bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The use of acidifiers in fish nutrition.
Authors: Lückstädt C. 
Published: January 2009

Abstract
It is well established in the field of aquaculture that the use of antibiotic growth promoters (AGPs) as feed additives in the diets of fish and shrimp can improve live weight gain (LWG), feed conversion ratio (FCR) and survival rates. However, scientific knowledge and public concerns, especially in the EU, over the development of cross-resistance to antibiotics of importance to human health have led to a ban or a reduction in the use of such substances worldwide. Consequently, the aquafeed industry has turned its research attention to other additives in order to maintain performance and high survival rates in aquaculture. This review shows that acidifiers are an example of a group of additives which can play an important role in future in aquaculture diets. A number of studies, in cold-water and tropical species, indicate that a broad range of organic acids, their salts or admixtures can improve growth, feed utilization and disease resistance in fish.
Recent advancements in the management of pain in cats and dogs.
Authors: Robertson S. A. 
Published: January 2009

Abstract
Dogs and cats are popular pets and it is estimated that over one-third of households in the USA own a cat or dog, with an estimated national population of approximately 72 million dogs and 83 million cats. Many of these animals will undergo a surgical procedure such as an ovariohysterectomy or castration and because pets are living longer, chronic pain, for example that related to osteoarthritis, is of concern in senior animals. The number of published papers related to the recognition and treatment of pain in cats and dogs continues to grow exponentially; this is encouraging for those involved in small animal practice but keeping abreast of new developments can be a challenge. This review aims to discuss the value of current methods and to highlight new and emerging ideas in pain management for cats and dogs. Key topics include the physiology and pathobiology of pain, behaviour-based assessment of pain, the importance of pre-emptive treatment, the differences in the pharmacokinetics of drugs between cats and dogs and the place of complementary modalities such as acupuncture in veterinary pain management.
Mechanisms of cross-protection.
Authors: Ziebell H. 
Published: January 2009

Abstract
Cross-protection is a phenomenon in which mild or attenuated strains of a virus protect plants against secondary infections with a more severe strain of the same virus. Though this phenomenon was described in the 1920s, the mechanism(s) behind it have been poorly understood for many years. This review gives an historic overview of the discovery of cross-protection and the hypotheses that were initially put forward to explain the phenomenon. The involvement of the viral coat proteins (CPs) in the mechanism of cross-protection as well as the involvement of RNA silencing (thought to have evolved as an antiviral defence response of plants) are discussed. The author comes to the conclusion that in some cases cross-protection appears to require the CP of protective strains to prevent successful infection with a challenging strain but that in other cases cross-protection may operate either by highly localized RNA silencing or direct competition between strains for host cell resources.
Effects of climate change on horticultural plants and horticultural practices in Hungary.
Authors: Varga Z. , Varga-Haszonits Z. 
Published: January 2009

Abstract
Probable effects of climate change on Hungarian horticulture and possible responses to those effects are summarized in this review. The importance of these questions is emphasized by the complexity of the relationship between climate and horticultural crops. Horticultural production is influenced by climate in the following ways: * climate is an important part of local environmental conditions; * it is a system of driving environmental factors: climate permanently influences vital processes of plants; and * it is a system of risk factors: horticultural plants can suffer significant damage caused by extreme meteorological events. Climate change is a realistic possibility nowadays, but there are a lot of open questions concerning the scenarios. An essential element of uncertainty in research concerning climate change is the lack of precise definition of the difference between climatic variability and climate change. This is one of the fundamental reasons why the risk associated with the current warming tendency is a hotly debated question. However, there is no question that (quite apart from the different interpretations of anomalies) climate change is an environmental problem of great importance and a societal response cannot be delayed because of any uncertainties. The response includes mitigation of greenhouse gas concentration and assessment of expected changes as well as their effects, which may help adaptation. There is no generally accepted prescription for adaptation. Climate change occurs locally, and the changes could be entirely different in different regions of the Earth. In addition, the impacts of changes on horticultural crops depend on species, varieties and strains. Nevertheless, exchange of different experiences among regions and countries may be useful, because it can help local efforts of adaptation. Hungarian horticultural production probably would be more influenced by more frequent extreme meteorological conditions than by rising temperature. This tendency seems to be basically unfavourable. Whereas a warmer climate may even exert a beneficial effect on harvest prospects, extreme weather events will decrease yields. For this reason, crop security would become the prime focus of the horticultural sector.
Functional foods and natural health products: a review of consumer acceptance and regulatory issues.
Authors: Blandon J. , Henson S. , Cranfield J. 
Published: January 2009

