The unit step sequence is defined as 1 for zero and positive values of the integer n. This sequence can be graphically displayed using a set of eight sample points, showing a step function starting from n=0 and remaining constant thereafter.
The unit impulse or sample sequence is mathematically expressed as zero for all n values except at n=0, where it is one. The unit impulse sequence, denoted by δ(n), is the first difference of the unit step sequence, while the unit step sequence u(n) is...

A signal x(t) is a set of data or a time function representing a variable of interest. Signals typically convey information about a phenomenon, such as atmospheric temperature, humidity, human voice, television images, a dog's bark, or birdsongs. More generally, a signal can be a function of more than one independent variable. For instance, images depend on horizontal and vertical positions and can be regarded as two-dimensional signals. However, this text will focus on one-dimensional...

Chemical reactions, such as those that occur when you light a match, involve changes in energy as well as matter.

Many receptor binding ligands are hydrophilic; they do not cross the cell membrane but bind to cell-surface receptors. Thus, their message must be relayed by second messengers present in the cell cytoplasm. There are several second messenger pathways, each with its own way of relaying information. For example, the G protein-coupled receptors can activate both phosphoinositol and cyclic AMP (cAMP) second messenger pathways. The phosphoinositol pathway is active when the receptor induces...

A simple pendulum consists of a small diameter ball suspended from a string, which has negligible mass but is strong enough to not stretch. In our daily life, pendulums have many uses, such as in clocks, on a swing set, and on a sinker on a fishing line. 
The period of a simple pendulum depends on two factors: its length and the acceleration due to gravity. The period is completely independent of any other factors, such as mass or maximum displacement. For small displacements, a pendulum...

Cells respond to many types of information, often through receptor proteins positioned on the membrane. They respond to chemical signals, such as hormones, neurotransmitters, and other signaling molecules, initiating a series of molecular reactions to produce an appropriate response. This is called signal transduction. Cells also coordinate different responses elicited by the same signaling molecule via mediators, allowing molecular cross-talk.
Typically, signal transduction involves three...