Ink Spots Research Articles

Use of ultrasonic screening in aquaculture for the directed formation sturgeon and salmon fish mature stocks

The results of research work for the period from 2018 to 2023 on the use of early non-invasive functional ultrasound screening for the purpose of targeted formation of highly productive mature-brood stocks of Siberian sturgeon of the Ob, Yenisei, Baikal, Lena populations, European sterlet of the Kama population, Siberian sterlet of the Ob, Yenisei, Irtysh populations on main full-cycle industrial fish-breeding farms of Eastern and Western Siberia using water recirculation systems are presented in the article. Biotechnological methods for the formation of highly productive mature stocks using ultrasound monitoring are described. The number of individuals with pathologies and anomalies in the development of the reproductive system, liver, gallbladder and other internal organs were estimated; treatment methods were proposed. For the first time studies on the use of ultrasound for visualizing the gonads, determining the stages of maturity, detecting diseases of the heart, liver, gallbladder in salmon fish (trout, Atlantic salmon) grown in aquaculture have been carried out. For the first time ultrasound and histological studies were carried out to study the nature of “ink spots” on the skin of Siberian sturgeon Lena population from natural habitat. It was found that in the skin of sturgeon during pathology there was a growth of epidermal cells. Melanin melanocytes increased in both epidermis and dermis. At the same time there were no elastic fibers of the epidermis after painted according to Van-Gison. All these changes may indicate melanoma.

The visual size is enough to automatically induce the potentiation of grasping behaviours.

Seeing objects usually grasped with a power or a precision grip (e.g., an apple vs a cherry) potentiates power- and precision-grip responses, respectively. An embodied account suggests that this effect occurs because object conceptual representations would lie on a motor simulation process. A new account, named the size-coding account, argues that this effect could be rather due to an overlapping of size codes used to represent both manipulable objects and response options. In this article, we investigate whether this potentiation effect could be merely due to a low-level visual feature that favours a size-coding of stimuli: the visual size in which objects are presented. Accordingly, we conducted two experiments in which we presented highly elementary and non-graspable stimuli (i.e., ink spots) either large or small rather than graspable objects. Our results showed that the mere visual size automatically potentiates power- and precision-grip responses that are in line with the size-coding account of the potentiation effect of grasping behaviours. Moreover, these results appeal to improve the methodological control of the size of stimuli especially when researchers try to support the embodied account.

Solid Ink Laser Patterning for High‐Resolution Information Labels with Supervised Learning Readout

AbstractTagging, tracking, or validation of products are often facilitated by inkjet‐printed optical information labels. However, this requires thorough substrate pretreatment, ink optimization, and often lacks in printing precision/resolution. Herein, a printing method based on laser‐driven deposition of solid polymer ink that allows for printing on various substrates without pretreatment is demonstrated. Since the deposition process has a precision of <1 µm, it can introduce the concept of sub‐positions with overlapping spots. This enables high‐resolution fluorescent labels with comparable spot‐to‐spot distance of down to 15 µm (444,444 spots cm−2) and rapid machine learning‐supported readout based on low‐resolution fluorescence imaging. Furthermore, the defined thickness of the printed polymer ink spots can be used to fabricate multi‐channel information labels. Additional information can be stored in different fluorescence channels or in a hidden topography channel of the label that is independent of the fluorescence.

LinkNet-B7: Noise Removal and Lesion Segmentation in Images of Skin Cancer

Skin cancer is common nowadays. Early diagnosis of skin cancer is essential to increase patients’ survival rate. In addition to traditional methods, computer-aided diagnosis is used in diagnosis of skin cancer. One of the benefits of this method is that it eliminates human error in cancer diagnosis. Skin images may contain noise such as like hair, ink spots, rulers, etc., in addition to the lesion. For this reason, noise removal is required. The noise reduction in lesion images can be referred to as noise removal. This phase is very important for the correct segmentation of the lesions. One of the most critical problems in using such automated methods is the inaccuracy in cancer diagnosis because noise removal and segmentation cannot be performed effectively. We have created a noise dataset (hair, rulers, ink spots, etc.) that includes 2500 images and masks. There is no such noise dataset in the literature. We used this dataset for noise removal in skin cancer images. Two datasets from the International Skin Imaging Collaboration (ISIC) and the PH2 were used in this study. In this study, a new approach called LinkNet-B7 for noise removal and segmentation of skin cancer images is presented. LinkNet-B7 is a LinkNet-based approach that uses EfficientNetB7 as the encoder. We used images with 16 slices. This way, we lose fewer pixel values. LinkNet-B7 has a 6% higher success rate than LinkNet with the same dataset and parameters. Training accuracy for noise removal and lesion segmentation was calculated to be 95.72% and 97.80%, respectively.

