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Topic Review
Genetics Matters
The understanding of how genetic information may be inherited through generations was established by Gregor Mendel in the 1860s when he developed the fundamental principles of inheritance. The science of genetics, however, began to flourish only during the mid-1940s when DNA was identified as the carrier of genetic information. The world has since then witnessed rapid development of genetic technologies, with the latest being genome-editing tools, which have revolutionized fields from medicine to agriculture. This entry walks through the historical timeline of genetics research and deliberates how this discipline might furnish a sustainable future for humanity.
  • 1.5K
  • 19 Apr 2022
Topic Review
Pampas Cat
The Pampas cat (Leopardus colocola) is a small wild felid native to South America, specifically inhabiting the grasslands and shrublands of the Pampas region. Recognized for its distinctive appearance, which includes a compact body, short legs, and a thick fur coat with markings resembling rosettes or spots, the Pampas cat is an elusive and solitary predator. As a carnivorous species, it preys on a variety of small mammals, birds, and insects, playing a vital role in regulating prey populations and maintaining ecosystem balance in its habitat.
  • 1.5K
  • 28 Feb 2024
Topic Review
Organic Acids and Feeding
Because the application of antibiotic growth promoters (AGP) causes accelerated adverse effects on the animal diet, the scientific community has taken progressive steps to enhance sustainable animal productivity without using AGP in animal nutrition. Organic acids (OAs) are non-antibiotic feed additives and a promising feeding strategy in the swine and broiler industry. Mechanistically, OAs improve productivity through multiple and diverse pathways in: (a) reduction of pathogenic bacteria in the gastro-intestinal tract (GIT) by reducing the gut pH; (b) boosting the digestibility of nutrients by facilitating digestive enzyme secretion and increasing feed retention time in the gut system; and (c) having a positive impact and preventing meat quality deterioration without leaving any chemical residues. Recent studies have reported the effectiveness of using encapsulated OAs and synergistic mechanisms of OAs combinations in swine and broiler productivity. On the other hand, the synergistic mechanisms of OAs and the optimal combination of OAs in the animal diet are not completely understood, and further intensive scientific explorations are needed. 
  • 1.5K
  • 24 Jun 2021
Topic Review
Periosteum-Derived Mesenchymal Stromal Cells
The periosteum, with its outer fibrous and inner cambium layer, lies in a dynamic environment with a niche of pluripotent stem cells for their reparative needs. The inner cambium layer is rich in mesenchymal progenitors, osteogenic progenitors, osteoblasts, and fibroblasts in a scant collagen matrix environment. Their role in union and remodeling of fracture is well known.  From a therapeutic standpoint, the periosteum as a source of tissue engineering has gained much attraction. 
  • 1.4K
  • 13 Dec 2021
Topic Review
Alexander's Kusimanse
Alexander's Kusimanse (Crossarchus alexandri) is a captivating and lesser-known member of the mongoose family, native to the tropical forests of West Africa. Recognized for its distinctive appearance and intriguing social behaviors, this small carnivore plays a significant role in the ecosystems it inhabits.
  • 1.4K
  • 07 Feb 2024
Topic Review
Escherichia Coli O157:H7
Escherichia coli O157:H7 is a serotype of the bacterial species Escherichia coli and is one of the Shiga-like toxin–producing types of E. coli. It is a cause of disease, typically foodborne illness, through consumption of contaminated and raw food, including raw milk and undercooked ground beef. Infection with this type of pathogenic bacteria may lead to hemorrhagic diarrhea, and to kidney failure; these have been reported to cause the deaths of children younger than five years of age, of elderly patients, and of patients whose immune systems are otherwise compromised. Transmission is via the fecal–oral route, and most illness has been through distribution of contaminated raw leaf green vegetables, undercooked meat and raw milk.
