Slight Color Differences Research Articles

A New Instrument for Measurement of Gastrointestinal Mucosal Color

Abstract: We designed and produced a new instrument that measures the color of the gastrointestinal mucosa during conventional endoscopic examination. The instrument consists fundamentally of an optical fiber sensor and a light source. One end of the optical fiber sensor is connected to the light source and a commercially available spectrophotometric colorimeter, while the other end is passed through the biopsy channel of a commercially available endoscope and placed in contact with the gastrointestinal mucosa. The color of the mucosa is then measured. To evaluate the accuracy of color measurement, the instrument was used to measure the color of 108 color chips belonging to the color range of the gastrointestinal mucosa or surrounding regions, selected from the Munsell Book of Color. The instrument correctly determined the relative hue, chroma and value of all 108 color chips tested. It also had the advantages of consistently measuring the color chips under standardized conditions and of promptly displaying the color readings during endoscopic examination.This instrument was also used to measure the color of the mucosa at different sites of the upper gastrointestinal tract in 20 patients. There were no noteworthy problems in using the instrument clinically. Mucosal color (hue, value and chroma) of the upper gastrointestinal tract was demonstrated to have specific characteristics according to the region measured.The instrument provided highly accurate, objective information that facilitated the distinction of slight differences in mucosal color, an important factor in the endoscopic diagnosis of gastrointestinal diseases.

Evidence of Conspecific Nest Parasitism and Egg Discrimination in the Sora

Conspecific nest parasitism (CNP) is relatively frequent among precocial species and several hypotheses for this pattern have been suggested (Rohwer and Freeman 1989, Lyon and Eadie 1991, Sorenson 1992). I report here observations made at the nest of a Sora, Porzana carolina, which suggest both the occurrence of CNP as well as very fine egg discrimination in this species. Recognition and rejection of parasitic eggs is a well documented defense in some hosts of obligate brood parasites (e.g., Rothstein 1975, Davies and Brooke 1989) but may also evolve as a response to CNP (Freeman 1988; Jackson, in press). Intraspecific egg discrimination, however, has been verified in very few species (Arnold 1987). The following observations were made near Minnedosa, Manitoba, an area characterized by high densities of small wetlands and breeding waterfowl (see Kiel et al. 1972). On 25 June 1986, I found a Sora nest in dense whitetop grass, Scholochloa festucacea, in 20 cm of water along the edge of a small (0.65 ha), shallow wetland. Twelve eggs were visible in a single layer in the nest bowl whereas three additional eggs were partially buried in the nest material under the rest of the clutch. These three eggs were slightly different in appearance from the other 12, having fewer and smaller spots, a slightly lighter background color, and less glossy appearance. The latter was perhaps a consequence of having been buried and not in contact with the plumage of the incubating bird. The three buried eggs were also the smallest in the nest, ranging from 8.49 to 8.61 cm3 compared to 8.80 to 9.37 cm3 for the other 12 eggs (volume calculated as 0.51 x LW2, Hoyt 1979). The three buried eggs were distinctly cooler to the touch than the other 12. I immediately suspected that these eggs were laid by another female, but because of the very slight differences in egg color and markings, I carried out the following series of impromptu experiments.

YIELD AND QUALITY EVALUATION OF SEVEN STRAWBERRY CULTIVARS IN EASTERN OKLAHOMA

Seven different quality attributes were assessed during the early, middle and late phases of harvest for years 1990-1992: marketable berry yield, berry weight, berry firmness, berry color (tri stimulus chromameter “a” value), percent soluble solids, percent titratable acidity (percent cinic acid) and the ratio between soluble solids and titratable acidity. Marketable berry yield was influenced by harvest year, harvest season and cultivar. Berry weight varied substantially between cultivars and between seasons. Berry color remained stable through the harvest seasons with slight differences in color between cultivars. Berry firmness differences were generally associated with cultivar and varied little through the harvest seasons. Berry flavor (indicated by the ratio between soluble solids and acidity) tended to remain stable through the harvest seasons with considerable differences between cultivars. Work was supported by USDA grant 90-34150-5022 and the Oklahoma Agricultural Experiment Station.

Independent Instances of “Souvenir” Asian Skulls from the Tampa Bay Area

In the summer of 1984, police in Pinellas County, Florida, confiscated six identically colored imported Asian skulls (in a shipping case) from a private citizen. In May 1988, in nearby Hillsborough County, police confiscated a very similar skull from another private citizen, who allegedly had found it in an abandoned house. Aside from slight color differences between the six found in Pinellas County and the one found in Hillsborough County, the skulls are virtually identical in their osteological characteristics and condition and in the vital statistics derived from each. Each skull is as clean and dry as those typically sold by commercial scientific supply outlets in the United States. Each is edentulous (primarily premortem), between approximately 20 and 60 years of age at death, and morphologically Asian. Five of the seven are morphologically male, one is morphologically female, and one is a mosaic with respect to gender-related features. Police, medical examiners, coroners, and forensic anthropologists should be aware of such "souvenir" specimens, in the event that they encounter similar skulls. Discriminant function analyses for race and sex yield considerably conflicting results, which underscores the need for using extreme caution when interpreting forensic science estimates based on such techniques.

