Biophysics is a new way of looking at living matter. It uses quantitative experimental and theoretical methods to open a new window for studying and understanding life processes. This textbook gives compact introductions to the basics of the field, including molecular cell biology and statistical physics. It then presents in-depth discussions of more advanced biophysics subjects, progressing to state-of-the-art experiments and their theoretical interpretations. The book is unique by offering a general introduction to biophysics, yet at the same time restricting itself to processes that occur inside the cell nucleus and that involve biopolymers (DNA, RNA, and proteins). This allows for an accessible read for beginners and a springboard for specialists who wish to continue their study in more detail.

The nucleus is the most prominent structure in eukaryotic cells. It houses the cell's DNA and is the hub for DNA replication, transcription, and RNA processing. Despite its prominence and importance, our understanding of how the nucleus and its DNA are organized in space and time--and the implications of that organization for proper function--has lagged behind that of other cellular structures. Written and edited by experts in the field, this collection from Cold Spring Harbor Perspectives in Biology covers recent advances in our understanding of nuclear organization and function. The contributors discuss the 3D organization of chromatin, the various nuclear bodies and compartments that have been identified, and the roles of RNA and actin in shaping nuclear organization, as well as how these structures interact with each other and with peripheral features (e.g., the nuclear pore complex and inner nuclear membrane proteins) to carry out the work of the nucleus. Insights into DNA replication timing and RNA processing dynamics based on new technologies aimed at examining chromatin and other intranuclear structures at high resolution are also included. Multiple chapters are devoted to physiological and disease processes involving disruption of nuclear structure and function (e.g., viral infection). This volume is therefore essential reading for all cell and molecular biologists, as well as pathologists interested in the role of nuclear architecture in disease.

The discovery of the nucleus transformed the past century and will revolutionize this one. Nuclear physics is one of the most exciting—and useful—branches of science. In medicine, it helps save lives through innovative medical technologies, such as the MRI, and in nuclear astrophysics, state-of-the-art theoretical and computer models account for how stars shine and describe how the chemical elements in the universe were formed. Now in its second edition, Nucleus tells the story of the nucleus from the early experimental work of the quiet New Zealander Lord Rutherford to the huge atom-smashing machines of today and beyond. Thoroughly revised and updated, the book includes the most current information on the radio dating of Earth and other planets in the Solar System, heavy-ion therapies, quark-gluon plasma and its relevance to black holes, and clarification of ab initio calculations of atomic nuclei. Lavishly illustrated and with lively prose and captivating details, this book unravels the scientific mysteries that surround the subject of the nucleus. Anyone with even a passing interest in science will delight in this guide to the nuclear age.

Bridging the gap between the peripheral and central nervous systems, the second edition of Neuroanatomical Basis of Clinical Neurology enriches understanding of neurological conditions through a conceptual approach to neuronal circuitry. The book retains the basic outline of contents from the first edition, integrating structural organization with pertinent clinical disorders, while reflecting the substantial growth and ever-changing information in neuroscience After an introduction to the developmental and cellular aspects of the nervous system, the book discusses in depth the morphology and internal organization of the central nervous system. It examines the somatic and autonomic components of the peripheral nervous system, emphasizing nerve entrapments and neuropathies. The author describes various dysfunctions by demonstrating the neuronal interconnectivity between higher and lower autonomic centers and the mediation of visceral reflexes. The Second Edition incorporates and highlights common and relevant clinical conditions. Topics include: Various forms of cortical dysfunctions, such as seizures, disconnection syndrome, coma, and dementia The role of prefrontal cortex in behavior and attention, introducing the topic of autism Up-to-date information on the auditory, vestibular, gustatory, and limbic systems The neurochemistry of the limbic system, memory and associated disorders, and the structural and neuronal circuitry of the hippocampal gyrus Structural organization and associated pathways of the extrapyramidal system, demonstrating the neurochemical basis of movement disorders This new edition skillfully integrates over a decade of discovery in neuroscience since the publication of the first edition, and introduces deepened insights into the neuronal synaptic connectivity and the mechanisms that underlie neurologic disorders. The book remains an essential source of information for medical and allied health students, practitioners of neurology, and students of neuroscience.

This volume presents detailed, recently-developed protocols ranging from isolation of nuclei to purification of chromatin regions containing single genes, with a particular focus on some less well-explored aspects of the nucleus. The methods described include new strategies for isolation of nuclei, for purification of cell type-specific nuclei from a mixture, and for rapid isolation and fractionation of nucleoli. For gene delivery into and expression in nuclei, a novel gentle approach using gold nanowires is presented. As the concentration and localization of water and ions are crucial for macromolecular interactions in the nucleus, a new approach to measure these parameters by correlative optical and cryo-electron microscopy is described. The Nucleus, Second Edition presents methods and software for high-throughput quantitative analysis of 3D fluorescence microscopy images, for quantification of the formation of amyloid fibrils in the nucleus, and for quantitative analysis of chromosome territory localization. Written in the successful Methods in Molecular Biology series format, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible protocols, and notes on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Authoritative and easily accessible, The Nucleus, Second Edition seeks to serve both professionals and novices with its well-honed methods for the study of the nucleus.

A recipient of the PROSE 2017 Honorable Mention in Chemistry & Physics, Radioactivity: Introduction and History, From the Quantum to Quarks, Second Edition provides a greatly expanded overview of radioactivity from natural and artificial sources on earth, radiation of cosmic origins, and an introduction to the atom and its nucleus. The book also includes historical accounts of the lives, works, and major achievements of many famous pioneers and Nobel Laureates from 1895 to the present. These leaders in the field have contributed to our knowledge of the science of the atom, its nucleus, nuclear decay, and subatomic particles that are part of our current knowledge of the structure of matter, including the role of quarks, leptons, and the bosons (force carriers). Users will find a completely revised and greatly expanded text that includes all new material that further describes the significant historical events on the topic dating from the 1950s to the present. - Provides a detailed account of nuclear radiation – its origin and properties, the atom, its nucleus, and subatomic particles including quarks, leptons, and force carriers (bosons) - Includes fascinating biographies of the pioneers in the field, including captivating anecdotes and insights - Presents meticulous accounts of experiments and calculations used by pioneers to confirm their findings