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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.

  • From Plant Genomics to Plant Biotechnology

    • 1st Edition
    • Palmiro Poltronieri + 2 more
    • English
    With the appearance of methods for the sequencing of genomes and less expensive next generation sequencing methods, we face rapid advancements of the -omics technologies and plant biology studies: reverse and forward genetics, functional genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics, the movement at distance of effectors and structural biology. From plant genomics to plant biotechnology reviews the recent advancements in the post-genomic era, discussing how different varieties respond to abiotic and biotic stresses, understanding the epigenetic control and epigenetic memory, the roles of non-coding RNAs, applicative uses of RNA silencing and RNA interference in plant physiology and in experimental transgenics and plants modified to specific aims. In the forthcoming years these advancements will support the production of plant varieties better suited to resist biotic and abiotic stresses, for food and non-food applications.This book covers these issues, showing how such technologies are influencing the plant field in sectors such as the selection of plant varieties and plant breeding, selection of optimum agronomic traits, stress-resistant varieties, improvement of plant fitness, improving crop yield, and non-food applications in the knowledge based bio-economy.
  • Integrated Pest Management

    Current Concepts and Ecological Perspective
    • 1st Edition
    • Dharam P Abrol
    • English
    Integrated Pest Management: Current Concepts and Ecological Perspective presents an overview of alternative measures to traditional pest management practices using biological control and biotechnology. The removal of some highly effective broad-spectrum chemicals, caused by concerns over environmental health and public safety, has resulted in the development of alternative, reduced risk crop protection products. These products, less toxic to the environment and easily integrated into biological control systems, target specific life stages or pest species. Predation — recognized as a suitable, long-term strategy — effectively suppresses pests in biotechnological control systems. Integrated Pest Management covers these topics and more. It explores the current ecological approaches in alternative solutions, such as biological control agents, parasites and predators, pathogenic microorganisms, pheromones and natural products as well as ecological approaches for managing invasive pests, rats, suppression of weeds, safety of pollinators, role of taxonomy and remote sensing in IPM and future projections of IPM. This book is a useful resource to entomologists, agronomists, horticulturists, and environmental scientists.
  • Mathematical Neuroscience

    • 1st Edition
    • Stanislaw Brzychczy + 1 more
    • English
    Mathematical Neuroscience is a book for mathematical biologists seeking to discover the complexities of brain dynamics in an integrative way. It is the first research monograph devoted exclusively to the theory and methods of nonlinear analysis of infinite systems based on functional analysis techniques arising in modern mathematics. Neural models that describe the spatio-temporal evolution of coarse-grained variables—such as synaptic or firing rate activity in populations of neurons —and often take the form of integro-differential equations would not normally reflect an integrative approach. This book examines the solvability of infinite systems of reaction diffusion type equations in partially ordered abstract spaces. It considers various methods and techniques of nonlinear analysis, including comparison theorems, monotone iterative techniques, a truncation method, and topological fixed point methods. Infinite systems of such equations play a crucial role in the integrative aspects of neuroscience modeling.
  • Fundamentals of Weed Science

    • 4th Edition
    • Robert L Zimdahl
    • English
    This book addresses herbicides and their use as an important aspect of modern weed management and strives to place them in an ecological framework. Many weed scientists believe agriculture is a continuing struggle with weeds--without good weed control, good and profitable agriculture is impossible. Each agricultural discipline sees itself as central to agriculture's success and continued progress, and weed science is no exception. While not denying the importance of weed management to successful agriculture, this book places it in a larger ecological context. The roles of culture, economics, and politics in weed management are also discussed, enabling scientists and students to understand the larger effects on society.
  • Transparency for Sustainability in the Food Chain

    Challenges and Research Needs EFFoST Critical Reviews #2
    • 1st Edition
    • Gerhard Schiefer + 1 more
    • English
    Transparency for Sustainability in the Food Chain lays out the key issues and challenges in food safety, food quality, chain integrity, the link with consumers, and the technological base of tracking and tracing systems. This succinct volume brings readers up to speed on the state of the art in these areas, and the research trends in specific domains. Transparency in the food sector, especially to consumers, is one of the priority issues on the agenda of consumer policy representatives. Food scandals and deficiencies in consumer communication have drawn increasing demands for food policies that ensure that food is safe and of the quality consumers expect. Further, consumers increasingly expect that food production processes limit negative impacts on the environment and consider social concerns. Moving toward improved transparency requires action by stakeholders of the food chain but also knowledge on where and how to move. Researchers and professionals working in food sourcing, regulation, safety, and distribution will benefit from this clear overview.
  • Introduction to Food Engineering, Enhanced

