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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.

  • Statistics for Food Scientists

    Making Sense of the Numbers
    • 1st Edition
    • October 6, 2015
    • Frank Rossi + 1 more
    • English
    The practical approached championed in this book have led to increasing the quality on many successful products through providing a better understanding of consumer needs, current product and process performance and a desired future state. In 2009, Frank Rossi and Viktor Mirtchev brought their practical statistical thinking forward and created the course “Statistics for Food Scientists”. The intent of the course was to help product and process developers increase the probability of their project’s success through the incorporation of practical statistical thinking in their challenges. The course has since grown and has become the basis of this book.
  • Phase Transitions in Foods

    • 2nd Edition
    • October 5, 2015
    • Yrjo H Roos + 1 more
    • English
    Phase Transitions in Foods, Second Edition, assembles the most recent research and theories on the topic, describing the phase and state transitions that affect technological properties of biological materials occurring in food processing and storage. It covers the role of water as a plasticizer, the effect of transitions on mechanical and chemical changes, and the application of modeling in predicting stability rates of change. The volume presents methods for detecting changes in the physical state and various techniques used to analyze phase behavior of biopolymers and food components. It should become a valuable resource for anyone involved with food engineering, processing, storage, and quality, as well as those working on related properties of pharmaceuticals and other biopolymers.
  • Plant Factory

    An Indoor Vertical Farming System for Efficient Quality Food Production
    • 1st Edition
    • October 2, 2015
    • Toyoki Kozai + 2 more
    • English
    Plant Factory: An Indoor Vertical Farming System for Efficient Quality Food Production provides information on a field that is helping to offset the threats that unusual weather and shortages of land and natural resources bring to the food supply. As alternative options are needed to ensure adequate and efficient production of food, this book represents the only available resource to take a practical approach to the planning, design, and implementation of plant factory (PF) practices to yield food crops. The PF systems described in this book are based on a plant production system with artificial (electric) lights and include case studies providing lessons learned and best practices from both industrial and crop specific programs. With insights into the economics as well as the science of PF programs, this book is ideal for those in academic as well as industrial settings.
  • Molecular Microbial Diagnostic Methods

    Pathways to Implementation for the Food and Water Industries
    • 1st Edition
    • October 1, 2015
    • Nigel Cook + 2 more
    • English
    Molecular Microbial Diagnostic Methods: Pathways to Implementation for the Food and Water Industry was developed by recognized and experienced highlevel scientists. It’s a comprehensive and detailed reference that uncovers industry needs for the use of molecular methods by providing a brief history of water and food analysis for the pathogens of concern. It also describes the potential impact of current and cutting-edge molecular methods. This book discusses the advantages of the implementation of molecular methods, describes information on when and how to use specific methods, and presents why one should utilize them for pathogen detection in the routine laboratory. The content is also pertinent for anyone carrying out microbiological analysis at the research level, and for scientists developing methods, as it focuses on the requirements of end-users.
  • Essential Oils in Food Preservation, Flavor and Safety

    • 1st Edition
    • September 28, 2015
    • Victor R. Preedy
    • English
    Essential Oils in Food Preservation, Flavor and Safety discusses the major advances in the understanding of the Essential Oils and their application, providing a resource that takes into account the fact that there is little attention paid to the scientific basis or toxicity of these oils. This book provides an authoritative synopsis of many of the complex features of the essential oils as applied to food science, ranging from production and harvesting, to the anti-spoilage properties of individual components. It embraces a holistic approach to the topic, and is divided into two distinct parts, the general aspects and named essential oils. With more than 100 chapters in parts two and three, users will find valuable sections on botanical aspects, usage and applications, and a section on applications in food science that emphasizes the fact that essential oils are frequently used to impart flavor and aroma. However, more recently, their use as anti-spoilage agents has been extensively researched.
  • Breeding Oilseed Crops for Sustainable Production

    Opportunities and Constraints
    • 1st Edition
    • September 25, 2015
    • Surinder Kumar Gupta
    • English
    Breeding Oilseed Crops for Sustainable Production: Opportunities and Constraints presents key insights into accelerating the breeding of sustainable and superior varieties. The book explores the genetic engineering/biotechn... that has played a vital role in transforming economically important traits from distant/wild species to cultivated varieties, enhancing the quality and quantity of oil and seed yield production. Integrated nutrient management, efficient water management, and forecasting models for pests diseases outbreaks and integrated pest and pest management have also added new dimensions in breeding for sustainable production. With the rise in demand, the scientific community has responded positively by directing a greater amount of research towards sustainable production both for edible and industrial uses. Covering the latest information on various major world oil crops including rapeseed mustard, sunflower, groundnut, sesame, oilpalm, cotton, linseed/flax, castor and olive, this book brings the latest advances together in a single volume for researchers and advanced level students.
  • Integrated Management of Salt Affected Soils in Agriculture

    Incorporation of Soil Salinity Control Methods
    • 1st Edition
    • September 25, 2015
    • Nesreen Houssein Ahmen Abou-Baker + 1 more
    • English
    Integrated Management of Salt Affected Soils in Agriculture is a concise guide to evaluating and addressing soil issues related to saline content. Methods focused, the book combines agricultural and soil-based insights to efficiently remediate salt-affected soil. Environmental stress conditions such as salinity have a devastating impact on plant growth and yield, causing considerable loss to agricultural production worldwide. Soil salinity control prevents soil degradation by salinization and reclaim already saline soils. This book will help develop the proper management procedures, to solve problems of crop production on salt-affected soils.
  • Probiotics, Prebiotics, and Synbiotics

    Bioactive Foods in Health Promotion
    • 1st Edition
    • September 23, 2015
    • Ronald Ross Watson + 1 more
    • English
    Probiotics, Prebiotics, and Synbiotics: Bioactive Foods in Health Promotion reviews and presents new hypotheses and conclusions on the effects of different bioactive components of probiotics, prebiotics, and synbiotics to prevent disease and improve the health of various populations. Experts define and support the actions of bacteria; bacteria modified bioflavonoids and prebiotic fibrous materials and vegetable compounds. A major emphasis is placed on the health-promoting activities and bioactive components of probiotic bacteria.
  • Advances in Agronomy

    • 1st Edition
    • Volume 134
    • September 23, 2015
    • English
    Advances in Agronomy continues to be recognized as a leading reference and a first-rate source for the latest research in agronomy. Each volume contains an eclectic group of reviews by leading scientists throughout the world. As always, the subjects covered are rich and varied and exemplary of the abundant subject matter addressed by this long-running serial.
  • Thermal Imaging Techniques to Survey and Monitor Animals in the Wild

    A Methodology
    • 1st Edition
    • September 22, 2015
    • Kirk J Havens + 1 more
    • English
    Thermal Imaging Techniques to Survey and Monitor Animals in the Wild: A Methodology provides a manual for anyone interested in understanding thermal imaging and its usefulness in solving a wide range of problems regarding the observation of wildlife. In the last decade, the cost of thermal imaging technology has significantly decreased, making the equipment more widely available. This book offers an overview of thermal physics and the thermal imager, along with a methodology to optimize the window of opportunity so that wildlife can be observed and studied in their natural habitat. Users will find the knowledge and tools to formulate a sound survey design, with detailed sections on the theory and performance characteristics of thermal imaging cameras utilizing cooled quantum detectors as the sensitive element and additional information on the uncooled micro bolometric imagers which have been introduced into the camera market in past decades. The methodology presented is logical and simple, yet it presents a detailed understanding of the topic and how it applies to the critically interlinked disciplines of biology, physics, micrometeorology, and animal physiology.