A mathematical model of the response of the semicircular canal and otolith to vestibular system rotation under gravity

A mathematical model of the system composed of two sensors, the semicircular canal and the sacculus, is suggested. The model is described by three lines of blocks, each line of which has the following structure: a biomechanical block, a mechanoelectrical transduction mechanism, and a block describing the hair cell ionic currents and membrane potential dynamics. The response of this system to various stimuli (head rotation under gravity and falling) is investigated. Identification of the model parameters was done with the experimental data obtained for the axolotl (Ambystoma tigrinum) at the Institute of Physiology, Autonomous University of Puebla, Mexico. Comparative analysis of the semicircular canal and sacculus membrane potentials is presented. __________ Translated from Fundamentalnaya i Prikladnaya Matematika, Vol. 11, No. 7, pp. 207–220, 2005.     

Comparing eye movements during mathematical word problem solving in Chinese and German

Language plays an important role in word problem solving. Accordingly, the language in which a word problem is presented could affect its solution process. In particular, East-Asian, non-alphabetic languages are assumed to provide specific benefits for mathematics compared to Indo-European, alphabetic languages. By analyzing students’ eye movements in a cross-linguistic comparative study, we analyzed word problem solving processes in Chinese and German. 72 German and 67 Taiwanese undergraduate students solved PISA word problems in their own language. Results showed differences in eye movements of students, between the two languages. Moreover, independent cluster analyses revealed three clusters of reading patterns based on eye movements in both languages. Corresponding reading patterns emerged in both languages that were similarly and significantly associated with performance and motivational-affective variables. They explained more variance among students in these variables than between the languages alone. Our analyses show that eye movements of students during reading differ between the two languages, but very similar reading patterns exist in both languages. This result supports the assumption that the language alone is not a sufficient explanation for differences in students’ mathematical achievement, but that reading patterns are more strongly related to performance.     

Existence of solutions to a phase transition model with microscopic movements

We prove the existence of weak solutions for a 3D phase change model introduced by Michel Frémond in (Non‐smooth Thermomechanics. Springer: Berlin, 2002) showing, via a priori estimates, the weak sequential stability property in the sense already used by the first author in (Comput. Math. Appl. 2007; 53 :461–490). The result follows by passing to the limit in an approximate problem obtained adding a superlinear part (in terms of the gradient of the temperature) in the heat flux law. We first prove well posedness for this last problem and then—using proper a priori estimates—we pass to the limit showing that the total energy is conserved during the evolution process and proving the non‐negativity of the entropy production rate in a suitable sense. Finally, these weak solutions turn out to be the classical solution to the original Frémond's model provided all quantities in question are smooth enough. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Using a continuous-time Markov model with Poisson arrivals to describe the movements of geriatric patients

The population of geriatrics in a given hospital district is relatively stable and therefore we may model the movement of geriatric patients by considering both their stays in hospital and subsequent releases back into the community. The care of the elderly in departments of geriatric medicine may be generally classified into two forms of clinical care, acute/rehabilitative and long stay. Our paper describes the movement of pateints through departments of geriatric medicine and subsequent stays in the community by a four-stage continuous-time Markov model, where the stages represent acute/rehabilitative patients, long-stay patients, ex-patients in the community and former patients who are now dead, respectively. Admissions are modelled as a Poisson stream and expressions are calculated for the distribution, mean and variance of numbers of patients in each compartment at any time. Using these expressions the model is then fitted to a large data set of hospital spells containing over 10 000 admissions. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Bifurcation analysis in a model of cytotoxic T-lymphocyte response to viral infections

In this paper, we study the dynamics of a mathematical model on primary and secondary cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) response to viral infections by Wodarz et al. This model has three equilibria and their stability criteria are discussed. The system transitions from one equilibrium to the next as the basic reproductive number, R₀, increases. When R₀ increases even further, we analytically show that periodic solutions may arise from the third equilibrium via Hopf bifurcation. Numerical simulations of the model agree with the theoretical results and these dynamics occur within biologically realistic parameter range. The normal form theory is also applied to find the amplitude, phase and stability information on the limit cycles. Biological implications of the results are discussed.     

