You're using an outdated browser. Please upgrade to a modern browser for the best experience.
Subject:
All Disciplines Arts & Humanities Biology & Life Sciences Business & Economics Chemistry & Materials Science Computer Science & Mathematics Engineering Environmental & Earth Sciences Medicine & Pharmacology Physical Sciences Public Health & Healthcare Social Sciences
Sort by:
Most Viewed Latest Alphabetical (A-Z) Alphabetical (Z-A)
Filter:
All Topic Review Biography Peer Reviewed Entry Video Entry
Topic Review
The Discovery and Function of Filaggrin
Keratohyalin granules were discovered in the mid-19th century in cells that terminally differentiate to form the outer, cornified layer of the epidermis.  The first indications of the composition of these structures emerged in the 1960’s from a histochemical stain for histidine, followed by radioauto-graphic evidence for a high incidence of histidine incorporation into newly synthesized proteins in cells containing the granules.  Research during the next three decades revealed the structure and function of the major protein in these granules, which was initially called the ‘histidine-rich pro-tein.’  Steinert and Dale named the protein ‘filaggrin’ in 1981 because of its ability to aggregate keratin intermediate filaments.  The human gene for the precursor ‘profilaggrin’ was reported in 1991 to encode 10, 11 or 12 nearly identical repeats.  Remarkably, the mouse and rat genes encode up to 20 repeats.  The lifetime of filaggrin is the time required for keratinocytes in the granular layer to move into the inner cornified layer.  During this transition, filaggrin facilitates the collapse of corneocytes into an impermeable surface barrier.  The subsequent degradation of filaggrin is as remarkable as its synthesis and the end-products aide in maintaining moisture in the cornified layer.  It became apparent that ichthyosis vulgaris and atopic dermatitis were associated with the absence of this protein.  McLean’s team in 2006 identified the cause of these diseases by discov-ering loss-of-function mutations in the profilaggrin gene that led to dysfunction of the epidermal surface barrier.  This story illustrates the complexity in maintaining a healthy, functional surface barrier.
  • 1.6K
  • 07 Mar 2022
Topic Review
Global Veganism
Globally, diet patterns are changing due to culture dilution, agricultural trade policies and other variable factors. Amongst these patterns are veganism and vegetarianism which are not the same. Vegans completely avoid all forms of animal flesh and products from them. Vegetarians may consume some products with varying reasons, ranging from ethical and health to religious beliefs.
  • 1.6K
  • 20 Oct 2022
Topic Review
Endophytes and Plant Growth Promotion
Endophyte term literally means 'inside plants'. Endophytes refer to fungal and bacterial communities that inhabit the plant tissues of roots and shoots without showing any apparent symptoms nor harming their hosts.
  • 1.6K
  • 23 Aug 2021
Topic Review
Cow Milk as Material for Processing
Milk, alongside meat, is one of the basic animal materials of importance in food processing. Most of the world’s milk production is carried out in an intensive system focused on high productivity at the expense of quality. This system is dominant in highly developed countries, while milk production in developing and poorer countries is still carried out in a traditional manner, using silage. 
  • 1.6K
  • 22 Oct 2021
Topic Review
Zoos as Conservation Institutions
Zoological institutions, which were once exclusively for entertainment, are now leaders of wildlife conservation. This centuries-long transition was punctuated by key milestones that reformed wild animal exploitation into a mission of protection. Modern zoos perform ex situ activities to preserve natural resources, which are enabled by the housing of wild species. Zoo-managed animals facilitate new scientific knowledge, public education, and strategic breeding to maintain genetic diversity.
  • 1.6K
  • 30 Nov 2023
Topic Review
South American Gray Fox
The South American Gray Fox, scientifically known as Lycalopex griseus, is a captivating canid species native to South America. Renowned for its sleek gray fur and bushy tail, this fox inhabits a variety of habitats, from grasslands and scrublands to forests and urban areas. As an adaptable omnivore, the South American Gray Fox plays a crucial role in its ecosystem by regulating prey populations and participating in seed dispersal, contributing to the overall balance of its environment.
  • 1.6K
  • 15 Mar 2024
Topic Review
Culpeo
The Culpeo, scientifically known as Lycalopex culpaeus, is a species of canid native to South America. With its distinctive red or gray fur and bushy tail, the Culpeo is the second-largest wild canid on the continent after the maned wolf. Known for its adaptability and wide distribution across various habitats, the Culpeo plays a significant role in South American ecosystems as a predator and scavenger.
  • 1.6K
  • 08 Mar 2024
Topic Review
Precision Agriculture for Farming
Precision agriculture (PA) is a technology-enabled, data-driven approach to farming management that observes, measures, and analyzes the needs of individual fields and crops. Precision livestock farming (PLF), relying on the automatic monitoring of individual animals, is used for animal growth, milk production, and the detection of diseases as well as to monitor animal behavior and their physical environment, among others.
  • 1.6K
  • 18 Oct 2021
Topic Review
Auxin Response Factors
Auxin response factors (ARFs) are an important family of transcription factors in the auxin signaling pathway that are involved in the exertion of auxin in plants and play a key role in regulating plant growth and development.
