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We examine a phenomenological algorithm for generating morphology of astrocytes, a major class of glial brain cells, based on morphometric data of rat brain protoplasmic astrocytes and observations of general cell development trends in vivo, based on current literature. We adapted the Space Colonization Algorithm (SCA) for procedural generation of astrocytic morphology from scratch. Attractor points used in generation were spatially distributed in the model volume according to the synapse distribution density in the rat hippocampus tissue during the first week of postnatal brain development. We analyzed and compared astrocytic morphology reconstructions at different brain development stages using morphometry estimation techniques such as Sholl analysis, number of bifurcations, number of terminals, total tree length, and maximum branching order. Using morphometric data from protoplasmic astrocytes of rats at different ages, we selected the necessary generation parameters to obtain the most realistic three-dimensional cell morphology models. We demonstrate that our proposed algorithm allows not only to obtain individual cell geometry but also recreate the phenomenon of tiling domain organization in the cell populations. In our algorithm tiling emerges due to the cell competition for territory and the assignment of unique attractor points to their processes, which then become unavailable to other cells and their processes. We further extend the original algorithm by splitting morphology generation in two phases, thereby simulating astrocyte tree structure development during the first and third-fourth weeks of rat postnatal brain development: rapid space exploration at the first stage and extensive branching at the second stage. To this end, we introduce two attractor types to separate two different growth strategies in time. We hypothesize that the extended algorithm with dynamic attractor generation can explain the formation process of fine astrocyte cell structures and maturation of astrocytic arborizations.

This paper presents the analysis of dependences between frame basic cell geometry parameters and function via finite element analysis. The simplified models of frame cell with varied strut width, thickness and quantity in a circle was researched to evaluate radial forces, maximum stress and strain, permanent residual strain and pinching load forces. The outcomes of this study might help in the development of new artificial heart valves and during the analysis of existing in-clinical TAVI prostheses.

The well-known “Sea battle” game is in the focus of the current job. The main goal of the article is to provide modified version of “Sea battle” game and to find optimal players’ strategies in the new rules. Changes were applied to attacking strategies (new option to attack hitting four cells in one shot was added) as well as to the size of the field (sizes of 10 × 10, 20 × 20, 30 × 30 were used) and to the rules of disposal algorithms during the game (new possibility to move the ship off the attacking zone). The game was solved with the use of game theory capabilities: payoff matrices were found for each version of altered rules, for which optimal pure and mixed strategies were discovered. For solving payoff matrices iterative method was used. The simulation was in applying five attacking algorithms and six disposal ones with parameters variation due to the game of players with each other. Attacking algorithms were varied in 100 sets of parameters, disposal algorithms — in 150 sets. Major result is that using such algorithms the modified “Sea battle” game can be solved — that implies the possibility of finding stable pure and mixed strategies of behaviour, which guarantee the sides gaining optimal results in game theory terms. Moreover, influence of modifying the rules of “Sea battle” game is estimated. Comparison with prior authors’ results on this topic was made. Based on matching the payoff matrices with the statistical analysis, completed earlier, it was found out that standard “Sea battle” game could be represented as a special case of game modifications, observed in this article. The job is important not only because of its applications in war area, but in civil areas as well. Use of article’s results could save resources in exploration, provide an advantage in war conflicts, defend devices under devastating impact.

In the present paper, we discuss the possibility of a simplified three-dimensional unsteady simulation of plasma-assisted combustion of gaseous fuel in a supersonic airflow. Simulation was performed by using FlowVision CFD software. Analysis of experimental geometry show that it has essentially 3D nature that conditioned by the discrete fuel injection into the flow as well as by the presence of the localized plasma filaments. Study proposes a variant of modeling geometry simplification based on symmetry of the aerodynamic duct and periodicity of the spatial inhomogeneities. Testing of modified FlowVision $k–\varepsilon$ turbulence model named «KEFV» was performed for supersonic flow conditions. Based on that detailed grid without wall functions was used the field of heat and near fuel injection area and surfaces remote from the key area was modeled with using of wall functions, that allowed us to significantly reduce the number of cells of the computational grid. Two steps significantly simplified a complex problem of the hydrocarbon fuel ignition by means of plasma generation. First, plasma formations were simulated by volumetric heat sources and secondly, fuel combustion is reduced to one brutto reaction. Calibration and parametric optimization of the fuel injection into the supersonic flow for IADT-50 JIHT RAS wind tunnel is made by means of simulation using FlowVision CFD software. Study demonstrates a rather good agreement between the experimental schlieren photo of the flow with fuel injection and synthetical one. Modeling of the flow with fuel injection and plasma generation for the facility T131 TSAGI combustion chamber geometry demonstrates a combustion mode for the set of experimental parameters. Study emphasizes the importance of the computational mesh adaptation and spatial resolution increasing for the volumetric heat sources that model electric discharge area. A reasonable qualitative agreement between experimental pressure distribution and modeling one confirms the possibility of limited application of such simplified modeling for the combustion in high-speed flow.

