Network motifs and responses of nonlinear systems
Abstract
This project develops novel theoretical and analytical tools to characterize the responses of nonlinear systems to external inputs, with an emphasis on rigorous mathematical formulations and results. The focus is on how network structure constrains finite-time, transient, behaviors. Of interest are qualitative features that are unique to nonlinear systems, such as non-harmonic responses to periodic inputs, bimodal dose-responses, or invariance to transformations on inputs, These properties play a key role as tools for model discrimination and reverse engineering, as well as in characterizing the robustness of complex systems to disturbances. The proposed research is motivated by a variety of application areas, largely biological problems at all levels of scale, from the molecular (e.g., extracellular ligands affecting signaling and gene networks), to cell populations (e.g., resistance to chemotherapy due to systemic interactions between the immune system and tumors; drug-induced mutations; sensed external molecules triggering activations of specific neurons in worms), to interactions of individuals (e.g., periodic or single-shot non-pharmaceutical social distancing interventions for epidemic control and minimizing transient effects on hospital capacities; adaptive strategies for distancing mandates). Given the universality of control and dynamical systems concepts, there are shared principles that emerge from such applications, and the theoretical concepts and computational approaches developed have applications to other (non-biology) fields where robust performance and transient behaviors are critical, including aerospace control systems and dynamics.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Mar 07, 2023
- Source ID
- FA95502110289
Entities
People
- Eduardo D. Sontag
Organizations
- Air Force Office of Scientific Research
- Northeastern University
- United States Air Force