Plants form mutualistic association with various microorganisms, particularly in the rhizosphere region. The association benefits both the partners in a number of ways. A single plant can support the growth of diverse microbes and in reciprocation these microbes help the plant in several ways. A great deal of knowledge is now available on the mechanisms of action of plant growth promoting microbes in forming association with their partner plant and benefitting it. With ever increasing population and to achieve food security it has become utmost necessary to utilize these friendly microbes to enhance the crop yield and quality in an ecofriendly and sustainable manner. We already know about the huge negative impact of chemicals used in agriculture on the humans and the ecosystems as whole. 'Plant Microbes Symbiosis - Applied Facets' provides a comprehensive knowledge on practical, functional and purposeful utility of plant-microbe interactions. The book reviews the utilization of beneficial microbes for crop yield enhancement and protection against diseases caused by phytopathogens and nutrient deficiencies. The tome also reviews the utility of plant growth promoting microbes in helping the plants to deal with abiotic stresses imposed by climate change and anthropogenic activities. The book showcases how plant-microbe interactions are or can be utilized for reclamation of stressed soils and degradation of pollutants in a most effective and environment friendly manner. It also ascertains the reasons for the below par performance of the microbial based inoculants. The utilization of biotechnological tools for development of next generation bioformulations to combat the new challenges and overcome past hurdles has been discussed. This wonderful association between plants and microbes if used properly will not only enhance the crop yields and reclaim barren lands but also make our planet a better place to live on for all of its habitants.

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This second edition of Clinical Nutrition, in the acclaimed textbook series by the Nutrition Society, has been revised and updated in order to: Provide students with the required scientific basis in nutrition, in the context of a systems and health approach. Enable teachers and students to explore the core principles of nutrition and to apply these throughout their training to foster critical thinking at all times. Each chapter identifies the key areas of knowledge that must be understood and also the key points of critical thought that must accompany the acquisition of this knowledge. Are fully peer reviewed to ensure completeness and clarity of content, as well as to ensure that each book takes a global perspective and is applicable for use by nutritionists and on nutrition courses throughout the world. Ground breaking in scope and approach, with an additional chapter on nutritional screening and a student companion website, this second edition is designed for use on nutrition courses throughout the world and is intended for those with an interest in nutrition in a clinical setting. Covering the scientific basis underlying nutritional support, medical ethics and nutritional counselling, it focuses solely on the sick and metabolically compromised patient, dealing with clinical nutrition on a system by system basis making the information more accessible to the students. This is an essential purchase for students of nutrition and dietetics, and also for those students who major in other subjects that have a nutrition component, such as food science, medicine, pharmacy and nursing. Professionals in nutrition, dietetics, food sciences, medicine, health sciences and many related areas will also find this an important resource. Libraries in universities, medical schools and establishments teaching and researching in the area of nutrition will find Clinical Nutrition a valuable addition to their shelves.

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Through our lives, most of us have experienced periods of time when extra money in our budgets was scarce. From the human perspective, this book first discusses and tells about the author's experiences with growing up in the 50's, her parents who lived during the depression, the people who have influenced her life as it relates to money and values, and lastly the stories of people today who have adjusted their lives to deal with tight times. The next five chapters talk about the ways people can save on their food budgets (recipes included) and everyday household expenses, the use of typical energy forms and their alternatives, the preservation of our environment, handling finances and keeping healthy during stressful times. Our nation is strong and we can come through these difficult times by using creativity, and practicing self-discipline, persistence, resiliency, hope and faith.

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Clay plays an important role in everyday life. This versatile mineral is used in housing, improving the environment as a waste treatment material and also in biological applications and medical health care. Clay Surfaces contains 17 chapters which deal with various aspects of natural and man made (synthetic) clay. Well written by experts in both experimental and theoretical areas, this book takes the reader into the fascinating world of the chemistry and physics of clay mineral surfaces and interfaces as well as the complex phenomena on the surfaces involved in clay related systems. This book will provide a better understanding of the intervention mechanisms of interactions of soils in contact with wastes, actions to be taken in the case of chemical spillage, methods to improve the production of food without affecting the ecological balance, increased fixation of carbon in the soil to increase grain production and reduction of carbon dioxide release into the atmosphere*Applications covered describe the role of clays in environmental remediation and the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries* This book looks at theory and applications of both natural and modified clays from academic and industrial viewpoints* With broad appeal, this book is suitable for specialists directly involved in clay science and those undergraduate and graduate student studying related areas.

