Plant Virus Evolution
This book provides a comprehensive look at the field of plant virus evolution. Individual chapters, written by experts in the field, cover plant virus ecology, emerging viruses, plant viruses that integrate into the host genome, population biology, evolutionary mechanisms and appropriate methods for analysis. It covers RNA viruses, DNA viruses, pararetroviruses and viroids. The book summarizes the recent advances in our understanding of genetic bottlenecks, mutation rates and RNA recombination. It presents a number of ideas that are thought-provoking and make excellent discussion points. It is rounded out by a description of the history of plant virus evolution studies, and the link between evolution and taxonomy. Plant Virus Evolution provides an invaluable resource for researchers, teachers and students in the fields of plant virology and virus evolution.
Pharmaco-complexity : Non-Linear Phenomena and Drug Product Development
Non-linear phenomena pervade the pharmaceutical sciences. Understanding the interface between each of these phenomena and the way in which they contribute to overarching processes such as pharmaceutical product development may ultimately result in more efficient, less costly and rapid implementation. The benefit to Society is self-evident in that affordable treatments would be rapidly forthcoming
Modeling with Itô Stochastic Differential Equations
This modeling procedure is thoroughly explained and illustrated for randomly varying systems in population biology, chemistry, physics, engineering, and finance. Introductory chapters present the fundamental concepts of random variables, stochastic processes, stochastic integration, and stochastic differential equations. These concepts are explained in a Hilbert space setting which unifies and simplifies the presentation. Computer programs, given throughout the text, are useful in solving representative stochastic problems. Analytical and computational exercises are provided in each chapter that complement the material in the text.
Methodological Investigations in Agent-Based Modelling : With Applications for the Social Sciences
Examines the methodological complications of using complexity science concepts within the social science domain. The opening chapters take the reader on a tour through the development of simulation methodologies in the fields of artificial life and population biology, then demonstrates the growing popularity and relevance of these methods in the social sciences. Following an in-depth analysis of the potential impact of these methods on social science and social theory, the text provides substantive examples of the application of agent-based models in the field of demography. This work offers a unique combination of applied simulation work and substantive, in-depth philosophical analysis, and as such has potential appeal for specialist social scientists, complex systems scientists, and philosophers of science interested in the methodology of simulation and the practice of interdisciplinary computing research.
Gradients in a Tropical Mountain Ecosystem of Ecuador
This volume addresses a multitude of ecologically relevant aspects: macro- and microclimate; physics, chemistry and biology of soils; water relations, matter turnover and nutrient availability; plant growth and biomass partitioning; floral composition and plant life forms; vegetation structure and dynamics; organismic interactions, diversity and population biology of birds, moths and microarthropods; forest management, and reforestation with indigenous species; ethnobotanical and social aspects. New hypotheses are presented with regard to biodiversity and ecosystem functioning, as well as sustainable management of an ecosystem in a biodiversity hotspot.
Difference Equations : From Rabbits to Chaos
Difference equations are models of the world around us. From clocks to computers to chromosomes, processing discrete objects in discrete steps is a common theme. Difference equations arise naturally from such discrete descriptions and allow us to pose and answer such questions as: How much? How many? How long? Difference equations are a necessary part of the mathematical repertoire of all modern scientists and engineers.The book cover the basics of difference equations and some of their applications in computing and in population biology. Each chapter leads to techniques that can be applied by hand to small examples or programmed for larger problems. Along the way, the reader will use linear algebra and graph theory, develop formal power series, solve combinatorial problems, visit Perron—Frobenius theory, discuss pseudorandom number generation and integer factorization, and apply the Fast Fourier Transform to multiply polynomials quickly.





