ALBERT

Notes: Abstract The partial differential equation of the random walk problem with persistence of direction and external bias is derived. By persistence of direction or internal bias we mean that the probability a particle will travel in a given direction need not be the same for all directions, but depends solely upon the particle's previous direction of motion. The external bias arises from an anisotropy of the medium or an external force on the particle. The problem is treated by considering that the net displacement of a particle arises from two factors, namely, that neither the probability of the particle traveling in any direction after turning nor the distance the particle travels in a given direction need be the same for all directions. A modified Fokker-Planck equation is first obtained using the assumptions that the particles have a distribution of travel times and speeds and that the average time of travel between turns need not be zero. The fional equation incopporating the assumption of a persistence of direction and an external bias is then derived. Applications to the study of diffusion and to long-chain polymers are then made.

Notes: Abstract The transmission of some information or behavior pattern is treated as a flow of “particles” which execute random motions over a population of individuals and which may multiply or disappear. Equations are derived for the number density of these “particles” and from this is calculated the number of individuals through which the “particles” have passed. The results are applied to a number of situations such as 1) uniform spatial distribution with multiplication factor decreasing with time because of loss of interest or confusion of the information, 2) multiplication factor constant but the rate of spreal decreasing with multiple hearings, 3) one-dimensional region with a small starting region with or without an absorbing barrier 4) two-dimensional region with absorbing barrier, 5) continous sources of information within a small region in one dimension, 6) uniform spatial distribution in which individuals do not respond to more than one hearing.

Notes: Abstract A situation is considered in which a fluid containing a substance flows through a vessel at a constant rate, the substance being permeable to the vessel wall. In the region outside the vessel there is supposed to be rapid mixing in the direction perpendicular to the axis of the vessel but no mixing longitudinally. The solution for the spatial distribution at any time is given for the case of an arbitrary initial distribution along the vessel length in the absence of an input. The solution is also given for the case of a single impulsive input, the concentration being initially zero everywhere.

Notes: Abstract Organisms orient themselves to a stimulus by two general methods. One method is by directed orientation (taxis); the other is by undirected locomotory reaction (kinesis). An equation, and the methods for finding the necessary parameters of this equation, is derived for the distribution of organisms within a container, with the following limitations: (1) the organisms have no accommodation, (2) they are always active, and (3) the stimulus changes slowly with position. Necessary modifications of the equation are then derived, so that the last two limitations may be eliminated. The equation cannot be solved excatly because of its complexity; hence an approximation method must be used. This method is discussed, an approximate solution is found, and a time constant for equilibrium to be established is derived. Applications tovarious experiments in the literature are then made with fairly satisfactory results. A new interpretation of the theory of klino-kinesis with accommodation is found upon application of the equations developed to experimental work. Further limitations and uses of these equations are then discussed.

Notes: Abstract Certain parameters are defined which roughly characterize the internal structure of networks. A given network structure uniquely determines the values of the parameters, but the reverse is not true. The parameters therefore define certain classes of networks. One of the parameters, thedispersion D(S) gives an indication of the “compactness” of the internal structure. Addition theorems and inequalities are derived relating the dispersions of sub-systems to the dispersion of the complete structure.

Notes: Abstract A mathematical theory is developed which permits the determination of certain parameters of an inhomogenous tissue, such as a nerve trunk without its epineurium. The parameters are the permeability coefficients for entrance into an exit of a substance from the nerve fibers, and the diffusion coefficient of the interstitial material. The experimental data required are the dimensions of the cross-section, the average diameter of the fibers, and the ratio of the cross-sectional are of the fibers to the total cross-section, as well as the time course of the decrease of the fraction of the substance left in the nerve trunk, when the trunk is immersed in a bathing solution containing none of it.

Notes: Abstract A model based on enzyme localization is developed which gives rise to an apparent active transport of a metabolite into or out of cells. The model is applied to three simple situations, using Fick's equation and the Rashevsky approximation. It is shown that the apparent efficiency can be made as large as desired if, for constant reaction, the outer cell region is made sufficiently small, or, for autocatalytic reaction, if the metabolite concentration in the outer region is sufficiently small. The physical limitations imposed by this mechanism are developed for all three situations.

Notes: Abstract A previously derived iteration formula for a random net was applied to some data on the spread of information through a population. It was found that if the axon density (the only free parameter in the formula) is determined by the first pair of experimental values, the predicted spread is much more rapid than the observed one. If the successive values of the “apparent axon density” are calculated from the successive experimental values, it is noticed that this quantity at first suffers a sharp drop from an initial high value to its lowest value and then gradually “recovers”. An attempt is made to account for this behavior of the apparent axon density in terms of the “assumption of transitivity”, based on a certain socio-structural bias, namely, that the likely contacts of two individuals who themselves have been in contact are expected to be strongly overlapping. The assumption of transitivity leads to a drop in the apparent axon density from an arbitrary initial value to the vicinity of unity (if the actual axon density is not too small). However, the “recovery” is not accounted for, and thus the predicted spread turns out to beslower than the observed.

Notes: Abstract The assumption of transitivity treated in part I is modified in various ways to describe an information-diffusion process, in which a certain amount of randomness of contact does occur. In one model a parameter is introduced which is indicative of a tendency to go beyond one's immediate vicinity to spread the information as the vicinity becomes saturated with knowers. In another model the randomness appears in the assumption that new knowers are uniformly distributed among the knowers. Two of the equations thus derived, each with two free parameters are in good agreement with experimental results.

