Periodic problems and problems with discontinuities for nonlinear parabolic equations

In this paper we study nonlinear parabolic equations using the method of upper and lower solutions. Using truncation and penalization techniques and results from the theory of operators of monotone type, we prove the existence of a periodic solution between an upper and a lower solution. Then with some monotonicity conditions we prove the existence of extremal solutions in the order interval defined by an upper and a lower solution. Finally we consider problems with discontinuities and we show that their solution set is a compact R -set in (CT, L ²(Z)).     

Interaction potential between two 16O nuclei derived from the Skyrme interaction

The energy functional for the Skyrme density-dependent force is used to calculate the interaction potential between two ¹⁶O nuclei. A two-centre harmonic oscillator potential is employed to construct the density and kinetic energy density of the ground state of the combined system and of the separated nuclei. The antisymmetrization effects are investigated. The relative motion of the nuclei is taken approximately into account and the energy dependence of the potential derived from the Skyrme force is presented.     

Hot press transferring of graphene nanoplatelets on polyurethane block copolymers film for electroactive shape memory devices

We report a transferring method of graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) on polyurethane (PU) block copolymers film. We polymerized PU block copolymer films, and then, a GNP layer, deposited on glossy paper by drop casting, was transferred by hot press from the glossy surface to the synthetized PU substrate. Nanoindentation test showed that GNP coated PU substrate exhibits improved mechanical properties with respect to the neat PU film. When an electric bias was applied to the GNP coating, the heat generated by Joule effect was transferred to the PU substrate showing an electroactive shape recovery effect. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2014 , 52, 1100–1106     

On the existence of ɛ-fixed points

In this paper we prove some approximate fixed point theorems which extend, in a broad sense, analogous results obtained by Brânzei, Morgan, Scalzo and Tijs in 2003. By assuming also the weak demiclosedness property we state two fixed point theorems. Moreover, we study the existence of ?-Nash equilibria.     

Bifurcation phenomena for nonlinear superdiffusive Neumann equations of logistic type

We consider a nonlinear Neumann logistic equation driven by the p-Laplacian with a general Carathéodory superdiffusive reaction. We are looking for positive solutions of such problems. Using minimax methods from critical point theory together with suitable truncation techniques, we show that the equation exhibits a bifurcation phenomenon with respect to the parameter λ > 0. Namely, we show that there is a λ_* > 0 such that for λ < λ_*, the problem has no positive solution; for λ = λ_*, it has at least one positive solution; and for λ > λ_*, it has at least two positive solutions.     

Large-scale purification of the synthetic peptide fragment 163-171 of human interleukin-beta by multi-dimensional displacement chromatography.

Multi-dimensional chromatography has been used successfully in the displacement mode for the purification of the synthetic peptide H-Val-Gln-Gly-Glu-Glu-Ser-Asn-Asp-Lys-OH, the fragment 163-171 of human interleukin-beta. This peptide can mimic several of the in vivo and in vitro immunostimulatory activities of the entire protein, except for the inflammatory effect. A large-scale procedure has been developed to purify the synthetic peptide by reversed-phase (RP) and ion-exchange (IE) displacement chromatography (DC) in a single run without any pretreatment. Masses from 100 mg to about 35 g of the unpurified compounds synthesized by a solid-phase technique on a Merrifield-type resin and obtained by acidolytic cleavage from the solid support, can be purified in this way. In the RP-DC mode the carrier and the displacer were aqueous solutions of 0.1% trifluoroacetic acid and 50 mM benzyltributylammonium chloride, respectively, whereas in the IE-DC mode the carrier was water and the displacer 50 mM ammonium citrate solution. RP-DC and IE-DC were also performed in series by directing the effluent of the RP column onto the IE column. Peptide purities and recoveries greater than 96 and 90%, respectively, were obtained.     

Oxidation of 3-alkyl-substituted 2-pyrazolino[60]fullerenes: a new formyl-containing building block for fullerene chemistry

A new building block for fullerene chemistry, endowed with a formyl group on C-3 of the 2-pyrazoline ring, has been prepared in a simple two-step synthesis by oxidation of readily available 3-alkyl-substituted 2-pyrazolino[60]fullerenes; the new building block paves the way for the preparation of new light-harvesting fullerenes.