Modeling the Impact of Alternative Immunization Strategies: Using Matrices as Memory Lanes.

ABSTRACT: Existing modeling approaches are divided between a focus on the constitutive (micro) elements of systems or on higher (macro) organization levels. Micro-level models enable consideration of individual histories and interactions, but can be unstable and subject to cumulative errors. Macro-level models focus on average population properties, but may hide relevant heterogeneity at the micro-scale. We present a framework that integrates both approaches through the use of temporally structured matrices that can take large numbers of variables into account. Matrices are composed of several bidimensional (time×age) grids, each representing a state (e.g. physiological, immunological, socio-demographic). Time and age are primary indices linking grids. These matrices preserve the entire history of a

SUBMITTER: Alonso WJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4624994 | biostudies-literature | 2015

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature