CRC Press
The 12 pillars of project excellence; a lean approach to improving project results. (CD-ROM included)
The initial chapter begins with the origin of the term project, and from there, discussion proceeds to other introductory topics. Followiong are chapters on being a project leader, creating a balanced project organization structure, delighting customers with a project vision statement, signing the charter, diffusing passion (improving communications), simplification, minimizing meetings, taking risks, shielding data, learning from failures, diminishing stress, investing in appreciating assets. The included CD-ROM contains tools for organizational- and self-assessment. Dalal is an international consultant. (Annotation ©2011 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)
Abraham De Moivre; setting the stage for classical probability and its applications.
Bellhouse (statistical and actuarial sciences, U. of Western Ontario) unveils the first biography of Moivre (1667-1754), Britain's premier mathematician of the 18th century. Beginning with his early life in France, he progresses through such stages as getting established in England, a Newtonian intermezzo, the doctrine of changes and the doctrine disputed, de Moivre as a teacher, the decade of the doctrine enhanced, and old age. The study is informed by recently discovered papers. A K Peters is an imprint of CRC Press. (Annotation ©2011 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)
Adaptive and flexible clinical trials.
Adaptive, also called flexible, clinical trials are those in which study parameters can be changed during the course of the study, explains Chin (medicine, U. of California-San Francisco), differing from traditional studies in which sample size, patient populations, endpoints, and other parameters are fixed at the beginning. The trick is to change such parameters without jeopardizing the statistical validity of the study's results. His textbook is directed not to statisticians, but to clinical trialists, medical directors, data managers, clinical operations personnel, and others involved in designing, conducting, and analyzing adaptive clinical research. Some background in statistics is necessary, however. (Annotation ©2011 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)
Adipokines.
This work offers a combination of preclinical and clinical information on adipokines (peptides produced by adipose tissue), written to be accessible to undergraduate and graduate students as well as medical professionals, immunologists, physiologists, and biochemists. Each chapter includes key facts, definitions, and explanations of important genes, chemicals, and pathways, plus material on applications to other areas of health and disease. In addition to separate chapters on 18 specific adipokines, there are sections on general cellular aspects; the role of adipokines in eight diseases and conditions, such as liver disease, metabolic syndrome, and allergy; and the role of specific types of adipokines in disease. Some specific subjects explored are thermal stress and adipokine expression, central nervous system roles for adipokines in neuroendocrine and autonomic function, and the astroglial leptin receptors and obesity. The book is illustrated with b&w process diagrams and images and a section of color photos and images. Preedy teaches clinical biochemistry at King's College Hospital. Hunter is a cardiology research fellow at St. Bartholomew's Hospital. The book is distributed in the US by CRC Press. (Annotation ©2011 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)
Advanced Bayesian methods for medical test accuracy.
A consulting biostatistician based in Texas, Broemeling offers a textbook for graduate students in statistics, especially those who will be working in the various areas of diagnostic medicine, such as pathology or diagnostic imaging. He describes methods for measuring the accuracy of various medical texts, focusing mostly on Bayesian inferential procedures, but also discussing the design of such studies. Students should have completed a year of introductory probability and mathematical statistics, several introductory methods courses such as regression and the analysis of variance, and an introduction to Bayesian inference. (Annotation ©2011 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)
Advanced particle physics; v.1: Particles, fields, and quantum electrodynamics.
Appropriate for graduate students in physics as well as researchers or physicists from other specialties, this volume (part one of a two-volume set) provides a detailed explanation of principles and experiments in particle physics. The work is divided into four sections covering the mathematical underpinnings of particle physics research, fundamental theories, structures and experiments, and fields and quantum electrodynamics. The work is packed with illustrations and equations and care has been taken to provide complete solutions to mathematical problems in order to expose students to sufficient detail for a proper foundational understanding of the science. (Annotation ©2011 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)
Alternative sweeteners, 4th ed.
Nabors, who is with a trade organization (Calorie Control Council, Atlanta, Georgia) introduces the quest for an ideal sweetener, the multiple ingredient approach, and the relative sweetness and regulation of low-calorie, reduced-calorie, and noncaloric alternatives to sugar. In 29 chapters, most focusing on a specific sweetener from naturally-occurring and synthetic compounds, international contributors from industry and academia discuss their discovery, physical properties and chemistry, metabolism, use in diabetic diets, taste profile, product applications, safety and regulatory status. In this update of the 2001 edition, chapters have been added on advantame, derived from aspartame and vanillin, and the benefits of reduced-calorie foods and beverages in weight management. Illustrations show the relative sweetness of these alternatives, their chemical structures, and regulatory status. (Annotation ©2011 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)
Analysis of questionnaire data with R.
