In response to low iron availability in the environment most microorganisms synthesize iron chelators, called siderophores. Bacteria and fungi produce a broad range of structurally diverse siderophores, which all show a very high affinity for ferric ions.

"Microbial Siderophores" presents an up-to-date overview of the chemistry, biology and biotechnology of these iron chelators. Following an introduction to the structure, functions and regulation of fungal siderophores, several chapters focus on siderophores of pseudomonads. Here, the technique of siderotyping, which has proved to be a rapid, accurate and inexpensive tool for pseudomonad characterization and identification, is described. Further, the biological significance of siderophores of symbiotic fungi and the possible role of siderophores in pathogenesis are discussed. In addition to methodological approaches, chapters on the biotechnological production of siderophores and their application in promoting human and plant health are included.

This thoughtful and provocative book provides a concise, up-to-date presentation of how current and projected future phosphorus scarcity will affect legume growth and their symbiotic nitrogen-fixing capabilities. It is a timely examination of the physiological and molecular responses of nodules to phosphorous deficiency in attempt to identify common principles. Students and researchers in the many disciplines related to crop productivity will find this title an exciting contribution in the area of plant stress physiology. The knowledge in this volume can also aid plant breeders, particularly through new methods of genetic engineering, in developing unique and adaptive cultivars with higher symbiotic efficiency. The awareness of the rapidly rising world population must translate into a parallel increase in agricultural production in order to sustain the growing population both now and in the future. Hence, the demand for food crops to produce proteins and vegetable oil for human consumption is going to increase considerably during the coming years. The essential role of legumes in agriculture is well-recognized, given the abundant levels of proteins and oils found in plants along with their enormous contribution to the sustainability of agricultural systems and human health. The capacity of legumes to fix nitrogen (N2) in partnership with rhizobia provides an input-saving and resource-conserving alternative, thereby reducing the need for chemical fertilizers while enhancing overall crop productivity. The use of N2-fixing legumes to produce plant proteins results in a substantial decrease in the consumption of fossil fuels and therefore also in the agricultural effects to global warming. However, a major constraint to legume production is low soil phosphorus (P) availability, considering that an overwhelming majority of the world's soils are classified as P-deficient. Low-P availability is especially problematic for legumes, since legume nodules responsible for N2 fixation have a high P requirement. Therefore, this book explains how nodule N2 fixation responds to low P availability, which is crucial for improving legume production and maintaining agricultural sustainability in the context of the global P crisis.

While there are several excellent books dealing with numerical analysis and analytical theory, students and faculty in numerical applications to ocean dynamics have to sift through hundreds of references. This monograph is an attempt to partly rectify this situation. Major chapters (II, III and IV) deal first with the basics and then go on to various applications. Instead of covering the vast field of ocean dynamics, this book focuses on transport equations (diffusion and advection), shallow water phenomena - tides, storm surges and tsunamis; three-dimensional time dependent oceanic motion; natural oscillations; and steady state phenomena. The aim of this book is two-fold; it gives an introduction to the application of finite-difference methods to ocean dynamics, and it also reviews more complex methods.

Based on contributions to the first General Assembly of the International Consortium on Landslides, this reference and status report emphasizes the mechanisms of different types of landslides, landslide risk analysis, and sustainable disaster management. It comprises the achievements of the ICL over the past three years, since the Kyoto assembly. It consists of three parts: research results of the International Programme on Landslides (IPL); contributions on landslide risk analysis; and articles on sustainable disaster management. In addition, the history of the ICL activities (under the support of UNESCO, WMO, FAO, UN/ISDR, and UNU) is recounted to create a comprehensive overview of international activity on landslides. The contributions reflect a wide range of topics and concerns, randing from field studies, identification of objects of cultural heritage at landslide risk, as well as landslide countermeasures.

This book focuses on structural characterisation techniques for porous materials. Covering a range of techniques, including gas sorption, mercury porosimetry, thermoporometry, NMR and imaging methods, this practical guide presents the basic theory behind each characterisation technique, and discusses the practicalities of the experimental and data analysis approaches needed for complex industrial samples. The book shows readers how to approach characterising a particular sort of material for the first time and then how to develop a strategy for more in-depth analysis. It also demonstrates how to determine the best techniques for solving particular problems, and describes methods of obtaining the required information, as well as the limitations of various methods. It particularly highlights a scientific approach involving parameter validation and simple acquisition. Featuring examples taken from case studies of real-world industrial materials, this book is intended for industrial practitioners and researchers. It provides a manual of potential techniques and answers questions concerning porous materials that arise in areas such as the catalyst industry, the oil and gas sector, batteries, fuel cells, tissue engineering scaffolds and drug delivery devices.

