Light absorption by phytoplankton and chromophoric dissolved organic matter in the drainage basin and estuary of the Neuse River, North Carolina (U.S.A.)

1. We examined the absorption of solar radiation by phytoplankton and chromophoric dissolved organic matter (CDOM) taking into account riparian shading in the rivers, reservoirs, swamps of the Neuse River Estuary and its drainage basin. 2. In the streams, CDOM typically absorbed 55 and 64% of photons in the spectral range of 400–700 nm (photosynthetically active radiation, PAR) and 500–600 nm, respectively. The large proportion of photons absorbed by CDOM indicates high potential for abiotic photochemial reactions in the 500–600 nm region. 3. Despite the high concentration of nutrients, phytoplankton contributed little (2%) to the total absorption of PAR in the streams. Small (<30 m wide) streams typically received only 7% of incident PAR that impinged onto the more exposed reservoirs and estuary. Riparian shading and the low contribution of phytoplankton to the total absorption resulted in conditions where phytoplankton absorbed nearly two orders of magnitude less PAR in the streams than in the estuary and reservoirs. 4. The results indicated that riparian shading and non‐algal absorbing components can significantly restrict phytoplankton production in nutrient‐rich streams with a high concentration of CDOM flowing throughout forested catchments.     

Functional near infrared spectroscopy using spatially resolved data to account for tissue scattering: A numerical study and arm‐cuff experiment

Functional Near‐Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS) aims to recover changes in tissue optical parameters relating to tissue hemodynamics, to infer functional information in biological tissue. A widely‐used application of fNIRS relies on continuous wave (CW) methodology that utilizes multiple distance measurements on human head for study of brain health. The typical method used is spatially resolved spectroscopy (SRS), which is shown to recover tissue oxygenation index (TOI) based on gradient of light intensity measured between two detectors. However, this methodology does not account for tissue scattering which is often assumed. A new parameter recovery algorithm is developed, which directly recovers both the scattering parameter and scaled chromophore concentrations and hence TOI from the measured gradient of light‐attenuation at multiple wavelengths. It is shown through simulations that in comparison to conventional SRS which estimates cerebral TOI values with an error of ±12.3%, the proposed method provides more accurate estimate of TOI exhibiting an error of ±5.7% without any prior assumptions of tissue scatter, and can be easily implemented within CW fNIRS systems. Using an arm‐cuff experiment, the obtained TOI using the proposed method is shown to provide a higher and more realistic value as compared to utilizing any prior assumptions of tissue scatter.     

肾组织脱水对组织光学吸收和散射特性的影响

研究肾组织脱水对组织的吸收和散射特性的影响,实验利用带积分球附件的分光光度计和采用反向倍增法获取组织对532 nm和1064 nm波长的吸收和散射特性。结果表明:在37℃下脱水的肾组织对532 nm和1064 nm的吸收系数和约化散射系数都是随着脱水率的增大而明显地增大的,在37℃下脱水的肾组织对532 nm和1064 nm的吸收系数均明显地较自然的肾组织对相应波长的吸收系数要大,而在37℃下脱水的肾组织对532 nm和1064 nm的约化散射系数也明显地较自然的肾组织对相应波长的约化散射系数要大,在相同脱水率下的肾组织对于532 nm的吸收系数和约化散射系数都明显地较其对1064 nm的吸收系数和约化散射系数要大。研究结果提示,组织脱水、脱水的温度和脱水时间是影响肾组织的吸收和散射特性的重要因素。     

热作用对肾组织光传输特性的影响

研究了热作用下的肾组织对532 nm和1064 nm波长的光学特性的影响。实验利用带积分球附件的分光光度计和采用反向倍增法获取组织的光学特性,结果表明热作用下的肾组织对532 nm和1 064 nm的吸收系数和约化散射系数都是随着加热温度的变化而变化的。在25℃到80℃的温度范围内,肾组织对532 nm的吸收系数和约化散射系数都分别显著地较其对1064 nm的吸收系数和约化散射系数要大。其对532 nm和1 064 nm的吸收系数的最大值都在80℃,其值分别为1.121 mm-1和0.269 mm-1,最小值都在25℃,其值分别为0.131 mm-1和0.019 mm-1。其对532 nm和1 064 nm的约化散射系数的最大值分别在80℃和70℃,其值分别为2.905 mm-1和0.705 mm-1,最小值都在25℃,其值分别为0.391 mm-1和0.184 mm-1。研究结果提示,热作用的温度是影响肾组织的吸收和散射特性的重要因素。     

New NLO active cyclopalladated chromophores in main-chain polymers

Four new OH-functionalized orthopalladated complexes bearing an electron-donor and an acceptor group in a trans-like arrangement with respect to the metal have been prepared and characterized. The ligands are Schiff bases, bound as C,N- or N,O-chelating moieties. Four new polyesters were obtained by polycondensation from the monomeric complexes and pentyloxyterephthaloyl chloride. Two “model” complexes, each one related to one monomer, were also synthetized, in order to obtain further and more detailed characterization data, and in particular to perform measurements of μβ.     

