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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.

    • Environmental Control of Cell Synthesis and Function

      • 1st Edition
      • December 2, 2012
      • A Dean
      • English
      • eBook
        9 7 8 0 3 2 3 1 4 7 6 6 8
      Environmental Control of Cell Synthesis and Function presents the proceedings of the Fifth International Symposium on the Continuous Culture of Micro-organisms, held at St. Catherine’s College, University of Oxford, on July 19-24, 1971. It reflects the symposium’s four main areas of interest, namely, kinetics of growth, advances in equipment design and operation, influence of environment on the control of cell synthesis, and physico-chemical effects on cell structure and functioning, and some 20 individual topics. With a strong focus on the influence of chemical and physical nature of the growth environment on the structure and functioning of microbial cell, the book starts by presenting the chemostat theory, its validity, extensions, and future challenges. It goes on to discuss the progress in environmental control of continuous culture, the product formation in continuous culture, and internal and external conditions involved in its control. Chapters 3 to 8 explore the hypertrophic and continuously synchronized growths; mixed culture studies with the chemostat; kinetics of growth on aqueous-oil and aqueous-solid dispersed systems; design and operation improvements of the chemostat; and the role of turbidostat. Chapters 9 to 14 focus on the influence of environmental and cellular factors on cell physiology. The concluding chapters discuss the application of continuous culture to research in microbiology, particularly, to problems of microbial physiology. This book is ideal for microbial researchers, microbial physiologists, and cell biologists who are particularly interested in continuous culture techniques.
    • The Lichens

      • 1st Edition
      • December 2, 2012
      • Vernon Ahmadijian
      • English
      • Paperback
        9 7 8 0 1 2 4 1 2 3 9 4 6
      • eBook
        9 7 8 0 3 2 3 1 4 3 0 9 7
      The Lichens covers the structure and development, physiology of the intact thallus, environmental response and effects, secondary metabolic products, and symbiont interactions of lichens. This book is divided into five parts encompassing 19 chapters. It also includes appendices consist of a taxonomic scheme, methods for isolating and culturing lichen symbionts and thalli, and methods for isolating and identifying lichen substances. The first part of this book describes the original fungal cell and its development into specialized cells of which the various tissues and thalli are composed. This is followed by discussions on sexual reproduction of ascolichens and basidiolichens and on systematic criteria for the definition of taxa in different hierarchical steps. This book also explains the types of propagules produced by lichens and the submicroscopical investigations of lichens, including phycobiont and mycobionts' substructure and symbiotic relationship. The second part of this book examines the physiological aspects of lichens. It includes discussions on metal cation uptake and translocation in vascular plants and on lichens' role in rock weathering and soil formation. This part also studies photosynthetic rates and nitrogen absorption and metabolism by the intact thallus of lichens. Succeeding chapters discuss physiological and morphological responses of lichens to the most important environmental factors and the relationship of these factors to lichen distribution. Substrate preferences of lichens and their causes and implications with regard to the ecology, distribution, and taxonomy of lichens are also examined. This text also discusses lichen thalli growth, methods of measurement, and factors influencing growth. Finally, the concluding parts deal with the biosynthesis of lichen substances, secondary metabolic products, and symbiotic relations of lichens to fungi and algae. This multi-authored book is an ideal source of information for researchers, teachers, and students who wish to broaden their knowledge in the diversity of lichenology.
    • Advances in Radiation Biology V14

