Visible Signs Research Articles

How to recognise a healthy forest: Perspectives from private forest managers in Britain

The managers of private forests have critical roles in responding to forest health challenges. Basic knowledge of how they interpret and understand the health of their trees is, however, very sparse. Via an online survey of private forest managers in Britain, we reveal the basic characteristics of this group's understandings of tree and forest health both in general and, more specifically, in relation to the health (and ill health) of oak species. The survey generated 441 valid responses – from forest owners, forestry agents and other professionals. The majority of our respondents believe the forest(s) they manage to be healthy or very healthy, although vulnerable to future threats. We identify key themes within managers' understandings of the factors that promote tree health, and describe the visual signs of good- and ill-health used by them as indicators. Oak trees and oak woodlands were similarly judged to be healthy currently, but again this positivity was set against a sense of vulnerability and potential future decline. The biggest threat to oaks was considered to be browsing and bark stripping by mammals – a very long standing concern – rather than more recently emergent threats. Through this research we provide a clear sense of how forest managers think about, and make judgements on, the health of their trees and forests. This understanding needs to inform the increasing efforts by the forestry sector in engaging private forest managers in forest protection.

Intersemiotic translation of Yixiang (Image): A case study of Tang Poetry in paintings

This paper focuses on intersemiotic translation of Yixiang, or image in western literary term, from poetry to painting by taking Tang Poetry in Paintings as a case to exemplify the translation strategies of Yixiang from verbal sign system to visual sign system. Furthermore, the meditative role of the visualized images in the target context will also be touched upon. A qualitative approach is applied in the study. Typical examples will be chosen for case analysis. It is found that the strategies of equivalence, focalization, integration, montage, addition, contrast and omission are employed by the painters. The effects of those visualized images varied in different cases. Overall, cooperating with the interlingual translations, visual languages such as color, shadow, body language of figures, picture structure are employed to help English readers better receive the poems.

Painting Sensations

Bacon’s paintings are images-sensations, a figurative art that composes a visual rhetoric of pathos. It is a rhetoric of sensations centred on the effects of visual signs on the spectators/viewers. The pathos is something perceptive and sensitive that happens in the spectators/viewers; it is driven, incited, provoked by Bacon’s images. The pathos is indistinctly caused by the intentional and strategic use of a visual language. The meanings of the visual signs are formed a priori and transmitted as clearly as possible in reference to a given situation, activity, event, reality/world. If this is so, the use of rhetoric is emphatic to explore the pathos instigated by Bacon’s images-sensations. Following a theoretical and conceptual approach and through the lens of Deleuze’s perspective, the aim is to show the power of visual rhetoric when provoking sensations, and to problematize the representation and report of reality as a changing process through signs/images. This is demonstrated by Bacon’s images-sensations and Deleuze’s transcendental empiricism perspective. In a semiotic perspective, Bacon’s paintings are a perfect anchorage to understand the influence of an aesthetical language and practice of image as a visual rhetoric resource, which amplify the pathos.

Grzyby pleśniowe w środowisku człowieka – lekceważone niebezpieczeństwo

IntroductionAccording to Dz. U. nr 75 of 15 June 2002, building law does not allow visible signs of mold fungi in rooms used by people and imposes immediate renovation because of exposure to spores. Which being absorbed via airway and skin may be main sources of three forms: infection, allergy and toxicity. Mycotoxins get to the organism via digestive tract or airway with dust particles or food.Caused illnessesDry eye syndrome, eye socket necrosis, acute, persistent poisoning, impaired immunity, sinusitis, pharyngitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, asthma, air and skin allergy, headache, muscle aches, artralgia. Constant irritability, fatigue, insomnia, reduce concentration, memory disorder, even depression. In the digestive tract disturb metabolism, in extreme cases causing cirrhosis, even cancer; disorder pancreas, ovaries, prostate, and lead to sterility, kidney dysfunctions. Growth of fungi is connected with insufficient heating and ventilation. It is derivative socio-economic factors, hygiene level and health care.PurposeIs presentation of the resulting threat from fungal spores and toxins exposure which are inside our houses, schools, hospitals, even our food based on available medical literatureConclusionsMold Fungal toxins have an effect teratogenic, mutagenic and genotoxic inducing damaging many organs in experimental animals. Illnesses and deterioration of health are not connected with spores and toxins exposures. It may lead to wrong diagnosis and not eliminate fungi from the environment, what cause exacerbating symptoms. Fungal infection may be similar to other illneses as: tuberculosis, molluscum contagiosum, cryptococcosis, histoplasmosis what can delay proper diagnosis and significantlyreduce chances of survival. Species: <i>Cladosporium, Alternaria, Aspergillus</i> and <i>Penicillium</i> were found in high concentrations ta astmatic patients houses. It was connected with asthma symptoms deterioration in 36% to 48% cases.

