Books in Biological and medical physics

Quantum Magnetic Resonance Imaging Diagnostics of Human Brain Disorders

1st Edition
June 21, 2010
Madan M Kaila + 1 more
English
eBook
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Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a medical imaging technique used to visualize detailed internal structure of the body. This book discusses the recent developments in the field of MRI and its application to the diagnosis of human brain disorders. In addition, it reviews the newly emerging concepts and technology, based on the multi-coherence imaging (MQCI). It explains how computer packages can be used to generate images in diseased states and compare them to in vivo results. This will help improve the diagnosis of brain disorders based on the real-time events happening on atomic and molecular quantum levels. This is important since quantum-based MRI would enable clinicians to detect brain tumors at the very early stages.

Bioimpedance and Bioelectricity Basics

2nd Edition
March 3, 2008
Orjan G. Martinsen + 1 more
English
eBook
9 7 8 0 0 8 0 5 6 8 8 0 5

Bioelectricity (or bioelectromagnetism) relates to the study of biological electrical currents, and bioimpedance deals with the measurement of electrical conductivity. They are intimately linked to biomedical engineering, with major significance for development of novel medical devices, as well as the study of biological rhythms. This completely updated new edition remains the most comprehensive reference tool for this intricate, interdisciplinary field.The authors, both internationally recognized experts in the field, have thoroughly revised the entire text. It remains the only such work that discusses in detail dielectric and electrochemical aspects, as well as electrical engineering concepts of network theory. The highly effective, easy to follow organization has been retained, with new discussion of state-of-the-art advances in finite element analysis, endogenic sources, control theory, tissue electrical properties, and invasive measurements. There are two all new chapters on bioelectricity, along with an introduction to Geselowitz theory, the Maxwell basis of bioimpedance, and multivariate analysis as an alternative.

Physics of Life

1st Edition
October 1, 2007
Clas Blomberg
English
eBook
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The purpose of the book is to give a survey of the physics that is relevant for biological applications, and also to discuss what kind of biology needs physics. The book gives a broad account of basic physics, relevant for the applications and various applications from properties of proteins to processes in the cell to wider themes such as the brain, the origin of life and evolution. It also considers general questions of common interest such as reductionism, determinism and randomness, where the physics view often is misunderstood. The subtle balance between order and disorder is a repeated theme appearing in many contexts. There are descriptive parts which shall be sufficient for the comprehension of general ideas, and more detailed, formalistic parts for those who want to go deeper, and see the ideas expressed in terms of mathematical formulas.

Magnetic Cell Separation

1st Edition
Volume 32
September 28, 2007
Maciej Zborowski + 1 more
English
Hardback
9 7 8 0 4 4 4 5 2 7 5 4 7
eBook
9 7 8 0 0 8 0 5 5 3 5 0 4

Cell separation is at the core of current methods in experimental biology and medicine. Its importance is illustrated by the large number of physical and biochemical principles that have been evaluated for application to cell separation. The development of cell separation methods is driven by the needs of biological and medical research, and the ever-increasing demands for sensitivity, selectivity, yield, timeliness and economy of the process. The interdisciplinary nature of research in this area and the volume of information available in research publications and conferences necessitates a basic description of the fundamental processes involved in magnetic cell separation that may help the user in navigating this wealth of information available online and in scientific publications. This book will appeal to researchers in many areas utilizing this technique, including those working in cell biology, clinical research, inorganic chemistry, biochemistry, chemical engineering, materials science, physics and electrical engineering.

Microdosimetric Response of Physical and Biological Systems to Low- and High-LET Radiations

1st Edition
June 7, 2006
Yigal Horowitz
English
Hardback
9 7 8 0 4 4 4 5 1 6 4 3 5
eBook
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One of the aims of this book was to focus the attention of specialists to the diversity of the effects of the ionising radiation on biological and physical systems. Special emphasis has been placed on the exquisite complexities/differe... introduced by high ionisation density versus low ionisation density irradiation in both biological and physical systems (Scholz – Chapter 1, Horowitz – Chapter 2, Olko – Chapter 3). As well we wanted to point out the need for novel experimental and theoretical approaches required to advance the important fields of micro and nanodosimetry. Important first steps have already been taken, for example, the accelerated application of semiconductor detectors in their various forms to microdosimetry and as well to practical, important applications in the radiation dosimetry of oncological procedures (Rosenfeld – Chapter 6). The vast number of applications of TLD to radiation dosimetry are not neglected; a special chapter is devoted to the application of TLDs to medical dosimetry applications (Mobit and Kron – Chapter 7) as well as a tutorial approach in an additional chapter to the cavity theories required to extrapolate dose from the detector medium to the tissue medium (Mobit and Sandison - Chapter 5). One of the major features of this book is the intensive, in depth, coverage of the theory and modelling of TL both from the solid state physics point of view (Chen – Chapter 4) and the microdosimetic point of view (Horowitz – Chapter 2 and Olko – Chapter 3). The many puzzling, quaint, quizzical features of TL science can now be understood in the framework of these advanced theoretical models, explained in straightforward, understandable terms.