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During the 4th ESA-Congress, held in the Netherlands, 7-11 July 1996, a new perspective for agronomy emerged. Various contributions demonstrate the need for a new role of agronomy and its tools. In recent decades, agriculture has evolved from an activity with mainly productivity aims, into an issue conciliating environmental, agricultural, and economic and social objectives. Placing agriculture in such a broadened perspective requires a different agronomy, with new tools and approaches at a range of aggregration levels. It calls for detailed knowledge concerning the functioning, productivity and ecological relationships of agricultural plants and crops. In addition, it calls for a constant update and synthesis of existing and newly generated knowledge, the design of new ideotypes and genotypes, new production technologies, cropping systems, farming systems and agro-ecological land use systems. This proceedings book presents a set of case studies illustrating the various agronomic tools that can be used for specific agronomic questions. The case studies are grouped in sections illustrating relevant subquestions in developing an agriculture with broadened objectives. The book starts with an introductory paper on the role of agronomy in research and education in Europe. The second section deals with agricultural land use, food security and environment. This is followed by a set of papers describing experimental research and modeling approaches used to design new ideotypes of crops, including physiological properties in relation to growth factors such as radiation, CO2, temperature and water. Sustained soil fertility directly links to nutrient cycling and soil organic matter. A selected set of papers addresses the improvements in resource use efficiency and as such their contribution towards economic, environmental and agricultural objectives. The final section addresses the design of integrated and ecological arable farming systems. It highlights the role of prototyping

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This book has now been updated for 2014. New information has been added on how to measure your body's pH to determine your gout and acid body levels. Editing has improved grammar and spelling errors. Layout has also been improved. Gout A Serious ConditionGout is a serious condition that does not call for just eliminating joint pain and inflammation. It is a serious warning that your body is acidic and is prone to other diseases that are even worse than gout. For this reason I have written this book, to give you a way to move your body into an alkaline condition to eliminate gout. Eliminating GoutIf you have extreme gout pain in your joints, muscles, or tissue, then you need to know this new approach to a gout treatment that you need to use. Many doctors and practitioners believe that all you need to do is take drugs or change to a gout diet and you can eliminate your gout. A gout diet is necessary, but should not be the main approach to minimizing your blood uric acid. What is Gout What is lacking is the answer to this question "what is gout?" and what is the root cause. In this book you will discover the latest information on the cause of gout and the steps you need to take to get rid of it. And, it's not just about purine foods causing excess uric acid. Excess Uric AcidThere is a combination of body conditions that bring about an excess of uric acid. You need to know what these are, so that you can get rid of these excess uric acid causes. Now you will learn the truth about gout and how you can stop it. The key factor in eliminating gout is the acid-alkaline balance. You will discover how critical this balance is in curing gout and in giving the best health possible. Gout treatments Many gout treatments are provided so that you can choose the foods, remedies, herbals, and supplements you want to take. Based on your condition, you can make the best choices. A plan is given to you, at the end of the book that will give you an outline of how to deal with your g

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Vertisols, one of the eleven established soil orders, are clay soils with unusual and interesting properties. They cover more than 350 million hectares of land in the world and in tropical Africa alone there are over 100 million hectares. Because of their very small particle size and high surface area, these soils have higher physical and chemical reactivity than other soils. Their interaction with agrochemicals/industrial wastes, has been, increasingly, the subject of research especially in the last two decades. Vertisols create special problems when used for engineering purposes. This book is intended to provide comprehensive and state-of-the-art information about Vertisols worldwide. Special attention is given to the use and management of soils such as fertilizer use, crop selection, soil tillage, water restriction on land including irrigation, and soil erosion. A special chapter has been added to deal with geotechnical engineering of Vertisols. Vertisols have great potential for agricultural production but many, especially in the developing world, are underutilized due to a lack of understanding regarding their behaviour and management. This book is written by leading scientists worldwide. It is expected that this monograph will be of great use to soil scientists and agronomists, graduate and senior graduate students. Improvement of their management may solve the current food deficiency in the world.

