ALBERT

Notes: Abstract In order to evaluate the effect of anatomic asymmetries on the gas concentration distribution in the pulmonary airways, a Monte Carlo simulation of combined bulk flow and molecular diffusion was carried out in a realistic distal airway model (Parkeret al., 1971). This airway model, composed of branches distal to the 0.5-ram diameter airways, contained an upper symmetric segment consisting of four generations of conducting airways and a lower asymmetric segment of alveolar ducts and sacs arranged in five transport paths of varying lengths. In accounting for the volume increases of these ducts and sacs occurring during normal respiration, uniform alveolar filling rates and a fixed length-to-diameter ratio of all airways were assumed. For a pulse injection of inert tracer gas, the simulation was employed to determine the longitudinal concentration profiles in the conducting airways. In the alveolated airways, not only were the longitudinal profiles determined along each path, but radial transport from the core to the periphery of the airways was considered. The results of the simulations indicate that geometric asymmetries alone contribute substantially to regional concentration variations in the distal airways. For example, when a gas bolus is injected at mid*inspiration, there are concentration differences as great as 40% between two points along different transport paths located equi-distant from the proximal end of the model. As viewed from the terminal end of the model (acinus), average concentration differences as large as 6-to-1 exist between the longest and shortest transport paths respectively for gas boli introduced near the end of inspiration. The results further indicate because of large radial diffusion rates, no significant concentration differences exist between the periphery a-ld the central core of alveolated airways. Simulation of the expired concentration profiles indicate that boll injected very late during inspiration exhibit a sloping tail, unlike the earlier injected boll whose tails are virtually horizontal. Through the use of superposition teehniqnes, it was found that these sloping tails correspond to an alveolar slope of 1.5 vol% between 750 and 1250 ml expired for a continuous washing of tracer. This result is in disagreement with other transport analyses which did not directly account for the effect of geometric asymmetries.

Notes: Abstract Assuming a spherical geometry for the left ventricle, passive elastic stiffness-stress relations have been obtained on the basis of linear elasticity theory and large deformation theory. Employing pressure-volume aata taken from rat hearts of various age groups, it is shown that young rat heart muscle (1 month) is stiffer than either adult (7 months) or old rat heart muscle (17 months). Although the qualitative results are similar for both elasticity theories, the large deformation theory gave results in closer agreement with those obtained from papillary muscle studies. These results imply that stiffness of muscleper se can be assessed from left ventricular pressure-volume data.

Notes: Abstract Deliberate evaluation of the quantum theory of nerve excitation is made by comparing it with Hill's theory in fitting the experimental data on threshold-frequency relation, optimum frequency (v0) for nerve excitation and strength-duration relation. Decrease of v0 and increase of all the time constants (Hill's λ andk, Wei'sT 2 and spike durationw) with decreasing temperature are interpreted on the basis of the dipole relaxation timeT 2 but inexplicable from Hill's theory or any other existing theory. The closeness ofk,T 2 andw values is explained. A variety of experimental results obtained by others is discussed. Finally, a comparison is made between the Hodgkin-Huxley equations and the quantum theory. Most of the facts (electrical and non-electrical) tend to support the thesis that nerve excitation is a macroscopic expression of quantum transitions of dipoles between energy states.

Notes: Abstract In the periodic Leslie model the asymptotic period of total population is a divisor of the asymptotic period of the population vector. Under reasonable circumstances these periods are identical.

Notes: Abstract A number of biological branching systems, such as the bronchial and pulmonary arterial trees, are being investigated in an ongoing study in order to define their physiological properties. The technique involves the description of branching trees by the use of hierarchical systems of ordering, especially those described by Horsfield and by Strahler. During this work some mathematical properties of branching trees were demonstrated and these are described in this paper.

Notes: Abstract Luteinizing hormone (LH) is secreted continuously from the anterior pituitary gland. The concentration in the blood of this gonadotropic hormone plays a regulatory role in the development of puberty in both sexes, in the induction of ovulation in females, and in the production of testosterone in males. The secretion of LH is in turn controlled by luteinizing hormone releasing hormone (LHRH) secreted by the hypothalamus. LH and LHRH are removed from the blood by degradation and excretion. This hormonal system is modelled by a system of ordinary differential equations based upon specific physiological and biochemical assumptions current among experimentalists in this field. The one exception is the assumption that LHRH may bind reversibly to a serum protein; an analysis of the data shows that this or a similar mechanism is a crucial specification. Data on the serum levels of LH and LHRH in two human subjects were fitted using the model. The data consist of the transients and subsequent decays created by a bolus intravenous injection of LHRH.

Notes: Abstract A thick-wall incompressible, elastic sphere was used as a model for the diastolic rat left ventricle. A model for myocardial nonhomogeneity was derived assuming that fiber (circumferential) stress was independent of position in the ventricular wall. The theoretical implications of the resulting constitutive relations together with the spherical model were analyzed in the context of large deformation elasticity theory. It was found that muscle stiffness at a given level of uniaxial stress increased monotonically from the endocardium to the epicardium. In addition, fiber stress was found to be essentially a linear function of transmural pressure above a pressure of 6 g/cm2. It was also shown theoretically that neglecting the nonhomogeneity of the myocardium resulted in a state of stress which differed significantly from that predicted by the nonhomogeneous model. For example, at a transmural pressure of 14 g/cm2, fiber stress in the nonhomogenous model was equal to 17 g/cm2 while fiber stress in the homogeneous model varied between 100 g/cm2 at the endocardial surface and 2 g/cm2 at the epicardial surface. The change in muscle stiffness with position which characterized the nonhomogeneous model also tended to linearize the highly curvilinear radial stress distribution predicted by the homogeneous model at a given transmural pressure.

Notes: Abstract The phenomenon of axonal transport has been well documented (Ochs, 971; Lasek, 1970; and Grafstein, 1967). In a previous paper, we showed how diffusion alone could not account for this process. In this report we show that convection or convection with diffusion can account for the observed build-up of material. By including a first-order catabolic sequestration term, we are able to offer an understanding of the several apparent rates of transport with the same underlying velocity and variable sequestration.

Notes: Abstract It is known that the Lotka-Volterra coupled nonlinear differential equations for a two-species prey-predator ecosystem possess a periodic solution, although its exact form is not yet obtained analytically. The conventional linearization approximation for solving these nonlinear equations leads to a harmonic oscillator whose frequency depends only on the intraspecific coefficients. We propose here a prescription for obtaining nonlinear correction to the linear frequency by using the Hamilton-Jacobi canonical formalism of classical mechanics. It is found that the first-order correction, which also involves interspecific parameters, exhibits the basic qualitative features of the nonlinearity.

Notes: Abstract Environmental safety testing typically requires procedures for extrapolating from the relatively high experimental to the very low use doses of potentially harmful substances. In the present paper, a stochastic mammillary compartmental model for environmental safety testing is proposed and extrapolation procedures based on its dose-response relationship are developed. The proposed model is a direct generalization of one of the basic safety models, the one-hit model, in that a harmful reaction is assumed to occur if at any time any of the peripheral compartments attains a specified threshold of particles. Consideration of a closed model yields an upper bound on the probability of attaining a certain threshold level, thus providing a conservative procedure for extrapolating to a low dose, while a lower bound obtained from a related open model provides a useful monitoring device as to the sharpness of the upper, bound. The extrapolation procedure is illustrated with simulated data and approximations for initial values are developed.