      • 1st Edition
      • December 2, 2012
      • John Lett
      • English
      • Paperback
        9 7 8 0 1 2 4 3 1 7 3 8 3
      • eBook
        9 7 8 0 3 2 3 1 5 5 4 6 5
      Advances in Radiation Biology, Volume 14: Relative Radiation Sensitivities of Human Organ Systems, Part II focuses on radiation sensitivities of particular human organ systems. The sensitivities are then assessed based on the severity and the rapidity in which the effects of radiation manifest. The opening chapter surveys the clinical and experimental data on approaches toward the prevention of bladder complications in clinical radiotherapy. A discussion on HeLa cells, which are of special importance in human cervical cancer therapy, is then presented. In presenting this topic, this book emphasizes radiation sensitivity and radiobiology of tumors of the cervix of the female genital tract. Chapter 3 briefly covers imaging techniques for hypothalamic-pituita... dysfunction diagnosis and introduces hormonal therapy for remarkable improvements in both physical and mental status of patients. The subsequent chapters discuss basic radiobiology of the thyroid in experimental animal and the late effects of therapeutic and low-level radiation in humans. The radiation damages in bone and cartilage and the changes occurring in the various types of vessels during radiation therapy are also discussed. Chapter 7 presents the basic biology of spermatogenesis, as it applies to the understanding of radiation effects. This chapter also explains the studies of rodents, as it applies to subhuman primates and to man. Moreover, it considers as well the mechanisms of radiation damage to the testis, as elucidated by experimental studies of rodents and subhuman primates. Finally, it presents the limited data available on man and discusses these data in terms of the biology of the system known from experimental studies. The concluding chapter describes the features of radiation-induced hepatic injury, ranging from asymptomatic biochemical or a radiographic abnormality to fulminant, fatal hepatic failure. Radiation biologists will greatly benefit from this book, especially those who are involved in dose fractionation in radiation therapy.
    • molecular Approaches to Immunology

      • 1st Edition
      • December 2, 2012
      • E.E. Smith
      • English
      • Paperback
        9 7 8 0 1 2 4 3 1 5 9 3 8
      • Hardback
        9 7 8 0 1 2 6 5 1 0 5 0 8
      • eBook
        9 7 8 0 3 2 3 1 5 3 9 6 6
      Molecular Approaches to Immunology is the 9th volume of the series ""Miami Winter Symposia"". This volume presents papers that cover various aspects about cellular and modern immunology. Cellular immunology deals with the interactions of cells and molecules of the immune system and how these interactions help eliminate pathogens. The main goal of this book is to discuss and provide basic assumptions, approaches, and direction about the advances in the research of immunological science. In relation to this, the chapters of the book examine the recognition of antigen by T-lymphocytes, the role of cell interactions in determining the immune responsiveness, and the concepts behind clonal selection. The book also explains the different genes coding used for antibodies and the characterization of cell surface receptors at molecular level. Furthermore, it examines the evidences for genetic restrictions in cell interactions and the chemical properties of thymosin used in physiological studies. Discussions on the immunoregulation and immunological tolerance by T cells and the growth control of mammalian cells are also presented in this volume. This compilation will be invaluable to biologists, medical practitioners, professors, and students.
    • Immune Surveillance

      • 1st Edition
      • December 2, 2012
      • Richard T. Smith
      • English
      • Paperback
        9 7 8 0 1 2 4 1 4 3 1 0 4
      • Hardback
        9 7 8 0 1 2 6 5 2 2 5 0 1
      • eBook
        9 7 8 0 3 2 3 1 4 6 2 6 5
      Immune Surveillance deals with the issues regarding tumor immunology and surveillance, in which the central theme is all about the life span of the mammalian host that is depleted by the environment with mutagenic agents and solutions. The book is divided into six chapters. It includes discussions on the organization and modulation of cell membrane receptors, as well as the origin and expression of membrane antigens. It also covers the topics on the triggering mechanisms for and effector mechanisms activated by the cellular recognition. These topics analyze and evaluate alternatives for the recognition and destruction mechanisms in the knowledge of cell cooperation and requirements for immune recognition. A chapter provides discourse on a solution for the paradox of thriving tumors based on the demonstrable in vitro host immunity. Another discusses the generation of antibody diversity and the theory of self-tolerance. The last chapter explains the evaluation of the evidence for immune surveillance. This reference will be invaluable to those who specialize in immunology.
    • Advances in Aquatic Microbiology