Inkspots and ice cream cones: a model of recovery contagion and growth

The model of recovery is based on an individualized and personalized journey of change and growth that is recognized both to be socially supported and mediated and to be contextually bound in terms of community resources and assets (as well as barriers and challenges in the local community). Specificity and precision has been added to recovery models by the emerging concept of ‘recovery capital’ creating not only the potential for a recovery metric but also the opportunity to assess changes in three key components of recovery capital (personal, social and community) and how they influence and shape each other. The paper builds on this by suggesting that not only can recovery capital have a residual impact on the community but that our understanding of this approach can be significantly enhanced with reference to John Braithwaite’s model of macro-criminology and in particular the concept of ink spots to explain spread. The paper integrates the contagion ideas of recovery with the cascade effects Braithwaite describes to explain crime reductions and concludes with a discussion of the potential of concepts like collective efficacy and social contagion to be used to supplement public health approaches to the implementation of recovery-oriented interventions at a systems level. While there has been a huge growth in the ‘evidence base’ around recovery in recent years, there remain two primary gaps that this paper attempts to address. The first is around the paucity of conceptual frameworks and models for recovery and the second is around recovery as a social and community phenomenon. In this paper, we build on previous work by the authors and supplement it with inter-disciplinary work around a ‘big picture’ model of recovery communities and recovery spread.

Pyogenic granuloma in small intestine associated with Cowden's disease in a patient with gastrointestinal bleeding:a case report

A 57-year-old female with a history of Cowden's disease was referred to our hospital because of black stool, loss of consciousness, and severe anemia. Upper and lower gastrointestinal endoscopy findings could not confirm the source of hemorrhage. Capsule endoscopy (CE) of the small intestine showed an active exudative hemorrhagic site near the ileum, although a definitive diagnosis was difficult. In a double balloon enteroscopy examination, it was difficult to observe the entire small intestine due to adhesions and the responsible lesion could not be confirmed, even when ink spots were applied to the deepest observation points through the mouth and anus. Hemostasis spontaneously occurred, and then anemia occurred again approximately 1 month later and a second CE examination was performed including passage of an ink stick through the oral side, which revealed an exudative elevated polyp with erosion and a white moss appearance in the ileum. Partial ileal resection was performed and pyogenic granuloma of the small intestine was the diagnosis. We report here a case of pyogenic granuloma of the small intestine associated with Cowden's disease.

Disappearing ink! Unraveling the fading of a contemporary design object

AbstractIn 2009 the Indianapolis Museum of Art acquired Fernando Brizio’s contemporary ceramic, Painting a Fresco with Giotto#3, as part of its effort to grow a collection of modern and contemporary European design objects. The artwork comprises an unglazed white faience vase that has been pierced with 30 brightly colored felt-tip markers whose dried ink stains create a whimsical polka-dot surface. The vase immediately joined a traveling exhibition, and when it returned to the museum after nearly a year of display, many of the ink spots had faded dramatically, some having nearly vanished. Technical analysis was undertaken to (1) determine the cause of the fading and the composition of its Giotto brand Turbocolor markers, (2) to determine the future fading potential of the object, and (3) to suggest new safeguards to protect this and similar objects from future damage. Non-destructive analysis of the vase using Raman spectroscopy proved challenging due to the overall application of an acrylic varnish by the artist and the intense fluorescence of many of the marker inks. Using liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry on surrogate pens acquired in 2014, the 30 markers utilized in the object were ultimately determined to contain 9 primary synthetic dyes and numerous synthetic byproducts. The inks are comprised of food colorants, which accounts for their rapid fading. In situ microfade testing showed that the vase is still extremely light sensitive and will fade further under even the most stringent lighting protocols. An artist interview provided valuable information about Brizio‘s thoughts concerning the life of these objects, his working methods, and the interpretation of theGiottoseries of ceramics. The artwork has since been deaccessioned from the museum’s collection but has taken on a new role in gallery didactics focused on the materials of modern design and the ephemeral and changing nature of some artworks. This project highlights the urgency of characterizing the fading rate of potentially light sensitive modern art or directly identifying the colorants used in contemporary artworks prior to their first exhibition.

