Biological Oscillators: Their Mathematical Analysis introduces the main features of the dynamic properties of biological oscillators and the mathematical techniques necessary for their investigation. It is not a comprehensive description of all known biological oscillators, since this would require a much bigger volume as well as a different type of expertise. Instead certain classes of biological oscillators are described, and then only in as much detail as required for the study of their dynamics. The opening chapter reviews fundamental mathematical concepts and techniques which will be used in the remainder of the book. These include phase plane techniques; asymptotic techniques of Krylov, Bogoliubov, and Mitopolski; and the describing function. Subsequent chapters discuss examples of biological oscillators; phase shifts and phase response curves; the entrainment of oscillators by external inputs; the dynamics of circadian oscillators; effects of changing environment on the dynamics of biological oscillators; the features peculiar to populations of interacting oscillators; and biological phenomena attributable to populations of oscillators.

An introduction to the mathematical, computational, and analytical techniques used for modeling biological rhythms, presenting tools from many disciplines and example applications. All areas of biology and medicine contain rhythms, and these behaviors are best understood through mathematical tools and techniques. This book offers a survey of mathematical, computational, and analytical techniques used for modeling biological rhythms, gathering these methods for the first time in one volume. Drawing on material from such disciplines as mathematical biology, nonlinear dynamics, physics, statistics, and engineering, it presents practical advice and techniques for studying biological rhythms, with a common language. The chapters proceed with increasing mathematical abstraction. Part I, on models, highlights the implicit assumptions and common pitfalls of modeling, and is accessible to readers with basic knowledge of differential equations and linear algebra. Part II, on behaviors, focuses on simpler models, describing common properties of biological rhythms that range from the firing properties of squid giant axon to human circadian rhythms. Part III, on mathematical techniques, guides readers who have specific models or goals in mind. Sections on “frontiers” present the latest research; “theory” sections present interesting mathematical results using more accessible approaches than can be found elsewhere. Each chapter offers exercises. Commented MATLAB code is provided to help readers get practical experience. The book, by an expert in the field, can be used as a textbook for undergraduate courses in mathematical biology or graduate courses in modeling biological rhythms and as a reference for researchers.

This book, based on a selection of invited presentations from a topical workshop, focusses on time-variable oscillations and their interactions. The problem is challenging, because the origin of the time variability is usually unknown. In mathematical terms, the oscillations are non-autonomous, reflecting the physics of open systems where the function of each oscillator is affected by its environment. Time-frequency analysis being essential, recent advances in this area, including wavelet phase coherence analysis and nonlinear mode decomposition, are discussed. Some applications to biology and physiology are described. Although the most important manifestation of time-variable oscillations is arguably in biology, they also crop up in, e.g. astrophysics, or for electrons on superfluid helium. The book brings together the research of the best international experts in seemingly very different disciplinary areas.

Biological and Biochemical Oscillators compiles papers on biochemical and biological oscillators from a theoretical and experimental standpoint. This book discusses the oscillatory behavior, excitability, and propagation phenomena on membranes and membrane-like interfaces; two-dimensional analysis of chemical oscillators; and chemiluminescence in oscillatory oxidation reactions catalyzed. The problems associated with the computer simulation of oscillating systems; mechanism of single-frequency glycolytic oscillations; excitation wave propagation during heart fibrillation; and biochemical cycle of excitation are also elaborated. This compilation likewise covers the physiological rhythms in Saccharomyces cerevisiae populations; integral and indissociable property of eukaryotic gene-action systems; and role of actidione in the temperature jump response of the circadian rhythm in Euglena gracilis. This publication is valuable to biochemists interested in biochemical and biological oscillations.

This book, based on a selection of invited presentations from a topical workshop, focusses on time-variable oscillations and their interactions. The problem is challenging, because the origin of the time variability is usually unknown. In mathematical terms, the oscillations are non-autonomous, reflecting the physics of open systems where the function of each oscillator is affected by its environment. Time-frequency analysis being essential, recent advances in this area, including wavelet phase coherence analysis and nonlinear mode decomposition, are discussed. Some applications to biology and physiology are described. Although the most important manifestation of time-variable oscillations is arguably in biology, they also crop up in, e.g. astrophysics, or for electrons on superfluid helium. The book brings together the research of the best international experts in seemingly very different disciplinary areas. .

This volume contains the proceedings of a meeting entitled 'Nonlinear Oscillations in Biology and Chemistry', which was held at the University of Utah May 9-11,1985. The papers fall into four major categories: (i) those that deal with biological problems, particularly problems arising in cell biology, (ii) those that deal with chemical systems, (iii) those that treat problems which arise in neurophysiology, and (iv), those whose primary emphasis is on more general models and the mathematical techniques involved in their analysis. Except for the paper by Auchmuty, all are based on talks given at the meeting. The diversity of papers gives some indication of the scope of the meeting, but the printed word conveys neither the degree of interaction between the participants nor the intellectual sparks generated by that interaction. The meeting was made possible by the financial support of the Department of Mathe matics of the University of Utah. I am indebted to Ms. Toni Bunker of the Department of Mathematics for her very able assistance on all manner of details associated with the organization of the meeting. Finally, a word of thanks to all participants for their con tributions to the success of the meeting, and to the contributors to this volume for their efforts in preparing their manuscripts.