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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.

  • 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.
  • Biological Oscillators: Their Mathematical Analysis

    • 1st Edition
    • Theodosios Pavlidis
    • English
    Biological Oscillators: Their Mathematical Analysis introduces the main features of the dynamic properties of biological oscillators and the mathematical techniques necessary for their investigation. It is not a comprehensive description of all known biological oscillators, since this would require a much bigger volume as well as a different type of expertise. Instead certain classes of biological oscillators are described, and then only in as much detail as required for the study of their dynamics. The opening chapter reviews fundamental mathematical concepts and techniques which will be used in the remainder of the book. These include phase plane techniques; asymptotic techniques of Krylov, Bogoliubov, and Mitopolski; and the describing function. Subsequent chapters discuss examples of biological oscillators; phase shifts and phase response curves; the entrainment of oscillators by external inputs; the dynamics of circadian oscillators; effects of changing environment on the dynamics of biological oscillators; the features peculiar to populations of interacting oscillators; and biological phenomena attributable to populations of oscillators.
  • The Physiological Ecology of Tunas

    • 1st Edition
    • Gary Sharp
    • English
    The Physiological Ecology of Tunas documents the proceedings of the Tuna Physiology Workshop held at the National Marine Fisheries Service Southwest Fisheries Center at La JoDa, California, January 10-15, 1977. The contributions made by researchers at the workshop are organized into seven chapters. The first chapter includes studies on the morphological diversity and muscle-tissue-specif... enzymatic attributes of scombrids. Papers in the second chapter deal with the integrated aspects of tuna behavior and capabilities that result from their complex cardiovascular system. The third chapter contains studies on skipjack tuna white muscle and the locomotor muscles of Scomber and Katsuwonus. The fourth chapter focuses on the thermal biology of tunas while the fifth chapter examines the hydromechanics of tuna propulsion. The sixth chapter provides information on energetic costs of tunas, and observations on physiological demands and correlates. It culminates with a conceptual model for the complex life cycle of the extant "ultimate tuna," the Atlantic bluefin tuna. The seventh chapter discusses applications of tuna physiology studies.
  • Plant Diseases and Vectors: Ecology and Epidemiology

    • 1st Edition
    • Karl Maramorosch
    • English
    Plant Diseases and Vectors: Ecology and Epidemiology is the fourth in a five-volume series of books on vectors of plant disease agents. It is comprised of 10 chapters representing the expertise of 13 outstanding scientists from a total of seven different countries. This book begins with a discussion on the ecological involvement of wild plants in plant virus pathosystems. This is followed by the principles and applications of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in diagnosing plant viruses and monitoring their movement in the environment. The next two chapters detail the epidemiologies of diseases caused by leafhopper-borne viruses, mollicutes, and rickettsia-like organisms. This book also covers the developments in understanding the importance of helper agents to the transmission ecologies of many aphid-borne plant viruses. It also encompasses the factors that can contribute to the epidemiology and control of a disease affecting a major agricultural crop of the world. A vector of plant viruses not covered in earlier volumes of the series (the host plant, itself) and the man-made epidemiological hazards in major crops of developing countries are also described. This volume will broaden the knowledge of transmission ecology and disease epidemiology, not only by serving as a valuable supplemental textbook, reference work, and bibliographical source, but also by catalyzing novel syntheses of thinking and stimulating further research in the area.
  • Photosynthesis V2

    Development, Carbon Metabolism, and Plant Productivity
    • 1st Edition
    • Govindjee
    • English
    Photosynthesis, Volume II: Development, Carbon Metabolism, and Plant Productivity provides a basic understanding of photosynthesis. This book also explains how to manipulate photosynthesis and improve the overall rate of photosynthesis of a single plant. It focuses on the use of NADPH and ATP in bicarbonate fixation. Comprise of 16 chapters, this book covers topics beginning with the concept of photosynthesis. It further discusses manipulating the genetics and molecular biology of the system. In addition, it explains the biogenesis of photosynthetic apparatus, photorespiration, and environmental regulation among others. As the chapters progress, the topics discussed also increase in terms of technical and scientific concepts, as seen in Chapters 10 and 11. These focus on the translocation of photosynthates and leaf and canopy behavior. The application of the knowledge about photosynthesis to plant productivity is also discussed. A chapter is dedicated to it, including various opinions in the said subject matter. Chapters 14 and 15 contain special topics on canopy photosynthesis and yield in soybean, as well as the effect of bicarbonate on photosynthetic electron transport. This book will be a reference source for researchers. It will also be an introductory book for graduate students specializing in plant biology, biophysics, and physiology; agronomy; and botany.
  • Fish As Food V1

    Production, Biochemistry,and Microbiology
    • 1st Edition
    • Georg Borgstrom
    • English
    Fish as Food, Volume I: Production, Biochemistry, and Microbiology discusses progress in the field of fish research. This volume is composed of 17 chapters that cover the biology, biochemistry, world production, cultivation, nutritional composition, and microbiology of fish. The introductory chapters present some examples of the biological basis for the relationships between yield in fishery and economics. The book goes on discussing fish cultivation in Europe, Japan, and South East Asia and the factors to consider in various cultivation methods. The subsequent chapters are devoted to the nutritional value of fish, including its lipid, mineral, water, fatty acid, and protein content. A chapter considers the oxidation properties and rancidity of fish. The book also covers some problems related to fishery business, such as the production of histamine, the occurrence of non-protein nitrogenous compounds, and the rigor mortis. The concluding chapters focus on microbiological aspects of fish production. Discussions on the microbial spoilage of marine fish, crustaceans, and mollusks; the microbiology of shellfish deterioration; and the use of chemical preservatives to control microbiological fish deterioration are also included. The book is an invaluable source primarily to food scientists and also to a wide range of research workers, including biologists, chemists, bacteriologists, parasitologists, oceanographers, nutritionists, and technologists.
  • 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.
  • Cell Reproduction

    In honor of Daniel Mazia
    • 1st Edition
    • Ellen Dirksen
    • English
    Cell Reproduction: In Honor of Daniel Mazia represents the proceeding of a symposium entitled “Cell Reproduction” held in Keystone, Colorado, on March 1978. The symposium is organized to honor Daniel Mazia. Most of the areas of research that are discussed at the conference have their origins in Dan Mazia's laboratory. This volume is divided into nine parts, consisting of papers presented in the symposium. It first focuses on the macromolecular control in cell proliferation and growth, cell cycle regulation, control of genetic expression, and microtubule assembly in vitro and in vivo. In then explains the control of fertilization phenomena, chromosome movement, the mitotic apparatus, and control of cell division and cell cleavage. Lastly, this volume discusses the structural and molecular basis of cell movement and describes the differentiated cell. This book represents a tribute to Daniel Mazia's extraordinary contributions as teacher, scientist, and friend.
  • 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 Conservation of Insects and Their Habitats

    • 1st Edition
    • N.M. Collins
    • English
    The Conservation of Insects and their Habitats is a compilation of papers presented in the 15th Symposium of the Royal Entomological Society of London held at the Department of Physics Lecture Theatre Imperial College, London, on September 14-15, 1989. The papers cover topics on the diversity of entomological habitats and ecologicalroles around the world, and highlight the value of insects to humanity. Some practical proposals for conservation, especially in tropical forests and on islands, where their diversity is greatest, are also given. This book will add to the continuing force for the conservation and protection of biological diversity of the Earth.