The design and production of novel peptides and proteins occupy pivotal positions in science and technology and will continue to do so in the 21st century. Protein Engineering and Design outlines the rapid advances in computer-based modeling, protein engineering, and methods needed for protein and peptide preparation and characterization. This indispensable reference lays the groundwork for understanding this multidisciplinary activity while providing an introduction for researchers and students to the field of protein design.
Key Features
* Introduces and defines the techniques involved in protein engineering and design
* Provides a concise overview of key technologies involved and demonstrates their contributions to the specialized design and production of novel proteins and peptides

This is the first book to comprehensively apply the fundamental tools and concepts of demography to a nonhuman species. It provides clear and concise treatment of standard demographic techniques such as life table analysis and population projection; introduces models that have seldom appeared outside of the demographic literature including the multiple decrement life table, the intrinsic sex ratio, and multiregional demography; and addresses demographic problems that are unique to nonhuman organisms such as the demographic theory of social insects and harvesting techniques applied to insect mass rearing. The book also contains a synthesis of fundamental properties of population such as momentum and convergence to the stable age distribution, with a section on the unity of demographic models, and appendices detailing analytical methods used to quantify and model the data gathered in a ground-breaking study on the mortality experience of 1.2 million medflies. Based on an insect demography course at the University of California, Davis, the book is intended for practicing entomologists, population biologists, and ecologists for use in research or as a graduate text.

The major goal of 'Expanding Frontiers in Polypeptide and Protein Structural Research' has been to bring the various avenues for the exploration of protein structures to a single forum. The idea of organizing the symposiwn was conceived by one of the editors, V. Renugopalakrislman, during the 9th International Biophysics Congress satellite symposium at Kibbutz Nof-Ginosar, Israel in 1987. It was originally supposed to dwell on 2D NMR and molecular dynamics of polypeptides and proteins. During the earlier part of the last decade, these two approaches began to emerge as powerful tools to probe protein structures at the atomic level in solution. The developments in molecular biology ushered in the capability to design polypeptides and proteins for specific application in science and technology. The emergence of 2D NMR and molecular dynamics was greatly facilitated by contemporary developments in molecular biology and protein engineering. Therefore an international symposiwn devoted exclusively to 2D NMR and molecular dynamics studies of proteins was felt necessary to bring two major approaches in a single forum. In addition to emphasis on 2D NMR and molecular dynamics simulation, the scope of the symposiwn included optical spectroscopy, protein design, and new horizons in protein structure. The symposiwn consisted of five plenary sessions devoted to NMR and optical spectroscopy as probes for protein structure, protein dynamics, computational methods in protein design, and new horizons in protein structure. In addition, five workshops in related areas, viz.

These are the proceedings of an Advanced Research Workshop (ARW), sponsored by the NATO Science Panel, entitled "Pest Control: Operations and Systems Analysis in Fruit Fly Management." The ARW was held in Bad Windsheim, Germany during the week of 5 August 1985. The purpose of the ARW was to bring together scientists who are interested in fruit fly problems, but who usually do not have an opportunity to speak with each other, for an intense week of interdisciplinary collaboration. In particular, the group present at the ARW contained a mix of biologists, field ecologists, mathematical modellers, operational program managers, economists and social scientists. Each group has its own professional meetings at which fruit fly problems are discussed, but the point of the ARW was to learn about the problem from the perspective of other fields, which are equally important for the ultimate management of the fruit fly problems. (A list of attendees follows this preface. ) It appears that the ARW successfully met its objective of bringing together a group for interdisciplinary considerations of the problems; I hope that the proceedings do as well. The ARW was structured with formal lectures in the mornings and workshops in the afternoons. For the morning lectures, four different topics were chosen: 1) basic biology and ecology, 2) trapping and detection, 3) control and eradication, and 4) policy issues. Each morning, one lecture from each area was presented.

An authoritative overview of the concepts and applications of biological demography This book provides a comprehensive introduction to biodemography, an exciting interdisciplinary field that unites the natural science of biology with the social science of human demography. Biodemography is an essential resource for demographers, epidemiologists, gerontologists, and health professionals as well as ecologists, population biologists, entomologists, and conservation biologists. This accessible and innovative book is also ideal for the classroom. James Carey and Deborah Roach cover everything from baseline demographic concepts to biodemographic applications, and present models and equations in discrete rather than continuous form to enhance mathematical accessibility. They use a wealth of real-world examples that draw from data sets on both human and nonhuman species and offer an interdisciplinary approach to demography like no other, with topics ranging from kinship theory and family demography to reliability engineering, tort law, and demographic disasters such as the Titanic and the destruction of Napoleon's Grande Armee. Provides the first synthesis of demography and biology Covers baseline demographic models and concepts such as Lexis diagrams, mortality, fecundity, and population theory Features in-depth discussions of biodemographic applications like harvesting theory and mark-recapture Draws from data sets on species ranging from fruit flies and plants to elephants and humans Uses a uniquely interdisciplinary approach to demography, bringing together a diverse range of concepts, models, and applications Includes informative "biodemographic shorts," appendixes on data visualization and management, and more than 150 illustrations of models and equations

