Ridgway Scott

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  Mathematics in drug design
  Ridgway Scott
  We show how mathematics can help in the complex process of drug discovery. We give an example of modification of a common cancer drug that reduces unwanted side effects. The mathematical model used to do this relates to the hydrophobic effect, something not yet fully understood. The hydrophobic effect modulates the dielectric behavior of water, and this has dramatic effects on how we process drugs. Future mathematical advances in this area promise to make drug discovery more rational, and thus more rapid and predictable, and less costly.
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  Dipolar materials
  Ridgway Scott
  Dipoles are ubiquitous in nature. Many materials are made of dipolar molecules, such as water. Thus it is of interest to know how large collections of dipoles can interact on a macro scale. One measure of this is called the Madelung constant. Materials whose dipoles coordinate on a global scale are called ferro-electric, by analogy with ferro-magnets. Ferro-electric materials can store a permanent charge. We describe how it is possible for water ice to become ferro-electric, and we discuss how to interpret Madelung constants in cases where the corresponding sum of dipoles appears divergent.