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We developed a model of honeybee colony foraging based on reaction – diffusion equations. Employed bees transmit information about their food sources using dance, and job seekers in the hive can choose any dance they like and thus join the exploitation of the corresponding source. We consider two strategies of dance selection: a targeted one, when bees analyze information on the dance floor and choose the most energetic and longest dance corresponding to the most profitable source, and a simple random choice of the first dance they encounter. Modelling showed that the greatest profit (food influx into the hive) is provided by the random choice of dance, as paradoxical as it may seem at first glance. Optimization of profit by each agent for itself (targeted choice of dances) is rather a disadvantage for the colony, and “non-optimality” in dance choice can be the result of useful evolutionary adaptation.

The article considers the mathematical aspects of the problem of identifying a multicomponent scattering medium based on pulsed multienergy X-ray irradiation data. X-ray diagnostics problems are of considerable interest from both theoretical and practical points of view, and radiographic methods are indispensable in non-destructive testing of products.

Within the framework of a mathematical model based on a non-stationary integro-differential equation of radiation transfer, the inverse problem of finding the attenuation coefficient for radiation known at the boundary of the region and the problem of identifying a substance based on the found values of the attenuation coefficient on a discrete set of irradiation energies of the medium are formulated.

A preliminary processing of a wide list of substances of interest in computed tomography was carried out to determine the possibility of their identification by an approximately specified radiation attenuation coefficient characterizing the medium. When analyzing the degree of proximity of substances in a certain norm, it was found that the set of all possible substances potentially contained in the medium is divided into a finite number of non-intersecting clusters. For a sufficiently short duration of the probing signal, the scattering component of the radiation leaving the medium is asymptotically small. This circumstance allows us to reduce the inverse problem for the radiation transfer equation to the problem of inverting the Radon transform from the attenuation coefficient. The possibility of unambiguous or partial identification of a substance by varying the duration of the probing pulse and the number of energy levels of irradiation of the medium is analyzed using numerical modeling methods on a specially developed digital phantom.

This paper analyzes some issues in developing numerical methods for solving problems with a Boltzmann-type linear kinetic transport equation. Existing applications of this type of equation are listed. The focus is on the problem of radiative transfer in a flat layer, which are important for experimental research practice. Key definitions and traditional limitations applied to radiative transfer problems are presented. Some features of formulating radiative transfer problems for flat layers of irregular heterogeneous composite materials that are partially transparent to electromagnetic radiation are considered. The main approaches to the numerical and numerical-analytical solution of the linear kinetic transport equation are outlined.

Some variants of the simplest grid numerical methods for solving of nonstationary kinetic problems of transport a flat layer of a medium with strong attenuation are considered. Problems with one- and two-step variants of these iterative methods are analyzed, for some of them the causes of instability and convergence absence in some of them are investigated and established. It is shown that in the explicit conservative one-step method for a layer of a homogeneous absorbing, but neither radiating nor scattering, medium, unstable modes always exist in the spectrum of harmonic solutions. These modes arise in the region of radiation propagating almost parallel to the layer boundaries, and their instability increases with increasing attenuation effects and is caused by the presence of a small coefficient before the spatial derivative in the transport equation. To limit the undesirable influence of this component, various variants of splitting the equation into two and three fractional steps are considered.

It is shown that the most preferable options are those with explicitly organized fractional steps, for which a proof of their stability and convergence, that based on the Lax’s equivalence theorem is presented. It is demonstrated that the correct building of the fractional step sequence in explicit schemes for numerical solving of the nonstationary linear kinetic transport problems can provide additional stabilization, with the scattering integral plays an important role in stabilizing them. So, when solving kinetic transport problems in media with high scattering albedo, the explicit grid method of settling with splitting the iterations into three fractional steps, that were based on physical processes proved to be the simplest and most effective. The method is implemented as Matlab code, which performs quality control during the generation of the numerical solution process. The most significant modeling results are presented, confirming that the three-step method imposes relatively moderate requirements on resources and numerical integration accuracy, and ensures conditional convergence of iterations. Its mathematical correctness is confirmed by the behavior of the equation residuals and direct control of the convergence of numerical solutions. Its physical correctness is confirmed by ensuring, for ergodic systems, the property of convergence to an invariant steady state independent of the initial conditions. Some discovered and possible limitations of the method are listed.

