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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.

  • Responses of Plants to Air Pollution

    • 1st Edition
    • J.B. Mudd
    • English
    Responses of Plants to Air Pollution examines the effects of air pollutants, individually and synergistically, on both higher and lower plants. The subject matter overlaps into a wide range of disciplines including agronomy, plant anatomy, biochemistry, cryptogamic botany, ecology, entomology, forestry, horticulture, landscape architecture, meteorology, microscopy, plant pathology, plant physiology, and soil science. The opening chapter presents an overview of sources of air pollution, costs of air pollution, and mechanisms of pollution injury to plants. Separate chapters on sulfur dioxide, ozone, fluorides, peroxyacyl nitrates, oxides of nitrogen, and particulates follow. Subsequent chapters are devoted to plant responses to combinations of pollutants; to effects of pollutants on plant ultrastructure, on forests, and on lichens and bryophytes; to interactions of pollutants with canopies of vegetation; to interactions of pollutants and plant diseases; and to interactions of pollutants with agricultural practices. This book will be useful to scientists in many disciplines as well as those who share the concern that clean air can no longer be expected to be the normal environment for plants or animals. The book will also be a valuable a reference work or text for upper level undergraduate students, graduate students, researchers, and growers of plants.
  • The Hormones V3

    Physiology, Chemistry and Applications
    • 1st Edition
    • Mohhamad Reza Kiani
    • English
    The Hormones: Physiology, Chemistry and Applications, Volume III covers the chemistry, physiology, and methods of analysis of various plant and animal hormones. This book is organized into 15 chapters that are mostly revision or reassessment of previous information presented in Volumes I and II. The first two chapters describe the chromatographic separation of plants hormones, particularly auxins, as well as hormones in invertebrates. These topics are followed by a chapter on the production, transport, storage, release, and mode of action of neurohormones. Significant chapters are devoted to the chemistry and physiology of secreted hormones, including parathyroid, pituitary, Islets of Langerhans, growth, lactogenic, thyroid, steroid, and sex hormones. The role and influence of these hormones on vital body processes are also discussed. The last chapter emphasizes the progress in understanding the principles and approaches in clinical endocrinology. This volume will be of great value to endocrinologists, physiologists, and biochemists.
  • Advances in Radiation Biology V14

    Relative Radiation Sensitivities of Human Organ Systems. Part II
    • 1st Edition
    • John Lett
    • English
    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.
  • Plant Pathology V1

    The Diseased Plant
    • 1st Edition
    • James G. Horsfall
    • English
    Plant Pathology: An Advanced Treatise, Volume I: The Diseased Plant presents an integrated synthesis of the scope, importance, and history of plant pathology, emphasizing the concept of disease, not of diseases. The book focuses on pathological processes, defense devices, predisposition, and therapy of the diseased plant. It explores the normal pathways that are obstructed in sick plants; how the pathogen causes dysfunction; and how the host plant reacts to the pathogen. This book also considers the logistics and the strategy of disease and how to combat it. This volume is organized into 15 chapters and begins with an overview of plant pathology, its history, and its relation to other sciences, along with plant predisposition to disease, and the resistance-susceptib... problem. The next chapters examine how sickness in plants is recognized and diagnosed, the tissue breakdown in diseases, and the effects of parasites on the processes in plants. The impact of disease on water balance and respiration in plants and the histology of disease resistance in plants are also explained. This volume also covers the physiological and chemical basis of defense by higher plants against potential or invading pathogens and the hypersensitivity concept in plant pathology. The final chapter discusses the physical and chemical therapy of the diseased plant. This book will appeal to all who are interested in a theoretical treatment of plant pathology and in the broad ecological relationships among organisms, as well as to research workers and advanced students of applied biology.
  • Genetic Control of Natural Resistance to Infection and Malignancy

    • 1st Edition
    • Emil Skamene
    • English
    Genetic Control of Natural Resistance to Infection and Malignancy is a collection of papers presented at the 1980 Proceedings of an International Symposium of the Canadian Society for Immunology held in Montreal, Quebec. It provides information about the different models of genetic resistance to various diseases. The book offers an overview of the genetic determination of the susceptibility or resistance to infection and malignancy. It also discusses the importance of genetic resistance not only in the first-line observation of infections and tumors, but also in chemotherapy and immunotherapy. It then explains the genetic control of resistance to parasitic, bacterial, and virus infections, as well as to tumor growth. It further discusses the genetic control of macrophage differentiation and function.
  • The Biology and Utilization of Grasses

