Technological integration and hyperconnectivity: Tools for promoting extreme human lifespans

Artificial, neurobiological, and social networks are three distinct complex adaptive systems (CASs), each containing discrete processing units (nodes, neurons, and humans, respectively). Despite the apparent differences, these three networks are bound by common underlying principles which describe the behavior of the system in terms of the connections of its components, and its emergent properties. The longevity (long‐term retention and functionality) of the components of each of these systems is also defined by common principles. Here, I will examine some properties of the longevity and function of the components of artificial and neurobiological systems, and generalize these to the longevity and function of the components of social CAS. In other words, I will show that principles governing the long‐term functionality of computer nodes and of neurons, may be extrapolated to the study of the long‐term functionality of humans (or more precisely, of the noemes, an abstract combination of “existence” and “digital fame”). The study of these phenomena can provide useful insights regarding practical ways that can be used to maximize human longevity. The basic law governing these behaviors is the “Law of Requisite Usefulness,” which states that the length of retention of an agent within a CAS is proportional to the agent's contribution to the overall adaptability of the system. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Complexity 20: 15–24, 2015     

Understanding and attenuating the complexity catastrophe in Kauffman's N K model of genome evolution

Kauffman's N K model—used for studying the performance of systems consisting of a finite number of components that interact with each other in complex ways—exhibits the complexity catastrophe, in which high levels of interaction in systems with a large number of components lead to a decrease in performance. It is shown here that the complexity catastrophe is a consequence of the mathematical assumptions underlying the N K model. Analysis and simulations are used to establish the idea that relaxing any one of these assumptions results in a new model in which the complexity catastrophe is attenuated. Thus, good performance from systems having high levels of interactions is possible. ©1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Hybrid discrete-continuous systems: I. stability and stabilizability

For hybrid discrete-continuous linear stationary systems, we consider the basic problems of qualitative control theory, namely, stability and stabilization. For such systems, we obtain parametric criteria for asymptotic and exponential stability ensuring a prescribed stability exponent and a rank criterion for stabilizability. We consider the problem of finding the minimum number of inputs for which the considered system is stabilizable. We suggest an effective algorithm for constructing the matrix describing the structure of the input device of a minimum-input stabilizable system. An example illustrating the results is given.     

Conceptual continuity as a mode of understanding complex systems: Applications to the dynamics sociopolitical systems

In complex biological systems, entities that are conceptually distinct but empirically related—such as sunlight and plant growth or antigene and immune response—are being explicitly linked through the identification of highly specific uninterrupted interaction sequences that take place between their macromolecular system components. These uninterrupted sequences of causation include common elements that are shared by the empirically related but conceptually distinct entities. Through the identification of specific shared elements, “conceptual continuity” is established between these entities. Examples are introduced to suggest that in sociopolitical systems, an analogous conceptual continuity can be established between distinct sociopolitical entities. The identification of specific shared elements, essential for the well being of each of the entities, can play a significant role in resolving conflicts between those separated by seemingly insurmountable obstacles such as race or religion or ideology. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Complexity 11:20–24, 2006     

Employing integrated reference models to represent interdependency in a complex enterprise

Successful implementation of change in a complex enterprise requires a shared understanding of system interdependency. Otherwise, the architecture of those changes risk the emergence of otherwise unforeseen obstacles. A fundamental element is understanding how the system responds to stimuli. Given the complexity of that system, no single model would adequately represent the totality of the enterprise. As such, we have employed a structured approach based on soft systems methodology and reference models to develop common pictures. These heuristic models act as anchor points for achieving a shared understanding and as a basis for the development of more detailed models. The approach has been applied to defence preparedness; a system containing many levels of inter-dependency, contested by a range of differing viewpoints, multilayered with decisions and activity at a number of levels, and often seeking to rapidly transition to solutions. We present some examples of distinct but inter-related reference models for defence preparedness.     

Time-optimal control of multivariable systems near the origin

This article deals with bang-bang solutions of linear time-optimal control problems. Linear multivariable systems are considered which have one or more control components. It is shown in which way the control components act together to make the system achieve the ultimate aim (namely, the origin in the state space) as quickly as possible. The theory only applies to initial positions sufficiently near the origin. Criteria are given which give the number of switches per control component.Asymptotic dependences of the switching times and the final time on the distance of the initial position from the origin are established. The theory provides a numerical procedure to calculate the time-optimal control. These calculations are very simple. Basic to the proof of these results is a generalized implicit function theorem due to Artin (Ref. 1).     

