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Item A Comparison of Genetic Variation in Two Endemic Thermal Spring Isopods, Thermosphaeroma thermophilum and T. milleri (Crustacea - Isopoda: Sphaeromatidae)(*, 2023) Stephen ShusterPopulations with reduced gene flow and restricted population size are expected to show reduced genetic variation. Using starch gel electrophoresis, we examined allozyme variation at 12 loci in two species of freshwater, sphaeromatid isopods. Thermosphaeroma thermophilum, an endangered species, inhabits a single thermal spring in central New Mexico, USA; and T. milleri, inhabits a more complex thermal spring system in northern Chihuahua, M?©xico. We found no significant differences in allelic variation between the sexes within each species. Between species, electromorphs at each locus differed significantly in both number and moiety on the gel, with T. milleri showing greater polymorphism and greater heterozygosity than T.¬†thermophilum. Nei's unbiased genetic distance, calculated using the nine loci common to both populations (D¬†=¬†0.75), was consistent with morphological classification of T. thermophilum and T. milleri as separate species, as well as with molecular analyses suggesting that these populations have been separated since the late Cretaceous (88¬†myr). Moreover, consistent with the theoretical expectation that small, isolated populations will exhibit reduced genetic variation, T. thermophilum, an endangered species, exhibited significantly less genetic variation than the more numerous and less confined T. milleri. We compare our results with other recent studies using this approach to understand the population genetics of natural populations.Item A Comprehensive Overview of the Potential of Tequila Industry By-Products for Biohydrogen and Biomethane Production(*, 2023) Elizabeth Leon-BecerrilNowadays, the use of agro-industrial by-products as alternative sustainable resources to generate bioenergy and high-value bioproducts is one of the most important research topics to tackle environmental concerns related to the excessive consumption of fossil-based fuels and rapid urbanization and industrialization. This chapter provides a broad overview of the potential of the main tequila industry by-products, agave bagasse and tequila vinasse, for biohydrogen (bioH2) and biomethane (bioCH4) production via dark fermentation and anaerobic digestion, respectively. First, pretreatment or conditioning steps commonly applied to tequila by-product streams before downstream biological processes are highlighted. The operational performance of bioH2- and bioCH4-producing reactors is subsequently reviewed, with a focus on reactor configuration and performance, microbial metabolic pathways, and the characterization of microbial communities. Additionally, the development of multi-stage anaerobic digestion processes is comprehensively discussed from a practical point of view. Finally, limitations and potential improvements in the field of bioH2 and bioCH4 production are presented.Item A Comprehensive Review of 4(1H)-Quinolones and 4(1H)-Pyridones for the Development of an Effective Antimalarial(*, 2023) Roman ManetschMalaria is a global public health issue. Despite the efforts in malaria prevention, nearly half the world's population is at risk of infection. Until present-day, researchers are struggling to design and discover an efficacious antimalarial. In comparison to most common antimalarial chemotypes that eliminate erythrocytic stages of P. falciparum, 4(1H)-quinolones and 4(1H)-pyridones exhibit antimalarial activity against multiple stages of the parasite. They have potential to treat blood stages of multidrug resistant P. falciparum malaria, eradicate dormant exoerythro stages of relapsing malaria species (P. vivax), and prevent transmission of infectious gametocytes to mosquitoes. However, thus far, the advancement of these chemotypes towards pre-clinical and clinical development has been impeded due to poor physicochemical properties, poor oral bioavailability, and poor dose-proportionality limiting preclinical safety and toxicity studies. Despite all these challenges, 4(1H)-quinolones and 4(1H)-pyridones continue to be at the forefront for the development of the next-generation antimalarials as they would have tremendous global public health impact and could significantly enhance current malaria elimination efforts.Item A Genomics Perspective on Pig Domestication(*, 2023) Mirte BosseLand animal domestication has typically led to remarkable phenotypic diversity, stemming from a broad genetic background. The process of land animal domestication turns out to be a complex, long-term event with extensive gene-flow between wild and captive populations. Using pig as