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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.

  • Interferons A Primer

    • 1st Edition
    • Robert Friedman
    • English
    Interferons: A Primer covers general information on interferon, including analysis, purification, production, properties, mechanism of action, and clinical uses. Organized into 10 chapters, the book starts with a short history of interferon’s discovery by Isaacs and Lindenmann, followed by topics on assays for interferon, such as factors affecting interferon assays and rapid biological assay. Chapters 3 to 6 discuss the purification, properties, production, antiviral action, and other functions of interferon. Chapters 7 and 8 examine the recovery from viral infection and clinical uses of interferon, with emphasis on treatment of human cancer. The concluding chapters focus on the application of interferon studies on two revolutionizing fields of biology, namely, the cloning of animal genes in microorganisms and the production of monoclonal antibodies. This book is intended for students, scientists, physicians, or educated laypersons who wish to know something about interferons, but do not plan carrying out research in this area.
  • Ir Genes and Ia Antigens

    • 1st Edition
    • Hugh Mcdevitt
    • English
    Ir Genes and Ia Antigens features papers that were presented at the Third Ir Gene Workshop held in Asilomar, California, December 13-16, 1976. The book is organized into seven parts that correspond to the seven sessions held during the workshop. The first session focused on the definition of the I-E and I-C subregions, and the mapping and cellular expression of complementing Ir genes. The second session included papers on the expression of gene products of the I region. The third session covered two major areas: (1) the biochemical characterization and primary structure of la antigens; and (2) the possible carbohydrate nature of la antigenic determinant. The studies presented in the fourth session focused on the role of I-region gene products in cellular interactions. The fifth session discussed the "recognition" functions controlled by the I region of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC). The sixth session featured papers on la-containing T cell factors. Finally, the seventh session examined the properties of T-cell antigen receptors.
  • Circannual Clocks

    Annual Biological Rhythms
    • 1st Edition
    • Eric Pengelley
    • English
    Circannual Clocks: Annual Biological Rhythms documents the Proceedings of a Satellite Symposium of the 140th Meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science held in San Francisco, California, February 25, 1974. The purpose of the symposium was to summarize the present state of knowledge on endogenous annual rhythms (circannual clocks), and to point out their biological significance and importance. The presentations included studies on the following: the circannual rhythms of an arthropod, the cave crayfish, Orconectes pellucidus inermis, and a cnidarian, Campanularia flexuosa; the occurrence, manifestation, and importance of circannual rhythms in birds with different migratory habits; and the importance of circannual rhythms in hibernating mammals. Also covered are the relationships between circannual rhythms and endogenous lunar and tidal rhythms; circannual rhythm of reproduction in male European starlings; the adaptational value of internal annual clocks in birds; the expression and suppression of the circannual antler growth cycle in deer; and circannual rhythms in man.
  • The Comparative Molecular Biology of Extracellular Matrices

    • 1st Edition
    • Harold Slavkin
    • English
    The Comparative Molecular Biology of Extracellular Matrices reviews and assesses the comparative molecular biology of extracellular matrices. It covers six areas that are advanced to supplement this study. These include the molecular biology of collagen, monopolysaccharides, proteoglycans, and structural glycoproteins; development process of extracellular matrices; cell surfaces and interactions; evolution of bone and some tissues; and biophysical properties of connective tissues.
  • Agriculture and Energy

    • 1st Edition
    • William Lockeretz
    • English
    Agriculture and Energy consists of the proceedings of a conference held at Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri, on June 17-19, 1976. The conference aims to bring together a broad spectrum of researchers concerned with obtaining a better understanding of the energy consumption by agriculture. These researchers are also concerned with developing ways to help food production adapt to occurring and anticipated resource availability problems. This book is organized into nine parts, separating the papers of the conference as chapters. It describes the quantity of energy consumed in particular production processes or in production at various levels of aggregation in the field of agriculture. It also dwells into the economic impacts of energy problems on agricultural production. It looks into the comparative economic and energy costs of the various methods for producing a specific product. Furthermore, this reference material discusses unconventional production methods that can reduce the need for fossil energy inputs by using renewable energy sources or recycling materials. Lastly, the implications of the energy situation for agricultural policy, both in the U.S. and in developing countries, are shown.
  • mechanistic studies of DNA replication and genetic recombination

