Workshop on Membrane Computing 2008

将细胞细分成由膜分隔的隔室的思想启发了包恩定义了一类新的(分布的和并行的)计算模型，称为膜系统[1]。膜系统的层次结构、相互作用的局部性、内在的并行性以及膜系统的能力(在较不基本的模型中)代表了膜系统的显著特征。膜系统(也称为P系统，其中P代表PAUN)的初步研究与理论计算机科学有关，特别是形式语言和计算复杂性理论。近年来，膜系统社区使用这些设备作为建模平台并通过从建模过程中收集的经验和挑战来为理论提供新的方向已成为一种日益增长的趋势。尽管膜系统社区在生物信息学和系统生物学等领域取得了令人振奋的结果，但在生物信息学和系统生物学等领域，膜系统社区并不为人所熟知。基于已有的结果，并考虑到它们的生物学灵感，我们坚信膜系统在生物动力学的建模中非常有用，例如，发育生物学、植物生物学、癌症生物学、细菌趋化性等。膜系统是一个允许我们建模的平台，预测和设计复杂的系统。他们全面的理论基础允许我们通过模拟和理论分析来鉴定复杂性，开发控制策略，并回答关于模型的问题。我们想组织一个研讨会，将生物信息学、系统生物学、膜系统社区聚集在一起，我们有机会做到这一点，因为Frisco博士被赋予了主持膜计算系列研讨会中的下一个(2008年)的任务。这样的会议将允许生物信息学和系统生物学社区了解和欣赏膜系统作为建模平台，虽然膜系统社区将受益于更多地了解生物信息学和系统生物学中存在的挑战，膜系统可以有效地应用于其中。当然，这也将是英国学术界对一般复杂系统建模(不仅与生物学相关)感兴趣的人了解(或了解更多)膜计算并与该领域的专家见面的一个很好的机会。我们注意到，开发和研究适用于广泛复杂系统的基础理论、工具和技术是英国目前和相关的需要。例如，最近EPSRC呼吁在复杂性科学的基础上提出建议，就把这一点作为重点。使用薄膜进行计算。计算机与系统科学学报，1(61)：108-143,2000。

The subdivision of a cell into compartments delimited by membranes has been an inspiration to G. Paun for the definition of a new class of (distributed and parallel) models of computation called membrane systems [1].Their hierarchical structure, their locality of interactions, their inherent parallelism and also their capacity (in the less basic models) for membrane division, represent the distinguishing hallmarks of membrane systems.Initial investigations in membrane systems (also known as P systems where the P stands for Paun) were concerned with theoretical computer science, formal language and computational complexity theory in particular.In later years it has been a growing trend in the membrane systems community to use these devices as modelling platforms and to inform new directions for theory via experience and challenges gleaned from the modelled processes.Despite promising results, the membrane systems community is not well known in fields such as bioinformatics and systems biology.Based on results already obtained, and given their biological inspiration, we strongly believe that membrane systems could be extremely useful in the modelling of biological dynamics in, for example, developmental biology, plant biology, cancer biology, bacterial chemotaxis, and so on.Membrane systems are a platform that allows us to model, predict and design complex systems.Their comprehensive theoretical bases allow us to qualify complexity, develop control strategies and answer questions about models through simulations and theoretical analysis.We want to organise a workshop that brings the bioinformatics, systems biology, membrane systems communities together, and we have the opportunity to do this since Dr Frisco has been given the task of chairing the next (in 2008) of the series of Workshops on Membrane Computing .Such a meeting would allow the bioinformatics and systems biology communities to learn about and appreciate membrane systems as modeling platforms, while the membrane system community would benefit by learning more about the challenges present in bioinformatics and systems biology to which the membrane systems could be usefully applied.Of course, this would be also a good opportunity for those in UK academia interested in new platforms to model complex systems in general (not only related to biology) to learn (or learn more) about membrane computing and meet the experts in this field.We note that the development and study of fundamental theory, tools and techniques applicable across a wide rage of complex system is a present and relevant need in the UK. For example, the recent EPSRC call for proposals in Fundamentals of complexity science , had this as its focus.[1] G. Paun. Computing with membranes. Journal of Computer and System Sciences, 1(61):108--143, 2000.