Nanophysics: Coherence and Transport

1st Edition
Volume 81
August 2, 2005
Hélène Bouchiat + 4 more
English
eBook
9 7 8 0 0 8 0 4 6 1 2 4 3

The developments of nanofabrication in the past years have enabled the design of electronic systems that exhibit spectacular signatures of quantum coherence. Nanofabricated quantum wires and dots containing a small number of electrons are ideal experimental playgrounds for probing electron-electron interactions and their interplay with disorder. Going down to even smaller scales, molecules such as carbon nanotubes, fullerenes or hydrogen molecules can now be inserted in nanocircuits. Measurements of transport through a single chain of atoms have been performed as well. Much progress has also been made in the design and fabrication of superconducting and hybrid nanostructures, be they normal/superconducto... or ferromagnetic/superc... Quantum coherence is then no longer that of individual electronic states, but rather that of a superconducting wavefunction of a macroscopic number of Cooper pairs condensed in the same quantum mechanical state. Beyond the study of linear response regime, the physics of non-equilibrium transport (including non-linear transport, rectification of a high frequency electric field as well as shot noise) has received much attention, with significant experimental and theoretical insights. All these quantities exhibit very specific signatures of the quantum nature of transport, which cannot be obtained from basic conductance measurements. Basic concepts and analytical tools needed to understand this new physics are presented in a series of theoretical fundamental courses, in parallel with more phenomenological ones where physics is discussed in a less formal way and illustrated by many experiments.

Methods and Models in Neurophysics

1st Edition
Volume 80
December 11, 2004
Carson Chow + 4 more
English
Hardback
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eBook
9 7 8 0 0 8 0 5 3 6 3 8 5

Neuroscience is an interdisciplinary field that strives to understand the functioning of neural systems at levels ranging from biomolecules and cells to behaviour and higher brain functions (perception, memory, cognition). Neurophysics has flourished over the past three decades, becoming an indelible part of neuroscience, and has arguably entered its maturity. It encompasses a vast array of approaches stemming from theoretical physics, computer science, and applied mathematics. This book provides a detailed review of this field from basic concepts to its most recent development.

Magnetobiology

1st Edition
March 8, 2002
Vladimir N. Binhi
English
Hardback
9 7 8 0 1 2 1 0 0 0 7 1 4
eBook
9 7 8 0 0 8 0 5 3 5 7 3 9

People are immersed in electromagnetic fields from such sources as power lines, domestic appliances, mobile phones, and even electrical storms. All living beings sense electric fields, but the physical origins of the phenomenon are still unclear. Magnetobiology considers the effects of electromagnetic fields on living organisms. It provides a comprehensive review of relevant experimental data and theoretical concepts, and discusses all major modern hypotheses on the physical nature of magnetobiological effects. It also highlights some problems that have yet to be solved and points out new avenues for research. Why do some people feel unwell during a lightning storm? Why is there a correlation between the level of electromagnetic background and the incidence of cancer? Why do so many medical centers use electromagnetic exposures to treat a wide variety of disorders in humans? The international scientific community is extremely interested in a theory of magnetobiology and the answers to these and other questions, as evidenced by the growing number of research associations in the United States, Europe, and other parts of the world. The World Health Organization (WHO) has named electromagnetic contamination in occupational and residential areas as a stress factor for human beings. This book stands out among recent texts on magnetobiology because it draws on a strong foundation of empirical and theoretical evidence to explain the various effects of magnetic fields on the human body. It contains the first comprehensive collection of experimental data bearing physical information, frequency and amplitude/power spectra, and original research data on how electromagnetic fields interfere with ions and molecules inside the proteins of living organisms.

Neuro-informatics and Neural Modelling

1st Edition
Volume 4
June 26, 2001
F. Moss + 1 more
English
eBook
9 7 8 0 0 8 0 5 3 7 4 2 9

How do sensory neurons transmit information about environmental stimuli to the central nervous system? How do networks of neurons in the CNS decode that information, thus leading to perception and consciousness? These questions are among the oldest in neuroscience. Quite recently, new approaches to exploration of these questions have arisen, often from interdisciplinary approaches combining traditional computational neuroscience with dynamical systems theory, including nonlinear dynamics and stochastic processes. In this volume in two sections a selection of contributions about these topics from a collection of well-known authors is presented. One section focuses on computational aspects from single neurons to networks with a major emphasis on the latter. The second section highlights some insights that have recently developed out of the nonlinear systems approach.

Molecular Mechanisms in Visual Transduction

1st Edition
Volume 3
November 30, 2000
D.G. Stavenga + 2 more
English
Hardback
9 7 8 0 4 4 4 5 0 1 0 2 8
eBook
9 7 8 0 0 8 0 5 3 6 7 7 4

Molecular mechanisms in visual transduction is presently one of the most intensely studied areas in the field of signal transduction research in biological cells. Because the sense of vision plays a primary role in animal biology, and thus has been subject to long evolutionary development, the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying vision have a high degree of sensitivity and versatility. The aims of visual transduction research are firstto determine which molecules participate, and then to understand how they act in concert to produce the exquisite electrical responses of the photoreceptor cells.Since the 1940s [1] we have known that rod vision begins with the capture of a quantum of energy, a photon, by a visual pigment molecule, rhodopsin. As the function of photon absorption is to convert the visual pigment molecule into a G-protein activating state, the structural details of the visual pigments must beexplained from the perspective of their role in activating their specific G-proteins. Thus, Chapters 1-3 of this Handbook extensively cover the physico-chemical molecular characteristics of the vertebrate rhodopsins. Following photoconversion and G-protein activation, the phototransduction cascade leads to modifications of the population of closed and open ion channels in the photoreceptor plasma membrane, and thereby to the electrical response. The nature of the channels of vertebrate photoreceptors is examined in Chapter 4, and Chapter 5 integrates the present body of knowledge of the activation steps in the cascade into a quantitative framework. Once the phototransduction cascade is activated, it must be subsequently silenced. The various molecular mechanisms participating in inactivation aretreated in Chapters 1-4 and especially Chapter 5. Molecular biology is now an indispensable tool in signal transduction studies. Numerous vertebrate (Chapter 6) and invertebrate (Chapter 7) visual pigments have been characterized and cloned. The genetics and evolutionary aspects of this great subfamily of G-protein activating receptors are intriguing as they present a natural probe for the intimate relationship between structure and function of the visual pigments. Understanding the spectral characteristics from the molecular composition can be expected to

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