Notes: Abstract By using chromosome images as a framework, algorithms for finding most dissimilar images are presented and illustrated by examples. In terms of angles, a chromosome image consists of two exterior biangles and two interior biangles. Biangles are defined and classified into 180° biangles, 〉180° biangles and 〈180° biangles. The dissimilarity of biangles and its geometric interpretation together with various properties of biangles are also presented. The results may have useful applications in pattern recognition, scene analysis, information storage and retrieval, artificial intelligence and fuzzy set theory.

Notes: Abstract The Volterra equations which represent competitions between two species are utilized to examine the phenomenon of boundary formation between two species of plants. The set of stable stationary points for these equations is determined and is illustrated in a product space of parameters and dynamical variables. The stages of boundary appearance and succession are visualized by considering slow changes of the parameters as functions of time and space.

Notes: Abstract We consider a host-solitary parasitoid system with three categories of individuals: parasitoids, healthy hosts and parasitized hosts. Parasitoids are assumed to discriminate perfectly between the two kinds of hosts and they can reject those which are already parasitized. If parasitoids systematically accept or reject superparasitism or behave randomly, the system is always unstable. Using an optimal foraging model, we determine the behavior of parasitoids which leads to maximization of the instantaneous reproductive rate. When following this adaptive decision rule, parasitoids accept or refuse superparasitism according to the densities of both healthy and parasitized hosts. We study the dynamics of the system when parasitoids follow the optimal rule and show that under certain conditions it possesses a locally stable equilibrium point. In addition, our model predicts that at equilibrium parasitoids show partial preferences for superparasitism.

Notes: Abstract A system of differential equations for the control of tumor growth cells in a cycle nonspecific chemotherapy is analyzed. Spontaneously acquired drug resistance is taken into account, and a criterion for the selection of chemotherapeutic treatment is used. This criterion purports to describe the possibility of improvement of the patient's health when treatment is discontinued. Contrary to our early results which also take drug resistance into account, in this context strategies of continuous chemotherapy in which rest periods take part may be better than maximum drug concentration throughout the treatment (which appears to be in accordance with clinical practice). This bears out our previous conjecture that when drug resistance is accounted for, the imperfections in the usual modelling of treatment criteria, which in general do not allow for patient recuperation, ruled out the possibility of rest periods in optimal continuous chemotherapy.

Notes: Abstract A logistic density-dependent matrix model is developed in which the matrices contain only parameters and recruitment is a function of adult population density. The model was applied to simulate introductions of white-tailed deer into an area; the fitted model predicted a carrying capacity of 215 deer, which was close to the observed carrying capacity of 220 deer. The rate of population increase depends on the dominant eigenvalue of the Leslie matrix, and the age structure of the simulated population approaches a stable age distribution at the carrying capacity, which was similar to that generated by the Leslie matrix. The logistic equation has been applied to study many phenomena, and the matrix model can be applied to these same processes. For example, random variation can be added to life history parameters, and population abundances generated with random effects on fecundity show both the affect of annual variation in fecundity and a longer-term pattern resulting from the age structure.

Notes: Abstract A system of differential equations for the control of tumor cells growth in a cycle nonspecific chemotherapy is presented. Spontaneously acquired drug resistance is accounted for, as well as the evolution in time of normal cells. In addition, optimization of conflicting objectives forms the aim of the chemotherapeutic treatment. For general cell growth, some results are given, whereas for the special case of Malthusian (exponential) growth of tumor cells and rather general growth rate for normal cells, the optimal strategy is worked out. The latter, from the clinical standpoint, corresponds to maximum drug concentration throughout the treatment.

Notes: Abstract This study examines the influence of various host-feeding patterns on host-parasitoid population dynamics. The following types of host-feeding patterns are considered: concurrent and non-destructive, non-concurrent and non-destructive, and non-concurrent and destructive. The host-parasitoid population dynamics is described by the Lotka-Volterra continuous-time model. This study shows that when parasitoids behave optimally, i.e. they maximize their fitness measured by the instantaneous per capita growth rate, the non-destructive type of host feeding stabilizes host-parasitoid dynamics. Other types of host feeding, i.e. destructive, concurrent, or non-concurrent, do not qualitatively change the neutral stability of the Lotka-Volterra model. Moreover, it is shown that the pattern of host feeding which maximizes parasitoid fitness is either non-concurrent and destructive, or concurrent and non-destructive host feeding, depending on the host abundance and parameters of the model. The effects of the adaptive choice of host-feeding patterns on host-parasitoid population dynamics are discussed.

Notes: Abstract Game theory has had remarkable success as a framework for the discussion of animal behaviour and evolution. It suggested new interpretations and prompted new observational studies. Most of this work has been done with 2-player games. That is the individuals of a population compete in pairwise interactions. While this is often the case in nature, it is not exclusively so. Here we introduce a class of models for situations in which more than two (possibly very many) individuals compete simultaneously. It is shown that the solutions (i.e. the behaviour which may be expected to be observable for long periods) are more complex than for 2-player games. The concluding section lists some of the new phenomena which can occur.

Notes: Abstract A method allowing to measure the inhomogeneous distribution of purines/pyrimidines in nucleotide sequences is developed. We show that this measure relates to the coding or non-coding character of the considered sequence. Coding sequences present a near to the random Pu or Py distribution. This property is shared by both protein-coding DNA and functional RNA-coding DNA. Non-coding sequences present a highly clustered inhomogeneity. We propose the hypothesis, corroborated with appropriate computer simulations, that this is due to the action of various transposition events accumulated for long time periods.

Notes: Abstract The potential generated in the smooth muscle of the vas deferens on release of a quantum of transmitter from a varicosity was analyzed using a three-dimensional bidomain continuum model. Current was injected at the origin of the bidomain; this current had the temporal characteristics of the junctional current. The membrane potential, intracellular potential, and extracellular potential, as well as the extracellular current, were then calculated throughout the bidomain at different times. Calculations were performed to show the effect of changing the anisotropy ratios of the intracellular and extracellular conductivities on the spread of current and potential in each of the three dimensions. These results provide a theoretical framework for ascertaining the time course of transmitter interaction at a varicosity following the secretion of a quantum of transmitter.

Notes: Abstract Parabolic growth invariably results in the survival of all competing types. Under the constraint of constant total concentration, there is a unique equilibrium in the simplex interior, which is asymptotically stable inside the whole simplex. The appropriate Lyapunov function is obtained in terms of the excess productivity which is shown to be maximized for the competitive system with fractional order kinetics. Claims to the contrary are refuted.

Notes: Abstract The purpose of this study was to investigate strategies in the monotherapy treatment of HIV infection in the presence of drug-resistant (mutant) strains. A mathematical system is developed to model resistance in HIV chemotherapy. It includes the key players in the immune response to HIV infection: virus and both uninfected CD4+ and infected CD4+ T-cell populations. We model the latent and progressive stages of the disease, and then introduce monotherapy treatment. The model is a system of differential equations describing the interaction of two distinct classes of HIV—drug-sensitive (wild type) and drug-resistant (mutant)—with lymphocytes in the peripheral blood. We then introduce chemotherapy effects. In the absence of treatment, the model produces the three types of qualitative clinical behavior—anuninfected steady state, andinfected steady state (latency), andprogression to AIDS. Simulation of treatment is provided for monotherapy, during theprogression to AIDS state, in the consideration of resistance effects. Treatment benefit is based on an increase or retention in CD4+ T-cell counts together with a low viral titer. We explore the following treatment approaches: an antiviral drug which reduces viral infectivity that is administered early—when the CD4+ T-cell count is ≥300/mm3, and late—when the CD4+ T-cell count is less than 300/mm3. We compare all results with data. When treatment is initiated during the progression to AIDS state, treatment prevents T-cell collapse, but gradually loses effectiveness due to drug resistance. We hypothesize that it is the careful balance of mutant and wild-type HIV strains which provides the greatest prolonged benefit from treatment. This is best achieved when treatment is initiated when the CD4+ T-cell counts are greater than 250/mm3, but less than 400/mm3 in this model (i.e. not too early, not too late). These results are supported by clinical data. The work is novel in that it is the first model to accurately simultate data before, during and after monotherapy treatment. Our model also provides insight into recent clinical results, as well as suggests plausible guidelines for clinical testing in the monotherapy of HIV infection.

