Uniform Color Research Articles

Management of the refractory vitiligo patient: current therapeutic strategies and future options.

Vitiligo is an autoimmune disease that leads to disfiguring depigmented lesions of skin and mucosa. Although effective treatments are available for vitiligo, there are still some patients with poor responses to conventional treatment. Refractory vitiligo lesions are mostly located on exposed sites such as acral sites and lips, leading to significant life stress. Understanding the causes of refractory vitiligo and developing targeted treatments are essential to enhance vitiligo outcomes. In this review, we summarized recent treatment approaches and some potential methods for refractory vitiligo. Janus kinase inhibitors have shown efficacy in refractory vitiligo. A variety of surgical interventions and fractional carbon dioxide laser have been widely applied to combination therapies. Furthermore, melanocyte regeneration and activation therapies are potentially effective strategies. Patients with refractory vitiligo should be referred to psychological monitoring and interventions to reduce the potential pathogenic effects of chronic stress. Finally, methods for depigmentation and camouflage may be beneficial in achieving uniform skin color and improved quality of life. Our ultimate focus is to provide alternative options for refractory vitiligo and to bring inspiration to future research.

Expanding the Associations between Landscape Characteristics and Aesthetic Sensory Perception for Traditional Village Public Space

Traditional village landscapes have a cultural and regional significance, and the visual aesthetic quality of the landscape is widely regarded as a valuable resource to benefit the health and well-being of urban residents. Although the literature has analyzed the influential mechanism of landscape features on aesthetic senses, most were from a single dimension. To improve the precision of the landscape aesthetic evaluation method, this study expanded the indicators for landscape characteristics of public spaces in traditional villages by incorporating multiple dimensions, such as landscape visual attraction elements and landscape color. It explored their associations with sensory preferences in a case study in Dongshan (a peninsula) and Xishan (an island) of Taihu Lake. We used multi-source data, a semantic segmentation model, and R language to identify landscape characteristic indicators quantitatively. The research results indicated that the accuracy of the aesthetic sensory assessment model integrating multi-dimensional landscape characteristic indicators was significantly improved; in the open space of traditional villages, the public preferred a scenario with a high proportion of trees, relatively open space, mild and uniform color tones, suitability for movement, and the ability to produce a restorative and peaceful atmosphere. This study can provide a guarantee for the efficient use of village landscape resources, the optimization of rural landscapes, and the precise enhancement of traditional village habitat.

Isolating Signals in Passive Non-Line-of-Sight Imaging using Spectral Content.

In real-life passive non-line-of-sight (NLOS) imaging there is an overwhelming amount of undesired scattered radiance, called clutter, that impedes reconstruction of the desired NLOS scene. This paper explores using the spectral domain of the scattered light field to separate the desired scattered radiance from the clutter. We propose two techniques: The first separates the multispectral scattered radiance into a collection of objects each with their own uniform color. The objects which correspond to clutter can then be identified and removed based on how well they can be reconstructed using NLOS imaging algorithms. This technique requires very few priors and uses off-the-shelf algorithms. For the second technique, we derive and solve a convex optimization problem assuming we know the desired signal's spectral content. This method is quicker and can be performed with fewer spectral measurements. We demonstrate both techniques using realistic scenarios. In the presence of clutter that is 50 times stronger than the desired signal, the proposed reconstruction of the NLOS scene is 23 times more accurate than typical reconstructions and 5 times more accurate than using the leading clutter rejection method.

The nanocrystalline cellulose from Ananas comosus leaf wastes: An overview to extraction, purification, and applications as curcumin drug delivery system

Currently, antibacterial materials are attracting considerable attention across various fields. In this study, curcumin (Cur) was prepared with nanocrystal cellulose (NCC) into the polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) matrix to improve the functional properties of a pure Cur-NCC-PVA film. The NCC was obtained from Ananas comosus leaves and characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), scanning electron microscope (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and particle size analysis. The variations of Cur concentrations (50, 75, and 100 μg) were added to prepare Cur-NCC-PVA films. The release kinetics of Cur from the films was determined using a spectrophotometer and the release kinetic model was obtained using Korsmeyer-Peppas kinetic model. The antibacterial activity of Cur-NCC-PVA films was established using the diffusion method. The results of NCC characteristics showed satisfactory significance. The FTIR showed a functional group of chemical composition that confirmed the removal of non-cellulosic constituents. XRD confirmed the crystallinity index of NCC of 75.89%. Meanwhile, the particle size of NCC of 268.45 nm. The development of Cur-NCC-PVA films showed a uniform yellow color. The release of curcumin in all films was increased depending on the time following the zero-order kinetic reaction. The non-Fickian kinetics demonstrated the mechanism of Cur release from the film. The Cur-NCC-PVA films in Cur concentration of 100 μg were confirmed to have the highest antibacterial activity and significantly different between 50 and 75 μg Cur-NCC-PVA films against Bacillus subtilis, Streptococcus spp., and Escherichia coli. The Cur-NCC-PVA films described the potential activity for topical formulation in skin disease treatment.

