2 2 2

−(x−x o) +( y− y o ) +(z−z o)
1 2
u ( x , y , z , t )= e 4a t
(2 a √ π t)3

(Where x , y , z , a are constants) satisfies the equation of heat

o o o

conduction
2 2 2
∂u 2 ∂ u ∂u ∂u
=a ( 2 + 2 + 2 ).
∂t ∂ x ∂ y ∂z

7. You have just completed experiments on AFM on some

airway smooth muscle cells. Your experimental groups were a)
Untreated cells b) Cells treated with low molecular weight
hyaluronic acid (LMW HA) c) Cells treated with the Rho Kinase
inhibitor Y27632 d) Cells treated with low molecular weight
hyaluronic acid + ROCK. You tested your cells in normal culture
media and then re-tested with methacholine.
Your average results are shown in the table below, all
values are in Pa +/- st deviation, n=23 cells per group:
Culture media Culture Media +
Methacholine
Untreated Cells 1307+/-51 1799+/-70
LMW HA 1621+/-80 1960+/-82
Y27632 1100+/-20 1254+/-32
LMW HA + Y27632 1237+/-16 1384+/-84
a. What does methacholine do to smooth muscle cells?
b. What does this data tell you about the influence of LMW HA
on cell contractility?
c. Do you expect more or less actin to be polymerized in each
group compared with Untreated Cells?
d. What, if any, is the probable involvement of the RhoA
pathway in the cell contractility process?
e. What are the implications of these results in asthma or
COPD?
f. How would you expect your results to vary if you instead did
these experiments with magnetic twisting rheometry?
g. How would you expect your results to vary if you assayed
these conditions using cells embedded within a collagen gel?

Q2;
4. (10 points total) Several papers have suggested that breaking
down the ECM surrounding tumors through crosslink inhibition
or MMPs may improve the effectiveness of chemotherapy
delivery into the tumor. Critics of this approach are concerned
that the tumor cells will be more likely to metastasize if the
surrounding ECM is degraded.
a. List the key steps in cellular migration
b. Develop and write a hypothesis surrounding this controversy
of ECM break down being positive or negative for tumor
metastasis
c. Design an experiment of how you would test the cancer cell
migration hypothesis above. Include test groups, controls, and
how the data would be collected and analyzed.

Q1:
Rigor mortis, or the body's stiffening after death, is known to
occur with a lack of ATP. Examine this process more closely
with respect to actin-myosin contraction and answer the
following:
a. At which stage of the contraction cycle does rigor mortis
occur?
b. Why does this make the body stiff? If you just lie there and
do not move around, are you considerably less stiff than a dead
body? Are your muscles not in a resting position? Discuss the
differences.
c. After a brief time, rigor mortis dissipates. This occurs fast
enough that experts can use this to tell time of death based
upon body stiffness. Why does rigor mortis dissipate?