Your browser does not fully support modern features. Please upgrade for a smoother experience.
Subject:
All Disciplines Arts & Humanities Biology & Life Sciences Business & Economics Chemistry & Materials Science Computer Science & Mathematics Engineering Environmental & Earth Sciences Medicine & Pharmacology Physical Sciences Public Health & Healthcare Social Sciences
Sort by:
Most Viewed Latest Alphabetical (A-Z) Alphabetical (Z-A)
Filter:
All Topic Review Biography Peer Reviewed Entry Video Entry
Topic Review
Gluten Free Wheat
Gluten proteins, major determinants of the bread-making quality of wheat, are related to several digestive disorders. Advances in plant genetic breeding have allowed the production of wheat lines with very low gliadin content through the use of RNAi and gene editing technologies. 
  • 1.1K
  • 22 Oct 2021
Topic Review
Sclerotinia sclerotiorum (Lib.) de Bary against Host Defense
Sclerotinia sclerotiorum (Lib.) de Bary is a broad host-range fungus that infects an inclusive array of plant species and afflicts significant yield losses globally. S. sclerotiorum possesses an immense arsenal of disease weaponry to subsist and succeed under widespread environmental conditions. The massive pathogenic arsenal of S. sclerotiorum, including oxalic acid (OA), CWDEs, and small secretory proteins (effectors), has long been associated with virulence. A subtle interplay between these virulence factors serves various regulatory functions in host cells, allowing S. sclerotiorum to colonize the host, evade or inhibit the host defense system, and cause disease. Understanding and studying these mechanisms is crucial for detecting pathways of genetic interventions that could result in improved control of this disease.
  • 1.1K
  • 13 Apr 2023
Topic Review
African Palm Civet
The African Palm Civet (Nandinia binotata) is a small, nocturnal mammal native to sub-Saharan Africa, known for its distinctive appearance and secretive behavior. With its sleek body, long tail, and mask-like facial markings, this elusive civet species is well adapted to life in the dense tropical forests and savannas of its range. Despite its relative obscurity, the African Palm Civet plays a significant ecological role as a predator of small vertebrates and a disperser of seeds, contributing to the biodiversity and ecosystem dynamics of its habitat.
  • 1.1K
  • 28 Feb 2024
Topic Review
Novel Treatment Approaches to Combat Trichomoniasis
Trichomoniasis is a neglected sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by Trichomonas vaginalis, a flagellate protozoan responsible for a prevalence of 110.4 million cases and 156.0 million rate of incidence. The last estimative from the World Health Organization (WHO) demonstrated the incidence rate for trichomoniasis across the globe, highlighting the African Region with the highest rates, followed by America, Western Pacific, Eastern Mediterranean, South-East Asia, and last, the European region. Although most cases are asymptomatic, complaints such as pruritus, vaginal discharge, irritation, and odor are still reported. The long-lasting infection of T. vaginalis, which can persist for months to years, may lead to severe complications such as the premature delivery and low weight of newborns, infertility, pelvic inflammatory disease, and a positive association with the onset of cervical and prostate cancer. 
  • 1.1K
  • 23 Feb 2022
Topic Review
The Potential Use of Probiotics
To address the rapidly growing use of probiotics in animal agriculture, this review discusses the effect of probiotics on animal growth and development, immune response, and productivity. Several benefits have been associated with the use of probiotics in farm animals, such as improved growth and feed efficiency, reduced mortality, and enhanced product quality. While the mechanisms through which probiotics induce their beneficial effects are not well understood, their role in modifying the gastrointestinal microbiota is believed to be the main mechanism. The use of probiotics in fresh and fermented meat products has been also shown to reduce pathogenic and spoilage microorganisms and improve sensory characteristics. Although many benefits have been associated with the use of probiotics, their effectiveness in improving animal performance and product quality is highly variable. Factors that dictate such variability are dependent on the probiotic strain being utilized and its stability during storage and administration/inoculation, frequency and dosage, nutritional and health status as well as age of the host animal. Therefore, future research should focus on finding more effective probiotic strains for the desired use and identifying the optimum dose, administration time, delivery method, and mechanism of action for each strain/host.
  • 1.1K
  • 20 Oct 2020
Topic Review
Herbal Extracts and Fish Gene
Herbal bioactive components can act as immunostimulants and influence several immune-related pathways. An immunostimulant is a component or action that elevates immune responses, especially innate immunity. Herbal bioactive components can have anti-bacterial, anti-viral, and anti-fungal functions and increase resistance against infectious microorganisms.
