Multistability In Physical And Living Systems

This book starts with an introduction to the basic concepts of multistability, then illustrates how multistability arises in different systems and explains the main mechanisms of multistability emergence. A special attention is given to noise which can convert a multistable deterministic system to a monostable stochastic one. Furthermore, the most important applications of multistability in different areas of science, engineering and technology are given attention throughout the book, including electronic circuits, lasers, secure communication, and human perception. The book aims to provide a first approach to multistability for readers, who are interested in understanding its fundamental concepts and applications in several fields. This book will be useful not only to researchers and engineers focusing on interdisciplinary studies, but also to graduate students and technicians. Both theoreticians and experimentalists will rely on it, in fields ranging from mathematics and laser physics to neuroscience and astronomy. The book is intended to fill a gap in the literature, to stimulate new discussions and bring some fundamental issues to a deeper level of understanding of the mechanisms underlying self-organization of matter and world complexity.

Traditionally, the natural sciences have been divided into two branches: the biological sciences and the physical sciences. Today, an increasing number of scientists are addressing problems lying at the intersection of the two. These problems are most often biological in nature, but examining them through the lens of the physical sciences can yield exciting results and opportunities. For example, one area producing effective cross-discipline research opportunities centers on the dynamics of systems. Equilibrium, multistability, and stochastic behavior-concepts familiar to physicists and chemists-are now being used to tackle issues associated with living systems such as adaptation, feedback, and emergent behavior. Research at the Intersection of the Physical and Life Sciences discusses how some of the most important scientific and societal challenges can be addressed, at least in part, by collaborative research that lies at the intersection of traditional disciplines, including biology, chemistry, and physics. This book describes how some of the mysteries of the biological world are being addressed using tools and techniques developed in the physical sciences, and identifies five areas of potentially transformative research. Work in these areas would have significant impact in both research and society at large by expanding our understanding of the physical world and by revealing new opportunities for advancing public health, technology, and stewardship of the environment. This book recommends several ways to accelerate such cross-discipline research. Many of these recommendations are directed toward those administering the faculties and resources of our great research institutions-and the stewards of our research funders, making this book an excellent resource for academic and research institutions, scientists, universities, and federal and private funding agencies.

Interacting chaotic oscillators are of interest in many areas of physics, biology, and engineering. In the biological sciences, for instance, one of the challenging problems is to understand how a group of cells or functional units, each displaying complicated nonlinear dynamic phenomena, can interact with one another to produce a coherent response on a higher organizational level. This book is a guide to the fascinating new concept of chaotic synchronization. The topics covered range from transverse stability and riddled basins of attraction in a system of two coupled logistic maps over partial synchronization and clustering in systems of many chaotic oscillators, to noise-induced synchronization of coherence resonance oscillators. Other topics treated in the book are on–off intermittency and the role of the absorbing and mixed absorbing areas, periodic orbit threshold theory, the influence of a small parameter mismatch, and different mechanisms for chaotic phase synchronization. The biological examples include synchronization of the bursting behavior of coupled insulin-producing beta cells, chaotic phase synchronization in the pressure and flow regulation of neighboring functional units of the kidney, and homoclinic transitions to phase synchronization in microbiological reactors. Contents: Coupled Nonlinear OscillatorsTransverse Stability of Coupled MapsUnfolding the Riddling BifurcationTime-Continuous SystemsCoupled Pancreatic CellsChaotic Phase SynchronizationPopulation Dynamic SystemsClustering of Globally MapsInteracting NephronsCoherence Resonance Oscillators Readership: Students and researchers interested in applying new concepts of chaotic synchronization and clustering to biological systems. Keywords:Reviews:“The book may be interesting for students and scientists who deal with coupled oscillatory systems and biological applications.”Mathematics Abstracts

Multisensory perception is emerging as an important factor in shaping current lifestyles. Therefore, computer scientists, engineers, and technology experts are acknowledging the comparative power existing beyond visual explanations. Perceptions of Knowledge Visualization: Explaining Concepts through Meaningful Images discusses issues related to visualization of scientific concepts, picturing processes and products, as well as the role of computing in the advancement of visual literacy skills. By connecting theory with practice, this book gives researchers, computer scientists, and academics an active experience which enhances the perception and the role of computer graphics.

Using information theory the book defines quantitative measures for structure and textural information and relates them to thermodynamic negentropy. Other concepts like that of algorithmic information can be applied and used to define complexity and organization. Also defined are the physical value concepts, and how these relate to each other using ideas from ecology and economics; it thus formulates a physical theory which could serve as a basis for a dialogue between physicists, economists and ecologists. Contents:Information TheoryExergeticsGeometrical Information TheoryDiscrete Systems and ComputationStructure in Chemical SystemsQuantum SystemsEvolution and Value Readership: Physicists, mathematicians, economists and ecologists. Keywords:Information Theory;Exergetics;Geometrical Information Theory;Discrete Systems and Computation;Structure in Chemical Systems;Quantum Systems;Evolution and ValueReview: “… fascinating and thought-provoking book … I can wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone interested in the application of information theory to physical systems.” S J D Phoenix Contemporary Physics, 1989

During development cells and tissues undergo changes in pattern and form that employ a wider range of physical mechanisms than at any other time in an organism's life. This book shows how physics can be used to analyze these biological phenomena. Written to be accessible to both biologists and physicists, major stages and components of the biological development process are introduced and then analyzed from the viewpoint of physics. The presentation of physical models requires no mathematics beyond basic calculus. Physical concepts introduced include diffusion, viscosity and elasticity, adhesion, dynamical systems, electrical potential, percolation, fractals, reaction-diffusion systems, and cellular automata. With full-color figures throughout, this comprehensive textbook teaches biophysics by application to developmental biology and is suitable for graduate and upper-undergraduate courses in physics and biology.

This book presents a collection of new articles written by world-leading experts and active researchers to present their recent finding and progress in the new area of chaotic systems and dynamics, regarding emerging subjects of unconventional chaotic systems and their complex dynamics.It guide readers directly to the research front of the new scientific studies. This book is unique of its kind in the current literature, presenting broad scientific research topics including multistability and hidden attractors in unconventional chaotic systems, such as chaotic systems without equilibria, with only stable equilibria, with a curve or a surface of equilibria. The book describes many novel phenomena observed from chaotic systems, such as non-Shilnikov type chaos, coexistence of different types of attractors, and spontaneous symmetry breaking in chaotic systems. The book presents state-of-the-art scientific research progress in the field with both theoretical advances and potential applications. This book is suitable for all researchers and professionals in the areas of nonlinear dynamics and complex systems, including research professionals, physicists, applied mathematicians, computer scientists and, in particular, graduate students in related fields.