Common Color Research Articles

Evaluation of microplastic pollution in a lotic ecosystem and its ecological risk

This study investigates the microplastics (MPs) pollution in Tigris River, assessing spatial and temporal variations in water and sediment. MPs presence was high during both seasons 3429.2 MPs/m3 (dry season) and 3363.2 MPs/m3 (wet season) in water, and 121.2 MPs/kg (wet season) and 123.2 MPs/kg (dry season) in sediment. MPs morphology mostly consisted of fibers and fragments, with sizes below 0.5 mm. Transparent and white were the most common colors, and they were primarily composed of polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP). Ecological risk assessment, using the plastic hazard index (PHI), pollution load index (PLI), and potential ecological risk index (PERI), categorized the risk from danger to extreme danger based on PHI, while PLI and PERI indicated a minor risk. These findings provide initial evidence of microplastics pollution in the Tigris River's water and sediment, emphasizing the need for action by decision-makers to mitigate these risks.

A novel ternary nanocomposite based electrochemical sensor coupled with regularized neural network for nanomolar detection of sunset yellow FCF

Synthetic dyes are extensively used worldwide although they instigate adverse environmental and health issues at higher concentrations. A reliable and ultrasensitive electrochemical sensor for nanomolar determination of common food colorant sunset yellow FCF is reported in this paper. The electrochemical sensor was integrated with a regularized neural network to enable intelligent sensing of this azo dye. The sensor was fabricated using a ternary nanocomposite based on silver doped spinel Co3O4 nanorods embedded functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes (fCNTs). Co-precipitation method was employed for synthesis of porous Co3O4 nanorods and CNTs were functionalized using acid-treatment approach. Electrochemical investigations based on cyclic voltammetry and differential pulse voltammetry techniques revealed stupendous electrocatalytic performance towards sunset yellow detection. A nanomolar detection limit of 0.8 nM and high sensitivity of 8.79 μA μM−1 cm−2 was exhibited by the developed sensor and real sample analysis experiment was conducted in commercial beverages to validate its practical feasibility.

The distribution and characterisation of microplastics in air, surface water and sediment within a major river system

Rivers are key pathways for the transfer of microplastics (MP) to marine environments. However, there are considerable uncertainties about the amount of microplastics transported by rivers to the ocean; this results in inaccuracies in our understanding of microplastic quantity and transport by freshwater systems. Additionally, it has been suggested that rivers may represent long-term sinks, with microplastics accumulating in sediment due to their high density or other biological, chemical, and physical factors. The atmosphere is also an important pathway by which airborne microplastics may enter aquatic habitats. Here, we compare for first time microplastics type and concentration in these key environmental mediums (air, water and sediment) along a major river (Ganges), from sea to source to understand 1) the abundance, 2) the spatial distribution, and 3) characteristics. Mean microplastic abundance settling from the atmosphere was 41.12 MP m2 day−1; while concentrations in sediment were 57.00 MP kg−1 and in water were 0.05 MP L−1. Across all sites and environmental mediums, rayon (synthetically altered cellulose) was the dominant polymer (54–82 %), followed by acrylic (6–23 %) and polyester (9–17 %). Fibres were the dominant shape (95–99 %) and blue was the most common colour (48–79 %). Across water and sediment environmental mediums, the number of microplastics per sample increased from the source of the Ganges to the sea. Additionally, higher population densities correlated with increased microplastic abundance for air and water samples. We suggest that clothing is likely to be the prominent source of microplastics to the river system, influenced by atmospheric deposition, wastewater and direct input (e.g. handwashing of clothes in the Ganges), especially in high density population areas. However, we suggest that subsequent microplastic release to the marine environment is strongly influenced by polymer type and shape, with a large proportion of denser microplastics settling in sediment prior to the river discharging to the ocean.

