Book Description

Molecular biophysics is a rapidly growing field of research that plays an important role in elucidating the mysteries of life's molecules and their assemblies, as well as the relationship between their structure and function. Introduction to Molecular Biophysics fills a an urgent need for a text that provides students with the modern theoretical tools they need to understand life processes from a physical viewpoint. The authors use a combination of biological information with physical models and theories to provide a rigorous description of biological structures. The theme throughout Introduction to Molecular Biophysics is the hierarchical organization of all living systems starting with single cells and building up to systems and organisms. The text begins by presenting the structural, biochemical, and biophysical properties of the building blocks of all living systems, along with their functions in living cells. The authors also review the structure and function of the living cell with emphasis on its organization and functional interdependence of the subcellular structures, along with the examination of the role of diffusion processes in cell functions. Following the discussion of single cell organization and function, the text covers the biophysics of tissues, organs, organisms, and viruses. The text reviews numerous topics of relevance to the field of biophysics, ranging from peptide chains to DNA structure and function, cytoplasm, membranes, and motor proteins. In addition, since nonlinear physicists have developed new physical concepts that have been evaluated as a possible theoretical framework within which living systems can be better understood, the authors have provided three appendices that summarize the most important ideas and results involved in nonlinear physics, phase transitions, and diffusion. Introduction to Molecular Biophysics is richly illustrated and includes numerous examples, references, and experimental tools that make the book an outstanding text for upper-level and graduate students in biophysics, biology, and biochemistry. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Interesting topics, insufficient depth
I am a cell biologist that was looking for a comprehensive biophysics resource. The description of the book and the table of contents gave me reason to hope that this was the book I was seeking. Unfortunately, despite the book's stated aim to foster dialogue between physicists and biologists, this book assumes far too much of its readers. There is no glossary. Several terms are introduced without being defined or illustrated. Some sections are extremely short, while others spend a considerable amount of time describing examples of questionable relevance to the stated topic. That said, I did find several passages of the book stimulating and thought provoking. I very much liked the description of dead cells being "at equilibrium." This book is appropriate for graduate students and higher. I don't think this book would be very useful as a course text. ... Read more

Book Description

This book brings together contributions from internationally renowned experts in the biochip field. These chapters present not only the authors' latest research work, but also discuss current trends in biochip technology. Specific topics include microarray technology and its applications, microfluidics, drug discovery, detection technology, lab-on-chip technology and bioinformatics. Both newcomers to the field and experienced biochip researchers will benefit from this book. ... Read more

Book Description

This new textbook offers a comprehensive introduction to the molecular physics of biological systems: it seeks to explain how the laws and concepts of physics apply to the living world at the molecular and subcellular level, with an emphasis on electrical and dynamical behaviour.

The book is organized into five parts:

* conformation of biopolymers

* dynamics of biopolymers

* hydration of biopolymers

* biopolymers as polyelectrolytes

*association between molecules

The author adopts a multi-disciplinary approach and limits mathematics only to what is strictly necessary for the development of the subject. The text should be suitable for students from a wide range of backgrounds in biology, physics or chemistry taking advanced courses in molecular biophysics or biophysical chemistry. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

It is a good book for a physicist to enter biophysics field.
The book almost covers all aspects in biophysics field. The description in text is very physical, and it is very suitful for researchers with physical background to enter biophysics field.

Due to its wide covering, the content of the book is not so valuable for a advanced biophysicist.

