Estimation of partial optical path length in the brain in subject-specific head models for near-infrared spectroscopy

Three-dimensional head models with the structures constructed from the MR head images of 40 volunteers were constructed to analyze light propagation in the subject-specific head models. The mean optical path length in the head and the partial optical path length in the brain at 13 fiducial points for each volunteer were estimated to evaluate the intersubject and spatial variability in the optical path lengths. Although the intersubject variability in the optical path lengths is very high, the spatial variability in the average of the mean optical path length and partial optical path length is similar to the previously reported data. The mean optical path length in the head increases, whereas the partial optical path length in the brain decreases with an increase in the depth of the brain surface. The partial optical path length is highly correlated with the depth of the brain surface in comparison to the mean optical path length in the head.     

Photocontrolled Translational Motion of a Microscale Solid Object on Azobenzene‐Doped Liquid‐Crystalline Films

On the move : Irradiation of azobenzene‐doped liquid crystalline films with UV/Vis light results in the photocontrolled translational motion of microscale solid object on the surface, which occurs through cis–trans isomerization of the azobenzene unit. Irradiation with an Ar⁺ laser (488 nm) resulted in precise control of the translational motion so that the particle always moved away from the irradiation position (see picture).

     

Catalytic flow injection determination of vanadium by oxidation of N-(3-sulfopropyl)-3,3',5,5'-tetramethylbenzidine using bromate

A catalytic flow-injection (FI) method was developed for the determination of 10⁻⁹ mol l⁻¹ levels of vanadium(IV, V). The method is based on the catalytic effect of vanadium(V) on oxidation of N-(3-sulfopropyl)-3,3′,5,5′-tetramethylbenzidine (TMBZ·PS) using bromate as oxidant to form a yellow dye (λ_max=460 nm). The use of 5-sulfosalicylic acid (SSA) as an activator enhanced the sensitivity of the method. The calibration graphs with a working range 0.05–8.0 ng ml⁻¹ were obtained for vanadium(V). Vanadium(IV) was also determined, being oxidized by bromate. The detection limit (signal/noise, S/N=3) was 0.01 ng ml⁻¹ (ca. 2×10⁻¹⁰ mol l⁻¹) vanadium. The relative standard deviations (R.S.D.) for 15 determinations of 0.5 ng ml⁻¹ vanadium, and for ten determinations of 0.1 and 1.0 ng ml⁻¹ vanadium were 0.41, 2.6 and 0.25%, respectively, with a sampling rate of 15 samples h⁻¹. The proposed method was successfully applied to the determination of vanadium in natural waters.     

Cyclopolycondensation. XII. Polymerization mechanism of polybenzoxazinones in polyphosphoric acid medium

The polymerization mechanism of polyphosphoric acid (PPA) solution polymerization of an aromatic diaminodicarboxylic acid with aromatic dicarboxylic acid derivatives was studied. By means of NMR methods, the initiation process for the polymerization of polybenzoxazinone in PPA medium was elucidated. The NMR spectra of a series of compounds were taken, and the salt formation of amino groups of monomer with PPA and the equilibrium between the salt and the free amino group were determined. It was established that the polymerization proceeded through the formation of phosphorylated intermediates to give the salt of amino groups of monomer with PPA. In the second step, the amine–PPA salt dissociates into the free amino group and PPA at the polymerization temperature above 140°C. Polymerization proceeds through the attack of “free” amino on phosphorylated carbonyl compounds to form polyamide acid of high molecular weight, and on subsequently being heated in PPA at higher temperatures, it undergoes an intramolecular cyclodehydration along the polymer chain to form polybenzoxazinones.     

f-Element/crown ether complexes, 11. Preparation and structural characterization of [UO2(OH2)5] [ClO4]2·3(15-crown-5)·CH3CN and [UO2(OH2)5] [ClO4]2·2(18-crown-6)·2 CH3CN·H2O

The reaction of UO₂(ClO₄)·nH₂O with 15-crown-5 and 18-crown-6 in acetonitrile yielded the title complexes. [UO₂(OH₂)₅] [ClO₄]₂·3(15-crown-5)·CH₃CN crystallizes in the triclinic space groupPT with (at–150°C)a=8.288(6),b=12.874(7),c=24.678(7) Å, =82.62(4), =76.06(5), =81.06(5)°, andD _calc=1.67 g cm^–3 forZ=2 formula units. Least-squares refinement using 6248 independent observed reflections [F _o5(F _o)] led toR=0.111. [UO₂(OH₂)₅] [ClO₄]₂·2(18-crown-6)·2CH₃CN·H₂O is orthorhombicP2₁2₁2₁ with (at–150 °C)a=12.280(2),b=17.311(7),c=22.056(3) Å,D _calc=1.68 g cm^–3,Z=4, andR=0.032 (3777 observed reflections). In each complex the crown ether molecules are hydrogen bonded to the water molecules of the pentagonal bipyramidal [UO₂(OH₂)₅]²⁺ ions, each crown ether having exclusive use of two hydrogen atoms from one water molecule and one hydrogen from another water molecule. In the 15-crown-5 complex the remaining hydrogen bonding interaction is between one of the water molecules and one of the perchlorate anions. The solvent molecule has a close contact between the methyl group and a perchlorate anion suggesting a weak interaction. There are a total of three U-OH...OClO₃ hydrogen bonds to the two perchlorate anions in [UO₂(OH₂)₅] [ClO₄]₂·(18-crown-6)·2CH₃CN ·H₂O. The remaining coordinated water hydrogen bond is to the uncoordinated 2H₂O molecule, which in turn is hydrogen bonded to a perchlorate oxygen atom and an acetonitrile nitrogen atom. One solvent methyl group interacts with an anion, the other with one of the 18-crown-6 molecules. Unlike the 15-crown-5 structure, the hydrogen bonding in this complex results in a polymeric network with formula units joined by hydrogen bonds from one of the solvent molecules and the uncoordinated water molecule. Supplementary data relating to this article are deposited with the British Library as Supplementary Publication No. SUP 82051 (37 pages).For Part 10, see reference [1].     

Electron transfer of conjugated polymeric ferrocenes

This paper describes three topics on the π‐conjugated ferrocene oligomers and polymers; the first is the dependence of intervalence‐transfer bands for mixed‐valence oligo(1,1'‐dihexylferrocenylene)s on the oxidation number and the number of ferrocene units, the second is synthesis of azo‐bridged ferrocene oligomers and a polymer and electrochemical and optical analysis of internuclear electronic interactions in their mixed‐valence states and the third is synthesis, redox behaviors and electrodeposition of oligoferrocenylene‐modified gold clusters.