Analytical examples of diffusive waves generated by a traveling wave

We construct analytical solutions for a system composed of a reaction–diffusion equation coupled with a purely diffusive equation. The question is to know if the traveling wave solutions of the reaction–diffusion equation can generate a traveling wave for the diffusion equation. Our motivation comes from the calcic wave, generated after fertilization within the egg cell endoplasmic reticulum, and propagating within the egg cell. We consider both the monostable (Fisher–KPP type) and bistable cases. We use a piecewise linear reaction term so as to build explicit solutions, which leads us to compute exponential tails whose exponents are roots of second-, third-, or fourth-order polynomials. These raise conditions on the coefficients for existence of a traveling wave of the diffusion equation. The question of positivity and monotonicity is only partially answered.     

Optimal design of non-equilibrium experiments for genetic network interrogation

Many experimental systems in biology, especially synthetic gene networks, are amenable to perturbations that are controlled by the experimenter. We developed an optimal design algorithm that calculates optimal observation times in conjunction with optimal experimental perturbations in order to maximize the amount of information gained from longitudinal data derived from such experiments. We applied the algorithm to a validated model of a synthetic Brome Mosaic Virus (BMV) gene network and found that optimizing experimental perturbations may substantially decrease uncertainty in estimating BMV model parameters.     

Beliefs,Practical Knowledge,and Context: A Longitudinal Study of a Beginning Biology Teacher's 5E Unit

The purpose of this three‐year case study was to understand how a beginning biology teacher (Alice) designed and taught a 5E unit on natural selection, how the unit changed when she took a position in a different school district, and why the changes occurred. We examined Alice's developing beliefs about science teaching and learning, practical knowledge, and perceptions of school context in relation to the 5E unit. Data sources consisted of interviews, classroom observations, and lesson materials. We found that Alice placed more emphasis on the explore phase, less emphasis on the engage and explain phases, and removed the elaborate phase over time. Alice's beliefs about science teaching and learning acted as a filter for making sense of practical knowledge and perceptions of context. Although her beliefs were student centered, they aligned with discovery learning in which little intervention from the teacher is required. We discuss how her beliefs, practical knowledge, and perceptions of context explained the changes in her practice. This study sheds insight into the nature of beliefs and how they relate to the 5E lesson phases, as well as the different lenses for viewing the 5E instructional model. Implications for science teacher preparation and induction programs are discussed.     

Fuzzy信息系统的Rough集理论

提出 Fuzzy信息系统的概念 ,建立 fuzzy信息系统上的 Rough集理论 ,给出 Fuzzy信息系统与经典信息系统的关系 ,讨论 Fuzzy信息系统的知识约简问题     

Mechanical effects of acupuncture

Acupuncture, a physiotherapy, has been widely accepted all around the world. This study focuses on the influence of membrane structures and explains the acupuncture sensations from the aspect of mechanical properties. By mathematical modeling and numerical simulation, the scientific meaning of the acupuncture depth is investigated and phenomena and theory of acupuncture are discussed. The simulation results show that (a) the fascial structure is the main contributor to the force on the needle, the axial force will gradually increase before piercing the fascial, and suddenly decrease after piercing the fascial; (b) there is an inverse relationship between the needle radius and the maximum radial stress, which indicates that the needle should not be too sharp to cause local stress concentration and piece the fascia layer; and (c) the simulation results of comprehensively considering the static friction and sliding friction is identical with the experiment results. This study proposes a preliminary study of mechanical effects of acupuncture manipulation, clarifies key factors affecting the stress on the needle, and explains the objective requirement of acupuncture depth to effective treatment.     

Systems biology reveals biology of systems

In the last decades, genomic and postgenomic technologies obtained a great amount of information on molecular bases of cell physiology and organization. In spite of this, the knowledge of cells and living organisms in their entirety, is far from being achieved. In order to deal with biological complexity, Systems Biology uses a new approach to overcome this inadequacy. Despite different definitions, Systems Biology's view of biological phenomena highlights that a holistic perspective is needed to integrate and understand the huge amount of empirical data which have been collected. This is one of the aspects that makes Systems Biology so interesting, from a theoretical and epistemological point of view, and that renders it a useful tool to help students approach living beings' dynamics within a comprehensive framework of their biological features as well. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Complexity, 2010     

一类Rosenzweing-MacArthur捕食模型的周期解

研究一类Rosenzweing-MacArthur捕食模型的周期解，首先以食饵的环境容纳量k为分支参数，从Hopf的角度得到该系统小振幅稳定极限环的存在性，然后用定性的方法得到系统在第一象限内非小振幅稳定极限环的存在惟一性，推广了陈均平等的相关结论。同时也讨论正平衡点的全局稳定性。     

Decomposition algorithms for the tree edit distance problem

We study the behavior of dynamic programming methods for the tree edit distance problem, such as [P. Klein, Computing the edit-distance between unrooted ordered trees, in: Proceedings of 6th European Symposium on Algorithms, 1998, p. 91–102; K. Zhang, D. Shasha, SIAM J. Comput. 18 (6) (1989) 1245–1262]. We show that those two algorithms may be described as decomposition strategies. We introduce the general framework of cover strategies, and we provide an exact characterization of the complexity of cover strategies. This analysis allows us to define a new tree edit distance algorithm, that is optimal for cover strategies.     

Equilibria of two-sided matching games with common preferences

Problems of matching have long been studied in the operations research literature (assignment problem, secretary problem, stable marriage problem). All of these consider a centralized mechanism whereby a single decision maker chooses a complete matching which optimizes some criterion. This paper analyzes a more realistic scenario in which members of the two groups (buyers–sellers, employers–workers, males–females) randomly meet each other in pairs (interviews, dates) over time and form couples if there is mutual agreement to do so. We assume members of each group have common preferences over members of the other group. Generalizing an earlier model of Alpern and Reyniers [Alpern, S., Reyniers, D.J., 2005. Strategic mating with common preferences. J. Theor. Biol. 237, 337–354], we assume that one group (called males) is r   times larger than the other, r?1$r?1$. Thus all females, but only 1/r$1/r$ of the males, end up matched. Unmatched males have negative utility -c$-c$. We analyze equilibria of this matching game, depending on the parameters r   and c$c$. In a region of (r,c)$(r\text{,}c)$ space with multiple equilibria, we compare these, and analyze their ‘efficiency’ in several respects. This analysis should prove useful for designers of matching mechanisms who have some control over the sex ratio (e.g. by capping numbers of males at a ‘singles event’or by having ‘ladies free’ nights) or the nonmating cost c (e.g. tax benefits to married couples).