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Christian Schmeiser

Publications and source records attributed to Christian Schmeiser.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Existence analysis of a degenerate diffusion system for heat-conducting fluids

The existence of global weak solutions to a parabolic energy-transport system in a bounded domain with no-flux boundary conditions is proved. The model can be derived in the diffusion limit from a kinetic equation with a linear collision operator involving a non-isothermal Maxwellian. The evolution of the local temperature is governed by a heat equation with a source term that depends on the energy of the distribution function. The limiting model consists of cross-diffusion equations with an entropy structure. The main difficulty is the nonstandard degeneracy, i.e., ellipticity is lost when the fluid density or temperature vanishes. The existence proof is based on a priori estimates coming from the entropy inequality and the $H^{-1}$ method and on techniques from mathematical fluid dynamics (renormalized formulation, div-curl lemma).

math.AP↗

Kinetic Modelling of Colonies of Myxobacteria

A new kinetic model for the dynamics of myxobacteria colonies on flat surfaces is derived formally, and first analytical and numerical results are presented. The model is based on the assumption of hard binary collisions of two different types: alignment and reversal. We investigate two different versions: a) realistic rod-shaped bacteria and b) artificial circular shaped bacteria called Maxwellian myxos in reference to the similar simplification of the gas dynamics Boltzmann equation for Maxwellian molecules. The sum of the corresponding collision operators produces relaxation towards nematically aligned equilibria, i.e. two groups of bacteria polarized in opposite directions. For the spatially homogeneous model a global existence and uniqueness result is proved as well as exponential decay to equilibrium for special initial conditions and for Maxwellian myxos. Only partial results are available for the rod-shaped case. These results are illustrated by numerical simulations, and a formal discussion of the macroscopic limit is presented.

math.AP↗

A mathematical model of p62-ubiquitin aggregates in autophagy

Aggregation of ubiquitinated cargo by oligomers of the protein p62 is an important preparatory step in cellular autophagy. In this work a mathematical model for the dynamics of these heterogeneous aggregates in the form of a system of ordinary differential equations is derived and analyzed. Three different parameter regimes are identified, where either aggregates are unstable, or their size saturates at a finite value, or their size grows indefinitely as long as free particles are abundant. The boundaries of these regimes as well as the finite size in the second case can be computed explicitly. The growth in the third case (quadratic in time) can also be made explicit by formal asymptotic methods. The qualitative results are illustrated by numerical simulations. A comparison with recent experimental results permits a partial parametrization of the model.

cond-mat.stat-mech↗

Hypocoercivity and Fast Reaction Limit for Linear Reaction Networks with Kinetic Transport

The long time behavior of a model for a first order, weakly reversible chemical reaction network is considered, where the movement of the reacting species is described by kinetic transport. The reactions are triggered by collisions with a nonmoving background with constant temperature, determining the post-reactional equilibrium velocity distributions. Species with different particle masses are considered, with a strong separation between two groups of light and heavy particles. As an approximation, the heavy species are modeled as nonmoving. Under the assumption of at least one moving species, long time convergence is proven by hypocoercivity methods for the cases of positions in a flat torus and in whole space. In the former case the result is exponential convergence to a spatially constant equilibrium, and in the latter it is algebraic decay to zero, at the same rate as solutions of parabolic equations. This is no surprise since it is also shown that the macroscopic (or reaction dominated) behavior is governed by the diffusion equation.

math.AP↗

Modelling adhesion-independent cell migration

A two-dimensional mathematical model for cells migrating without adhesion capabilities is presented and analyzed. Cells are represented by their cortex, which is modelled as an elastic curve, subject to an internal pressure force. Net polymerization or depolymerization in the cortex is modelled via local addition or removal of material, driving a cortical flow. The model takes the form of a fully nonlinear degenerate parabolic system. An existence analysis is carried out by adapting ideas from the theory of gradient flows. Numerical simulations show that these simple rules can account for the behavior observed in experiments, suggesting a possible mechanical mechanism for adhesion-independent motility.

math.AP↗

Hypocoercivity and sub-exponential local equilibria

Hypocoercivity methods are applied to linear kinetic equations without any space confinement, when local equilibria have a sub-exponential decay. By Nash type estimates, global rates of decay are obtained, which reflect the behavior of the heat equation obtained in the diffusion limit. The method applies to Fokker-Planck and scattering collision operators. The main tools are a weighted Poincaré inequality (in the Fokker-Planck case) and norms with various weights. The advantage of weighted Poincaré inequalities compared to the more classical weak Poincaré inequalities is that the description of the convergence rates to the local equilibrium does not require extra regularity assumptions to cover the transition from super-exponential and exponential local equilibria to sub-exponential local equilibria.

math.AP↗

Hypocoercivity without confinement

In this paper, hypocoercivity methods are applied to linear kinetic equations with mass conservation and without confinement, in order to prove that the solutions have an algebraic decay rate in the long-time range, which the same as the rate of the heat equation. Two alternative approaches are developed: an analysis based on decoupled Fourier modes and a direct approach where, instead of the Poincaré inequality for the Dirichlet form, Nash's inequality is employed. The first approach is also used to provide a simple proof of exponential decay to equilibrium on the flat torus. The results are obtained on a space with exponential weights and then extended to larger function spaces by a factorization method. The optimality of the rates is discussed. Algebraic rates of decay on the whole space are improved when the initial datum has moment cancellations.

math.AP↗

Diffusion with very weak confinement

This paper is devoted to Fokker-Planck and linear kinetic equations with very weak confinement corresponding to a potential with an at most logarithmic growth and no integrable stationary state. Our goal is to understand how to measure the decay rates when the diffusion wins over the confinement although the potential diverges at infinity.

