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Evidence indicates that unhealthy eating habits constitute multilevel obstacles threatening health and well-being. Studies suggest that consumer choices have turned irremovably towards Western diets. The Mediterranean diet (MD) is considered one of the most effective in preventing and treating overweight and obesity, yet its results and associations are ambiguous. This explanatory research aims to examine the effect of the MD on anthropometric and biochemical variables in 181 females from an Eastern European country. The sample was divided into three distinct clusters based on age (tricenarian, quadragenarian, and quinquagenarian). Anthropometric and biochemical examinations in the three-month MD program plan failed to provide convincing evidence of the benefits of the MD on selected integrands. However, total body fat (FATP) values between groups showed a significant difference (p ≤ 0.032) between groups A and C (p ≤ 0.029), which can be attributed to the age of the cohort (30–39 vs. 50–60 years). Values in groups A and B (p ≤ 0.001) and C and A (p ≤ 0.001) were significant between the cohorts but did not indicate any changes in visceral fat (VFATL) in the individual groups. The presented findings can have implications for further investigation and the development of more comprehensive instruments, incorporating critical add-on constituents that will be appropriate to monitor, evaluate, and predict body weight management in experimentation.

Tertiary education provided by universities and other higher education institutions play an essential role in society, by fostering innovation, increasing economic development and growth, and improving more generally the well-being of citizens. Some European universities are among the most prestigious in the world. Many commentators predict that in the coming years there will be increased demand for highly skilled people. Driven by digital technology, jobs are becoming more flexible and complex. This has resulted in a growing number of employers seeking staff with the necessary capacities to manage complex information, think autonomously, be creative, use resources in a smart and efficient manner, as well as communicate effectively. Education is an essential part of any modern, successful and rich country. EU countries are no exception. The need for a university-educated workforce is increasing every year by employers. Educated graduates and workers are also needed in other areas of society, e.g. in healthcare, in the economic, social, legal, education, etc. One of the EU's main challenges is to ensure that policy developments are monitored to take account of the considerable geographical diversity in the EU. The territorial dimension of EU policy is increasingly recognized, as growth and job creation depend on making the best use of all resources while ensuring the coordinated and sustainable use of shared resources. This section provides an overview of some of the main EU policy developments that have a territorial impact.

Impatiens parviflora is non-native invasive plant species occupying large areas all over the Europe and threatens native communities by altering their species composition and reducing native biodiversity. The factor responsible for its spreading could be explained by releasing biochemical to the environment. On the other hands, high demand on secondary metabolites as potential source of new ecofriendly biocides could be beneficial. The analysis of I. parviflora essential oil (EO) led us to identify more than 60 volatiles. The main compound was hexahydrofarnesyl acetone, other dominant components were phytol, carvacrol, germacra-4(15),5,10(14)-trien-1-&alpha, ol, and pentacosane. The potential phytotoxic effect of I. parviflora EO collected in two vegetation periods (summer and autumn) was evaluated on seed germination and root elongation of three dicot species (Raphanus sativus, Lepidum sativum, and Lactuca sativa) and on one monocot species (Triticum aestivum). The seed germination of only one dicot species, L. sativa, was affected by both EOs. In contrast, seed germination of monocot species T. aestivum was influenced only by the highest doses of EOs isolated from I. parviflora in autumn. The root elongation of tested plant species was less influenced by I. parviflora EOs. L. sativum showed sensitivity to one dose of EOs hydrodistilled in summer, while the monocot species was influenced by both EOs samples in highest doses. Our findings revealed that I. parviflora contained phenolics that were phytotoxic to the germination of some plant species, mainly at higher EOs doses, while root elongation of tested plants was not suppressed by essential oils.

Plant essential oils (EOs) are one of the most relevant natural products due to their biological, medicinal, and nutritional properties. The promising biological effects of many plants EOs encourage researchers to study their biochemical properties to be used as possible natural alternatives for commercial pesticides and not only as herbal medicines. The current research has been conducted to study the microbicide effect of Solidago canadensis L. EO to control some common plant diseases caused by several postharvest phytopathogenic fungi (Monilinia fructicola, Botrytis cinerea, Aspergillus niger, and Penicillium expansum) in comparison with Azoxystrobin as a large spectrum fungicide. The antibacterial activity has been carried out against some phytopathogenic bacteria (Bacillus megaterium and Clavibacter michiganensis (G+ve) and Xanthomonas campestris, Pseudomonas fluorescens, and Pseudomonas syringae pv. phaseolicola (G-ve)) compared to the synthetic antibiotic Tetracycline. Minimum inhibitory concentration was carried out to determine the lowest effective EO dose using a 96-well microplate. The cell membrane permeability was also evaluated by measuring the electric conductivity (EC) to examine the possible mechanisms of action of S. canadensis EO. Chemical characterization of EO has been carried out using gas chromatography and mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Thirty-two identified components in S. canadensis EO presented 97.7% of total compounds in EO. The principal compounds were identified as germacrene D (34.9%), limonene (12.5%), &alpha, pinene (11.6%), &beta, elemene (7.1%), and bornyl acetate (6.3%). In addition, S. canadensis EO demonstrated promising in vitro antimicrobial activities against the majority of tested phytopathogens at all tested concentrations.

