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Topic Review
Grandidier's Mongoose
Grandidier's mongoose (Galidictis grandidieri) (Figure 1) is a rare and elusive carnivore native to Madagascar. Named after the French naturalist Alfred Grandidier, this mongoose species is distinguished by its slender body, short legs, and long, bushy tail. Endemic to Madagascar's dry deciduous forests, Grandidier's mongoose is known for its solitary and nocturnal habits, making it a challenging species to study in its natural habitat.
  • 1.9K
  • 15 Mar 2024
Topic Review
Barley Grass
Barley grass (Hordeum murinum L. spp. glaucum and Hordeum murinum L. subsp. leporinum) typically invades southern Australian cropland, pastures, and disturbed sites, especially on high-phosphorus and -nitrogen soils and competes successfully against common pasture legumes, such as lucerne, reducing the productive life of these pastures and of subsequent grain crops.
  • 1.9K
  • 28 Oct 2020
Topic Review
Flavonoids as Potential Anti-Inflammatory Molecules
Hydroxylated polyphenols, also called flavonoids, are richly present in vegetables, fruits, cereals, nuts, herbs, seeds, stems, and flowers of numerous plants. They possess numerous medicinal properties such as antioxidant, anti-cancer, anti-microbial, neuroprotective, and anti-inflammation. Studies show that flavonoids activate antioxidant pathways that render an anti-inflammatory effect. They inhibit the secretions of enzymes such as lysozymes and β-glucuronidase and inhibit the secretion of arachidonic acid, which reduces inflammatory reactions. Flavonoids such as quercetin, genistein, apigenin, kaempferol, and epigallocatechin 3-gallate modulate the expression and activation of a cytokine such as interleukin-1beta (IL-1β), Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and interleukin-8 (IL-8); regulate the gene expression of many pro-inflammatory molecules such s nuclear factor kappa-light chain enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB), activator protein-1 (AP-1), intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM), vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM), and E-selectins; and also inhibits inducible nitric oxide (NO) synthase, cyclooxygenase-2, and lipoxygenase, which are pro-inflammatory enzymes.
  • 1.9K
  • 24 May 2022
Topic Review
Japanese Badger
The Japanese Badger (Meles anakuma), native to Japan, is a fascinating and elusive mustelid species that holds a distinctive place in the country's diverse wildlife. Recognized for its unique physical characteristics and behavior, this badger species is a nocturnal and solitary creature with a keen sense of smell, contributing to its foraging prowess in a variety of habitats. The Japanese Badger's role in Japanese folklore and its interactions with the ecosystem make it a subject of interest for both researchers and enthusiasts exploring the rich fauna of Japan.
  • 1.9K
  • 04 Feb 2024
Topic Review
Non-Destructive Insect Infestation Monitoring Systems
In the last two decades, food scientists (engineers) have attempted to develop new technologies that can improve the detection of insect infestation in fruits and vegetables under postharvest conditions using a multitude of non-destructive technologies. While consumers’ expectations for higher nutritive and sensorial value of fresh produce has increased over time, they have also become more critical on using insecticides or synthetic chemicals to preserve food quality from insects’ attacks or enhance the quality attributes of minimally processed fresh produce. In addition, the increasingly stringent quarantine measures by regulatory agencies for commercial import–export of fresh produce needs more reliable technologies for quickly detecting insect infestation in fruits and vegetables before their commercialization. For these reasons, the food industry investigates alternative and non-destructive means to improve food quality. Several studies have been conducted on the development of rapid, accurate, and reliable insect infestation monitoring systems to replace invasive and subjective methods that are often inefficient. There are still major limitations to the effective in-field, as well as postharvest on-line, monitoring applications. The future of non-destructive testing will be enhanced by the current trend in IoT, big data science, and machine learning analysis.
  • 1.9K
  • 18 Feb 2021
Topic Review
Probiotics, Prebiotics, and Phytogenic Substances for Gut Health
The gut microbiota has been designated as a hidden metabolic ‘organ’ because of its enormous impact on host metabolism, physiology, nutrition, and immune function. The connection between the intestinal microbiota and their respective host animals is dynamic and, in general, mutually beneficial. This complicated interaction is seen as a determinant of health and disease; thus, intestinal dysbiosis is linked with several metabolic diseases. Therefore, tractable strategies targeting the regulation of intestinal microbiota can control several diseases that are closely related to inflammatory and metabolic disorders. As a result, animal health and performance are improved. One of these strategies is related to dietary supplementation with prebiotics, probiotics, and phytogenic substances. These supplements exert their effects indirectly through manipulation of gut microbiota quality and improvement in intestinal epithelial barrier. 
