The Mereon Matrix

In this richly illustrated book, the contributors describe the Mereon Matrix, its dynamic geometry and topology. Through the definition of eleven First Principles, it offers a new perspective on dynamic, whole and sustainable systems that may serve as a template information model. This template has been applied to a set of knowledge domains for verification purposes: pre-life-evolution, human molecular genetics and biological evolution, as well as one social application on classroom management. The importance of the book comes in the following ways: The dynamics of the geometry unites all Platonic and Kepler Solids into one united structure and creates 11 unique trefoil knots. Its topology is directly related to the dynamics of the polyhedra. The Mereon Matrix is an approach to the unification of knowledge that relies on whole systems modelling. it is a framework charting the emergence of the Platonic and Kepler solids in a sequential, emergent growth process that describes a non-linear whole system, and includes a process of 'breathing' as well as multiplying ('birthing'); This dynamic/kinematic structure provides insight and a new approach to General Systems Theory and non-linear science, evolving through a new approach to polyhedral geometry. A set of 11 First Principles is derived from the structure, topology and dynamics of the Mereon Matrix, which serve well as a template information model. The Mereon Matrix is related to a large number of systems, physical, mathematical, and philosophical, and in linking these systems, provides access to new relationships among them by combining geometry with process thinking. The new perspective on systems is hypothesized as universal -- this is, applicable in all areas of science, natural and social. Such applicability has been demonstrated for applications as diverse as pre-life evolution, biological evolution and human molecular genetics, as well as a classroom management system for the educational system. Care has been taken to use images and languaging that are understandable across domains, connecting diverse disciplines, while making this complex system easily accessible. Contents: Prologues: Sustainability: Mathematical Elegance, Solid Science and Social Grace (L Dennis and L H Kauffman) Lynnclaire Dennis & R Buckminster Fuller Investigation (R W Gray) The Matrix We Call Mereon (L H Kauffman) First Things First: Building on the Known: A Quintessential Jitterbug (L Dennis, J Brender McNair, N J Woolf and L H Kauffman) Methodology (J Brender McNair and L Dennis) Philosophical Thoughts and Thinking Aloud Allowed (L Dennis) Belonging -- Education as Transformation (L Dennis) Meme, Pattern and Perspective (L Dennis, N J Woolf and L H Kauffman) Including and Beyond the Point: The Context -- Form Informing Function (L Dennis, J Brender McNair, N J Woolf and L H Kauffman) Flow and Scale (L Dennis and L H Kauffman) The Core -- Sharp Distinctions to Elegant Curves (L Dennis and L H Kauffman) Connections, Ligatures and Knots: Mereon Thoughts -- Knots and Beyond (L H Kauffman) The Mereon Trefoil -- Asymmetrical with Perfect Symmetry (L Dennis) Applying Mereon to Knowledge Domains: Exploring the Mereon Matrix (and Beyond) with the CymaScope Technology (L Dennis and P McNair) The Origin of Matter: Life, Learning and Survival (N J Woolf and L Dennis) ATCG -- An Applied Theory for Human MoleCular Genetics (J Brender McNair, P McNair,

Mereon is an approach to the unification of knowledge that relies on whole systems modelling. It is a scientific framework that charts the sequential, emergent growth process of systems. A dynamic structure, Mereon provides insight and a new approach to General Systems Theory and non-linear science. Mereon evolved through a new approach to polyhedral geometry and topology that is related to the dynamics of the polyhedra. It is related to a large number of systems, physical, mathematical, and philosophical. In linking these systems, Mereon provides access to new relationships among them and combines geometric and process thinking. This book provides the fundamentals of such connections for an ongoing search for order, directionality, and diversity that is found in this unity. It is written in clear language that manages to connect diverse disciplines and in doing so, makes a complex system easily accessible and understandable. It will be of interest to mathematicians, geneticists, and all those interested in researching unity in science and astrobiology. Elaborates on several important aspects of General Systems Theory including nonlinearity. Each chapter is self-contained and explained relative to Mereon, providing references to scientific findings that are congruent with or expanded by Mereon. Offers a new way of modelling that can be applied across the sciences.

On Knots is a journey through the theory of knots, starting from the simplest combinatorial ideas--ideas arising from the representation of weaving patterns. From this beginning, topological invariants are constructed directly: first linking numbers, then the Conway polynomial and skein theory. This paves the way for later discussion of the recently discovered Jones and generalized polynomials. The central chapter, Chapter Six, is a miscellany of topics and recreations. Here the reader will find the quaternions and the belt trick, a devilish rope trick, Alhambra mosaics, Fibonacci trees, the topology of DNA, and the author's geometric interpretation of the generalized Jones Polynomial. Then come branched covering spaces, the Alexander polynomial, signature theorems, the work of Casson and Gordon on slice knots, and a chapter on knots and algebraic singularities.The book concludes with an appendix about generalized polynomials.

