Compartmental Modeling with Networks (Modeling and Simulation in Science, Engineering and Technology)

Book Description

This new advanced text/reference book presents compartmental models or flow models from an applications perspective. Flow models are used when there is a flow of information or materials, such as fluid of money or energy between the components of a system. They are widely used in biomedicine but have also useful applications in studying ecosystems, input-output analysis, competition, models, and epidemology. In order to provide a complete and balanced presentation, the book is organized in four parts. Part 1 is devoted to the theory of digraphs; Part 2 addresses Markov chains; Part 3 discusses differential equations; and Part 4 presents the theory of compartmental models, addressing the relations between dynamics of the solution and structure of the model. Key applications discussed include ecosystem models, fluid transfer, competition models, tracer kinetic experiments, and network flows. Essential topics and methods are presented in an accessible style with many examples: directed graphs, differential equations, Markov chains, and compartmental model construction. The material provides a thorough and comprehensive presentation of compartmental models, model construction and applications. All advanced students, practitioners and professionals in bioscience and applied mathematical modeling will find the book a useful and excellent reference.

Customer Reviews:

Macdonald at his Best.......2007-07-04

The father of fantasy scores big in this sequel to the "The Princess and the Goblin." A must for all fantasy and fairy tale fans. Before Tolkien and Lewis there was Macdonald.

The Princess and Curdie.......2007-04-17

THIS BOOK IS AWESOME!!! I'M 13 AND I LOVE THIS BOOK!!! I RECCOMEND IT TO EVERYONE WHO LIKES C.S. LEWIS OR SIMILAR AUTHORS. READ IT!!!!!!!!

Religious themes are too heavy handed.......2006-04-30

I love religious themes in children's literature, but The Princess and Curdie got too preachy for me. I really disliked the resolution with its Bosch-like vision of the torments experienced by sinners--it had that feeling of titallation. And the ending? How depressing and slapped on it seems! There's plenty of other fantastical, well-written literature that wrestles with moral dilemmas. I won't be including this in my library of children's books.

A good book, but missing the innocence of the 1st book.......2005-12-28

George MacDonald once again delivers a magical book, filled with adventure and meaning, a delight to read. In this book, MacDoanld shows belief in the extraordinary. Muiltiple times, the great-great-Grandmother does something which requires action which seems to go against worldly reason. MacDonald, I think, is showing that we do not do the will of God in SPITE of reason, but BECAUSE of it. At one point, the Grandmother commands Curdie to plunge his hands into her fire, which Curdie does at once. At first glance, it appears that this is done in spite of reason, for who finds it reasonable to burn themselves? On the second glance, perhaps, we see that it is done, not in a lapse into an irrational leap of faith, but becaue Curdie has good REASON to beleive that the Grandmother knows what is best. In the same way, when God wants us to do something which seems rediculous to worldly reason, it look to the world as if we have abandoned reason and take a leap of faith. Just as in Curdie's case, this is incorrect. We do the will of God, not irrationally, but because we have good reason to believe that God knows what is best, and will keep His promises.

I was a little dissapointed with this book, however, because it somehow does not keep the spirit of the first. The Princess and the Goblin was a tale of innocence, wheras the innocence is lost in this tale. The plotline also seemed less deep, though it was still good. Do not mistake me, this is an very good book, but it is not quite as good as The Princess and the Goblin, which was a masterpiece. Of course, once cannot be expected to turn out masterpieces on a regular basis, indeed, one in a lifetime is quite an achievement in itself.

"I Have Been Trying to Cultivate Your Family Tree...".......2005-06-21

"The Princess and the Goblin" is one of the gems of children's literature, which deserves to sit on any bookshelf. The same can not be said of its sequel "The Princess and Curdie", which differs so much in tone and content from the original, that it is sometimes difficult to remember it is in fact a sequel to the dreamy, beautiful "The Princess and the Goblin". Don't get me wrong, I love George MacDonald's wonderful books, and although there are some nuggets of wisdom scattered throughout the book and Irene's grandmother is as fascinating as ever (as well as being one of the few feminine representations of Christian mysticism in children's literature) this particular MacDonald novel left me a little cold.

It begins extremely well: after the cataclysmic events at the conclusion of the previous book, the Princess Irene and her father have departed the ruined manor house for her father's castle in the kingdom's capital Gwyntystorm. Curdie and his parents have remained on the mountainside, continuing their humble existence as miners. But Irene's magical great-great-great grandmother still has plans for the young miner, and after he kills one of her pigeons he remorsefully seek her out in order to atone for his crimes. This is precisely what the goddess-like figure of the grandmother hoped for, and within a few chapters she has Curdie all set to go on a quest of his own.

