Distinguishing and quantification of the human visual pathways using high-spatial-resolution diffusion tensor tractography

Quantification of the living human visual system using MRI methods has been challenging, but several applications demand a reliable and time-efficient data acquisition protocol. In this study, we demonstrate the utility of high-spatial-resolution diffusion tensor fiber tractography (DTT) in reconstructing and quantifying the human visual pathways. Five healthy males, age range 24–37 years, were studied after approval of the institutional review board (IRB) at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. We acquired diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) data with 1-mm slice thickness on a 3.0-Tesla clinical MRI scanner and analyzed the data using DTT with the fiber assignment by continuous tractography (FACT) algorithm. By utilizing the high-spatial-resolution DTI protocol with FACT algorithm, we were able to reconstruct and quantify bilateral optic pathways including the optic chiasm, optic tract, optic radiations free of contamination from neighboring white matter tracts.     

Renewability is not Enough: Recent Advances in the Sustainable Synthesis of Biomass‐Derived Monomers and Polymers

Taking advantage of the structural diversity of different biomass resources, recent efforts were directed towards the synthesis of renewable monomers and polymers, either for the substitution of petroleum‐based resources or for the design of novel polymers. Not only the use of biomass, but also the development of sustainable chemical approaches is a crucial aspect for the production of sustainable materials. This review discusses the recent examples of chemical modifications and polymerizations of abundant biomass resources with a clear focus on the sustainability of the described processes. Topics such as synthetic methodology, catalysis, and development of new solvent systems or greener alternative reagents are addressed. The chemistry of vegetable oil derivatives, terpenes, lignin, carbohydrates, and sugar‐based platform chemicals was selected to highlight the trends in the active field of a sustainable use of renewable resources.     

Photoconductive novel mesomorphic oxotitanium phthalocyanines

The synthesis and photoconductivity properties of the alkylthia and triethyleneoxysulfonyl substituted oxotitanium(IV) phthalocyanines (1a and 2a) are reported for the first time. The new compounds have been characterized by elemental analysis, IR, ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy, electronic spectroscopy and mass spectroscopy. The mesogenic properties of these new materials were studied by differential scanning calorimetry and optical microscopy. The electrical dark conductivities (σ_d) and photoconductivities (σ_ph) of deposited films of 1a and 2a were investigated in various media with different concentrations of oxygen. Molecular oxygen increases photoconductivities (σ_ph) significantly. The photoconductivity mechanism and formation of Pc⁺ which is positive charge carrier under the light irradiation of the phthalocyanine molecules are demonstrated using the theoretical calculations. The geometries of the oxotitanium(IV) phthalocyanines (TiOPc) are optimized with PM3 semi-empirical method, and their visible absorption maxima are calculated with ZINDO/S method. The results agree well with the observed values. It was found that for the calculation of visible absorption of neutral and positively charged substituted TiOPc molecules using ZINDO/S method could rapidly yield excellent results. Dipole moment, HOMO, LUMO energies and atomic charges are also calculated for clarification of the oxygen effect on the photoconductivity using PM3 and ZINDO/S methods.     

Electronic structure and correlations of vitamin B<Subscript>12</Subscript> studied within the Haldane-Anderson impurity model

We study the electronic structure and correlations of vitamin B₁₂ (cyanocobalamine) by using theframework of the multi-orbital single-impurity Haldane-Anderson model of atransition-metal impurity in a semiconductor host. The parameters of the effectiveHaldane-Anderson model are obtained within the Hartree-Fock (HF) approximation. Thequantum Monte Carlo (QMC) technique is then used to calculate the one-electron andmagnetic correlation functions of this effective model. We observe that new states forminside the semiconductor gap found by HF due to the intra-orbital Coulomb interaction atthe impurity 3d orbitals. In particular, the lowest unoccupiedstates correspond to an impurity bound state, which consists of states from mainly the CNaxial ligand and the corrin ring as well as the Co e_g-like orbitals. We alsoobserve that the Co?(3d) orbitals can develop antiferromagneticcorrelations with the surrounding atoms depending on the filling of the impurity boundstates. In addition, we make comparisons of the HF+QMC data with the density functionaltheory calculations. We also discuss the photoabsorption spectrum of cyanocobalamine.     

Synthesis,Spectral, Thermal and Structural Characterization of mer‐Triaquaorotatoquinoxaline Cadmium(II) Dihydrate

The new orotate complex of cadmium(II) with quinoxaline, mer‐[Cd(HOr)(H₂O)₃(QX)]·2H₂O, was synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, FT–IR spectroscopy, thermal analysis and single crystal X–ray diffraction techniques. The complex crystallizes in the triclinic system, space group . The Cd²⁺ ion exhibits a distorted octahedral coordination by one bidentate orotate, one monodentate quinoxaline and three aqua ligands. The uncoordinated water molecules link the orotate, quinoxaline and aqua ligands via O–H···O, O–H···N hydrogen bonds. Thus, an extensive network of hydrogen bonds stabilizes the crystal structure and form an infinitive three dimensional lattice. The decomposition reaction takes place in the temperature range 20–700 °C in the static air atmosphere.     

