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The ability to induce a defense response after pathogen attack is a critical feature of the immune system of any organism. Nucleotide-binding leucine-rich repeat receptors (NLRs) are key players in this process and perceive the occurrence of nonself-activities or foreign molecules. In plants, coevolution with a variety of pests and pathogens has resulted in repertoires of several hundred diverse NLRs in single individuals and many more in populations as a whole. However, the mechanism by which defense signaling is triggered by these NLRs in plants is poorly understood. Here, we show that upon pathogen perception, NLRs use their N-terminal domains to transactivate other receptors. Their N-terminal domains homo- and heterodimerize, suggesting that plant NLRs oligomerize upon activation, similar to the vertebrate NLRs; however, consistent with their large number in plants, the complexes are highly heterometric. Also, in contrast to metazoan NLRs, the N-terminus, rather than their centrally located nucleotide-binding (NB) domain, can mediate initial partner selection. The highly redundant network of NLR interactions in plants is proposed to provide resilience to perturbation by pathogens.

The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of different bedding materials on both production performance and foot quality, assessed through the incidence, severity, and microbiological quality of foot pad dermatitis (FPD). A total of 2400 Ross 308 chickens were raised over 42 days, distributed across eight bedding material types (eight groups × four treatments × 75 chickens each). These pellets either lacked medicinal plant components or included 30% of plant parts, such as oregano (Origanum vulgare), summer savory (Satureja hortensis), lemon balm (Melissa officinalis), salvia (Salvia officinalis), and thyme (Thymus vulgaris). Production performance controls included body weight (BW) at 42 days of age, feed conversion ratio (FCR), and mortality. The severity of FPD was evaluated at 28, 35, and 42 days using a scale ranging from S0 to S3. A microbiological analysis of the feet was based on the FPD score. Broilers raised on straw chaff (bedding: 24% oregano and 6% summer savory, 18% oregano and 12% summer savory, and 24% oregano and 6% thyme) exhibited the highest BW. Straw chaff-reared broilers demonstrated the lowest FCR. The highest mortality occurred on 18% oregano and 12% summer savory bedding, which may have been caused by the high share of summer savory, which could be toxic. At 35 and 42 days, broilers in the 24% oregano and 6% summer savory group exhibited the best foot quality, while those on straw chaff and 18% oregano and 12% summer savory had the worst one. The influence of medicinal plants in the pellets was particularly notable in reducing Listeria sp. This reduction was likely due to the presence of carvacrol from summer savory, quercetin from lemon balm, and thymol from thyme. Based on our research, the best bedding materials for foot quality are 24% oregano with 6% summer savory and 18% summer savory with 12% salvia, while 18% summer savory with 12% lemon balm and 18% summer savory with 12% thymus were the most effective in limiting Listeria sp. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change, changes in the natural environment, changing markets, price volatility, etc. pose tension and threats to the future of European Union farms. The uncertain future of family farms requires farm resilience—the ability to survive, adapt, and grow in the face of turbulent change. The limited resilience of family farms has become an important concern for rural and agricultural policy. The main goal of this work is to identify disturbances affecting Lithuanian family farms, assess their influence, investigate the general resilience of Lithuanian family farms, propose measures to reduce the vulnerability of farms, and increase the general resilience and sustainability. We used a combination of qualitative and quantitative research methods to conduct the research. Survey research was conducted using a semi-structured expert interview in which various types of variables were collected. The survey questionnaire, consisting of 38 groups of questions, was sent by email to 500 randomly selected family farmers in January 2024 and collected in the same month. The statistical analysis of the data from the 205 duly filled-out questionnaires was carried out using correlation analysis. In this article, we apply the concept of general resilience of the family farm in the direction of robustness, adaptability, and transformability. We identify the main factors influencing the general resilience of the family farm and study the main attributes of the resilience of family farms. We