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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.

  • The Produce Contamination Problem

    Causes and Solutions
    • 2nd Edition
    • February 15, 2014
    • Karl Matthews
    • English
    Understanding the causes and contributing factors leading to outbreaks of food-borne illness associated with contamination of fresh produce is a worldwide challenge for everyone from the growers of fresh-cut produce through the entire production and delivery process. The premise of The Produce Contamination Problem is that when human pathogen contamination of fresh produce occurs, it is extremely difficult to reduce pathogen levels sufficiently to assure microbiological safety with the currently available technologies. A wiser strategy would be to avoid crop production conditions that result in microbial contamination to start. These critical, problem-oriented chapters have been written by researchers active in the areas of food safety and microbial contamination during production, harvesting, packing and fresh-cut processing of horticultural crops, and were designed to provide methods of contamination avoidance. Coverage includes policy and practices in the United States, Mexico and Central America, Europe, and Japan.
  • Food Security, Poverty and Nutrition Policy Analysis

    Statistical Methods and Applications
    • 2nd Edition
    • February 13, 2014
    • Suresh Babu + 2 more
    • English
    Food insecurity, the lack of access at all times to the food needed for an active and healthy life, continues to be a growing problem as populations increase while the world economy struggles. Formulating effective policies for addressing these issues requires thorough understanding of the empirical data and application of appropriate measurement and analysis of that information. Food Security, Poverty and Nutrition Policy Analysis, Second Edition has been revised and updated to include hands-on examples and real-world case studies using the latest datasets, tools and methods. Providing a proven framework for developing applied policy analysis skills, this book is based on over 30 years of food and nutrition policy research at the International Food Policy Research Institute and has been used worldwide to impart the combined skills of statistical data analysis, computer literacy and their use in developing policy alternatives.This book provides core information in a format that provides not only the concept behind the method, but real-world applications giving the reader valuable, practical knowledge.
  • Physiology and Biochemistry

    • 2nd Edition
    • February 12, 2014
    • Geoffrey Bourne
    • English
    The Structure and Function of Muscle, Second Edition, Volume III: Physiology and Biochemistry presents the physiology and biochemistry of muscle. This book discusses the various aspects of the structure of muscles and explores some aspects of muscle disease. Organized into 10 chapters, this edition begins with an overview of the transverse tubular system or T system of striated muscle. This text then examines the properties and function of membranes through electron microscopy. Other chapters consider in more detail from a biophysical viewpoint certain aspects of the series of events surrounding muscle contraction. This book discusses as well the significance of the central circulation and the amount of oxygen that can be delivered by the cardiovascular system. The final chapter deals with the heat output and chemical breakdown during an isometric twitch. This book is a valuable resource for scientists, neurobiologists, biologists, biochemists, physiologists, histologists, cytologists, and research workers.
  • Antioxidants in Food, Vitamins and Supplements

    Prevention and Treatment of Disease
    • 1st Edition
    • February 11, 2014
    • Amitava Dasgupta + 1 more
    • English
    Antioxidants in Food, Vitamins and Supplements bridges the gap between books aimed at consumers and technical volumes written for investigators in antioxidant research. It explores the role of oxidative stress in the pathophysiology of various diseases as well as antioxidant foods, vitamins, and all antioxidant supplements, including herbal supplements. It offers healthcare professionals a rich resource of key clinical information and basic scientific explanations relevant to the development and prevention of specific diseases. The book is written at an intermediate level, and can be easily understood by readers with a college level chemistry and biology background.
  • Advances in Food and Nutrition Research

    • 1st Edition
    • Volume 71
    • January 30, 2014
    • English
    Advances in Food and Nutrition Research recognizes the integral relationship between the food and nutritional sciences and brings together outstanding and comprehensive reviews that highlight this relationship. Contributions detail scientific developments in the broad areas of food science and nutrition and are intended to provide those in academia and industry with the latest information on emerging research in these constantly evolving sciences.
  • Oxidative Damage to Plants