Notes: Abstract A mathematical model which describes adhesion of bacteria to host cell lines is presented. The model is flexible enough to account for the following situations: extracellular bacteria are either in exponential or in stationary phase. Adhesion is described as a reversible binding process in which the bacteria attach to or detach from specific receptors uniformly distributed on the cell surface. In turn, attached bacteria can either replicate or, conversely, they are restrained to remain in stationary phase. In the first case, however, we must consider the problem of whether the decrease of unoccupied receptors as adhesion progresses imposes a limit to the replicating capacity of the attached bacteria. The effect exerted by the multiplicity of infection (MOI), i.e. the ratio of the number of bacteria to the number of host cells, on the process of adhesion is also contemplated by the model. This has revealed that experiments performed at the same values of MOI can show completely different levels of adhered bacteria, depending on the number of host cells in the assays. This finding demonstrates that the report of the MOI values is insufficient to characterize comparative studies of bacterial adhesion since it could lead to a misunderstanding of the corresponding data. Simplified models based on the steady-state approximation and in equilibrium analysis by means of a Lagmuir adsorption isotherm for the attached bacteria are also discussed. This allows us to define the adhesion coefficient (β) in a given bacterium-cell system so that, with the exception of those systems where these coefficients cannot be defined, larger values of β are related to a greater adhesion capacity. An overview of the procedures to perform quantitative adhesion data analysis is outlined. Finally, theoretical predictions are compared with experimental results from the literature.

Notes: Abstract A new measure of toxicity based on stochastic modelling of single photon-counting processes, representing time-resolved phagocyte luminescence of xenobiotic-perturbed human neutrophils, has been constructed. The stochastic measure of toxicity has been verified by the QSAR method, and then compared and contrasted with the traditional toxicity measure used in bio- and chemiluminescent research. Phenol and benzene homologues were chosen as perturbers due to their importance from the viewpoint of ecotoxicology and occupational medicine.

Notes: Abstract We describe a mathematical model of the flow and deformation in a human teat. Our aim is to compare the theoretical milk yield during infant breast feeding with that obtained through the use of a breast pump. Infants use a peristaltic motion of the tongue, along with some suction, to extract milk, whereas breast pumps use a cyclic pattern of suction only. Our model is based on quasi-linear poroelasticity whereby the teat is modelled as a cylindrical porous elastic material saturated with fluid. We impose a cyclic axial suction pressure difference across the teat and impose a radial compressive force moving along the teat which mimics infant suckling. This is compared to the case of cyclic and steady pumping only which models the action of breast pumps. The results illustrate that there is an optimal time to apply the compressive force during the suction cycle that will increase the flow rate in our theoretical teat. The model and results may be of use in the future design of effective breast pumps.

Notes: Abstract In the present work, we study the propagation of solitary waves in a prestressed thick walled elastic tube filled with an incompressible inviscid fluid. In order to include the geometric dispersion in the analysis the wall inertia and shear deformation effects are taken into account for the inner pressure-cross-sectional area relation. Using the reductive perturbation technique, the propagation of weakly non-linear waves in the long-wave approximation is examined. It is shown that, contrary to thin tube theories, the present approach makes it possible to have solitary waves even for a Mooney-Rivlin (M-R) material. Due to dependence of the coefficients of the governing Korteweg-deVries equation on initial deformation, the solution profile changes with inner pressure and the axial stretch. The variation of wave profiles for a class of elastic materals are depicted in graphical forms. As might be seen from these illustrations, with increasing thickness ratio, the profile of solitary wave is steepened for a M-R material but it is broadened for biological tissues.

Notes: Abstract Adult dermal wounds, in contrast to fetal wounds, heal with the formation of scar tissue. A crucial factor in determining the degree of scarring is the ratio of types I and III collagen, which regulates the diameter of the combined fibers. We developed a reaction-diffusion model which focuses on the control of collagen synthesis by different isoforms of the polypeptide transforming growth factor-β (TGFβ). We used the model to investigate the current controversy as to whether the fibroblasts migrate into the wound from the surrounding unwounded dermis or from the underlying subcutaneous tissue. Numerical simulations of a spatially independent, temporal model led to a value of the collagen ratio consistent with that of healthy tissue for the fetus, but corresponding to scarring in the adult. We investigated the effect of topical application of TGFβ and show that addition of isoform 3 reduces scar tissue formation, in agreement with the experiment. However, numerical solutions of the reaction-diffusion system do not exhibit this sensitivity to growth factor application. Mathematically, this corresponds to the observation that behind healing wavefront solutions, a particular healed state is always selected independent of transients, even though there is a continuum of possible positive steady states. We explain this phenomenon using a caricature system of equations, which reflects the key qualitative features of the full model but has a much simpler mathematical form. Biologically, our results suggest that the migration into a wound of fibroblasts and TGFβ from the surrounding dermis alone cannot account for the essential features of the healing process, and that fibroblasts entering from the underlying subcutaneous tissue are crucial to the healing process.

Notes: Abstract Oscillations in cytosolic Ca2+ concentrations in living cells are often a manifestation of propagating waves of Ca2+. Numerical simulations with a realistic model of inositol 1, 4, 5-trisphosphate (IP3)-induced Ca2+ wave trains lead to wave speeds that increase linearly at long times when (a) IP3 levels are in the range for Ca2+ oscillations, (b) a gradient of phase is established by either an initial ramp or pulse of IP3, and (c) IP3 concentrations asymptotically become uniform. We explore this phenomenon with analytical and numerical methods using a simple two-variable reduction of the De Young-Keizer model of the IP3 receptor that includes the influence of Ca2+ buffers. For concentrations of IP3 in the oscillatory regime, numerical solution of the resulting reaction diffusion equations produces nonlinear wave trains that shows the same asymptotic growth of wave speed. Due to buffering, diffusion of Ca2+ is quite slow and, as previously noted, these waves occur without appreciable bulk movement of Ca2+. Thus, following Neu and Murray, we explore the behavior of these waves using an asymptotic expansion based on the small size of the buffered diffusion constant for Ca2+. We find that the gradient in phase of the wave obeys Burgers' equation asymptotically in time. This result is used to explain the linear increase of the wave speed observed in the simulations.

Notes: Abstract The robustness of patterning events in development is a key feature that must be accounted for in proposed models of these events. When considering explicitly cellular systems, robustness can be exhibited at different levels of organization. Consideration of two widespread patterning mechanisms suggests that robustness at the level of cell communities can result from variable development at the level of individual cells; models of these mechanisms show how interactions between participating cells guarantee community-level robustness. Cooperative interactions enhance homogeneity within communities of like cells and the sharpness of boundaries between communities of distinct cells, while competitive interactions amplify small inhomogeneities within communities of initially equivalent cells, resulting in fine-grained patterns of cell specialization.