L'utilità dello Zulliger Test nella valutazione del funzionamento psichico

The Zulliger Test (or Z-Test) is a projective technique elaborated by Hans Zulliger (1893-1965), both in the individual form and in the collective form. It is a psychodiagnostic instrument that, as the most famous Rorschach Test, is based on the ink spots method (or “ink-blot”), and that invites the subject to interpret symmetrical and little structured spots. Initially, it was created in the slides version for the selection of soldiers of Swiss army and successively proposed as planks for the individual administration. The following article proposes to evidence the usefulness of individual form of Z-Test in the appraisal of psychical operation, both normal and pathological. A review of the literature is lead carrying out searches of articles and witnesses through search engines PubMed, ResearchGate, Google Scholar, APA following PsycNET® by the keywords: “Zulliger test”, “Hans Zulliger”, “projective test”. Found the usefullness of Z-Test in individual form for the appraisal of psychical operation, the necessity of a study is evidenced for the definition of the normative champion of the Italian adult normal population.

The use of polyamidoamines for the conservation of iron-gall inked paper

A new approach to the conservation of paper manuscripts is proposed that leads to both deacidification and strengthening of paper. The study was carried out by using polyamidoamines (PAAOHs) functionalized with alcoholic groups, in their native form (PAAb) or neutralized with boric acid (PAAn). They were applied on model paper samples containing iron-gall ink spots through agar rigid gel or by brushing. Preliminary evaluation of the effects of polymer concentration, methods, and duration of application have been tested on model ink-free paper samples. The improvements induced by PAAOHs on paper samples was revealed by surface pH (evaluated in ink-free areas, inside ink spots and on the edges between them) and by measurements of alkaline reserve according to TAPPI T 553 pm-92. The results showed the different behaviour of ink-free and inked regions due to high acidity of iron gall ink. In fact, although a treatment with solutions having low concentration (i.e. 0.1 and 0.15 M) is sufficient for preserving ink-free paper samples from ageing, higher concentration of polymer (0.3 M) or extra brushing application are needed in order to get a complete deacidification of the ink spots. As a side-effect of deacidification treatments, PAAOHs promoted a significant reduction of thermo-hygrometric ageing effects and water smearing at the edge of iron-gall ink spots, as suggested by Raman spectroscopy and mechanical analyses.

WOMAN'S NAMES IN PSYCHOLOGY: MARIA RICKERS-OVSIANKINA

Introduction: the study of biographies and bibliographies of scientists who emigrated from Russia allows us to more objectively assess scale of losses of domestic psychological scientific community caused by emigration of scientists after social upheavals (the revolution of 1917 and the Civil War that followed them) at beginning of the 20th century. This article calls for recalling that contribution of women to psychological science is not yet sufficiently understood. In this article, we tried to restore the biography of MA. Rikers-Ovsiankina, briefly describe the directions of her research, and, thus, supplement information about her in Russian-language sources. Materials and methods: the following research methods were used in the work: historical-genetic, historical-functional, biographical, method of systematization of scientific ideas of the researcher in question. Results: more complete data of autobiography and bibliography of one of Russian women psychologists who emigrated from Russia in the first half of the 20th century were recovered in article. Maria Rickers-Ovsiankina (1898-1993) - psychologist, student of Kurt Levin, author of scientific works on the problem of unfinished actions, psychodiagnostics by method of ink spots of Rorschach, studies of socio-psychological problems, emigrated from Vladivostok to Berlin, and in 1931 in the USA, where with Tamara Dembo and Yevgenia Hanfmann, they formed a stable professional psychological community. Discussion and Conclusions: the data on biography and scientific heritage of Maria Rickers-Ovsiankina presented in article allow to reveal features of formation of women in psychology, referring to historical aspects that help to understand situation with women psychologists, and, in addition, to clarify the situation of women scientists, including Russian emigrants, in science and assess their contribution to the development of psychological knowledge.