Existence and uniqueness results to a phase transition model based on microscopic accelerations and movements

Microscopic movements are responsible for the phase transition at the macroscopic level. The power of the microscopic accelerations of these motions is not neglected, as opposed to some previous works, in the derivation of phase transition models accounting for strong dissipation or irreversible phenomena. Such models lead to nonlinear parabolic–hyperbolic systems. Some existence and uniqueness results are established, through fixed point and regularization arguments, for related Cauchy–Neumann problems.     

A normative model of market response to sales force activities

This paper outlines a procedure to estimate optimal salesmen's call policies generating the highest long-run profits over an infinite planning horizon. This procedure is based on a simple model of market responses to sales calls, which accounts for the main characteristics of sales call responses such as carryover effects, minimum spacing, forgetting and decreasing responses after some no-activity period. In a sample application, the optimal call policy (under no salesforce time constraint) led to an estimate of the optimal sales force workload.     

A mathematical model of mast cell response to acupuncture needling

We introduce a new model of mast cell response to acupuncture needling based on the Keller–Segel model for chemotaxis. The needle manipulation induces the release of a chemoattractant by the mast cells. We show, in a simplified case, that blow-up of the solution occurs in finite time for large initial data concentrated around the acupoint. In those conditions, blow-up is the result of aggregation of cells and could indicate the efficiency of the acupuncture manipulation of the needle at one acupoint.     

A novel model to describe the intervertebral disc mechanical response

The main objective of the present work is the development of a simplified, efficient and easy-to-implement single-phase material model, which is able to describe the essential effects characterising the behaviour of multi-phase saturated materials, such as of intervertebral discs (IVDs). The presented new model mainly focuses on extending a viscoelastic material model in order to not only take the mechanical behaviour of the solid part into account, but also the fluid-flow-dependent behaviour of the material. By applying this model, the complexity and constitutive parameters are reduced, the implementation is more convenient and the experimental investigations can be better supported in comparison to multi-phase material models of IVDs. (© 2016 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

An electrical stimulation data based model to predict the healing period of fractured limb

ABSTRACT

In this work, diagnosing of reunion of human tibia fracture across limbs using a simple mathematical model is demonstrated. At present in practice, the fracture reunion is predicted using repeated radiographs. Frequent exposure to such radiation causes harmful health effects in patients. Hence, as an alternative, modelling technique using electrical data recorded across patients stimulated with DC electric voltage of range 0.1–1V is proposed. Various model structures, namely P1D and P1DZ models were tried. An error analysis was performed and it was observed that the measured data fitted P1DZ model with an error less than 5%. Model parameters namely process gain and time constant were observed. When the model parameter process gain becomes constant, the time constant reduces significantly indicating the healing of fracture. Reunion was also confirmed with simultaneously taken radiographs. The fact that human bone is a biological semi-conductor therefore exhibits electrical properties and bone does behave like a capacitor is proved by empirical methods in our study is the novelty of the work.     

随机化应答调查方案的参数估计问题

随机化应答调查是一种特殊的数据采集技术,使得调查者既得到了某个敏感问题的信息又保护了被调查者的隐私,本文研究从两种随机化答调查方案采得数据后的参数估计问题,在应用Ｂａｙｅｓ估计时,给出了便于Ｍａｔｈｅｍａｔｉｃａ软件计算的后验均值和方差的公式,通过模拟实验,比较了两个方案所得估计量的优劣。     

Global existence for a mathematical model of the immune response to cancer

In this paper we study a mathematical model describing the growth of a solid in the presence of an immune system response. The model is strongly coupled degenerate reaction–diffusion system, in which the equations involve discontinuous terms. By using the approximation method combined with energy estimates and the bootstrap arguments, we prove that this system has a global classical solution.     

