Nonlinear self-organized population dynamics induced by external selective nonlocal processes

Global stability analysis and modelling onchocerciasis transmission dynamics with control measures

Background: Onchocerciasis infection is one of the neglected tropical diseases targeted for eradication by 2030. The disease is usually transmitted to humans through the bites of black flies. These black flies mostly breed near well-oxygenated fast-running water bodies. The disease is common in mostly remote agricultural villages near rivers and streams. Objective: In this study, a deterministic model describing the infection dynamics of human onchocerciasis disease with control measures is presented. Methods: We derived the model's reproductive number and used a stability theorem of a Metzler matrix to show that disease-free equilibrium is both locally and globally asymptotically stable whenever the reproductive number is less than one. Parameter contribution was conducted using sensitivity analysis. The model endemic equation is shown to be a cubic polynomial in the presence of infected immigrants and a quadratic form in their absence. Results: When the inflow of infected immigrants is null, the model endemic equation may admit a unique equilibrium if the reproductive number is greater than one, or admits multiple endemic equilibria if the reproductive number is less than unity. We carried out a sensitivity analysis to identify the significant parameters that contribute to onchocerciasis spread. Conclusion: Onchocerciasis disease can be eradicated if the importation of infected immigrants is properly monitored. The integration of the One Health concept in the public health system is key in tackling the emergence and spread of diseases.

The effect of demographic stochasticity on Zika virus transmission dynamics: Probability of disease extinction, sensitivity analysis, and mean first passage time

Viral infections spread by mosquitoes are a growing threat to human health and welfare. Zika virus (ZIKV) is one of them and has become a global worry, particularly for women who are pregnant. To study ZIKV dynamics in the presence of demographic stochasticity, we consider an established ZIKV transmission model that takes into consideration the disease transmission from human to mosquito, mosquito to human, and human to human. In this study, we look at the local stability of the disease-free and endemic equilibriums. By conducting the sensitivity analysis both locally and globally, we assess the effect of the model parameters on the model outcomes. In this work, we use the continuous-time Markov chain (CTMC) process to develop and analyze a stochastic model. The main distinction between deterministic and stochastic models is that, in the absence of any preventive measures such as avoiding travel to infected areas, being careful from mosquito bites, taking precautions to reduce the risk of sexual transmission, and seeking medical care for any acute illness with a rash or fever, the stochastic model shows the possibility of disease extinction in a finite amount of time, unlike the deterministic model shows disease persistence. We found that the numerically estimated disease extinction probability agrees well with the analytical probability obtained from the Galton-Watson branching process approximation. We have discovered that the disease extinction probability is high if the disease emerges from infected mosquitoes rather than infected humans. In the context of the stochastic model, we derive the implicit equation of the mean first passage time, which computes the average amount of time needed for a system to undergo its first state transition.

The analysis of a new fractional model to the Zika virus infection with mutant

We present a new mathematical model to analyze the dynamics of the Zika virus (ZV) disease with the mutant under the real confirmed cases in Colombia. We give the formulation of the model initially in integer order derivative and then extend it to a fractional order system in the sense of the Mittag-Leffler kernel. We study the properties of the model in the Mittag-Leffler kernel and establish the result. The basic reproduction of the fractional system is computed. The equilibrium points of the Zika virus model are obtained and found that the endemic equilibria exist when the threshold is greater than unity. Further, we show that the model does not possess the backward bifurcation phenomenon. The numerical procedure to solve the problem using the Atangana-Baleanu derivative is shown using the newly established numerical scheme. We consider the real cases of the Zika virus in Colombia outbreak are considered and simulate the model using the nonlinear least square curve fit and computed the basic reproduction number R 0 = 0.4942 , whereas in previous work (Alzahrani et al., 2021) [1], the authors computed the basic reproduction number R 0 = 0.5447 . This is due to the fact that our work in the present paper provides better fitting to the data when using the fractional order model, and indeed the result regarding the data fitting using the fractional model is better than integer order model. We give a sensitivity analysis of the parameters involved in the basic reproduction number and show them graphically. The results obtained through the present numerical method converge to its equilibrium for the fractional order, indicating the proposed scheme's reliability.