Clinical Etiology of Optic Neuropathy patients visiting BPKLCOS, Institute of Medicine, Nepal

Background & Objective: The clinical etiology of Optic neuropathy is vast and may be associated with life threatening conditions which might demand initiation of treatment. Therefore, the aim of the study was to evaluate clinical etiology among patients visiting ophthalmology OPD of Institute of medicine, Nepal.
 Material and Methods: This is a descriptive study conducted at B.P. Koirala Lions Centre for Ophthalmic Studies, Institute of Medicine, Nepal. All cases of optic neuropathy who presented to outpatient department (OPD), indoor patients from 7th July 2017-6th July 2018 were included in the study. A detailed clinical history was obtained which was followed by ophthalmic examination and relevant investigation. In addition, assessment of visual acuity, color vision, contrast sensitivity, visual field were done. Data was analyzed with SPSS version 24.
 Results: A total of 86 eyes of 66 patients with optic neuropathy meeting all the inclusion criteria during the study period were enrolled with 20 patients having bilateral eye involvement and 46 having unilateral eye involvement accounting for a total of 86 eyes with optic neuropathy. The mean age of the affected population was 39.12±13.57 years with male to female ratio of 1:1.1. The most common etiology for optic neuropathy was optic neuritis (n=40 patients, 60.6%). Diminution of vision was the most common presenting complaints. Best corrected visual acuity was 6/24 –6/60 in 39.5% cases (n=34). Majority of the eyes had presence of RAPD (n=53 eyes, 61.7%) The most common color vision defect was nonspecific defect (n=41eyes, 47.7%).There was reduced contrast in 55.8% of the affected eyes in cases of optic neuropathy. Majority of affected eyes had blurred disc margin (n=39 eyes, 45.3%) followed by hyperemic disc and pale disc. Majority of the patients could not perform visual field due to low vision but those who could perform had enlarged blind spot.
 Conclusion: The most frequent etiological factor for optic neuropathy was optic neuritis. In cases of optic neuropathy, the main complaint of the majority of patients was a dimunition in vision. The majority of cases of optic neuropathy involved abnormalities in both colour vision and contrast sensitivity. The most typical visual field pattern in eyes with optic neuropathy was an enlarged blind spot. Optic neuritis is the most common cause of optic neuropathy, followed by traumatic optic neuropathy, and toxic metabolic optic neuropathy.

Color stability of composite materials to food colorants: A laboratory study

BACKGROUND: Maintaining the esthetic characteristics of direct composite restorations for a long time is relevant. The color stability of food colorants is an important esthetic characteristic of a composite material. Comparative information about the color stability of modern composite restorative materials and recommendations based on optimal clinical results for direct composite restoration are of interest.
 AIM: To compare the color stability of modern composite restorative materials with the most common food colorants in laboratory conditions.
 MATERIALS AND METHODS: The color stability of modern restorative materials, namely, Restavrin (Technodent, Russia), GrandioSO (VOCO, Germany), Harmonize (Kerr, USA), Charisma Classic (Kulzer, Germany), Filtek Z250 (3M, USA/Germany), and Estelite Asteria (Tokuyama, Japan), were assessed. Black coffee, black tea, carbonated soft drink cola, dry red wine, and cognac were used as coloring solutions. The samples were exposed for 14 days, and the temperature was 37 C. The control solution was distilled water. Vita Easyshade Advance 4.0 spectrophotometer was used. The average deviation of the color of the studied samples from the reference indicators (∆E), total color stability of the studied materials ( ∆Em), and coloring potential of different coloring solutions in relation to composite materials ( ∆Ec) were determined.
 RESULTS: The deviation of the color of the studied samples of composite materials from the reference indicators (∆Е) depending on the coloring solution was assessed. The total color stability of the studied materials in relation to food colorants ( ∆Em) as this characteristic deteriorates was as follows: Estelite Asteria, 8.640.08; Harmonize, 10.300.14; Restavrin, 12.300.12; GrandioSO, 12.960.10; Charisma Classic, 13.940.14; and Filtek Z250,15.820.15. The most aggressive food colorants with respect to composite restorative materials were black coffee ( ∆Ec=20.080.12), dry red wine ( ∆Ec=19.180.10), and black tea ( ∆Ec=18.54 0.15).
 CONCLUSION: Information about the color stability of composite materials in relation to food colorants allows planning the restoration of teeth located in an esthetically significant area, taking into account the eating habits of patients.

