The Mathematical Modeling Of Metabolic And Endocrine Systems

Introduces the concepts, methods and techniques of model formulation, identification, and validation as applicable to metabolic and endocrine processes. Shows how modeling can be used to provide a concise description of complex dynamic processes, to test hypotheses concerning physiological and biochemical structure, and to estimate physiological quantities (parameters) that otherwise would not be directly accessible to measurement. Includes numerous examples and case studies.

In recent years, a considerable amount of effort has been devoted, both in industry and academia, towards the behavioral modeling, evaluation and prediction of the hypothalamus pituitary thyroid system. Thyroid Systems Engineering targets an optimal treatment of people suffering from thyroid hormone disorders. The content is motivated by in-depth observations of such patients whose rich data supported the theoretical framework arising from formal mathematical reasoning, guided by the nature of thyroid physiology. Leveraging on the insights emerging from the unique combination of an electrical engineer working with a clinical thyroidologist, and both being scientists skilled in mathematics, the authors introduce this new discipline and field of scientific investigation aptly designated as Thyroid Systems Engineering. Readers will discover that mathematics can indeed model the behavior of the hypothalamus-pituitary-thyroid (HPT) axis. Focused on modeling, each of the eighteen chapters gives the reader a notion of the application of relevant mathematics to pertinent issues encountered in mainstream thyroidology. Many cellular processes resemble the flux of variables and states in a complex multi-parameter space through time analogous to current flow in electrical networks. It is then logical to apply the principles and physical laws of electrodynamics, electrical network theory, control systems theory and signal theory to many of the biological phenomena encountered in endocrinology. Such an approach is used liberally throughout the book and successfully yields elegant solutions to a number of models presented within. This book can serve as a reference to mathematical modeling in other aspects of endocrine physiology, and as the starting point for a fundamental course in medical modeling. It will appeal to postgraduates in electrical engineering, academic physicians and biomedical researchers. Further, readers equipped with advanced calculus, electrical network theory, control theory and signal theory should be able to follow the mathematical expositions that describe thyrotropic control. They represent a new discipline based on mathematical modeling in physiology applicable to medical diagnostics, measurement and treatment to cooperate in the clinical team and realize an optimized treatment for patients.

This volume is the proceedings of the 7th Mathematical Modeling in Experimental Nutrition Conference held at Penn State University July 29 until August 1, 2000. The book addresses the determination of optimal intakes of nutrients and food components to provide lifelong health and reduce incidence of disease. Mathematical modelling provides a means of rigorously defining the functions of a system and using a variety of conditions to stimulate responses. This volume presents the newest advances in modelling and related experimental techniques required to meet the new challenges currently facing nutrition and biological science.

Introduces the concepts, methods and techniques of model formulation, identification, and validation as applicable to metabolic and endocrine processes. Shows how modeling can be used to provide a concise description of complex dynamic processes, to test hypotheses concerning physiological and biochemical structure, and to estimate physiological quantities (parameters) that otherwise would not be directly accessible to measurement. Includes numerous examples and case studies.

Impulsive Mathematical Models of Endocrine Regulation demonstrates recently-developed mathematical models portraying pulse-modulated regulation in endocrine systems, taking a pragmatic engineering stance by starting with the necessary theoretical background on analytical tools, progressing through a number of mathematical models of increasing complexity, and illustrating the feasibility and fidelity of the mathematical constructs on actual biological data. Compared to a commonplace, theory-oriented book on dynamical systems and control which typically presents a group of design or analysis techniques, the book originates from a real-life problem of fundamental value and introduces mathematical tools that have specifically been devised to solve it. Presents results on impulsive mathematical models of endocrine regulation in a systematic, comprehensive and accessible manner Introduces researchers and engineers specializing in dynamical systems to a rapidly-growing topic Provides biomedical engineering and biological researchers with mathematical modeling and analysis tools for continuous systems using episodic feedback exemplified by non-basal endocrine regulation

This book developed from a series of conferences to facilitate the application of mathematical modeling to experimental nutrition. As nutrition science moves from prevention of gross deficiencies to identifying requirements for optimum long term health, more sophisticated methods of nutritional assessment will be needed. Collection and evaluation of kinetic data may be one such method. This books opens with chapters giving specific examples of the application of modeling techniques to vitamin A, carotenoids, folate, vitamin b-6, glycogen phosphorylase, transthyretin, amino acids, and energy metabolism. Obtaining kinetic data on internal processes is a major challenge; therefore, the text includes chapters on the use of microdialysis and ultrafiltration, use of membrane vesicles, and culture of mammary tissue. Many of the authors use the Simulation, Analysis and Modeling program which allows compartmental models to be described without specifying the required differential equations. The final sections of the book, however, present some more mathematical descriptions of physiological processes, including bioperiodicity, metabolic control, and membrane transport; discussions of some computational aspects of modeling such as parameter distributions, linear integrators and identifiability; and alternative mathematical approaches such as neural networks and graph theory. Specific, detailed examples of applications of modeling to vitamins, proteins, amino acids, and energy metabolism Novel methods for collecting kinetic data--microdialysis, ultrafiltration, membrane vesicles, and the culture of mammary tissue Mathematical treatment of complex metabolic processes including bioperiodicity, metabolic control, and membrane transport Computational approaches to distribution of kinetic parameters, evaluation of linear integrators, and identifiability Alternative mathematical approaches--neural networks and graph theory Detailed descriptions of the application of modeling to a variety of nutrients