BIOPOLYMERS A' LA CARTE
This is a very comprehensive book (about 500 pages!) dealing with the molecular physics of biopolymers. It is divided in five parts, namely (I.) Conformation of biopolymers, (II.) Dynamics of biopolymers, (III.) Hydration of biopolymers, (IV.) Biopolymers as polyelectrolytes, and (V.) Association between molecules, along with a 20-pages mathematical appendix. At the end of each part you will find a 1-page conclusion and 1-2 pages of references and material for further reading. Each referenced paper is provided with its full, original title, thereby simplifying the selection process. Important topics and/or proofs of mathematical formulae and models are given in dark boxes throughout the book. This facilitates both reading and learning. A note about figures. Graphs are clear and look good but the same cannot be said about most of the figures displaying molecular structures. This, perhaps, is due to the fact that several figures have been reprinted from the original papers. Also, the book does not contain colored figures. This, in general, is not a big problem exept when a calculated property such as the electrostatic potential is being depicted (see, for example Fig. 19.7 at p. 370). For this reason I rated this book with four stars only. In summary, Professor Daune has done a good job and his book could be well used in teaching an advanced course of molecular biophysics, perhaps complemented with Dr. Glaser's "Biophysics". ... Read more

Book Description

Intended for undergraduate courses in physics for students in biological physics, life sciences, biophysics, physiology, medical physics, and biomedical engineering, this book covers standard topics of kinematics, dynamics, statics, momentum, and feedback, control and stability but with emphasis on physical and biological systems.

This new edition of the classic set of books, originally published in 1974 from the authors' typescript, has been edited, updated, corrected, indexed, and typeset. It will satisfy the growing need for a working knowledge of the physical sciences among students and practitioners in the medical and biological sciences. The books can be used as supplements to standard introductory physics courses, as texts for medical schools, medical physics courses, and biology departments, and as a reference for practitioners.Chapters include problems and references.

The authors are recognized experts in the field. Benedek was the recipient of the 1995 Irving Langmuir Prize from the American Physical Society's Division of Chemical Physics, and the 1994 Biological Physics Prize from the American Physical Society.

FROM THE REVIEWS:

PHYSICS TODAY "These are classic books, and anyone planning to include bio-physical examples in a calculus-level course should study them carefully...The authors are to be congratulated for their work, and I commend AIP Press and Springer-Verlag for making the books available again." ... Read more

Book Description

Prion Proteins is "issue-oriented" and edited by a well-known authority in the field. Topics covered include structure, diversity, and energetics as well as the diseases associated with prion proteins. ... Read more

Book Description

''This book is the best, most comprehensive collection of basic and applied material for laser-tissue interaction that is currently available....It should quickly become a standard text in biomedical optics.''--- Physics in Medicine and BiologyIn this text, scientists provide a detailed description of the physical events that occur when light interacts with tissue. Their work emphasizes the optical response of tissue during treatment procedures or diagnostic applications of laser light. Supported by numerous illustrations, chapters present methods for estimating tissue optical properties from measurements of reflection and transmission in addition to methods for measuring temperature, thermal properties and rate constants. A discussion on the applications of optical and thermal tissue interactions to various medical problems is included. ... Read more

Book Description

"This book lays out a vision for a coherent framework for understanding complex systems." -From the Foreword by J. Doyne Farmer, Santa Fe Institute

In developing the genuine idea of Brownian agents, Frank Schweitzer combines concepts from informatics - such as multiagent systems - with approaches from statistical many-particle physics to develop an efficient method for computer simulations of complex systems that is useful for analytical investigation and quantitative prediction. BROWNIAN AGENTS AND ACTIVE PARTICLES demonstrates that Brownian agent models can be successfully applied in many different contexts, ranging from physicochemical pattern formation, to active motion and swarming in biological systems, to self-assembling of networks, evolutionary optimization, urban growth, economic agglomeration, and even social systems. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Brownian agents
Brownian Agents and Active Particles: Collective Dynamics in the Natural and Social Sciences

by Frank Schweitzer

The field discussed by the book of Frank Schweitzer has been recently popularized by a novel of Michael Crichton: "Prey". If you want to know more about flocks and swarms and you are interested not only in science fiction, but also in science, the work of Frank Schweitzer is the right place to start with. The popularization of a rather esoteric scientific field, as the one discussed by Schweitzer, is a clear sign of its increasing relevance.