«Странная мистическая деревня» в повести И. А. Бунина «Суходол»: к проблеме источников

The subject of research in the article is the image of the Dry Valley in Bunin’s short novel and its possible sources. The author believes that the main precedent texts for Bunin’s short novel and the concept of national life and national character embodied in it, are the novels by Fyodor Dostoevsky The Brothers Karamazov (as the researchers have already noted) and The Silver Dove by Andrey Bely. Bunin both argues with the writers and develops their ideas about the essence of the Russian character and the Russian life. The signs pointing at the ‘presence’ of Dostoevsky’s novel, as well as the facts of the writer’s biography, are the main plot collisions, special features of the psychology of the Dry Valley dwellers (their strangeness, warm-heartedness, posing etc.) and place-names. The novel by A. Bely is referred to by key antinomies in understanding the fate of the Russian person (West – East, civilization – primitive world, sacred – demonic, heaven – hell), loci (manor and village), material details and the names of the heroes. At the same time, in the Dry Valley life one can also see the manifestation of universal laws, the idea of which Bunin develops under the influence of the artistic discoveries of Edgar Alan Poe, the author of the short story The Fall of the House of Usher. This is evidenced by the idea, fundamental for the poetics of the two works, about the connection of the external world, including the inorganic one, with the soul and the fate of a person, and the form of its representation (common reference motifs and color dominants in the description of the estate, the nature, the appearance of the characters and their inner worlds, etc.), as well as the system of images.

Evolutionary predictors of the specific colors of birds

Animal coloration is one of the most conspicuous aspects of human-perceived organismal diversity, yet also one of the least understood. In particular, explaining why species have specific colors (e.g., blue vs. red) has proven elusive. Here, we quantify for nearly all bird species, the proportion of the body covered by each of 12 human-visible color categories, and test whether existing theory can predict the direction of color evolution. The most common colors are black, white, gray and brown, while the rarest are green, blue, purple, and red. Males have more blue, purple, red, or black, whereas females have more yellow, brown, or gray. Sexual dichromatism is partly due to sexual selection favoring ornamental colors in males but not in females. However, sexual selection also correlated positively with brown in both sexes. Strong social selection favors red and black, colors used in agonistic signaling, with the strongest effects in females. Reduced predation risk selects against cryptic colors (e.g., brown) and favors specific ornamental colors (e.g., black). Nocturnality is mainly associated with brown. The effects of habitat use support the sensory drive theory for camouflage and signaling. Darker colors are more common in species living in wet and cold climates, matching ecogeographical rules. Our study unambiguously supports existing theories of color evolution across an entire class of vertebrates, but much variation remains unexplained.

New Habitat Data of the Green-Winged Orchid (Anacamptis Morio L.) Located in the Surroundings of Eger, Hungary

In 2022, we identified two new habitats of the protected green-winged orchid (Anacamptis morio L.) in the Bükk Mountains, in the surroundings of the city of Eger. One of the habitats is in the southwestern steppe meadow of the protected Nagy Eged Hill, while the other one is on a private plot near the village of Szarvaskő. A total of 18 blooming individuals were counted in the two sites. In the lower part of the steppe, at the foot of the protected Nagy-Eged Hill (47°97'56"N and 20°34'51"E), we found one well-developed green-winged orchid already in its flowering stage. It stood out with its smaller size and different flower colour from the lady orchids (Orchis purpurea HUDS.) widespread on the slopes of the mountain. Unfortunately, no other roots were found during our survey. The blooming flowers that make up the inflorescence were of the most common dark purple-red color. At the other site, further 17 individuals of the green-winged orchid were identified in a private garden (3,500 m2) in the outskirts of the village of Szarvaskő (47°92'02"N and 20°40'58"E). Most of the garden is covered by regularly mowed lawn. All of the detected orchids were in bloom and appeared scattered throughout the plot. Five larger plants grew at a great distance from one another, while 12 small ones (height: ≤10 cm) developed in a bunch. We had been aware of the presence of the protected orchid species on the plot since 2017, but before 2022 only a maximum of 3 flowering individuals appeared in one specific area of the plot each year. Floristic papers have not reported the occurrence of this species either in Nagy-Eged or in Szarvaskő so far.

