Principal areas of research and educational activity
(Comprehensive)
The Laboratory's primary mission is to progress in the conceptualization, critical analysis and translation-into-application of models and theoretical frameworks that are inherently cross-disciplinary and drawing upon elements within quantum physics, nonlinear dynamical systems, and organic-synergistic principles.
The main domain of work is in emergent, adaptive, self-organizing, non-linear, non-algorithmic dynamics in physical and biological processes at multiple scales of magnitude, complexity and organization. Special attention is directed to problems of interdependency, uncertainty and unpredictability in relationships between cooperative and competing components and systems. Development of organic and field-based models of understanding and predicting emergent critical processes is guided toward objectives of producing relevant and high-impact value for individuals and society, principally within the contexts of medicine, public health and safety, critical infrastructure resilience and sustainability.
Specific planned areas of basic fundamental research focus ("Leaps")
(Outlines)
(I) Topological and multi-solitonic dynamics, and the emergence of structure, organization and coherence from interactions among anomalies, instabilities and perturbations within fields and field-like spaces.
A general model is presented for the emergence and stability of structures arising from the interactions within a network of multiple dynamic components that can be represented as wave-like processes that possess solitonic properties such that factors influencing the nonlinear and dissipative terms of these processes, referred herein as "tensegritons," are modulated by the interactions with neighboring processes.
The model is motivated and suggested as being of value in addressing fundamental questions in particle physics and also for diverse other mathematical and physical applications including the representation of certain cognitive and cybernetic processes.
We begin by considering an n-dimensional space in which there exists a network of multiple processes, tensegritons, that behave as waves moving within specific constrained regions of the n-space that function as channels or chreodes. The chreodes define pathways by which signals propagate. These tensegritons are assumed to possess wave-like and in particular solitonic properties but we reserve at this point the assertion that these processes are describable by classical soliton equations because their own shape and form is influenced by the interactions with their neighbors. In this sense the model has some similarities with cellular automata systems but the analogy should not be over-extended.
We begin with the definition of the tensegriton as a modification of the general wave q. It is a string-like process occupying a general region (and staying within this region) in the n-space through which such a wave moves. The region through which a tensegriton qi moves can be likened to a channel or chreode. Its properties however are not external to the wave that propagates in this general vicinity but rather are defined by the probability density over time that this continuous wave is propagating within the bounded range of such a chreode. This range can be likened to a radius extending perpendicular from any point along the path of the chreode.
The general behavior of i may be likened to a spline curve but this should be taken only as an analogy. Its shape is determined over some history and influences the behavior of a particular wave qi - how is something to be explored further, since we need to identify what kind of relationship it makes sense to talk about between the different tensegritons and how the waveguide or chreode geometry can influence these relationships. We hypothesize for for this overall model we cannot predict in advance what will be the waveguide in which a particular wave qi travels and indeed, based upon the influencing factors upon qi by its neighbors in the network, the form of i can be changed over some arbitrary time interval.
Additionally we consider that the behavior of qi is really describing a probability density and that there is no actual wave following precisely the behavior of qi. The soliton description is an approximation. We may possibly describe the behavior of qi for instance more accurately in terms of a strange attractor function and we will give this the identifier i. What is i apart from qi? The former is defining what could be described as the motion of some particle but the latter is the probability density of this movement and it is what we are really concerned with.
(II) Eigen-sets of curvature and separability measure in n-dimensional spaces
A problem exists in distinguishing regions within an n-dimensional space when those regions may be adjoining, overlapping, and (from one instance of observation to others) undergoing nonlinear and unpredictable transformations affecting their individual and collective geometries. There may be methods for more efficiently and accurately rendering these regions into identifiable entities, each of which will consistently maintain some characteristics, qualitatively analogous to an eigenfunction but drawing upon a set of flow or gradient measures related to changes in curvature taken cumulatively from multiple segments of the region surfaces, that will maintain stability and distinguishability from those sets of neighboring regions with which they could otherwise be confused. If our investigations can be extended and shown to have merit, then this may open up a new pathway within mathematics and computational analysis that can be of value in many areas of current research, such as within image processing, surface and subsurface sensing, financial and psychohistorical trend forecasting, meteorology, cosmology.
(III) Inverse relational maps
Inverse models can be applied along with elements drawn from nonlinear dynamics (soliton theory), combinatorics (Ramsey theory) and topology (Morse theory) to form a potentially useful branch of mathematics applicable to a number of problems in science and engineering. The fundamental distinction from existing methods is in focusing attention not upon particle-oriented events such as scattering of photons but upon the identification of relational attributes between processes including physically distinguishable objects that govern the behavior of waves, particles and phenomena that can be modeled as wave-like or scatter-like behavior. The new approach, introduced as a Inverse Relational Map, applies network dynamics and graph representation to localize critical and dominant processes that are the influential determinants within the otherwise unknown functions that modulate basic forward models, and suggests a function analogous to a solitary wave or soliton as a measure of stability within the form of the network's relational topology.
