Apples (Malus domestica L.) are the most consumed fruits in Latvia. Apples are used as one of ingredients for the fresh cut fruit salad preparation. The evaluation of physical, chemical and sensory properties is important; they could influence the nutritional value of fruit salads. The objective of this research is to select for fresh cut salad production the most appropriate apple cultivars grown in Latvia and evaluate their physical, chemical and sensory properties. Ten commercial apple cultivars grown in Latvia were selected for experiments: ‘Zarya Alatau’, ‘Saltanat’, ‘Belorusskoe Malinovoe’, ‘Auksis’, ‘Antei’, ‘Sinap Orlovskii’, ‘Orlik’, ‘Korichnoe Novoe’, ‘Alesya’, ‘Kovalenkovskoe’. The research was carried out in the Latvia State Institute of Fruit Growing (LSIFG), the years 2010 – 2011. The apple physical indices (average mass, diameter of fruit, flesh consistency and colour) and chemical parameters (total sugar, soluble solids content, titratable acidity ratio between soluble solids and titratable acidity) were analyzed as well. The sensory properties were determined using quantitative descriptive analysis and affective method by hedonic scale. The physical and chemical properties of fruits were analyzed and for fresh cut fruit salad production as the best the following apple cultivars: ‘Zarya Alatau’ and ‘Sinap Orlovskii’ were selected; however, the cultivars ‘Antei’, ‘Auksis’ and ‘Alesya’ could be successfully used for mentioned aim as well.

Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli are the most commonly registered cause of human campylobacteriosis. Mainly the source of these bacteria is from the contaminated foods of animal origin and especially broiler chicken (Gallus gallus domesticus) meat. The aim of the present study was to determine the occurrence of Campylobacter spp. in fresh broiler chicken carcasses at the retail level in Latvia. Sampled broiler chicken carcasses originated from two biggest Latvian chicken companies/slaughterhouses and samples were taken during the year 2010. A total of 56.7% of the fresh broiler chicken carcass samples were positive for Campylobacter. There was no distinct seasonal variation in Campylobacter contamination in Latvia. Additionally, only slight differences between the proportions of Campylobacter-positive broiler chicken meat samples of the studied companies were determined.

Rabies is present in the entire territory of Latvia and as a zoonosis poses risk to both human and animal health. The disease is also endemic in countries bordering with Latvia, namely Lithuania, Estonia, Russia and Belarus. Reservoirs for the rabies virus (RABV), the causative agent of the disease in Latvia, are the red fox (Vulpes vulpes) and the raccoon dog (Nyctereutes procyonoides). The first large-scale oral rabies vaccination campaigns using aircrafts were carried out in spring and autumn 2005 using Fuchsoral® SAD B19 oral vaccine baits. In total, 1,894 wild animals (1,366 foxes and 528 raccoon dogs) were hunted in vaccinated areas to evaluate the efficacy of the campaign. After spring and autumn vaccination campaigns, 51.6% of the fox and raccoon dogs were positive for tetracycline. Herd immunity was found in 50.5% of foxes and raccoon dogs using FAVN test and only in 14.8% using ELISA test. After oral vaccination campaigns, rabies incidence decreased in vaccinated area, however, an increase of the incidence was observed in unvaccinated area. Despite the slight increase in rabies incidence in Latvia in 2006 compared to 2005, in 2005 only 141 rabies cases (30%) were found in the vaccinated area whereas 330 cases were detected in the unvaccinated area.

