A mathematical model for fall armyworm management on maize biomass

This research article published by Springer Nature, 2021Fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda), a highly destructive and fast spreading agricultural pest native to North and South America, poses a real threat to global food security. In this paper, to explore the dynamics and implications of fall armyworm outbreak in a field of maize biomass, we propose a new dynamical system for maize biomass and fall armyworm interaction via Caputo fractional-order operator, which is not only a nonlocal operator but also contains all characteristics concerned with memory of the dynamical system. We define the basic reproduction number, which represents the average number of newborns produced by one individual female moth during its life span. We establish that the basic reproduction number is a threshold quantity, which determines persistence and extinction of the pest. Finally, we simulate the Caputo system using the Adam–Bashforth–Moulton method to illustrate the main results

A fractional-order Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense model with vector saturation and temperature dependent parameters

This research article published by Springer Nature, 2020Temperature is one of the integral environmental drivers that strongly affect the distribution and density of tsetse fly population. Precisely, ectotherm performance measures, such as development rate, survival probability and reproductive rate, increase from low values (even zero) at critical minimum temperature, peak at an optimum temperature and then decline to low levels (even zero) at a critical maximum temperature. In this study, a fractional-order Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense model incorporating vector saturation and temperature dependent parameters is considered. The proposed model incorporates the interplay between vectors and two hosts, humans and animals. We computed the basic reproduction number and established results on the threshold dynamics. Meanwhile, we explored the effects of vector control and screening of infected host on long-term disease dynamics. We determine threshold levels essential to reducing the basic reproduction number to level below unity at various temperature levels. Our findings indicate that vector control and host screening could significantly control spread of the disease at different temperature levels

Modelling the Control of the Impact of Fall Armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) Infestations on Maize Production

This research article published by Hindawi, 2021In this paper, we propose and analyze a stage-structured mathematical model for modelling the control of the impact of Fall Armyworm infestations on maize production. Preliminary analysis of the model in the vegetative and reproductive stages revealed that the two systems had a unique and positively bounded solution for all time . Numerical analysis of the model in both stages under two different cases was also considered: Case 1: different number of the adult moths in the field assumed at and Case 2: the existence of exogenous factors that lead to the immigration of adult moths in the field at time . The results indicate that the destruction of maize biomass which is accompanied by a decrease in maize plants to an average of 160 and 142 in the vegetative and reproductive stages, respectively, was observed to be higher in Case 2 than in Case 1 due to subsequent increase in egg production and density of the caterpillars in first few (10) days after immigration. This severe effect on maize plants caused by the unprecedented number of the pests influenced the extension of the model in both stages to include controls such as pesticides and harvesting. The results further show that the pest was significantly suppressed, resulting in an increase in maize plants to an average of 467 and 443 in vegetative and reproductive stages, respectively

Mathematical models for the dynamics of alcohol related health risks with changing behavior via cultural beliefs in Tanzania

This research article published by Communications in Mathematical Biology and Neuroscience, 2021Alcoholism has continually posed health challenges in many communities for decades. In this paper, a more realistic model for health related risks associated with alcoholism is formulated. It considers a population proportion that has social cultural protection from alcohol consumption. In the context of this paper, such protection emanates from religious beliefs. The Next Generation Matrix (NGM) approach is used to compute the basic risk reproduction number. The risk free equilibrium point is proved to be globally asymptotically stable whenever the basic risk reproduction is less than unity and unstable otherwise. The sensitivity analysis of the basic risk reproduction number and numerical simulation results reveal that for effective control of the health risk problem in the community, the deliberate intervention strategies and policies should focus on discouraging alcoholic behaviors on its onset during initiation stage than focusing other population proportions already at risk

A mathematical model of contact tracing during the 2014-2016 west African ebola outbreak

The 2014-2016 West African outbreak of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) was the largest and most deadly to date. Contact tracing, following up those who may have been infected through contact with an infected individual to prevent secondary spread, plays a vital role in controlling such outbreaks. Our aim in this work was to mechanistically represent the contact tracing process to illustrate potential areas of improvement in managing contact tracing efforts. We also explored the role contact tracing played in eventually ending the outbreak. We present a system of ordinary differential equations to model contact tracing in Sierra Leonne during the outbreak. Using data on cumulative cases and deaths we estimate most of the parameters in our model. We include the novel features of counting the total number of people being traced and tying this directly to the number of tracers doing this work. Our work highlights the importance of incorporatingchanging behavior into one’s model as needed when indicated by the data and reported trends. Our results show that a larger contact tracing program would have reduced the death toll of the outbreak. Counting the total number of people being traced and including changes in behavior in our model led to better understanding of disease management