Abstract
In recent years, consumer interest in functional foods and natural health products (NHPs) has increased considerably in industrialized countries, offering an opportunity for the agri-food sector to add value to agricultural commodities. At the same time, functional foods and NHPs offer potential health benefits that could enhance well-being of consumers and reduce the economic and social costs of non-communicable diseases. A critical issue mitigating the commercialization of functional foods and NHPs is consumer acceptance. Thus, there is a growing body of research on the attitudes of consumers towards functional foods and NHPs and their propensity of purchasing these products. This review provides a report of this research and suggests avenues for future research efforts. The functional food and NHP market has been highly dynamic over the last 10 years or so, with significant growth in the value of sales and in the number and variety of products. USA is the leading global market, followed by Europe and Japan. Both across and within these markets there is great variation in the attitudes of consumers towards functional foods and NHPs. These attitudes are influenced by a plethora of factors associated with the product themselves, consumer demographics and psychographics, policy and market context, etc. At the same time, distinct regulatory regimes act to differentiate markets and set the parameters in which consumers make their choices and the industry promotes their products.
Old and new facts of probiotics: where we are and where we are going.
Authors: Mayo B. , Delgado S. , Rodríguez J. M. , Gueimonde M. 
Published: January 2009

Abstract

Probiotics are live micro-organisms that when administered in adequate amounts confer a health benefit to the host. Though the majority of the micro-organisms used for this purpose belong to the
Lactobacillus
and
Bifidobacterium
genera, strains of many other bacterial and fungi species are currently being used as probiotics. Although not universally accepted, a consensus exists on the properties that probiotic micro-organisms present and the methodology used to assess their efficacy and safety. Scientific evidence recognizing that probiotics can play important roles in immunological, digestive and respiratory functions and could have significant effects in alleviating infectious disease symptoms is accumulating. However, fundamental knowledge relating to the exact mechanisms by which probiotics contribute to host health and well-being is still scarce. After a general introduction, this review will address old and new facts of probiotics, as well as relevant topics on which research interest should focus in the near future. This includes the search for more capable and robust strains of human origin with new (specific) properties, including those able to withstand the technological demands, the prevention and treatment of unique diseases and disorders, and, more importantly, the unequivocal substantiation of their claimed beneficial effects through controlled clinical trials.
Male sterility systems for hybrid seed production in
Brassica
crops.
Authors: Li XiuQing Li XiuQing 
Published: January 2009

Abstract

Brassica
crops are important sources of edible oil, leafy vegetables and renewable energy. In addition, some
Brassica
crops inhibit potato pests and have the potential to become cash crops from the potato rotation land for potato growers, if these crops yield well. One effective approach to increase
Brassica
crop productivity per unit land is through the use of the heterosis in hybrids prepared with male sterility systems. In
Brassica
crops, various male sterility systems have been identified or developed, including endogenous nuclear male sterility (NMS: recessive NMS, dominant NMS, interactive NMS), cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS: endogenous CMS, alloplasmic CMS) and transgenic male sterility. Both environmentally stable and sensitive male sterility systems are available and in use. The chlorosis associated with allochloroplasts in several alloplasmic CMS systems has been largely eliminated by organelle-selective protoplast fusion. Several mitochondrial CMS genes and a CMS fertility restorer gene (
Rfo
) have been identified and sequenced. The cloning of NMS genes and additional CMS fertility restorer genes is underway. The difficulty in maintaining NMS uniformity in populations has been partly solved by the interactive NMS (INMS)-based approach (epistatic suppressors for either recessive or dominant male sterility genes). INMS has become one of the most useful MS systems. This critical review focuses on the types, genetic analysis and technological breakthroughs of
Brassica
plant male sterility systems for their use in the large-scale hybrid-seed production.
The economics of food risk communication.
Authors: Ragona M. , Mazzocchi M. 
Published: January 2009

Abstract
With the emergence of major food scares throughout the world and their wide impact on the food sector, there has been a growing focus on the perils of bad risk communication. Scientific research has especially targeted on the psychological and sociological issues surrounding risk communication, but the economics literature also provides a theoretical and empirical basis for understanding consumer response and improving messages. This review aims at linking the various research streams, with an emphasis on the economic foundation. The range of issues is well beyond the gap between subjective and objective risk, and economics can often explain why communication fails to be effective in particular circumstances. A key but underinvestigated area is the communication of uncertainty, where economics can provide a useful background.
Recent developments in the diagnosis and therapy of repeat breeding cows and buffaloes.
Authors: Purohit G. N. 
Published: January 2009

