Formal descriptions of developing systems : proceedings of the NATO Advanced Research Workshop on Formal Descriptions of Developing Systems, Manoa, Hawaii, U.S.A., 2-6 October 2002

A cutting-edge survey of formal methods directed specifically at dealing with the deep mathematical problems engendered by the study of developing systems, in particular dealing with developing phase spaces, changing components, structures and functionalities, and the problem of emergence. Several papers deal with the modelling of particular experimental situations in population biology, economics and plant and muscle developments in addition to purely theoretical approaches. Novel approaches include differential inclusions and viability theory, growth tensors, archetypal dynamics, ensembles with variable structures, and complex system models. The papers represent the work of theoreticians and experimental biologists, psychologists and economists. The areas covered embrace complex systems, the development of artificial life, mathematics, computer science, biology and psychology. Front Matter....Pages i-xiv Formal Descriptions of Developing Systems: An Overview....Pages 1-7 Front Matter....Pages 9-9 The Statistical Theory of Global Population Growth....Pages 11-35 Maximum Resiliency as a Determinant of Food Web Behavior....Pages 37-44 Thermodynamic Approach to the Problem of Economic Equilibrium....Pages 45-58 Front Matter....Pages 59-59 Programmed Death Phenomena at Various Levels of Development of the Living Systems....Pages 61-86 Development of Motor Control in Vertebrates....Pages 87-98 Dislocations in the Repetitive Unit Patterns of Biological Systems....Pages 99-117 The Description of Growth of Plant Organs: A Continuous Approach Based on the Growth Tensor....Pages 119-136 Using Deterministic Chaos Theory for the Analysis of Sleep Eeg....Pages 137-149 Front Matter....Pages 151-151 How does Complexity Develop?....Pages 153-164 Adaptive Evolution of Complex Systems Under Uncertain Environmental Constraints: A Viability Approach....Pages 165-184 Archetypal Dynamics: An Approach to the Study of Emergence....Pages 185-228 Front Matter....Pages 229-229 Sociability, Diversity and Compatibility in Developing Systems: EVS Approach....Pages 231-248 Tetrahymena and Ants-Simple Models of Complex Systems....Pages 249-267 Embryogenesis as a Model of a Developing System....Pages 269-276 Front Matter....Pages 277-277 Clinical Research Histomarkers for Objectively Estimating Premorbid Vagal Tone Chronology in Gulf War Veterans’ Illnesses and in Acute Stress Reaction....Pages 279-288 Limits of Developing a National System of Agricultural Extension....Pages 289-298 An Accumulation Model for the Formation of Mini Black Holes....Pages 299-302 Back Matter....Pages 303-306

In these proceedings of an October 2002 workshop, Nation (mathematics, University of Hawaii) presents work by researchers creating formal approaches to the study of developing systems, reflecting the ideas of both theorists and experimentalists in global systems, biological systems, emergence, and modeling. Specific subjects discussed include the statistical theory of global population growth, programmed death phenomena at various levels of development of living systems, the development of motor control in vertebrates, adaptive evolution of complex systems under uncertain environmental constraints, embryogenesis as a model of a developing system, and accumulation model for the formation of mini black holes. Annotation ©2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

The official purpose of this workshop is to delineate the fundamental questions relevant to the study of the formal description, analysis, and modeling of developing systems, to critically examine approaches to these questions, to identify those approaches which seem to be most significant and fruitful, and to propose plausible methods and approaches to those questions that remain outstanding.