Notes: Abstract By studying the behavior of various tracer species in the lungs, one can assess many important characteristics which distinguish normal and abnormal function. Quantitative evaluation of function depends on the use of an appropriate model in conjunction with experimental data. A multi-compartment model is derived from mass balances to describe dynamic as well as (breath-averaged) steady-state transport processes between the environment and pulmonary capillary blood. The breathing cycle is divided into three time periods (inspiration, expiration, and pause) so that the model equations are discrete in time. No other model of tracer species transport in the lungs deals simultaneously with species dynamics, variable breathing pattern, distribution inhomogeneities, and non-equilibrium between alveolar gas and capillary blood. Models currently in the literature are shown to be special cases of the model presented here.

Notes: Abstract Local stability seems to imply global stability for population models. To investigate this claim, we formally define apopulation model. This definition seems to include the one-dimensional discrete models now in use. We derive a necessary and sufficient condition for the global stability of our defined class of models. We derive an easily testable sufficient condition for local stability to imply global stability. We also show that if a discrete model is majorized by one of these stable population models, then the discrete model is globally stable. We demonstrate the utility of these theorems by using them to prove that the regions of local and global stability coincide for six models from the literature. We close by arguing that these theorems give a method for demonstrating global stability that is simpler and easier to apply than the usual method of Liapunov functions.

Notes: Abstract The asymptotic behaviour of a logistic equation with diffusion on a bounded region and a diffusionally coupled delay is investigated. An equivelent parabolic system is derived for certain types of delays. Using a Layapunov functional, sufficient conditions for the global asymptotic stability of the constant steady state are obtained. When the global stability is lost, using Hopf's bifurcation theory, existence of travelling waves is shown for ring-like and periodic one dimensional habitats.

Notes: Abstract It was hypothesized in an earlier work that sensory perception can occur only when the perceiving system is uncertain about the nature of the event being perceived. In the absence of any uncertainty, perception will not take place. The response of the sensory afferent neuron (impulse transmission rate) was calculated using Shannon's measure of uncertainty or entropy. It will now be shown that when the event being perceived is the position and momentum of a particle, Shannon's measure of uncertainty leads to the Heisenberg Uncertainty relationship.

Notes: Abstract It is not unusual for several classifications to be given for the same collection of objects. We present a method, called majority rule, which can be used to define a consensus of these classifications. We also discuss some mathematical properties of this consensus tree.

Notes: Abstract The dependence of the spatial concentration profiles of morphogens on a characteristic dimension is obtained by continuation techniques for Gierer and Meinhardt's activator-inhibitor model of morphogenesis. The study of the behaviour of the system during growth, where the linear and exponential increase of the characteristic dimension is considered, revealed that more complex patterns of morphogen spatial concentrations appear regularly in a reproducible way.

Notes: Abstract Computer models have been used by various authors to simulate both the growth of normal cellular tissue and the development of cancerous cells within normal tissue. As these models were the result of considerable idealization, the purpose of the present paper is to propose a model in which the degree of simplification is relaxed: the features of simultaneous growth, and cell growth whose rate depends on the free absorbing periphery of the cell are introduced. Simulation experiments have been conducted using the model, and the results are presented.

Notes: Abstract The theory of complementary variational principles is used to obtain maximum and minimum principles for a nonlinear model of heat conduction in the human head. Accurate variational solutions are obtained in illustrative calculations. The effect of nonlinearity is seen to be significant from a comparison with the linearized model.

Notes: Abstract A model for the nerve impulse due to Zeeman (1972) and based on catastrophe theory is compared with alternative models and criticisms of Zeeman's model by Sussmann and Zahler (1977, 1978) are assessed. The criticisms of Zeeman's motivation for his model are found to carry some weight. Sussmann and Zahler (1977, 1978) list numerous features of Zeeman's model which, they state, are not in agreement with experiment. These statements as they stand are largely erroneous, and the model still remains to be tested by a critical series of experiments. However, a detailed analysis reveals defects in Zeeman's model, not among those claimed by Sussmann and Zahler, showing that the explicit equations of the model cannot be correct. The possibility of a modified approach along similar lines and its ultimate adoption remains open.

Notes: Abstract The irreversible Michaelis-Menten reaction is studied by the use of the method of multiple scales. Three stages of the reaction are identified, one of which is studied in detail. The results are compared with those of two earlier analyses.

Notes: Abstract A numerical study of the coupled nerve fibre problem is given which verifies and extends the perturbation theory of Luzader. Pulses on adjacent fibres can couple together with two possible stable pulse separations.

Notes: Abstract A possible mechanism for effects of microwave radiation on the auditory system is the generation of field-induced forces at interfaces that divide materials of dissimilar electrical properties. A general expression for these “Maxwell stresses” is derived and then used to calculate the approximate magnitude of field-induced force within the organ of Corti during microwave exposure. Comparison of the results with data on the force needed to excite cochlear hair cells indicates auditory responses could be evoked by this mechanism at power densities near the threshold of rf hearing sensations.

Notes: Abstract A definition of homogeneity for neural networks is given which permits their construction as group quotients. The significance of this for neural dynamics is discussed.

Notes: Abstract The left ventricle is represented as a cylinder contracting both radially and longitudinally. A simple method is indicated to derive an expression for the rate of change of the kinetic energy of this three-dimensional model, which quantity can be used as an index for the study of the contractile behaviour of the myocardium. An application to the study of muscle mechanics is also indicated.

