Computer Graphics Animation for Objective Self-Evaluation.

The increased number of students enrolling in dance classes in Japan has resulted in a shortage of qualified instructors, leaving classes to be taught by instructors who are not trained in dance. The authors developed a system specifically designed to help nonqualified dance instructors teach dance using motion capture and animation. The goal is to allow dancers to easily self-evaluate their own performances by comparing it to a standard example.

Synthesis of telechelic olefin polymers via catalyzed chain growth on multinuclear alkylene zinc compounds.

Multinuclear alkylene zinc (MAZ) compounds of the type EtZn-(R″-Zn)n-Et (R″ = ethyl and propyl branched alkylene groups) were synthesized by a simple one-step procedure in nonpolar hydrocarbon solvents from α,ω-dienes (e.g., 1,7-octadiene or 1,9-decadiene) and diethylzinc using a bis(salicylaldiminato)Zr(IV) complex, [(2-methylcyclohexyl)N═CH(2-O-C6H3-3,5-di-tert-butyl)]2ZrMe2, as a catalyst. The MAZ serves as a divalent reversible chain-transfer agent for olefin polymerization, resulting in telechelic Zn-metalated polyolefins whose molecular weights are controllable over a wide range. The Zn-terminated telechelics serve as a polymer precursor for further reactions and can be converted into a variety of telechelic functionalized polyolefins in high yield.

Chemoselective oxidation of alcohols by a H2O2-Pt black system under organic solvent- and halide-free conditions.

Environmentally benign oxidation of allylic alcohols by platinum black catalyst with aqueous hydrogen peroxide to give the corresponding alpha,beta-unsaturated carbonyl compounds in high yield is presented. Reactions are carried out under organic solvent- and halide-free conditions. The platinum black catalyst is commercially available and is found to be reusable at least seven times before significant loss of catalytic activity. The operation is very simple, even in a hectogram-scale synthesis, and gives corresponding carbonyl compounds in over 90 % yield. The effective oxidation of benzyl and secondary alcohols are also described.

Oxidation of allylic alcohols to alpha,beta-unsaturated carbonyl compounds with aqueous hydrogen peroxide under organic solvent-free conditions.

Allylic alcohols are chemoselectively oxidized to alpha,beta-unsaturated carbonyl compounds in high yield with aqueous H(2)O(2) in the presence of Pt black catalyst under organic solvent-free conditions. The catalyst is easily recyclable and effective for at least 7 cycles.