Sarcasm Depiction of Ferdy Sambo's Object in Tempo Magazine: Pierce in Visual Signs

Sarcasm Depiction of Ferdy Sambo's Object in Tempo Magazine: Pierce in Visual Signs

Sensory Qualities as Signs? Meyer Schapiro as a Pioneer of the Semiotics of ‘Visual Form’

The concept and nature of Form in linguistic as well as visual signs has been debated among several semioticians and art historians. Some notable analytical attempts have been put forward by Saussure, Hjelmslev, Vygotsky, and, regarding visual signs in particular, by Meyer Schapiro, Floch, Greimas, and the Groupe µ, among others. Greimas and Floch proposed a distinction between two levels of semiotic Form in visual representation, each being constitutive of a separate system of semiotic articulation: figurative language and plastic language. With arguments drawn from behavioural science, the interdisciplinary Groupe µ presented a different version of the same distinction as one between iconic and plastic signs. In this paper, I shall give a short outline of these and some further proposals, especially Meyer Schapiro’s view on the formal structure of pictures and visual signs, and his analysis of visual signifiers as ‘vehicles’ of spatial meaning. Schapiro’s account of the ‘image-sign’ will be presented as coloured by his socio-historical perspective and the empirical pragmatism of Peirce. Regarding the relationship between ‘iconic’ and ‘plastic’ meaning, Schapiro’s studies of Romanesque sculpture and non-figurative painting anticipate some observations later made by the Groupe µ. However, rather than attempting to defend any specific account of the nature of visual or plastic Form, a pluralistic position will be proposed here.

Cultural Communication through Gambuh Dance : A Historical Performing Art from Bali

One of the most important factors driving artists to engage in the performing arts is the environment: artistic traditions within the family and the local community. In connection to the environment, there are three reasons why artists get involved in the arts: being appointed or requested, sometimes even 'forced' by the community, encouragement or a family calling, and personal willingness. Regarding the life and development of Gambuh and its instruments, it significantly influences other gamelan devices in terms of instrument usage, beat arrangement, song structure, motifs, and the names of some songs for various gamelan devices and specific types of compositions such as Semar Pegulingan, Pelegongan, Bebarongan, Joged Pingitan, Gong Gede, and Kebyar. In this study, a semiotic approach is used to analyze the elements of Gambuh Bali dance and reveal the messages contained within. First and foremost, in the semiotic study of Gambuh Bali, body movements become the primary focus. These movements can be seen as visual signs that carry implied meanings. Through the analysis of movements, messages related to character, emotions, and narratives in the dance can be uncovered. In the semiotic study of Gambuh Bali dance, the singing or chanting performed by the dancers can also be an object of analysis. Chants in Gambuh Bali dance play a crucial role in conveying cultural messages and expressing emotional nuances in the dance. By employing a semiotic approach, theoretical studies of Gambuh Bali dance can provide richer insights into the symbolism, cultural meanings, and messages embedded in this dance.

L-4-thiazolylalanine (Protinol), a novel non-proteinogenic amino acid, demonstrates epidermal and dermal efficacy with clinically observable benefits.

Facial skin undergoes major structural and functional changes as a result of intrinsic and extrinsic factors. The goal of the current work is to demonstrate L-4-thiazolylalaine (L4, Protinol), a non-proteinogenic amino acid shown to stimulate the production of dermal proteins by fibroblasts, is an alternative efficacious topical ingredient for visible signs of ageing. In vitro studies using 3D human skin tissue models were performed to show changes in protein and gene expression of key dermal markers in samples treated with 0.3% L4 compared to vehicle control. In vivo evaluation of skin turnover was measured in volunteers after treatment with L4 compared to retinol. Skin biopsies (n = 30) were taken to investigate epidermal and dermal changes in cases treated with L4 and compared to retinol. Finally, a clinical evaluation (n = 28) was conducted to assess the efficacy of L4 over a base formulation using various ageing parameters within a population of women 46-66 years old with mild-to-moderate wrinkles. In vitro studies on 3D tissues displayed significant changes in the dermal matrix via an increase in HA and pro-collagen I production and a decrease in the expression of inflammatory genes. In vivo biopsy studies demonstrated that L4 and retinol independently increased epidermal thickness and collagen remodelling significantly more compared with the base formula. Clinical evaluation showed firmer and smoother skin at day 28 post-treatment with L4 over the vehicle control without causing side effects such as redness or irritation. L4 is a novel, multi-functional ingredient which offers a superior alternative to currently available technologies for improving epidermal and dermal parameters that change during ageing and photodamage.