Notes: Abstract We study Edidin and Graham's equivariant Chow groups in the case of torus actions. Our main results are: (i) a presentation of equivariant Chow groups in terms of invariant cycles, which shows how to recover usual Chow groups from equivariant ones; (ii) a precise form of the localization theorem for torus actions on projective, nonsingular varieties; (iii) a construction of equivariant multiplicities, as functionals on equivariant Chow groups; (iv) a construction of the action of operators of divided differences on theT-equivariant Chow group of any scheme with an action of a reductive group with maximal torusT. We apply these results to intersection theory on varieties with group actions, especially to Schubert calculus and its generalizations. In particular, we obtain a presentation of the Chow ring of any smooth, projective spherical variety.

Notes: Abstract In this paper we explicitly determine the virtual representations of the finite Weyl subgroups of the affine Weyl group on the cohomology of the space of affine flags containing a family of elementsn t in an affine Lie algebra. We also compute the Euler characteristic of the space of partial flags containingn t and give a connection with hyperplane arrangements.

Notes: Abstract LetG be a connected, simply-connected, real semisimple Lie group andK a maximal compactly embedded subgroup ofG such thatD=G/K is a hermitian symmetric space. Consider the principal fiber bundleM=G/K s →G/K, whereK s is the semisimple part ofK=K s ·Z K 0 andZ K 0 is the connected center ofK. The natural action ofG onM extends to an action ofG 1=G×Z K 0 . We prove as the main result thatM is weakly symmetric with respect toG 1 and complex conjugation. In the case whereD is an irreducible classical bounded symmetric domain andG is a classical matrix Lie group under a suitable quotient, we provide an explicit construction ofM=D×S 1 and determine a one-parameter family of Riemannian metrics Ω onM invariant underG 1. Furthermore,M is irreducible with respect to Ω. As a result, this provides new examples of weakly symmetric spaces that are nonsymmetric, including those already discovered by Selberg (cf. [M]) for the symplectic case and Berndt and Vanhecke [BV1] for the rank-one case.

Notes: Abstract The Wigner bispectrum of multicomponent signals is studied, and its modified and reduced forms are introduced. A generalization of the presented forms to the Wigner higher-order spectra (WHOS), in the case of multicomponent signals, is provided. From our previous work it is known that cross terms removal (reduction) is possible for odd-order spectra with equal numbers of conjugated and nonconjugated terms. Here, we extend the analysis to even-order spectra. The theory is illustrated by examples.

Notes: Abstract We describe methods to establish identifiability and information-regularity of parameters in normal distributions. Parameters are considered identifiable when they are determined uniquely by the probability distribution and they are information-regular when their Fisher information matrix is full rank. In normal distributions, information-regularity implies local identifiability, but the converse is not always true. Using the theory of holomorphic mappings, we show when the converse is true, allowing information-regularity to be established without having to explicitly compute the information matrix. Some examples are given.

Notes: Abstract The extendibility of estimated correlation bisequences from an available sampled data array is described in terms of the generating functions of associated block Toeplitz with Toeplitz block (BTTB) matrices. The periodogram-based correlation bisequences are shown to be extendible. It is shown that the method of resultants and subresultants is convenient for generating the nonlinear constraints in the optimization problem which is solved iteratively for power spectrum estimation. A nontrivial example illustrates the concepts developed.

Notes: Abstract A multiresolutional approach is presented for effectively recognizing three-dimensional (3D) objects. The approach is both pose and scale invariant. A multiresolutional model base is constructed, and multiscale edges of the object are detected using the wavelet transform. The minimum alignment between model base and object is realized by the linear mapping scheme.

Notes: Abstract The potential for data compression in using fractal interpolation functions (FIFs) is realized by the construction of a set of multirate filters. The filter tap weights are determined by optimizing the energy contents of a preselected set of frequency bands. This filter bank implementation of the FIF is successfully used to compress data simulated in a tracking environment.

Notes: Abstract A first-order autoregressive filter is altered by changing the constant gain to two or more gains that cyclically alternate in time. The advantages of this system are shown, and the relation to linear autoregressive moving average difference equations of higher order is derived.

Notes: Abstract This paper refers to the fast implementation of the positional forward acceleration of the end effector of revolute robotic arms with spherical wrists, using the distributed arithmetic technique. The acceleration of the end effector is calculated by a cascade configuration of two pipelined arrays that calculate the Jacobian matrix and its time derivative, as well as the centrifugal-Coriolis and linear accelerations. These partial accelerations are then added in the adder tree. The building blocks of the arrays are the distributed arithmetic-based circuits that implement the matrix-vector multiplications involved in the calculations. The digit-serial configuration of the proposed implementation of the positional forward acceleration of the end effector is described. The serial and the parallel configurations may result as special cases of the digit-serial configuration. The proposed distributed arithmetic (DA) implementation of the positional forward acceleration may be applied, after appropriate modifications, to the general case of robots having either revolute or prismatic joints, with any type of wrist.

Notes: Abstract This paper addresses the calculation of the extrema of the sin x/x function. First the Newton-Raphson method is used, which allows us to obtain the extrema locations very fast through the use of a recursion formula. Then a second approach is proposed, which gives the extrema locations and the extrema amplitudes in the form of series expansions. Simple, accurate algebraic expressions are derived.

Notes: Abstract We give some existence results for a resistive network in which the components are neither voltage nor current controlled; that is, they are merely unicursal. In fact we allow coupling. Degree arguments give existence and bounds. We study several ways of avoiding the requirement of eventual passivity. No-gain and passive multiterminal elements are included. The results are extended to infinite networks.

Notes: Abstract Random sampling is one of the methods that can overcome the Nyquist limit when evaluating a frequency spectrum of a signal. However, the computational complexity becomesN 2 as the FFT cannot be used. A new approach, called hybrid additive random sampling, is proposed. This new scheme is devised by concatenating random sampling sequences in such a way that symmetry is created in the transform kernel for reducing the computational effort while the anti-alias property is maintained. A savings of the least 75% in computation is achieved. The sampling scheme is also found to be suitable for parallel implementation. In this paper, the algorithms for generating the sampling sequence and evaluating the spectrum are described in detail. The performances of the scheme in terms of noise, accuracy, etc., are compared with genuine random sampling and another approach proposed previously. The advantages and limitations are included.

Notes: Abstract This paper presents a comparison between the traditional image processing method and the area vector concept as well as the new technique of artificial neural networks. Freeman chain coding is considered in the study, and the principle of segmentation may be based and implemented for further investigations resulting from the proposed work. The pattern recognition concept is analyzed and defined through the sigmoid function and the determination of the threshold of a gray image for an object. The block schemes for the given protocols are summarized in a single scheme for illustration and comparison purposes. The synthetic pictures are generated and investigated regarding the dependence of computer vision on the contents of the artificial neural network. The normalization technique is included to eliminate noise and zooming problems. The minimum computational time for image processing with the generated pictures is also determined. The rate of deflection in the computational time is recommended for sensing the minimum computational time according to the variation of the number of hidden units in the hidden layer. A three-layer neural network has been used. The study of gray binary imaging for color pictures is illustrated to save computational time and effort.

