Evaluation of analytical methods in biological systems. Part A. Analysis of biogenic amines: Edited by Glen B. Baker and Ronald T. Coutts. Elsevier Scientific, Amsterdam/New York, 1982. 308 pp. $76.75
✍ Scribed by Jeffrey H. Hurst
- Book ID
- 102629277
- Publisher
- Elsevier Science
- Year
- 1983
- Tongue
- English
- Weight
- 215 KB
- Volume
- 132
- Category
- Article
- ISSN
- 0003-2697
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✦ Synopsis
BOOK REVIEWS
Quantitative Approaches to Metabolism: The Role of Tracers aad Models in Clinical Medicine. Edited by D. G. CRAMP. Wiley, 1982. 390 pp. $54.95. This book is a state-of-the-art presentation concerning the application of systems science to the problems of metabolic medicine. This work is roughly categorized into theory (Chapters 1 and 9) and application (Chapters 2-8 and 10). Chapter 1 begins with a substantive review of the processes of modeling. Particularly relevant are the paragraphs on realization as these paragraphs contain the rudiments of general systems theory necessary to carry on model building of apriori unknown biological systems or subsystems. The authors of this chapter, however, use realization in a very restrictive sense not to be confused with the more general case which is included in the discussion on identification. In addition the topics of minimal models, classes of minimal models, reduction to minimal models, the principle of parsimony, controllability, and observability are discussed under the headings of identifiability and validation. An excellent point is stressed regarding the necessity that assumptions and approximations should be made clear and explicit; however, assumptions and approximations are not included in the discussion of sensitivity under the beading of model validation. The authors do an excellent job of separating theoretical parameter identification from parameter estimation procedures as they are both important but quite separable parts of the modeling process.
A discussion of many of the practical problems associated with model building and interpretation are presented in Chapter nine. Of particular merit are the discussions and comparisons of steady state and nonsteady state conditions. Also, the discussions and comparisons of the use Evaluation of Analytical Methods in Biological Systems.