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We apply the Christov-Galerkin spectral method for the numerical investigation of the interaction of solitons in the Cubic Nonlinear Schrodinger Equation. The issues of convergence are addressed and an algorithm is devised for the application of the method. Results are obtained for the interaction of solitons with different phase velocities and different carrier frequencies. The interactions are shown to be elastic, save for the phase shifts. The latter are extracted from the numerical solution and discussed.

A mathematical model is proposed to investigate the effect of microgravity on biofilm growth. We examine the case of biofilm suspended in a quiescent aqueous nutrient solution contained in a rectangular tank. The bacterial colony is assumed to follow logistic growth whereas nutrient absorption is assumed to follow Monod kinetics. The problem is modeled by a coupled system of nonlinear partial differential equations in two spatial dimensions solved using the Discontinuous Galerkin Finite Element method. Nutrient and biofilm concentrations are computed in microgravity and normal gravity conditions. A preliminary quantitative relationship between the biofilm concentration and the gravity field intensity is derived.