    • 1st Edition
    • Bruce Alberts
    • English
    Mechanistic Studies of DNA Replication and Genetic Recombination emerged from a symposium on DNA replication and genetic recombination held from March 16-21, 1980 in Keystone, Colorado. The event featured 30 plenary session talks, 13 workshop discussion groups, and the 210 poster sessions. The studies described in this book are paving the way for the elucidation of other basic genetic mechanisms, including ""new"" areas in molecular genetics such as those of eukaryotic gene expression and the transposition of mobile genetic elements. This book is divided into 10 parts: summaries of workshop discussion groups (Part I); studies on eukaryotic model systems for DNA replication (Part II); studies on bacterial replication origins (Part III); studies on replication origins of bacterial phages and plasmids (Part IV); studies on eukaryotic replication origins (Part V); studies on prokaryotic replication enzymology (Part VI); studies on eukaryotic replication enzymology (Part VII); studies on the fidelity of DNA replication (Part VIII); studies on DNA topoisomerases (Part IX); and studies of genetic recombination mechanisms (Part X).
  • Quality Control in the Food Industry V1

    • 1st Edition
    • S Herschdoerfer
    • English
    Quality Control in the Food Industry, Volume 1 focuses on the general aspects of quality control in the food industry, emphasizing the controllable factors that affect the quality of the finished product, including the selection of raw materials, processing methods, packaging, storage, and distribution. The book describes the principles of quality control and some important concepts such as sensory assessment and statistical approaches, along with food standards and health problems in quality control. This volume is organized into six chapters and begins with an overview of the application, organization, related problems, techniques, and prospects of quality control. The next chapters focus on the chemical and microbiological aspects of health problems in quality control; fundamental concepts in statistics as applied to quality control from sampling to the estimation of ingredients; and taste testing as an approach to quality control of processed foods. The book concludes by considering the importance, limitations, and problems associated with food standards, with special reference to their international aspects. This book will be of interest to food scientists and technologists, managers in the food industry, and students.
  • Molecular Cytology V1

    The Cell Cycle
    • 1st Edition
    • Jean Brachet
    • English
    Molecular Cytology presents an integrated version about the morphology and biochemistry of the cell. This two-volume book focuses on the dynamic aspects of cytology and on the nucleocytoplasmic interactions in unicellular organisms and eggs. The first chapter covers the history of cell, cytology, and nucleic acids, as well as the uniformity and diversity in cell. The book then discusses various methods used in cell biology, including optical, cytochemical, biological, biochemical, and biophysical techniques. It also examines the activities of cytoplasm and nucleus during interphase. The final chapter describes various phases of the cell cycle, the structure of metaphase chromosomes, the molecular organization of the mitotic apparatus, and the cytokinesis, with emphasis on the main mitotic abnormalities. With the aim of linking the morphology and biochemistry of the cell, this book is intended for advanced students, research workers, biochemists, and cytologists who wish to broaden their knowledge in cell.
  • The Biology of Crustacea

    Pathobiology
    • 1st Edition
    • Anthony Jr. Provenzano
    • English
    The Biology of Crustacea, Volume 6: Pathobiology summarizes the state of knowledge, major advances, and important problems in crustacean diseases. Organized into five chapters, this book begins with the discussion on the disease-causing viruses, Rickettsiae, bacteria, and fungi afflicting crustaceans. It then talks about diseases caused by protozoans, indicating the large gaps in knowledge of life histories, mechanisms of transmission, and pathogenesis. This book also emphasizes the many different ways in which a host crustacean may respond to a disease-causing organism and how these responses are linked to the mode of invasion and nature of the disease-causing organism, itself. The life histories of metazoans that live in various relationships in or on crustacean hosts, and the life histories and impacts of parasitic crustaceans on hosts are also explored. This book will serve as a starting point for those needing a summary of topics concerning crustacean diseases and as a stimulus for further work.