Shades Of Black Research Articles

Identification of novel nonedible oil seeds via scanning electron microscopy for biodiesel production.

Exploration of substitute energy feed-stocks is the much-debated topic in the scientific society due to increasing power crises and related ecological concerns. As a source of sustainable energy, biodiesel turns out to be the best alternative to petro fuels. In this context, nonedible oil-producing seeds might be a potential source for biodiesel production owing to their environment-friendly nature and cost-effectiveness. The current study, consequently, deals with the investigation and identification of micro-morphological characters between six novel nonedible oil-bearing seeds employing scanning electron microscopy as possible biodiesel feed-stocks. Light microscopic examinations show that seed size varies from 0.3 to 1.3 cm in width and 0.5 to 1.5 cm in. Additionally, a large difference in seed color ranges from dark brown, black, and various shades of light brown was also witnessed. The FFA content of the seeds ranges in 0.3-4.1 mg KOH/g, and the seed oil content fall in 30-65% (w/w) range. SEM-mediated seed ultrastructure investigations displays greater variation in seed size, shape, color, periclinal wall shape, and sculpturing and so on. All the seeds differ from rounded, ovoid, ovate, oblong, flattened, and elliptical shape. Greater variation in seed wall structure has been seen from angular, entire, irregular, straight, elongated, smooth, and polygonal. The periclinal wall arrangements show alteration from flat, depressed, elevated, smooth, pentagonal, bullate, and coarse seed margins. The results obtained from the current study suggest that scanning electron microscopy could be a beneficial tool in vitalizing the hidden micromorphological characters among various nonedible oil producing seeds, which eventually helps in exploration, correct identification, seed classification, and authentication in future.

Influence of zinc substitution with cobalt on thermal behaviour, structure and morphology of zinc ferrite embedded in silica matrix

The influence of Zn2+ substitution with Co2+ on the thermal behaviour, morphology and structure of ZnFe2O4 was studied. The ZnFe2O4 and Co-substituted ZnFe2O4 (Co0.3Zn0.7Fe2O4 and Co0.7Zn0.3Fe2O4) nanoparticles embedded in SiO2 matrix were synthesized by a modified sol-gel method. The thermal analysis revealed the formation of Zn-, Fe- and Co-succinate precursors at 130–200 °C and their decomposition to ferrites at 220–400 °C. Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy confirmed the formation of succinates and their decomposition into ferrites. Isotherms were used to calculate the rate constants for the decomposition of succinates to ferrites and the activation energy for each ferrite. The nanocrystallites have cubic spinel structure and an average diameter of 12–31 nm. At 1000 °C, for ZnFe2O4/SiO2 gel, X-ray diffraction (XRD) revealed a main (ZnFe2O4) and two secondary (Zn2SiO4 and SiO2) phases. By partially substitution (Co0.3Zn0.3Fe2O4/SiO2 gel), the secondary phases disappear, XRD revealing only the presence of mixed Zn-Co ferrite. Due to presence of non-magnetic SiO2 matrix, nearly spherical and non-agglomerated nanoparticles were showed by transmission and scanning electron microscopy. Ferrites are coloured in dark brown to black shades and can be used as ceramic pigments.

Scanning electron microscopy leads to identification of novel nonedible oil seeds as energy crops.

Currently, exploration of alternative energy resources is hotly debated among the scientific community owing to rising energy crises and environmental issues. Biodiesel, as renewable energy source proves to be a better option and substitute to petro diesel. In this regard, nonedible seeds could be a better feedstock for synthesizing biodiesel due to their cost effectiveness and environmental friendly attributes. The present study, therefore, deals with the exploration and identification of micromorphologic features among eight novel nonedible oil yielding seeds via scanning electron microscopy (SEM) as potential feedstock for biodiesel industry. Light microscopic studies revealed that seeds size vary from 0.1-2.9 cm in length to 0.1-3 cm in width. Moreover, a great variation in seed color from black, green, and different shades of brown was also observed. Seeds ultra-structure examination by SEM exhibit great variation in seed shape, size, color, sculpturing and periclinal wall shape and arrangement and so on. All the understudy seeds vary from rounded, irregular, subspherical, ellipsoidal, reniform, flattened, polygonal, ovate, pyriform, oblong, and globose shape. Seeds wall structure exhibits great variation from entire, angular, straight, irregular, polygonal, smooth, and elongated. The periclinal wall pattern exhibits variation from flat to slightly concave-convex with straight, angular, undulate, or dentate seeds margin. Among the studied species only Argemone ochroleuca Linn. (Papaveraceae) possess micropylar peak, ridged raphe, and basal helium. The obtained results from the present study would therefore, suggest that SEM could be a useful tool in refreshing the veiled micromorphological features among different oil yielding seeds which in turn helps the researchers for their correct identification, exploration, authentication, and seeds classification in future.

