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A branch of meteorology that examines the effects and impacts of weather and climate on crops, rangeland, livestock, and various agricultural operations. Agricultural meteorology, or agrometeorology, addresses topics that often require an…

Natural and artificial substances in the atmosphere that affect human health or well-being, or the well-being of any other organisms in the environment. Air pollution also applies to situations in which contaminants affect structures and artifacts…

A disease of the nervous system characterized by a progressive dementia that leads to profound impairment in cognition and behavior. Dementia occurs in a number of brain diseases where the impairment in cognitive abilities represents a decline from…

The closest spiral galaxy to the Milky Way Galaxy. The name of the Andromeda Galaxy (Fig. 1) derives from its appearance in the constellation of Andromeda. The galaxy is also known as M31 and NGC 224, based on its entries in two widely used…

A psychiatric disorder in which a dramatic reduction in caloric intake consequent to excessive dieting leads to significant bodily, physiological, biochemical, emotional, psychological, and behavioral disturbances. Anorexia nervosa is one of three…

A group of distinct psychiatric disorders including generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, social anxiety disorder, specific phobia, and posttraumatic stress disorder. Whereas fear is an adaptive emotion that is…

A neurodevelopmental condition that impairs the way that a person relates to and communicates with other people. Persons with autism have difficulties with social communication and interaction. They also can have unusual behaviors, such as…

The study of the cycling of chemicals between organisms and the surface environment of the Earth. The chemicals either can be taken up by organisms and used for growth and synthesis of living matter or can be processed to obtain energy. The chemical…

Unwanted, aggressive behavior that involves a real or perceived power inequity. The behavior of bullying is often chronic and includes actions such as threats, spreading rumors, attacking someone physically or verbally, and purposefully excluding or…

The long-term records of precipitation, temperature, wind, and all other aspects of the Earth's climate. Climate, like the Earth itself, has a history extending over several billion years. Climatic changes have occurred at time scales ranging from…