What's new at the DOP? ... What is in the database? ... i) original codes realizing different methods to calculate the optical properties of non-spherical (inhomogeneous) particles; . ii) reviews of exact and approximate methods of light scattering theory ; . iii) a database of several tausends references to papers on various aspects of light-scattering theory and its applications; . ... vi) a self-training algorithm of determination of the optical properties of fractal-like clusters; . ...

... We also analyze Chandra X-ray archive data for the Mon R2 region and find IRS 3 A and IRS 3 C to be sources of hard (3 - 10 keV) and variable X-ray emission , suggesting plasma temperatures of at least 50 в 106 K. The similarity of the X-ray properties to those of Class I protostars suggests magnetic interaction between the protostars and their circumstellar disks to be the origin of the X-ray ... 2002). ... Upper Upper Lower Lower K-band Images of Mon R2 IRS 3. ... X-ray results. ...