Optimal controller placement in modal control of complex systems

Within the framework of modal control of large systems, a simple approach is advanced for the determination of optimal control configuration under an energy constraint, i.e., optimal locations of a limited number of controllers such that the total energy requirement for control is minimized. It is shown that the resulting design criterion is a simple function of projections of the control matrix onto components of eigenvectors associated with the affected eigenvalues. Furthermore, it is applicable to both single-input and multi-input systems. Systems possessing distinct complex eigenvalues are considered but the approach is equally applicable to other types of systems. Examples show that the minimum-energy control configuration also tends to be the most effective in terms of accomplishing control objectives.     

Case-based modeling and the SACS Toolkit: a mathematical outline

Researchers in the social sciences currently employ a variety of mathematical/computational models for studying complex systems. Despite the diversity of these models, the majority can be grouped into one of three types: agent (rule-based) modeling, dynamical (equation-based) modeling and statistical (aggregate-based) modeling. The purpose of the current paper is to offer a fourth type: case-based modeling. To do so, we review the SACS Toolkit: a new method for quantitatively modeling complex social systems, based on a case-based, computational approach to data analysis. The SACS Toolkit is comprised of three main components: a theoretical blueprint of the major components of a complex system (social complexity theory); a set of case-based instructions for modeling complex systems from the ground up (assemblage); and a recommended list of case-friendly computational modeling techniques (case-based toolset). Developed as a variation on Byrne (in Sage Handbook of Case-Based Methods, pp.?260?C268, 2009), the SACS Toolkit models a complex system as a set of k-dimensional vectors (cases), which it compares and contrasts, and then condenses and clusters to create a low-dimensional model (map) of a complex system??s structure and dynamics over time/space. The assembled nature of the SACS Toolkit is its primary strength. While grounded in a defined mathematical framework, the SACS Toolkit is methodologically open-ended and therefore adaptable and amenable, allowing researchers to employ and bring together a wide variety of modeling techniques. Researchers can even develop and modify the SACS Toolkit for their own purposes. The other strength of the SACS Toolkit, which makes it a very effective technique for modeling large databases, is its ability to compress data matrices while preserving the most important aspects of a complex system??s structure and dynamics across time/space. To date, while the SACS Toolkit has been used to study several topics, a mathematical outline of its case-based approach to quantitative analysis (along with a case study) has yet to be written?Chence the purpose of the current paper.     

Random covering of an interval and a variation of Kingman's coalescent

We consider the covering of [0, 1] by a large number of small random intervals. We show that a simple variation of Kingman's coalescent describes the emergence of macroscopic connected components. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Random Struct. Alg. 2004     

On the absence of eigenvalues of Maxwell and Lamé systems in exterior domains

The arguments showing non‐existence of eigensolutions to exterior‐boundary value problems associated with systems—such as the Maxwell and Lamé system—rely on showing that such solutions would have to have compact support and therefore—by a unique continuation property—cannot be non‐trivial. Here we will focus on the first part of the argument. For a class of second order elliptic systems it will be shown that L²‐solutions in exterior domains must have compact support. Both the asymptotically isotropic Maxwell system and the Lamé system with asymptotically decaying perturbations can be reduced to this class of elliptic systems. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

单调关联系统的条件失效元件数量

Coherent systems are very important in reliability,survival analysis and other life sciences.In this paper,we consider the number of failed components in an(n-k+1)-out-of-n system,given that at least m(m相似文献   

Third-order nilpotency, nice reachability and asymptotic stability

We consider an affine control system whose vector fields span a third-order nilpotent Lie algebra. We show that the reachable set at time T using measurable controls is equivalent to the reachable set at time T using piecewise-constant controls with no more than four switches. The bound on the number of switches is uniform over any final time T. As a corollary, we derive a new sufficient condition for stability of nonlinear switched systems under arbitrary switching. This provides a partial solution to an open problem posed in [D. Liberzon, Lie algebras and stability of switched nonlinear systems, in: V. Blondel, A. Megretski (Eds.), Unsolved Problems in Mathematical Systems and Control Theory, Princeton Univ. Press, 2004, pp. 203-207].     

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??Coherent systems are very important in reliability,survival analysis and other life sciences. In this paper, we consider the number of working components in an $(n-k+1)$-out-of-$n$ system, given that at least $(n-m+1)$ components are working at time $t$, and the system has failed at time $t$. In this condition, we compute the probability that there are exactly $i$ working components. First the reliability and several stochastic properties are obtained. Furthermore, we extend the results to general coherent systems with absolutely continuous and exchangeable components.     

