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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.

  • Insects, Science & Society

    • 1st Edition
    • David Pimentel
    • English
    Insects, Science, & Society documents the proceedings of a symposium of the same name celebrating the centennial of entomology at Cornell University. The symposium and the resulting book brought together some of the world's leading entomologists, who discussed recent advances in their diverse specialties. In commemorating the hundred years of entomology, the symposium also honors the founder of the department at Cornell, John Henry Comstock, whose investigations encompassed not only many aspects of entomology—insect taxonomy, morphology, and ecology—but also focused on practical problems of pest control. Starting with a discussion that provides a broad perspective of the interrelationship of insects, science, and society, the remainder of the book presents the contributions made by researchers at the symposium. These contributions are organized into five parts. Part I discusses aspects of the social implications of insects. Part II deals with communication among insects. Part III examines other interactions among insects and between insects and plants. Part IV covers insect population dynamics. Part V deals with insect pest management.
  • Human Lymphokines

    The Biological Immune Response Modifiers
    • 1st Edition
    • Amanullah Khan
    • English
    Human Lymphokines: The Biological Immune Response Modifiers is a collection of papers presented at the Third International Symposium on Human Lymphokines held on October 15-17, 1981 at the Wadley Institutes of Molecular Medicine in Dallas, Texas. Contributors explore the role of human lymphokines in immune responses and their applications in immunotherapy. The focus is on lymphokines that have either entered clinical trials or are nearing clinical evaluation. Some of the activities of possible immediate significance, such as Glia cell stimulating factor and polyclonal B-cell activator, are also described. This volume is organized into six sections encompassing 56 chapters and begins with an overview of assay systems, touching on topics such as the activation of macrophages by interferon to produce plasminogen and macrophage activation by lymphokine factors. The next sections turn to the production, purification, and biological and chemical characterization of lymphokines. The discussion then shifts to the mechanisms of action of lymphokines in vitro and the use of animal models in lymphokine investigations, including lymphokine fractions in a mouse tumor model and enhancement of natural killing activity by different types of interferon. A great deal of emphasis is placed on macrophage migration inhibitory factor, lymphotoxins, gamma interferon, and interleukins. The book concludes with chapters devoted to the immunoregulatory effects of lymphokines and clinical studies.
  • Assessment of Immune status by the Leukocyte Adherence Inhibition Test

    • 1st Edition
    • D Thomson
    • English
    Assessment of Immune Status by the Leukocyte Adherence Inhibition Test reviews many aspects of the immune response and cellular requirements in leukocyte adherence inhibition (LAI). It compares the LAI methodology with alternative approaches, discusses the method that has been adopted to determine whether the LAI phenomenon measures a specific immune response, and explores how these phenomena fit in with and relate to the traditional immune response. Organized into three parts encompassing 15 chapters, this volume begins with an overview of the hemocytometer assay, the immunological basis and applications of hemocytometer LAI, the immune response as assayed by the test tube method, and the microplate assay. It then discusses cellular populations in LAI; measurements of humoral antitumor immunity; clinical application of LAI in breast cancer, prostate cancer, and rheumatic diseases; the biology of LAI and its response to human cancer; and cellular and pharmacologic aspects of LAI. It also compares microplate LAI with other in vitro assays of cell-mediated immunity, as well as tumor immunity in animal models and human cancer. Both beginning and experienced investigators involved in all aspects of immunologic research will find this book extremely useful.
  • Proteins and Nucleic Acids

    • 1st Edition
    • Isidore Gersh
    • English
    Submicroscopic Cytochemistry, Volume I: Proteins and Nucleic Acids presents laboratory findings and theoretical aspects involved or derived from submicroscopic cytochemistry study of proteins and nucleic acids. It is a two-volume book, encompassing 14 chapters covering three major topics: the pattern of distribution of nucleic acids at the molecular level in various cells and states of activity and in relation to protein synthesis; the molecular and macromolecular organization of cellular membranes; and the origin and distribution of the major macromolecular aggregates of connective tissue. After a brief introduction to the aspects of submicroscopic cytochemistry, the book discusses morphology, with emphasis on the distribution of cell components and their organization in cells at the macromolecular level. It then presents developed methods to preserve and selectively identify proteins, nucleic acids, lipids, acid mucopolysaccharides, and molecular aggregates very nearly in the position they occupied in the living state. Chapters 8 to 12 describe DNA molecular patterns during cell differentiation and cell maturation, and the alteration of these patterns in certain mouse cells. A discussion on DNA molecular patterns during metaplasia of stratified squamous mouse epithelium and of spinal ganglion cells during regeneration is provided. The concluding chapters examine DNA organization during mitotic cycle in Drosophila eggs and the persistence of chromosome individuality during interphase. This book is a valuable source of information for cytochemists, cell biologists, cell researchers, and protein nucleic acid enthusiasts who wish to expand their knowledge on comprehensive cytochemistry laboratory study.
  • Invertebrate Cell Culture Applications