Cool coatings with high near infrared transmittance for coil coated aluminium

The temperature of a surface that is exposed to sunlight is influenced by the solar reflectance and the infrared emittance of the surface. A coating that reduces the surface temperature is often referred to as a cool coating. Cool coatings on building surfaces have several potential benefits, such as reduction of energy needed for cooling, improved thermal comfort, and mitigation of the urban heat island effect.In addition to low weight, aluminium is a metal that is known for its excellent reflectance properties. Recycled aluminium is now increasingly requested by the building market, both due to reduced cost as well as for environmental considerations. For building applications, surface treatments and coatings that completely hide the aluminium substrate are needed in order to obtain an attractive appearance, good corrosion properties and overall protection against outdoor environments.We see a need for a low-cost approach that can be used to obtain a cool coating on aluminium sheet. For this we have developed several different one-layer coating systems that can be applied in a coil-coating process. A total of 8 different coloured pigments with low absorption in the near infrared have been investigated with the goal to make cool coatings with various desirable colours. The coated surfaces achieved high solar reflectance by utilizing the excellent reflectance properties of the aluminium substrate. Good hiding of the substrate in the visible range and high infrared emittance has also been obtained. The colours include black and different shades of red, orange and yellow. Solar reflectance spectra and infrared reflectance spectra have been measured. From these spectra, optical properties of the coated surface such as total solar reflectance (TSR), infrared emittance and solar reflectance index (SRI) have been calculated. In addition, we also present results from weathering testing of the coated materials. The results show that the one-layer approach can be used to obtain cool coatings with high near infrared transmittance that are feasible to apply in a coil coating process.

Berliner Symposium Integrated Palliative Cancer Care – black or white or shades of grey?

Berliner Symposium Integrated Palliative Cancer Care – black or white or shades of grey?

Black and White and Shades of Gray [State of the Art

"Moderation in all things" is a popular saying that many of us have heard all our lives. Still, a good number of people seem to have forgotten the sentiment behind this advice. Instead of looking for the good that exists within the bad and the bad that dwells within the good, people are choosing to line up behind one extreme or another. Nuances are being ignored in favor of strong positions on either side of the middle. This has led inevitably to polarization, partisanship, and balkanization in our society. For some reason, moderation has been forgotten.

Synthesis of Direct dyes based on non-carcinogenic amines for leather and textile industry

ABSTRACT: A series of direct dyes based on 4,4'-diaminodiphenylamine-2'-sulphonic acid (1-5) have been synthesized to be used as potential alternative to benzidine ( human carcinogenic) and they are eco-friendly. Benzidine derivatives containing alkoxy groups ortho to an amino group of meta-phenyl diamine removed carcinogenicity. The Benzidine analogue was diazotized and coupled with widely used dye intermediate dye like FC acid to generate a group of direct dyes giving yellow, mustard, blue, purple and greenish black shades on cotton, leather and wool. Dye structures were confirmed by visible absorption spectra, IR spectra, and fastness property. Dye purity was confirmed by TLC using BuOH: EtOH: NH4OH:H2O (3:1:0:5:1) as the fluent. The dyed fabrics showed very good to excellent wash fastness and moderate to good light and perspiration fastness properties.

When the Walls Came Down

When the Walls Came Down

Behavioural response of winged aphids to visual contrasts in the field

To test the behavioural response of winged aphid spring migrants to visual contrasts, we conducted a field trial in which water traps (painted in seven different shades of green and yellow) were set up on uncovered soil and on coloured boards (also painted in seven different colours including black, brown and various shades of green). In total, 56 trap–background combinations were tested. Out of the 4904 aphid individuals caught, 64.5% belonged to Aphis ssp. Using spectral measurements of both traps and backgrounds, as well as information on insect spectral sensitivity, an empirical colour choice model was built based on photoreceptor adaptation to the background, and colour opponency of the green and blue photoreceptor. Specifically, the visual input variable C* represents the difference between green–blue colour opponency values of the trap and the background. When C* > 0, the number of aphids linearly increased with C*. The model explained 64% of the behavioural response of the aphids. Applied to intercropping scenarios of sugar beet, the behavioural model showed a higher visual attractivity of a monocrop sugar beet than intercropped sugar beet. Implications for the use of mulches and for increasing plant diversity in cropping systems are discussed.