Notes: Abstract Of concern is an environment made up of signals and systems tightly confined both in time and frequency. Such an environment is often encountered in transmission line circuits, radar, sonar, and optical circuits, and when the principal signals are well-defined sharp pulses. It will be seen that once this environment is achieved, the signals and systems possess some attractive properties. A conventional system may preserve the symmetry of a propagating signal or change its symmetry from even to odd or from odd to even. Another system may be used to predict the arrival of an incoming pulse with a high degree of accuracy. Electrical networks may also be associated with these properties. Approximation problems, existence theorems, and realization schemes will be addressed and developed.

Notes: Abstract This paper develops a new digitally redesigned pulse-amplitude modulated (PAM) controller for a continuous-time input time-delay/nondelay system with nonsynchronous sampling. The concept of the law of the mean from the input integral calculus is utilized for the development of the equivalent digital predictor controllers from the available analog predictor controllers. As a result, the digitally controlled states closely match the original continuous-time states. To implement the developed discrete-time state-feedback PAM controller, this paper also develops an ideal discrete-time state using nonsynchronously sampled input-output data of the continuous-time input delay/nondelay system without establishing a dynamic observer.

Notes: Abstract The model-matching problem for systems described by external models is considered in frameworks of both external and input-output equivalence. Necessary conditions for the solvability of the problem are produced, and it is shown that in certain cases these conditions are also sufficient. In the case where necessary and sufficient conditions exist, the solutions of the problem are obtained in a constructive way and a parametrization of solutions is given.

Notes: Abstract This paper addresses the invariance property of Gaussian signals, originally derived by Bussgang, which characterizes the input/output moment relation of a hybrid nonlinear moment (HNM) estimator based on a zero-memory nonlinearity (ZMN) g(y). Some re-derivations of this property are reviewed, and an original, direct, and simple proof is presented (Appendix 1). The paper then derives a new interpretation of this property (Theorem 1) that shows a moment-sense equivalence between g(y) and a linear mappingh 1(y) whose coefficients a0 and a1 are completely characterized in terms ofg(y) and are shown to be optimal in a mean square error (MSE) sense. A direct and very interesting byproduct of this interpretation is a simple linear relationship between the input and output of the HNM estimator involved. The property is then generalized (Theorem 2) to signals other than Gaussian, resulting in an infinite cumulant series expansion of the HNM estimator output, whose coefficients are all characterized in terms ofg(y). Applications of Theorem 1 to some ZMNs commonly used in signal processing and control theory are presented that clearly illustrate the power and elegance of the invariance property. Finally, some conclusions are given.

Notes: Abstract In this paper the connection between ‘mass’M, ‘resistance’ϱ and ‘commute time’θ for random walks on graphs is further explored, and the relationθ=2M ·ϱ is proved. An extension of the result is made to multigraphs, which are an extension of the graph concept where a black box is treated like an edge.

Notes: Abstract Let {S(A):A ∈A}, whereA is a subset of an infinite-dimensional normed linear spaceL, be a class of general nonlinear input-output systems that are governed by operator equations relating the input, state, and output, all of which are in extended spaces. IfQ is a given operator from a specified set ¯D i, of inputs into the space of outputs ¯H 0, the problem we consider is to find, for a given ɛ〉0, a “parameter”A ε∈A such that the transmission operatorR(A ε) ofS(A ε) furnishes a nearly best (or ɛ-best) approximation toQ from allR(A),A ∈A. Here the “distance” betweenQ andR(A) is defined as the supremum of distances betweenQz andR(A)z taken over allz ∈ ¯D i. In Theorems 2 through 5 we show that ifS(A) is “normal” (Definition 2),A satisfies some mild requirement andL contains a fundamental sequence, then establishingA ε∈A reduces to minimizing a certain continuous functional on a compact subset ofR n, and thus can be carried out by conventional methods. The applications of results are illustrated by the example of a model-matching problem for a nonlinear system, and of optimal tracking.

Notes: Abstract It is shown that the elementsG of a large class of input-output maps can be uniformly approximated arbitrarily well using a certain structure if and only ifG is continuous. For the case considered the system inputs and outputs are defined on a discrete set {0, 1,...,a 1}×...{0, 1,...,a m }, in which a1,...,a m are positive integers. Our approximating structure involves certain functions that can be chosen in different ways. For the special case in which these functions are taken to be certain polynomial functions, the input-output map of our structure is a generalized discrete Volterra series. Our results provide an analytical basis for the use of such series.

Notes: Abstract In this paper, the stability robustness of deterministic state feedback discretetime linear quadratic (LQ) optimal regulators for the performance index with cross-product terms is analyzed. Guaranteed stability margins for such a type of LQ optimal regulator are suggested for the first time. These stability margins are obtained on the basis of a modified return difference equality and are expressed directly in terms of the elementary cost and system matrices. Sufficient conditions to guarantee the required stability margins are presented. Finally, the connection between the suggested stability margins and the selection of weighting state, input, and cross-product matrices is investigated, and useful guidelines for choosing proper weighting matrices are presented.

Notes: Abstract A number of apparently different lines of inquiry into fundamental biological processes point to the central role played by the notion of observation in the theory of biological systems. Not only do we use the results of our own observations to obtain the system descriptions which are the starting-points for an understanding of biological processes, but it is a basic postulate of physics that the interactions between biological systems themselves can be regarded as observations. On this basis, it is clear that we cannot properly understand biological interactions unless the observables we employ for system description are the same as those involved in the interactions we are describing. To do this requires a general theory of observables and system description, establishing the relationship between different modes of description. A sketch of such a theory is developed in the present paper, using only two postulates: (a) that all interactions are determined by the values of observables of a system evaluated on specific states, and (b) that real-valued observables suffice. As an application, a specific test is proposed whereby it can be determined whether the observables employed to describe interacting systems are sufficient to specify the observables involved in the interaction itself.

Notes: Abstract Differential equations are derived whose solution gives the cross-sectional shape of a flexible tube as a function of the transmural pressure. These equations are solved digitally to produce a series of closed curves, each curve representing the shape of a cross section for a particular set of conditions. These are then applied to the case of systemic arteries, pulmonary arteries, and large veins. The results predict that systemic arteries must always be circular, even when the internal and external pressures are equal. In veins, a small positive internal pressure causes them to become circular, regardless of their initial state, with negligible stretching. Further increases in internal pressure cause the area of the cross section to increase due only to stretching, the shape remaining essentially circular. With pulmonary arteries, known to be noncircular, changes in the cross-sectional area result from a combination of stretching and changes of shape.

Notes: Abstract Stochastic models of human reproduction are beginning to play significant roles in the evaluation of family planning programs. A class of stochastic processes called absorbing, agedependent, semi-Markov processes frequently arises in the construction of such models. The paper begins with a discussion of some technicalities regarding absorbing, age-dependent, semi-Markov processes. Then, an algorithm due to Littman, which makes possible the computerization of this class of stochastic processes, is presented. Briefly, Littman’s algorithm provides an efficient method for numerically solving systems of renewal type integral equations, provided the system does not contain a large number of equations. After setting down a concrete model for a large clinical trial of intrauterine devices conducted in Taiwan, the paper concludes with a discussion of a method for validating the model based on the data collected in the clinical trial.

Notes: Abstract Some theoretical requirements for the valid use of hemolytic plaque inhibition as a method for studying cellular selection and recognition in an immune response are reviewed. Aside from providing a rational basis for the use of this technique, the theory resolves a growing body of apparently conflicting results on the affinity regulation of IgM secreting cells and can also be used to deduce structural (in particular, morphological) features of the IgM molecule. The diverse predictions of the theory are examined in light of experimental results and find support in a wide data base. Additional specific experiments are proposed which can be used in conjunction with the theory to help clarify the relation between cellular proliferation and maturation.

