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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.

  • Pathology of Wildlife and Zoo Animals

    • 1st Edition
    • Karen A. Terio + 2 more
    • English
    Pathology of Wildlife and Zoo Animals is a comprehensive resource that covers the pathology of wildlife and zoo species, including a wide scope of animals, disease types and geographic regions. It is the definitive book for students, biologists, scientists, physicians, veterinary clinicians and pathologists working with non-domestic species in a variety of settings. General chapters include information on performing necropsies, proper techniques to meet the specialized needs of forensic cases, laboratory diagnostics, and an introduction into basic principles of comparative clinical pathology. The taxon-based chapters provide information about disease in related groups of animals and include descriptions of gross and histologic lesions, pathogenesis and diagnostics. For each group of animals, notable, unique gross and microscopic anatomical features are provided to further assist the reader in deciding whether differences from the domestic animal paradigm are "normal." Additional online content, which includes text, images, and whole scanned glass slides of selected conditions, expands the published material resulting in a comprehensive approach to the topic.
  • Institutions as Conscious Food Consumers

    Leveraging Purchasing Power to Drive Systems Change
    • 1st Edition
    • Sapna Elizabeth Thottathil + 1 more
    • English
    Institutions like schools, hospitals, and universities are not well known for having quality, healthy food. In fact, institutional food often embodies many of the worst traits of our industrialized food system, with long supply chains that are rife with environmental and social problems and growing market concentration in many stages of food production and distribution. Recently, however, non-profit organizations, government agencies, university research institutes, and activists have partnered with institutions to experiment with a wide range of more ethical and sustainable models for food purchasing, also known as values-based procurement. Institutions as Conscious Food Consumers brings together in-depth case studies from several of promising models of institutional food purchasing that aim to be more sustainable, healthy, equitable, and local. With chapters written by a diverse set of authors, including leaders in the food movement and policy researchers, this book: Documents growing interest among non-profit organizations and activists in institutional food interventions through case studies and first-hand experiences; Highlights emerging evidence about how these new procurement models affect agro-food supply chains; and Examines the role of policy and regional or geographic identity in promoting food systems change. Institutions as Conscious Food Consumers makes the case that institutions can use their budgets to change the food system for the better, although significant challenges remain. It is a must read for food systems practitioners, food chain researchers, and foodservice professionals interested in values-based procurement.
  • Enzymes in Food Biotechnology

    Production, Applications, and Future Prospects
    • 1st Edition
    • Mohammed Kuddus
    • English
    Enzymes in Food Biotechnology: Production, Applications, and Future Prospects presents a comprehensive review of enzyme research and the potential impact of enzymes on the food sector. This valuable reference brings together novel sources and technologies regarding enzymes in food production, food processing, food preservation, food engineering and food biotechnology that are useful for researchers, professionals and students. Discussions include the process of immobilization, thermal and operational stability, increased product specificity and specific activity, enzyme engineering, implementation of high-throughput techniques, screening to relatively unexplored environments, and the development of more efficient enzymes.
  • Breeding Sorghum for Diverse End Uses

    • 1st Edition
    • Aruna C + 3 more
    • English
    Breeding Sorghum for Diverse End Uses is a comprehensive overview of all significant global efforts for the genetic improvement of sorghum, a major crop of many semi-arid nations that is suitable for a huge range of uses, from human food, to biofuels. Split into two main sections, the book initially reviews the genetic suitability of sorghum for breeding, also providing the history of the genetic improvement of the grain. Finally, other sections look at specific breeding programs that could be improved in a number of areas, including human food, animal feed and industrial usage. Readers in academics, research, plant genetics and sorghum development will find this resource of great value. In addition, it is essential reading for engineers who utilize sorghum for food, feed and industrial materials in industry.
  • Bioethanol Production from Food Crops

    Sustainable Sources, Interventions, and Challenges
    • 1st Edition
    • Ramesh C. Ray + 1 more
    • English
    Bioethanol Production from Food Crops: Sustainable Sources, Interventions and Challenges comprehensively covers the global scenario of ethanol production from both food and non-food crops and other sources. The book guides readers through the balancing of the debate on food vs. fuel, giving important insights into resource management and the environmental and economic impact of this balance between demands. Sections cover Global Bioethanol from Food Crops and Forest Resource, Bioethanol from Bagasse and Lignocellulosic wastes, Bioethanol from algae, and Economics and Challenges, presenting a multidisciplinary approach to this complex topic. As biofuels continue to grow as a vital alternative energy source, it is imperative that the proper balance is reached between resource protection and human survival. This book provides important insights into achieving that balance.
  • Polyphenols in Plants

