GAY, C.M.J.: Stickiness We will review some adhesion mechanisms that have been understood in the field of synthetic adhesives, and more precisely for adhesives that adhere instantaneously (a property named tackiness) and whose adhesive strength usually depends on the applied pressure (pressure-sensitive adhesives). The discussion will include effects of surface roughness, elasticity, cavitation, viscous and […]

RUSSELL, A.P.: Scaling the spandrels of San Marco: Integrative functional morphology of the gekkotan adhesive system. Attempts to explain how seta-based adhesion in geckos is brought about span the past 120 years. Recent investigations have further elucidated our understanding of this by recording the adhesive properties of single, detached setae and documenting the effect that […]

WAITE, JH: Probing the Requirements for Adhesion in Marine Mussels Mussels, barnacles and others owe their sessile way of life in the turbulent intertidal zone to adaptive adjustments in the process and chemistry of permanent attachment. These have understandably attracted scientific interest given that the attachment is rapid, versatile, tough and not subverted by the […]

JAGOTA, Anand; BENNISON, Stephen J.: Gecko Feet Viewed from the Perspective of Elastomeric Adhesion We apply principles of adhesion and fracture in elastomers to the recently discovered mechanism and microstructure of Gecko feet adhesion. The discussion is based on a simple model of a fibrillar surface, abstracted from the known structure of Gecko feet. We […]

HAMMER, D.A.*; KING, M.R.; TEES, D.F.J.; RODGERS, S.D.; EVANS, E.A.; CAMPHAUSEN, R.T.: Dynamics and Biomechanics in Leukocyte Adhesion: from molecular properties to the behavior of many cells Leukocytes perform immunological functions in the body. Part of their function is home to sites of disease. Interestingly, receptor-mediated leukocyte adhesion in blood vessels involves two steps: rolling, […]

ISRAELACHVILI, Jacob: Direct Measurement of Adhesion Forces: Implications for Understanding Bioadhesion Various techniques have recently been developed for accurately measuring adhesion forces and adhesion mechanisms of surfaces under various conditions, i.e., both in dry and humid air, and in organic liquids and aqueous solutions. These techniques, for example, the Surface Forces Apparatus (SFA), the JKR […]

CALLOW, J.A.: Cellular and materials characterisation of the Enteromorpha spore adhesive Motile spores of the biofouling alga Enteromorpha attach to marine substrata through the secretion of a glycoprotein adhesive. AFM and ESEM studies of the topography and materials properties of adhered spores reveal the secreted adhesive to be a hydrophilic, swollen, gel-like pad, approximately 1 […]

EIGENBRODE, S. D.: Attachment by Predatory Insects to Waxy Plant Surfaces: Mechanisms and Ecological Implications A manifestation of biological adhesion is attachment by phytophagous insects and their natural enemies to plant surfaces. Plant surfaces are covered with epicuticular waxes (EW), comprised of mixtures of long chain hydrocarbons and related compounds. EW morphology ranges from amorphous […]

GRAINGER, R.M.; University of Virginia, Charlottesville: Xenopus tropicalis, a new model for vertebrate developmental genetics The pipid frog Xenopus laevis has been among the most productive model systems for vertebrate experimental embryology. Development of genetic approaches in this system would provide a very powerful complement to embryological methods when trying to understand complex developmental processes. […]

TOBET, SA; WALKER, HJ; SENEY, ML; The Shriver Center at UMMS; The Shriver Center at UMMS; The Shriver Center at UMMS: Viewing cell movements in the developing neuroendocrine brain Many studies suggest that migratory guidance cues within the developing brain are diverse across many regions. To better understand the early development and differentiation of select […]