Preparation of Natural Plant Polyphenol Catechin Film for Structural Coloration of Silk Fabrics.

Traditional textile dyeing uses chemical pigments and dyes, which consumes a large amount of water and causes serious environmental pollution. Structural color is an essential means of achieving green dyeing of textiles, and thin-film interference is one of the principles of structural coloring. In the assembly of structural color films, it is necessary to introduce dark materials to suppress light scattering and improve the brightness of the fabric. In this study, the conditions for the generation of nanofilms of catechin (CC) at the gas-liquid interface were successfully investigated. At the same time, environmentally friendly colored silk fabrics were novelly prepared using polycatechin (PCC) structural color films. In addition, it was found that various structural colors were obtained on the surface of silk fabrics by adjusting the time. Meanwhile, the color fastness of the structural colored fabrics was improved by introducing polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) to form a strong hydrogen bond between the fabric and catechin. PCC film is uniform and smooth, with a special double-layer structure, and can be attached to the surface of silk fabrics, giving the fabrics special structural colors. Through the thin-film interference formed between the visible light and the PCC film, the silk fabrics obtain bright, controllable, and uniform structural colors. This method is easy to operate and provides a new way of thinking for environmental-protection-oriented coloring of fabrics.

Natural and synthetic colours in food. Impact on consumer health.

The colour of food is one of the leading organoleptic characteristics. It is one of the determining factors in the choice of food by consumers. The addition of colours to food is intended both at preserving the natural colour, which is lost in processing, and to restore uniformity of colour in the product. The addition of colours to food is permitted in the European Union (EU), but only with approved food colours. Legislation in this area regulates food additives, including colours, their use and the permitted amount of their incorporation into food. Food colours can be natural (derived from plants or animals) and artificial/synthetic (obtained artificially). The use of synthetic colours is associated with a number of adverse effects for the consumer’s health, but no harm for the corresponding colour has been fully proven yet. Very often in production artificial colours are preferred, due to their lower cost in comparison to natural ones, as well as their light resistance. In order to understand more about food additives and in particular colours, this review provides information found in scientific literature on food colours permitted at European level, their use and side effects on human health.

Development of a semi-finished biscuit recipe for vegans

This study explores the introduction of alternative components into the formulation of a semi-finished biscuit product to adjust the production technology. The experiment involved preparing a thick mass from aquafaba of green peas, a two-stage baking process at different temperature conditions, and cooling the finished product in both an oven and workshop conditions. Three formulations of a vegan semi-finished biscuit were developed with varying ratios of oatmeal and almond flour: 8:13, 15:7, and 13:8. The optimal ratio was found to be 13:8. The resulting semifinished biscuit product exhibited a pleasant, balanced flavor profile, a golden uniform color, and a soft, elastic, and non-crumbling consistency. The use of alternative raw materials reduced the energy value, increased protein and fat content, decreased carbohydrate content, and improved the fiber, vitamin, and mineral composition of the product.

Transparent Bamboo as an Optical Management Material to Improve Color Uniformity of Light-Emitting Diodes

Transparent Bamboo as an Optical Management Material to Improve Color Uniformity of Light-Emitting Diodes

Report of leucism in tadpoles of Ceratophrys stolzmanni (Amphibia, Anura, Ceratophryidae) in laboratory

ABSTRACT We report the first cases of leucism in Ceratophrys stolzmanni larvae. The leucistic individuals were recorded in an ex-situ population for conservation and research of the species, within the Conservation Initiative for Threatened Amphibians “Balsa de los Sapos” [Raft for Frogs] at the Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador. These individuals presented different color traits from those of the same cohort and as they grew older their uniform white coloration was defined. The leucistic individuals died as tadpoles, after time periods that exceeded the ones reported and recorded for ending metamorphosis in the species, suggesting a link between the absence of pigmentation and a potential malfunction of the thyroid gland.

