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This paper is devoted to propagation phenomena for a reaction-diffusion-advection equation in a one-dimensional heterogeneous environment, where heterogeneity is reflected by the nonlinearity term -- being KPP type on $(-\infty, -L]$ and being bistable type on $[L,+\infty)$ for some $L>0$. A comprehensive analysis is presented on the influence of advection and heterogeneous reactions, based on various values of the advection rate $c$. Denote by $c_m$ and $c_b$ the spreading speeds of KPP and bistable reactions, respectively. When $c>-c_m$, it is shown that propagation can always occur with leftward spreading speed $c_m+c$ and rightward spreading speed $\min\big(\max(c_b-c,0),c_m-c\big)$. Moreover, a logarithmic delay of the level sets in the left direction is discovered. When $c \le -c_m$, propagation phenomena are determined by the initial data and by the sign of $c_b$. In particular, when $c_b>0$, the leftward propagation speed is $c_b+c$ if the initial population is "large enough"; whereas extinction occurs if the initial value is located in the bistable region and is "relatively small". In addition, the attractiveness of the bistable traveling wave is obtained when the leftward spreading speed is $c_b+c$ and/or when the rightward spreading speed is $c_b-c$., Comment: 47 pages

We consider reaction-diffusion fronts in spatially periodic bistable media with large periods. Whereas the homogenization regime associated with small periods had been well studied for bistable or Fisher-KPP reactions and, in the latter case, a formula for the limit minimal speeds of fronts in media with large periods had also been obtained thanks to the linear formulation of these minimal speeds and their monotonicity with respect to the period, the main remaining open question is concerned with fronts in bistable environments with large periods. In bistable media the unique front speeds are not linearly determined and are not monotone with respect to the spatial period in general, making the analysis of the limit of large periods more intricate. We show in this paper the existence of and an explicit formula for the limit of bistable front speeds as the spatial period goes to infinity. We also prove that the front profiles converge to a family of front profiles associated with spatially homogeneous equations. The main results are based on uniform estimates on the spatial width of the fronts, which themselves use zero number properties and intersection arguments.

We study the ground states of the one-dimensional non-self-adjoint Jacobi operators in the almost periodic media by using the method of dynamical systems. We show the existence of the ground state. Particularly, in the quasi-periodic media, we show that the lower regularity of coefficients can guarantee the existence of ground states. Besides that, we give two applications: the first application is to show the existence and uniqueness of the positive steady state of the discrete Fisher-KPP type equation; the second application is to investigate the asymptotic behavior of the discrete stationary parabolic equation with large lower order terms.

This paper investigates the existence of almost periodic traveling fronts for Fisher-KPP lattice equations in one-dimensional almost periodic media. By the Lyapunov exponent of the linearized operator near the unstable steady state, we give sufficient condition of the existence of minimal speed of traveling fronts. Furthermore, it is showed that almost periodic traveling fronts share the same recurrence property as the structure of the media. As applications, we give some typical examples which have minimal speed, and the proof of this depends on dynamical system approach to almost periodic Schrodinger operator.

The ageing population trend is correlated with an increased prevalence of acquired cognitive impairments such as dementia. Although there is no cure for dementia, a timely diagnosis helps in obtaining necessary support and appropriate medication. Researchers are working urgently to develop effective technological tools that can help doctors undertake early identification of cognitive disorder. In particular, screening for dementia in ageing Deaf signers of British Sign Language (BSL) poses additional challenges as the diagnostic process is bound up with conditions such as quality and availability of interpreters, as well as appropriate questionnaires and cognitive tests. On the other hand, deep learning based approaches for image and video analysis and understanding are promising, particularly the adoption of Convolutional Neural Network (CNN), which require large amounts of training data. In this paper, however, we demonstrate novelty in the following way: a) a multi-modal machine learning based automatic recognition toolkit for early stages of dementia among BSL users in that features from several parts of the body contributing to the sign envelope, e.g., hand-arm movements and facial expressions, are combined, b) universality in that it is possible to apply our technique to users of any sign language, since it is language independent, c) given the trade-off between complexity and accuracy of machine learning (ML) prediction models as well as the limited amount of training and testing data being available, we show that our approach is not over-fitted and has the potential to scale up.