Notes: Abstract A perturbation method is proposed to calculate approximately the limit cycle type nonequilibrium steady-state resulting from periodic perturbation of coefficients of stable population systems; the two species Lotka-Volterra competition system is explicity studied and the results are formulated for general multi-species population systems. Avoidance of competitive or other types of exclusion of species in a periodic environment is indicated.

Notes: Abstract The impressed field, “Window Field” (WF), due to a half-wave action potential on a muscle fiber, has been calculated on the basis of potential theory. It has been shown that in spite of the small intensity of the field, its integrated action can transfer the energy needed to induce, contraction from the membrane to the interior of the fiber. The energy of polarization has been found to be sufficient to exceed the energy of, thermal agitation on that length of fiber, which can be identified as the length of a sarcomere. The changes of ion concentration, caused by the WF, if calculated on the assumption of the semipermeability of theZ membranes, was found to be equal to the changes necessary to induce contraction of actomyosinin vitro.

Notes: Abstract Some general properties of the solution of the diffusion equation are deduced for the steady-state, spherically symmetric system. On the basis of these developments some results of N. Rashevsky (Bull. Math. Biophysics,11, 15, 1949) are discussed and the results of a previous investigation (Hearon,Bull. Math. Biophysics,12, 135, 1950b) are extended to more general conditions. In particular these extensions apply to the flow of a soluteagainst its concentration gradient, the nonzero gradient of an inert metabolite, and theaccumulation or exclusion of an inert metabolite in a metabolic system.

Notes: Abstract The approximation method of N. Rashevsky is discussed and reviewed. It is shown that in addition to theexplicit assumptions and approximations there is involved the assumption that the rate of metabolism is the same at every point in the cell and that theaverage rate of metabolism is different from zero. An expression is given for the error in the approximate method when the rate of metabolism is any function of the concentration. It is also shown that a solution in theform of that obtained by the approximate method is not possible if the generalized laws of diffusion are assumed to apply.

Notes: Abstract Rate equations for the enzymatic oxidation of succinic acid are derived on the assumption that when a single molecule of substrate combines with an enzyme molecule, it can do so with either one or two sites on the enzyme, and that oxidation occurs only in the second case. In addition it is assumed that the product of the reaction, fumaric acid, combines reversibly with the enzyme. With certain enzyme preparations the data fitted such an equation satisfactorily. In others the rate was that of a first-order reaction, but addition of cytochrome changed it to the former type. It was concluded that the transfer of hydrogen to oxygen was a first-order reaction and dominated the whole rate when enzyme preparations were used which had been washed relatively free of cytochrome. When the limiting factor was succino-dehydrogenase the rates followed the new equation. Criteria for recognizing noncompetitive inhibition are given, and inhibition by di-tertiary butyl peroxide was shown to be of this type.

Notes: Abstract This paper deals with the following question: Which distributions of radiosensitivity in a population can lead to an exponential survival curve? The problem is solved exactly, with statistical fluctuations in dose fully accounted for. It is shown that only an exponential distribution of sensitivities can give rise to an exponential survival curve.

Notes: Abstract An approximation method is introduced which enables a number of diffusion-type problems to be solved in an approximate but simple manner. Many cases require only the solution of a simple first-order differential equation. The method is applied to a number of cases in which the exact solutions are available. A comparison shows that the method is quite satisfactory in these cases. The method is applied to diffusion problems with rate of consumption proportional to concentration or to the square of the concentration. In the latter case, the result obtained is essentially the same as that found by H. G. Landau (1950) after elaborate calculations.

Notes: Abstract It is shown that a slight modification of a model of excitatory phenomena in irritable tissues, which has been treated before, exhibits spontaneous oscillations. The frequency of these oscillations and the time-course of the potential across the model membrane have been determined, together with the dependence of some of their characteristics on some important parameters, particularly (Ca++).

Notes: Abstract It is demonstrated that, if the variations of viscosity throughout a cell are considered, swelling stresses may produce elongation and division. To do this it is necessary to generalize Betti's theorem to cover systems containing viscosity gradients and such a generalization is presented. On the basis of two special assumptions it is shown that most of the results of the diffusion drag theory of cell division may be duplicated by the present theory.

Notes: Abstract The theory of imitative behavior, developed previously, is applied to the case of two social groups which are separated spatially. If the information of each group as to the behavior of the other is complete, the case reduces to that of a single group. When any information is lacking at all, the two groups are independent. If we have two mutually exclusive behaviorsA andB, all four combinationsAA, AB, BA, andBB are possible. If the mutual information gradually increases from zero, then for a certain value of it, the group which is more informed about the behavior of the other will change to that behavior if it did not already exhibit it. If for constant information the size of the group increases, then above a certain threshold value, the larger group imposes its behavior on the smaller.

Notes: Abstract Local regulation of blood flow as determined by capillary diameter and the number of open capillaries in a region is considered. The local changes in capillary diameter and in the number of open capillaries are assumed to be due to concentration changes of a diffusible, nonspecified metabolite. This metabolite is produced in the tissue and carried away by the blood stream. Using these assumptions and applying pertinent data on capillaries, deductions are made concerning: (a) the law of blood flow as a function of temperature and capillary radius for the hyperemia of high temperature, (b) high flow as it depends on metabolism during strenuous exercise of muscle, and (c) a first approximation to the time duration of occlusion hyperemia.

Notes: Abstract The necessary and sufficient condition is given forn integers to be the score structure of a society with a dominance relation. A proof is also given for a theorem showing that there are members who dominate every other member either directly or indirectly through a single intermediate member.

