Evolutionary dynamics of PRRS virus in Italian Pig farms: a retrospective study.

Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS) causes huge economic losses to pig farms worldwide. Currently available vaccines do not always offer complete protection, due to the extreme variability of the virus. Therefore, good farming practices must be improved to prevent the disease from spreading across the pig production system.

The effect of breed and body weight at slaughter on histochemical muscle fiber characteristics and meat quality of longissimus lumborum and semitendinosus lamb muscles.

The skeletal muscles of mammals are composed of fibers of different morphological, metabolic and functional characteristics. The properties of muscle fibers may be determined genetically as well as by environmental factors such as the age of the animals, their physical activity, the level of nutrition, or the selection intensity. The present study was conducted to determine the influence of genotype (Polish Lowland vs.

Assessing carbon accumulation through peat vertical displacement: The influence of climate and land use across diverse peatland characteristics.

With their net carbon accumulation determined by the balance between gross ecosystem productivity (GEP) and carbon losses (from processes such as oxidation and decomposition), peatlands can function as either carbon sinks or carbon sources. Healthy, pristine peatlands are vital carbon sinks, while degraded peatlands can release significant amounts of carbon (C) into the atmosphere. This study investigates the use of peat vertical displacement (VD), detectable via remote sensing, as a proxy for net carbon accumulation in northern boreal and temperate peatlands.

Quality Evaluation of New Types of Core Layers Based on Different Thicknesses of Veneers for Flooring Materials.

Problems with the availability of raw materials on the Polish market have forced wood industry producers to search for new, previously unused species of wood that meet the functional requirements of the target products. Therefore, it is necessary to conduct research on products whose structure is different from the popular offerings on the market. The goal of this study was to analyze the influence of the thickness of Scots pine veneers, also with Alder interlayer variants, on Young's modulus and stiffness values of plywood-like composites dedicated to flooring applications regarding statistically based quality control of the products.

Optimizing Backfill Materials for Ground Heat Exchangers: A Study on Recycled Concrete Aggregate and Fly Ash for Enhanced Thermal Conductivity.

This study investigates the potential use of recycled concrete aggregate (RCA), fly ash (FA), and their mixture (RCA+FA) as backfill materials for shallow vertical ground heat exchangers (GHEs). Granulometric, aerometric, and Proctor compaction tests were conducted to determine soil gradation, the void ratio, and the optimal moisture content (OMC) for maximum dry density. RCA demonstrated efficient compaction at lower moisture levels, while FA required higher moisture to reach maximum density.

Mechanical Properties of Perlite Concrete in Context to Its Use in Buildings' External Walls.

Nowadays, much of the attention paid to building construction is focused on sustainability and environmental protection. The materials applied in construction should be safe and free of toxins, but they should also follow the idea of circular construction. Quests for materials with an appropriate structure and composition, unifying features of a construction, insulation (thermally and acoustically), and environmentally friendly material turned our attention in this paper toward expanded perlite (EP).

Incorporating Birch Bark Suberinic Acid Residue Powder into Structural Particleboards: Exploring Fractional Influence on Material Properties in Circular Economy Framework.

This study investigates the effects of suberic acid residue (SAR) additions on structural single-layer particleboard (like the P5 type, according to EN 312) properties, specifically the water absorption (WA), thickness swelling (TS), modulus of rupture (MOR), modulus of elasticity (MOE), screw withdrawal resistance (SWR), and internal bond (IB) strength. The results indicate that finer SAR fractions (1/0.25 and 2/1) reduce the WA after 2 h of soaking, while larger fractions increase the WA after 24 h, with only the smallest fraction meeting the TS standards.

Genetic Insights and Molecular Breeding Approaches for Downy Mildew Resistance in Cucumber ( L.): Current Progress and Future Prospects.

Cucurbit downy mildew, caused by , is a devastating disease in cucumbers that leads to significant yield losses in many cucurbit-growing regions worldwide. Developing resistant cucumber varieties is a sustainable approach to managing this disease, especially given the limitations of chemical control and the evolving nature of pathogens. This article reviews the genetic basis of downy mildew resistance in cucumbers, emphasizing key resistance (R) genes and quantitative trait loci (QTLs) that have been mapped.

The Importance of Self-Identities and Habitual Behavior for Eating More Plant Foods.

Objectives: This study aimed to identify the predictors of eating more plant-based foods and legumes in terms of previous changes in consumption, habitual frequency of consumption, intention to reduce the amount of meat consumed, and health and environmental identities.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted between June and September 2023 in 881 Polish adults. Based on two self-descriptors, four groups of respondents were identified: no health identity and no environmental identity (nHI-nEI), health identity but no environmental identity (HI-nEI), no health identity but environmental identity (nHI-EI), and both health identity and environmental identity (HI-EI).