The purpose of research was to develop a mathematical model for pulsating blood flow in the part of aorta with their branches. Since the deformation of this most solid part of the aorta is small during the passage of the pulse wave, the blood vessels were considered as non-deformable curved cylinders. The article describes the internal structure of blood and some internal structural effects. This analysis shows that the blood, which is essentially a suspension, can only be regarded as a non-Newtonian fluid. In addition, the blood can be considered as a liquid only in the blood vessels, diameter of which is much higher than the characteristic size of blood cells and their aggregate formations. As a non-Newtonian fluid the viscous liquid with the power law of the relationship of stress with shift velocity was chosen. This law can describe the behaviour not only of liquids but also dispersions. When setting the boundary conditions at the entrance into aorta, reflecting the pulsating nature of the flow of blood, it was decided not to restrict the assignment of the total blood flow, which makes no assumptions about the spatial velocity distribution in a cross section. In this regard, it was proposed to model the surface envelope of this spatial distribution by a part of a paraboloid of rotation with a fixed base radius and height, which varies in time from zero to maximum speed value. The special attention was paid to the interaction of blood with the walls of the vessels. Having regard to the nature of this interaction, the so-called semi-slip condition was formulated as the boundary condition. At the outer ends of the aorta and its branches the amounts of pressure were given. To perform calculations the tetrahedral computer network for geometric model of the aorta with branches has been built. The total number of meshes is 9810. The calculations were performed with use of the software package ABACUS, which has also powerful tools for creating geometry of the model and visualization of calculations. The result is a distribution of velocities and pressure at each time step. In areas of branching vessels was discovered temporary presence of eddies and reverse currents. They were born via 0.47 s from the beginning of the pulse cycle and disappeared after 0.14 s.

This paper is devoted to the analysis of the effect of additive and parametric noise on the processes occurring in the nerve cell. This study is carried out on the example of the well-known Morris – Lecar model described by the two-dimensional system of ordinary differential equations. One of the main properties of the neuron is the excitability, i.e., the ability to respond to external stimuli with an abrupt change of the electric potential on the cell membrane. This article considers a set of parameters, wherein the model exhibits the class 2 excitability. The dynamics of the system is studied under variation of the external current parameter. We consider two parametric zones: the monostability zone, where a stable equilibrium is the only attractor of the deterministic system, and the bistability zone, characterized by the coexistence of a stable equilibrium and a limit cycle. We show that in both cases random disturbances result in the phenomenon of the stochastic generation of mixed-mode oscillations (i. e., alternating oscillations of small and large amplitudes). In the monostability zone this phenomenon is associated with a high excitability of the system, while in the bistability zone, it occurs due to noise-induced transitions between attractors. This phenomenon is confirmed by changes of probability density functions for distribution of random trajectories, power spectral densities and interspike intervals statistics. The action of additive and parametric noise is compared. We show that under the parametric noise, the stochastic generation of mixed-mode oscillations is observed at lower intensities than under the additive noise. For the quantitative analysis of these stochastic phenomena we propose and apply an approach based on the stochastic sensitivity function technique and the method of confidence domains. In the case of a stable equilibrium, this confidence domain is an ellipse. For the stable limit cycle, this domain is a confidence band. The study of the mutual location of confidence bands and the boundary separating the basins of attraction for different noise intensities allows us to predict the emergence of noise-induced transitions. The effectiveness of this analytical approach is confirmed by the good agreement of theoretical estimations with results of direct numerical simulations.

The paper presents a review of recent developments of hybrid discrete-continuous models in cell population dynamics. Such models are widely used in the biological modelling. Cells are considered as individual objects which can divide, die by apoptosis, differentiate and move under external forces. In the simplest representation cells are considered as soft spheres, and their motion is described by Newton’s second law for their centers. In a more complete representation, cell geometry and structure can be taken into account. Cell fate is determined by concentrations of intra-cellular substances and by various substances in the extracellular matrix, such as nutrients, hormones, growth factors. Intra-cellular regulatory networks are described by ordinary differential equations while extracellular species by partial differential equations. We illustrate the application of this approach with some examples including bacteria filament and tumor growth. These examples are followed by more detailed studies of erythropoiesis and immune response. Erythrocytes are produced in the bone marrow in small cellular units called erythroblastic islands. Each island is formed by a central macrophage surrounded by erythroid progenitors in different stages of maturity. Their choice between self-renewal, differentiation and apoptosis is determined by the ERK/Fas regulation and by a growth factor produced by the macrophage. Normal functioning of erythropoiesis can be compromised by the development of multiple myeloma, a malignant blood disorder which leads to a destruction of erythroblastic islands and to sever anemia. The last part of the work is devoted to the applications of hybrid models to study immune response and the development of viral infection. A two-scale model describing processes in a lymph node and other organs including the blood compartment is presented.

