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Rainwater Harvesting—Building a Water Smart City (Springer Water)
by Aysha AkterThis book introduces the readers to possible aspects of the rainwater harvesting system against urbanization to plan, design, and implement. Practical applications of rainwater harvesting to supplement potable water, stormwater management, greywater reuse, and managed aquifer recharge are included. Along with conventional practices, advanced technologies for conceptualizing, data collection and processing, test procedures, and design principles are provided to illustrate the theory. This book is a pathway to a water smart city, example problems reflect the solutions for harvested water quantity and/or quality and afterward. Socio-economic assessments are incorporated to explore comprehensive knowledge. The book covers an interdisciplinary field, thus, suitable for students, researchers, and professionals associated with rainwater harvesting system development and management
Rainwater-Smart Agriculture in Arid and Semi-Arid Areas
by Walter Leal Filho Josep de Trincheria GomezThis book introduces state-of-the-art approaches, methods and research, focusing on smart management of rainwater. In addition, it provides an overview of projects from across the world, illustrating how rainwater-smart management has been implemented in drylands. Focusing on the scientific perspective it demonstrates how rural dryland agriculture can be improved. It also documents the wealth of rainwater-smart know-how available today, and replicates and transfers results to other countries and regions, to encourage cross-sector interactions among various stakeholders, such as practitioners from governmental and public organisations, policy- and decision-makers, and teaching staff from academic scientific institutions. The contributors showcase vital lessons learned from research, field projects and best-practice examples. They address the integrated use of rainwater harvesting management with landscape restoration practices and water-, and climate-smart agriculture for food security and poverty alleviation in arid and semi-arid areas. Original research, combined with the contributors’ synthetic approach, lays a foundation for new concepts and ideas. Through case studies and research reports, the book discusses all the relevant issues necessary for the comprehensive analysis and successful implementation of the technologies in rainwater management. Highlighting the working principles and technical recommendations with regard to cost-efficient rainwater-smart solutions, it is of interest to practitioners. It is also a valuable resource for academic specialists, professionals and students, since many development agencies are funding rainwater harvesting for irrigation purposes.
Raising Oysters (Fountas & Pinnell LLI Purple #Level R)
by Sarah BrockettSome people think oysters are gross, slimy blobs. Others think these slippery shellfish taste wonderfully delicious. Some people value oysters for their possible secret treasure: a pearl growing inside.
Raising Resilient Bees: Heritage Techniques to Mitigate Mites, Preserve Locally Adapted Genetics, and Grow Your Apiary
by Eric McEwen Joy McEwen"Right from the start, this book takes you on a journey that is fascinating and thought-provoking. . . The McEwens demonstrate creative, out-of-the-box thinking and challenge traditional ways of keeping bees."—American Bee Journal With over 100 color photographs and illustrations, Raising Resilient Bees is the comprehensive source for new and experienced beekeepers, offering a sustainable, natural, and repeatable model of care for hive health and production. Global pests and diseases present an unprecedented challenge for the modern honey bee. Hobby and commercial beekeepers alike continue to experience troubling rates of mortality for their colonies, with potentially deleterious consequences for the stability of our wider ecosystems and overall food security. It is time for a global focus on restoring the health of the shared apiary through naturally reared, genetically diverse, and resilient lines of bees. Raising Resilient Bees establishes these parameters and provides guidance for new and experienced beekeepers alike to translate these goals into real practice, thereby safeguarding the honey bee from the unknown threats of the future. Authors Eric and Joy McEwen take two decades worth of beekeeping experience, experiments, and professional production to deliver groundbreaking methods in queen-rearing, varroa mite management, and Natural Nest hive design. Inside, you’ll discover: Revived and adapted heritage Integrated Pest Management techniques How to naturally rear queens and select for resilient, mite-resistant genetic lines without relying on swarming or grafting Key