Tadas Meskauskas

Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy of Tethered Bilayer Membranes

The electrochemical impedance spectra (EIS) of tethered bilayer membranes (tBLMs) were analyzed, and the analytical solution for the spectral response of membranes containing natural or artificially introduced defects was derived. The analysis carried out in this work shows that the EIS features of an individual membrane defect cannot be modeled by conventional electrical elements. The primary reason for this is the complex nature of impedance of the submembrane ionic reservoir separating the phospholipid layer and the solid support. We demonstrate that its EIS response, in the case of radially symmetric defects, is described by the Hankel functions of a complex variable. Therefore, neither the impedance of the submembrane reservoir nor the total impedance of tBLMs can be modeled using the conventional elements of the equivalent electrical circuits of interfaces. There are, however, some limiting cases in which the complexity of the EIS response of the submembrane space reduces. In the high frequency limit, the EIS response of a submembrane space that surrounds the defect transforms into a response of a constant phase element (CPE) with the exponent (α) value of 0.5. The onset of this transformation is, beside other parameters, dependent on the defect size. Large-sized defects push the frequency limit lower, therefore, the EIS spectra exhibiting CPE behavior with α ≈ 0.5, can serve as a diagnostic criterion for the presence of such defects. In the low frequency limit, the response is dependent on the density of the defects, and it transforms into the capacitive impedance if the area occupied by a defect is finite. The higher the defect density, the higher the frequency edge at which the onset of the capacitive behavior is observed. Consequently, the presented analysis provides practical tools to evaluate the defect density in tBLMs, which could be utilized in tBLM-based biosensor applications. Alternatively, if the parameters of the defects, e.g., ion channels, such as the diameter and the conductance are known, the EIS data analysis provides a possibility to estimate other physical parameters of the system, such as thickness of the submembrane reservoir and its conductance. Finally, current analysis demonstrates a possibility to discriminate between the situations, in which the membrane defects are evenly distributed or clustered on the surface of tBLMs. Such sensitivity of EIS could be used for elucidation of the mechanisms of interaction between the proteins and the membranes.

Stability of difference schemes for two-dimensional parabolic equations with non-local boundary conditions

The stability of difference schemes for one-dimensional and two-dimensional parabolic equations, subject to non-local (Bitsadze-Samarskii type) boundary conditions is dealt with. To analyze the stability of difference schemes, the structure of the spectrum of the matrix that defines the linear system of difference equations for a respective stationary problem is studied. Depending on the values of parameters in non-local conditions, this matrix can have one zero, one negative or complex eigenvalues. The stepwise stability is proved and the domain of stability of difference schemes is found.

SYNCHRONIZATION OF CHAOTIC SYSTEMS DRIVEN BY IDENTICAL NOISE

An analysis of transition from chaotic to nonchaotic behavior and synchronization in an ensemble of systems driven by identical random forces is presented. The synchronization phenomenon is investigated in the ensemble of particles moving with friction in the time-dependent potential and driven by the identical noise. The threshold values of the parameters for transition from chaotic to nonchaotic behavior are obtained and dependencies of the Lyapunov exponents and power spectral density of the current of the ensemble of particles on the nonlinearity of the systems and intensity of the driven force are analyzed.

Numerical spectral analysis of a difference operator with non-local boundary conditions

Abstract The spectrum of a finite difference operator, subject to non-local Robin type boundary conditions, is dealt with. We analyse the spectral properties that relate to the stability of finite difference schemes for parabolic equations. The impact of functions and parameters, defining non-local conditions, on a spectral structure is examined and theoretical study is supported by numerical experiments. Also, for a difference scheme, applied to a parabolic equation with non-local conditions, a sufficient stability criterion, based on spectral properties of the difference operator, is discussed. Numerical evidence suggests that such a criterion is not only sufficient for stability, but necessary, too.

On convergence and stability of difference schemes for derivative nonlinear evolution equations

AbstractWe investigate the initial-boundary value problem for the nonlinear equation system

Modeling of Flows with Power-Law Spectral Densities and Power-Law Distributions of Flow Intensities

\frac{{\partial u}}{{\partial t}} = A\frac{{\partial ^2 u}}{{\partial x^2 }} + f(u) + g(u)\frac{{\partial u}}{{\partial x}},

Influence of complex coefficients on the stability of difference scheme for parabolic equations with non-local conditions

whereA is a complex diagonal matrix,f andg are complex vector-functions. The convergence and stability in theW22 norm of the proposed Crank-Nicolson type difference schemes is proved. No restrictions on the ratio of time and space grid steps are assumed.

MULTIFRACTALITY OF THE MULTIPLICATIVE AUTOREGRESSIVE POINT PROCESSES

Mathematical model for evaluation of the multilayer heterogeneous biocatalytic system has been elaborated. The model consists of nonlinear system of partial differential equations with initial values and boundary conditions. An algorithm for computing the numerical solution of the mathematical model has been applied. Two cases: when product diffuses out of the biosensor and when the outer membrane is impermeable for product (product is trapped inside the biosensor) have been dealt with by adjusting boundary conditions in the mathematical model. Profiles of the impact of the substrate and product degradation rates on the biosensor response have been constructed in both cases. Value of the degradation impact has been analyzed as a function of the outer membrane thickness. The initial substrate concentration also affects influence of the degradation rates on the biosensor response. Analytical formulae, defining approximate values of relationships between the degradation rates and the outer membrane thickness or the initial substrate concentration, have been obtained. These formulae can be employed for monitoring of the biosensor response.