Imaging, Behavior and
Imaging Behavior: How the tools of Cognitive
Neuroscience can help us understand the biology of
mental illness
by Vaibhav Diwadkar |
| Contact person: | Péter Érdi (tel: 337-5720) |
A simple deterministic model for radioactive decay is presented. Analyzing the advantages and disadvantages of the model a stochastic model is defined. Questions arising in connection with the model are formulated, symbolic, approximation and simulation (Monte Carlo) methods are briefly mentioned. A few applications in population biology, chemistry, economics etc. are mentioned.
| Contact person: | Péter Érdi (tel: 337-5720) |
The classical epidemiological models of infection spread include a deterministic approach and a random contact structure. Adding stochasticity and nonrandom contacts to simple models can dramatically change the behavior of the models and intervention strategies.
| Contact person: | Péter Érdi (tel: 337-5720) |
If not come and listen to students reporting on their group projects!
| Contact person: | Péter Érdi (tel: 337-5720) |
In an article entitled "Can a biologist fix a radio?", Lazebnik (2002) points out that despite the floods of biological data we are little nearer understanding cell function. He contrasts the approach of the molecular biologist with that of an engineer. What matters for the radio - as well as for the cell or organism - is not only what is there but, perhaps more importantly, how they are connected. The engineer would want to see the circuit diagram, with which one might expect to understand how the radio works.
So to understand a biological system, we first need to have an "interaction model", by which is meant a wiring diagram which shows all the components and, qualitatively, how they talk to each other. Then we have to understand in quantitative terms how these links behave, so we can base the model on equations with relationships that reflect the biological phenomena under consideration.
In this talk, we apply a systems biology approach to unravel the molecular structure of the segmentation clock responsible for the formation of the vertebrae precursors.
| Contact person: | Péter Érdi (tel: 337-5720) |
6.00 pm, Thursday, 9th, February, 2006 The Center for Complex Systems Studies has
organized an information talk on its Computational
Neuroscience course available spring quarter '06 with
a possible student research opportunity offered by the
CCSS and Pfizer Inc. If you want to learn what this
new branch of science is all about join us for a talk
and pizza.
304 Olds-Upton
| Contact person: | Péter Érdi (tel: 337-5720) |
Abstract
Historical Materialism is a 19. century view exercised, among others, by Marx and Engels, according to which societal processes are ultimately ground-to-earth material processes determined by fundamental factors and principles, underlying the human decisions through which they are realized. The view was later amplified in the Soviet doctrine and Communism and thoroughly hated in both the West and (outside the realm of official politics) the East.
The lecture now speaks about Historical Materialism as a neutral idea to be rediscovered for scientific naturalism and illustrated on the example of biogegraphy applied to societal development. The context is set by the new book of Jared Diamond, "Collapse".
| Contact person: | Péter Érdi (tel: 337-5720) |
Abstract
Historical preliminaries, different countries, different traditions. The acceptance of mathematical methods outside mathematics - acceptance of modeling within mathematics. Applications in hard and soft sciences. Reaction kinetics, biochemistry, biology. Applied mathematics and contracts, applied mathematics and publications. On the role of computers in pure and applied mathematics. Problems induced by applications. Preparing mathematician and nonmathematician students for future joint work.
| Contact person: | Péter Érdi (tel: 337-5720) |
Abstract
The capabilities of mathematical program packages in general: numerical and symbolic calculations, graphics, sound, animation, programming (!), documentation (interactively, on the net, on paper etc.). Specialities of Mathematica: long range design, strict principles, uniform structure. Less useful (almost prohibited) keywords: Goto, Label, Print, Do, For, Return, Break, Continue, iterators (cycle variables) etc. Programming styles: procedural, pattern matching, object oriented, list handling, functional programming - Mathematica style, best suitable to the task to be solved. Examples.
| Contact person: | Péter Érdi (tel: 337-5720) |
Abstract
Saltmarsh sediments host enormous geochemical and microbiological heterogeneity, both spatially and temporally. The intertwined geochemical and microbial processes occurring in such sediments influence each other, and are also shaped by the presence and activities of larger organisms. In particular, macrophyte roots and ventilated macrofaunal burrows create a variety of temporally-varient geochemical microzones and microbial habitats. These promote spatiotemporal pattern formation (e.g. redox stratification) over a range of scales, and furthermore promote unexpected seasonal oscillations in microbial iron and sulfate reduction. The occurrence of such processes in a saltmarsh located on Sapelo Island, GA will be explored using a combination of field, laboratory and modeling geochemical methods.
| Contact person: | Péter Érdi (tel: 337-5720) |