Through a series of examples from physics, engineering, biology and economics, this book illustrates the enormous potential for application of ideas and concepts from nonlinear dynamics and chaos theory. The overlap with examples published in other books is virtually equal to zero. The book takes the reader from detailed studies of bifurcation structures of relativity simple models to pattern formation in spatially extended systems. The book also discusses the different perspectives that nonlinear dynamics brings to different fields of science.

Our rapidly changing world has forced business practitioners, in corporation with academic researchers, to respond quickly and develop effective solution methodologies and techniques to handle new challenges in supply chain systems. Supply Chain Optimization, Management and Integration: Emerging Applications presents readers with a rich collection of ideas from researchers who are bridging the gap between the latest in information technology and supply chain management. This book includes theoretical, analytical, and empirical research, comprehensive reviews of relevant research, and case studies of effective applications in the field of SCM. The use of new technologies, methods, and techniques are emphasized by those who have worked with supply chain management across the world for those in the field of information systems.

Profiles in Operations Research: Pioneers and Innovators recounts the development of the field of Operations Research (OR), the science of decision making. The book traces the development of OR from its military origins to a mature discipline that is recognized worldwide for its contributions to managerial planning and complex global operations. Over the past six decades, OR analyses have impacted our daily lives: when making an airline or hotel reservation, waiting in line at a bank, getting the correctly blended fuel at the gas station, and ensuring that the book you are holding arrived at its destination on time. OR originated in the late 1930s when British scientists from various disciplines joined Royal Air Force officers to determine the most effective way to employ new radar technology for intercepting enemy aircraft. During World War II, similar applied research groups were formed to study, test, and evaluate military operations on both sides of the Atlantic. Their work resulted in great improvements—OR helped the Allies win the war. The scientific field that emerged from these studies was called operational research in the U.K. and operations research in the U.S. Today, OR provides a broad and powerful science to aid decision making. Profiles describes the lives and contributions of 43 OR pioneers and innovators and relates how these individuals, with varying backgrounds and diverse interests, were drawn to the nascent field of OR. The profiles also describe how OR techniques and applications expanded considerably beyond the military context to find new domains in business and industry. In addition to their scientific contributions, these profiles capture the life stories of the individuals—interwoven with personal tales, vivid vignettes, family backgrounds, and views of the mission and future of OR. Collectively, the profiles recount the fascinating story of the growth and development of a field enriched by the convergence of different disciplines. The Editors: Arjang A. Assad is Dean of the School of Management, University at Buffalo, State University of New York. Saul I. Gass is Professor Emeritus, Department of Decision, Operations & Information Technologies, Smith School of Business, University of Maryland, College Park. From the Reviews Profiles In Operations Research: Pioneers and Innovators. Book Review by Nigel Cummings: U.K. OR Society's e-journal, Inside OR., Sept 2011. "I can thoroughly recommend this book. I found it both enlighteningand undeniably gripping, so much so in fact, you may find it difficultto put it down once you have commenced reading it. Arjang A. Assad and Saul I. Gass have created a masterwork whichwill serve to immortalise [stet] the pioneers of O.R. for many years to come." *For a list of all known typos, plus further discussion on the book, please visit http://profilesinoperationsresearch.com.

In 438 alphabetically-arranged essays, this work provides a useful overview of the core mathematical background for nonlinear science, as well as its applications to key problems in ecology and biological systems, chemical reaction-diffusion problems, geophysics, economics, electrical and mechanical oscillations in engineering systems, lasers and nonlinear optics, fluid mechanics and turbulence, and condensed matter physics, among others.

This first comprehensive survey to cover all pharmaceutically relevant topics provides a comprehensive introduction to this novel and revolutionary tool, presenting both concepts and application examples of biosimulated cells, organs and organisms. Following an introduction to the role of biosimulation in drug development, the authors go on to discuss the simulation of cells and tissues, as well as simulating drug action and effect. A further section is devoted to simulating networks and populations, and the whole is rounded off by a look at the potential for biosimulation in industrial drug development and for regulatory decisions. Part of the authors are members of the BioSim Network of Excellence that encompasses more than 40 academic institutions, pharmaceutical companies and regulatory authorities dealing with drug development; other contributors come from industry, resulting in a cross-disciplinary expert reference.

Biosimulation is an approach to biomedical research and the treatment of patients in which computer modeling goes hand in hand with experimental and clinical work. Constructed models are used to interpret experimental results and to accumulate information from experiment to experiment. This book explains the concepts used in the modeling of biological phenomena and goes on to present a series of well-documented models of the regulation of various genetic, cellular and physiological processes. The way how the use of computer models allows optimization of cancer treatment for individual patients is discussed and models of interacting nerve cells that can be used to design new treatments for patients with Parkinson's disease are explained. Furthermore this volume provides an overview on the use of models in industry, and presents the view of regulatory agencies on the topic.

This fascinating work is devoted to the fundamental phenomenon in physics – synchronization that occurs in coupled non-linear dissipative oscillators. Examples of such systems range from mechanical clocks to population dynamics, from the human heart to neural networks. The main purpose of this book is to demonstrate that the complexity of synchronous patterns of real oscillating systems can be described in the framework of the general approach, and the authors study this phenomenon as applied to oscillations of different types, such as those with periodic, chaotic, noisy and noise-induced nature.

Synchronization is a universal phenomenon that is encountered in nature, science and engineering. The book presents a broad view of modern theoretical and experimental approaches to synchronization, especially in complex and chaotic systems, and its applications in life sciences and engineering. Contributors include applied mathematicians, physicists, biologists, and specialists in communications and control theory. The study of synchronization is presented in its many aspects: basic mathematical theory, numerical simulation of complex systems, applications of methods in theoretical physics, experimental implementation, and applications in engineering and life sciences.

Futurists and scientists alike profess the coming of a new era in the history – the knowledge era. The notion of knowledge is as old as humans’ self-consciousness, but new challenges appear. The meaning of the word “knowledge” is changing from cognitive notion to a technical term denoting a structured economic resource to be actively managed. This contributed volume is a result of vivid and extremely valuable discussions held at 3rd International Workshop on Advances in Business ICT (ABICT) in Wrocław, Poland, September 9-12, 2012. The workshop focused on Advances in Business ICT approached from a multidisciplinary perspective. It provided an international forum for scientists/experts from academia and industry to discuss and exchange current results, applications, new ideas of ongoing research and experience on all aspects of Business Intelligence. ABICT has also been an opportunity to demonstrate different ideas and tools for developing and supporting organizational creativity, as well as advances in decision support systems. This book is of interest to researchers, widely understood business, public sector and IT professionals.

The papers in this volume arose out of the workshop Membrane Transport and Renal Physiology, which was conducted as part of the IMA 1998-1999 program year, Mathematics in Biology. The workshop brought together physiologists, biophysicists, and applied mathematicians who share a common interest in solute and water transport in biological systems, especially in the integrated function of the kidney. Solute and water transport through cells involves fluxes across two cell membranes, usually via specialized proteins that are integral membrane components. By means of mathematical representations, transport fluxes can be related to transmembrane solute concentrations and electrochemical driving forces. At the next level of functional integration, these representations can serve as key components for models of renal transcellular transport. Ultimately, simulations can be developed for transport-dependent aspects of overall renal function. Workshop topics included solute fluxes through ion channels, cotransporters, and metabolically-driven ion pumps; transport across fiber-matrix and capillary membranes; coordinated transport by renal epithelia; the urine concetrating mechanism; and intra-renal hemodynamic control. This volume will be of interest to biological and mathematical scientists who would like a view of recent mathematical efforts to represent membrane transport and its role in renal function.