scholarly journals Efficacy and Function of Feathers, Hair, and Glabrous Skin in the Thermoregulation Strategies of Domestic Animals

Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (12) ◽  
pp. 3472
Author(s):  
Daniel Mota-Rojas ◽  
Cristiane Gonçalves Titto ◽  
Ana de Mira Geraldo ◽  
Julio Martínez-Burnes ◽  
Jocelyn Gómez ◽  
...  

The objective of this review is to describe and analyze the effect of feathers, hair, and glabrous (hairless) skin on the thermoregulation of domestic and endotherm animals, especially concerning the uses and scope of infrared thermography (IRT), scientific findings on heat and cold stress, and differences among species of domestic animals. Clinical medicine considers thermoregulation a mechanism that allows animals to adapt to varying thermal environmental conditions, a process in which the presence of feathers, hair, or glabrous skin influences heat loss or heat retention, respectively, under hot and cold environmental conditions. Evaluating body temperature provides vital information on an individual’s physiological state and health status since variations in euthermia maintenance in vertebrates reflect a significant cellular metabolism deviation that needs to be assessed and quantified. IRT is a non-invasive tool for evaluating thermal responses under thermal stress conditions in animals, where the presence or absence of feathers, hair, and glabrous skin can affect readings and the differences detected. Therefore, anatomical regions, the characteristics of feathers, hair, glabrous skin such as structure, length, color, and extension, and strategies for dissipating or retaining heat together constitute a broad area of opportunity for future research into the phenomena of dermal thermoregulation in domestic species.

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joachim P. Sturmberg

Interoception, the ability to convey one's overall physiological state, allows people to describe their health along an experiential continuum, from excellent, very good, good, fair to poor. Each health state reflects a distinct pattern of one's overall function. This assay provides a new frame of understanding health and disease as complex-adaptive system states of the person as-a-whole. It firstly describes how complex patterns can emerge from simple equations. It then discusses how clinical medicine in certain domains has started to explore the pattern characteristics resulting in the heterogeneity of disease, and how this better understanding has improved patient management. The experiential state of health can be surprising to the observer—some are in good health with disabling disease, others are in poor health without the evidence of any. The main part of the assay describes the underlying complexity principles that contribute to health, and synthesizes available evidence from various research perspectives to support the philosophic/theoretical proposition of the complex-adaptive nature of health. It shows how health states arise from complex-adaptive system dynamics amongst the variables of a hierarchically layered system comprising the domains of a person's macro-level external environment to his nano-level biological blueprint. The final part suggests that the frame of health as a dynamic complex-adaptive state defines a new paradigm, and outlines ways of translating these expanded understandings to clinical practice, future research, and health system design.


2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 59-76 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alison E. Fowler ◽  
Rebecca E. Irwin ◽  
Lynn S. Adler

Parasites are linked to the decline of some bee populations; thus, understanding defense mechanisms has important implications for bee health. Recent advances have improved our understanding of factors mediating bee health ranging from molecular to landscape scales, but often as disparate literatures. Here, we bring together these fields and summarize our current understanding of bee defense mechanisms including immunity, immunization, and transgenerational immune priming in social and solitary species. Additionally, the characterization of microbial diversity and function in some bee taxa has shed light on the importance of microbes for bee health, but we lack information that links microbial communities to parasite infection in most bee species. Studies are beginning to identify how bee defense mechanisms are affected by stressors such as poor-quality diets and pesticides, but further research on this topic is needed. We discuss how integrating research on host traits, microbial partners, and nutrition, as well as improving our knowledge base on wild and semi-social bees, will help inform future research, conservation efforts, and management.


Genes ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 465
Author(s):  
Colleen A. Mangold ◽  
David P. Hughes

Many organisms are able to elicit behavioral change in other organisms. Examples include different microbes (e.g., viruses and fungi), parasites (e.g., hairworms and trematodes), and parasitoid wasps. In most cases, the mechanisms underlying host behavioral change remain relatively unclear. There is a growing body of literature linking alterations in immune signaling with neuron health, communication, and function; however, there is a paucity of data detailing the effects of altered neuroimmune signaling on insect neuron function and how glial cells may contribute toward neuron dysregulation. It is important to consider the potential impacts of altered neuroimmune communication on host behavior and reflect on its potential role as an important tool in the “neuro-engineer” toolkit. In this review, we examine what is known about the relationships between the insect immune and nervous systems. We highlight organisms that are able to influence insect behavior and discuss possible mechanisms of behavioral manipulation, including potentially dysregulated neuroimmune communication. We close by identifying opportunities for integrating research in insect innate immunity, glial cell physiology, and neurobiology in the investigation of behavioral manipulation.


Author(s):  
Muhammed Jamsheer K ◽  
Manoj Kumar ◽  
Vibha Srivastava

AbstractThe Snf1-related protein kinase 1 (SnRK1) is the plant homolog of the heterotrimeric AMP-activated protein kinase/sucrose non-fermenting 1 (AMPK/Snf1), which works as a major regulator of growth under nutrient-limiting conditions in eukaryotes. Along with its conserved role as a master regulator of sugar starvation responses, SnRK1 is involved in controlling the developmental plasticity and resilience under diverse environmental conditions in plants. In this review, through mining and analyzing the interactome and phosphoproteome data of SnRK1, we are highlighting its role in fundamental cellular processes such as gene regulation, protein synthesis, primary metabolism, protein trafficking, nutrient homeostasis, and autophagy. Along with the well-characterized molecular interaction in SnRK1 signaling, our analysis highlights several unchartered regions of SnRK1 signaling in plants such as its possible communication with chromatin remodelers, histone modifiers, and inositol phosphate signaling. We also discuss potential reciprocal interactions of SnRK1 signaling with other signaling pathways and cellular processes, which could be involved in maintaining flexibility and homeostasis under different environmental conditions. Overall, this review provides a comprehensive overview of the SnRK1 signaling network in plants and suggests many novel directions for future research.


