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This book summarizes the current status of research on bilayer lipid membranes (planar lipid bilayers and spherical liposomes). In addition to describing the properties of lipid bilayers and examining biomembrane phenomena, the book has two other objectives. The first is to present practical methods for the formation and study of lipid bilayers with either aqueous or metal-lipid bilayer interfaces. The second aim is to treat planar lipid bilayers as a new type of interfacial adsorption phenomena.
The first nine chapters cover properties of biomembranes, basic principles of membrane biophysics, transport, electrochemistry, physiology, bioenergetics, and photobiology. Chapter 10 presents the following topics: lipid bilayers in medicine, supported lipid bilayers as sensors, a short discussion of liposomes, and solar energy transduction via semiconductor septum photovoltaic cells based on natural photosynthesis.

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error prone
This book is the first version of what could be a long and borring series. the problem is the consistancy in some aspects this book assumes a 5th grade reading level but in other segments a working research level ofknowledge. The topics that are covered while signifigant in the field seemarbitary in selection and do not flow well togeather. ... Read more

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This volume concentrates attention on the role of membranes in regulating cellular processes, as well as on the interactions of cells with their environment - a large field with a great number of applications. To make this task manageable the field is narrowed by introducing the word "biophysics" into the title. Starting with the molecular aspects of the dynamic structure of the membrane, chapters treating phenomenological aspects of membrane electrostatics, interfacial stability and membrane elastic energy are presented. In a third part functional aspects are discussed: The role of membrane electric field, membrane fusion, membrane lysis, membrane interactions, membrane adhesion and membrane motion. ... Read more

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Depite the rapid expansion of the field of biophysics, there are very few books that comprehensively treat specific topics in this area. Recently, the field of single molecule biophysics has developed very quickly, and a few books specifically treating single molecule methods are beginning to appear. However, the promise of single molecule biophysics is to contribute to the understanding of specific fields of biology using new methods. This book would focus on the specific topic of the biophysics of DNA-protein interactions, and would include the use of new approaches, including both bulk methods as well as single molecule methods. This would make the book attractive to anyone working in the general area of DNA-protein interactions, which is of course a much wider market than just single molecule biophysicists or even biophysicists.

The subject of the book will be the biophysics of DNA-protein interactions, and will include new methods and results that describe the physical mechanism by which proteins interact with DNA. For example, there has been much recent work on the mechanism by which proteins search for specific binding sites on DNA. A few chapters will be devoted to experiments and theory that shed light on this important problem. We will also cover proteins that alter DNA properties to facilitate interactions important for transcription or replication. Another section of the book will cover the biophysical mechanism by which motor proteins interact with DNA. Finally, we will cover larger protein-DNA complexes, such as replication forks, recombination complexes, DNA repair interactions, and their chromatin context.

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With the great progress in numerical methods and the speed of the modern personal computer, if you can formulate the correct physics equations, then you only need to program a few lines of code to get the answer. Where other books on computational physics dwell on the theory of problems, this book takes a detailed look at how to set up the equations and actually solve them on a PC.

Focusing on popular software packages like Mathematica, Maple and MatLab, the book offers undergraduate student a comprehensive treatment of the methodology used in programing solutions to equations in physics.

Contents: Equations of Motion; Vibrations and Waves; Building Differential Equation; Partial Differential Equations; Applications. ... Read more

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The objective of this book is to discuss the current status of research and development of boron-rich solids as sensors, ultra-high temperature ceramics, thermoelectrics, and armor. Novel biological and chemical sensors made of stiff and light-weight boron-rich solids are very exciting and efficient for applications in medical diagnoses, environmental surveillance and the detection of pathogen and biological/chemical terrorism agents. Ultra-high temperature ceramic composites exhibit excellent oxidation and corrosion resistance for hypersonic vehicle applications. Boron-rich solids are also promising candidates for high-temperature thermoelectric conversion. Armor is another very important application of boron-rich solids, since most of them exhibit very high hardness, which makes them perfect candidates with high resistance to ballistic impact. The following topical areas are presented:•Boron-rich solids: science and technology•Synthesis and sintering strategies of boron rich solids•Microcantilever sensors•Screening of the possible boron-based thermoelectric conversion materials;•Ultra-high temperature ZrB2 and HfB2 based composites•Magnetic, transport and high-pressure properties of boron-rich solids•Restrictions of the sensor dimensions for chemical detection•Armor ... Read more

