infected with S. uberis were higher compared to other pathogens. In conclusion, differences in both severity of mastitis and mastitic pathogens were associated with differences of oxidative products in infected udders.

The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of additional colostrum feeding to new born calves on levels of selected serum protein fractions. The study was conducted on a commercial dairy farm. Twenty-four cows of Polish Holstein-Friesian breed and their calves were included in the trial. Chemical composition, the somatic cell count (SCC), the total bacteria count (TBC) and immunoglobulin G (IgG) concentration were determined in colostrum samples. Blood was collected via jugular vein puncture from a total of 24 calves at the 36th hour of life. Total serum protein (TSP), as well as its fractions (albumins, globulins) and IgG concentration were determined. Greater IgG, total protein, albumins and globulins concentrations were found in serum of calves fed colostrum four times compared with three times on the first day of life. It was concluded that increasing the number of colostrum feedings to four times can be beneficial to forming of passive immunity of newborn calves.

The aim of the research was to establish relations between the selected rumen fermentation products and the milk composition in dairy cows. The experiment was conducted on 10 Polish Holstein-Friesian cows of black and white variety. The animals were kept in the free stall housing system and fed with the total mixed ration (TMR). The herd’s milk production was assessed using the A4 method and the milk analyses were obtained from the milk recordings. The rumen digesta were sampled two hours after the morning delivery of TMR using a stomach pump. The sampled digesta were diluted with buffer, homogenized and the obtained suspension was analysed using gas chromatograph with the FID detector to determine the total concentration of volatile fatty acids (VFA) and the percentage of individual VFAs. Milk composition was obtained from the RW-1 reports, and the Pearson correlation coefficient was calculated for the obtained parameters. It was determined that propionate and the relation of propionate to butyrate in the rumen digesta increased the protein content and its fractions in milk. The volatile fatty acids utilization coefficient in the rumen digesta a positive correlation to protein contents and a negative correlation to the level of caseins in milk were shown. Processes taking place in the cow rumen significantly influence the composition and quality of milk. The knowledge of volatile fatty acids content and the of individual VFAs allows for the management of the rumen fermentation in order to obtain better technological parameters of milk.

A central function of sensory systems is the gathering of information about dynamic interactions with the environment during self-motion. To determine whether modulation of a sensory cue was externally caused or a result of self-motion is fundamental to perceptual invariance and requires the continuous update of sensory processing about recent movements. This process is highly context-dependent and crucial for perceptual performances such as decision-making and sensory object formation. Yet despite its fundamental ecological role, voluntary self-motion is rarely incorporated in perceptual or neurophysiological investigations of sensory processing in animals. Here, we present the Sensory Island Task (SIT), a new freely moving search paradigm to study sensory processing and perception. In SIT, animals explore an open-field arena to find a sensory target relying solely on changes in the presented stimulus, which is controlled by closed-loop position tracking in real-time. Within a few sessions, animals are trained via positive reinforcement to search for a particular area in the arena (“target island”), which triggers the presentation of the target stimulus. The location of the target island is randomized across trials, making the modulated stimulus feature the only informative cue for task completion. Animals report detection of the target stimulus by remaining within the island for a defined time (“sit-time”). Multiple “non-target” islands can be incorporated to test psychometric discrimination and identification performance. We exemplify the suitability of SIT for rodents (Mongolian gerbil, Meriones unguiculatus) and small primates (mouse lemur, Microcebus murinus) and for studying various sensory perceptual performances (auditory frequency discrimination, sound source localization, visual orientation discrimination). Furthermore, we show that pairing SIT with chronic electrophysiological recordings allows revealing neuronal signatures of sensory processing under ecologically relevant conditions during goal-oriented behavior. In conclusion, SIT represents a flexible and easily implementable behavioral paradigm for mammals that combines self-motion and natural exploratory behavior to study sensory sensitivity and decision-making and their underlying neuronal processing.