Occurrence and accumulation of microplastics in commercial fish in the coastal waters of the Lvsi fishing ground in China

In recent years, there has been an exponential increase in the research popularity of microplastics (MPs) in offshore marine environments. However, there is still a gap in the research on the accumulation of MPs in different tissues of aquatic organisms and the trophic transfer of MPs between aquatic organisms. The common occurrence of MPs in the gills and guts of 11 species of commercial fishes was examined in the coastal waters of the Lvsi fishing ground (LSFG). The obtained results showed that >85 % of MPs existed in the gills and guts of these fish, and the abundance was 2.39 ± 1.38 pieces/fish and 2.56 ± 1.42 pieces/fish, respectively. Fibrous and blue are the most common colors and shapes of MPs, and PET is the main polymer type. At the species level, the abundance of MPs in the gills and guts of a few fishes (e.g., Larimichthys polyactis, Setipinna tenuifilis, Collichthys lucidus) decreased with increasing body length and body weight (P < 0.05). At the community level, this situation was not significant (P > 0.05). With increasing trophic level (TL), MPs tended to decrease in the gills (trophic magnification factor, TMF = 0.86) but did not significantly vary in the gut. We believe that MPs are multidimensional pollutants, and their accumulation in tissues/organs of organisms has not been accurately and qualitatively determined. To establish the relationship of MP transport and trophic transfer among water, sediments and organisms, we suggest that more efforts should be made to investigate MPs in aquatic organisms in the coastal waters of LSFG and to increase the examination of MPs in the water column and sediments. This study will help us improve our understanding of MPs pollution, and provide a good reference and basis for the management, monitoring and implementation of pollutants in marine organism of coastal water.

Plastics in an endemic fish species (Alburnus sellal) and its parasite (Ligula intestinalis) in the Upper Tigris River, Türkiye

Occurrence of micro-, meso- and macroplastics in Alburnus sellal and its parasite Ligula intestinalis is reported for the first time in the Tigris River, one of the two large rivers that defines Mesopotamia. Plastic occurrence was assessed from museum fish materials collected in the upper Tigris River between 2007 and 2021. Plastics were found in 57 % of A. sellal specimens (536 individuals) and in 74 % of L. intestinalis specimens (57 individuals). Mean plastic ingestion was 1.27 ± 1.30 items. fish−1 and 1.77 ± 1.79 items. parasite−1 considering all the fish and parasites analysed. Fibres were the most common types of plastics, comprising 96.2 % and 81 % of plastics in A. sellal and L. intestinalis, respectively. Black was the most common colour of plastics found in both fish (37 %) and parasite specimens (58 %). Microplastics comprised 95.5 % and 100 % of plastics found in A. sellal and L. intestinalis, respectively. In both specimens acrylic (PAN) was the most common polymer as confirmed by FTIR spectroscopy. Differences in plastic ingestion were not significantly over time and among regions. No significant correlation was found between plastics ingestion by fish and by parasites. The present assessment shows that native fish species of the Tigris River have been contaminated by plastics by more than a decade. Our results contribute to a better understanding of the status of plastic pollution in fish and parasites, provide plastic pollution baseline data for the Tigris River and highlight the urgent need to elucidate on the distribution and fate of plastics in freshwater environments and their effects on the ecosystem and humans.