Notes: Abstract On the basis of a previous general formulation (Bull. Math. Biophysics,15, 21–29, 1953a) a discussion is given of the error in the approximation method of N. Rashevsky. This error, inherent in the method when the metabolic rate is different at each point in the cell, is discussed in detail and numerical values are presented for two particular cases: the rate proportional to the concentration and the rate a prescribed function of the spatial coordinates. It is shown that the formulation for the first case also applies to several other cases, that the error is negligible provided the rate is sufficiently small, and that the error is fairly sensitive to the cell size. If the rate depends upon the coordinatesalone a small rate is not sufficient to insure a negligible error. The relations between the exact method, the standard approximate method, an earlier approximate method (Physics,7 260, 1936), and a more recent refinement (Bull. Math. Biophysics,10, 201, 1948) of the standard method are discussed.

Notes: Abstract It is shown on the basis of (1) conservation of mass, (2) positive concentrations, and (3) the principle of detail balancing that periodic reactions cannot occur in a closed system described bylinear differential equations. The matrix,A, of the rate equations must be such that |A|=0,a ij〉0 fori≠j,a ii〈0, andVAV −1=B, whereV is diagonal andB is symmetric. These properties ofA imply that the latent roots are real and non-positive and that neither catalysis nor inhibition can be described bylinear equations. It is further shown that periodic reactions cannot occur in anopen system for which the matrix associated with the chemical reactions has the above properties and in which thesimple law of diffusion is obeyed. The relation of these results to Onsager's reciprocal relations and to previous work on periodic and cyclic chemical reactions is discussed. The utility of certain of these results for the treatment of isotope kinetics is indicated.

Notes: Abstract It is demonstrated that an explanation of the small radius effect or the so-called sigma phenomenon may be obtained by noting that one of the effects of the presence of suspended particles in a flowing fluid is to increase the velocity of flow near the wall over that existing in the absence of particles. This effect may be considered equivalent to relaxing the boundary conditions at the wall. An expression for the viscosity is compared with data and fit is found to be good.

Notes: Abstract The solution for the spatial distribution of ions in a Donnan equilibrium has been given by J. H. Bartlett and R. A. Kromhout (1952). The present note gives an explicit solution for the case in which the length of the region containing the membrane is large; in biological situations this requires only that the length considered should be greater than a few hundred Ångstrom units. The Donnan equilibrium may be considered to be a special case of a situation in which forces other than electrical act upon the ions; in particular, it represents the case in which only one ion is acted upon and the energy difference on the two sides of the membrane is infinite. An expression is given for the difference in energy of theith in terms of the electrical potential and of the ion concentrations. As an illustration, the results are applied to nerve membrane potentials.

Notes: Abstract A mechanism is described which accounts for the active transport of Na+ ions through a membrane. It is assumed that at one side of the membrane the ion combines with a carrier ion, the resulting carrier compound then diffuses through the membrane and decomposes at the other side of the membrane. The free diffusion of the ions is also taken into account. The time rate of accumulation of the ion in question at the latter side of the membrane is calculated in terms of the concentrations of the ion at both sides of the membrane.

Notes: Abstract The recent extension of the approximation method is applied to enable us to arrive at the time course of the concentrations at both sides of a membrane. From the differential equations which govern these, the steady-state solution is obtained in terms of the parameters, which are determined by the thickness of the diffusion layers, the chemical composition and reactions, and the diffusion constant of the membrane.

Notes: Abstract An equation is derived from the spread of a “state” by contact through a thoroughly mixed population, in which the probability of transmission depends both on the over-all duration of the process and on the time an individual has been in the “state.” Cases in which this probability is a function of only one or the other of the two “times” are worked out. It is shown that in the case of dependence on “private time” alone the asymptotic value of the fraction of the population effected is the same as that derived by the random net approach.

Notes: Abstract The reflection of pressure waves in a fluid enclosed within a tube with an elastic wall is studied for the case of a localized change in diameter of the tube. The concept of impedance is introduced. The relation of the reflection characteristics of the parts of the tube at either side of the change is derived on the basis of the continuity of pressure and mass flow at the site of the change. This relations is used to derive the expression for the ratio of the pressure oscillations measured in front of, and behind, the constriction in terms of the constants of the system. As a result, a method is indicated to locate the coarctation from measurements of the pressures in front of, and behind it.

Notes: Abstract The question is raised concerning the possible causes of abnormally small standard deviations found in counting samples in which particles are distributed at random (e.g., blood cells, fat globules in milk, etc.). The effect of discarding abnormal samples is discounted inasmuch as small standard deviations occur even when all samples are counted. An approximation method is used to calculate the effect of finite particle size, of known repulsive forces between particles and of convection currents. This calculation shows that neither finite size nor the known repulsive forces are sufficient to account for the observed abnormality of standard deviation, but that convection currents can possibly account for it. The possible presence of long-range repulsive forces cannot, however, be excluded.

Notes: Abstract The effect of finite particle size on the standard deviation in sample counts is computed for the one-dimensional case. To a first order of approximation the correction is found to be identifical with that found by H. de Vries (1953) using a general approximation method.

Notes: Abstract A critical examination of the “classical” theories of photoreception in view of more recent experimental findings yields the result that these theories do not possess the property to describe all the more significant phenomena of photoreception correctly, and to some extent suffer the lack of more general applicability. The basis for a new and presumably more general theory of photoreception based on dynamical aspects is laid out. Emphasis is put on the time course of afferent and efferent excitation in the photoreception model, consisting of a receptor element, an afferent and an efferent neuron of the one-factor Rashevsky-type, and an effector organ.