But like any good fairy-godmother figure, she equips him with some magical gifts before he goes: the first is the ability to recognise a person's inner being simply by shaking their hands (given via her magical fire-roses). The second is a bizarre looking creature named Lina that will accompany him on his journey. His destination is Gwyntystorm, to the Princess and the King, and the trouble that awaits him there. On the way he encounters several strange creatures; a ragtag much of indescribable animals (which serve a purpose later in the story) and a flock of sinister white birds (which don't, and whose presence in the story is a bit of a mystery). Finally he reaches Gwyntystorm only to find the place is over-run with corruption and a sinister plot against the King.

However, there are several things that bothered me throughout the course of the story. First of all is the plot line of the incapacitated king being secretly manipulated by his ministers; even in MacDonald's day this was a tired old story that's been done to death in everything from ancient myth to Arthurian folklore to Lord of the Rings.

Secondly is the myriad of plot devices that he brings into the story only to completely ignore later on. This includes the afore-mentioned white birds, but this is a minor occasion that is easily forgotten. More crucial is the character of Lina and the other creatures who are hinted to be transformed humans atoning for their sins; but their development never goes past this hint into something deeper.

Third is the treatment with which MacDonald handles many of his characters. On the course of the journey Curdie meets with hardly any decent or worthy people. With the exception of Derba and her young granddaughter, the entire world seems to be made up of rude, greedy, loathsome individuals who throw rocks, call names, set dogs on travellers and other heinous things. Of course, this may be truer to life than some would like to admit, but the inclusion of so many horrible people, both in the palace and in the streets is wearying after a while. It is especially painful when MacDonald gets to the climax of the story, when all the wrong-doers are inevitably punished for their sins. Perhaps some readers will get a sense of self-righteous pleasure out of the pain MacDonald places upon them, but for me it felt as though an almost sadistic pleasure was taken in terrifying and destroying these people: a man whose nose is bitten all the way through, women and children are scared witless, a man's finger is bitten off, and MacDonald's own words: "they were smeared with rancid dripping, their faces were rubbed in maggots." My ideas of Christianity and its meanings are based around redemption, forgiveness and grace; yet I found very little of such things here. All the things I have described are found within the chapter: "Vengeance" and continues in "More Vengeance." Didn't God say: "Vengeance is mine?" Isn't wrath one of the seven deadly sins?

Finally the King himself goes out, but by this stage I had to wonder: is there anyone left in his city to govern? By making the city of Gwyntystorm such a vile place I found no pleasure in the characters' successful defence of it, and the final page of the book that recounts the ultimate fate of the city is utterly unappealing.

I hate writing bad reviews, especially when they disagree with other Amazon.com reviewers whose opinions I often agree with and whose advice I take (that's you E. A. Solinas!), but I really didn't like "The Princess and Curdie." Don't let this put you off other George MacDonald books, especially "The Princess and the Goblin" but I recommend you give this one a miss.

The George McDonald Treasury: Princess and the Goblin, Princess and Curdie, Light Princess, Phantastes, Giant's Heart, At the Back of the North Wind, Golden Key, and Lilith

Average customer rating:

Great stories, but...

The George McDonald Treasury: Princess and the Goblin, Princess and Curdie, Light Princess, Phantastes, Giant's Heart, At the Back of the North Wind, Golden Key, and Lilith
George, McDonald
Manufacturer: Kahley House Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0978891430

Book Description

This enchanted collection brings together eight of George McDonald's most well known fantasies into one delightful volume. The George McDonald Treasury includes The Princess and the Goblin, The Princess and Curdie, The Light Princess, Phantastes, The Giant's Heart, At the Back of the North Wind, The Golden Key, and Lilith. MacDonald's classic works have inspired deep admiration in such notables as J. R. R. Tolkien, C. S. Lewis, G. K. Chesterton, Elizabeth Yates, and Lewis Carroll. C. S. Lewis wrote, "I have never concealed the fact that I regarded him as my master; indeed I fancy I have never written a book in which I did not quote from him." One day while in a train station, he picked up a copy of Phantastes and began to read. "A few hours later," said Lewis, "I knew I had crossed a great frontier." G. K. Chesterton cited The Princess and the Goblin as a book that had "made a difference to my whole existence." Madeleine L'Engle wrote, "Surely George MacDonald is the grandfather of us all-all of us who struggle to come to terms with truth through imagination." If you loved J. R. R. Tolkien's Hobbit and Lord of the Rings, you will love the works of his hero and model - George McDonald.