Hawaiian Volcanoes, From Source to Surface is the outcome of an AGU Chapman Conference held on the Island of Hawai'i in August 2012. As such, this monograph contains a diversity of research results that highlight the current understanding of how Hawaiian volcanoes work and point out fundamental questions requiring additional exploration. Volume highlights include: Studies that span a range of depths within Earth, from the deep mantle to the atmosphere Methods that cross the disciplines of geochemistry, geology, and geophysics to address issues of fundamental importance to Hawai'i's volcanoes Data for use in comparisons with other volcanoes, which can benefit from, and contribute to, a better understanding of Hawai'i Discussions of the current issues that need to be addressed for a better understanding of Hawaiian volcanism Hawaiian Volcanoes, From Source to Surface will be a valuable resource not only for researchers studying basaltic volcanism and scientists generally interested in volcanoes, but also students beginning their careers in geosciences. This volume will also be of great interest to igneous petrologists, geochemists, and geophysicists.

This book functions as a resource for providers who treat patients with neuro-ophthalmic conditions. Using an evidence-based approach to controversial management decisions, the material is presented in a digestible, case-based format. Divided into six sections, the book begins with an introduction to its framework, format, and purpose. Following this, sections two, three, and four discuss various optic neuropathies, ocular motility disorders, and transient visual symptoms. The concluding sections then address neuro-ophthalmic manifestations of pain, including migraine and post-concussive syndrome, and systemic diseases, such as giant cell arteritis. Each chapter focuses on cases that are historically complex, or which have undergone a recent shift in traditional management due to new scientific discoveries or newly available therapies. Controversies in Neuro-Ophthalmic Management presents essential, thorough information on management options and the data for their use to provide the best care for patients.

Biofuels: Advances in Research and Applications first explores previously studied supercritical processes for the production of biodiesel. Two of the main drawbacks of said processes are discussed: the high energy requirements and the hazards due to the conditions under which the processes are operated. The authors present a review of the experimental excess enthalpy of mixtures of dibutyl ether or butanol, with representative hydrocarbons. The most relevant functional groups of gasoline hydrocarbon types are considered: heptane, iso-octane, 1-hexene, cyclohexane, methylcyclohexane, benzene, and toluene. Continuing, this compilation briefly explores the production of biofuel from different edible and non-edible feedstock, mentioning the various types of homogeneous and heterogeneous acid or base catalysts applied for reactions. The benefits and drawbacks of biodiesel as compared to diesel fuel are also described. Several yeasts are examined for their capability to produce xylanolytic enzymes that degrade xylan, the major polysaccharide in the hemicellulose structure. The production of hydrolytic enzymes for the enzymatic hydrolysis process is reported by optimizing lignocellulose degradation and increasing the yield of simple sugars.

"Jim Carey's fine monograph is the first single-authored exposition on the 'the biodemography of aging' This important new trans-disciplinary subject seeks to explain the actuarial trends of aging at all levels of biological mechanisms. Carey draws heavily from his pioneering studies of medflies that, like humans, show declining mortality rates at later ages. His medfly gerotron continues to generate challenging mysteries, such as the bimodal mortality pattern of infertile flies. The book is rich in its clear expositions of complex questions in aging and well-designed illustrations, which I predict will give it a long shelf life."--Caleb E. Finch, ARCO Professor in the Neurobiology of Aging, University of Southern California

"This is an important book. It provides a timely critical account of a fundamental body of work on aging and sets the stage for a new set of paradigms about senescence generally and human aging in particular, taking the first serious look at this development."--Shripad Tuljapurkar, Stanford University and University of California, Berkeley

"In this book, James Carey summarizes about a dozen years of his work on medfly demography and its implications. The overarching themes are important and innovative. And the careful attention to detail, both biological and statistical, is excellent."--Marc Mangel, University of California, Santa Cruz

""Longevity" synthesizes a huge body of data collected over a long period of time, making this work unquestionably without parallel. Furthermore, "Longevity" is an exceptionally well-written and thoroughly analyzed treatise on some of the most important general questions in biodemography."--Thomas B. L. Kirkwood

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)plays a crucial role in supporting U.S. nuclear non-proliferation goals through its safeguards and nuclear security programs. The Department of State (State) co-ordinates the United States' financial and policy relationship with IAEA. IAEA's safeguards program is designed to detect and deter the diversion of nuclear material for non-peaceful purposes, while the agency's nuclear security program assists countries in improving the physical protection of their nuclear material and facilities. IAEA plans to create an international fuel bank to guarantee the supply of fuel for civilian nuclear power programs. This book examines any challenges that IAEA faces in carrying out its safeguards program; any limitations regarding the nuclear security program; and the status of IAEA's planned nuclear fuel bank.