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Topic Review
Boar Sperm Proteins
Artificial insemination with extended liquid boar semen is widely used in the swine industry. The identification of the relationship between boar sperm characteristics and fertility could be of substantial importance to reproduction management.
  • 802
  • 08 Jul 2021
Topic Review
Herbivory in Rewilding
The vision of rewilding is to return ecosystems to a “natural” or “self-willed” state with trophic complexity, dispersal (and connectivity) and stochastic disturbance in place. The concept is gaining traction, particularly in Europe where significant land abandonment has taken place in recent years. However, in reality, the purest form of rewilding (Rewilding Max) is constrained by a number of context-specific factors whereby it may not be possible to restore the native species that form part of the trophic structure of the ecosystem if they are extinct (for example, mammoths, Mammuthus spp., aurochs, Bos taurus primigenius). In addition, populations/communities of native herbivores/predators may not be able to survive or be acceptable to the public in small scale rewilding projects close to areas of high human density or agricultural land. Therefore, the restoration of natural trophic complexity and disturbance regimes within rewilding projects requires careful consideration if the broader conservation needs of society are to be met. Here we highlight the importance of herbivory as a key factor in rewilding.
  • 801
  • 26 Mar 2021
Topic Review
SlHB8 in Stem Development and Lignin Biosynthesis
The stem is an important organ in supporting plant body, transporting nutrients and communicating signals for plant growing. However, studies on the regulation of stem development in tomato are rather limited. Authors demonstrated that SlHB8 negatively regulated tomato stem development. SlHB8 belongs to homeo domain-leucine zipper Class III gene family transcription factors and expressed in all the organs examined including root, stem, leaves, flower, and fruit. During tomato stems development, SlHB displayed stable high expression level. Loss of function of SlHB8 induced stem diameter and xylem width, while overexpression of SlHB8 displayed opposite trend. Besides, inducing the expression level of SlHB8 resulted in lower lignin content as well as the expression level of lignin biosynthesis pathway genes both in tomato stem and leaves. In addition, lots of disease resistance genes were found differentially expressed in the SlHB8 transgenic plants indicating a possible role of SlHB8 in the biotic resistance pathway. Overall, SlHB8 acts as a negative regulator in stem development and lignin biosynthesis and has a potential role in the abiotic and biotic resistance pathway.
  • 801
  • 21 Dec 2021
Topic Review
Inflammatory Reflex in Ectotherms
Animals have developed numerous adaptation strategies to survive in changing environmental conditions. This adaptive process allows them to generate physiological and behavioural responses upon exposure to natural factors such as temperature.
  • 800
  • 31 Aug 2021
Topic Review
Questionable Boundaries between Biological Disciplines
Recent and ongoing debates in biology and in the philosophy of biology reveal widespread dissatisfaction with the current definitions or circumscriptions, which are often vague or controversial, of key concepts such as the gene, individual, species, and homology, and even of whole disciplinary fields within the life sciences. To some extent, the long growing awareness of these conceptual issues and the contrasting views defended in their regard can be construed as a symptom of the need to revisit traditional unchallenged partitions between the specialist disciplines within the life sciences. I argue here that the current relationships between anchor disciplines (e.g., developmental biology, evolutionary biology, biology of reproduction) and nomadic concepts wandering between them is worth being explored from a reciprocal perspective, by selecting suitable anchor concepts around which disciplinary fields can flexibly move. Two examples are offered: a generalized anchor concept of generation that may suggests new perspectives on development and reproduction) and a species concept as unit of representation of biological diversity that may lead to a taxonomic pluralism to be managed with suitable adjustments of current nomenclature rules.
  • 798
  • 08 Oct 2021
Topic Review
Antibiotics in LiveStock in China
The demand for animal protein has increased considerably worldwide, especially in China, where large numbers of livestock and poultry are produced. Antibiotics have been widely applied to promote growth and prevent diseases. However, the overuse of antibiotics in animal feed has caused serious environmental and health risks, especially the wide spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), which seriously affects animal and human health, food safety, ecosystems, and the sustainable future development of animal protein production.
  • 797
  • 18 May 2021
Topic Review
Beef Cattle Metatarsal Growth Plate Lesions
Young beef bulls are predisposed to develop diseases of the growing skeleton, especially growth plate lesions. These lesions jeopardize both welfare and production, often leading to anticipated culling and reduced weight gain. However, beef cattle are prey animals and do not exhibit signs of pain and lameness until the disease becomes extensive and severe. Fast methods to screen for growth plate lesions' presence could lead to prompt treatment of the affected animals, enhancing recovery and diminishing losses.
  • 794
  • 19 Jan 2022
Topic Review
Choroidal Abnormalities in Pediatric NF1
Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is a genetic disease affecting approximately 1 in 2500–3000 individuals. Choroidal abnormalities (CAs) have recently been introduced as one of the criteria for the diagnosis of NF1. In NF1 pediatric patients, CAs change with time, increasing both in number and dimensions, independently from the physiological growth of the eye. While the increase of the CAs number occurs particularly at an earlier age, the increase in the CAs dimensions is a slow process that remains constant during childhood.
  • 794
  • 22 Mar 2022
Topic Review
Abiotic Stress
To achieve agricultural sustainability, it is critical to develop and nurture products that are tolerant to rising abiotic pressures caused by climate variability. Numerous abiotic and biotic stressors that constantly threaten plants have an impact on their outputs. Through intricate endogenous signalling networks and numerous modifications, the plant reacts to these stressors. Under these environmental circumstances, the plant’s output and reproductive success are determined by the interactions between these networks. Linseed, like other crops, if subjected to a variety of abiotic stresses, might have reduce yields.
