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Topic Review
Slow-Release Urea
Slow-release urea (SRU) is a coated non-protein nitrogen (NPN) source for ruminant nutrition. This study applied a meta-analytic technique to quantify the effect of a commercial SRU (Optigen®, Alltech Inc., Nicholasville, KY, USA) on the performance of beef cattle. Data were extracted from 17 experiments and analysed using the random-effects model to estimate the effect size of SRU on dry matter intake (DMI), crude protein intake (CPI), live weight gain (LWG) and feed efficiency (FE) of growing and finishing beef cattle. There was no effect of feeding SRU on the overall DMI and CPI of beef cattle. Dietary inclusion of SRU improved the overall LWG (+92 g/d/head) and FE (+12 g LWG/kg DMI/head) of beef cattle. Notably, SRU supplementation in growing cattle exhibited a better improvement on LWG (130 vs. 60 g/d/head) and FE (18 vs. 8 g LWG/kg DMI/head) compared with finishing cattle. Moreover, SRU showed consistent improvements on the LWG and FE of beef cattle under several study factors. Simulation analysis indicated that positive effects of SRU on LWG and FE improved profitability through reduction in feed cost and reduced the emission intensity of beef production. These results indicate that SRU is a sustainable NPN solution in beef cattle production.
  • 1.8K
  • 30 Oct 2020
Topic Review
Flavivirus Infection
The flaviviruses are important human pathogens, and a deeper understanding of the virus–host cell interaction is required to identify cellular targets that can be used as therapeutic candidates. Flaviviruses hijack several cellular functions, such as exosome-mediated cell communication during infection, which is modulated by the delivery of the exosomal cargo of pro- or antiviral molecules to the receiving host cells. Therefore, to study the role of exosomes during flavivirus infections is essential to identify molecular factors that may contribute to the development of new strategies to block viral infections. This review explores the implications of exosomes in flavivirus dissemination and transmission from the vector to human host cells, as well as their involvement in the host immune response. Although several studies have been performed to identify and characterize cellular and viral molecules released in exosomes, the role of these components in viral pathogenesis is unclear. Further studies will determine the balance between protective and harmful exosomes secreted by flavivirus infected cells, the characteristics and components that distinguish them both, and how they could be a factor that determines the infection outcome.
  • 1.8K
  • 29 Jul 2020
Topic Review
Pseudorabies Virus
Pseudorabies, or Aujeszky’s disease, is a notifiable worldwide infection of domestic and feral swine that causes economic losses for the swine industry. In domestic pigs, the virus is responsible for nervous and/or respiratory symptoms; in pregnant sows, it is one of the major causes of stillbirth, mummification, embryonic death, and infertility (SMEDI). It is known that PRV infection in wild boar is associated with low pathogenicity and attenuated or absent symptomatology, but limited information is available about the ability of the virus to infect the foetuses of infected wild boar pregnant sows. Due to scarce information about the reproductive consequences, we investigate the possible intrauterine vertical transmission of the virus in wild boar pregnant sow living in a highly infected area. A number of 54 hunted wild boar were sampled during 2018–2019, and blood, genital and nasal swabs, placenta, and fetuses were collected for serological and molecular investigations. A seroprevalence of 74% (40/54) was detected, while 1/24 pregnant sow and 1/24 pooled foetuses tested positive by PCR (gene gB). This is the first evidence of viral detection in foetuses from seropositive pregnant wild boar. This finding suggests the possible pathogenetic role of PRV on pregnancy in wild boar and the existence of an additional transmission route.
  • 1.8K
  • 28 Oct 2020
Topic Review
Maternal Placenta Consumption in Mammals
Placentophagia is a common mammalian behavior, and the first scientific study of the potential effects of human maternal placentophagia on lactation was in 1917. More recently, in the 1970s, human placentophagia was reported in North America with a trend toward increased consumption. There are different hypotheses about the women and nonhuman mammals’ motivation towards placentophagia, but few have been subject to hypotheses testing. In women, the controversy continues; on the one hand, researchers attribute benefits like increased breast milk, weight gain in newborns, decreased postpartum depression and fatigue, and improved mothers’ mood. In contrast, bacterial or viral infections, hormonal, or trace elements that could become toxic for both the mother and baby are reported as possible health risks. Other reports argue a lack of scientific rigor to support the self-reported benefits of placentophagia. Also, the way the placenta is prepared (raw, cooked, dehydrated, processed, or encapsulated) alters its components, and thus the desired effects.