キクの花色に関する研究 (第3報)

1. To understand the quantitative effect of major pigments on flower color variation in chrysanthemum cultivars (Chrysanthemum morifolium), carotenoid and anthocyanin pigments were extracted from the flowers and analyzed both qualitatively and quantitatively.The flower color was also measured with a color difference meter (Model; NDK- 5, Nihondenshoku kogyo) and recorded with L, a, and b values to indicate individual colors. In this study, 68 cultivars were classified into four groups according to the following petal colors: group (1), white; group (2), pink (pink to red-purple); group (3), yellow, and group (4), (i) orange and (ii) red.The relationship between flower color and kinds or content of pigments in these groups was discussed. Also, the results were compared with data obtained from absorption spectra of intact, fresh petals. The detailed results are described below.2. In qualitative analysis by thin layer chromatography, three major spots of anthocyanins were detected in 49 cultivars, all of which showed the same qualitative distribution pattern of anthocyanins, and ten major spots of carotenoids were noticed in 26 cultivars, which also showed the same qualitative pattern.3. Carotenoids were responsible for flower colors of the yellow, the orange and the red groups, and the number of cultivars with high carotenoid content were greater in the red group than in the yellow and the orange groups.On the other hand, anthocyanins were considered to be responsible for the flower color expression of the pink, the orange and the red groups, and the number of cultivars containing large quantities of anthocyanins were greater in the pink, especially red-purple cultivars, and the red groups than in the orange group.4. The content of carotenoids was sufficient, even in low concentration, to reveal a yellowish tone in the yellow, the orange and the red groups, but in the case of anthocyanins, a high concentration was necessary to reveal a pinkish tone in the pink group and reddish tone in the orange and the red groups.5. A method of evaluating the flower color according to the UCS system (Uniform Chromaticity Scale system) made it possible to distinguish slight color differences among the 68 cultivars of chrysanthemum. The classification of flower color by this method coincided with that of the previous experiment, in which the same 68 cultivars were used and the flower colors were derived into four groups according to the absorption curves of intact, fresh petals. Although the difference between deep red and deep red-purple flower colors, in both of which lightness (L) was very low, could be distinguished readily by visual judgement, those flower colors evaluated by UCS system assumed nearly the same position on Hunter′s diagram of chromaticity.6. Carotenoids had no influence on the lightness of flower color determined according to the UCS system, while anthocyanins had an influence on the lightness, which decreased as the content of anthocyanins increased in the pink, the orange and the red groups.7. Correlation was recognized between the content of carotenoids and a, b, or √ (chroma) values obtained in each flower color group. A similar relationship was found also between the content of anthocyanins and color values. The anthocyanins contributed not only to the shift of hue, but also to the shift of chroma, especially in the pink group. The carotenoids exerted a large contribution on the variation of chroma in the yellow, the orange and the red groups.Thus, the methods of spectrophotometric and color difference metric analysis of flower color are very useful to clarify the relationship between flower color variation and the kinds or content of pigments in petals.

Residual red-green discrimination in dichromats.

Five deuteranopes and three protanopes, carefully selected as dichromats by common tests, have been extensively investigated by additional methods. Some of these subjects show selective chromatic adaptation over the longwave end of the spectrum, while all but one show clear evidence of an ability to name colors in a nonrandom way (which tends toward the normal) when presented with longwave spectral stimuli which have been carefully equated for brightness. Further matching tests show that some of the subjects can detect slight color differences between stimuli that fall on their confusion lines as plotted in a chromaticity chart, although they make these nearly metameric matches easily. Scores on the various tests of color deficiency used in the study do not correlate with one another. It is concluded that most dichromats retain a residual and variably weak functioning of the red-green chromatic system.

Chemical and Mineralogical Characterization and Comparison of Hagerstown and Maury Soil Series

AbstractMaury and Hagerstown soil series have largely been differentiated in central Kentucky on the basis of phosphate level as determined by chemical quick test in the field. Slight color differences have been noted, but considerable overlap of this criterion exists. Consequently, field differentiation of these two series without chemical testing is most difficult. Chemical and mineralogical data obtained for three Maury and two Hagerstown profiles point up the similarity between the two series as well as illustrate about as much range in many properties within the individual series as between them. These data suggest that as the soils occur in central Kentucky, differentiation at the series level is not justified.

A REMARKABLE TREE‐FALL AND AN UNUSUAL TYPE OF GRAFT‐UNION FAILURE

A REMARKABLE TREE‐FALL AND AN UNUSUAL TYPE OF GRAFT‐UNION FAILURE

COLOR PHOTOGRAPHY OF THE EYE

In ophthalmology, the diagnosis and prognosis of a given condition depend largely on color and on slight differences in color. An image in natural color is, therefore, of immensely greater value than a black and white one, for either scientific or educational purposes. Moreover, there are some conditions that cannot possibly be recorded by the ordinary plate and that are excellently pictured by color photography, e. g., dark red blood vessels in the cornea against a black pupil or a dark brown iris and fluorescein-stained defects in the corneal epithelium. In the problem of obtaining good color photographs of the human eye, three main difficulties arise: 1. Color plates are very slow; therefore the intensity of the light at the moment of exposure must be very high. 2. The eye can be held motionless for only a short time ; therefore the exposure should be as short as

Inheritance of Song in Hybrids of Two Subspecies of Nemobius Fasciatus (Orthoptera).1

In an earlier publication the writer (1) discussed the relationship of three races of Nemobius fasciatus , namely: N. f. socius Scudder, N. f. fasciatus (De Geer) and N. f. tinnulus Fulton. The three subspecies have slight morphological and color differences when the average condition of each in respect to certain characters is considered. Some individuals of each race are intermediate in respect to these characters so that it is often impossible to classify a specimen that is not one of a series collected at the same place. N. f. fasciatus is the connecting link between the other two races.