  • 1.9K
  • 16 Feb 2022
Topic Review
The Important Health Benefits of Phenolic Components
Phenolic compounds and flavonoids are potential substitutes for bioactive agents in pharmaceutical and medicinal sections to promote human health and prevent and cure different diseases. The most common flavonoids found in nature are anthocyanins, flavones, flavanones, flavonols, flavanonols, isoflavones, and other sub-classes. The impacts of plant flavonoids and other phenolics on human health promoting and diseases curing and preventing are antioxidant effects, antibacterial impacts, cardioprotective effects, anticancer impacts, immune system promoting, anti-inflammatory effects, and skin protective effects from ultraviolet (UV) radiation.
  • 1.9K
  • 28 Feb 2023
Topic Review
Milk Thistle Seed and Hempseed
In accordance with Commission Regulation (EC) No 726/2004, the use of antibiotics as stimulators of animal growth and performance has been banned in all European Union countries since 2006 (due to the elimination of antibiotic residues from the human food chain). Due to this ban, many scientists are studying alternative approaches to the use of various biologically active substances with a growth-promoting e ect. A promising direction is the use of alternative feeds containing bioactive compounds or mixtures of natural origin, or the use of phytoadditives or plant extracts, probiotics, prebiotics, symbiotics or oilseed by-products, such as hempseed cakes and milk thistle seed cakes in animal nutrition.
  • 1.9K
  • 29 Oct 2020
Topic Review
Brain Lateralization and Cognitive Capacity
One way to increase cognitive capacity is to avoid duplication of functions on the left and right sides of the brain. There is a convincing body of evidence showing that such asymmetry, or lateralization, occurs in a wide range of both vertebrate and invertebrate species. Each hemisphere of the brain can attend to different types of stimuli or to different aspects of the same stimulus and each hemisphere analyses information using different neural processes. A brain can engage in more than one task at the same time, as in monitoring for predators (right hemisphere) while searching for food (left hemisphere). Increased cognitive capacity is achieved if individuals are lateralized in one direction or the other. The advantages and disadvantages of individual lateralization are discussed. Directional, or population-level, lateralization, which occurs when most individuals in a species have the same direction of lateralization, provides no additional increase in cognitive capacity compared to individual lateralization although directional lateralization is advantageous in social interactions. Strength of lateralization is considered, including the disadvantage of being very strongly lateralized. The role of brain commissures is also discussed with consideration of cognitive capacity. 
  • 1.9K
  • 08 Jul 2021
Topic Review
Salt Stress in Plants
Salinization of soils and freshwater resources by natural processes and/or human activities has become an increasing issue that affects environmental services and socioeconomic relations. In addition, salinization jeopardizes agroecosystems, inducing salt stress in most cultivated plants (nutrient deficiency, pH and oxidative stress, biomass reduction), and directly affects the quality and quantity of food production. Depending on the type of salt/stress (alkaline or pH-neutral), specific approaches and solutions should be applied to ameliorate the situation on-site.
  • 1.9K
  • 23 Mar 2022
Topic Review
Nano-Enabled Products for Sustainable Agriculture
Nanotechnology has gained popularity in recent years owing to its established potential for application and implementation in various sectors such as medical drugs, medicine, catalysis, energy, material, and plant science. Nanoparticles (NPs) are smaller in size (1–100 nm) with a larger surface area and have many fruitful applications. The extraordinary functions of NPs are utilized in sustainable agriculture due to nano-enabled products, e.g., nano-insecticides, nano-pesticides, and nano-fertilizers. Nanoparticles have lately been suggested as an alternate method for controlling plant pests such as insects, fungi, and weeds. Several NPs exhibit antimicrobial properties considered in food packaging processes; for example, Ag-NPs are commonly used for such purposes. Apart from their antimicrobial properties, NPs such as Si, Ag, Fe, Cu, Al, Zn, ZnO, TiO2, CeO2, Al2O3, and carbon nanotubes have also been demonstrated to have negative impacts on plant growth and development. 
  • 1.9K
  • 16 Dec 2021
Topic Review
Virus-Induced Gene Silencing System
Increased consumption of vegetables has been recommended worldwide as a part of a healthy diet; therefore, determining gene function among breeding materials is crucial for vegetable improvement to meet the sustainable development of new vegetable varieties. However, genetic transformation is time-consuming and laborious, which limits the exploration of gene function for various vegetable crops. Virus-Induced Gene Silencing (VIGS) can perform large-scale and rapid gene silencing in plants due to a reduction in the experimental period and its independence from the stable genetic transformation, providing an excellent opportunity for functional research. 
  • 1.9K
  • 19 Oct 2023
Topic Review
FNDC5/Irisin
Irisin is a portion of the cell membrane protein known as FNDC5 (FNDC5 Fibronectin type III domain-containing protein 5). FNDC5 consists of a signal peptide, a fibronectin III domain, and a C-terminal domain. FNDC5 comprises 209 amino acid residues, having a signal sequence of 29 amino acids at the N-terminal end, followed by a 94-amino-acid residue fibronectin III (FNIII) 2 domains (irisin domain), a linking peptide comprising 28 amino acid residues, a 19-amino-acid residue transmembrane domain, and a cytoplasmic domain consisting of 39 amino acid residues.