  • 1.8K
  • 07 Jan 2021
Topic Review
Appendage Regeneration in Vertebrates
Appendage regeneration in vertebrates means the ability to regenerate amputated or injured tissues and organs, which is a fascinating property shared by several invertebrates and, interestingly, some vertebrates.
  • 1.7K
  • 01 Jun 2021
Topic Review
Locust Bacterial Symbionts
Locusts have been devastating vegetation and agriculture since ancient times. The formation of huge swarms that migrate long distances is a hallmark of the locust phenomenon. An important aspect of locusts’ natural history is that of their interaction with the bacteria they harbor in and on their body. These locust-associated bacteria have been shown to affect certain physiological traits (such as immunity and swarm cohesion), as well as possibly also being affected by differentfactors in the locust biology. This review summarizes our current understanding of the locust-bacterial interaction. We focus on identifying the relevant bacterial strains and their locations within the insects; the role of the bacteria and their importance to their host’s life; the mechanism of transmitting important bacteria across locust generations; and more. Finally, we offer some new perspectives and research directions that could broaden our understanding of the locust-associated bacteria and their tentative instrumental role in locust outbreaks.
  • 1.7K
  • 19 Oct 2020
Topic Review
Equine Endometrium Morphology
Mares are seasonal polyestric. The morphology of the healthy equine endometrium is influenced by the season of the year, the stage of the endometrial cycle, as well as the presence of endometrial diseases. The latter have an impact on the wellbeing of individual mares and can also inflict major financial losses for the horse breeding industry. The microscopic examination of an endometrial biopsy is an important diagnostic tool, since it can also detect subclinical diseases. This review provides an overview about morphological and molecular features of the healthy and diseased equine endometrium. It reviews the diagnostic findings of inflammatory and degenerative endometrial disease of mares, as well as the current state of knowledge regarding their cellular and molecular pathogenesis. It further shows that the comparative evaluation of morphological features and molecular characteristics of the healthy and diseased equine endometrium is an important prerequisite for the identification of disease-associated molecular markers, which in turn will facilitate the development of diagnostic and predictive biomarkers, as well as novel prophylactic and therapeutic options. Although currently numerous molecular data are already available, future studies are required to establish their translation into clinical practice.
  • 1.7K
  • 01 Nov 2020
Topic Review
Neurophysiological Mechanisms of Cow–Calf Bonding
In buffalo, bonding is very particular due to the expression of specific behaviors, such as allo-suckling and communal rearing.
  • 1.7K
  • 19 Apr 2022
Topic Review
Conspecific and Human Sociality in the Domestic Cat
Sociality can be broadly defined as the ability and tendency of individuals to reside in social groups with either conspecifics and/or other species. The domestic cat is the only species within the felis genus to have transitioned from a wild, solitary species to one of the most popular human-companion animals globally. In stark contrast to their closest wild ancestors, the domestic cat displays an impressive capacity to cohabit successfully with both humans and other cats. However, at an individual level, domestic cats demonstrate substantial variability in their sociability towards both species. Such variability may be influenced by a range of factors including their early life experiences, genetic selection, and individual cat and human characteristics, in addition to various factors associated with their social and physical environment. The impact of these factors may have important implications regarding a cat’s social relationships, their adaptability to various social contexts, and, ultimately, their wellbeing. In line with modern pet-keeping practices, domestic cats may often be exposed to lifestyles which present a range of complex social and environmental challenges, although it is unclear how much cats have been selected by humans for traits that support adaptability to such lifestyles. 
  • 1.7K
  • 17 Feb 2022
Topic Review
Hp-NCL Network in Routing Encoding
Goal-directed navigation is a crucial behavior for the survival of animals, especially for the birds having extraordinary spatial navigation ability. In neural mechanism of the goal-directed behavior, especially involving the information encoding mechanism of the route, the hippocampus (Hp), nidopallium caudalle (NCL) and their local networks of the avian brain play important roles.