Microplastics distribution in river side bars: The combined effects of water level and wind intensity

Rivers are the main pathway for microplastics (MP) transport toward the ocean. However, the understanding of the processes involved in the deposition and mobilization of MP in rivers, specifically in sediment side bars (SB), remains very limited. The objectives of this study were: (i) to examine the effect of hydrometric fluctuations and wind intensity on the distribution of microplastics (MP < 5 mm) in the SB of large river (the Paraná River), (ii) to determine the characteristics of MP to infer their origin and fate, and (iii) to discuss potential similarities or differences between MP suspended in the water column and MP found in sediment. The SB and water column were sampled during the autumn, winter, and spring of 2018, and the summer of 2019 at different river discharges and wind intensities. >90 % of the MP items found were fiber of polyethylene terephthalate (PET; FT-IR analysis), the most common MP color was blue, and most were in the 0.5–2 mm size range. The concentration/composition of MP varied according to the river discharge and wind intensity. During the falling limb of the hydrograph when discharge is decreasing and sediments are exposed for short periods (13–30 days), MP particles transported by the flow were deposited on temporarily exposed SB, accumulating there in high densities (309–373 items/kg). However, during the drought, when sediments remained exposed for a long time (259 days), MP were mobilized and transported by the wind. During this period (no influence of the flow), MP densities significantly decreased on SB (39–47 items/kg). In conclusion, both hydrological fluctuations and wind intensity played a significant role in MP distribution in SB.

Color Saturation: Upper and Lower Percentage Histogram Manipulation

There are various color correction techniques that can be applied to digital photographs to account for environmental lighting variations. This manuscript contains a proposed method for such color correction. The method involves saturating an image by a specified percentage of its pixels via upper and lower percentage histogram manipulation using the image’s RGB histograms. Variations of this new technique, the white balance (WB) correction method, and a multivariable fit are used to test its performance against common color correction techniques. The findings demonstrate that the upper and lower percentage histogram manipulation method is not only more applicable to photos because it doesn’t require calibration regions to be sampled but it is also more consistent in its correction of photos when there are substantial gray scale features (e.g. a black and white grid or text). Our motivation for testing these techniques is to find the most robust color correction technique that is broadly applicable (not requiring a color checker chart) and is consistent across different lighting. KEYWORDS: Color Correction; Histogram Manipulation; Saturation; White Balance; Scientific Image Analysis; Color Comparisons; Euclidean Distance; Standard Deviation; Color Difference

Microplastic ingestion in Sardinella aurita Valenciennes, 1847 and Lithognathus mormyrus (Linnaeus, 1758) along the Gulf of Bejaia, Algeria

This study reports for the first time, the relationship between microplastic ingestion and biological parameters in Sardinella aurita and Lithognathus mormyrus from the Gulf of Bejaia, Algeria. Gastrointestinal tracts content of 144 fishes belonging to two different habitats (pelagic and demersal) were examined for microplastics contamination. Our results showed that 74.30% of individuals ingested microplastics. The most common colour of plastic particles was blue (49% in S. aurita and 30% in L. mormyrus) and the most of microplastics extracted from gastrointestinal tracts of samples were fibers (71.64%). There was no significant relationship between age and Fulton’s factors of both the species and the quantity of microplastics ingested by them. Keywords: Biological parameters, Fish age, Gastrointestinal tracts, Marine pollution, Plastic particles

Occurrence of Microplastics in Kemena River and Niah River of Sarawak, Malaysia

Microplastics in freshwater have been identified as a significant contributor to plastic pollution in marine environments. However, the effect of urbanization on the quantity and spatial dispersion of microplastics in freshwater ecosystems of Sarawak and Malaysia remains unclear. The primary objectives of this study are to investigate the quantity and distribution of microplastics in water and riverbank sediments, as well as to analyze the properties of microplastic particles in the Kemena and Niah rivers. The selection of these rivers was based on the presence of commercial, residential, and industrial areas along their lengths. A total of 24 water and soil sediment samples were collected from three different sites along the Kemena and Niah rivers. The concentration of microplastics in water samples ranged from 60 to 128 items per liter, while sediment samples ranged from 46 to 76 items per liter. The sediment samples also contained microplastics ranging from 21 to 40 and 45 to 125 items per kilogram. Microplastics were observed in various forms, including fibers, films, foam, and fragments, in both water and soil sediment samples. The majority of microplastics were between 0.1 and 1 mm in size, with blue being the most common color observed in river water and transparent in sediment samples. The ATR-FTIR spectrum analysis indicated the presence of four distinct polymers: polyethylene (PE), polystyrene (PS), polycarbonate (PC), and polyethylene terephthalate (PET). This study provides valuable information on the abundance, distribution, chemical composition, and physical properties of microplastics in the Kemena and Niah rivers.

