Asymptotic behavior of solutions to Euler–Poisson equations for bipolar hydrodynamic model of semiconductors

In this paper we study the Cauchy problem for 1-D Euler–Poisson system, which represents a physically relevant hydrodynamic model but also a challenging case for a bipolar semiconductor device by considering two different pressure functions and a non-flat doping profile. Different from the previous studies (Gasser et al., 2003 [7], Huang et al., 2011 [12], Huang et al., 2012 [13]) for the case with two identical pressure functions and zero doping profile, we realize that the asymptotic profiles of this more physical model are their corresponding stationary waves (steady-state solutions) rather than the diffusion waves. Furthermore, we prove that, when the flow is fully subsonic, by means of a technical energy method with some new development, the smooth solutions of the system are unique, exist globally and time-algebraically converge to the corresponding stationary solutions. The optimal algebraic convergence rates are obtained.     

Pattern selection in the 2D FitzHugh–Nagumo model

We construct square and target patterns solutions of the FitzHugh–Nagumo reaction–diffusion system on planar bounded domains. We study the existence and stability of stationary square and super-square patterns by performing a close to equilibrium asymptotic weakly nonlinear expansion: the emergence of these patterns is shown to occur when the bifurcation takes place through a multiplicity-two eigenvalue without resonance. The system is also shown to support the formation of axisymmetric target patterns whose amplitude equation is derived close to the bifurcation threshold. We present several numerical simulations validating the theoretical results.

     

Retrosynthetic fragmentation in the fast atom bombardment mass spectra of eserine and some related compounds

The positive-ion fast atom bombardment (FAB) mass spectra of eserine and some carbamate analogues were recorded and showed a partially different fragmentation process, with respect to that of the corresponding chemical ionization (Cl) fragmentation. This unexpected behaviour could be explained by taking into account the known solution chemical behaviour of the protonated species, and assigning to the molecular species observed under FAB a different–yet related–molecular connectivity. This may be considered as evidence that the sputtered species under FAB closely reflect the chemical behaviour of the analysed molecule in the solution environment.     

Characterization of the disulfides of bio-thiols by electrospray ionization and triple-quadrupole tandem mass spectrometry

Glutathione and other intracellular low molecular mass thiols act both as the major endogenous antioxidant and redox buffer system and, as recently highlighted, as an important regulator of cellular homeostasis. Such cellular functions are mediated by protein thiolation, a newly recognized post-translational modification which involves the formation of mixed disulfides between GSH and key disulfide-linked Cys residues in the native protein structure. It is also well known that thiol-seeking heavy metals, such as mercury, cadmium and lead, may interfere in this regulatory system, thus disrupting the cellular functioning. To identify such mixed disulfides in order to investigate their biological role, 15 homo- and heterodimeric disulfides were prepared by air oxidation of binary mixtures containing cysteine, homocysteine, penicillamine, N-acetylcysteine, N-acetylpenicillamine and glutathione and their protonated molecules were characterized by mass spectrometry. Collisionally activated unimolecular decomposition of protonated homo- and heterodimeric disulfides generated by electrospray ionization gives rise to fission of the disulfide system both between the two sulfur atoms and across the C--S bonds, to yield structurally specific fragments which allow one to define the structure of the compounds and to discriminate between isomeric compounds. Fission between the sulfur atoms yields a pair of R--S(+) ions and, in some cases, also the complementary fragments corresponding to the protonated amino acids. Fission across the C--S bonds mainly occurs in the disulfides of N-acetylcysteine and N-acetylpenicillamine and gives rise to non-S-containing fragments formally similar to those obtained from some mercapturic acids. The complementary fragments, formally connected as R--S--S(+) ions are also observed. Fragmentation of glutathione disulfides mainly shows the characteristic loss of the terminal gamma-linked glutamic acid and little, if any, fragmentation of the disulfide system.     

A new simulation method based on the RVR principle for the rare event network reliability problem

In this paper we consider the evaluation of the well known -network unreliability parameter by means of a new RVR Monte-Carlo method. This method is based on series-parallel reductions and a partitioning procedure using pathsets and cutsets for recursively changing the original problem into similar ones on smaller networks. By means of several experimental results, we show that the proposed method has good performances in rare event cases and offers significant gains over other state-of-the-art variance reduction techniques.     

PANI-CSA: An Easy Method to Avoid ITO Photolithography in PLED Manufacturing

In order to optimize polymer light emitting diode (PLED) performances, devices with holes injected through an Indium Tin Oxide (ITO) / Polyaniline (PANI) electrode into the polymer are much more efficient than devices fabricated with the anode made only by ITO. We demonstrated that by using doped PANI as hole injection layer in a polymer light emitting diode the manufacturing process can become simpler. Indeed, the pattern of conductive layer can be produced without ITO photolithography by UV exposition. As hole transporter layer, Poly(N-vinylcarbazole) (PVK) was spin coated over the doped PANI layer and a layer of tris (8-hydroxy) quinoline aluminum (Alq₃) was then thermally evaporated so as to form the electron transport layer. To complete the device structure, Aluminum contacts were deposited onto the organic layers by vacuum evaporation at low pressure. The layers were characterized by X-ray small-angle diffraction, IR Raman and UV-Vis spectroscopies. Devices without PANI and with PANI as HIL were studied.