Anatomic Analysis of the Conchal Bowl Cartilage

The conchal bowl is a portion of auricular cartilage commonly used as an autologous graft for various maxillofacial procedures. Few studies have attempted to describe the anatomy of this region in detail, particularly in relation to the curvature of the conchal bowl. The present study has provided detailed information about the anatomy of the auricular cartilage in the conchal bowl region that could assist in the surgical design of graft harvesting. A total of 35 pairs of cadaver ears without gross deformity (15 male, 20 female; aged 39 to 99 years) were dissected to completely expose the cartilage skeleton. Each cartilage was stabilized, and the conchal bowl was mapped. The starting reference point was defined as the intersection of the lateral border of the antihelix and the superiormost aspect of the inferior crux. A prefabricated grid was then used to imprint a 4 × 5 matrix of pinpoint ink spots on the surface of each cartilage, with 6-mm increments between each spot. The grid's y and x axes were then aligned with the landmarks above. Next, a MicroScribe 3-dimensional digitizer (ghost3d.com) was used to capture the 3-dimensional coordinates for each point on the ear's surface and the coordinates were transferred into an Excel spreadsheet. After digitization, a Boley gauge was used to measure the thickness of the cartilage at each premarked spot. The gathered data points and measurements were examined to describe our parameters of interest (ie, depth, thickness, and curvature). The average maximum conchal bowl depth was 10.5 ± 3.0 mm in the female ears and 10.7 ± 2.5 mm in the male ears. In general, the conchal bowl depth at each point did not differ significantly between the males and females. The mean cartilage thickness ranged from 0.77 to 1.79 mm (mean 1.15 ± 0.26) in the females and 0.95 to 1.45 mm (mean 1.25 ± 0.23) in the males. Both genders showed an increase in the conchal bowl depth from inferiorly to superiorly and from posteriorly to anteriorly. The cartilage thickness also increased from posteriorly to anteriorly; however, the exact shape is complex. A detailed understanding of the facial anatomy is important in the practice of facial surgery. The results we have presented will provide surgeons with information on the overall dimensions, thickness, and curvature of the conchal bowl that could allow more advantageous donor site selection.

DVD diagnostic software for reading disc-based bioassays, a comparative study

Compact disc (CD) technology-based bioassays have been developed as novel point-of-care (POC) tools for various applications in chemical analysis and biomedical diagnosis. Herein we investigate the accuracy of screening disc-based bioassays with standard optical drives of ordinary desktop/notebook computers with free DVD diagnostic software. In particular, we have compared the performance of three free online DVD diagnostic software programs: PlexUtilities, Kprobe and Optical Drive Control (ODC), first with arrays of mm-size ink dots and then with biotin–streptavidin binding assays. We have confirmed that the PIF (parity inner failure) number is related to the size of the ink spots, while the PIF density (integrated PIF counts per unit area) is proportional to the optical darkness ratio (ODR) of the spots. The reading results with a biotin–streptavidin binding assay prepared on a standard DVD-R further prove the accuracy of quantitation with all three types of disc diagnostic software programs.

The Study in Mechanical Properties of Non Uniform Paper Stuff Material by Digit Image Frequency Domination Correlation Method

The paper pulp compression molding material is one of the most commonly used materials in packing industry. Their mechanical properties attract attentions from professional visitors and researchers. It is a difficult work to test the mechanical properties as the paper pulps are thin, anisotropic and sometimes wet. To spray ink spots with the surface of the specimens is not allowed either. The digit image frequency correlation method (DIFC) is presented in the paper, the information carrier of the displacement is the nature texture on the tested surface. Image acquiring and analysis are accomplished by the CCD camera and computer. From the displacement field strain distributions were obtained and the mechanical properties of the paper pulp compression molding material were evaluated. The test system is simple and the sensitivity is adjustable. DIFC is approved a suitable test method for paper pulp compression molding material.

An Improved Design of Stochastic Halftoning without Error Diffusion for Raster Image Processor

The performance of modern printing machine depends heavily upon the raster image processor (RIP) whereof it is equipped with. The conventional digital halftoning technology used in RIP is characterized as error diffusion, which is suitable for imaging machines with low resolutions, often resulting in correlated artifacts and transient edges. We report an innovative stochastic halftoning method without error diffusion for RIP by using an optimized random number generator (RNG). The RIP system we proposed has simple computation and stochastic features of ink spots. This research is supportive of enhancing raster image quality oriented to printing machines with high physical resolutions.

Automated quality control of printed flasks and bottles

The paper faces the quality control problem for printed flasks, bottles and cans, used as containers for drugs and beverages. The control is mainly aimed at identifying ink spots and faded prints produced by a serigraphic process, but the approach is generically applicable to any kind of printing and printed cylindrical surface. Differently from the existing systems, based on the acquisition of good printed samples, the automatic control is based on the original digital image feeded to the printing system. Therefore, the control takes place directly between the ideal model and the result of a complex printing process including a number of distortion and noise sources. Problems related to image acquisition, reconstruction and alignment are investigated; a novel technique for image-model verification, based on adaptive local deformation, is also proposed and tested over a significant set of samples. A complete prototype system designed for such quality control is finally described and its operating capability on the field is discussed.