Notes: Abstract A mathematical model for the development of human society, beginning with the earliest stages of urban cultures, is outlined. In the early stages of history, behavior was characterized largely by adherence to a number of beliefs and prejudices of diffeirent kinds, which were accepted on faith and not subject to critical rational analysis. Due to psychobiological variability a very small number of individuals spontaneously appear at all times who challenge the accepted beliefs and prejudices and do not follow the accepted patterns of social behavior. The effect of these individuals upon the rest of the society, especially upon the younger generation, depends on the facilities with which information spreads in society. In earliest societies, when modern methods of mass communication were unknown, the channels of communication were practically identical with the channels of economic transport. The latter in its turn depended on the nature of the roads, and especially on the presence of waterway, which facilitated transportation. The sizes of the earliest cities and the distances between them were largely determined by relative ease of transporation. Expressions are derived for the average size of the earliest cities and for the average distance between them. The calculated average populations of the earliest cities are of the order of 103; the distance of the order of 102 km. Both are in agreement with some archaeological findings. An expression for the time spaon required for the development from the earliest stages of urban cultures to the present time is derived and shown to depend on the specific shoreline of the country, that is, the length of the shorline divided by the area of the country. It is pointed out that western Europe's specific shoreline, including land bordering both seas and rivers, is ten times as large as the shoreline area of other parts of the world. It is shown that this greater specific shoreline may account quantitatively for the faster social and technological development of western Europe in the last few centuries. The calculated total span of time of development from earliest urban cultures to our days is found to be of the order of magnitude of ten thousand years. It is shown that the model accounts for the existence at the present time of primitive cultures. A number of suggestions is made in regard to other possible applications of mathematics to history.

Notes: Abstract The assumptions latent in the derivation of the integral equation of Branson are rendered explicit and discussed. It is shown that the equation is valid only for systems in which the substance disappears according to a linear rate law.

Notes: Abstract It is shown that the validity of Branson's integral description of metabolizing systems is subject to severe limitations. The validity is insured only in cases where the reaction is of first order, or quasi of first order. In all other cases Branson's equation has to be modified to insure general applicability. The consequences of a different definition of the metabolizing functionF have also been investigated. With the new definitionF describes the pure effect of metabolization. It is found that in this case the integral equation is only capable of describing first-order reactions. With a slight modification of the integral equation it is possible to describe metabolites “with age”, which do not have reactions of definite order, but which satisfy the superposition principle.

Notes: Abstract A problem in probability is stated with included the problem of the distribution of bacterial mutants as a special case. This problem is solved exactly but since the resulting expressions are too complicated for practical use, various approximate expressions for the distribution are considered, especially for the bacterial mutation case.

Notes: Abstract Simple reaction and discrimination reaction, under the influence of imitation, are considered for the situation in which the stimulus or the stimuli vary slowly with time. The result is analogous to hysteresis under certain conditions. The calculations are facilitated by the solution of $$x = \int_{ - \infty }^{a + \beta x} {g\left( \xi \right)d} \xi ,$$ g(ξ) being the normal error function. Values ofx(α, β) are given in a table.

Notes: Abstract On the basis of simple physical considerations the blood flow in a branching circulatory system is studied. The case of two groups of parallel vessels is treated. The vessels of the same group are supposed to be identical. The resistance of each group is determined by the resistance of each vessel in the group and by the number of vessels in the group. From the dependence of the resistance of each vessel on its radius an expression is obtained for the blood flow through each group of vessels in terms of the numbers and sizes of the vessels in each group. The number of open vessels in an organ and the radius of each of those vessels are assumed to depend on the metabolic rate of that organ. The relations so obtained, together with the expression above, are applied to derive the blood flow through an organ as a function of the metabolic rate of that organ. It is indicated that the relations obtained might describe the shifting of blood from one organ to another if the activity of one of them changes. A way is pointed out to treat neural regulation of this phenomenon.

Notes: Abstract A stochastic model of population growth is treated using the Bellman-Harris theory of agedependent stochastic branching processes. The probability distribution for the population size at any time and the expectation are obtained when it is assumed that there is probability (1−σ), 0≤σ〈1, of the organism dividing into two at the end of its lifetime, and probability σ that division will not take place.

Notes: Abstract In a previous paper, in which a possible mathematical approach to history was outlined, it was shown that urbanization plays an important part in the propagation of new ideas. The rate of such propagation influences the rate of historical developments. The present paper deals in more detail with possible mechanisms of formation of earliest cities. Equations are derived which give the limiting size of such cities and their rate of growth. Of particular importance for the spread of new ideas is the spread of information. The latter largely depends on the fraction of individuals who travel between city and country. Expressions for this quantity are derived. An approach is outlined to the mathematical study of the earliest social classes, which may have been formed as a result of military, religious, or economic stratifications.

Notes: Abstract The velocity of propagation of a disturbance wave in a liquid flowing in a distensible tube is computed. The mathematical model is more general than those used in previous analyses: the tube wall properties are realistic; the convective part of the axial inertia forces is taken into account; radial inertia forces of both the fluid and tube wall are present; viscous stresses are present. Four parameters influencing the velocity of propagation are obtained and discussed. Curves are plotted illustrating the effects of the parameters. Contrary to the results of previous analyses, viscous effects are shown to be appreciable in blood flow. It is also shown that radial inertia effects can be important in laboratory set-ups.