Iris color as a predictive factor for intraoperative floppy iris syndrome.

To assess the influence of iris color on the predisposition for intraoperative floppy iris syndrome (IFIS) during cataract surgery. Medical records of patients who underwent cataract surgery in two medical centers between July 2019 and February 2020 were reviewed. Patients younger than 50years, with preexisting ocular conditions affecting pupillary size or anterior chamber depth (ACD), and combined procedures were excluded. The remaining patients were questioned via telephone regarding their iris color. The association of IFIS occurrence and severity with iris color was tested using univariant and multivariant analyses. Overall, 155 eyes of 155 patients were included, 74 with documented IFIS and 81 without. The mean age was 74.03 ± 7.09years, and 35.5% were female. The most common iris color among study eyes was brown (110/155, 70.97%), followed by blue (25/155, 16.13%) and green (20/155, 12.90%). Compared to brown-colored eyes, blue irises exhibited a 4.50-fold risk for IFIS (OR = 4.50, 95% CI: 1.73-11.70, p = 0.002), and green irises 7.00-fold risk (OR = 7.00, 95% CI: 2.19-22.39, p = 0.001). After adjusting for possible confounders, the results remained statistically significant (p < 0.01). Light-colored irises tended to exhibit a more severe IFIS compared to the brown iris group (p < 0.001). IFIS bilaterality was also affected by iris color (p < 0.001), with a 10.43-fold risk for fellow eye IFIS in the green iris group compared to eyes with brown irises (OR = 10.43, 95% CI: 3.35-32.54, p < 0.001). Light iris color was associated with a significantly increased risk of IFIS occurrence, severity, and bilaterality on univariate and multivariate analysis in this study.

Abundance and characteristics of microplastic in some commercial species from the Persian Gulf, Iran

Global production of plastics has increased dramatically in recent decades and is considered a major threat to marine life and human health due to their stability, persistence, and potential to move through food chains. The study was conducted to detect, identify and quantify microplastics (MP) in the gastrointestinal tract (GI) of some commercial fish species in the North Persian Gulf in Bushehr Province: Psettodes erumei, Sphyraena jello, Sillago sihama, Metapenaeus affinis and Portunus segnis. A total of 216 plastic particles were collected from 102 individuals (72.68% of all sampled individuals; MP prevalence of 85.1% for M. affinis, 80% for P. segnis, 70% for P.erumei, 60.3% for S.sihama, 45.2% for S.jello). The average number of microplastics per organism was 2.26 ± 0.38 MP/ind (considering only species that ingested plastic, n = 102) and 1.51 ± 0.40 pieces/ind (considering all species studied, n = 140). Microfibers accounted for 58.49% of the total microplastics, followed by fragments (33.02%) and pellets (8.49%). The most common color of microplastic was black (52.83%), followed by blue (22.64%) and transparent (15.09%). The length of microplastic ranged from 100 to 5000 μm with an average of 854 ± 312 μm. Microplastics were significantly (p < 0.05) abundant in two shrimp studied: M. affinis and P. segnis (plastic in 80% of individuals studied) and to a lesser extent in the pelagic barracuda fish S. jello (plastic in 45% of individuals studied). The main synthetic polymers identified by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) were polyethylene (38%), polypropylene (24%), polystyrene (17%), polyethylene terephthalate (11%) and polyamide (10%). The pollutant load index and lifetime accumulation index were calculated to identify the most polluted species and their toxicity to human health. The white shrimp M. affinis was identified as the most polluted and toxic species for MP based on PLI. The present study can provide valuable data for further research and a background for the control and monitoring of this pollutant in the coastal environment of Bushehr province.

