4,079 research outputs found
Population growth and persistence in a heterogeneous environment: the role of diffusion and advection
The spatio-temporal dynamics of a population present one of the most
fascinating aspects and challenges for ecological modelling. In this article we
review some simple mathematical models, based on one dimensional
reaction-diffusion-advection equations, for the growth of a population on a
heterogeneous habitat. Considering a number of models of increasing complexity
we investigate the often contrary roles of advection and diffusion for the
persistence of the population. When it is possible we demonstrate basic
mathematical techniques and give the critical conditions providing the survival
of a population, in simple systems and in more complex resource-consumer models
which describe the dynamics of phytoplankton in a water column.Comment: Introductory review of simple conceptual models. 45 pages, 15 figures
v2: minor change
Analysis of patterns formed by two-component diffusion limited aggregation
We consider diffusion limited aggregation of particles of two different
kinds. It is assumed that a particle of one kind may adhere only to another
particle of the same kind. The particles aggregate on a linear substrate which
consists of periodically or randomly placed particles of different kinds. We
analyze the influence of initial patterns on the structure of growing clusters.
It is shown that at small distances from the substrate, the cluster structures
repeat initial patterns. However, starting from a critical distance the initial
periodicity is abruptly lost, and the particle distribution tends to a random
one. An approach describing the evolution of the number of branches is
proposed. Our calculations show that the initial patter can be detected only at
the distance which is not larger than approximately one and a half of the
characteristic pattern size.Comment: Accepted for publication in Physical Review
Scaling of size, shape and surface roughness in Antarctic krill swarms
Antarctic krill are obligate swarmers and the size and shape of the swarms they form can have a major influence on trophic interactions and biogeochemical fluxes. Parameterizing variability in size and shape is therefore a useful step toward understanding the operation of the Southern Ocean ecosystem. We analyse the relationships between the length L L, thickness T T, perimeter P P, and area A A of 4650 vertical cross-sections of open-ocean krill swarms obtained within the Atlantic sector of the Southern Ocean in summer 2003. Our data show that these parameters are tightly interrelated. The thickness T
T increases on average as L 0.67 L0.67
and has a log-normal distribution within each length class. The perimeter and area scale with L L and T T as P∼L 0.77 T P∼L0.77T and A∼L 0.86 T 0.48
A∼L0.86T0.48. The swarm aspect ratio, T/L T/L, decreases approximately as L −0.32 L-0.32. The surface roughness (defined as P/A P/A) has a weak dependence on swarm length and decreases approximately as T −0.46
T-0.46, which can be explained only by the appearance of indentations and cavities in the swarm shape. Overall, our study finds that there are distinct limits to the size and shape of swarms that Antarctic krill appear to be capable of forming and we explore the potential explanatory factors contributing to these limitations
Slowing heavy, ground-state molecules using an alternating gradient decelerator
Cold supersonic beams of molecules can be slowed down using a switched
sequence of electrostatic field gradients. The energy to be removed is
proportional to the mass of the molecules. Here we report deceleration of YbF,
which is 7 times heavier than any molecule previously decelerated. We use an
alternating gradient structure to decelerate and focus the molecules in their
ground state. We show that the decelerator exhibits the axial and transverse
stability required to bring these molecules to rest. Our work significantly
extends the range of molecules amenable to this powerful method of cooling and
trapping.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figure
Determining selection across heterogeneous landscapes: a perturbation-based method and its application to modeling evolution in space
Spatial structure can decisively influence the way evolutionary processes unfold. Several methods have thus far been used to study evolution in spatial systems, including population genetics, quantitative genetics, momentclosure approximations, and individual-based models. Here we extend the study of spatial evolutionary dynamics to eco-evolutionary models based on reaction-diffusion equations and adaptive dynamics. Specifically, we derive expressions for the strength of directional and stabilizing/disruptive selection that apply in both continuous space and to metacommunities with symmetrical dispersal between patches. For directional selection on a quantitative trait, this yields a way to integrate local directional selection across space and determine whether the trait value will increase or decrease. The robustness of this prediction is validated against quantitative genetics. For stabilizing/disruptive selection, we show that spatial heterogeneity always contributes to disruptive selection and hence always promotes evolutionary branching. The expression for directional selection is numerically very effi- cient, and hence lends itself to simulation studies of evolutionary community assembly. We illustrate the application and utility of the expressions for this purpose with two examples of the evolution of resource utilization. Finally, we outline the domain of applicability of reaction-diffusion equations as a modeling framework and discuss their limitations
Scaling Invariance in a Time-Dependent Elliptical Billiard
We study some dynamical properties of a classical time-dependent elliptical
billiard. We consider periodically moving boundary and collisions between the
particle and the boundary are assumed to be elastic. Our results confirm that
although the static elliptical billiard is an integrable system, after to
introduce time-dependent perturbation on the boundary the unlimited energy
growth is observed. The behaviour of the average velocity is described using
scaling arguments
Macrophage and tumor cell responses to repetitive pulsed X-ray radiation
To study a response of tumor cells and macrophages to the repetitive pulsed low-dose X-ray radiation. Methods. Tumor growth and lung metastasis of mice with an injected Lewis lung carcinoma were analysed, using C57Bl6. Monocytes were isolated from a human blood, using CD14+ magnetic beads. IL6, IL1-betta, and TNF-alpha were determined by ELISA. For macrophage phenotyping, a confocal microscopy was applied. "Sinus-150" was used for the generation of pulsed X-ray radiation (the absorbed dose was below 0.1 Gy, the pulse repetition frequency was 10 pulse/sec). The irradiation of mice by 0.1 Gy pulsed X-rays significantly inhibited the growth of primary tumor and reduced the number of metastatic colonies in the lung. Furthermore, the changes in macrophage phenotype and cytokine secretion were observed after repetitive pulsed X-ray radiation. Conclusion. Macrophages and tumor cells had a different response to a low-dose pulsed X-ray radiation. An activation of the immune system through changes of a macrophage phenotype can result in a significant antitumor effect of the low-dose repetitive pulsed X-ray radiation
Tunka Advanced Instrument for cosmic rays and Gamma Astronomy
The paper is a script of a lecture given at the ISAPP-Baikal summer school in
2018. The lecture gives an overview of the Tunka Advanced Instrument for cosmic
rays and Gamma Astronomy (TAIGA) facility including historical introduction,
description of existing and future setups, and outreach and open data
activities.Comment: Lectures given at the ISAPP-Baikal Summer School 2018: Exploring the
Universe through multiple messengers, 12-21 July 2018, Bol'shie Koty, Russi
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