Color Shade Research Articles

Double-faced shading effect digital jacquard fabric with a weft-backed and warp-wadded structure

Jacquard fabric produced by a weft-backed and warp-wadded structure is a traditional figured fabric in ancient China. However, it cannot express multi-color on the face of fabric due to the restriction of the woven structure produced in the traditional manner. At present, researchers focus more on archaeological discoveries and cultural relic replication of jacquard fabrics with a weft-backed and warp-wadded structure, but neglect research on expanding the color gamut through structural innovation. To achieve rich colors and a double-faced shading effect on jacquard fabric, this paper proposes a design principle and method for the weft-backed and warp-wadded structure under the layered-combination design mode. Four structural models of the weft-backed and warp-wadded structure are combined with full-color shaded weaves, and the effectiveness of the color shading effect is verified through a fabric specimen experiment. The results show that the average lightness difference ranges from 0.80 to 1.48, the color difference ranges from 1.67 to 3.03, and the variance ranges from 0.21 to 1.27 on both sides of the fabric specimens. The resulting fabric achieves a full-color shading effect of four mixed colors and high color purity on both sides. In addition, the color shading effect is stable and ideal. The results of this study are expected to have tremendous benefits for the creation of new jacquard fabrics that will be applied to apparel and home textiles.

A coloristic image of the modern northern city (the example of Norilsk)

In this paper, mutual influence of the color and image of the city in the perception of the residents is studied with the example of the city of Norilsk located 300 km north of the Arctic Circle. The chronological span is limited to the present moment, however, part of the study concerns the period since the foundation of the city (1935). The aim of the study is to determine how the coloristics supports the image of the city in the minds of its residents. Concerning the methods, the study was divided into several blocks. In the first part (the actual palette of the city), the method of categorization of color carriers and method of generalization of color shades were used. In the sec-ond part (hypotheses about the contours of group images), the content-analysis of the social networks and media was used. In the third part (hypotheses testing), the methods of questionnaires and quota sampling were em-ployed. In the fourth block, in-depth interviews with Photo-Voice were conducted. As a result, it was found that coloristics is closely interconnected with the image of the territory. In particular, the use of bright colors in the ar-chitecture of the 1950s in Leninsky Prospect accurately identifies the historical events associated with the builders of the city (political prisoners of GULAG). The architecture of other historical periods is less contemptable, thus the events are not integrated into group images. Therefore, the city is associated with the talent and resilience of the prisoners and supports a sense of self-continuity of the exiled intellectuals among the inhabitants. The life in the city is still thought of through the categories of ‘heroism’, whereas all subsequent events are perceived as imposed (industrial exploitation of resources, type-design practice in building). Therefore, when the residents con-trapose the beauty of Leninsky Prospekt to the rest of the city, actually, the talent, intelligence, and respect to the nature are opposed to the degradation of the territory. The presence of the blue-colored buildings and symbolism of the city-forming company reinforces the image of Norilsk as a center of metallurgy, since the production is pre-sent in the city in the form of symbols. The image of Norilsk as an isolated city is enhanced by the difference in color between the back yard and street facades. The city is perceived by the residents as a decoration, its prob-lems are not interesting to external observers. The perception of the city as a larger category of the Far North is reflected in the coloristic image of the city.

Luminescence Properties of Samarium Ion‐Doped Silicoborate Glasses for Application in Optoelectronic Material

Gadolinium sodium silicoborate glasses doped with samarium ion (Sm:GNSB) are prepared by the melt quenching technique. The glasses are studied for their physical, optical, and luminescence properties. The density, molar volume, and refractive index of glass are investigated as a function of Sm2O3 concentrations. Addition of Sm3+ ions in the glass matrix shows several absorption peaks in the visible and near‐infrared region, verified by the absorption spectra. The energy transfer from Gd3+ to Sm3+ is observed by photoluminescence (PL) emission spectra, which illustrates the strongest emission occurring at 600 nm (4G5/2 → 6H7/2). The PL decay time of 600 nm emission under 403 nm excitation decreases with increasing Sm2O3 concentrations. The color coordinates of the International Commission on Illumination chromaticity show different shades of orange color under different excitations. The result of radioluminescence shows a similar trend to PL emission spectra. Glasses doped with Sm3+ ions find potential use as an orange color‐emitting optoelectronic device application.