Abstract

Repeat breeding (RB) continues to be a big problem for breeders and veterinary clinicians. A brief mention is made of the common aetiological and risk factors for RB in cattle and buffaloes, and the possible diagnostic and therapeutic approaches are described in detail. Important diagnostic tools could include rectogenital palpation, vaginoscopy, uterine cytology and the
in vivo
imaging technique of ultrasonography. When considering the most common causes of RB, vaginoscopy and palpation continue to be the only diagnostic tools available to clinicians at many locations, while by using ultrasonography, diagnostic accuracy can be increased markedly, especially when dealing with individual cows or buffaloes. Contrarily, when dealing with herds, metabolic profiles and sampling to detect infectious disease must be the clinicians' choice. Of pertinent consideration are the management regimens and feeding practices. Despite the development of many diagnostic procedures such as hormone assays, colour Doppler sonography, and hysteroscopy, diagnosing the cause of pregnancy failure in an individual cow/buffalo continues to be difficult, as a proportion of animals demonstrate obscure infertility. The choice of a therapeutic regimen depends on the possible cause of RB. Recent advances in the therapy of endometritis include the use of immunomodulators such as
Escherichia coli
lipopolysaccharide, use of eicosanoid PGF
2
α and therapy with enzymes with or without therapy with antibiotics, the use of which continues to be debatable. The therapy of ovulation induction in various ovulatory disturbances includes regimens utilizing hCG, GnRH, prostaglandins and their combinations. It appears that RB animals with aberrations of oestrus cycle do demonstrate such ovulation asynchronies. Suprabasal progesterone concentration at oestrus is thought to be an important contributor of RB, but remediation of this is largely unknown although reducing stress appears to be a probable method. Luteal insufficiency can be resolved by administration of hCG and GnRH or progestagens. A brief mention is made of ways of improving management and insemination procedures.
Greywater irrigation: challenges and opportunities.
Authors: Redwood M. 
Published: January 2009

Abstract
There is a growing body of work on greywater (GW) that is driven by the need to find solutions for increasing water scarcity and poverty. Most of the work has approached GW cautiously, emphasizing health risks and fearfulness that its use causes more problems than solutions. The literature suggests that the impact of GW on the environment is closely related to its source, how it is handled and what is its end use. Proper management implies that solutions must be linked with how the greywater should be used cost-effectively. An analysis of GW policy suggests that greywater can be easily managed with commonsense solutions such as avoiding direct contact, avoiding spray irrigation and through some simple irrigation techniques. It is also useful to see greywater as a poverty-reduction strategy, since its impact on macro-level water scarcity is negligible. Further research on economic costs and benefits and the longer-term environmental impacts are needed, but this should not stop reasonable and simple incentives for GW use from being put into place now.
Potential of LAMP for detection of plant pathogens.
Authors: Tomlinson J. , Boonham N. 
Published: January 2009

Abstract
Accurate detection of plant pathogens is a crucial step in the process of disease management. Methods based on polymerase chain reaction (PCR) have advantages of sensitivity and specificity that make them valuable tools for pathogen detection, but a number of drawbacks to these methods prevent their use in some circumstances. In particular, the cost and complexity of the thermal cycling equipment required for PCR restricts the use of these methods mainly to centralized facilities. Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) is a method for the detection of specific nucleic acid sequences and has the potential to overcome many of the limitations of PCR-based methods. The ability of LAMP to amplify a target nucleic acid sequence under isothermal conditions eliminates the need for thermal cycling equipment, allowing testing to be carried out with minimal equipment (a water bath or heated block). Furthermore, simplified methods for the detection of amplification products facilitate the use of LAMP-based methods in the field or in less well-resourced settings. This paper reviews the reports to date of plant pathogen detection using LAMP; highlights the features that make LAMP well suited to applications such as field testing; and explores some recent advances that point to the broader potential for LAMP-based methods to be used in novel phytodiagnostic solutions.
Implications of cytoplasmic male-sterility systems for development and deployment of pest resistant hybrids in cereals.
Authors: Dhillon M. K. , Sharma H. C. , Smith C. M. 
Published: January 2009

