Virtual Worlds of Precision Computer-based Simulations in the Sciences and Social Sciences

by Feldmann, Valerie; Muhlfeld, Katrin

• ISBN13: 9783825867737
• ISBN10: 3825867730
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2005-04-28
• Publisher: Lit Verlag

Summary

"The use of computer simulations to gain deeper understanding of complex dynamic systems has become widely accepted across scientific disciplines. Yet, the precision of results obtained in "virtual worlds" may be deceptive when they replace rather than reflect reality. The scope of this edited volume hence reaches beyond identifying areas in which computer-based simulations allow for results otherwise not possible, to include an assessment of their opportunities and limitations. Reflecting the field's interdisciplinarity, contributions range from astronomy over theoretical biology to economics."--BOOK JACKET.

Table of Contents

Introduction
Simulation and complexity — how they can relate
Bruce Edmonds	5	(30)
1 Introduction	5	(2)
2 About modelling	7	(4)
3 Chains of models	11	(2)
4 Consequences of modelling complex phenomena	13	(2)
5 Constraining our models	15	(2)
6 The meaning of our models	17	(4)
7 Example simulation models	21	(7)
8 Conclusions	28	(7)
Part I Simulations Exploring Micro-Structures
Modelling and simulation of cellular regulation for metabolic engineering
Eric von Lieres	35	(14)
1 Introduction	35	(1)
2 Cellular metabolism	36	(2)
3 Data basis	38	(1)
4 Metabolic modelling	39	(2)
5 Multi-scale approach	41	(1)
6 Parameter estimation	42	(1)
7 Simulation	43	(1)
8 Conclusions	44	(5)
Electronically metastable states in the valence ionisation spectra of small molecules
Imke B. Müller	49	(20)
1 Introduction	49	(1)
2 An intramolecular valence electronic decay mechanism	50	(4)
2.1 Energetics of the molecular electrons	50	(3)
2.2 Valence intramolecular electronic decay	53	(1)
3 Quantum mechanical description of ionisation	54	(8)
3.1 Schrödinger Equation and basis set	54	(1)
3.2 The Hartree-Fock Method [7]	55	(1)
3.2.1 Koopman's Theorem [8]	56	(1)
3.2.2 Beyond Hartree-Fock Methods [7]	57	(3)
3.3 Green's Function Methods	60	(2)
4 Examples for electronic decay in the ionisation spectrum of molecules: FCO-2 and FCO2H	62	(5)
5 Outlook and conclusions	67	(2)
Developing a tool for evaluating management strategies against parasitic weeds
Jan Grenz	69	(18)
1 Introduction	69	(3)
2 Materials and methods	72	(2)
3 Trial results	74	(2)
4 Simulations	76	(4)
5 Discussion	80	(7)
Part II Simulations Exploring Meso-Structures
Reputation formation as a percolation process a conceptual model and preliminary implementation
Valerie Feldmann and Katrin Muehlfeld	87	(18)
1 Introduction	87	(1)
2 Reputation as collective outcome of communication processes within social networks	88	(2)
2.1 Sketch of the relevant literature	88	(1)
2.2 Guidance in a world of uncertainty: the role of reputation	89	(1)
3 On the use(fulness) of percolation theory in a management context	90	(2)
3.1 Basic foundations of percolation theory	90	(1)
3.2 Applications of percolation theory to management issues	91	(1)
4 A model for simulating reputation formation and erosion	92	(9)
4.1 Conceptualisation of the model	92	(3)
4.2 Implementation of a preliminary basic model	95	(1)
4.3 Preliminary results from simulating the reduced model	96	(5)
5 Conclusion and directions for future research	101	(4)
5.1 Conclusion	101	(1)
5.2 Intended extensions to the model	101	(4)
Monte Carlo modelling of financial derivatives
Stefan Alex Popovici	105	(14)
1 Introduction	105	(1)
2 Financial derivatives	105	(3)
3 A sketch of the Black-Scholes model	108	(2)
4 Option prices and hedging strategies	110	(3)
5 Computing option prices using the Monte Carlo Method	113	(2)
6 Further development	115	(4)
Modelling the human anatomy and simulating medical image retrieval
Falk Uhlemann	119	(18)
1 Introduction	119	(1)
2 Medical image processing	120	(4)
2.1 Image retrieval	120	(1)
2.2 Pre-processing	121	(1)
2.3 Segmentation	122	(1)
2.4 Visualisation	122	(1)
2.5 Conclusion and motivation	123	(1)
3 Creating a gold standard	124	(1)
4 Simulation of realistic medical data	125	(1)
5 Method and model	125	(7)
5.1 General idea	125	(1)
5.2 The model for simulating SPECT data	126	(3)
5.3 A model for simulating PET data	129	(1)
5.4 Applications of the software phantom	130	(1)
5.4.1 Development and optimisation of segmentation algorithms	130	(1)
5.4.2 Optimisation and comparison of image fusion algorithms	131	(1)
6 Conclusion	132	(5)
Part III Simulations Exploring Macro-Structures
Kinematics of white dwarfs in the milky way –example of a computer simulation in astronomy
Eva-Maria Pauli	137	(16)
1 Introduction	137	(1)
2 Terms and definitions	137	(4)
2.1 White dwarfs	138	(1)
2.2 The structure of the milky way	138	(2)
2.3 The dark matter problem	140	(1)
3 Kinematics studies	141	(12)
3.1 Input data	141	(1)
3.2 The galactic velocity components	142	(2)
3.3 The computer simulation	144	(1)
3.4 The Jz-eccentricity-diagram	145	(2)
3.5 Orbits	147	(3)
3.6 Results	150	(3)
Numerical simulations in general relativity
Frank Löffler	153
1 Introduction	153	(1)
2 Physics	154	(3)
2.1 Foliations of spacetime	154	(2)
2.2 Matter	156	(1)
3 Tools	157	(6)
3.1 Computational tools	157	(1)
3.1.1 Lorene	157	(1)
3.1.2 Cactus	157	(1)
3.2 Visualisation tools	158	(1)
3.2.1 xgraph and ygraph	160	(1)
3.2.2 Gnuplot	160	(1)
3.2.3 Amira and OpenDX	161	(1)
3.3 Mathematical tools	162	(1)
3.3.1 Convergence tests	163	(1)
3.3.2 Noise tests	163	(1)
4 Examples	163	(1)
5 Summary	164