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Vector/Pest control is essential to reduce the risk of vector-borne diseases or losses in crop fields. Among biological control tools, the sterile insect technique (SIT), is the most promising one. SIT control generally consists of massive releases of sterile insects in the targeted area in order to reach elimination or to lower the pest population under a certain threshold. The models presented here are minimalistic with respect to the number of parameters and variables. The first model deals with the dynamics of the vector population while the second model, the SIT model, tackles the interaction between treated males and wild female vectors. For the vector population model, the elimination equilibrium $\mathbb{0}$ is globally asymptotically stable when the basic offspring number, $\mathcal{R}$, is lower or equal to one, whereas $\mathbb{0}$ becomes unstable and one stable positive equilibrium exists, with well-determined basins of attraction, when $\mathcal{R}>1$. For the SIT model, we obtain a threshold number of treated male vectors above which the control of wild female vectors is effective: the massive release control. When the amount of treated male vectors is lower than the aforementioned threshold number, the SIT model experiences a bistable situation involving the elimination equilibrium and a positive equilibrium. However, practically, massive releases of sterile males are only possible for a short period of time. That is why, using the bistability property, we develop a new strategy to maintain the wild population under a certain threshold, for a permanent and sustainable low level of SIT control. We illustrate our theoretical results with numerical simulations, in the case of SIT mosquito control.

Many systems in life sciences have been modeled by reaction-diffusion equations. However, under some circumstances, these biological systems may experience instantaneous and periodic perturbations (e.g. harvest, birth, release, fire events, etc) such that an appropriate formalism is necessary, using, for instance, impulsive reaction-diffusion equations. While several works tackled the issue of traveling waves for monotone reaction-diffusion equations and the computation of spreading speeds, very little has been done in the case of monotone impulsive reaction-diffusion equations. Based on vector-valued recursion equations theory, we aim to present in this paper results that address two main issues of monotone impulsive reaction-diffusion equations. First, they deal with the existence of traveling waves for monotone systems of impulsive reaction-diffusion equations. Second, they allow the computation of spreading speeds for monotone systems of impulsive reaction-diffusion equations. We apply our methodology to a planar system of impulsive reaction-diffusion equations that models tree-grass interactions in fire-prone savannas. Numerical simulations, including numerical approximations of spreading speeds, are finally provided in order to illustrate our theoretical results and support the discussion.

Ferrimagnetic TbFe or TbFeCo amorphous alloy thin films have been grown by co-evaporation in ultra-high vacuum. They exhibit an out-of-plane magnetic anisotropy up to their Curie temperature with a nucleation and propagation reversal mechanism suitable for current induced domain wall motion. Rutherford back scattering experiments confirmed a fine control of the Tb depth-integrated composition within the evaporation process. However, a large set of experimental techniques were used to evidence an interface related contribution in such thin films as compared to much thicker samples. In particular, scanning transmission electron microscopy experiments evidence a depth dependent composition and perturbed top and bottom interfaces with preferential oxidation and diffusion of terbium. Despite of that, amorphous and homogeneous alloy film remains in a bulk-like part. The composition of that bulk-like part of the magnetic layer, labeled as effective composition, is biased when compared with the depth-integrated composition. The magnetic properties of the film are mostly dictated by this effective composition, which we show changes with different top and bottom interfaces., Comment: 9 figures

Dopants of transition metal ions in II-VI semiconductors exhibit native 2+ valency. Despite this, 3+ or mixed 3+/2+ valency of iron ions in ZnO was reported previously. Several contradictory mechanisms have been put forward for explanation of this fact so far. Here, we analyze Fe valency in ZnO by complementary theoretical and experimental studies. Our calculations within the generalized gradient approximation (GGA+U) indicate that the Fe ion is a relatively shallow donor. Its stable charge state is Fe2+ in ideal ZnO, however, the high energy of the (+/0) transition level enhances the compensation of Fe2+ to Fe3+ by non-intentional acceptors in real samples. Using several experimental methods like electron paramagnetic resonance, magnetometry, conductivity, excitonic magnetic circular dichroism and magneto-photoluminescence we confirm the 3+ valency of the iron ions in polycrystalline (Zn,Fe)O films with the Fe content attaining 0.2%.We find a predicted increase of n-type conductivity upon the Fe doping with the Fe donor ionization energy of 0.25 +/- 0.02 eV consistent with the results of theoretical considerations. Moreover, our magnetooptical measurements confirm the calculated non-vanishing s,p-d exchange interaction between band carriers and localized magnetic moments of the Fe3+ ions in the ZnO, being so far an unsettled issue., Comment: 17 pages, 10 figures

We study the effect of oxygen vacancies on the electronic structure of the model strongly correlated metal SrVO$_3$. By means of angle-resolved photoemission (ARPES) synchrotron experiments, we investigate the systematic effect of the UV dose on the measured spectra. We observe the onset of a spurious dose-dependent prominent peak at an energy range were the lower Hubbard band has been previously reported in this compound, raising questions on its previous interpretation. By a careful analysis of the dose dependent effects we succeed in disentangling the contributions coming from the oxygen vacancy states and from the lower Hubbard band. We obtain the intrinsic ARPES spectrum for the zero-vacancy limit, where a clear signal of a lower Hubbard band remains. We support our study by means of state-of-the-art ab initio calculations that include correlation effects and the presence of oxygen vacancies. Our results underscore the relevance of potential spurious states affecting ARPES experiments in correlated metals, which are associated to the ubiquitous oxygen vacancies as extensively reported in the context of a two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) at the surface of insulating $d^0$ transition metal oxides., Comment: Manuscript + Supplemental Material, 12 pages, 9 figures

