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Elsevier Science

  • Windbreak Technology

    • 1st Edition
    • J.R. Brandle + 2 more
    • English
    This book contains a selection of papers presented at the first International Symposium on Windbreak Technology, summarising the available worldwide literature on windbreaks and the response, both positive and negative, to wind protection. State-of-the-art information is presented on general design criteria, and principles of planting and establishment for a wide range of conditions and objectives. It provides descriptive information of tree and shrub species for arid, semi-arid, temperate and tropical areas, and their use in windbreaks.

  • Granite Landforms

    • 1st Edition
    • C.R. Twidale
    • English
    Granite Landforms provides a systematic, coherent, and comprehensive account and analysis of granite landforms. It examines granite forms and their genesis; the morphology of granite exposures; the nature of the materials from which granitic rocks have evolved; and the weathering processes near the Earth’s surface. It also describes major landforms and assemblages, as well as the minor features that have evolved on the major hosts. Organized into four parts encompassing 12 chapters, this book begins with an overview of granite, including their characteristics, occurrences, and composition. It then discusses the factors that influence the weathering of granitic rocks and considers boulders and inselbergs, the all-slopes topography in granite, granite plains and rock basins, granite forms associated with steep slopes, and scarp foot depressions. The reader is also introduced to the piedmont angle, grooves or flutings, caves and tafoni, split rocks, cracked blocks and plates, and the role of climate in the development of landforms on granitic outcrops. Geologists, geomorphologists, geology students, and anyone interested in geology will find this book extremely useful.

  • Origin of Cultivated Rice

    • 1st Edition
    • H.-I. Oka
    • English
    This book aims to up-date our present understanding of the origin of cultivated rice and in doing so involves different disciplines of biology and the archaeological-histo... sciences. Various recent discoveries are reviewed and questions posed for further consideration by the reader.The book covers a wide range of studies on problems relative to the origin of cultivated rice, placing emphasis on ecological and genetical aspects. Comparisons are made between two cultivated rice species, independently evolved in Asia and Africa from respective wild progenitors. Phenomena are observed during mixed planting and hybrids discussed. Detailed information is presented about Asian common wild rice, thought to be the ancestor of common rice. The dynamics of domestication are considered with regard to hybridization, selection, formation of weedy types and the accumulation of genetic diversity. Also included are recent archaeological findings in relation to the beginnings of rice culture, leading to the hypothesis of diffused origins. Cultivars of common rice fall into one of two types called Indica and Japonica. The dynamics of differentiation are discussed, giving evidence and different hypotheses. Information on the genetic bases and functions of various reproductive barriers found between the cultivated and wild taxa is presented and discussed. The practical aspects of crop-evolutionary studies concerned with the breeding phylosophy and germplasm conservation are briefly commented on and arguments for rediversification of crop germplasm and conservation of the environment given.Senior scientists and post-graduate students interested in rice genetics, crop evolution, and related sciences will find this book invaluable.

  • Plant Tissue Culture

    Applications and Limitations
    • 1st Edition
    • Volume 19
    • S.S. Bhojwani
    • English
    During the past decade, Plant Tissue Culture (PTC) has attracted considerable attention because of its vital role in plant biotechnology. PTC offers novel approaches to plant production, propagation, and preservation. Some in vitro techniques are being applied on a commercial scale while many others hold great potential. Consequently, the literature in this area has grown rapidly.This book deals with recent developments in plant tissue culture, and presents a critical assessment of the proven and potential applications of the various in vitro techniques, it also highlights current problems limiting the application of tissue culture, and projects the future lines of research in this field.

  • Trace Elements in Plants

    • 1st Edition
    • Volume 6
    • M.Ya. Shkolnik
    • English
    Trace element science has undergone some dramatic changes in recent years and considerable discoveries have been made in the wide field of botany. This monograph reviews and summarizes the advances made in trace element research in botanical geography, taxonomy, phytocenology, geochemical ecology, morphology, anatomy, embryology and genetics.After a discussion of some general aspects of trace elements, the author makes a detailed critical analysis of their physiological role - a role that is not only of theoretical importance but one that can also provide a basis for the development of a rational system of plant nutrition. Various aspects of the problems dealt with, therefore, bear on practical issues in agriculture.

  • Physico-Chemical Properties of Selected Anionic, Cationic and Nonionic Surfactants

