Publications by authors named "R Bowness"

To model complex systems, individual-based models (IBMs), sometimes called "agent-based models" (ABMs), describe a simplification of the system through an adequate representation of the elements. IBMs simulate the actions and interaction of discrete individuals/agents within a system in order to discover the pattern of behavior that comes from these interactions. Examples of individuals/agents in biological systems are individual immune cells and bacteria that act independently with their own unique attributes defined by behavioral rules.

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Mathematical models have been used to study the spread of infectious diseases from person to person. More recently studies are developing within-host modeling which provides an understanding of how pathogens-bacteria, fungi, parasites, or viruses-develop, spread, and evolve inside a single individual and their interaction with the host's immune system.Such models have the potential to provide a more detailed and complete description of the pathogenesis of diseases within-host and identify other influencing factors that may not be detected otherwise.

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Mathematical modellers model infectious disease dynamics at different scales. Within-host models represent the spread of pathogens inside an individual, whilst between-host models track transmission between individuals. However, pathogen dynamics at one scale affect those at another.

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Article Synopsis
  • Understanding bacterial response to environmental stress is often slow due to insensitivity in current growth detection methods, taking over 24 hours to yield results.
  • A new system called SLIC was developed to measure bacterial growth more quickly, achieving detection of low bacterial counts (10-100 cfu/mL) in just under four hours by analyzing light scattering.
  • The study revealed significant differences in growth dynamics and antibiotic sensitivity between closely related bacterial strains, providing essential insights for faster determination of antibiotic resistance and improving treatment models.
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During the COVID-19 pandemic, mathematical modeling of disease transmission has become a cornerstone of key state decisions. To advance the state-of-the-art host viral modeling to handle future pandemics, many scientists working on related issues assembled to discuss the topics. These discussions exposed the reproducibility crisis that leads to inability to reuse and integrate models.

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