Notes: Abstract A theory of the cell volume is presented with emphasis on the swelling effect of high concentrations of KCl and other chloride salts. In this theory a particular cell volume represents a state of balance between the tendency of the cell water to build deeper layers of polarized water and the restraining forces exerted by the salt linkages and H-bonds. Taking into account also the different structure-breaking effects of different salts, theoretical curves can be constructed which describe the complex multiple peak-plateau of swelling curve observed in frog muscle in response to increasing concentrations of different chloride salts.

Notes: Abstract A method, based on symmetry, is suggested for determining the information content of systems. A comparison has been made between the information for symmetry, topology, and chemical composition. The new information measure increases when the asymmetry of the molecules and the number of atoms in the latter increases. It can distinguish between different molecular conformations, and give a linear correlation with the absolute entropy for homologous series of chemical compounds.

Notes: Abstract The micromorphic theory of Eringen is applied to study the tube flow of blood. The blood is considered to be a deformable suspension, with constitutive relations of the form of those of simple microfluids. By means of energy consideration, a relation is established between the local concentration parameter and the measure of rotationality involving both macro-and micromotions. The tube flow problem is then solved with some analyses on viscosity coefficients and boundary conditions. The results obtained indicate an integrated explanation of various important physical phenomena associated with blood flow, such as the tube size dependence of the apparent viscosity and the non-uniform concentration distribution over a tube cross section.

Notes: Abstract By observing that the n-tuple of rate functionsQ(c) is orthogonal to the c-space gradients of each of the (n - 1) constants of the motion Φ v (c), a generic canonical expression for the rate functions is given in terms of the exterior product of the gradients of the (n - 1) Φ v 's. For models withQ so prescribed from the outset, an analytical general solution is obtainable directly for the system of autonomous ordinary differential equations dc/dt =Q(c). Thus, the generic canonical expression for the rate functions can be utilized to construct analytically solvable models for interacting biological species, as ilIus~rated by examples here.

Notes: Abstract A model for the extraocular plant of the human visual eye tracking mechanisms is discussed. Its sensitivity to variation of controller signal nervous activity is studied in order to determine the type of activity that yields realistic simulations characteristic of typical saccadic eye movements.

Notes: Abstract Mathematical models of predator-prey systems in which the prey species has a three-stage life cycle are studied. Certain stages of the prey life history are allowed to use younger stages as food. It is shown that sufficiently restricted cannibalism can result in an increase in the numbers of adult prey on a sustained basis when cannibalism decreases the vulnerability of a stage subject to predation or increases overall productivity.

Notes: Abstract A general analysis is presented for the thermal behavior of a biological tissue. Energy transport by the circulatory system is assumed to be represented by a modified Fick's law. General boundary conditions are assumed for the two-dimensional model and solutions are obtained for rectangular, cylindrical, and spherical geometries. The effects of blood perfusion rate, metabolic rate, arterial temperature and heat exchange with the environment are considered. Results indicate a region of almost constant temperature in the deeper layers of the tissue and reaffirm the important role which blood flow plays in maintaining homeostasis.

Notes: Abstract The oscillatory aspect in a system having two steady states is studied theoretically using a model of excitable nerve membrane. The condition for the occurrence of oscillatory instability is discussed on the basis of the kinetic picture of nerve excitation in consideration of the non-Markoffian effect caused by ion transport in the system. Small oscillations around a steady state as well as a giant fluctuation between two states are obtained. Results are compared with experiments carried out with squid giant axons perfused intracellularly.

Notes: Abstract An expression for the variance in birth volumes during balanced growth of a cell population is derived. The requirement of this expression being positive and finite allows a discussion of some of the requirements imposed on the mechanisms of growth and division.

Notes: Abstract The phenomenon of axonal transport of material has been well documented (Ochs, 1971; Lasek, 1970; and Grafstein, 1967). This report seeks to establish the role of diffusion—if any—in such a transport process. We report that diffusion cannot account for the observed build-up of material as reported in the literature.

Notes: Abstract The question of how to fit a general cubic model of a multicomponent, interactive growth system to observed data is addressed. A multidimensional-polynomial type of regression analysis is used, with a least-squares criterion. By testing the scheme on a problem with known solution, the way in which the accuracy of the results varies with the number of datum points used is investigated in an heuristic manner.

Notes: Abstract The describing function method is used as a guide to the behaviour of the solutions of the equations of Danziger and Elmergreen, proposed as a model of periodic catatonia. The method suggests that whenever the equilibrium point is unstable it is surrounded by a stable closed periodic orbit. This is confirmed in specific cases by computation.

Notes: Abstract A theory of ambiguous pattern perception is formulated. This theory proposes a feature selector (field of attention) based on the time-sequential discrete property of the attention, a short-term memory for storage of the selected features, and a displayer (perception) to display the consecutively stored features. Since the selected features continuously enter, and since the features can only be stored in the short-term memory for a short period, the features which can be displayed in the displayer vary with time. When all the essential features belonging to one pattern happen to be in the displayer, the picture is perceived to be that pattern; when all the essential features belonging to another pattern happen to be in the displayer, then the picture is perceived to be the other pattern. Thus the picture appears to vary with time and alternate between two patterns. A numerical calculation is presented.

Notes: Abstract The thermodynamics of irreversible processes is derived from the principles of dynamical field theory independently of all elements of thermostatics, in particular the assumption of local equilibrium. Field thermodynamics proceeds from the premise that all driving forces experienced by the molecules in a continuum are conservative and arise from scalar potential functions. Dynamically the temperature potentialT is no different from the pressure potentialp. A field is converted to a force upon multiplication by a scale factor. A potential is converted to potential energy by the same scale factor. To scale the field −∇p to the force per mole of molecular speciesk, the partial molar, volume $$\bar V_k $$ is the scale factor. Similarly the partial molar entropy, $$\bar S_k $$ , scales the temperature field. The transition from the scale factors (which are physical parameters) to the systemic variables, for example $$\bar S_k \to s\left( {x,y,z;t} \right)$$ , is not trivial. From the dynamics and the structure of the derived potential energy function are inducted the conjugate variables such as (p, V I) and (T, s). The meta-mechanical properties of the thermal variables (T, s) are discovered via the local First Law of Thermodynamics, which relates internal energy, thermal flux, and work, and from the local Second Law, which prescribes, the possible partitions of internal energy between kinetic, potential, and thermal energies. From the form of the potential energy come Maxwell's relationships. From the energy partition comes the equation of continuity for entropy, with its important source term. In contrast to earlier theories of irreversible thermodynamics, the dissipation function does not include the stress tensor, a constitutive parameter.

Notes: Abstract The transfer of solute through a membrane separating two aqueous solutions is studied with the time-dependent diffusion equation for composite media. By introducing new independent and dependent variables it is shown that the differential equations and boundary conditions can be transformed into a dimensionless form which does not explicitly depend on the diffusivities of the media. Laplace transforms are used to derive explicit solutions for the solute concentration as a function of position and time. It is shown that at large time the concentration approaches the equilibrium distribution exponentially. Explicit results are given for the decay time as a function of the parameters of the system. In addition, an accurate and simplified expression is derived for the decay time for the case of small membrane permeability. The accuracy of the analytic solutions for the concentration profiles is tested by comparing them with numerical results obtained by solving the diffusion equations by the method of finite differences. Excellent agreement is found.

