Decomposing Berge Graphs Containing No Proper Wheel, Long Prism Or Their Complements

In this paper we show that, if G is a Berge graph such that neither G nor its complement contains certain induced subgraphs, named proper wheels and long prisms, then either G is a basic perfect graph( a bipartite graph, a line graph of a bipartite graph or the complement of such graphs) or it has a skew partition that cannot occur in a minimally imperfect graph. This structural result implies that G is perfect. This work was supported in part by NSF grant DMI-0352885 and ONR grant N00014-03-1-0188.     

Fast paths in large-scale dynamic road networks

Efficiently computing fast paths in large-scale dynamic road networks (where dynamic traffic information is known over a part of the network) is a practical problem faced by traffic information service providers who wish to offer a realistic fast path computation to GPS terminal enabled vehicles. The heuristic solution method we propose is based on a highway hierarchy-based shortest path algorithm for static large-scale networks; we maintain a static highway hierarchy and perform each query on the dynamically evaluated network, using a simple algorithm to propagate available dynamic traffic information over a larger part of the road network. We provide computational results that show the efficacy of our approach.     

Step by step palladium mediated syntheses of new 2-(pyridin-2-yl)-6-R-nicotinic acids and esters

Taking advantage of palladium peculiar “rollover” C,N cyclometallation, it is possible to promote C(3) functionalization of 6-alkyl-substituted-2,2′-bipyridines. The carbonylation reaction of rollover species [Pd(Lⁿ)Cl]₂, (HL¹ = 6-isopropyl-2,2′-bipy, 1; HL² = 6-neopentyl-2,2′-bipy, 2; HL³ = 6-ethyl-2,2′-bipy, 3; HL⁴ = 6-methyl-2,2′-bipy, 4) allowed the synthesis of 2-(pyridin-2-yl)-6-alkyl-nicotinic acids or esters. These nicotinic derivatives are extremely rare and, as far as we know, quite unreported in the case of the 6-substituted molecules.     

Dichroic properties of bis(benzoxazolyl)stilbene and bis(benzoxazolyl)thiophene dispersed into oriented polyethylene films: a combined experimental and density functional theory approach

In this work, a combination of experimental and quantum mechanical investigations is performed for the study of dichroic absorption properties of melt-processed linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) oriented films containing < or =0.5 wt % of either 4,4'-bis(2-benzoxazolyl)stilbene (BBS) or 2,5-bis(5-tert-butyl-2-benzoxazolyl)thiophene (BTBBT). The data acquired reveal that the film optical anisotropy and the performances as linear polarizer are strongly dependent on the molecular structure of the chromophore. In particular, the rodlike structure of BBS favors the alignment of the dye along the drawing direction of the PE film, providing dichroic ratios as high as 100 and optical performances as linear polarizer close to the pseudo-affine deformation scheme. On the contrary BTBBT, although characterized by huge anisotropic potentialities, confers the oriented film very poor dichroism and is unsuitable for linear polarizer applications. This behavior is attributed to the more complex banana-shaped structure of BTBBT dye caused by the thiophene 2,5-functionalization that limits the molecule parallel orientation to the drawing direction.     

A Volumetric Study of Water–Decyltrimethylanimonium Bromide–Pentanol Ternary System from 25 to 130°C at 2 and 19 MPa

Density measurements on decyltrimethylammonium bromide (DeTAB)–water and pentanol (PentOH)–DeTAB–water systems as functions of both alcohol and surfactant m _S concentrations were carried out at 2 and 19 MPa from 25 to 130°C. From experimental data for the water–DeTAB binary system, the standard (infinite dilution) partial molar volumes, expansibilities, and compressibilities of DeTAB, and the corresponding properties in the micellar phase are calculated. The trends of the standard partial molar volumes of PentOH V _R ^o in DeTAB micellar solutions as functions of m _S reflect the transfer of PentOH from the aqueous to the micellar phase, except at 130°C and 19 MPa. On the basis of an equation previously used, the distribution constant of PentOH between the aqueous and the micellar phases and the standard partial molar volume of alcohol in the aqueous and the micellar phases are obtained from V _R ^o data. Comparisons with data for PentOH in dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide are made.     

