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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.

    • Organization and Assembly of Plant and Animal Extracellular Matrix

      • 1st Edition
      • December 2, 2012
      • W. Steven Adair
      • English
      • Paperback
        9 7 8 0 1 2 4 3 1 5 2 0 4
      • eBook
        9 7 8 0 3 2 3 1 5 3 2 2 5
      Organization and Assembly of Plant and Animal Extracellular Matrix presents a state-of-the-art view of some of the experimental systems in plant and animal matrix biology. It discusses certain principles underlying establishment of complex three-dimensional architecture cross broad evolutionary boundaries. The opening chapter reviews studies on the cellular mechanisms responsible for storage, release, assembly, and function of extracellular matrices during early sea urchin development. The subsequent chapters describe the structure, assembly, disassembly, and molecular biology of the Chlamydomonas reinhardtii cell wall. The chapters also summarize the status of work on basement membrane assembly. Important insights into approaches to identify critical molecular domains and the complexity of relating defined molecular associations to establishment of matrix architecture are provided. A family of discovered cell wall genes that encode protein products containing up to 70% glycine is presented in Chapter 4. This is followed by a discussion on the role of alginate self-assembly in cell wall formation in Fucus. The book goes on to address the issue of protein-carbohydrate recognition with a detailed discussion of plant and animal lectins. Chapter 7 tackles a family of genes encoding higher plant hydroxyproline-rich glycoproteins (HRGPs) and the relationship between the HRGP genes cloned and their products. The final two chapters are devoted to one of the most important classes of protein modifying enzymes for extracellular matrix formation and function, the prolyl hydroxylases. This book will be of help to workers in plant and animal matrix in understanding information, approaches, and ideas that they may not normally encounter.
    • A Textbook of Plant Virus Diseases

      • 3rd Edition
      • December 2, 2012
      • Kenneth M. Smith
      • English
      • Paperback
        9 7 8 0 1 2 3 9 4 2 1 0 4
      • eBook
        9 7 8 0 3 2 3 1 6 2 0 5 0
      A Textbook of Plant Virus Diseases deals with a discussion of different plant viruses, their properties, and the corresponding diseases these viruses cause. It includes a list of host plants of every virus arranged alphabetically. The book discusses the new types of disease vectors, such as root-infesting fungi, nematode worms, mites, and insects that are both biting and sucking. It also discusses the development of new techniques in electron microscopy that is used to characterize in detail the causal viruses of a number of plant virus diseases. Furthermore, it presents the development of plant virus serology, as well as the improved methods of virus isolation that allow the classification of viruses into related groups. The book includes a Bibliography and an Index of Synonyms that can be used in identifying given virus name. In addition, cross-references are included for searching a particular virus under the alternative names. This book will be invaluable to ecologists, environmentalists, agriculturalists, and other scientists interested in plant viruses. Biology students will also find this reference helpful.
    • Foundations of Bioenergetics

      • 1st Edition
      • December 2, 2012
      • Harold Morowitz
      • English
      • Paperback
        9 7 8 0 1 2 4 3 1 6 0 2 7
      • eBook
        9 7 8 0 3 2 3 1 5 4 0 5 5
      Foundations of Bioenergetics provides an introduction to the physical foundations of bioenergetics and the methods of applying these constructs to biological problems. It combines parts of thermal physics, biochemistry, ecology, and cellular and organismic biology into a single coherent work. Much of the material in this volume comes from ""Entropy for Biologists,"" an introductory thermodynamics book aimed particularly at life scientists. Some of the topics originally appeared in the monograph ""Energy Flow in Biology."" The current volume expands on that material with respect to biological applications and attempts to bridge the gap between physics and biology. The book explains basic concepts such as energy, temperature, the second law of thermodynamics, entropy, information theory, and statistical mechanics. It discusses the relations between thermodynamics and statistical mechanics, free-energy functions, radiant energy, the free energy of cells and tissue, chemical kinetics, and cyclic flows. It examines the relationships between energy flows and biological processes; applications of the concepts of Gibbs free energy, chemical potential, and activity; and measurements of temperature, energy, and thermochemical quantities. The book also includes chapters that deal with irreversible dynamics, irreversible theory, and osmotic flow.
    • Cell Physiology