Abstract
The world population is increasing at an alarming rate, and there is a continued need to increase crop productivity to meet the food requirements. To meet the ever-increasing demand for food, cytoplasmic male-sterility (CMS) has been successfully exploited to develop hybrids for increasing crop production worldwide. However, large-scale cultivation of crop hybrids based on a single source of CMS may pose a serious challenge to sustainable crop production because of decreasing genetic diversity. This review analyses the potential for exploitation of different CMS systems for hybrid production, effects of CMS on various agronomic traits, and expression of resistance to insect pests and diseases in high-yielding hybrids of sorghum, maize, pearl millet, rice, wheat, and barley. Considerable information has been generated on the effects of CMS on physiology, yield, and agronomic characteristics of the plant. However, there is limited information on the effects of CMS on expression of resistance to insect pests and diseases. The available information indicates that the CMS lines are more susceptible to insect pests and diseases, and large-scale cultivation of hybrids based on a single source of CMS might result in pest outbreaks because of narrow genetic base. Therefore, there is a continuing need to evaluate various CMS systems in different genetic backgrounds for their effects on cultivar susceptibility to insect pests and diseases to develop strategies for large-scale deployment of pest-resistant hybrids on farmer's fields. Genetically engineered insect-resistant CMS lines can also be exploited to diversify the hybrid parents for sustainable crop production.
Social, economic and livelihood dimensions of wastewater use in agriculture.
Authors: Wolff H. P. 
Published: January 2009

Abstract
The use of wastewater in agricultural production is a common practice of increasing relevance in both developing and industrialized countries. Results from research in a multitude of locations indicate that effects on economic and social parameters exceed the direct impacts of an additional resource for production and hazards from pollution. The characteristics of wastewater as an element in natural and man-made systems may have implications along the chain from the decision to allocate wastewater to the agricultural sector up to the level of markets for agricultural products. The actual occurrence of such implications depends on the interaction of a number of factors, which go considerably beyond the type and level of water contaminants. Conditions of farming systems as well as the knowledge, perception and attitude of involved stakeholders and decision-makers are at least as important as the physical and biophysical effects. Social and economic consequences pertain to larger parts of societies, even if impacts on the livelihoods of farmers and their families are the most complex ones. Nearby communities, consumers, owners of land and water resources, as well as bodies that are in charge of handling accruing wastewater and beneficiaries of intangibles from nature are among those who may need consideration in the evaluation of advantages and disadvantages.
Nuts: consumption, composition, health benefits and safety.
Authors: Ros E. 
Published: January 2009

Abstract

Nuts are nutrient-dense foods rich in unsaturated fatty acids; most nuts contain monounsaturated fatty acids, whereas walnuts are rich in both
n
-6 (linoleic acid) and
n
-3 (α-linolenic acid) poly-unsaturated fatty acids. The complex matrices of nuts contain many bioactive compounds: vegetable protein (including L-arginine, the amino acid precursor of nitric oxide the endogenous vasodilator), fibre, minerals, tocopherols and phytochemicals, such as phytosterols and phenolic compounds. By virtue of their unique composition, nuts are likely to beneficially impact health outcomes. Epidemiological studies have consistently associated frequent nut intake with a reduced incidence of coronary heart disease. Decreased rates of sudden cardiac death and diabetes development in association with nut consumption have also been reported. Many small feeding trials have clearly demonstrated that intake of all kinds of nuts has a cholesterol-lowering effect, even in the context of healthy diets. There are emerging evidences that nut consumption has a positive effect on oxidative stress, inflammation and vascular reactivity. Blood pressure, visceral adiposity and the metabolic syndrome also appear to be positively influenced by nut consumption. Thus, it is clear that nuts beneficially impact cardiovascular risk factors beyond cholesterol lowering. Contrary to expectations, epidemiological studies and clinical trials suggest that regular consumption of nuts is unlikely to contribute to obesity or increase the risk of diabetes. Safety concerns are limited to the infrequent occurrence of nut allergy in children. In conclusion, nuts are densely packaged nutrients with wide-ranging cardiovascular and metabolic benefits, which can be readily incorporated into healthy diets.
Transport biofuels - a life-cycle assessment approach.
Authors: Reijnders L. 
Published: January 2009

Abstract
Life-cycle studies of the currently dominant transport biofuels (bioethanol made from starch or sugar and biodiesel made from vegetable oil) show that solar energy conversion efficiency is relatively poor if compared with solar cells and that such biofuels tend to do worse than conventional fossil transport fuels as to the emission of eutrophying and acidifying substances. Life-cycle studies of biofuels show diverging results regarding cumulative fossil-fuel demand and the emission of greenhouse gases. If properly done and when allocation is on the basis of prices, cumulative fossil-fuel demand is relatively high for ethanol currently produced from European grain or US maize and relatively low for palm oil or ethanol from sugarcane. The 'seed-to-wheel' emissions of greenhouse-gases associated with current transport biofuels are often higher than the corresponding life-cycle emissions of conventional fossil fuels. Transport biofuels vary much in their life-cycle emissions of substances that are ecotoxic or contribute to oxidizing smog.