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Topic Review
Narrow-Leaf (dnl2) Mutant in Maize
The dnl2 mutant is a recessive mutant caused by EMS mutagenesis that displays various developmental defects, with a short stature and narrowed leaves being the two most obvious features. Phenotypic and cytological observations revealed that narrow-leaf mutant, dnl2 showed inhibited cell growth, altered vascular bundle patterning, and disrupted secondary cell wall structure when compared with the wild-type, which could be the direct cause of the dwarf and narrow-leaf phenotype.
  • 1.2K
  • 21 Mar 2022
Topic Review
Melatonin in Plants
Melatonin, a multifunctional molecule that is present in all living organisms studied, is synthesized in plant cells in several intercellular organelles including in the chloroplasts and in mitochondria.
  • 1.2K
  • 29 Sep 2021
Topic Review
Precision Livestock Farming
Precision livestock farming (PLF) has developed and concerned the whole sector: from cattle to pigs, to poultry, achieving the best results in cattle farms, especially in dairy farms. The technology that is affecting various aspects of dairy cattle breeding is certainly near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) which is versatile and can be used on line/in line to evaluate and control the critical points of the production process by entering the PAT (process analytical technology). In the barn, NIRS currently can obtain information on the chemical-physical composition of raw materials, total mixed ration (TMR), feces and digestibility, chemical and technological analysis of milk. All this in a short time by eliminating the waiting times for analysis response and costs, allowing an improvement of livestock management. Many studies affirm the validity of NIRS as a reliable and predictive technology against multiple relevant parameters in matrices such as raw feed, TMR, feces, and milk. 
  • 1.2K
  • 28 Apr 2021
Topic Review
Probiotics Regulate Gut Microbiota
Probiotics are beneficial active microorganisms that colonize the human intestines and change the composition of the flora in particular parts of the host. Recent evidence has shown that probiotics play significant roles in gut microbiota composition, which can inhibit the colonization of pathogenic bacteria in the intestine, help the host build a healthy intestinal mucosa protective layer, and enhance the host immune system. Based on the close relationship between the gut microbiota and human immunity, it has become an extremely effective way to improve human immunity by regulating the gut microbiome with probiotics.
  • 1.2K
  • 12 Oct 2021
Topic Review
Microalgal Biomass-polymer Blends
Since the invention of plastics and the development of mass production, plastic demand has increased exponentially annually. Despite their easy processability and economically viable merits, the management of plastic waste has always been a contentious issue due to their non-biodegradable properties, resulting in significant damage to the environment. Although the share of bioplastics in the plastic market remains low, eco-friendly and abundant amounts of bioplastics are considered to be sufficient alternatives to replace preexisting plastics. Chlorella and Spirulina are the primary sources for bioplastics from microalgae due to their easy processability. Although the replacement of artificially synthesized existing plastics with 100% microalgal bioplastics could be ideal when it comes to environmentally friendly plastics, the physical and mechanical properties, such as tensile strength, glass transition temperature, and elongation at break, of 100% bioplastics are inferior to those of commercially available plastics. Another option to tackle these issues is to blend microalgae with polymers, namely microalgal biomass-polymer composites. These blended composites are hybrid-type plastics that have both properties of each component. The general properties of these blends depend on the ratio between the amount of microalgae biomass and those of the polymer. In general, a higher polymer content in biomass-polymer composites results in better performance, especially in terms of tensile strength and elongation at break. The required level of biomass contents in authorized bioplastics depends on individual national regulations. Korean government suggest that the percent of biomass in biomass-polymer composites should be over 30 wt% to be considered as an eco-friendly bioplastic. According to our investigation, the contents of microalgae in most composites remain less than 30 wt%, implying that further studies to increase the proportion of microalgae in the composites should be conducted to boost the commercialization of microalgae-based biocomposites.
  • 1.2K
  • 24 Jan 2022
Topic Review
Oenological Tool
Any oenological tool is expected to reveal its goodness once it is used during winemaking. An oenological tool can be any type of element whose use can improve both the winemaking process and the final result. Therefore, use of natural elements such as bee pollen, thanks to its rich composition, could provide nutrients to yeasts and improve fermentation kinetics.
