EJPAU, 2008, Volume 11, Issue 2

The studies concerned enriching bakery products with selected ingredients with pro-health properties and a simultaneous estimation of their effect on the physical (weight loss, the proper weight of the crumb, the proportion of crust to crumb) and sensory properties of bakery. The analyses showed the effect of the kind of ingredient and its weight share on the characteristics of the test baking. Independently of the kind of bakery product, its freezing did not influence the studied physical properties. The identified weight losses depend on and are an effect of the manner of thawing. Thawing in a microwave oven caused much greater weight losses than in the case of thawing in the air, and it did not cause any significant change in the examined properties. However, changes were found in the proper weight of the crumb, the proportion of crust to crumb; besides, the elasticity of the crumb and the hardness of the crust were decreased, which had an effect on the value of organoleptic evaluation.

Contribution describes procedures during designing of evaporative cooling system for inner air cooling in stables under different climatic condition. There are described an effect of different device types and recommendation for its operation. Two types of equipment are used in agriculture for evaporative cooling: pressure nozzles and evaporative panels. The sufficient 80 % adiabatic efficiency can be expected in the equipment with spray nozzles at the 5 MPa water pressure before the nozzle and with the properly installed standard wetted surface 100 mm thick, over which air flows at a rate of 1 m·sec^-1. When deciding the installation of the cooling equipment, it is important to take into account local climatic conditions. The future evolution of climate is estimated by means of mathematical models. Should the limit be determined for the efficient use of the evaporative cooling for example in the stable for growing and finishing pigs at an annual temperature maximum above 33°C, it is suitable to install the equipment in the current period in places with the average summer temperature above 16.5°C. However, around 2050, this would already be in places where the average temperature is now above 15.5°C in the summer months. Thanks to knowledge of the future values, it is possible to find out what is called a space analogue, i.e. a place where a similar situation occurs at the present time and will be there in the future. In the current and future period, it is sufficient to design equipment that is able to evaporate about 5-6 grams water into each cubic meter of the ventilation air. On the basis of this value and the given volume of the ventilation air in the stable, it is possible to determine the necessary number of nozzles or, as the case may be, the volume of the evaporative panel. Simultaneously with the evaporative cooling, other important means should be used for increasing the comfort of animals, such as shading the buildings, increasing the airflow rate around animals and directing the flow of ventilation air directly to the zone of animals.

The article present results of the studies on the functional model of an electrical grass mower, powered by an alkaline fuel cell in the aspect of exploitation properties and energetic efficiency. Variability of the load torque, tension and rotating speed while mowing were determined. The energetic efficiency of the system “fuel cell – mower” and the conditions of effective mowing (active length of the knife and the maximum progressive speed of the mower) were calculated.

Substitution of fossil fuel with biomass as an alternative is very extending, especially in last years. Besides wood, which is mostly used in small boilers, there are some non-traditional biofuels – energy plants and agricultural by-products. This research is focused first of all on biomass combustion in a local low-power heating systems with output up to 100 kW, which can be taken into consideration for this purpose. Detailed combustion tests with different types of biofuels and burners were done with aim to evaluate both – fuels and boilers. Emission parameters of each fuel obtained during the experiment and many recommendations for boiler designers are mentioned as outcome of this work.

Interactions of selected paramagnetic transition metal salts [Ni(II), Co(II), Cu(II), Fe(III), Mn(II)] with xanthan gum are described. The conductivity, DSC/TG/DTG measurements, and EPR measurements produced evidence for the formation of Werner-type complexes of metal central atoms with the polysaccharide ligand. The carboxylic groups of xanthan gum were preferably involved in the ligation of the central atoms. Cu(II), Co(II) and Fe(III) ions were most readily coordinated by xanthan gum whereas Mn(II) cations were coordinated most randomly. Sometimes, the copper central atom resided in dimeric form.