The costs of multimodal metaphors: comparing ERPs to figurative expressions in verbal and verbo-pictorial formats

ABSTRACT Psycholinguistic research on metaphor has focused on verbal material. Yet, metaphors frequently occur in a multimodal format, blending words and pictures to convey meaning. Here we compared verbal and multimodal metaphors by using item pairs where stimulus one was always a word (e.g., language in the metaphorical conditions and river in the literal conditions) and stimulus two was either a word (bridge) or a picture (the image of a bridge). The two types of metaphors elicited a similar N400 effect compared to literal pairs; at later latencies, visual metaphors were associated with a more pronounced negativity compared to literal pictures, whereas no effect was observed in the verbal domain. These findings indicate that both visual and verbal metaphors recruit conceptual operations reflected in the N400, but for visual metaphors, elaboration lasts longer. This difference in time course was driven by the low number of alternative interpretations and their closedness, pointing to the costs, rather than the facilitation, of integrating visual signs at an abstract level of representation.

A new mouse strain with mutation in the NFE2L2 (NRF2 gene

The transcription factor NRF2 is involved in inflammatory reactions, maintenance of redox balance, metabolism of xenobiotics, and is of particular interest for aging studies. In the present work, CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing technology was used to generate NRF2ΔNeh2 mice containing a substitution of eight amino acid residues at the N-terminus of the NRF2 protein, upstream of the functional Neh2 domain, which ensures binding of NRF2 to its inhibitor KEAP1. Heterozygote NRF2wt/ΔNeh2 mice gave birth to homozygous mice with lower than expected frequency, accompanied by their increased embryonic lethality and visual signs of anemia. Mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) from NRF2ΔNeh2/ΔNeh2 homozygotes showed impaired resistance to oxidative stress compared to wild-type MEFs. The tissues of homozygous NRF2ΔNeh2/ΔNeh2 animals had a decreased expression of NRF2 target genes: NAD(P)H: Quinone oxidoreductase-1 (Nqo1); aldehyde oxidase-1 (Aox1); glutathione-S-transferase A4 (Gsta4); while the relative mRNA level of monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (Ccl2), vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (Vcam1) and chemokine Cxcl8 was increased. Thus, the resulting mutation in the Nfe2l2 gene partially impaired the function of this transcription factor, expanding the insights into the functional role of the unstructured N-terminus of NRF2. The obtained NRF2ΔNeh2 mouse line can be used as a model object for studying various pathologies associated with oxidative stress and inflammation.

SELF-PRESENTATION IN COMMUNICATION: ASPECTS OF VISUAL SELF-IMAGE OF I

Self-presentation is considered as a process of a person presenting his own image in the social world, characterized by the intention of creating a certain impression of himself among others. There are a number of ap-proaches to the study of self-presentation of a person: interactive, communicative, socio-perceptual, cultural, gender, individual-personal, applied. One of the directions of psychological research of self-presentation is various aspects of the visual self-presentation of the image of the Self in communication. The sign manifestations of the external appearance of a person as a subject of communication are studied within the framework of the psychosemiotic ap-proach. Visual-semiotic manifestations of external appearance are considered as a means of objectifi cation and interpretation of the subject, as a means of expressive-impressive manifestation of personality, the basis of which is the interpretive nature of visual signs. The eff ectiveness of the visual self-presentation of the subject is associated with psychosemiotic competence and refl ection at the general cultural level. The forms of self-presentation include perfectionist self-presentation — self-presentation by a person of an ideal version of himself, the use of signs of success, beauty. P. Hewitt developed a model of perfectionist self-presentation, which refl ects diff erent facets of this phenomenon: demonstration of perfection — the desire to appear perfect in the eyes of others, to arouse admiration and respect for others with their perfection; behavioral non-manifestation of imperfection — the desire to behave in such a way as to hide one’s own imperfection from other people. The article discusses the results of an empirical study of the perfectionist self-presentation of designers at diff erent stages of their professional development. The study of self-presentation in general, and the visual self-presentation of the image of the Self in particular, is of great scientifi c and practical importance for representatives of various professional groups, especially socionomic profes-sions, image makers. Managing the visual self-image of the self-image from the standpoint of the psychosemiotic approach is the basis for the formation of a personal and professional image.

