Reproduction of distance matrices and original time series from recurrence plots and their applications

We propose a method to reproduce distance matrices and original time series from recurrence plots. The procedure is to (i)convert a recurrence plot to a weighted graph and (ii)calculate a distance between each pair of nodes on this weighted graph. We demonstrate this method by reproducing the topological shape of original time series. We also propose two applications. The first application is to obtain the maximal Lyapunov exponent from a recurrence plot without reproducing the shapes of original time series. The second application is to reconstruct a common deterministic driving force from observations of forced systems. Thus, the method opens new fields in data analysis.     

Nucleophilic substitution reaction at an sp carbon of vinyl halides with an intramolecular thiol moiety: synthesis of thio-heterocycles

This article presents a full account of intramolecular vinylic substitution reactions of bromoalkenes having an acetylthio moiety, which give sulfur-containing heterocycles such as dihydrothiophene, tetrahydrothiopyran, and 2-alkylidenethietane derivatives. The reaction pathways of the substitution reactions were investigated by theoretical and experimental studies.     

Effect of Particle Size on Electro-Optic Properties of Liquid Crystal Devices Doped with γ-Cyclodextrin Stabilized Barium Titanate Nanoparticles

Barium titanate stabilized by γ-cyclodextrin nanoparticles were prepared by using a microwave reactor equipped with ultrasonic nozzle mixing at 240°C in a tetraethylene glycol solution of barium ethoxide and titanium ethoxide in the presence of γ-cyclodextrin. Particles in γ-cyclodextrin-stabilized BaTiO₃ nanoparticles had an average diameter of 2.1 nm and mainly distributed within the range of about 1 to 4 nm. The γ-cyclodextrin-stabilized BaTiO₃ nanoparticles were mixed with 4-cyano-4′-pentylbiphenyl at room temperature resulting in a liquid crystal sol of 4-cyano-4′-pentylbiphenyl. The response time of liquid crystal devices in the presence of γ-cyclodextrin-stabilized BaTiO₃ nanoparticles was faster than that in the absence.     

Evaluation of the Efficiency of the Macrolactonization Using MNBA in the Synthesis of Erythromycin A Aglycon

Various intermediates for the synthesis of erythronolide A, an aglycon of erythromycin A, are prepared from the corresponding seco‐acids using 2‐methyl‐6‐nitrobenzoic anhydride (MNBA) in the presence of 4‐(dimethylamino)pyridine (DMAP) with or without triethylamine. The efficiency of the MNBA lactonization is assessed by studying this method and comparing the results with those of the other established macrocyclization protocols. It has been finally concluded that (i) the conformationally appropriate substrate for the monomeric cyclization gave the desired lactone in excellent yield under mild reaction conditions in the presence of MNBA and DMAP, (ii) the highly‐strained substrate for the cyclization also afforded the monomeric lactone in relatively good yield at 100°C in toluene, and (iii) the seco‐acid having stable linear conformation, which preferred dimerizing more than forming the monomeric lactone, provided the corresponding diolide in high yield with the constant ratio of the monomer to dimeric lactone (approximately 1/5). © 2009 The Japan Chemical Journal Forum and Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Chem Rec 9: 305–320; 2009: Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ) DOI 10.1002/tcr.200900017     

Liquid phase deposition synthesis of hexagonal molybdenum trioxide thin films

Hexagonal molybdenum trioxide thin films with good crystallinity and high purity have been fabricated by the liquid phase deposition (LPD) technique using molybdic acid (H₂MoO₄) dissolved in 2.82% hydrofluoric acid (HF) and H₃BO₃ as precursors. The crystal was found to belong to a hexagonal hydrate system MoO₃.nH₂O (n~0.56). The unit cell lattice parameters are a=10.651 Å, c=3.725 Å and V=365.997 Å³. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) images of the as-deposited samples showed well-shaped hexagonal rods nuclei that grew and where the amount increased with increase in reaction time. X-ray photon electron spectroscopy (XPS) spectra showed a Gaussian shape of the doublet of Mo 3d core level, indicating the presence of Mo⁶⁺ oxidation state in the deposited films. The deposited films exhibited an electrochromic behavior by lithium intercalation and deintercalation, which resulted in coloration and bleaching of the film. Upon dehydration at about 450 °C, the hexagonal MoO₃.nH₂O was transformed into the thermodynamically stable orthorhombic phase.     