This book provides readers with in-depth insights into the changes in the Pantanal wetland from its formation to the actual and likely future states. It reveals that today's Pantanal is an evolutionary consequence of geological, ecological and, more recently, man-made events taking place at distinct space-time intervals. Topics include geotectonics and sun-earth interactions, which largely dictate the rate of drastic changes that eventually disrupt ecological stability and radically rebuild the regional landscape. Furthermore, the biota-climate system is discussed as a major driver reshaping the ecohydrology functioning of the landscape on an intermediate timescale. Also covered are major changes in the landscape ecohydrology and biodiversity due to recent land-use and climate changes induced by humankind in the Anthropocene. The ability to recognize how those temporal scales impact the Pantanal wetland provides the opportunity for wise management approaches and the sustainable development of the region.

For the last couple of decades it has been recognized that the foundation material on which a structure is constructed may interact dynamically with the structure during its response to dynamic excitation to the extent that the stresses and deflections in the system are modified from the values that would have been developed if it had been on a rigid foundations. This phenomenon is examined in detail in this book. The basic solutions are examined in time and frequency domains and finite element and boundary element solutions compared. Experimental investigations aimed at correlation and verification with theory are described in detail. A wide variety of SSI problems may be formulated and solved approximately-using simplified models in lieu of rigorous procedures; the book gives a good overview of these methods. A feature often lacking in other texts on the subject, is the way in which dynamic behaviour of soil can be modelled. Two contributors have addressed this problem from the computational and physical characterization viewpoints. The book illustrates practical areas with the analysis of tunnel linings and stiffness and damping of pile groups. Finally, design code provisions and derivation of design input motions complete this thorough overview of SSI in conventional engineering practice. Taken in its entirety the book, written by 15 well known experts, gives an in-depth review of soil-structure interaction across a broad spectrum of aspects usually not covered in a single volume. It should be a readily usable reference for the research worker as well as the advance level practitioner.

shallow processes and for the pursuit of more Sediments are now known to undergo deforma tion in a wide variety of geological circumstances. quantitative relationships. With these goals in The deforming processes can happen on a vast mind, workers are increasingly drawing on the scale and at all stages before the material be principles and methods of the well-established comes fully lithified. In fact, as exploration of the engineering discipline of soil mechanics. earth continues, the widespread extent and im All this is beginning to attract wider geological portance of sediment deformation is still being interest. Yet to the newcomer, because progress revealed, for example, below the oceans and has been rapid in recent years, the literature is beneath ice sheets. At the same time, it is still already formidable. The information is scattered, being realized just how varied are the resulting so even an expert on sediment deformation in a structures, and how strikingly similar they can be certain setting may be unaware of analogous to those produced by the deformation of deeply problems and successes in other environments. buried rocks. At the same time, although the same basic prin However, there are few precedents to guide the ciples apply in the various geological regimes, a geologist in interpreting structures that formed in subtly different terminology is evolving, which unlithified sediments, or in understanding the can make the subject boundaries hard to cross."

This volume addresses the physical foundation of remote sensing. The basic grounds are presented in close association with the kinds of environmental targets to monitor and with the observing techniques. The book aims at plugging the quite large gap between the thorough and quantitative description of electromagnetic waves interacting with the Earth's environment and the user applications of Earth observation. It is intended for scientifically literate students and professionals who plan to gain a first understanding of remote sensing data and of their information content.

The West African Sahel is the transition zone between the Saharadesert in the north of Africa and the more humid Sudanian zones in the south. Although diverse in many ways, the Sahelian countries have the common problem of a fragile agricultural sector. This predicament is mainly caused by low inherent soil fertility, limited and unpredictable rainfall, frequent droughts, and wind erosion that accelerates soil degradation and desertification, compounded by To assure food production in the future, means rapidly growing populations. of declining soil fertility and increasing must be found to offset the trends soil degradation through wind erosion. This is a challenge for agricultural research. Since 1985, the Special Research Program 308 'Adapted Farming in West Africa' at the UniversityofHohenheimin collaboration with the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) in Niger, has pursued the developmentof agricultural innovations for smallholder farmers in one of the most ecologically fragile regions of the world. The prevention of soil degradation, the restoration and maintenance of soil fertility, and the increase of land and labor productivity are key objectives of this multidisci plinary research program. From the beginning, a major focus of research has been wind erosion.

This book presents the fundamental principles of thermodynamics for geosciences, based on the author 's own courses over a number of years. Many examples help to understand how mineralogical problems can be solved by applying thermodynamic principles.