    • 1st Edition
    • Karl Maramorosch
    • English
    Invertebrate Cell Culture Applications assesses the status of invertebrate cell culture at a time when this method can be used to solve problems in a number of diverse disciplines. Organized into seven chapters, this book begins by discussing the development and amino acid requirements of insect cell culture. It then describes the Drosophila tissue culture and chromosomal phenomena in cell lines of this organism. This book also explains the culture conditions regulating the infection of cells by an intracellular microorganism, as well as the replication of arboviruses in arthropod in vitro systems. Lastly, the characteristics, growth requirements, and applications of tick cell culture to parasitology are explored. This book will contribute in solving biomedical and agricultural problems. This reference material will be of special interest to parasitologists, virologists, microbiologists, entomologists, geneticists, medical researchers, and graduate students in related fields of biomedical research.
  • Economics of food processing in the United States

    • 1st Edition
    • Chester O. Jr. McCorkler
    • English
    Economics of Food Processing in the United States aims to provide an economic overview of the food processing industries in the United States; to explore the firm-level implications of social, economic, technological, and institutional forces for selected food processing industries; and to uncover some of the implications for consumers, raw product producers, and the national economy of the major trends observed in food industries. The book begins by evaluating the major forces shaping demand, supply, prices, and trade in processed foods. It then considers major trends in technical processes; major forces in marketing, distribution, and structure; and major trends in regulation. The next few chapters explore these trends for five specific food processing industries, which represent major types of products processed: fruits and vegetables, meat, milk, grain and soybeans, and wine. After the specific industries have been examined, the final two chapters treat these industries in the context of the national and international economy. Students preparing for careers, researchers, and industry participants who study these firms and industries and the various approaches to solving their economic and management problems will benefit from the information in this volume and from its approach to presenting the dynamics of the food processing industries.
  • The Recombination of Genetic Material

    • 1st Edition
    • K Low
    • English
    The Recombination of Genetic Material aims to introduce the elementary properties of recombinational phenomena. Genetic recombination is a favorite research topic in biology due to its significance. In fact, a simple recombination event can have a profound effect and sometimes can mean the difference between the survival and the demise of an organism. Examples of this are provided in this book. This work also describes numerous recombination systems, mechanisms of the major types of recombination, and the macroscopic products of this biological process. Molecular analyses of recombination enzymes and substrates that have been identified or implicated are also shown. This book will be valuable as a reference material to those interested in this field of study.
  • Evolutionary and Genetic Biology of Primates V2

    • 1st Edition
    • John Buettner-Janusch
    • English
    Evolutionary and Genetic Biology of Primates, Volume II presents research on the evolution and genetic biology of the Primates. This book is organized into six chapters that discuss the serum proteins and hemoglobins; virology; and functional and behavior studies of reproductive systems, manipulative abilities, and displays of the Primates. The opening chapter presents the susceptibility of Primates to host range spans of viruses with both broad and narrow spectra, in relation to their taxonomic classification. The following chapter examines the Primates as a model group for the evaluation of the phylogenetic and evolutionary significance of immunochemical information. This book discusses the relationship of protein structure to evolution and of immunochemistry to protein structure, as well as the application of immunochemical methods in the antigenic correspondence among the Primates. This volume also covers the evolution of hemoglobin from one taxonomic level of the Primates to another. A chapter focuses on the reproductive physiology and behavior of the Lemuroidea, including their external genitalia, testis, sperm ducts, and associated glands. The concluding chapters discuss the role and phylogenetic relations of prehensive patterns and grips in the biology of Primates. A discussion on the origin and evolution of the different groups of components of primate displays is included. This book is an invaluable source for physical anthropologists and researchers, histologists, anatomists, neurologists, geneticists, cytologists, and other specialists.
  • Chemical Mutagens Environmental Effects on Biological Systems

    • 1st Edition
    • L Fishbein
    • English
    Chemical Mutagens: Environmental Effects on Biological Systems brings together relevant facts about synthetic and naturally occurring mutagenic chemicals. Organized into two parts, this book begins with a simple discussion on the modern concepts of the gene at the molecular and biochemical levels. The first part also looks into the different types of mutations and how they form, as well as the biological systems used for their detection. The second part deals with the individual chemical mutagens of environmental significance, including their manufacture, occurrence, method of detection, degradation, and metabolism. It also discusses the types of mutation chemical mutagens induce in the various test systems that have been utilized. This book will serve as single source material for its utility to students, investigators, and those involved with public health.
  • Water Activity and Food

    • 1st Edition
    • John Troller
    • English
    Water Activity and Food explores the role of water activity in the water relations of microorganisms and in food processing, packaging, and storage. It reviews the literature and provides numerous examples demonstrating the use of water activity to predict the reactions of microorganisms or the stability of food components. It also highlights cases where water activity is not a reliable predictor of events and considers some interesting interactions with other environmental parameters. Comprised of 11 chapters, this volume begins with an overview of water in foods and solutions, water activity values for foods, and water relations of enzyme activity. It then discusses lipid oxidation, enzyme reactions and non-enzymatic browning, and several other food-related factors. The reader is also introduced to water relations of microbial growth; the effects of water on microbial survival; the spoilage and preservation of foods at various levels of water activity; the water relations of food-borne pathogens such as Salmonella and toxigenic molds; the importance of water activity in non-microbiological aspects of food processing and storage; and the influence of atmospheric relative humidity on sanitation and the protection of food products. This book is an important source of information for researchers in food microbiology and microbial water relations.