10.2 The Role and Contents of the URD in an Assessment Perspective -- 10.3 The Enterprise Model -- 10.4 The Normative Model -- 10.5 Assessment of the User Requirements Document -- 10.6 Discussion -- 11 Dynamic Aspects of the Assessment Methodology -- 11.1 Dynamic Aspects of IT-Development and Application -- 11.2 Adaptation of Frames of Reference for Assessment Activities -- 11.3 Feed-forward Loops -- 11.4 Support of Context Dependent Assessment -- 11.5 Conclusion -- 12 The Dynamic Assessment Methodology -- 12.1 Philosophy -- 12.2 Application Area -- 12.3 Operationalisation of the Methodology -- 12.4 Applicable Methods -- 12.5 Summary -- 13 Discussion -- 13.1 Discussion of Fulfilment of Objective for the 4th Goal -- 13.2 Conclusion of the Study -- References -- Appendix 1: Vocabulary -- Appendix 2: Abbreviations & Acronyms -- Appendix 3: KAVAS's & ISAR's Evaluation Methodology -- Appendix 4: Methodology for Assessment of Functionality -- Appendix 5: Experimental Observations: Functionality Assessment -- Appendix 6: Experimental Observations: LFA -- Appendix 7: Causal Analysis of Experimental Observations -- Appendix 8: Method for Elicitation of a Strategy -- Appendix 9: Selected References regarding Assessment Methods

The Handbook of Evaluation Methods for Health Informatics provides a complete compendium of methods for evaluation of IT-based systems and solutions within healthcare. Emphasis is entirely on assessment of the IT-system within its organizational environment. The author provides a coherent and complete assessment of methods addressing interactions with and effects of technology at the organizational, psychological, and social levels. It offers an explanation of the terminology and theoretical foundations underlying the methodological analysis presented here. The author carefully guides the reader through the process of identifying relevant methods corresponding to specific information needs and conditions for carrying out the evaluation study. The Handbook takes a critical view by focusing on assumptions for application, tacit built-in perspectives of the methods as well as their perils and pitfalls. Collects a number of evaluation methods of medical informatics Addresses metrics and measures Includes an extensive list of anotated references, case studies, and a list of useful Web sites

Paperback version of the 2002 paper published in the journal Progress in Information, Complexity, and Design (PCID). ABSTRACT Inasmuch as science is observational or perceptual in nature, the goal of providing a scientific model and mechanism for the evolution of complex systems ultimately requires a supporting theory of reality of which perception itself is the model (or theory-to-universe mapping). Where information is the abstract currency of perception, such a theory must incorporate the theory of information while extending the information concept to incorporate reflexive self-processing in order to achieve an intrinsic (self-contained) description of reality. This extension is associated with a limiting formulation of model theory identifying mental and physical reality, resulting in a reflexively self-generating, self-modeling theory of reality identical to its universe on the syntactic level. By the nature of its derivation, this theory, the Cognitive Theoretic Model of the Universe or CTMU, can be regarded as a supertautological reality-theoretic extension of logic. Uniting the theory of reality with an advanced form of computational language theory, the CTMU describes reality as a Self Configuring Self-Processing Language or SCSPL, a reflexive intrinsic language characterized not only by self-reference and recursive self-definition, but full self-configuration and self-execution (reflexive read-write functionality). SCSPL reality embodies a dual-aspect monism consisting of infocognition, self-transducing information residing in self-recognizing SCSPL elements called syntactic operators. The CTMU identifies itself with the structure of these operators and thus with the distributive syntax of its self-modeling SCSPL universe, including the reflexive grammar by which the universe refines itself from unbound telesis or UBT, a primordial realm of infocognitive potential free of informational constraint. Under the guidance of a limiting (intrinsic) form of anthropic principle called the Telic Principle, SCSPL evolves by telic recursion, jointly configuring syntax and state while maximizing a generalized self-selection parameter and adjusting on the fly to freely-changing internal conditions. SCSPL relates space, time and object by means of conspansive duality and conspansion, an SCSPL-grammatical process featuring an alternation between dual phases of existence associated with design and actualization and related to the familiar wave-particle duality of quantum mechanics. By distributing the design phase of reality over the actualization phase, conspansive spacetime also provides a distributed mechanism for Intelligent Design, adjoining to the restrictive principle of natural selection a basic means of generating information and complexity. Addressing physical evolution on not only the biological but cosmic level, the CTMU addresses the most evident deficiencies and paradoxes associated with conventional discrete and continuum models of reality, including temporal directionality and accelerating cosmic expansion, while preserving virtually all of the major benefits of current scientific and mathematical paradigms.

Gaia, in which James Lovelock puts forward his inspirational and controversial idea that the Earth functions as a single organism, with life influencing planetary processes to form a self-regulating system aiding its own survival, is now a classic work that continues to provoke heated scientific debate.