In this volume, top seismic experts and researchers from Europe and around the world, including the George E. Brown, Jr. Network for Earthquake Engineering Simulation (NEES) in the USA, present the most recent outcome of their work in experimental testing, as well as the results of the transnational access activities of external researchers who have used Europe's seven largest and most advanced seismic testing facilities in the framework of the Seismic Engineering Research Infrastructures for European Synergies (SERIES) Project financed by the European Commission in its 7th Framework Programme (2007-2013). This includes EU's largest reaction wall facility, EU's four largest shaking table laboratories and its two major centrifuges. The work presented includes state-of-the-art research towards the seismic design, assessment and retrofitting of structures, as well as the development of innovative research toward new fundamental technologies and techniques promoting efficient and joint use of the research infrastructures. The contents of this volume demonstrate the fruits of the effort of the European Commission in supporting research in earthquake engineering.

This book introduces the concepts and methods of spatial statistics to geologists and engineers working with oil and gas data, and covers all of the most commonly encountered geostatistical methods for estimation and simulation. Topics include calculation and modeling of semivariograms, linear methods of kriging, cokriging, nonlinear methods such as indicator kriging and disjunctive kriging, and conditional simulation, including sequential indicator simulation, sequential Gaussian simulation, and simulated annealing. Semivariogram models range from very simple to complex. All of the fundamental semivariogram models are illustrated, along with anisotropic models, hole effects, geometric and zonal models, and the mechanics of fitting models. For each geostatistical method treated in detail, the author introduces necessary theory and background, describes how the method works, the steps a user must go through, and problems a user might encounter. The emphasis throughout is on what the practitioner needs to know, and the results that can be expected. The book is replete with examples in two and three dimensions, using real-world data such as porosity and permeability, gas production, structural elevation of a reservoir, and seismic information. Geostatistics and Petroleum Geology will be an invaluable advanced-level text for students on petroleum engineering and geosciences courses, as well as an important reference for petroleum geologists and petroleum engineers in oil companies worldwide.

The first systematic examination of the role of geomorphological processes in the cycling of carbon through the terrestrial system. Argues that knowledge of geomorphological processes is fundamental to understanding the ways in which carbon is stored and recycled in the terrestrial environment Integrates classical geomorphological theory with understanding of microbial processes controlling the decomposition of organic matter Develops an interdisciplinary research agenda for the analysis of the terrestrial carbon cycle Informed by work in ecology, microbiology and biogeochemistry, in order to analyse spatial and temporal patterns of terrestrial carbon cycling at the landscape scale Considers the ways in which, as Humanity enters the Anthropocene, the application of this science has the potential to manage the terrestrial carbon cycle to limit increases in atmospheric carbon

This book provides an overview of arid and semi-arid lands conditions, their general characteristics, methods of management, conservation, exploitation and reclamation. It also focuses on how to utilize the potential of arid lands with the minimum manipulation and alteration. Arid and semi-arid areas represent a major part of natural ecosystems not only in Iran, but around the world, and mismanagement and inappropriate exploitation of these areas may lead to further gradual degradation. As such, an understanding of the characteristics of these areas is vital if they are to be conserved and reclaimed.

This volume presents an exhaustive overview of major orebodies and mineral deposits of North Africa. It is intended both for academic researchers and especially for exploration geologists interested in mineral exploration in the northern part of the African continent. Recent changes in the mining laws of most countries in this region have encouraged international mining companies to invest in local mineral industries. Accordingly, this volume will be very useful for these professionals, as well as for researchers in the field of economic geology.

The The book book was was planned planned in in such such a a manner manner that that two two basic basic goals goals would would be be reached. reached. On On the the one one hand, hand, the the goal goal was was to to show show some some new new results results in in the the field field of of modeling modeling transport transport through through highly highly heterogeneous heterogeneous media, media, based based on on the the homogenization homogenization theory. theory. Multiple Multiple new new mathematical mathematical models models of of transport transport are are presented presented herein, herein, studying studying their their properties, properties, developing developing methods methods to to compute compute effective effective parameters parameters of of the the averaged averaged media, media, simulation simulation of of cell cell problems, problems, using using new new models models to to simulate simulate some some practical practical problems. problems. High High heterogeneity heterogeneity being being subjected subjected to to the the homogenization homogenization procedure, procedure, generates generates non-local non-local phenomena phenomena and and then then gives gives a a possibility possibility to to develop develop a a new, new, non-local non-local (or (or "dynamic"), "dynamic"), theory theory of of transport transport in in porous porous media. media.

