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Topic Review
Nano-Agrochemicals
Nano-agrochemicals (NACs) are nanomaterials and formulations specifically designed and controlled at the nanoscale. They can be defined as agricultural formulations in the form of nanopesticides (NPCs) which have unique properties (high aspect ratio) due to elements ranging in nanometer size (up to 100 nm). They have the potential to revolutionize agriculture through the promotion of efficient and ecofriendly NPCs with properties such as target specificity, the ability to control usage, and high surface area which allow the targeted delivery of nutrients and protection of crop yields. NACs, or nanotechnology-based agrochemicals, have gained considerable attention in recent years due to extensive research and development efforts. These cutting-edge products harness the special qualities of NPs to improve the effectiveness, safety, and ecofriendliness of conventional agrochemicals. This technology has emerged as a valuable tool in the agricultural sector, offering novel and efficient solutions for conventional agricultural methods and practices. Some of these include NPCs, among other NACs, which have the capacity to revolutionize agriculture by enhancing sustainability and efficiency. These NPCs, ranging in size from 1 to 200 nm, serve as a vehicle to transport agrochemical ingredients (AcI). With unique properties, they outperform conventional pesticides by 31.5% in managing crop pathogens, weeds, and insects. These unique properties include enhanced water solubility, improved bioavailability, and increased protection of agrochemicals from environmental degradation. Thus, NPCs address the drawbacks of conventional pesticides such as limited availability, susceptibility to degradation from light, and the negative effects of organic solvent pollution.
  • 739
  • 03 Jan 2024
Topic Review
Milk Production in OECD Countries
Since the beginning of the industrialization of the dairy cattle sector (1950s), driven by the need to feed the rapidly growing urban areas, this industry has experienced several improvements, evolving in management and technology. These changes have been felt above all in the terms of milking, rearing, nutrition, reproductive management, and design of facilities. Shortage of labor, emphasis on increasing farm efficiency, and quality of life of the farmers were the driving factors for these changes. To achieve it, in many areas of the world, pasture production has been abandoned, moving to indoor production, which allows for greater nutritional and reproductive control of the animals. To keep pace with this paradigm in milk production, animal health management has also been improved. Prevention and biosecurity have become essential to control and prevent pathologies that cause great economic losses. As such, veterinary herd health management programs were created, allowing the management of health of the herd as a whole, through the common work of veterinarians and farmers.
  • 738
  • 21 Mar 2022
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.
  • 737
  • 11 Nov 2021
Topic Review
Cattle Feeding Precision by Automatic Feeding Systems
Livestock farming is experiencing a significant shift towards automation to reduce the many repetitive tasks requiring little skills and high workloads. For farmers, automatic feeding systems for ruminants can be an excellent way to reduce their daily workload and improve animal welfare and production quality. Studies have demonstrated that adopting automatic feeding systems leads to lower energy requirements, lower feed waste, and improved animal welfare, which unequivocally aligns with the farmers' perspective. However, to maximize the flexibility of the feeding robots and reap the benefits, thorough economic and structural planning that considers all of the farming site's features is necessary. Additionally, automatic feeding systems can help involve younger generations in animal farming and increase inclusivity, which may foster female entrepreneurship, all while maintaining good feeding practices.
  • 735
  • 17 Nov 2023
Topic Review
Intracellular Sensors——Nod-like Receptors
NOD-like receptors are functionally diverse intracellular sensors with heterogeneous signaling pathways. With the exception of NLRP10, which lacks an Leucine-rich repeats (LRR) domain, all the containing receptors (NLR) families share a common nucleotide-binding and oligomerization (NACHT) and LRR domain organization.
  • 734
  • 03 Nov 2021
Topic Review
Mushrooms for Soil Improvement
The main fields in which mushroom cultivation could improve soil quality may include (1) soil erosion control, (2) improving soil aggregates, (3) increasing soil organic matter, (4) enhancing soil nutrition, (5) promoting C, and NPK cycling, and (6) the bioremediation of polluted soils.
  • 734
  • 13 Apr 2022
Topic Review
The Prokaryotic Partner of Entomopathogenic-Nematode/Bacterium Symbiotic Associations
The natural role of peptide-antimicrobials, produced by the prokaryotic partner of entomopathogenic-nematode/bacterium (EPN/EPB) symbiotic associations, is to sustain monoxenic conditions for the EPB in the gut of the semi-anabiotic infective dauer juvenile (IJ) EPN. They keep pathobiome conditions balanced for the EPN/EPB complex in polyxenic (soil, vanquished insect cadaver) niches. Xenorhabdus szentirmaii DSM16338(T) (EMC), and X. budapestensis DSM16342(T) (EMA), are the respective natural symbionts of EPN species Steinernema rarum and S. bicornutum.
  • 734
  • 20 Apr 2022
Topic Review
Role of Riboflavin in Poultry Nutrition
Riboflavin, an essential B-vitamin, plays a crucial role in poultry metabolism, impacting energy production, growth, and immune regulation. Its role in redox reactions and energy metabolism is vital for optimal growth and development. Riboflavin is essential for adenosine triphosphate (ATP) production and the conversion of tryptophan into niacin. Deficiency can lead to skeletal deformities, impaired growth, and compromised immune function. Dietary riboflavin supplementation is necessary due to variable bioavailability in plant-derived sources. The vitamin is absorbed through specialized transport proteins, and its cellular uptake is facilitated by specific receptors. Riboflavin’s role in protein synthesis and its antioxidant properties influence poultry growth and defense against oxidative stress. Its impact on reproductive performance, hatchability, and overall poultry health underscores its significance in poultry nutrition.