Novel enantioselective direct aldol-type reaction promoted by a chiral phosphine oxide as an organocatalyst

Chiral phosphine oxide successfully catalyzed the direct aldol-type reactions of cyclohexanone derivatives and benzaldehyde derivatives in high stereoselectivities. The reaction mechanism involves the in situ formation of trichlorosilyl enol ethers. The present reaction could be extended to the cross-aldol reactions between two aldehydes.     

Equivalent cross-relaxation rate imaging positively correlates with pathological grade and cell density of adipocytic tumors

Objective

Equivalent cross-relaxation rate imaging (ECRI) is an MRI technique used to evaluate qualitative changes in protein-water interactions. We aimed to prospectively evaluate the utility of ECRI for classification of adipocytic tumors.

Materials and Methods

Institutional Review Board approval was obtained and all patients provided informed consent. Study participants included 40 patients with adipocytic tumors who were diagnosed with lipomas (n = 22), atypical lipomatous tissue/well-differentiated liposarcoma (ALT/WDL; n = 9), myxoid/round cell liposarcoma (MyL; n = 6), and dedifferentiated liposarcoma (DDL; n = 3), and 20 control patients for whom subcutaneous fat in the buttock or thigh was analyzed.

Results

Mean ECR values of lipomas, ALT/WDL, and subcutaneous fat were low, and those of MyL and DDL were high. Mean ECR values of MyL and DDL were significantly higher than those of ALT/WDL. The cut-off value was 5.1%. There was a positive correlation between ECR value, pathological grade, and cell density in adipocytic tumors.

Conclusion

The ECR value positively correlates with pathological grade and cell density of adipocytic tumors. Our findings suggest that ECRI is a useful method for preoperative evaluation of adipocytic tumors.     

Sliding acceleration of water droplets on a surface coated with fluoroalkylsilane and octadecyltrimethoxysilane

Both fluoroalkylsilane (FAS) and octadecyltrimethoxysilane (ODS) were coated on oxidized silicon wafers using soaking and CVD method. Smooth coatings with Ra values of less than 1 nm were attained. The slope of the sliding acceleration against the inverse of the droplet mass showed an inflection point. That point shifted to the direction of smaller droplets with decreasing FAS ratio to ODS. The water droplets’ length was increased when the sliding velocity was increased. Fluoroalkylsilane addition to ODS increases the interaction between water and the hydrophobic surface. Results showed that the sliding acceleration of a water droplet depends strongly on the surface ratio of these silanes.     

Chemically modified proton‐conducting membranes based on sulfonated polyimides: Improved water stability and fuel‐cell performance

A series of branched/crosslinked sulfonated polyimide (B/C‐SPI) membranes were prepared and evaluated as proton‐conducting ionomers based on the new concept of in situ crosslinking from sulfonated polyimide (SPI) oligomers and triamine monomers. Chemical branching and crosslinking in SPI oligomers with 1,3,5‐tris(4‐aminophenoxy)benzene as a crosslinker gave the polymer membranes very good water stability and mechanical properties under an accelerated aging treatment in water at 130 °C, despite their high ion‐exchange capacity (2.2–2.6 mequiv g^?1). The resulting polymer electrolytes displayed high proton conductivities of 0.2–0.3 S cm^?1 at 120 °C in water and reasonably high conductivities of 0.02–0.03 S cm^?1 at 50% relative humidity. In a single H₂/O₂ fuel‐cell system at 90 °C, they exhibited high fuel‐cell performances comparable to those of Nafion 112. The B/C‐SPI membranes also displayed good performances in a direct methanol fuel cell with methanol concentrations as high as 50 wt % that were superior to those of Nafion 112. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 3751–3762, 2006     

Transfer efficiency in ballistic electron emission microscopy taking diffraction of emitted hot electrons into account

We have analyzed the transfer efficiency of ballistic electron emission microscopy (BEEM), taking the finite spot size of the emitted electron beam from scanning probes into account. Three-dimensional diffraction from an aperture at a surface-metal/air interface is introduced to model an effect caused by the finiteness of spot size. As a general trend, the diffraction decreases BEEM transfer efficiency. The diffraction effect increases as the spot size decreases and the air-gap distance increases. In a Au/GaAs sample, BEEM transfer efficiency markedly deteriorates down to 6% of the value derived from a conventional planar tunneling theory when a spot size of 0.2 nm, an air-gap distance of 0.6 nm, and an electron energy of 0.2 eV, measured from the bottom of the GaAs conduction band, are assumed. BEEM transfer efficiency is markedly dependent on the spot size of the emitted hot electron. This result indicates that the BEEM current depends on the spatial resolution of the scanning probe, that is, the condition of the tip apex.