The idea of this book was born due to the rapid increase of the interest in excellence of agricultural production in the aspect of both – the quality of raw material for food production as well as in the aspect of environment protection. Agrophysics is a field of science that focuses on the quality of agriculture as a whole i.e. the interaction between human and environment, especially the interaction between soil, plant, atmosphere and machine. Physics with its laws, principles and rules is a good tool for description of the interactions, as well as of the results of these interactions. Some aspects of chemistry, biology and other fields of science are also taken under consideration. This interdisciplinary approach can result in holistic description of processes which should lead to improvement of the efficiency of obtaining the raw materials to ensure a sufficient amount of food, safe for human health. This book could be regarded as the contribution to this description. The reader can find some basic as well, as more particular aspects of the contemporary agriculture, starting with the soil characteristics and treatment, plant growth and agricultural products’ properties and processing.

This book focuses on advanced research and technologies in dairy processing, one of the most important branches of the food industry. It addresses various topics, ranging from the basics of dairy technology to the opportunities and challenges in the industry. Following an introduction to dairy processing, the book takes readers through various aspects of dairy engineering, such as dairy-based peptides, novel milk products and bio-fortification. It also describes the essential role of microorganisms in the industry and ways to detect them, as well as the use of prebiotics, and food safety. Lastly, the book examines the challenges faced, especially in terms of maintaining quality across the supply chain. Covering all significant areas of dairy science and processing, this interesting and informative book is a valuable resource for post-graduate students, research scholars and industry experts.

This Encyclopedia of Agrophysics will provide up-to-date information on the physical properties and processes affecting the quality of the environment and plant production. It will be a "first-up" volume which will nicely complement the recently published Encyclopedia of Soil Science, (November 2007) which was published in the same series. In a single authoritative volume a collection of about 250 informative articles and ca 400 glossary terms covering all aspects of agrophysics will be presented. The authors will be renowned specialists in various aspects in agrophysics from a wide variety of countries. Agrophysics is important both for research and practical use not only in agriculture, but also in areas like environmental science, land reclamation, food processing etc. Agrophysics is a relatively new interdisciplinary field closely related to Agrochemistry, Agrobiology, Agroclimatology and Agroecology. Nowadays it has been fully accepted as an agricultural and environmental discipline. As such this Encyclopedia volume will be an indispensable working tool for scientists and practitioners from different disciplines, like agriculture, soil science, geosciences, environmental science, geography, and engineering.

Advances in Bio-Based Fibres: Moving Towards a Green Society describes many novel natural fibers, their specific synthesis and characterization methods, their environmental sustainability values, their compatibility with polymer composites, and a wide range of innovative commercial engineering applications. As bio-based fiber polymer composites possess excellent mechanical, electrical and thermal properties, along with highly sustainable properties, they are an important technology for manufacturers and materials scientists seeking to improve the sustainability of their industries. This cutting-edge book draws on the latest industry practice and academic research to provide advice on technologies with applications in industries, including packaging, automotive, aerospace, biomedical and structural engineering. Provides technical data on advanced material properties, including electrical and rheological Gives a comprehensive guide to appraising and applying this technology to improve sustainability, including lifecycle assessment and recyclability Includes advice on the latest modeling techniques for designing with these materials

Advanced High Strength Natural Fibre Composites in Construction provides the basic framework and knowledge required for the efficient and sustainable use of natural fiber composites as a structural and building material, along with information on the ongoing efforts to improve the efficiency of use and competitiveness of these composites. Areas of particular interest include understanding the nature and behavior of raw materials and their functional contributions to the advanced architectures of high strength composites (Part 1), discussing both traditional and novel manufacturing technologies for various advanced natural fiber construction materials (Part 2), examining the parameters and performance of the composites (Part 3), and finally commenting on the associated codes, standards, and sustainable development of advanced high strength natural fiber composites for construction. This exposition will be based on well understood environmental science as it applies to construction (Part 4). The book is aimed at academics, research scholars, and engineers, and will serve as a most valuable text or reference book that challenges undergraduate and postgraduate students to think beyond standard practices when designing and creating novel construction materials. Presents the first comprehensive review on the efficient and sustainable use of natural fiber composites in construction and building materials Contains detailed information on the structure, chemical composition, and physical and mechanical properties of natural fibers Covers both traditional and novel manufacturing technologies for high strength natural fiber composites Includes material parameters and performance in use, as well as associated codes, standards, and applied case studies Presents contributions from leading international experts in the field

The use of spectroscopy in food analysis is growing and this informative volume presents the application of advanced spectroscopic techniques in the analysis of food quality. The spectroscopic techniques include visible and NIR spectroscopy, FTIR spectroscopy and Laser-induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS). A wide range of food and beverage items are covered including tea, coffee and wine. The chapters will highlight the potential of spectroscopic techniques to enrich the food quality analysis experience when coupled with artificial intelligence and machine learning and provide a good opportunity to assess and critically lay out any future prospects. Different chapters have been written using a bottom-up approach that suits the needs of novice researchers and at the same time offers a smooth read for professionals. The book will also be of use to those developing spectroscopic facilities providing a useful cross comparison of the various techniques.