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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.

  • Gene Regulation

    • 1st Edition
    • Bert O'Malley
    • English
    Gene Regulation documents the proceedings of the CETUS-UCLA Symposium ""Gene Regulation,"" held in Keystone, Colorado in March/April 1982. The symposium related gene structure and regulatory sequences to overall genomic organization and genetic evolution. It was the first meeting to focus on regulation of eukaryotic gene expression since the maturation in recombinant DNA technology. The book is organized into four parts. Part I presents studies on the structure of eukaryotic genes, including the organization and molecular basis for differential expression of the mouse λ light chain genes; globin gene transcription and RNA processing; and the cloning of the human chromosomal α1-antitrypsin gene and its structural comparison with the chicken gene coding for ovalbumin. Part II on chromatin structure includes papers on nuclease sensitivity of the ovalbumin gene and its flanking DNA sequences; and the relationship of chromatin structure to DNA sequence. Part III on gene expression includes papers on the role of poly(A) in eukaryotic mRNA metabolism and the in vitro transcription of Drosophila tRNA genes. Part IV on cellular biology includes studies such as the importance of calmodulin to the eukaryotic cells.
  • Molecular Mechanisms In Cellular Growth and Differentiation

    • 1st Edition
    • A.R. Bellve
    • English
    Molecular Mechanisms in Cellular Growth and Differentiation describes the cellular differentiation and development. It emphasizes the pattern formation, specifically the genesis of spatial relationships, among the parts of a vertebrate or invertebrate organism, embryonic or adult. Organized into five parts, this book deals with the major steps leading from growth factor-receptor interactions, through transduction and modulation mechanisms, to proliferative response. It also discusses the relation of growth factors and their receptors to oncogenes and to protooncogenes. It also elucidates the roles of growth factors and receptors in cell differentiation and development, particularly, in pattern formation. The homeotic systems regulated intracellularly and the two differentiation systems thought to involve sequence-specific DNA-binding proteins in conjunction with small molecules are also explored.
  • Developmental Biology of the Sea Urchin Embryo

    • 1st Edition
    • Giovanni Giudice
    • English
    Developmental Biology of the Sea Urchin Embryo discusses both structural and experimental observations on the morphological and metabolical aspects of sea urchin embryology. It is organized into two major parts, designated morphogenesis and related problems and metabolism. These parts encompass 12 chapters that cover the role of sea urchin embryology in developmental biology and the advantages and limitations of using sea urchin embryo in the study of developmental problems. The introductory chapters describe the morphogenesis, ultrastructure, and physiology of fertilization of sea urchin embryo, including the process of modification of the egg surface. A discussion on cell dissociation and reaggregation in sea urchin embryos from blastula stage is provided. The core chapters of Part II cover the activation of respiration, nucleic acid and protein synthesis, and several other enzymatic activities.
  • Tree Pathology

    A Short Introduction
    • 1st Edition
    • William H. Smith
    • English
    Tree Pathology: A Short Introduction is a compilation of texts about some of the significant stress factors that are capable of inducing tree injuries and diseases. It also provides an overview of some of the examples of the damage caused by each stress factors or agents. In addition, existing hypotheses related to the mechanism by which each agent causes abnormal tree physiology are reviewed. As an introduction, the book provides a discussion on the agents, mechanisms, and control of the pathological stresses of forest trees. It also offers specific examples of forest tree species, mostly from the northeastern portion of the United States, as well as examples of citrus and other fruit or jut tree species. The book then discusses all injury and disease agents including their taxonomy, morphology, physiology, and ecology. It also presents the different mechanisms of the injury and disease, control possibilities on mitigating disease influences of plants, and specific utility of the various procedures used in forest tree disease control. The materials presented in the book are based from the numerous published texts, journal articles, and research reports.
  • The Quality of Foods and Beverages V2

    Chemistry and Technology
    • 1st Edition
    • George Charalambous
    • English
    The Quality of Foods and Beverages, Volume II: Chemistry and Technology contains the proceedings of the second International Flavor Conference held in Athens, Greece, on July 20-24, 1980. The conference presents findings of 105 scientists from 20 countries on the chemistry and technology underlying the quality of foods and beverages. This volume is composed of 26 papers presented in the conference. It covers topics on ingredients of smoke and smoke flavor preparations; enzymatic flavor development in foods; enhancement of fruit flavors in dessert; practical applications of new forms of dried fruits; and quality evaluation of macadamia nuts. It also explains moisture relations of food microorganisms; pollution of liquid food by PVC container; views on food developments in Sweden and Italy; and advances in Shoyu research. Additionally, the advances in legume processing; changes in the organoleptic quality of spices and their oleoresinsin stored food products; and flavoring of extrusion cooked and textured meat extenders and analog are explained. This reference also discusses the determination of cocoa butter substitutes in chocolate; application of HPLC for evaluation of coffee flavor quality; and certain elements in Greek wines. This book is useful to all food industry practitioners, as it provides a comprehensive research reports on numerous chemical and technological facets of the quality of foods and beverages.
  • Cell Biology A Comprehensive Treatise V3

