Luminance-Type Additive Mechanism Produces Shading

It has been reported that the luminance mechanism mediates shadow perception of binary images. We evaluated the luminance additivity law to determine whether shading, which is produced by gradual intensity changes, is mediated by luminance or brightness using pictures with tones: two still lives and a painting. They were depicted by two colors-a reference color and a test color. The reference color was white with a constant luminance profile, and the test color was a mixture of red and green in various proportions. The observer’s task was to adjust the luminance of the test color in order that the impression of depth due to shading just disappeared (shading disappearance setting), where the intensity that produced the shading supposed to be equated between the test and the reference colors. The results show that the luminance additivity law holds for shading disappearance settings. This suggests that shading perception is based on luminance or a luminance-type additive mechanism as well as shadow.     

Cover Picture: Theoretical Study on the Halogen–Zinc Exchange Reaction by Using Organozincate Compounds (Chem. Eur. J. 23/2009)

Density functional theory and fragment‐energy analysis have been used to probe the mechanism of the halogen–zinc exchange reaction. In their Full Paper on page 5686 ff. , M. Uchiyama, S. Nakamura et al. discuss three important factors in this reaction: The effect of the halogen species, the effect of the alkyl ligand on zinc, and the effect of the substrate nature.

     

Application of the Perimeter Model to the Assignment of the Electronic Absorption Spectra of Gold(III) Hexaphyrins with [4n+2] and [4n] π‐Electron Systems

Expanded porphyrins : The electronic excited states of two forms of meso‐hexakis(pentafluorophenyl)‐substituted gold(III) hexaphyrin(1.1.1.1.1.1), such as that depicted, have been investigated by density functional calculations and magnetic circular dichroism spectroscopy to assign their low‐energy excited singlet states.

     

Adsorbability and photocatalytic degradability of humic substances in water on Ti-modified silica

From the viewpoint of development of a removal agent for humic substances, we prepared Ti-modified silica gel, SiO2-Ti, from titanium alkoxide and microsized silica gel. The prepared silica agent was investigated in adsorption and photocatalytic degradation of humic substances in water. In these experiments, four humic substances, commercially available Wako humic acid (Wako-HA), Nordic aquatic humic acid (Nordic-HA), Nordic aquatic fulvic acid (Nordic-FA), and Suwannee river fulvic acid (Suwannee-FA), were used, and Freundlich constants (KF and 1/n) and photodegradation rates were evaluated. Wako-HA, which has the highest aromaticity ratio [Ar-OH]/[COOH] and molecular weight, had the highest adsorbability (KF=17.5 (mg/g)(L/mg)(1/n), 1/n=0.67) but the lowest photodegradability (<80%). On the other hand, Suwannee-FA, which has the lowest aromaticity, [Ar-OH]/[COOH] ratio, and molecular weight, afforded lesser adsorbability (KF=7.1 (mg/g)(L/mg)(1/n), 1/n=0.39) but the highest photodegradability (>99%). Nordic-HA and Nordic-FA afforded adsorbabilities similar to that for Suwannee-FA, and medium photodegradabilities between those for Wako-HA and Suwannee-FA. Adsorption and photodegradation capacities of SiO2-Ti were improved with increased Ti content and phosphorescence emission amount, respectively. From XRD analysis, we found that the structure of anatase-type TiO2 features the Ti modifiers of SiO2-Ti. Therefore, humic substance molecules effectively interact with the Ti modifiers and are decomposed by OH radicals generated in situ. We hope that SiO2-Ti will be used as a photodegradation catalyst in water purification plants.     

Photoinversion of cisoid/transoid binaphthyls

Axially chiral binaphthyl-azobenzene cyclic dyads in which the two moieties are connected by two linkers of different lengths were synthesized. In the case of benzylated-binaphthyl analogue 2b, photoirradiation resulted in a dramatic change of the CD spectrum and optical rotation. Experimental and theoretical analyses indicated that the dihedral angle of the two naphthalene rings is strongly coupled to the azobenzene photoisomerization; cis-azobenzene induces a transoid-binaphthyl structure, while trans-azobenzene induces a cisoid-binaphthyl structure.     