model, this chapter provides an in-depth overview of domestication-related events leading towards the genetic diversity in extant pig breeds. Five events in the evolutionary history and domestication of pigs can be recognized that are important for the genetic variation in modern pig genomes: (1) Speciation of Sus species in Island South-East Asia (ISEA); (2) Divergence between European and Asian lineages; (3) Independent domestication leading to separate domesticated clades in Europe and Asia; (4) Hybridization between domesticated pigs from Asia and Europe; and (5) Breed formation. Remarkably, the extensive mixture of genetic material leading towards the current European commercial pigs has resulted in domestic breeds that are genetically more diverse than their wild ancestors. Nowadays, commercial breeding and genomics go hand in hand. Genomics has not only proven useful to provide understanding about the domestication history of pigs but also about the molecular mechanisms underlying traits of interest. Moreover, genomic selection is an important tool integral to modern commercial breeding.Item A Global Overview of the Intensification of Beef and Dairy Cattle Production Systems(*, 2023) Grace Opadoyin Opadoyin TonaThe global livestock agriculture, including the beef and dairy cattle production systems, has undergone several transformations from traditionally less productive into more productive intensive systems. This research work reviews the various tools and techniques that have enhanced the development of more intensive beef and dairy cattle production worldwide. There is advancement from the extensive grazing on rangelands, into the more intensive systems of production under confined housing in the semi-intensive and intensive systems. Several investments would be required in the form of housing, feeding, breeding and genetic improvement, health and animal welfare and policy designs by the low-income livestock farmers, commercial livestock farmers and the larger livestock industries and governmental agencies. The increasing global population made it imperative to seek for more intensive and sustainable systems of beef and dairy cattle production in order to meet the human need for the production of cost-effective animal protein sources in the form of beef and bovine milk.Item A Meta-Analysis of Modifications of Root System Traits of Crop Plants to Potassium (K) Deprivation(*, 2023) Michael Osei AduUnlike nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P), morphological responses of root systems of crop plants to potassium (K) dynamics in soils or growth media are only gaining currency. This is due to the realization of the instrumental role of K in several cellular and tissue level processes crucial for the growth, stress tolerance, metabolic functions, and yield of crop plants, and ultimately, food security and sustainable agriculture. This chapter used meta-analysis to synthesize the pooled evidence for modifications in several root system traits of different crop plants under conditions of K starvation in different growth media. In all, 37 studies that passed inclusion/exclusion criteria, from 1969 to 2019, were analyzed in aggregate and then disaggregated for root biomass, root length, and the number of roots. Three moderators were analyzed: type of soil or growth medium, crop, and K fertilizer applied in the included studies. The aggregated results show that the cumulative effect of K deprivation was a significant and large reduction (about 25.5¬†¬±¬†15.0%) in the bulk of root system traits considered, which was slightly lower than the reduction in shoot- or yield-related traits. Reductions of approximately 38¬†¬±¬†38.0% in root biomass and 23.2¬†¬±¬†18.6% in root length were observed, and the magnitudes of reduction were comparable to those observed from the disaggregated data. Though reductions in root system traits due to K starvation occurred under both greenhouse/lab and field conditions, the cumulative reduction in the former was significantly larger than that of the latter. Among the moderators, the effect of type of soil (or growth media) and crop on the scale of modification of root system traits to K deprivation are stronger compared to the effect of type of K fertilizer applied. It is concluded that, overall, K deprivation leads to significant reductions in root system traits, especially root biomass and length in soils and perlite regardless of the type of K fertilizer applied. Attention should be given to K management in cropping systems to avoid K starvation, especially at the early and vegetative stages, and to improve K reserves in soils. Further attention should be given to the responses of root system traits to K supply when matching crops to soils.Item