A new ratiometric fluorescent detection of Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase enzyme based on dually emitting carbon dots and silver nanoparticles

The defect of Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) is a considerable enzyme deficiency globally and causes many diseases. Here the ratiometric fluorescent method was designed for detecting G6PD based on silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and dually emitting carbon dots (DECDs) that exhibited dual emission fluorescence peaks in 470 and 523 (nm) under the single excitation wavelength at 330 nm. In the solution of mixed DECDs and AgNPs, the internal filter effect (IFE) causes a reduction of blue fluorescence of DECDs, because spectral overlapping happened between the emission of DECDs and the absorption of AgNPs (near 400 nm). In the absents of G6PD, the substrate of this enzyme (NADP+) was exited in the solution, causing the aggregation of AgNPs, and the absorption of aggregated AgNPs was shifted to about 520 nm. Therefore, recovering the blue fluorescence is happened. The ratiometric fluorometric assay is based on rationing the emissions (I470/I523). This method has a wide detection range (0.009–21 (U mL−1)) with a low detection limit of 0.006 (U mL−1). The assay was used to determine G6PD in spiked blood samples; the recovery values were obtained in the range of 96.19 % to 110 %. This cheap and fast method allows detecting G6PD on-site with visual detection by analyzing fluorescence color shades.

Effect of high-speed sintering modes of Russian zirconia samples made of Ziceram T on strength indicators and color

BACKGROUND: In recent years, zirconia prostheses have gradually become a mass type of orthopedic treatment. The production of zirconium dioxide blanks for dentistry has also been launched in our country. In recent years, the possibility of speed sintering of dental prostheses made of zirconia has been widely calculated, which makes it possible to reduce the process of manufacturing structures by four to five times.
 AIM: To investigate the effect of high-speed sintering on important properties, such as strength characteristics during three-point bending and color parameters at 10 different modes of speed sintering of ceramic materials.
 MATERIALS AND METHODS: The work uses samples obtained by computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing milling from domestic Ziceram T blanks, color A2. Depending on the firing modes, the samples were divided into 11 groups. The strength of the sintered samples was studied with three-point bending on a bursting machine. The color parameters of the samples were determined on the Spectron-M color analyzer in the CIE L*a*b system on a white and black background using acceptable norms of color difference and characteristics of color shades.
 RESULTS: According to the results of tests for resistance to bending, susceptibility has an approximate value of more than 300 MPa. According to ISO 6872, this flexural strength is sufficient for the fabrication чof single crowns in both anterior and posterior teeth. An increase in the lightness of ceramic samples based on zirconium dioxide from domestic factories Ziceram T of Zircon Ceramics was established. The reduced firing time led to an increase in body weight, which is associated with a decrease in their intensity.
 CONCLUSION: Express firing modes of ceramics based on zirconium dioxide Ziceram T guarantee the achievement of the required strength. However, none of the studied firing modes allowed achieving the color parameters of the control samples.

Color vision devices for color vision deficiency patients: Asystematic review and meta-analysis.

Background and AimsThere is insufficient evidence to support that using electronic or optical color vision devices improve color perception with current advanced technology. The purpose of this study is to compare and analyze the different color vision devices available for patients with color vision deficiency (CVD) and evaluate whether these devices improved their color perception.MethodsThis review included randomized, experimental, comparative studies, as well as narrative reviews, prototype and innovation studies, and translational studies, followed by case‐control and clinical trials with nonsurgical interventions studies, that is, electronic color vision devices, optical devices, and contact lens‐based studies, with standardized inclusion and exclusion criteria.ResultsThe primary outcome studied was the performance of color vision devices, both objective and subjective. Secondary outcomes included the ease of use and accessibility of color vision devices and technology. The grading of recommendation, assessment, development, and evaluation framework was used to develop a systematic approach for consideration and clinical practice recommendation for CVD devices for color‐deficient populations. We incorporated meta‐analysis reports from a total of n = 16 studies that met the criteria which consisted of case‐control studies, prototype and innovation studies, comparative studies, pre‐ and post‐clinical trial studies, case studies, and narrative reviews. Proportion and standard errors, as well as correlations, were calculated from the meta‐analysis for various available color vision devices.ConclusionThis review concludes that commercially available color vision devices, such as EnChroma Glasses, Chromagen filters, and EnChroma Cx‐14 do not provide clinically significant evidence that subjective color perception has improved. As a result, recommending these color vision devices to the CVD population may not prove high beneficial/be counterproductive. However, only a few color shades can be perceived differently. This systematic review and analysis will aid future research and development in color vision devices.