Sign language delays in deaf 3- to 5-year-olds with deaf parents.

Research has demonstrated that deaf children of deaf signing parents (DOD) are afforded developmental advantages. This can be misconstrued as indicating that no DOD children exhibit early language delays (ELDs) because of their early access to a visual language. Little research has studied this presumption. In this study, we examine 174 ratings of DOD 3- to 5-year-old children, for whom signing in the home was indicated, using archival data from the online database of the Visual Communication and Sign Language Checklist. Our goals were to (1) examine the incidence of ELDs in a cohort of DOD children; (2) compare alternative scaling strategies for identifying ELD children; (3) explore patterns among behavioral ratings with a view toward developing a greater understanding of the types of language behaviors that may lie at the root of language delays; and (4) suggest recommendations for parents and professionals working with language-delayed DOD children. The results indicated that a significant number of ratings suggested ELDs, with a subset significantly delayed. These children likely require further evaluation. Among the less delayed group, ASL skills, rather than communication or cognition, were seen as the major concern, suggesting that even DOD children may require support developing linguistically accurate ASL. Overall, these findings support the need for early and ongoing evaluation of visual language skills in young DOD children.

Exploring the Impact of Hydrolyzed Collagen Oral Supplementation on Skin Rejuvenation: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

With increasing life expectancy, the quest for skin rejuvenation has gained prominence among individuals of diverse age groups. The popularity of nutricosmetics, notably dietary supplements, has garnered significant attention in recent years. Many scientific investigations have amassed compelling evidence highlighting the positive impact of hydrolyzed collagen supplementation in mitigating the visible signs of skin aging.This study aims to know the powerful effect of hydrolyzed collagen on the skin. This research method is to conduct a systematic review followed by a meta-analysis of the clinical trial focusing on randomized, double-blind, and controlled trials that examined the oral consumption of hydrolyzed collagen and reported outcomes related to skin aging, wrinkles, moisture levels, elasticity, and firmness. The selected articles from CENTRAL, PubMed, Google Scholar, and ScienceDirect databaseswere published from 2017 to 2023.The subsequent meta-analysis, comprising 14 distinct studies and a collective cohort of 967 participants, revealed encouraging findings favoring hydrolyzed collagen supplementation. It consistently demonstrated substantial enhancements in skin moisture levels and elasticity compared to the placebo group, a trend robustly corroborated by subgroup analysis. These compelling findings underscore the effectiveness of a 12-week regimen of hydrolyzed collagen supplementation in revitalizing the skin by augmenting its hydration and elasticity.

Semiotic Organization of Russian Environmental Internet Memes

In this article, the authors examine Russian environmental internet memes, presented on social networks such as VKontakte, Odnoklassniki, and on websites like Memepedia, Pikabu, and A. Chistopashin’s site. They have developed a set of criteria relevant for the analysis of environmental internet memes as complex linguistic and semiotic formations. The aim of the study was to identify the specific features of the semiotic organization of environmental internet memes and establish the dominant semiotic code that determines the conceptual content of the meme. It is shown that the Russian-speaking segment of environmental communication through memes has its own thematic and genre specificity. Environmental internet memes usually rely on the use of media semiotic codes, where the meme includes both text and illustration. Less frequently, memes are created based on narrative semiotic codes, where the visual component illustrates the beginning, climax, or end of a story. The verbal component is dominant when borrowing viral visual templates. The main stylistic device in environmental internet memes, alongside irony and the effect of false expectation, is linguistic play. Semiotic analysis of internet memes has shown that the combination of verbal and visual signs is typical for the media segment of environmental internet communication.

“When I think about Shortfield, I think about mosquitos, and neo-Nazis”: Students’ narratives of racism, sexism, and intolerance in rural Swedish schools

The aim of this study was to analyse how young people living in geographical areas with a tradition of high neo-Nazi activism talk about racism and sexism, in particular, and the “school climate”, in general. Two schools situated in traditional rural mill towns were selected, and students (of ages 14–16) were interviewed. Influenced by Essed's theory on everyday racism, the study addresses how micro and macro dimensions of racism intersect through the voices of the students, when they talk about their community, their school, and the visible traces or signs of the neo-Nazi movement. The results show a recurrence of everyday racism in the schools, and indicate that the expression of racism was largely taken for granted. Initially in the narratives the students talked about their school and community in terms of inclusion and social connectedness. As the discussions proceeded, quite a few examples of racist practices and verbal racist and sexist harassment were mentioned. Such expressions were often downplayed, such that everyday racism and sexism appeared to have been normalised. This apologetic stance also seemingly contributed to a “return of the repressed”, in the form of overt expressions of neo-Nazi symbols and acts in the school environment.