    • 5th Edition
    • R. Paul Singh + 1 more
    • English
    Ranging from basic engineering principles, based on fundamental physics, to several applications in food processing, this newly revised and updated enhanced ebook edition of Introduction to Food Engineering continues to be a valuable teaching and professional reference tool. Within the first four chapters, the concepts of mass and energy balance, thermodynamics, fluid flow and heat transfer are introduced. A significant addition to this section is an introduction to the concepts of sustainability in Chapter 3 on Resource Sustainability, introducing students to the latest terminology used to describe the efficiencies of processes and operations. The next four chapters include applications of thermodynamics and heat transfer to preservation processes, refrigeration, freezing processes and evaporation processes used in concentration of liquid foods. Following the introduction of the principles of psychrometrics and mass transfer, the chapters present application of engineering concepts to membrane separation processes, dehydration processes, extrusion, packaging and supplemental processes, including filtration, centrifugation and mixing. Long recognized as the bestselling textbook for teaching food engineering to food science students, this enhanced ebook transitions with today’s students from traditional textbook learning to an integrated and interactive presentation of the key concepts of food engineering. Using carefully selected examples, Singh and Heldman demonstrate the relationship of engineering to the chemistry, microbiology, nutrition and processing of foods in a uniquely practical blend. In addition, interactive tools throughout the book take the learning experience far beyond that of a print book, or even most ebooks. This approach facilitates comprehensive learning that has proven valuable beyond the classroom as a lifetime professional reference.
  • Food Enrichment with Omega-3 Fatty Acids

    • 1st Edition
    • Charlotte Jacobsen + 3 more
    • English
    Omega-3 fatty acids provide many health benefits, from reducing cardiovascular disease to improving mental health, and consumer interest in foods enriched with omega-3 fatty acids is increasing. Formulating a product enriched with these fatty acids that is stable and has an acceptable flavour is challenging. Food enrichment with omega-3 fatty acids provides an overview of key topics in this area.Part one, an introductory section, reviews sources of omega-3 fatty acids and their health benefits. Chapters in part two explore the stabilisation of both fish oil itself and foods enriched with omega-3 fatty acids. Part three focuses on the fortification of different types of foods and beverages with omega-3 fatty acids, including meat products, by the modification of animal diets and other methods, infant formula and baked goods. Finally, part four highlights new directions in the field and discusses algal oil as a source of omega-3 fatty acids and labelling and claims in foods containing omega-3 fatty acids.Food enrichment with omega-3 fatty acids is a standard reference for professionals in the functional foods industry involved with research, development and quality assessment and for researchers in academia interested in food lipids, oxidation and functional foods.
  • Advances in Microbial Food Safety

    • 1st Edition
    • J Sofos
    • English
    New research, outbreaks of foodborne disease and changes to legislation mean that food microbiology research is constantly evolving. Advances in microbial food safety: Volume 1 summarises the key trends in this area for the food industry.The book begins with an introductory chapter discussing food safety management systems from the past to the present day and looking to future directions. The book moves on to provide updates on specific pathogens including Salmonella, Listeria monocytogenes and Bacillus species. New developments in the area are explored with chapters on emerging parasites in food, advances in separation and concentration of microorganisms from food samples, new approaches in microbial pathogen detection, and an update on novel methods for pathogen control in livestock preharvest.With its distinguished editor and international team of expert contributors, Advances in microbial food safety: Volume 1 is a standard reference for researchers, consultants and managers in the food industry responsible for food safety, analytical laboratories testing the safety of the food we eat, and researchers in academia working on food microbial safety.
  • Flavour Science

    Proceedings from XIII Weurman Flavour Research Symposium
    • 1st Edition
    • Vicente Ferreira + 1 more
    • English
    Flavor science is continually evolving. Remaining current with the latest research and establishing a broad and sound understanding of the major developments and breakthroughs can be a challenge. The Weurman Flavour Research Symposium has long been regarded as the premier professional meeting focused on the science of flavor. Flavour Science, an extensive review of the most recent symposium, presents the latest in flavor research, enriching the chemistry-based vision of most flavorists and flavor chemists with understanding from a broad range of fields, including human physiology, ethology, psychophysics, genetics, bioinformatics or metabolomics. This book is ideal for all flavor scientists, food chemists and sensory scientists and has a strong audience among enologists as well.
  • Nutrition and Enhanced Sports Performance

    Muscle Building, Endurance, and Strength
    • 1st Edition
    • Debasis Bagchi + 2 more
    • English
    Nutrition and Enhanced Sports Performance: Muscle Building, Endurance, and Strength provides a comprehensive overview to understanding the integrated impact of nutrition on performance. The book is divided into five main themes: An introductory overview of the role of nutrition in human health Various types of physical exercises, including cardiovascular training, resistance training, aerobic and anaerobic exercise, bioenergetics, and energy balance. This section also covers the nutritional requirements associated with various fitness programs, as well as exercise and nutritional requirements in special populations, including the pre-pubertal, young, elderly, and disabled. Sports and nutritional requirements. The molecular mechanisms involved in muscle building A thorough review of various food, minerals, supplements, phytochemicals, amino acids, transition metals, small molecules and other ergogenic agents that have been implicated in muscle building and human performance This book is an ideal resource for nutritionists, dietitians, exercise physiologists, health practitioners, researchers, students, athletes, trainers, and all those who wish to broaden their knowledge of nutrition and its role in human performance.