  • 1.7K
  • 09 Nov 2020
Topic Review
Olfaction in Eusocial Ants
Eusocial ants (family Formicidae) engage in a broad range of social behaviors such as nursing the queen’s offspring, foraging for food, and defending their nest. Importantly, these behaviors critically depend on the exchange of information through the detection of chemical cues by a sophisticated olfactory system comprising among the largest number of odorant receptors (ORs) of any insect.
  • 1.7K
  • 05 Jul 2021
Topic Review
State-of-the-Art Vaccine for Aquaculture Use
Infectious diseases caused by bacteria, viruses, or parasites are the major causes of mortality and economic losses in commercial aquaculture. Some pathologies, especially those of bacterial origin, can be treated with commercially available drugs, while others are poorly managed. In fact, despite having been recognized as a useful preventive measure, no effective vaccination against many economically relevant diseases exist yet, such as for viral and parasitic infections.
  • 1.7K
  • 01 Mar 2021
Topic Review
Murciano-Granadina Goats
Murciano-Granadina goat is one of the oldest and most representative livestock breeds of Spain. There are some references to its existence dating back to the fifteenth century, especially with respect to the Granadina population (Rodero et al. 1992). The first modern reference to the breed is dated in 1893 (Aragó 1893) but it considered Murciana and Granadina, whose names derivate from the Spanish provinces in which they were raised, as two separate breeds, a situation that was maintained until the first official recognition of the Spanish breeds in 1933. According to Aparicio (1947) both Murciana and Granadina breeds are modern evolutions of the European Capra aegagrus goat branch, so that they are very close to each other from an evolutionary point of view, but still they hold important genetic differences as it has been highlighted by the tests carried out with molecular markers by Martínez et al. (2010), differences which could support  their recognition as independent breeds. Anyway, the integration of these two original breeds into a single racial entity was strictly an administrative decision took in the seventies during the past century. In those years, the Spanish government decided to follow the international recommendation to fusion close breeds in order to obtain higher census that permitted to extend the intensity of selection and the consequent bigger genetic progress. Today this decision is severely criticized because it meant the erosion of the Granadina population, leading it near extinction, in spite of remarking the important adaptive capacity of this population to the altitude (more than 2500 m) and the heat and hydric stress. Presently, the new extensification of management systems and the effects of climatic change make the Granadina genotypes very demanded, which show the best performances under hard conditions.
  • 1.7K
  • 16 Sep 2021
Topic Review
Long-Chain Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids
The effects of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC PUFAs) have been frequently investigated in sows because the profitability of pig production depends mainly on reproduction performance. According to the results of the previous studies, n-3 fatty acids can postpone the time of parturition, decreasing the synthesis of prostaglandins, which are necessary for uterus contraction during labour. These effects could also be useful during the post-weaning period when low prostaglandin levels are indispensable for embryo survival. The n-3 fatty acids fed during the lactation period secreted in milk, may improve piglet performance. Despite the numerous previous field trials, there are no current feeding recommendations available for PUFAs in swine nutrition. In finding the appropriate dose of n-3 PUFAs in terms of sow nutrition, the n-6 PUFAs levels in the given feeds must be taken into account to ensure that there are no significant reductions in the final n-6/n-3 ratio.
  • 1.6K
  • 27 Oct 2020
Topic Review
Oils in Feed and Egg Quality
Eggs are a valuable source of protein and fat in the human diet. Due to continuous improvement in the production performance of laying hens, the requirements regarding the feed energy of laying hens are increasing. Oils, which are the main energy sources in feed, exert a substantial effect on the production performance and egg quality of laying hens.
  • 1.6K
  • 22 Dec 2021
Topic Review
Three-Dimensional Bone Phantom
3-D surgical planning for restorative osteotomy is costly and time-consuming because surgeons need to be helped from commercial companies to get 3-D printed bones. However, practitioners can save time and keep the cost to a minimum by utilizing free software and establishing their 3-D printers locally. Surgical planning for the corrective osteotomy of antebrachial growth deformities (AGD) is challenging for several reasons (the nature of the biapical or multiapical conformational abnormalities and lack of a reference value for the specific breed). Pre-operative planning challenges include: a definite description of the position of the center of rotation of angulation (CORA) and proper positioning of the osteotomies applicable to the CORA. In the present study, we demonstrated an accurate and reproducible bone-cutting technique using patient-specific instrumentations (PSI) 3-D technology. The results of the location precision showed that, by using PSIs, the surgeons were able to accurately replicate preoperative resection planning. PSI results also indicate that PSI technology provides a smaller standard deviation than the freehand method. PSI technology performed in the distal radial angular deformity may provide good cutting accuracy. In conclusion, the PSI technology may improve bone-cutting accuracy during corrective osteotomy by providing clinically acceptable margins.