math.AP↗

Mean field models for segregation dynamics

In this paper we derive and analyse mean-field models for the dynamics of groups of individuals undergoing a random walk. The random motion of individuals is only influenced by the perceived densities of the different groups present as well as the available space. All individuals have the tendency to stay within their own group and avoid the others. These interactions lead to the formation of aggregates in case of a single species, and to segregation in the case of multiple species. We derive two different mean-field models, which are based on these interactions and weigh local and non-local effects differently. We discuss existence and stability properties of solutions for both models and illustrate the rich dynamics with numerical simulations.

math.AP↗

A variational proof of Nash's inequality

This paper is intended to give a characterization of the optimality case in Nash's inequality, based on methods of nonlinear analysis for elliptic equations and techniques of the calculus of variations. By embedding the problem into a family of Gagliardo-Nirenberg inequalities, this approach reveals why optimal functions have compact support and also why optimal constants are determined by a simple spectral problem.

math.AP↗

Modelling cell-cell collision and adhesion with the Filament Based Lamellipodium Model

We extend the live-cell motility Filament Based Lamellipodium Model to incorporate the forces exerted on the lamellipodium of the cells due to cell-cell collision and cadherin induced cell-cell adhesion. We take into account the nature of these forces via physical and biological constraints and modelling assumptions. We investigate the effect these new components have in the migration and morphology of the cells through particular experiments. We exhibit moreover the similarities between our simulated cells and HeLa cancer cells.

q-bio.CB↗

Derivation and analysis of continuum models for crossing pedestrian traffic

In this paper we study hyperbolic and parabolic nonlinear partial differential equation models, which describe the evolution of two intersecting pedestrian flows. We assume that individuals avoid collisions by sidestepping, which is encoded in the transition rates of the microscopic 2D model. We formally derive the corresponding mean-field models and prove existence of global weak solutions for the parabolic model. Moreover we discuss stability of stationary states for the corresponding one-dimensional model. Furthermore we illustrate the rich dynamics of both systems with numerical simulations.

math.AP↗

Fractional diffusion limit of a linear kinetic equation in a bounded domain

A version of fractional diffusion on bounded domains, subject to 'homogeneous Dirichlet boundary conditions' is derived from a kinetic transport model with homogeneous inflow boundary conditions. For nonconvex domains, the result differs from standard formulations. It can be interpreted as the forward Kolmogorow equation of a stochastic process with jumps along straight lines, remaining inside the domain.

math.AP↗

Aggregated Steady States of a Kinetic Model for Chemotaxis

A kinetic chemotaxis model with attractive interaction by quasistationary chemical signalling is considered. The special choice of the turning operator, with velocity jumps biased towards the chemical concentration gradient, permits closed ODE systems for moments of the distribution function of arbitrary order. The system for second order moments exhibits a critical mass phenomeneon. The main result is existence of an aggregated steady state for supercritical mass.

math.AP↗

Mathematical Modeling of Myosin Induced Bistability of Lamellipodial Fragments

For various cell types and for lamellipodial fragments on flat surfaces, externally induced and spontaneous transitions between symmetric nonmoving states and polarized migration have been observed. This behavior is indicative of bistability of the cytoskeleton dynamics. In this work, the Filament Based Lamellipodium Model (FBLM), a two-dimensional, anisotropic, two-phase continuum model for the dynamics of the actin filament network in lamellipodia, is extended by a new description of actin-myosin interaction. For appropriately chosen parameter values, the resulting model has bistable dynamics with stable states showing the qualitative features observed in experiments. This is demonstrated by numerical simulations and by an analysis of a strongly simplified version of the FBLM with rigid filaments and planar lamellipodia at the cell front and rear.

q-bio.CB↗

Existence and uniqueness of solutions for a model of non-sarcomeric actomyosin bundles

The model for disordered actomyosin bundles recently derived by Oelz, in the work 'A viscous two-phase model for contractile actomyosin bundles' (Math. Biol., 68 (2013), 1653--1676) includes the effects of cross-linking of parallel and anti-parallel actin filaments, their polymerization and depolymerization, and, most importantly, the interaction with the motor protein myosin, which leads to sliding of anti-parallel filaments relative to each other. The model relies on the assumption that actin filaments are short compared to the length of the bundle. It is a two-phase model which treats actin filaments of both orientations separately. It consists of quasi-stationary force balances determining the local velocities of the filament families and of transport equations for the filaments. Two types of initial-boundary value problems are considered, where either the bundle length or the total force on the bundle are prescribed. In the latter case, the bundle length is determined as a free boundary. Local in time existence and uniqueness results are proven. For the problem with given bundle length, a global solution exists for short enough bundles. For small prescribed force, a formal approximation can be computed explicitly, and the bundle length tends to a limiting value.

math.AP↗

Fractional-diffusion-advection limit of a kinetic model

A fractional diffusion equation with advection term is rigorously derived from a kinetic transport model with a linear turning operator, featuring a fat-tailed equilibrium distribution and a small directional bias due to a given vector field. The analysis is based on bounds derived by relative entropy inequalities and on two recently developed approaches for the macroscopic limit: a Fourier-Laplace transform method for spatially homogeneous data and the so called moment method, based on a modified test function.

math.AP↗

Decay to equilibrium of the filament end density along the leading edge of the lamellipodium

A model for the dynamics of actin filament ends along the leading edge of the lamellipodium is analyzed. It contains accounts of nucleation by branching, of deactivation by capping, and of lateral flow along the leading edge by polymerization. A nonlinearity arises from a Michaelis-Menten type modeling of the branching process. For branching rates large enough compared to capping rates, the existence and stability of nontrivial steady states is investigated. The main result is exponential convergence to nontrivial steady states, proven by investigating the decay of an appropriate Lyapunov functional.

math.AP↗