Multi-scale modeling is now at what might be called its gestational stage
For centuries, mathematics has been an indispensable ally of the physical sciences and engineering. Planes fly and telephones work because engineers know how to simplify physical systems into...
Apr, 01, 2006
Simulations illuminate the inner workings of blood at multiple levels
Understanding blood flow and coagulation is crucial to treating blood disorders such as hemophilia and thrombosis, and to dealing with diseases such as AIDS, malaria, and diabetes that have...
Jun, 07, 2012
A combination of genomics data and molecular dynamics modeling is sufficient to predict protein complex structure
The zone where two proteins interact presents a possible target for drug design. But identifying possible drugs requires a detailed understanding of the interface between the proteins. Computer...
Apr, 01, 2010
Database automatically mines literature for drug-gene relationships--and does it as well as manually curated databases.
When a drug saves one person but makes another ill, a bitter lesson in genetic differences often follows. With many such lessons already under our collective belts, researchers are using existing...
Jan, 01, 2010
The Fall 2005 “Under the Hood” column discussed the curse of dimensionality—too many numerical components for each data point—and the curse of dataset sparsity—too few...
Oct, 01, 2010
Computer models find that various ion channel arrangements can produce the same firing pattern
Each cell in our nervous system is an instrument in a complex symphony of electrophysiologic communication. A neuron’s signaling abilities arise from its array of ion channels—tunnels...
Jan, 01, 2007
A grant to develop software tools to analyze how neurons distribute themselves within the brain
Do neurons need personal space like people in an elevator? Are they influenced by their neighbors or do they randomly find a home in the brain? If the arrangement is patterned, what is the cause of...
Jun, 01, 2005
How precise an image can fluorescence microscopy provide?
As modern optics and cell biology have flourished in recent years, they’ve each driven innovation in the other. Yet commonly employed imaging techniques, such as fluorescence microscopy, have...
Sep, 01, 2011
For a century, neuroscientists have dissected, traced, eavesdropped on, and are now compiling a seemingly endless cast of players in the nervous system. As we keep gathering more and more molecular...
Apr, 01, 2009
Set objectives and follow through
Having engineered several scientific software applications for public consumption, the authors know from experience that the process offers unique challenges. Typically, the algorithms being...
Oct, 22, 2012