In this paper, we define the transition semi-wave solution of the following reaction diffusion equation with free boundaries \begin{equation}\label{0.1} \left\{ \begin{aligned} u_{t}=u_{xx}+f(t,x,u),\ \ &t\in\Real, x1, $$ we prove that the semi-wave connecting $1$ and $0$ is unique provided it exists. Furthermore, we prove that any bounded transition semi-wave connecting $1$ and 0 is exactly the semi-wave. In the cases where $f$ is KPP-Fisher type and almost periodic in time (space), i.e., $f(t,x,u)=u(c(t)-u)$ (resp. $u(a(x)-u)$) with $c(t)$ (resp. $a(x)$) being almost periodic, applying totally different method, we also prove any bounded transition semi-wave connecting the unique almost periodic positive solution of $u_{t}=u(c(t)-u)$ (resp. $u_{xx}+u(a(x)-u)=0$) and $0$ is exactly the unique almost periodic semi-wave. Finally, we provide an example of the heterogeneous equation to show the existence of the transition semi-wave without any global mean speeds.

In this paper, we investigate spreading properties of the solutions of the Kolmogorov-Petrovsky-Piskunov-type, (to be simple,KPP-type) lattice system \begin{equation}\label{firstequation}\overset{.}u_{i}(t) =d^{\prime}_{i}(u_{i+1}(t)-u_{i}(t))+d_{i}(u_{i-1}(t)-u_{i}(t))+f(i,u_{i}).\end{equation} we develop some new discrete Harnack-type estimates and homogenization techniques for this lattice system to construct two speeds $\overline\omega \leq \underline \omega$ such that $\displaystyle{\lim_{t\rightarrow+\infty}}\sup \limits_{i\geq\omega t}|u_i(t)|=0$ for any $\omega>\overline{\omega}$, and $\displaystyle{\lim_{t\rightarrow+\infty}}\sup \limits_{0\leq i\leq\omega t}|u_i(t)-1|=0$ for any $\omega<\underline{\omega}$. These speeds are characterized by two generalized principal eigenvalues of the linearized systems. In particular, we derive the exact spreading speed when the coefficients are random stationary ergodic or almost periodic (where $\underline\omega = \overline\omega$). Finally, in the case where $f_{s}^{\prime}(i,0)$ is almost periodic in $i$ and the diffusion rate $d_i'=d_i$ is independent of $i$, we show that the spreading speeds in the positive and negative directions are identical even if $ f(i,u_{i})$ is not invariant with respect to the reflection.

In this paper, we prove the existence of the spreading speed of nonlocal KPP equations in two cases: 1. The media is almost periodic and the kernel of diffusion is continuous; 2. The media is periodic and the diffusion is not continuous but weak irreducible. To do this, we develop the theory of generalized principal eigenvalues, the method homogenization and special Harnack's inequalities of nonlocal diffusion equations.

In this paper we prove the existence and uniqueness of the almost periodic semi- wave (traveling wave) solutions of KPP-Fisher equations with free boundaries in spatially almost periodic media.