    • 1st Edition
    • V Younger
    • English
    The Biology and Utilization of Grasses reviews current knowledge about grass biology, and it highlights the important role of grasses in human existence. It discusses many fundamental aspects of grass biology, including evolution and genetics, morphology, physiology, and ecology, with emphasis on the relationship of these basic concepts to the use of grasses for forage, turf, and rangelands. Comprised of 28 chapters, this volume begins with an overview of the evolution and genetics of the grass family, followed by a discussion on practical grass-breeding problems. The reader is also introduced to vegetative growth and development of seedlings and mature plants; the ecological aspects of grasses; soils and mineral nutrition in relation to grass growth; the effects of defoliation (moving or grazing); carbohydrate reserves; physiology of flowering; and grass seed production and culture treatments. Other chapters consider the role of polyploidy in the evolution and distribution of grasses; selection and breeding of grasses for forage and other uses; seedling vigor and seedling establishment; environmental modification for seedling establishment; the microclimate of grass communities; effects on turf grass of cultural practices in relation to microclimate; and competition within the grass community. This book will be of benefit to plant breeders, ecologists, botanists, and biologists.
  • Retroviruses and Disease

    • 1st Edition
    • Hidesaburo Hanafusa
    • English
    Retroviruses and Disease presents a relevant summary of the state of knowledge in both human nonhuman retroviruses. It highlights significant concepts regarding their commonalities and differences in terms of retroviral systems. A section of this book covers the pathogenic human retroviruses and focuses on two. These are HLTV-1 (the first human retrovirus that was isolated) and HIV (the cause of a potent immunological disorder). The life cycle of replication-competen... retroviruses, including the murine leukemia viruses and its functions, is discussed in Chapters 1 and 2. The focus of the third chapter is the transformation of Rous sarcoma virus. Meanwhile, Chapter 4 discusses the multiple stages in avian leukosis virus-induced B cell lymphoma. Oncogenes, the molecular basis of human cancer, are also covered in this book. Another virus also discussed in this book is the human T cell leukemia virus. The book is a good reference for students, teachers, specialists, scientists, and researchers in microbiology.
  • A Textbook of Plant Virus Diseases

    • 3rd Edition
    • Kenneth M. Smith
    • English
    A Textbook of Plant Virus Diseases deals with a discussion of different plant viruses, their properties, and the corresponding diseases these viruses cause. It includes a list of host plants of every virus arranged alphabetically. The book discusses the new types of disease vectors, such as root-infesting fungi, nematode worms, mites, and insects that are both biting and sucking. It also discusses the development of new techniques in electron microscopy that is used to characterize in detail the causal viruses of a number of plant virus diseases. Furthermore, it presents the development of plant virus serology, as well as the improved methods of virus isolation that allow the classification of viruses into related groups. The book includes a Bibliography and an Index of Synonyms that can be used in identifying given virus name. In addition, cross-references are included for searching a particular virus under the alternative names. This book will be invaluable to ecologists, environmentalists, agriculturalists, and other scientists interested in plant viruses. Biology students will also find this reference helpful.
  • Isozymes V3

    Developmental Biology
    • 1st Edition
    • Clement Markert
    • English
    Isozymes, III: Developmental Biology contains manuscripts presented at the Third International Conference on isozymes convened in April 1974 at Yale University. Separating 61 manuscripts into chapters, this book begins by discussing the areas of ""isozymology"" that appear particularly promising for further developmental analysis. This text also looks into the role of isozymes as genetic markers in early mammalian development, as well as the mechanisms of intracellular enzyme localization. Significant topics on specific isozymes are given separately in other chapters.
  • Biology of Conidial Fungi

    • 1st Edition
    • Garry T. Cole
    • English
    Biology of Conidial Fungi, Volume 2 presents detailed considerations of many facets of conidial fungi. Organized into four parts, this volume begins with the discussion on the four categories of clinical infections of man caused by this organism. It then describes the ultrastructure, development, physiology, biochemistry, and genetics of conidial fungi. It also explains the techniques for investigation of conidial fungi, including isolation, cultivation, and maintenance. Techniques for examining developmental and ultrastructural aspects of conidial fungi are shown as well. This volume will fill some gaps in the knowledge of anamorphs and serve as a useful reference to advanced students who probably encounter such type of fungi.