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Topic Review
Sleep in Non-human Animals
Sleep in non-human animals refers to a behavioral and physiological state characterized by altered consciousness, reduced responsiveness to external stimuli, and homeostatic regulation. Sleep is observed in mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and some fish, and, in some form, in insects and even in simpler animals such as nematodes. The internal circadian clock promotes sleep at night for diurnal organisms (such as humans) and in the day for nocturnal organisms (such as rodents). Sleep patterns vary widely among species. It appears to be a requirement for all mammals and most other animals.
  • 1.4K
  • 08 Nov 2022
Topic Review
Drought and Salinity in Citriculture
Among the various abiotic stresses, drought is the major factor limiting crop productivity worldwide. Citrus has been recognized as a fruit tree crop group of great importance to the global agricultural sector since there are 140 citrus-producing countries worldwide. The majority of citrus-producing areas are subjected to dry and hot summer weather, limited availability of water resources with parallel low-quality irrigation water due to increased salinity regimes. Citrus trees are generally classified as “salt-intolerant” with high water needs, especially during summer. Water scarcity negatively affects plant growth and impairs cell metabolism, affecting the overall tree growth and the quality of produced fruit. Key factors that overall attempt to sustain and withstand the negative effect of salinity and drought stress are the extensive use of rootstocks in citriculture as well as the appropriate agronomical and irrigation practices applied.
  • 1.4K
  • 29 Jun 2021
Topic Review
Gray Seal
The Gray Seal, scientifically known as Halichoerus grypus, is a marine mammal renowned for its distinctive appearance and widespread distribution across the North Atlantic Ocean. Characterized by its robust build, long whiskers, and mottled gray fur, the Gray Seal is a highly adaptable species found inhabiting coastal waters, rocky shores, and sandy beaches from Canada to Europe. As a top predator in marine ecosystems, the Gray Seal plays a crucial role in regulating prey populations and maintaining ecosystem balance.
  • 1.4K
  • 15 Mar 2024
Topic Review
Applications of Gellan Gum
Gellan gum (GG) is a linear, negatively charged exopolysaccharide that is biodegradable and non-toxic. When metallic ions are present, a hard and transparent gel is produced, which remains stable at a low pH. It exhibits high water solubility, can be easily bio-fabricated, demonstrates excellent film/hydrogel formation, is biodegradable, and shows biocompatibility. These characteristics render GG a suitable option for use in food, biomedical, and cosmetic fields.
  • 1.4K
  • 13 May 2024
Topic Review
Automated Tracking Systems for Assessment of Farmed Poultry
One of the most commonly farmed livestock is poultry and their significance is felt on a global scale. Current poultry farming practices result in the premature death and rejection of billions of chickens on an annual basis before they are processed for meat. This loss of life is concerning regarding animal welfare, agricultural efficiency, and economic impacts. The best way to prevent these losses is through the individualistic and/or group level assessment of animals on a continuous basis. On large-scale farms, such attention to detail was generally considered to be inaccurate and inefficient, but with the integration of artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted technology individualised, and per-herd assessments of livestock became possible and accurate.
  • 1.4K
  • 15 Feb 2022
Topic Review
Digital Horizon of Smart Agriculture
Agriculture is essential to the existence of the human race, as well as the foundation of our civilization, because it provides food, fuel, fiber, and other resources necessary for survival; however, it is facing critical challenges due to anthropogenic climate change, which hampers food and nutritional security. Several measures have been implemented to enhance agricultural productivity, including plant breeding, genetic engineering, and precision agriculture. The world has witnessed the burgeoning development of novel scientific innovations and technological advancements enabled by drones, smart sensors, robotics, and remote sensing, resulting in a plethora of revolutionary methods that can be applied to real-time crop modeling, high-throughput phenotyping, weather forecasting, yield prediction, fertilizer application, disease detection, market trading, farming practices, and other environmental practices vital to crop growth, yield, and quality. Digitalization is the most significant technological advancement of our time, and it profoundly affects agriculture and other industries. Delivering a comprehensive view of how technology could help in tackling critical issues like environmental degradation and threatened world biodiversity, this perspective emphasizes the perks of digitalization.
  • 1.4K
  • 09 Jan 2024
Topic Review
Aphid–Plant–Phytovirus Pathosystems
Aphids are responsible for the spread of more than half of the known phytovirus species. Virus transmission within the plant–aphid–phytovirus pathosystem depends on vector mobility which allows the aphid to reach its host plant and on vector efficiency in terms of ability to transmit phytoviruses.