    Gene Expression: The Production of RNA's
    • 1st Edition
    • David M. Prescott
    • English
    Cell Biology, A Comprehensive Treatise, Volume 3: Gene Expression: The Production of RNA’s mainly discusses the molecular and cytological bases of gene expression. The coverage begins with the concepts of organization of DNA and gene sequences in chromosomes, as an introduction to a more detailed coverage of gene expression. The book opens with a general discussion on the organization of DNA sequences in chromosomes. This chapter includes different methods of analyzing DNA sequences. As the book progresses, it looks upon the details on gene reiteration and amplification up to the transcription of prokaryotes and eukaryotes. It includes the ways of regulating transcription. The following chapters deal mostly with the structure and activity of genes up to the different virus strains in both RNA and DNA. The cytoplasmic and environmental impact on gene expression is also discussed. Chapter 8 generally tackles the DNA conformation and template function. The succeeding chapters focus on the transfer and ribosomal RNA as a result of maturation events; the processing of hnRNA and its relation to mRNA; and recombinant DNA procedures. The book closes with the directory of the different classes of cellular RNAs. This book will be helpful to many graduate students, teachers, scientists, and researchers in need of information regarding cell biology.
  • Power Plant Entrainment

    A Biological Assessment
    • 1st Edition
    • J.R. Schubel
    • English
    Power Plant Entrainment: A Biological Assessment presents the effects of the various stresses associated with entrainment. This book examines the results of the assessment to develop guidelines for the conceptual design and operation of power plants with once-through cooling systems to minimize the mortalities of entrained organisms. Organized into seven chapters, this book begins with an overview of the characteristics of steam electric plants, which consists of heat source, turbine, boiler, generator, and condenser system. This text then describes the use of biocides to control fouling in the intake and condenser systems of thermal electric power plants in aquatic environments. Other chapters consider the environmental studies of power plants. The final chapter deals with entrained organisms that range from microscopic bacteria and plankton to small fish. This book is a valuable resource for decision makers and their staffs in state and federal regulatory agencies responsible for setting design and operating criteria. Plant managers, scientists, and environmentalist will also find this book useful.
  • Economic Aspects: Fisheries and Culture

    • 1st Edition
    • Anthony Jr. Provenzano
    • English
    The Biology of Crustacea, Volume 10: Economic Aspects: Fisheries and Culture focuses on economic aspects of elements of crustacean biology associated primarily with the production of human food, namely, fisheries and culture. Organized into five chapters, this book deals first with the groups comprising the commercially important shrimps and prawns and their near relatives, as well as the generally used fishing method. It then describes the role and impact of body form in the biology and especially the fisheries of crabs. Subsequent chapter centers on lobsters and their kin, particularly the impact on fisheries methods and management approaches of behavioral responses to environment, modes of reproduction, recruitment, and population dynamics. Culture methods and factors important in managing systems through water quality control are then reported. Lastly, large-scale culture of major decapod groups, including the general biological characteristics of decapods relevant to aquaculture, is presented. This book will help stimulate the further exploration of some of the most fascinating and exciting problems in applied crustacean biology.
  • Monoclonal Antibodies

    Probes for The Study of Autoimmunity and Immunodeficiency
    • 1st Edition
    • Barton Haynes
    • English
    Monoclonal Antibodies: Probes for the Study of Autoimmunity and Immunodeficiency focuses on the research/studies using monoclonal antibodies in two major classes of diseases, which are autoimmunity and immunodeficiency. The book comprises of 14 chapters; each is written in detail and includes studies using monoclonal antibodies of the pathogenesis and treatment of various types of diseases of disordered immunity. The first chapter presents an overview of the use of monoclonal antibodies in the study of autoimmunity and immunodeficiency. The following chapters focus on other monoclonal reagents and their uses and applications to different diseases. The last four chapters discuss specific classic endocrine diseases in reference to discoveries regarding the beginning of autoimmune mechanisms and pathophysiology. Because the book is technically written, students with background in biology, microbiology, and biochemistry are most likely the target audience of this book. Other parties in the fields of immunology, clinical medicine, pathology, and physiology will also find this book a good reference material.
  • Sexual Selection and Reproductive Competition in Insects

    • 1st Edition
    • Murray Blum
    • English
    Sexual Selection and Reproductive Competition in Insects explores the biological mechanisms underlying intrasexual reproductive competition as a driving force in sexual selection in insects. The book contains papers presented at a symposium on reproductive behavior in insects, held at the 15th International Congress of Entomology in Washington, D.C., in 1976. Organized into 13 chapters, this volume begins with a historical background on sexual selection theory and some of the principal conceptual advances that have been made since Charles Darwin (1871) posited that a sexual character was a characteristic possessed by only one sex and not the other. It then introduces the reader to differences in patterns of sexual selection and how they affect the reproductive success of individuals, male-female mating relationships, and mate choice by females. The book also discusses the evolution of mating strategies in insects, touching on concepts such as parental investment, female choice, and sexual conflict. Later chapters focus on winglessness, fighting, and dimorphism in male fig wasps and other insects, along with agonistic behavior among males of Achias australis, the function of horns in beetles, and the evolution of alternative male reproductive strategies in field crickets. The book also looks into the courtship and mating behavior of insects, and then concludes with an analysis of insect life histories in order to elucidate the biological aspects of the male-female phenomenon. This book is an essential reading for biologists and chemists.