tenets of apicentric beekeeping Advice for establishing a flourishing and sustainable business with beekeeping at the center How to naturally rear bees with distinctive characteristics suitable to their locale As in large-scale agriculture, the trend toward genetic homogenization is having long-term implications for bees’ capacity to withstand diverse environmental stressors. With expert advice, enthusiasm, and easy-to-follow instructions, Raising Resilient Bees delivers important and timely information for every beekeeper to create a healthier future. “Vivid, practical, evidence-based . . . . Biodynamic and organic beekeepers will applaud the authors’ use of ‘natural nest hives’ with single-size boxes and vertically uninterrupted brood nests, populated with locally adapted bees and naturally reared queens.”—David Heaf, author of The Bee-Friendly Beekeeper; bee-friendly.co.uk “The McEwens look at every aspect of a honey bee’s life in this book—pest and disease issues, living space, the genetics of resistance and tolerance, qualities of successful queens, optimal feeding, and seasonal management that fits the bee above the beekeeper.”—Kim Flottum, author of The Backyard Beekeeper; podcast producer, Growing Planet Media
Raising the Dead: The Men Who Created Frankenstein
by Andy DouganA &“pleasingly ghoulish&” look at the real-life Dr. Frankensteins of the nineteenth century and their legacy in modern medicine (Telegraph). Mary Shelley's 1818 novel, Frankenstein, introduced readers to the concept of raising the dead through scientific procedures. Those who read the book were thrilled by this incredible Gothic adventure. Few, however, realized that Shelley&’s story had a basis in fact. Her modern Prometheus was a serious pursuit for some of the greatest minds of the early nineteenth century. It was a time when scientists genuinely believed, as Frankenstein did, that they could know what it feels like to be God. Raising the Dead is the story of the science of galvanism—named after the Italian scientist Luigi Galvani, who had conducted the original experiments—a movement that investigated the theory of &“animal electricity,&” a unifying vital spirit that animates us all, with leaders who believed that they stood on the brink of immortality. While they ultimately failed in this challenge, their studies mapped out the nervous system and made valuable and enduring contributions to medical knowledge and understanding—from theorizing the concepts of the modern-day defibrillator to the use of deep brain stimulus to treat personality disorders to experimental procedures using microchip-controlled devices to bridge damaged spinal nerves. This &“excellent, highly readable history&” tells their stories (Herald).
Raising the Skirt: The Unsung Power of the Vagina
by Catherine Blackledge'A meticulous guide not only to the vagina but to changing perceptions of womanhood' OBSERVER'An empowering and enlightening book' IRISH TIMESThe vagina is the ultimate symbol of female power. Sexual power, creative power and the power to prevent harm. For too long, though, the true extent of vaginal power has been ignored, hidden and misrepresented. Raising the skirt: the unsung power of the vagina reveals this revolutionary view of female genitalia and points the way to a new understanding of what it means to be female. An inspiration for millennia, the vagina is actually a muscular marvel of engineering - sensitive and strong, fluid and flexible. Far from being a passive vessel, female genitalia control the most important role of all: the survival of the species.Originally published as THE STORY OF V: OPENING PANDORA'S BOX
Raising the Skirt: The Unsung Power of the Vagina
by Catherine Blackledge'A meticulous guide not only to the vagina but to changing perceptions of womanhood' OBSERVER'An empowering and enlightening book' IRISH TIMESThe vagina is the ultimate symbol of female power. Sexual power, creative power and the power to prevent harm. For too long, though, the true extent of vaginal power has been ignored, hidden and misrepresented. Raising the skirt: the unsung power of the vagina reveals this revolutionary view of female genitalia and points the way to a new understanding of what it means to be female. An inspiration for millennia, the vagina is actually a muscular marvel of engineering - sensitive and strong, fluid and flexible. Far from being a passive vessel, female genitalia control the most important role of all: the survival of the species.Originally published as THE STORY OF V: OPENING PANDORA'S BOX
Raman and His Effect: Vignettes in Physics
by G. VenkataramanThis book deals with the famous Scattering Effect discovered by Sir C.V. Raman. It gives us deep insights into the character of this famous scientist and vividly describes the circumstances surrounding the discovery.
