Hydrodynamical limit for a drift-diffusion system modeling large-population dynamics

In this paper we study the stability of the following nonlinear drift-diffusion system modeling large population dynamics ∂_tρ+div(ρU−ε∇ρ)=0, divU=±ρ, with respect to the viscosity parameter ε. The sign in the second equation depends on the attractive or repulsive character of the field U. A proof of the compactness and convergence properties in the vanishing viscosity regime is given. The lack of compactness in the attractive case is caused by the blow-up of the solution which depends on the mass and on the space dimension. Our stability result is connected, depending of the character of the potentials, with models in semiconductor theory or in biological population.     

Novel acrylic macromonomer with amphiphilic character derived from Triton X‐100: Radical copolymerization with methyl methacrylate and thermal properties

This article explores the synthesis of a novel methacrylic macromonomer with an amphiphilic character derived from poly(ethylene glycol) tert‐octylphenyl ether (MT) and its respective homopolymer. To know their reactivity in radical copolymerization reactions with methyl methacrylate (MMA), a model monomer (MTm) was synthesized to determine the reactivity ratios and compare them with the low molar fractions of copolymers of MT with MMA because they were difficult to isolate. They were r_MTm = 0.97 and r_MMA = 0.95. The compositional diagrams when representing the weight fraction of MT and MTm in the feed and the copolymer suggested that a clear correlation exists between the experimental points of the model monomer MTm and the macromonomer MT ones, suggesting that the length of the side poly(ethylene oxide) chain does not affect the reactivity of the methacrylic double bond in the prepared monomers for this type of polymerization reaction. The reactivity ratios of the copolymers have a tendency for the formation of random or Bernoullian copolymers. The glass‐transition temperatures (T_g's) of the prepared copolymers were determined by differential scanning calorimetry, deviated from the Fox equation, and discussed on the basis of treatments that consider the influence of the monomeric units along the copolymer chains, determining the T_g of the corresponding alternating dyads. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 41: 1641–1649, 2003     

Vassiliev invariants for braids on surfaces

We show that Vassiliev invariants separate braids on a closed oriented surface, and we exhibit a universal Vassiliev invariant for these braids in terms of chord diagrams labeled by elements of the fundamental group of the surface.

     

Upper and lower bounds for the energy of bipartite graphs

Using Lagrange's multiplier rule, we find upper and lower bounds of the energy of a bipartite graph G, in terms of the number of vertices, edges and the spectral moment of fourth order. Moreover, the upper bound is attained in a graph G if and only if G is the graph of a symmetric balanced incomplete block design (BIBD). Also, we determine the graphs for which the lower bound is sharp.     

The Computational Complexity of the Chow Form

We present a bounded probability algorithm for the computation of the Chowforms of the equidimensional components of an algebraic variety. In particular, this gives an alternative procedure for the effective equidimensional decomposition of the variety, since each equidimensional component is characterized by its Chow form. The expected complexity of the algorithm is polynomial in the size and the geometric degree of the input equation system defining the variety. Hence it improves (or meets in some special cases) the complexity of all previous algorithms for computing Chow forms. In addition to this, we clarify the probability and uniformity aspects, which constitutes a further contribution of the paper. The algorithm is based on elimination theory techniques, in line with the geometric resolution algorithm due to M. Giusti, J. Heintz, L. M. Pardo, and their collaborators. In fact, ours can be considered as an extension of their algorithm for zero-dimensional systems to the case of positive-dimensional varieties. The key element for dealing with positive-dimensional varieties is a new Poisson-type product formula. This formula allows us to compute the Chow form of an equidimensional variety from a suitable zero-dimensional fiber. As an application, we obtain an algorithm to compute a subclass of sparse resultants, whose complexity is polynomial in the dimension and the volume of the input set of exponents. As another application, we derive an algorithm for the computation of the (unique) solution of a generic overdetermined polynomial equation system.     

Diphenylmethane transformations over boron trifluoride modified alumina and silica-alumina

Transformations of diphenylmethane were investigated in a flow system in the presence of alumina and silica-alumina modified with boron trifluoride at atmospheric pressure and elevated temperatures. Hydrogen transfer reaction was observed on addition of tetralin to the substrate stream. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Mapping Properties of a Projection Related to the Helmholtz Equation

We study the continuity properties of a projection derived from a recent characterization of Herglotz Wave Functions in the plane. Herglotz Wave Functions are the entire solutions of the Helmholtz equation which have L²-Far-Field-Pattern. The behavior of this projection is reminiscent of the Disc Multiplier Operator on both L^p and mixed L^p-normed spaces. In particular a Kakeya type set plays a central role in our analysis. As a consequence we answer a question posed by Alvarez, Folch-Gabayet and Pérez-Esteva.     

Preparation and properties of homogeneous V2O5-SiO2 xerogel composite based on interpenetrating polymer network

In this paper, we report the conducting and electrochemical properties of a homogeneous V₂O₅-SiO₂ xerogel composite obtained from the simultaneous polymerization in both inorganic components (Si-O and V-O based polymers) forming an interpenetrating polymer network, where a mutual “solubility” due to cross-links and entanglements was observed. The presence of V₂O₅ inside the silica matrix has a strong effect on electrical conductivity; measurements showed room temperature conductivity almost 1000 times higher than what is found in the literature. In addition, the electrochemical behavior is quite similar to that found in V₂O₅ xerogel. Moreover, the effects of thermal treatment on the conducting and electrochemical properties were investigated. It was found that both properties were improved with no significant effect on V₂O₅ xerogel layered structure.     

The adsorption of toluene on V-Sb oxides. Theoretical aspects

Toluene adsorption reactions on the (1 1 0) surface of VSbO₄ have been analyzed following the changes in the electronic structure of the hydrocarbon molecule and metal cation sites of the oxide using the Just Another Extended Hückel Molecular Orbital Program (JAEHMOP) code. The bonding character of these interactions has also been studied in the same theoretical framework. The calculations indicate that the exothermic hydrocarbon parallel interaction on Sb-V sites results in the weakening of one of the C-H bonds of the methyl fragment. This leads to a H-abstraction that involves the participation of a Sb-cation. Both methyl and phenyl fragments decrease their electronic population and so does the V-cation site. Most of these electrons are transferred to other V atoms in the bulk solid. As a result the LUMO of the toluene-oxide system fully populates. The analysis reveals that methyl-Sb bonding interactions mainly involve C_2px and H_1s orbitals with Sb_5s orbital, while non-bonding phenyl-V interactions involve C_2px orbitals with V_3dx²−y² orbital. This last interaction facilitates the desorption of the benzyl species after H-abstraction.