Cacao sustainability: The case of cacao swollen-shoot virus co-infection.

The cacao swollen shoot virus disease (CSSVD) is among the most economically damaging diseases of cacao trees and accounts for almost 15-50% of harvest losses in Ghana. This virus is transmitted by several species of mealybugs (Pseudococcidae, Homoptera) when they feed on cacao plants. One of the mitigation strategies for CSSVD investigated at the Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana (CRIG) is the use of mild-strain cross-protection of cacao trees against the effects of severe strains.

Viability of Pentadesma in reduced habitat ecosystems within two climatic regions with fruit harvesting.

Habitat loss and harvesting of non-timber forest products (NTFPs) significantly affect the population dynamics. In this paper, we propose a general mathematical modelling approach incorporating the impact of habitat size reduction and non-lethal harvesting of NTFP on population dynamics. The model framework integrates experimental data of in Benin.

Using models to advance medicine: mathematical modeling of post-myocardial infarction left ventricular remodeling.

The heart is an organ with limited capacity for regeneration and repair. The irreversible cell death and corresponding diminished ability of the heart to repair after myocardial infarction (MI), is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. In this paper, a new mathematical model is presented to study the left ventricular (LV) remodeling and associated events after MI.

A simple model of immune and muscle cell crosstalk during muscle regeneration.

Muscle injury during aging predisposes skeletal muscles to increased damage due to reduced regenerative capacity. Some of the common causes of muscle injury are strains, while other causes are more complex muscle myopathies and other illnesses, and even excessive exercise can lead to muscle damage. We develop a new mathematical model based on ordinary differential equations of muscle regeneration.

Maximizing tree harvesting benefit from forests under insect infestation disturbances.

Mathematical modeling has been recognized as an important tool to advance the understanding of the synergetic effect of coupled disturbances (stressors) on the forest population dynamics. Nonetheless, most of the modeling done on disturbances focus on individual disturbance agents and the modeling research on disturbances interactions uses predominantly descriptive statistical processes. This state of art points to the need for continuing modeling efforts not only for addressing the link among multiple disturbances but also for incorporating disturbance processes.

Quantifying rotavirus kinetics in the REH tumor cell line using in vitro data.

Globally, rotavirus is the most common cause of diarrhea in children younger than 5 years of age, however, a quantitative understanding of the infection dynamics is still lacking. In this paper, we present the first study to extract viral kinetic parameters for in vitro rotavirus infections in the REH cell tumor line. We use a mathematical model of viral kinetics to extract parameter values by fitting the model to data from rotavirus infection of REH cells.

Transit times and mean ages for nonautonomous and autonomous compartmental systems.

We develop a theory for transit times and mean ages for nonautonomous compartmental systems. Using the McKendrick-von Förster equation, we show that the mean ages of mass in a compartmental system satisfy a linear nonautonomous ordinary differential equation that is exponentially stable. We then define a nonautonomous version of transit time as the mean age of mass leaving the compartmental system at a particular time and show that our nonautonomous theory generalises the autonomous case.

Modeling Chagas Disease at Population Level to Explain Venezuela's Real Data.

Objectives: In this paper we present an age-structured epidemiological model for Chagas disease. This model includes the interactions between human and vector populations that transmit Chagas disease.

Methods: The human population is divided into age groups since the proportion of infected individuals in this population changes with age as shown by real prevalence data.

A Cellular Automata Model of Infection Control on Medical Implants.

infections on medically implanted devices are a common problem in modern medicine due to the abundance of the bacteria. Once inside the body, gather in communities called and can become extremely hard to eradicate, causing the patient serious complications. We simulate the complex interactions in order to determine the optimum conditions for the immune system to be able to contain the infection and avoid implant rejection.