Notes: Abstract A general theory of the drying of frozen tissue is developed and applied to the measurement of the drying rate of frozen guinea pig liver. It is shown that for a given temperature of the subliming ice crystals the mininum drying time of a piece of guinea pig liver is greater than the minimum sublimation time of a piece of ice of the same size and shape by a factor of the order of one thousand. This fact has many implications in the design of freeze-dry apparatus which will be developed in a following paper.

Notes: Abstract The equations governing the time course of the exchange of substances between the blood in the capillaries and the extracellular space are solved for the case of substances which do not penetrate the cells. The equations given relate the time course of the exchange process to the various tissue and circulation parameters such as the specific capillary wall area, the pore area, the inter-capillary distance, the size of the extra-vascular, extra-cellular space, the diffusion coefficient in this space, and the velocity of blood in the capillaries. Some experimental work on capillary exchange is discussed in relation to the theory and estimates are made of the relative importance of the various tissue and circulation parameters in the exchange of substances in different tissues.

Notes: Abstract The theory of computational complexity and certain explicitly-stated hypotheses imply limitations on the information processing power of biological systems. Parallelism, special purpose organization, and analog mechanisms may provide speedup critical for life processes, but have little power in the face of exponential growth. We show that “polynomially simulatable” biological systems cannot exhibit dynamic behavior which produces the solution of an intractable problem. The argument implies that parallelism does not allow biological systems to defeat the exponential explosion, but rather is important because it allows polynomial time algorithms to be used more efficiently.

Notes: Abstract A correlation matrix analysis is applied to the base sequence of MS2 and ϕX174 in comparison with sets of simulated sequences with different degrees of constaint Significant differences between a codified sequence, and a statistical one in terms of the “correlation matrix” for sets of different length cannot be found. This result is analysed in terms of nucleotide sequences with different levels of informational content.

Notes: Abstract A method of calculating the volume of a tree distal to a cut at the origin of a branch, using branching, diameter and length ratios, has been developed. The method was applied to bronchial tree casts from human, dog, sheep, hamster, and rat lungs. It was found that the exponenta in the equation weight=k×diameter a is approximately equal to 3.0 in sheep lung casts, as found by Hooper (1977), but it is greater than 3.0 in casts from the other four species.

Notes: Abstract In this note we examine a continuous time version of a compartmental model introduced in a discrete time setting by S. R. Bernard. The model allows for more than one particle to leave the system at any time. This introduces additional randomness into the system, over the pure death system and this is reflected in the variance function.

Notes: Abstract The mean first passage time for free diffusion can be derived directly by solving a simple analogue steady state problem. In this problem the diffusion starting region is considered as a time independent source of diffusing particles and the diffusion target assumes the behaviour of a perfectly absorbing sink. It is shown here that the transit time between the source and the sink, which in this particular problem is equal to the ratio between the holdup of the system and the total flux, is identical to the Brownian movement concept of the mean first passage time for free diffusion. This established identity considerably facilitates the derivation and investigation of the timing of diffusion in complicated structures such as those commonly found in living organisms.

Notes: Abstract In this paper three stochastic models are developed for a class of two-compartment systems to analyse the randomness of the leaving process of the particles in the system. Results in closed form for the distribution of the leaving process of the particles in the system are given both for general and exponential sojourn time distributions and also in association with forward recurrence time distributions with and without Poisson input.

Notes: Abstract Two simple models are proposed and analysed, in which it is shown that the formation of a new polymer, resulting from an “error” in the template action mechanism of production of an old polymer, may compromise the stability of the initial system under specific conditions, in the context of prebiotic evolution. Autocatalysis is shown to be a “selective advantage”, enabling the “mutant” to dominate in concentration and even replace the initial polymer. The addition of a third molecule playing the role of a catalyst causes hysteresis effects.

Notes: Abstract The problem of extinction of the prey population in a microbial predator-prey interaction in a chemostat has been examined. Usual deterministic lumped parameter models were used for the dynamics of the chemostat for large numbers of the two populations; the generalized birth and death stochastic process was employed for the description of the random variations at small prey numbers. Extinction probabilities of the prey population were calculated for different holding times and chemostat volumes, and their dependence upon the growth parameters of the two populations was studied. It was found that extinction was possible when the Monod model was used for the specific growth rate of the predators as a function of the prey number density. On the other hand, the decrease of the feeding activity of the predators at low prey densities predicted by the multiple saturation model acts as a regulatory factor that prevents extinction of the prey. In view of the fact that extinction of the prey has never been observed in the laboratory, the latter model seems more appropriate to describe the dynamics of microbial predation.

Notes: Abstract During exposures of the eye to light, the choroidal circulation may have a regulatory influence on the retinal temperature. This is investigated using a mathematical model and a finite-difference technique. It is predicted that the choroidal blood flow a small effect on retinal temperature, which may be important.

Notes: Abstract A probabilistic model of a spatially localized, mutually exitatory (inhibitory) population of neurons is formulated to help explain average evoked potential and post-stimulus time histogram measurements. The model is based on the stochastic activity of single neurons within interactive masses of neurons which exhibit co-operative behavior. Macrostate variables corresponding to the above measurements are related through the model to features of neural operation at the individual and ensemble level. Steady-state solution are obtained and their physiological implications are discussed.

Notes: Abstract We consider a one-compartment system with stochastic transfer rate characterized either by Gaussian or by two-level jump process and study the time evolution of the (statistical) moments of the (random) amount of the substance present in the system. The effect of the coloured as well as of the white noise is investigated and it is found that the presence of stochasticity in the transfer rate parameter increases the relaxation time of the system. Finally, we obtain the conditions for the stability of the system in the moment sense.