  • 1.2K
  • 28 Oct 2020
Topic Review
Antibiotics and Their Impact on Bacterial Cellular Perturbation
Antibiotics belong to different classes of chemicals—including those of biological, synthetic, or semi-synthetic origin—and have selective modes of action. Based on their mechanisms of action, antimicrobial compounds are classified into two groups: bacteriostatic and bactericidal. Resistance is a natural adaptive tool that offers selection pressure to bacteria, and hence cannot be stopped entirely but rather be slowed down. Antibiotic resistance mutations mostly diminish bacterial reproductive fitness in an environment without antibiotics; however, a fraction of resistant populations ‘accidentally’ emerge as the fittest and thrive in a specific environmental condition, thus favouring the origin of a successful resistant clone.
  • 1.2K
  • 11 Jan 2022
Topic Review
Capripoxvirus Infections in Ruminants
Lumpy skin disease, sheeppox, and goatpox are notifiable diseases of cattle, sheep, and goats, respectively, caused by viruses of the Capripoxvirus genus. They are responsible for both direct and indirect financial losses. These losses arise through animal mortality, morbidity cost of vaccinations, and constraints to animals and animal products’ trade. Control and eradication of capripoxviruses depend on early detection of outbreaks, vector control, strict animal movement, and vaccination which remains the most effective means of control. To date, live attenuated vaccines are widely used; however, conferred protection remains controversial. Many vaccines have been associated with adverse reactions and incomplete protection in sheep, goats, and cattle. Many combination- and recombinant-based vaccines have also been developed. 
  • 1.2K
  • 07 Jun 2021
Topic Review
Aquaporins Regulation by Arbuscular Mycorrhizae
Despite an intensive research in the field of aquaporins, the relationship between aquaporins and plant responses to water deficit remains still unresolved. However, several authors have recognized the importance of aquaporins for both nutrient and water exchanges during mycorrhizal symbiosis. We have conducted investigations showing that the AM symbiosis regulates the expression of a wide number of aquaporin genes in maize, including members of the different aquaporin subfamilies. Several of these AM-regulated aquaporins where functionally characterized in heterologous systems with Xenopus laevis oocytes and by yeast complementation. It was shown that they can transport water, but also other molecules of physiological importance for plant performance under both normal and stress conditions (glycerol, urea, ammonia, boric acid, silicon or hydrogen peroxide). AM plants grew and developed better than non-AM plants under the different conditions assayed. Thus, the investigation suggests that the well-known better performance of AM plants under drought stress may be due not only to the improved water movement in their tissues, but also to the mobilization of compounds with a role in abiotic stress tolerance such as glycerol, N compounds, signalling molecules or metalloids.
  • 1.2K
  • 29 Oct 2020
Topic Review
Mounted Load Carrying on Equids
There are approximately 112 million working equids in developing countries, many of which are associated with brick kilns. Brick kilns and overloading are associated with welfare problems in working equids. Understanding equids’ abilities and influencing factors are important for both effective performance and welfare. Traditionally, measurement of the amount of ‘bone’ was used, and more recently, gait symmetry has been identified as a potential marker for loading capacity.
  • 1.2K
  • 13 May 2021
Topic Review
Trichoderma
Trichoderma spp. has the ability to inhibit fungal plant pathogens through several mechanisms like the production of hydrolytic enzymes, mycoparasitism, coiling, and antibiosis and is therefore recommended as a potential and native biocontrol agent for effective control of soil-transmitted diseases. Various species of Trichoderma, like T. virens, T. asperellum, T. harzianum, etc., have been explored for their biocontrol activity against phytopathogens. There are different Trichoderma species and strains with respect to plant pathogens. Efforts have been made to develop effective and efficient methods, such as microencapsulation use of different polymers, adjuvants, or carriers, to increase the shelf-life and efficacy of Trichoderma formulations.
  • 1.2K
  • 09 Nov 2023
Topic Review
Breeding Inducer Development
Different approaches that can be used for maize maternal haploid inducer development are explained in this entry. For a complete review on maternal haploid inducers, see: https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/9/5/614/htm
  • 1.2K
  • 28 Oct 2020
Topic Review
ICTs in Agri-Food Logistics
A major challenge of Sustainable Development Goal 12 “Responsible Consumption and Production” is to reduce food losses along production and supply chains. This is particularly critical for fresh food products, due to their perishable and fragile nature, which makes the coordination of the actors all the more crucial to avoid wastes and losses. The rise of new technologies, referred to as “Industry 4.0” powered by the internet of things, big data analytics and artificial intelligence, could bring new solutions to meet these needs. Information and communication technologies (ICTs) allow for frequent exchanges of huge amounts of information between actors in the agrofood chains to coordinate their activities.
