Estimating the Effects Weather, Dry Matter Intake, and Body Weight on Daily Water Intake in Weaned Calves

Water is an essential nutrient and is required for growth, metabolism, lactation, and reproduction. However, water requirements for beef cattle have not been studied extensively since the 1950’s. The genetic potential for beef cattle has changed considerably since then. With the change in genetics, beef producers have observed increases in average daily gain and final body weight. The need for updated water requirements for beef cattle has also been exacerbated by global climate variability, drought conditions, and the need for efficient use of water resources. Given the increased productivity of cattle today relative to those of decades ago, increased water requirements are almost certain. Further research must be conducted to determine how those requirements have changed

The relationship between the big five personality dimensions and acute psychopathology: mediating and moderating effects of coping strategies.

BACKGROUND: Prior research suggests that the Big Five personality dimensions might be associated with coping strategies as well as acute psychopathology. The aim of the present study was to investigate direct and indirect associations between the Big Five personality traits, coping styles, and psychopathological variables. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Subjects were 1140 adults from various institutions and regions in Hungary. A comprehensive test battery was administered including the Big Five Inventory (BFI), Psychological Immune System Inventory (PISI), and some subscales of the Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI). Several moderation-mediation analyses were conducted using the PROCESS tool in SPSS to test for influence paths. RESULTS: Coping and personality variables jointly accounted for 40% to 50% of variance in psychopathology outcome. Personality dimensions of Extraversion, Conscientiousness and Emotional Stability had strongest predictive values. Emotional Stability had a more direct and unmediated effect, whereas Extraversion and Conscientiousness effects were mediated by the Approach and Self-regulation coping systems. In comparison to personality, coping style was generally a stronger predictor. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this study might add to better understanding of complex pathways leading from broad personality dimensions to coping strategies and psychological (mal)adjustment

The effect of the intensity and method of pruning on the growth and yield of the apple variety ’Idared’ under conditions of ecological and integrated growing systems

Summary: On the Experimental Farm of the Debrecen University at Pallag, a factorial experiment has been started at springtime of 2008 on an orchard of 12 year old apple trees ’Idared’ grafts on M 26 understocks. The first factor was the growing system (integrated versus ecological), the second was the intensity of pruning (strong versus moderate thinning of the crown), whereas the third was the method of pruning (shortening versus thinning of individual shoots). Measurements have been concentrated on shoot growth, flower initiation, fruit set and accumulated yield of two successive seasons. The following conclusions are made.– In the ecological growing system, strong thinning proved to be beneficial for growth as well as for fruit bearing. – Strong thinning combined with shortening of shoots diminished yield in the first year, whereasmoderate thinning combined with shortening of shoots caused favourable growth and fruit bearing.– In the ecological growing system, the moderate shoot growth was associated with better flower initiation, which increases the chances of alternate yielding.– According to our results, the flower initiation of the ‘Idared’ was stimulated univocally by the thinning of shoots regardless of the intensity of pruning.The right choice of the intensity and method of pruning is a decisive moment of a successful yield in the ecological apple growing syste

Identification of Genes Associated with Water Restriction Expressed in the Renal Cortex and Hypothalamus in Cattle

The short-term objective of this study is to discover genes associated with water restriction expressed in the renal cortex and hypothalamus in beef calves. The long-term goal is to understand genes and pathways important for thirst response in cattle. This knowledge may lead to discovery of genetic variants associated with water intake. Identification of animals with genetic potential to grow and thrive under drought conditions would be an asset to beef producers and communities which rely on beef production for a large part of their livelihoods. Both selected tissue types are known to be involved in response to hypertonicity (e.g., water restriction or dehydration)

Az öngyilkossági veszély felmérése a Rövid Szuicid Kérdőv segítségével - előzetes eredmények

The authors tested the clinical applicability of a self-developed, 6-item, clinician-rated questionnaire evaluating suicide risk in suicidal and non-suicidal psychiatric inpatients and healthy controls. Results have shown that the questionnaires able to detect marked suicide risk in psychiatric inpatients with a high sensitivity and specificity which indicates its usefulness and good applicability in clinical practice