2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (6) ◽  
pp. 1377 ◽  
Author(s):  
Takashi Ebihara ◽  
Ichiro Taniuchi

Group 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2s) are tissue-resident cells and are a major source of innate TH2 cytokine secretion upon allergen exposure or parasitic-worm infection. Accumulating studies have revealed that transcription factors, including GATA-3, Bcl11b, Gfi1, RORα, and Ets-1, play a role in ILC2 differentiation. Recent reports have further revealed that the characteristics and functions of ILC2 are influenced by the physiological state of the tissues. Specifically, the type of inflammation strongly affects the ILC2 phenotype in tissues. Inhibitory ILC2s, memory-like ILC2s, and ex-ILC2s with ILC1 features acquire their characteristic properties following exposure to their specific inflammatory environment. We have recently reported a new ILC2 population, designated as exhausted-like ILC2s, which emerges after a severe allergic inflammation. Exhausted-like ILC2s are featured with low reactivity and high expression of inhibitory receptors. Therefore, for a more comprehensive understanding of ILC2 function and differentiation, we review the recent knowledge of transcriptional regulation of ILC2 differentiation and discuss the roles of the Runx transcription factor in controlling the emergence of exhausted-like ILC2s. The concept of exhausted-like ILC2s sheds a light on a new aspect of ILC2 biology in allergic diseases.


Author(s):  
Hitomi Hongo

Zooarchaeological and molecular biological studies indicate that all domestic animals found in Japan were introduced and local domestication of wild boar and wolf is unlikely. Timing of introduction and husbandry practice for dog, pig, horse, cattle, and chicken are discussed. These main domestic species were introduced from the Chinese continent in prehistoric times, probably via the Korean peninsula. Meat of domestic animals and dairy products were not a major part of the diet until the twentieth century ad, partly because of the Buddhist prohibition of the consumption of animal meat. Zooarchaeological data from the Yayoi and Kofun period sites as well as the historical era have been gradually accumulating, helping the interpretation of textual records as well as supplementing them.


Author(s):  
E.L. Veera Prabakaran ◽  
K Senthil Vadivu ◽  
B Mouli Prasanth

Abstract Thin film sensors are used to monitor environmental conditions by measuring the physical parameters. By using thin film technology, the sensors are capable of conducting precise measurements. Moreover, the measurements are stable and dependable. Furthermore, inexpensive sensor devices can be produced. In this paper, thin film technology for the design and fabrication of sensors that are used in various applications is reviewed. Further, the applications of thin film sensors in the fields of biomedical, energy harvesting, optical, and corrosion applications are also presented. From the review, the future research needs and future perspectives are identified and discussed.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Madeline Farber ◽  
Dylan Gee ◽  
Ahmad R. Hariri

Studies of early adversity such as trauma, abuse, and neglect highlight the critical importance of quality caregiving in brain development and mental health. However, the impact of normative range variability in caregiving on such biobehavioral processes remains poorly understood. Thus, we lack an essential foundation for understanding broader, population-representative developmental mechanisms of risk and resilience. Here, we conduct a scoping review of the extant literature centered on the question, “Is variability in normative range parenting associated with variability in brain structure and function?” After removing duplicates and screening by title, abstract, and full-text, 23 records were included in a qualitative review. The most striking outcome of this review was not only how few studies have explored associations between brain development and normative range parenting, but also how little methodological consistency exists across published studies. In light of these limitations, we propose recommendations for future research on normative range parenting and brain development. In doing so, we hope to facilitate evidence-based research that will help inform policies and practices that yield optimal developmental trajectories and mental health.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francisco Ruiz-Raya

Abstract Egg rejection is the most effective and widespread defence used by host species to counteract the extreme fitness costs frequently imposed by obligate avian brood parasites. Yet, the proximate mechanisms underlying between- and within-individual variation in host responses remain poorly explored. Emerging evidence suggests that egg rejection is dependent on individual physiological state, and draws attention to the role of hormones as mediators of flexible antiparasitic responses. In this perspective article, I outline recent advances in our understanding of the proximate factors that mediate egg rejection. I also point out some areas where knowledge remains still lacking, especially those related to the development and maintenance of effective cognitive functions, the potential role of oxidative stress, immunological state and developmental stressors. I propose new hypotheses that stimulate future research on behavioural host responses towards brood parasitism.


Author(s):  
Abdul Hadi Mukhtar ◽  
Sayed Batin Ashkar ◽  
Benazir Azizi

In this study the status of milk and dairy production marketing in Samangan province is explained. Locking of ranchers accessing to a respondent dairy production market is the main problem focused herein. In Afghanistan illiteracy, traditional customs dominance and low economy level are the major gaps somewhat nationally remained unresolved among most of ranchers. The main objective of this study is assessing the dairy productions market situation to empower the economy level of farmers. A complex method was applied in this study including observation, interview, and questionnaire. Totally 117 questionnaires were handled. Results of analyzed collected data clarify that 90% of ranchers were illiterate, dairy cattle keeping is more than other milky animals because of its lower needs to silage and land. It has been concluded that farmers of Samangan province have adequate experience of keeping and nourishing the domestic animals in order to get a noticeable income. For getting the highest income and having modernized dairy production activities, from the viewpoint of authors, gradually researches accommodating are recommended and this research findings and conclusions will contribute better designing of the future research.


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