    • 1st Edition
    • N.M. van Os + 2 more
    • English
    The number of physico-chemical investigations of surfactants in solution, whether aqueous or nonaqueous, has dramatically increased in recent years. However, literature reports on surfactants in solutions are scattered over a plethora of scientific journals and books which differ widely in scope and readership. Such data are often difficult to retrieve because there have been no systematic compilations, with the exception of those for CMCs and for micelle aggregation numbers. The present compilation meets that need by covering, as completely as possible, the physico-chemical properties of selected series of homologous surfactants. These surfactants are in most cases isomerically pure, are well-known, and have been used in numerous academic and industrial studies. The properties include aggregation number, cloud point, CMC, 13C-NMR, correlation length, counterion binding, density, enthalpy of micelle formation, entropy of micelle formation, Gibbs' free energy of micelle formation, head group area, 1H-NMR, hydration number, Krafft temperature, melting point, micelle radius, microscopic viscosity, miscibility curve, partial molar volume, phase inversion temperature, refractive index, self-diffusion coefficient, surface tension, and upper critical temperature. The book also contains two- and three-component phase diagrams of many nonionic surfactants.The solvent is water in most cases; however, some data refer to properties in D2O, electrolyte solutions, and nonaqueous solvents. The variables are temperature and concentration. Where possible, the method of measurement is given. Data on the purity of the compounds and the accuracy of the measurement methods are not included, as these can easily be found in the original sources, which mostly date from the period 1970-1991 and are given at the end of each chapter. The Index section contains a compound index, a property index, a symbol index and a cross index which facilitate easy access to the data.This valuable collection of data will be of great use to anyone involved in Colloid and Surface Science, academics as well as industrial workers, and will stimulate further work.

  • Agriculture in Dry Lands

    Principles and Practice
    • 1st Edition
    • Volume 26
    • I. Arnon
    • English
    Throughout history, man has, by over-use, consistently reduced the productive capacity of dry lands. This degradation of one-third of the land area of the globe is, unfortunately, increasing. In recent years, world interest has turned to the problems of pollution of the environment and the impending food shortage as world population grows explosively. Thus the attention of international and other agricultural bodies has turned to the need for preserving and developing more effectively the agricultural potential of these areas.This book provides a comprehensive review of present knowledge of the agriculture of dry lands, with special emphasis on measures for conserving their natural resources. Management practices are described which aim at optimizing productivity of rainfed and irrigated agriculture without adverse effects on sustainability. Land use in the dry regions, and its evolution throughout history is described and analysed, and the lessons to be learnt from destructive technologies are stressed. In particular, current proposals for an alternative agriculture are discussed and their justification is questioned. This is a generalist work, which specialists can also find interesting, not only in their own discipline but as a concise way of acquainting themselves with the state-of-the-art in associated fields. Increasing specialisation with each discipline using its own vocabulary leads inevitably to communication problems, and the need for multi-disciplinary teams makes inter-discipline communication indispensible.

  • Ecological Assessment of Environmental Degradation, Pollution and Recovery

    • 1st Edition
    • O. Ravera
    • English
    The Ispra Course on Ecological Assessment of Environmental Degradation, Pollution and Recovery'' was structured according to the following topics: (a) terrestrial and aquatic ecosystem concept; (b) structure, functions and evolution of the ecosystem in relation to the natural and anthropogenic influences, and (c) concept of stress, assessment and restoration of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. These general concepts were developed in a series of lectures presented by well-known experts in their specific fields, taking into account the ecological principles and environmental management. For the various aspects of the environmental problems, the state-of-the-art, the principles of restoration techniques, the results obtained by their application and the research needs to acquire a better knowledge of the ecological processes, were discussed. The lectures were illustrated by several case studies concerning forests, lakes, reservoirs, rivers, soil and the interrelations between air and terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.This book contains the lectures presented at the course, reviewed by the authors, and complemented throughout with numerous figures and tables.

  • Dielectrics in Time-Dependent Fields

    • 2nd Edition
    • Bozzano G Luisa
    • English
    Theory of Electric Polarization, Volume II: Dielectrics in Time-Dependent Fields focuses on the processes, reactions, and principles involved in the application of dielectrics in time-dependent fields, as well as the Kerr effect, statistical mechanics, and polarization. The publication first examines the phenomenological theory of linear dielectrics in time-dependent fields; empirical description of dielectric relaxation; and the relationship between macroscopic and molecular dielectric relaxation behavior. Concerns cover the relationship between macroscopic and microscopic correlation functions; statistical mechanics of linear dissipative systems and the relationship between response functions and correlation functions; superpositions of distribution functions; and the use of complex dielectric constant in problems with time-dependent field sources. The book then ponders on the dipole correlation function, polarization in the infrared and optical frequency range, and the Kerr effect and related phenomena. Discussions focus on the Kerr effect in condensed systems, extensions of the Kerr effect, extrapolation of the refractive index to infinite wavelength, results obtained from computer simulations, rotational diffusion, and general aspects of molecular reorientation. The manuscript tackles the dielectric properties of molecular solids and liquid crystals and experimental determination of permanent dipole and quadrupole moments. The text is a valuable source of data for researchers interested in the application of dielectrics in time-dependent fields.

  • Solvent Extraction 1990

    • 1st Edition
    • Volume 7B
    • T. Sekine + 1 more
    • English
    Solvent extraction is employed very widely in both fundamental research and technology because of the remarkable features of this simple but very effective technique for the separation of different materials. The International Solvent Extraction Conference 1990 was a forum for the presentation of papers on up-to-date research in this field. The collection of the papers in these volumes will be invaluable because information on solvent extraction is often scattered in various journals and proceedings which make the following of developments difficult.

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