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Chitosan in the Preservation of Agricultural Commodities presents a cohesive overview of research topics regarding the production and characterization of chitosan, the development of coatings and fi lms, its functional properties, and antimicrobial potential of this compound on economically important agricultural commodities. It includes the modes of action from a physiological, enzymatic, and molecular perspective, and evaluations of the activity of chitosan nanocomposites and nanoparticles in biological models. The first section deals with the chemical characteristics and functional properties of chitosan and new chitosan-based biomaterials intended for food preservation. The second section covers various aspects of the control achieved by chitosan on different microorganisms affecting various horticultural commodities, grains, and ornamentals, and its modes of action. The third section explores enzymatic and gene expression induction by chitosan application on fruit and vegetables; the fourth section offers insight on the use of chitosan nanocomposites in biological models associated with food conservation and control of microorganisms. Analyzes chitosan chemical and functional properties Explores obtaining, characterizing, and developing chitosan coatings and fi lms for agricultural use Presents functional properties, antimicrobial potential, and modes of action of chitosan from a physiological, enzymatic, and molecular perspective Includes biological models of the activity of chitosan nanocomposites and nanoparticles

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When it comes to the health of your children, a large part of it is about making sure they eat the right kinds of food. This isn't always easy. After all, children can be picky about their food and they do tend to make the most unfortunate choices when it comes to snacks. In their earlier toddler years, you're probably going to rely on your doctor regarding your child's food options, starting with switching from breastfeeding to formula. Then you'll have to deal with baby foods and baby cereals. When you start feeding him solid food, this is when you need to set the stage for healthier habits for the future. This means introducing vegetables early by giving them options about which vegetables to try out. You can subtly encourage them by eating vegetables yourself while you're with them, instead of forcing them to eat veggies. In addition, you'll also want to limit your child's exposure to caffeine, sodas, and fast food. This way, they won't be addicted to these unhealthy food items in the future.

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Enzyme biocatalysis is a fast-growing area in process biotechnology that has expanded from the traditional fields of foods, detergents, and leather applications to more sophisticated uses in the pharmaceutical and fine-chemicals sectors and environmental management. Conventional applications of industrial enzymes are expected to grow, with major opportunities in the detergent and animal feed sectors, and new uses in biofuel production and human and animal therapy. In order to design more efficient enzyme reactors and evaluate performance properly, sound mathematical expressions must be developed which consider enzyme kinetics, material balances, and eventual mass transfer limitations. With a focus on problem solving, each chapter provides abridged coverage of the subject, followed by a number of solved problems illustrating resolution procedures and the main concepts underlying them, plus supplementary questions and answers. Based on more than 50 years of teaching experience, Problem Solving in Enzyme Biocatalysis is a unique reference for students of chemical and biochemical engineering, as well as biochemists and chemists dealing with bioprocesses. Contains: Enzyme properties and applications; enzyme kinetics; enzyme reactor design and operation 146 worked problems and solutions in enzyme biocatalysis.

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A gentle but provocative protest against the fast-food spirituality of the modern Church. Calls for a slow spirituality for people on the go. 'This book is powerful and persuasive and deals with the difficult subject of ordering our lives in a more biblical way.' Salvationist 'a stimulating book that will benefit many in living well for God' Evangelicals Now

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For many years Philip Howard has delighted Times readers with his wildly popular Modern Times' column, answering questions on contemporary etiquette and acting as confidant and gleeful guide to those attempting to avoid the pitfalls and perils of modern life. Now, drawing on that wealth of wisdom, he offers solutions to modern-day mysteries and solves all manner of social dilemmas. From sartorial suggestions to gastronomic guidance, and with tips on how best to deal with noisy neighbours, irritating in-laws and pesky pets, Philip Howard will prevent you from ever putting a foot wrong. Witty, informative and often hilarious, and with delightful cartoons by Jonathan Pugh, Modern Manners is the perfect companion piece to life in the twenty-first century, and the quintessential gift book.

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Examining the relationship between biofuels and food security, this book presents an economic analysis of the competition between biofuels and food. It covers the historical and current situation of biofuels and food security in Brazil, China, Japan, USA, EU, Thailand, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines and other countries. Furthermore it demonstrates that not only feedstock of agricultural product-based biofuels, but also cellulose-based biofuels can compete with food-related demand and agricultural resources. The issue of whether this competition is good or bad for food security is explored, and this topic is examined at global, national, sub-national and household levels. In order to deal with energy security, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and to strengthen agricultural/rural development, biofuel production and utilization is increasing all over the world. One of the most crucial problems is the competition for resources between biofuel and food. This biofuel and food security discussion is expected to continue into the future, and this book proposes the action that is needed to deal with this issue on various levels. Biofuel and Food Security provides a valuable resource to undergraduates and researchers of economics, agricultural economics and renewable science, and also policy makers involved in government or international organizations. It will additionally be of interest to those employed in renewable energy and agriculture in an industrial capacity.