Choriorétinopathie séreuse centrale : étude de 6 cas observés à Abidjan entre 2003 et 2005, rôle évoqué de la crise ivoirienne

This study aimed to show that central serous chorioretinopathy is present in Ivory Coast and that the emotional and psychosocial context plays an important role in this disorder's pathogenesis. The authors report six central serous chorioretinopathy cases based on angiographic diagnosis, five in Black African subjects and one in a European subject. These cases were observed over a period of 2 years during the Ivorian political-military crisis. In a center where angiography has been a current practice since 1999, up to 2002 479 angiographies were done without a single central serous chorioretinopathy case being diagnosed. After the beginning of the political-military crisis, six cases of central serous chorioretinopathy were observed out of 417 angiographies over a period of 2 years. All the patients were males, between 20 and 50 years old, five were Black Africans and one was a white European. Their professions varied (a contractor, a soldier, a business executive, for example). The angiography showed break points in ink spots in the majority of the cases, with one case showing multiple break points. All the patients were emotionally distraught because of the uncertainty of the political situation. This study confirms that central serous chorioretinopathy does indeed exist in the Black African subject, as it exists in the leucoderma subject without discrimination. This study emphasizes the anxiety and extreme emotional context as an initiating factor in the occurrence of central serous chorioretinopathy.

Calibrating Ink Spots

Calibrating Ink Spots

Mating Patterns and Bt Resistance: The Case of the European Corn Borer

Mating Patterns and Bt Resistance: The Case of the European Corn Borer

Intravascular electric impedance spectroscopy of atherosclerotic lesions using a new impedance catheter system

Newer techniques are required to identify atherosclerotic lesions that are prone to rupture. Electric impedance spectroscopy (EIS) can characterize biological tissues by measuring the electrical impedance over a frequency range. We tested a newly designed intravascular impedance catheter (IC) by measuring the impedance of different stages of atherosclerosis induced in an animal rabbit model. Six female New Zealand White rabbits were fed for 17 weeks with a 5% cholesterol-enriched diet to induce early forms of atherosclerotic plaques. All aortas were prepared from the aortic arch to the renal arteries and segments of 5-10 mm were marked by ink spots. A balloon catheter system with an integrated polyimide-based microelectrode structure was introduced into the aorta and the impedance was measured at each spot by using an impedance analyzer. The impedance was measured at frequencies of 1 kHz and 10 kHz and compared with the corresponding histomorphometric data of each aortic segment.Forty-four aortic segments without plaques and 48 segments with evolving atherosclerotic lesions could be exactly matched by the histomorphometric analysis. In normal aortic segments (P0) the change of the magnitude of impedance at 1 kHz and at 10 kHz (|Z|(1 kHz) - |Z|(10 kHz), = ICF) was 208.5 +/- 357.6 Omega. In the area of aortic segments with a plaque smaller than that of the aortic wall diameter (PI), the ICF was 137.7 +/- 192.8 Omega. (P 0 vs. P I; p = 0.52), whereas in aortic segments with plaque formations larger than the aortic wall (PII) the ICF was significantly lower -22.2 +/- 259.9 Omega. (P0 vs. PII; p = 0.002). Intravascular EIS could be successfully performed by using a newly designed microelectrode integrated onto a conventional coronary balloon catheter. In this experimental animal model atherosclerotic aortic lesions showed significantly higher ICF in comparison to the normal aortic tissue.

In-air PIXE set-up for automatic analysis of historical document inks

The iron gall inks were one of the writing materials mostly applied in historical documents of the western civilization. Due to the ink corrosive character, the documents are faced with a danger of being seriously, and in some cases also irreversibly changed. The elemental composition of the inks is an important information for taking the adequate conservation action [Project InkCor, http://www.infosrvr.nuk.uni-lj.si/jana/Inkcor/index.htm, and references within]. Here, the in-air PIXE analysis offers an indispensable tool due to its sensitivity and almost non-destructive character. An experimental approach developed for precise and automatic analysis of documents at Jožef Stefan Institute Tandetron accelerator is presented. The selected documents were mounted, one at the time, on the positioning board and the chosen ink spots on the sample were irradiated by 1.7 MeV protons. The data acquisition on the selected ink spots is done automatically throughout the measuring pattern determined prior to the measurement. The chemical elements identified in the documents ranged from Si to Pb, and between them the significant iron gall ink components like Fe, S, K, Cu, Zn, Co, Mn, Ni were deduced with precision of ±10%. The measurements were done non-destructively and no visible damage was observed on the irradiated documents.