The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of industrially designed light-emitting diode (LED) lamp lighting on the nutritional quality of Brassicaceae microgreens. Red pak choi (Brassica rapa var. chinensis ‘Rubi F1 ’), tatsoi (Brassica rapa var. rosularis) and mustard (Brassica juncea L. ‘Red Lion’) were grown in a greenhouse (20±2/18±2 °C) during winter season, and the solar daily integral (DLI) was ~3.46±1.16 mol mE-2 dE-1. The light spectra of lamp consist of 8 violet (420-430), 16 blue (460-470 nm), 8 orange (610-615 nm), 3 red (620-630 nm), 56 red (660-670 nm), 8 white (contain blue (400-500 nm), green (500-600 nm) and red (600-700 nm)) LEDs. The treatments of ~150 and ~250 µmol m-2 sE-1 LED irradiance levels (LED 150 and LED 250) for 16 h dE-1 in comparison with high pressure sodium (HPS) lamps (~150 µmol mE-2 sE-1) as a control were performed. Photophysiological response to the artificial light varied among Brassicaceae species. Microgreens treated with LED 150 and LED 250 were significantly (P is less than or equal to 0.05) shorter and formed smaller hypocotyls. The photooxidative changes were evoked by both lighting treatments and led to higher phytochemical (phenols, ascorbic acid, flavonols, anthocyanins) and mineral element (Ca, K, Mg, Na, P, Fe, Zn) contents, and the DPPH and ABTS free radicals scavenging activities in all microgreens. Significantly lower content of nitrate was obtained with LED 150 treatment. Finally, LED lamps have the potential to be used as the main light source for growing high nutritional quality microgreens in greenhouses.

The aim of the research was to evaluate how the quality of carrots is affected by organic and conventional production systems. The experiment was carried out at the Estonian Crop Research Institute in 2009. Conventional treatment received the following amount of nutrients via mineral fertilizers: N 115, P 40 and K 152 kg haE-1. For plant protection, the following pesticides were used: Fenix, Fastac 50, Agil and Signum. In organic cultivation system compost and humic acid solution Humistar were used for fertilization and polypropylene non-woven fabric Agryl P-17 for plant protection. Marketable yield of organic carrots was 8% lower compared to the conventional carrots. Conventional carrots contained pesticide residues and had significantly higher nitrate concentration than organic carrots. The contents of total sugars, phosphorus, potassium, calcium and magnesium did not differ significantly between carrots from different cultivation systems. At harvest, dry matter (DM) content of organically grown carrots was significantly higher, whereas vitamin C and ß-carotene content was significantly lower in organically grown carrots. However, after 5-months of storage, the organic carrots had significantly higher total soluble solids (TSS) and β-carotene content compared to the conventional ones indicating that organically grown carrots were less susceptible to storage conditions.

Blood haematology is one of the indicators that shows if a goat (Capra hircus) kid gets a sufficient quantity of liquid, has a good supply of oxygen in the body, as well as an indication of inflammatory processes. Our aim of this research was to find out how feed additives (probiotics (Enterococcus faecium), prebiotics (Jerusalem artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus L.)) and symbiotics (Enterococcus faecium+ Jerusalem artichoke)) influence on haematological parameters of kids. Research was performed in Latvia in 2014. The blood samples were analyzed for leucocytes (WBC), erythrocyte number (RBC), haemoglobin (HGB) concentration, packed cell volume (HCT), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH) and mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentrations (MCHC). Since the blood indicators have not significantly changed in all examination times, we analyzed the results of the age of 4, 8 and 12 weeks. HCT downward trend in blood sample MRG + PRO, MRG + PRE and MRG + SIM group of kids was observed from the fourth week up to the eighth week and then it gradually increased. The results showed that the HCT, HGB, RBC, MCHC and WBC number was comparable (p is greater than 0.05) between groups. Our results prove that the use of Jerusalem artichoke powder as an additive to food not only improves digestion and metabolism of ruminant, but also helps to maintain constant haematological values. In the control group and the kids who received probiotics, prebiotics or symbiotics - significant differences are evident in all haematological parameters (p is less than 0.05) at the age of 12 weeks.

