Identifiability and identification of switched linear biological models

Abstract

Pulse is often used to excite biological systems. The inputs such as irrigation, therapy, and treatments to biological systems are also equivalent to pulses. This makes the biological system behave as switched models under the function of the input. To reduce difficulty in model parameter estimation, the system could be represented as a switched linear model under the pulse excitation. In this research, we studied the identification of a class of switched linear biological models with single input and the system matrix dependent on the intensity of excitation. System identifiability and identification were discussed. A recurrent-pulse excitation method was devised to provide necessary constraints for parameter estimation. The recurrent-pulse technique allowed determination of model parameters that would otherwise be difficult to determine uniquely. The usefulness of the method was demonstrated by examples including delayed fluorescence from photosystem II, which was well known as a versatile tool for sensing plant physiological status and environmental changes in the literature.

Keywords: Identifiability; Modeling; Perturbation signal; Switched linear model.