Impact of Conventional Pasteurization, High Temperature Short Time, Ultra-High Temperature, and Storage Time on Physicochemical Characteristics, Bioactive Compounds, Antioxidant Activity, and Microbiological Quality of Fruit Nectars.

Berries are a valuable source of numerous bioactive compounds, and they have an interesting organoleptic profile. Unfortunately, their low storage life determines the need for their preservation. Among the various methods used in this regard, it was decided to use the High Temperature Short Time (HTST) (90 °C/15 s) and Ultra-High Temperature (UHT) (130 °C/5 s) methods to preserve the produced fruit nectar blends (strawberry-blackcurrant and strawberry-chokeberry).

Diet Quality and Past Changes in Food Consumption as Determinants of Intentions to Eat Less Meat and More Plant-Based Foods.

This study aimed to examine the relationship between self-reported changes in food consumption over the past 2 years, quality of actual diet, and declared intentions to eat more plant-based foods while reducing meat consumption in the next year. A cross-sectional study using Computer-Assisted Web Interview (CAWI) was conducted on 1003 Polish adults in 2023. The Beliefs and Eating Habits Questionnaire (KomPAN) was used to assess the frequency of consuming various food groups and to calculate diet quality indices.

Agri-Food and Food Waste Lignocellulosic Materials for Lipase Immobilization as a Sustainable Source of Enzyme Support-A Comparative Study.

Enzyme immobilization is a crucial method in biotechnology and organic chemistry that significantly improves the stability, reusability, and overall effectiveness of enzymes across various applications. Lipases are one of the most frequently applied enzymes in food. The current study investigated the potential of utilizing selected agri-food and waste materials-buckwheat husks, pea hulls, loofah sponges, and yerba mate waste-as carriers for the immobilization of Sustine 121 lipase and yeast biomass as whole-cell biocatalyst and lipase sources.

Characterization of SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein oligomers.

Oligomers of the SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid (N) protein are characterized by pronounced instability resulting in fast degradation. This property likely relates to two contrasting behaviors of the N protein: genome stabilization through a compact nucleocapsid during cell evasion and genome release by nucleocapsid disassembling during infection. In vivo, the N protein forms rounded complexes of high molecular mass from its interaction with the viral genome.

The impact of relaxation music (Weightless by Marconi Union) on production performance, welfare, and hematological and biochemical blood parameters in broiler chickens.

The study evaluated the impact of relaxation music on the production performance, welfare, and blood parameters of broiler chickens. Literature indicates that specific music genres, as environmental enrichment, can improve animal welfare and production outcomes. The research involved 1,200 Ross 308 chickens divided into control (C) and experimental (M) groups.

Phosphorus-deficiency stress in cucumber ( L.) plants: early detection based on chosen physiological parameters and statistical analyses.

Enhancing plant productivity and mitigating the impact of environmental stressors require a thorough understanding of phytomonitoring and physiological features indicative of plant health. This study delves into the response of cucumber plants to phosphorus deficiency employing diverse tools to identify key indicators and unravel the underlying mechanisms. Under phosphorus deficiency, a rapid response in older leaves was observed through the analysis of chlorophyll and carotenoid content.

Relationship between photosynthetic performance and yield loss in winter oilseed rape ( L.) under frost conditions.

Winter oilseed rape ( L.), the principal oilseed crop in Europe, is notably vulnerable to spring frosts that can drastically reduce yields in ways that are challenging to predict with standard techniques. Our research focused on evaluating the efficacy of photosynthetic efficiency analysis in this crop and identifying specific chlorophyll fluorescence parameters severely impacted by frost, which could serve as noninvasive biomarkers for yield decline.

In Vitro Propagation of Alyssum Species with Different Metal Accumulation Strategies.

The Alyssum genus, with its many metal-adapted species, is a good candidate for research on phytoremediation and metal tolerance mechanisms. These goals can be supported by elaborating on an in vitro multiplication protocol. Our study aimed to determine the aseptic conditions for the growth and effective propagation of , , and , each exhibiting different adaptation strategies to nickel ions.

Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Photogrammetry for Monitoring the Geometric Changes of Reclaimed Landfills.

Monitoring reclaimed landfills is essential for ensuring their stability and monitoring the regularity of facility settlement. Insufficient recognition of the magnitude and directions of these changes can lead to serious damage to the body of the landfill (landslides, sinkholes) and, consequently, threaten the environment and the life and health of people near landfills. This study focuses on using UAV photogrammetry to monitor geometric changes in reclaimed landfills.