scholarly journals Explaining a complex living system: dynamics, multi-scaling and emergence

2006 ◽  
Vol 4 (13) ◽  
pp. 175-182 ◽  
Author(s):  
Irun R Cohen ◽  
David Harel
Keyword(s):  
Complex System ◽  
Living Cell ◽  
Living System ◽  
Living Systems ◽  
Component Part ◽  
Emergent Properties ◽  
Biological Processes ◽  
Computer Aided ◽  
Microscopic Interactions ◽  
And Control

Complex living systems are difficult to understand. They obey the laws of physics and chemistry, but these basic laws do not explain their behaviour; each component part of a complex system participates in many different interactions and these interactions generate unforeseeable, emergent properties. For example, microscopic interactions between non-living molecules, at the macroscopic level, produce a living cell. Here we discuss how to explain such complexity in the format of a dynamic model that is mathematically precise, yet understandable. Precise, computer-aided modelling will make it easier to formulate novel experiments and attain understanding and control of key biological processes.

The Organizing Principle of Complex Living Systems

1969 ◽  
Vol 91 (2) ◽  
pp. 290-294 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. S. Iberall ◽  
W. S. McCulloch
Keyword(s):  
Living System ◽  
Living Systems ◽  
Homeostatic Regulation ◽  
Dynamic Character ◽  
Control Functions ◽  
Frequency Domains ◽  
System 2 ◽  
The Many ◽  
Active Processes ◽  
And Control

A scheme is outlined for a useful way to think about the complex biological organism, man. It is based on physiological findings that the regulating and control functions in the system make use of active processes, exhibiting oscillatory properties [1]. The resulting homeostatic regulation, which was the key concept proposed by Bernard, Sechenov, and Cannon for the living system [2], emerges from mediation of these oscillators. Because of its dynamic character, the scheme is renamed homeokinesis [3]. The concept may be extended to man’s behavioral complex. In outline, it touches on all the time or frequency domains in life—that is, of the many episodes in man.

scholarly journals Engineering motile aqueous phase-separated droplets via liposome stabilisation

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Shaobin Zhang ◽  
Claudia Contini ◽  
James W. Hindley ◽  
Guido Bolognesi ◽  
Yuval Elani ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Aqueous Phase ◽  
Marangoni Effect ◽  
Living Systems ◽  
Biological Processes ◽  
Biological Applications ◽  
Emulsion System ◽  
Biotechnological Potential ◽  
New Directions ◽  
Directional Motion ◽  
The Stability

AbstractThere are increasing efforts to engineer functional compartments that mimic cellular behaviours from the bottom-up. One behaviour that is receiving particular attention is motility, due to its biotechnological potential and ubiquity in living systems. Many existing platforms make use of the Marangoni effect to achieve motion in water/oil (w/o) droplet systems. However, most of these systems are unsuitable for biological applications due to biocompatibility issues caused by the presence of oil phases. Here we report a biocompatible all aqueous (w/w) PEG/dextran Pickering-like emulsion system consisting of liposome-stabilised cell-sized droplets, where the stability can be easily tuned by adjusting liposome composition and concentration. We demonstrate that the compartments are capable of negative chemotaxis: these droplets can respond to a PEG/dextran polymer gradient through directional motion down to the gradient. The biocompatibility, motility and partitioning abilities of this droplet system offers new directions to pursue research in motion-related biological processes.

Discontinuous and continuous transitions of collective behaviors in living systems

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xu Li ◽  
Tingting Xue ◽  
Yu Sun ◽  
Jingfang Fan ◽  
Hui Li ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Abilities ◽  
Collective Motion ◽  
Finite Size ◽  
Continuous Phase ◽  
Living System ◽  
Living Systems ◽  
Finite Size Scaling ◽  
Continuous Transition ◽  
Collective Behaviors ◽  
Large Groups

Abstract Living systems are full of astonishing diversity and complexity of life. Despite differences in the length scales and cognitive abilities of these systems, collective motion of large groups of individuals can emerge. It is of great importance to seek for the fundamental principles of collective motion, such as phase transitions and their natures. Via an eigen microstate approach, we have found a discontinuous transition of density and a continuous transition of velocity in the Vicsek models of collective motion, which are identified by the finite-size scaling form of order-parameter. At strong noise, living systems behave like gas. With the decrease of noise, the interactions between the particles of a living system become stronger and make them come closer. The living system experiences then a discontinuous gas-liquid like transition of density. The even stronger interactions at smaller noise make the velocity directions of particles become ordered and there is a continuous phase transition of collective motion in addition.