This article presents the results of a comparative evaluation of preventive treatment of udder with probiotic agents: ‘Dipal’ (manufacturer DeLaval - Sweden), ‘Zorka’ (manufacturer «NPP Farmaks» - Russia). We have received data on the effects of probiotic preparation on quality of milk and number of somatic cells in milk. Research has been conducted in two dairy farms of Almaty region of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Lactobacillus acidophilus 05ch - isolated from shubat (South Kazakhstan region, Turkestan). Lactococcus lactis 010k - isolated from three-day kumys (Zhambyl region, Merke). These probiotics are used as a means for sanitary treatment of the udder of cows. Thus, the procedure of determining the antagonistic activity revealed their high activity against both gram-negative and gram-positive microorganisms, notably Staphylococcus aureus (10-13 mm), Escherichia coli (12 mm), Proteus vulgaris (10-14 mm), Salmonella abortus ovis (11-13 mm). Significant changes in the milk indices can be found in the experimental group: 9.1% rise of lactose, and 7.2% reduction of protein. The level of protein increased by 4.1% , whereas the amount of lactose, on the contrary, went down 1.6%, which may be indicative of the increase in the content of serum protein when the udder is inflamed. The examination of the milk obtained from the cows of the control and experimental groups showed a nearly double reduction in the number of somatic cells from 488.00 down to 178.000 thousand, which was caused by the daily treatment of cows by probiotic cultures during 2 weeks.

Morphological parameters and their changes common for artificially reared one year old sea trout were examined from January to May the year 2013 to determine whether these parameters indicated the smoltification in one year old sea trout and whether these fish achieved smolts stage. Fish were reared in flow-through and recirculation systems in hatcheries based on three different rivers (Brasla, Daugava, Venta basin). Sea trout were examined in the Latvia University of Agriculture, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Institute of Food and Environmental Hygiene and in the Institute of Food Safety, Animal Health and Environment BIOR, Laboratory of Aquaculture and Fish Pathology. To appreciate fish growth stage condition index, hepatosomatic index, spleen index was calculated and silvering level was evaluated. The fish condition index decreased in all hatcheries and flow-through and recirculation rearing systems from January to April and increased in May. Spleen index was the most stable parameter and did not change a lot showing that fish did not have migratory stress in April and May. Silvering level increased from January to April but suddenly the increase became slower in May without reaching the top level. These results made us to consider that one year old sea trout parrs released in May 2013 probably did not become smolts before release and they had to stay in river for one additional year until reaching pronounced smolt stage.

The article presents the comparative, descriptive statistics analysis of the changes of the Baltic Sea coast in the territory of the Republic of Lithuania. This paper analyzes the Baltic Sea coast measurements taken during the period between 2008 and 2015. The formation of the strip of the Northern breakwater - Giruliai during this period was influenced by the Hurricane Felix on January 10 of 2015. Describing the Baltic Sea coast strip dynamics trends, the Baltic Sea coastline change during the period between 2008 and 2015 was selected and calculated on the basis of the measurements results. Analysis of the erosive and accumulation processes of the 4 km long strip from the Northern breakwater to Giruliai strip was provided. The carried out data of the Baltic Sea coast changes analysis show that seacoast limits are constantly changing. The replenishment of the Baltic seacoast spatial data set during the period between 2008 and 2013 with the revised spatial data of the period between 2014 and 2015 showed that during the months of January during the period between 2008 and 2015 the 4 km long strip of the Baltic Sea coast decreased by 3.7075 ha, in the 1st Melnrage area, the 0.7 km long strip of coastline has moved more than 30 m inland. It was found that in the southern half of the researched section erosion processes prevailed, while in the northern part – both erosion and accumulative ones.

