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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.

  • The Biology of the Monotremes

    • 1st Edition
    • Mervyn Griffiths
    • English
    The Biology of the Monotremes is an attempt to make available all gathered information about monotremes to the greater public. This book specifically targets the students, newly graduates, teachers, and researchers interested in the study of life processes and evolution. This book comprises of 10 chapters. Each chapter except Chapter 10 discusses three genera - Ornithorhynchus, Tachyglossus, and Zaglossus. Chapter 1 serves as an introduction to the subject matter. It covers the discovery and general anatomy of the monotremes. In accordance, Chapter 2 discusses the different kinds of monotremes and its other aspects. Aside from the mentioned genera, it also includes Obdurodon insignis. In Chapter 3, the food and feeding habits of the monotremes is given focus. Meanwhile, the varied physiology of monotremes is the subject of Chapter 4, and temperature regulation in Chapter 5. A more detailed and thorough discussion regarding the anatomy of the monotremes is provided in Chapters 6 through 9. The discussion covers topics including the glands in the endocrine and immune systems, as well as special senses, organs, and behavior of monotremes. Its reproduction and embryology is also discussed. This book explains as well the mammal’s lactation, composition of the milk, sucking, and growth of the young. Lastly, Chapter 10 provides the readers with four differing views regarding the relationship of the monotremes with the rest of the mammals.
  • Social Insects V4

    • 1st Edition
    • Henry Hermani
    • English
    Social Insects, Volume IV is the last installment of a four-volume treatise and is dedicated to the discussion on wasps and ants. Comprised of four chapters, this volume focuses on the sociality of various types of ants as their group has very diverse habits. The first chapter describes the general biology and behavior of social wasps and discusses the cyclical populations, nest associates, and communal defense of wasps. Chapter 2 introduces the broad and general overview of the biology of ants, including their behavior, food collection, and nest construction. Chapters 3 and 4 present the biology of army and fungus ants, respectively. This volume also explains how ants are defined and identified, including their colony composition and behavior. As with the previous volumes, this volume seeks to be of service to students, researchers, and scientists in various fields of research, particularly entomology, social biology, zoology, and biological science.
  • Nonsegmented Negative Strand Viruses

    Paramyxoviruses and Rhabdoviruses
    • 1st Edition
    • David H.L. Bishop
    • English
    Nonsegmented Negative Strand Viruses: Paramyxoviruses and Rhabdoviruses consists of papers presented at the Fifth International Symposium on Negative Strand Viruses, held at Hilton Head, S.C., on September 11-17, 1983.This book specifically contains papers on negative strand virus families with nonsegmented genomes, paramyxoviruses and rhabdoviruses. This reference shows the advances in the research of the two virus families, paramyxoviruses and rhabdoviruses. It also illuminates the various stages in the strategy of negative strand virus infections, including adsorption, penetration, mRNA transcription, translation, RNA replication, morphogenesis, and virus release. The biology of virus infection and host response are also addressed.
  • The Structure and Function of Nervous Tissue V6

    Structure IV and Physiology IV
    • 1st Edition
    • Geoffrey Bourne
    • English
    The Structure and Function of Nervous Tissue, Volume VI: Structure IV and Physiology IV covers topics pertaining to ependyma and subependymal layer, filaments and tubules, synapse, epiphysis cerebri, excitation, macromolecules, and dopamine in the nervous system. The book particularly discusses the main structural features and functions of the ependyma and subependymal layer. It describes the ultrastructure of the synapse, and the nonspecific changes of the central nervous system in normal and experimental materials. It also includes the molecular biology of developing mammalian brain. In addition, the ""macromolecular picture"" of nerve excitation based on accumulated experimental findings from intracellularly perfused squid giant axons is presented. Lastly, evidence pertaining to the view that dopamine plays an important role in the control of extrapyramidal (striatal) motor functions is shown. This book will be very useful for graduate students in a variety of disciplines and for those specializing in particular aspects of nervous tissue study.
  • Monoclonal Antibodies against Bacteria

    • 1st Edition
    • Alberto Macario
    • English
    Monoclonal Antibodies against Bacteria, Volume I explores the generation, characterization, and utilization of monoclonal antibodies against bacteria and on other monoclonal products relevant to antibacterial immune responses. Organized into 12 chapters, this book begins with a discussion on monoclonal antibodies against bacteria, encompassing its scope, research, and directions. It shows that the coordinated use of antisera and panels of monoclonal antibodies is proving useful for classification as a diagnostic tool with prognostic implications in the case of pathogens, or as a preliminary step in taxonomy. Also, monoclonal antibodies hold great potential as instruments in working with bacteria for industrial or biotechnological purposes, including genetic engineering. This book also elucidates the use of monoclonal antibodies of predefined molecular specificity for tracing molecular ""signatures"" left by a given strain in other microorganisms, subcellular structures, and materials from ecologic niches. The possibility of antibacterial and antitoxin therapies with monoclonal antibodies is also addressed. This treatise will be a valuable reference work to anyone working with monoclonal antibodies or getting ready to prepare them against the strain(s) (or bacterial structures) of his/her interest.
  • Biological Environmental Impact Studies