The black and white and shades of grey of boundary violations

Using a Constructivist Grounded Theory approach (Charmaz, 2006), this research examined the social construct of the “professional boundary” necessary in mental health therapeutic work and the problem of professional boundary violations in the therapeutic relationship. Thirteen mental health clinicians from various professional disciplines commonly found in mental health clinical practice responded to three specific questions designed to gain an understanding about how clinicians gauge the differences between minor and serious boundary violations. The three questions facilitated further exploration of boundary violations specifically to explore the difficulties of determining what is and what is not considered a boundary violation often resulting in polarised views or “black and white” descriptions and opinions. However many shades of grey were also revealed during the interviews. Almost all participants rated intimacy or sexual contact with a client or an ex-client as being a serious boundary violation, on the other hand there was a great deal of variety in the examples offered as minor boundary violations. Whilst the “Black” is clearly defined by clinicians in this research, the “White” only seemed to create more “Grey” areas, with descriptions of behaviours that fell into the Grey area being more difficult to define.

Shades of Black and White: The Paris Clandestine Gold Market in World War II

This study aims to investigate the black market on gold in Paris during the Second World War. Based on documents from the Banque de France and French National archives, we discover that this black market was not so black since it was well known and tolerated by the German army and French police. An original data set of daily prices of three gold coins from 1941 to 1948 shows that this black market responded to war and political events. We also find an active arbitrage of these gold coins between Switzerland and Paris, particularly in 1941 and 1942. This arbitrage leads to a "Tuesday" effect phenomenon, meaning that prices on Tuesday day were lower than other days. This is due to the fact that gold coins that were bought in Switzerland during the weekends were sold in Paris at the beginning of the later week, especially on Tuesday.

Comparing Returns from Human and Physical Capital: Black, White and Many Shades of Gray

This study aims to quantitatively estimate the rates of returns from investment in human and physical capital and find any possible endogeniety between these two types of capital, and compare the returns from two types of capital investments. Using primary, secondary and tertiary level enrollment rates as alternative proxies for human capital, this study estimates the returns on investment in human as well as in physical capital for a panel of 202 countries for the period 1971-2015 using the random effect GLS model. The analysis is also done at a more disaggregated income groups’ level. Returns on human capital investment surpass investment on physical capital investment when human capital is measured by secondary and tertiary level education. As we move along the income continuum, continuously higher levels of education brings in the highest returns.

A Test: Hume's Missing Shade of Blue

This paper discusses a possible test of Hume's ‘missing shade of blue’ and whether it might be possible to make some empirical progress on the question. Towards this end seventy-two students were tested to see if they could determine the correct color ratios of missing black and white shades ranging from a consecutive gap of two out of 236 possible combinations, to a consecutive gap of ten of out of 236 possible combinations. On the most difficult test, four of the seventy-two students correctly determined a missing shade, though these same four all claimed to have above-average experience with art.

Temperature profile around a basaltic sill intruded into wet sediments

The transfer of heat into wet sediments from magmatic intrusions or lava flows is not well constrained from field data. Such field constraints on numerical models of heat transfer could significantly improve our understanding of water–lava interactions. We use experimentally calibrated pollen darkening to measure the temperature profile around a basaltic sill emplaced into wet lakebed sediments. It is well known that, upon heating, initially transparent palynomorphs darken progressively through golden, brown, and black shades before being destroyed; however, this approach to measuring temperature has not been applied to volcanological questions. We collected sediment samples from established Miocene fossil localities at Clarkia, Idaho. Fossils in the sediments include pollen from numerous tree and shrub species. We experimentally calibrated changes in the color of Clarkia sediment pollen and used this calibration to determine sediment temperatures around a Miocene basaltic sill emplaced in the sediments. Results indicated a flat temperature profile above and below the sill, with T >325°C within 1cm of the basalt-sediment contact, near 300°C at 1–2cm from the contact, and ~250°C at 1m from the sill contact. This profile suggests that heat transport in the sediments was hydrothermally rather than conductively controlled. This information will be used to test numerical models of heat transfer in wet sediments on Earth and Mars.

Black and White or Shades of Gray

Sex differences are a perpetually popular topic among scholars and lay audiences, but no research has addressed the underlying structure of these differences. Many people assume that sex differences in social behavior are categorical—that these differences represent fundamental distinctions between two distinct categories (taxa) of humans. Contrasted with this view is the idea that sex differences are dimensional—that differences between men and women indicate nothing more than relative positions along overlapping continuous dimensions. We used taxometric methods to examine whether a variety of well-established sex differences are indicative of taxa or dimensions. The evidence clearly supported the latter. Thus, for the psychological constructs that we examined, there is little support for believing that sex differences are anything more than individual differences that vary in magnitude from one attribute to another.

