Equation-based models of dynamic biological systems

Abstract The purpose of this review is to introduce differential equations as a simulation tool in the biological and clinical sciences. This modeling technique is very mature and has been a preferred tool of physiologists and bioengineers and of quantitative scientists in general to describe and pr...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of critical care 2008-12, Vol.23 (4), p.585-594
Main Authors: Daun, Silvia, PhD, Rubin, Jonathan, PhD, Vodovotz, Yoram, PhD, Clermont, Gilles, MD, MSc
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Atmospheric sciences
Behavior
Clinical medicine
Critical Care
Differential equations
Humans
Logistics
Mathematical Concepts
Mathematical modeling
Models, Biological
Ordinary differential equations
Science
Studies
Uncertainty
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Summary:Abstract The purpose of this review is to introduce differential equations as a simulation tool in the biological and clinical sciences. This modeling technique is very mature and has been a preferred tool of physiologists and bioengineers and of quantitative scientists in general to describe and predict the behavior of complex interacting systems. However, this methodology has not been widely used within clinical medicine due to a lack of familiarity with highly quantitative methods and a greater acquaintance with statistical modeling approaches based on inference and empirical data analysis. We will describe various aspects of equation-based modeling, including underlying assumptions, strengths, and weaknesses and provide specific examples of simple models. We conclude that the usefulness of quantitative modeling, including equation-based models, is ultimately linked to the quality and abundance of observation obtained on the system being modeled. Equation-based modeling, although potentially an integrative approach, is complementary to and extends the potential of traditional statistically based approaches to inference.
ISSN:0883-9441
1557-8615
DOI:10.1016/j.jcrc.2008.02.003