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Topic Review
Nocturnal Bees as Crop Pollinators
Bees are typically diurnal but around 1% of described species have nocturnal activity. Nocturnal bees are still poorly studied due to bias towards studying diurnal insects. However, knowledge concerning their biology and role as crop pollinators has increased. We review the literature on nocturnal bees’ traits and their host plants, and assess the crop pollination effectiveness of this neglected group. Nocturnal bees have visual adaptations to cope with low light intensities, and floral scents are a key sensory cue used to find their host flowers. Nocturnal bees generally show high flower constancy, the ability to vibrate flowers, and high transfer rates of pollen grains to stigmas. The flowers visited by nocturnal bees range from small radial and zygomorphic flowers to large brush blossoms; moreover, they visit plants with different flowering strategies. Nocturnal bees are effective pollinators of regional fruit crops in Brazil, such as cambuci (Campomanesia phaea), guaraná (Paullinia cupana), cajá (Spondias mombin), and in North America of cultivated pumpkins (Cucurbita species). However, they most likely are pollinators of several other crops. Strategies to host high numbers of nocturnal bees around cropping areas should be taken, such as preserving adjacent native forests, restricting soil management, providing food resources beyond crop flowers, and avoiding light pollution.
  • 1.3K
  • 29 Jul 2021
Topic Review
Biomedical Properties of Polysaccharides
Polysaccharides are considered as vital bio-macromolecules for all living organisms, which are structurally comprised of homo or hetero monosaccharides and uronic acids connected with glycosidic linkages.
  • 1.3K
  • 23 Sep 2022
Topic Review
Speed Breeding for Crop Improvement and Food Security
Amid a rapidly growing global population and increasing threats to crop yields, Speed Breeding (SB) in crop genetics is focused. It traces SB’s development from carbon arc lamp experiments 150 years ago to its modern use with LED technology which significantly accelerates breeding cycles. SB has applications in genetic mapping, genetic modification, and trait stacking, enhancing crop resilience by leveraging allelic diversity. It aligns well with breeding methods like single plant selection and single seed descent. The integration of SB with gene editing, genotyping, and genomic selection holds great promise.
  • 1.3K
  • 14 Nov 2023
Topic Review
Digital Twins Applications in Agriculture and Farming Domain
Digital Twins serve as virtual counterparts, replicating the characteristics and functionalities of tangible objects, processes, or systems within the digital space, leveraging their capability to simulate and forecast real-world behavior. They have found valuable applications in smart farming, facilitating a comprehensive virtual replica of a farm that encompasses vital aspects such as crop cultivation, soil composition, and prevailing weather conditions. By amalgamating data from diverse sources, including soil, plants condition, environmental sensor networks, meteorological predictions, and high-resolution UAV and Satellite imagery, farmers gain access to dynamic and up-to-date visualization of their agricultural domains empowering them to make well-informed and timely choices concerning critical aspects like efficient irrigation plans, optimal fertilization methods, and effective pest management strategies, enhancing overall farm productivity and sustainability.
  • 1.3K
  • 31 Aug 2023
Topic Review
Sponges and Their Symbionts
Marine sponges represent a fascinating phylum of marine invertebrates, hosting a wide symbiotic community together with a huge production of secondary metabolites. The sponge-associated biota may bring together a broad group of phylogenetic lineages, including archaea, bacteria, and fungi.
  • 1.3K
  • 24 Sep 2021
Topic Review
Angolan Slender Mongoose
The Angolan Slender Mongoose (Galerella flavescens) is a small carnivorous mammal native to southern Africa, particularly Angola and Namibia. Known for its slender body, pointed snout, and golden-brown fur, this mongoose species is highly adaptable and can be found in a variety of habitats, including savannas, woodlands, and scrublands. As a skilled hunter, the Angolan Slender Mongoose primarily feeds on insects, small mammals, reptiles, and birds, playing a crucial role in maintaining ecosystem balance in its range.    
  • 1.3K
  • 15 Mar 2024
Topic Review
Alternative Proteins for Fish Diets
Aquaculture has been challenged to find alternative ingredients to develop innovative feed formulations that foster a sustainable future growth. Given the most recent trends in fish feed formulation on the use of alternative protein sources to decrease the dependency of fishmeal, it is fundamental to evaluate the implications of this new paradigm for fish health and welfare. 
  • 1.2K
  • 13 May 2022
Topic Review
HMGB1 Structure and Receptors
High mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) is a highly conserved DNA-shepherding protein that is plentiful in the cell nucleus. HMGB1 is actively secreted by multiple cell types, including macrophages, monocytes, dendritic cells, natural killer cells, endothelial cells, and platelets, and passively by necrotic and damaged cells. Either mode can release substantial amounts of extracellular HMGB1, which participates in multiple biological functions. Serum and liver levels of HMGB1 are significantly increased in some schistosomiasis patients with inflammatory responses, suggesting a close association with disease progression.
  • 1.2K
  • 11 Mar 2022
Topic Review
Aphrophoridae Role in Xylella fastidiosa Invasion in Italy
The Philaenus spumarius L. (Hemiptera Aphrophoridae) is a xylem-sap feeder vector that acquires Xylella fastidiosa subsp. pauca ST53 during feeding on infected plants. The bacterium is the plant pathogen responsible for olive quick decline syndrome that has decimated olive trees in Southern Italy. Damage originates mainly from the insect vector attitude that multiplies the pathogen potentialities propagating Xf in time and space. The principal action to manage insect borne pathogens and to contain the disease spread consists in vector and transmission control. The analysis of an innovative and sustainable integrated pest management quantitative strategy that targets the vector and the infection by combining chemical and physical control means demonstrates that it is possible to stop the Xylella invasion. This entry updates the available topics addressing vectors' identification, bionomics, infection management, and induced disease by Xylella invasion to discuss major available tools to mitigate the damage consequent to the disease.
