A Readily Applicable Framework for Novel Drug Design

It is only 20 years since the reach of genetic knowledge has allowed for the development of protein biotherapeutics, but in that time the pace has been fast. While the literature abounds, the field has lacked a comprehensive accounting of this progress. Emerging Protein Biotherapeutics consolidates current knowledge of key protein targets important in autoimmunity and cancers, exploring basic aspects and diverse clinical application.

Presents Strategies to Exploit Therapeutic Uses

In this volume, leading researchers cover many aspects of biology related to protein targets, ranging from the in vivo role in the disease process, to various strategies exploiting development of these targets for therapeutic use. Each chapter includes background, a discussion of clinical implications, an account of preclinical and clinical testing of various candidates, and a listing of key references.

This volume makes the study of protein biotherapeutics accessible at all levels of expertise. It offers an efficient and rational way to grasp the theoretical and experimental knowledge currently available while also providing a deeper understanding of disease processes. Most importantly, it presents a framework that can be readily employed by those looking to develop their own strategies in pursuit of new clinical applications.

A description of fundamental and applied aspects of the usefulness of computations when approaching protein-protein interactions, this book incorporates different views of the same biochemical problem from sequence to structure to energetics. It covers protein-protein interaction prediction and dynamics, design, drug design for inhibition, and uses for predicting function. The text provides an overview of the topic with general chapters understandable by students and junior researches in this area, while also providing advanced material for more specialized readers. The chapters detail the complexity of protein interaction studies and inform readers of potential caveats that might be involved.

Once the existence of free radicals was proven, an avalanche of studies on free radical-mediated biological processes ensued. The study of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (ROS and RNS) is center stage in biological free radical investigations. Written by a biochemist, Signaling Mechanisms of Oxygen and Nitrogen Free Radicals discusses the regulatory functions of ROS and RNS in physiological and pathophysiological states.

An exploration of the main questions of signaling mechanisms of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species in enzymatic processes, this book draws attention to the chemical mechanisms of these reactions. It elucidates the differences between signaling functions and damaging effects of ROS and RNS in biological systems. The text also covers free radical signaling processes catalyzed by enzymes, producers of superoxide and nitric oxide that are able to use produced ROS and RNS as signaling species in their own catalytic processes. It then examines ROS and RNS signaling produced by mitochondrial enzymes. The author explores signaling functions of ROS and RNS in enzymatic heterolytic reactions, supplying important data on ROS and RNS signaling in the catalysis by the enzymes which do not produce free radicals by themselves. He provides information on signaling by reactive oxygen and nitrogen species in apoptosis and aging/senescence and concludes with coverage of mechanisms of free radical signaling in enzymatic processes.

The book provides new understanding of signaling functions in living organisms related to cardiovascular processes, cancer, inflammation, hereditary diseases, and their regulation of physiological functions such as development, aging, and senescence. This information can support the development of new drugs and novel treatment methods.

Reflecting increased interest in the field and its relevance in global environmental issues, Oceanography and Marine Biology: An Annual Review, Volume 47 provides authoritative reviews that summarize results of recent research in basic areas of marine research, exploring topics of special and topical importance while adding to new areas as they arise. This volume, part of a series that regards the all marine sciences as a complete unit, features contributions from experts involved in biological, chemical, geological, and physical aspects of marine science. These features along with the inclusion of a full color insert and an extensive reference list, make the text an essential reference for researchers and students in all fields of marine science.

With an increasing number of bone cements available, it is vital that the correct material is selected for specific clinical procedures. A review of the most recent research in this field, this book covers such topics as hip replacements, verteboplasty and wear particles and osteolysis. It reviews materials and types of cement such as acrylic, polymethylmethacrylate and calcium phosphate cements and address the mechanical properties of bone cements such as fracture toughness and dynamic creep. The book closes with an examination of methods to enhance the properties of bone cements such as antibiotic loaded bone cements and bioactive cements.

Forensic professionals, often working through heavy caseloads, require quick and easy access to reliable sources of information to help interpret toxicology results. While several in-depth resources are available, they are often large, cumbersome, and contain more information than is needed. The Handbook of Forensic Toxicology for Medical Examiners is a concise handbook referencing the most common toxic substances and their levels of toxicity, making it an ideal text for quick confirmation in the field or in the lab.

The book begins by explaining the proper selection and submission of specimens for toxicological analysis. It describes the various types of specimens and identifies the cases for which these specimens would be most useful, providing instruction on proper collection. The author then explains the methodology involved in performing the specific tests.

