Rising output
The CA is controlled by the following buttons:
Start: CA are planted.
Hide CA-1 Hide CA-2
Out CA-1+: raise output rate
Out CA-2+: raise output rate
Out CA-1-: reduce output rate
Out CA-2-: reduce output rate
Infection: Infect CA-1
Information:
Output rates, Resources, Size, Illness indicator.
Previously health was defined as a complete
replenishment of resources. Yet the organism may also be
healthy with less resources. Here health is defined otherwise.
When the system establishes a steady state (solution) it is
healthy, and when perturbed it is ill.
1. Set outCA-1 = 0 and outCA-2 = 0 (out1=0; out2=0).
The system is at its best. Click on Hide-CA-2 and then
on Infection. Recovery is fast and illness brief.
2. Raise gradually the CA-1 output rate from 0 to 2 leaving
CA-2 output rate at 0 (out1>0; out2=0).
Hide CA-2 and observe CA-1. As its output rate rises, the CA
shrinks. Nevertheless it is healthy since at each rate it creates
a solution (steady state). When you click on Start the
system may get ill, yet will rapidly recover. At each rate click
on Infection and observe how fast the system
recovers. At low output rates it recovers pretty fast. At higher
rates (>1) It will recover yet soon get sick again. Now illness
is chronic.
3. . Set outCA-1 = 1 and outCA-2 = 1 (out1=1; out2=1)..
Click on Start and then on Infection Since lacking
resources the system needs more time to recover. Nevertheless
it will become healthy (with low resources.
4. . Set outCA-1 = 2 and outCA-2 = 2 (out1=2; out2=2)..
Click on Start and then on Infection Occasionally
it will not respond and remain healthy. The system is somewhat
immune to the infection and you will have to overpower it with
additional clicks whereupon its illness will become chronic.
Occasionally it may recover. Generally it will attempt to rescue
itself yet remain ill.
Illness and health
You will notice that chronic illness is also a solution
(attractor) yet other than health. When becoming ill the system
simply creates a new solution which we regard as illness. From
the system’s perspective there is no essential difference
between health and illness. Illness and health are
defined by the observer. The philosopher Ludwik
Fleck said: "It is easier to cure a patient than
really to know what his disease is". According to Fleck
diseases are constructed by physicians for didactic reasons,
and for communication.
Health and tolerance
This experiment illustrates the difference
between health and tolerance. Whatever the output
rate the system will establish a solution (steady state. Tolerance
is a measure of the system’s resources. With rising output,
resources are drained, its tolerance to perturbation (infection)
declines, and it needs more time to recover. Tolerance
may thus be estimated by challenging the system.