A Regulatory Circuit Integrating Stress-Induced with Natural Leaf Senescence(*, 2023) Elizabeth FontesAny condition that disrupts the ER homeostasis activates a cytoprotective signaling cascade, designated as the unfolded protein response (UPR), which is transduced in plant cells by a bipartite signaling module. Activation of IRE1/bZIP60 and bZIP28/bZIP17, which represent the bipartite signaling arms and serve as ER stress sensors and transducers, results in the upregulation of ER protein processing machinery-related genes to recover from stress. However, if the ER stress persists and the cell is unable to restore ER homeostasis, programmed cell death signaling pathways are activated for survival. Here, we describe an ER stress-induced plant-specific cell death program, which is a shared response to multiple stress signals. This signaling pathway was first identified through genome-wide expression profile of differentially expressed genes in response to combined ER stress and osmotic stress. Among them, the development and cell death domain-containing N-rich proteins (DCD/NRPs), NRP-A and NRP-B, and the transcriptional factor GmNAC81 were selected as mediators of cell death in plants. These genes were used as targets to identify additional components of the cell death pathway, which is described here as a regulatory circuit that integrates a stress-induced cell death program with leaf senescence via the NRP-A/NRP-B/GmNAC81:GmNAC30/VPE signaling module.Item A Review of European Owls as Predators of Bats(*, 2023) Heimo Juhani MikkolaFossil evidence indicates that owls have been preying on bats from as far back as the Pleistocene. Overall, bats form quite small portions (i.e. trace to 0.2%) of the diets (by prey frequency) of European owls. An assessment of dietary studies and anecdotal accounts reveals that five species of European owls, the Eurasian scops owl Otus scops, Pygmy owl Glaucidium passerinum, Tengmalm's owl Aegolius funereus, little owl Athene noctua and Ural owl Strix uralensis, rarely feed on bats (with less than 0.1‚ài0.4%) and a further two species, short-eared owl Asio flammeus and eagle owl Bubo bubo, may only take bats occasionally, while three species, long-eared owl Asio otus, barn owl Tyto alba and tawny owl Strix aluco, feed on bats more frequently. In this study, a total of 19,864 recorded bats have been preyed upon by these owls, with as many as 48 bat species being identified. Barn and tawny owls have captured most of this total (47.1 and 41.9%), followed by the long-eared owl (7.6%), while short-eared and eagle owls take similar amounts of bats (1.1 and 1.7%, respectively). Owl predation on bats deserves future research because it may help contribute to our knowledge on bat biodiversity and distribution and possibly identify an additional risk for small populations of endangered bats.Item A Review of Floral Color Signals and Their Heliconiid Butterfly Receivers(*, 2023) Gyanpriya MaharajSignals vary in type and function. However, regardless of the signal, effective transmission and receiver detection are needed to exist for communication. This chapter focuses on a review of visual color signals used by plants to attract pollinators. Signal detection work has intensely focused on epigamic signals; therefore, this review adds to the body of knowledge on nonsexual signal communication. In this review, we investigate visual signals as it relates to pollinators. We focus specifically on visual color signals used by Angiosperms flowers, both static and dynamic, and look at their Heliconiid pollinators as these butterflies provide a perfect organism for studies on floral signal use and pollinators' behavior. We noted that many of these butterflies have three specifically distinct rhodopsins used to identify food and oviposition sites and some have more due to selective pressures of conspecific and mate identification as such they have served as the focal organisms of numerous genetic and ecological studies as they use color signaling in all aspects of their lives. This review further shows that although their color preferences related to feeding, ovipositing, and mate selection have been demonstrated in countless studies, there are gaps in invertebrate literature, as research on the relationships among signal use, evolution, dynamic signals, effects of signals changes on decision making and thus behavior have not been carried out to a large extent.Item A Review of the Analytical Methods Based on Chromatography for Analyzing Glyphosate in Foods(*, 2023) Pasquale AvinoGlyphosate is a pesticide widely used in agriculture, horticulture, and silviculture as well as around homes and gardens. It was introduced by Monsanto in the early 1970s, and it is a broad spectrum, nonselective, post-emergence