Nearly 300 Toxic Substances Discussed

The main section of the text consists of an alphabetical listing of nearly 300 toxic substances, including drugs of abuse, poisons, prescription drugs, and over-the-counter medications. For each entry, the book provides the common brand names; classification; half life; volume of distribution; usual dosage; tables of toxicity in various samples, including blood, urine, and tissues; and other important information based on the extensive experience of the author. The text is heavily referenced with materials that are useful for preparation of courtroom testimony, and it contains supplemental appendices with information on acetylcholinesterase inhibitors, drugs that prolong the QT interval, pharmacogenetics, normal laboratory values, and conversion charts.

Convenient Format

The busy forensic professional needs a concise handbook that provides critical information quickly without the need to wade through extraneous and inconsequential material. This volume offers an easy-to-use format that allows quick access to the most pertinent information, saving time and increasing accuracy.

Experimental protein engineering and computational protein design are broad but complementary strategies for developing proteins with altered or novel structural properties and biological functions. By describing cutting-edge advances in both of these fields, Protein Engineering and Design aims to cultivate a synergistic approach to protein science.

Experimental Protein Engineering

The first half of the book discusses experimental approaches to protein engineering and starts by describing several high-throughput screening platforms for protein engineering. Key techniques used for diversity generation are also discussed. The next few chapters present examples of therapeutics, enzymes, biomaterials, and other proteins that have been engineered by rational or combinatorial approaches. The section finishes with a chapter on the use of non-natural amino acids in protein engineering.

Computational Protein Design

The second half of the book introduces computational protein design, beginning with a chapter on computational and informatics algorithms used in protein engineering. Core components of computational protein design are then discussed in detail, and examples of heuristic protein design are provided. Subsequent chapters present examples of how computational design has played a critical role in advancing the field of protein engineering. Concluding with a chapter outlining current challenges in the field, this book makes computational protein design and diversity-oriented protein engineering widely accessible to a broad audience in academia and industry alike.

This second volume of the Metabolic Engineering Handbook delves into evolutionary tools as well as. gene expression tools for metabolic pathway engineering. It covers applications of emerging technologies including recent research genome-wide technologies, DNA and phenotypic microarrays, and proteomics. tools for experimentally determining flux through pathways. This volume also looks at emerging applications for producing fine chemicals, drugs, and alternative fuels.

Christine Smolke, who recently developed a novel way to churn out large quantities of drugs from genetically modified brewer’s yeast, is regarded as one of the most brilliant new minds in biomedical engineering. In this handbook, she brings together pioneering scientists from dozens of disciplines to provide a complete record of accomplishment in metabolic pathway engineering. With a wealth of cutting edge research and analysis, this work also serves as an invaluable resource for those seeking to add their own contributions. Organized by topic, this 3000 page reference is available as two volumes that can be purchased individually or as a set.

Analyzes Randomness in Major Genetic Processes and Events

No matter how far science advances, the proportion of what is knowable to what is random will remain unchanged, and attempts to ignore this critical threshold are futile at best. With the revolutionary explosion in genetic information discovery, it is crucially important to recognize the underlying limitations of scientific prediction in genetics.

Genetics and Randomness furthers the understanding of the role randomness plays in critical biological processes. The book also navigates the complex nature of genetic uncertainty from different points of view and at various levels of biological organization.

Avoids Unnecessary Technical Details and Specific Terminology

Exploring areas ranging from basic quantum mechanics and molecular genetics to modern evolutionary genetics and the philosophy of mathematics, this well-organized text discusses:

• Spontaneity of mutations and their relation to subatomic randomness
• Deep links between subatomic fluctuations and long-term macroscopic changes in living organisms
• The multitude of random events that occur during development
• Segregation, genetic drift, and natural selection

Randomness and uncertainty are not occasional and regretful deviations from the "true" principles upon which life is built. Genetics and Randomness illustrates the ubiquitous nature of randomness as an integral feature of all essential processes, effectively embracing a probabilistic understanding of the phenomena of life.

The First Book Dedicated to This Class of Longitudinal Models

Although antedependence models are particularly useful for modeling longitudinal data that exhibit serial correlation, few books adequately cover these models. By gathering results scattered throughout the literature, Antedependence Models for Longitudinal Data offers a convenient, systematic way to learn about antedependence models. Illustrated with numerous examples, the book also covers some important statistical inference procedures associated with these models.

