On c‐Bhaskar Rao designs with block size 4

Several new families of c‐Bhaskar Rao designs with block size 4 are constructed. The necessary conditions for the existence of a c‐BRD (υ,4,λ) are that: (1)λ_min=?λ/3 ≤ c ≤ λ and (2a) c≡λ (mod 2), if υ > 4 or (2b) c≡ λ (mod 4), if υ = 4 or (2c) c≠ λ ? 2, if υ = 5. It is proved that these conditions are necessary, and are sufficient for most pairs of c and λ; in particular, they are sufficient whenever λ?c ≠ 2 for c > 0 and whenever c ? λ_min≠ 2 for c < 0. For c < 0, the necessary conditions are sufficient for υ> 101; for the classic Bhaskar Rao designs, i.e., c = 0, we show the necessary conditions are sufficient with the possible exception of 0‐BRD (υ,4,2)'s for υ≡ 4 (mod 6). © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Combin Designs 10: 361–386, 2002; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/jcd.10009     

Selection and Scheduling of Advanced Missions for NASA Using 0-1 Integer Linear Programming

A 0-1 integer linear programme for the selection and scheduling of US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) missions over a long planning horizon is presented. This model was formulated to allow a higher-level user-interaction with an advanced missions database currently being developed. The model implicitly considers the multi-objective nature of the problem, which results from the desire to maximize benefits in several categories as well as from the desire to minimize cost. In addition, the model allows the planner much flexibility in the selection process. This is accomplished by allowing the planner the ability to specify long- or short-term budget constraints, precursor/follow-on mission requirements, or any number of other idiosyncratic constraints which might be of importance in the decision process. Small example problems are solved in order to illustrate the approach, and areas for further research are discussed.     

Solvation forces in asymmetrically charged electrolytes

Density functional theories of solvation forces in charged fluids which self-consistently include the effects of finitesized ions are extended to treat asymmetrically charged electrolytes. For a given electrolyte concentration both the electric potential and the solvation force between charged surfaces are seen to deviate from the results of the classical DLVO theory more markedly for asymmetrically charged electrolytes than for a 1 : 1 electrolyte.     

Treatment of Malignant Melanoma by High-Peak-Power 1064 nm Irradiation Followed by Photodynamic Therapy

Irradiation of B16 pigmented melanoma subcutaneously transplanted in C57 mice with a single 650 mj pulse (10 ns) of 1064 nm light from a Q-switched Nd: YAG laser caused instantaneous bleaching of the pigmented tissue. Visual and histological examination of the resulting gray-colored tumor revealed the breakdown of melanosomes with no detectable alteration of the normal and tumor-overlying skin. Histological examination of the irradiated tumor showed some degree of vascular damage; the depth of the photodamage was not affected by the successive delivery of three consecutive light pulses. The bleached tumor grew at a modestly slower rate but the high-peak-power (HPP) laser treatment did not affect the tumor concentration of a photodynamic sensitizer Si(IV)-naphthalocyanine (isoBO-SiNc) intravenously injected 24 h before Nd : YAG irradiation. Treatment of the B16 pigmented melanoma by photodynamic therapy (PDT: 1 mg/kg isoBO-SiNc, 300 mW/cm², 520 J/cm²) from a 774 nm diode laser immediately after the 1064 nm irradiation resulted in a 16 day delay of tumor regrowth, which was markedly longer than the delay (ca 6 days) obtained after PDT under identical conditions without the preirradia-tion. Thus, pretreatment of pigmented tumors with HPP 1064 nm light appears to enhance their susceptibility to conventional PDT. The tumor response was further enhanced by repeating the combined HPP/PDT treatment at an interval of 10 days (regrowth delay: 27 days), as well as by applying hyperthermia immediately after HPP/PDT (regrowth delay: ca 34 days).     

Electronically-coupled MM quadruply-bonded complexes of molybdenum and tungsten

The reaction of M2(O2CBu(t))4 (M = Mo, W) with a dicarboxylic acid in toluene yields compounds of general formula [M2]-O2C-X-CO2-[M2] ([M2] = M2(O2CBu(t))3; X = conjugated spacer). The M2 units are electronically coupled via interactions between the M2 delta and dicarboxylate pi* orbitals, and the magnitude of this coupling is revealed by electronic structure calculations and spectroscopic data. These compounds show intense metal to ligand charge transfer (MLCT) absorptions in the visible region of the electronic spectrum that are temperature and solvent dependent. Evidence of electronic coupling is seen in their cyclic voltammograms, which show two successive one-electron oxidations. The extent of electronic coupling in the mixed valence radical cations [M2]-O2C-X-CO2-[M2]+, generated by oxidation with one equivalent of AgPF6 or FeCp2PF6, is evaluated by EPR and UV-vis-NIR spectroscopic data, and delocalized behavior is observed in compounds with W2 units separated by up to 13.6 angstroms. The simplicity of the frontier M2 orbital interactions with the bridge pi orbitals provides a convenient system with which to study electron transfer in mixed valence systems, as compared to the extensively studied, but more complicated, dinuclear t(2g)6/t(2g)5 mixed valence compounds. Oligomeric and polymeric compounds incorporating M2 units have also been synthesized, having general formula [M2(O2CR)2(O2C-Thio-CO2)]n (Thio = n-hexyl substituted ter- and quinque-thiophenes). They can be deposited as thin films by spin coating, and show photoluminescence and electroluminescence. These metallo-polythiophenes show potential for application in electronic materials. (     

Synthesis of substituted 3-amino[6,5-b]triazinoindoles

4-[(9-Methyl-as-triazino[6,5-b]indol-3-yl)amino]-2-methyl-2-butanol ( 13 ) and the corresponding 2-methyl-3-imino derivative 12 were synthesized and tested in vitro against Rhino 2 virus. The two compounds were more active than the known triazino[5,6-b]indole 4 . 2,9-Dimethyl-3-methoxy-9H-as-triazino[6,5-b]indolium tosylate ( 21 ) and the related 3-methylthio compound 9 were prepared. Quaternary 21 formed a pseudo base, 22a , whereas quaternary 9 did not form a pseudo base.