Cost-effectiveness analysis of COVID-19 intervention policies using a mathematical model: an optimal control approach

COVID-19 is an infectious disease that causes millions of deaths worldwide, and it is the principal leading cause of morbidity and mortality in all nations. Although the governments of developed and developing countries are enforcing their universal control strategies, more precise and cost-effective single or combination interventions are required to control COVID-19 outbreaks. Using proper optimal control strategies with appropriate cost-effectiveness analysis is important to simulate, examine, and forecast the COVID-19 transmission phase. In this study, we developed a COVID-19 mathematical model and considered two important features including direct link between vaccination and latently population, and practical healthcare cost by separation of infections into Mild and Critical cases. We derived basic reproduction numbers and performed mesh and contour plots to explore the impact of different parameters on COVID-19 dynamics. Our model fitted and calibrated with number of cases of the COVID-19 data in Bangladesh as a case study to determine the optimal combinations of interventions for particular scenarios. We evaluated the cost-effectiveness of varying single and combinations of three intervention strategies, including transmission control, treatment, and vaccination, all within the optimal control framework of the single-intervention policies; enhanced transmission control is the most cost-effective and prompt in declining the COVID-19 cases in Bangladesh. Our finding recommends that a three-intervention strategy that integrates transmission control, treatment, and vaccination is the most cost-effective compared to single and double intervention techniques and potentially reduce the overall infections. Other policies can be implemented to control COVID-19 depending on the accessibility of funds and policymakers' judgments.

Modeling the competitive transmission of the Omicron strain and Delta strain of COVID-19

Since November 2021, there have been cases of COVID-19's Omicron strain spreading in competition with Delta strains in many parts of the world. To explore how these two strains developed in this competitive spread, a new compartmentalized model was established. First, we analyzed the fundamental properties of the model, obtained the expression of the basic reproduction number, proved the local and global asymptotic stability of the disease-free equilibrium. Then by means of the cubic spline interpolation method, we obtained the data of new Omicron and Delta cases in the United States of new cases starting from December 8, 2021, to February 12, 2022. Using the weighted nonlinear least squares estimation method, we fitted six time series (cumulative confirmed cases, cumulative deaths, new cases, new deaths, new Omicron cases, and new Delta cases), got estimates of the unknown parameters, and obtained an approximation of the basic reproduction number in the United States during this time period as R 0 ≈ 1.5165 . Finally, each control strategy was evaluated by cost-effectiveness analysis to obtain the optimal control strategy under different perspectives. The results not only show the competitive transmission characteristics of the new strain and existing strain, but also provide scientific suggestions for effectively controlling the spread of these strains.

Analysis of the different interventions scenario for programmatic measles control in Bangladesh: A modelling study

In recent years measles has been one of the most critical public health problem in Bangladesh. Although the Ministry of Health in Bangladesh employs a broad extension of measles control policies, logistical challenges exist, and there is significant doubt regarding the disease burden. Mathematical modelling of measles is considered one of the most effective ways to understand infection transmission and estimate parameters in different countries, such as Bangladesh. In this study, a mathematical modelling framework is presented to explore the dynamics of measles in Bangladesh. We calibrated the model using cumulative measles incidence data from 2000 to 2019. Also, we performed a sensitivity analysis of the model parameters and found that the contact rate had the most significant influence on the basic reproduction number R0. Four hypothetical intervention scenarios were developed and simulated for the period from 2020 to 2035. The results show that the scenario which combines enhanced treatment for exposed and infected population, first and second doses of vaccine is the most effective at rapidly reducing the total number of measles incidence and mortality in Bangladesh. Our findings also suggest that strategies that focus on a single interventions do not dramatically affect the decline in measles incidence cases; instead, those that combine two or more interventions simultaneously are the most effective in decreasing the burden of measles incidence and mortality. In addition, we also evaluated the cost-effectiveness of varying combinations of three basic control strategies including distancing, vaccination and treatment, all within the optimal control framework. Our finding suggested that combines distancing, vaccination and treatment control strategy is the most cost-effective for reducing the burden of measles in Bangladesh. Other strategies can be comprised to measles depending on the availability of funds and policymakers' choices.

