On the characteristic equation \(\lambda =\alpha_{1}+(\alpha_{2}+\alpha_{3}\lambda)e^{-\lambda}\) and its use in the context of a cell population model (Q259232)

The authors study the stability by means of the characteristic equation \[ \lambda =\alpha_1+(\alpha_2+\alpha_3\lambda )e^{-\lambda} \] in the \((\alpha_1,\alpha_2)\) plane, for arbitrary, but fixed, \(\alpha _3\) with \(-1<\alpha_3<1\). The restriction on \(\alpha_3\) is motivated by the fact that if \(|\alpha_3|>1\), then the characteristic equation is found to have infinitely many roots in the right half plane \(\mathrm{Re} \lambda>0\). It is observed that, from a qualitative viewpoint, the two-parameter stability picture of the characteristic equation with \(\alpha_3\) away from \(0\), \(-1<\alpha_3<1\), very much resembles the one obtained for \(\alpha_3=0\). These findings are then employed to study the dynamics of a nonlinear cell population model involving quiescence, after showing that this characteristic equation governs the stability of the nontrivial steady state. It is observed that increasing the proportion of oxygen (an essential resource in that context) consumed by the proliferating cells promotes the stability of the nontrivial steady state. The regulation of the model via the length of the quiescent period and via the fraction of the cells that become quiescent, respectively, is also investigated.