7,209 research outputs found
Using mathematical models to help understand biological pattern formation
One of the characteristics of biological systems is their ability to produce and sustain spatial and spatio-temporal pattern. Elucidating the underlying mechanisms responsible for this phenomenon has been the goal of much experimental and theoretical research. This paper illustrates this area of research by presenting some of the mathematical models that have been proposed to account for pattern formation in biology and considering their implications.To cite this article: P.K. Maini, C. R. Biologies 327 (2004)
Self-organization of network dynamics into local quantized states
Self-organization and pattern formation in network-organized systems emerges
from the collective activation and interaction of many interconnected units. A
striking feature of these non-equilibrium structures is that they are often
localized and robust: only a small subset of the nodes, or cell assembly, is
activated. Understanding the role of cell assemblies as basic functional units
in neural networks and socio-technical systems emerges as a fundamental
challenge in network theory. A key open question is how these elementary
building blocks emerge, and how they operate, linking structure and function in
complex networks. Here we show that a network analogue of the Swift-Hohenberg
continuum model---a minimal-ingredients model of nodal activation and
interaction within a complex network---is able to produce a complex suite of
localized patterns. Hence, the spontaneous formation of robust operational cell
assemblies in complex networks can be explained as the result of
self-organization, even in the absence of synaptic reinforcements. Our results
show that these self-organized, local structures can provide robust functional
units to understand natural and socio-technical network-organized processes.Comment: 11 pages, 4 figure
Resonance and frequency-locking phenomena in spatially extended phytoplankton-zooplankton system with additive noise and periodic forces
In this paper, we present a spatial version of phytoplankton-zooplankton
model that includes some important factors such as external periodic forces,
noise, and diffusion processes. The spatially extended
phytoplankton-zooplankton system is from the original study by Scheffer [M
Scheffer, Fish and nutrients interplay determines algal biomass: a minimal
model, Oikos \textbf{62} (1991) 271-282]. Our results show that the spatially
extended system exhibit a resonant patterns and frequency-locking phenomena.
The system also shows that the noise and the external periodic forces play a
constructive role in the Scheffer's model: first, the noise can enhance the
oscillation of phytoplankton species' density and format a large clusters in
the space when the noise intensity is within certain interval. Second, the
external periodic forces can induce 4:1 and 1:1 frequency-locking and spatially
homogeneous oscillation phenomena to appear. Finally, the resonant patterns are
observed in the system when the spatial noises and external periodic forces are
both turned on. Moreover, we found that the 4:1 frequency-locking transform
into 1:1 frequency-locking when the noise intensity increased. In addition to
elucidating our results outside the domain of Turing instability, we provide
further analysis of Turing linear stability with the help of the numerical
calculation by using the Maple software. Significantly, oscillations are
enhanced in the system when the noise term presents. These results indicate
that the oceanic plankton bloom may partly due to interplay between the
stochastic factors and external forces instead of deterministic factors. These
results also may help us to understand the effects arising from undeniable
subject to random fluctuations in oceanic plankton bloom.Comment: Some typos errors are proof, and some strong relate references are
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