Falissard (INSERM — National Institute of Health and Medical Research, Paris) explains how to translate certain classic research questions into statistical formulations in the syntax of the widely used open-access statistical software R. His topics include description of responses, confidence intervals and statistical tests of hypothesis, statistical modeling, principles for validating a composite score, and introduction to data manipulation using R. (Annotation ©2011 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)
Anticancer agents from natural products, 2d ed.
Since the 2005 first edition was wrapped up, several new anti-cancer compounds have been introduced on the market. These and other developments are incorporated into the second edition of a reference for researchers into natural medicine. Contributors from pharmaceutical companies and universities in Europe, North America, and China consider such topics as homoharringtonine and related compounds, taxol and its analogs, novel anti-tumor agents from Dolabella auricularia, biochemical and biological evaluation of (+)-CC-1065 analogs and conjugates with polyamides, and staurosporines and structurally related indolocarbazoles as anti-tumor agents. (Annotation ©2011 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)
Applied reliability, 3d ed.
Applied statisticians Tobias and Trindade have now left academia for commercial spheres, but update their textbook from the 1995 second edition to integrate the inexpensive and powerful statistics software now available. They use Minitab, which is widely used in schools, and JMP, which is used in high-technology companies. They also present solutions using popular spreadsheet programs, carefully pointing out what the software cannot do, and what it can. The topics include reliability concepts, exponential distribution, normal and lognormal distributions, physical acceleration models, alternative reliability models, repairable systems, and Bayesian reliability evaluation. Answers are provided to selected exercises. (Annotation ©2011 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)
Applied semantic web technologies.
Contributors with backgrounds in electronics and computer science as well as information and communications survey tools and processes for making all parts of the World Wide Web comprehensible to all other parts. Among their topics are toward semantic interoperability between information systems, a hybrid ontology mediation and mapping approach, relation extraction for semantic web with taxonomic sequential patterns, the automatic evaluation of search ontologies in the entertainment domain using natural language processing, and semantics for energy efficiency in smart home environments. (Annotation ©2011 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)
Applied singular integral equations.
This small volume on linear singular integral equations examines solutions to complex problems in partial differential equations. Beginning with a section on basic definitions, the work covers elementary methods for solving singular integral equations, Riemann-Hilbert problems, hypersingular integral equations, singular integro-differential equations, the Galerkin method and several numerical methods. This is an advanced volume and includes numerous equations and formula presented in depth. Mandal and Chakrabarti are senior scientists at the Indian Institute for Science, Kolkata and Bangalore, India. Distributed by CRC Press. (Annotation ©2011 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)
Asbestos; risk assessment, epidemiology, and health effects, 2d ed. (CD-ROM included)
Dodson, an environmental consultant and former professor, and Hammar, an anatomic and clinical pathologist who specializes in lung disease and cancer, present 15 chapters on asbestos. Contributors working in pathology, occupational safety and health, lung disease, public health, and the environment in the US and Australia describe its history, the evolution of knowledge about diseases caused by it, analysis methods, the epidemiology and molecular pathogenesis of asbestos-related disorders, and its relationship to various cancers. Coverage also includes asbestosis, pleural disease, and nonmalignant conditions, with information on pathological and clinical features, diagnosis, and treatment, and a chapter on what physicians need to know. This edition has updated and expanded topics, including definitions of asbestos by different methodologies and the potential impact those forms have on health, international sampling/analytical schemes, findings of major asbestos-related diseases that are increasing in most industrialized countries that use asbestos, information on asbestos-induced diseases in biological systems, and an expanded chapter on regulations. A CD-ROM is included. (Annotation ©2011 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)
The avian erythrocyte; its phylogenetic odyssey.
This comprehensive volume on blood cells in birds provides a detailed examination of all aspects of avian phylogenetics, and explores interesting connections between cold blooded ancestors, birds and modern mammalian blood cells. Topics discussed include cytoskeletons and vascular systems, hepatic erythropoiesis, interaction of erythropoiesis, egg laying and iron metabolism, blood diseases and hormone regulation. Chapters include illustrations, tables, and graphs. Glomski is a professor of pathology and anatomical science at the University of Buffalo and Pica is a professor of biology at the University of Naples, Italy. Distributed by CRC Press. (Annotation ©2011 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)
Basic transport phenomena in biomedical engineering, 3d ed.
Fournier (bioengineering, U. of Toledo, Ohio) provides an entry level textbook that introduces the broad concepts and many different areas of biomedical engineering, as a foundation for more advanced and more specialized study. He brings together fundamental principles of engineering and life science to examine key momentum and mass transport concepts in the field. The coverage is limited to areas that emphasize chemical and physical transport processes with applications toward developing artificial organs, bioartifical organs, controlled drug delivery systems, and tissue engineering. (Annotation ©2011 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)
Bayesian analysis made simple; an Excel GUI for WinBUGS.
