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Elsevier

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.

  • Mechanisms in Bioenergetics

    • 1st Edition
    • Giovanni Azzone
    • English
    Mechanisms in Bioenergetics covers the proceedings of the eighth conference on ""Mechanisms in Bioenergetics"" held in Pugnochiuso, Italy on May 1-4, 1972. This book is organized into three parts, encompassing 43 chapters that discuss bioenergetics in mitochondria, chloroplasts, chromatophores, and bacterial protoplast membranes. It summarizes the structure and dynamics of energy-transducing membranes, molecular basis of membrane transport, and energy coupling mechanisms. The first part of the book describes various aspects of structure and dynamics of energy transducing membranes. This includes their chemiosmotic coupling, reflection coefficients, structural transformation, redox properties, and circular dichroism studies. This is followed by considerable chapters discussing chemiosmotic theory of transport and metabolism, ion channel phosphorylation paths in cell membrane, and kinetics of metabolite anion uptake in mitochondria. Other topics covered are mitochondrial Ca2+-binding glycoprotein and sucrose-dependent sugar transport across artificial lipid membranes. This book also looks into the enzyme interaction in mitochondrial membrane. It also discusses the relation of hydrogen uptake to electron flow in photosynthetic bacteria and purine nucleotides and fatty acids in energy coupling. The concluding section deals with the mechanisms of energy coupling, including mechanism of respiration-driven proton, role of mitochondrial energy transfer factors, and energy in mitochondrial respiration. The behavior of cytochromes b and c of pigeon heart and in the energized mitochondrial membrane is also described. Finally, this book considers the effect of adenosine-containing compounds competitively inhibiting the mitochondrial transhydrogenase reaction. Researchers and students who are interested in bioenergetics and energy-transducing membranes will benefit from this book.

  • Interferons

    • 1st Edition
    • Thomas Merigan
    • English
    Interferons documents the proceedings of a major international conference on Chemistry and Biology of Interferons: Relationship to Therapeutics held at Squaw Valley, California, in March 1982. The meeting was one of the 1982 UCLA Symposia on Molecular and Cellular Biology organized through the Molecular Biology Institute of the University of California at Los Angeles. The book is organized into four parts. Part I presents papers on recombinant DNA production of interferon. It includes studies on the synthesis of human immune interferon in E. coli and monkey cells; the expression of human β interferon gene in heterologous cells; and the molecular activities of recombinant and hybrid leukocyte interferons. Part II deals with the biology of interferons, covering topics such as interferon production control process; the effect of interferon on cellular enzymes; and human amniotic interferon. Part III examines the factors relevant to clinical application of interferons, including structure-function studies with human interferon-gamma and on human alpha interferon. Part IV presents clinical studies of interferon, such as interferon α trials in human tumor diseases and interferon in renal transplant recipients.

  • Spontaneous Animal Models of Human Disease

    • 1st Edition
    • Volume 2
    • Edwin J. Andrews + 2 more
    • English
    This two-volume work gathers together the diverse information presently available on spontaneous animal models of human disease. In addition to providing a comprehensive review of existing models, the book presents many previous unpublished new models.The scope of this work is limited to spontaneous models. Neoplasia, infectious diseases including parasitism, and nutritionally induced or other types of experimental models have not been included. The sixteen parts of the book are alphabetically arranged according to organ system with over 230 authors contributing to the overall effort. In addition to many illustrations, the book features an extensive bibliography.

  • Pollination Biology

    • 1st Edition
    • Leslie Real
    • English
    Pollination Biology reviews the state of knowledge in the field of pollination biology. The book begins by tracing the historical trends in pollination research and the development of the two styles of pollination biology. This is followed by separate chapters on the evolution of the angiosperms; the evolution of plant-breeding systems; the geographical correlations between breeding habit, climate, and mode of pollen transfer; and sexual selection in plants. Subsequent chapters examine the process of sexual selection through gametic competition in Geranium maculatum; the effects of different gene movement patterns on plant population structure; the foraging behavior of pollinators; adaptive nature of floral traits; and competitive interactions among flowering plants for pollinators. The book is designed to provide useful material for advanced undergraduate and graduate students wishing to familiarize themselves with modern pollination biology and also to provide new insights into specific problems for those already engaged in pollination research. The book is intended to be used for both teaching and research.