The European Parliament and Council Directive 2003/30/EK ‘On the promotion of the use of biofuels and other renewable fuels for transport’ determines that pure or straight vegetable oil, produced from oil plants by pressing, extracting or comparable procedures, crude or refined but chemically unmodified, compatible with common engines, and corresponding to emission requirements, is also considered as biofuel. The biggest problems imposed by these conditions are directly associated with the carrying-out of the emission requirements, because when using vegetable oil as a fuel, usually increases the composition of the solid particles and nitrogen oxides in exhaust gases, that not only adversely affect the environment, but also is a serious threat to human health, and as a result trying to save the world from the global warming, human health continues to deteriorate. It is therefore necessary to carry out studies and find solutions to reduce harmful emissions from diesel engines when using vegetable oil fuel. For more qualitative and effective research on vegetable oil fuel emissions, the equipment for vegetable oil fuel testing has been developed. This equipment allows fast checking of theoretically proposed hypotheses and detailed calculations for vegetable oil fuel combustion processes and objective data acquisition. The equipment consists of the classic diesel engine adapted for work with vegetable oil and is equipped with several high-precision devices to get and store the measuring data. During pilot tests the optimal measuring modes (engine rotation frequencies, number and duration of repetitions) for further research are estimated.

Quality assessment of a study programme is a topical issue in the single education area. Quality is not a unequivocal term in higher education area, which lends itself to many understandings and interpretations according to different criteria. The best practice of software engineering may be applied for the study programme evaluation if by analogy it is viewed as software product. Study programme similar to software product has internal and external quality. Students as direct users of the study programme may be engaged in the evaluation of its external quality, in case the evaluation of internal quality of the study programme is mainly based on internal resources of a higher education institution. The paper provides the methodology for evaluation of external quality of a study programme based on software product quality model and quality assurance standards. Approbation of the methodology was started in 2009 at the Faculty of Information Technologies, where students evaluated external quality of undergraduate study programmes. Results obtained during the approbation lead to the conclusion that the chosen methodology ensures significant information for the enhancement of quality of a study course and simultaneously the entire study programme.

Computer models of bioprocesses have become an essential tool in biotechnology. This paper describes various bioprocess scaleup releated problems. The problems at different scales are explained. In this paper the use of computer model in E.coli fermentation scale-up from shake flask to laboratory scale bioreactor is discussed. A black box modelling approach was used. Fermentation results have been visualized and discussed. The computer model created in Matlab environment was used for bioprocess behaviour prediction. Possible bioprocess scale-up software improvements and bioprocess optimization are discussed.

The electricity consuming end-user profile has changed in latest years, due to development of new electrical devices with increased functionality and complexity. Also increasing number of electricity consuming equipment that is available to end-user, makes very hard to identify real electricity consumption of each device. The existing wall plug digital power meters are too expensive for long-term power metering of each consuming device. The article describes a different approach of power metering system that lowers the costs and price of needed metering equipment. A new concept of low-cost energy monitoring system with wireless communication is developed.

The study was conducted in Kafta humera district of Ethiopia, (i) to investigate the milk yield of Begait goat under different management and (ii) to evaluate the effects of different non-genetic factors on lactation performance. Data were collected from 428 lactating does under two managements (semi intensive and extensive) during October 2014 and March 2016. Statistical analyses were carried out using the GLM procedure of SAS version of 9.2 software. The least squares means (with standard error) for daily milk yield, lactation milk yield and lactation length were observed to be 0.75±0.01 kg, 85.6±1.04 kg and 111±1.21 days under semi intensive management, respectively whereas under extensive management these were found as 0.55±0.01 kg, 56±1.43 kg and 101±1.57 days, respectively. The results of this study indicated that management system, parity number and season of birth affected all variables highly significantly.

According to FAO statistics, camel population in Sudan ranks the second in the world after Somalia with 4.5 millions heads. This population is quite important while the camel production appears, at least officially, very low. With a meat production of 49,880 tons and a milk production of 120,000 tons, camel production is far away from the potential. Even if these data did not cover the entire reality, it is obvious that camel production in Sudan is insufficiently valorized. Meat from young camels has been reported to be comparable in taste and texture to beef. Inspite of the increase in local camel meat consumption to 63,000 tons in 2009, yet camel meat is common in some parts of the country and milk consumption under gariss form is popular in rural areas where camel is generally reared. Camel diseases are the major constrains of production such as trypanosomiasis and mastitis. The research has to push in that way in order to innovate camel meat and milk sector. The modernization of meat and milk processing could be the motor for the improvement of camel production. Both in terms of research and of development, the identification of the main constraints for the camel sector is the way to propose a fruitful strategy. (Résumé d'auteur)