      • 1st Edition
      • December 2, 2012
      • Henry Tedeschi
      • English
      • Paperback
        9 7 8 0 1 2 4 1 2 3 6 6 3
      • eBook
        9 7 8 0 3 2 3 1 4 2 8 1 6
      Cell Physiology: Molecular Dynamics focuses on the molecular aspects of cell physiology. It analyzes the functional and structural organization of the cell as a unit of inheritance and a biochemical transducer; the mechanisms of genetic transmission; the transcription and translation of the genetic message; the capture of energy in oxidative phosphorylation and photosynthesis; and the principle of semi-conservation in DNA duplication. Experiments illustrate the basic principles described in this book. Organized into three sections encompassing 19 chapters, this volume begins with an overview of the cell as a system of compartments, and the possible functional significance of compartmentation. It then turns to a discussion of some of the processes involved in the functioning of the cell, the genetic control of cell function, the replication of DNA, and extrachromosomal inheritance. The reader is also introduced to interactions between organelles and the nucleus; differentiation and control of protein synthesis; the role of enzymes in the regulation of metabolism; and control of macromolecules in bacteria and in some mammalian tissues. The books also covers oxidative phosphorylation and mitochondrial organization; transport and permeability of the cell membrane; the role of specialized cells in the excitation and conduction of signals; and the molecular basis of mechanochemical coupling. This book is a valuable resource for undergraduate students with a basic knowledge of the biochemical and genetic approaches to biology.
    • Eukaryotic Cell Genetics

      • 1st Edition
      • December 2, 2012
      • John Morrow
      • English
      • Paperback
        9 7 8 0 1 2 4 3 3 5 0 6 6
      • eBook
        9 7 8 0 3 2 3 1 5 8 1 8 3
      Eukaryotic Cell Genetics reviews the state of knowledge in somatic cell genetics. The book begins by discussing the development of somatic cell genetics, focusing on the estimation of mutation rates in mammalian cells, with frequent reference to the use of drug resistance as a selective character. It then considers some of the specific properties of such variants in order to understand their molecular basis. The subsequent chapters examine the properties of specific types of auxotrophic variants; the means by which eukaryotic cells may be reassembled to give rise to viable cellular composites; gene regulation in eukaryotic organisms; and chromosome mapping. The discussions also include differentiation in cultured cells; neoplastic transformation; the modulation of gene expression in cultured cells; mutation induction in cultured cells; applications of cell culture; and the mechanism of cellular aging. This book is intended for researchers in the fields of genetics and molecular biology, nonspecialists interested in what is happening in a very exciting area of biology, and students at the graduate level in cell biology.
    • Plant Disease: An Advanced Treatise

      • 1st Edition
      • December 2, 2012
      • James G. Horsfall
      • English
      • Paperback
        9 7 8 0 1 2 4 1 4 3 0 6 7
      • eBook
        9 7 8 0 3 2 3 1 4 6 2 2 7
      Plant Disease An Advanced Treatise, Volume V: How Plants Defend Themselves describes the active, passive, physical, chemical, mechanical, and physiological defense systems of plants against the pathogens. Divided into 23 chapters, this volume discusses theories, experimental approaches, and ways to help plant defend themselves. The opening chapters of this volume deal with certain general aspects of plant defense, such as the theories of “tolerance to disease” and “the time sequence of defense”, including a dynamic model of defense. A chapter discusses how plant populations defend themselves in natural ecosystem and the implications of disease management on agroecosystems. Considerable chapters examine the defense by the host by analogy with defense of a medieval castle, such as perimeter, internal, and chemical defenses. Discussions on the defenses triggered by the invading pathogen; recognition and compatibility phenomena; the concept of hypersensitivity; the role of phytoalexins in defense; and the metabolic detoxification done by plants to suffer less damage from toxins are provided. This volume also discusses the theory and mechanisms of hypovirulence and hyperparasitism. The concluding chapters summarize the effects of numerous nutrients on disease and the mechanisms involved. This volume is an invaluable source for plant pathologists, mycologists, advanced researches, and graduate students.
    • Regulation of Parasite Populations