  • 1.4K
  • 11 Jun 2021
Topic Review
Biliary Atresia
The term biliary atresia has substituted the original term of “extrahepatic biliary atresia”, which has been in use for several generations. The concept was related to the often-identified absence of gallbladder with an obliterated cord at the site the extrahepatic biliary system. It is now known that biliary atresia is a necro-inflammatory and fibro-obliterative process of both intrahepatic and extrahepatic biliary tract.
  • 1.4K
  • 11 Feb 2022
Topic Review
Decapods Crustaceans Amylase
Decapod crustaceans are a very diverse group and have evolved to adapt to a broad variety of diets. However, α-amylases have been more thoroughly studies in herbivore and omnivore species, both from an evolutionary/ecological and applied (i.e., aquaculture) point of view, while information on α-amylases from carnivorous species is scarce. Diverse studies revealed that enzyme sequences and overall architecture is highly conserved among decapods. 
  • 1.4K
  • 21 Oct 2021
Topic Review
DNA-Based Animal Species Authentication in Dairy Products
Milk is one of the most important nutritious foods, widely consumed worldwide, either in its natural form or via dairy products. Currently, several economic, health and ethical issues emphasize the need for a more frequent and rigorous quality control of dairy products and the importance of detecting adulterations in these products. For this reason, several conventional and advanced techniques have been proposed, aiming at detecting and quantifying eventual adulterations, preferentially in a rapid, cost-effective, easy to implement, sensitive and specific way. DNA-based methods relying on polymerase chain reaction (PCR) have been widely applied to detect adulterations in foods from both plant and animal origins, including dairy products because of their simplicity, high sensitivity and high specificity. They benefit from the high thermal stability of DNA molecules, which is particularly relevant when analysing processed foods, and are independent from immunochemical recognition, making them not susceptible to cross-reactivity. The ubiquity of nucleic acids in every type of cell and particularity in healthy mammary glands, which have high numbers of leucocytes and epithelial cells that are transferred to the milk, is another advantage to highlight. During cheese making, these cells are concentrated and allow the isolation of DNA to discriminate the species.
  • 1.4K
  • 28 Apr 2022
Topic Review
Helminth Fauna of Muskrat (Germany)
The muskrat is a neozoon species that has occupied many countries of continental North Europe after its introduction from north America as fur animals. Due to its burrowing activity it damages river and canal banks and structures of flood control. For this reason, the eradication of this alien species is recommended. Muskrats are also of parasitological interest since they can act as suitable intermediate hosts for Echinococcus multilocularis. On the other hand, little is known on the other helminths that infect muskrats. A total of 130 muskrats of different age groups trapped in different habitats in the Barnim district of the Brandenburg state by a professional hunter were examined for parasites and seven trematodes (Echinostoma sp., Notocotylus noyeri, Plagiorchis elegans, Plagiorchis arvicolae, Psilosostoma simillimum, P. spiculigerum, Opisthorchis felineus and four larval cestode species (Hydatigera taeniaeformis, Taenia martis, Taenia polyacantha, Taenia crassiceps) were detected. Larval stages of E. multilocularis were not found. O. felineus was found for the first time in muskrats in Germany. All the named parasites were present in Europe prior to the introduction of muskrats. With a prevalence of 48.9%, Strobilocercus fasciolaris, the larval stage of the cat tapeworm, H. taeniaeformis, was the most frequent parasite found in adult muskrats. 
  • 1.4K
  • 27 Aug 2021
Topic Review
Sun Bear
The Sun bear (Helarctos malayanus), also known as the "honey bear," is the smallest bear species and inhabits the dense tropical forests of Southeast Asia. Recognizable by its sleek black fur, distinctive crescent-shaped chest patch, and short muzzle, the Sun bear possesses a unique adaptation: an elongated tongue ideal for extracting honey and insects from tree cavities. Despite its diminutive size, this arboreal omnivore plays a crucial role in forest ecosystems, dispersing seeds and regulating insect populations, while facing threats from habitat loss and poaching for traditional medicine and the pet trade.
  • 1.4K
  • 08 Mar 2024
Topic Review
Organic Farming
Because agriculture is a key source of environmental pressures, the need to urgently reduce the impacts of agricultural activities on biodiversity, freshwater and marine pollution, greenhouse gas and ammonia emissions, and soils has been recognized by the European Union. Thus, three of the post-2020 Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) objectives concern the environment and climate change. More specifically, a substantial contribution is scheduled to mitigate climate change, foster sustainable development and efficient management of natural resources, protect biodiversity, enhance ecosystem services, and preserve wildlife habitats and landscapes. These challenges can be addressed by the adoption of more sustainable agricultural production systems such as organic farming. 