Some results for repairable systems with minimal repairs

In this paper, we consider a repairable system with minimal repairs whose number of repairs is a positive random variable with a given probability vector. Some preservation theorems and aging properties of repairable systems are established. Under the condition that at time t the system is working, a new random variable for the residual lifetime of the system is proposed. Some stochastic ordering results among the lifetimes and residual lifetimes of two systems are obtained. Similar results for coherent systems with independent components and exchangeable components were obtained in the previous literature. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

ISSUE INFORMATION

Modeling social‐ecological systems is difficult due to the complexity of ecosystems and of individual and collective human behavior. Key components of the social‐ecological system are often over‐simplified or omitted. Generalized modeling is a dynamical systems approach that can overcome some of these challenges. It can rigorously analyze qualitative system dynamics such as regime shifts despite incomplete knowledge of the model's constituent processes. Here, we review generalized modeling and use a recent study on the Baltic Sea cod fishery's boom and collapse to demonstrate its application to modeling the dynamics of empirical social‐ecological systems. These empirical applications demand new methods of analysis suited to larger, more complicated generalized models. Generalized modeling is a promising tool for rapidly developing mathematically rigorous, process‐based understanding of a social‐ecological system's dynamics despite limited knowledge of the system.     

成败型元件串并联系统及并串联系统可靠性置信下限近似解的讨论

本文讨论由相互独立的成败型元件组成的串并联系统及并串联系统可靠性置信下限的近似解。本文利用系统诸元件的试验数据,在一、二阶矩拟合的原则下将其折合为原系统的伪试验数及伪成功数,然后利用单个成败型元件的可靠性的经典精确置信下限作为原系统可靠性置信下限的近似值。本文推导了伪试验数N及伪成功数S的计算公式,并给出了计算实例。     

Complex systems and human movement

Human movement reveals the hall mark characteristics of complex systems: namely, many interacting subsystems, multiple interactions within and between levels of analysis, emergence of movement coordination modes, and the exhibition of varying levels of the complexity of system output that continually evolve with learning and development over the life span. Here we outline how this high or infinitely dimensional complex dynamical system can be modeled by an epigenetic landscape framework—in the sense of Waddington—that captures the key features of the adaptive qualitative and quantitative properties of coordination modes (“order parameters”), the degeneracy of movement organization and the time scales of change. The framework provides some new ways to consider old problems in motor learning and development—such as an explicit and quantitative approach to exploring the concept of motor programs and developmental pathways—and yields new results and insights into the organization of learning during practice and rest times. For instance along one dimension of the landscape most of the changes occur between practice sessions. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Complexity 12: 40–51, 2006     

Robust inversion algorithms for vector linear systems

We consider the inversion problem for linear systems, which involves estimation of the unknown input vector. The inversion problem is considered for a system with a vector output and a vector input assuming that the observed output is of higher dimension than the unknown input. The problem is solved by using a controlled model in which the control stabilizes the deviations of the model output from the system output. The stabilizing model control or its averaged form may be used as the estimate of the unknown system input. __________ Translated from Nelineinaya Dinamika i Upravlenie, No. 4, pp. 17–22, 2004.     

A robust structured preconditioner for time-harmonic parabolic optimal control problems

We consider the iterative solution of optimal control problems constrained by the time-harmonic parabolic equations. Due to the time-harmonic property of the control equations, a suitable discretization of the corresponding optimality systems leads to a large complex linear system with special two-by-two block matrix of saddle point form. For this algebraic system, an efficient preconditioner is constructed, which results in a fast Krylov subspace solver, that is robust with respect to the mesh size, frequency, and regularization parameters. Furthermore, the implementation is straightforward and the computational complexity is of optimal order, linear in the number of degrees of freedom. We show that the eigenvalue distribution of the corresponding preconditioned matrix leads to a condition number bounded above by 2. Numerical experiments confirming the theoretical derivations are presented, including comparisons with some other existing preconditioners.     

基于突变模型的大型复杂工程项目自组织过程研究

从分析大型复杂工程项目群的自组织过程入手,研究项目群在突变过程中的演化规律,通过采用突变理论和奇点理论,构建大型复杂工程项目群自组织模型,阐释复杂系统突发事件产生的机理,证实大型复杂工程项目的系统之间具有发散性和不稳定性,说明大型复杂工程项目管理者的控制能力可以作用于行为主体,以改变行为主体特征的方式,改变系统的运行模式,起到有效控制不稳定过程的作用.