Gradient-norm-based histogram equalization taking account of HSV color space distribution

In the present paper, we propose an image contrast enhancement method that can enhance the contrast of a color image naturally by taking account of a color space shape. The proposed method realizes the natural enhancement based on two kinds of intensity histograms: a gradient-norm-based histogram and an ideal histogram derived from the shape of a color space. The former histogram is used to suppress over-enhancement in the flat regions of an image and the latter histogram is used to prevent the whole image from being darken. Concretely, the aforementioned intensity histograms are appropriately mixed into a histogram with a weight based on the average intensity of the input image. The contrast enhancement of the input image is realized using the cumulative histogram of the mixed histogram as an intensity transform function. To verify the validity of the proposed method, in experiments, the proposed method is applied to a variety of images and experimental results are evaluated qualitatively and quantitatively.     

Thiiranation of 2′‐adamantylidene‐9‐benzonorbornenylidene using 4,4′‐oligothiodimorpholine and brønsted acid

On leaving 4,4′‐dithiodimorpholine 6 powder undisturbed at room temperature over 10 years, it led to the formation of 4,4′‐tetrathiodimorpholine 7 . Reactions of 2′‐adamantylidene‐9‐benzonorbornenyidene 1 with 6, 7 , and 4,4′‐thiodimorpholine 8 and a Brønsted acid in CH₂Cl₂ at room temperature proceeded to afford the corresponding thiiranes, 2 and 3 . The order of reactivity of 4,4′‐oligothiodimorpholines combined with a Brønsted acid is 7 > 6 > 8 . The thiirane 3 was transformed to 1 and 2 under the reaction conditions. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heteroatom Chem 20:12–18, 2009; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/hc.20505     

Visualization of space charge field effect on excitons in a GaAs quantum dot by near-field optical wavefunction mapping

Near-field photoluminescence (PL) imaging spectroscopy was used to investigate multi-exciton and charged-exciton states confined in a single GaAs interface fluctuation quantum dot. We determined the origin of peaks in the PL spectra by employing a wavefunction mapping technique. We observed distortion of the exciton wavefunction due to the electric field produced by an excess electron at a nearby confined state. Near-field wavefunction mapping was demonstrated to be a powerful tool for visualizing the local environment, which affects the emission properties of quantum dots.     

Nanosized starlike molecules. Synthesis and optical properties of tris- and tetrakis[oligo(disilanylenebithienylene)dimethylsilyl]benzene

The syntheses of two types of starlike molecules with the arms that extend to three and four directions have been reported. The molecules with the arms consisting of a regular alternating arrangement of a silicon-silicon bond and bithienylene unit that extend to three directions were synthesized by the reactions of 1,3,5-tris(chlorodimethylsilyl)benzene, which was chosen as a core, with the lithio[oligo(disilanylenebithienylene)] derivatives. The starlike molecules with extended arms to four directions were prepared by the reaction of 1,2,4,5-tetrakis(fluorodimethylsilyl)benzene used as a core, with lithio[oligo(disilanylenebithienylene)]s. UV-Vis absorption and fluorescence properties of these starlike molecules have been investigated in a dioxane solution. The present molecules showed absorption maxima in a range of 321-337 nm, and revealed higher fluorescence quantum yields than that of the corresponding linear polymer, poly[(tetraethyldisilanylene)bithiophene].     

New global stability conditions for a class of difference equations

In this paper we consider some classes of difference equations, including the well-known Clark model, and study the stability of their solutions. In order to do that we introduce a property, namely semicontractivity, and study relations between ‘semi-contractive’ functions and sufficient conditions for the solution of the difference equation to be globally asymptotically stable. Moreover, we establish new sufficient conditions for the solution to be globally asymptotically stable, and we improve the ‘3/2 criteria’ type stability conditions.      