The effect of cooling irrigation on the blooming dynamic of plum

The objective of the present study is to explore the effect of cooling irrigation (aspersion) on the beginning of bloom and on the micro-climate of the plantation. The results show that the water sprayed in the orchard by micro-jet influenced decisively the temperature of the plantation. At higher temperatures (around 20 °C), the drop of temperature may attain 5–7 °C. A low relative humidity of the air may increase the relative effect, The frequent repetition (20 minute intervals) may keep the temperature low also in the buds. The beginning of bloom may delayed for more than ten days. The dynamics of blooming was characterised by a logistic curve in the treated as well as in the control plot. In the treated plot, the curve was steeper than in the control in spite of equal temperatures measured in the plots. Under our (Hungarian) climatic conditions, the method is successfully used to delay blooming dates. The main result is the diminution of the frost damage in the spring and the security of yield. The costs and water requirement should be calculated later

Organic versus integrated apple growing: I. differences in soil and leaf parameters

The aim our study was to establish whether significant differences in nutrients uptake and quality of soil and leaf exist betweenorganic and integrated grown apples. The study was performed at the orchard Fruit Research Station, University of Debrecen, at Debrecen-Pallag during 2002–2004. Macro and micro elements were measured in soil and plant samples. Analyses of variance of soil nitrogen dataindicated highly significant differences between the two management systems (P < 0.001) for each examined nitrogen fraction. Analyses ofvariance of soil phosphate data indicated significant differences (P < 0.05) between the two management systems for orto-PO43– contents. Our data indicated that highly significant differences between the two management systems (P < 0.001) for magnesium, copper, and zinc; while significant differences between the two management systems was at P = 0.007 for calcium. Three year’s data of leaf phosphorus, sulphur and zinc were not shown significant differences between production systems. Nevertheless manganese and copper contents of leaves were higherin the organic orchard compared to the integrated one

Organic versus integrated apple growing: I. differences in soil and leaf parameters

The aim our study was to establish whether significant differences in nutrients uptake and quality of soil and leaf exist between organic and integrated grown apples. The study was performed at the orchard Fruit Research Station, University of Debrecen, at Debrecen-Pallag during 2002–2004. Macro and micro elements were measured in soil and plant samples. Analyses of variance of soil nitrogen data indicated highly significant differences between the two management systems (P < 0.001) for each examined nitrogen fraction. Analyses of variance of soil phosphate data indicated significant differences (P < 0.05) between the two management systems for orto-PO4 3– contents. Our data indicated that highly significant differences between the two management systems (P < 0.001) for magnesium, copper, and zinc; while significant differences between the two management systems was at P = 0.007 for calcium. Three year’s data of leaf phosphorus, sulphur and zinc were not shown significant differences between production systems. Nevertheless manganese and copper contents of leaves were higher in the organic orchard compared to the integrated one

Integration of terrestrial laser scanning and spectral canopy scanner in horticulture applications

One of the most difficult challenge in the everyday practice to describe the canopy growing of fruit trees in an orchard. Thephotosynthetic activity is the basic of the primer production of plants. The measurement of leaf area and determination of thephotosynthetic activity could be occurred with some elaborated methods between experimental conditions. In this article we present such anintegrated methodology, which is ideal to determine the geometric and spectral characteristic of fruit trees between field conditions.We havecarried out laser scanning technology to investigate the geometric-topological characteristics and parallel the active infra-red sensor to collectspectral data about an apple orchard. The surveys were worked out in an intensive apple orchard with drip irrigation system, protected by hailnet in Study and Regional Research Farm of the University of Debrecen near Pallag. This study shows the filtering and interpretation methodsof created data. The produced high accuracy data can be directly used in the precision horticulture. It could serve as a guiding data toimplementation a future “virtual horticulture”. Higher spatial and temporal resolution could help for a better recognition of water balance oforchards

Effect of hail protecting nets on the quality of apples

Today, successful fruit growing depends largely on the security of production. Among the technological elements of a secure growing system, the use of hail protection nets serves special attention. Components of security are the regularity, conspicuous large yields with excellent quality, which determine the prices and profitability as well (Szabó et al., 2010). In the European Union, most of the apple growing countries produce higher yields by 10-20% than Hungary. The conditions of better yields are partly due to a more favourable ecological milieu, partly to more developed technologies and serious discipline of the operations. Our own competitiveness could be developed first of all in those moments. As a consequence of global climatic changes, excesses of weather, i.e. hail-storms became more frequent. Different methods of protection against hail are developed abroad but also in Hungary. The examination of effects of the hail protection nets compared with the check without nets has been the purpose of our experiments. The growing system was the intensive one with high planting densities. Fruits of the two subsequent years have been compared as grown with and without hail protective nets. It turned out that in one season when shoot growth was stimulated, the shadowing effect of the net increased in addition the growth and at the same time braked the differentiation of flower buds, which exerted negative effects on yield of the next year. Let alone this phenomenon, the quality of fruits was not influenced by the hail protection net