The Image of Colour and Number in Fairy Tales: The Case of Bolu Folk Tales

Aim. How the concepts of colour and number in Bolu tales are perceived in the beliefs and lives of cultures has been examined in our study. We tried to find an answer to the importance of colour and number images in Turkish culture, to compare them with literary works in the literature, in what sense these images are used and whether there is a fundamental point in these areas of use. Methods. In this study, the method of literature review, which is one of the qualitative research techniques, was used. Various researches previously discussed on this subject were also used as auxiliary elements. Results. Since the scope of our study is within certain limits, common colours, and numbers, which are more common in Turkish culture, are discussed. The white, black, green, and yellow colours are detected in Bolu tales; the numbers three, seven and forty carry the meanings assigned to them in Turkish culture and Islam. Conclusion. This study, the use of colours and numbers in fairy tales was examined in Bolu tales and a generalisation was reached. As a result of the colours and numbers being images in the 88 fairy tales examined, the colours and numbers determined in the tales were handled from a historical, religious and cultural point of view; first of all, explanations were made about the meaning of the concepts of colour and number and how they existed, and it was determined in which context of meaning the explanations were reflected imaginatively in Bolu tales.

Presumptive Identification of Nitrite by Griess Reagent Test Strips - Case reports of fatal poisoning with sodium nitrite.

The intentional ingestion of sodium nitrite causes toxicity by inducing methemoglobinemia which can lead to cyanosis, hypotension, and death. The number of reported suicide cases has significantly increased in the past ten years as sodium nitrite is readily available online. The traditional tests for nitrite and nitrate require specialized detection methods which are not typically available in a postmortem toxicology laboratory. This rise in sodium nitrite overdose cases indicates the need for a simple, quick test for suspected nitrite toxicity. In this study, a common Griess reagent color test (MQuant™ Nitrite Test Strips) was used as a presumptive method in cases where the ingestion of sodium nitrite was suspected. The test results were consistent between samples in all cases and vitreous humor was identified as a reliable matrix to be used in the cases of suspected sodium nitrite poisonings. Case reports of five patients who died of suicide by sodium nitrite in a six-month span are presented.

Arap ve İngiliz atlarında don rengi ve nişanelerin dağılımı

Horses, used for various purposes for centuries, are today commonly used for sporting purposes. It is critical to identify the horses that are used in this way by using the coat color and markings on the horse. The animal material for this research consisted of 101 Arabs and 206 Thoroughbreds. The most common coat color was BAY (56.6%). The least common coat colors were BLACK (0.3%) and DUN (0.3%). The presence of head marks on horses rated 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, and the rate of presence of the head mark were 17.2%, 29.2%, 7.5%, 6.8%, 26.0%, and 13.3%, respectively. When examining leg markings, the most common mark was the half-stocking (16.9%) on the left back leg, while the stocking (1.3%) was the least frequent mark on the front right leg. According to the findings of the study, which was conducted to analyze the condition of Arab and Thoroughbred horses, bay was the most common coat color seen in horses in general. Consequently, this situation is due to the preferences of breeders and horse owners.

Smartphone-Enabled Colorimetry

A smartphone is used as a colorimeter. The performance characterization for colorimetry is presented using both the built-in camera and a clip-on dispersive grating. Certified colorimetric samples provided by Labsphere® are considered as test samples. Color measurements directly performed utilizing the smartphone camera only are obtained using the RGB Detector app, downloaded from the Google Play Store. More precise measurements are achieved using the commercially available GoSpectro grating and related app. In both cases, to quantify the reliability and sensitivity of smartphone-based color measurements, the CIELab color difference ΔE between the certified and smartphone-measured colors is calculated and is reported in this paper. In addition, as an example of a practical application of interest for the textile industry, several samples of cloth fabrics with a palette of the most common colors are measured, and the comparison with the certified color values is presented.