P2RX6, or purinergic receptor P2X 6, is a gene that encodes a protein belonging to the purinergic receptor family. Specifically, it is a member of the P2X receptor group, which are ionotropic receptors activated by extracellular ATP (adenosine triphosphate). These receptors are involved in various physiological processes, including neurotransmission, muscle contraction, and the regulation of blood flow.
SCN2B is a gene that encodes the beta subunit of type II voltage-gated sodium channels. These channels play a crucial role in the generation and propagation of action potentials in neurons and other excitable tissues. The beta subunits, including those encoded by the SCN2B gene, are essential for the proper functioning and regulation of the alpha subunit (the main component) of sodium channels.
TPCN2, or "Two-Pore Channel 2," is a gene that encodes a protein belonging to the family of two-pore channels, which are involved in the transport of ions across cell membranes. This protein specifically functions as a ion channel that selectively allows the passage of calcium ions (Ca²⁺) and other cations.
Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) experiments are analytical techniques used to observe the magnetic properties of atomic nuclei. The technique exploits the magnetic properties of certain nuclei to provide detailed information about the structure, dynamics, and environment of molecules.
The Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging is a research facility affiliated with Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School. It is known for its pioneering work in the field of biomedical imaging and neuroscience. The center focuses on developing and applying innovative imaging techniques to study the brain and other biological systems, combining various modalities like magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), functional MRI (fMRI), and magnetoencephalography (MEG).
Magnetization transfer is a phenomenon observed in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. It involves the transfer of magnetization from one pool of protons (nuclei) to another, typically between freely moving (mobile) protons and those that are closely bound within macromolecules or in less mobile environments. In MRI, magnetization transfer is utilized to enhance contrast between different tissues.
A bioamplifier is an electronic device or system designed to amplify biological signals, which can include electrical signals generated by biological systems such as muscles, nerves, or cells. These signals are typically very weak and need to be amplified to be useful for analysis, monitoring, or control applications. Bioamplifiers are commonly used in various fields, including medical diagnostics, biological research, and biomedical engineering.
Electromyography (EMG) is a diagnostic procedure that assesses the electrical activity of muscles. It involves the use of electrodes—either surface electrodes placed on the skin or needle electrodes inserted into the muscle—to detect the electrical signals produced by muscle fibers during contraction.
Electrotonic potential refers to the local changes in membrane potential that occur in a neuron or muscle fiber as a result of synaptic activity or the propagation of an electrical signal. It is often associated with the concept of passive electrical properties of cells, particularly in the context of signal transmission along neurons.
Local field potentials (LFPs) are electrical signals recorded from a specific region of the brain or a similar biological tissue. They represent the summed electrical activity of multiple nearby neurons and are primarily associated with the activity of synaptic potentials, rather than the action potentials of individual neurons. LFPs are measured using microelectrodes that are typically inserted into the tissue.
Microneurography is a technique used to study the function of peripheral nerves by recording electrical activity from individual nerve fibers. It involves inserting a very fine microelectrode into a peripheral nerve, typically in the leg or arm, to measure the action potentials (nerve impulses) generated by specific nerve fibers. This technique allows researchers and clinicians to gain insights into the sensory and motor functions of nerve fibers, the mechanisms of pain, and the effects of various diseases on nerve function.
Plateau potentials are a type of sustained depolarization that occurs in certain types of neurons and muscle cells. They are characterized by a prolonged period of depolarization, which makes the cell membrane more positive and can lead to an extended period of action potential firing or muscle contraction. In neurons, plateau potentials are often associated with specific types of excitability and are involved in functions such as rhythm generation in certain circuits (e.g., in neurons of the cardiac pacemaker or certain motor neurons).
Voltage-gated calcium channels (VGCCs) are a type of ion channel found in the membranes of excitable cells, such as neurons and muscle cells. They open in response to changes in the membrane potential, allowing calcium ions (Ca²⁺) to flow into the cell when the membrane is depolarized.
Magnetic minerals are naturally occurring minerals that exhibit magnetic properties due to the alignment of their internal magnetic moments, usually arising from the presence of iron or other transition metals in their crystal structure. These minerals can be classified based on their magnetic behavior into three main categories: 1. **Ferromagnetic Minerals**: These minerals exhibit strong magnetic properties and can become permanently magnetized. Common examples include magnetite (Fe3O4) and pyrrhotite.
SYNOP (short for Surface Synoptic Observations) refers to a format used for reporting weather observations from surface weather stations around the world. These reports provide essential meteorological data that is crucial for weather forecasting and climatology. The SYNOP report typically includes: 1. **Station Identifier**: A unique code that identifies the observing station. 2. **Date and Time**: The date and time of the observation, usually in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC).
