Introduction to Complexity and Complex Systems

The boundaries between simple and complicated, and complicated and complex system designations are fuzzy and debatable, even using quantitative measures of complexity. However, if you are a biomedical engineer, a biologist, physiologist, economist, politician, stock market speculator, or politician, you have encountered complex systems. Furthermore, your success depends on your ability to successfully interact with and manage a variety of complex systems. In order not to be blindsided by unexpected results, we need a systematic, comprehensive way of analyzing, modeling, and simulating complex systems to predict non-anticipated outcomes.
In its engaging first chapters, the book introduces complex systems, Campbell's Law, and the Law of Unintended Consequences, and mathematics necessary for conversations in complex systems. Subsequent chapters illustrate concepts via commonly studied biological mechanisms. The final chapters focus on higher-level complexity problems, and introduce complexity in economic systems.
Designed as a reference for biologists and biological engineers, Introduction to Complexity and Complex Systems lends itself to use in a classroom course to introduce advanced students studying biomedical engineering, biophysics, or physiology to complex systems. Engaging and illustrative, this book aids scientists and decision makers in managing biological complexity and complex systems.

Robert B. Northrop is Professor Emeritus and the former Program Director of the Biomedical Engineering Graduate Program at the University of Connecticut.

Introduction to Complexity and Complex SystemsIntroduction to Complexity Why Study Complex Systems?Human Responses to Complexity Complex Systems Engineering Chapter Summary Introduction to Large Linear SystemsIntroduction Linearity, Causality & Stationarity L TI System Tools Impulse Response, Frequency Response and Real Convolution Systems Described by Large Sets of Linear ODEs Stability of Linear Systems Signal Flow Graphs and Mason's Rule Chapter Summary Introduction to Nonlinear Biochemical Systems and Biochemical OscillatorsIntroduction Some General Properties of NonIinear Systems All Living Systems Are Nonlinear Parametric Regulation in Complex Biological Systems Chaos, Stability and Limit Cycle Oscillations in Nonlinear Systems Chapter Summary Modularity, Redundancy, Degeneracy, Pleiotropy and Robustness inComplex Biological SystemsIntroduction Measures of Modularity Modularity in Physiological Organ Systems Modularity in Gene Regulation and Development Network Motifs and Modularity Redundancy, Degeneracy, Pleiotropy and Robustness Chapter Summary The Evolution of Biological Complexity; Invertebrate Immune SystemsIntroduction Darwinian Evolution; a Brief Summary Why Does a Rise in Complexity Accompany Biological Evolution?Examples of Biological Complexity; Invertebrate Immune Systems Chapter Summary The Complex Adaptive and Innate Human Immune SystemsIntroductionAn Overview of the CAIS A Summary of the Cells of the hIS Innate Immune Systems Antigen presentationAutacoids Immunocytokines, Proteins and Glycoproteins Secreted by hIS Cells Discussion How the hIS is Adaptive Chapter SummaryComplexity in Quasispecies MicroRNAsQuasispecies; Viral and Bacterial Evolutionary Models [see Kamp papers in NB3]The Role of Micro-RNAs in the Regulation of Gene Expression and Disease Chapter SummaryIntroduction to Physiological Complexity Examples of Models of Some Complex Physiological SystemsIntroduction Physiology Defined Homeostasis Structure & Function Some Examples of Complex Physiological Regulatory Systems and their Models Examples of When Complex Physiological Systems Fail Chapter Summary The Quest for Quantitative Measures of ComplexityIntroduction Intuitive Measures of Complexity Sensitivities Structural Complexity Measures Informatic Complexity Measures Chapter Summary "Irreducible and Specified Complexity" in Living SystemsIntroduction Irreducible Complexity Specified Complexity Chapter Summary Introduction to Complexity in Economic SystemsIntroduction Economic Systems Chapter Summary Dealing with ComplexityIntroduction Dorner's Approaches to Tackling Complex Problems Frederic Vester's "Paper Computer" The Sensitivity Model of Vester Learning From Our Mistakes Chapter Summary AppendixBibliography and ReferencesGlossaryIndex