find some links between family farm characteristics, vulnerability factors, and general resilience capabilities, and we make several proposals to increase family farms' resilience. The obtained results prove that higher education, larger farm sizes, higher agricultural sales, and employment of permanent workers are associated with better resilience. Furthermore, increasing environmentally friendly practices positively impacts resilience. Older farms and farmers, longer durations of farming activity, and risk-averse behaviors tend to decrease resilience. Due to local and global circumstances, economic and social changes have occurred very quickly in recent years, so the results obtained in the study may not be valid in the long term. Similar surveys after several years will be necessary to study the resilience of Lithuanian farms, including deeper economic analyses that evaluate factors such as price sensitivity, the level of farm debt, and market access. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between cigarette smoking and the condition of the teeth and periodontium and the oral health behavior of 18-year-olds. Cross-sectional studies on 1,611 18-year-olds from Poland were conducted in 2017. The questionnaire provided socio-economic data, information about health-related behavior (cigarette smoking and oral health behavior), and absence from school due to oral pain. The dentition status (DMFT and DMFS), periodontal status (gingival bleeding, depth of periodontal pockets, loss of attachment), and need for endodontic treatment or tooth extraction were clinically assessed. Cigarette smoking was reported by 25% of participants (15% reported every day smoking). Adolescents who smoked cigarettes regularly had a higher mean number of decayed teeth (2.40±3.21 vs. 1.95±2.66) and similar periodontal status. Cigarette smoking increased the risk of oral hygiene neglect (63% vs. 69%), dietary mistakes (25% vs. 13%), failure to make dental appointments (32% vs. 43%), occurrence of oral pain (28% vs. 27%), absence from school due to pain (13% vs. 6%), and the need for endodontic treatment or tooth extraction (11% vs. 5%). The socio-economic factors and sex of the subjects decreased the influence of smoking only on oral hygiene neglect. Cigarette smoking by adolescents seems to be an independent risk factor for serious dietary mistakes, failure to benefit from oral healthcare, and more dynamic damage of teeth, which lead to pain and even tooth loss. Therefore, these aspects should be included in the risk assessment of oral disease and incorporated into educational programs promoting a healthy lifestyle.

Peat mineralisation leads to net loss of CO2 to the atmosphere, as well as to release of other elements from the decomposed soil organic matter (SOM) to groundwater. This results in the degradation of peat soils and the ecosystems they support. Here we evaluated the practical indicatory suitability of the existing and proposed new indices for the assessment of peat soil degradation in the Biebrza river valley encompassing, unique on European scale, peatland ecosystems. We studied relationships between soil organic carbon (SOC) and total nitrogen (Ntot), dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) in a series of degraded peat soils in the Biebrza valley. Samples were taken from soils developed on peat deposits that varied in thickness and the degree of peat decomposition, from undegraded to highly mineralised peats. The relationships between changes in the SOC content and changes in the values of the remaining variables (SOM, Ntot, DOC, DON, C/N ratio), were statistically tested. Linear and non-linear regressions were used to establish the relationships amongst the variables examined. The losses of soil C and N occur independently and differ between stages of peat soil mineralisation. From our study, it results that the peat mineralisation intensity may be estimated based on the loss of SOC. We found that 1% loss of SOC corresponded to 1.028% loss of SOM, regardless of the degree of peat soil mineralisation, whereas SOM solubility, measured by the content of DOC, varied based on the intensity of peat soil mineralisation. The content of DOC decreased with the decrease in the SOC content, whereas the DOC/ SOC ratio increased depending on the intensity of peat decomposition. The C/N ratio is not a reliable indicator of peat mineralisation, because its values are driven not only by the nitrogen natively present in peat soils but also by nitrogen from external sources. The contents of SOC and Ntot did not decrease uniformly during peat decomposition because C and N show various mobility in the processes of SOM mineralisation. We found that the DOC/SOC ratio was most indicative of peat soil mineralisation intensity.

