Chronobioengineering

This book represents the first in a two-volume set on biological rhythms. This volume focuses on supporting the claim that biological rhythms are universal and essential characteristics of living organisms, critical for proper functioning of any living system. The author begins by examining the potential reasons for the evolution of biological rhythms: (1) the need for complex, goal-oriented devices to control the timing of their activities; (2) the inherent tendency of feedback control systems to oscillate; and (3) the existence of stable and powerful geophysical cycles to which all organisms must adapt. To investigate the second reason, the author enlists the help of biomedical engineering students to develop mathematical models of various biological systems. One such model involves a typical endocrine feedback system. By adjusting various model parameters, it was found that creating a oscillation in any component of the model generated a rhythmic cascade that made the entire system oscillate. This same approach was used to show how daily light/dark cycles could cascade rhythmic patterns throughout ecosystems and within organisms. Following up on these results, the author discusses how the twin requirements of internal synchronization (precise temporal order necessary for the proper functioning of organisms as complex, goal-oriented devices) and external synchronization (aligning organisms' behavior and physiology with geophysical cycles) supported the evolution of biological clocks. The author then investigates the clock systems that evolved using both conceptual and mathematical models, with the assistance of Dr. Bahrad Sokhansanj, who contributes a chapter on mathematical formulations and models of rhythmic phenomena. With the ubiquity of biological rhythms established, the author suggests a new classification system: the F4LM approach (Function; Frequency; waveForm; Flexibility; Level of biological system expressing rhythms; and Mode of rhythm generation) to investigate biological rhythms. This approach is first used on the more familiar cardiac cycle and then on neural rhythms as exemplified and measured by the electroencephalogram. During the process of investigating neural cycles, the author finds yet another reason for the evolution of biological rhythms: physical constraints, such as those imposed upon long distance neural signaling. In addition, a common theme emerges of a select number of autorhythmic biological oscillators imposing coherent rhythmicity on a larger network or system. During the course of the volume, the author uses a variety of observations, models, experimental results, and arguments to support the original claim of the importance and universality of biological rhythms. In Volume 2, the author will move from the establishment of the critical nature of biological rhythms to how these phenomena may be used to improve human health, well-being, and productivity. In a sense, Volume 1 focuses on the chronobio aspect of chronobioengineering while Volume 2 investigates methods of translating this knowledge into applications, the engineering aspect of chronobioengineering. Table of Contents: Time and Time Again / Walking on Air: An Empirical Proof-of-Concept / Clock Tech, Part 1 / Clock Tech II From External to Internal Timers / Clock Tech III Rise of the CircaRhythms / The Circle Game: Mathematics, Models, and Rhythms / The Power of Circular Reasoning

And Conclusion for Proposition 2.3Measuring Time's Passing-the Adaptive Function of Interval Timers; Timing is (Almost) Everything; Overall Conclusions; References; The Circle Game: Mathematics, Models, and Rhythms; Introduction to Mathematical Modeling; Linear Models of Oscillators; Nonlinear Models of Oscillators; Modeling Molecular Networks in Cells; Modeling External Perturbations on Biological Oscillators: Synchronization, Entrainment, and Other Effects on Rhythms.

This fascinating volume applies the concept of chronomics to the medical treatment of hypertension. It starts with the recent updates on chronomics, the analytic techniques, and their application to community-based assessments. The authors advocate the use of 7-day/24-h records of blood pressure, which is effective for finding masked hypertension, masked morning surge, and other rhythm abnormalities. Most organisms, from cyanobacteria to mammals, are known to use the circadian mechanism. However, our body systems also demonstrate circaseptan (roughly weekly), circannual (roughly yearly), and even longer rhythms. Chronomics monitors the physiological data and then analyzes the superimposed rhythms, isolating the cycles mathematically to determine how organisms and their environment interact. It is the study of interactions among time structures (chronomes) in and around us.

Cover -- Title -- Copyright -- Dedication -- Contents -- List of Contributors -- Foreword -- 1 Traditional and Alternative Approaches to Health and Well-being -- 2 Co-producing Our Habitat for Health and Well-being -- 3 Human Factors and Ergonomics through the Lifespan -- 4 Designing to Confront the Adverse Health Impacts of Workplace Sitting -- 5 Communicable Diseases and our Environments -- 6 Environmental Contaminants -- 7 Green Design and Health -- 8 Health and Wellness in Today's Technological Society -- 9 Salutogenic Design for Birth -- 10 Healthy Schools, Healthy Lifestyles: Literature Review -- 11 Universal Design, Design for Aging in Place, and Habilitative Design in Residential Environments -- 12 Empathic Design Matters -- 13 The Role of Place in Well-being -- 14 Designing for Spirituality -- 15 Safety, Security, and Well-being within the Dimensions of Health Care -- 16 The Intersection of Law, Human Health, and Buildings -- Afterword -- Index

Have you ever thought of your home as a medicine, the most effective one possible, to achieve the highest state of well-being for you and your family? We’re talking about your whole house, every room, every corner, thought out in such a way that you can experience joy just by spending time there: that it conciliates calm in times of relaxation and stimulates concentration if you have to work. In short, a home that is finally the perfect den of your and your family’s body and soul. All this is possible, and this book guides you step by step to get to know better the place where you live, or where you would like to go to live. It accompanies you to learn more about your true needs and expectations with respect to this new den, and especially to solve its less performing aspects, with various solutions, both as simplicity and cost, following a very ancient and millenary discipline: bioarchitecture. This is a very scientific approach to living, which first and foremost merges beauty, which is indispensable and true care of the soul, with all the chemical, physical and ergonomic aspects that are involved in a serious and competent construction of a home. Nothing more is left to chance by the IGBI Method - Isabella Goldmann Bio Interiors, elaborated over years of profession and scientific research. Isabella Goldmann, a bioarchitect for more than 30 years, describes this method to you in this book in a simple and meticulous way, putting all the secrets at your disposal so that you can apply them immediately, without hesitation, to your home! ABOUT THE AUTHOR Isabella Goldmann was born in The Hague, but she is very Italian. Already at an early age she realizes that she wants to become an architect. She devotes much of her life to this discipline, orienting herself, from the beginning of her professional activity, to a very ancient practice that balances all the aspects necessary to build quality houses: bioclimatic architecture. He is managing partner of Goldmann & Partners srl SB, which has been certified among the best B Corp worldwide for years. Within it, he leads a permanent research center on sustainability applied to living space. She is a proboviro of the Italian Association of Women Engineers and Architects (Milan section) and a Board Member of the Milan Women’s Council. She holds courses, lectures and conferences in universities and public and private institutions. She has written professional books on architecture. This is the first text intended for the general public.

High blood pressure (BP) (with fats and smoking) is one of the three roots of cardio-cerebro-renovascular disease affecting up to 25% of the adult population. Hence, high blood pressure should be recognized and treated, to reduce any complications and prolong life, as noted by Michael Weber of the Veterans Administration Hospital in Long Beach, California. He further emphasizes the need for monitoring before one starts the treatment of high blood pressure. Indeed, he refers to the results of the Australian study on mild hypertension with a large percentage of placebo responders and rightly suggests that many people are treated who should not be because of 'white-coat-associated high blood pressure'. He also points to the lack of standardization of techniques for data analysis and of methods of BP measurement. Ambulatory monitoring under usual condi tions without concomitant recording of events does not allow even a qualitative assessment of the impact of varying stimuli, in weber's opinion.