This book offers an in-depth description of different groups of microbes (i.e. bacteria, protozoa, fungi and viruses) that exist in the rumen microbial community, and offers an overview of rumen microbiology, the rumen microbial ecosystem of domesticated ruminants, and rumen microbial diversity. It provides the latest concepts on rumen microbiology for scholars, researchers and teachers of animal and veterinary sciences. With this goal in mind, throughout the text we focus on specific areas related to the biology and complex interactions of the microbes in rumen, integrating significant key issues in each respective area. We also discuss rumen manipulation with plant secondary metabolites, microbial feed additives, utilization of organic acids, selective inhibition of harmful rumen microbes, and 'omics' approaches to manipulating rumen microbial functions. A section on the exploration and exploitation of rumen microbes addresses topics including the current state of knowledge on rumen metagenomics, rumen: an underutilized niche for industrially important enzymes and ruminal fermentations to produce fuels. We next turn our attention to commercial applications of rumen microbial enzymes and to the molecular characterization of euryarcheal communities within an anaerobic digester. A section on intestinal disorders and rumen microbes covers acidosis in cattle, urea/ ammonia metabolism in the rumen and nitrate/ nitrite toxicity in ruminant diets. Last, the future prospects of rumen microbiology are examined, based on the latest developments in this area. In summary, the book offers a highly systematic collection of essential content on rumen microbiology.

The monograph focuses on the distribution of molecular variations in a braconid, Cotesia plutellae (Kurdj.), a parasitoid of the diamondback moth (Plutella xylostella L.). It describes the diversity of Cotesia species assessed by AFLP fingerprinting and sequencing of 16S, ND1, COI, ITS2 and FtsZ gene regions. This monograph will be helpful in insect diversity studies and decision-making on the use of potential strains for biocontrol programmes, and will also help researchers and beginners in molecular entomology at graduate and postgraduate levels.

Neurobiology deals with the study of structure and functions of the nervous system. The brain is the most important organ of the nervous system, and it makes us human since it is the seat of our behaviour. Nerve cells (neurons) are the basic building blocks of the nervous system (or the brain) in the same way that elementary atomic particles and forces are the building blocks of physical matter. Neural function depends on the coordinated action of neurons. Therefore, the basic principles and mechanisms of neurophysiological functions from molecular, genomic to cellular-organismal levels form the central theme of the book. Mathematics has been used when considered essential; emphasis is given to the development of qualitative intuitive understanding of complex functions. For understanding the nervous system or the brain it is essential to learn how single cell and molecules in the nervous system function to produce electrical activity. Neuroelectric phenomena have thus been duly emphasized in the text. Pathological, pathophysiological aspects of neurobiological phenomena have also been fairly focused on.