  • 1.1K
  • 06 Aug 2021
Topic Review
Glutamine synthetase (GS) of wheat
Glutamine synthetase isoforms of wheat play distinct roles in nitrogen assimilation for their different kinetic properties, tissue locations, and response to nitrogen regimes.
  • 1.1K
  • 26 Oct 2020
Topic Review
Wool Characteristics Variationacross of Alpacas in Poland
The quality of the fibers obtained from alpacas is primarily determined by the mean fiber diameter (MFD) and the presence of medullas. The staple length and crimping are also important. These parameters depend on many genetic and phenotypic factors, such as age, sex, and the color of the coat.Alpaca wool is luxurious and, hence, arouses great interest among consumers. However, the drawbacks of this wool are its variation in thickness and the proportion of medullated fibers. Knowing about variations in the quality characteristics of the wool on an animal’s body can help in properly evaluating and using this wool.
  • 1.1K
  • 21 Oct 2021
Topic Review
Agroecology-Based Local Agri-Food Systems
ALAS are assemblages of alternative food networks, assets and infrastructures for local (sustainable) distribution, new and emerging types of institutionality, political measures, and appropriate bottom-up institutional governance, together with the symbolic revival of place-based cultural and historical identities. These assemblages are embedded in specific territories with the aim of maximizing social and ecological sustainability, supported by food and nutritional equality and security, the relocation of metabolic flows, and the improvement of the food system's ecological efficiency. To achieve this, agroecological experiences of production, distribution and consumption must be coordinated among themselves and with other actors, linking rural and urban areas, forming a plural subject led by farmers and peasants committed to agroecology. The aim of this plural subject is to develop operative and place-based ways of de-commodify and de-privatize food systems. Its aim is to achieve economic viability, agency and access to decision-making spheres, the development of physical infrastructures, and symbolic contexts to allow ALAS to emerge as hegemonic food systems as the corporate food regime loses its legitimacy. Such a social subject is tasked with promoting these transitions, while redefining our underlying thought categories and building economic flows, beyond the dualities of urban–rural and productive–reproductive work
  • 1.1K
  • 13 Sep 2021
Topic Review
Cloning Coconut via Somatic Embryogenesis
Coconut [Cocos nucifera L.] is often called “the tree of life” because of its many uses in the food, beverage, medicinal, and cosmetic industries. Currently, more than 50% of the palms grown throughout the world are senile and need to be replanted immediately to ensure production levels meet the present and increasing demand for coconut products.
  • 1.1K
  • 19 Oct 2021
Topic Review
Hog Badger
The Hog Badger (Arctonyx collaris) is a unique and elusive mammal native to parts of Southeast Asia. Recognized for its robust build, distinctive white stripes on its face, and strong digging claws, the Hog Badger is well-adapted for a fossorial lifestyle, often inhabiting forested and hilly regions. Despite its relative obscurity, this omnivorous species plays a vital ecological role in its ecosystem, contributing to soil aeration and nutrient cycling through its burrowing behavior and diverse diet.
  • 1.1K
  • 28 Feb 2024
Topic Review
Neonicotinoid Insecticides
Neonicotinoid insecticides (neonics) are a novel class of insecticides that act selectively on the nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) in the central nervous system of insects [1]. 
  • 1.1K
  • 27 Oct 2020
Topic Review
Liberibacter
Liberibacter is a group of plant pathogenic bacteria, transmitted by insect vectors, psyllids (Hemiptera: Psylloidea), and has emerged as one of the most devastating pathogens which have penetrated into many parts of the world over the last 20 years.
  • 1.1K
  • 12 Apr 2022
Topic Review
Effects of Quercetin on Herbivores
Quercetin is one of the most abundant flavonoids in terrestrial plants and pollen. In living plants, quercetin can function as a secondary metabolite to discourage insect herbivory. Literature on insect-quercetin interactions was searched and data synthesized to test the hypothesis that quercetin can become an effective biocide to reduce herbivory. The USDA, National Agricultural Library, DigiTop Navigator platform was used to search the literature for harmful versus nonharmful effects of quercetin on insect behavior, physiology, and life history parameters. Quercetin effects were evaluated on herbivores in five insect orders. Quercetin was significantly more harmful to Hemiptera, Diptera, and Lepidoptera but significantly more nonharmful to Coleoptera. Harmful and nonharmful effects to Orthoptera were indistinguishable. Quercetin had significantly more harmful (than nonharmful) effects on herbivores when data from the five insect orders were combined. Quercetin concentration (mg/mL) did not significantly affect these results. This study suggests that quercetin could prevent herbivory but field experiments are necessary to substantiate these results.