    Theory and Methods
    • 1st Edition
    • Diana V. Ward
    • English
    Biological Environmental Impact Studies: Theory and Methods explains how an environmental impact study aimed at predicting biological changes can be approached and accomplished. It explores environmental impact studies from an ecosystem function point of view and highlights ecological tools and guidelines for use in biological studies in the context of environmental impact assessment. It also considers four general concepts of biological impact studies: synergy, experimental control and causality, measures of ecosystem change, and the interrelationships between structure, function, and time. Organized into seven chapters, this volume begins with an overview of environmental impact and environmental impact analysis, field surveys and their objectives, and mathematical modeling of biological systems. It then discusses time frames for ecological impacts; the role of field experiments and laboratory studies in environmental impact assessment; and common types of biological impact studies, including a study that investigated the impact of insecticides on the ecology of salt marshes in New Jersey and the effects of dredging, filling, and lagoon construction on tidal wetlands in Delaware. This book is a valuable resource for biologists, biology students, managers, and government agents interested in environmental impact assessment.
  • Biological Applications of Magnetic Resonance

    • 1st Edition
    • R Shulman
    • English
    Biological Applications of Magnetic Resonance discusses various applications of magnetic resonance techniques. The book's opening chapter examines the exchange behavior of the hydrogen-bonded protons and its influence on their nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra. This is followed by separate chapters dealing with NMR studies of nucleic acid and drug-nucleic acid complexes. Aspects of the basic theory of the nuclear Overhauser effect (NOE) are presented, along with applications of NOEs observed for protons in biomolecules. Subsequent chapters cover specialized EPR techniques that have been applied to biological problems; the use of physical methods to refine a model of the combing site of the Fv fragment of protein 315; and the utility of model compounds in the analysis of hemoprotein NMR spectra. The remaining chapters discuss serine proteinases that have been investigated by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy; the use of NMR in the study of intact living tissue and organs; and 31P and 13C NMR studies of E. coli cells.
  • The Role of Insectivorous Birds in Forest Ecosystems

    • 1st Edition
    • James G. Dickson
    • English
    The Role of Insectivorous Birds in Forest Ecosystems is a publication of the proceedings of The Role of Insectivorous Birds in Forest Ecosystems symposium, held on July 13 and 14, 1978 at Nacogdoches, Texas. The proceedings discuss the ecology of insectivorous birds and acknowledge their roles in forest ecosystems. The book begins with an introduction to and history of insectivorous birds and their roles in forest ecosystems. It then discusses the sampling methods for bird and insect populations, bird foraging strategies, and ecology of insectivorous bird species and communities. This book will be helpful to forest managers in managing insectivorous birds. It is also especially valuable in formulating biological control strategies for use in forests.
  • Ultrastructure of Rat Adenohypophysis

    Correlation with Function
    • 1st Edition
    • Allen Costoff
    • English
    Ultrastructure of Rat Adenohypophysis: Correlation with Function discusses the ultrastructure of the anterior pituitary in the normal intact rat, as well as in animal after various treatments and changes in its physiology. Wherever possible, the book attempts to coordinate and associate changes in pituitary ultrastructure with physiological aspects. The book also presents a method for the isolation of various populations of pituitary secretory granules that can be used in experimental endocrinological research. It also discusses the various cell types, including the chromophobe; the pars tuberalis and pars intermedia of the adenohypophysis; and the chemical and physical properties of the secretory granules and their formation and release. This reference will serve as a guide for pituitary ultrastructural studies in other species. It is valuable to students and experienced investigators in the field of endocrinology, anatomy, pathology, physiology, biochemistry, and related disciplines.
  • Differential Equations and Applications in Ecology, Epidemics, and Population Problems

    • 1st Edition
    • Stavros Busenberg
    • English
    Differential Equations and Applications in Ecology, Epidemics, and Population Problems is composed of papers and abstracts presented at the 1981 research conference on Differential Equations and Applications to Ecology, Epidemics, and Population Problems held at Harvey Mudd College. The reported researches consist of mathematics that is either a direct outgrowth from questions in population biology and biomathematics, or applicable to such questions. The content of this volume are collected in four groups. The first group addresses aspects of population dynamics that involve the interaction between spatial and temporal effects. The second group covers other questions in population dynamics and some other areas of biomathematics. The third group deals with topics in differential and functional differential equations that are continuing to find important applications in mathematical biology. The last group comprises of work on various aspects of differential equations and dynamical systems, not essentially motivated by biological applications. This book is valuable to students and researchers in theoretical biology and biomathematics, as well as to those interested in modern applications of differential equations.