  • The Biology of Frankia and Actinorhizal Plants

    • 1st Edition
    • Christa R. Schwintzer
    • English
    The Biology of Frankia and Actinorhizal Plants provides a comprehensive review of Frankia and the actinorhizal plants. It reviews the state of knowledge on all aspects from molecular genetics through ecology to practical applications; describes methods used in research and practical applications; and is a guide to the literature. The book begins with overviews of Frankia and the actinorhizal plants, and developments in the field prior to the first confirmed isolation of Frankia. Next is a series of authoritative chapters on the biology of Frankia, the symbiosis, and actinorhizal plants. Although methods used in research and in practical applications are included throughout the book, they are given special emphasis in the middle section. The final section of the book concerns the ecology and current and potential uses of actinorhizal plants in both the temperate regions and the tropics. This work is intended as a reference text and handbook of methods for a wide audience including established workers and students of Frankia and actinorhizal plants, specialists and students in other areas of nitrogen fixation (including the Rhizobium-legume symbiosis), soil microbiologists, plant physiologists, ecologists, general biologists, foresters, specialists in land reclamation, and managers requiring an authoritative overview of this rapidly developing field.

  • Regulatory T Lymphocytes

    • 1st Edition
    • Benvenuto Pernis
    • English
    Regulatory T Lymphocytes documents the proceedings of a symposium on ""Regulatory T Lymphocytes"" held at Arden House on the Harriman Campus of Columbia University from June 8-10, 1979. The meeting was the fourth of the P&S Biomedical Sciences Symposia. Starting with the opening address on regulatory T lymphocytes and their antigen receptors, the remainder of the book presents the contributions made by researchers at the symposium. These contributions are organized into seven parts. Part I contains studies T cell receptors. Part II presents studies on T cell subpopulations. Parts III and IV examine helper T cells. Parts V and VI deal with suppressor T cells. Part VII contains papers on regulatory T cell circuits.

  • Introduction to Biomolecular Energetics

    Including Ligand–Receptor Interactions
    • 1st Edition
    • Irving Klotz
    • English
    Introduction to Biomolecular Energetics Including Ligand-Receptor Interactions focuses on the concepts of energetics and their biological applications, including the study of ligand-receptor interactions. The book provides quantitative calculations and addresses topics that have become more prominent in the biochemical and related sciences in recent years, including the first and second laws of thermodynamics, the concept of entropy, free energy or chemical potential, group-transfer potential, physicochemical behavior, and enzyme kinetics. This volume is organized into 10 chapters, and it begins with an overview of the scope of energetics and two general approaches to the field: the classical or phenomenological approach and the statistical-molecula... approach. The chapters that follow explore the concepts of energy and entropy in the context of the first and second laws of thermodynamics, along with the relationships between work, heat, energy and entropy as an index of exhaustion. The discussion then shifts to the free energy function and general procedures for computing standard free energies. The book also introduces the reader to the fundamental relationship between chemical potential (free energy) and concentration; high-energy bond and the concept of group-transfer potential; the use of thermodynamic methods in the analysis of physicochemical behavior; and statistical thermodynamics. The final chapter examines the number of ligands that are bound by the receptor entity, how strongly the ligands are held, and the molecular nature of the forces of ligand-receptor interaction. This book will be of interest to biologists and those who want to understand the principles of energetics governing biochemical changes.

