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Topic Review
Antibiotics for Animal Husbandry
Since the 1950s, antibiotics have been used in the field of animal husbandry for growth promotion, therapy and disease prophylaxis. It is estimated that up to 80% of the antibiotics produced by the pharmaceutical industries are used in food production. Most of the antibiotics are used as feed additives at sub-therapeutic levels to promote growth. However, studies show the indiscriminate use of antibiotics has led to the emergence of multidrug-resistant pathogens that threaten both animal health and human health, including vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE), Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE). This scenario is further complicated by the slow progress in achieving scientific breakthroughs in uncovering novel antibiotics following the 1960s. Most of the pharmaceutical industries have long diverted research funds away from the field of antibiotic discovery to more lucrative areas of drug development. If this situation is allowed to continue, humans will return to the pre-antibiotics era and potentially succumb to huge health and economic consequences. Fortunately, studies investigating various alternatives to antibiotics use in livestock show promising results. These alternatives include the application of bacteriophages and phage derived peptidoglycan degrading enzymes, engineered peptides, egg yolk antibodies, probiotics, prebiotics and synbiotics, as well as quorum quenching molecules. Therefore, this review aims to discuss the use of growth-promoting antibiotics and their impact on livestock and provide insights on the alternative approaches for animal husbandry. 
  • 1.4K
  • 27 May 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
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
The Medicinal Mushroom Cordyceps militaris
Cordyceps militaris is an entomopathogenic ascomycete with similar pharmacological importance to that of the wild caterpillar fungus Ophiocordyceps sinensis C. militaris has attracted significant research and commercial interest due to its content in bioactive compounds beneficial to human health and the relative ease of cultivation under laboratory conditions. 
  • 1.4K
  • 29 Mar 2022
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
Six Papaya Cultivars Grown
Six papaya (Carica papaya L.) cultivars, grown in a Mediterranean climate under greenhouse conditions, were screened for physicochemical properties, antioxidant capacity, nutritional and sensory characteristics. The fruits, harvested with more than 50% of yellow surface (between 60% and 77%) were tested for carotenoids content, phenolic content, reducing activity (ABTS), and cellular antioxidant activity (CAA50). The physicochemical traits were measured in terms of the titratable acidity and soluble content whereas proximal composition along with moisture, fats, total sugar, ash, vitamin A, C, and E content. Moreover, the sensory profile was analyzed by a semi-trained panel. Although the six analyzed cultivars reached qualitative characteristics to satisfy market needs, significant differences among them were found in a genotype-dependent manner. In particular, Cartagena and Maradol cultivars evidenced the highest values of minerals and vitamins, carotenoids, polyphenols, ABTS and CAA50 and reached the best commercial requisites (size, total soluble solids content/titratable acidity ratio). As for sensory analysis, we observed significate differences only for sweetness, juiciness, odor, and flavor of peach and exotic fruits whereas descriptors related to unpleasant defects or sensations always have very low scores in all the observed cultivars. These results highlight the possibility of obtaining quality papaya fruits in a Mediterranean climate using greenhouse growing.
  • 1.3K
  • 03 May 2021
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.
  • 1.3K
  • 29 Jun 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.
  • 1.3K
  • 28 Apr 2022
Topic Review
Crab-eating Fox
The Crab-eating Fox (Cerdocyon thous) is a canid species native to South America, recognized for its specialized diet and adaptable behavior. Despite its name, the Crab-eating Fox primarily consumes a wide variety of foods, including small mammals, birds, insects, fruits, and carrion. With its distinctive reddish-brown fur and bushy tail, the Crab-eating Fox occupies diverse habitats ranging from forests and grasslands to urban areas across its range.
  • 1.3K
  • 08 Mar 2024
Topic Review
Constraints to Cowpea Production
Climate change and variability trends affect crop yields both directly and indirectly. Direct impacts include effects caused by a modification of physical characteristics such as low or high atmospheric temperature, soil fertility level, and water deficiency or erratic rainfall distribution in specific crop production systems. Indirect effects are those that affect production through changes in other species such as pollinators, insect pests, diseases, and weeds. These indirect effects can play a significant role in the production and productivity of cowpea. These limiting factors can broadly be termed abiotic and biotic stresses, resulting in climatic variations and ultimately reducing cowpea yield potential and its productivity.
  • 1.3K
  • 27 Jun 2022
Topic Review
Canadian Lynx
The Canadian Lynx (Lynx canadensis) is a medium-sized wildcat species native to North America, predominantly found in boreal forests and mountainous regions. Recognizable for its distinctive tufted ears, thick fur coat, and short tail, this elusive carnivore is well-adapted to cold climates and dense forest habitats. Known for its stealthy hunting prowess and preference for snowshoe hares, the Canadian Lynx plays a vital role in regulating prey populations and maintaining ecosystem balance in its range.