As usual, Crichton's book has a list of references and, as usual, almost only research performed in the United States is quoted. You will find many clues on this US tendency to completely overlook the work done elsewhere in the world also in the book of Schweitzer. Schweitzer's bibliography does justice to the huge efforts taking place in Germany and in Europe. Even if it is very difficult to give proper credits dealing with such a large range of issues as Schweitzer does, his bibliography is to be praised. His book is about Brownian agents, a smart generalization of Brownian particles including internal states. Brownian agents can be effectively used as phenomenological models for many natural and social phenomena including track formation in biological systems, movement and trail formation of humans, evolutionary optimization strategies, urban growth, quantitative sociodynamics, spatial opinion structures in social systems.

Schweitzer's approach is gradual. The first four chapters are devoted to introducing more and more complexities and subtleties in the Brownian agent models, and the focus is on the models themselves rather than on the systems. Reading and understanding these chapters may be a difficult time-consuming task, but the reward is high. Starting from chapter five (on tracks and trail formation in biological systems) and ending with chapter ten (on opinion formation), the reader can amuse him/herself in dealing with models of real systems and devote his/her attention to the more relevant issues for his/her research.

This book contains some gems. My favorite one is in chapter nine: the discussion of a spatial dynamic model for the labor market introduced by the well-known US economist Paul Krugman where "workers are assumed to move toward locations that offer them higher real wages". Schweitzer shows not only that Krugman's model is nothing else that an instance of a selection equation of the Fisher-Eigen type, but also, using the formalism developed previously, he can easily generalize it and question the economic meaning of the assumptions leading to Krugman's equations.

A limit of this book is that the comparison between theoretical results and available empirical data is not always discussed. In many cases, however, not many empirical data are available or of good quality. In this respect, this book can become a stimulus for further empirical research in the fields outlined.

Finally, as in many contemporary books, there are various misprints scattered throughout the chapters. However, these are minor and do not hamper the understanding of the text.

I can recommend this book to all those working in the field of complex systems. They will find a detailed survey of the Brownian agent method and they might get good hints for further research in some of the fascinating fields herein discussed. ... Read more

Book Description

The latest version of a bestseller, Hazardous Laboratory Chemicals Disposal Guide, Third Edition includes individual entries for over 300 compounds. The extensive list of references has been updated and includes entries for 15 pesticides commonly used in greenhouses. Emphasis is placed on disposal methods that turn hazardous waste material into non-toxic products. These methods fall into several categories, including acid/base neutralization, oxidation or reduction, and precipitation of toxic ions as insoluble solids. The text also provides data on hazardous reactions of chemicals, assisting laboratory managers in developing a plan of action for emergencies such as the spill of any of the chemicals listed. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Comprehensive resource volume
If I had to describe this book in one word, it would be "comprehensive". The 27 chapters in this volume describe not only the history of pharmacophore development, but the techniques and methods for developing pharmacophores from either a series of active compounds, or from a known receptor site. Included are quantitative and qualitative analysis methods, those that broke ground in the past, those considered state of the art today, and those recently developed methods that have not yet made it into commercial software. The detailed information in this volume will prove invaluable for those new to this field, as well as a great reference source for those who've been around for awhile. ... Read more

Book Description

This volume contains papers based on the workshop "Energy and Information Transfer in Biological Systems: How Physics Could Enrich Biological Understanding", held in Italy in 2002. The meeting was a forum aimed at evaluating the potential and outlooks of a modern physics approach to understanding and describing biological processes, especially regarding the transition from the microscopic chemical scenario to the macroscopic functional configurations of living matter. In this frame some leading researchers presented and discussed several basic topics, such as the photon interaction with biological systems also from the viewpoint of photon information processes and of possible applications; the influence of electromagnetic fields on the self-organization of biosystems including the nonlinear mechanism for energy transfer and storage; and the influence of the structure of water on the properties of biological matter. ... Read more

Book Description

Life depends on energy, and the majority of animal activity centers around finding energy in the form of food. Energy for Animal Life, the first book in the innovative new Oxford Animal Biology Series, gives a thorough yet precise description of how animals get and use energy. Drawing broad comparisons, this textbook encompasses every stage of the food chain and includes several chapters that explore the energy costs of motion and the energy demands of growth and reproduction. ... Read more