IVASHKA FROM THE 17th CENTURY: REFLECTION OF A PERSON's APPEARANCE IN RUSSIAN BUSINESS WRITTEN RECORDS AND IN THE SYSTEM OF ANTHROPONYMS

This article considers the reflection of an outer image of a person in a speech (a text) and in the language system based on material of comparing the data from the Russian business written records of XVI-XVII centuries and the historical processes of anthroponymization. Such characteristics as the color of hair, eyes and a face, the size and the shape of a face and its parts, the body features and other ones have been identified and described. In the group of coloratives we have found a transfer of color adjectives from the sphere of zoonyms characterized as facts of discursive metonymy ( ryzhyi [red], karii [brown], sivyi [gray], etc.), as well as the use of multi-structural adjectival nominations to designate different color shades ( rus [light-brown], belorus [tow-haired], vcherni rus [dark-haired]). This paper studies semantic oppositions in describing the shape of a face ( krugloye [round], prodolgovatoye [long], ploskolitseye [flat-faced]), the shape of a nose ( dolgovat [rather lengthy], korotkonos [short-nosed], ploskonos [flat-nosed]), etc. Lack of some human attributes ( bezborodyi [beardless], goloborodyi [bare-bearded], golousyi [bare-mustached], beznosyi [noseless], bespalyi [fingerless]) also turned out to be expressed in various linguistic units. This comparative analysis of the facts characterizing a person's appearance both in business written records of XVI-XVII centuries and in nicknames’ nominations of the same time period, on the one hand, has demonstrated the use of the same source which is the adjective vocabulary of the Russian language as well as the presence of a common goal expressed in the identification of a person by his appearance. On the other hand, we have found out a noticeable difference in the choice of characteristic features and the linguistic patterns being created: if in the written records the distinctive-feature characteristics of a person are presented by components of predicative combinations ( usom bel [the moustache is white]), then there is an attributive phrase at the beginning of a chain that goes to a surname by passing a nickname phase ( belyi us [white moustache] > belous [white-mustached] > Belous [White-Mustached {a nickname}] > syn Belousov [son of the White-Mustached] > Belousov [Belousov {a surname}]). The discrepancy is in the function of a message (predication) and the function of naming (nomination) which is generally conditional upon different discursive spheres: a business-related sphere and an everyday one.

Smartphone recognition-based immune microparticles for rapid on-site visual data-sharing detection of Newcastle disease virus

Since the last century, animal viruses have posed great threats to the health of humans and the farming industry. Therefore, virus control is of great urgency, and regular, timely, and accurate detection is essential to it. Here, we designed a rapid on-site visual data-sharing detection method for the Newcastle disease virus with smartphone recognition-based immune microparticles. The detection method we developed includes three major modules: preparation of virus detection vectors, sample detection, and smartphone image analysis with data upload. First, the hydrogel microparticles containing active carboxyl were manufactured, which coated nucleocapsid protein of NDV. Then, HRP enzyme-labeled anti-NP nanobody was used to compete with the NDV antibody in the serum for color reaction. Then the rough detection results were visible to the human eyes according to the different shades of color of the hydrogel microparticles. Next, the smartphone application was used to analyze the image to determine the accurate detection results according to the gray value of the hydrogel microparticles. Meanwhile, the result was automatically uploaded to the homemade cloud system. The total detection time was less than 50 min, even without trained personnel, which is shorter than conventional detection methods. According to experimental results, this detection method has high sensitivity and accuracy. And especially, it uploads the detection information via a cloud platform to realize data sharing, which plays an early warning function. We anticipate that this rapid on-site visual data-sharing detection method can promote the development of virus self-checking at home.

