Crystal Structure of Bis -(2,2′-bipyridine-N,N′)-(dicyanamide-N)-copper(II) Tricyanomethanide. Electronic and Structural Parameters Describing the Shape of Coordination Polyhedra in Five-Coordinated Copper(II) Compounds

 The structure of the new compound [Cu(bpy)₂N(CN)₂]C(CN)₃ (6) is compared with thestructures of six copper(II) coordination compounds with phenanthroline or bipyridine ligands and N-donor pseudohalide anions: [Cu(phen)₂NCS]C(CN)₃ (1), [Cu(bpy)₂NCS]C(CN)₃ (2), [Cu(phen)₂NCS]ONC(CN)₂ (3), [Cu(phen)₂N(CN)₂]C(CN)₃ (4), [Cu(bpy)₂C(CN)₃]C(CN)₃ (5), and [Cu(bpy)₂NCO]C(CN)₃ (7). The Cu(II) atoms in all above compounds are five-coordinated with an N-donor atom of the pseudohalide anion located in the equatorial plane of a deformed trigonal bipyramid. The shape of the coordination polyhedra and the degree of trigonal bipyramidal distortion towards a tetragonal pyramid are discussed and described using one electronic and several structural criteria which are discussed and compared.     

A Heuristic for Moment-Matching Scenario Generation

In stochastic programming models we always face the problem of how to represent the random variables. This is particularly difficult with multidimensional distributions. We present an algorithm that produces a discrete joint distribution consistent with specified values of the first four marginal moments and correlations. The joint distribution is constructed by decomposing the multivariate problem into univariate ones, and using an iterative procedure that combines simulation, Cholesky decomposition and various transformations to achieve the correct correlations without changing the marginal moments.With the algorithm, we can generate 1000 one-period scenarios for 12 random variables in 16 seconds, and for 20 random variables in 48 seconds, on a Pentium III machine.     

Stereoselective alkylation of thiacalix[4]arenes

A direct tetraalkylation of thiacalix[4]arenes using procedures well established in ‘classical’ calixarene chemistry usually gives the 1,3-alternate conformers as the main product (n-PrI/K₂CO₃/acetone) while the cone conformers are obtained only in very poor yields (n-PrI/NaH/DMF). Surprisingly, the so far almost inaccessible cone conformers can be prepared in high yields using the two-step procedure: dialkylation-dialkylation, opening the way for their further utilisation in supramolecular chemistry.     

Geometries involving affine connections and general linear connections

Summary Part I of this paper is concerned with the theory of differential invariants of a symmetric affine connection and a general linear connection of theK?nig type. Part II deals with a geometry in which the components of the affine connection areChristoffel symbols, and the general linear connection is of a special sort. This section can be considered in part as an extension of theEinstein-Mayer (5) geometry,     

Bifurcation of periodic solutions in differential inclusions

Ordinary differential inclusions depending on small parameters are considered such that the unperturbed inclusions are ordinary differential equations possessing manifolds of periodic solutions. Sufficient conditions are determined for the persistence of some of these periodic solutions after multivalued perturbations. Applications are given to dry friction problems.     

Structure and in vitro antifungal activity of [2,6‐bis(dimethylaminomethyl)phenyl]diphenyltin(IV) compounds

A set of seven [2,6‐bis(dimethylaminomethyl)phenyl]diphenyltin(IV) ({[(CH₃)₂NCH₂]₂(C₆H₃)}­(C₆H₅)₂Sn⁺X^?) ionic organotin(IV) compounds (X = Br, NO₃, CN, SCN, SeCN, BF₄ and PF₆) has been prepared and characterized by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry, ¹H NMR spectroscopy in CDCl₃,¹¹⁹Sn NMR in CDCl₃ and DMSO‐d₆ solution, as well as by ¹³C and ¹¹⁹Sn CP/MAS NMR spectroscopy and X‐ray diffraction techniques in the solid state. The in vitro antifungal activity of these water‐soluble ionic organotin(IV) compounds was compared with starting compounds and the antifungal drugs currently in clinical use. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

“If You Can Turn a Rectangle into a Square, You Can Turn a Square into a Rectangle ...” Young Students Experience the Dragging Tool

This paper describes a study of the cognitive complexity of young students, in the pre-formal stage, experiencing the dragging tool. Our goal was to study how various conditions of geometric knowledge and various mental models of dragging interact and influence the learning of central concepts of quadrilaterals. We present three situations that reflect this interaction. Each situation is characterized by a specific interaction between the students’ knowledge of quadrilaterals and their understanding of the dragging tool. The analyses of these cases offer a prism for viewing the challenge involved in changing concept images of quadrilaterals while lacking understanding of the geometrical logic that underlies dragging. Understanding dragging as a manipulation that preserves the critical attributes of the shape is necessary for constructing the concept images of the shapes.     

Characterization and activity of sonochemically-prepared BSA microspheres containing Taxol--an anticancer drug

Proteinaceous microspheres of BSA (Bovine Serum Albumin) containing an anticancer drug, Taxol (paclitaxel) were fabricated using a sonochemical procedure and then assayed for chemical and biological activity. The sonochemical reaction did not compromise the drug, which became encapsulated in the BSA microspheres. The amount of the anticancer drug in the microspheres was determined by HPLC. Anticancer activity of the proteinaceous microspheres encapsulating the Taxol was tested on Mouse Multiple Myeloma cell line MPC-11. The influence of the Taxol microspheres on the cancer cells was different from pristine Taxol. It was found that Taxol in combination with the organic solvent causes the death of cancer cells.