  • 1.6K
  • 09 Nov 2020
Topic Review
Nutritional Value of Insects in Pet Food
Due to the increasing global population, the world cannot currently support the well-known techniques of food production due to their harmful effects on land use, water consumption, and greenhouse gas emissions. The key answer is a solution based on the use of edible insects. They have always been present in the diet of animals. They are characterized by a very good nutritional value (e.g., high protein content and contents of essential amino acids and fatty acids, including lauric acid), and products with them receive positive results in palatability tests. 
  • 1.6K
  • 15 Jun 2022
Topic Review
Escherichia Coli
Escherichia coli are facultative, anaerobic Gram-negative rods with many facets. Within resistant bacterial populations, they play an important ecological role and can be used as a bioindicator of antimicrobial resistance. All animal species used for food production, as well as humans, carry E. coli in their intestinal tracts; plus, the genetic flexibility and adaptability of this bacteria to constantly changing environments allows it to acquire a great number of antimicrobial resistance mechanisms. Thus, the prevalence of antimicrobial resistance in these commensal bacteria (or others, such as enterococci) can be a good indicator for the selective pressure caused by the use of antimicrobial agents, providing an early warning of the emergence of antimicrobial resistance in pathogens. As many as 90% of E. coli strains are commensals inhabiting the intestinal tracts of humans and warm-blooded animals. As a commensal, it lives in a mutually beneficial association with its hosts and rarely causes diseases. However, E. coli also remains as one of the most frequent causes of several common bacterial infections in humans and animals. In humans, it is the prominent cause of enteritis, community- and hospital-acquired urinary tract infection (UTI), septicemia, postsurgical peritonitis, and other clinical infections, such as neonatal meningitis, while, in farm animals, it is more prominently associated with diarrhea. On a global scale, E. coli can be considered the most important human pathogen, causing severe infection along with other major bacterial foodborne agents, such as Salmonella spp. and Campylobacter. Thus, the importance of resistance in E. coli, typically considered a benign commensal, should not be underestimated.
  • 1.6K
  • 17 Feb 2022
Topic Review
Canine Heat-Related Illness
Heat-related illness - more commonly known as "heat stroke" - is a potentially fatal disorder that can affect both man and animals. The condition has two main causes: exertional and environmental heat. Exertional heat-related illness occurs either when a dog is active in a hot environment, or associated with strenuous and typically prolonged activity in any temperature. Environmental heat-related illness occurs when the ambient temperature and humidity increase beyond the dog's cooling limits, cases of environmental heat-related illness typically occur during heatwave events.  
  • 1.5K
  • 17 Aug 2020
Topic Review
Ovine Paratuberculosis Control
Ovine paratuberculosis due to Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP) is no longer the serious agripolitical animal health issue that it was for many Australian rural communities a decade and a half ago. However, the disease continues to spread, with both OJD extension and funded research programs required to address remaining knowledge gaps, the challenging issues of promulgated misinformation, and the need for continual improvement of diagnostic and disease control tools, respectively. Improved regional and on-farm biosecurity, including the introduction of a risk-based trading system, may have contributed to changing attitudes to OJD control, although decreasing on-farm OJD prevalence is almost certainly attributable mostly to the uptake of persistent vaccination programs with Gudair. Although encouraging the ongoing use of vaccination and improved biosecurity when OJD mortalities disappear remains challenging, vaccination has provided a robust strategy for managing OJD on-farm and contributed significantly to both the health of Australian sheep and the lives of producers with affected properties. As vaccination offers a pathway to reduce the risk of MAP infection entering the human food chain from ruminant products, it should be more widely adopted globally.
  • 1.5K
  • 16 Sep 2020
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