Raman, Infrared, and Near-Infrared Chemical Imaging
by Slobodan A IcAn all-inclusive guide on the analytical methods of Raman, infrared, and near-infrared chemical imaging An underutilized technology, chemical imaging through Raman, infrared (IR), and near-infrared (NIR) is beginning to gain recognition for its non-destructive method of permitting visualization of spatially resolved chemical information. This type of analysis is triggering a groundswell of demand as manufactured materials become more complex and the need for greater scrutiny and less damaging research practices is at a premium. Concentrating on the applications of chemical imaging, this book presents a thorough background on the theory, software, and hardware employed in this analytical technique. With full examination of this rapidly growing field, this book: Combines many different aspects and applications into one comprehensive volume Discusses how chemical imaging techniques have expanded greatly in terms of instruments and applications, but have lagged in general awareness among scientists and industries that would benefit the most from them Describes chemical imaging uses in key areas-biomedical, pharmaceutical, food, and polymer research Has chapters that outline hardware and instrumentation for the different methods of chemical imaging Encapsulating analytic methods without complicating the subject matter, this book shows where chemical imaging has been successfully applied, inspiring researchers to cultivate the exciting capabilities rooted within this powerful and multifaceted technology.
Raman Scattering on Emerging Semiconductors and Oxides
by Zhe FengRaman Scattering on Emerging Semiconductors and Oxides presents Raman scattering studies. It describes the key fundamental elements in applying Raman spectroscopies to various semiconductors and oxides without complicated and deep Raman theories.Across nine chapters, it covers:• SiC and IV-IV semiconductors,• III-GaN and nitride semiconductors,• III-V and II-VI semiconductors,• ZnO-based and GaO-based semiconducting oxides,• Graphene, ferroelectric oxides, and other emerging materials,• Wide-bandgap semiconductors of SiC, GaN, and ZnO, and• Ultra-wide gap semiconductors of AlN, Ga2O3, and graphene.Key achievements from the author and collaborators in the above fields are referred to and cited with typical Raman spectral graphs and analyses. Written for engineers, scientists, and academics, this comprehensive book will be fundamental for newcomers in Raman spectroscopy.Zhe Chuan Feng has had an impressive career spanning many years of important work in engineering and tech, including as a professor at the Graduate Institute of Photonics & Optoelectronics and Department of Electrical Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taipei; establishing the Science Exploring Lab; joining Kennesaw State University as an adjunct professor, part-time; and at the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Southern Polytechnic College of Engineering and Engineering Technology. Currently, he is focusing on materials research for LED, III-nitrides, SiC, ZnO, other semiconductors/oxides, and nanostructures and has devoted time to materials research and growth of III-V and II-VI compounds, LED, III nitrides, SiC, ZnO, GaO, and other semiconductors/oxides.Professor Feng has also edited and published multiple review books in his field, alongside authoring scientific journal papers and conference/proceeding papers. He has organized symposiums and been an invited speaker at different international conferences and universities. He has also served as a guest editor for special journal issues.