Collapsing engineering soils are a formidable hazard around the world. These difficult materials also include some of the world's most fertile agricultural soils, fostering dense human populations which are therefore increasingly at risk. Despite an impressive literature on the engineering aspects of collapsing soils, these materials are coming under increasing scrutiny by scientists in other fields. This is most evidently the case with soil scientists, stratigraphers and sedimentologists. Past earth surface conditions have a direct influence on the detailed behaviour of collapsible soils: as a complement, these materials also provide detailed data on changing global climates. The selected papers presented here highlight the common ground between three scientific groups with a vested interest in a better understanding of collapsible soils.

Extensive descriptions of a wide range of key or world-class mineral deposits of China are presented in the context of the country's general geology, tectonic units and mineral systems and their geodynamic evolution within the tectonic framework of the Asian continent. This comprehensive overview, incorporating the latest geological concepts, is the first such coverage written in English by a western expert, and will be of benefit to mineral explorers and miners, as well as to research scientists and students in institutions of higher education. In his compilation of this compendium of Chinese geology and mineral systems, Franco Pirajno draws on first-hand knowledge of China's geology and mineral deposits gained in numerous field visits and research projects with Chinese colleagues from various academic institutions over the past 18 years. First time that a western-based book on China's geology and mineral deposits is published Appropriate for use by the mineral exploration industry Modern English-language geological and mineral deposits information on China Most useful to Western (and Chinese) geoscientists

Volume 16 of Advances in Microbial Ecology has a difficult history. Nearly halfway through its completion, Gwynfryn Jones had to resign as managing edi tor for health reasons, and he asked me to take over. I want to thank Gwyn for his dedicated work in this publication series, and wish him all the best for the future. After the change in editorship, some authors had to be encouraged on rather short notice to provide their chapters in order to make appearance of this volume possible within a reasonable period of time. Nonetheless, I think that the articles we present with this volume represent an enjoyable collection of up-to-date con tributions to microbial ecology. In my own understanding, microbial ecology com prises the elucidation of microbial activities in natural or semi natural environ ments, including physiology, biochemistry, population dynamics, and interactions with all the biotic and abiotic environmental conditions microbes encounter. This comprises studies on single organisms in defined cultures in an ecological per spective, the analysis of microbial activities in complex environments, as well as the development of concepts for the interactions of microorganisms with the world in which they live. Last but not least, microbial ecology is not an exotic science studied exclusively in remote places untouched by human beings."

Soils are neither good nor bad, but some have inherent or acquired characteristics that may or may not suit our intended use. Unsuitable characteristics are considered to be soil problems, soil constraints or soil limitations. Only twelve percent of global land is right for agricultural production without much limitation. Some soils have severe limitations for crop production. These soils are so called 'problem soils'. Many of them do not have enough fertility to be productive; some are arid and saline; some are very sandy and dry; and some are wet and waterlogged for most of the growing season. The global demand for food, wood, fuel, fiber, medicine and other plant products for the 7.2 billion current world population has created such an immense pressure on global soil resources that even the most fertile soils are losing their productive capacity. We are being compelled to bring more and more unsuitable or marginally suitable soils under cultivation. Unless innovative and integrated soil, crop and environmental management practices are adopted for their improvement and sustainable use, further degradation is inevitable. This book, Management of Soil Problems, identifies the problems and discusses management options in a smooth and reader-friendly style. It will be useful for students and professionals of soil science, agriculture, forestry, geography and environmental sciences.

This book by Vietnamese and Russian authors is the first of its kind and combines the extensive knowledge on the petrology and metallogeny of the late Paleozoic - early Mesozoic and Cenozoic periods in North Vietnam. The Permian - Triassic and Paleogene volcano-plutonic and plutonic associations are two important geological events in the evolutionary history of Southeast Asia, including the 260 - 250 Ma Emeishan mantle plume and Indian-Eurasia collision at 60 - 55 M. The volume includes 9 chapters, divided into 3 parts. Part 1 introduces the geological structure of North Vietnam; Part 2 covers the Permian - Triassic magma associations and metallogeny; and Part 3 focuses on the Cenozoic magma associations and metallogeny. In each chapter, the geological setting of magmas, classification of different geological structures, and composition characteristics, such as mineralogy, geochemistry, isotope systematics and geochronology are discussed. This book represents an important reference document for international and Vietnamese geologists engaged in the geological history and metallogeny of Vietnam, an important area of the Asian continent. The monograph also has a practical significance in contributing new premises and to assess rare and precious mineral prospects. In addition, it can be regarded as a necessary data base for petrological and metallogenic projects and university courses.