Characterization of pinto and cranberry bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) landraces from western Himalayan Kashmir for yield and quality

The present study aimed to characterize pinto and cranberry bean landraces of Kashmir valley. A set of 30 genotypes including 16 pinto and 12 cranberry type bean landraces and two checks viz., Shalimar Rajmash-1 (SR-1) and Shalimar French Bean-1 (SFB-1) were evaluated for seven qualitative and 10 quantitative traits.  There was a substantial variation among 30 accessions (28 landraces and 2 checks) evaluated for all the traits.  Out of 28 landrace accessions, 13 were bushy type and 15 were pole type.  Pods were predominantly green and seed colour was predominantly brown with characteristic mottling of varying colour shades.  Out of 30 accessions, 16 were medium sized with oval seeds. There was substantial variability as depicted by a wide range for both morphological and seed quality traits pertaining to water absorption as well as protein content and phytic acid. The heat map revealed that seed yield had a significant correlation with the number of pods per plant (0.505), followed by seed length (0.455) and seeds per pod (0.414). Similarly, water absorption percentage was significantly correlated with hydration coefficient followed by seed wet weight and hydration capacity but was negatively correlated with hard shell percentage and coat proportion. Principal component analysis based on the seed yield and related traits concentrated the variability in the first three components for morphological traits and four components for seed quality traits explaining 67.23 % and 78.60 % variation, respectively.  A number of desirable genotypes could be identified based on consistent performance for various maturity, yield and seed quality traits including high protein and low phytic acid content. Keywords: Common bean, Western Himalayas, Pinto beans, Cranberry beans, Cooking quality, Seed protein, Phytic acid  

Assessing the impact of color blindness on the ability of identifying benign and malignant skin lesions by naked-eye examination.

Color vision deficiency describes the inability to distinguish certain shades of color. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of having color vision deficiency on the accuracy of distinguishing benign and malignant skin lesions by naked-eye examination. This was a cross-sectional study conducted during the period August 2020 to February 2021. We randomly selected a total of 20 nevi and 20 melanoma images from an open access image database. The 40 images were divided into four sets of images, each set contained 5 benign and 5 malignant skin lesion images simulated as if they were seen by a protanope physician, deuteranope physician, tritanope physician, and a set of images presented without simulation. In an online survey, students who were in their final year of medical school or had newly graduated were asked to diagnose each image as benign or malignant. A total of 140 participants were included with a mean (SD) age of 24.88 (1.51). We found a significantly higher mean accuracy for non-simulated images compared to deuteranope simulated images (p< 0.001, mean difference = 11.07, 95% CI 8.40 to 13.74). We did not find a significant difference in accuracy classification for protanope simulated images (p = 0.066), nor for tritanope simulated images (p = 0.315). Classification accuracy for malignant lesions was higher than classification accuracy for benign lesions, with the highest difference belonging to deuteranope simulated images, with a difference in mean accuracy of classifying malignant lesions by 32.2 (95% CI 27.0 to 37.6). Deuteranope participants (i.e., green color deficiency) had a significantly lower accuracy of distinguishing pigmented skin lesions as benign or malignant, an impact not found for other color vision deficiencies, which was mainly for misdiagnosing benign lesions as malignant.

The impact of correlated colour temperature variation from a tuneable LED lamp on colour sample appearance shift in CIELAB colour space

Variation of correlated colour temperature (Tc) of tuneable LED lamps are thought to have a significant effect on red-yellow and blue colour shades, compared to the green one. The phenomenon is expected to be better explained by observing lightness, hue, and chroma (L*C*h°). However, attempts to map the impact of Tc variation on the shift in colour sample appearance are relatively scarce. Therefore, this study aims to map the relation of Tc variation of a tuneable LED lamp with respect to shift in appearance of theoretical colour samples, using L*C*h° parameters in the CIELAB colour space, and to determine their sensitivity. Interaction between SPD of the tuneable LED lamp and ρ(λ) of each colour sample is observed. Analysis is conducted for 210 colour samples derived from the Burns ρ(λ) model. In most cases, as Tc increases, the colour difference tends to become closer to the reference D65. Relation that can be best explained with regression model is the one between the sensitivity of ΔL* and the h° values. The proposed prediction method of colour samples chromaticity under tuneable LED lamps can therefore be implemented in interior lighting scenes with coloured objects and surfaces.