Notes: Abstract A model is described in which damage to a single intracellular locus can lead to a tumorigenic transformation. Assuming a large number of independent intracellular loci to be at risk and assuming that damage to a locus sufficient to cause a tumorigenic transformation occurs with probability greater than zero for all doses greater than zero, leads to the use of the Weibull distribution to characterize the probability of a nonspontaneous tumorigenic cellular transformation occurring after exposure to a given dose of carcinogen. The excess lifetime tumor incidence (i.e., the proportion of tumor bearers) above the spontaneous incidence is used as an estimate of the non-spontaneous incidence and is characterized by a tumor incidence function that represents the probability of occurrence of one or more non-spontaneous tumorigenic cellular transformations amongN(D) independent surviving cells per individual, after exposure to a doseD of carcinogen. The tumor incidence function is fitted to published data for the excess tumor incidence after exposure of animals or humans to ionizing radiation and after exposure of animals to chemical carcinogens.

Notes: Abstract This paper deals with a stochasticn-compartment irreversible system with a non-homogeneous Poisson input and arbitrary residence time for each of the compartments. Results relating to the number of particles present in each of the compartments as well as the total number of particles present in the system at any time are derived. Further, explicit expressions for the auto covariance function for each compartment and the cross-covariance function between any two compartments with a given time lag are obtained. As a particular case, then-compartment irreversible system is analyzed with homogeneous Poisson input and exponential residence time distribution for each of the compartments. The possible applications of the model are discussed.

Notes: Abstract This paper deals with the pulsatile blood flow in the lung alveolar sheets by idealizing each of them as a channel covered by porous media. As the blood flow in the lung is of low Reynolds number, a creeping flow is assumed in the channel. The analytical and numerical results for the velocity and pressure distribution in the porous medium are presented. The effect of an imposed slip condition is also studied. Comparisons with the corresponding results for the steady-state case are made at the end.

Notes: Abstract The relationships that define the structure of a given ecosystem, social system, or even a physiological function can only exist if certain parameters are confined to a certain range of values. As the values change and exceed this given range the relationships are forced to change, and so produce a new pattern of relationships. The concept of a dynamic structure captures this potential for structural change in relation to a set of parameters. The precise definition of structure and allowable transformation constitutes the definition of a category. The total range of parameters associated with all the relevant structures provides a parameter space which is assumed to be a manifold. Maps with extra structure from the manifold to the category define dynamic structures. The domain of differential dynamic systems is the manifold, and a flow or movement across the manifold is associated with a series of structural transformations in the category. In some cases a structure outruns its parameter range, to be faced with an obstruction—an absence of possible transformations. Ways of studying such “obstructions” are considered along with the related problem of extending a dynamic structure beyond a previously given set of parameters. The cost or resistance of transformations is also studied. The concepts of dynamic structures are illustrated by the structural change of food webs and they are used in a necessarily qualitative fashion to study dominance structures of social orders and finally to speculate on the qualitative nature of evolutionary change of functional aspects of organisms.

Notes: Abstract The preceding paper (Thorn, 1981) has shown that in a linear pharmacokinetic system with a multimodal impulse response the peak drug level may sometimes be smaller with slower rates of injection. This paper presents two theorems on this paradoxical injection rate effect where the injection is a constant infusion of finite duration. The first theorem establishes a graphical method for determining whether a given impulse response will give a paradoxical injection rate effect; and the second establishes that the maximum paradoxical increase in peak drug level is by a factor of two. It is further shown that in order to approach this maximum paradoxical increase the impulse response must contain two isolated, sharp, narrow pulses of approximately equal area. Some examples of bimodal arterial dye-dilution curves from the literature are discussed as impulse responses; and there is also a discussion of the behavior of drug level maxima and minima at different injection rates.

Notes: Abstract This paper presents three theorems on the peak drug levels that result from injection into a linear pharmacokinetic system. As a preliminary, the “rate of injection” is defined in terms of time expansion or time contraction of the injection function (input). The first theorem then states that the peak drug level will not be greater when the rate of injection is slow than when it is fast, if the impulse response is unimodal. The second theorem sets limits for the time of the maximum drug level, in relation to the time of the maximum of the (unimodal) impulse response and the duration of the input. The third theorem defines conditions which assure a definitely lower peak drug level if the rate of injection is slower. A graphical method is suggested for determining the times and magnitudes of the peak drug levels that result from constant infusions of a fixed dose at different rates. An example is provided to show that if the impulse response is multimodal then the peak drug level may sometimes increase with a decrease in the injection rate.

Notes: Abstract Previous work (Macey, 1952) in the application of the one-factor theory to the heart is extended. The rate of production of the excitatory state is assumed to be linear. Two possible mechanisms are indicated whereby such a situation might arise. Assumptions are made regarding the mode of action of the chemical mediators on the heart, and an equation is derived relating the heart rate to the frequency of nerve impulses traveling along the cardiac nerves. This result compares favorably with the experimental findings of A. Rosenblueth and F. A. Simeone (1934). Other experimental results are interpreted in terms of the theory.

Notes: Abstract A two urn Polya-type scheme is considered in whichr black balls (corresponding to the stable form of an element) are added to urn one at every stage and the same number of balls are removed at random at every stage from the same urn. In between these two operations, which form a stage or iteration, a fixed number of balls is exchanged at random between urns one and two. Urn one has a given initial number of white balls (corresponding to a radioactive form of the same element). The problem of interest is to study the stochastic aspect of the number of white balls remaining in urn one (and/or urn two) aftern iterations.