  • 1.4K
  • 04 Nov 2022
Topic Review
Eastern Equine Encephalitis
Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE), commonly called Triple E or sleeping sickness (not to be confused with African trypanosomiasis), is a disease caused by a zoonotic mosquito vectored Togavirus that is present in North, Central, and South America, and the Caribbean. EEE was first recognized in Massachusetts , United States, in 1831, when 75 horses died mysteriously of viral encephalitis. Epizootics in horses have continued to occur regularly in the United States. It can also be identified in donkeys and zebras. Due to the rarity of the disease, its occurrence can cause economic impact beyond the cost of horses and poultry. EEE is found today in the eastern part of the United States and is often associated with coastal plains. It can most commonly be found in East Coast and Gulf Coast states. In Florida, about one to two human cases are reported a year, although over 60 cases of equine encephalitis are reported. In years in which conditions are favorable for the disease, the number of equine cases is over 200. Diagnosing equine encephalitis is challenging because many of the symptoms are shared with other illnesses and patients can be asymptomatic. Confirmations may require a sample of cerebral spinal fluid or brain tissue, although CT scans and MRI scans are used to detect encephalitis. This could be an indication that the need to test for EEE is necessary. If a biopsy of the cerebral spinal fluid is taken, it is sent to a specialized laboratory for testing. Eastern equine encephalitis virus (EEEV) is closely related to Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus and western equine encephalitis virus.
  • 1.4K
  • 05 Dec 2022
Topic Review
Amino Acids Biostimulants and Protein Hydrolysates
The effects of different types of biostimulants on crops include improving the visual quality of the final products, stimulating the immune systems of plants, inducing the biosynthesis of plant defensive biomolecules, removing heavy metals from contaminated soil, improving crop performance, reducing leaching, improving root development and seed germination, inducing tolerance to abiotic and biotic stressors, promoting crop establishment and increasing nutrient-use efficiency. Protein hydrolysates are mixtures of polypeptides and free amino acids resulting from enzymatic and chemical hydrolysis of agro-industrial protein by-products obtained from animal or plant origins, and they are able to alleviate environmental stress effects, improve growth, and promote crop productivity. Amino acids involve various advantages such as increased yield and yield components, increased nutrient assimilation and stress tolerance, and improved yield components and quality characteristics.
  • 1.4K
  • 07 Mar 2024
Topic Review
TiO2-NPs: Wastewater Treatment and Ago-Environment
The tremendous increase in the production and consumption of titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles (NPs) in numerous industrial products and applications has augmented the need to understand their role in wastewater treatment technologies. The use of TiO2 NPs as the representative of photocatalytic technology for industrial wastewater treatment is coming to the horizon. As the use of industrial wastewater to feed agriculture land has been a common practice across the globe and the sewage sludge generated from wastewater treatment plants is also used as fertilizer in agricultural soils. Therefore, it is necessary to be aware of possible exposure pathways of these NPs, especially in the perspective of wastewater treatment and their impacts on the agro-environment. 
  • 1.4K
  • 11 Aug 2020
Topic Review
Plant Parasitic Nematodes
Plant parasitic nematodes are a major problem for growers worldwide, causing severe crop losses. Several conventional strategies, such as chemical nematicides and biofumigation, have been employed in the past to manage their infection in plants and spread in soils. However, the search for the most sustainable and environmentally safe practices is still ongoing.
  • 1.4K
  • 08 Nov 2021
Topic Review
Yogurt with Incorporated Probiotics
Probiotics are commonly added to yogurt to provide many health benefits for the consumer. A description is provided for some commonly used probiotics in yogurt. A GRAS (generally recognized as safe) list of probiotic bacteria that can be added to yogurt or similar types of products is provided. Additionally, prebiotics, synbiotics (combination of prebiotics and probiotics), postbiotics, paraprobiotics, and psychobiotics can be added to yogurt. Probiotic yogurt can come in various forms in addition to spoonable yogurt, and yogurt can be used as an ingredient in other food products. Many useful functional ingredients can be applied to probiotic yogurt. The safety of probiotics must be addressed, especially for critically ill patients and other susceptible populations.
  • 1.4K
  • 21 Dec 2022
Topic Review
Chronic Rhinosinusitis and Alzheimer’s Disease
Among millions of sufferers of chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS), the challenge is not only constantly coping with CRS-related symptoms, such as congested nose, sinus pain, and headaches, but also various complications, such as attention difficulties and possible depression. These complications suggest that neural activity in the central nervous system may be altered in those patients, leading to unexpected conditions, such as neurodegeneration in elderly patients. 
  • 1.4K
  • 26 Oct 2021
Topic Review
Octopus Biological Studies
Increasing effort in research involving octopuses with a greater number of journals reporting research on these animals, as well as countries, institutions, and researchers involved. Some research themes lost importance over time, while some new themes appeared recently. Current data provide significant insight into the evolving trends in octopuses studies.