  • 1.3K
  • 28 Feb 2024
Topic Review
Epididymal Sperm of Canine and Feline
Epididymal spermatozoas  are often described as immature, immotile, and infertile sperm cells, yet the epididymis is the organ where spermatozoa mature, acquire motility, and become fully fertile. This coiled duct constitutes a reservoir for millions of spermatozoa before ejaculation.
  • 1.3K
  • 03 Nov 2021
Topic Review
Classification of Genetic Load
The term “genetic load” refers to the accumulation of lethal and sublethal harmful mutations that significantly reduce an individual’s viability or result in their death when the mutation enters a homozygous state. Each type of genetic load in farm animals correlates with a certain type of natural or artificial selection in them. In animal husbandry, four types of genetic load are generally distinguished: mutation, immigration, segregation, and substitution.
  • 1.3K
  • 20 May 2023
Topic Review
Cows and Pain
The main conditions and diseases considered painful in dairy cows are mastitis, lameness, calving (including dystocia and caesarean section) and metritis. The cattle literature reports that deviation from normal daily activity patterns (both increased and/or reduced daily lying time) can be indicative of painful conditions and diseases in cows. This entry discusses on how pain due to several health conditions in dairy cows modifies its activity pattern and explores if non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are capable of restoring it. Divergent outcomes may differ depending upon the painful cause, the severity and the moment, and consequently its interpretation should be properly explained. For instance, cows with clinical mastitis reduced their time lying and increased the number of lying bouts and stepping due to pain caused by the swollen udder when cows are lying. However, lame cows show longer lying times, with a lower number of lying bouts and longer and more variable lying bouts duration, as compared to non-lame cows. When the relationship between painful disorders and daily activity patterns is studied, factors such as parity, bedding type and severity of disease are important factors to take into consideration. The potential benefits of the NSAIDs treatment in painful health disorders depend upon the type of drug administered, its dosage and administration mode, and the time of administration relative to the painful health disorder. 
  • 1.3K
  • 19 Jan 2022
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.
  • 1.3K
  • 15 Mar 2024
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.
  • 1.3K
  • 19 Apr 2022
Topic Review
Fermented Foods and Gut Microbiota
Fermented foods and beverages are generally defined as products made by microbial organisms and enzymatic conversions of major and minor food components. Further to the commonly-recognized effects of nutrition on the digestive health and well-being, there is now strong evidence for the impact of fermented foods and beverages, produced or preserved by the action of microorganisms, on general health, namely their significance on the gut microbiota balance and brain functionality. 
  • 1.3K
  • 19 May 2021
Topic Review
Cucurbits
Cucurbit viruses cause considerable economic losses worldwide. The most common viral diseases affecting this crop family are Potyviruses, Cucumoviruses, Criniviruses, Ipomoviruses, Tobamoviruses, and the emerging Begomoviruses. Four main cucurbit crops are grown worldwide, namely melon, cucumber (Cucumis), watermelon (Citrullus), and squash (Cucurbita). Huge natural variation is also available within each genus, providing valuable sources of genetic resistance to these diseases. Intraspecific and intrageneric diversity and crossability are key factors to select the optimum breeding strategies. Melon and cucumber are diverse species for which intraspecific resistance is available. Conversely, in Citrullus and Cucurbita, wild relatives provide the resistance diversity absent in watermelon and in C. pepo. Some of the classical sources used by breeders, many of which are multi-resistant, come from corresponding origin centers in Asia, Africa, and America, as well as from secondary centers of diversity. Genetic studies have identified dominant and recessive and often complex resistance. Many of the genes identified have been mapped and markers for MAS are available, but higher mapping resolutions are required to identify the corresponding genes. Only a few genes could be cloned and functionally characterized. Efforts are underway to use genome mapping and functional genomics to advance toward a genomic-assisted breeding against viral diseases in cucurbits.
  • 1.3K
  • 14 Jan 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.
  • 1.3K
  • 08 Mar 2024
Topic Review
Engineering Climate-Change-Resilient Crops
Environmental adversities, particularly drought and nutrient limitation, are among the major causes of crop losses worldwide. Due to the rapid increase of the world’s population, there is an urgent need to combine knowledge of plant science with innovative applications in agriculture to protect plant growth and thus enhance crop yield. In recent decades, engineering strategies have been successfully developed with the aim to improve growth and stress tolerance in plants. Most strategies applied so far have relied on transgenic approaches and/or chemical treatments.
  • 1.3K
  • 28 Jul 2021
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