The reproductive system is composed of complex sub-systems, which are driven by sophisticated biochemical processes, whereas their performance is controlled by the same physical laws that exist in any mechanical process on Earth (e.g., Newton's laws). Accordingly, the understanding of any physiological phenomenon, including the development of a pathologic condition, requires comprehensive evaluation of the biophysical and biomechanical aspects of reproduction in concert with the biological and clinical features. Several of the scientists from around the world who investigate the physical aspects of the reproductive system have contributed to the eight sessions resulting in this volume. These reports encompass the following areas of inquiry: non-pregnant uterine peristalsis, placental vasculature and blood flow, myometrial contractility and calcium transport, mechanics of the uterus and cervix in pregnancy, mechanics of embryonic development, penile mechanics and hemodynamics, sperm propulsion, and pelvic floor mechanics. NOTE: Annals volumes are available for sale as individual books or as a journal. For information on institutional journal subscriptions, please visit www.blackwellpublishing.com/nyas. ACADEMY MEMBERS: Please contact the New York Academy of Sciences directly to place your order (www.nyas.org). Members of the New York Academy of Science receive full-text access to the Annals online and discounts on print volumes. Please visit www.nyas.org/membership/main.asp for more information about becoming a member.

Advances in the Study of Behavior was initiated over 40 years ago to serve the increasing number of scientists engaged in the study of animal behavior. That number is still expanding. This volume makes another important "contribution to the development of the field" by presenting theoretical ideas and research to those studying animal behavior and to their colleagues in neighboring fields. - Initiated over 40 years ago to serve the increasing number of scientists engaged in the study of animal behavior - Makes another important contribution to the development of the field - Presents theoretical ideas and research to those studying animal behavior and to their colleagues in neighboring fields

Biomechanics of the Female Reproductive System: Breast and Pelvic Organs: From Models to Patients synthesizes complementary advances in women's reproductive biomechanics, medical imaging analysis, patient-specific characterization, and computational finite element models. The book discusses the biomechanical aspects related to the breast and female pelvic floor system at each step of development. The table of contents also covers certain events and diseases, including cancers, delivery, aging, breast, hysterectomy or prolapse surgery. It presents the main biomechanical experimental results obtained and models developed this last decade to highlight the importance of accounting for patient-specific history and aging characteristics to consider damage growth effect and impact. As part of Elsevier's Biomechanics of Living Organs series, this book provides an opportunity for students, researchers, clinicians and engineers to study the main topics related to the biomechanics of the women's reproductive system in a single book written by a global base of experts. - Introduces fundamental aspects of breast and pelvic floor Anatomy, Physiology and Physiopathology - Covers the most recent imaging techniques (such as image analysis reconstruction, elastography, tagged MRI, nondestructive inverse methods) developed to characterize patient-specific anatomy and mechanical properties characteristics - Discusses the main computational studies performed this last decade for modeling the delivery process and potential induced injury

Plant Science, like the biological sciences in general, has undergone seismic shifts in the last thirty or so years. Of course science is always changing and metamorphosing, but these shifts have meant that modern plant science has moved away from its previous more agricultural and botanical context, to become a core biological discipline in its own right. However the sheer amount of information that is accumulating about plant science, and the difficulty of grasping it all, understanding it and evaluating it intelligently, has never been harder for the new generation of plant scientists or, for that matter, established scientists. And that is precisely why this Handbook of Plant Science has been put together. Discover modern, molecular plant sciences as they link traditional disciplines! Derived from the acclaimed Encyclopedia of Life Sciences! Thorough reference of up-to-the minute, reliable, self-contained, peer-reviewed articles – cross-referenced throughout! Contains 255 articles and 48 full-colour pages, written by top scientists in each field! The Handbook of Plant Science is an authoritative source of up-to-date, practical information for all teachers, students and researchers working in the field of plant science, botany, plant biotechnology, agriculture and horticulture.

Presenting a state-of-the-art overview of theoretical and computational models that link characteristic biomechanical phenomena, this book provides guidelines and examples for creating multiscale models in representative systems and organisms. It develops the reader's understanding of and intuition for multiscale phenomena in biomechanics and mechanobiology, and introduces a mathematical framework and computational techniques paramount to creating predictive multiscale models. Biomechanics involves the study of the interactions of physical forces with biological systems at all scales – including molecular, cellular, tissue and organ scales. The emerging field of mechanobiology focuses on the way that cells produce and respond to mechanical forces – bridging the science of mechanics with the disciplines of genetics and molecular biology. Linking disparate spatial and temporal scales using computational techniques is emerging as a key concept in investigating some of the complex problems underlying these disciplines. Providing an invaluable field manual for graduate students and researchers of theoretical and computational modelling in biology, this book is also intended for readers interested in biomedical engineering, applied mechanics and mathematical biology.