Preface -- Contents -- Chapter 1 System Features, Dynamics, and Resilience - Some Introductory Remarks -- 1. Complex Systems -- 2. The micro-macro span -- 3. Dynamics -- 4. Fluctuations and shocks -- 5. Resilience and vulnerability -- 6. This book -- References -- PART ONE The "Vertical" System Structure and Meso-Level Characteristics -- Chapter 2 Mesoscopic Levels in Science - Some Comments -- References -- Chapter 3 The Necessity for Mesoscopic Organization to Connect Neural Function to Brain Function -- 1. Introduction -- 2. Bridging the gap from neuron to brain -- 3. Selection and definition of dynamic state variabels by input-output relations -- 4. Considerations regarding linear and circular causality -- 5. Summary -- Acknowledgement -- References -- Chapter 4 Dynamic State Transitions in the Nervous System: From Ion Channels to Neurons to Networks -- 1. Introduction -- 2. Ion channels: The microscopic scale -- 3. Neurons: The mesoscopic scale -- 4. Neuronal networks: The macroscopic scale -- 5. Conclusions -- Appendix A: Computation of the neuron models -- Appendix B: Neural network model -- References -- Chapter 5 A Revolution in the Middle Kingdom -- 1. Introduction -- 2. Less radical contingencies -- 3. Dynamical agents at the focal level -- 4. Causis formalis as meso-scale agency -- 5. The middle realm as the domain of the organic -- 6. The aftermath of revolution -- Acknowledgement -- References -- Chapter 6 The Meso-Scale Level of Self-Maintained Reflective Systems -- 1. Introduction: Phenomenon of actualization - Percolating between micro- and macro-scales -- 2. The scale of space-time structures -- 3. Time as a separation of contradictory statements between scales -- 4. Maintenance of hierarchical space-time structure - Computation -- 5. Structure of computation device -- 6. Exhibitions of subjective activity - Iteration and limits.

7. Reflective structure of living system -- 8. Perception - Construction of space-time image -- References -- PART TWO Inner and Outer Dynamics -- Chapter 7 Time Rescaling and Generalized Entropy in Relation to the Internal Measurement Concept -- 1. Introduction -- 2. External and internal measurement -- 3. Time rescaling in systems with a finite number of states -- 4. Numerical examples -- 5. Possible conclusions and relevant applications -- References -- Chapter 8 Studying Dynamic and Stochastic Systems Using Poisson Simulation -- 1. Introduction -- 2. Examples of meso-scale models using Poisson simulation -- 3. Conclusions and discussion -- Acknowledgement -- References -- Chapter 9 Resource Dynamics, Social Interactions, and the Tragedy of the Commons -- 1. Introduction -- 2. Model -- 3. Slow resource dynamics -- 4. Fast resource dynamics -- 5. Social interactions and optimal exploitation -- 6. Discussion -- 7. Conclusions -- Acknowledgements -- References -- Chapter 10 Stability of Social Interaction -- 1. Introduction -- 2. The stage game -- 3. Parametric interaction -- 4. Non-parametric interaction -- 5. Conclusion -- Notes -- References -- PART THREE Resilience and Shocks -- Chapter 11 Systems, Shocks and Time Bombs -- 1. Introduction -- 2. Modelling strategies -- 3. Are time-bomb phenomena important? -- 4. Heuristic approaches to time-bomb phenomena -- 5. Conclusions -- References -- Chapter 12 Biodiversity Decreases the Risk of Collapse in Model Food Webs -- 1. Introduction -- 2. Food web model and analysis -- 3. Results and discussion -- 4. Conclusions -- Acknowledgements -- References -- Chapter 13 A Long-Term Perspective on Resilience in Socio-Natural Systems -- 1. Introduction: What is an (environmental) crisis? -- 2. Are environmental crises due to changes in the external environment.

3. Environmental problems are socio-natural problems -- 4. 'Sustainability' -- 5. Criticisms of 'sustainability' -- 6. Resilience -- 7. A 'Complex Systems' perspective on socio-natural dynamics -- 8. A model of a dynamic socio-natural system -- 9. Resilience in dynamic socio-natural systems -- 10. What influences the resilience of a socio-natural system? -- 11. A case-study: The Comtat -- Where do we go from here? -- Acknowledgements -- Notes -- References -- Chapter 14 Resilience in Utility Technologies -- 1. Scope of paper -- 2. Case study 1: Electricity generation -- 3. Case study 2: Water recycling -- 4. Case study 3: Ecotechnology and water treatment -- 5. Concluding comments and questions -- References -- Chapter 15 Economic Growth Under Shocks: Path Dependencies and Stabilization -- 1. Introduction -- 2. Exponential economic growth -- 3. Stabilization of growth: Anticipative and adaptive strategies -- 4. Convergence, traps and path dependencies -- 5. Stochastic optimization model -- 6. Concluding remarks -- References -- Chapter 16 Risk and Crises Management in Complex Systems -- 1. Introduction -- 2. Self-organised criticality -- 3. The aggravating factors model -- 4. Managing catastrophic events -- 5. Empirical study -- 6. The need for resilience -- 7. Implications for crisis and risk management -- 8. Structural properties of complex systems -- 9. Conclusion -- References -- Chapter 17 Bridges, Connections and Interfaces - Reflections over the Meso Theme -- 1. The grand bridge: From the very small to the very large -- 2. Life as phenomena at the meso level: The issue of reductionist couplings between levels -- 3. Neural systems, brains and sensation: The interface between realms of existence -- 4. The connection between nature and society: On linking apples and pears -- 5. On interdisciplinarity and the challenges for knowledge production.

Notes -- References -- Index -- A -- B -- C -- D -- E -- F -- G -- H -- I -- J -- K -- L -- M -- N -- O -- P -- Q -- R -- S -- T -- U -- V -- W -- Y -- Z -- List of Authors.