Fractional Calculus for Skeptics II: Quantifying Roughness

By Bruce J. West and YangQuan Chen

This second volume of the multi-volume Fractional Calculus for Skeptics explores the concept of "roughness" and its applications in complex systems. It demonstrates how fractional calculus offers valuable insights into modeling real-world phenomena that traditional calculus struggles to address.

Building on the first volume's foundational work advocating a fractal/fractional calculus paradigm shift, this volume offers an in-depth exploration of the concept of "roughness," drawing parallels to what Beno t B. Mandelbrot originally intended to call the "Science of Roughness." The book introduces the novel concept of "body roughness" and demonstrates its practical applications through two case studies of "roughness-informed rehabilitation therapy" with closed-loop control systems. One study involves non-invasive, 40-Hz gamma-frequency sensory stimulation for Alzheimer's disease, and the other involves biologically variable ventilation using roughness-informed, closed-loop control. The four chapters are complemented by valuable appendices and essential chapter-end references, as well as insightful "take-home messages."

This book will appeal to students, researchers, and professionals in STEM fields, including engineering, physics, biology, biomedicine, control engineering, rehabilitation, big data, and machine learning.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1041171188
• ISBN13: 9781041171188
• Release Date: March 2026
• Publisher: CRC Press
• Length: 184 Pages