Community involvement and the preventive behavior of households are considered to be at the heart of vector-control strategies. In this work, we consider a simple theoretical model that enables us to take into account human behaviors that may interfere with vector control. The model reflects the trade-off between perceived costs and observed efficacy. Our theoretical results emphasize that households may reduce their protective behavior in response to mechanical elimination techniques piloted by a public agent, leading to an increase of the total number of mosquitoes in the surrounding environment and generating a barrier for vector-borne diseases control. Our study is sufficiently generic to be applied to different arboviral diseases. It also shows that vector-control models and strategies have to take into account human behaviors., Comment: 27 pages, 7 figures

Savannas are dynamical systems where grasses and trees can either dominate or coexist. Fires are known to be central in the functioning of the savanna biome though their characteristics are expected to vary along the rainfall gradients as observed in Sub-Saharan Africa. In this paper, we model the tree-grass dynamics using impulsive differential equations that consider fires as discrete events. This framework allows us to carry out a comprehensive qualitative mathematical analysis that revealed more diverse possible outcomes than the analogous continuous model. We investigated local and global properties of the equilibria and show that various states exist for the physiognomy of vegetation. Though several abrupt shifts between vegetation states appeared determined by fire periodicity, we showed that direct shading of grasses by trees is also an influential process embodied in the model by a competition parameter leading to bifurcations. Relying on a suitable nonstandard finite difference scheme, we carried out numerical simulations in reference to three main climatic zones as observable in Central Africa., Comment: 51 pages, 7 figures

Fires and rainfall are major mechanisms that regulate woody and grassy biomasses in savanna ecosystems. Conditions of long-lasting coexistence of trees and grasses have been mainly studied using continuous-time modelling of tree-grass competition. In these frameworks, fire is a time-continuous forcing while the relationship between woody plant size and fire-sensitivity is not systematically considered. In this paper, we propose a new mathematical framework to model tree-grass interaction that takes into account both the discrete nature of fire occurrence and size-dependent fire sensitivity (via two classes of woody plants). We carry out a qualitative analysis that highlights ecological thresholds and bifurcations parameters that shape the dynamics of the savanna-like systems within the main ecological zones. Moreover, through a qualitative analysis, we show that the impulsive modelling of fire occurrences leads to more diverse behaviors and a more realistic array of solutions than the analogous time-continuous fire models. Numerical simulations are provided to illustrate the theoretical results and to support a discussion about the bifurcation parameters and future developments., Comment: 42 pages, 5 figures

Optical properties of ZnMnO layers grown at low temperature by Atomic Layer Deposition and Metalorganic Vapor Phase Epitaxy are discussed and compared to results obtained for ZnMnS samples. Present results suggest a double valence of Mn ions in ZnO lattice. Strong absorption, with onset at about 2.1 eV, is tentatively related to Mn 2+ to 3+ photoionization. Mechanism of emission deactivation in ZnMnO is discussed and is explained by the processes following the assumed Mn 2+ to 3+ recharging., Comment: 17 pages, 4 figures, 32 references

This work presents results of near-band gap magnetooptical studies on (Zn,Mn)O epitaxial layers. We observe excitonic transitions in reflectivity and photoluminescence, that shift towards higher energies when the Mn concentration increases and split nonlinearly under the magnetic field. Excitonic shifts are determined by the s,p-d exchange coupling to magnetic ions, by the electron-hole s-p exchange, and the spin-orbit interactions. A quantitative description of the magnetoreflectivity findings indicates that the free excitons A and B are associated with the Gamma_7 and Gamma_9 valence bands, respectively, the order reversed as compared to wurtzite GaN. Furthermore, our results show that the magnitude of the giant exciton splittings, specific to dilute magnetic semiconductors, is unusual: the magnetoreflectivity data is described by an effective exchange energy N_0(beta-alpha)=+0.2+/-0.1 eV, what points to small and positive N_0 beta. It is shown that both the increase of the gap with x and the small positive value of the exchange energy N_0 beta corroborate recent theory describing the exchange splitting of the valence band in a non-perturbative way, suitable for the case of a strong p-d hybridization., Comment: 8 pages, 8 figures

We consider the dynamics of an elastic beam which is clamped at its left end to a vibrating support and which can move freely at its right end between two rigid obstacles (the stops). We model the contact with Signorini's complementary conditions between the displacement and the shear stress. For this infinite dimensional contact problem, we propose a family of fully discretized approximations and their convergence is proved. Moreover some examples of implementation are presented., Comment: 24 pages, 8 figures

We report magnetic susceptibility performed on overdoped Bi2Sr2CuO6+d powders as a function of oxygen doping d and temperature T. The decrease of the spin susceptibility chis with increasing T is confirmed. At sufficient high temperature, chis presents an unusual linear temperature dependence chis=chis0 -chi1T . Moreover, a linear correlation between chi1 and chis0 for increasing hole concentration has been displayed. These non conventional metal features will be discussed in terms of a singular narrow-band structures., Comment: 6 pages, 2 figures, presented at CIMTEC, Florence, Italy July 14-18, 2002

We report magnetic susceptibility performed on overdoped Bi2Sr2CuO6+d powders as a function of oxygen doping d and temperature T. The decrease of the spin susceptibility with increasing T is confirmed. At sufficient high temperature, the spin susceptibility Chi_s presents an unusual linear temperature dependence Chi_s ~ Chi_s0 -Chi_1 T. Moreover, a linear correlation between Chi_1 and Chi_s0 for increasing hole concentration is displayed. A temperature Tchi, independent of hole doping characterizes this scaling. Comparison with other cuprates of the literature(LSCO, Tl-2201 and Bi-2212), over the same overdoped range, shows similarities with above results. These non conventional metal features will be discussed in terms of a singular narrow-band structure., Comment: 16 pages, 4 figures