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The book is concerned with features analysis of radiation damage to living matter at different levels of its organisation, beginning from the molecular level. The general theory of the mechanisms of biological action of radiation based on four logically connected principles of radiation biology is presented for the first time. The book contains abundant material on primary and secondary processes of the response of living systems to radiation, the mechanisms of direct and indirect action of radiation through radiolysis of water and lipids; a detailed consideration of the theory of targets (DNA and biological membranes) and the problems of high- and low-dose irradiation in the context of present-day. The systemic response of the cell to irradiation (oxidative stress, endogenous background radioresistance, damage and repair of biological membranes and DNA, systemic protection against radiation) is approximated. Presentation of these important problems is preceded by an up-to-date evaluation of some aspects regarding dosimetry of ionising radiation. ... Read more

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Soft Condensed Matter commonly deals with materials that aremechanically soft and, more importantly, particularly prone to thermalfluctuation effects. Charged soft matter systems are especiallyinteresting: they can be manufactured artificially as polyelectrolytesto serve as superabsorbers in dypers, as flocculation and retentionagents, as thickeners and gelling agents, and as oil-recovery processaids. They are also abundant in living organisms, mostly performingimportant structural (e.g. membranes) and functional (e.g. DNA) tasks.

The book describes the many areas in soft matter and biophysics whereelectrostatic interactions play an important role. It offers in-depthcoverage of recent theoretical approaches, advances in computersimulation, and novel experimental techniques. Readership: Advanced undergraduate level in physics, physicalchemistry, and theoretical biochemistry. ... Read more

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World energy consumption has grown dramatically over the past few decades. This growth in energy demand will be driven by large increases in both economic growth and world population coupled with rising living standards in rapidly growing countries. The last years, we routinely hear about a "renaissance" of nuclear energy. The recognition that nuclear power is vital to global energy security in the 21st century has been growing for some time.

"The more we look to the future, the more we can expect countries to be considering the potential benefits that expanding nuclear power has to offer for the global environment and for economic growth," IAEA Director General Mohamed ElBaradei said in advance of a gathering of 500 nuclear power experts assembled in Moscow for the "International Conference on Fifty Years of Nuclear Power - the Next Fifty Years".

But such a renaissance is not a single-valued and sure thing. Legitimate four unresolved questions remain about high relative costs; perceived adverse safety, environmental, and health effects; potential security risks stemming from proliferation; and unresolved challenges in long-term management of nuclear wastes. Failure to answer these questions adequately could imperil the nuclear revival so many have proclaimed is night. This proceeding examines the status and future of nuclear power because of a belief that this technology is an important option for the regional and the world countries to meet the future energy needs without emitting carbon dioxide and other atmospheric pollutants. The objectives, addressed to government, industry, and academic leaders, discusses the interrelated technical, economic, environmental and political challenges facing a significant increase in the global nuclear power utilization over the next half century and what might be done to overcome those challenges.

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Sinc the dissolution of the Soviet Union the nuclear threats facing the world are complex and constantly evolving.This volume is structured to promote wide-ranging, multi-national exploration of critical technology needs and underlying scientific challenges to reducing the threat of nuclear/radiological terrorism; to illustrate through country-specific presentations how resulting technologies were used in national programs; and to outline the role of legal, policy and institutional frameworks in countering nuclear/radiological terrorism.

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Nuclear quadrupole resonance (NQR) a highly promising new technique for bulk explosives detection: relatively inexpensive, more compact than NMR, but with considerable selectivity. Since the NQR frequency is insensitive to long-range variations in composition, mixing explosives with other materials, such as the plasticizers in plastic explosives, makes no difference. The NQR signal strength varies linearly with the amount of explosive, and is independent of its distribution within the volume monitored. NQR spots explosive types in configurations missed by the X-ray imaging method.