  • 1.9K
  • 04 Mar 2022
Topic Review
Multilayer Flexible Food Packaging
Multilayer flexible food packaging is under pressure to redesign for recyclability. Most multilayer films are not sorted and recycled with the currently available infrastructure, which is based on mechanical recycling in most countries. Up to now, multilayer flexible food packaging was highly customizable.
  • 1.9K
  • 19 Nov 2021
Topic Review
Enhancing Animal Production through Smart Agriculture
Smart livestock farming utilizes technology to enhance production and meet food demand sustainably. Smart agriculture employs modern technology to improve efficiency, sustainability, and animal welfare in livestock farming. This includes remote monitoring, GPS-based animal care, robotic milking, smart health collars, predictive disease control, and other innovations.
  • 1.9K
  • 02 Feb 2024
Topic Review
Post-Mortem Dental Profile in Animal Forensic Investigations
Veterinary forensics is becoming more important in our society as a result of the growing demand for investigations related to crimes against animals or investigations of criminal deaths caused by animals. A veterinarian may participate as an expert witness or may be required to give forensic assistance, by providing knowledge of the specialty to establish a complete picture of the involvement of an animal and allowing the Courts to reach a verdict. By applying diverse dental profiling techniques, not only can species, sex, age-at-death, and body size of an animal be estimated, but also data about their geographical origin (provenance) and the post-mortem interval.
  • 1.9K
  • 29 Aug 2022
Topic Review
Neuropathic Itch Caused by Pseudorabies Virus
Pseudorabies virus (PRV) is an alphaherpesvirus related to varicella-zoster virus (VZV) and herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV1). PRV is the causative agent of Aujeskzy’s disease in swine. PRV infects mucosal epithelium and the peripheral nervous system (PNS) of its host where it can establish a quiescent, latent infection. While the natural host of PRV is the swine, a broad spectrum of mammals, including rodents, cats, dogs, and cattle can be infected. Since the nineteenth century, PRV infection is known to cause a severe acute neuropathy, the so called “mad itch” in non-natural hosts, but surprisingly not in swine. In the past, most scientific efforts have been directed to eradicating PRV from pig farms by the use of effective marker vaccines, but little attention has been given to the processes leading to the mad itch. 
  • 1.8K
  • 28 Mar 2022
Topic Review
Effects of Growth Environment on Lemna minor
Rising atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) levels can have negative impacts on food security through effects on plant photosynthesis, productivity, and nutritional quality, especially in the presence of additional environmental stressors. This entry presents a multi-factorial analysis of how differing levels of atmospheric CO2 and mineral nutrient supply affect productivity and nutritional quality of the aquatic floating plant Lemna minor (common duckweed) in the presence or absence of its microbiome. Elevated CO2 in combination with low nutrient supply decreased plant area-expansion rate and increased biomass accumulation, with minimal negative impacts on protein-to-biomass ratio but stronger declines in the content of essential human micronutrients. Inoculation with plant-associated microorganisms restored area-expansion rate and further stimulated accumulation of biomass with an unaltered protein-to-biomass ratio compared to uninoculated plants under a combination of elevated CO2 and low nutrient supply. Under ample nutrient supply, inoculation ameliorated the declines in micronutrient content induced by elevated CO2. These findings add additional insight into possible roles of duckweed in sustainable systems and support a role for the plant microbiome in protecting plant productivity and nutritional quality in a manner that varies with specific growth conditions and plant traits. This understanding is relevant in both agricultural and natural contexts during a time of rapid environmental change.
  • 1.8K
  • 31 Jan 2023
Topic Review
Pig and Wild-Boar Distinguishing
The pig, one of the most important livestock species, is a meaningful source of global meat production. It is necessary to prove whether a food product that a discerning customer selects in a store is actually made from pork or venison, or does not contain it at all. The problem of food authenticity is widespread worldwide, and cases of meat adulteration have accelerated the development of food and the identification methods of feed species. It is worth noting that several different molecular biology techniques can identify a porcine component.
  • 1.8K
  • 31 Oct 2022
Topic Review
Yellow-throated Marten
The Yellow-throated Marten (Martes flavigula) is a charismatic and agile carnivore native to the forests of Asia, including parts of India, Southeast Asia, and China. With its distinctive yellow throat patch and sleek fur, this arboreal mustelid is known for its elusive nature and remarkable climbing abilities. As a versatile predator, the Yellow-throated Marten preys on a variety of small mammals, birds, insects, and fruits, playing a vital role in forest ecosystems as both a predator and a seed disperser.
  • 1.8K
  • 15 Mar 2024
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