Global dynamics of a class of SEIRS epidemic models in a periodic environment

In this paper, we study a class of periodic SEIRS epidemic models and it is shown that the global dynamics is determined by the basic reproduction number R₀ which is defined through the spectral radius of a linear integral operator. If R₀<1, then the disease free periodic solution is globally asymptotically stable and if R₀>1, then the disease persists. Our results really improve the results in [T. Zhang, Z. Teng, On a nonautonomous SEIRS model in epidemiology Bull. Math. Biol. 69 (8) (2007) 2537-2559] for the periodic case. Moreover, from our results, we see that the eradication policy on the basis of the basic reproduction number of the time-averaged system may overestimate the infectious risk of the periodic disease. Numerical simulations which support our theoretical analysis are also given.     

一类具有垂直传染和预防接种的SEIR传染病模型

建立并分析了一类具有垂直传染和预防接种的SEIR传染病模型,得到了该模型的基本再生数.通过对基本再生数的讨论和分析,得到了该模型的平衡点的稳定性和持续性.     

Persistence in a discrete-time,stage-structured epidemic model

Discrete-time SI and SIR epidemic models, formulated by Emmert and Allen [J. Differ. Equ. Appl., 10 (2004), pp. 1177–1199] for the spread of a fungal disease in a structured amphibian host population, are analysed. Criteria for persistence of the population as well as for persistence of the disease are established. Global stability results for host extinction and for the disease-free equilibrium are presented.     

The protection zone for biological population in random environment

A biomathematical model is described by stochastic differential equations with Markovian switching. The long‐time dynamical properties are studied both theoretically and numerically. Results show that both the persistence and extinction have close relationship with environmental noises (white and color noises). These results are of important biological significance for biological conservation. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Development and analysis of a malaria transmission mathematical model with seasonal mosquito life-history traits

In this paper, we develop and analyze a malaria model with seasonality of mosquito life-history traits: periodic-mosquitoes per capita birth rate, -mosquitoes death rate, -probability of mosquito to human disease transmission, -probability of human to mosquito disease transmission, and -mosquitoes biting rate. All these parameters are assumed to be time dependent leading to a nonautonomous differential equation system. We provide a global analysis of the model depending on two threshold parameters and (with ). When , then the disease-free stationary state is locally asymptotically stable. In the presence of the human disease-induced mortality, the global stability of the disease-free stationary state is guarantied when . On the contrary, if , the disease persists in the host population in the long term and the model admits at least one positive periodic solution. Moreover, by a numerical simulation, we show that a sub-critical (backward) bifurcation is possible at . Finally, the simulation results are in accordance with the seasonal variation of the reported cases of a malaria-epidemic region in Mpumalanga province in South Africa.     

Polymer physics inspired approaches for the study of the mechanical properties of amyloid fibrils

Amyloid structures constitute a class of highly ordered nanomaterials formed by insoluble protein aggregates. These aggregates are characterized by a cross‐β structural motif in which β‐sheets are oriented perpendicular to the fibril axis and bound together by a dense hydrogen bonding network. Although they have been associated with several neurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases, amyloid fibrils have also been found in many physiologically beneficial roles, for instance in adhesives and hormone storage. Inspired by this natural occurrence of functional amyloid, the hierarchal self‐assembly of these structures has recently been used to develop artificial biomaterials for applications in medicine and nanotechnology. In order to realize the full potential of amyloids as functional materials, it is important to understand their fundamental mechanical properties. This review explores a range of experimental strategies to determine the mechanical properties of amyloid fibrils and discusses the results in the context of polymer physics concepts. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2014 , 52, 281–292     

A conjecture by G. Ladas

In this paper, a sufficient condition for boundedness and persistence of the solu1 /of the following delay difference equation is obtained. A conjecture by G. Ladas is proved here xn-1=A/x^pn B/x^qn-1, n=0,1,...where A, B, p, q, x-1, xo∈(0,∞).