Novel optical optode for selective detection and removal of ultra-trace level of mercury ions in different environmental real samples.

Owing to the high cost and unavailability of different analytical techniques, there is an urgent need to develop new techniques not only for detecting but also removing mercury ions in real samples. Thus, an optical chemical sensor based on the anchoring of phenanthraquinone monophenylthiosemicarbazone in a plasticized cellulose triacetate membrane was fabricated and applied to the recognition and removal of mercury ions from aqueous solutions. The synthesized optode was characterized by FT-IR, SEM, AFM, and thermal analysis. Several parameters, including the pH, temperature, contact time, washing solvent, and washing time, were optimized. Under optimal conditions, a promising optode film platform was utilized for sensing mercury ions, and the concentrations were calculated based on colorimetric analysis (Histogram, RGB) of digital images, visualization, and spectrophotometry. Also, an optical optode was used for complete adsorption of mercury ions from aqueous solutions. In addition, the regeneration of the synthesized optode was evaluated using 0.1 mol L- 1 nitric acid, which effectively removed all adsorbed mercury ions. The obtained data indicated good linearity in the sensing and adsorption of Hg2+ over a concentration range of 0.005-5000 µgL- 1 with a low limit of detection (LOD = 0.066 µgL- 1) and limit of quantification (LOQ, 0.22 µgL- 1). Furthermore, it showed good distinctions in the presence of coexisting ions, high stability (five months), good applicability, and reproducibility (RSD = 1.31%), making it a promising sensor for Hg2+ detection. On the other hand, the kinetic studies revealed that the pseudo-second-order was the best model for describing the adsorption behavior of mercury ions on the optode surface. Also, the thermodynamic parameters indicate spontaneous (ΔG0 < 0) and endothermic (ΔH0 < 0) reactions. Also, the maximum adsorption capacity was found to be 73.2 mg g- 1. Thus, the optodes were successfully applied for the detection and/or removal of Hg2+ in different real samples, including cucumber, fish, soil, and water samples, with excellent recoveries of 98.1-99.5%.

Visualizing Plant Responses: Novel Insights Possible Through Affordable Imaging Techniques in the Greenhouse.

Efficient and affordable plant phenotyping methods are an essential response to global climatic pressures. This study demonstrates the continued potential of consumer-grade photography to capture plant phenotypic traits in turfgrass and derive new calculations. Yet the effects of image corrections on individual calculations are often unreported. Turfgrass lysimeters were photographed over 8 weeks using a custom lightbox and consumer-grade camera. Subsequent imagery was analyzed for area of cover, color metrics, and sensitivity to image corrections. Findings were compared to active spectral reflectance data and previously reported measurements of visual quality, productivity, and water use. Results confirm that Red-Green-Blue imagery effectively measures plant treatment effects. Notable correlations were observed for corrected imagery, including between yellow fractional area with human visual quality ratings (r = -0.89), dark green color index with clipping productivity (r = 0.61), and an index combination term with water use (r = -0.60). The calculation of green fractional area correlated with Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (r = 0.91), and its RED reflectance spectra (r = -0.87). A new chromatic ratio correlated with Normalized Difference Red-Edge index (r = 0.90) and its Red-Edge reflectance spectra (r = -0.74), while a new calculation correlated strongest to Near-Infrared (r = 0.90). Additionally, the combined index term significantly differentiated between the treatment effects of date, mowing height, deficit irrigation, and their interactions (p < 0.001). Sensitivity and statistical analyses of typical image file formats and corrections that included JPEG, TIFF, geometric lens distortion correction, and color correction were conducted. Findings highlight the need for more standardization in image corrections and to determine the biological relevance of the new image data calculations.

Copper nano metal-organic framework paper-based sensor for dual optical detection of biogenic amines to evaluate the food freshness.

