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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
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
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
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
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
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
Sustainable Irrigated Agriculture
The picture shows the water distribution in a gravity based water distribution of a large irrigation scheme fore sugar cane in Ethiopia. 
  • 1.2K
  • 30 Jul 2021
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
Lacticaseibacillus casei ATCC 393
Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are commonly applied to fish as a means of growth promotion and disease prevention. However, evidence regarding whether LAB colonize the gastrointestinal (GI) tract of fish remains sparse and controversial.
  • 1.2K
  • 28 Dec 2021
Topic Review
Horses Facial Expressions Machine Recognition
Facial activity can convey valid information about the experience of pain in a horse. The scoring of facial activity is costly and depending on correct observation and interpretation by trained humans. Automatisation would greatly enhance the possibility to detect pain in horses. In humans, emotional states are detected in real time video using automated computer algorithms. However, the application of such methods to horses has proven difficult. Major barriers are the lack of sufficiently large, annotated databases for horses and difficulties in obtaining correct classifications of pain
  • 1.2K
  • 07 Jan 2022
Topic Review
Artificial and Wild Agarwood
Agarwood is a highly economically important medicinal herb with widespread uses; however, the difference between the biological activities of artificial and wild agarwood is unclear.
  • 1.2K
  • 29 Mar 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.
  • 1.2K
  • 06 Nov 2023
Topic Review
Stallion Husbandry
The stress of isolation from the individual husbandry of stallions can result in behavioral problems, aggression, and diseases of the respiratory, nutritional, and musculoskeletal systems. Several examples from practice show that the keeping of stallions in groups is possible in principle. It only poses a risk for injuries if the necessary requirements for this type of husbandry are not taken into account. If the size and design of the exercise area/pasture, the group constellations, and the characters of the stallions are considered, keeping stallions in groups represents the most species-appropriate form of husbandry for them. This takes into account animal welfare aspects and complies best with the requirements of modern horse husbandry. However, the integration of the stallion into an existing group should only be carried out by qualified, experienced horse owners, who must proceed professionally and step by step. Consequently, stress, disadvantages, and the potential for injury can be reduced to a minimum or, ideally, avoided altogether, and the wellbeing and mental and physical health can be supported in the best possible way.
  • 1.1K
  • 27 May 2021
Topic Review
Estimation of Winter Wheat Tiller Number
Tiller are an important biological characteristic of wheat. Accurate estimation of tiller number can help monitor wheat growth and is important in forecasting wheat yield. However, because of leaf cover and other factors, it is difficult to estimate tiller number and the accuracy of estimates based on vegetation indices is low. Compared with the traditional linear model, the addition of a gradual change feature greatly improved the accuracy of model predictions of wheat tiller number.
  • 1.1K
  • 22 Mar 2022
Topic Review
Lesser Grison
The Lesser Grison (Galictis cuja) is a small carnivorous mammal native to South America, belonging to the same family as weasels, otters, and ferrets. With its slender body, short legs, and distinctive black mask-like facial markings, the Lesser Grison is well-adapted for hunting and navigating diverse habitats such as grasslands, forests, and savannahs. Despite its small size, the Lesser Grison is a skilled predator, preying on a variety of small vertebrates including rodents, birds, reptiles, and insects.
  • 1.1K
  • 08 Mar 2024
Topic Review
Grazing on Animal Productivity and the Environment
Grazing lands provide ecosystem services including regulation and storage of water flows, nutrient cycling, and C sequestration. Livestock grazing is the most important factor shaping and stabilizing pasture biodiversity. Some opportunities for pasture feeding are the health-promoting and nutritional qualities of milk and milk products, especially milk from pasture-fed cows. The beneficial effects of pasture feeding on animal health and welfare are not insignificant. Available organizational innovations can help better manage livestock grazing and, above all, better understand the impact of the grazing process on the environment and climate change.
  • 1.1K
  • 17 May 2023
Topic Review
DNA Methylation in Tauopathies
Together with histone variants and modifications, alterations in nucleosome positioning, non-coding RNAs, and DNA methylation constitute the epigenetic toolkit. DNA methylation describes the chemical modification of the DNA itself by the addition of methyl groups mostly on cytosines, but also on adenines via DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs), with DNMT1 and DNMT3A being the major DNMTs in the CNS. DNA methylation effects, i.a. transcriptional control when occurring at enhancer and promoter sites, alternative promoter choice and alternative splicing. At the level of transcriptional regulation, methylated motifs of transcription factor (TF) binding sites physically impede the binding of methyl-sensitive TFs, leading to transcriptional suppression. Furthermore, the interaction of the methyl-CpG-binding domain proteins (MBDs) with methylated DNA prevents binding of TFs and promotes inactive heterochromatin formation by recruiting other chromatin and nucleosome remodeling factors.
  • 1.1K
  • 30 Nov 2021
Topic Review
Plant Growth-Defense Trade-Offs
In order to survive in a hostile habitat, plants have to manage the available resources to reach a delicate balance between development and defense processes, setting up what plant scientists call a trade-off. Most of these processes are basically responses to stimuli sensed by plant cell receptors and are influenced by the environmental features, which can incredibly modify such responses and even cause changes upon both molecular and phenotypic level. 
  • 1.1K
  • 31 Jan 2021
Topic Review
Steller Sea Lion
The Steller Sea Lion (Eumetopias jubatus) is a charismatic marine mammal found along the coastlines of the North Pacific Ocean. Renowned for its impressive size and distinctive appearance, including thick fur and prominent whiskers, the Steller Sea Lion holds a prominent place in marine ecosystems as a top predator. Despite facing conservation challenges such as habitat degradation and competition with fisheries, these social and intelligent creatures continue to capture the fascination of researchers and wildlife enthusiasts alike.
  • 1.1K
  • 08 Mar 2024
Topic Review
Cover Crops
A cover crops is defined as a “close-growing crop that provides soil protection, seeding protection, and soil improvement between periods of normal crop production, or between trees in orchards and vines in vineyards”. This definition indicates a number of benefits deriving from the application of soil management models which have, however, found discontinuous application in orchards due to different interpretations of the direct effects on production and fruit quality. Soil management is, in fact, one of the key practices that influences the vegetative and productive activity of an orchard.
  • 1.1K
  • 23 Dec 2021
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