Accuracy and reliability of college athletes’ scoring of artificial urine color samples to determine hydration status

There is potential for error when athletes self-assess urine color when attempting to distinguish between high and low urine concentration. This study investigates student athletes’ ability to score artificial urine color samples (Uc) using an 8-color Uc chart. A total of 35 student-athletes ( n = 30 women) scored 51 samples on two days 2–5 days apart. Artificial urine color samples were designed to match urine colors 4–7 from an 8-color Uc chart. The color rating took place using a scoring box with LED lights providing an illuminance of 1660 lux. The data were used to design random effect models to test the contrast between the athletes' color ratings and the actual color of the reference, with significance set at P ≤ 0.05. Results showed that as a group, participants scored samples similarly between days (4.4 ± 1.2 vs. 4.5 ± 1.2, P = 0.52), but on an individual level, samples were rated inconsistently (intraclass correlation coefficient: 0.30, 95% CI: 0.13–0.56), with correlations between reported scores and the reference colors ranging from r = −0.74 to + 0.64. Samples were scored significantly lighter than their actual color shade (odds ratio: 2.64, 95% CI 1.55–4.52, P &lt; 0.001). In conclusion, athletes scored the color of artificial urine color samples inconsistently between days. Further, the odds are 2.6 to 1 that athletes report urine samples one shade lighter than their actual color, which in practice may affect the correct classification of urine samples with a color close to the selected Uc cut-off value to detect a high versus low urine concentration.

Colour Change of Steamed Alder Wood Caused by UV Radiation

Alder wood (Alnus glutinosa L.) was steamed with a saturated steam-air mixture at a temperature of t = 95 °C, or saturated steam at t = 115 °C and t = 135 °C to obtain a pale brown colour, a light red-brown colour and a dark brown-grey colour. Subsequently, samples of unsteamed and steamed alder wood were irradiated with a UV lamp in a Xenotest Q-SUN Xe-3-HS after drying in order to test the colour stability of steamed alder wood. The colour change of the wood surface was evaluated by means of measured values on the coordinates of the colour space CIE L*a*b*. The results show that the surface of unsteamed alder wood as well as steamed alder wood with a steam-air mixture at t = 95 °C and saturated steam at t = 115 °C darkened and browned due to photochemical reactions caused by UV radiation. The opposite tendency was recorded at the surface of alder wood steamed with saturated steam with a temperature of t = 135 °C, where the deep dark-brown-grey colour lightened to a brown-reddish colour shade under the influence of UV radiation. The analysis of the changes in the coordinates of the colour space CIE L*a*b* shows that the greater the darkening and browning of the alder wood by steaming, the smaller the changes in the values of ΔL*, Δa*, Δb* of the steamed alder wood caused by UV radiation. The positive effect of steaming on UV resistance is evidenced by the decrease in the overall colour difference ΔE*. While the value of the total colour difference of unsteamed alder wood caused by UV radiation is ΔE* = 10.9, it decreased to ΔE* = 8.7 for alder wood steamed with steam-air mixture at t = 95 °C, which is a decrease of 20.2 %; for alder wood steamed at t = 115 °C it decreased to ΔE* = 6.5, which is a decrease of 40.3 %; and for alder wood steamed with saturated water steam with the temperature t = 135 °C it decreased to ΔE* = 5.7, which is a decrease of 47.7 %.

REFLECTION OF KIMBERLITE POSITION ON MATERIALS OF SATELLITE IMAGE INTERPRETATION USING THE GEONOM TECHNIQUES

The GEONOM technique developed by the author for interpretation of satellite images has made it possible to distinguish anomalies of color shades, to which almost all known explosion pipes of the Zimneberezhny region in the Arkhangelsk Region, as well as most of such structures in the studied areas of Yakutia, Karelia, and the Kola Peninsula, are spatially confined. The technique is based on removal (complete or partial) of the influence of topographic relief shadows, clouds, and snow covers from a satellite image. It is implemented as the special computer program GEONOM. The essence of the technique consists in distinguishing anomalies of color shades in satellite images, that are spatially related to the prospecting targets. Results obtained using the technique are represented as a map of the anomalies of color shades. Such anomalies may fix manifestations of neotectonic, hydrogeological, and other factors that cause the specific coloring of landscapes near the explosion pipes. In spite of that the geological and landscape nature of the anomalies of color shades, distinguished using the GEONOM technique, is discussable, their spatial relationship to the explosion pipes is very real. Focusing of prospection works for new explosion pipes in areas of local magnetic anomalies, spatially associated with such anomalies of color shades, can significantly increase their effectiveness.

