Fractal Analysis

A specialized presentation of fractal analysis oriented to the social sciences This primer uses straightforward language to give the reader step-by-step instructions for identifying and analyzing fractal patterns and the social process that create them. By making fractals accessible to the social science students, this book has a significant impact on the understanding of human behavior. Key Features Detailed examples help readers learn and understand the analytical methods presented. Matlab codes for programs allow users to implement, on their own, some of the techniques described in the text. Visit http://www.ccs.fau.edu/~liebovitch/larry.html for more details. Clear and logical explanations of fractals and their analysis enable the instructor to easily teach and the student to easily learn the material. This is the only book designed to introduce fractal analysis to a general social science audience. Learn more about “The Little Green Book” - QASS Series! Click Here

A leading pioneer in the field offers practical applications of this innovative science. Peters describes complex concepts in an easy-to-follow manner for the non-mathematician. He uses fractals, rescaled range analysis and nonlinear dynamical models to explain behavior and understand price movements. These are specific tools employed by chaos scientists to map and measure physical and now, economic phenomena.

In the Earth Sciences, the concept of fractals and scale invariance is well-recognized in many natural objects. However, the use of fractals for spatial and temporal analyses of natural hazards has been less used (and accepted) in the Earth Sciences. This book brings together twelve contributions that emphasize the role of fractal analyses in natural hazard research, including landslides, wildfires, floods, catastrophic rock fractures and earthquakes. A wide variety of spatial and temporal fractal-related approaches and techniques are applied to 'natural' data, experimental data, and computer simulations. These approaches include probabilistic hazard analysis, cellular-automata models, spatial analyses, temporal variability, prediction, and self-organizing behaviour. The main aims of this volume are to present current research on fractal analyses as applied to natural hazards, and to stimulate the curiosity of advanced Earth Science students and researchers in the use of fractals analyses for the better understanding of natural hazards.

The idea of modeling the behaviour of phenomena at multiple scales has become a useful tool in both pure and applied mathematics. Fractal-based techniques lie at the heart of this area, as fractals are inherently multiscale objects; they very often describe nonlinear phenomena better than traditional mathematical models. In many cases they have been used for solving inverse problems arising in models described by systems of differential equations and dynamical systems. "Fractal-Based Methods in Analysis" draws together, for the first time in book form, methods and results from almost twenty years of research in this topic, including new viewpoints and results in many of the chapters. For each topic the theoretical framework is carefully explained using examples and applications. The second chapter on basic iterated function systems theory is designed to be used as the basis for a course and includes many exercises. This chapter, along with the three background appendices on topological and metric spaces, measure theory, and basic results from set-valued analysis, make the book suitable for self-study or as a source book for a graduate course. The other chapters illustrate many extensions and applications of fractal-based methods to different areas. This book is intended for graduate students and researchers in applied mathematics, engineering and social sciences. Herb Kunze is a professor of mathematics at the University of Guelph in Ontario. Davide La Torre is an associate professor of mathematics in the Department of Economics, Management and Quantitative Methods of the University of Milan. Franklin Mendivil is a professor of mathematics at Acadia University in Nova Scotia. Edward Vrscay is a professor in the department of Applied Mathematics at the University of Waterloo in Ontario. The major focus of their research is on fractals and the applications of fractals.

"The best accomplishment in human research is feasibly they understand the natural phenomena can be exhibited by mathematical models. The history of describing natural objects using geometry is as old as the advent of science itself. Traditionally lines, squares, rectangles, circles, spheres, etc. have been the basis of our intuitive understanding of the geometry. However, nature is not restricted to such Euclidean objects which are only characterized typically by integer dimensions. Hence, the conventional geometric approach cannot meet the requirements of solving or analysing nonlinear problems which are related with natural phenomena, therefore, the fractal theory has been born, which aims to understand complexity and provide an innovative way to recognize irregularity and complex systems"--

A specialized presentation of fractal analysis oriented to the social sciences This primer uses straightforward language to give the reader step-by-step instructions for identifying and analyzing fractal patterns and the social process that create them. By making fractals accessible to the social science students, this book has a significant impact on the understanding of human behavior. This is the only book designed to introduce fractal analysis to a general social science audience.

Biosensors are finding increasing applications in different areas. Over the last few years the areas where biosensors may be used effectively has increased dramatically. This book like the previous four books on analyte-receptor binding and dissociation kinetics by this author addresses the often neglected area. The kinetics of binding and dissociation in solution to appropriate receptors immobilized on biosensor surfaces occurs under diffusional limitations on structured surfaces. The receptors immobilized on the biosensor surface contribute to the degree of heterogeneity on the sensor chip surface. The fractal analysis examples presented throughout the book provide a convenient means to make quantitative the degree of heterogeneity present on the sensor surface, and relates it to the binding and dissociation rate coefficients. The fractal dimension is a quantitative measure of the degree of heterogeneity present on the biosensor surface. The book emphasizes medially-oriented examples. The detection of disease-related analytes is also emphasized. The intent being that if intractable and insidious diseases are detected earlier, they will be controlled better, eventually leading to a better prognosis. Chapter 3 is a new chapter that emphasizes enhancing the relevant biosensor performance parameters such as sensitivity, stability, selectivity, response time, etc. As usual, as done in previous books by this author, the last chapter provides an update of the economics involved in biosensors, and the difficulties encounters in starting-up a biosensor company. - Modelling of binding and dissociation kinetics of analyte-receptor reactions on biosensor surfaces: provides physical insights into these reactions occurring on biosensor surfaces. Very few researchers even attempt to analyze the kinetics of these types of reactions. - Fractal analysis used to model the binding and dissociation kinetics: original and unique approach. - Economic analysis provided in the last chapter: helps balance the book; besides providing much-needed information not available in the open literature. - Emphasis on improving biosensor performance parameters: helps make biosensors better. - Empahsis on medically-related analytes: helps in prognosis of diseases.

The history of describing natural objects using geometry is as old as the advent of science itself, in which traditional shapes are the basis of our intuitive understanding of geometry. However, nature is not restricted to such Euclidean objects which are only characterized typically by integer dimensions. Hence, the conventional geometric approach cannot meet the requirements of solving or analysing nonlinear problems which are related with natural phenomena, therefore, the fractal theory has been born, which aims to understand complexity and provide an innovative way to recognize irregularity and complex systems. Although the concepts of fractal geometry have found wide applications in many forefront areas of science, engineering and societal issues, they also have interesting implications of a more practical nature for the older classical areas of science. Since its discovery, there has been a surge of research activities in using this powerful concept in almost every branch of scientific disciplines to gain deep insights into many unresolved problems. This book includes eight chapters which focus on gathering cutting-edge research and proposing application of fractals features in both traditional scientific disciplines and in applied fields.