  • 1.6K
  • 15 Feb 2022
Topic Review
CRISPR, Livestock, Sustainable Food Production
The growing demand for animal source foods to feed people has been pushing the livestock industry to increase productivity, a tendency that will continue throughout this century. The challenge for the coming years is to increase the food supply to ensure equity in access to high quality food, while maintaining global sustainability including combating climate change, avoiding deforestation, and conserving biodiversity, as well as ensuring animal health and welfare. The question is, how do we produce more with less? Classical methods to enhance livestock productivity based on the improvement of animal health, nutrition, genetics, reproductive technologies and management have made important contributions; however, this is not going to be enough and thus disruptive approaches are required. Genome editing with CRISPR may be a powerful contributor to global livestock transformation. 
  • 1.6K
  • 28 Jun 2021
Topic Review
Whiteflies
Whiteflies are a group of universally occurring phloem sap sucking insects that has secured a status of most devastating pests for causing both direct and indirect damages to crops. A few of them serve as vectors of plant viruses that are detrimental to the crop in question and cause an actual loss in productivity. A lot of attention is focused on pest control measures under the umbrella of IPM (Integrated pest management). 
  • 1.6K
  • 12 Jul 2021
Topic Review
Pain
The phenomenon of pain sensation is defined differently, depending on the specialty. From the point of view of psychology or psychiatry, pain is a difficult to define and a subjective experience. Being a result of awareness of nerve impulses reaching the brain and caused by noxious stimuli of adequate strength, pain can be also defined as a psychic factor, triggering defensive reflexes. From a biological point of view, pain is a warning signal about a danger or tissue injury. Pain is a sensory impression, formed by the action of various stimuli that damage tissues; therefore, pain provides information about the action site of the harmful factor (stressor). Pain can be experienced as a local sensation or as widespread pain when the response to stimulus is intense and the effect of the damage lasts for an extended duration. Controversies still exist regarding nomenclature and definitions specifying the phenomenon of pain. According to the Taxonomy Committee of the International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP), pain is defined as an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with, or resembling that associated with, actual or potential tissue damage.
  • 1.6K
  • 02 Mar 2023
Topic Review
Effect of Stressors on Honeybee Immunity
Honeybees are the most prevalent insect pollinator species; they pollinate a wide range of crops. Colony collapse disorder (CCD), which is caused by a variety of biotic and abiotic factors, incurs high economic/ecological loss. Various ecological stressors are microbial infections, exposure to pesticides, loss of habitat, and improper beekeeping practices that are claimed to cause these declines. Honeybees have an innate immune system, which includes physical barriers and cellular and humeral responses to defend against pathogens and parasites. Exposure to various stressors may affect this system and the health of individual bees and colonies.
  • 1.6K
  • 30 May 2022
Topic Review
Nuclear Envelope
The formation of the nuclear envelope and the subsequent compartmentalization of the genome is a defining feature of eukaryotes. Traditionally, the nuclear envelope was purely viewed as a physical barrier to preserve genetic material in eukaryotic cells.
  • 1.6K
  • 07 Jan 2022
Topic Review
Prunus Cultivation in Greenhouse
Throughout history, new strategies and technologies have played a key role in promoting the development of agriculture. New strategies have led to substantial improvements in crop productivity and fruit quality. The cultivation of peach and apricot in controlled greenhouse conditions is one such strategy.
  • 1.6K
  • 16 Mar 2021
Topic Review
Crab-eating Raccoon
The Crab-eating Raccoon (Procyon cancrivorus) is a fascinating mammal species native to Central and South America. Renowned for its adaptable nature and varied diet, this raccoon species is often found in a range of habitats, including mangrove forests, wetlands, and coastal areas. Its distinctive name reflects its unique dietary preference for crustaceans, particularly crabs, although it also consumes a variety of other foods such as fruit, insects, and small vertebrates.
  • 1.6K
  • 28 Feb 2024
Topic Review
Cephenemyiosis
Cephenemyia stimulator is a Palearctic species developing in the nasal cavity and pharynx of roe deer (Capreolus capreolus). It is widely spread in the range of distribution of this ungulate in Europe.
  • 1.6K
  • 31 Dec 2021
Topic Review
Ciguatera in the Indian Ocean
Ciguatera poisoning is regarded globally as the most significant non-bacterial poisoning associated with fish consumption. It is usually limited to the consumption of toxic fish from regions between the latitudes 35° N and 35° S. Studies have shown a strong positive correlation between Gambierdiscus abundance and algal macrophytes. Some earlier studies proposed a standardized methodology for estimating Gambierdiscus abundance based on sampling macroalgae.
  • 1.6K
  • 17 Aug 2021
Topic Review
Biomineralization Forming Process
Biomineralization is a process in which organic matter and inorganic matter combine with each other under the regulation of living organisms. 
  • 1.6K
  • 23 Nov 2021
Topic Review
Cucumber Green Mottle Mosaic Virus
Cucumber green mottle mosaic virus (CGMMV), as a typical seed-borne virus, causes costly and devastating diseases in the vegetable trade worldwide.
  • 1.6K
  • 29 Nov 2021
  • Page
  • of
  • 70
Featured Entry Collections
>>

Featured Books

>>
Encyclopedia of COVID-19
Encyclopedia of Engineering
Encyclopedia of Social Sciences
Encyclopedia of Digital Society, Industry 5.0 and Smart City
Academic Video Service
Feedback