The prevalence of early childhood caries and its level varies. The present study was to establish the trends in dental caries and the impact of behavioural changes on the prevalence of caries in three-yearolds in Poland within a fifteen-year period. The results of a cross sectional survey carried out on 3439 three-year-olds in 2002, 2009, and 2017 using WHO criteria for dental caries (dmft, dmft=0, dmft≥4) and the results of a questionnaire filled by their parents with data on sociodemographics, oral hygiene and dietary habits, especially their sugar intake, were assessed. The dmft/dmfs index is applied to the primary dentition and is expressed as the total number of teeth/surfaces that are decayed, missing, or filled. The Cochran-Armitage test for trend was used to assess the fraction changes in time. The Pearson correlation coefficient was used to assess the changes in dmft trends and the correlations between behavioural changes, awareness levels, and the prevalence of caries. Within the fifteen-year period minimal changes in the prevalence of early childhood caries (15% down), dmft≥4 (11.4% down) and a lower dmft (36% down) were accompanied by a better parent awareness about the causes of caries and better oral hygiene routines. Sugary beverages were no longer drank at least once a day, however sweetened milk, cake, doughnuts, and sweet rolls were consumed more often. Being female, living in an urban area, having parents more aware about caries, consuming sugary beverages less frequently, brushing teeth twice a day, and using a fluoride toothpaste promoted lower early childhood caries. Gradually healthier teeth are linked to an increased awareness of the parents and healthier routines. A too frequent exposure to sugar promotes early childhood caries. Should the changes of dietary habits be insufficient, brushing teeth with fluoride toothpaste becomes crucial.

Two groups of soil texture classification, differing in limit diameters for particular soil fractions, are used in Poland. The older groups of classifications consider soil particles as < 1 mm and divide them into sand (1.0–0.1 mm), silt (0.1–0.02 mm) and fine or flowable particles (< 0.02 mm). These classifications are used, in a version which originated in 1956 and here denominated as PTG/Musierowicz 1956 in land quality assessment and elaboration of soil agricultural maps. Newer versions of these classifications – professional standard BN-78/9180-11 (1978) and division of soils in agronomic categories described in 1986 – are used in fertilizer recommendations and in agricultural drought monitoring. According to the new soil texture classification PTG 2008, the upper diameter limit for soil particles is 2 mm and these parts are divided into sand (2.0–0.05 mm), silt (0.05–0.002 mm) and clay (

The aim of the study was the evaluation of silicon foliar application on sugar beet yield. In the years 2017–2019, the effect of a single foliar application of various forms of silicon (potassium silicate—PS, calcium silicate—CS, sodium metasilicate—SM, and orthosilicic stabilized acid—OSA) applied in the six-leaf phase of sugar beet, 7 and 14 days later on yield and technological quality of sugar beet roots was assessed. It was found that the form of silicon does not have a significant effect on the yield of sugar beet roots, and significantly modifies the biological yield of sugar and the pure sugar yield. The highest biological yield of sugar is achieved by the foliar application of PS, and the pure sugar yield by PS and OSA. The date of foliar application as well as the interaction of the date of application and silicon forms do not have a significant effect on the root yield, biological yield of sugar, and pure sugar yield. The form of silicon has a significant effect on the technological quality of sugar beet roots (sugar, α-amino nitrogen, potassium, and sodium content). The most beneficial effect on the sugar content and reduction of sodium content in sugar beet roots is the foliar application of OSA, and the reduction of α-amino nitrogen and potassium content—PS. The timing of the application of various forms of silicon has a significant effect on the sugar and potassium content in sugar beet roots. The most beneficial effect on the sugar content in the roots is the application carried out 7 days after the six-leaf phase of sugar beet, and the potassium content is most limited by the treatment 14 days after reaching this phase. The interaction of the timing of foliar application and the form of silicon significantly modifies the technological quality features of sugar beet roots: the content of sugar, α-amino nitrogen, potassium, and sodium. The results of the study proved the significant effect of silicon foliar application on the physiological parameters of plants, such as leaf area index (LAI), absorption of photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) and normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) which