Review of wavelet methods for the solution of reaction–diffusion problems in science and engineering

Wavelet method is a recently developed tool in applied mathematics. Investigation of various wavelet methods, for its capability of analyzing various dynamic phenomena through waves gained more and more attention in engineering research. Starting from ‘offering good solution to differential equations’ to capturing the nonlinearity in the data distribution, wavelets are used as appropriate tools at various places to provide good mathematical model for scientific phenomena, which are usually modeled through linear or nonlinear differential equations. Review shows that the wavelet method is efficient and powerful in solving wide class of linear and nonlinear reaction–diffusion equations. This review intends to provide the great utility of wavelets to science and engineering problems which owes its origin to 1919. Also, future scope and directions involved in developing wavelet algorithm for solving reaction–diffusion equations are addressed.     

Bridging the Gap Between the Dense and the Discrete: The Number Line and the “Rubber Line” Bridging Analogy

In two experiments we explored the instructional value of a cross‐domain mapping between “number” and “line” in secondary school students' understanding of density. The first experiment investigated the hypothesis that density would be more accessible to students in a geometrical context (infinitely many points on a straight line segment) compared to a numerical context (infinitely many numbers in an interval). The participants were 229 seventh to eleventh graders. The results supported this hypothesis but also showed that students' conceptions of the line segment were far from that of a dense array of points. We then designed a text-based intervention that attempted to build the notion of density in a geometrical context, making explicit reference to the number-to-points correspondence and using the “rubber line” bridging analogy (the line as an imaginary unbreakable rubber band) to convey the no-successor principle. The participants were 149 eighth and tenth graders. The text intervention improved student performance in tasks regarding the infinity of numbers in an interval; the “rubber line” bridging analogy further improved performance successfully conveying the idea that these numbers can never be found one immediately next to the other.     

A mathematical model of the systemic circulatory system with logistically defined nervous system regulatory mechanisms

A mathematical model is developed that accurately describes the pressure, volume and flow dynamics of the systemic circulatory system over the full physiological range of human pressures and volumes. At the heart of this model are mathematical representations for the autonomic and central nervous system reflexes which maintain arterial pressure, cardiac output and cerebral blood flow. These representations involve functions in which a maximum effect and a minimum effect are smoothly connected by a logistic transition. A new approach to modelling the pressure – volume relationship in a vessel with smooth muscle contraction is also presented. To test the model, simulations of cardiac arrest and various haemorrhagic situations were conducted, and predicted results were compared with clinical observations. Near-perfect agreement was obtained between predicted and observed values of the mean circulatory filling pressure, cardiac output and arterial pressure decay in the face of significant haemorrhage, and the critical values delineating progressive from non-progressive hypovolaemic shock.     

Modeling treatment of cancer using virotherapy with generalized logistic growth of tumor cells

Abstract

Virotherapy is an effective strategy in cancer treatment. It eliminates tumor cells without harming the healthy cells. In this article, a deterministic mathematical model to understand the dynamics of tumor cells in response to virotherapy is formulated and analyzed by incorporating cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs). The basic reproduction number and the immune response reproduction number are computed and different equilibria of the proposed model are found. The local stability of different equilibria is discussed in detail. Further, the proposed model is extended to stochastic model. Numerical simulation is performed for both deterministic and stochastic models. It is observed that when both the reproduction numbers are greater than one, which corresponds to existence of unique nontrivial equilibrium point, dynamics of deterministic and stochastic models are almost same. The deterministic model shows a very complex dynamics when one or both the reproduction numbers are below one. The system exhibits both backward bifurcation and Hopf-bifurcation for suitable sets of parameters and in this situation it is not easy to predict the dynamics of cancer cells and virus particles. The existence of backward bifurcation demonstrates the fact that partial success of virotherapy can be achieved even if the immune response reproduction number is less than one.     

The Asymptotic Stability of x(n + k) + ax(n) + bx(n-l) = 0

We established necessary and sufficient conditions for the asymptotic stability of the difference equation where the coefficients a and b are real numbers and k and l are nonnegative integers.     

Stability properties of a nonstandard finite difference scheme for a hantavirus epidemic model

This paper studies the stability properties of a nonstandard finite difference (NSFD) scheme used to simulate the dynamics of a mouse population model in hantavirus epidemics. It is shown that this difference scheme and the underlying system of differential equations have the same dynamics. The proof uses the fact that the total population obeys the logistic equation, as well as techniques from calculus, graphical analysis, and dynamical systems.     

Systems of generalized quasivariational inclusions problems with applications to variational analysis and optimization problems

In this paper, we study an existence theorem of systems of generalized quasivariational inclusions problem. By this result, we establish the existence theorems of solutions of systems of generalized equations, systems of generalized vector quasiequilibrium problem, collective variational fixed point, systems of generalized quasiloose saddle point, systems of minimax theorem, mathematical program with systems of variational inclusions constraints, mathematical program with systems of equilibrium constraints and systems of bilevel problem and semi-infinite problem with systems of equilibrium problem constraints. This research was supported by the National Science Council of the Republic of China.     

Existences theorems of systems of vector quasi-equillibrium problems and mathematical programs with equilibrium constraint

In this paper, we introduce systems of vector quasi-equilibrium problems and prove the existence of their solutions. As applications of our results, we derive the existence theorems for solution of system of vector quasi-saddle point problem, the existences theorems of a solution of system of generalized quasi-minimax inequalities, the mathematical program with equilibrium constraint, semi-infinite and bilevel problems.