Evaluating the Influence of ipRGCs on Color Discrimination.

To investigate the influence of intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells (ipRGCs) on color discrimination, it is necessary to create two metameric light stimuli (metameric ipRGC stimuli) with the same amount of cone and rod stimulation, but different amounts of ipRGC stimulation. However, since the spectral sensitivity functions of cones and rods overlap with those of ipRGCs in a wavelength band, it has been difficult to independently control the amount of stimulation of ipRGCs only. In this study, we first propose a method for calculating metameric ipRGC stimulation based on the orthogonal basis functions of human photoreceptor cells. Then, we clarify the controllable range of metameric ipRGC stimulation within a color gamut. Finally, to investigate the color discrimination by metameric ipRGC stimuli, we conduct subjective evaluation experiments on 24 chromaticity coordinates using a multispectral projector. The results reveal a correlation between differences in the amount of ipRGC stimulation and differences in color appearance, indicating that ipRGCs may influence color discrimination.

Self-assembly behavior of amphiphilic C60-end-capped poly(vinyl ether)s in water and dissociation of the aggregates by the complexing of the C60 moieties with externally added γ-cyclodextrins.

C60-end-capped polymers consisting of an amphiphilic poly(2-methoxyethyl vinyl ether) (PMOVE) main chain were synthesized by living cationic polymerization using a C60-functionalized initiator (C60VE-TFA) in the presence of EtAlCl2 as an activator and dioxane as an added base. The obtained polymers (C60-PMOVE) dissolved in a wide range of solvents including water and exhibited solvatochromism depending on the polarity of the media employed. This phenomenon was attributed to self-assembly in polar media due to hydrophobicity of the C60 moieties at the terminus of the amphiphilic polymer chain. Furthermore, the addition of γ-cyclodextrin (γ-CD), a strong host molecule for fullerenes, to the self-assembled system brought about the dissociation of the aggregates into molecularly dispersed free polymer chains. Titration of the aqueous solution of the self-assembly of C60-PMOVE with γ-CD indicated the possible formation of inclusion complexes of C60-PMOVE and γ-CD, and this binding process occurs in a positive cooperative manner.