The magnetospheric electric convection field refers to the electric field generated in the magnetosphere, which is the region of space around Earth dominated by its magnetic field. This electric field arises primarily from processes related to the interaction of the solar wind (a stream of charged particles, mainly electrons and protons, emitted by the Sun) with Earth's magnetic field. When the solar wind encounters Earth's magnetosphere, it can cause the magnetic field lines to be distorted and draped around the Earth.
Paleointensity, or paleomagnetic intensity, refers to the strength of the Earth's magnetic field at a specific time in the past as recorded in geological or archaeological materials. This intensity can be measured in rocks, sediments, or archaeological artifacts that contain magnetic minerals, such as magnetite. When these materials form, they can capture the direction and intensity of the Earth's magnetic field at that time.
The position of the Sun refers to its location in the sky at any given time, which can vary based on several factors, including geographical location (latitude and longitude), the time of day, and the time of year (season). 1. **Time of Day:** The Sun appears to move across the sky from east to west due to the Earth's rotation. It rises in the east, reaches its highest point around noon (solar noon), and sets in the west.
The field of geophysics has various awards and honors that recognize outstanding contributions, research, and advancements in the discipline. Here are some notable geophysics awards: 1. **William Bowie Medal** - Given by the American Geophysical Union (AGU) for distinguished service to geophysics. 2. **Walter H. Bucher Medal** - Also awarded by the AGU, this medal is presented for outstanding contributions to the field of geophysics.
"Physics of the Earth and Planetary Interiors" is a multidisciplinary field that focuses on understanding the physical processes and properties of the Earth and other planetary bodies, including their internal structures, materials, and dynamics. This field combines principles from various branches of physics, geology, geophysics, and planetary science.

Pinned article: Introduction to the OurBigBook Project

Welcome to the OurBigBook Project! Our goal is to create the perfect publishing platform for STEM subjects, and get university-level students to write the best free STEM tutorials ever.
Everyone is welcome to create an account and play with the site: ourbigbook.com/go/register. We belive that students themselves can write amazing tutorials, but teachers are welcome too. You can write about anything you want, it doesn't have to be STEM or even educational. Silly test content is very welcome and you won't be penalized in any way. Just keep it legal!
We have two killer features:
  1. topics: topics group articles by different users with the same title, e.g. here is the topic for the "Fundamental Theorem of Calculus" ourbigbook.com/go/topic/fundamental-theorem-of-calculus
    Articles of different users are sorted by upvote within each article page. This feature is a bit like:
    • a Wikipedia where each user can have their own version of each article
    • a Q&A website like Stack Overflow, where multiple people can give their views on a given topic, and the best ones are sorted by upvote. Except you don't need to wait for someone to ask first, and any topic goes, no matter how narrow or broad
    This feature makes it possible for readers to find better explanations of any topic created by other writers. And it allows writers to create an explanation in a place that readers might actually find it.
    Figure 1.
    Screenshot of the "Derivative" topic page
    . View it live at: ourbigbook.com/go/topic/derivative
  2. local editing: you can store all your personal knowledge base content locally in a plaintext markup format that can be edited locally and published either:
    This way you can be sure that even if OurBigBook.com were to go down one day (which we have no plans to do as it is quite cheap to host!), your content will still be perfectly readable as a static site.
    Figure 2.
    You can publish local OurBigBook lightweight markup files to either https://OurBigBook.com or as a static website
    .
    Figure 3.
    Visual Studio Code extension installation
    .
    Figure 4.
    Visual Studio Code extension tree navigation
    .
    Figure 5.
    Web editor
    . You can also edit articles on the Web editor without installing anything locally.
    Video 3.
    Edit locally and publish demo
    . Source. This shows editing OurBigBook Markup and publishing it using the Visual Studio Code extension.
    Video 4.
    OurBigBook Visual Studio Code extension editing and navigation demo
    . Source.
  3. https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ourbigbook/ourbigbook-media/master/feature/x/hilbert-space-arrow.png
  4. Infinitely deep tables of contents:
    Figure 6.
    Dynamic article tree with infinitely deep table of contents
    .
    Descendant pages can also show up as toplevel e.g.: ourbigbook.com/cirosantilli/chordate-subclade
All our software is open source and hosted at: github.com/ourbigbook/ourbigbook
Further documentation can be found at: docs.ourbigbook.com
Feel free to reach our to us for any help or suggestions: docs.ourbigbook.com/#contact