herbicide that inhibits plants' shikimic acid pathway. Glyphosate is considered as ‚Äudifficult herbicide‚Äù in terms of trace analysis. It has low molecular weight, low volatility, thermal lability, and good water solubility. These properties cause problems in its extraction, purification, and detection. The determination often requires additional processes that may allow quantification by chromatographic methods. Several analytical procedures have been developed based on solid-phase extraction, ion-exchange chromatography, or matrix solid phase dispersion. Most published methods involve liquid extraction followed by clean-up. This review would like to revise the literature on this issue discussing the relevant chromatographic methods reported in the literature in terms of analytical parameters for analyzing such compound in food chain.Item A Review of the Antidiabetic Activities of Ginger(*, 2023) Gloria OtunolaDiabetes mellitus, a chronic metabolic disorder with major health care burden worldwide, is increasing, with 173 million adults being diabetic and over 8 million deaths recorded annually. Undesirable pathological conditions and high rates of secondary failure limit the use of current antidiabetic agents, thus, the need for more effective antidiabetic agents. Medicinal plants such as spices, rich in bioactive components that promote prevention and treatment of chronic conditions such as heart disease, cancer and Type-2 diabetes, are inexpensive with no side effects. The Zingiberaceae family, of which ginger is a member, consists of many species frequently cited for their antidiabetic and hypoglycemic properties. All important scientific literatures from 2000 to 2018 on the antidiabetic potentials of Zingiber officinale were evaluated. According to these studies, ginger exerts its antidiabetic effects through restorative effects on pancreatic Œ?-cells, increasing insulin sensitivity, action and peripheral utilization of glucose. Other mechanisms include increased synthesis of hepatic glycogen through the enhancement of glycogen regulatory enzyme expression in the liver, inhibition of carbohydrate metabolizing enzymes, stimulation of pancreatic insulin release and inhibition of hepatic glucose production. Further studies, especially in humans are needed, more so, since ginger is one of the spices generally regarded as safe.Item A Review on Analytical Methods for Honey Classification, Identification and Authentication(*, 2023) Nyuk Ling ChinAuthentication of food products is of great concern in the context of food safety and quality. In recent years, interest in honey authenticity in relation with botanical or geographical origin and adulteration has increased. Honey is a ready-to-eat natural food with high nutritional content and gives many health benefits. Authentication of honey has primary importance for both industries and consumers in combatting common honey frauds in the form of mislabeling of honey origin and adulteration with sugar or syrups. Various analytical methods are used for detecting original honey. With a diverse range of equipment and techniques, the conventional analytical methods are still being used in association with advanced techniques as they are part of preliminary screening, processing and product standards. Most of the analytical methods provide indications of pollen distribution, physicochemical parameters and profile analysis of phenolic, flavonoid, carbohydrate, amino acids, aroma and individual marker components. This review provides an overview and summary of instrumental and analytical methods available for honey authentication from conventional to recent molecular techniques. It is useful as a guide to choosing appropriate method for analysis, classification and authentication of honey.Item A Review on Ecology of Interactions in Soybean Vein Necrosis Orthotospovirus (SVNV)(*, 2023) Asifa HameedSoybean vein necrosis orthotospovirus (SVNV, Genus: Orthotospovirus, Family: Tospoviridae, Order Bunyavirales) is a vector and seed transmitted virus that infects soybean in different countries around the world. The purpose of this review paper was to provide information about SVNV, its geographic dispersal, vectors, disease transmission mode, alternative host plants, diagnostic tools and management. SVNV is a negative-sense single-stranded RNA virus reported in all soybean growing states in the USA, Egypt and Canada. SVNV can replicate in plants belonging to six different families, including the Leguminosae member mung bean, which is a major component of the diet of poor people of Asia. The most efficient and abundant SVNV vector species is Neohydatothrips variabilis (Beach.) (Sericothripinae: Thripidae). Five other insect species have the potential