Browsing by Subject "system"

Now showing 1 - 3 of 3
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    Dynamic Properties of Coupled Maps
    (2010) Zhang, C; Zheng, H
    Dynamic properties are investigated in the coupled system of three maps with symmetric nearest neighbor coupling and periodic boundary conditions. The dynamics of the system is controlled by certain coupling parameters. We show that, for some values of the parameters, the system exhibits nontrivial collective behavior, such as multiple bifurcations, and chaos. We give computer simulations to support the theoretical predictions.
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    The Ocean-Land-Atmosphere-Model: Optimization and Evaluation of Simulated Radiative Fluxes and Precipitation
    (2010) Medvigy, David; Walko, Robert L; Otte, Martin J; Avissar, Roni
    This work continues the presentation and evaluation of the Ocean Land Atmosphere Model (OLAM), focusing on the model's ability to represent radiation and precipitation. OLAM is a new, state-of-the-art earth system model, capable of user-specified grid resolution and local mesh refinement. An objective optimization of the microphysics parameterization is carried out. Data products from the Clouds and the Earth's Radiant Energy System (CERES) and the Global Precipitation Climatology Project (GPCP) are used to construct a maximum likelihood function, and thousands of simulations using different values for key parameters are carried out. Shortwave fluxes are found to be highly sensitive to both the density of cloud droplets and the assumed shape of the cloud droplet diameter distribution function. Because there is considerable uncertainty in which values for these parameters to use in climate models, they are targeted as the tunable parameters of the objective optimization procedure, which identified high-likelihood volumes of parameter space as well as parameter uncertainties and covariances. Once optimized, the model closely matches observed large-scale radiative fluxes and precipitation. The impact of model resolution is also tested. At finer characteristic length scales (CLS), smaller-scale features such as the ITCZ are better resolved. It is also found that the Amazon was much better simulated at 100- than 200-km CLS. Furthermore, a simulation using OLAM's variable resolution functionality to cover South America with 100-km CLS and the rest of the world with 200-km CLS generates a precipitation pattern in the Amazon similar to the global 100-km CLS run.
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    Tunable Leuko-polymersomes That Adhere Specifically to Inflammatory Markers
    (2010) Rawson, Jeff; Therien, Michael J
    The polymersome, a fully synthetic cell mimetic, is a tunable platform for drug delivery vehicles to detect and treat disease (theranostics). Here, we design a leuko-polymersome, a polymersome with the adhesive properties of leukocytes, which can effectively bind to inflammatory sites under flow. We hypothesize that optimal leukocyte adhesion can be recreated with ligands that mimic receptors of the two major leukocyte molecular adhesion pathways, the selectins and the integrins. Polymersomes functionalized with sialyl Lewis X and an antibody against ICAM-1 adhere avidly and selectively to surfaces coated with inflammatory adhesion molecules P-selectin and ICAM- I under flow. We find that maximal adhesion occurs at intermediate densities of both sialyl Lewis X and anti-ICAM- I, owing to synergistic binding effects between the two ligands. Leuko-polymersomes bearing these two receptor mimetics adhere under physiological shear rates to inflamed endothelium in an in vitro flow chamber at a rate 7.5 times higher than those to uninflamed endothelium. This work clearly demonstrates that polymersomes bearing only a single ligand bind less avidly and with lower selectivity, thus suggesting proper mimicry of leukocyte adhesion requires contributions from both pathways. This work establishes a basis for the design of polymersomes for targeted drug delivery in inflammation.