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Books in Agricultural and biological sciences

The Agricultural and Biological Sciences collection advances science-based knowledge for the improvement of animal and plant life and for secure food systems that produce nutritious, novel, sustainable foods with minimal environmental impact. Food Science titles include not only those products from agriculture but all other aspects from food production to nutrition, health and safety, chemistry to security, policy, law and regulation. Biological Sciences address animal behaviour and biodiversity, organismal and evolutionary biology, entomology, marine biology and aquaculture, plant science and forestry.

  • Insect Pathology

    • 3rd Edition
    • Nemat Keyhani + 1 more
    • English
    Insect Pathology, Third Edition offers the most comprehensive research on the topic of insect pathology, spanning the diversity of insects with a more diverse array of microbes. This book provides a full update on new approaches for studying the genetics, development, evolution, and ecology of insect pathogens. Written by leading researchers and experts, the book includes coverage of revolutionary genome editing tools, such as CRISPR-Cas9, which have been developed for multiple insect pathogen systems and provides insights into the molecular underpinnings of insect pathogens and their hosts. This book also updates modern molecular techniques, “omics” approaches, and newly applied findings. These new and revised topics are critical for understanding current perspectives in the field, making this book a needed reference for insect pathologists, entomologists, microbiologists, mycologists, nematologists, protistologists, ecologists, and practitioners of biological control of insect pests. New and long-time students of insect pathology will also find this new edition useful.
  • Pulse Breeding, Processing, Functionality, and Products

    • 1st Edition
    • Fatma Boukid + 3 more
    • English
    Pulse Breeding, Processing, Functionality, and Products reflects the shift from animal- to plant-based foods, addressing increased interest in pulses due to their higher protein contents when compared to most cereals. The book provides comprehensive coverage of a wide range of knowledge related to pulses, from breeding approaches and market landscapes to extraction and fractionization, post- treatments for improved ingredients, their nutritional and compositional qualities, advances in testing methods, and their potential industrial applications in food and pet food. With its inclusion of problems/solutions and issues-focused insights, the book's content is valuable for immediate application and for inspiring additional research. The book offers the food industry and researchers the necessary insights to know the latest developments and emerging uses of pulse ingredients. As pulses have high adaptability, versatility, and offer potentially significant contributions to the human diet and pulse ingredient flours, proteins, fibers, and starches, they are increasingly being used in food formulations, hence this book covers the topic with a wide breadth of knowledge. Challenges, including taste, color, bite, mouthfeel, and texture are also covered for innovative products.
  • Wood-Water Interactions

    • 1st Edition
    • Samuel L. Zelinka + 3 more
    • English
    Wood-Water Interactions examines wood-water interactions in an intuitive approach to such a highly interdisciplinary topic. While wood-moisture interactions dominate nearly every facet of wood technology and wood use, many wood scientists have only a rudimentary understanding of these interactions as previous books on this topic are opaque and esoteric. Authored by experts in the field, the chapters follow a logical structure as well as case studies and vivid illustrations; the reader is motivated to understand updated information about the interaction of moisture with wood, the effect of changes in water status on the properties of wood raw material, and changes in the mechanical properties of wood during drying and humidification.
  • Animal Stress Biology

    Applications across Natural and Man-made Systems
    • 1st Edition
    • Edward Narayan
    • English
    Animal Stress Biology: Applications across Natural and Man-made Systems provides the fundamental aspects of stress endocrinology with a major focus on the applications of stress research in animal welfare. Early sections introduce the basics of animal stress biology in major taxa. Latter sections explore how animal stress varies across species and settings and how this research can be applied to improve animal welfare. The book incorporates chapter summaries, key term definitions, global case studies, and discussion sections throughout, making it an indispensable resource to students and early career professionals, as well as specialists in agriculture, zoos, clinical research settings, and resource management.Stress plays an integral part in the maintenance of homeostasis in animals and is a useful measure of animal responses to management interventions across natural, agricultural, and clinical settings. Written by experts in the field of animal stress biology, this book is systematically structured for easy student navigation.
  • Postharvest Loss and Waste Management of Horticultural Produce

    From Farm to Fork
    • 1st Edition
    • Zahra H. Mohammad + 2 more
    • English
    Postharvest Loss and Waste Management of Horticultural Produce: From Farm to Fork addresses the major challenges and root causes of postharvest losses while also presenting solutions to reduce losses using innovative technologies. Sections introduce an overview of postharvest challenges, such as postharvest handling, storage, and transportation of fruits, vegetables, and berries, along with the impact of COVID-19 on postharvest losses. Other sections cover postharvest biological issues and control, such as postharvest diseases and microbiology issues of produce, novel technologies for reducing postharvest loss and waste in horticulture, like biological control, packaging, MAP films, etc., and mitigation strategies. A final section explores the environmental, economic, and social impact of postharvest losses across the food supply chain. Edited by a team of experts in the field, this is an excellent resource that brings sustainable solutions to reduce postharvest losses on a global level. Attracting a wider audience in the fields of food engineering and technology, as well as professionals, researchers, and academicians working in the fields of postharvest losses and their management, this book will be a welcomed resource.
  • Starch and Health