Raman Spectroscopy: Advances and Applications (Springer Series in Optical Sciences #248)
by Dheeraj Kumar Singh Ashish Kumar Mishra Arnulf MaternyThis book highlights recent advances of spectroscopic techniques based on Raman scattering. Different applications are introduced that serve as examples for the versatile use of Raman techniques. Raman spectroscopy is a marker free technique, which is capable of yielding detailed information about molecular systems in a non-destructive way. This makes it a valuable tool for, e.g., material science or medical research. The access to vibrational energy and dynamics yields fundamental insights into static and dynamical structural properties of molecules being influenced by and influencing their material science or medical research environment. The better understanding of the basic building blocks of materials helps to improve the functionality in various applications. Raman spectroscopy has become a truly interdisciplinary research tool, and the ongoing development of techniques makes it attractive for growing variety of scientific and industrial applications, which will be demonstrated in the book. While the “classical” linear spontaneous Raman spectroscopy is restricted in its applicability due to low signal intensities or the excitation of strong fluorescence background, new techniques have helped to overcome such problems. Examples, presented in the book, are surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS), and various associated techniques are used to drastically increase signal intensity, confocal, and tip-enhanced Raman scattering (TERS) allowing for high and even sub-diffraction limited spatial resolutions, coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS) avoiding fluorescence background and allowing for time-resolved observations of vibrational dynamics, or hyper- and resonance Raman scattering influencing the scattering based on electronic resonances, etc.
Raman Spectroscopy and its Application in Nanostructures
by Shu-Lin ZhangRaman Spectroscopy and its Application in Nanostructures is an original and timely contribution to a very active area of physics and materials science research. This book presents the theoretical and experimental phenomena of Raman spectroscopy, with specialized discussions on the physical fundamentals, new developments and main features in low-dimensional systems of Raman spectroscopy.In recent years physicists, materials scientists and chemists have devoted increasing attention to low-dimensional systems and as Raman spectroscopy can be used to study and analyse such materials as carbon nanotubes, quantum wells, silicon nanowires, etc., it is fast becoming one of the most powerful and sensitive experimental techniques to characterize the qualities of such nanostructures.Recent scientific and technological developments have resulted in the applications of Raman spectroscopy to expand. These developments are vital in providing information for a very broad field of applications: for example in microelectronics, biology, forensics and archaeology. Thus, this book not only introduces these important new branches of Raman spectroscopy from both a theoretical and practical view point, but the resulting effects are fully explored and relevant representative models of Raman spectra are described in-depth with the inclusion of theoretical calculations, when appropriate.
Raman Spectroscopy for Nanomaterials Characterization
by Challa S.S.R. KumarFirst volume of a 40-volume series on nanoscience and nanotechnology, edited by the renowned scientist Challa S.S.R. Kumar. This handbook gives a comprehensive overview about Raman spectroscopy for the characterization of nanomaterials. Modern applications and state-of-the-art techniques are covered and make this volume essential reading for research scientists in academia and industry.
Raman Spectroscopy in Cultural Heritage Preservation (Cultural Heritage Science)
by Howell G. Edwards Peter Vandenabeele Philippe ColombanThis book addresses the application of Raman spectroscopic techniques to a range of diverse problems which arise in the study, conservation and restoration of artefacts and sites closely related to our cultural heritage as well as in authentication. These themes are naturally wider than what at first might be considered as artworks and archaeological artefacts and the topics include pigments, paintings, ceramics, glass, sculpture and patination / corrosion, textiles, industrial archaeology, the degradation and preservation of biomaterials, mummies and human skeletal remains. An interesting feature is the inclusion of modern case studies which describe specific problems and approaches to the Raman spectral analysis of items important to our cultural heritage. The text is prefaced with an introduction to the important parameters used in nondestructive Raman measurements and also highlights some future applications based upon novel miniaturised instrumentation for in-field studies and potential screening work which will identify specimens which would repay further studies in the laboratory. An attempt is made to give a snapshot of the state-of-the-art evolution since the beginning of the technique (1970s) and to point out potential further development. The book is co-edited by three international experts with many years' experience in the application of Raman spectroscopy to artworks, archaeological artefacts and in the investigation of materials and sites for cultural heritage preservation and each editor has undertaken to write individual chapters and different topics personally. The adopted approach is designed to convey the sort of information which has become available from the adoption of analytical Raman spectroscopy to different problems in the field of cultural heritage preservation through the spectral interrogation of artefacts and how the interpretation of the spectral data can assist museum curators, archaeologists and cultural heritage historians in the preservation and conservation of ancient materials and sites : a particular advantage in this respect is the ability of Raman spectroscopy to determine –generally in a strictly noninvasive procedure - at the laboratory or on-site with mobile instruments, the presence of both organic and inorganic components in a particular specimen together nondestructively without any chemical and mechanical pretreatment being undertaken, which is an essential requirement for rare and valuable samples . An important aside from this work is the means of spectral identification of ongoing biodeterioration and biological colonisation in specimens in storage and the effects of environmental deterioration such as humidity and temperature upon their integrity.
