This second edition of the successful textbook, Modern Physics: An Introductory Text, preserves the unique blend of readability, scientific rigour and authenticity that made its predecessor so indispensible a text for non-physics science majors. As in the first edition, it sets out to present 20th century physics in a form accessible and useful to students of the life sciences, medicine, agricultural, earth and environmental sciences. It is also valuable as a first reader and source text f...

We all feel uncomfortable about the role of profit in healthcare, we all have a vague notion that the global $600bn pharmaceutical industry is somehow evil and untrustworthy, but that sense rarely goes beyond a flaky, undifferentiated new age worldview. Bad Pharma puts real flesh on those bones, revealing the rigged evidence used by drug companies. Bad information means bad treatment decisions, which means patients suffer and die: there is no climactic moment of villainy, but drug...

The goal of this book is to introduce the biological and technical aspects of next generation sequencing methods, as well as algorithms to assemble these sequences into whole genomes. The book is organized into two parts; part 1 introduces NGS methods and part 2 reviews assembly algorithms and gives a good insight to these methods for readers new to the field. Gathering information, about sequencing and assembly methods together, helps both biologists and computer scientists to get a clear...

The nervous system is made up of a large number of interacting elements. To understand how such a complex system functions requires the construction and analysis of computational models at many different levels. This book provides a step-by-step account of how to model the neuron and neural circuitry to understand the nervous system at all levels, from ion channels to networks. Starting with a simple model of the neuron as an electrical circuit, gradually more details are added to include ...

This monograph on measurement error and misclassification covers a broad range of problems and emphasizes unique features in modeling and analyzing problems arising from medical research and epidemiological studies. Many measurement error and misclassification problems have been addressed in various fields over the years as well as with a wide spectrum of data, including event history data (such as survival data and recurrent event data), correlated data (such as longitudinal data and clus...

The book aims to introduce the reader to the emerging field of Evolutionary Systems Biology, which approaches classical systems biology questions within an evolutionary framework. An evolutionary approach might allow understanding the significance of observed diversity, uncover “evolutionary design principles” and extend predictions made in model organisms to others. In addition, evolutionary systems biology can generate new insights into the adaptive landscape by combining molecular syste...

Gregor Johann Mendel continues to fascinate the general public as well as scholars, the former for his life and the latter for his achievements. Solitude of a Humble Genius is a two-volume biography presenting Mendel in the context of the history of biology and philosophy, and in the context of the setting in which he lived and worked. In this first volume the authors set the stage for a new interpretation of Mendel’s achievements and personality. The period of Mendel’s life cover...

In recent years there has been significant attention paid on the endophytic research by various groups working within this domain. Mutualistic endophytic microbes with an emphasis on the relatively understudied fungal endophytes are the focus of this special book. Plants are associated with micro-organisms: endophytic bacteria and fungi, which live inter- and intra-cellularly without inducing pathogenic symptoms, but have active biochemical and genetic interactions with their host. Endophy...

Prostate Cancer provides an up-to-date review of the biochemistry, molecular biology, and genetic changes in prostate cells that are the driving forces in the initiation and progression of cancer. It includes an overview by experts in the field of cell-cell interactions, including stem cells, reactive Stromal cells and membrane lipid rafts that are instrumental in the initiation and progression of prostate cancer.

Vitamin D deficiency is a worldwide problem linked to numerous diseases affecting men, women, and children of all ages. Enormous progress in the study of vitamin D has been made since the first edition of this highly-acclaimed book was published nearly 20 years ago, and current research continues to draw headlines. Feldman and Pike's Vitamin D, Fifth Edition continues to build on the successful formula from previous editions, taking the reader from the basic elements of fundamental researc...

“Bioinformatics of Human Proteomics” discusses the development of methods, techniques and applications in the field of protein bioinformatics, an important direction in bioinformatics. It collects contributions from expert researchers in order to provide a practical guide to this complex field of study. The book covers the protein interaction network, drug discovery and development, the relationship between translational medicine and bioinformatics, and advances in proteomic methods, while...