Caracterización Faneróptica Y Morfológica De La Hembra Ovina De Pelo Criollo (Camura) Colombiana, En La Sub Región Sabanas Y Golfo De Morrosquillo Departamento De Sucre

Objetivando estudiar la conformación corporal de ovinos de pelo criollos (Camura), se tomó una muestra aleatoria de 311 hembras mayores a 2 años de edad, vacías, pertenecientes a 8 fincas ubicadas en la sub-región Sabanas y Golfo de Morrosquillo en el departamento de Sucre, durante los meses de enero-marzo de 2011. Las características fanerópticas y morfológicas fueron la base del estudio, evaluándose variables cualitativas como: color de la capa, pigmentación de mucosas, pezuñas y ubre, al igual que inclinación de la grupa, perfil cefálico, dirección y tamaño de las orejas, profundidad de la ubre y tamaño del cuello, las cuales se registraron en fichas de campo. Los controles de cada una de las variables cualitativas se realizaron mediante observación directa e imágenes fotográficas, para la descripción de color de capa. Para evaluar las variables cualitativas se utilizó estadística descriptiva basada en tablas de distribución de frecuencias. En los ovinos de pelo criollos (Camura), predominó el color café, con mucosas nasales de tonalidades negras y oscurecidas, pezuñas marrón claro, ubre poco profunda sin pigmentación, grupa inclinada, cuello largo, perfil cefálico recto, orejas horizontales y de tamaño que varía entre pequeño y mediano. Peso corporal de 30,2  5,5 Kg. En conclusión las hembra ovino criollo - Camura colombiana, muestran una morfología corporal acorde a la producción cárnica, conjuntamente con aquellos que permiten una locomoción adecuada bajo sistemas extensivos, manteniendo una buena adaptación a las condiciones ambientales a las cuales está expuesta.

Gamut relativity: A new computational approach to brightness and lightness perception

This article deconstructs the conventional theory that "brightness" and "lightness" constitute perceptual dimensions corresponding to the physical dimensions of luminance and reflectance, and builds in its place the theory that brightness and lightness correspond to computationally defined "modes," rather than dimensions, of perception. According to the theory, called gamut relativity, "blackness" and "whiteness" constitute the perceptual dimensions (forming a two-dimensional "blackness-whiteness" space) underlying achromatic color perception (black, white, and gray shades). These perceptual dimensions are postulated to be related to the neural activity levels in the ON and OFF channels of vision. The theory unifies and generalizes a number of extant concepts in the brightness and lightness literature, such as simultaneous contrast, anchoring, and scission, and quantitatively simulates several challenging perceptual phenomena, including the staircase Gelb effect and the effects of task instructions on achromatic color-matching behavior, all with a single free parameter. The theory also provides a new conception of achromatic color constancy in terms of the relative distances between points in blackness-whiteness space. The theory suggests a host of striking conclusions, the most important of which is that the perceptual dimensions of vision should be generically specified according to the computational properties of the brain, rather than in terms of "reified" physical dimensions. This new approach replaces the computational goal of estimating absolute physical quantities ("inverse optics") with the goal of computing object properties relatively.

Nubiola launches micronized black iron oxide with bluish undertone

Spanish pigment manufacturer Nubiola has recently launched a micronized black iron oxide pigment that is claimed to offer a ‘deep bluish undertone’ combined with ‘great tinting strength’. According to the company, a bluish undertone is a highly appreciated characteristic in grey or black colour shades but is uncommon for iron oxides.

Definitions in children’s palliative care: black and white or shades of grey?

Definitions in children’s palliative care: black and white or shades of grey?

Preliminary analysis of Palaeolithic black pigments in plaquettes from the Parpalló cave (Gandía, Spain) carried out by means of non-destructive techniques

Parpalló cave (Gandía, Spain) is one of the most important Palaeolithic sites in the Spanish Mediterranean region. It is characterized by a mobiliary art whose archaeological sequence covers a dilated period (26,000–11,000 BP) and includes plaquettes decorated with black and different shades of red and yellow pigments. The aim of this paper is to present the results of analyses of the nature of black pigments used in the decoration of Parpalló plaquettes. The analyses were carried out by a non-destructive technique, by means of EDXRF. Furthermore, a colorimetric data bank has been created for conservation purposes. EDXRF measurements directly identify the use of manganese black pigments and indirectly the use of wooden charcoal based black pigments, in both zoomorphic motifs and undefined signs. No differentiation between manganese and non-manganese based black pigments was found from colorimetric measurements, but the data obtained will prove to be a useful reference for further studies as pigments fade with time.