Assemblies of supramolecular porphyrin dimers in pentagonal and hexagonal arrays exhibiting light-harvesting antenna function

Porphyrin-based supramolecular macrocyclic arrays were synthesized as mimics of photosynthetic light-harvesting (LH) antennae. Pentameric and hexameric macrocyclic porphyrin arrays EP5 and EP6 were constructed by complementary coordination of m-bis(ethynylene)phenylene-linked zinc-imidazolylporphyrin Zn-EP-Zn. The proton NMR spectra of noncovalently linked N-EP5 and N-EP6 indicate fast rotation of the porphyrin moieties along the ethyne axis. These macrocycles were covalently linked and identified as C-EP5 (6832 Da) and C-EP6 (8199 Da) by mass spectrometry. Fluorescence quantum yields of C-EP2 (10.0%), C-EP5 (10.1%), and C-EP6 (11.0%), even larger than that of the unit coordination dimer C-EP1 (9.3%), were significantly increased from those of the series without the ethynylene linkage. The order of increasing fluorescence quantum yields was parallel to that of decreasing fluorescence lifetimes (C-EP1 (1.65 ns), C-EP2 (1.45 ns), C-EP5 (1.42 ns), and C-EP6 (1.38 ns)), indicating that the radiative decay rate kF increased relative to the other decay rates with an increase in the number of ring components. Based on the exciton-exciton annihilation and anisotropy depolarization times, the excitation energy hopping (EEH) times in these macrocyclic systems were obtained as 21 ps for C-EP5 and 12.8 ps for C-EP6. EEH times depend strongly on the orientation factor of the component transition dipoles in the macrocyclic arrays. The hexagonal macrocyclic array with an orientation of better transition dipole coupling resulted in faster EEH time compared to the pentagonal one.     

Two new monodesmosidic triterpene saponins from Gypsophila oldhamiana

Two new monodesmosidic triterpene saponins were isolated from the roots of Gypsophila oldhamiana (Caryophyllaceae). Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectral data to be quillaic acid, alpha-L-arabinopyranosyl-(1-->4)-alpha-L-arabinopyranosyl-(1-->3)-beta-D-xylopyranosyl-(1-->4)-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1-->2)-beta-D-fucopyranosyl ester (1), and vaccaric acid, beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->3)-[beta-D-xylopyranosyl-(1-->4)]-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1-->2)-beta-D-fucopyranosyl ester (2). Compound 1 showed a significant enhancement of granulocyte phagocytosis in vitro.     

Sensing of chiral fullerenes by a cyclic host with an asymmetrically distorted pi-electronic component

Upon inclusion complexation with a racemic mixture of chiral fullerene C76 ((+/-)-C76), a novel cyclic host (1Rh) composed of a chiral N-methylporphyrin (PNMe) and a methylrhodium porphyrin (PRh) exhibited at 20 degrees C a 1H NMR spectral profile with diastereoisomerically split signals due to the NH group of PNMe. In contrast, because of a faster guest exchange dynamics, metal-free reference 12H, under identical conditions, did not show any signature of such diastereoisomeric splitting. Owing to the excellent resolution (15.6 Hz) of the split NH signals, the complexation with 1Rh allowed for the accurate determination of the optical purity of C76. On the basis of the 1H NMR spectral profiles of 1Rh in toluene-d8 at 20 degrees C in the presence of enantiomer mixtures of C76 of different optical purities, an absolute Deltaepsilon value of 58.5 M-1 cm-1 at 330 nm was obtained for enantiomerically pure C76.     

Investigation into pH-responsive self-assembled monolayers of acylated anthranilate-terminated alkanethiol on a gold surface

This article describes the preparation of pH-responsive self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) of acylated anthranilate-terminated alkanethiol. These monolayers are formed by chemisorption of the alkanethiol molecules onto a gold surface, resulting in different wetting properties of the surfaces depending upon the pH. By using various characterization techniques (e.g., infrared spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry, contact angle measurements, and surface energy analysis), we have found that the changes in the wetting properties originate from the different surface structures of the monolayers in different pH environments. From surface energy analysis, we found that the disperse components of the surface energy on such SAMs predominate after treatment with pH 1 water, whereas the polar components of the surface energy on such SAMs predominate after treatment with pH 13 water. It is greatly anticipated that this line of research will provide new insight into the mechanism behind pH-responsive properties, facilitating the design and synthesis of new surface-active molecules for the fabrication of pH-responsive functional surfaces.