      • 1st Edition
      • December 2, 2012
      • M.R. Droop
      • English
      • Paperback
        9 7 8 0 1 2 4 3 1 4 4 8 1
      • eBook
        9 7 8 0 3 2 3 1 5 2 5 0 1
      Advances in Aquatic Microbiology Volume 1 describes the characteristics of ecological niches for individual microorganisms and the intensities of individual microbiological processes in the course of turnover of various substances in reservoirs. This volume follows Volume 1 of Advances in Microbiology of the Sea book. The opening chapter presents insight to the tradition of Russian limnological microbiology followed by a discussion on conversion of inorganic nitrogen to organic nitrogen, and the microorganisms responsible for assimilatory reactions. The book considers aspects of the reduction of atmospheric dinitrogen and nitrate to ammonia and the incorporation of ammonia into organic compounds. Such considerations will relate particularly to those organisms of significance in aquatic environments. The relations between prey and predator and their significance in the investigation both the behavior of the microorganisms themselves and the prey-predator situation in general are also discussed. Chapter 4 examines how viruses, bacteria, and fungi affect the blue-green algae and the development and regulation of algal blooms. The final two chapters summarize studies in freshwater sediment microbiology and the role of bacteria in water pollution monitoring. This book caters primarily to aquatic microbiologists, but limnological microbiologists, aquatic researchers, scientists, teachers, and students with courses in aquatic microbiology will find this book invaluable.
    • Insect Biology in The Future

      • 1st Edition
      • December 2, 2012
      • Michael Locke
      • English
      • eBook
        9 7 8 0 3 2 3 1 4 1 8 5 7
      Insect Biology in the Future: ""VBW 80"" contains essays presented to Sir Vincent Wigglesworth during his 80th year. Wigglesworth is fairly designated as the founding father and remarkable leader of insect physiology. His papers and other works significantly contribute to this field of study. This book, dedicated to him, underlines the value of insect material in approaching a wide spectrum of biological issues. The essays in this book tackle the insects' physiology, including their evolution and dominance. The papers also discuss the various avenues of water loss and gain as interrelated components of overall water balance in land arthropods. This reference suggests possible areas for further research mainly at the whole animal level. It also describes the fat body, hemolymph, endocrine control of vitellogenin synthesis, reproduction, growth, hormones, chemistry, defense, and survival of insects. Other topics of importance include cell communication and pattern formation in insects; plant-insect interaction; and insecticides.
    • The Direct Detection of Microorganisms in Clinical Samples

      • 1st Edition
      • December 2, 2012
      • J. Donald Coonrod
      • English
      • Paperback
        9 7 8 0 1 2 4 3 1 4 3 2 0
      • eBook
        9 7 8 0 3 2 3 1 5 2 3 3 4
      The Direct Detection of Microorganisms in Clinical Samples focuses on the most practical and widely used procedures for direct detection of microorganism in clinical specimens. It considers application to virology, mycology, and bacteriology. Organized into three parts, the book begins with established techniques for visualization of intact organism in clinical samples. The book then deals with immunologic techniques for detecting soluble microbial antigens. The last part considers diverse non-immunologic methods for detecting soluble constituents of organisms and their metabolites. Clinical microbiologists, infectious disease clinicians and researchers, and individuals working in analogous areas will find this book invaluable.
    • Interferons A Primer

      • 1st Edition
      • December 2, 2012
      • Robert Friedman
      • English
      • Paperback
        9 7 8 0 1 2 4 3 3 7 5 7 2
      • eBook
        9 7 8 0 3 2 3 1 6 0 8 5 8
      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.
    • Protein-Calorie Malnutrition

      • 1st Edition
      • December 2, 2012
      • Robert Olson
      • English
      • Paperback
        9 7 8 0 1 2 4 1 4 4 9 8 9
      • eBook
        9 7 8 0 3 2 3 1 4 8 1 7 7
      Protein-Calorie Malnutrition reviews the state of knowledge of metabolic phenomena in the syndromes embraced by the general term protein-calorie malnutrition (PCM), and places this new knowledge in perspective with the traditional descriptions of kwashiorkar and marasmus. The clarification it provides constitutes a benchmark for design of future programs of prevention, therapy, rehabilitation, research, or teaching. Highly noteworthy are the new advances in amino acid and protein metabolism; the enlightening evidence concerning lysine and carnitine; the evidences of derangements or deficiencies of the broad spectrum of nutrients from carbohydrates to vitamins and minerals; and the implications of these for recovery and therapy. This book includes papers on the following: the impact of age on amino acid requirements; the mechanisms of adaptation to low-protein intakes; the metabolic consequences of essential amino acid deficiency in higher animals; carbohydrate metabolism; vitamin deficiencies associated with PCM; and mineral metabolism in PCM. Other studies deal with the effects of malnutrition on endocrine function; liver function in PCM; the synergistic interaction of malnutrition and infection; and the treatment and prevention of PCM.