Abstract Background Dietary fat is considered one of the most important factors associated with blood lipid metabolism and plays a significant role in the cause and prevention of atherosclerosis that has been widely accepted as an inflammatory disease of the vascular system. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of genetically modified flaxseed (W86) rich in phenylpropanoid compounds and hydrolysable tannin in high cholesterol-induced atherosclerosis rabbit models compared to parental cultivar Linola. Methods Twenty-Eight White New Zealand white rabbits aged 6 months were randomly divided into four groups, control group, high cholesterol group (10 g/kg), Linola flaxseed group (100 g/kg) and W86 flaxseed group (100 g/kg). The rabbits were fed a normal diet or a high cholesterol diet for 10 weeks. Levels of blood lipids, hematological values, total antioxidative status and superoxide dismutase activity in serum were determined. Moreover, body weight and feed intake were measured after sixth and tenth weeks. After each stage of the experiment atherogenic indexes (non-HDL-C/HDL-C, LDL-C/HDL-C, and atherogenic index of plasma) was calculated. Results The intake of a dyslipidaemic diet negatively influenced lipid profile in rabbits at the 10 weeks of feeding. W86 flaxseed significantly decreased total cholesterol, LDL-C, VLDL-C and TG serum levels in cholesterolemic rabbits compared with parental Linola after 10 weeks. Atherogenic indexes decreased over time with a significant difference between the diets and they were the best for W86 flaxseed. Similarly, the experimental addition of W86 significantly decreased atherogenic predictors such as heterophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio, and the mean platelet volume-to-lymphocyte ratio. In rabbits, W86 flaxseed increased the activity of superoxide dismutase and total antioxidative status compared to Linola. Conclusions Results of the presented study suggest that the addition of W86 flaxseed alleviate serum lipid changes in high cholesterolemic diet-administered rabbits. W86 flaxseed significantly reduced atherogenic indexes, as compared with the Linola and indicate that W86 flaxseed more effectively red CVD risk factors during hypercholesterolemia. Moreover, the presented result suggested that W86 flaxseed can be a part of a heart-healthy and antiatherogenic diet for the human.

The composition and properties of mammary glands’ secretions are influenced by numerous genetic and environmental factors. Types and quality of the feed and feed additives determine the characteristics and quality of products of animal origin. In terms of quality and quantity, the desired effects may be achieved only when the feed ration fully responds to the needs of the animal. Not supplying the required components with the feed affects the composition of both, colostrum and milk, and reduces their production, which influences health condition of animals and - as a result - food safety. Milk and milk products are considered functional food not only due to high nutritional value but also due to positive impact on human health. Nowadays there are various initiatives to produce the so-called healthy food obtained through specially programmed nutrition of animals, which means enriching foodstuffs in biologically active substances. In order to obtain good physicochemical parameters in colostrum and milk of ruminants, it is vital to use high quality feeds in order to satisfy protein and energy demand in animals, and mineral and vitamin contents in the feed ration should be properly balanced. It is also important to use energy additives in dry cows. Another important issue is obtaining the rumen fermentation profile that reduces the emission of methane and determines an appropriate profile of volatile fatty acids. The manuscript is devoted to physiochemical properties of colostrum and milk of cows, goats, sheep as well as the influence of nutrition on the quality of mammary secretions of ruminants.

Simple Summary: The use of various fermentation modifiers in ruminant diets is one of the best strategies for regulating greenhouse gas emissions, primarily carbon dioxide and methane (CH4). Feeding complex mineral substances of natural origin can provide a quick and safe result. Our in vitro studies confirmed these expectations, and saponite clay, due to its high adsorption properties, significantly reduced the production of CH4 and other gases. Reducing the emission of global warming gases currently remains one of the strategic tasks. Therefore, the objective of our work was to determine the effect of saponite clay on fermentation in the rumen of cows. The pH, total gas production, CH4, and volatile fatty acid (VFA) production in ruminal fluid was determined in vitro. Saponite clay from the Tashkiv deposit (Ukraine) has a high content of silicon, iron, aluminum, and magnesium. The addition of 0.15 and 0.25 g of saponite clay to the incubated mixture did not change the pH but reduced the total production (19% and 31%, respectively) and CH4 (24% and 46%, respectively) in the ruminal fluid compared to the control group and had no significant effect on the total VFA levels, but propionic acid increased by 15% and 21% and butyric acid decreased by 39% and 32%, respectively. We observed a decrease in the fermentation rates, with a simultaneous increase in the P:B ratio and an increase in the fermentation efficiency (FE) in the groups fermented with saponite clay, probably a consequence of the high efficiency in the breakdown of starch in the rumen. Therefore, further in vivo studies to determine the effective dose and effect of saponite clay on cow productivity and the reduction of gas emissions are promising and important. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the conditions under which low subsonic torsional flutter in rotor blades occurs are studied experimentally and numerically using the energy method with the assumption of travelling wave modes. As the test geometry, a blade cascade of five blades is considered. The three middle blades have a rotational degree of freedom, and the two outer blades are stationary. The experiments were performed in a wind tunnel at the Institute of Thermomechanics of the Czech Academy of Sciences. The numerical investigation was carried out using the developed CFD solver based on the discretization of the Favre-averaged Navier-Stokes equations by the discontinuous Galerkin method. A novel mesh-deformation algorithm suitable for fluid flow problems with multiple independently moving bodies is proposed. The CFD solver is benchmarked on test problems of flow around stationary and moving aerofoils. Following the energy method, the middle blades are forced to perform a harmonic pitching motion with various interblade phase angles. The total work per cycle of aerodynamic forces acting on the middle blade is evaluated. This analysis is performed both experimentally and numerically. The experiment measurement and the CFD solver predicted the formation of flutter for the same interblade phase angle. Moreover, qualitative agreement is evident between the experiment and simulation on the evaluated work per cycle for various interblade phase angles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The so-called “normalization period” (1969–1989) is one of the most tragic chapters in the development of Czechoslovak sociology. The study reconstructs the process in which all the important positions in the structure of the recently (after 1964) renewed sociology were seized by officers loyal to the regime and how they – secured by resolutions of the highest organ of the Communist Party (which were often initiated by themselves) – made dramatic personnel, as well as thematic and structural purge in the field. It was accompanied by persecutions of their predecessors, who had demonstrated their professional ability and scientific objectivity in that brief period of “renaissance of sociology” (1964–1969). The study works with some archival and thus to the public little-known material, it is also based on the contemporary testimonies as well as the author’s personal experience of the particular job at the College of Politics and at the Institute for Philosophy and Sociology of the Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences. The study does not avoid specifically noting those who were the real architects of disaster of the discipline and of which none has ever admitted his complicity. The study is valuable primarily for its non-pathetic and factual perspective, although it cannot avoid the evaluation credentials.