A multilevel finite mixture item response model to cluster examinees and schools

Within the educational context, a key goal is to assess students’ acquired skills and to cluster students according to their ability level. In this regard, a relevant element to be accounted for is the possible effect of the school students come from. For this aim, we provide a methodological tool which takes into account the multilevel structure of the data (i.e., students in schools) and allows us to cluster both students and schools into homogeneous classes of ability and effectiveness, and to assess the effect of certain students’ and school characteristics on the probability to belong to such classes. The proposed approach relies on an extended class of multidimensional latent class IRT models characterised by: (i) latent traits defined at student and school level, (ii) latent traits represented through random vectors with a discrete distribution, (iii) the inclusion of covariates at student and school level, and (iv) a two-parameter logistic parametrisation for the conditional probability of a correct response given the ability. The approach is applied for the analysis of data collected by two national tests administered in Italy to middle school students in June 2009: the INVALSI Language Test and the Mathematics Test.     

Co-ordinated movements to avoid collisions of a twin-robot system

A method of modelling collision avoidance between separate coordinated arms in the process of changing hands is presented. The shortest distance between two forearms is chosen as the criterion for kinematic modelling. Trajectories of various geometries are classified with respect to different collision situations. Parameters to be adjusted to avoid collisions are also discussed. To illustrate the modelling technique, two redundant anthropomorphic robots are considered to cooperate in rotating a wheel.     

Using a Volterra system model to analyze nonlinear response in video-packet transmission over IP networks

This paper presents a Volterra system-based nonlinear analysis of video-packet transmission over IP networks. With the Volterra system, which is applicable to the modeling of nonlinear dynamic systems from sets of input and output data, we applied a time-series analysis of measured data for network response evaluation. In a test-bed connected to the Internet, we measured two parameters: the time intervals between consecutive packets from a video server at the originating side, and the transmission time of packets between originating and terminating sides. We used these as input and output data for the Volterra system and confirmed that the relative error of this model changed with conditions of network systems, which suggested that the packet transmission process affected the degree of nonlinearity of the system. The proposed method can reproduce the time-series responses observed in video-packet transmission over the Internet, reflecting nonlinear dynamic behaviors such that the obtained results provided us with an effective depiction of network conditions at different times.     

Time delay in a basic model of the immune response

The effects of time delay on the two-dimensional system of Mayer et al., which represents the basic model of the immune response, are analysed (cf. Mayer H, Zaenker KS, an der Heiden U. A basic mathematical model of the immune response. Chaos, Solitons and Fractals 1995;5:155–61). We studied variations of the stability of the fixed points due to the time delay and the possibility for the occurrence of the chaotic solutions.     

具有免疫反应的乙型肝炎病毒感染动力学分析

首先建立了具有免疫反应参与的乙型肝炎病毒感染动力学新模型,利用Routh-Hurwitz判据,获得了正平衡点的局部渐近稳定的充分条件.其次建立了具有免疫时滞的数学模型,证明了随着时滞的增加,系统的稳定开关将会发生.     

Forecasting model with asymmetric market response and its application to pricing of consumer package goods

This paper presents a dynamic forecasting model that accommodates asymmetric market responses to marketing mix variable—price promotion—by threshold models. As a threshold variable to generate a mechanism for different market responses, we use the counterpart to the concept of a price threshold applied to a representative consumer in a store. A Bayesian approach is taken for statistical modelling because of advantages that it offers over estimation and forecasting. The proposed model incorporates the lagged effects of a price variable. Thereby, myriad pricing strategies can be implemented in the time horizon. Their effectiveness can be evaluated using the predictive density. We intend to improve the forecasting performance over conventional linear time series models. Furthermore, we discuss efficient dynamic pricing in a store using strategic simulations under some scenarios suggested by an estimated structure of the models. Empirical studies illustrate the superior forecasting performance of our model against conventional linear models in terms of the root mean square error of the forecasts. Useful information for dynamic pricing is derived from its structural parameter estimates. This paper develops a dynamic forecasting model that accommodates asymmetric market responses to marketing mix variable—price promotion—by the threshold models. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.