  • 1.2K
  • 02 Feb 2022
Topic Review
Wholegrain Rice and Human Nutrition
Rice is one of the most widely consumed cereals in the world. The husks of harvested, unprocessed rice are not digested by humans and need to be removed to obtain edible grains, whereas the bran can be partially (brown rice) or totally removed (white rice). Brown rice is a wholegrain cereal and, as such, is known to have beneficial effects on human health.
  • 1.2K
  • 16 Aug 2021
Topic Review
Intestinal Porcine Epithelial Cell Lines
Numerous bioactive plant additives have shown various positive effects in pigs and chickens. The demand for feed additives of natural origin has increased rapidly in recent years to support the health of farm animals and thus minimize the need for antibiotics and other drugs. Although only in vivo experiments can fully represent their effect on the organism, the establishment of reliable in vitro methods is becoming increasingly important in the goal of reducing the use of animals in experiments. The use of cell models requires strict control of the experimental conditions so that reliability and reproducibility can be achieved. In particular, the intestinal porcine epithelial cell line IPEC-J2 represents a promising model for the development of new additives. It offers the possibility to investigate antioxidative, antimicrobial, anti- or pro-proliferative and antiviral effects.
  • 1.1K
  • 22 Apr 2022
Topic Review
Innate Immune Cells in the Chicken Intestine
The chicken intestinal epithelium is a monolayer consisting of various cell types. Intercellular junctional complexes, tight junctions, present between the intestinal epithelial cells maintain the gut barrier integrity. Tight junctions hold the intestinal epithelial cells together to prevent the entry of enteric pathogens and thus maintain gut homeostasis. In addition to the gut microbiota, also intestinal epithelial cells inhibit the entry of pathogens for example by producing a mucus layer. In addtion to this physical barreier, also soluble factors suc a antimicrobial compunds play a role in the defence against pathogens. When all these defense mechanism are not sufficient in protecting the host, the cells of the intestinal innate immune system are activated. Properties and function of these cells are the subject of this entry.
  • 1.1K
  • 23 Dec 2021
Topic Review
F-Box Protein
F-box genes can regulate plant growth and development, including hormone, root development, self-incompatibility, senescence, and response to abiotic and biotic stress.
  • 1.1K
  • 12 Jan 2022
Topic Review
Artificial Intelligence in the Diagnosis of Dairy Cows
With the rapid growth of computational power and data transfer capabilities, machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI) are also making inroads into animal husbandry and veterinarian research. In particular, Infrared thermography (IRT) is being increasingly used for health monitoring and the diagnosis of dairy cows, especially in studies related to heat stress, which causes severe losses, helping us analyze its effects on nutrition, milk production, reproduction, etc. There is plenty of evidence for the potential benefits of using IRT for monitoring udder health status in dairy cows and for the early detection of mastitis. Its role in detecting hoof lesions and lameness has also been reported. The growth of the population and the increase of quality standards has set a requirement for the production of more and better quality food. The capabilities and potential benefits of IRT make systems for the automatic collection and processing of thermographic information and decision-making particularly important.
  • 1.1K
  • 06 Nov 2023
Topic Review
Multistrain Probiotics in Livestock Production
Multistrain probiotics comprise two or more species or strains of important microorganisms as a consortium beneficial to the administered animal. Several studies are being carried out to explore their potency or efficiency. They have proven to be a promising alternative to antibiotics growth promoters and were responsible for enhancing gut health, growth performance, maintaining a balance in gut microbiota, stimulating immunity against pathogenic organisms, improving digestion, and overall production efficiency in ruminants, poultry, and swine production.
  • 1.1K
  • 09 Oct 2021
Topic Review
Short-tailed Mongoose
The Short-tailed Mongoose, scientifically known as Herpestes brachyurus, is a small carnivorous mammal found in various habitats across Southeast Asia. Characterized by its compact body, short tail, and agile movements, this mongoose species is known for its elusive nature and nocturnal habits. Despite its relatively small size, the Short-tailed Mongoose is a formidable predator, preying on a variety of small vertebrates and insects within its range.
  • 1.1K
  • 28 Feb 2024
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