After describing unstructured and structured antedependence models and their properties, the authors discuss informal model identification via simple summary statistics and graphical methods. They then present formal likelihood-based procedures for normal antedependence models, including maximum likelihood and residual maximum likelihood estimation of parameters as well as likelihood ratio tests and penalized likelihood model selection criteria for the model’s covariance structure and mean structure. The authors also compare the performance of antedependence models to other models commonly used for longitudinal data.

With this book, readers no longer have to search across widely scattered journal articles on the subject. The book provides a thorough treatment of the properties and statistical inference procedures of various antedependence models.

An All-in-One Resource for Using SAS and R to Carry out Common Tasks

Provides a path between languages that is easier than reading complete documentation
SAS and R: Data Management, Statistical Analysis, and Graphics presents an easy way to learn how to perform an analytical task in both SAS and R, without having to navigate through the extensive, idiosyncratic, and sometimes unwieldy software documentation. The book covers many common tasks, such as data management, descriptive summaries, inferential procedures, regression analysis, and the creation of graphics, along with more complex applications.

Takes an innovative, easy-to-understand, dictionary-like approach
Through the extensive indexing, cross-referencing, and worked examples in this text, users can directly find and implement the material they need. The book enables easier mobility between the two systems: SAS users can look up tasks in the SAS index and then find the associated R code while R users can benefit from the R index in a similar manner. Demonstrating the code in action and facilitating exploration, the authors present extensive example analyses that employ a single data set from the HELP study. They offer the data sets and code for download on the book’s website.

Bayesian Missing Data Problems: EM, Data Augmentation and Noniterative Computation presents solutions to missing data problems through explicit or noniterative sampling calculation of Bayesian posteriors. The methods are based on the inverse Bayes formulae discovered by one of the author in 1995. Applying the Bayesian approach to important real-world problems, the authors focus on exact numerical solutions, a conditional sampling approach via data augmentation, and a noniterative sampling approach via EM-type algorithms.

After introducing the missing data problems, Bayesian approach, and posterior computation, the book succinctly describes EM-type algorithms, Monte Carlo simulation, numerical techniques, and optimization methods. It then gives exact posterior solutions for problems, such as nonresponses in surveys and cross-over trials with missing values. It also provides noniterative posterior sampling solutions for problems, such as contingency tables with supplemental margins, aggregated responses in surveys, zero-inflated Poisson, capture-recapture models, mixed effects models, right-censored regression model, and constrained parameter models. The text concludes with a discussion on compatibility, a fundamental issue in Bayesian inference.

This book offers a unified treatment of an array of statistical problems that involve missing data and constrained parameters. It shows how Bayesian procedures can be useful in solving these problems.

A Proven Guide for Easily Using R to Effectively Analyze Data

Like its bestselling predecessor, A Handbook of Statistical Analyses Using R, Second Edition provides a guide to data analysis using the R system for statistical computing. Each chapter includes a brief account of the relevant statistical background, along with appropriate references.

New to the Second Edition

• New chapters on graphical displays, generalized additive models, and simultaneous inference
• A new section on generalized linear mixed models that completes the discussion on the analysis of longitudinal data where the response variable does not have a normal distribution
• New examples and additional exercises in several chapters
• A new version of the HSAUR package (HSAUR2), which is available from CRAN

This edition continues to offer straightforward descriptions of how to conduct a range of statistical analyses using R, from simple inference to recursive partitioning to cluster analysis. Focusing on how to use R and interpret the results, it provides students and researchers in many disciplines with a self-contained means of using R to analyze their data.

Novel Techniques for Analyzing and Combining Data from Modern Biological Studies
Broadens the Traditional Definition of Meta-Analysis

With the diversity of data and meta-data now available, there is increased interest in analyzing multiple studies beyond statistical approaches of formal meta-analysis. Covering an extensive range of quantitative information combination methods, Meta-analysis and Combining Information in Genetics and Genomics looks at how to analyze multiple studies from a broad perspective.

After presenting the basic ideas and tools of meta-analysis, the book addresses the combination of similar data types: genotype data from genome-wide linkage scans and data derived from microarray gene expression experiments. The expert contributors show how some data combination problems can arise even within the same basic framework and offer solutions to these problems. They also discuss the combined analysis of different data types, giving readers an opportunity to see data combination approaches in action across a wide variety of genome-scale investigations.

As heterogeneous data sets become more common, biological understanding will be significantly aided by jointly analyzing such data using fundamentally sound statistical methodology. This book provides many novel techniques for analyzing data from modern biological studies that involve multiple data sets, either of the same type or multiple data sources.