Ultraviolet absorption and epidermal-transmittance spectra in foliage

We examined the UV absorption spectra and the epidermal-transmittance spectra (280–350 nm) of foliage from 42 plant species. Sun foliage was sampled from naturally growing individuals of seven species in each of six life forms comprising two evergreen groups (gymnosperms and angiosperms) and four deciduous angiosperm groups (trees, shrubs and vines, herbaceous dicotyledons and grasses). There were large differences in absorption spectra of whole-leaf extracts among species. While absorbance declined with increasing wavelength in most woody species, there was a trough in absorbance around 300 nm in many herbaceous species. Absorption spectra were negatively correlated with epidermal-transmittance spectra in 31 of the 42 species. Relationships between absorbance and transmittance did not follow the theoretical exponential function. Species rankings of UV-screening effectiveness were similar when we assessed it by using epidermal transmittance at single wavelengths (300 or 320 nm) or different UV-action spectra to weight epidermal-transmittance spectra and estimate the levels of biologically effective UV reaching the mesophyll. Thus, differences in absolute epidermal transmittance among species appeared to overshadow spectral differences. Nevertheless, the differences we found in the internal UV spectral regime in foliage suggest that whole-plant action spectra will differ among species. While species rankings of UV-screening effectiveness were similar when different action spectra were used, the absolute amounts of biologically effective UV reaching the mesophyll of species varied considerably when different action spectra were used.     

Synthesis and high ranked NLT properties of new sulfonamide-substituted indium phthalocyanines

The synthesis and characterization of three new indium phthalocyanines bearing eight N-alkyl- or N-arylsulfonamide groups is described. The new compounds are {2,3,9,10,16,17,23,24-octakis[4-(4-methoxyphenylaminosulfonyl]phenoxy]phthalocyaninato}indium(III) chloride (7), {2,3,9,10,16,17,23,24-octakis[4-diethylaminosulfonyl)phenoxy]phthalocyaninato}indium(III) chloride (8) and {2,3,9,10,16,17,23,24-octakis[4-didodecylaminosulfonyl)phenoxy]phthalocyaninato}indium(III) chloride (9), and were obtained in 23-49% yields. The precursors of phthalocyanines 7-9 are sulfonamide-substituted phthalonitriles that can be prepared by reacting 4,5-bis(4-chlorosulfonylphenoxy)phthalonitrile (3) with amines. The nonlinear transmission (NLT) of complexes 7-9 was determined at 532 nm using ns pulses. All three phthalocyanines behave as reverse saturable absorbers with increasing efficiency of optical limiting in the order 7 < 8 < 9. A comparative analysis of the NLT results is attempted in terms of the structural differences in 7-9.     

An efficient way of high-contrast, quasi-3D cellular imaging: off-axis illumination

An imaging system enabling a convenient visualisation of cells and other small objects is presented. It represents an adaptation of the optical microscope condenser, accommodating a built-in edge (relief) diaphragm brought close to the condenser iris diaphragm and enabling high-contrast pseudo-relief (quasi-3D) imaging. The device broadens the family of available apparatus based on the off-axis (or anaxial, asymmetric, inclined, oblique, schlieren-type, sideband) illumination. The simplicity of the design makes the condenser a user-friendly, dedicated device delivering high-contrast quasi-3D images of phase objects. Those are nearly invisible under the ordinary (axial) illumination. The phase contrast microscopy commonly used in visualisation of phase objects does not deliver the quasi-3D effect and introduces a disturbing 'halo' effect around the edges. The performance of the device presented here is demonstrated on living cells and tissue replicas. High-contrast quasi-3D images of cell-free preparations of biological origin (paper fibres and microcrystals) are shown as well.     

Phase dual‐slopes in frequency‐domain near‐infrared spectroscopy for enhanced sensitivity to brain tissue: First applications to human subjects

We present a first in vivo application of phase dual‐slopes (DS?), measured with frequency‐domain near‐infrared spectroscopy on four healthy human subjects, to demonstrate their enhanced sensitivity to cerebral hemodynamics. During arterial blood pressure oscillations elicited at a frequency of 0.1 Hz, we compare three different ways to analyze either intensity (I) or phase (?) data collected on the subject's forehead at multiple source‐detector distances: Single‐distance, single‐slope and DS. Theoretical calculations based on diffusion theory show that the method with the deepest maximal sensitivity (at about 11 mm) is DS?. The in vivo results indicate a qualitative difference of phase data (especially DS?) and intensity data (especially single‐distance intensity [SDI]), which we assign to stronger contributions from scalp hemodynamics to SDI and from cortical hemodynamics to DS?. Our findings suggest that scalp hemodynamic oscillations may be dominated by blood volume dynamics, whereas cortical hemodynamics may be dominated by blood flow velocity dynamics.     

Variability in leaf optical properties among 26 species from a broad range of habitats

Leaves from 26 species with growth forms from annual herbs to trees were collected from open, intermediate, and shaded understory habitats in Mississippi and Kansas, USA. Leaf optical properties including reflectance, transmittance, and absorptance in visible and near infrared (NIR) wavelengths were measured along with leaf thickness and specific leaf mass (SLM). These leaf properties and internal light scattering have been reported to vary with light availability in studies that have focused on a limited number of species. Our objective was to determine whether these patterns in leaf optics and light availability were consistent when a greater number of species were evaluated. Leaf thickness and SLM varied by tenfold among species sampled, but within-habitat variance was high. Although there was a strong trend toward thicker leaves in open habitats, only SLM was significantly greater in open vs. understory habitats. In contrast, leaf optical properties were strikingly similar among habitats. Reflectance and reflectance/transmittance in the NIR were used to estimate internal light scattering and there were strong relationships (r1 > 0.65) between these optical properties and leaf thickness. We concluded that leaf thickness, which did not vary consistently among habitats, was the best predictor of NIR reflectance and internal light scattering. However, because carbon allocation to leaves was lower in understory species (low SLM) yet gross optical properties were similar among all habitats, the energy investment by shade leaves required to achieve optical equivalence with sun leaves was lower. Differences in leaf longevity and growth form within a habitat may help explain the lack of consistent patterns in leaf optics as the number of species sampled increases.