The course introduces System Dynamics as a methodology for the formulation of dynamic and nonlinear models of complex biological, physiological, ecological and economic systems. Special emphasis is given to describing mechanisms that produce self-sustained oscillations, chaos, frequency entrainment and other characteristic nonlinear dynamic phenomena.
Kursusindhold:
Casual loop and flow diagrams. Dynamic phenomena in managerial and economic systems: Production-distribution systems and macroeconomic business cycles. Chaos in ecological and microbiological population models. HIV and the immune system. Instabilities in physiological control systems: Pulsatile release of hormones, chaos in kidney pressure and flow regulations. Characterization of nonlinear systems: Fractal dimensions and Lyapunov exponents. Pattern formation in chemical reaction-diffusion systems, and biological. form formation. Several lectures are given by invited biologists and medical doctors.