Investigations with artificial inoculation of soil and grain of 12 oats genotypes with Drechslera avenae isolate no 1 were carried out in years 2000-2002 on experimental plots near Zamość. In each year the number of 7-weeks seedlings, number of plants and panicles before harvest, and grains yield from the individual plot were calculated. The greatest mean seedling loss after three years of investigations when compared to the control was 47.8% (‘Akt’), and the lowest 13.0% (‘Bajka’), while the loss of plants before harvest ranged from 15.8% (‘Bajka’) to 52.6% (‘Bachmat’). The mean decrease in panicle number compared to the control ranged from 4.2% (‘Bajka’) to 45.5% (‘Jawor’) and mean grain yield loss was lowest in ‘Borowiak’ (18.4%) and ‘Bajka’ (22.8%), while highest in ‘Akt’ (70.3%). Mycological analysis of grains obtained from oat plants developed from caryopses subjected previously to artificial infection with Drechslera avenae under field conditions revealed a considerable number of this pathogen isolates. On average isolates of Drechslera avenae accounted for 59.0% of the total number of fungi isolated from surface-sterilized grains and 48.7% from non-sterilized grains. From both surface-sterilized and non-sterilized control grains, most frequently were isolated: A. alternata, B. sorokiniana, F. culmorum, F. graminearum, F. oxysporum, F. poae, F. sporotrichioides and P. verrucosum var. cyclopium.

The process of water desorption from a heterogenic system of seeds has been studied in the analyser of water diffusion and activity. The theoretical presentation of this process has been based on the differential equation describing molecular transport of water from the sample to the environment as a function of the activity of the diffusing water. The resolution of this equation has been expressed in the form describing changes in the water activity in time in the nearest environment of the studied system. The theoretical data were compared with experimental results in which the kinetics of water evacuation from sample to the surrounding atmosphere were established. The diffusion coefficient was determined on the basis of this comparison and the values of selected thermodynamic functions were estimated knowing the water evacuation at least at two temperatures. The interpretation of the obtained results should be made regarding the presence of aquaporins – the proteins occurring as tetramers in cell membranes and regulating the water transport into and from the cells. Their effect on the water transport was analysed indirectly by analysis of the influence of the membrane modification with selected surfactants and by blocking the aquaporins with HgCl₂. The presented studies have shown that in pea seeds treated with HgCl₂ the value of the activity diffusion coefficient decreases as compared with control probe, whereas it increases in pea seeds treated with surfactants (sodium dodecyl sulfate SDS as well as Triton X-100). The values of thermodynamic functions such as free energy ΔG, differential enthalpy ΔH, differential entropy ΔS, change as well. The obtained data can be interpreted as a result of the surfactant-induced changes of membrane permeability and blocking the aquaporins by HgCl_2. The theoretical description and the instrumental method presented in the present work can be applied to further investigation of cellular water transport.

The population variability of Beckmannia eruciformis was investigated on the basis of measurements of 10 biometric features: total height of grass, height of culm, height of leafless culm, length of inflorescence, number of 1st rank ramifications in inflorescence, length of the lowest ramification in inflorescence, length of top spikelet, number of leaves, length of the largest leaf, width of the largest leaf. Studies were carried out in 2006 at five localities situated in central eastern Poland – Bagno Pulwy, Grębków, Siedlce, Zabuże and Bereza. The maximum, minimum, arithmetic mean and range were calculated for each feature. Populations of Beckmannia eruciformis differed significantly in all of the investigated features (Tukey’s test, significance level 0.95). Specimens occurring in natural, well supplied with water habitats in localities Zabuże and Bereza were characterized by the highest mean values of morphological features. A water supply during whole vegetation period is probably the main factor affecting studied morphological differences and condition of specimens. The only exception was the longest top spikelet calculated for the population in Siedlce.

The cultures of Bacillus cereus B5esz strain in feather keratin-containing media showed, that proteinceaous substrate was gradually degraded and next used as a carbon and nitrogen source. This strain biosynthesised extracellular enzymes, such as: keratinases, proteases and others. As a result, increases in soluble protein and amino groups concentration were observed, together with the release of inorganic sulphur compounds and medium alkalinization. This coincided also with increasing concentrations of thiol compounds. An excess of cystine-derived sulphur was accumulated in inorganic sulphates (IV and VI) or thiosulphates. The investigated bacterial strain in twelve-day cultures decomposed 70 % of feather keratin. Inoculation of feather-containing compost with B. cereus, initially resulted in predominance of spore-forming and thermophilic bacteria. After six weeks of composting, yeast or filamentous fungi were eliminated. Bacterial inoculum slightly accelerated the mineralization of feathers and increased the fertilizer value of the compost. Electron microscopy visualization of feather keratin fibres after composting, showed enhanced degradation of the feather structures. The degradation of feather keratin structures was conspicuous both in the medium and compost. The feathers were covered with a complex microbial matrix.