    Antioxidant Networks and Signaling
    • 1st Edition
    • January 29, 2014
    • Parvaiz Ahmad
    • English
    With contributions that review research on this topic throughout the world, Oxidative Damage to Plants covers key areas of discovery, from the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROSs), their mechanisms, quenching of these ROSs through enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants, and detailed aspects of such antioxidants as SOD and CAT. Environmental stress is responsible for the generation of oxidative stress, which causes oxidative damage to biomolecules and hence reduces crop yield. To cope up with these problems, scientists have to fully understand the generation of reactive oxygen species, its impact on plants and how plants will be able to withstand these stresses.
  • Wheat and Rice in Disease Prevention and Health

    Benefits, risks and mechanisms of whole grains in health promotion
    • 1st Edition
    • January 22, 2014
    • Ronald Ross Watson + 2 more
    • English
    Wheat and Rice in Disease Prevention and Health reviews the wide range of studies focusing on the health benefits and disease prevention associated with the consumption of wheat and rice, the two most widely consumed whole grains. This book provides researchers, clinicians, and students with a comprehensive, definitive, and up-to-date compendium on the diverse basic and translational aspects of whole grain consumption and its protective effects across human health and disease. It serves as both a resource for current researchers as well as a guide to assist those in related disciplines to enter the realm of whole grain and nutrition research. Overall, studies have shown that a decrease in the amount of whole grains in the modern diet is related to a corresponding increase in health problems that are attributed to this all-too-common dietary imbalance. The resulting health issues associated with an over-processed diet, which provides inadequate levels of nutrients from whole grains, may include obesity, diabetes, high blood lipids, chronic inflammatory states, and an excess of oxidative stress. Strength and endurance may also suffer as a result of these nutrient deficiencies, followed by declines in energy and immunity.
  • Biotechnology and Plant Breeding

    Applications and Approaches for Developing Improved Cultivars
    • 1st Edition
    • January 21, 2014
    • Aluízio Borém + 1 more
    • English
    Biotechnology and Plant Breeding includes critical discussions of the newest and most important applications of biotechnology in plant breeding, covering key topics such as biometry applied to molecular analysis of genetic diversity, genetically modified plants, and more. This work goes beyond recombinant DNA technology to bring together key information and references on new biotech tools for cultivar development, such as double-haploids, molecular markers, and genome-wide selection, among others. It is increasingly challenging for plant breeders and agricultural systems to supply enough food, feed, fiber and biofuel for the global population. As plant breeding evolves and becomes increasingly sophisticated, a staggering volume of genetic data is now generated. Biotechnology and Plant Breeding helps researchers and students become familiar with how the vast amounts of genetic data are generated, stored, analyzed and applied. This practical resource integrates information about plant breeding into the context of modern science, and assists with training for plant breeders including those scientists who have a good understanding of molecular biology/biotechnolog... and need to learn the art and practice of plant breeding. Plant biologists, breeding technicians, agronomists, seed technologists, students, and any researcher interested in biotechnologies applied to plant breeding will find this work an essential tool and reference for the field.
  • Polyphenols in Plants

    Isolation, Purification and Extract Preparation
    • 1st Edition
    • January 17, 2014
    • Ronald Ross Watson
    • English
    Polyphenols in Plants assists plant scientists and dietary supplement producers in assessing polyphenol content and factors affecting their composition. It also aids in selecting sources and regulating environmental conditions affecting yield for more consistent and function dietary supplements. Polyphenols play key roles in the growth, regulation and structure of plants and vary widely within different plants. Stress, growth conditions and plant species modify polyphenol structure and content. This book describes techniques to identify, isolate and characterize polyphenols, taking mammalian toxicology into account as well.
  • Advances in Agronomy

    • 1st Edition
    • Volume 124
    • January 9, 2014
    • English
    Advances in Agronomy continues to be recognized as a leading reference and a first-rate source for the latest research in agronomy. As always, the subjects covered are varied and exemplary of the myriad of subject matter dealt with by this long-running serial.