Nonlinear dynamics, chaos-theory, and the 'sciences of complexity': Their relevance to the study of the interaction between host and microflora
| Autor: | Wilkinson, M.H.F., Heidt, PJ, Rusch, VanderWaaij, D |
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| Přispěvatelé: | Faculty of Science and Engineering |
| Jazyk: | angličtina |
| Rok vydání: | 1997 |
| Zdroj: | New Antimicrobial Strategies, 111-130 STARTPAGE=111;ENDPAGE=130;TITLE=New Antimicrobial Strategies |
| Popis: | Theoretical and experimental studies of various biomedical systems, including heart, brain, immune system, and many ecosystems, have shown that many of these systems may be described in terms of nonlinear dynamics. Two important consequences of this non-linear dynamical behaviour are irreversibility and unpredictability, due to the chaotic behaviour this type of system may exhibit. Another trend in modern science (often named "the sciences of complexity") deals with the often complex or chaotic collective behaviour of systems made up of large numbers of relatively simple entities. Very often such systems exhibit non-linear dynamical behaviour. Many such complex and nonlinear systems have been studied successfully using computer simulation techniques. It is proposed that, as has been demonstrated for the immune system, the intestinal microbial ecosystem may he viewed as such a complex system governed by non-linear dynamical equations. A discussion of techniques available for the study of such systems is given, with a special emphasis on computer simulation. Finally, the results of a pilot study using computer simulation of the interaction between the anaerobic and aerobic compartments of the microflora within a simple geometric model of the small and large intestine are presented. |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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