The improvement of food safety and the reduction of food loss and waste require the development of new bioanalytical tools that provide chemical information about the composition of food that is of great value for improving traceability and extending the shelf life of food. Herein, a Cu-based metal-organic framework has been synthesized and immobilized onto cellulose paper disks for colorimetric and fluorescent detection and quantification of biogenic amines in food. The color of the nano metal-organic framework changes from green to brown in the presence of low amounts of biogenic amine vapors. Also, the fluorescence emission of the nano metal-organic framework greatly decreases after exposing the cellulose disks to amine vapors. The developed sensing paper disk exhibits a quick response to the presence of volatile biogenic amines, very low detection limits, and great selectivity. Also, the paper sensor was used for real-time monitoring of biogenic amines in bass samples at different temperature conditions, being a highly valuable method for evaluating food freshness and safeguarding food safety.

Digital color analysis and machine learning for ballpoint pen ink clustering and aging investigation.

Fraudulent activities often involve document manipulation, which poses a significant challenge to forensic science. To address this issue, a novel method was developed that combines intended artificial UV pre-degradation, digital color analysis (DCA) of stroke images, and various machine learning (ML) models. This method can cluster blue ballpoint pen inks and predict their photodegradation time. The results of the study indicate that the k-shape clustering method is highly effective in differentiating between inks based on their degradation curve patterns and HSV or RBS color features, aligning well with results from chromatography analyses. Furthermore, the random forest regression model demonstrated superior performance in predicting age, exhibiting the highest coefficients of determination. The DCA-ML method is a straightforward, cost-effective, and highly accurate solution for clustering blue pen inks. Using photodegradation curves to predict document age could eliminate the need for conventional physicochemical analysis techniques.

Plant-based egg washes for use in baked goods: Machine learning and visual parameter analysis.

Pea protein is one potential environmentally sustainable way of recreating the functionality of eggs in coatings for baked goods. These coatings are commonly applied to enhance visual properties of baked goods that consumers desire, especially color and gloss. This project used a simplified pie crust formulation (flour, shortening, and water) as a model baked good system to investigate color and gloss properties of pea protein coatings comprising three pea protein glycerol ratios, prepared at 2 pH values, and applied at three different weights, baked for either 15 or 30 min. Pictures were also taken and used to estimate L*, a*, and b* colorimeter values from images using random forest and artificial neural network models developed using SciKit-Learn. Image acquisition was also conducted at different lighting conditions and the results are corrected utilizing a principal component analysis (PCA) weighting approach. Results show that pea protein glycerol solutions are all glossier than egg washes, and the 80%/20% ratio gives the highest glossiness. Furthermore, there are not significant differences in any of the colorimeter values at any concentration when applying 1 g of protein. The artificial neural network model coupled with PCA weighting led to reasonable estimates of color at different lighting conditions. Together, these results offer an alternative for the use of pea protein/glycerol in lieu of egg washes.

A simple color absorption analysis of colorimetric loop-mediated isothermal amplification for detection of Raillietina spp. in clinical samples using a 3D-printed tube holder coupled with a smartphone camera and notebook screen.

A simple method has been developed for semi-quantitative analysis of the colorimetric output of loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) using a 3D-printed tube holder with a smartphone and notebook for the detection of Raillietina, which is the cause of Raillietiniasis affecting free-range chicken farming. In this method, a light is directed from a notebook screen to the LAMP products in the tube holder and the color absorption of the LAMP products is measured by using the appropriate smartphone application. It was found that the malachite green dye-coupled LAMP (MaG-LAMP) assay showed the highest sensitivity and specificity for detecting Raillietina without any cross-reaction with other related parasites and hosts. The limit of detection was 10 fg/µL of DNA. A total of 60 fecal samples were infectively confirmed by microscopic examination and the results of microscopy compared with those of MaG-LAMP and triplex PCR assays. Microscopy and MaG-LAMP based on the color absorption demonstrated high agreement in Raillietina detection with kappa = 1. Rapid, simple, cost-effective, and easy interpretation of colorimetric LAMP assays and their high sensitivity make them superior to PCR and morphological investigation, demonstrating the feasibility of this assay in point-of-care screening to support farm management and solve chicken health problems. Our study presents is an alternative diagnostic method using semi-quantitative analysis of colorimetric LAMP based on the differing solution color absorptions between positive and negative reactions for infectious disease diagnosis.

