Quantifying Life

Since the time of Isaac Newton, physicists have used mathematics to describe the behavior of matter of all sizes, from subatomic particles to galaxies. In the past three decades, as advances in molecular biology have produced an avalanche of data, computational and mathematical techniques have also become necessary tools in the arsenal of biologists. But while quantitative approaches are now providing fundamental insights into biological systems, the college curriculum for biologists has not caught up, and most biology majors are never exposed to the computational and probabilistic mathematical approaches that dominate in biological research. With Quantifying Life, Dmitry A. Kondrashov offers an accessible introduction to the breadth of mathematical modeling used in biology today. Assuming only a foundation in high school mathematics, Quantifying Life takes an innovative computational approach to developing mathematical skills and intuition. Through lessons illustrated with copious examples, mathematical and programming exercises, literature discussion questions, and computational projects of various degrees of difficulty, students build and analyze models based on current research papers and learn to implement them in the R programming language. This interplay of mathematical ideas, systematically developed programming skills, and a broad selection of biological research topics makes Quantifying Life an invaluable guide for seasoned life scientists and the next generation of biologists alike.

Describes technological methods and tools for objective and quantitative assessment of QoL Appraises technology-enabled methods for incorporating QoL measurements in medicine Highlights the success factors for adoption and scaling of technology-enabled methods This open access book presents the rise of technology-enabled methods and tools for objective, quantitative assessment of Quality of Life (QoL), while following the WHOQOL model. It is an in-depth resource describing and examining state-of-the-art, minimally obtrusive, ubiquitous technologies. Highlighting the required factors for adoption and scaling of technology-enabled methods and tools for QoL assessment, it also describes how these technologies can be leveraged for behavior change, disease prevention, health management and long-term QoL enhancement in populations at large. Quantifying Quality of Life: Incorporating Daily Life into Medicine fills a gap in the field of QoL by providing assessment methods, techniques and tools. These assessments differ from the current methods that are now mostly infrequent, subjective, qualitative, memory-based, context-poor and sparse. Therefore, it is an ideal resource for physicians, physicians in training, software and hardware developers, computer scientists, data scientists, behavioural scientists, entrepreneurs, healthcare leaders and administrators who are seeking an up-to-date resource on this subject.

This volume provides a detailed description of a wide range of numerical, statistical or modeling techniques and novel instrumentation separated into individual chapters written by paleontologists with expertise in the given methodology. Each chapter outlines the strengths and limitations of specific numerical or technological approaches, and ultimately applies the chosen method to a real fossil dataset or sample type. A unifying theme throughout the book is the evaluation of fossils during the prologue and epilogue of one of the most exciting events in Earth History: the Cambrian radiation.

To assist the implementation of benefit-cost analysis, this research report describes issues and techniques related to estimating the human health risk reduction benefits provided by actions that reduce contaminant concentrations in drinking water, and discusses how these benefits should be compared to costs. Material is relevant for evaluating the benefits and costs of federal and state regulatory actions such as setting a Maximum Contaminant Level, instituting treatment requirements, and implementing a guideline or advisory. The report will be of interest to water utility professionals, benefit- cost practitioners, and public policy decision makers. No subject index. Annotation copyrighted by Book News Inc., Portland, OR.

The perception, assessment and management of risk are increasingly important core principles for determining the development of both policy and strategic responses to civil and environmental catastrophes. Whereas these principles were once confined to some areas of activity i.e. financial and insurance, they are now widely used in civil and environmental engineering. Comprehensive and readable, Civil and Environmental Risk: Mitigation and Control, provides readers with the mathematical tools and quantitative methods for determining the probability of a catastrophic event and mitigating and controlling the aftermath. With this book engineers develop the required skills for accurately assessing risk and formulating appropriate response strategies. The two part treatment starts with a clear and rigorous exposition of the quantitative risk assessment process, followed by self-contained chapters concerning applications. One of the first books to address both natural and human generated disasters, topics include events such as pandemic diseases, climate changes, major hurricanes, super earthquakes, mega tsunamis, volcanic eruptions, industrial accidents and terrorist attacks. Case studies appear at the end of the book allowing engineers to see how these principles are applied to scenarios such as a super hurricane or mega tsunamis, a reactor core melt down in a nuclear plant, a terrorist attack on the national electric grid, and an abrupt climate change brought about by a change in the ocean currents in the North Atlantic. Written by the current Chairman of the U.S. Nuclear Waste Technical Review Board, Environmental risk managers will find this reference a valuable and authoritative guide both in accurately calculating risk and its applications in their work. Key Features Mathematical tools for calculating and Controlling Catastrophic Risk Presents a systematic method for ranking the importance of societal threats Includes both Natural and Industrial Catastrophes Case studies cover such events as pandemic diseases, climate changes, major hurricanes, super earthquakes, mega tsunamis, volcanic eruptions, industrial accidents, and terrorist attacks.