The paper aims at analyzing agricultural production for energy generation purposes, including the production of agricultural biogas, as an opportunity for functional diversification of agriculture and for multifunctional rural development in Poland. There have been many changes observed in Polish agriculture. New directions of crop production and of the use of agricultural products have emerged. One of the changes is the increasing significance of the production of agricultural biogas and energy from biogas. There have been built both small-scale and large-scale biogas plants. Most of the agricultural biogas plants are located in northern, western and south-western Poland, i.e. in the areas where there are relatively large farms which can provide a supply of substrates necessary for the production of agricultural biogas. The formation of biogas plants and the use of agricultural production for generating energy are an eagerly anticipated trend contributing to the dissemination of renewable energy sources, the functional diversification of agriculture, the development of additional economic activities in rural areas, and the increase in the energy security of particular regions and the entire country.

Intensity of indoor/outdoor dialogue in the context of architectural history has rapidly evolved due to technological progress while the quality of environment expressed as harmony has proved to be of coincidental character. Reality reveals a pressing need to restore integrity, wholeness and harmony of environment, at the same time searching for a balance in the dialogue between interior and exterior space and a way to harmony in this complicated system. By analysing previous successful and unsuccessful examples in the architecture of publicly most sensitive objects in the re-established Latvia, one obtained a pyramid of subordinated guidelines to be used in architectural theory and practice in support of creating a harmonious architectural environment. The subject is of current importance not only among experts but in all levels of society: we all are users of this environment. In order to create a harmonious high-quality environment in the future, at first, one has to invest substantial resources in all levels of education; it will become a reflection of inner conflicts of a new concept of space, continue historical process of architectural development and introduce diverse approaches to harmonise indoor/outdoor space in a scientifically grounded way.

One of the most challenging issues in forest inventory based on remote sensing data is identification of tree species. Hyperspectral remote sensing data provides information which considerably facilitates tree species recognition. The objective of the research is to evaluate different hyperspectral data analysis methods to classify tree species in Latvian forest conditions. The study site is a forest in the central part of Latvia, Jelgava district (56º39’ N, 23º47’ E). The area consists of a mixed coniferous and deciduous forest. During research 598 trees were analyzed in 70 sample plots. Remote sensing data are 64 hyperspectral bands in the 400 - 970 nm spectral range. Two different classification techniques: linear discriminant analysis (LDA) and artificial neural networks (ANNs) were used. In LDA species classification was done by stepwise and using principal components of hyperspectral bands. In stepwise LDA 18 hyperspectral bands were used. LDA using principal components and ANNs used all 64 hyperspectral bands. The best results show stepwise LDA where 82.4% of the data were correctly classified. Scots pine was classified 94.8%, Norway spruce 83.5%, Silver birch 77%, European aspen 71.4% and Black alder 56.3%. Classification with ANN’s best results showed for Scots pine, Norway spruce and Silver birch – respectively 81%, 84%, 86%. With LDA using principal components Scots pine’s classification showed best results with 85.1% correctly classified trees.

The regeneration of European hornbeam (Carpinus betulus L.) has been assessed in the National Gene Reserve Forest near Lukne in the south-western part of Latvia, which is the northernmost point of hornbeam distribution in Europe. In the studied stand, six sampling plots and four transects were established to assess stand structure and the effect of irradiation parameters on stand regeneration. Successful regeneration of hornbeam was shown by its presence in all height and diameter classes. Nevertheless, in the smallest height and diameter classes, an increased abundance of other shade tolerant species (maple (Acer platanoides L.) and lime (Tilia cordata Mill.) was observed. Norway spruce (Picea abies Karst.) mainly formed a scattered second forest floor and, apparently, competed with hornbeam. Light parameters, particularly, the diffuse radiation, had a significant effect (p=0.05) on the distribution and abundance of hornbeam understory. The threshold values of irradiation parameters for hornbeam were notably higher compared to other species. The number and height of hornbeam saplings correlated tightly with the amount of available light. Nevertheless, under sufficient light conditions hornbeam showed good vitality, thus suggesting suitability of growing conditions.