Although cement materials have had more than one hundred years history, they are still building material of great importance. Positive and negative experiences with their application were used in subsequent realizations. Significant development of material engineering, especially in the last few years, has created new possibilities also in the cement materials technology. This has contributed to the considerable increase the durability of cement materials and the firmness of their structure as well. Those effects were possible to attain by dint of the modifications of the cement materials’ structure that rested mainly on usage of specific chemical admixtures (super plasticizers) and mineral supplements (silica fume). The modifications of the cement materials structure allowed to reduce remarkably water-cement ratio and porosity. As a result one can obtain a mixture with much more active particles that are able to make structural bonds and much less capillary pores, which create main structural defects. It may appear that modelling problems have already been solved. In literature one can find many different hardening models. In this research the structural model of cement materials hardening is presented. Formulas, shown on the basis of established model assumptions, make possible to observe the development of concrete's strength under compression in wide range of changes of its structure, defined by porosity coefficient. This coefficient, giving the ratios between molecular (gel) pores capacity and total pores capacity in hardening concrete, is a proper description of structures – formed processes character, integrally connected with structure of porosity of hardening cement paste. It means that there is an influence of mineral additives and physical and chemical active admixtures on development of hardening concrete strength. In the established model the fundamental influence on concrete's strength, in the period of its structural changes, exerts the cement gel with dissipated, molecular, capillary and air pores. The distinction of porosities and equivalent influence on the development of concrete's strength under compression fixing makes the identifying of significant model difference in scope of concretes characterized by dissimilar composition of matrix possible. The setting and hardening of concrete are accompanied by no stationary, heterogeneous temperature and moisture distributions caused by the hydration heat development. In this paper theoretical and experimental studies of temperature distributions induced in large High Performance Concrete (HPC) and Ordinary Concrete (OC) blocks during the hardening process are discussed. Two concrete mixes with water to binder ratios 0.52 (OC) and 0.32 (HPC) are used in the experimental blocks to identify the temperature fields and thermal stresses during their hardening. Concrete structures treated by outer load are exposed to loads resultant from material properties and technology of structure. These loads are mainly caused by unsteady, coupled fields of temperature and humidity. They come into being during truss and hardening of concrete under the influence of action of inner heat sources and inner dry up as a result of hydration process in binder and also as a result of mass (humidity) and energy (heat) exchange with environment. These processes, causing irregular changes of volume in hardening concrete, are often the reason of forming the first scratches and cracks in structure, even in stage of its realization. Thermal and humidity distortions are essential in massive structures. The increasing of massive structure temperature evokes distortion and stress in this structure. Maximal values of thermal stresses are being noticed in initial period of concrete truss and hardening. Cracks can be made in zones of tensioned concrete on the surface of solid. In the consequence of later, natural cooling of structure of the influence of plastic and rheological distortions and changes of material features in hardening concrete, there is a phenomenon of inversion in solid’s distortion, causing tension of inner zones.

The paper presents the methods and devices used in measurements of shear wave velocity to estimate the initial shear modulus in overconsolidated cohesive soil. Both shear wave velocity and initial shear modulus depends on many factors, especially mean effective stress and void ratio. This paper presents in details the results obtained from the SCPTU and the bender elements tests. Tests were carried out on overconsolidated cohesive soils from Warsaw. Finally the paper presents original relationship between the shear modulus, mean effective stress and void ratio.

In aquaculture, such genome manipulations as androgenesis and mitotic gynogenesis are of special interest because the resulting progeny are completely homozygous and carries chromosomes from only one parental source. Androgenesis has a lot of potential applications, inc1uding rapid establishment of inbred lines, analyzing patterns of inheritance and recovery of valuable strains or endangered wild populations or species from cryopreserved sperm. In present work, the optimum conditions of ovarian fluids, thermal shock and UV irradiation to involve androgenesis in koi carp (Cyprinus carpio L.) was checked. The best ovarian fluid was one described for common carp by Bongers et al. [5]. As a semi-lethal heat thermal shock was chosen 2 min lasted at 40°C. The optimum dose of genetic inactivation of koi carp oocytes using UV radiation was 3840 J m^-2.

The influence of the addition of same antioxidants such as: BHT and protein hydrolysate and rosemary extract on some fat characteristic and sensory quality of raw sausages was checked during this research. The quality of experimental sausages was evaluated by determination: their sensory desirability and their acid numbers and content of free fatty acids. The results of the performed investigations revealed that the both checked factors of technological variability, i.e. the application of three types of antioxidants and the time of maturation diversified the results of examined quality parameters of raw sausages. It was further demonstrated that the applied antioxidants caused the slightly reduction of the acid number value, increased the total content of the lower volatile fatty acids and diversified the proportions of the determined free fatty acids. It was also found that raw sausages manufactured with the assistance of selected antioxidants were characterized by a slightly better sensory desirability of the taste and odour in comparison with the control sausages.