Book Description

In the ten years since the first edition of this book appeared the field of mathematical biology has grown at an astonishing rate and has established itself as a distinct discipline. Mathematical modelling is now being applied in every major discipline in the biomedical sciences. Though the field has become increasingly large and specialized, this book remains important as a text that introduces some of the exciting problems that arise in biology and gives some indication of the wide spectrum of questions that modelling can address. Due to this tremendous development in recent years, for this new edition Murray is covering certain items in depth, giving new applications such as modelling marital interaction, growth of cancer tumours, temperature sex determination, wolf territoriality, wolf-deer survival etc. In other areas he discusses basic modelling concepts and provides further references as needed. He also provides even closer links between models and experimental data throughout the text. The book continues to present a broad view of the field of theoretical and mathematical biology and gives us an excellent background from which to begin geniune interdisciplinary research in the biomedical sciences. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

New edition - old book split into two
Many reviews here are about the old edition of Mathematical Biology (the softcover one volume, 2nd ed). Recently J.D. Murray split the second edition in two hardcover volumes. Volume 1 discusses mainly models that use Ordinary Differential Equation, while slightly more complicated Math is required for Volume 2. These new books have added topics (modelling of marital interaction, temperature-dependent sex determination, wolf territoriality, etc). While sometimes the model is still very simple and in its inital stages (e.g. marital interaction model), the books show how much biology and applied mathematics intersect, and they make very interesting read.
There is a certain lack of analysis of the nonlinear cases, so for those who need examples of amplitude equations, different ways of perturbing a linear model, these books are not so good. These books might be too complicated for a bio person with not much mathematical background, but it is very accessible to those with some math background, and are certainly easy for Math or Physics people who want to know more applications to biology.

Excellent book on the subject
A few decades ago mathematical biology consisted mostly of evolutionary and predator-prey models. This has changed dramatically in recent years with the advent of computational biology and gene sequencing projects. The applications of mathematics to biology are now exploding and this book is an excellent example of that. The book could best be described as the application of nonlinear dynamical systems and reaction-diffusion partial differential equations to biology structures and processes. Readers with background in these areas of mathematics will find their ideas applied beautifully in this book. The best sections of the book for me were the discussions of synchronized insect emergence, models of testosterone secretion control, insect dispersal models, calcium waves on amphibian eggs, mammalian coat patterns, models of hallucination patterns in the brain, and modeling the transmission dynamics of HIV. Numerous exercises end each chapter, and the mathematical algorithms can easily be coded in Mathematica or some other high level language. This is a fine addition to the literature on mathematical biology and for the price it is a real bargain.

Very interesting, worth your money
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Although a tough read, it is well worth your time and effort. The sections on spots and stripe formation are excellent and quite interesting. An excellent book!

excellent resource
An introduction to linear algebra and differential equations is helpful

A brilliant text about the maths of life systems
This text is simply an outstanding experince, not only for life science related issues, but relevant also for chemistry, physics, mathematics, and social sciences. The presentation secuence of the models and their level of presentation as well as their relevance is impressing. I recomend the experience to every curious mind, interested in the procesess that rule nature as described by mathematics. The price-quality relation is best. ... Read more

Book Description

This book presents readers with a study of the best engineering designs and exposes them to bioengineering practice from a variety of perspectives. Its aim is to explain basic engineering ideas and modes of analysis, synthesis, and design.Examining the living system from the molecular to the the human scale, this book covers such key issues as optimization, scaling, and design; and introduces these concepts in a sequential, layered manner. Analysis strategies, science, and technology are illustrated in each chapter.An excellent reference work for biomedical engineers. ... Read more

