Complex Systems Commentary by Arthur Sherman (National Institutes of Health)

This is a fascinating commentary that highlights two manuscripts that use differetnial equation bifuracations to characterize cellular systems to gain new insights and understand of how intial state parameter variation can impact system performance.  The two referenced paper use 2nd order, non-linear, homogenous equations to model glucose and membrane response in pancreatic cells.  The commentary referenced and cited below provides a good summary for non-mathematical health professionals:

"...the examples show some of the successes of bifurcation theory and dynamical systems approaches more generally in solving biological puzzles. They provide insights that are not possible from a biophysical or simulation approach."  - Arthur Sherman, Mathematical Research Branch, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases

URL: http://jgp.rupress.org/content/138/1/13

A New Tool for Epidemiology: The Usefulness of Dynamic-Agent Models in Understanding Place Effects on Health

I found this article by Auchincloss and Diez Roux (2008) particularly interesting because my research focus is the built environment and how it impacts health. The dynamic-agent model offers a model to study interdependent processes, including change and adaptation to ones surroundings. Applications of this model include (1) extending theory and testing hypotheses about fundamental processes involved in the ways that the spatial distribution of resources relates to the spatial distribution of physical activity, and (2) to assess whether certain interventions can alter physical activity levels among residents and thereby influence the spatial patterning of physical activity or reduce social inequalities in physical activity. Additionally, dynamic-agent models have been used to study the impact of spatially constrained social networks on the dispersion of smallpox, which helped determine timing and location for vaccination.

New BSSR_SYSTEMS_SCI-L Digest Announcement for March

Topics:

1.       2012 NIH Summer Institute on Social and Behavioral Intervention Research (1 message)

2.       Article: "Group Model Building 'Scripts' as a Collaborative Planning Tool" (1 message)

3.       Free For Undergraduates: Infectious Disease & Mathematical Modeling Conference May 2012 (1 message)

4.       NETWORK SCIENCE ..... new journal announcement (1 message)

5.       PhD Opportunity in Analysis and Visualisation of Computational Simulation Models (1 message)

6.       SBP12 TRAVEL SCHOLARSHIPS FOR STUDENT and NON-STUDENTS (1 message)

7.       Seeking Physician with Behavioral/Social Science Expertise to join the NIH Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research (1 message)

See full post at:

https://list.nih.gov/cgi-bin/wa.exe?A1=ind1203&L=BSSR_SYSTEMS_SCI-L

 

CSAPH Meeting Minutes (March 9, 2012)

CSAPH Minutes 3/9/2012