Raman Spectroscopy in Graphene Related Systems
by Mildred S. Dresselhaus Gene Dresselhaus Riichiro Saito Ado JorioRaman spectroscopy is the inelastic scattering of light by matter. Being highly sensitive to the physical and chemical properties of materials, as well as to environmental effects that change these properties, Raman spectroscopy is now evolving into one of the most important tools for nanoscience and nanotechnology.<P><P> In contrast to usual microscopyrelated techniques, the advantages of using light for nanoscience relate toboth experimental and fundamental aspects.
Raman Spectroscopy of Conformational Rearrangements at Low Temperatures
by Nils Olaf Bernd LüttschwagerThis thesis identifies the turning point in chain length, after which alkanes self-solvate into a folded structure instead of an extended stretched conformation. After this turning point, London dispersion forces rearrange isolated n-alkanes into a particular hairpin-structure, while for shorter chain lengths, a simple stretched conformation is energetically preferred. This thesis can locate the experimental turning point for the first time in an interaction-free manner from measurements of unbranched alkanes at low temperatures in supersonic jet expansions. It contains a detailed analysis of the vibrational Raman spectra of the chain molecules, which is supported by comprehensive quantum chemical simulations. In this way, the detailed balance between inter-chain attraction and conformational flexibility can be quantified. The investigations are complemented by measurements of perfluoroalkanes and similarities and differences between the compounds are discussed. Furthermore, Nils Lüttschwager determines the stiffnesses (elastic moduli) of two of the most common industrial polymers: polyethylene and polytetrafluorethylene. He uses in this thesis a sophisticated extrapolation to calculate this value from quantities of their building blocks, showing that the single polymer molecules can be as stiff as a rod of steel.
Raman Spectroscopy of Two-Dimensional Materials (Springer Series in Materials Science #276)
by Ping-Heng TanThis book shows the electronic, optical and lattice-vibration properties of the two-dimensional materials which are revealed by the Raman spectroscopy. It consists of eleven chapters covering various Raman spectroscopy techniques (ultralow-frequency, resonant Raman spectroscopy, Raman imaging), different kinds of two-dimensional materials (in-plane isotropy and anisotropy materials, van der Waals heterostructures) and their physical properties (double-resonant theory, surface and interface effect). The topics include the theory origin, experimental phenomenon and advanced techniques in this area. This book is interesting and useful to a wide readership in various fields of condensed matter physics, materials science and engineering.
Raman Spectroscopy Under Liquid Nitrogen (Springer Series on Atomic, Optical, and Plasma Physics #121)
by Robert N. Compton Nathan I. Hammer Ethan C. Lambert J. Stewart HagerThis book describes a simple yet innovative method for performing Raman spectroscopy of samples submerged under liquid nitrogen. While Raman spectroscopy has proven to be a powerful tool for the characterization of the structure of matter in the gaseous, liquid, and solid phases, one major difficulty in its application has been laser damage to the material under investigation, especially for biological samples. This book demonstrates how immersion of the sample in liquid nitrogen protects the sample from thermal degradation and oxidation at high incident laser power and allows improvements in sensitivity and spectral resolution over room-temperature Raman spectroscopy, leading to the so-called RUN (Raman Spectroscopy Under liquid Nitrogen) technique. Cooling to liquid nitrogen temperature also allows the selection of the lowest energy molecular conformation for molecules which may have many low energy conformers. In addition, the presence of liquid nitrogen over a roughened surface improves the sensitivity of Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS), enabling the closely related SERSUN (Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy Under liquid Nitrogen) technique. This book starts with the theoretical and experimental basics of Raman and polarized Raman spectroscopy, before moving on to detailed descriptions of RUN and SERSUN. Room temperature and RUN spectra are provided for over fifty molecules.
