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Topic Review
Kinkajou
The Kinkajou (Potos flavus) is a fascinating mammal native to the tropical forests of Central and South America. Also known as the "honey bear" due to its fondness for sweet foods, the Kinkajou possesses a distinctive appearance with a prehensile tail, sharp claws, and a long, slender body. Primarily nocturnal and arboreal, the Kinkajou plays a vital role in forest ecosystems as a pollinator and seed disperser, making it an important species for conservation efforts in its native habitat.
  • 2.2K
  • 28 Feb 2024
Topic Review
Anti-Inflammatory, Antioxidant, and Antimicrobial Activities of Mint Oils
The objectives of the study were to test the biological activities of peppermint and spearmint oils via (i) measuring in vitro anti-inflammatory effects with porcine alveolar macrophages (PAMs), (ii) determining the barrier integrity of IPEC-J2 by analyzing transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER), (iii) testing their antioxidant activities, and (iv) investigating the antimicrobial activity against enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) F18+. Briefly, (i) macrophages were seeded at 106 cells/mL and treated (24 h) with mint oils and lipopolysaccharide (LPS). The treatments were 2 (0 or 1 μg/mL of LPS) × 5 (0, 25, 50, 100, 200 µg/mL of mint oils). The supernatants were collected for TNF-α and IL-1β measurement by ELISA; (ii) IPEC-J2 cells were seeded at 5 × 10 5 cells/mL and treated with mint oils (0, 25, 50, 100, and 200 μg/mL). TEER (Ωcm2) was measured at 0, 24, 48, and 72 h; (iii) the antioxidant activity was assessed (0, 1, 50, 100, 200, 500, and 600 mg/mL) using the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging and reducing power assays; (iv) overnight-grown ETEC F18+ were quantified (CFU/mL) after supplementing with peppermint and spearmint oils (0, 1.44, 2.87, 5.75, 11.50, and 23.00 mg/mL). All data were analyzed using the MIXED procedure. Both mint oils significantly inhibited (p < 0.05) IL-1β and TNF-α secretion from LPS-stimulated PAMs. Mint oil treatments did not affect TEER in IPEC-J2. Spearmint and peppermint oils exhibited (p < 0.05) strong antioxidant activities in DPPH and reducing power assays. Both mint oils also dose-dependently inhibited (p < 0.05) the growth of ETEC F18+ in vitro. The results of the study indicated that both mint oils are great candidate feed additives due to their in vitro anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antimicrobial effects. Further research is needed to evaluate their efficacy in vivo.
  • 2.2K
  • 15 Oct 2021
Topic Review
Chitosan Biopolymer on Plant Growth
The chitosan (CHT) biopolymer is a de-acetylated chitin derivative derived from the outer shell of shrimp, shellfish, lobster, or crabs, as well as the cell wall of fungi. Because of its biodegradability, environmental non-toxicity, and biocompatibility, it is an ideal resource for sustainable agriculture. The CHT emerged as a promising agent used as a plant growth promoter. It induces plant growth by influencing plant physiological processes like nutrient uptake, cell division, cell elongation, enzymatic activation, and synthesis of protein that can eventually lead to increased yield. It also alters plant defense responses by triggering multiple useful metabolic pathways. Depending on the structures, chitosan is useful for industrial and agricultural applications.
  • 2.2K
  • 21 Dec 2020
Topic Review
Structure of the North American Beef Industry
North America is a large producer of beef and contains approximately 12% of the world’s cattle inventory. Feedlots are an integral part of modern cattle production in North America, producing a high-quality, wholesome protein food for humans. 
  • 2.1K
  • 09 Mar 2023
Topic Review
Real-Time PCR for Detection Dermatophytes
The control of the presence of dermatophytes in herds of cattle and other species of farm animals should be routinely performed. The ongoing improvements in the field of fungal detection techniques give new scope for clinical implementations in specialized laboratories and hospitals or veterinary clinics, including the monitoring of disease and the detection of side effects of drugs and environmental risks. 