are related to yield and sugar beet productivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To improve the quality of poultry meat and increase the health-promoting properties, poultry nutrition used additives such as phytobiotic substances and amino acids. The aim of this study was to analyze the possibility of improving production rates and meat quality by simultaneously supplementing broiler diets with garlic extract and β-alanine. A total of 1050 ROSS 308 broiler chickens were part of the experiment. The chickens were divided into several groups: the control group without additives (Control), groups with 0.5% garlic extract (G05) or 2% garlic extract (G2), groups with 0.5% added β-alanine (B0.5) or 2% added β-alanine (B2), and groups with both 0.5% added garlic extract and 0.5% added β-alanine (BG0.5) or 2% garlic extract and 2% added β-alanine (BG2). Each group was further divided into six replicates, with each replicate consisting of 25 birds. After 35 days of rearing, the chickens were slaughtered, and analyses were conducted on breast and leg muscle chemistry, bioactive peptide content, and the oxidative status indicator dimalondialdehyde in muscles stored under refrigeration until day 10.The results showed significant improvements in certain aspects. The BG05 group exhibited an increase in final body weight (P<0.001) and improved feed utilization (P<0.001). The β-alanine-supplemented groups showed higher levels of protein (P<0.001), carnosine (P<0.001), and anserine (P<0.001) in both breast and leg muscles. Additionally, leg muscles showed increased levels of protein (P<0.001), carnosine (P<0.001),and anserine (P<0.001).Notably, the BG05 group contained lower levels of MDA in both breast and leg muscles (P<0.001). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ważnym elementem oceny różnorodności w obrębie gromadzonych kolekcji zasobów genowych danego gatunku jest zastosowanie wielocechowych metod statystycznych. Umożliwiają one poszerzenie wiedzy o zmienności fenotypowej oraz genetycznej posiadanych materiałów kolekcyjnych. Przedmiotem badań było dziewięć linii wsobnych i trzy pokolenia F1 żyta ozimego (Secale cereale L.), rosnące na polu doświadczalnych Polskiej Akademii Nauk Ogrodzie Botanicznym - Centrum Zachowania Różnorodności Biologicznej w Powsinie, które oceniano w cyklu trzyletnim. Obserwacji poddano następujące cechy: długość źdźbła (LSM), długość kłosa (LSK), liczba węzłów na osadce kłosowej (NNSR), liczba ziarniaków w kłosie (NKS), masa ziarniaków w kłosie (WKS), masa 1000 ziarniaków (WTK), długość liścia flagowego (LFL), długość liścia podflagowego (LSL), długość trzeciego liścia (LTL), szerokość liścia flagowego (WFL), szerokość liścia podflagowego (WSL), szerokość trzeciego liścia (WTL), powierzchnia liści na źdźble (ALS), krzewistość (NSP) i powierzchnia liści na roślinie (ALP).

Purpose: To assess the prevalence and associated factors with early childhood caries (ECC) in a Polish population.Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out involving 656 three-year-old preschool children of both sexes. Data were collected through oral examination of the children and a questionnaire self-reported by their parents. The questionnaire contained information on sociodemographic aspects, feeding and oral hygiene practices, dental care utilisation and dental health knowledge. Associations between ECC and caries-related factors were analysed with use of bivariate and multivariate logistic regression and Mann-Whitney U test.Results: ECC was diagnosed in 64.0% children from the rural area and 46.6% from the urban one, more often in boys (57.7%) compared to girls (49.5%) and S-ECC in 37.1%, 24.2%, 31.5% and 27.5%, respectively. The associations between caries experience and living in a rural area, male sex, education level and oral health-related knowledge of a parent, tooth brushing frequency, nocturnal bottle-feeding and feeding with sweet beverages at the age over 12 months, consumption of sweetened within the first 2 years of age and drinking of sweet beverages once a week at bivariate level were found. In the final model of the logistic multivariate regression analysis, seven variables were associated with ECC experience. They revealed the probability in decreasing order: living in a rural area (odds ratios (OR) = 1.90); feeding the child during the first 2 years with sweetened food (OR = 1.77); nocturnal drinking of sweet beverages by the >12-month-old child (OR = 1.73); education level of parent (OR = 1.53); gender - male (OR = 1.48); nocturnal bottle-feeding of the over-12-month child (OR = 1.44); and frequency of tooth brushing (OR = 1.41).Conclusion: The most prominent risk factors for ECC were living in a rural area, consumption of sweetened foods within the first 2 years of age and nocturnal drinking of sweet beverages by the over 12-month-old child. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]