Date of Award

2017

Degree Name

Mathematics

College

College of Science

Type of Degree

M.A.

Document Type

Thesis

First Advisor

Anna Mummert

Second Advisor

Bonita Lawrence

Third Advisor

Michael Schroeder

Abstract

The inflammatory response is the body's response to some pathogen or foreign invader. When infected by a pathogen, a healthy individual will mount a response with immunological factors to eliminate it. An inflammatory response that is either too strong or too weak can be detrimental to the individual's health. We will look at a qualitative mathematical model of the inflammatory response, in scenarios that represent varying disorders of the immune system. Using sensitivity analysis we determine which parameters of this model are most influential in the different scenarios. By determining which parameters are most influential we can suggest possible targets for treatments to these conditions which are traditionally difficult to control.

Subject(s)

Inflammation -- Research -- Methodology.

Sensitivity theory (Mathematics)

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