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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.

  • Molecular Aspects of Plant Beneficial Microbes in Agriculture

    • 1st Edition
    • Vivek Sharma + 2 more
    • English
    Molecular Aspects of Plant Beneficial Microbes in Agriculture explores their diverse interactions, including the pathogenic and symbiotic relationship which leads to either a decrease or increase in crop productivity. Focusing on these environmentally-frie... approaches, the book explores their potential in changing climatic conditions. It presents the exploration and regulation of beneficial microbes in offering sustainable and alternative solutions to the use of chemicals in agriculture. The beneficial microbes presented here are capable of contributing to nutrient balance, growth regulators, suppressing pathogens, orchestrating immune response and improving crop performance. The book also offers insights into the advancements in DNA technology and bioinformatic approaches which have provided in-depth knowledge about the molecular arsenal involved in mineral uptake, nitrogen fixation, growth promotion and biocontrol attributes.
  • Characterization of Nanoencapsulated Food Ingredients

    • 1st Edition
    • Volume 4
    • English
    Characterization of Nanoencapsulated Food Ingredients, Volume Four in the Nanoencapsulation in the Food Industry series, introduces some of the common instrumental analysis and characterization methods for the evaluation of nanocarriers and nanoencapsulated ingredients in terms of their morphology, size distribution, surface charge and composition, appearance, physicochemical and rheological properties, and antioxidant activity.   Divided in five sections, the book covers the qualitative and quantitative properties of nanoencapsulated food ingredients by different characterization techniques, besides correlating nanocarrier behavior to their physicochemical and functional properties. Authored by a team of global experts in the fields of nano- and microencapsulation of food, nutraceutical, and pharmaceutical ingredients, this title is of great value to those engaged in the various fields of nanoencapsulation and nanodelivery systems.
  • Dietary Sugar, Salt and Fat in Human Health

    • 1st Edition
    • Harry G. Preuss + 1 more
    • English
    Divided into four main sections, Dietary Sugar, Salt and Fat in Human Health explores the biochemical, pharmacological and medicinal aspects related to the overindulgence of dietary salt, sugar, and fat, along with possible remedies. Beginning with a general overview, the text outlines aspects associated with advancing age and human physiology, such as different aspects of insulin resistance, the advancing age phenomenon, central fat accumulation and metabolic perturbations and the role of the modern Western diet and the influence of dietary sugar, salt, and fat, with particular focus on their relation to multiple biochemical pathophysiological pathways. The second section of the book focuses on the roles of dietary sugars and their correlation with the chronic disease epidemic, with an emphasis on carbohydrate metabolism and its biochemistry, GI absorption, the glycemic index and the influence of fructose. The historical background of dietary sugars is discussed alongside Atkin’s hypothesis, and an overview of the correlation between dietary fibre and the glycemic index, including a chapter on sugar addiction. Section three contains an exhaustive review of the influence of dietary salt and its diverse mechanistic aspects, including salt-sensitive hypertension, contribution of two steroid receptor pathways, vascular NO, intrarenal RAAS system and angiotensin. The fourth section highlights the biochemistry of dietary saturated, polyunsaturated and trans fat and its influence on human health and various diseases, and further explores NAFLD and gender specific problems. Chapters in this section also investigate the benefits of the Mediterranean diet as well as myths related to cholesterol. Collected and carefully organized for researchers in nutrition, physiology, epidemiology, or sensory science, this book will also benefit general practitioners, surgeons, nurses, health professionals and practitioners, and students studying the role of diet in cardiometabolic disorders and disease.
  • Microbial Endophytes

    Functional Biology and Applications
    • 1st Edition
    • Ajay Kumar + 1 more
    • English
    Microbial Endophytes: Functional Biology and Applications focuses on endophytic bacteria and fungi, including information on foundational endophytes and the latest advances in relevant genomics, proteomics and nanotechnological aspects. The book provides insights into the molecular aspects of plant endophytes and their interactions and applications, also exploring the potential commercialization of endophytic microorganisms and their use as bio fertilizers, in biocontrol, and as bioactive compounds for other sustainable applications. Coverage of important and emerging legal considerations relevant to those working to implement these important bacteria in production processes is also included.
  • Quaternary Ecology, Evolution, and Biogeography

    • 1st Edition
    • Valentí Rull
    • English
    Quaternary Ecology, Evolution, and Biogeography offers an introduction to the study of the ecological and evolutionary processes that have shaped our present biosphere under the influence of glacial-interglacial cycles. Written by an ecologist with paleoecological expertise, this book reviews the climactic changes that have occurred during the last 2.6 million years, along with the responses of organisms and ecosystems. It offers an understanding of the evolutionary origin of extant biodiversity, its biogeographical patterns, and the composition of modern ecological communities. In addition, it explores human evolution and the influence of our activities on the biosphere, especially in the last millennia.This book offers the latest information on how studying the past can contribute to our understanding of present climate issues for a better future, and is an ideal resource for researchers and students in the natural sciences.
  • Wood Microbiology

