Influence of Supplemental Feeding on Body Condition Score and Reproductive Performance Dynamics in Botosani Karakul Sheep

The aim of this research was to study the impact of supplementary feeding on reproductive traits in sheep. Two groups, L1 (control) and L2 (experimental treatment), of adult females aged between two and six years belonging to the Botosani Karakul sheep breed were formed. The experimental treatment group (L2) received supplementary feeding 25 days prior to mating. Improvements in body condition and significant increases in live weight occurred by the time of mating in those ewes that had been flushed (L2) (p < 0.01 vs. L1). The number of lambs per individual parturition was influenced by the body condition score (BCS), especially in females with a BCS of 2.0. The total number of weaned lambs in females with a BCS of 2.0 differed in comparison to that of females with a BCS of 2.5 or 3.0. All results highlighted that supplementary feeding applied to ewes prior to mating affected their reproductive and economic performance, translating to an increased live weight of the litter at weaning in the L2 group (p < 0.01 in lambs from BCS 2.0 ewes and p < 0.001 in lambs from BCS 2.5 to 3.5 ewes)

PLANT SPECIES’ DEPENDANT IN VITRO IMMUNE RESPONSE AND CHANGES IN THE PORTED BACTERIOME IN SMALL VERSUS LARGE RUMINANTS

Abstract Low-input farms, where cohabitation of various species is frequent, ensure welfare by providing outdoor free-roaming and also offering the opportunity for expression of physiological behaviour of the animals. The study aimed at investigating the bacteriome and the immune potential of cohabitants (bovine and sheep) from a low input farm. The research was carried out on nasal swabs and blood samples from bovine (n=7), and sheep (n=17) cohabiting on the same low-input farm. The swabs were subjected to clasical bacteriology techniques and bichemical identification by API tests (Bio Merieux France). To monitor the in vitro blast transformation capacity of lymphocytes, aliquots of blood were mixed 1:4 with RPMI1640 (Sigma Aldrich, USA), further divided in 200µl aliquots in duplicate in 96 well-plates and supplemented with a mitogen (PHA), alcohol control and alcoholic extract of Symphytum officinale (1.5 µl/well). The plates were incubated at 37⁰C for 72 h. The glucose residue was quantified by spectrophotometry (SUMAL PE2, Karl Zeiss, Jena) and blastogenic indices (SI%) were calculated. The groups were compared by Student’s t test for statistical significance of the results. P. aeruginosa, A. hydophila/caviae, E. cloacae, Pasteurella pneumotropica/M. haemolytica, Sphingomonas paucimobilis were isolated from bovine with an average MAR index of 0.288, while P. oryzihabitans, P. aeruginosa, P. fluorescens/P. putida, E. cloacae, Shigella spp. and Ewingella americana with a MAR index of 0.37 were isolated from sheep. The spontaneous SI was higher in cows (55.7± 10.3%) while PHA induced SI was higher in bovine (53.2±9.21%) and sheep (37.81±5.08%). The Symphytum officinale extract did not influence the SI in either bovine or sheep. Considering the similar influential factors acting on cohabiting animals on a low-input farm, there was a species-specific immune system controlled MAR resistance of the bacteriome, which the Symphytum officinale extract could not influence. Key words: bovine, sheep, bacteriome, in vitro cellular response, MAR index, Symphytum officinal

SPORT FANS USAGE OF FITNESS APPS

We spend more time at home, but above all, health is a priority. And because exercise is part of a balanced lifestyle, here are mobile sports apps to help you exercise and exercise at home. When the weather outside is not friendly to be able to exercise outdoors or when it is recommended to stay indoors for a long period, as was the case in past years, to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus, we must not give up to physical exercises, but we have to find alternative solutions. Here's the best alternative for outdoor exercise: mobile sports apps that help you exercise at home. In the paper "Sport fans usage of fitness Apps" we have presented a brief history of the appearance of fitness applications, a summary of the advantages and disadvantages of these applications and a short description of two studies carried out in this field of sports application