    Isolation, Purification and Extract Preparation
    • 2nd Edition
    • Ronald Ross Watson
    • English
    Polyphenols in Plants: Isolation, Purification and Extract Preparation, 2nd edition, provides a detailed insight into polyphenols that occur naturally in plants and how they can be affected during growth and development, then effectively removed and optimized for various applications in food production. Historically, plants have been the major sources for drugs and health promotion. While there are a small number of nutrients contained, the growing focus is on the very diverse, complex ring structures: polyphenols that are not nutritious. In order to study or use them in patient treatment, the polyphenols need to be isolated, identified, and purified for application and study. This book brings together experts in the field who share their ongoing examination of isolation and purification of polyphenols as well as determination of their structures and composition. Polyphenols in Plants covers a range of new topics including polyphenols in vegetable waste and agricultural byproducts, extraction methods and characterization of polyphenols, and isolation techniques in the development of new compounds and their use in cancer therapy. This book will be useful to plant scientists and dietary supplement producers, as well as scientists in the food industry and alternative medicine who are interested in the specific health benefits of various dietary extracts and other polyphenol resources.
  • Postharvest Disinfection of Fruits and Vegetables

    • 1st Edition
    • Mohammed Wasim Siddiqui
    • English
    Postharvest Disinfection of Fruits and Vegetables describes available technologies to reduce microbial infection for maintaining postharvest quality and safety. The book analyzes alternative and traditional methodologies and points out the significant advantages and limitations of each technique, thus facilitating both cost and time savings. This reference is for anyone in the fresh produce industry who is involved in postharvest handling and management. It discusses, in detail, the latest disinfection approaches, low-cost treatment strategies, management and protocols to control fresh produce qualities, diseases and insect infestation.
  • Lentils

    Potential Resources for Enhancing Genetic Gains
    • 1st Edition
    • Mohar Singh
    • English
    Lentils: Potential Resources for Enhancing Genetic Gains describes the evolutionary aspects and agronomic potential of this important pulse with emphasis placed on wide hybridization, including molecular aspects and future breeding strategies. The existing variability among cultivated germplasm has been exploited to reach a desirable level of productivity. However, to attain further breakthroughs in increasing yield and improving stability in future cultivars, new sources of genes/alleles need to be identified and incorporated into cultivated varieties. This book provides specific use information, including wild lentil germplasm utilization, thus allowing for the selection of transgressive interspecific recombinants that can be adapted to specific environments.
  • Marine Mammal Ecotoxicology

    Impacts of Multiple Stressors on Population Health
    • 1st Edition
    • Maria Cristina Fossi + 1 more
    • English
    Marine Mammal Ecotoxicology: Impacts of Multiple Stressors on Population Health provides tactics on how to develop a comprehensive methodology for the study of existing threats to marine mammals. By presenting a conservation-biology approach and new and emerging technologies, this work helps provide crucial knowledge on the status of marine mammal populations that not only helps readers understand the ecosystem’s health, but also instigate mitigation measures. This volume provides information that helps investigators unravel the relationships between exposure to environmental stressors (e.g., climate change, pollutants, marine litter, pathogens and biotoxins) and a range of endpoints in marine mammal species. The application of robust examination procedures and biochemical, immunological, and molecular techniques, combined with pathological examination and feeding ecology, has led to the development of health assessment methods at the individual and population levels in wild marine mammals.
  • Managing Quality of Fruit and Vegetables

    • 1st Edition
    • Umezuruike Linus Opara
    • English
    Managing Quality of Fruit and Vegetables covers the application of proven and novel industrial approaches to quality management of fresh produce that have become common practice among local and global fresh produce chains while also covering the latest postharvest technologies for maintaining quality and safety. In addition, it addresses the impacts of emerging global challenges, such as climate change, the role of fruit and vegetables on nutrition security, and the development of future postharvest technologies to maintain quality and safety. Both academics and post-graduate students studying fresh produce supply chains and industry professionals will find this book extremely useful.Split into three broad themes, the book brings to light the latest developments on the biochemical and physiological basis for the quality of fruit and vegetables, the industrial approaches to quality management of fruit and vegetables, and the latest advances in postharvest technologies for controlling and maintaining quality.