Time delay as a key to apoptosis induction in the p53 network

A feedback mechanism that involves the proteins p53 and mdm2, induces cell death as a controlled response to severe DNA damage. A minimal model for this mechanism demonstrates that the response may be dynamic and connected with the time needed to translate the mdm2 protein. The response takes place if the dissociation constant k between p53 and mdm2 varies from its normal value. Although it is widely believed that it is an increase in k that triggers the response, we show that the experimental behaviour is better described by a decrease in the dissociation constant. The response is quite robust upon changes in the parameters of the system, as required by any control mechanism, except for few weak points, which could be connected with the onset of cancer. Received 8 May 2002 / Received in final form 9 July 2002 Published online 17 September 2002     

Likelihood Ratio Processes for Markovian Particle Systems with Killing and Jumps

We consider Markov processes built from pasting together pieces of strong Markov processes which are killed at a position dependent rate and connected via a transition kernel. We give necessary and sufficient conditions for local absolute continuity of probability laws for such processes on a suitable path space and derive an explicit formula for the corresponding likelihood ratio process. The main tool is the consideration of the process between successive jumps – what we call ‘elementary experiments’ – and criteria for absolute continuity of laws of the process there. We apply our results to systems of branching diffusions with interactions and immigrations. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Projection of Markov Measures May Be Gibbsian

We study the induced measure obtained from a 1-step Markov measure, supported by a topological Markov chain, after the mapping of the original alphabet onto another one. We give sufficient conditions for the induced measure to be a Gibbs measure (in the sense of Bowen) when the factor system is again a topological Markov chain. This amounts to constructing, when it does exist, the induced potential and proving its Hölder continuity. This is achieved through a matrix method. We provide examples and counterexamples to illustrate our results.     

一类积分不等式的推广

对一些基本的积分不等式进行了推广，给出了含有n个无关变元的更广泛的非线性积分不等式．利用所得的不等式讨论了某些非线性积分方程解的有界性．     

Hypernormal form theory: foundations and algorithms

Hypernormal forms (unique normal forms, simplest normal forms) are investigated both from the standpoint of foundational theory and algorithms suitable for use with computer algebra. The Baider theory of the Campbell-Hausdorff group is refined, by a study of its subgroups, to determine the smallest substages into which the hypernormalization process can be divided. This leads to a linear algebra algorithm to compute the generators needed for each substage with the least amount of work. A concrete interpretation of Jan Sanders’ spectral sequence for hypernormal forms is presented. Examples are given, and a proof is given for a little-known theorem of Belitskii expressing the hypernormal form space (in the inner product style) as the kernel of a higher-order differential operator.     

Estimation in the continuous time mover‐stayer model with an application to bond ratings migration

The usual tool for modelling bond ratings migration is a discrete, time‐homogeneous Markov chain. Such model assumes that all bonds are homogeneous with respect to their movement behaviour among rating categories and that the movement behaviour does not change over time. However, among recognized sources of heterogeneity in ratings migration is age of a bond (time elapsed since issuance). It has been observed that young bonds have a lower propensity to change ratings, and thus to default, than more seasoned bonds. The aim of this paper is to introduce a continuous, time‐non‐homogeneous model for bond ratings migration, which also incorporates a simple form of population heterogeneity. The specific form of heterogeneity postulated by the proposed model appears to be suitable for modelling the effect of age of a bond on its propensity to change ratings. This model, called a mover–stayer model, is an extension of a Markov chain. This paper derives the maximum likelihood estimators for the parameters of a continuous time mover–stayer model based on a sample of independent continuously monitored histories of the process, and develops the likelihood ratio statistic for discriminating between the Markov chain and the mover–stayer model. The methods are illustrated using a sample of rating histories of young corporate issuers. For these issuers the default probabilities predicted by the Markov chain and mover–stayer models are different. In particular for 1–4 years old bonds the mover–stayer model estimates substantially lower default probabilities from rating C than a Markov chain. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

束晕-混沌的复杂性理论与控制方法及其应用前景

本文系统论述涉及强流加速器等强流离子束装置中产生的束晕-混沌的复杂性理论与控制方法及其应用前景。强流离子束在核材料生产与增殖、洁净核能、放射性废物嬗变、放射性药物生产、重离子聚变、高能物理、核科学与工程、国防与民用工业和医疗等许多方面都有极其重要的应用潜力和诱人的发展前景。尤其是，近年来强流加速器驱动的放射性洁净核能系统是国内外关注的热门课题，因为它比常规核电更安全、更干净、更便宜。但是，强流离子束形成的束晕-混沌的复杂性现象已引起了国内外广泛关注，需要加以抑制、控制和消除这类现象，解决这一难题已经成为强流离子束应用中的关键问题之一。目前不仅必须深入研究这类束晕-混沌的复杂特性及其产生的物理机制，而且需要研究如何实现对束晕-混沌的有效控制，并寻求和发展其新理论、新方法和新技术。这就向强流离子束物理和非线性-复杂性科学及其技术提出了一系列极富挑战性的新课题。本文结合国内外的研究概况，根据我们多年来的研究成果，特别是我们首创性地提出了一些束晕-混沌的有效控制方法，它们包括：非线性反馈控制法，小波反馈控制法，变结构控制法，延迟反馈控制法，参数自适应控制法等，进行重点的介绍。对上述课题当前的主要进展及相关问题进行系统的总结和比较全面综述的评论。最后，指出该领域今后的研究方向，以推动这个崭新领域的深入研究和应用发展。     

The mesa problem for Neumann boundary value problem

In this paper, we study the singular limit of the Porous Medium equation u_t=Δu^m+g(x,u), as m→∞, in a bounded domain with Neumann boundary condition.     

Energy decay of solutions to Maxwell's equations with conductivity and polarization

In this paper, Maxwell's equations involving generally nonlinear polarization and field-dependent currents are studied. The main objective is the asymptotic behavior of the solution for t→∞ if no damping term occurs in the equation governing the polarization field.     

Oscillation theorems for differential equations with a nonlinear damping term

In this paper, we are concerned with a class of nonlinear second-order differential equations with a nonlinear damping term. Passage to more general class of equations allows us to remove a restrictive condition usually imposed on the nonlinearity, and, as a consequence, our results apply to wider classes of nonlinear differential equations. Two illustrative examples are considered.