  • Plant Disease: An Advanced Treatise

    How Disease Develops in Populations
    • 1st Edition
    • James G. Horsfall
    • English
    Plant Disease An Advanced Treatise, Volume II: How Disease Develops in Populations deals with the epidemiological aspect of disease in population of plants. Comprised of 18 chapters, this volume discusses the comparative anatomy, methods of research, instrumentation, computer simulation, and genetic basis of epidemics. After briefly discussing the sociology of plant pathology, the book presents the comparative anatomy of epidemics in terms of their structure, patterns of development, and dynamics. This volume describes the rational processes of epidemiological research and how they differ from the processes used to investigate disease in individual plants. A chapter examines the instrumentation for measuring the weather component, including temperature, humidity, air movement, and irradiance. Other chapters discuss the measurement of disease on whole living plants; the theory and measurement of inoculum potential; the dispersal of pathogens in both time and space; and the movement and maintenance of infectivity by pathogens that operate below ground. This volume also deals with computer simulators of plant disease and the use of predictive models to forecast epidemics for management decision making. It describes some general patterns of changes in plant-part susceptibility with time for various groups of diseases caused by fungi or viruses. A discussion on the problems of genetic uniformity and susceptibility and the breeding and deployment strategies needed to cope with these problems is included. Other chapters examine the influence of climate and weather on epidemics; the analysis of the geographical and climatic distribution of plants in various parts of the world; and the hazardous practices that have favored epidemics. Lastly, the probabilities of success for quarantines against diseases of various types are provided. This volume is an invaluable source for plant epidemiologists and pathologists, botanists, and researchers.

  • Fungal Wilt Diseases of Plants

    • 1st Edition
    • Marshal Mace
    • English
    Fungal Wilt Diseases of Plants focuses on wilt diseases caused by the fungal genera Verticillium, Fusarium, and Ceratocystis. Special attention is given to the interactions of physiological, biochemical, and anatomical factors, as these relate to pathogenesis and mechanisms of disease resistance. Organized into 16 chapters, this book begins with a description, in a historical perspective, of the major research themes in fungal wilt diseases. It then looks into the worldwide status of this plant disease. The three subsequent chapters describe the epidemiology and life cycle of the major fungal wilt pathogens in Fusarium, Verticillium, and Ceratocystis. This book also provides an in-depth view of the genetics and biochemistry of these pathogens; the nature of pathogenesis and the effects of wilt pathogens on host-water relations; and the sources and genetics of host resistance in field and fruit crops, vegetable crops, and shade trees. Other chapters are dedicated to the biochemistry, physiology, and the anatomical aspects of resistance and to the progress in the biological and chemical control of these pathogens. This text will be of great value to graduate students and senior research scientists in plant pathology, physiology, and biochemistry, who are specifically involved in studying wilt diseases and host-parasite interactions. It will provide them the detailed background information needed to supplement their specialized research interests.

  • Plant Geography

    With Special Reference to North America
    • 1st Edition
    • Rexford Daubenmire
    • English
    Plant Geography: With Special Reference to North America covers main concepts of the two major approaches to plant geography, namely, the floristic plant geography and the ecologic plant geography. Floristic plant geography primarily studies evolutionary divergence, migration, and decline of taxa, as influenced by past events of the earth’s history. Ecologic plant geography is an alternative approach to plant geography, which takes plant communities as units having ranges to be interpreted, dominated by sociologic and physiologic, rather than phylogenetic and historic considerations. Under the floristic plant geography part, topics covered include interrelations among floristic plant geography, taxonomy, and geology; the relation between plant dissemination and migration; evidence of the dynamic character of plant ranges; and migratory route. After a brief introduction to the evolution of North and South America vegetation, the book discusses the ecologic plant geography section that focuses on various vegetation regions in North America, including Tundra, subarctic-subalpine forest, temperate mesophytic, xerophytic forest, and chaparral and steppe regions and temperate affinity forests in Middle America. Other regions examined include the desert and marine regions, as well as the microphyllous woodland, tropical savanna, rain forest, and tropical alpine. With great information on geologic history of each vegetation unit and paleontology, this book will be helpful to paleobotanists, historical geologists, and taxonomists.

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