Bifurcation analysis of vertical transmission model with preventive strategy

We formulate and analyze a deterministic mathematical model for the prevention of a disease transmitted horizontally and vertically in a population of varying size. The model incorporates prevention of disease on individuals at birth and adulthood and allows for natural recovery from infection. The main aim of the study is to investigate the impact of a preventive strategy applied at birth and at adulthood in reducing the disease burden. Bifurcation analysis is explored to determine existence conditions for establishment of the epidemic states. The results of the study showed that in addition to the disease-free equilibrium there exist multiple endemic equilibria for the model reproduction number below unity. These results may have serious implications on the design of intervention programs and public health policies. Numerical simulations were carried out to illustrate analytical results

Fuzzy Modeling for the Dynamics of Alcohol-Related Health Risks with Changing Behaviors via Cultural Beliefs

This research article published by Hindawi, 2020In this paper, we propose and analyze a fuzzy model for the health risk challenges associated with alcoholism. The fuzziness gets into the system by assuming uncertainty condition in the measure of influence of the risky individual and the additional death rate. Specifically, the fuzzy numbers are defined functions of the degree of peer influence of a susceptible individual into drinking behavior. The fuzzy basic risk reproduction number is computed by means of Next-Generation Matrix and analyzed. The analysis of reveals that health risk associated with alcoholism can be effectively controlled by raising the resistance of susceptible individuals and consequently reducing their chances of initiation of drinking behavior. When perceived respectable individuals in the communities are involved in health education campaign, the public awareness about prevailing risks increases rapidly. Consequently, a large population proportion will gain protection from initiation of drinks which would accelerate their health condition into more risky states. In a situation where peer influence is low, the health risks are likely to be reduced by natural factors that provide virtual protection from alcoholism. However, when the perceived most influential people in the community engage in alcoholism behavior, it implies an increase in the force of influence, and as such, the system will be endemic

Dynamical and optimal control analysis of a seasonal Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense model

This research article published by AIMS Press, 2020The e ects of seasonal variations on the epidemiology of Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense disease is well documented. In particular, seasonal variations alter vector development rates and behaviour, thereby influencing the transmission dynamics of the disease. In this paper, a mathematical model for Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense disease that incorporates seasonal e ects is presented. Owing to the importance of understanding the e ective ways of managing the spread of the disease, the impact of time dependent intervention strategies has been investigated. Two controls representing human awareness campaigns and insecticides use have been incorporated into the model. The main goal of introducing these controls is to minimize the number of infected host population at low implementation costs. Although insecticides usage is associated with adverse e ects to the environment, in this study we have observed that by totally neglecting insecticide use, e ective disease management may present a formidable challenge. However, if human awareness is combined with low insecticide usage then the disease can be e ectively managed

Backward Bifurcation and Optimal Control Analysis of a Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense Model

This research article published by MDPIIn this paper, a mathematical model for the transmission dynamics of Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense that incorporates three species—namely, human, animal and vector—is formulated and analyzed. Two controls representing awareness campaigns and insecticide use are investigated in order to minimize the number of infected hosts in the population and the cost of implementation. Qualitative analysis of the model showed that it exhibited backward bifurcation generated by awareness campaigns. From the optimal control analysis we observed that optimal awareness and insecticide use could lead to effective control of the disease even when they were implemented at low intensities. In addition, it was noted that insecticide control had a greater impact on minimizing the spread of the disease compared to awareness campaign

Modeling the role of public health education in Ebola virus disease outbreaks in Sudan

Public involvement in Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) prevention efforts is key to reducing disease outbreaks. Targeted education through practical health information to particular groups and sub-populations is crucial to controlling the disease. In this paper, we study the dynamics of Ebola virus disease in the presence of public health education with the aim of assessing the role of behavior change induced by health education to the dynamics of an outbreak. The power of behavior change is evident in two outbreaks of EVD that took place in Sudan only 3 years apart. The first occurrence was the first documented outbreak of EVD and produced a significant number of infections. The second outbreak produced far fewer cases, presumably because the population in the region learned from the first outbreak. We derive a system of ordinary differential equations to model these two contrasting behaviors. Since the population in Sudan learned from the first outbreak of EVD and changed their behavior prior to the second outbreak, we use data from these two instances of EVD to estimate parameters relevant to two contrasting behaviors. We then simulate a future outbreak of EVD in Sudan using our model that contains two susceptible populations, one being more informed about EVD. Our finding show how a more educated population results in fewer cases of EVD and highlights the importance of ongoing public health education. Keywords: Ebola virus disease, Public health education, Outbreaks, Mathematical model, Simulations, Infectious disease mode