US-Czechoslovakia Research on Coupled and Forced Oscillatoryand Excitable Systems in Chemistry and Biology

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The primary objective of this US-Czechoslovak cooperative research project between Dr. Irving Epstein of Brandeis University and Dr. Milos Marek of the Prague Institute of Chemical Technology is to examine basic qualities of inorganic chemical and biochemical systems consisting of units that can display oscillatory or excitable behavior. When coupled together, these units may exhibit unusual and important properties such as growth or cessation of oscillatory behavior or chaotic phenomena. Both theorectical and experimental studies will be undertaken. Results should provide insight into the new phenomena that can arise when nonlinear reaction dynamics are coupled with concentration gradients and the effects of diffusion. Knowledge of this phenomenon of excitability and its influences may lead to an ability to predict the behavior of a periodically forced oscillator or pair of coupled oscillators which would be of considerable interest to chemists and biologists studying coupled dynamical systems. This project in inorganic and bioinorganic chemistry fulfills the program objective of advancing scientific knowledge by enabling leading experts in the United States and Eastern Europe to combine complementary talents and pool research resources in areas of strong mutual interest and competence.