This book reviews the production of bioplastic from various raw materials and recycling wastewater into useful bioproducts by bacteria. In addition, it also addresses the recent advancement in pest control in rice plants, different methods to analyse genotoxicity on soil samples and the effect of phytocompounds on acrylamide-induced toxicity in Drosophilla. Interestingly, this book also discusses mesoporous silica nanoparticles' role as nanocarrier material for inhibiting the cancer cell, especially breast cancer and various biotechnological applications of marine fungal exopolysaccharides.

Gilbert S. Omenn Dean, School of Public Health and Community Medicine University of Washington Seattle, Washington 98195 On behalf of the University of Washington , the City of Seattle, the Steering Committee, and the sponsoring agencies, corporations, and organ izations, I welcome you. \Ve all expect this Conference to stimulate further what is becoming an important application of biotechnology in an area in which our society experiences considerable frustration and gloom: the management of hazardous wastes. It is an all-too-frequent refrain that technology has its benefits and its risks. To many--in the lay pUblic, at least--the damaging notion has taken hold that we are capable of creating problems but are less capable of finding solutions. Chemical streams from industry, agriculture, municipal operations, and household operations have contaminated groundwater, drinking water, and soils, and have undermined the productivity of agri culture and the quality of life. In the meantime, however, we have im proved our quality of life in immeasurable ways through some related developments. The challenge is to continue the enhancements while modifying or preventing the damage.

The growing awareness of environmental problems provided the stimulus for this 4th International Symposium on Biotechnology, Interbiotech '90, to address many aspects of the relationship between biotechnology and the environment. The papers are mainly devoted to the contribution of biotechnology in solving environmental problems, including biological waste water treatment, utilization of municipal sewage sludge, detoxification of polluted soil and complex utilization of lignocellulosic wastes. There is examination of possible dangers in such cases as the release of r-DNA organisms into the environment. The relationship of biotechnology and energy (e.g. biogas, landfill gas fuel, photosynthetic systems for fuel production) is also discussed.

Chemical Engineering and Chemical Process Technology is a theme component of Encyclopedia of Chemical Sciences, Engineering and Technology Resources in the global Encyclopedia of Life Support Systems (EOLSS), which is an integrated compendium of twenty Encyclopedias. Chemical engineering is a branch of engineering, dealing with processes in which materials undergo changes in their physical or chemical state. These changes may concern size, energy content, composition and/or other application properties. Chemical engineering deals with many processes belonging to chemical industry or related industries (petrochemical, metallurgical, food, pharmaceutical, fine chemicals, coatings and colors, renewable raw materials, biotechnological, etc.), and finds application in manufacturing of such products as acids, alkalis, salts, fuels, fertilizers, crop protection agents, ceramics, glass, paper, colors, dyestuffs, plastics, cosmetics, vitamins and many others. It also plays significant role in environmental protection, biotechnology, nanotechnology, energy production and sustainable economical development. The Theme on Chemical Engineering and Chemical Process Technology deals, in five volumes and covers several topics such as: Fundamentals of Chemical Engineering; Unit Operations – Fluids; Unit Operations – Solids; Chemical Reaction Engineering; Process Development, Modeling, Optimization and Control; Process Management; The Future of Chemical Engineering; Chemical Engineering Education; Main Products, which are then expanded into multiple subtopics, each as a chapter. These five volumes are aimed at the following five major target audiences: University and College students Educators, Professional practitioners, Research personnel and Policy analysts, managers, and decision makers and NGOs.

Global Security and International Political Economy is a component of Encyclopedia of Social Sciences and Humanities in the global Encyclopedia of Life Support Systems (EOLSS), which is an integrated compendium of twenty one Encyclopedias. This 6-volume set contains several chapters, each of size 5000-30000 words, with perspectives, issues of great relevance to our world such as: Global Security; Global Security and the International System; The Regional Dimension of Global Security; The National Dimension Of Global Security; The Societal Dimension Of Global Security; The Human Security Agenda In World Politics; History Of Empires And Conflicts; The Myth Of The Clash Of Civilizations In Dialogical-Historical Context; Causes And Prevention Of Armed Conflict; International Development Policies And Global Security; Environment And Global Security; Political Economy Of International Security; Political Issues In Human Resource Development; Globalization And The Consumer Society. These volumes are aimed at the following five major target audiences: University and College students Educators, Professional practitioners, Research personnel and Policy analysts, managers, and decision makers and NGOs.

Soils, Plant Growth and Crop Production is a component of Encyclopedia of Food and Agricultural Sciences, Engineering and Technology Resources in the global Encyclopedia of Life Support Systems (EOLSS), which is an integrated compendium of twenty Encyclopedias. Plants, and crops in particular, grow and develop through the uptake of water and nutrients by the root system in soils and their transformation into biomass through processes governed by photosynthesis. The quality and amount of products harvested from this biomass depend largely on the intrinsic properties of the soil, i.e. the moisture and nutrients made available for uptake by the roots. These volumes describe in a synthetic form the impact of the most important soil properties on general agronomy, crop production, cultivation methods, and yields, including the specific management aspects which take away some production constraints. Changes in general agronomy as a result of plant breeding, climatic change and competition between newly introduced crops are discussed. The three volumes with contributions from distinguished experts in the field discusses about soils, plant growth and crop production in several related topics. These volumes are aimed at the following five major target audiences: University and College students Educators, Professional practitioners, Research personnel and Policy analysts, managers, and decision makers and NGOs.

Global Security and International Political Economy is a component of Encyclopedia of Social Sciences and Humanities in the global Encyclopedia of Life Support Systems (EOLSS), which is an integrated compendium of twenty one Encyclopedias. This 6-volume set contains several chapters, each of size 5000-30000 words, with perspectives, issues of great relevance to our world such as: Global Security; Global Security and the International System; The Regional Dimension of Global Security; The National Dimension Of Global Security; The Societal Dimension Of Global Security; The Human Security Agenda In World Politics; History Of Empires And Conflicts; The Myth Of The Clash Of Civilizations In Dialogical-Historical Context; Causes And Prevention Of Armed Conflict; International Development Policies And Global Security; Environment And Global Security; Political Economy Of International Security; Political Issues In Human Resource Development; Globalization And The Consumer Society. These volumes are aimed at the following five major target audiences: University and College students Educators, Professional practitioners, Research personnel and Policy analysts, managers, and decision makers and NGOs.

Chemical Engineering and Chemical Process Technology is a theme component of Encyclopedia of Chemical Sciences, Engineering and Technology Resources in the global Encyclopedia of Life Support Systems (EOLSS), which is an integrated compendium of twenty Encyclopedias. Chemical engineering is a branch of engineering, dealing with processes in which materials undergo changes in their physical or chemical state. These changes may concern size, energy content, composition and/or other application properties. Chemical engineering deals with many processes belonging to chemical industry or related industries (petrochemical, metallurgical, food, pharmaceutical, fine chemicals, coatings and colors, renewable raw materials, biotechnological, etc.), and finds application in manufacturing of such products as acids, alkalis, salts, fuels, fertilizers, crop protection agents, ceramics, glass, paper, colors, dyestuffs, plastics, cosmetics, vitamins and many others. It also plays significant role in environmental protection, biotechnology, nanotechnology, energy production and sustainable economical development. The Theme on Chemical Engineering and Chemical Process Technology deals, in five volumes and covers several topics such as: Fundamentals of Chemical Engineering; Unit Operations – Fluids; Unit Operations – Solids; Chemical Reaction Engineering; Process Development, Modeling, Optimization and Control; Process Management; The Future of Chemical Engineering; Chemical Engineering Education; Main Products, which are then expanded into multiple subtopics, each as a chapter. These five volumes are aimed at the following five major target audiences: University and College students Educators, Professional practitioners, Research personnel and Policy analysts, managers, and decision makers and NGOs.

Soils, Plant Growth and Crop Production is a component of Encyclopedia of Food and Agricultural Sciences, Engineering and Technology Resources in the global Encyclopedia of Life Support Systems (EOLSS), which is an integrated compendium of twenty Encyclopedias. Plants, and crops in particular, grow and develop through the uptake of water and nutrients by the root system in soils and their transformation into biomass through processes governed by photosynthesis. The quality and amount of products harvested from this biomass depend largely on the intrinsic properties of the soil, i.e. the moisture and nutrients made available for uptake by the roots. These volumes describe in a synthetic form the impact of the most important soil properties on general agronomy, crop production, cultivation methods, and yields, including the specific management aspects which take away some production constraints. Changes in general agronomy as a result of plant breeding, climatic change and competition between newly introduced crops are discussed. The three volumes with contributions from distinguished experts in the field discusses about soils, plant growth and crop production in several related topics. These volumes are aimed at the following five major target audiences: University and College students Educators, Professional practitioners, Research personnel and Policy analysts, managers, and decision makers and NGOs.

Peace Studies, Public Policy and Global Security is a component of Encyclopedia of Social Sciences and Humanities in the global Encyclopedia of Life Support Systems (EOLSS), which is an integrated compendium of twenty one Encyclopedias. The Theme on Peace Studies, Public Policy and Global Security provides the essential aspects and a myriad of issues of great relevance to our world such as: Processes of Peace and Security; International Security, Peace, Development, and Environment; Security Threats, Challenges, Vulnerability and Risks; Sustainable Food and Water Security; World Economic Order. This 11-volume set contains several chapters, each of size 5000-30000 words, with perspectives, issues on Peace studies, Public Policy and Global security. These volumes are aimed at the following five major target audiences: University and College students Educators, Professional practitioners, Research personnel and Policy analysts, managers, and decision makers and NGOs.