Estimation of Color-Difference Formulae at Color Discrimination Threshold Using CRT-Generated Stimuli

The advanced color-difference formulae, CMC, CIE94, and the recently proposed CIEDE2000 formula, together with the basic CIELAB system, were estimated using the chromaticity discrimination threshold data at CIE Gray and Blue color centers. Gray is the most basic color and blue is, perceptually, in the most different region from other areas across the color space. The test stimuli, evenly distributed in the (a#x2217;, b#x2217;)-, (a#x2217;, L#x2217;)-, and (b#x2217;, L#x2217;)-plane of the CIELAB space, were generated on a CRT display, driven by a VSG system. Each direction from each color center was assessed 3 times by a panel of 9 normal color-vision observers with the psychophysical method of interleaved staircase. The experimental data were reliable and consistent with other studies according to the observer accuracy and fitted ellipse parameters. A comprehensive analysis shows the color discrimination tolerances could be well fitted by ellipses, and the CIEDE2000 and CIELAB formulae performed better than CIE94 while the CMC worst at the threshold level for the color centers studied.     

Glycine Substitution Effects on the Supramolecular Morphology and Rigidity of Cell-Adhesive Amphiphilic Peptides

Self-assembling peptides that are capable of adopting β-sheet structures can generate nanofibers that lead to hydrogel formation. Herein, to tune the supramolecular morphologies, mechanical properties, and stimuli responses of the hydrogels, we investigated glycine substitution in a β-sheet-forming amphiphilic peptide. Glycine substitution generally enhances conformational flexibility. Indeed, glycine substitution in an amphiphilic peptide weakened the hydrogels or even inhibited the gelation. However, unexpectedly, glycine substitution at the center of the peptide molecule significantly enhanced the hydrogel stiffness. The central glycine substitution affected the molecular packing and led to twisted β-sheet structures and to nanofiber bundling, which likely led to the stiffened hydrogel. Importantly, the supramolecular structures were accurately predicted by molecular dynamics simulations, demonstrating the helpfulness of these techniques for the identification of self-assembling peptides. The hydrogel formed by the amphiphilic peptide with the central glycine substitution had cell adhesive function, and showed a reversible thermal gel-to-sol transition. Thus, glycine substitution is effective in modulating self-assembling structures, rheological properties, and dynamics of biofunctional self-assembling peptides.     

Simultaneous direct determination of aluminum, calcium and iron in silicon carbide and silicon nitride powders by slurry-sampling graphite furnace AAS.

A fast and accurate analytical method was established for the simultaneous direct determination of aluminum, calcium and iron in silicon carbide and silicon nitride powders by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry using a slurry sampling technique and a Hitachi Model Z-9000 atomic absorption spectrometer. The slurry samples were prepared by the ultrasonication of silicon carbide or silicon nitride powders with 0.1 M nitric acid. Calibration curves were prepared by using a mixed standard solution containing aluminum, calcium, iron and 0.1 M nitric acid. The analytical results of the proposed method for aluminum, calcium and iron in silicon carbide and silicon nitride reference materials were in good agreement with the reference values. The detection limits for aluminum, calcium and iron were 0.6 microg/g, 0.15 microg/g and 2.5 microg/g, respectively, in solid samples, when 200 mg of powdered samples were suspended in 20 ml of 0.1 M nitric acid and a 10 microl portion of the slurry sample was then measured. The relative standard deviation of the determination of aluminum, calcium and iron was 5 - 33%.     

One‐pot Annulation for Biaryl‐fused Monocarba‐closo‐dodecaborate through Aromatic B−H Bond Disconnection

We have developed a one‐pot annulation reaction of monocarba‐closo‐dodecaborate with cyclic diaryliodonium salts to afford biaryl‐fused derivatives. Aryl functionalities are introduced at both the 1‐carbon and unreactive ortho‐boron vertices of the “σ‐aromatic” carborane cage without the need for pre‐functionalization. DFT calculations revealed that the palladium‐catalyzed C?B bond‐formation step in this process proceeds through a concerted metalation–deprotonation (CMD)‐type pathway for the B?H bond disconnection on the aromatic cage, though such bonds are generally regarded as hydridic.