Влияние освещенности на молочную продуктивность крупного рогатого скота

Illumination is an important variable that affects the milk yield. The present 90-day experiment took place on the premises of the Experimental Station Grigoryevskoe, Yaroslavl Region, Russia. The cows received feed and water that complied with veterinary and sanitary standards. The authors developed an SP-3 experimental lighting system of twelve LED lights with a total of 108 W. The uniformity of illumination and color rendering was improved by 30%. The control herd lived in their usual stalls with four fluorescent lights (LSP-2x36) with a total of 288 W. The new lighting system increased the energy saving by 2.6 times while the milk yield in the experimental herd grew by 4.5%.

Visible to near-infrared broadband electrochromic switching of π-extended viologen exhibiting highly efficient photothermal conversion

This study describes a new π-extended viologen molecule (TFBV) characterized by an electron-deficient structure inserted between two pyridinium groups. The single-layered electrochromic devices (ECDs) using TFBV all-in-one ion gel exhibit remarkable transparency under neutral conditions and display strong absorption bands in the visible and near-infrared (NIR) regions. The TFBV ECDs undergo a black coloration at a low operating voltage (−1.4 V), and at higher voltages (>−1.5 V), they display notable absorption in the NIR-II region. The two-electron reduction to neutral TFBV was confirmed through the chemical reduction of TFBV using Na2S, monitored through UV–vis spectra and 1H NMR titrations. The TFBV ECDs demonstrate an impressive color contrast of up to 96 % and a coloration efficiency of 150.18 cm2/C. The ECDs show outstanding kinetic stability through the 2000th cycle and moderate switching stability up to the 10000th cycle, accompanied by fast coloration times. Flexible TFBV ECDs, built on ITO PET, sustain superior performance even during flat and semicircle bending maneuvers, ensuring stability across repeated bending cycles. A uniform color transition is achieved in large-area ECDs of 10 cm × 10 cm. The strong NIR absorption of TFBV ECDs enables the photothermal heater to harvest the heat from the light energy, inducing a temperature rise of 45 °C. Furthermore, these devices perform a photothermal conversion efficiency of 52.5 % during multiple on–off cycles. TFBV ECDs, offering high transparency and intense darkness while blocking UV–Vis-NIR spectra, prove promising candidates for broadband ECDs with integrated photothermal conversion capabilities.

Utility of an In-Vitro Micro-Neutralizing Test in Comparison to a Plaque Reduction Neutralization Test for Dengue Virus, Japanese Encephalitis Virus, and Zika Virus Serology and Drug Screening.

Flavivirus infections, including dengue virus (DENV), Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV), and Zika virus (ZIKV), present significant global public health challenges. For successful vaccine design, the assessment of neutralizing antibody activity requires reliable and robust methodologies for determining antibody titers. Although the plaque reduction neutralization test (PRNT) is commonly acknowledged as the gold standard, it has limitations in terms of time and cost, and its usage may be limited in resource-limited settings. To address these challenges, we introduced the micro-neutralization test (MNT) as a simplified alternative to the PRNT. The MNT employs a 96-well plate format, conducts microscale neutralization assays, and assesses cell viability by dissolving cells to create a uniform color solution, which is measured with a spectrometer. In this study, we evaluated the utility of the MNT by contrasting the end-point titers of the MNT and PRNT using 4 monoclonal antibodies, 15 non-human primate serum samples, and 2 therapeutic drug candidates across flaviviruses. The results demonstrated a strong correlation between the MNT and PRNT titers, affirming the robustness and reproducibility of the MNT for evaluating control measures against flaviviruses. This research contributes valuable insights toward the development of a cost-effective antibody titer testing approach that is particularly suitable for resource-limited settings.