Solidago canadensis L. (SC) (Canadian goldenrod) is a dangerous plant invader in Europe, which suppress the indigenous flora. Essential oils (EOs) are considered biological control agents. GC-MS analysis for identification of main components was conducted and the potential phytotoxicity of six EOs were also evaluated. Limonene and β-thujone were dominant components in Salvia officinalis L., menthone and menthol in Mentha × piperita L., carvacrol in Origanum vulgare L., estragole/anisole and anethole in Foeniculum vulgare Mill., limonene and carvone in Anethum graveolens L., and anethole in Pimpinella anisum L. Along with EOs, anethole, anisole, camphor, carvone, estragole, limonene, menthol, menthone, thujone and thymol were used independently to evaluate phytotoxic effect against Canadian goldenrod seed germination. A significant inhibitory effect was registered for origanum (1.250 µg.ml−1). The influence of single components was significant. The highest phytotoxic activity was registered with anethole and estragole. Phenolic compounds were the inhibitoriest, followed by oxygenated and hydrocarbon monoterpenes.

Spreading of the plant species in new areas is supported by the hypothesis in which chemicals produced by alien species are allopathic to native plants. A novel weapon hypothesis was tested by using essential oil of dangerous alien species Heracleum mantegazzianum in laboratory conditions. Aboveground plant material was collected in south-east part of Slovakia, dried and hydrodistilled for essential oil isolation. Dominant compounds as octyl acetate (62.6%), hexyl 2-metylbutyrate (10.7%), hexyl isobutyrate (7.5%) and hexyl butyrate (6.5%) were identified by GC-MS. Potential phytotoxic activity was tested on three dicot plant species garden cress (Lepidium sativum L.), radish (Raphanus sativus L.) and lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) and on one monocot plant species wheat Triticum aestivum L. Germination of the seeds of model plant species after influencing by different doses of essential oil of H. mantegazzianum as well as the roots length was evaluated. Lepidium sativum L. and Raphanus sativus L. were generally not sensitive to applied doses of essential oil although a little stimulation effect at some concentrations prevailed over inhibition effect. Similarly, in monocot species Triticum aestivum L., stimulation was visible in both root length and root number at two or one highest doses, respectively.

The soil of Slovak Republic is severely contaminated with heavy metals, creating hazards to soil health. In order to assess the current status with the prospect of selecting the appropriate treatment methods and land use, this investigation aimed to determine a panel of complementary and ecologically relevant biomarkers that reflect adverse biological responses towards terrestrial pollutants. To attain this objective, the concentration of reduced glutathione and enzymes of glutathione antioxidant system were assessed in clitellate earthworm, Aporrectodea caliginosa sampled from selected sites of eastern Slovakia along with the pH and total metal concentration (As, Cd, Pb, Cr, Hg, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn) of soils. Positive, significant (p

Genus Mentha presents group of plants which are the most studied in family Lamiaceae. Aboveground parts are used for different purposes in pharmacy, food industry or confectionery. Most important is natural product extracted from leaves - essential oil (EO). The aim of presented experiment was to demonstrate different chemotype and compare antibacterial activity of two Mentha species EO. Plant samples were obtained from various environments – from Slovakia and from Italy. Dominant compounds were determined by GC/MS. The results showed high amount of menthol and menthone in tested Slovak peppermint EO. On the other hand, carvone and 1,8-cineole were determinate as dominant compounds in Italian spearmint EO. The antimicrobial activity of the EO was investigated by disc diffusion and broth micro dilution methods. EO was evaluated for their antibacterial activity against 7 microorganisms: Enterobacter cloacae, Salmonella spp., Klebsiella pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyogenes. The determination results of antibacterial activity by agar disk diffusion method ranged from 7 to 14 mm of the growth inhibition zone. MIC of tested mint EO varied from 0.625 to 2.5 μg/mL. In addition, both EO showed relatively the same antibacterial activity against the selected Gram-negative bacteria. However, there is a variation in the antibacterial activity against Gram-positive bacteria.

In our work, we focused on monitoring the enzymatic activities of LDH, AST, ALT and GLU in the blood serum of pigs (piglets) from the age of 21 days old to 42 days old. Subscriptions were made once each week in the morning on an empty stomach, from the eye veny (vena ophtalmica). All experimental animals were fed with compound feed COS1, COS2, without any feed additives. Piglets were divided into two groups. The first group was the control group (n = 7 piglets ) and the second was the experimental group (n = 7 piglets), which was given sage (Salvia officinalis L.) and oregano (Origanum vulgare L.) in the form of essential oils in concentrations of 0.05%. The average results of observed enzymatic activities of the 21 day old piglets were as follows: control group of piglets: LDH – 10,3 µkat/l, AST – 0,84 µkat/l a ALT – 1,75 µkat/l a GLU -5,33mmol/l and in the experimental group the results of observed enzymatic activities were : LDH – 9,09 µkat/l, AST – 0,71 µkat/l , ALT – 0,96 µkat/l a GLU – 5,97mmol/l. The sampling was repeated when the piglets reached 42 days old and in both groups we found out that the results of enzymatic activities in LDH and AST were higher and in ALT and GLU they were lower.