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This book shows new insights on how cells produce and respond to mechanical loads. It details the frontier of knowledge in cellular and biomolecular mechanics and the biological implications in health and disease.

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This book describes these exciting new developments, and presents experimental and computational findings that altogether describe the frontier of knowledge in cellular and biomolecular mechanics, and the biological implications, in health and disease. The book is written for bioengineers with interest in cellular mechanics, for biophysicists, biochemists, medical researchers and all other professionals with interest in how cells produce and respond to mechanical loads.

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Preface.- Fundamental concepts .- Cytoskeletal mechanics and cellular mechanotransduction: A molecular perspective.- Forces during cell adhesion and spreading: implications for cellular homeostasis.- The physical mechanical processes that shape tissues in the early embryo.- Mechanobiology of primary cilia.- Mechanical response of living cells to contacting shear force.- Experimental methods.- Microfabricated devices for studying cellular biomechanics and mechanobiology.- Nanotechnology usages for cellular adhesion and traction forces.- Global and local effects in three-dimensional biological hydrogels.- Global and local effects in three-dimensional biological hydrogels.- Global and local effects in three-dimensional biological hydrogels.- Biomechanical characterization of single chondrocytes.- Mechanics of airway smooth muscle cells and the response to stretch.- Computational modeling.- Biomechanical modelling of cells in mechanoregulation.- Finite element modeling of cellular mechanics experiments.- Multiscale computation of cytoskeletal mechanics during blebbing.- Mechanobiology and finite element analysis of cellular injury during microbubble flows.- Mathematical modeling of cell adhesion in tissue engineering using continuum models.- Cell-material communication: mechanosensing modelling for design in tissue engineering.- Mechanobiology in cancer .- Structure-mechanical property changes in nucleus arising from breast cancer.- Adhesion and signaling of tumor cells to leukocytes and endothelium in cancer metastasis.- Cellular mechanics of acute leukemia and chemotherapy

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From the reviews:
"The book comprises a number of articles by experts in the field of cellular and biomolecular mechanics. ... In my opinion this book is an excellent start for any scientist who wants to enter this very challenging, intriguing and rapidly developing field of research. For the researcher, already active in this field, the book provides an outstanding overview of the state of the art of research in this area containing both extensive references and contributions from world leading experts within this field." (Cees Oomens, Computer Methods in Biomechanics and Biomedical Engineering, July, 2012)

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