We aim to classify the long-time behavior of the solution to a free boundary problem with monostable reaction term in space-time periodic media. Such a model may be used to describe the spreading of a new or invasive species, with the free boundary representing the expanding front. In time-periodic and space homogeneous environment, as well as in space-periodic and time autonomous environment, such a problem has been studied recently in \cite{dgp, dl}. In both cases, a spreading-vanishing dichotomy has been established, and when spreading happens, the asymptotic spreading speed is proved to exist by making use of the corresponding semi-wave solutions. The approaches in \cite{dgp, dl} seem difficult to apply to the current situation where the environment is periodic in both space and time. Here we take a different approach, based on the methods developed by Weinberger \cite{w1, w2} and others \cite{fyz,lyz,lz1,lz2,lui}, which yield the existence of the spreading speed without using traveling wave solutions. In Part 1 of this work, we establish the existence and uniqueness of classical solutions for the free boundary problem with continuous initial data, extending the existing theory which was established only for $C^2$ initial data. This will enable us to develop Weinberger's method in Part 2 to determine the spreading speed without knowing a priori the existence of the corresponding semi-wave solutions. In Part 1 here, we also establish a spreading-vanishing dichotomy.

This is Part 2 of our work aimed at classifying the long-time behavior of the solution to a free boundary problem with monostable reaction term in space-time periodic media. In Part 1 (see \cite{ddl}) we have established a theory on the existence and uniqueness of solutions to this free boundary problem with continuous initial functions, as well as a spreading-vanishing dichotomy. We are now able to develop the methods of Weinberger \cite{w1, w2} and others \cite{fyz,lyz,lz1,lz2,lui} to prove the existence of asymptotic spreading speed when spreading happens, without knowing a priori the existence of the corresponding semi-wave solutions of the free boundary problem. This is a completely different approach from earlier works on the free boundary model, where the spreading speed is determined by firstly showing the existence of a corresponding semi-wave. Such a semi-wave appears difficult to obtain by the earlier approaches in the case of space-time periodic media considered in our work here.

In this series of papers, we investigate the spreading and vanishing dynamics of time almost periodic diffusive KPP equations with free boundaries. Such equations are used to characterize the spreading of a new species in time almost periodic environments with free boundaries representing the spreading fronts. In the first part of the series, we showed that a spreading-vanishing dichotomy occurs for such free boundary problems (see [16]). In this second part of the series, we investigate the spreading speeds of such free boundary problems in the case that the spreading occurs. We first prove the existence of a unique time almost periodic semi-wave solution associated to such a free boundary problem. Using the semi-wave solution, we then prove that the free boundary problem has a unique spreading speed., Comment: 38 pages

In this series of papers, we investigate the spreading and vanishing dynamics of time almost periodic diffusive KPP equations with free boundaries. Such equations are used to characterize the spreading of a new species in time almost periodic environments with free boundaries representing the spreading fronts. In this first part, we show that a spreading-vanishing dichotomy occurs for such free boundary problems, that is, the species either successfully spreads to all the new environment and stabilizes at a time almost periodic positive solution, or it fails to establish and dies out eventually. The results of this part extend the existing results on spreading-vanishing dichotomy for time and space independent, or time periodic and space independent, or time independent and space periodic diffusive KPP equations with free boundaries. The extension is nontrivial and is ever done for the first time., Comment: 31 pages

A new type of metabolizable and efficient radiosensitizer for cancer radiotherapy is presented in this study by combining ultrasmall Au nanoclusters (NCs, <2 nm) with biocompatible coating ligands (glutathione, GSH). The new nano-construct (GSH-coated Au25 NCs) inherits attractive features of both the Au core (strong radiosensitizing effect) and GSH shell (good biocompatibility). It can preferentially accumulate in tumor via the improved EPR effect, which leads to strong enhancement for cancer radiotherapy. After the treatment, the small-sized GSH-Au25 NCs can be efficiently cleared by the kidney, minimizing any potential side effects due to the accumulation of Au25 NCs in the body., Comment: 27 pages,10 figures Advanced Healthcare Materials(2014)