Sesame Detection in Food Using DNA-Functionalized Gold Nanoparticles: A Sensitive, Rapid, and Cost-Effective Colorimetric Approach.

Food safety control is a key issue in the food and agriculture industries. For such purposes, developing miniaturized analytical methods is critical for enabling the rapid and sensitive detection of food supplements, allergens, and pollutants. Here, a novel bioanalytical methodology based on DNA-functionalized gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) and colorimetric detection was developed to detect the presence of sesame (a major allergen) through sesame seed DNA as a target, in food samples. The presence of sesame DNA induces controlled nanoparticle aggregation/desegregation, resulting in a color change (from blue to red) proportional to sesame DNA concentration. The incorporation of multicomponent nucleic acid enzymes (MNAzymes) in this strategy has been carried out to perform an isothermal signal amplification strategy to improve the sensitivity of detection. Also, open-source software for color analysis was used to ensure an unbiased visual color-change detection, enhancing detection accuracy and sensitivity and opening the possibility of performing a simple and decentralized analyte detection. The method successfully detected the presence of sesame DNA in sesame seed, sesame oil, olive oil, and sunflower oil. In brief, the developed approach constitutes a simple and affordable alternative to perform a highly sensitive detection of DNA in food without complex methodologies or the requirement of expensive instrumentation.

Effect of different instrumental techniques and clinical experience on shade matching.

PURPOSE: Many factors can affect the aesthetics of dental restorations, including the instrumental techniques used in shade matching, and can lead to clinical failure. The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of using the cross-polarization digital photograph technique and intraoral scanners for shade matching, and also evaluate the effect of the level of clinical experience on shade matching success. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Color analysis was performed on the maxillary right central incisors of 10 subject models with Vita Easyshade. Intraoral scanning was performed 10 times on each model using TRIOS 3 and color analysis was performed from the same spot. Then cross-polarized and non-polarized photographs of the models were taken with standard settings using a gray reference card. Each shade tab of the Vita System 3D-Master scale was also photographed with two different polarization techniques. Four groups (n = 12), including prosthodontics faculty staff, postgraduate students in prosthodontics, undergraduate students, and dental technicians matched the shade tabs and the model photographs obtained with both techniques on a standardized computer screen. Finally, the color differences between the shade tabs and maxillary central incisors matched by observers from four different groups were recorded using a colorimeter, Classic Color Meter, in accordance with the CIELAB system and CIEDE2000 (ΔE00) values were calculated. The data were compared with the acceptability threshold of 1.80 for ΔE00. The data obtained from the observers were analyzed with IBM SPSS Statistics 26.0 Release Notes program. Independent Samples t-test was used to compare normally distributed data according to binary groups. The level of significance was 0.05. RESULTS: A statistically significant difference was found in the shade matching on photographs taken with different techniques in postgraduate students (p = 0.02). Also, there was a statistically significant difference in success between the groups that made shade matching based on photographs obtained with the non-polarization technique (p = 0.00). The undergraduate students achieved statistically significantly lower results than all other groups (ΔE00 = 5.57 ± 1.07). The kappa value between the intraoral scanner and spectrophotometer results was 0.10, and this value was not statistically significant (p = 0.32). CONCLUSIONS: The cross-polarization technique used especially for shade matching is not superior to the non-polarization technique. Academic and clinical experience might be correlated with shade-matching success with the non-polarization technique. The clinical acceptability threshold could not be achieved in the shade matchings made on digital photographs taken with both techniques. Shade matching performed with an intraoral scanner did not yield reliable results.

An insight into trichomes-deficiency and trichomes-rich black teas by comparative metabolomics: The impact of oxidized trichomes on metabolic profiles and infusion color.