Effect of pigmentation techniques on the fatigue mechanical behavior of a translucent zirconia for monolithic restorations

This study aims to characterize the effect of pre- and/or post-sintering pigmentation techniques on the fatigue behavior of a 4YSZ ceramic (4 mol% yttrium stabilized zirconia). First, 4YSZ ceramic discs (IPS e.max ZirCAD, 15 mm diameter, and 1.2 mm thickness) were obtained and allocated according to the ‘pigmentation technique’ factor into 5 groups: Ctrl – unshaded ceramic disc (IPS e.max ZirCAD BL); Manuf – ceramic discs shaded by the manufacturer at block formation (IPS e.max ZirCAD MT A2); Brush – unshaded ceramic disc pigmented in the pre-sintered stage using a brush; Stain – unshaded ceramic disc pigmented in the post-sintering stage using a stain glaze (shade A2); Brush + Stain – combination of Brush and Stain techniques. The specimens were sintered and analyzed by a spectrophotometer (VITA Easyshade) for color differences (ΔE00 calculated according to CIEDE, 2000) to ensure that they present the same perceived color (ΔE00 ≤ 1.77, acceptability threshold). The specimens (n = 15) were submitted to biaxial flexural fatigue testing using a cyclic fatigue method (frequency of 20 Hz; 10,000 cycles per step; initial stress of 200 MPa; and step-size of 25 MPa) until specimen fracture. Fatigue strength (FS) and number of cycles until failure (CFF) were recorded with statistical purposes. Fractographic, complementary topography, elemental and roughness analyses were performed. The Ctrl shown the highest FS, CFF, and survival rates compared to the other conditions (p < 0.05), being only statistically similar to Brush. Stain showed the lowest FS, CFF and survival rates (p < 0.05). The Manuf and Brush + Stain shown intermediary performance. In regards of Weibull moduli, Brush shown the lowest values (lowest structural reliability), for both FS and CFF, being only statistically similar to Manuf. Topography analysis shown a uniform size of zirconia crystals in Ctrl, Manuf and Brush. In addition, a smooth glassy surface with some spots of impregnated pigment was observed in the groups where glaze was applied (Stain and Brush + Stain). This finding was corroborated by elemental analysis. Despite that, Stain and Brush + Stain presented the roughest surface (p < 0.05). In summary, the pigmentation techniques used to provide a Vita classical A2 color shade have a detrimental effect on the mechanical fatigue properties of a 4YSZ ceramic, except for the technique performed with the brush in the block pre-sintering stage. Despite this, the brush technique presents great variability in mechanical performance, resulting in lower structural reliability.

Structure and Stability Characterization of Natural Lake Pigments Made from Plant Extracts and Their Potential Application in Polymer Composites for Packaging Materials.

Natural dyes were extracted from various plant sources and converted into lake pigments based on aluminum and tin. Three different plants (weld, Persian berries, and Brazilwood) were chosen as representative sources of natural dyes. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and triple-quadrupole mass spectrometry (QqQ MS) were used to identify dyestuffs in the raw extracts. The natural dyes and lake pigments were further characterized by optical and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), UV-Vis spectrophotometry, and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The stabilization of the studied plant extracts onto aluminum and tin salts led to the formation of natural lake pigments characterized by different color shades. The natural lake pigments showed improved thermal and chemical stability, which was confirmed by their higher degradation temperatures and lower solubility in chemical agents compared to natural dyes extracted from plants. This improvement can be attributed to electrostatic attraction due to the process of chelation. Ethylene-norbornene (EN) composites colored with the lake pigments exhibited uniform color and improved resistance to long-term UV exposure aging. After 300 h of UV exposure, the aging factor of the neat EN copolymer reduced to 0.3, indicating an advanced aging process of polymer compared to colored samples. Prolonged UV exposure deteriorated the mechanical properties of EN by approximately 57%, compared to about 43% with the application of BW/Al lake pigment. Natural lake pigments could be used as effective substitutes for commercial colorants in plastics for packaging applications.

