Biomechanics, Muscle Fibers, and How to Interface Experimental Apparatus to a Computer

Dr. Masataka Kawai (spelled 河合正隆in Japanese) received his B.A. from The University of Tokyo (Pure and Applied Sciences 東京大学教養学部基礎科学科), Ph.D. from Princeton University (Biology; Princeton, NJ, USA), attended Physiology Course at Marine Biological Laboratory (Woods Hole, MA, USA), and postdoctoral training at Colum-bia University (Muscle biology; New York City, USA), where he became a junior faculty member. He is now a professor of Anatomy and Cell Biology at The University of Iowa, College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA, USA. He has taught histology to medical and dental students for 35 years; he also taught principles of scholarly integrity to graduate and post-doctoral students. He has recently learned gross anatomy and teaches this subject. His hobbies include playing the piano, singing Japanese and Western lyrics, gardening, and travels.

• Basic elements of viscoelasticity.- Reaction processes (chemical kinetics) and their application to muscle biology.- How to characterize chemical reactions occurring in muscle fibers?.- Structure and function of muscle cells.- Mathematics needed to solve problems of contraction.- Computer interfacing of experimental apparatus.- Appendices.