  • 1.4K
  • 29 Apr 2021
Topic Review
Problems in Paddy Procurement System in Bangladesh
Bangladesh derives one-half of its agricultural GDP and one-sixth of its national income from paddy. It is crucial to the farmers’ ability to survive. The majority of farmers in Bangladesh are classified as middle- or low-income. They must frequently take out loans to cultivate paddy. Moreover, they are compelled to sell their paddy at a lower price immediately after harvesting for primarily two reasons: the lack of storage facilities; and the immediate need for money to pay back loans taken out to buy labour, seeds, fertiliser, insecticides, and other necessities, and to fund daily costs.
  • 1.4K
  • 19 Jan 2024
Topic Review
Crop Diversification and Weed Control
Weeds can be defined as any plant that is objectionable or interferes with the activities or welfare of humans. In a crop production system, weeds compete for the same resources as the crops, such as water, nutrients, sunlight, and space, limiting crop productivity. Aggressive weed competition reduces crop yield significantly and adds further cost to crop production owing to their management. Yield loss due to weeds depends on several factors such as density, time of emergence, type of weed, and crop type. 
  • 1.4K
  • 02 Jun 2021
Topic Review
Industrial Animal Farming and COVID-19
The threat of zoonoses (i.e., human infectious diseases transmitted from animals) because of industrial animal farming may be receiving less attention in society due to the putative wildlife origin of COVID-19. To identify societal responses to COVID-19 that do address or affect the risk of future zoonoses associated with industrial animal farming, the literature was screened for measures, actions, proposals and attitudes following the guidelines of a scoping review. Forty-one articles with relevant information published between 1 January 2020 and 30 April 2021 were identified directly or indirectly via bibliographies from 138 records retrieved via Google Scholar. Analysis of relevant content revealed ten fields of policy action amongst which biosecurity and change in dietary habits were the dominant topics. Further search for more relevant records within each field of policy action retrieved another 8 articles. Identified responses were furthermore classified and evaluated according to groups of societal actors, implying different modes of regulation and governance. Based on the results, a suggested policy strategy is presented for moving away from food production in factory farms and supporting sustainable farming, involving the introduction of a tax on the demand side and subsidies for the development and production of alternative meat.
  • 1.4K
  • 31 Aug 2021
Topic Review
Seed Yield in Red Clover
Red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) is a perennial forage legume which is valued for its yield, nitrogen fixation and forage quality. However, seed yield is often unsatisfactory in red clover. Seed production has been the objective of various studies with different approaches. This review paper summarizes and discusses recent results from various studies on seed yield and fertility in red clover, and opens perspectives for future research.
  • 1.4K
  • 22 Mar 2022
Topic Review
Brown Bear
The Brown Bear (Ursus arctos), a formidable and iconic member of the Ursidae family, is one of the most widespread bear species, exhibiting a remarkable adaptability to diverse habitats across the Northern Hemisphere. Renowned for its distinctive hump on the shoulders, powerful build, and a range of fur colors from light brown to nearly black, the Brown Bear is a symbol of strength and resilience in the wild. This large carnivore plays a crucial role in shaping ecosystems, influencing prey populations, and contributing to the overall biodiversity of its habitats.
  • 1.4K
  • 08 Feb 2024
Topic Review
Epizoochory in Parrots
Plant–animal interactions are key to sustaining whole communities and ecosystem function. However, their complexity may limit our understanding of the underlying mechanisms and the species involved. The ecological effects of epizoochory remain little known compared to other seed dispersal mechanisms given the few vectors identified. In addition, epizoochory is mostly considered non-mutualistic since dispersers do not obtain nutritional rewards. Here, we show a widespread but unknown mutualistic interaction between parrots and plants through epizoochory.
  • 1.4K
  • 21 Apr 2021
Topic Review
Wombats
Wombats are medium-sized, burrowing marsupials native to Australia, belonging to the family Vombatidae. Distinguished by their robust build, short limbs, and backward-facing pouch, wombats are primarily nocturnal herbivores that play a significant role in soil turnover and ecosystem functioning. They are notable for producing cube-shaped feces and exhibit highly specialized adaptations for a fossorial lifestyle.
  • 1.4K
  • 12 Aug 2025
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