The work will be useful to specialists in the field of mathematical modeling, numerical methods, kinetic theory, combined heat and mass transfer, dealing with issues of interpretation of experimental data, graduate students and senior students specializing in the indicated areas.

Numerical calculations of structures and vibrational spectra of small water clusters are performed by solution of the molecular Schrodinger equation in the density functional theory framework using B3LYP and X3LYP hybrid functionals. Spectral features and evolution of hydrogen bond properties in clusters with their size increasing are discussed. The vibrotational Hamiltonian parameters and Fermi and Darling-Dennison anharmonic resonances in small water oligomers are determined. Obtained results may be used in quantum mechanics/molecular dynamics simulations of water and processes in active site of enzyme.

Charge transfer in DNA is simulated by a discrete Holstein model «quantum particle + classical site chain + interaction». Thermostat temperature is taken into account as stochastic force, which acts on classical sites (Langevin equation). Thus dynamics of charge migration along the chain is described by ODE system with stochastic right-hand side. To integrate the system numerically, algorithms of order 1 or 2 are usually applied. We developed «mixed» algorithm having 4th order of accuracy for fast «quantum» variables (note that in quantum subsystem the condition «sum of probabilities of charge being on site is time-constant» must be held), and 2nd order for slow classical variables, which are affecting by stochastic force. The algorithm allows us to calculate trajectories on longer time intervals as compared to standard algorithms. Model calculations of polaron disruption in homogeneous chain caused by temperature fluctuations are given as an example.

The difference scheme for numerical solution of a time-dependant system of two Schrödinger equations with the operator of a spin-orbit interaction for a two-component spinor wave function is offered on the basis of a split method for a time-dependant Schrödinger equations. The computer simulation of the external neutrons’ wave functions evolution with different values of the full moment projection upon internuclear axis and probabilities of their transfer are executed for head-on collisions of ¹⁸O and ⁵⁸Ni nuclei.

We study excitation of oscillations in the stochastic gene systems with time-delayed feedback loop during transcription. The oscillations arise due to interaction noise and time delay even when deterministic counterpart of the system exhibits stationary behaviour. This effect becomes important when degree-of-freedom of a system is not high, and role of fluctuations becomes principal. The analytical solution of master-equation is obtained. The results of numerical simulations are presented.

The possibility to simplify the integration of Langevin equation using the variation of correlation between augmentation was researched. The analytical expression for a set of numerical schemes is presented. It’s shown that asymptotic limits for squared velocity depend on step size. The region of convergence and the convergence orders were estimated. It turned out that the incorrect correlation between increments decrease the accuracy down to the level of first-order methods for schemes based on precise solution.

The paper presents the methodology of «line-by-line» calculations of the Earth and atmosphere thermal radiation. Intensity of radiation is computed by numerical integration of the radiative transfer kinetic equation and the system of the angular momentum equations using quasi-diffusion method. Data from HITRAN molecular spectroscopic database [Rothman et al., 2009] are used to calculate the atmosphere optical parameters.

The paper describes the results of computer simulation of time-dependent temperature fields arising in polar dielectrics irradiated by focused electron bunches with average electron energy when analyzing with electron microscopy techniques. The mathematical model was based on solving several-dimensional nonstationary heat conduction equation with use of numerical finite element method. The approximation of thermal source was performed taking into account the estimation of initial electron distribution determined by Monte-Carlo simulation of electron trajectories. The simulation program was designed in Matlab. The geometrical modeling and calculation results demonstrated the main features of model sample heating by electron beam were presented at the given experimental parameters as well as source approximation.