Notes: Abstract We obtain within the action-angle variable approach new expressions, involving the Dirac delta function, for time periods and time averages of dynamical variables which are useful for nonlinear biological oscillator problems. We combine these with Laplace transformation techniques for evaluating the required perturbation expansions. The radii of convergence of these series are determined through a complex variable approach. The method is powerful enough to yield explicit results for such systems as the two species Volterra model, Goodwin's model of protein synthesis etc. and as an illustration, is applied here to Cowan's model of neuroelectric activity. We also point out the usefulness of the action integral in the case where parameters occurring in dynamics have slow time variations.

Notes: Abstract Zwanzig and Mori's projection-operator method is used in order to derive a generalized nonlinear Fokker-Planck equation for one “relevant” species in the many species conservative Volterra model. The deterministic, autonomous, Markovian equations of motion, when averaged over a suitable ensemble of initial conditions in general give rise to a non-autonomous, non-Markovian stochastic process for the evolution of this relevant species. Moreover, this relevant species may show irreversible damping, although self-interaction terms are absent in the many species model.

Notes: Abstract The hydrodynamical problem of flow in proximal renal tubule is investigated by considering axisymmetric flow of a viscous, incompressible fluid through a long narrow tube of varying cross-section with reabsorption at the wall. Two cases for reabsorption have been studied (i) when the bulk flow,Q, decays exponentially with the axial distancex, and (ii) whenQ is an arbitrary function ofx such thatQ-Q 0 can be expressed as a Fourier integral (whereQ 0 is the flux atx=0). The analytic expressions for flow variables have been obtained by applying perturbation method in terms of wall parameter ε. The effects of ε on pressure drop across the tube, radial velocity and wall shear have been studied in the case of exponentially decaying bulk flow and it has been found that the results are in agreement with the existing ones for the renal tubules.

Notes: Abstract Voltage clamp experiments, which determine the kinetic parameters of calcium conductance of cardiac muscle, (d ∞,f ∞, τ d and τ f ) are analyzed with a generally accepted expression for slow inward currentI s=g sdf (E-E R). Activation (d) and inactivation (f) reach the final valuesd ∞ andf ∞ with time constants τ d and τ f respectively. The analysis indicates that the measuredf ∞ agrees with the theoreticalf ∞, but the measuredd ∞ differs from the theoreticald ∞ by a factor which depends on τ d . The peak tension can be made to correlate closely with the theoreticald ∞ after a correction factor is applied to the raw measurements of activation. It can be shown that experiments designed to measure τ f can also be used to determine τ d with greater accuracy.

Notes: Abstract A deterministic model for an SIR epidemic with silent infections is investigated. It is shown for the model studied that the extent to which silent infections are present may be determined from data concerning only those individuals with symptomatic infection.

Notes: Abstract An urn contains balls of different colors. Specified numbers of each color are added and form a reinforcement. The total reinforcement is randomly removed, forming a depletion. The process, not necessarily with the same reinforcements, is performed a number of times. The factorial moment generating function of the urn configurations at any stage is given in terms of multivariate difference operators. Cases when the reinforcement vector is defined as a stochastic variable are considered. The problem is a generalization of an urn model associated with radioactive atoms and stable atoms proposed by S. R. Bernard. The solutions given here have a definite application to the problem of modelling tracers in compartmental systems.

Notes: Abstract A multi-compartmental model with particles producing offspring according to the Markov branching process has been studied. Explicit results are given for the two-compartmental system and for irreversible general multicompartmental systems. The known models in stochastic compartmental analysis are shown to be particular cases of this model and applications are cited.

Notes: Abstract The irreversible Michaelis-Menten scheme may be reduced to a pair of autonomous first-order differential equations. The phase-plane behaviour of these is investigated.

Notes: Abstract A discrete one-dimensional model of convection-diffusion in branching alveolar ducts is described and it is shown that, for a suitable choice of effective axial dispersion, the solution closely approximates that for an axially symmetric representation, at least for Peclet numbers Pe〈1. Following earlier work a composite model of a uniform lung is formed by matching such a respiratory pathway (now having the more convenient one-dimensional form) onto a trumpet representation of the conducting airways. Enhanced mixing due to heart action, and isotropic volume changes of trumpet (in addition to the pathway) during breathing are additional factors included. Calculations are made of O2 concentrations during steady-state breathing and of the concentration of inert gas during single breath wash-out of a gas mixture containing it. Predicted alveolar levels in each case agree extremely well with published data, although no alveolar slope is obtained for the inert gas.

Notes: Abstract The evolution and local stability of a system of two interacting species in a finite two-dimensional habitat is investigated by taking into account the effects of self- and cross-dispersion and convection of the species. In absence of cross-dispersion, an equilibrium state which is stable without dispersion is always stable with dispersion provided that the dispersion coefficients of the two species are equal. However, when the dispersion coefficients of the two species are different, the possibility of self-dispersive instability arises. It is also pointed out that the cross-dispersion of species may lead to stability or instability depending upon the nature and the magnitude of the cross-dispersive interactions in comparison to the self-dispersive interactions. The self-convective movement of species increases the stability of the equilibrium state and can stabilize an otherwise unstable equilibrium state. The effect of cross-convection (in absence of self-dispersion and self-convection) is to stabilize the equilibrium state in a prey-predator model with positive cross-dispersion coefficients for the prey species. Finally, it is shown that if the system is stable under homogeneous boundary conditions it remains so under non-homogeneous boundary conditions.