Ramanujan
by Vashanti RahamanSrinivasa Ramanujan has been described as a rock-star mathematician. Though he died almost one hundred years ago, his work in mathematics will always be important.
Ramanujan's Place in the World of Mathematics: Essays Providing a Comparative Study
by Krishnaswami AlladiThe First Edition of the book is a collection of articles, all by the author, on the Indian mathematical genius Srinivasa Ramanujan as well as on some of the greatest mathematicians in history whose life and works have things in common with Ramanujan. It presents a unique comparative study of Ramanujan’s spectacular discoveries and remarkable life with the monumental contributions of various mathematical luminaries, some of whom, like Ramanujan, overcame great difficulties in life. Also, among the articles are reviews of three important books on Ramanujan’s mathematics and life. In addition, some aspects of Ramanujan’s contributions, such as his remarkable formulae for the number pi, his path-breaking work in the theory of partitions, and his fundamental observations on quadratic forms, are discussed. Finally, the book describes various current efforts to ensure that the legacy of Ramanujan will be preserved and continue to thrive in the future.This Second Edition is an expanded version of the first with six more articles by the author. Of note is the inclusion of a detailed review of the movie The Man Who Knew Infinity, a description of the fundamental work of the SASTRA Ramanujan Prize Winners, and an account of the Royal Society Conference to honour Ramanujan’s legacy on the centenary of his election as FRS.
Rambunctious Garden: Saving Nature in a Post-Wild World
by Emma MarrisA paradigm shift is roiling the environmental world. For decades people have unquestioningly accepted the idea that our goal is to preserve nature in its pristine, pre-human state. But many scientists have come to see this as an outdated dream that thwarts bold new plans to save the environment and prevents us from having a fuller relationship with nature. Humans have changed the landscapes they inhabit since prehistory, and climate change means even the remotest places now bear the fingerprints of humanity. Emma Marris argues convincingly that it is time to look forward and create the "rambunctious garden," a hybrid of wild nature and human management.
Ramified Natural Theology in Science and Religion: Moving Forward from Natural Theology (Routledge Science and Religion Series)
by Rodney HolderThis book offers a rationale for a new ‘ramified natural theology’ that is in dialogue with both science and historical-critical study of the Bible. Traditionally, knowledge of God has been seen to come from two sources, nature and revelation. However, a rigid separation between these sources cannot be maintained, since what purports to be revelation cannot be accepted without qualification: rational argument is needed to infer both the existence of God from nature and the particular truth claims of the Christian faith from the Bible. Hence the distinction between ‘bare natural theology’ and ‘ramified natural theology.’ The book begins with bare natural theology as background to its main focus on ramified natural theology. Bayesian confirmation theory is utilised to evaluate competing hypotheses in both cases, in a similar manner to that by which competing hypotheses in science can be evaluated on the basis of empirical data. In this way a case is built up for the rationality of a Christian theist worldview. Addressing issues of science, theology and revelation in a new framework, this book will be of keen interest to scholars working in Religion and Science, Natural Theology, Philosophy of Religion, Biblical Studies, Systematic Theology, and Science and Culture.