Established taxa within the Enterobacteriaceae wereisolated from cloacal swabs of Strix aluco chicks in nest boxes located at five research sites. ChromID ESBL medium (bioMerieux) was used to select a pool of Enterobacteriaceae strains producing extended-spectrum beta-lactamases. Drug sensitivity of the chosen strains was determined from the full pool of Enterobacteriaceae to 6 chemotherapeutics of different mechanisms of action. The study evaluated the sensitivity of ESBL-synthesizing isolates to substances belonging to penicillins, cephalosporins, cephamycins, clavams, carbapenems and monobactams. Analysis of the results indicated a potential role of Strix aluco in the dissemination of epidemiologically-relevant Enterobacteriaceae , and, importantly, pose health risks to forest service workers, nature protection service and ornithologists. The results can also serve as the basis for further environmental studies.

The Austrian authors Thomas Bernhard and Elfriede Jelinek established themselves as personalities whose radicalism, provocations and public gestures became part of the impact of their work. It can be seen that the radical reflections of the narrators and characters are a statement continuation of the authors. At Bernhard, the ways which communicate this self-staging are still "old" (press and television). Jelinek exclusively uses the "new" medium Internet and the website already set up at the beginning of the digital turn for her self-presentation and publication.

Analysis of the qualitative signature of fatty acids in tissues of organisms is an increasingly utilized tool in studies of trophic ecology in aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. Here, we studied a colonial waterbird, the black-headed gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus, nesting in three colonies. We aimed to investigate whether fatty acid composition of its eggs is affected by the location of the colony (reflecting the spatial variation in habitat composition and, in turn, female diet at the time of egg formation), and the egg laying sequence (reflecting the temporal variation in female diet). We found that the composition of fatty acids in eggs of black-headed gulls differed among colonies, but not among subsequent eggs within the clutch. We interpret these results in the context of spatial differences in the diet of females breeding in different colonies and a lack of temporal variation in the diet of individual females. The pattern of the ratio of omega-3 to omega-6 fatty acids reflected the contribution of aquatic/terrestrial prey to their diet, and was consistent with the area of water courses around the colonies. High levels of omega-6:omega-3 can promote inflammation and thus lead to increased susceptibility to antigens. Further studies with prey sampling are required to reconstruct the diet composition of females during egg formation in more detail. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water deficit is one of the most important stress factors affecting yield and production quality. Breeders are focusing on breeding wheat cultivars and crop lines that are more resistant to water deficit, so there is a possibility that plants with changes in their ear morphologies, such as long chaff and multi-rowed varieties, will be more resistant to water deficit. Therefore, our research focused on the study of changes in the physiological parameters of wheat cultivar 'Bohemia' (normal cob) with an altered morphotype (genotypes '284-17' (long chaff) and genotype '29-17' (multirow cob)), in relation to the duration of the water deficit. The experiment was set up as a container experiment under partially controlled greenhouse conditions. The experimental design included four treatments. The control (C) variant was irrigated regularly. The other treatments were stressed by water deficit, which was induced through the method of gradually drying the substrate: treatment D1 involved 10 days without irrigation, 4 days of watering, 10 days with a re-induced water deficit and 4 days of watering; treatment D2 involved 10 days of watering, and then stress was induced via water deficit until the end of the experiment; treatment D3 involved 10 days of stress and then irrigation until the end of the experiment. The pigment content, gas exchange rate, chlorophyll fluorescence and water potential were monitored in the juvenile wheat plants. The obtained results showed that the contents of photosynthetically active pigments (chlorophyll a and b and carotenoids) were influenced by the gene type. The chlorophyll and carotenoid content were higher in genotype '29-17' (0.080 and 1.925 nM cm−2, respectively) and lowest in cultivar 'Bohemia' (0.080 and 0.080 nM cm−2, respectively). The chlorophyll content decreased due to water deficit most significantly in the D2 variant (0.071 nM cm−2), compared to the control (0.138 nM cm−2). The carotenoid content significantly decreased due to water deficiency in the cultivar 'Bohemia', D2 (0.061 nM cm−2) and the genotype '284-17' (0.075 nM cm−2) and non-significantly decreased in '29-17' (1.785 nM cm−2). In the control plants, the carotenoid content decreased in the following order: genotype '29-17' (1.853 nM cm−2) > genotype '284-17' (0.088 nM cm−2) > cv. 