A Novel Dual-functional Fluorescent Probe for Imaging Viscosity and Cysteine in Living System

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Manlin Fu ◽  
Kai Wang ◽  
Qiancheng Ma ◽  
Mianli Bian ◽  
Qing Zhu
Keyword(s):  
Fluorescent Probe ◽  
Redox Reaction ◽  
Living System ◽  
Pivotal Role ◽  
Biological Processes ◽  
Dual Functional ◽  
Reversible Redox

Abnormal changes in intracellular viscosity and cysteine are both associated with several important biological processes such as reversible redox reaction, which plays a pivotal role in the process of inflammation....

scholarly journals Statistical physics of fracture and earthquakes

2018 ◽  
Vol 377 (2136) ◽  
pp. 20180202
Author(s):  
Soumyajyoti Biswas ◽  
Lucas Goehring ◽  
Bikas K. Chakrabarti
Keyword(s):  
Complex System ◽  
Stress Field ◽  
Statistical Physics ◽  
Disordered Materials ◽  
Emergent Properties ◽  
Theme Issue ◽  
Component System ◽  
Playing Field ◽  
Collective Response ◽  
Multi Component System

Manifestations of emergent properties in stressed disordered materials are often the result of an interplay between strong perturbations in the stress field around defects. The collective response of a long-ranged correlated multi-component system is an ideal playing field for statistical physics. Hence, many aspects of such collective responses in widely spread length and energy scales can be addressed by the tools of statistical physics. In this theme issue, some of these aspects are treated from various angles of experiments, simulations and analytical methods, and connected together by their common base of complex-system dynamics. This article is part of the theme issue ‘Statistical physics of fracture and earthquakes’ .

The CAE Centre at Wolverhampton Polytechnic

1988 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 53-53
Author(s):  
N.E. Gough
Keyword(s):  
Technology Transfer ◽  
Computer Aided Engineering ◽  
Research Technology ◽  
Computer Aided ◽  
Short Courses ◽  
And Control

The Computer-Aided Engineering (CAE) Centre at Wolverhampton Polytechnic offers an interdisciplinary service to industry, providing short courses, consultancy and research in computer-aided engineering. The main subjects offered are design, manufacturing, electronics and control. This report presents a brief account of the facilities of the Centre and the activities recently undertaken to promote research, technology transfer and collaboration.

Computer Aided Dynamical System Analysis and Control for Undergraduate Courses

1977 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 44-50 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. McCorkell ◽  
N. Wilson
Keyword(s):  
Dynamical System ◽  
Northern Ireland ◽  
System Analysis ◽  
Computer Usage ◽  
Synthesis Techniques ◽  
Initial Stage ◽  
Control Options ◽  
Computer Aided ◽  
Computational Requirement ◽  
And Control

Dynamical system analysis is included in undergraduate courses in the Northern Ireland Polytechnic, as part of a presentation of general engineering methodology and more particularly, accompanied by synthesis techniques, in control options at final year honours level. Such is the extent of the computational requirement, necessary for a non-trivial treatment, that steps have been taken to introduce computer usage where possible. Included is information on the initial stage of a project undertaken to provide for the computational needs of undergraduates involved in dynamical problems in the laboratory.

Regulation and control in living systems

1968 ◽  
Vol 16 (2-3) ◽  
pp. 398
Author(s):  
K.E. Machin
Keyword(s):  
Living Systems ◽  
And Control
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