  • 2.1K
  • 23 Jun 2021
Topic Review
Chitin and Chitosan in Ruminant Diets
The slow progress in the development of the subsector, particularly of alternative feed sources such as agro-industrial byproducts and unconventional feed resources, has deepened the gap in the availability of and accessibility to animal feed. Production of animal feed is highly resource demanding. It has been shown that increasing climate change, land degradation, and the recurrence of droughts have worsened the feed gap. In the backdrop of these challenges, there has been attention to food-not-feed components, which have great potential to substitute human-edible components in livestock feeding. Chitosan, a non-toxic polyglucosamine, is widely distributed in nature and used as a feed additive. Chitosan is obtained from the de-acetylation process of the chitin and is mostly present in shrimp, crabs, and insect exoskeletons, and has antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative, antitumor, and immune-stimulatory hypo-cholesterolemic properties.
  • 2.1K
  • 14 Nov 2022
Topic Review
Wood Vinegar as Antimicrobial Agent in Animal Husbandry
Wood vinegar (WV), also known as pyroligneous acid, as an alternative antimicrobial with good potential to replace conventional products. Many studies have demonstrated that WV is a promising product. WV is a nontoxic additive widely employed in the food industry to impart a smoked flavor to foods. Studies have shown that, depending on the WV concentration, good results can be achieved using it as an antimicrobial against pathogenic bacteria and fungi and a valuable growth promoter for poultry and pigs.
  • 2.1K
  • 13 Jan 2025
Topic Review
Oil Palm and Machine Learning
Machine learning (ML) offers new technologies in the precision agriculture domain with its intelligent algorithms and strong computation. Oil palm is one of the rich crops that is also emerging with modern technologies to meet global sustainability standards. This entry presents a comprehensive review of research dedicated to the application of ML in the oil palm agricultural industry over the last decade (2011–2020).
  • 2.1K
  • 16 Sep 2021
Topic Review
Shoebill (Balaeniceps rex)
The Shoebill (Balaeniceps rex), also known as the whalehead or shoe-billed stork, is a large, rare avian species native to the freshwater swamps and wetlands of tropical East Africa. Recognizable by its massive, shoe-shaped bill and prehistoric appearance, the shoebill occupies a unique phylogenetic position within the order Pelecaniformes, with no close living relatives. It is listed as Vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) due to its small and declining population.
  • 2.1K
  • 19 Jun 2025
Topic Review
Caspian Seal
The Caspian Seal (Pusa caspica) is a unique marine mammal native to the Caspian Sea, the world's largest inland body of water. Renowned for its distinctive appearance and adaptation to brackish water habitats, this seal species faces numerous threats to its survival, including habitat degradation, pollution, and overfishing. As one of the few seal species inhabiting a landlocked environment, the Caspian Seal plays a crucial ecological role in maintaining the balance of the Caspian Sea ecosystem.
  • 2.1K
  • 08 Feb 2024
Topic Review
Beneficial Microorganisms in Soil Quality and Plant Health
The practice of agriculture has always been a source of food production. The increase in the global population leads to improvements in agriculture, increasing crop quality and yield. Plant growth results from the interaction between roots and their environment, which is the soil or planting medium that provides structural support as well as water and nutrients to the plant. Therefore, good soil management is necessary to prevent problems that will directly affect plant health. Integrated crop management is a pragmatic approach to crop production, which includes integrated pest management focusing on crop protection. Currently, there is an extended idea that many microorganisms, such as fungi or bacteria, are useful in agriculture since they are attractive eco-friendly alternatives to mineral fertilizers and chemical pesticides. The microbes that interact with the plants supply nutrients to crops, control phytopathogens and stimulate plant growth. These actions have beneficial implications in agriculture.
  • 2.1K
  • 23 May 2022
Topic Review
Poultry Parasitic Diseases
Parasitic infections are a major public health concern affecting millions of people universally. The medicinal importance of natural herbs depends upon their bioactive ingredients, which are originated from crude plants, consequently leading to the specific action on the body. Due to the limited availability of effective drugs and high cost, the development of drug resistance in several harmful parasites and microbes leads to huge economic losses in the poultry industry.