'Bohemia' (0.087 nM cm−2). Wheat plants had a decreased photosynthetic rate due to the closure of stomata and reduction in substomatal CO2 levels, which were caused by water deficit. The above effect was observed in genotype '29-17' and cultivar 'Bohemia'. The transpiration rate increased by 0.099 mM m−2 s−1 (5.69%) in the variety 'Bohemia', due to water deficit. On the other hand, the transpiration rate of genotype '29-17' and genotype '284-17' decreased by 0.261 mM m−2 s−1 (88.19%) and 0.325 mM m−2 s−1 (81.67%), respectively, compared to the control. Among the genotypes studied, genotype '29-17' showed higher photosynthesis and transpiration rates, compared to genotype '284-17' and the variety 'Bohemia'. The effect of genotype and water deficit on chlorophyll fluorescence parameters was also shown. In all genotypes studied, there was a significant decrease in water potential due to water deficit, most significantly in the Bohemia variety, then in the genotype '284-17', and the least significant decrease in water potential was seen in the genotype '29-17'. Genotype '29-17' appears promising with respect to drought tolerance and photosynthetic rate, despite increased transpiration and reduced water potential; it also appears promising for better water management, with respect to reduced water potential in aboveground organs. On the other hand, the variety Bohemia appears to be less suitable for dry areas, since, despite its relative plasticity, it shows not only high water potential values in the water deficit region but also the most significant decrease in water potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Breeding of hybrids between wild boars and domestic pigs is in the consumer interest because of the need to ensure food security and diversification via widening the genetic basis of animals reared for meat. To expand the knowledge about their nutritional requirements, this study aimed to investigate hindgut fermentation in these animals. Caecal and colon cultures were incubated for 12 h in vitro with or without wheat bran as a supplementary substrate. Short-chain fatty acids, ammonia, methane, and total gas production were determined. The total concentrations of short-chain fatty acids in unincubated caecal and colon samples were 93.1 and 115 mmol/kg, respectively. The short-chain fatty acid profile in fresh hindgut contents was characterized by a high molar proportion of acetate (74.8-75.0 mol%), followed by propionate (18.2-18.5 mol%) and butyrate (5.4-5.5 mol%). The presence of wheat bran lowered acetate and increased butyrate, propionate, and valerate molar proportions. The ammonia level remained low (1.3-2.43 mmol/kg) regardless of the addition of the substrate. The relatively low pH and ammonia concentration in wild boar/pig hybrids may be caused by the low level of crude protein in diet of these animals. The rate of methanogenesis increased during the fermentation simultaneously with an increase in the production of gases after wheat bran addition. Methane production in the caecal and colon samples incubated with the substrate reached 15.6 and 16.1 mmol/kg, respectively. The hindgut fermentation pattern in wild boar/pig hybrids generally resembled that described earlier in domestic pigs, although some observed dissimilarities may be caused by distinct microbial activity.

The current research was undertaken to use the genetic potential of animals to obtain high-quality dairy products. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in SLC27A3 gene were identified in Zošľachtená valaška sheep using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). Correlations between genotypes and milk composition and nutritional value were analysed This study showed that milk from sheep with TT genotype in the SNP4 locus was characterised by higher (p < 0.01) fat and dry matter content and lower lactose concentration, compared to sheep with AA and TA genotypes, respectively. Moreover, it was found that animals with GG genotype in SNP1 produced milk with higher C18:1n9c, C18:1n7t, CLA, and other unsaturated fatty acids (UFAs) content than sheep with TT. Additionally, milk from animals with CC at the SNP3 locus had significantly higher (p < 0.01) levels of UFAs than milk from sheep with other genotypes in the SNP3. In summary, it may be concluded that milk from animals with TT genotype of SNP4 is characterised by higher fat and dry matter content. Whereas, milk from sheep with GG in SNP1 and with CC in SNP3 is characterised by higher content of UFAs, which increases milk value as material for functional food production.