Notes: Abstract Physiological systems are often modelled by a set of compartments. Alternatively they can be described by the diffusion-convection-reaction equations governing distributed systems. The problem considered here is that of identifying a continuously changing input of some metabolite )tracee), endogenous to the system and hence inaccessible, when a nonlinear or time-varying component is also introduced into the loss parameter, as for example through feedback mechanisms. A tracer is used to determine the steady-state impulse response under time-invariant, linear conditions. A known input of tracer is also administered when the system is driven out of steady state. The integral equations developed utilize the predetermined impulse response, the measured concentrations of both tracer and tracee (output) in some region of the system to estimate the changing loss parameter and the unknown input in a continuous fashion.

Notes: Abstract The equilibrium distribution for a generalQth-order multivariate reaction system is studied. The state transition intensity matrix is developed and examples are given for small numbers of reaction components. A closed-form expression for the equilibrium distribution for systems which are symmetric with respect to the order of component reactions is presented. Numerical examples for three component systems are discussed.

Notes: Abstract The model recently proposed by Dreitlein and Smoes for oscillatory kinetic systems is studied. Diffusion of the oscillating species is taken into account, and bounds on the total number of individuals of each species are determined for both two- and three-dimensional finite regions with various boundary conditons applied. It is found that in general the effect of diffusion on the system behavior is to reduce the maximum possible radius of limit cycles. In particular, in some cases global limit cycle behavior is precluded.

Notes: Abstract The Kedem-Katchalsky equations for fluid flux across membranes may not be adequate for large solvent flows. In particular, for an example of two membranes in series, it is argued that they would predict physically unreasonable behavior. An alternate equation for solute flow is proposed for a simple sieving membrane. For the same example, this equation predicts more physically reasonable results.

Notes: Abstract In a lysophospholipid binary mixture, there are three ways of association between the mixture components of single-chain amphiphiles: (a) between two identical molecules each of the first and second component (self-association process) and (b) between two different molecules (cross-association process). Association probabilities for three binary mixtures were analysed as functions depending on the electric dipole moments of the polar head groups. A 3-D view representation is most suitable for this analysis. The most important finding is that for certain values of the electric dipole moments there are molecular couples which have a maximum stability to the changes in the external electrolytic medium. This fact confirms the formation of clusters and their stability, which is equivalent to the existence of micro-heterogeneities within the lipid bilayers. On the other hand, there are unstable molecular associations, and this fact influences the appearance of some phase transitions. Generally, the increase of the electric dipole moment or the increase of the acyl-chain length of one component from a binary lipid mixture decreases the self-association probability between its own molecules, but it increases the self-association probability of the other mixture components. Furthermore, the cross-association probability has high values for any binary lipid mixture of single-chain amphiphiles.

Notes: Abstract The processes by which certain classes of toxic compounds or their metabolites may react with DNA to alter the genetic information contained in subsequent generations of cells or organisms are a major component of hazard associated with exposure to chemicals in the environment. Many classes of chemicals may form DNA adducts and there may or may not be a defined mechanism to remove a particular adduct from DNA independent of replication. Many compounds and metabolites that bind DNA also readily bind existing proteins; some classes of toxins and DNA adducts have the capacity to inactivate a repair enzyme and divert the repair process competitively. This paper formulates anintracellular dynamic model for one aspect of the action of toxins that form DNA adducts, recognizing a capacity for removal of those adducts by a repair enzyme combined with reaction of the toxin and/or the DNA adduct to inactivate the repair enzyme. This particular model illustrates the possible saturation of repair enzyme capacity by the toxin dosage and shows that bistable behavior can occur, with the potential to induce abrupt shifts away from steady-state equilibria. The model suggests that bistable behavior, dose and variation between individuals or tissues may combine under certain conditions to amplify the biological effect of dose observed as DNA aduction and its consequences as mutation. A model recognizing stochastic phenomena also indicates that variation in within-cell toxin concentration may promote jumps between stable equilibria.

Notes: Abstract Integrodifference models of growth and dispersal are analyzed on finite domains to investigate the effects of emigration, local growth dynamics and habitat heterogeneity on population persistence. We derive the bifurcation structure for a range of population dynamics and present an approximation that allows straighforward calculation of the equilibrium populations in terms of local growth dynamics and dispersal success rates. We show how population persistence in a heterogeneous environment depends on the scale of the heterogeneity relative to the organism's characteristic dispersal distance. When organisms tend to disperse only a short distance, population persistence is dominated by local conditions in high quality patches, but when dispersal distance is relatively large, poor quality habitat exerts a greater influence.

Notes: Abstract In vivo tumor growth data from experiments performed in our laboratory suggest that basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) are angiogenic signals emerging from an up-regulated genetic message in the proliferating rim of a solid tumor in response to tumor-wide hypoxia. If these signals are generated in response to unfavorable environmental conditions, i.e. a decrease in oxygen tension, then the tumor may play an active role in manipulating its own environment. We have idealized this type of adaptive behavior in our mathematical model via a parameter which represents the carrying capacity of the host for the tumor. If that model parameter is held constant, then environmental control is limited to tumor shape and mitogenic signal processing. However, if we assume that the response of the local stroma to these signals is an increase in the host's ability to support an ever larger tumor, then our models describe a positive feedback control system. In this paper, we generalize our previous results to a model including a carrying capacity which depends on the size of the proliferating compartment in the tumor. Specific functional forms for the carrying capacity are discussed. Stability criteria of the system and steady state conditions for these candidate functions are analyzed. The dynamics needed to generate stable tumor growth, including countervailing negative feedback signals, are discussed in detail with respect to both their mathematical and biological properties.

Notes: Abstract Community effects are believed to play an important role in the patterning of many tissues during development. They involve an interaction between neighbouring equivalent cells that is necessary for them to proceed to their fully differentiated state. However, the mechanisms underlying these effects remain unclear. In this paper, diffusion-based mathematical models are constructed and analysed in order to study possible mechanisms for the community effect inXenopus muscle differentiation. These models differ from each other in the assumptions that are made about the nature of an inhibitory effect that ectodermal tissue has been observed to have on muscle differentiation. It is possible to construct consistent models based on all the forms of inhibition considered. However, each model requires the diffusible factors on which it is based to have different properties. The current data from tissues reaggregate experiments are insufficient to determine the mechanisms underlying the community effect; the work presented here suggests that quantitative analysis of a further series of reaggregate experiments will make it possible to distinguish between the proposed mechanisms.

Notes: Abstract We propose two methods to control spatial chaos in an ecological metapopulation model with long-range dispersal. The metapopulation model consists of local populations living in a patchily distributed habitat. The habitat patches are arranged in a one-dimensional array. In each generation, density-dependent reproduction occurs first in each patch. Then individuals disperse according to a Gaussian distribution. The model corresponds to a chain of coupled oscillators with long-range interactions. It exhibits chaos for a broad range of parameters. The proposed control methods are based on the method described by Güémez and Matías for single difference equations. The methods work by adjusting the local population sizes in a selected subset of all patches. In the first method (pulse control), the adjustments are made periodically at regular time intervals, and consist of always removing (or adding) a fixed proportion of the local populations. In the second method (wave control), the adjustments are made in every generation, but the proportion of the local population that is affected by the control changes sinusoidally. As long as dispersal distances are not too low, these perturbations can drive chaotic metapopulations to cyclic orbits whose period is a multiple of the control period. we discuss the influence of the magnitude of the pulses and wave amplitudes, and of the number and the distribution of controlled patches on the effectiveness of control. When the controls start to break down, interesting dynamic phenomena such as intermittent chaos can be observed.