  • 2.1K
  • 19 Apr 2022
Topic Review
Citrus-Processing Wastewater
Citrus processing industry, one of the most important agro-industry, produces large volumes of wastewater (CPWW). The large variability of these volume is coupled to physico-chemical characteristics of CPWW. The qualitative and quantitative variability of CPWW are discussed and the severe constraints for its disposal are presented. 
  • 2.1K
  • 31 Jul 2020
Topic Review
The Role of Hydrocolloids in Gluten-Free Bread
Hydrocolloids are a group of water-soluble polysaccharides with different chemical structures, high molecular weight and hydrophilic long-chain molecules. 
  • 2.1K
  • 20 Dec 2021
Topic Review
Bio-Preservation of Bread: Adopting Wholesome Strategies
Bread is a food that is commonly recognized as a very convenient type of food, but it is also easily prone to microbial attack. As a result of bread spoilage, a significant economic loss occurs to both consumers and producers. The bakery industry has sought to identify treatments that make bread safe and with an extended shelf-life to address this economic and safety concern, including replacing harmful chemical preservatives. New frontiers, on the other hand, have recently been explored. Alternative methods of bread preservation, such as microbial fermentation, utilization of plant and animal derivatives, nanofibers, and other innovative technologies, have yielded promising results. 
  • 2.1K
  • 01 Mar 2022
Topic Review
Brewer’s Spent Grains
Brewer’s spent grains (BSG) is the main solid by-product in the brewing industry, obtained during lautering. BSG has a multitude of applications and it can be used as a valuable fedstock for production of different products. Moreover, it could also be used as a biomass for energy purposes.
  • 2.1K
  • 21 Dec 2020
Topic Review
Crystallization Behavior and Quality of Frozen Meat
Preservation of meat through freezing entails the use of low temperatures to extend a product’s shelf-life, mainly by reducing the rate of microbial spoilage and deterioration reactions. Characteristics of meat that are important to be preserve include tenderness, water holding capacity, color, and flavor. In general, freezing improves meat tenderness, but negatively impacts other quality attributes. The extent to which these attributes are affected depends on the ice crystalline size and distribution, which itself is governed by freezing rate and storage temperature and duration.
  • 2.1K
  • 18 Nov 2021
Topic Review
Bioactivities of Red Pitaya Fruits
Pitahaya, or the pitaya fruit, is a well-known member of the Cactaceae family and is widely cultivated in tropical and subtropical areas. Pitaya fruit is classified based on the colour of pulp and peel, namely white-pulp with pink peel pitaya (Hylocereus undatus), red-pulp with pink peel pitaya (Hylocereus polyrhizus) and white-pulp with yellow skin (Hylocereus megulanthus).
  • 2.1K
  • 22 Mar 2022
Topic Review
Long-tailed Weasel
The Long-tailed Weasel (Mustela frenata) is a slender and agile carnivore found across North and Central America, characterized by its distinctive long body and tail. With a keen sense of smell and excellent hunting skills, the Long-tailed Weasel primarily preys on small mammals such as rodents, rabbits, and voles. Its adaptable nature allows it to thrive in a variety of habitats, including forests, grasslands, and agricultural areas, where it plays a vital role in controlling rodent populations.
  • 2.1K
  • 15 Mar 2024
Topic Review
Pitahaya (Selenicereus Megalanthus Haw.)
The Dragon fruit, known as pitaya or pitahaya, belongs to the Cactaceae family, which originated from the southern and central regions of Mexico and America, and is separated in two genera: Hylocereus and Selenicereus. It is a nutritious and exotic fruit cultivated throughout the tropical and subtropical regions of the world. Pitahaya production has attracted interest in the United States, Australia, Southeast Asia, Israel and other regions. This fruit has gained considerable attention from consumers because it is a unique fruit that can tolerate drought stress and contains a considerable amount of nutrients. It is rich in polyphenols, vitamins, sugar, amino acids and betalain pigments.
  • 2.1K
  • 11 Nov 2021
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