Woodward, a statistician for a drug company, describes a graphical user interface for WinBUGS, BugsXLA, the purpose of which is to make Bayesian analysis relatively simple. Because he advocates Excel for exploratory graphical analysis of date, he created BugsXLA as an Excel add-in. The book is for people who wish to apply Bayesian methods, but do not have the inclination or time to create the WinBUGS code and ancillary files for every analysis they undertake. Readers are assumed to know the underlying statistical theory. (Annotation ©2011 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)
Best management practices for saline and sodic turfgrass soils; assessment and reclamation.
Carrow (crop and soil sciences, U. of Georgia) and Duncan (consultant and emeritus, crop and soil sciences, U. of Georgia) note that a significant problem with soluble salts in natural resources and ecosystems is that by the time the stress symptoms they cause in plants are noticed, the entire ecosystem has been affected. The authors discuss both scientific and practical management recommendations and the use of a "field problem" approach, as well promote formal and continuing education programs in turf grass science and management and the development of salt-tolerant grasses. The intended audience includes turf grass managers, students, and consultants. (Annotation ©2011 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)
Biology and management of white-tailed deer. (CD-ROM included)
The white-tailed deer evolved in North America and is one of the oldest, most adaptable, and most successful species. Management has ranged from protecting them in areas where they are endangered, to maintaining a stable population, and reducing the numbers to alleviate agricultural and other damage. Here wildlife specialists synthesize the current understanding of the biology and management of white-tailed deer. Among their topics are nutrition, population dynamics, interactions with other large herbivores, impacts on ecosystems and society, and extensive management. The final chapters survey management on private property; in eastern, Midwestern, and western North America; in Latin America; and in exurban, suburban, and urban environments. (Annotation ©2011 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)
Bioactive compounds from natural sources; natural products as lead compounds in drug discovery, 2d ed.
This is not, in fact, a second edition, but a complement to the 2000 publication. That volume was devoted to isolation, characterization, and biological properties of natural compounds that might make them suitable as lead compounds. This volume surveys selected recent developments in an interdisciplinary area covering the chemistry of natural products, medicinal chemistry, biochemistry, and related topics. Some authors are the same, but all the articles are different. Among the topics are the metabolic engineering of natural product biosynthesis, natural products as treatments for and leads to active compounds in viral diseases, captothecins as a case study, neuroprotective effects of natural products from traditional Chinese herbs, and biologically active natural products for Australian marine organisms. (Annotation ©2011 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)
Bionanotechnology; global prospects 2.
Three years after the first volume, scientists from a range of fields, with a substantial contingent from the Middle East, further survey prospects for nanotechnology in biological and medical applications. Among their topics are gold nanoparticles in biomedicine, antibody-conjugated nanoparticles of biodegradable polymers for targeted drug delivery, how in vivo electropration could fulfill the promise of DNA vaccines, producing bare multiple-element magnetic nanoparticles and using them to in the quick detection and removal of pathogenic bacteria from water resources, nanoscience and engineering for robust biosolar cells, and applications in plants and agriculture. (Annotation ©2011 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)
Biomimetics; nature based innovation.
Some biological, but mostly physical scientists and engineers describe innovations in many fields that draw on observations of the natural world. Among their topics are biomimicry at the cell-material interface, refreshable Braille displays actuated by electroactive polymers, self-reproducing machines and manufacturing processes, applying biomimetics in the designing medical devices, and a biomimetic swimmer inspired by the manta ray. (Annotation ©2011 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)
The biology of gobies.
Contributors from a range of biological sciences explore the systematics, zoogeography, general biology, and ecology of the Gobiiformes, one of the most diverse orders of fish, with some 270 genera and 2000 species living in marine, fresh, and brackish water. Their topics include molecular systematics of Gobioid fishes, Gobiiformes of the Americas, amphidromy as a life cycle among tropical freshwater gobies, gobies as predator and prey, early development, planktonic and paedomorphic gobioids, and mudskippers as front runners in the modern invasion of land. Distributed in the US by CRC Press. (Annotation ©2011 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)
Biological wastewater treatment, 3d ed.
US and Canadian environmental and chemical engineers present the theoretical principles and design procedures for the biochemical operations used in wastewater treatment processes. They incorporate the considerable new knowledge about biological nutrient removal that has surfaced since the 1999 edition (first in 1980), and has led to new versions of the International Water Association's activated sludge models. A whole new chapter on anaerobic bio-reactors reflects the profession's increased understanding of anaerobic systems and the Association's anaerobic digestion model. After an introduction and background, they consider first the theory then applications of suspended and attached growth reactors. A final section looks to the future with chapters on the fate and effects of xenobiotic organic chemicals, and designing systems for sustainability. Co-published by the International Water Association. (Annotation ©2011 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)