Point-to-point shortest paths on dynamic time-dependent road networks

This a summary of the author’s PhD thesis supervised by Leo Liberti, Philippe Baptiste and Daniel Krob and defended on 18 June 2009 at Ecole Polytechnique, Palaiseau, France. The thesis is written in English and is available at . The computation of point-to-point shortest paths in road networks has many practical applications that require very fast solution times, meaning that Dijkstra’s algorithm is not a viable option. In this work we develop an efficient algorithm to find the shortest route between two nodes of a large-scale, time-dependent graph, where we also allow the time-dependent arc cost functions to be updated at regular intervals. Furthermore, we propose a mathematical programming formulation for the shortest paths problem on time-dependent networks, that gives rise to integer programs. Within the context of solving Mixed-Integer Linear Programs through a Branch-and-Bound algorithm, we propose a new strategy for branching, mixing branching on single variables with branching on general hyperplanes. Finally, we introduce an effective heuristic for nonconvex Mixed-Integer Nonlinear Programss which combines VNS, Local Branching, NLP local search and Branch-and-Bound.     

Surface operators and magnetic degrees of freedom in yang-mills theories

Magnetic degrees of freedom are manifested through violations of the Bianchi identities and associated with singular fields. Moreover, these singularities should not induce color nonconservation. We argue that the resolution of the constraint is that the singular fields, or defects are Abelian in nature. Recently proposed surface operators seem to represent a general solution to this constraint and can serve as a prototype of magnetic degrees of freedom. Some basic lattice observations, such as the Abelian dominance of the confining fields, are explained then as consequences of the original non-Abelian invariance. Generically, the properties of the two-dimensional defects associated with the surface operators are close to the predictions of the dual models for the magnetic D2 branes.     

On the carrier properties of perfluoropolyether-betaine mixed vesicles: the contribution of electron spin resonance spectroscopy

The carrier properties of mixed unilamellar vesicles of fluorocarbon-hydrocarbon surfactants built up with the ammonium salt of a perfluoropolyether and n-dodecylbetaine were investigated by electron spin resonance spectroscopy (ESR). The ESR-active lipophilic nitroxide 5-doxylstearic acid (5-DSA) was used as a model of a lipophilic drug to be carried and delivered into cell membranes. Healthy and malignant colorectal tissues were used as the target cells. Cell suspensions of living tissues were studied in physiological conditions. For the maintenance of the surgically removed tissues, McCoy’s 5A culture medium was used. 5-DSA probe was rapidly delivered from perfluoropolyether (PFPE)/betaine mixed vesicles to the membranes of both healthy and malignant colorectal cells. The analysis of the computed 5-DSA ESR line shapes ensured that no spectral differences occurred when 5-DSA was either introduced directly into the cells or through the intervention of vesicles. This well agreed for an unmodified physical status of the membranes where the probe was mainly localized.     

The Staudinger reaction of platinum(II)- and palladium(II)-coordinated 2-(azidomethyl)phenyl isocyanide. X-ray structure of trans-[PtCl{(H)}(PPh3)2][BF4] · CDCl3 · H2O

2-(Azidomethyl)phenyl isocyanide, 2-(CH₂N₃)C₆H₄NC (AziNC), coordinates to some cationic Pt(II) and Pd(II) species to afford isocyanide complexes of the type trans-[MCl(AziNC)(PPh₃)₂][BF₄] (M=Pt, l; Pd, 2). AziNC is coordinated also in some neutral Pt(II) and Pd(II) species such as [MCl₂(AziNC)₂] (M=Pt, 3; Pd, 4) derived from the reactions of 2 equiv. of AziNC with [PtCl₂(COD)] and [PdCl₂(MeCN)₂], respectively. Complexes 1 and 2 react with 1 equiv. of PPh₃ affording the heterocyclic carbene complexes trans-[MCl{(H)}(PPh₃)₂][BF₄] (M=Pt, 5; Pd, 6). Complexes 3 and 4 react with 1 equiv. of PPh₃ displacing the isocyanide with the formation of the complexes cis-[MCl₂(AziNC)(PPh₃)] (M=Pt, 7; Pd, 8). These latter ones react with 2 equiv. of PPh₃ affording as the final products the cationic carbene species trans-[MCl{(H)}(PPh₃)₂][Cl] (M=Pt, 9; Pd, 10). Complex 5 was also characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction. The carbene complex is square-planar and the angle formed between the platinum square plane and the heterocyclic carbene ligand is 87.9(2)°. The C(1)-N(1) and C(1)-N(2) bond distances in the latter of 1.32(2) and 1.30(2) Å, respectively, are short for a single bond and indicate extensive π-bonding between the nitrogen atoms and the carbene carbon.