The influence of color and the plot of the picture on a person

Every day a person is surrounded by thousands of shades of color, causing a certain mood and special emotions. Photographer Philip Tolstikov will analyze the influence of color and the plot of the picture on a person.

Evaluation of drug seeking behavior on nicotine conditioned place preference in zebrafish

Seeking of drugs is commonly evaluated in a specific environment for assessing drug preference. However, cognitive strategies involved in drug seeking are mostly unknown. To assess the strength of environmental cues that can be associated with nicotine in the zebrafish brain reward circuitry, we have designed herein a modified conditioned place preference (CPP) paradigm. This task was devised to identify salient environmental cues relevant for strong nicotine–environment association and drug seeking induction. During test sessions, background colors of the CPP tank chambers were shifted and preference for colors associated to nicotine was assessed. We have compared several tank designs and different compartment colors. Our findings indicated that zebrafish seeking behavior was strongly dependent on compartment color shades. Combination of red and yellow environments, which were preferred and avoided compartments, respectively, was the most effective design presenting the highest CPP-score. Interestingly, animals that stayed for longer periods in the environment conditioned to nicotine during a first testing interval were also able to follow the background color shade conditioned to nicotine to the other compartment immediately after background colors were relocated between compartments. During a second testing period, zebrafish also stayed for longer periods in the colored compartment paired to nicotine during conditioning. These findings suggest that under salient environmental conditions, zebrafish voluntarily followed a shifting visual cue previously associated with nicotine delivery. Furthermore, our findings indicate that zebrafish exhibit spatial associative learning and memory, which generates a repertoire of conspicuous locomotor behaviors induced by nicotine preference in the CPP task.

Still edible wasted food from households: A regional Italian case study.

A 2-year monitoring campaign was carried out within the Marche Region (Italy) to quantify the potential still edible wasted food (seFW) within the sorted (seFWsorted) and unsorted (seFWunsorted) waste streams. Results were elaborated to estimate the distribution of seFW among the five provinces and the amount per capita. Results in terms of total quantities per inhabitants (seFWindex per capita) depict an important variability between districts but almost constant in years (26-38 kg/inhabitants in 2018 and 26-36 kg/inhabitants in 2019). Scores in Marche were then used to study the national situation, adopting the same percentage factors. Analysis was performed on 2019 data. Gradual colour shade was used to identify the Regions with greater seFW production potential. Worst scores are achieved by Lazio, Lombardia and Sicilia (red), followed by others classified as orange and yellow. More than 1.5 Mt potential seFW was estimated at national level, 29% of which is due to the unsorted fraction. Results at national level were used to assess the potential environmental impact related to seFW in terms of climate change. Carbon footprint indicator was quantified per capita (69 kg equivalent carbon dioxide (CO2e)/inhabitant/year in the case of Marche) and overall (3.5 MtCO2e). In addition, an evaluation of the potential economic implications related to the greenhouse gases emitted was made using the Social Cost of Carbon. Results showed that cost of the tCO2e global damage related to seFW in Italy ranges from 35 to 700 M$.

A Digital Process for Manufacturing Customized Trays for Dental-Whitening Treatments

This study presents an alternative process for designing and manufacturing customized trays for dental-whitening treatments. The process is based on a digitized approach consisting of three main stages: design of a reference model, its manufacturing by AM, and thermoforming of the tray. The aim of the study was to develop a high-performance tray, able to guarantee comfort, safety, and efficacy for whitening treatments. To evaluate the patient’s experience, some tests under real operating conditions were performed. Twenty people carried out a nighttime treatment of 14 days. Each patient was asked to assess the overall level of satisfaction and the comfort of the tray and its ability to retain the gel. Tooth whitening was also determined according to the VITAPAN scale. All patients involved in the study were satisfied and provided positive feedback about comfort and tightness of the tray. At the end of the treatment, 15 out of 20 patients achieved shade A1 on the VITAPAN scale. The mean improvement in color shades was about 7. These results confirmed the great potential of the proposed dental tray. Its use was proven to guarantee a high level of quality, flexibility, and customization of dental-whitening treatments, improving comfort, safety, and efficacy.