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Department of Mathematics,
University of California San Diego

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Informal Seminar on Mathematics and Biochemistry-Biophysics

Leonard M. Sander

University of Michigan, Ann Arbor \\ Physics Department

A generalized Cahn-Hilliard equation for biological applications

Abstract:

We study fronts of cells such as those invading a wound or in a growing tumor. First we look at a discrete stochastic model in which cells can move, proliferate, and experience cell-cell adhesion. We compare this with a coarse-grained, continuum description of this phenomenon by means of a generalized Cahn-Hilliard equation (GCH) with a proliferation term.  There are two interesting regimes. For subcritical adhesion, there are propagating "pulled" fronts, similarly to those of Fisher-Kolmogorov equation. The problem of front velocity selection is examined, and our theoretical predictions are in a good agreement with a numerical solution of the GCH equation. For supercritical adhesion, there is a nontrivial transient behavior. The results of continuum and discrete models are in a good agreement with each other for the different regimes we analyzed.

Hosts: Li-Tien Cheng and Bo Li

April 14, 2009

2:00 PM

AP&M 5829

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