Divercin preparations were obtained in the process of freeze and spray drying where high-saccharified maltodextrin was used as a drying carrier. It was found that spray drying of a liquid divercin extract was possible when maltodextrin at a concentration of at least 10% was applied while a liquid divercin extract could be freeze-dried without the addition of maltodextrin. However, when the concentration of maltodextrin in the dried liquid extracts was lower than 10%, freeze-dried divercin preparations contained more than 10% of water and could be microbiologically unstable and susceptible to non-enzymatic transformations. It was also found that freeze drying and spray drying processes did not decrease divercin activity.

Meat structure and the effects of wild boars of 40 kg carcass weight shot during spring and winter meat addition on texture, sensory properties and thermal drip of finely ground model meat products manufactured of meat differing in pork and beef meat content were studied.
Regardless of season of shot, wild boar meat showed a smaller muscle fibre area and intramuscular fat content and also a thicker peri- and endomysium than the meat from pork shoulder whereas beef was characterized by the thickest muscle fibre and connective tissue.
When the season of shot was compared, the highest amount of fat was found in muscles of wild boars shot during autumn and winter than animals from spring and summer. Increasing wild boar meat content resulted in a reduction of hardness and gumminess for beef batter as well as in augmentation of hardness, cohesiveness, springiness and gumminess and reduction of juiciness for pork sausages, irrespectively of kind of wild boar meat addition. Increasing the wild boar of spring and summer meat content resulted in a higher texture and sensory properties changes of model sausages compared to meat from animals shot during autumn and winter. It also resulted in a larger increase of thermal drip in both the pork and beef ground meat products.

The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of selected functional blends on shelf life of model meat products. Analyses showed that total microbial counts in functional blends did not have a significant effect on the variation of infection in case of sausages produced with their addition. However, in comparison to reference products sausages with a share of analyzed blends exhibited a significantly shorter shelf life. The presence of blends in sausages had a significant effect on the course of lipid changes and contributed to the acceleration of oxidation processes during sausage storage. Obtained results may be useful when determining admissible shelf life of sausages produced with an addition of analyzed functional blends.

In the modern meat industry, salt is used as a flavouring or flavour enhancer and is also responsible for the desired textural properties of processed meats. The ultimate goal of ingredient suppliers and meat processors is to produce reduced sodium meat products that consumers can enjoy. In this research, the effects of four levels of salt (0,1.5, 2, 2.5%) on some quality characteristics of turkey meatballs were investigated during the storage at 4°C, for 7 days. Meatballs were prepared with equal amounts of turkey breast and thigh. Salt resulted lower higher cooking yields at each added level and also improved moisture retention. Higher salt levels significantly increased TBA levels during storage. Sensory panel results indicated that, salt levels affected quality characteristics of turkey meatball during storage. According to sensory panel scores, salt level can be reduced. However reducing salt level in meatball formulation, increased L* value.

Black currant is one of the most frequently consumed fruit, eaten raw as well as after processing. Fruits are rich in vitamin C, anthocyanins and phenolic compounds. Having antioxidant properties, all of these compounds are very important for human health. There are some scientific data demonstrating that organic fruits and vegetables contain more compounds with antioxidant properties in comparison to conventional produce, but these studies are not sufficient. However in case of black currant no studies have been conducted yet. Therefore it was advisable to compare bioactive compound content in black currant from organic and conventional cultivation. Three black currant cultivars were chosen to the study: Ojebyn, Ben Lomond and Titania. All fruits came from certified organic farm and corresponding conventional farm. The following parameters were determined in fruits: dry matter, biologically active compounds, like flavonols, polyphenols, vitamin C and anthocyanins, as well as antioxidant activity. The obtained results showed that organic black currant had considerably higher levels of compounds with antioxidant properties and higher antioxidant potential compared to fruits produced using conventional methods. Therefore black currant could be recommended as valuable enrichment of healthy diet.