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The scope of this book is Operations Research methods in Agriculture and a thorough discussion of derived applications in the Agri-food industry. The book summarizes current research and practice in this area and illustrates the development of useful approaches to deal with actual problems arising in the agriculture sector and the agri-food industry. This book is intended to collect in one volume high quality chapters on Methods and Applications in Agriculture and Agri-food industry considering both theoretical issues and application results. Methods applied to problems in agriculture and the agri-food industry include, but are not restricted to, the following themes: Dynamic programming Multi-criteria decision methods Markov decision processes Linear programming Stochastic programming Parameter estimation and knowledge acquisition Learning from data Simulation Descriptive and normative decision tree techniques, including: agent modelling and simulation, and state of the art surveys Each chapter includes some standard and traditional methodology but also some recent research advances. All the applications presented in the chapters have been inspired and motivated by the demands from the agriculture and food production areas.

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The book deals with various consequences of major nuclear accidents, such as in 1986 in Chernobyl and in 2011 in Fukushima. The public is extremely interested in learning more about the movements and risks posed by radiation in the environment related to food supply and food safety. Radionuclides are found in air, water, soil and even in us not only after nuclear accidents because they occur also in nature. Every day, we ingest and inhale radionuclides in our air and food and the water. This book provides a solid underpinning of the basic physical-chemistry and biogeochemistry of naturally occurring and anthrop radioactivity. The mechanisms of radioactive element transfer in the atmosphere, tropospheric and stratospheric diffusion of radioactivity, environmental contamination from accidents and the impact of atmospheric pollution on the food chain, soil and plants, are analyzed and the analytical methods are illustrated. The question of natural radioactivity concentration in building materials is addressed too. While the book contains many case studies and data for Greece, it is of general value. It contributes to the development of international environmentally safe standards and economically reasonable standard regulations based on justified radiological, social and economical legislation concepts.

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Predictive microbiology primarily deals with the quantitative assessment of microbial responses at a macroscopic or microscopic level, but also involves the estimation of how likely an individual or population is to be exposed to a microbial hazard. This book provides an overview of the major literature in the area of predictive microbiology, with a special focus on food. The authors tackle issues related to modeling approaches and their applications in both microbial spoilage and safety. Food spoilage is presented through applications of best-before-date determination and commercial sterility. Food safety is presented through applications of risk-based safety management. The different modeling aspects are introduced through probabilistic and stochastic approaches, including model and data uncertainty, but also biological variability. Features an extensive review of modelling terminology Presents examples of all available microbial models (i.e, growth, inactivation, growth/no growth) and applicable software Revisits all statistical aspects related to exposure assessment Describes realistic examples of implementing microbial spoilage and safety modeling approaches

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Microbial Technology: Fermentation Technology, Second Edition is a collection of papers that deals with fermentations and modifications of plant or animal products for foods, beverages, and feeds. The papers also review microbial technology: general principles, culture selection, laboratory methods, instrumentation, computer control, product isolation, immobilized cell usage, economics, and microbial patents. Several papers explain the process of fermentation and food modification in cheese, soy sauce, vinegar, mushroom, inocula for blue-veined cheeses, and blue cheese flavor. One paper discusses the technology of isolation, production, and application of microbial cultures which are commercially available or imminent as inocula for the treatment of wastes, The paper describes these cultures in terms of product characteristics, types of cultures, and application guidelines for waste treatment. Another paper outlines the procedures used by investigators involved in microbial reaction engineering, as follows: (1) identification of main products and substrates: (2) stoichiometry of the process; (3) kinetics and process rate; and (4) reactor design. One paper cites examples of immobilized cell systems utilized to prepare fine chemicals, such as the research of Chibata et al. (1975) and Yamamoto et al (1976, 1977). The collection is suitable for food technologists, bio-chemists, cellular biologists, micro-biologists, and scientists involved in food production, medicine, agriculture, and environmental control.