    Decay and Its Prevention
    • 2nd Edition
    • Robert A. Zabel + 1 more
    • English
    Wood Microbiology, Second Edition, presents the latest advances in wood decay and its prevention. Coverage includes classification of fungi and bacteria, factors affecting growth and survival, fungal metabolism, and wood chemistry. There are also chapters that focus on the anatomical aspects, chemical changes, and ultrastructural effects of wood decay. Additionally, this book discusses major issues associated with wood decay, detecting decay, and how to take protective action against it. This is a one-stop reference resource for wood scientists, wood processing and preserving professionals, foresters and forest pathologists, as well as students of forestry, and wood science and technology courses. It is authored by two leading experts with over 80 years of experience working with timber durability.
  • Gradients and Tissue Patterning

    • 1st Edition
    • Volume 137
    • English
    Gradients and Tissue Patterning, Volume 137 in the Current Topics in Developmental Biology series, highlights new advances in the field, with this new volume presenting interesting chapters on a variety of timely topics. Each chapter is written by an international board of authors.
  • Agri-Food Industry Strategies for Healthy Diets and Sustainability

    New Challenges in Nutrition and Public Health
    • 1st Edition
    • Francisco J. Barba + 2 more
    • English
    Divided into five sections, Agri-Food Industry Strategies for Healthy Diets and Sustainability: New Challenges in Nutrition and Public Health provides an overview of the challenges and future perspectives related to nutrition, public health, and sustainability. The book addresses strategies to reduce fat, trans fat, saturated fat, sugar, and salt consumption, while also exploring the manufacturing, safety, and toxicology of new food manufacturing. This book examines commercial labeling and nutritional education, nutrigenomics and public health, and provides coverage of the valorization of waste and by-products from the food industry. Nutrition researchers and practitioners, food scientists, technologists, engineers, agronomists, food product developers, medical and public health professionals, and postgraduate students focused in food science and nutrition are sure to find this reference work a welcomed addition to their libraries.
  • Chickpea: Crop Wild Relatives for Enhancing Genetic Gains

    • 1st Edition
    • Mohar Singh
    • English
    Chickpea: Crop Wild Relatives for Enhancing Genetic Gains explores aspects related to critical analysis on factors responsible for narrow genetic base of chickpea productions including domestication bottleneck, the level of diversity present in different cultivated and wild species, the uniqueness and usefulness of potential gene sources available and maintained in production systems across the globe, the level of genetic erosion both at landrace and species level over time and space etc. Despite considerable international investment in conventional breeding, production of chickpea has not yet been significantly improved beyond that achieved through its normal single domestication event and high self-pollination rate. Total annual pulse production of ~12 million tons (FAO 2016) is far below actual potential. Susceptibility to both biotic and abiotic stresses have created a production level bottleneck whose solution possibly lies in the use of crop wild relatives and other genetic traits cultivated by tailoring novel germplasm. Presenting options for widening the genetic base of chickpea cultivars by introgression of diverse genes available in distantly related wild Cicer taxa, thus expanding the genetic base and maximize genetic gains from the selection, it is necessary to accumulate other complimentary alleles from CWRs. This review will focus on present status of gene pool and species distribution, germplasm conservation, characterization and evaluation, problems associated with crop production, sources of target traits available in wild species, status of trait introgression in synthesizing new gene pool of chickpea along with progress made in chickpea genomics. An edited book with contributions from leading scientists, this information will guide and inform chickpea breeders, PGR researchers and crop biologists across the world.
  • Biscuit, Cookie and Cracker Process and Recipes

    • 1st Edition
    • Glyn Barry Sykes + 1 more
    • English
    Biscuit, Cookie and Cracker Process and Recipes: A practical reference for a wide range of recipes and production information for crackers, snack crackers, semi-sweet biscuits, short doughs, cookies and sandwich biscuits. These recipes have been developed in Europe, Asia, Australia, North America and South America. Beginning with an explanation of the production process and formulations, this book provides easy-access information for developing new biscuits, cookies and crackers for international markets. All the process details, formulations, technical information are based on the notes and files of the late Glyn Sykes. Glyn gained wide experience over a working lifetime in the biscuit baking industry, working with over fifty biscuit manufacturers world-wide. Glyn Sykes family have made the information available for the new book, which is a valuable reference for professionals in the biscuit baking industry and students in the food technology field.