Book Description

In the past three decades, considerable progress has been made in the mathematical analysis, modeling, and simulation of the fluid dynamics of liquid capsules and biological cells. In this book, leaders in the field explore topics related to the modeling and numerical simulation of capsule fluid dynamics and cell biomechanics. Providing an outstanding overview of the subject, the authors include results from their own ongoing research. The book covers the fundamentals of cell and membrane mechanics, modeling hydrodynamics under various flow conditions, and drop and bubble dynamics associated with temperature variations and surfactant transport. The clear exposition and stand-alone format provided by Modeling and Simulation of Capsules and Biological Cells puts state-of-the-art information in a single source that will undoubtedly motivate further work in this developing field. ... Read more

Book Description

Volume 323 of Methods in Enzymology is dedicated to the energetics of biological macromolecules. Understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying a biological process requires detailed knowledge of the structural relationships within the system and an equally detailed understanding of the energetic driving forces that control the structural interactions. This volume presents modern thermodynamic techniques currently being utilized to study the energetic driving forces in biological systems. It will be a useful reference source and textbook for scientists and students whose goal is to understand the energetic relationships between macromoleculer structures and biological functions.
This volume supplements Volumes 259 and Volume 295 of Methods in Enzymology.

Key Features
* Probing Stability of Helical Transmembrane Proteins
* Energetics of Vinca Alkaloid Interactions with Tubulin
* Deriving Complex Ligand Binding Formulas
* Mathematical Modeling of Cooperative Interactions in Hemoglobin
* Analysis of Interactions of Regulatory Protein TyrR with DNA
* Parsing Free Energy of Drug-DNA Interactions
* Use of Fluorescence as Thermodynamics Tool ... Read more

Book Description

This entertaining and informative book describes how living things bump up against non-biological reality. "My immodest aim," says the author, "is to change how you view your immediate surroundings." He asks us to wonder about the design of plants and animals around us: why a fish swims more rapidly than a duck can paddle, why healthy trees more commonly uproot than break, how a shark manages with such a flimsy skeleton, or how a mouse can easily survive a fall onto any surface from any height.

The book will not only fascinate the general reader but will also serve as an introductory survey of biomechanics. On one hand, organisms cannot alter the earth's gravity, the properties of water, the compressibility of air, or the behavior of diffusing molecules. On the other, such physical factors form both constraints with which the evolutionary process must contend and opportunities upon which it might capitalize. Life's Devices includes examples from every major group of animals and plants, with references to recent work, with illustrative problems, and with suggestions of experiments that need only common household materials. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Explains "Animal Design" in a Remarkably Readable Style
One of the most readable biology books I've ever come across. While it can easily be used for an undergraduate course in animal physiology and evolution, Vogel's text is humorous, (obscure references, funny quotes, and puns abound, adding to the text rather than detracting from it), but also covers a wide range of topics with clear explainations. The chapters are well structured and the table of contents suggests some of the more interesting highlights: why an ant might bite but can't hit, reinflating squid, plumbing the common features of the pipes within organisms, etc. While there is a strong emphasis on fluids in biology, (the author's specialty), it's an amazingly readable, well-written, and informative book on the entire subject of the physical constraints on animals for the interested laymen or undergrad. Table of contents: Constraints & Oppertunities, A Variety of Variables, Size & Shape, Dimensions Gradiaents & Summations, Gases & Liquids, Viscosity & Flow, Pressure & Flow, Diffussion vs Convection, A Matter of Materials, Arranging Structures, Insinuations About Curves, Systems of Support, Mechanics of Mobility, Staying Put & Getting Away, Energy & Afterthoughts. Also has an extensive and well-prepared bibliography, a great jumping off point for further adventures in the field.

An interesting journey to where Biology and Physics meet!
This is an excellent book for those that are interested in learning more about how life developed on this planet. It engages the reader with a variety of examples, stimulating thought as how complexs life is and how it's bound to our physycal universe. I recommend it! ... Read more

Book Description

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.

ú Introduction is written so that it will be understandable to a wide scientific community regardless of their specialisation
ú First comprehensive collection of experimental data bearing physical information, frequency and amplitude/power spectra
ú Original theoretical research data on the interference of ions and molecules inside proteins
ú Appendix covers physical questions most relevant for magnetobiology. In particular there is an original exposition of the magnetic resonance basic principles ... Read more