Tea trichomes were regarded as an essential evaluation index for reflecting tea flavor quality in terms of aroma and influence on infusion color. This study reveals the impact of golden oxidized trichomes on the color, volatile and non-volatile metabolites of black teas through comparative metabolomics combined quantitative analysis on hongbiluo (trichomes-deficiency black teas), hongjinluo (trichomes-rich black teas), and trichomes (from hongjinluo). Forty-six volatile components were detected using headspace solid-phase microextraction gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, while the results suggested that the contribution of trichomes to black teas is limited. A total of 60 marker non-volatile compounds were identified, including catechins, catechin oxidation products, flavonoid glycosides, organic acids, hydrolysable tannins and amino acids. Notably, p-coumaroyl-kaempferol glucosides, and catechin dimers demonstrated high levels in independent trichomes and showed a positive correlation with the brightness and yellow hue of black tea infusions, specifically kaempferol 3-O-di-(p-coumaroyl)-hexoside. Furthermore, results from fractional extraction analysis of separated trichomes provided that N-ethyl-2-pyrrolidinone-substituted epicatechin gallates, acylated kaempferol glycosides, and chromogenic catechins dimers, such as theaflavins, were primary color contributors in oxidized trichomes. Especially, we found that epicatechin gallate (ECG) and its derivates, 3'-O-methyl-ECG and N-ethyl-2-pyrrolidinone-substituted ECG, highly accumulated in trichomes, which may be associated with the varieties of hongbiluo and hongjinluo black teas. Eventually, addition tests were applied to verify the color contribution of trichome mixtures. Our findings employed comprehensive information revealing that golden oxidized trichomes contributed significantly to the brightness and yellow hue of black tea infusion, but their contribution to the aroma and metabolic profile is limited. These findings may contribute to the effective modulation of the infusion color during black tea production by regulating the proportion of tea trichomes or screening trichomes-rich or deficiency varieties.

Characterization of Polyphenol Composition and Starch and Protein Structure in Brown Rice Flour, Black Rice Flour and Their Mixtures.

The study investigates the structural and chemical properties of brown rice flour (WRF), black rice flour (BRF) and their mixtures in ratios of 25%, 50% and 75% to provide reference information for the gluten-free bakery industry. BRF contains higher concentrations of proteins, lipids, total minerals, crude fiber, total polyphenols, proanthocyanidins and flavonoids than WRF. A higher amylose content in BRF than in WRF resulted in flour mixtures with slower starch digestion and a lower glycemic response depending on the BRF ratio added. Differences in the chemical composition of WRF and BRF led to improved composition of the flour mixtures depending on the BRF ratio. The presence of anthocyanidins and phenolic acids in higher concentrations in the BRF resulted in a red-blue color shift within the flour mixtures. The deconvoluted FTIR spectra showed a higher proportion of α-helixes in the amide I band of BRF proteins, indicating their tighter folding. An analysis of the FTIR spectra revealed a more compact starch structure in BRF than in WRF. By processing reflection spectra, nine optically active compound groups were distinguished in rice flour, the proportion in BRF being 83.02% higher than in WRF. Due to co-pigmentation, the bathochromic shift to higher wavelengths was expressed by the proanthocyanins and phenolic acids associated with the wavelengths 380 nm to 590 nm and at 695 nm. Anthocyanins, protein-tannin complexes, methylated anthocyanins and acylated anthocyanins, associated with wavelengths 619, 644 and 668 nm, exhibited a hypsochromic effect by shifting the wavelengths to lower values. This research represents a first step in the development of rice-based products with increased nutritional value and a lower glycemic index.

Effect of In Situ Heating on the Growth and Electrochromic Properties of Tungsten Trioxide Thin Films.