Ramified Surfaces: On Branch Curves and Algebraic Geometry in the 20th Century (Frontiers in the History of Science)
by Michael FriedmanThe book offers an extensive study on the convoluted history of the research of algebraic surfaces, focusing for the first time on one of its characterizing curves: the branch curve. Starting with separate beginnings during the 19th century with descriptive geometry as well as knot theory, the book focuses on the 20th century, covering the rise of the Italian school of algebraic geometry between the 1900s till the 1930s (with Federigo Enriques, Oscar Zariski and Beniamino Segre, among others), the decline of its classical approach during the 1940s and the 1950s (with Oscar Chisini and his students), and the emergence of new approaches with Boris Moishezon’s program of braid monodromy factorization.By focusing on how the research on one specific curve changed during the 20th century, the author provides insights concerning the dynamics of epistemic objects and configurations of mathematical research. It is in this sense that the book offers to take the branch curve as a cross-section through the history of algebraic geometry of the 20th century, considering this curve as an intersection of several research approaches and methods. Researchers in the history of science and of mathematics as well as mathematicians will certainly find this book interesting and appealing, contributing to the growing research on the history of algebraic geometry and its changing images.
Ramsar Wetlands of the North American West Coast and Central Pacific: An Atlas
by Ricardo D. LopezThis is the first comprehensive international atlas featuring all ecological services provided by Ramsar wetlands, with complete views of all Ramsar sites, through remote sensing and mapping. Written by an international expert on wetlands and remote sensing, this atlas is for a broad audience and compiles much-needed information on how the Ramsar wetlands are of significant value to the planet and society and can and should be managed in such a way that supports planetary sustainability. Focused on the 72 designated Ramsar sites along the western coasts of Alaska, Canada, California, Mexico, and the Central Pacific islands, each wetland is articulately documented with respect to its specific ecological functions and services.FEATURES Provides a comprehensive assessment of the key biophysical and societal elements of each Ramsar-designated wetland along the North American West Coast and Central Pacific Brings all designated Ramsar wetlands to the reader in one visually appealing compendium using geospatial technology Aids in highlighting the importance of and options for wetland conservation and restoration worldwide Explains the important role that wetlands play in environmental sustainability, directly supporting the global sustainable development goals of the United Nations Introduces the contributions of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands to global conservation and restoration This atlas is intended for wetland managers and policymakers involved in the Ramsar Convention activities and for wetland ecologists and other allied environmental scientists and practitioners, such as hydrologists, microbiologists, and botanists. It is also a valuable resource for researchers, faculty, and graduate students affiliated with programs such as wetland ecology, wetland management, environmental studies, environmental management, and survey of wetlands.
Ranaviruses
by Matthew J. Gray V. Gregory ChincharThis is the first book on ranaviruses. Ranaviruses are double-stranded DNA viruses that cause hemorrhagic disease in amphibians, reptiles, and fish. They have caused mass die-offs of ectothermic vertebrates in wild and captive populations around the globe. There is evidence that this pathogen is emerging and responsible for population declines in certain locations. Considering that amphibians and freshwater turtles are suitable hosts and the most imperiled vertebrate taxa in the world, ranaviruses can have significant impacts on biodiversity and ecosystem function. Additionally, many fish that are raised in aquaculture facilities and traded internationally are suitable hosts; thus, the potential economic impact of ranaviruses is significant. Ranaviruses also serve as a model for replication and gene function of large double-stranded DNA viruses. There is an urgent need to assemble the contemporary information on ranaviruses and provide guidance on how to assess their threats in populations. Through the Global Ranavirus Consortium, 24 experts from six countries were organize to write this volume, the first book on ranaviruses. The book begins with a discussion on the global extent of ranaviruses, case histories of infection and disease in ectothermic vertebrates, and current phylogeny. Basic principles of ranavirus ecology and evolution are covered next, with a focus on host-pathogen interactions and how the virus emerges in its environment. There are two chapters that will discuss the molecular biology of ranaviruses, host response to infection, and the genes responsible for immune system evasion. One chapter establishes standards for testing for infection and diagnosing ranaviral disease. The book ends by providing guidance on how to design ranavirus surveillance studies and analyze data to determine risk, and discussing the role of the Global Ranavirus Consortium in organizing research and outreach activities.