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For a slow-fast system of the form $\dot{p}=\epsilon f(p,z,\epsilon)+h(p,z,\epsilon)$, $\dot{z}=g(p,z,\epsilon)$ for $(p,z)\in \mathbb R^n\times \mathbb R^m$, we consider the scenario that the system has invariant sets $M_i=\{(p,z): z=z_i\}$, $1\le i\le N$, linked by a singular closed orbit formed by trajectories of the limiting slow and fast systems. Assuming that the stability of $M_i$ changes along the slow trajectories at certain turning points, we derive criteria for the existence and stability of relaxation oscillations for the slow-fast system. Our approach is based on a generalization of the entry-exit relation to systems with multi-dimensional fast variables. We then apply our criteria to several predator-prey systems with rapid ecological evolutionary dynamics to show the existence of relaxation oscillations in these models., Comment: 32 pages

This paper is concerned with singular shocks for a system of conservation laws via the Dafermos regularization u t + f ( u ) x = ϵ t u x x . For a system modeling incompressible two-phase fluid flow, the existence of viscous profiles is proved using Geometric Singular Perturbation Theory. The weak convergence and the growth rate of the viscous solution are also derived; the weak limit is the sum of a piecewise constant function and a δ -measure supported on a shock line, and the maximum value of the viscous solution is of order exp ⁡ ( 1 / ϵ ) .

A system of impulsive differential equations with state-dependent impulses is used to model the growth of a single population on two limiting essential resources in a self-cycling fermentor. Potential applications include water purification and biological waste remediation. The self-cycling fermentation process is a semi-batch process and the model is an example of a hybrid system. In this case, a well-stirred tank is partially drained, and subsequently refilled using fresh medium when the concentration of both resources (assumed to be pollutants) falls below some acceptable threshold. We consider the process successful if the threshold for emptying/refilling the reactor can be reached indefinitely without the time between successive emptying/refillings becoming unbounded and without interference by the operator. We prove that whenever the process is successful, the model predicts that the concentrations of the population and the resources converge to a positive periodic solution. We derive conditions for the successful operation of the process that are shown to be initial condition dependent and prove that if these conditions are not satisfied, then the reactor fails. We show numerically that there is an optimal fraction of the medium drained from the tank at each impulse that maximizes the output of the process., 21 pages, 6 figures