Attractors for a Three-Dimensional Thermo-Mechanical Model of Shape Memory Alloys

Abstract In this note, we consider a Frémond model of shape memory alloys. Let us imagine a piece of a shape memory alloy which is fixed on one part of its boundary, and assume that forcing terms, e.g., heat sources and external stress on the remaining part of its boundary, converge to some time-independent functions, in appropriate senses, as time goes to infinity. Under the above assumption, we shall discuss the asymptotic stability for the dynamical system from the viewpoint of the global attractor. More precisely, we generalize the paper [12] dealing with the one-dimensional case. First, we show the existence of the global attractor for the limiting autonomous dynamical system; then we characterize the asymptotic stability for the non-autonomous case by the limiting global attractor. * Project supported by the MIUR-COFIN 2004 research program on “Mathematical Modelling and Analysis of Free Boundary Problems”.     

Mean Field Behaviour of Spin Systems with Orthogonal Interaction Matrix

For the long-range deterministic spin models with glassy behaviour of Marinari, Parisi and Ritort we prove weighted factorization properties of the correlation functions which represent the natural generalization of the factorization rules valid for the Curie–Weiss case.     

Symmetric Boundary Value Methods for Second Order Initial and Boundary Value Problems

We introduce symmetric Boundary Value Methods for the solution of second order initial and boundary value problems (in particular Hamiltonian problems). We study the conditioning of the methods and link it to the boundary loci of the roots of the associated characteristic polynomial. Some numerical tests are provided to assess their reliability. Dedicated to the memory of Professor Aldo Cossu     

Groups in which every non-abelian subgroup is permutable

A subgroupH of a groupG is said to bepermutable ifHX=XH for every subgroupX ofG. In this paper the structure of groups in which every subgroup either is abelian or permutable is investigated. This work was done while the last author was visiting the University of Napoli Federico II. He thanks the “Dipartimento di Matematica e Applicazioni” for its financial support.     

An algorithm for the computation of consistent initial values for differential–algebraic equations

We use boundary value methods to compute consistent initial values for fully implicit nonlinear differential-algebraic equations. The obtained algorithm uses variable order formulae and a deferred correction technique to evaluate the error. A rigorous theory is stated for nonlinear index 1, 2 and 3 DAEs of Hessenberg form. Numerical tests on classical index 1, 2 and 3 DAE problems are reported. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

First measurement of the ϱ spectral function in nuclear collisions

The NA60 experiment at the CERN SPS has studied low-mass muon pairs in 158 A GeV In–In collisions. A strong excess of pairs is observed above the yield expected from neutral meson decays. The unprecedented sample size close to 400000 events and the good mass resolution of about 2% made it possible to isolate the excess by subtraction of the decay sources. The shape of the resulting mass spectrum shows some non-trivial centrality dependence, but is largely consistent with a dominant contribution from π⁺π^-→ϱ→μ⁺μ^- annihilation. The associated ϱ spectral function exhibits considerable broadening, but essentially no shift in mass. The p_T-differential mass spectra show the excess to be much stronger at low p_T than at high p_T. The results are compared to theoretical model predictions; they tend to rule out models linking hadron masses directly to the chiral condensate. PACS 25.75.-q; 12.38.Mh; 13.85.Qk     

Analysis of saccharides in beer samples by flow injection with electrospray mass spectrometry

Saccharides in foods play important roles, as they are essential substrates for fermentation processes. In brewing, the concentration of maltooligosaccharides influences the characteristics of beers and therefore their determination is of great practical interest. Electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) was applied to identify and characterise maltooligosaccharides in beer samples. The effects due to different cation concentrations and dilution of samples were studied. Furthermore, quantitative analyses of maltooligosaccharides by means of flow-injection ESI-MS (FI/ESI-MS) of 1-microL beer samples (diluted 1000-fold) are described.     

The impact of LIMS design and functionality on laboratory quality achievements

 A laboratory information management system (LIMS) can make a major contribution to the quality and therefore to the efficiency and competitiveness of a laboratory. Since it can impact all aspects of a laboratory's organization it must be the key if not the principal player of the laboratory's quality system. It should support the laboratory in establishing, maintaining and applying quality procedures thereby enabling the laboratory to achieve its quality goals. As a tool, LIMS permits the laboratory to input and use its own know-how and experience to optimize the total organization (internal and external) and workflow of generated information. However, perceived "quality" in the context of an LIMS, can be viewed as being made up of different facets such as the security, reliability and accessibility of information as well as its turn around time and production cost. This paper reviews the role of a LIMS in the laboratory and the contribution that both system design and functionality can have on "building quality ". Received: 5 October 1998 · Accepted: 20 October 1998     

Synthesis and properties of new glucocationic surfactants: model structures for marking cationic surfactants with carbohydrates

[reaction: see text] In this work, we report the synthesis of a new series of glucocationic surfactants, a class of surfactants we introduced very recently. The preparation of the surfactants is based on the synthesis of the 2-bromoethyl-2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-beta-D-glucopyranoside, whose preparation was studied in order to improve yields and stereoselectivity of this key intermediate. These glucocationic amphiphiles were prepared and studied as a model of cationic surfactants marked with a carbohydrate moiety. The use of carbohydrates as markers on cationic lipids was recently introduced to induce recognition by specific receptors, present on the surface of cell membranes. The chemicophysical characterization of these model structures can give more insight on the aggregation behavior. Conductivity and surface tension measurements were performed in order to characterize the compounds from the amphiphilic point of view. The results showed a different effect of the glucosidic moiety on the cmc value with respect to the glucopyridinium cationic surfactants. The surfactants also showed the tendency to form premicellar aggregates in solution when the hydrophobicity is raised.     

An analyticity bound for two-dimensional Ising model at low temperature

We study the coexistence phase in the two-dimensional Ising model. Optimizing the cluster expansion technique, we are able to prove the phase separation phenomenon, with the Onsager value for the surface tension, in a range , where estimates from above the critical within 19% and essentially coincides with the entropic bound.