But if NQR is so good, why it is not used everywhere? Its main limitation is the low signal-to-noise ratio, particularly with the radio-frequency interference that exists in a field environment, NQR polarization being much weaker than that from an external magnetic field. The distinctive signatures are there, but are difficult to extract from the noise. In addition, the high selectivity is partly a disadvantage, as it is hard to build a multichannel system necessary to cover a wide range of target substances. Moreover, substances fully screened by metallic enclosures, etc. are difficult to detect. A workshop was held at St Petersburg in July 2008 in an attempt to solve these problems and make NQR the universal technique for the detection of bombs regardless of type. This book presents the essentials of the papers given there.

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For operators of nuclear research facilities, it is of particular importance to investigate minor incidents: indeed, as safety demonstrations are generally based on the presence of several independent "lines of defence", only through attentive investigation of every occurrence, usually minor and of no consequence, can the level of trust placed in each of these defensive lines be confirmed, or the potential risks arising out of a possible weakness in the system be anticipated.

The efficiency of the system is based on a rigorous procedure: stringent attention to all incidents, consideration of the potential consequences of the incidents in their most pessimistic scenarios, and promotion of a broad conception of transpositions of the events, in time and space, for experience feedback.

This efficiency presumes motivation on the part of all those involved, hence the importance of dissociating from the concept of an "incident" any notion of "error" or "blame" both in internal analysis and in public communications.

The nuclear industry has developed some very progressive tools for experience feedback, which could interest also management of other technological risks.

This book presents the proceedings of a NATO Advanced Workshop dedicated to this important matter of concern.

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This work offers an interdisciplinary synthesis of what is currently known about the molecular architecture and properties of the complex biological milieux in which cells exist and function. ... Read more

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Tel Aviv Univ., Israel. Reference presents the most recent theoretical methods and computational techniques in biomolecular research. Focuses on a variety of approaches for the treatment of macromolecules, including proteins, nucleic acids, and bilayer membranes. Expanded-outline format. ... Read more

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This is a critical assessment of breakthrough biosensor technologies that will allow for the rapid identification of biological threat agents in the environment and human population. The book provides a comprehensive overview of the current state of biological weapons threat, and reviews biosensor technologies including detection platforms, networked alarm-type biodetector systems, implementation strategies, electro-optical and electrochemical biosensors.

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Spectroscopic methods are not only important as an analytical tool, they also provide information about fundamental physical and chemical properties of molecules, the molecular and electronic structure, and the dynamic behaviour of molecules. Starting from a comprehensive quantum mechanical description, ESR Spectroscopy in Membrane Biophysics introduces the optical (IR, Raman, UV/Vis, CD, fluorescence and laser spectroscopy) and magnetic resonance (1D and 2D-NMR, ESR) techniques.

ESR Spectroscopy in Membrane Biophysics is a timely review of the increasing interest in using spin-label ESR as an alternative structural technique for NMR or X-ray diffraction. It is aimed at training an audience to learn ESR spectroscopy to determine membrane protein structures, conformational dynamics and protein-lipid interaction.

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This book introduces the fundamental aspects of Radiation Protection in Medical Physics and covers three main themes: General Radiation Protection Principles; Radiobiology Principles; Radiation Protection in Hospital Medical Physics. Each of these topics is developed by analysing the underlying physics principles and their implementation, quality and safety aspects, clinical performance and recent advances in the field. Some issues specific to the individual techniques are also treated, e.g. calculation of patient dose as well as that of workers in hospital, optimisation of equipment used, shielding design of radiation facilities, radiation in oncology such as use of brachytherapy in gynecology or interventional procedures. All topics are presented with didactical language and style, making this book an appropriate reference for students and professionals seeking a comprehensive introduction to the field as well as a reliable overview of the most recent developments. ... Read more