Notes: Abstract Ensembles of mutually coupled ultradian cellular oscillators have been proposed by a number of authors to explain the generation of circadian rhythms in mammals. Most mathematical models using many coupled oscillators predict that the output period should vary as the square root of the number of participating units, thus being inconsistent with the well-established experimental result that ablation of substantial parts of the suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN), the main circadian pacemaker in mammals, does not eliminate the overt circadian functions, which show no changes in the phases or periods of the rhythms. From these observations, we have developed a theoretical model that exhibits the robustness of the circadian clock to changes in the number of cells in the SCN, and that is readily adaptable to include the successful features of other known models of circadian regulation, such as the phase response curves and light resetting of the phase.

Notes: Abstract This paper develops a method to estimate a minimal amount of flurothyl necessary to induce the seizures (the seizure threshold). A simple mathematical model is proposed which permits one to determine the drug absorption rate from the amount which has been administered and from the measured latency to onset of seizure. Experimental animal (rats) were exposed to a continuous intake of flurothyl in two different situations: either being alone in the airtight chamber or sharing it in a pair. In the latter case, we assume that the two rats uniformly share the infused drug. Our calculations estimate that approximately 20 μl of flurothyl is necessary to induced twitches, whereas 25 μl of flurothyl is the dose required for the induction of clonic seizures. The model can be used to estimate the threshold amounts of any drug producing obvious behavioral changes irrespective of the route of administration.

Notes: Abstract We study a multispecies community of autotrophic microorganisms which grow in a batch culture regime with several perfectly complementary resources. A basic hypothesis is that a stationary phase of the polyculture corresponds to a maximum diversity under the constraints having the meaning of matter conservation laws. The corresponding conditional extremum problem is studied in detail. It is shown that a unique solution to this problem—a “species structure formula”—adequately describes the experimental data. We prove a number of strict statements concerning the domain of definition and maxima of the obtained solutions. These statements find an adequate interpretation as limitation principles in ecology and in the problems of community structure control.

Notes: Abstract The paper presents a mathematical analysis of the criteria for gene therapy of T helper cells to have a clinical effect on HIV infection. The analysis indicates that for such a therapy to be successful, it must protect the transduced cells against HIV-induced death. The transduced cells will not survive as a population if the gene therapy only blocks the spread of virus from transduced cells that become infected. The analysis also suggests that the degree of protection against disease-related cell death provided by the gene therapy is more important than the fraction of cells that is initially transduced. If only a small fraction of the cells can be transduced, transduction of T helper cells and transduction of haematopoietic progenitor cells will result in the same steady-state level of transduced T helper cells. For gene therapy to be efficient against HIV infection, our analysis suggests that a 100% protection against viral escape must be obtained. The study also suggests that a gene therapy against HIV infection should be designed to give the transduced cells a partial but not necessarily total protection against HIV-induced cell death, and to avoid the production of viral mutants insensitive to the gene therapy.

Notes: Abstract We consider varieties over an algebraically closed field k of characteristicp〉0. Given a linear representation of a reductive group, we prove that the ring of invariants is F-regular provided the associated projective quotient is Frobenius-split, the twisting sheaves are Cohen-Macaulay (C-M), and a mild technical condition is met. As an example of how this can be used, we show that the ring of invariants (under the adjoint action of SL (3)) ofg copies ofM 3 is C-M. (HereM 3 denotes the vector space of 3×3 matrices over k andp〉3.) The method of proof involves an induction, and is potentially of wide applicability. As a corollary we obtain that the moduli space of rank 3 and degree 0 bundles on a smooth projective curve of genusg is C-M.

Notes: Abstract Let $$(g,\theta )$$ denote an orthogonal symmetric Lie algbra and let (G, K) be an associated pair, i.e., Lie(G = $$g$$ and Lie(K°) = $$g^\theta $$ . In this paper we prove that the homogeneous spaceG/K has a structure of a globally symmetric space for every choice ofG andK, especially forG being compact.

Notes: Abstract CAT(−1) spaces are generalizations of manifolds with negative curvature. In this paper, we prove three types of rigidity results related to CAT(−1) spaces, namely the rigidity of the isometric actions on CAT(−1) spaces under the commensurability subgroups, the higher rank lattices and certain ergodic cocycles. The main idea for our approach relies on a study of the boundary theory we established for the general CAT(−1) spaces.

Notes: Abstract This paper introduces the concept ofn-valued groups and studies their algebraic and topological properties. We explore a number of examples. An important class consists of those that we calln-coset groups; they arise as orbit spaces of groupsG modulo a group of automorphisms withn elements. However, there are many examples that do not arise from this construction. We see that the theory ofn-valued groups is distinct from that of groups with a given automorphism group. There are natural concepts of the action of ann-valued group on a space and of a representation in an algebra of operators. We introduce the (purely algebraic) notion of ann-Hopf algebra and show that the ring of functions on ann-valued group and, in the topological case, the cohomology has ann-Hopf algebra structure. The cohomology algebra of the classifying space of a compact Lie group admits the structure of ann-Hopf algebra, wheren is the order of the Weyl group; the homology with dual structure is also ann-Hopf algebra. In general the group ring of ann-valued group is not ann-Hopf algebra but it is for ann-coset group constructed from an abelian group. Using the properties ofn-Hopf algebras we show that certain spaces do not admit the structure of ann-valued group and that certain commutativen-valued groups do not arise by applying then-coset construction to any commutative group.

Notes: Abstract Feedback control designs are useful for removing the impulses that disturb the behavior of generalized state space systems. The aim of this paper is to detail the design of dynamic precompensators for the implementation of such feedback control designs. Necessary and sufficient conditions are given so that the resulting regulators are biproper. It is pointed out that these conditions are restrictive and that feedback control designs can lead to nonproper precompensators. To overcome this difficulty, a class of proper precompensators is proposed. These regulators, which result from an adaptation of the Silverman structure algorithm, remove the impulse behaviors that occur after the initial time by smoothing out the input vector.

Notes: Abstract This paper investigates the factorization properties of cyclotomic polynomials over the field of complex rational numbers. Based on this factorization and the Chinese remainder theorem, we analyze the mathematical structure of the associated algorithms for computing the cyclic convolution of data sequences. The relevant results pertaining to finite integer and complex integer rings are also summarized.Note: This work is being reported in two parts. In Part I, we analyze the structure of the cyclic convolution algorithms over the rational number system. In Part II, we describe complex cyclotomic polynomials and the structure of the resulting cyclic convolution algorithms over the complex rational number system.

Notes: Abstract The Chinese remainder theorem plays a central role in the design of fast algorithms for computing cyclic and acyclic convolution of data sequences. A mathematical analysis of the theorem and related aspects form the topic of this investigation. The focus is almost exclusively on cyclic convolution algorithms. The number system that is studied is the field of rational numbers. Several properties related to the mathematical structure of the algorithms are derived.Note: This work is being reported in two parts. In Part I, we analyze the structure of the cyclic convolution algorithms over the rational number system. In Part II, we describe complex cyclotomic polynomials and the structure of the resulting cyclic convolution algorithms over the complex rational number system.