An Enhancement of the Drezner—Wesolowsky Algorithm for Single-Facility Location with Maximin of Rectilinear Distance

In this note, we examine the algorithm of Drezner and Wesolowsky for locating a facility with maximin rectilinear distance to a given set of demand points. The concept of the closest-point constraint is introduced as a technique for increasing the efficiency of the algorithm. This potential increase in efficiency is demonstrated by an example.     

Synthesis and evaluation of iron chelators with masked hydrophilic moieties

Synthetic iron chelators based on the natural siderophore ferrichrome have previously been shown to bind Fe(III) with high affinity (pKf > 27) and have shown no toxicity to mammalian cell cultures in vitro. A new class of lipophilic ferrichrome analogues carrying acetoxymethyl ester moieties has been synthesized. We have shown that these molecules penetrate rapidly through cell membranes and turn highly hydrophilic while inside the cells, upon esterase mediated hydrolysis of the lipophilic termini. The intracellular retention was visualized by labeling these analogues with a fluorescent naphthalic diimide probe. The prohydrophilic iron chelators have been shown to inhibit the metal-catalyzed intracellular formation of reactive oxygen species with high effectivity, and preliminary results suggest these molecules to be potent antimalarial agents.     

New Ba5M5−xPtxClO13 (M=Fe, Co) oxychlorides with layered perovskite-related structure

Crystals of Ba₅Fe_5−xPt_xClO₁₃ and Ba₅Co_5−yPt_yClO₁₃ were prepared for x=1.31, 1.51, 1.57, 1.59 and y=0, 0.97 and 1.08 in a BaCl₂ flux and investigated by X-ray diffraction methods. These compounds adopt a 10H perovskite structure built from the stacking of BaO₃ and BaOCl layers in the sequence (BaO₃)₄(BaOCl) with space group P6₃/mmc. The cation sites within the trimeric unit of face-sharing octahedra are occupied by Co or Fe and Pt ions, while the tetrahedral sites formed between BaO₃ and BaOCl layers are only occupied by Fe or Co. Moreover, oxygen stoichiometry indicates an average oxidation state for Co and Fe higher than +III, indicating the stabilization of Co⁴⁺ and Fe⁴⁺.