Talks in the Department of Mathematical Sciences (Fall 2005)

• Dept. of Math Sciences Seminar
  Tuesday, December 6 from 2:30-3:30 pm in RI-106
  Dr. Baojun Song, MSU
  
  Title: Modeling the Dynamics of Infectious Diseases
  
  Abstract: Starting from an introduction to basic dynamical epidemic models and an introduction to key concepts in epidemiology, I will develop mathematical models for specific infectious diseases such as tuberculosis. Mathematical analysis to the proposed models is focused on the global dynamics and local bifurcations mainly including backward and forward bifurcations at the basic reproductive number equal to one. The general model framework is applied to the US population and simulation results show that to eliminate tuberculosis we may have to treat latently-infected cases.
  
  
• CSAM Seminar
  Tuesday, December 1 from 4:00-5:00 pm in the Sokol Seminar Room
  Daniel Goldman, Departments of Mathematical Sciences and Biomedical Engineering
  New Jersey Institute of Technology
  
  Title: Microcirculatory Transport: Modeling and Applications
  
  Abstract: The microcirculation is the primary site of blood-tissue mass transport
  and its quantitative study is therefore of great interest. However, the
  spatial and biophysical complexities involved in microvascular transport
  make both in-depth experimentation and realistic modeling very
  challenging. We will describe mathematical and computational techniques
  for using available experimental data to construct models of blood flow
  and oxygen transport in microvascular networks. We will also discuss the
  application of these models to problems of current interest in medicine
  and bioengineering, including the pathophysiology of sepsis and cancer.
  
  
• Dept. of Math Sciences Seminar
  Tuesday, November 22 from 2:30-3:30 pm in RI-106
  Dr. Michael A. Jones, MSU
  
  Title: Dynamics of Nim-induced Difference Equations
  
  Abstract: I will introduce the combinatorial game Nim and give the idea behind the classic 1901/1902 proof that determines how to optimally play multi-pile Nim. Students: This simple proof can be used to beat your siblings at the game, every time! The classic result motivates the analysis of optimal play in single-pile Nim. The problem becomes one of having to analyze a difference equation over integers modulo 2. I will motivate and explain the approach and present some results. I will conclude with a short overview of other Nim research that I have done with two undergraduate students, one graduate student, and two Montclair faculty members.
  
  
• Dept. of Math Sciences Seminar
  Thursday, November 17 at 4:30-5:15 pm in RI-120
  Frank Sullivan, Fairleigh Dickinson University
  
  Title: "Actuaries, Katrina, and the Invisible Bankers"
  
  A talk about the effect of Hurricane Katrina on the actuarial industry.
  
  
• Dept. of Math Sciences Seminar
  Monday, October 3 at 2:30 pm in RI-232
  Michael Keane, Wesleyan University
  
  On spontaneous emergence of opinions: towards a better understanding of stochastic processes with infinite memory
  
  Stochastic processes with unbounded memory enjoy much attention currently in probability theory. The reasons for this interest are on the one hand the necessity in other scientific disciplines of such models for use in quantification and prediction, and on the other hand the mathematical questions arising from these processes, which are seemingly simple but often difficult to handle and which in all probability will remain central to the discipline in the coming decennia.
  
  The lecture will begin with a historical discussion leading to the presentation of a tantalizing open problem, beyond reach with current techniques. Subsequently, I shall present the simplest example of a process with the property of interest, which can be used as a model for the spontaneous emergence of opinions. Afterwards I shall sketch work of mine and others with two Ph.D. students. The lecture will end with conjectures; one of these, which I formulated some years ago (and which has yet to acquire practical significance), seems within reach of our current capabilities, but has yet found no solution.