Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Diana Margarita Mojica-Munoz, Karla Lizbeth Macias-Sanchez, Estefania Odemaris Juarez-Hernandez, Aurora Rodriguez-Alvarez, Jean-Michel Grevy, Armando Diaz-Valle, Mauricio Carrillo-Tripp, Jose Marcos Falcon-Gonzalez
Summary: By employing molecular dynamics simulations, we investigated the molecular mechanisms underlying the plasticization of starch. Our study revealed that chain size affects the solubility of starch, temperature influences its diffusivity and elastic properties, and oleic acid shows potential as an alternative plasticizer. Blending glycerol or oleic acid with water enhances the elasticity of starch.
JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR GRAPHICS & MODELLING
(2024)
Article
Ecology
Dharmendra Tripathi, Dinesh Bhandari, Rakesh Kumar, Yasser Aboelkassem
Summary: In this paper, a mathematical model was developed to simulate the transport of viruses in a viscous background flow driven by natural pumping. The model considered two types of respiratory pathogens viruses (SARS-CoV-2 and Influenza A). The virus spread in axial and transverse directions was examined using the Eulerian-Lagrangian approach. Effects of gravity, virtual mass, Basset force, and drag forces on virus transport velocity were studied using the Basset-Boussinesq-Oseen equation. The results highlighted the significant role of forces acting on spherical and non-spherical particles in the virus transmission process. High viscosity was found to slow down virus transport dynamics, while small-sized viruses were identified as highly dangerous and capable of rapid propagation through blood vessels. The mathematical model presented in this study contributes to a better understanding of virus spread dynamics in blood flow.
JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL DYNAMICS
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Shewafera Wondimagegnhu Teklu, Belela Samuel Kotola
Summary: This paper investigates the transmission of HIV/AIDS-COVID-19 co-infection and the impact of interventions using ordinary differential equations. The model analysis shows that the solutions are non-negative and bounded, and the computation of the basic reproduction numbers is done using the next-generation matrix approach. The sensitivity analysis reveals that transmission rates have a direct impact on the basic reproduction numbers, while protection and treatment rates have an indirect impact.
JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL DYNAMICS
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Xin-You Meng, Yan Feng
Summary: In this paper, an intraguild predator-prey model with prey refuge and hunting cooperation is investigated. The existence and stability of all equilibria of the corresponding ordinary differential equation model are analyzed, along with the presence of Hopf bifurcation and the direction and stability of bifurcating periodic solutions. Furthermore, a diffusion-driven Turing instability is obtained for the partial differential equation model. The Leray-Schauder degree theory and some priori estimates are employed to establish the existence and non-existence of the non-constant positive steady state of the reaction-diffusion model. Numerical simulations are performed to support the analytical results. The findings demonstrate that prey refuge can alter the stability of the model and even have a stabilizing effect, while hunting cooperation can make the model without diffusion unstable but make the model with diffusion stable. A succinct conclusion is provided in the final section.
JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL DYNAMICS
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Zhenliang Zhu, Yuming Chen, Fengde Chen, Zhong Li
Summary: In this work, a Lotka-Volterra predator-prey system is modified to incorporate an opportunistic predator and weak Allee effect in prey. Extinction of the prey occurs when the combined effect of hunting and other food resources of the predator is large. Otherwise, the system exhibits rich dynamic behavior with possible bifurcations such as saddle-node, Hopf, and Bogdanov-Takens bifurcations. The validity of the theoretical results is supported through numerical simulations.
JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL DYNAMICS
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Asha Kalula, Eunice Mureithi, Theresia Marijani, Isambi Mbalawata
Summary: This paper presents an age-structured mathematical model for malaria transmission dynamics with asymptomatic carrier and temperature variability, and explores the optimal control strategies. The numerical simulations reveal that the combination of Long Lasting Insecticide Nets, treatment of symptomatic and asymptomatic carriers, and spray of insecticides is the most effective in reducing the number of infected individuals. Furthermore, the cost-effectiveness analysis shows that this combination strategy is the most cost-effective when resources are limited.
JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL DYNAMICS
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Fabio Sanchez, Jorge Arroyo-Esquivel, Juan G. Calvo
Summary: A Susceptible-Addicted-Reformed model was constructed to examine the dynamics of nonlinear relapse in the Reformed population. The transition from susceptible to at-risk was modeled using a strictly decreasing general function as an influential factor. The basic reproductive number was computed to determine the stability of the addicted-free equilibrium, and conditions for a forward-backward bifurcation were established.
JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL DYNAMICS
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Wonhyung Choi, Kwangjoong Kim, Inkyung Ahn
Summary: In this paper, we study a predator-prey model with nonuniform predator dispersal, known as predation-induced dispersal (PID). We investigate the local stability of the semitrivial steady state and analyze the local/global bifurcation from the semitrivial steady state. We compare the results of the model with PID to the results of the model with linear dispersal and conclude that PID increases fitness for predator invasion.
JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL DYNAMICS
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Xiangjun Dai, Qi Quan, Jianjun Jiao
Summary: This paper presents a population suppression model and a population replacement model using periodic impulsive releases of Nilaparvata lugens infected with wStri. Numerical analysis shows that increasing the release amount or decreasing the release period is beneficial for controlling the wild N. lugens population, and the efficiency of the population replacement strategy is higher than that of the population suppression strategy under the same release conditions.
JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL DYNAMICS
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Raimund Burger, Gerardo Chowell, Ilja Kroeker, Leidy Yissedt Lara-Diaz
Summary: This study adapts a computational approach to analyze the parameter identifiability of a compartmental model that describes the progression of the COVID-19 pandemic in Chile in early 2020. By analyzing synthetic data and regional epidemic data, the study finds that certain factors can lead to the loss of identifiability.
JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL DYNAMICS
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Nourridine Siewe, Abdul-Aziz Yakubu
Summary: Worldwide, the SARS-CoV-2 virus has infected over 691 million people and caused more than 6.9 million deaths. Surprisingly, Sub-Saharan Africa, particularly Cameroon, has experienced the least impact from the pandemic. This study compares the COVID-19 burden between Cameroon, a developing country, and New York State, a developed country, using data-driven mathematical models. It identifies critical parameters that explain the lower disease burden in Cameroon and provides insights for mitigating future major outbreaks.
JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL DYNAMICS
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Christopher M. Kribs, Mohammed H. Alharbi
Summary: People's lifestyles have a significant impact on disease risk, with different employment sectors and transport modes having varying degrees of exposure. The transmission of MERS-CoV, a coronavirus related to SARS and COVID-19, appears to require extended contact time, making certain segments of a community more vulnerable than others. By mathematically modeling the impact of heterogeneity in contact rates on disease spread, using a MERS outbreak in two Saudi Arabian communities, it was found that minimizing disease spread requires a moderate population size with a limited proportion of individuals in the density-independent exposure group. The predominance of density-independent exposure may explain the extinction of the historical outbreak in the larger city.
JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL DYNAMICS
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Xuming Xie
Summary: In this paper, a simplified mathematical model for diabetic atherosclerosis is studied, showing that hyperglycemia leads to the persistence of plaque even when LDL and HDL levels are normal, therefore confirming the increased risk of atherosclerosis in diabetes.
JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL DYNAMICS
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Changjin Xu, Xiaohan Cui, Peiluan Li, Jinling Yan, Lingyun Yao
Summary: In this work, a new discrete predator-prey competitive model with time-varying delays and feedback controls is established. A sufficient condition for the permanence of the model is derived using difference inequality knowledge. It is proven that the system has a periodic solution without delay under certain parameter conditions and is globally attractive. Two examples and computer simulations are provided to validate the theoretical results, which are novel and complement previous findings.
JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL DYNAMICS
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Kawkab Abdullah Nabhan Al Amri, Qamar J. A. Khan
Summary: We developed a deterministic predator-prey compartmental model to study the impact of their velocities on interactions. The prey hides in a refuge area and emerges when predation pressure declines, with the ability to limit their velocity to avoid predation. We found that increased predator or prey velocity leads to higher prey mortality, while raising antipredator behavior increases prey density. We also proved the global asymptotic stability of the predator-free equilibrium and the global stability of the co-existing equilibrium under certain conditions. Transcritical bifurcations were observed at a specific value of the predator's death rate.
JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL DYNAMICS
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Sophia R-J Jang, Ahmed M. Yousef
Summary: This study investigates the effect of cooperative hunting on the predator-prey dynamics, showing that it can have a significant impact on the population sizes. When the proportion of prey refuge is large, cooperative hunting can help rescue and maintain the predator population.
JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL DYNAMICS
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Azmy S. Ackleh, Jenita Jahangir, Amy Veprauskas
Summary: We propose a discrete-time host-parasitoid model with stage structure in both species and establish conditions for the existence and stability of different equilibria. We study the model numerically to examine the interaction between pesticide spraying and natural enemies for pest control. We extend the model to incorporate periodic pesticide spraying and augmentation of natural enemies and determine conditions for global attraction of a pest-eradication periodic solution.
JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL DYNAMICS
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Juping Zhang, Xueyan Ma, Zhen Jin
Summary: A multi-patch HIV/AIDS model with heterosexual transmission is used to study the impact of population migration. The basic reproduction number R0 is derived and it is proven that if R0 < 1, the disease-free equilibrium is globally asymptotically stable. If R0 > 1 and certain conditions are met, the endemic equilibrium is globally asymptotically stable. The model is applied to two patches and numerical simulations are conducted to analyze the spread of HIV/AIDS when population migration occurs.
JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL DYNAMICS
(2023)
Correction
Ecology
Chuanqing Xu, Zonghao Zhang, Xiaotong Huang, Kedeng Cheng, Songbai Guo, Xiaojing Wang, Maoxing Liu, Xiaoling Liu
JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL DYNAMICS
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Alexanderia Lacy, Morganne Igoe, Praachi Das, Trevor Farthing, Alun L. Lloyd, Cristina Lanzas, Agricola Odoi, Suzanne Lenhart
Summary: This study investigates the heterogeneity of COVID-19 cases, hospitalization, and vaccination coverage in the St. Louis region of Missouri. The impact of human mobility, vaccination, and time-varying transmission rates on SARS-CoV-2 transmission in five counties is examined. A COVID-19 model with ordinary differential equations is developed, and parameter estimation is performed using weekly data from 2021. The study predicts changes in disease spread under scenarios with increased vaccination coverage and utilizes local movement data to connect infection forces across different counties.
JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL DYNAMICS
(2023)