  • 1.1K
  • 25 Jun 2021
Topic Review
Land Use and Sustainable Sugarcane
Large-scale land-use change (LUC) to expand bioenergy crops, such as sugarcane, raises concerns about the potential negative environmental and socioeconomic side effects. However, such effects are context-specific, and depending on the LUC scenario and management practices, several co-benefits can be attained. In that context, sugarcane-derived bioenergy becomes an important, feasible and sustainable option for mitigating global warming and climate change.
  • 1.1K
  • 28 Jan 2021
Topic Review
Sustainable Food Production
Fault diagnosis and prognosis methods are the most useful tools for risk and reliability analysis in food processing systems. Proactive diagnosis techniques such as failure mode and effect analysis (FMEA) are important for detecting all probable failures and facilitating the risk analysis process. However, significant uncertainties exist in the classical-FMEA when it comes to ranking the risk priority numbers (RPNs) of failure modes. Such uncertainties may have an impact on the food sector’s operational safety and maintenance decisions.
  • 1.1K
  • 28 Mar 2022
Topic Review
Heat Tolerance in Common Wheat
Heat tolerance (HT) in plants is the capacity of plants to tolerate heat stress. It is a quantitative trait involving complex genetic, physiological, and biochemical controls and is affected by environmental factors. In response to heat stress, tolerant varieties generally activate an antioxidant defence system, express heat shock proteins (HSPs) and reduce senescence by staying green.
  • 1.1K
  • 25 Mar 2022
Topic Review
Crop Response to Soil Salinity Stress
Soil salinity is a serious problem facing many countries globally, especially those with semi-arid and arid climates. Soil salinity can have negative influences on soil microbial activity as well as many chemical and physical soil processes, all of which are crucial for soil health, fertility, and productivity. Soil salinity can negatively affect physiological, biochemical, and genetic attributes of cultivated plants as well. Plants have a wide variety of responses to salinity stress and are classified as sensitive (e.g., carrot and strawberry), moderately sensitive (grapevine), moderately tolerant (wheat) and tolerant (barley and date palm) to soil salinity depending on the salt content required to cause crop production problems.
  • 1.1K
  • 31 Jan 2024
Topic Review
VNPs for Anti-Cancer Therapy
Naturally occurring viral nanomaterials have gained popularity owing to their biocompatible and biodegradable nature. Plant virus nanoparticles (VNPs) can be used as nanocarriers for a number of biomedical applications. Plant VNPs are inexpensive to produce, safe to administer and efficacious as treatments. Features which distinguish plant viruses from synthetic nanocarriers include stability, flexibility, diversity in shape and size for use in drug delivery and the nontoxic nature of plant viruses in humans. Cancer is one of the most common death causing disease worldwide and it is characterized by uncontrolled rapid cell division and differentiation. VNPs are an ideal choice to apply for cancer treatment owing to the enhanced permeation and retention (EPR) potential of cancer cells for these nanoparticles, whereas VNPs cannot penetrate through healthy tissues due to tightly packed endothelial cells.
  • 1.1K
  • 16 Sep 2021
Topic Review
Biofortification of Staple Crops
Micronutrient malnutrition is a global health challenge affecting almost half of the global population, causing poor physical and mental development of children and a wide range of illnesses. It is most prevalent in young girls, women, and pre-school children who are suffering particularly from the low consumption of vitamins and micronutrients. Given this global challenge, biofortification has proven to be a promising and economical approach to increase the concentration of essential micronutrients in edible portions of staple crops. Produce quality and micronutrient content can be further enhanced with the use of micronutrient fertilizers. Especially developing countries with a high percentage of malnourished populations are attracted to this integrated biofortification, combining modern agronomic interventions and genetic improvement of food crops. Consequently, maize, rice, wheat, beans, pearl millet, sweet potato, and cassava have all been biofortified with increased concentrations of Fe, Zn, or provitamin A in various developing countries. Today, there are several large-scale success stories in Africa and Asia that support the research and development of biofortified crops.
  • 1.1K
  • 02 Apr 2022
  • Page
  • of
  • 70
Featured Entry Collections
>>

Featured Reprints

>>
Encyclopedia of Digital Society, Industry 5.0 and Smart City
Encyclopedia of Engineering
Encyclopedia of Social Sciences
Encyclopedia of Medieval Royal Iconography
Academic Video Service
Feedback

Quick Survey

Encyclopedia MDPI is conducting a targeted survey to identify the specific barriers hindering efficient research. We invite you to spend 3 minutes defining the priorities for our next generation of structured knowledge tools.
Take Survey