To All friends Humboldiani, from Humboldt associations in the world, and other friends simply in Physics and Biology

dear Friends -

     A nice Kolleg in Cuba in March I receive from my friend Carlos
Tallero in Havana, who in turn is in Brasil, but writes from Germany I
see!

Call for Submissions

2nd Y.C. FUNG STUDENT PAPER COMPETITION ON BIOMECHANICS, BIOPHYSICS AND BIOMATERIOMICS

EMI 2012 Conference June 17-20, 2012, Notre Dame, IN (http://emipmc12.nd.edu/index.html)

Sponsored by the Biomechanics Committee of the Engineering Mechanics Institute (EMI), American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE)

Less than 2 weeks until the conference starts - but there is still time to register at www.biotribologyconference.com

Topics covered include: orthopaedic surgery • dentistry • biomechanics • biomaterials • cosmetic chemistry • biophysics • biomimetics

Presenting authors are invited to submit their manuscript for consideration for publication in a dedicated special issue of Tribology International. Visit www.elsevier.com/locate/triboint for full details. Deadline for submission: 21 October 2011.

3 weeks left to submit your abstract for the International Conference on BioTribology (ICoBT 2011).

The topic of research must include a biological surface as part of the interface (eg articular cartilage, skin), have a direct impact on biological function (eg prosthetic joints, dental implants), or involve the implementation of natural lubrication in man-made systems (biomimetics).

Dear everyone,

My name is Tianxiang Su. I am a 4th year PhD student in ME department in UPenn, working with Dr. Prashant Purohit. I am graduating in August and would like to look for a postdoc position in solid mechanics or biophysics. I am keeping an eye on this forum for openings myself. But if anyone happens to know some other great opportunities, please kindly let me know. 

Here is my information:

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Education Background:

(1) 07-now (4 yrs): PhD, ME@UPenn, GPA: 4.0

A postdoctoral position is available for a highly
motivated candidate to study the physical principles of cell motility in the
Biophysics Group of the Interfaces & Complex Fluids Lab at the University
of Mons in collaboration with the Bio- and Soft Matter Group of the Institute
of Condensed Matter and Nanosciences at the Université catholique de Louvain.

The project focuses on the
intriguing problem of cell migration, which is essential to many physiological
and pathological processes, by using a physical chemistry approach to cross
life science boundaries.

More informations (see pdf file in attachment):

Themes covered include

• orthopaedic surgery
• dentistry
• biomechanics
• biomaterials
• cosmetic chemistry
• biophysics
• biomimetics

The topic of research must include a biological surface as part of the interface (eg articular cartilage, skin), have a direct impact on biological function (eg prosthetic joints, dental implants), or involve the implementation of natural lubrication in man-made systems (biomimetics).

Professors Mike Adams and Walter Herzog are the latest speakers to be announced, joining Professors Alfons Fisher and Greg Sawyer as key speakers during ICoBT 2011. For more information, go to http://www.biotribologyconference.com/speakers.asp

We have studied the elastic response of actin networks with both compliant and rigid crosslinks by modeling molecular motors as force dipoles. Our finite element simulations show that for compliant crosslinkers such as filamin A, the network can be stiffened by two orders of magnitude while stiffening achieved with incompliant linkers such as scruin is significantly smaller, typically a factor of two, in excellent agreement with recent experiments. We show that the differences arise from the fact that the motors are able to stretch the compliant crosslinks to the fullest possible extent, which in turn causes to the deformation of the filaments. With increasing applied strain, the filaments further deform leading to a stiffened elastic response.

ICoBT 2011 is a new conference which will be held at Imperial College London from 18-21 September 2011. Contributions are welcomed from scientists, engineers and clinicians working in the fields of orthopaedic surgery, dentistry, biomechanics, biomaterials, cosmetic chemistry, biophysics and biomimetics. Abstract submissions are now open!

Although this is one of the most exciting research areas in Tribology, there is at present no dedicated Biotribology Conference. Biotribology embraces a wide range of research topics from artificial joint, implants, to hair conditioners and soft-tissue friction.

How does the cell know when to produce a protein? Why does it produce this protein? How does it produce this protein so accurately, in transcription, timing, and concentration? It is amazing that the cell functions as precisely as it needs to in response to various stimuli. What is more amazing is that the cell's actions are a result of stochastic processes.

This is a model of a single semiflexible polymer chain under sustained tension. The model captures two key features of the cytoskeletal rheology: a) the power-law behavior; and b) the dependence of the power-law on mechanical prestress. The model also reveals the underlying mechanisms.

Computational models of the cell nucleus, along with experimental observations, can help in understanding the biomechanics of force-induced nuclear deformation and mechanisms of stress transition throughout the nucleus. Here, we develop a computational model for an isolated nucleus undergoing indentation, which includes separate components representing the nucleoplasm and the nuclear envelope. The nuclear envelope itself is composed of three separate layers: two thin elastic layers representing the inner and outer nuclear membranes and one thicker layer representing the nuclear lamina. The proposed model is capable of separating the structural role of major nuclear components in the force-induced biological response of the nucleus (and ultimately the cell). A systematic analysis is carried out to explore the role of major individual nuclear elements, namely inner and outer membranes, nuclear lamina, and nucleoplasm, as well as the loading and experimental factors such as indentation rate and probe angle, on the biomechanical response of an isolated nucleus in atomic force microscopy indentation experiment.