Non-destructive detection of tree deterioration due to termite attack in plant conservation areas

Cibodas Botanic Gardens (CBG) is an ex-situ conservation area in tropical highlands. Termites are one of the nuisance organisms in the collection that have conservation value. The number of attacks and the intensity of termite attacks require more strict attention. The main problem in tree health analysis is the difficulty in detecting internal weathering due to attacks by wood-destroying organisms which causes damage to the tree’s core (heart rot) and butt rot. Arborsonic is a tool used and developed to detect and assess tree damage, especially to the trunk. This study aimed to analyze the deterioration of the main trunk of a living tree with visual signs of termite attack using a non-destructive method. Termite observation plots were made in 4 replications to determine the type of termites that attack. Observations on termite baits in 4 plots showed no attack on the baits. Observations on 12 sample trees tested in 4 plots showed low-intensity damage. Visual signs of termite attack can be used as a sign of wood decay, but the effect is minor.

A New Mouse Strain with a Mutation in the NFE2L2 (NRF2) Gene.

Transcription factor NRF2 is involved in inflammatory reactions, maintenance of redox balance, metabolism of xenobiotics, and is of particular interest for studying aging. In the present work, the CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing technology was used to generate the NRF2ΔNeh2 mice containing a substitution of eight amino acid residues at the N-terminus of the NRF2 protein, upstream of the functional Neh2 domain, which ensures binding of NRF2 to its inhibitor KEAP1. Heterozygote NRF2wt/ΔNeh2 mice gave birth to homozygous mice with lower than expected frequency, accompanied by their increased embryonic lethality and visual signs of anemia. Mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) from the NRF2ΔNeh2/ΔNeh2 homozygotes showed impaired resistance to oxidative stress compared to the wild-type MEFs. The tissues of homozygous NRF2ΔNeh2/ΔNeh2 animals had a decreased expression of the NRF2 target genes: NAD(P)H:Quinone oxidoreductase-1 (Nqo1); aldehyde oxidase-1 (Aox1); glutathione-S-transferase A4 (Gsta4); while relative mRNA levels of the monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (Ccl2), vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (Vcam1), and chemokine Cxcl8 was increased. Thus, the resulting mutation in the Nfe2l2 gene coding for NRF2, partially impaired function of this transcription factor, expanding our insights into the functional role of the unstructured N-terminus of NRF2. The obtained NRF2ΔNeh2 mouse line can be used as a model object for studying various pathologies associated with oxidative stress and inflammation.

How visualisations with typography are used in Persian and English corporate identity logos

Abstract Typography simplifies and facilitates the information transfer process, and establishes a quick and straightforward connection between text and audience. Combining writing with images provides the basis for creating symbolic relationships in typography. This study intends to define the paradigmatic relationships between visual signs and writing in integrated Persian typographies and English logotypes. In this study Persian and English logotype samples are compared. It is observed that in the Persian sample, logotype letters are often affected by the visual elements; however, only one letter is usually replaced with an image in the English samples.

Liberal Feminism’s Representative of Visual Signs in Katy Perry’s Music Video “Dark Horse”

Liberal Feminism’s Representative of Visual Signs in Katy Perry’s Music Video “Dark Horse”

Monsters revisited: a comparative study of the use of humor in dramatizing benevolent monsters in The Monsters under the Bed and The Boy Who Loved Monsters and the Girl Who Loved Peas

Works for children are filled with a myriad of creatures that are often used by writers to convey certain messages to the young readers/audiences. From tamed to wild, real and imaginary beings, such creatures emerge either as benevolent or evil forces. This study seeks to highlight the role of humorous, benevolent monsters in works for children showing how their presence is laden with meanings. For this purpose, two plays for children are selected: The Monsters under the Bed (2007) by Fr. Dominic Garramone and Osb and the St.Bede Theater Troupe, and The Boy Who Loved Monsters and the Girl Who Loved Peas (2013) by Jonathan Graham. Drawing upon humor studies, monster studies, and child psychology, the paper attempts to analyze the use of humor in portraying friendly monsters in the selected works reflecting how it is through them that the children protagonists revisit their views of monsters and understand that they are a reflection of themselves (their needs/fears). The analysis of these benevolent monsters and their effect on the protagonists will be carried out in relation to the different theatrical elements and the verbal and visual signs which clarify and affirm the benevolence of such creatures and the humorous touch added to their roles.