| Popis: |
The maximum entropy production (MaxEP) principle has been applied to steady state systems, but biogeochemical problems of interest are typically transient in nature. To apply MaxEP to biogeochemical reaction networks, we propose that living systems maximum entropy production over appropriate time horizons based on strategic information stored in their genomes, which differentiates them from inanimate chemistry, such as fire, that maximizes entropy production instantaneously. We develop a receding horizon optimal control procedure that maximizes internal entropy production over different intervals of time. This procedure involves optimizing the stoichiometry of a reaction network to determine how biological structure is partitioned to reactions over an interval of time. The modeling work is compared to a methanotrophic microcosm experiment that is being conducted to examine how microbial systems integrate entropy production over time when subject to time varying energy input attained by periodically cycling feed-gas composition. The MaxEP-based model agrees well with experimental results, and model analysis shows that increasing the optimization time horizon increases internal entropy production. |
