Asymmetric invariants for a class of strictly hyperbolic systems including the Timoshenko beam

We introduce a set of conserved quantities of energy‐type for a strictly hyperbolic system of two coupled wave equations in one space dimension. The system is subject to mechanical boundary conditions. Some of these invariants are asymmetric in the sense that their defining quadratic form contains second order derivatives in only one of the unknowns. We study their independence with respect to the usual energies and characterize their sign. In many cases, our results provide sharp well‐posedness and stability results. Finally, we apply some of our conservation laws to the study of a singular perturbation problem previously considered by J. Lagnese and J. L. Lions. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Research advances in cognitive ultra wide band radio and their application to sensor networks

The paper illustrates the novel concept of Cognitive UWB Radio, a wireless system based on UWB transmission able to self-adapt to the characteristics of the surrounding environment. First, salient features of UWB transmission are reviewed, and then, application of UWB characteristics to the problem of cognitive radio systems is discussed. Current ongoing studies and achieved results on a possible physical layer based on Prolate Spheroidal Wave Functions and consistent with the Cognitive UWB Radio paradigm are presented and analyzed, and their application to the sensor network scenario is discussed.     

Harmonic and intermodulation distortion modeling in IM-DD multi-band radio over fiber links exploiting injection locked lasers

A comprehensive numerical tool has been developed for the evaluation of the performances of Radio over Fiber (RoF) links intended for wireless signal distribution.At the transmitter end an appropriate set of rate equations allows to model the optical source as a solitary laser or as an appropriately injection locked laser. The optical channel is modeled putting into account the combined effect of fiber dispersion, laser source non ideal performances (e.g. non-linear effects, frequency chirp), and quadratic detection of the receiving photodiode. The simulation model developed can be a useful tool at the design stage allowing a preliminary evaluation of the characteristics of real RoF links.     

Non-linear approximations for natural convection in a horizontal annulus

Two different problems are proposed as approximations of the usual system modelling natural convection under the Oberbeck-Boussinesq assumptions. The error is evaluated by means of the norm of its gradient in the Hilbert space. The average Nusselt number is also estimated.     

DRIFTS study of surface reactivity to NO2 by zinc nanoparticle aggregates and zinc hollow nanofibers

Zinc nanostructures synthesized with different morphologies from the same evaporation/condensation technique are studied with concern to surface reactivity to NO₂ by Diffuse Reflectance Infrared Fourier Transformed Spectroscopy (DRIFTS). Synthesis of nanopowders is obtained, according to previous work, by gas flow thermal evaporation at 540 °C of bulk Zn grains. Two types of Zn powders are obtained and studied in experiments. The first one is collected on the cold walls of the reactor as a deposit produced by thermophoretic effect. It is constituted by grains (∼10 μm) originated by the stratification of smaller aggregates (∼200 nm) and isolated primary particles (∼50 nm) born in the gas flow. The second type of powder is grown from the condensation of Zn chemical vapors within the expansion orifice of the quartz reactor after relatively long time (∼1 h) deposition process. It is constituted mainly by hollow Zn nanofibers with external and internal diameter about 100 and 60 nm. Preliminary characterization of the two types of powders is made by SEM, TEM, XRD. Thereafter, the two types of samples are studied by DRIFTS at variable temperature (VT). Comparison is made between the home-synthesized nanopowders with respect to commercial Zn standard dust. The Zn hollow nanofibers when exposed to NO₂ are found to exhibit dramatic reactivity, which is not observed at all either in the case of clustered aggregate zinc or of commercial Zn dust powders. Results indicate that, at increasing temperature from RT to 300 °C, the hollow nanofibers surface reacts distinctively with adsorbant gas NO₂, with contemporary formation of a progressively growing narrow absorption band at 2500 cm⁻¹ and contemporary depression of a doublet (∼1600-1628 cm⁻¹) band. In order to justify this striking spectral feature, we propose the occurring of a possible polymerization process at nanofibers surface where most probably as a consequence of pre-treatment and exposure to gas NO₂ a very thin film of ZnO is formed. The possible role of huge specific surface of hollow nanofibers as inferred by preliminary SEM, TEM, XRD studies is discussed.     

Online weighted flow time and deadline scheduling

In this paper we study some aspects of weighted flow time. We first show that the online algorithm Highest Density First is an O(1)-speed O(1)-approximation algorithm for P|r_i,pmtn|∑w_iF_i. We then consider a related Deadline Scheduling Problem that involves minimizing the weight of the jobs unfinished by some unknown deadline D on a uniprocessor. We show that any c-competitive online algorithm for weighted flow time must also be c-competitive for deadline scheduling. We then give an O(1)-competitive algorithm for deadline scheduling.     

Complete caps in projective spaces PG (n, q)

A computer search in the finite projective spaces PG(n, q) for the spectrum of possible sizes k of complete k-caps is done. Randomized greedy algorithms are applied. New upper bounds on the smallest size of a complete cap are given for many values of n and q. Many new sizes of complete caps are obtained.     

Circular dichroism and theoretical studies on the inclusion of the antimalarian drug Licochalcone-A in β-cyclodextrin

The Induced Circular Dichroism of the complex formed by inclusion of Licochalcone-A (a powerful antimalarian of natural origin) and β-cyclodextrin was measured and calculated. The association constant was determined by titration experiments of ICD and fluorescence. The lowest energy conformations of the complex were obtained through docking procedures and their Circular Dichroism was evaluated within the Tinoco framework. The geometry of the complex was found to be consistent with the main experimental features.