  • 1.2K
  • 11 Nov 2021
Topic Review
Micro/Baby-Greens and Mature Field Grown Vegetables
Micro/baby-greens are gaining popularity in human diets as functional foods that deliver superior nutritional values and health benefits to consumers. This study conducted multiple times between 2017 and 2019 under greenhouse conditions and in the field at Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey, USA, showed that micro/baby-greens from tropical spinach (Amaranthus sp.) and roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa L.) are rich in digestible carbohydrates, digestible protein, and dietary fiber. 
  • 1.2K
  • 28 Jan 2022
Topic Review
Selenoprotein Tissue Homeostasis
Selenium (Se) (Se 34 79) is an essential trace element mainly known for its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic properties as it is part of the catalytic center of different selenoproteins with different enzymatic activities. During different pathologies Se tissue concentration and selenoproteins expression are modified, afecting tissue function. 
  • 1.2K
  • 25 Feb 2022
Topic Review
Banded Palm Civet
The Banded Palm Civet (Hemigalus derbyanus) is a small carnivorous mammal native to Southeast Asia, known for its distinctive banded fur pattern. Belonging to the family Viverridae, this elusive nocturnal species is primarily arboreal, inhabiting tropical forests and plantations throughout its range. Despite its small size, the Banded Palm Civet plays an important ecological role as a predator of insects, small vertebrates, and fruits, contributing to ecosystem dynamics and biodiversity in its habitat.
  • 1.2K
  • 08 Mar 2024
Topic Review
Exosomes for High-Altitude Epigenetic Research
Among different difficult environments, high-altitude living is especially demanding because of diminished partial pressure of oxygen and resulting chronic hypobaric hypoxia. This results in poor blood oxygenation and reduces aerobic oxidative respiration in the mitochondria, leading to increased reactive oxygen species generation and activation of hypoxia-inducible gene expression.
  • 1.2K
  • 19 Aug 2021
Topic Review
Probiotic Bacillus subtilis on Laying Hens
Bacillus subtilisis one of the three most common species of probiotic products in the U.S. and has been used widely as a functional feed supplement such as in several dairy and non-dairy fermented foods for improving human health and well-being. Similarly, Bacillus subtilis-based probiotics have been used as antibiotic growth promoter alternatives in poultry. Bacillus subtilis are spore-forming bacteria. They are heat stable, low pH-resistant (the gastric barrier), and tolerate multiple environmental stressors.
  • 1.2K
  • 12 Apr 2022
Topic Review
The Feeding Behaviour Habits of Growing-Finishing Pigs
Feed cost represents approximately 65% of the cost production of a pig kg deadweight. Therefore, the search for strategies to improve the utilisation rate of nutrients during the growing-finishing period is of permanent interest. One of the important factors influencing the performance and carcass quality of growing-finishing pigs is feeding behaviour habits (FBHs), which can be described not only by average daily feed intake (ADFI), but also by other criteria such as the daily number of feeder visits, the daily time spent eating, the feed consumed per feeder visit or the rhythm of ingesta, among others. These can be registered and calculated thanks to the availability in the market of automatic feeding systems.
  • 1.2K
  • 19 May 2022
Topic Review
Management of Agroforestry for Soil Improvement
Agroforestry integrates woody perennials with arable crops, livestock, or fodder in the same piece of land, promoting the more efficient utilization of resources as compared to monocropping via the structural and functional diversification of components. This integration of trees provides various soil-related ecological services such as fertility enhancements and improvements in soil physical, biological, and chemical properties, along with food, wood, and fodder. 
  • 1.2K
  • 06 Dec 2022
Topic Review
Remotely Piloted Aircraft in Agriculture
In this study, a sustainable perspective of the use of remotely piloted aircraft (RPA) or drone technology in the agriculture sector is discussed. For this purpose, the types of cameras (multispectral, thermal, and visible), sensors, software, and platforms frequently deployed for ensuring precision agriculture for crop monitoring, disease detection, or even yield estimation are briefly discoursed.
  • 1.2K
  • 31 Dec 2020
Topic Review
Cleome droserifolia (Forssk.) Del.
The antioxidant, antimicrobial, and immunomodulatory activities of the Cleome droserifolia (Forssk.) Del. (Cd) shrub were investigated considering the biological activity of its phytogenic compounds.
  • 1.2K
  • 12 Jul 2021
Topic Review
Volatile Compounds in Pulses
The worldwide demand for pulse-based products is increasing in the face of climate change, but their acceptability is limited due to the presence of off-flavours. Off-notes contribute to negative perceptions of pulses (beany notes). Volatile compounds belong to a large variety of chemical classes. They are mainly produced from the oxidation of unsaturated free fatty acids and the degradation of amino acids during seed development, storage, and transformation (dehulling, milling, and starch or protein production).
  • 1.2K
  • 25 Feb 2022
Topic Review
Ringtail
The Ringtail (Bassariscus astutus), a small carnivorous mammal with a distinctive appearance, is an intriguing and elusive member of the Procyonidae family. Renowned for its cat-like face, long tail banded with dark rings, and agile movements, the Ringtail is often referred to as a "miner's cat" due to its historical presence in rocky mining areas of the southwestern United States.
  • 1.2K
  • 08 Feb 2024
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