2,156 research outputs found
COMPUTER SIMULATION AND COMPUTABILITY OF BIOLOGICAL SYSTEMS
The ability to simulate a biological organism by employing a computer is related to the
ability of the computer to calculate the behavior of such a dynamical system, or the "computability" of the system.* However, the two questions of computability and simulation are not equivalent. Since the question of computability can be given a precise answer in terms of recursive functions, automata theory and dynamical systems, it will be appropriate to consider it first. The more elusive question of adequate simulation of biological systems by a computer will be then addressed and a possible connection between the two answers given will be considered. A conjecture is formulated that suggests the possibility of employing an algebraic-topological, "quantum" computer (Baianu, 1971b)
for analogous and symbolic simulations of biological systems that may include chaotic processes that are not, in genral, either recursively or digitally computable. Depending on the biological network being modelled, such as the Human Genome/Cell Interactome or a trillion-cell Cognitive Neural Network system, the appropriate logical structure for such simulations might be either the Quantum MV-Logic (QMV) discussed in recent publications (Chiara, 2004, and references cited therein)or Lukasiewicz Logic Algebras that were shown to be isomorphic to MV-logic algebras (Georgescu et al, 2001)
The Kinetic Basis of Self-Organized Pattern Formation
In his seminal paper on morphogenesis (1952), Alan Turing demonstrated that
different spatio-temporal patterns can arise due to instability of the
homogeneous state in reaction-diffusion systems, but at least two species are
necessary to produce even the simplest stationary patterns. This paper is aimed
to propose a novel model of the analog (continuous state) kinetic automaton and
to show that stationary and dynamic patterns can arise in one-component
networks of kinetic automata. Possible applicability of kinetic networks to
modeling of real-world phenomena is also discussed.Comment: 8 pages, submitted to the 14th International Conference on the
Synthesis and Simulation of Living Systems (Alife 14) on 23.03.2014, accepted
09.05.201
Synchronous Online Philosophy Courses: An Experiment in Progress
There are two main ways to teach a course online: synchronously or asynchronously. In an asynchronous course, students can log on at their convenience and do the course work. In a synchronous course, there is a requirement that all students be online at specific times, to allow for a shared course environment. In this article, the author discusses the strengths and weaknesses of synchronous online learning for the teaching of undergraduate philosophy courses. The author discusses specific strategies and technologies he uses in the teaching of online philosophy courses. In particular, the author discusses how he uses videoconferencing to create a classroom-like environment in an online class
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