Gold nanoparticles have been conceived as a radiosensitizer in cancer radiation therapy, but one of the important questions for primary drug screening is what size of gold nanoparticles can optimally enhance radiation effects. Herein, we perform in vitro and in vivo radiosensitization studies of 4.8, 12.1, 27.3, and 46.6 nm PEG-coated gold nanoparticles. In vitro results show that all sizes of the PEG-coated gold nanoparticles can cause a significant decrease in cancer cell survival after gamma radiation. 12.1 and 27.3 nm PEG-coated gold nanoparticles have dispersive distributions in the cells and have stronger sensitization effects than 4.8 and 46.6 nm particles by both cell apoptosis and necrosis. Further, in vivo results also show all sizes of the PEG-coated gold nanoparticles can decrease tumor volume and weight after 5 Gy radiations, and 12.1 and 27.3 nm PEG-coated gold nanoparticles have greater sensitization effects than 4.8 and 46.6 nm particles, which can lead to almost complete disappearance of the tumor. In vivo biodistribution confirms that 12.1 and 27.3 nm PEG-coated gold nanoparticles are accumulated in the tumor with high concentrations. The pathology, immune response, and blood biochemistry indicate that the PEG-coated gold nanoparticles do not cause spleen and kidney damages, but give rise to liver damage and gold accumulation. It can be concluded that 12.1 and 27.3 nm PEG-coated gold nanoparticles show high radiosensitivity, and these results have an important indication for possible radiotherapy and drug delivery., Comment: 14 pages, 9 figures

We consider the equation $u_t=u_{xx}+u_{yy}+b(x)f(u)+g(u)$, $(x,y)\in\mathbb R^2$ with monostable nonliearity, where $b(x)$ is a nonnegative measure on $\mathbb R$ that is periodic in $x.$ In the case where $b(x)$ is a smooth periodic function, there exists a pulsating travelling wave that propagates in the direction $(\cos\theta,\sin\theta)$ -- with average speed $c$ if and only if $c\geq c^*(\theta,b),$ where $c^*(\theta,b)$ is a certain positive number depending on $b.$ Moreover, the quantity $w(\theta;{b})=\min_{|\theta-\phi|<\frac{\pi}{2}}c^*(\phi;{b})/\cos(\theta-\phi)$ is called the spreading speed. This theory can be extended by showing the existence of the minimal speed $c^*(\theta,b)$ for any nonnegative measure $b$ with period $L.$ We then study the question of maximizing $c^*(\theta,b)$ under the constraint $\int_{[0,L)}b(x)dx=\alpha L,$ where $\alpha$ is an arbitrarily given positive constant. We prove that the maximum is attained by periodically arrayed Dirac's delta functions $h(x)=\alpha L\sum_{k\in\mathbb Z}\delta(x+kL)$ for any direction $\theta$. Based on these results, for the case that $b=h$ we also show the monotonicity of the spreading speedsin $\theta$ and study the asymptotic shape of spreading fronts for large $L$ and small $L$ . Finally, we show that for general 2-dimensional periodic equation $u_t=u_{xx}+u_{yy}+b(x,y)f(u)+g(u)$, $(x,y)\in\mathbb R^2$, the similar conclusions do not hold.

We consider the equation $u_t=u_{xx}+b(x)u(1-u),$ $x\in\mathbb R,$ where $b(x)$ is a nonnegative measure on $\mathbb R$ that is periodic in $x.$ In the case where $b(x)$ is a smooth periodic function, it is known that there exists a travelling wave with speed $c$ for any $c\geq c^*(b),$ where $c^*(b)$ is a certain positive number depending on $b.$ Such a travelling wave is often called a \lq\lq pulsating travelling wave" or a \lq\lq periodic travelling wave", and $c^*(b)$ is called the \lq\lq minimal speed". In this paper, we first extend this theory by showing the existence of the minimal speed $c^*(b)$ for any nonnegative measure $b$ with period $L.$ Next we study the question of maximizing $c^*(b)$ under the constraint $\int_{[0,L)}b(x)dx=\alpha L,$ where $\alpha$ is an arbitrarily given constant. This question is closely related to the problem studied by mathematical ecologists in late 1980's but its answer has not been known. We answer this question by proving that the maximum is attained by periodically arrayed Dirac's delta functions $\alpha L\sum_{k\in\mathbb Z}\delta(x+kL).$