to transmit the virus, but their rate of transmission is very low. In addition to leaf necrosis, this virus can decrease seed oil content by 0.1% that may lead to a decrease in quality of SVNV infected seed in oilseed markets. In fact, in the infected seeds the quantity of the undesirable linolenic acid, a polyunsaturated fatty acid is increased. Broad presence of SVNV in all soybean growing regions points to the need to manage vector and virus. However, research is needed to determine various management options for the virus and vector including breeding for genetic resistance.Item A Review on Effects of Pseudo Cereals Flour on Quality Properties of Biscuit, Cookies and Cake(*, 2023) Maruf AhmedGluten free products are currently highly demandable by those with different gluten intolerances. Pseudo cereals are a category of non-grass seeds used to manufacture various gluten free products, including bread, biscuits, cakes, and cookies. Pseudo cereal seeds contain high-quality proteins, rich quantities and unique characteristics of starch, vast amounts of micronutrients such as minerals, vitamins along with diverse bioactive compounds. This chapter is focused on other resentful research work on the characteristics of pseudo cereals seeds and pseudo cereals flour. It also reveals different effects of pseudo cereal flour on physical-chemicals properties of biscuit, cake, and cookie. We think that this study will have a significant influence on product developers and customers on the use of pseudo cereal seeds and pseudo cereals flour.Item A Review on Kentucky Bluegrass Responses and Tolerance to Drought Stress(*, 2023) Yajun ChenKentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.) is an excellent cool-season turfgrass and is extensively used in urban green space, parks and sports fields worldwide, but it is sensitive to drought stress. Drought reduces turf quality of Kentucky bluegrass by influences on the shoot density, texture, uniformity, color, growth habit and recuperative capacity. It has been a challenge for breeding water saving cultivars and enhances water use efficiency in Kentucky bluegrass. Many studies have revealed the mechanisms of drought stress tolerance in Kentucky bluegrass via multiple approaches. The morphological and physiological attributes as well as molecular information were discovered for better understanding and improving its drought tolerance. In this chapter, we will draw a systematic literature review about Kentucky bluegrass in response to drought stress and provide future perspectives of Kentucky bluegrass drought resistance research.Item A Review on the Botanical, Phytochemical and Pharmacological Characteristics of Cuscuta Spp.(*, 2023) Khadijeh AhmadiParasitic life is an example of interaction between two species. The result is positive for one and negative for another. Parasitic plants are more evolved than other species in the same family. Cuscuta spp. or dodder is one of the medicinal herbs that belong to the Convolvulaceae plant family. They are annual parasitic plants that reproduce by seed. These parasitic plants do not have any roots, leaves or chlorophyll to produce their own food. Dodders live by attaching to a host plant with small appendages (called ‚Äuhaustoria‚Äù) and extract its necessary growth elements. The active compounds of Cuscuta species include flavonoids, lignans, quinic acid and poly-saccharides. Flavonoids are kinds of effective antioxidants, and polysaccharides are the effective constituents to improve the immune system. Cuscuta epithymum is an important herbal medicine that is effective in the treatment of liver and kidney failure, sexual impotence and vision weakness. It also prevents abortion senescence and aging. C epithymum possesses anticancer, immuno-stimulatory, anti-oxidant and anti-osteoporotic activities.Item A Review on the Cooking Attributes of African Yam Bean (Sphenostylis stenocarpa)(*, 2023) Ndenum Suzzy ShittaAfrican yam bean, an underutilized legume usually cultivated for its edible tubers and seeds, is known for its nutrition-rich qualities; however, the crop's level of consumption is low. The underutilization of the crop could be attributed to several constraints, including long cooking hours of up to 24¬†hours. Cooking time is an important food trait; it affects consumers' choices, nutrients content, and anti-nutrient conditions. Additionally, foods requiring long cooking hours are non-economical in terms of energy usage and preparation time. The prolonged cooking time associated with AYB places enormous limitations on the invaluable food security potentials of the crop. Therefore, the availability of AYB grains with a short cooking time could lift the crop from its present underused status. To efficiently