Enhancing the nutritional value of sweet pepper through sustainable fertilization management

IntroductionThe need for healthy foods has become a major concern in our modern world, as the global population continues to grow and environmental challenges intensify. In response to these challenges, researchers have started to explore a range of sustainable solutions, including organic farming practices, precision agriculture, and the development and testing of innovative biofertilizers. Consistent with these ideas come the aim of this study, which sets out to give new insights into the cultivation of two sweet pepper cultivars with economic and nutritional importance in Romania.MethodsTwo sweet pepper cultivars (Blancina and Brillant), chemically (Nutrifine®), organically (Orgevit®) and biologically (Micoseed®) fertilized were cultivated over the course of two years (2019 and 2020), between April and October, in high-tunnel, by following a split-plot design with three replications. Production parameters (number of fruits, fruit weight, yield), proximate composition (water content, dry matter, total soluble solids, acidity, ash), the content of phytonutrients (polyphenols, lycopene, β-carotene, antioxidant activity), phytochemical composition (phenolic compounds) and minerals (macro- and micro-elements) were analyzed in order to determine the impact of fertilization on the quality of sweet peppers.ResultsThe results showed that the biological and organic fertilizations had a significant positive impact on most of the parameters analyzed, starting with yield and continuing with acidity, phytonutrient content (total phenolic content, lycopene, β-carotene), antioxidant activity and phytochemical composition (chlorogenic acid, p-coumaric acid, quercetin and isoquercetin). Only in the case of mineral content, the chemical treatment gave better results compared with the organic and biological fertilizers.ConclusionOverall, this study provides valuable information on the potential of organic and biological fertilizers to enhance the nutritional value of sweet peppers from Blancina F1 and Brillant F1 cultivars, paving the way for subsequent research aimed at achieving superior quality and increased yields

Infecția cu coronavirus de tip nou (COVID-19): protocol clinic național (ediția VIII) PCN-371

Acest protocol este elaborat și revizuit sistematic de grupul de lucru al Ministerului Sănătății al Republicii Moldova (MS), constituit din reprezentanți ai Comisiilor de specialitate ale MS, angajați ai Universității de Stat de Medicină și Farmacie „Nicolae Testemițanu” și Agenției Naționale pentru Sănătate Publică. Documentul nu este unul exhaustiv și se bazează pe recomandările actuale ale Organizației Mondiale a Sănătății privind infecția cu coronavirus de tip nou (COVID-19) și alte date disponibile la acest moment. Protocolul clinic național servește drept referință pentru elaborarea protocoalelor clinice instituționale, reieșind din posibilitățile reale ale fiecărei instituții medico-sanitare

Interaction Effects of Cultivars and Nutrition on Quality and Yield of Tomato

Tomato is considered the most important vegetable crop worldwide. Improving the nutritional value of fruits must be based on sustainable production in terms of varieties and fertilization management. This study aimed to improve the nutritional value (total soluble solids, acidity, lycopene, β-carotene, polyphenols, macro and microelements) of two tomato varieties (‘Cristal’ and ‘Siriana’) under three fertilization types (NPK chemical fertilizer, chicken manure and biological fertilizer with microorganisms) for the greenhouse. Primary metabolism compounds do not vary significantly according to the type of fertilizer used. The results for the antioxidant compounds showed a better effect of biological fertilization compared to chemical fertilizer and control unfertilized. Thus, the antioxidant activity was improved by 28% compared to chemical fertilization, the lycopene content by 36% and β-carotene by 96%, respectively. The tomato fruits from the local cultivar (‘Siriana’) are richer in nutritional compounds such as rutin, regardless of the type of fertilization, which denotes a good ability to adapt to crop conditions. Tomato cultivars reacted positively to microbiological fertilization compared to chemical, thus producing nutritious fruits under sustainable management. Tomato fruits were richer in the quality of microelement contents