The study was an attempt to determine technical quality of pine wood coming from mature stands growing in fresh coniferous forests (Bœw) and fresh mixed coniferous forests (BMœw). This assessment was based on the share of conventional knotless elements in the total number of conventional elements in 5-meter butt logs [2].
Analyses indicate a significant effect of growth and development conditions (the site) as well as the social position of the tree in the stand on wood quality manifested in the share of knotless wood.

Increasing concerns regarding public safety, environmental protection, and efficient and safe operation of industrial enterprises dramatically increase the importance and demand for deformation monitoring in the civil engineering, mining, and energy sectors. Development of new methods and techniques for integrated monitoring, integrated analysis, and prediction (deterministic modeling) of structural and ground deformations is a subject of interdisciplinary research effort at the Canadian Centre for Geodetic Engineering (CCGE) at the University of New Brunswick. The recent developments include the Deformation Detection System (DDS) software suite for fully automated and continuous monitoring of deformations with multi-sensor systems, use of deterministic modeling of deformations in the design of monitoring schemes, and use of monitoring results in the physical interpretation of the deformation.

The studies dealing with the species composition and the population dynamics of aphids were conducted in Lublin in the years 2002-2004. They included two rose species – Rosa caninaL. and Rosa rugosa Thunb., growing in two sites: a street one and a park one. The purpose of the present paper was to establish the species composition and the population dynamics of aphids preying on those plants. Six aphid species were observed on R. canina shrubs, and three species – on R. rugosa shrubs. The dominating species on R. canina shrubs was Macrosiphum rosae L., while the presence of Chaetosiphon tetrahordus Walk. was found on R. rugosa. More aphids colonized the shrubs growing in the street sites as compared to the park site. Particular aphid species colonized most plant parts on the shrubs of R. canina and R. rugosa.

Studies on vitamin C content were conducted on plant material (fruits, vegetables) from the producers who supplied the products to the network of retail trade in Bydgoszcz. The products were stored in storage rooms where vitamin C content was determined in 14-day-long intervals using Tillmans’ method according to PN-A-04019:1008. Differentiated content of vitamin C (ranging from 4.0 to 146.1 mg·100 g^-1 of fresh weight) depended on the analyzed cultivar and in case of apples, pears, cucumbers, Italian broccoli, yellow paprika, onion and white cabbage on the date of estimation. The daily demand of an adult organism for vitamin C, on average from November till February, is covered (with theoretical assumptions) by the consumption of 80 g of yellow paprika, 80 g of cauliflower and 100 g of white cabbage. The calculated variability coefficients for vitamin C content in fruits and vegetables pointed to the greatest stability for cauliflower (1.8%), and the lowest for onion (12.9%), apples (14.2%) and pears (30.4%).

The aim of this work was to study the effect of quantity of light, day length and temperature on growth of following spice plants: dill ‘Ambrozja’ (Anethum graveolens L), garden chervil (Anthriscus cerefolium L. Hoffm.), garden rocket (Eruca sativa Lam.) and parsley ‘Titan’ (Petroselinum crispum Mill. subsp. crispum). Plants were grown in growth chambers. Daily photon flux and temperature had the greatest influence on height of plants. The highest plants of all the species were recorded where plants grew in daily photon flux of PAR – 2.9 mol·m^-2 and temperature 25°C.

Four narcissi varietes were forced in artificial light using fluorescent lamps emitting white, blue, red, yellow and green light. The photosynthetic flux density (PPFD) was 25 ľ·m^-2·s^-1, whereas the length of the day was 12 hours. The bulbs of all the studied varieties flowered worse under the red light conditions. It was also observed that the light of white and blue colours improved the stem stiffness of narcissi of ‘Ice Follies’, ‘Johann Strauss’ and ‘Unsurpassable’ varieties in relation to the red, yellow and green light.

A field experiment was conducted in the years 2003-2005. It studied the consecutive effect of green manure forecrops and the growth of ‘Blizzard’ leek. Leek was cultivated in the second year after organic fertilization. Sugar maize cultivated directly after ploughing in organic fertilizers was the forecrop for leek. The plants intended for green manure were sown during the first 10 days of April , and they were ploughed in during the first 10 days of June in the years 2002-2004. The following were used as green manures under sugar maize: oats, field pea and spring vetch as well as a mixture of these plants ploughed in as a whole or as aftercrop residue. Manure was introduced into the soil in the dose of 25 t ha^-1. Greater yields were obtained after ploughing in the whole biomass of the forecrops than in case of aftercrop residue. The greatest consecutive production effect, measured with the increase of the commercial yield of leek in comparison to the cultivation without organic fertilization, was characteristic of green manures in the form of whole plants of field pea and spring vetch as well as mixtures of oats with spring vetch. The commercial yield of leek obtained after them was also significantly higher than after manure. The other green manures had the yield-forming consecutive effect similar to manure. The ploughed in aftercrop residue of the forecrops were characterized by a similar consecutive production effect to that of manure. The leeks cultivated after the mixture of oats with field pea ploughed in under maize were characterized by the white part of greater weight than those cultivated after green manures of oats and a mixture of oats with field pea, and of greater weight than those cultivated in the control object without any organic fertilization.