Modelling COVID-19 pandemic control strategies in metropolitan and rural health districts in New South Wales, Australia

COVID-19 remains a significant public health problem in New South Wales, Australia. Although the NSW government is employing various control policies, more specific and compelling interventions are needed to control the spread of COVID-19. This paper presents a modified SEIR-X model based on a nonlinear ordinary differential equations system that considers the transmission routes from asymptomatic (Exposed) and symptomatic (Mild and Critical) individuals. The model is fitted to the corresponding cumulative number of cases in metropolitan and rural health districts of NSW reported by the Health Department and parameterised using the least-squares method. The basic reproduction number [Formula: see text], which measures the possible spread of COVID-19 in a population, is computed using the next generation operator method. Sensitivity analysis of the model parameters reveals that the transmission rate had an enormous influence on [Formula: see text], which may be an option for controlling this disease. Two time-dependent control strategies, namely preventive (it refers to effort at inhibiting the virus transmission and prevention of case development from Exposed, Mild, Critical, Non-hospitalised and Hospitalised population) and management (it refers to enhance the management of Non-hospitalised and Hospitalised individuals who are infected by COVID-19) measures, are considered to mitigate this disease's dynamics using Pontryagin's maximum principle. The most sensible control strategy is determined through the cost-effectiveness analysis for the metropolitan and rural health districts of NSW. Our findings suggest that of the single intervention strategies, enhanced preventive strategy is more cost-effective than management control strategy, as it promptly reduces COVID-19 cases in NSW. In addition, combining preventive and management interventions simultaneously is found to be the most cost-effective. Alternative policies can be implemented to control COVID-19 depending on the policymakers' decisions. Numerical simulations of the overall system are performed to demonstrate the theoretical outcomes.

Qualitative analysis of a fractional-order two-strain epidemic model with vaccination and general non-monotonic incidence rate

In this paper, a fractional-order two-strain epidemic model with vaccination and general non-monotonic incidence rate is analyzed. The studied problem is formulated using susceptible, infectious and recovered compartmental model. A Caputo fractional operator is incorporated in each compartment to describe the memory effect related to an epidemic evolution. First, the global existence, positivity and boundedness of solutions of the proposed model are proved. The basic reproduction numbers associated with studied problem are calculated. Four steady states are given, namely the disease-free equilibrium, the strain 1 endemic equilibrium, the strain 2 endemic equilibrium, and the endemic equilibrium associated with both strains. By considering appropriate Lyapunov functions, the global stability of the equilibrium points is proven according to the model parameters. Our modeling approach using a generalized non-monotonic incidence functions encloses a variety of fractional-order epidemic models existing in the literature. Finally, the theoretical findings are illustrated using numerical simulations.

Viruses, immunity and evolution

In this article, the evolution of viruses is analyzed in terms of their complexity. It is shown that the evolution of viruses is a partially directed process. The participation of viruses and mobile genetic elements in the evolution of other organisms by integration into the genome is also an a priori directed process. The high variability of genomes (including the genes of antibodies), which differs by orders of magnitude for various viruses and their hosts, is not a random process but is the result of the action of a molecular genetic control system. Herein, a model of partially directed evolution of viruses is proposed. Throughout the life cycle of viruses, there is an interaction of complex biologically important molecules that cannot be explained on the basis of classic laws. The interaction of a virus with a cell is essentially a quantum event, including selective long-range action. Such an interaction can be interpreted as the "remote key-lock" principle. In this article, a model of the interaction of biologically important viral molecules with cellular molecules based on nontrivial quantum interactions is proposed. Experiments to test the model are also proposed.

A fractional-order multi-vaccination model for COVID-19 with non-singular kernel

This work examines the impact of multiple vaccination strategies on the dynamics of COVID-19 in a population using the Atangana-Baleanu derivative. The existence and uniqueness of solution of the model is proven using Banach’s fixed point theorem. Local and global asymptotic stability of the equilibria of the model is also proven (under some conditions). Conditions for the existence of a unique or multiple equilibria are also derived and the model is shown to undergo backward bifurcation under certain scenarios. Using available data for the Pfizer, Moderna and Janssen vaccination programme for the city of Texas, United States of America from March 13, 2021 to June 29, 2021, the model is fitted using the three data sets. The three vaccination rates ν1,ν2 and ν3 corresponding to each vaccine as well as the effective contact rate for COVID-19 transmission, β, are estimated. Simulations of the model under different vaccination strategies are carried out. The results show that the three vaccination strategies not only cause significant reduction in the new asymptomatic and vaccinated symptomatic cases but also cause great decrease in the total number of vaccinated symptomatic individuals with severe COVID-19 illness.