    Nutrition, Metabolism and Medical Applications
    • 1st Edition
    • Monica Trif + 3 more
    • English
    Starch and Health: Nutrition, Metabolism and Medical Applications, a volume in the Applications of Starches in Food and Packaging series, discusses the use of starch and its role in human health. The book provides detailed information on the glycemic index of various starches, the role of resistant starch in gut health, and practical starch usage in managing disorders such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Chapters deal with digestive metabolism of starch, different types of resistant starches and its health benefits, starch in gut, cardiovascular, and mental health, innovations in starch-based medical applications, and its implications in food allergies and intolerances.This comprehensive approach ensures that the volume serves as both an informative guide and a practical tool for those in the field. By compiling the latest research findings, methodologies, and case studies, this book serves as a valuable resource for scientists, researchers, and industry professionals seeking to harness the potential of starch in human health.
  • Machine Learning and AI Technology for Agricultural Applications

    • 1st Edition
    • Kishore Chandra Swain + 5 more
    • English
    Machine Learning and AI Technology in Agricultural Applications offers a comprehensive overview of how artificial intelligence and machine learning are transforming the agricultural industry. By delving into image processing and advanced data analysis, the book demonstrates how technology addresses modern agricultural challenges, including climate change, urbanization, and increasing global populations. It emphasizes the importance of integrating sensors and data collection methods to generate vast pools of information, which can be efficiently analyzed through AI-driven solutions. The text lays a strong foundation for understanding the role of technological innovation in supporting sustainable and secure food production.Beyond introducing core machine learning models such as random forest, support vector machines, logistic regression, and decision trees, the book highlights the centralization of critical agricultural data in the cloud. This resource benefits both students and seasoned agricultural scientists, providing practical insights for optimizing crop yields, monitoring soil and weather conditions, and managing resources like fertilizers and pesticides. The book also explores the rapid analysis of complex datasets, empowering users to make informed, timely decisions in real-world agricultural scenarios.
  • Starch Blends and Their Applications

    Sustainable Packaging Solutions
    • 1st Edition
    • Rafael Audino Zambelli
    • English
    Starch Blends and Their Applications: Sustainable Packaging Solutions, a new volume in the Applications of Starches in Food and Packaging series, discusses the latest advancements in production techniques and modification strategies for enhancing the functionality and compatibility of starch blends in multicomponent systems. The book presents case studies and real-world applications of starch blends in food processing, biodegradable materials, biomedical applications, and more, showcasing their diverse functionalities and potential benefits. Chapters also address challenges, opportunities, and future trends in starch blends research and development, offering insights into emerging technologies and areas for further exploration.Written by leading experts in the field, this book equips its audience with the knowledge, skills, and insights needed to navigate the complexities of starch blends and harness their potential in diverse applications.
  • Alcohol-Free Beer

    From Production to Consumer Perception
    • 1st Edition
    • Elisabeth Koussissi + 1 more
    • English
    Alcohol-free Beer: From Production to Consumer Perception covers this unique, emerging market segment. The book begins with introductory content and definitions before covering the production process, with a focus on fermentation methods. Nutritional aspects, flavor, and sensory characteristics of the end product as well as consumer perceptions are also covered. As the first academic book on the market to exclusively cover non-alcoholic and low ABV beer, this book will be particularly useful to researchers interested in alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, fermentation, and consumer behavior, especially as it relates to the consumption of alcohol (or lack thereof). Consumers seeking out better mental and physical wellbeing are opting to drink less alcohol, giving rise to this beverage trend. Yet for researchers and industry professionals crafting the product, it can be a challenge to closely replicate the pleasant taste of alcoholic beer. As the market for alcohol-free beer has undergone a unique, global rise in volume of consumption and production during the last decade, this book will be ideal for brewing chemists and beverage industry scientists hoping to create new alcohol-free beverages.
  • Spider Systematics and Taxonomy

    • 1st Edition
    • Dimitar Dimitrov + 1 more
    • English
    In the last decade or so, a large number of new spider species have been discovered and described, and many genera and families have been revised. Yet, a single comprehensive resource has been lacking to update spider taxonomy. Spider Systematics and Taxonomy aims to present these major developments in the field, as well as to show how technological advancements have driven these changes. Spider groups covered in most detail are those which have recently seen the most significant discoveries and changes. Later chapters highlight the impact of recent technological developments on our knowledge of spider taxonomy, with topics including phylogenomics, artificial intelligence, and novel imaging technologies. Finally, an outlook on future priorities for spider taxonomy research as well as expected developments will be explored.Spider Systematics and Taxonomy is a valuable reference with illustrations and vivid photographs included throughout to showcase spider diversity and relationships. This will serve as a key resource for arachnology researchers, graduate and postgraduate students wishing to come up to date on the latest advances in the field. Researchers in adjacent fields and those working in taxonomy generally will also benefit from this work.