  • 1.4K
  • 30 Jun 2021
Topic Review
Drought in Chickpea
Chickpea productivity has been found to be around 995 kg ha−1 on a global scale, which is quite low. Drought, terminal heat, excessive salt, and cold are abiotic variables. Several factors are responsible for complexity of drought stress, including severity of drought, stage of crop, and duration of drought stress.
  • 1.4K
  • 29 Nov 2022
Topic Review Video
Bee Nutritional Ecology
For bees, pollen quality determines the overall quality of the larval food, influences the development of individuals and shapes their populations. Not all plants produce pollen that satisfies the nutritional requirements of bees, and we do not know how different plant pollens impact bees’ nutritional demands. Our understanding of the differential contribution of various nutrients to bees’ growth and development is minimal. Are there species-specific key nutrients or nutrient ratios linked to development? Based on this, can bee fitness be co-limited by several nutrients? Are such key nutrients associated with specific key plant species? The framework of ecological stoichiometry is a promising approach to this issue. It allows questions about the most basic mechanism that shapes the nutritional ecology of bees, i.e., balancing the larval diet to enable larval growth, development and pupation into the adult body equipped with all the structures needed for maximal fitness.
  • 1.4K
  • 30 Oct 2020
Topic Review
SARS-CoV-2 Main Protease Inhibitors
The main protease (M-pro) or 3C-like protease of coronaviruses plays an essential role in virus replication. This protease contributes to the cleavage of the ppa1a and pp1ab polyproteins to produce several non-structural proteins, including M-pro itself. Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the SARS-CoV-2 M-pro enzyme has been extensively studied, and its inhibitors are promising effective drugs for fighting against SARS-CoV-2. The first attempts to discover SARS-CoV-2 M-pro inhibitors used previously developed protease inhibitors or tried to repurpose drugs from other diseases. Covalent inhibitors form a covalent bond, usually with catalytic Cys145. Non-covalent inhibitors bind by non-covalent interactions at the active site of the enzyme, inhibiting its function.
  • 1.4K
  • 10 Jan 2022
Topic Review
Mutations of Osteogenesis Imperfecta
Osteogenesis Imperfecta is a rare genetic metabolic disease of the bone system with an autosomal dominant or a recessive type of inheritance. There are also X-linked forms and sporadic cases of this disease. The frequency of the disease in general varies from 1:15,000 to 1:20,000.
  • 1.4K
  • 29 Mar 2022
Topic Review
Oriental Small-clawed Otter
The Oriental Small-clawed Otter (Aonyx cinerea) is the smallest otter species in the world, native to freshwater and coastal habitats across South and Southeast Asia. Distinguished by its diminutive size and unique feature of partially webbed claws, this otter species exhibits a highly social nature, often living in extended family groups and engaging in cooperative hunting and grooming behaviors. As a skilled hunter of fish, crustaceans, and mollusks, the Oriental Small-clawed Otter plays a vital ecological role in maintaining the health of aquatic ecosystems throughout its range.
  • 1.4K
  • 28 Feb 2024
Topic Review
Franklinothrips vespiformis
Species of Franklinothrips (Thysanoptera: Aeolothripidae) are predatory on various other insects. These fast moving, ant-mimicking predatory thrips are widely distributed in the tropics. F. vespiformis has gained attention for its potential as a biocontrol agent for a diverse range of greenhouse pests, and it has already been commercially cultured in Europe for certain use.
  • 1.4K
  • 29 Jan 2022
Topic Review
GRAS Salts and Control of Fresh Fruit Decay
Pathogenic filamentous fungi are the most important causal agents of postharvest decay of fresh fruits. Depending on the fruit species, cultivar, and a wide range of pre- and postharvest factors and conditions, the incidence of fungal decay can cause considerable economic losses to growers and traders, especially if the produce is intended for export markets. Control of postharvest diseases of fresh fruits has relied for many years on the continuous use of conventional chemical fungicides. However, nonpolluting alternatives are increasingly needed because of human health and environmental issues related to the generation of chemical residues. Low-toxicity chemicals classified as food preservatives or as generally recognized as safe (GRAS) compounds have known and very low toxicological effects on mammals and minimal impact on the environment. Among them, inorganic or organic salts such as carbonates, sorbates, benzoates, silicates, etc., show significant advantages for potential commercial use, such as their availability, low cost, and general high solubility in water. 
  • 1.4K
  • 05 Jan 2022
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