develop AYB grains with reduced cooking time, information on the crop's cooking variables is a prerequisite. This review presents available information on variations in cooking time, cooking methods, and processing steps used in improving cooking time and nutrient qualities in AYB. Likewise, the review brings to knowledge standard procedures that could be explored in evaluating AYB's cooking time. This document also emphasizes the molecular perspectives that could pilot the development of AYB cultivars with reduced cooking time.Item A Review Report on the Mechanism of Trichoderma spp. as Biological Control Agent of the Basal Stem Rot (BSR) Disease of Elaeis guineensis(*, 2023) Syed Ali NusaibahTrichoderma spp. have been the most common fungi applied as biological control agents (BCA) as an effort to combat a wide range of plant diseases. Its uses have recorded good success rate in controlling major plant diseases. Knowledge on the mechanisms employed by Trichoderma spp. could be further studied to improve its ability as an efficient biocontrol agent. The Trichoderma ability to curb plant diseases were mainly based on the activation of single or multiple control mechanisms. It is known that the Trichoderma-based biocontrol mechanisms mainly rely on mycoparasitism, production of antibiotic and/or hydrolytic enzymes, competition for nutrients, as well as induced plant resistance; numerous secondary metabolites produced by Trichoderma species could directly inhibit the growth of several plant pathogens. These mechanisms may act directly or indirectly against the targeted plant pathogen. This chapter reviews the recent updates on published research findings on mechanisms used by Trichoderma as biological control of plant diseases particularly on basal stem rot disease of oil palm caused by Ganoderma spp.Item A Review Study on the Postharvest Decay Control of Fruit by Trichoderma(*, 2023) Ramses Gonzalez-EstradaThis chapter consists of an overview with the most relevant results about the efficacy of Trichoderma on postharvest disease control. The results of investigations demonstrate that this fungus can control several phytopathogens in different fruits. Postharvest losses represent a major problem in several countries. The constant application of fungicides not only at field but also at postharvest stage has led to microbial resistance cases, which make the control of these pathogens difficult. Biological control is a promising alternative to chemical fungicide applications. In this sense, an eco-friendly alternative and effective approach for controlling diseases is the use of microbial antagonists like Trichoderma, which have several mechanisms of action to stop disease development. A crucial treat in biological control is related to the maintenance of microbial viability and efficacy, that is why other technologies like their incorporation into edible films and coatings, nanotechnology, microbial mixtures, among others have been applied in combination with Trichoderma successfully. An enhancement in biocontrol activity is achieved when alternative systems are combined like GRAS substances, biopolymers, and other antagonists. Thus, Trichoderma is an eco-friendly alternative to threat postharvest diseases as an alternative to chemical treatments.Item A Revisit of Rainfall Simulator as a Potential Tool for Hydrological Research(*, 2023) Felix Gemlack Gemlack NgasohDifferent means of hydrological data collection have developed and used. However, they are constraint in one way or other. This paper therefore revisited the rainfall simulator as potential tool for hydrological research. The research disclosed that there are three different types of rainfall simulators; drop former simulator, pressure nozzle simulator and hybrid simulator. It can further be classified as indoor model and outdoor. The research also showed that precipitation is the driving force in hydrological studies. Consequently, in the design of rainfall simulator, the following should be taken into consideration: nozzle spacing, pump size, nozzle size, nozzle type, nozzle spacing, plot size and pressure. Meanwhile, intensity, distribution uniformity, kinetic energy, rainfall drop size and rainfall terminal velocity should be noted in its evaluation. Factoring-in the aforementioned design considerations, data collection is made easy without necessarily waiting for the natural rainfall. Since the rainfall can be controlled, the erratic and unpredictable changeability of natural rainfall is eliminated. Emanating from the findings, pressurized rainfall simulator produces rainfall characteristics similar to natural rainfall, which is therefore recommended for laboratory use if natural rainfall-like characteristics is the main target.