Deterministic and Stochastic Study for an Infected Computer Network Model Powered by a System of Antivirus Programs

We investigate the various conditions that control the extinction and stability of a nonlinear mathematical spread model with stochastic perturbations. This model describes the spread of viruses into an infected computer network which is powered by a system of antivirus software. The system is analyzed by using the stability theory of stochastic differential equations and the computer simulations. First, we study the global stability of the virus-free equilibrium state and the virus-epidemic equilibrium state. Furthermore, we use the Itô formula and some other theoretical theorems of stochastic differential equation to discuss the extinction and the stationary distribution of our system. The analysis gives a sufficient condition for the infection to be extinct (i.e., the number of viruses tends exponentially to zero). The ergodicity of the solution and the stationary distribution can be obtained if the basic reproduction number Rp is bigger than 1, and the intensities of stochastic fluctuations are small enough. Numerical simulations are carried out to illustrate the theoretical results

Relationship of Oxidant and Antioxidant Markers to Asthma Severity in Egyptian Asthmatic Children

BACKGROUND: Asthma is a chronic airway disease which is characterized by oxidant antioxidant imbalance with the generation of oxidative stress related mediators.AIM: The study aimed to evaluate the role of asymmetric dimethylarginine, and malondialdehyde as oxidant markers and serum paraoxonase activity as an antioxidant marker in asthma, and to determine their relationship to the asthma severity and lung function among asthmatic children in Egypt.PATIENTS AND METHODS: This case control study was conducted on sixty patients with asthma compared with sixty apparently healthy children of matched age and sex.RESULTS: Serum concentrations of oxidant markers as asymmetric dimethylarginine and malondialdehyde were significantly increased in asthmatic patients while anti-oxidant marker as paraoxonase activity was significantly decreased compared to healthy controls (P < 0.05). ANOVA test revealed highly significant elevation of the serum concentrations of oxidant markers while anti-oxidant marker was significantly decreased in severe asthmatic patients (P < 0.001) compared to the patients with moderate and mild asthma respectively. Serum malondialdehyde concentration was a strong predictor of asthma severity by multiple regression analysis (P < 0.05).CONCLUSION: The study revealed an imbalance between oxidative and antioxidant defence systems in asthmatic children. Serum concentration of malondialdehyde was the most predictive biomarker having a significant association with asthma severity

Implementation of the One Health approach to fight arbovirus infections in the Mediterranean and Black Sea Region: Assessing integrated surveillance in Serbia, Tunisia and Georgia

Background In the Mediterranean and Black Sea Region, arbovirus infections are emerging infectious diseases. Their surveillance can benefit from one health inter-sectoral collaboration; however, no standardized methodology exists to study One Health surveillance. Methods We designed a situation analysis study to document how integration of laboratory/clinical human, animal and entomological surveillance of arboviruses was being implemented in the Region. We applied a framework designed to assess three levels of integration: policy/institutional, data collection/data analysis and dissemination. We tested the use of Business Process Modelling Notation (BPMN) to graphically present evidence of inter-sectoral integration. Results Serbia, Tunisia and Georgia participated in the study. West Nile Virus surveillance was analysed in Serbia and Tunisia, Crimea-Congo Haemorrhagic Fever surveillance in Georgia. Our framework enabled a standardized analysis of One Health surveillance integration, and BPMN was easily understandable and conducive to detailed discussions among different actors/institutions. In all countries, we observed integration across sectors and levels except in data collection and data analysis. Data collection was interoperable only in Georgia without integrated analysis. In all countries, surveillance was mainly oriented towards outbreak response, triggered by an index human case. Discussion The three surveillance systems we observed prove that integrated surveillance can be operationalized with a diverse spectrum of options. However, in all countries, the integrated use of data for early warning and inter-sectoral priority setting is pioneeristic. We also noted that early warning before human case occurrence is recurrently not operationally prioritized

Short-range migration can alter evolutionary dynamics in solid tumors

Here, we investigate how competition in the Eden model is affected by short range dispersal and the requirement that site updates occur only after several updates of the same site have been attempted previously. The latter models the effect of tissue or media resistance to invasion. We found that the existence of tissue intensifies Natural Selection and de-accelerating Genetic Drift, both to a limited extent. More interestingly, our results show that short-range migration can eliminate genetic demixing and conceal natural selection

Geometrically regulating evolutionary dynamics in biofilms

The theoretical understanding of evolutionary dynamics in spatially structured populations often relies on nonspatial models. Biofilms are among such populations where a more accurate understanding is of theoretical interest and can reveal new solutions to existing challenges. Here, we studied how the geometry of the environment affects the evolutionary dynamics of expanding populations, using the Eden model. Our results show that fluctuations of subpopulations during range expansion in two- and three-dimensional environments are not Brownian. Furthermore, we found that the substrate's geometry interferes with the evolutionary dynamics of populations that grow upon it. Inspired by these findings, we propose a periodically wedged pattern on surfaces prone to develop biofilms. On such patterned surfaces, natural selection becomes less effective and beneficial mutants would have a harder time establishing. Additionally, this modification accelerates genetic drift and leads to less diverse biofilms. Both interventions are highly desired for biofilms

Numerical development of lead-free Cs

Because of the toxicity and stability concerns, commercialization of lead-based perovskite solar cells (PSCs) is limited. Solar cells made entirely of Ti-based all-inorganic perovskite could be a viable answer to these issues. This paper is a theoretical paper on a perovskite solar cell (PSC) based on Cs2TiI6 using all-inorganic charge transport materials. We proposed a high performance perovskite solar cell (PSC) according to variables such as charge transport materials and its optimal thicknesses, absorber thickness, absorber defect density and interface defect density and working temperature. The optimal absorber thickness, Hole transport layer (HTL) thickness, and Electron transport layer (ETL) thickness are 500 nm, 50 nm, and 10 nm, respectively. After analyzing the other factors, we ended up with a high-performance PSC with a power conversion efficiency of 22.5% at room temperature and 22.84% at 270 K. These results are useful for the conception and manufacture of PSCs