In the present study honeydew excretion process was investigated using modified hygrothermographs for daily measures, following the method applied in the 80’s by Koteja. Diurnal activity of honeydew excretion in different developmental stages of Coccus hesperidum was analyzed. Maximum activity of Coccus hesperidum honeydew production has been observed at afternoon and night hours. The difference size and density of honeydew droplets in relation to the scale insects developmental stage and diurnal rhythm of Coccus hesperidum has been noted.

Standard feed mixture for laying hens was supplemented with dried yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae enriched in Cu (Y_Cu), Fe (Y_Fe) and Mn (Y_Mn). The availability of investigated organic forms, comparing to inorganic forms (CuSO₄, FeSO₄, and MnO₂), was assessed by analysis of these elements content in diet, droppings and eggs. Following values of apparent absorption were observed: control group 24.04, 29.89 and 20.35 %; Y_Cu group 27.14, 30.0 and 21.9 %; Y_Fe group 27.28, 32.43 and 19.44 %; Y_Mn group 26.01; 24.89 and 31.55 %; Y_Cu+Fe+Mn group: 24.78, 30.84 and 24.65 %; for Cu, Fe and Mn respectively. It was found, that yeast supplementation caused a significant (p<0.05) increase in copper availability (groups receiving Y_Cu and Y_Fe) as well as in manganese availability (groups receiving Y_Mn and Y_Cu+Fe+Mn). The differences in iron availability were not statistically confirmed.

32 weeks old laying hens were used in this study. The birds were divided into 4 groups: the control group (group I) fed with basal diet and experimental groups II, III and IV fed with basal diet supplemented by appropriately 2, 5 and 10% addition of amaranth grain. No statistically relevant changes in the haemoglobin level and the haematocrit volume in the birds’ blood were noted during the study. The erythrocyte count was diversified and ranged between 2.7 (group III) and 3.1 x 10¹² l^-1(group IV). As compared to the control group, a statistically significant difference in the total cholesterol level was noted for hens in group II. Falling tendency was observed for groups fed with diet supplemented by a larger share of amaranth grain, i.e. 5 and 10 % share. The largest fall of the LDL fraction of cholesterol, by appropriately 45.6 and 52.3 %, was shown for groups fed with 5 and 10% addition of amaranth grain (group III and IV). The level of HDL fraction of cholesterol was higher in the experimental groups, fluctuating around the level of 0.24-0.36 mmol l^-1, as compared to the control group with the level of 0.22 mmol l^-1The triglycerides content in respective groups of birds fed with addition of amaranth grain was significantly different (p≤0.05) as compared to the control group. The largest fall of triglycerides content was noted for group IV. The ALT activity in groups fed with 2 and 10% addition of amaranthus grain was higher in comparison to the control group, reaching respectively 44.8 and 36.9 IU l^-1, (p≤0.05) for experimental groups and 27.5 IU l^-1 for the control group. The ALT activity in the group fed with 5% addition of grain was comparable to the one noted for the control group, i.e. 20.5 IU l^-1. The highest level of aminotransferase (AST) activity, i.e. 466.14IU l^-1 , was observed for the group fed with the largest (10%) addition of amaranth grain and constituted difference that was statistically significant in comparison to the control group level, i.e. 373.71 IU l^-1, p ≤ 0.05. Elevated levels of glucose and protein were observed in experimental groups as compared to the control group.

Velvet Scoter Melanitta fusca, belongs to the duck family Anatidae. There is a relevant heart structure differentiation among that group of birds. The aim of the study was to evaluate basic parameters of body and heart structure of Velvet Scoters living at the Baltic sea. The research determined significant correlations between heart structures (ventricles weight) parameters. We established indexes which may be applied for comparative filogenetic and morphologic studies. The presented study extends present knowledge regarding the anatomic heart structure of wild birds in correlation with their lifestyle.