Progressive normalizing flow with learnable spectrum transform for style transfer

Most current style transfer models are designed as encoder–decoder structures. Some encoding operations, such as downsampling and pooling, cause a loss of image details. If the encoder and decoder are not compatible, it can also introduce distortion. Reversible neural networks have demonstrated their superior power in lossless projection. However, since the inputs and outputs of neural flows are holistic features, merely the high-level features can be utilized for image generation through reverse inference. These high-level features emphasize the image style more, leading to the generated results easily losing content details and producing abstract colors. To address the above issues, we propose LSTFlow, the first progressive reversible neural network capable of feature decomposition. First, LSTFlow incorporates our proposed reversible Learnable Spectrum Transform (LST), which can dynamically decompose the feature into feature spectrum and recover them losslessly. LSTFlow can retain more details by enabling multi-level features to be fused in backward inference. Second, we propose a Progressive Flow Stylization Strategy (PFSS) to balance the model’s emphasis between content and style and enhance the color perception. Forward inference based PFSS is carried out progressively, while the backward inference focuses on progressive generation. To demonstrate the effectiveness of our proposed method, we conducted comparative experiments with seven other state-of-the-art algorithms. The stylized effects are evaluated in terms of visual effects and quantitative indicators. The experiments show that the lightest LSTFlow performs the best in SSIM, Color Entropy, Color Uniformity and FID indicators and outperforms state-of-the-art methods.

Angle-Independent Color Change in Thermoresponsive Gel-Immobilized Colloidal Amorphous Film Attached to PET Substrate.

Gel-immobilized colloidal amorphous structures comprise short-range-ordered monodisperse submicrometer particles embedded into a soft polymer gel. They exhibit an angle-independent structural color that is tunable in response to external stimuli via a volume change in the gel, which has significant potential for the development of sensors that respond to stimuli via angle-independent color changes. In this study, the amorphous structure of a charged colloidal suspension in water was immobilized in a thermoresponsive poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) gel film and simultaneously attached to a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) substrate. The gel film exhibited a uniform angle-independent color that changed in response to changes in temperature (i.e., thermosensitivity). Attachment to the PET substrate suppressed changes in the gel film area and film distortion, despite significant volume changes in the gel. Consequently, the degree of thermosensitivity was enhanced. The PET-attached gel-immobilized colloidal amorphous film was easy to handle and had excellent flexibility, allowing it to wrap around the surfaces of curved objects. These features are advantageous for sensor applications.

Structural Colors from Amyloid-Based Liquid Crystals.

The helical periodicity and layered structure in cholesteric liquid crystals (CLCs) may be tuned to generate structural color according to the Bragg's law of diffraction. A wide range of natural-based materials such as condensed DNA, collagen, chitin, cellulose, and chiral biopolymers exhibit cholesteric phases with left-handed helixes and ensued structural colors. Here, the possibility of using amyloid CLCs is reported to prepare films with iridescent color reflection and opposite handedness. Right-handed CLCs assembled by left-handed amyloid fibrils are dried into layered structures with variable pitch controlled by the addition of glucose. Circularly polarized light with the same handedness of amyloid CLCs helix is reflected in the Bragg regime. Varying the drying speed leads to the switching between films with a rainbow-like color gradient and large area uniform color. It is confirmed that the origin of the colors derives from the layered structures of the amyloid CLCs, given the negligeable birefringence of the films, calculated from optical rotatory dispersion. These findings provide a facile approach to constructing biosourced cholesteric materials and introduce an original class of proteinaceous materials for the generation of structural colors from right-handed circularly polarized light.

A sustainable strategy for promoting the colour strength and ultraviolet/oxidation resistance of polylactic acid fabric integrating quercetin and food-grade ester

The combination of green chemicals with biodegradable polymers is highly encouraged to enhance the sustainability of textiles and their manufacturing process. Polylactic acid (PLA) is a promising biodegradable polymer to replace petroleum-based fibres and fabrics. However, to enhance the compatibility between PLA and bio-based dyes or finishes is still a challenging issue. This study achieves a simultaneous bio-colouration/finishing on PLA using quercetin, especially focusing on the adsorption enhancement with a food-grade methyl cinnamate (MC). Results show that the exhaustion of quercetin on PLA is significantly enhanced from 26% to 64% using MC. At similar concentrations, MC enables much better colour depth (K/S) improvement on PLA than synthetic n-amyl acetate. The factorial significance follows the order: MC concentration > quercetin concentration > temperature. Under the optimal condition (0.97 g/L quercetin, 3.0 g/L MC, at 103.5 oC), a theoretical highest K/S of 6.15 can be achieved. PLA treated with quercetin/MC displays much higher b* value than that of the PLA only treated with quercetin. MC also increases colour uniformity of the PLA treated with quercetin. Quercetin/MC efficiently decreases UVB and UVA transmittance of PLA and reaches the UPF 50 + rating. Around 98% of free radicals were scavenged by 10%owf quercetin/MC treated PLA in 30 min. The marginal tensile loss (<5%) of PLA after treatment is acceptable in wet processing. In all, the strengthened colour shade and functionality of PLA using MC stemms from the adsorption enhancement, which expands the applicable area of PLA.