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The Green Tunnel, A Hiker's Appalachian Trail Diary" is the true-life story of a retiree's joys, challenges, and physical rigors while thru-hiking the entire 2,185 miles of the Appalachian Trail in one great epic walk. The book's title refers to the nickname, Green Tunnel, given by hikers for deeply-shaded trail sections that cut through dark and densely-wooded forests. All too often, tree canopies block out all sunlight or views of the sky, sometimes for hundreds of miles. Readers follow RW as he walks north, starting out from the cold winter mountains of Georgia, until he finally reaches Maine during the height of New England fall colors. Along the way, readers encounter a fugitive from the FBI, internationally-known backpackers, the homeless, plus many other hikers seeking adventure or redemption. Trail angels often come to the rescue. Journal entries are frequently peppered with humorous and historical anecdotes, along with colorful descriptions of the swiftly changing scenery and seasons. Readers will also find a good deal of useful backpacking information, from the many firsthand tips and advice on equipment, food, trail culture, lodging, and the hazards of wilderness hiking. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Patrick Bredlau (Trail name: RW) has lived most of his life in the flat lands of Illinois. His life-long enthusiasm for the outdoors was fostered by the Boy Scouts of America during his childhood, and later as a Boy Scout leader on many hiking and backpacking trips. His favorite sports are backpacking, fishing, and sailing. His passion for backpacking led him to hike some of the most spectacular natural locations in the United States and Canada, including the Rocky Mountains, Grand Canyon, Glacier National Park, and Banff National Park. As a sailboat racer, he has participated in the prestigious Chicago to Mackinac Island race, as well as other races on Lake Michigan. After a long and successful 38-year career as a federal bank examiner and instructor, Patrick retired

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The only thing that should be fat on your job is your paycheck. There is a huge" worldwide obesity problem. While fads and quick-fix diets abound, they fail to address an important question in weight gain today: is your job making you fat? The answer is Yes."This bold assertion is based on a great deal of global research that continues to confirm a compelling relationship between working and weight gain. The powerful link between the workplace and the waistline is due to numerous factors, including the sedentary nature of today's jobs, the onslaught of unhealthy foods that are constantly foisted upon employees, higher levels of job stress, longer and more demanding work hours, peer pressure, new and unconventional jobs, and even more. Put it all together and you have the perfect storm for weight gain. Is Your Job Making You Fat? not only identifies and analyzes all of the central sources of weight gain associated with work, but also provides highly effective steps to control this ever-expanding problem and help you lose weight. Authors Ken and Stacey Lloyd offer a new approach where you apply your businesslike mindset and skill-set to weight management. After all, at work, you have a plan that includes objectives, benchmark dates, strategies, priorities, deadlines, and measurable results. This book shows you how to use this same methodology to take charge of your weight.

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How to maintain optimum testosterone levels for the male body through the use of herbs, nutritional supplements, and diet Explains the phenomenon of male menopause and how to deal with it Reveals scientific evidence of testosterone-blocking agents in the environment that alter men's essential chemistry as they age Presents safe, organic plant medicines that can restore optimum testosterone levels Contains the most up-to-date natural treatments for impotence, infertility, and prostate disease The recognition of andropause, the middle-age stage in male development comparable to women's menopause, is hampered by the lack of a clear outward manifestation of the chemistry and physiology specific to aging men. Men are still capable of reproduction well into and beyond middle age. Yet a man's sexual desire and potency varies, often according to his testosterone level. Recent studies show that the lowered testosterone levels endemic in aging men-a gradual drop that is quite normal-are being exacerbated by environmental agents. Testosterone-blocking estrogen agents are present in insecticides, industrial materials, pharmaceuticals, and foods. Men are daily inundated with a "cocktail" of estrogen agents that alter the fine balance of testosterone that makes them male. But as recent medical research has revealed, testosterone replacement therapy with Low T drugs is not a good option because of the increased risk of cardiovascular problems, such as heart attack and stroke, and because the body can become dependent on pharmaceutical testosterone and stop producing any on its own. In this updated edition of The Natural Testosterone Plan, Stephen Harrod Buhner shows why men need help to maintain their testosterone levels as they age and explains how naturally occurring phytoandrogens-plant medicines that contain male hormones-can safely remedy the depletion exerted by the environment. Buhner details how each phytoandrogen works, when its use is indicated, and the

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