The first of two volumes from the May 2009 conference presents new results in function theory and optimization. The 21 papers propose an algorithm for continuous piecewise affine maps of compact support, investigate the stability of cycles in gene networks with variable feedbacks, and describe polynomial maps of the affine space. Other topics include optimal control of a dynamical biological system, algebraic and analytic properties of quasimetric space with dilations, the Schwarz kernel in Clifford analysis, and global holomorphic approximations of Cauchy-Riemann functions. No index is provided. Annotation ©2011 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)