This book is used in many university courses for SOA Exam MLC preparation. The Fifth Edition is the official reference for CAS Exam LC. The Sixth Edition of this textbook presents a variety of stochastic models for the actuary to use in undertaking the analysis of risk. It is designed to be appropriate for use in a two or three semester university course in basic actuarial science. It was written with the SOA Exam MLC and CAS Exam LC in mind. Models are evaluated in a generic form with life contingencies included as one of many applications of the science. Students will find this book to be a valuable reference due to its easy-to-understand explanations and end-of-chapter exercises. In 2013 the Society of Actuaries announced a change to Exam MLC's format, incorporating 60% written answer questions and new standard notation and terminology to be used for the exam. There are several areas of expanded content in the Sixth Edition due to these changes. Six important changes to the Sixth Edition: WRITTEN-ANSWER EXAMPLES This edition offers additional written-answer examples in order to better prepare the reader for the new SOA eam format. NOTATION AND TERMINOLOGY CONFORMS TO EXAM MLC MQR 6 fully incorporates all standard notation and terminology for exam MLC, as detailed by the SOA in their document Notation and Terminology Used on Exam MLC. MULTI-STATE MODELS Extension of multi-state model representationt to almost all topics covered in the text. FOCUS ON NORTH AMERICAN MARKET AND ACTUARIAL PROFESSION This book is written specifically for the multi-disciplinary needs of the North American Market. This is reflected in both content and terminology. PROFIT TESTING, PARTICIPATING INSURANCE, AND UNIVERSAL LIFE MQR 6 contains an expanded treatment of these topics. THIELE'S EQUATION Additional applications of this important equation are presented, to more fully prepare the reader for exam day. A separate solutions manual with detailed solutions to all of the text exercises is also available. Please see the Related Items Tab for a direct link I selected Models for Quantifying Risk as the text for my class. Given that the syllabus had changed quite dramatically from prior years, I was looking for a text that would cover all the material in the new syllabus in a way that was rigorous, easy to understand, and would prepare students for the May 2012 MLC exam. To me, the text with the accompanying solutions manual does precisely that. --Jay Vadiveloo, Ph.D., FSA, MAAA, CFA, Math Department, University of Connecticut I found that the exposition of the material is thorough while the concepts are readily accessible and well illustrated with examples. The book was an invaluable source of practice problems when I was preparing for the Exam MLC. Studying from it enabled me to pass this exam." -- Dmitry Glotov, Math Department, University of Connecticut "This book is extremely well written and structured." -- Kate Li, Student, University of Connecticut "Overall, the text is thorough, understandable, and well-organized. The clear exposition and excellent use of examples will benefit the student and help her avoid 'missing the forest for the trees'. I was impressed by the quality and quantity of examples and exercises throughout the text; students will find this collection of problems sorted by topic valuable for their exam preparation. Overall, I strongly recommend the book." -- Kristin Moore, Ph.D., ASA, University of Michigan

The shelf-life of a product is critical in determining both its quality and profitability. This important collection reviews the key factors in determining shelf-life and how it can be measured. Part one examines the factors affecting shelf-life and spoilage, including individual chapters on the major types of food spoilage, the role of moisture and temperature, spoilage yeasts, the Maillard reaction and the factors underlying lipid oxidation. Part two addresses the best ways of measuring the shelf-life of foods, with chapters on modelling food spoilage, measuring and modelling glass transition, detecting spoilage yeasts, measuring lipid oxidation, the design and validation of shelf-life tests and the use of accelerated shelf-life tests. Understanding and measuring the shelf-life of food is an important reference for all those concerned with extending the shelf-life of food. Reviews the key factors in determining shelf-life and how they can be measured Examines the importance of the shelf-life of a product in determining its quality and profitability Brings together the leading international experts in the field

Good data, Michael Ward argues, serve to enhance a perception about life as well as to deepen an understanding of reality. This history of the UN's role in fostering international statistics in the postwar period demonstrates how statistics have shaped our understanding of the world. Drawing on well over 40 years of experience working as a statistician and economist in more than two dozen countries around the world, Ward traces the evolution of statistical ideas and how they have responded to the needs of policy while unraveling the question of why certain data were considered important and why other data and concerns were not. The book explores the economic, social, and environmental dimensions of the UN's statistical work and how each dimension has provided opportunities for describing the well-being of the world community. Quantifying the World also reveals some of the missed opportunities for pursuing alternative models.