Estimating the amplitude of measurement noise present in chaotic time series

We propose a method for estimating the amplitude of measurement noise present in chaotic time series. This method is based on the evaluation of initial errors for a given time series and for a new one synthesized by adding an adequate amount of noise to the given one. The method is valid over a much wider range of noise levels than the previous methods are because it is not based on the detail of dynamical structure which generates the data. In addition, it is possible to check if the method is valid for the given data prior to its application. To confirm the effectiveness of the method we show the results of numerical experiments and apply the method to chaotic data obtained from an electrochemical experiment. (c) 1999 American Institute of Physics.     

Novel synthesis of carbohydrates using electroreduction as key reactions

Glyceraldehyde was transformed to threose, erythrose, and erythrose using electro-reduction as key reactions.     

Effect of conformational heterogeneity on excitation energy transfer efficiency in directly meso-meso linked Zn(II) porphyrin arrays

We have investigated the overall excitation energy relaxation dynamics in linear porphyrin arrays as well as the energy transport phenomena by attaching an energy acceptor to one end of a linear porphyrin array by using steady state and time-resolved spectroscopic measurements. We have revealed that the solvation dynamics as well as the conformational dynamics contributes significantly to the energy relaxation processes of linear porphyrin arrays. Consequently, long porphyrin arrays no longer serve as good energy transmission elements in donor-acceptor linked systems due to conformational heterogeneities which provide the non-radiative deactivation channels as energy quenchers.     

Probing the largest scale structure in the universe with polarization map of galaxy clusters

We introduce a new formalism to describe the polarization signal of galaxy clusters on the whole sky. We show that a sparsely sampled, half-sky map of the cluster polarization at z approximately 1 would allow us to better characterize the very large scale density fluctuations. While the horizon length is smaller in the past, two other competing effects significantly remove the contribution of the small scale fluctuations from the quadrupole polarization pattern at z approximately 1. For the standard LambdaCDM universe with vanishing tensor mode, the quadrupole moment of the temperature anisotropy at z = 0 is expected to have an approximately 32% contribution from fluctuations on scales below 6.3 h(-1) Gpc. This percentage would be reduced to approximately 2% level for the quadrupole moment of polarization pattern at z approximately 1. A cluster polarization would shed light on the potentially anomalous features of the largest scale fluctuations.     

Theoretical study of electroreductive intramolecular coupling of nonconjugated olefinic and aromatic ketones

The electroreductive cyclization of hept-6-en-2-one, octa-7-en-2-one, and 5-phenylpentan-2-one was investigated by ab initio (UHF/6-311++G**) and density functional (UB3LYP/6-311++G**) calculation methods. The high regio- and stereoselectivities previously reported for olefinic ketones (exo-trans) and 5-arylpentan-2-ones (endo-trans) were reconfirmed. These experimental results well agree with the computational outcome for the transition states in the intramolecular coupling of ketyl radicals generated by one-electron transfer to the ketones.     

AuBr(3)-catalyzed [4 + 2] benzannulation between an enynal unit and enol

The reaction of enynals 1, including o-alkynylbenzaldehydes, and carbonyl compounds 2 in the presence of a catalytic amount of AuBr3 in 1,4-dioxane at 100 degrees C gave the functionalized aromatic compounds 3 in high yields. The AuBr3-catalyzed formal [4 + 2] benzannulation proceeds most probably through the coordination of the triple bond of 1 to AuBr3, the formation of a pyrylium auric ate complex via the nucleophilic addition of the carbonyl oxygen atom, the reverse electron demand-type Diels-Alder addition of the enols, derived from 2, to the auric ate complex, and subsequent dehydration and bond rearrangement. Similarly, the AuBr3-catalyzed reactions of 1 with acetal compounds afforded the corresponding aromatic compounds in good yields.     

Thermal splitting of Bis-Cu(II) octaphyrin(1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1) into two Cu(II) porphyrins

When heated, bis-Cu(II) octaphyrin(1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1) is quantitatively split into two Cu(II) porphyrins both in solution and film states, which is accompanied by large absorption spectral changes.     

A Color Appearance Model Applicable in Mesopic Vision

We propose a color vision model that can be used to predict color appearance in mesopic vision as well as photopic and scotopic vision. It is based on a two-stage model which consists of the cone and opponent stages and it assumes rod intrusion at the opponent stage. The model has the following features to describe the color appearance in mesopic vision. First, it includes a gradual and nonlinear shift in spectral luminous efficiency from V (LD) to V (LD) to cope with the spectral sensitivity difference between photopic and scotopic vision and the nonlinearity of rod influence on the luminance channel. Second, the model assumes decrease of the chromatic component with decreasing illuminance to explain the reduction of saturation at low illuminance levels. Third, it assumes that red/green and yellow/blue components change with illuminance levels independently, thus explaining hue shifts with decreasing illuminance. We applied the model for color appearance simulation of natural scenes in a mesopic visual environment.     

Supramolecular nanocarrier of siRNA from PEG-based block catiomer carrying diamine side chain with distinctive pKa directed to enhance intracellular gene silencing

An siRNA nanocarrier formed through self-assembly of PEG-based block catiomer possessing two distinct amino groups with different pKa values in a side chain was developed. This design provided the carrier with a sufficient siRNA complexation and an assumed buffering capacity in the endosomes, allowing it to exhibit remarkable gene knockdown abilities as well as sufficient serum tolerability.