  • 794
  • 27 Jul 2023
Topic Review
Impaired ROS Generation in Mitochondria
The excessive formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and impairment of defensive antioxidant systems leads to a condition known as oxidative stress. The main source of free radicals responsible for oxidative stress is mitochondrial respiration. The deleterious effects of ROS on cellular biomolecules, including DNA, is a well-known phenomenon that can disrupt mitochondrial function and contribute to cellular damage and death, and the subsequent development of various disease processes. 
  • 794
  • 29 Mar 2022
Topic Review
Housing Risk for Pigs in European Fattening Farms
Pig welfare is affected by housing conditions, the minimum requirements of which are set up by EU legislation. Animal and non-animal-based measures are useful indicators to investigate housing risk factors for pig welfare. An observational study on 51 pig farms in seven EU countries, aimed at investigating housing risk factors for the welfare of finishing pigs, showed body weight and presence of bedded solid floored resting area (BED) identifying three clusters of farms. Farms with BED were featured by no or limited tail docking, larger availability of manipulable materials and lower number of pigs per farm and per annual work unit. In these farms, less skin and ear lesions were found, compared with lean pigs of farms without BED, which were characterized by lower pig space allowance, mortality rate and medication cost. In farms without BED, heavy pigs were featured by more space per pig, more pigs per drinker and higher mortality rate and medication cost per pig, compared to lean pigs. No statistical difference in tail lesions was found between the three farm clusters, although tail docking was performed in all farms without BED and not performed on most farms with BED. 
  • 792
  • 22 Nov 2021
Topic Review
The Role of MicroRNAs in Ruminants
One of the most prosperous subspecies of terrestrial mammals is the ruminant family. They live in a wide range of diverse environments around the world and have a big impact on various ecosystems, industries including agriculture, leisure activities, and cultures. MicroRNAs perform essential functions in a variety of biological processes, including differentiation, cell proliferation, metabolism, development, and inflammation. Numerous studies have demonstrated a connection between circulating microRNAs and ruminant diseases such as mastitis, tuberculosis, foot-and-mouth disease, fasciolosis, and metabolic disorders.
  • 792
  • 20 Feb 2023
Topic Review
Leptospira in Slaughtered Fattening Pigs in Southern Italy
Leptospirosis is a zoonosis occurring worldwide, caused by pathogenic spirochaetes of the genus Leptospira, transmitted through direct contact with the urine of infected animals or a urine-contaminated environment. It has a negative economic impact on farm animals, causing economic losses and serious human diseases and mortality.
  • 790
  • 17 Mar 2022
Topic Review
AKR1B10
Preventing the cytokine storm observed in COVID-19 is a crucial goal for reducing the occurrence of severe acute respiratory failure and improving outcomes. The analysis of transcriptomic data from lung samples of patients who died from COVID-19 demonstrates an increased expression of the gene encoding AKR1B10.
  • 788
  • 23 Feb 2022
Topic Review
Soil Microbial Indicators within Rotations
Corn and soybean monocultures clustered indicator microbes, while chisel tillage and no-till also showed contrasting effects. Soil organic matter amounts and pH categorized bacterial community structure. Fungal abundance increased under continuous corn compared to continuous soybean. Many archaeal ASVs were ammonia-oxidizers closely associated with specific pH requirements.
  • 786
  • 23 Jun 2021
Topic Review
Targeting Platelet Activation in Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm
Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is defined as permanent dilatation of the abdominal aorta, which most commonly occurs in the infrarenal region in humans. Abdominal aortic aneurysm is a potentially fatal vascular disease that involves complex multifactorial hemodynamic, thrombotic, inflammatory, and aortic wall remodeling processes. However, its mechanisms are incompletely understood. It has become increasingly clear that platelets are involved in pathological processes of vascular diseases beyond their role in hemostasis and thrombosis. Platelet activation with membrane receptors and secreted mediators promotes thrombus formation and the accumulation of inflammatory cells, which may play an important role in the development of AAA by destroying the structural integrity and stability of the vessel wall. Turbulent blood flow in aortic aneurysms promotes platelet activation and aggregation. Platelet count and heterogeneity are important predictive, diagnostic, and prognostic indicators of AAA.
  • 786
  • 21 Feb 2022
Topic Review
Tail-Biting in Pigs
Tail-biting is globally recognized as a welfare concern for commercial swine production. Substantial research has been undertaken to identify risk factors and intervention methods to decrease and understand this vice. Tail-biting appears to be multifactorial and has proven difficult to predict and control. 
  • 784
  • 12 Nov 2021
Topic Review
Adverse Vaccine Reactions in Pets
A number of studies have demonstrated adverse reactions in pets after administering vaccines to both dogs and cats. Concern about adverse effects has led to revised guidelines that alter the recommended frequency and methods/locations for both vaccination of dogs and feline vaccination.
  • 784
  • 01 Dec 2022
Topic Review
Harnessing the Power of AI for Modern Agriculture
Agriculture is a critical component of our global economy and food security. Fortunately, AI has the potential to revolutionize modern agriculture and help us meet the challenges of feeding a growing population while minimizing the environmental impact of farming. How AI can be used to optimize crop yields, improve resource efficiency, enhance pest and disease management, and support sustainable farming practices were described here.
  • 784
  • 17 May 2023
Topic Review
Oxidative Stress and Poultry
A challenge facing the poultry industry is related to the spread of pathogens within commercial farms and, consequently, its high dependence on antibiotics and other pharmaceuticals. Although the inclusion of antibiotics at sub-therapeutical levels in broiler diets has proven to be an efficient strategy through which to suppress the pathogenic bacteria in the gut and enhance animal performance, their usage as growth promoters has been banned in Europe due to concerns regarding the consequences of antibiotic resistance on human health. Under this context, plenty of phytochemicals and antioxidants are being explored in broiler diets.
  • 784
  • 15 Apr 2024
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