Robust optimal control of compartmental models in epidemiology: Application to the COVID-19 pandemic

In this paper, a spectral approach is used to formulate and solve robust optimal control problems for compartmental epidemic models, allowing the uncertainty propagation through the optimal control model to be represented by a polynomial expansion of its stochastic state variables. More specifically, a statistical moment-based polynomial chaos expansion is employed. The spectral expansion of the stochastic state variables allows the computation of their main statistics to be carried out, resulting in a compact and efficient representation of the variability of the optimal control model with respect to its random parameters. The proposed robust formulation provides the designers of the optimal control strategy of the epidemic model the capability to increase the predictability of the results by simply adding upper bounds on the variability of the state variables. Moreover, this approach yields a way to efficiently estimate the probability distributions of the stochastic state variables and conduct a global sensitivity analysis. To show the practical implementation of the proposed approach, a mathematical model of COVID-19 transmission is considered. The numerical results show that the spectral approach proposed to formulate and solve robust optimal control problems for compartmental epidemic models provides healthcare systems with a valuable tool to mitigate and control the impact of infectious diseases.

Modeling and optimal control of mutated COVID-19 (Delta strain) with imperfect vaccination

As people around the world work to stop the COVID-19 pandemic, mutated COVID-19 (Delta strain) that are more contagious are emerging in many places. How to develop effective and reasonable plans to prevent the spread of mutated COVID-19 is an important issue. In order to simulate the transmission of mutated COVID-19 (Delta strain) in China with a certain proportion of vaccination, we selected the epidemic situation in Jiangsu Province as a case study. To solve this problem, we develop a novel epidemic model with a vaccinated population. The basic properties of the model is analyzed, and the expression of the basic reproduction number R 0 is obtained. We collect data on the Delta strain epidemic in Jiangsu Province, China from July 20, to August 5, 2021. The weighted nonlinear least square estimation method is used to fit the daily asymptomatic infected people, common infected people and severe infected people. The estimated parameter values are obtained, the approximate values of the basic reproduction number are calculated R 0 ≈ 1.378 . Through the global sensitivity analysis, we identify some parameters that have a greater impact on the prevalence of the disease. Finally, according to the evaluation results of parameter influence, we consider three control measures (vaccination, isolation and nucleic acid testing) to control the spread of the disease. The results of the study found that the optimal control measure is to dynamically adjust the three control measures to achieve the lowest number of infections at the lowest cost. The research in this paper can not only enrich theoretical research on the transmission of COVID-19, but also provide reliable control suggestions for countries and regions experiencing mutated COVID-19 epidemics.

Estimation of the doubling time and reproduction number for COVID-19

In this paper, we have calculated the basic reproduction number (R₀) and doubling time (T_d) for the novel Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The calculation is performed for March 2020 from the data provided by worldometer. We have investigated the data for Germany and Bangladesh. The calculation of R₀ is performed based on SIR model. The parameter T_d is estimated based on the new cases of each day. Since T_d and R₀ in use to judge the lockdowns and other measures to prevent spreading of the virus, we have provided simple approximation of both parameters.

Analysis and optimal control of a Huanglongbing mathematical model with resistant vector

Huanglongbing (HLB) is an incurable disease that affects citrus trees. To better understand the transmission of HLB, the mathematical model is developed to investigate the transmission dynamics of the disease between Asian citrus psyllid (ACP) and citrus trees. Through rigorous mathematical derivations, we derive the expression of the basic reproduction number (R₀) of HLB. The findings show that the disease-free equilibrium is locally asymptotically stable if R₀ < 1, and if R₀ > 1 the system is uniformly persistent. By applying the global sensitivity analysis of R₀, we can obtain some parameters that have the greatest influence on the HLB transmission dynamics. Additionally, the optimal control theory is used to explore the corresponding optimal control problem of the HLB model. Numerical simulations are conducted to reinforce the analytical results. These theoretical and numerical results provide useful insights for understanding the transmission dynamics of HLB and may help policy makers to develop intervention strategies for the disease.

Application of reinforcement learning for effective vaccination strategies of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)

Since December 2019, the new coronavirus has raged in China and subsequently all over the world. From the first days, researchers have tried to discover vaccines to combat the epidemic. Several vaccines are now available as a result of the contributions of those researchers. As a matter of fact, the available vaccines should be used in effective and efficient manners to put the pandemic to an end. Hence, a major problem now is how to efficiently distribute these available vaccines among various components of the population. Using mathematical modeling and reinforcement learning control approaches, the present article aims to address this issue. To this end, a deterministic Susceptible-Exposed-Infectious-Recovered-type model with additional vaccine components is proposed. The proposed mathematical model can be used to simulate the consequences of vaccination policies. Then, the suppression of the outbreak is taken to account. The main objective is to reduce the effects of Covid-19 and its domino effects which stem from its spreading and progression. Therefore, to reach optimal policies, reinforcement learning optimal control is implemented, and four different optimal strategies are extracted. Demonstrating the efficacy of the proposed methods, finally, numerical simulations are presented.