Optimization of Bank Components to Improve Color Uniformity of OLED Displays

Optimization of Bank Components to Improve Color Uniformity of OLED Displays

Dual axis solar tracking system

&lt;span&gt;Now a days, many people use solar photovoltaic systems since they generate efficient and clean energy. Polycrystalline and monocrystalline silicon modules are currently the most widely used products in the solar industry. Aside from possessing a flawless lattice structure, a high level of material purity, a low grain boundary energy, a weak internal resistance, and a high level of efficiency, monocrystalline silicon cells also have a uniform colour and a lack of spots, which contribute to its good aesthetic appeal. By placing the solar panels at the precise angle and direction specified by the motion of the sun, the system's efficiency can be increased. The solar tracking system for this research project uses LDR sensors that are connected to a microcontroller to track the sun's horizontal and vertical axes, while DHT11 and rain sensors are used to track the weather. This study offers a method for repositioning a solar array so that it faces the sun at all times. Since solar modules effectively convert sunlight into electricity, they are helpful solutions to the problem of power generation in remote areas. A microprocessor is used in the construction of such a system to operate a motor and sensor.&lt;/span&gt;

The effects of Ca&lt;sub&gt;14&lt;/sub&gt;Mg&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt;(SiO&lt;sub&gt;4&lt;/sub&gt;)&lt;sub&gt;8&lt;/sub&gt;:Eu&lt;sup&gt;2+&lt;/sup&gt; phosphor on white light emission quality of LED-phosphor packages

Ca14Mg2(SiO4)8: Eu2+ (CMS:Eu2+) green phosphor is used for creating the white-light emitting diode (W-LED) packages with conversion phosphor materials. The phosphor shows the broadband green emission that peaks at 505 nm in the blue wavelength. The phosphor introduces the improvement in the blue and green emission spectra, which helps to heighten the luminous flux. Moreover, that the concentration of CMS:Eu2+ increases, the scattering events are enhanced to benefits the color blending for lower color variations or better color uniformity. The color renditions reduce with the rising green-phosphor concentration. The green-light amount becomes surplus and redundant for balancing color elements of white light emission. Thus, it should adjust and keep the concentration of CMS:Eu2+ in the range of ~2–8 wt%, to get the average number of color rendering index (CRI) (73–75), and color quality scale (CQS) (60–64). The CMS: Eu2+, hence, is suitable for white light realization, and the W-LED aiming at high-luminescence white light emission with improved color uniformity, and average rendering performances.

Resistance to weathering and color stability of thermally modified eucalypts wood for deck

When considering the diversity of tropical woods present in Brazil, used commercially, few are used for the production of floors, especially for decks. As a result of the disorderly exploitation of native tropical species, wood from reforestation, especially those of the Eucalyptus genus, have been used in order to meet demand. However, some properties of these woods need to be improved, such as the dimensional and color stability of wood when exposed to environmental conditions. Therefore, heat treatments are suggested, which can add qualities in order to serve the market. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the effect of accelerated weathering in thermally modified Eucalyptus clone woods for decking (with and without stain application), in order to improve the technological properties of wood, to add value to products and to expand its use. To this end, wood from 14-year-old eucalypts hybrid clones was used to meet the production of deck. For this purpose, three clones (A, C and E) were used, two wood heat treatment temperatures (185 and 200 °C) and compared to the control. Since, the thermally modified wood becomes dark, which can be seen as a commercially attractive feature to produce floors. Eucalypts wood is not used to produce flooring, especially decks, and this could increase the use of this wood in the market. Therefore, the measurement of color and accelerated weathering were performed on samples with and without stain application, in three moments, these being, before weathering, after 168 h of weathering (seven days of exposure) and after 336 h (fourteen days of exposure). Finished woods were more resistant to accelerated weathering, in which heat treatment at 185 °C, for wood from eucalypts clones and clone A, promoted better changes in resistance to accelerated weathering and color uniformity, allowing its use in low circulation floors, such as decks.