Dynamics of a Stage Structured Pest Control Model in a Polluted Environment with Pulse Pollution Input

By using pollution model and impulsive delay differential equation, we formulate a pest control model with stage structure for natural enemy in a polluted environment by introducing a constant periodic pollutant input and killing pest at different fixed moments and investigate the dynamics of such a system. We assume only that the natural enemies are affected by pollution, and we choose the method to kill the pest without harming natural enemies. Sufficient conditions for global attractivity of the natural enemy-extinction periodic solution and permanence of the system are obtained. Numerical simulations are presented to confirm our theoretical results

Threshold control strategy for a Filippov model with group defense of pests and a constant-rate release of natural enemies

In this paper, we establish an integrated pest management Filippov model with group defense of pests and a constant rate release of natural enemies. First, the dynamics of the subsystems in the Filippov system are analyzed. Second, the dynamics of the sliding mode system and the types of equilibria of the Filippov system are discussed. Then the complex dynamics of the Filippov system are investigated by using numerical analysis when there is a globally asymptotically stable limit cycle and a globally asymptotically stable equilibrium in two subsystems, respectively. Furthermore, we analyze the existence region of a sliding mode and pseudo equilibrium, as well as the complex dynamics of the Filippov system, such as boundary equilibrium bifurcation, the grazing bifurcation, the buckling bifurcation and the crossing bifurcation. These complex sliding bifurcations reveal that the selection of key parameters can control the population density no more than the economic threshold, so as to prevent the outbreak of pests

Optimal Control Policies of Pests for Hybrid Dynamical Systems

We improve the traditional integrated pest management (IPM) control strategies and formulate three specific management strategies, which can be described by hybrid dynamical systems. These strategies can not only effectively control pests but also reduce the abuse of pesticides and protect the natural enemies. The aim of this work is to study how the factors, such as natural enemies optimum choice in the two kinds of different pests, timings of natural enemy releases, dosages and timings of insecticide applications, and instantaneous killing rates of pesticides on both pests and natural enemies, can affect the success of IPM control programmes. The results indicate that the pests outbreak period or frequency largely depends on the optimal selective feeding of the natural enemy between one of the pests and the control tactics. Ultimately, we obtain the only pest needs to be controlled below a certain threshold while not supervising pest

Electronic and magnetic properties of multishell Co nanowires coated with Cu

The structural, electronic, and magnetic properties of ultrathin Cu-coated Co nanowires have been studied by using empirical genetic algorithm simulations and a tight-binding $spd$ model Hamiltonian in the unrestricted Hartree-Hock approximation. For some specific stoichiometric compositions, Cu atoms occupy the surface, while Co atoms prefer to stay in the interior, forming the perfect coated multishell structures. The outer Cu layers lead to substantial variations of the magnetic moment of interior Co atoms, depending on the structure and thickness of Cu layers. In particular, single Co atom row in the center of nanowire is found to be nonmagnetic when coated with two Cu layers. All the other Co nanowires in the coated Cu shell are still magnetic but the magnetic moments are reduced as compared with Co nanowires without Cu coating. The interaction between Cu and Co atoms induces nonzero magnetic moment for Cu atoms.Comment: 7 pages, 2 fugure

Melting behavior of ultrathin titanium nanowires

The thermal stability and melting behavior of ultrathin titanium nanowires with multi-shell cylindrical structures are studied using molecular dynamic simulation. The melting temperatures of titanium nanowires show remarkable dependence on wire sizes and structures. For the nanowire thinner than 1.2 nm, there is no clear characteristic of first-order phase transition during the melting, implying a coexistence of solid and liquid phases due to finite size effect. An interesting structural transformation from helical multi-shell cylindrical to bulk-like rectangular is observed in the melting process of a thicker hexagonal nanowire with 1.7 nm diameter.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure

Threshold Strategy for Nonsmooth Filippov Stage-Structured Pest Growth Models

In order to control pests and eventually maintain the number of pests below the economic threshold, in this paper, based on the nonsmooth dynamical system, a two-stage-structured pest control Filippov model is proposed. We take the total number of juvenile and adult pest population as the control index to determine whether or not to implement chemical control strategies. The sliding-mode domain and conditions for the existence of regular and virtual equilibria, pseudoequilibrium, boundary equilibria, and tangent points are given. Further, the sufficient condition of the locally asymptotic stability of pseudoequilibrium is obtained. By numerical simulations, the local bifurcations of the equilibria are discussed. Our results show that the total number of pest populations can be successfully controlled below the economic threshold by taking suitable threshold policy

Embryo position of Castanopsis sclerophylla (Fagaceae) seeds with recalcitrant storage behavior differs from Quercus genus, but response to desiccation shows no difference

In many -but not all- recalcitrant Quercus seeds, water loss during drying only occurs through the scar. Consequently, the embryo axis sitting on the opposite side of the scar is well protected from desiccation. However, whether such a mechanism is common throughout Fagaceae species is unexplored. Similarly, little is known about the desiccation response of other Fagaceae genera. Germination and desiccation tolerance of Castanopsis sclerophylla (Fagaceae) were studied by drying the seeds with silica gel. Fresh seeds had a moisture content (MC) of 36% and germinated to 92.5% when incubated at 15/20C. Drying seeds to 22.5 and 20.7% MC decreased germination to 27 and 5%, respectively; indicating that seeds are recalcitrant. X-ray computed tomography and photomicrographs showed that the embryo axis of C. sclerophylla is located just below the scar. Regardless of drying occurring either through only scar or the whole pericarp, embryo drying was deemed unavoidable. Nevertheless, germination percentage during drying showed exceptional similarities with the other Fagaceae species.The accepted manuscript in pdf format is listed with the files at the bottom of this page. The presentation of the authors' names and (or) special characters in the title of the manuscript may differ slightly between what is listed on this page and what is listed in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript; that in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript is what was submitted by the author