Vitamin B13 Complexes of Nickel(II) and Copper(II) with Ethanolamine: Syntheses,Crystal Structures,Spectroscopic and Thermal Studies

Fac‐bis(ethanolamine)orotatonickel(II), [Ni(HOr)(ea)₂] and mer‐bis(ethanolamine)orotatocopper(II) dihydrate, [Cu(HOr)(ea)₂]· 2H₂O were synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, FT‐IR, UV‐Vis Spectroscopy and thermal analysis. In addition, their solid‐state structures were determined by single crystal X‐ray diffraction studies. Both the fac‐[Ni(HOr)(ea)₂] (1) and mer‐[Cu(HOr)(ea)₂]·2H₂O (2) complexes are isomorphous and crystallize in the triclinic space group . The Ni²⁺ and Cu²⁺ ions are coordinated by two neutral ea ligands and one orotate dianion in a distorted octahedral fashion. The ea ligand acts as a bidentate donor through the amine N and hydroxyl O atoms, while orotate dianion is coordinated through deprotonated N3 pyrimidine atom and carboxylate oxygen atom as a bidentate ligand. Thermal decompositions of the complexes are studied in over the range 20–600 °C on heating in a static air atmosphere.     

Comparison of the Optoelectronic Performance of Neutral and Cationic Forms of Riboflavin

The riboflavin dye 2,3,4,5-tetra-O-acetyl-1-[3-(6-bromohexyl)-7,8-dimethyl-2,4-dioxo-3,4-dihydrobenzo[g]pteridin-10(2H)-yl]-1-deoxypentitol and its pyridinium salt were synthesized, and studied by absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy in solutions and on thin film states. The first absorption band of riboflavin-pyridinium salt derivative is red-shifted by 10 nm compared to neutral one on film. Cationic riboflavin derivative shows significant wavelength changes on its fluorescence emission spectrum in the excited state depending on the solvent polarity and the electronic environment. The fluorescence quantum yields of cationic riboflavin gave much higher values as compared to that of its neutral form. The fluorescence lifetimes were found to be in the range of 5.5–6.6 ns with mono ? exponential behavior. These dyes possess low-lying HOMO energy levels which are suitable to be able to inject holes to donor polymers so that they can be used as acceptor component in the active layer of bulk heterojunction solar cells (BHJ-SCs). Photovoltaic responses are reported for P3HT:riboflavin active layer wherein the synthesized dyes are used as acceptor component. Also, neutral riboflavin shows greater electron mobility value of 1.3 × 10^?3 cm²/V?s compared to its cationic derivative.     

Bis(1,10‐phenanthroline‐κ2N,N′)(squarato‐κO)copper(II) trihydrate

The title mononuclear [Cu(sq)(phen)₂]·3H₂O complex [sq is squarate (C₄O₄) and phen is 1,10‐phenanthroline (C₁₂H₈N₂)] has been synthesized and the structure consists of a neutral mononuclear [Cu(sq)(phen)₂] unit and three solvate water mol­ecules. The Cu^II ion has distorted square‐pyramidal coordination geometry, comprised of one carboxyl­ate O atom from a monodentate squarate ligand and four N atoms from two chelating phen ligands. An extensive three‐dimensional network of OW—H⋯O/OW hydrogen bonds, face‐to‐face π–­π interactions between the 1,10‐phenanthroline aromatic rings and a weak π–ring interaction are responsible for crystal stabilization.     

Synthesis,IR Spectrum,Thermal Analysis,and Crystal Structure of the Cyano‐bridged Heteronuclear Polymeric Complex: [Zn(teta)Ni(μ‐CN)2(CN)2]n

The heteronuclear polymeric complex, [Zn(teta)Ni(μ‐CN)₂(CN)₂]_n (teta: triethylenetetramine), was synthesized and characterized by elementel analysis, FT‐IR spectroscopy, thermal analysis and single crystal X–ray diffraction techniques. The complex crystallizes in the monoclinic system, space group P2₁/c and in which the Zn^II ion exhibits a distorted octahedral coordination by one tetradentate teta ligand and two bridging cyano groups as a trans position, whereas the Ni^II ion has square planer coordination and is coordinated by four cyano ligands. The decomposition reaction takes places in the temperature range 30–600 °C in the static air atmosphere.     

Syntheses,Spectra, Thermal Studies and Crystal Structures of Vitamin B13 Complexes of Nickel(II) with N,N,N′,N′‐Tetramethylethylenediamine and 2,2‐Dimethylpropane‐1,3‐diamine

Two nickel(II) complexes of vitamin B13 (H₃Or) with N,N,N′,N′‐tetramethylethylenediamine (tmen) and 2,2‐dimethylpropane‐1,3‐diamine (dmpen) were synthesized and characterized by means of elemental and thermal analyses, magnetic susceptibility, and IR and UV/Vis spectroscopic studies. The crystal structures of mer‐[Ni(HOr)(H₂O)₂(tmen)] · H₂O ( 1 ) and [Ni(HOr)(dmpen)₂] ( 2 ) were determined by using single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. In the complexes, which crystallize in the triclinic system (space group for 1 ) and the monoclinic system (space group P2₁/c for 2 ), the Ni^II ions exhibit a distorted octahedral coordination. Ni^II ions are chelated by the deprotonated nitrogen atom of the pyrimidine ring and the oxygen atom of the carboxylate group, the distorted octahedral coordination completed by one tmen and two aqua ligands for 1 or two dmpen ligands for 2 .