Sensitivity assessment and optimal economic evaluation of a new COVID-19 compartmental epidemic model with control interventions

Optimal economic evaluation is pivotal in prioritising the implementation of non-pharmaceutical and pharmaceutical interventions in the control of diseases. Governments, decision-makers and policy-makers broadly need information about the effectiveness of a control intervention concerning its cost-benefit to evaluate whether a control intervention offers the best value for money. The outbreak of COVID-19 in December 2019, and the eventual spread to other parts of the world, have pushed governments and health authorities to take drastic socioeconomic, sociocultural and sociopolitical measures to curb the spread of the virus, SARS-CoV-2. To help policy-makers, health authorities and governments, we propose a Susceptible, Exposed, Asymptomatic, Quarantined asymptomatic, Severely infected, Hospitalized, Recovered, Recovered asymptomatic, Deceased, and Protective susceptible (individuals who observe health protocols) compartmental structure to describe the dynamics of COVID-19. We fit the model to real data from Ghana and Egypt to estimate model parameters using standard incidence rate. Projections for disease control and sensitivity analysis are presented using MATLAB. We noticed that multiple peaks (waves) of COVID-19 for Ghana and Egypt can be prevented if stringent health protocols are implemented for a long time and/or the reluctant behaviour on the use of protective equipment by individuals are minimized. The sensitivity analysis suggests that: the rate of diagnoses and testing, the rate of quarantine through doubling enhanced contact tracing, adhering to physical distancing, adhering to wearing of nose masks, sanitizing-washing hands, media education remains the most effective measures in reducing the control reproduction numberR c , to less than unity in the absence of vaccines and therapeutic drugs in Ghana and Egypt. Optimal control and cost-effectiveness analysis are rigorously studied. The main finding is that having two controls (transmission reduction and case isolation) is better than having one control, but is economically expensive. In case only one control is affordable, then transmission reduction is better than case isolation. Hopefully, the results of this research should help policy-makers when dealing with multiple waves of COVID-19.

A co-infection model for HPV and syphilis with optimal control and cost-effectiveness analysis

A co-infection model for human papillomavirus (HPV) and syphilis with cost-effectiveness optimal control analysis is developed and presented. The full co-infection model is shown to undergo the phenomenon of backward bifurcation when a certain condition is satisfied. The global asymptotic stability of the disease-free equilibrium of the full model is shown not to exist when the associated reproduction number is less than unity. The existence of endemic equilibrium of the syphilis-only sub-model is shown to exist and the global asymptotic stability of the disease-free and endemic equilibria of the syphilis-only sub-model was established, for a special case. Sensitivity analysis is also carried out on the parameters of the model. Using the syphilis associated reproduction number, [Formula: see text], as the response function, it is observed that the five-ranked parameters that drive the dynamics of the co-infection model are the demographic parameter [Formula: see text], the effective contact rate for syphilis transmission, [Formula: see text], the progression rate to late stage of syphilis [Formula: see text], and syphilis treatment rates: [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] for co-infected individuals in compartments [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text], respectively. Moreover, when the HPV associated reproduction number, [Formula: see text], is used as the response function, the five most dominant parameters that drive the dynamics of the model are the demographic parameter [Formula: see text], the effective contact rate for HPV transmission, [Formula: see text], the fraction of HPV infected who develop persistent HPV [Formula: see text], the fraction of individuals vaccinated against incident HPV infection [Formula: see text] and the HPV vaccine efficacy [Formula: see text]. Numerical simulations of the optimal control model showed that the optimal control strategy which implements syphilis treatment controls for singly infected individuals is the most cost-effective of all the control strategies in reducing the burden of HPV and syphilis co-infections.

Backward bifurcation in a cholera model with a general treatment function

We consider a general cholera model with a nonlinear treatment function. The treatment function describes the saturated treatment scenario due to the limited availability of resources. The sufficient conditions for the existence of backward bifurcation have been obtained using the central manifold theory. At last, we illustrate the results by considering some special types of treatment functions.