      • 1st Edition
      • December 2, 2012
      • Gerald Esch
      • English
      • Paperback
        9 7 8 0 1 2 4 3 3 5 5 0 9
      • eBook
        9 7 8 0 3 2 3 1 5 8 6 3 3
      Regulation of Parasite Populations is composed of the proceedings of a symposium held at New Orleans, on November 10-14, 1975, and jointly sponsored by the American Microscopial Society and the American Society of Parasitologists. The symposium focuses on the literatures dealing with the regulation of parasite populations. It also introduces some concepts and notions regarding this field of interest. This book reports the five papers presented in the symposium, beginning with the concept of parasitism. It specifically explains the regulation of fish parasite populations and the role of arrested development in the regulation of nematode populations. Aside from the subject at hand, the complementary nature of laboratory work, field studies, and mathematical modeling are explained. This compilation corresponds to an effort to “bridge a gap” between some of the ideas and thoughts in ecology and parasitology.
    • Toxins in Plant Disease

      • 1st Edition
      • December 2, 2012
      • R Durbin
      • English
      • Paperback
        9 7 8 0 1 2 4 1 4 3 8 6 9
      • eBook
        9 7 8 0 3 2 3 1 4 7 0 4 0
      Toxins in Plant Disease presents a comprehensive coverage of plant disease toxins, both those for which there are reasonable evidence and those with fewer credentials. This book is primarily concerned with the mechanism wherein substances that interfere with metabolism or that alter the normal structure of protoplasm are produced and released (category 1); this includes the traditional toxins, which are usually of low molecular weight. It also describes category 2 mechanism, wherein substances that interfere with normal control of growth and development are produced and released; these microorganisms are classified as growth-affecting compounds. Moreover, this text addresses some high-molecular-weigh... compounds that contribute to vascular dysfunction. It further talks about the production, isolation, assay, genetics of production, mechanism of action, structure-activity relationship, metabolism, and applications of these toxins. This publication will provide a rational basis for future investigations and contribute to the eventual understanding of the role that toxins play in disease causation.
    • Correlative Microscopy In Biology

      • 1st Edition
      • December 2, 2012
      • M.A. (Eric) Hayat
      • English
      • Paperback
        9 7 8 0 1 2 4 3 1 1 8 8 6
      • eBook
        9 7 8 0 3 2 3 1 4 9 8 6 0
      Correlative Microscopy in Biology: Instrumentation and Methods presents the detailed methodology of biological correlative microscopy, a technology that allows the acquisition of multiple data from single tissue block, cell, or section. The chapters in the book include detailed and complete instructions on the preparatory procedures. The book has 20 chapters that deal with various forms and systems of microscopy. Some of the forms and methods used in the book include light, scanning electron, fluorescence, scanning transmission electron, and ion microscopy, as well as combined light and electron and transmission electron microscope. Other methods and their applications are all discussed in detail in the book. This book will help students apply the methods without outside help as each methodology is presented in a step-by-step approach, including applications and techniques. Aside from students, the book will also be good reference for teachers, scientists, and researchers in the fields of biology, biochemistry, and medicine.
    • Biotic Interactions and Soil-Borne Diseases

      • 1st Edition
      • Volume 23
      • December 2, 2012
      • A.B.R. Beemster + 5 more
      • English
      • Paperback
        9 7 8 0 4 4 4 5 6 5 8 7 7
      • eBook
        9 7 8 0 4 4 4 5 9 9 2 5 4
      This volume contains a collection of all the papers presented at the founding conference of the European Foundation for Plant Pathology, held from 26th February to 2nd March 1990 at Wageningen, The Netherlands. It focusses on the theme of "Biotic Interactions and Soil-Borne Diseases", on which there are contributions from leading European scientists in the field of soil-borne diseases. Ways of exploiting biotic processes and phenomena which result in plant production harmless to the environment are explored.