(IV) Quantum biosolitonic communication and signaling of cell boundary geometries and topological (field) computation leading to intracellular gene activation and deactivation, particularly in the control of apoptosis metabolics, with a focus upon the study of cancerous and virally infected cells and a goal of developing experimentally testable models of controlled modulation of these dynamics.
This work addresses questions pertaining to the instantiation and triggering of epigenetic actions including histone-binding regulation of DNA. The model is based upon the hypothesis that cellular surface actions analogous to massively parallel systolic computations ("surface computing") effect and modulate communications via actin and intermediary filaments, including mechanotransduction effects, to the microtubulin-based cytoskeleton and that the structure dynamics of the cytoskeleton act as both a molecular memory bank or accumulator, modifying over time as a result of continued signaling from such cell surface processes and changes in cytoplasmic chemical balances and constituency as a result of the influx of molecular agents through the membrane. Thus the cytoskeleton is viewed as an intermediary active process in the "computation" (akin to summation and weighting of a simple feed-forward network, as in the calculation of local minima and maxima) that translates cellular membrane measurement events pertaining to the presence or absence of neighboring cells, antigen interaction, and the presence or absence of nutrients and other factors relevant to cell equilibrium, into discrete signals that result in epigenetic actions within the chromosomal bodies that in turn translate into genetic switching.
In the simplest formulation, the model suggests that (a) epigenetic actions are influenced and triggered by boundary measurements initiating with the cell membrane acting as a massive sensor of extracellular and cell-entrant events, (b) that the accumulative interactions of the cell membrane with its surface neighborhood, including penetrating agents such as antigens and viral bodies, are communicated into dynamic conformational changes in the cytoskeleton, and (c) that these conformations regulate the activity of epigenetic agents affecting histone binding and methylation which are the mechanisms for controlling the transcription of specific genes.
This model is then considered as a basis for a common mechanism of communicating measurements of extracellular conditions to a genetic activation process. Such extracellular measurements are those that indicate the presence or absence of particular biological entities - foreign (bacterial, viral) entities and same-type cells or adjoining-type cells and are effected by cellular surface computations performed principally through phospholipid membranes. The information is posited to pass through intermediary filaments to the cytoskeletal network, triggering activation or deactivation of various histones and methylating agents which in turn are responsible for gene expression of a form that regulates cell growth and differentiation.
Potential areas of applied and collaborative R&D focus ("Leaps")
(Outlines)
(I) Implementation and public testing and use of CRAIDO (Community Rapid Response to Infectious Disease Outbreaks) and other components of CUBIT including MADIT and VSRB, incorporating PodLab (reconfigurable and mobilizable lab architecture), NomadEyes (communications and situational response technology), and related mature technologies.
Key scientific activities: Next-generation PCR, BRET and immunoassay including "NanoPCR" techniques (faster, more accurate, longer-strand DNA/RNA amplification) and advanced lab-on-chip MEMS designs for more economical and efficient use in testing for markers as well as viral, bacterial, and forensic-related strains.
Key engineering activities: PodLab (esp. CRAIDO and EcoSense) units, plus NomadEyes.
(II) Assessment of observed metabolic and behavioral anomalies and potential predictor elements from long-term individual patient (subject) data for development of early-warning pointers of epigenetic factors in preventive approaches to selective oncological, cardiovascular, neurological and auto-immune disorders.
Key scientific activities: Analysis and modeling of causal and probabilistic/statistical network relationships, incorporating theoretical models of intracellular communication and computation, with a strong emphasis upon abductive model testing in conjunction with measurement of identified proteomic and genomic markers (close links with "LEAP" focal areas II and IV).
(III) Integration of non-invasive biometrics (e.g., pulse rate, blood pressure, breath rate) for improving the accuracy and speed, and reducing costs, in monitoring of trauma-sensitive patients and other probably high-risk emergency medicine patients (e.g., pandemic and/or WMD-attack victims).
Key scientific activities: mathematical and computational development, algorithms and informatics, novel microsensors.
(IV) Application and redirection of mathematical, computational, instrumental and systems-level research and development toward "on-demand" applied scientific and engineering tasks, particularly attuned to wider-scale public health, public safety and critical infrastructure sustainability applications. Tasks may vary widely depending upon contracts, funding support, and interests of other faculty and students. One example is refinement of PALLAS or "P4" models, both computational and strictly analytical, for individual-focus anomaly detection, tracking, modeling relevant to behavioral profiling and preventive or "socio-prophylactic" measures.
Key scientific activities: Algorithm and model development, applications of CUBIT, PodLab and NomadEyes technologies, and human-intensive abductive/synthetic profiling and modeling.
Key engineering activities: Field deployment and testing for certain types of project work, primarily related to epidemic/pandemic and forensic incidents.
(V) PBC-EGIA-Genesis - research in the domain of the life sciences, concentrating upon complexity and coherence models of cell biology and
topological interactions for intracellular signaling and communications pertinent to gene activation and deactivation. The primary
research plan is being directed at questions of Epigenetic and Genetic Impact and Adaptation in Response to
Acute and Sustained Environmental Trauma. This work is now progressing from theory and modeling to planned experimental studies including
field work in two particular physical sites, the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone (Zona) and the Fukushima Exclusion Zone.