  • 733
  • 22 Nov 2023
Topic Review
Snow Leopard Landscapes
High Asia, the high-altitude habitat of the snow leopard (Panthera uncia), covers the mountainous regions of Asia’s twelve countries, including Afghanistan, Bhutan, China, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. The transboundary landscape occupied by snow leopards covers an area of about 3.0247 million square kilometers. China possesses about 60% of the global snow leopard landscape, and China shares its border with 10 (the only exception being Uzbekistan) out of the total 12 snow leopard range countries. The snow leopard is an umbrella species from the high-altitude transboundary Asian regions. It is a threatened carnivore of an elusive and secretive nature. Globally, the population of snow leopards is estimated to be 4500–7500 animals in the wild.
  • 732
  • 14 Feb 2022
Topic Review
Dairy Sheep Milk Genes
The dairy sheep industry is an important but lacking part of the small ruminant industry. For a sheep breeding program, in addition to wool and meat use, sheep milk can also be processed into high-end dairy products such as cheese and milk powder and bring high economic interests for businesses home and abroad. The nutritional value of sheep milk is found higher than that of goat milk and cow milk, with abundant fat yield, protein percentage, and mineral contents, which provide a good opportunity for the development of the sheep milk industry. 
  • 731
  • 28 Feb 2022
Topic Review
Degradation Path of Deltamethrin
One of the most frequently and widely used pyrethroids is deltamethrin, often employed for the control of household insect pests. The presence of three chiral centers translates into eight possible different stereoisomers, with only one of them having insecticidal activity. Active deltamethrin (a-DLM) has an S configuration at the α−benzyl carbon and a 1-R-cis configuration at the cyclopropane ring.
  • 730
  • 25 Jun 2021
Topic Review
The Viscum Species for Diet and Medicinal Purposes
True mistletoe (of the Viscum species) is a semi-parasitic, perennial browse species that is found attached to its host—a shrub or a tree. It has important pharmaceutical and chemical properties that allow it to be used for a variety of purposes, including livestock production. 
  • 729
  • 11 Oct 2022
Topic Review
CRISPR/Cas Systems
Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) and CRISPR-associated (Cas) proteins is a natural adaptive immune system that some bacterial and most archaeal species present to defend themselves against invading bacteriophages, which works on the basis of sequence complementarity via cleavage. Genetic engineering using CRISPR/Cas systems enables accurate and precise genomic modifications. The easiness and rapidity of execution, low cost, reproducibility and efficiency turns understandable why it is the system of choice for many genome engineering applications in several fields using different organisms. 
  • 727
  • 18 Mar 2021
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.
  • 726
  • 29 Mar 2022
Topic Review
Food Colour Additives
Colour is one of the most relevant organoleptic attributes that directly affects consumers’ acceptance and food selection. However, as food colouring pigments are generally unstable and become modified during processing, in order to maintain or restore product colour uniformity, colourants are added to food products around the world. Food properties, namely colours, which are a visual feature associated with the spectral distribution of light resulting from the interaction with matter, largely determine consumer’s satisfaction and expectations, affecting their choice and eating desires. Food colours affect recognition and product acceptability (warning consumers against eating spoiled food which is hazardous to health), as they are a beam of sensory perceptions such as sight, smell, and taste.
  • 726
  • 08 Mar 2022
Topic Review
Aquaponics as Sustainable Path to Food Sovereignty
Aquaponics emerges as a beacon of hope, showcasing how humanity can adapt, innovate, and thrive while preserving the delicate balance of our natural resources. Within aquaponic systems, a symbiotic cycle unfolds: fish waste serves as vital nutrients for plants, while these same plants act as natural filters, purifying the water destined to circulate back to the fish tanks. This harmonious relationship between aquatic life and vegetation fosters a closed-loop ecosystem, significantly curbing water wastage and elevating the system’s overall sustainability. This method not only produces high-quality organic vegetables and fruits but also sustainable protein sources, addressing the challenges of both food security and water conservation.
  • 726
  • 29 Dec 2023
Topic Review
Limonium Mill. Species
Limonium is one of the most interesting and biodiverse genera of halophytes, with many species adapted to saline environments. Limonium species have a promising potential as cultivated minor crops as many have ornamental value, or are already used as medicinal plants.
  • 725
  • 22 Apr 2021
Topic Review
ZnO Nanoparticles and Wheat and Maize
The zinc oxide nanoparticle (ZnO NP) is a commonly used metal oxide ENPs finding application as sunscreens and cosmetics, biosensors, and in solar cells, etc. Presently, many kinds of metal oxide NPs have been applied in agriculture, specifically in fertilization and plant protection in abiotic and biotic stress conditions.
  • 725
  • 22 Dec 2021
Topic Review
Oilseed Supplementation Improves Fatty Acid Profile of Milk
Milk is the most consumed dairy product in the world and for humans is one of the major sources of beneficial biocomponents. Lipids from oilseeds can be transferred to milk from cows or converted to other biomolecules with nutraceutical effects, resulting in healthier milk.
  • 725
  • 21 Jul 2022
Topic Review
Spotted Hyena
The Spotted Hyena (Crocuta crocuta) is a highly social carnivore native to sub-Saharan Africa, distinguished by its distinctive spotted coat, powerful build, and unique vocalizations. Renowned for its strength and adaptability, the Spotted Hyena is one of Africa's most successful predators, utilizing its keen sense of smell, strong jaws, and endurance to hunt a wide range of prey, from small mammals to large ungulates. Despite misconceptions about its scavenging habits, the Spotted Hyena is an efficient hunter, capable of taking down prey much larger than itself through coordinated group hunting tactics.
  • 724
  • 08 Mar 2024
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