In this work, we develop a model of the immune response to respiratory viral infections taking into account some particular properties of the SARS-CoV-2 infection. The model represents a system of ordinary differential equations for the concentrations of epithelial cells, immune cells, virus and inflammatory cytokines. Conventional analysis of the existence and stability of stationary points is completed by numerical simulations in order to study dynamics of solutions. Behavior of solutions is characterized by large peaks of virus concentration specific for acute respiratory viral infections.

At the first stage, we study the innate immune response based on the protective properties of interferon secreted by virus-infected cells. On the other hand, viral infection down-regulates interferon production. Their competition can lead to the bistability of the system with different regimes of infection progression with high or low intensity. In the case of infection outbreak, the incubation period and the maximal viral load depend on the initial viral load and the parameters of the immune response. In particular, increase of the initial viral load leads to shorter incubation period and higher maximal viral load.

In order to study the emergence and dynamics of cytokine storm, we consider proinflammatory cytokines produced by cells of the innate immune response. Depending on parameters of the model, the system can remain in the normal inflammatory state specific for viral infections or, due to positive feedback between inflammation and immune cells, pass to cytokine storm characterized by excessive production of proinflammatory cytokines. Furthermore, inflammatory cell death can stimulate transition to cytokine storm. However, it cannot sustain it by itself without the innate immune response. Assumptions of the model and obtained results are in qualitative agreement with the experimental and clinical data.

Actin is a conserved structural protein that is expressed in all eukaryotic cells. When polymerized, it forms long filaments of fibrillar actin, or F-actin, which are involved in the formation of the cytoskeleton, in muscle contraction and its regulation, and in many other processes. The dynamic and mechanical properties of actin are important for interaction with other proteins and the realization of its numerous functions in the cell. We performed 204.8 ns long molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of an actin filament segment consisting of 24 monomers in the absence and the presence of MgADP at 300 K in the presence of a solvent and at physiological ionic strength using the AMBER99SBILDN and CHARMM36 force fields in the GROMACS software environment, using modern structural models as the initial structure obtained by high-resolution cryoelectron microscopy. MD calculations have shown that the stationary regime of fluctuations in the structure of the F-actin long segment is developed 80–100 ns after the start of the MD trajectory. Based on the results of MD calculations, the main parameters of the actin helix and its bending, longitudinal, and torsional stiffness were estimated using a section of the calculation model that is far enough away from its ends. The estimated subunit axial (2.72–2.75 nm) and angular (165–168^◦) translation of the F-actin helix, its bending (2.8–4.7 · 10⁻²⁶ N·m²), longitudinal (36–47·10⁻⁹ N), and torsional (2.6–3.1·10⁻²⁶ N·m²) stiffness are in good agreement with the results of the most reliable experiments. The results of MD calculations have shown that modern structural models of F-actin make it possible to accurately describe its dynamics and mechanical properties, provided that computational models contain a sufficiently large number of monomers, modern force fields, and relatively long MD trajectories are used. The inclusion of actin partner proteins, in particular, tropomyosin and troponin, in the MD model can help to understand the molecular mechanisms of such important processes as the regulation of muscle contraction.

The development of a viral infection in the organism is a complex process which depends on the competition race between virus replication in the host cells and the immune response. To study different regimes of infection progression, we analyze the general mathematical model of immune response to viral infection. The model consists of two ODEs for virus and immune cells non-dimensionalized concentrations. The proliferation rate of immune cells in the model is represented by a bell-shaped function of the virus concentration. This function increases for small virus concentrations describing the antigen-stimulated clonal expansion of immune cells, and decreases for sufficiently high virus concentrations describing down-regulation of immune cells proliferation by the infection. Depending on the virus virulence, strength of the immune response, and the initial viral load, the model predicts several scenarios: (a) infection can be completely eliminated, (b) it can remain at a low level while the concentration of immune cells is high; (c) immune cells can be essentially exhausted, or (d) completely exhausted, which is accompanied (c, d) by high virus concentration. The analysis of the model shows that virus concentration can oscillate as it gradually converges to its equilibrium value. We show that the considered model can be obtained by the reduction of a more general model with an additional equation for the total viral load provided that this equation is fast. In the case of slow kinetics of the total viral load, this more general model should be used.