Customer Reviews:

Great stories, but..........2007-05-09

...the Phantastes story does not have the original quotes that preceded each chapter's events. I found the quotes and passages added to the understanding of the events, but they are omitted here.

The Princess and Curdie (Princess Irene, 2)

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The Princess and Curdie (Princess Irene, 2)
George MacDonald
Manufacturer: Tantor Media, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: 1400100852

Book Description

In this sequel to The Princess and the Goblin, Curdie has returned to his life as a miner and has dismissed the supernatural happenings of the past, believing them to have been a dream. When Curdie callously wounds a pigeon, his conscience leads him to Princess Irene's mystical great-great-grandmother for help. She has him plunge his hands into a pile of rose petals that burns like fire. Extraordinarily, this grants him the power to see what kind of "animal" a person is at heart.
She then sends him on a quest, accompanied by a peculiar doglike creature named Lina, who was once a human. However, Curdie must resolve his own skepticism before he can use the powers granted to him to defeat the evil that is threatening the future of the kingdom.

The Princess and the Goblin and The Princess and the Curdie

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The Princess and the Goblin and The Princess and the Curdie

Manufacturer: American Education Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Product Description

Two stories in one book. Irene, a little princess, is protected by her friend, a boy named Curdie, from the goblin miners who live beneath the castle. Curdie was a little boy who worked in the mines with his father, but when he was chosen by a beautiful mysterious fairy to save the King and the Princess, his whole life changed. Scans are of: book front cover; book back cover and an example of the lovely illustrations inside the book

The Princess and Curdie (Princess Irene)

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The Princess and Curdie (Princess Irene)

Manufacturer: Grosset & Dunlap
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Product Description

Victorian-era children's book. A coal miner's child helps the Princess. Frontis illustration in color by Maria L Kirk.

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The Princess and Curdie
George MacDonald
Manufacturer: Aegypan
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 1598182358

Book Description

In the years since the end of The Princess and the Goblin, Curdie has managed to convince himself that the supernatural events of that tale were products of his wild imagination. But then events draw him back to Grandmother -- that is, Mother Wotherwop, Princess Irene's great-great-great-grandmother, the Lady of the Silver Moon -- and Curdie regains his innocence and his faith. The Lady sends him on a quest to help the king and princess confound their enemies -- and save the kingdom!

The Princess and Curdie (Found in the Attic, 12)

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A hero's tale

The Princess and Curdie (Found in the Attic, 12)
George MacDonald
Manufacturer: Quiet Vision Pub
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1576466345

Customer Reviews:

A hero's tale.......2005-12-06

One of the most memorable characters from George MacDonald's "The Princess and the Goblin" was the miner boy Curdie, who rescues Princess Irene and infiltrates the goblin kingdom. But the princess was the real focus on the book, not her miner boy.

However, the sequel "The Princess and Curdie" shifts the focus from Irene to Curdie. MacDonald's otherworldly writing elevates what could have been a simple morality tale, and makes it both horrifying and beautiful. This is one book that doesn't suffer as a sequel.

Time has passed since the events of the first book, and now Curdie is back in the mines, and has come to believe that Irene's great-great-grandmother is "nothing but ridiculous nonsense." Then one day he thoughtlessly shoots a pigeon -- a pigeon that happens to belong to that lady. Overcome with remorse, he carries the pigeon to the tower where she lives.

The lady forgives Curdie, but gives him a mission to fulfil, to make up for it: He and a repulsive creature called Lina must find a way to save the king from his malignant advisors. To do that, she gives him the power to tell whether a man is good at heart -- or is turning into a beast.

About ninety-nine percent of the time, it would be a rotten idea to make a sequel to a book like "The Princess and the Goblin." It was charming, magical and optimistic. So why mess with something that is already perfect?

But "The Princess and Curdie" has the success of being a more mature, darker book, with a surprisingly palatable moral lesson. The skeptical Curdie learns that "whoever does not mean good is always in danger of harm," and MacDonald provides a small glimpse at the darker side of human nature.

MacDonald's writing stays dreamy and vaguely otherworldly, even with such ordinary things as a family sitting down to dinner, or children running out to see a dog. The only problem is the ending, a few paragraphs that could have been easily left out, which seem needlessly pessimistic after the book's triumphant events.

MacDonald continues wotj the mysterious, goddess-like presence of the old princess, hinting that she is everywhere under different names. And Lina is an especially poignant addition, a woman who did something, and ended up being turned into a grotesque creature as a punishment.

While "The Princess and Curdie" is very different from its predecessor, it is also a rich, enchanting fantasy story that builds on the strengths of MacDonald's first "Princess" book.

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