Electrochromism has emerged as a pivotal technology in the pursuit of energy efficiency and environmental sustainability, spurring significant research efforts aimed at the creation of advanced electrochromic devices. Most electrochromic materials are used for smart window applications. However, current electrochromic materials have been applied to new energy vehicles, cell phone back covers, AR glasses, and so on. More application scenarios put forward more requirements for the color of the colored states. Choosing the right color change in the application will be the trend in the future. In this work, tungsten trioxide (WO3) thin films were prepared by adjusting the in situ heating temperature. WO3 with a crystalline structure showed excellent cyclic stability (5000 cycles), electrochromic performance (ΔT = 77.7% at 633 nm, CE = 37.1 cm2/C), relatively fast bleaching/coloring speed (20.0 s/19.4 s), and the darkest coloring effect (L* = 29.32, a* = 7.41, b* = -22.12 for the colored state). These findings offer valuable insights into the manipulation of smart materials and devices, contributing to the advancement of electrochromic technology.

Color Analysis of Merkel Cell Carcinoma: A Comparative Study with Cherry Angiomas, Hemangiomas, Basal Cell Carcinomas, and Squamous Cell Carcinomas.

Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is recognized as one of the most malignant skin tumors. Its rarity might explain the limited exploration of digital color studies in this area. The objective of this study was to delineate color alterations in MCCs compared to benign lesions resembling MCC, such as cherry angiomas and hemangiomas, along with other non-melanoma skin cancer lesions like basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), utilizing computer-aided digital color analysis. This was a retrospective study where clinical images of the color of the lesion and adjacent normal skin from 11 patients with primary MCC, 11 patients with cherry angiomas, 12 patients with hemangiomas, and 12 patients with BCC/SCC (totaling 46 patients) were analyzed using the RGB (red, green, and blue) and the CIE Lab color system. The Lab color system aided in estimating the Individual Typology Angle (ITA) change in the skin, and these results are documented in this study. It was demonstrated that the estimation of color components can assist in the differential diagnosis of these types of lesions because there were significant differences in color parameters between MCC and other categories of skin lesions such as hemangiomas, common skin carcinomas, and cherry hemangiomas. Significant differences in values were observed in the blue color of RGB (p = 0.003) and the b* parameter of Lab color (p < 0.0001) of MCC versus cherry angiomas. Similarly, the mean a* value of Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) compared to basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma showed a statistically significant difference (p < 0.0001). Larger prospective studies are warranted to further validate the clinical application of these findings.

Response Patterns of Chromoionophore-Based Bulk Optodes Containing Lipophilic Electrolytes: Toward Background-Independent pH-Sensing.

Despite a number of advantages of ion-selective optical sensors (optodes), their practical application is limited by their response mechanism, which leads to the dependence of the signal on the activity of two ions (analyte ion and the so-called reference ion) in the solution at the same time. Here, we show that the introduction of a lipophilic electrolyte into the polymeric optode membrane allows assessing the ionic activity of H+ cations regardless of the concentration of the background electrolyte containing a hydrophilic cation, with NaCl as an example of such an electrolyte. For the first time, the applicability of this approach is proven theoretically utilizing the numerical simulation of optode response. A correlation between the interfacial potential stability and the single-ion optical response is established. The predicted optical response is independent of background cation concentration to a significant extent. Theoretical conclusions are supported by experimental data obtained with chromoionophore-based optodes doped with various lipophilic electrolytes, including ionic liquids, by thin-film spectrophotometry and macrophotography coupled with digital color analysis. Most of the experimental sensor characteristics, such as the response range and its median, as well as its independence from the background electrolyte concentration are in quantitative agreement with the proposed theoretical description.

Physicochemical, Rheological, and Nutritional Quality of Artisanal Fermented Milk Beverages with Cupuassu (Theobroma grandiflorum) Pulp and Flour.

The use of fruits and their by-products in food has dramatically impacted the food industry due to the nutritional benefits and the technological and sensory effects of food matrices. Therefore, this research aimed to evaluate the effects of adding cupuassu (Theobroma grandiflorum) pulp and flour on fermented milk beverages' physicochemical, microbial, and sensory properties during refrigerated storage (0, 7, 14, 21, and 28 days). Twelve formulations were realized with different percentages of cupuassu pulp (0, 5, 7.5, and 10% w/v) and flour (0, 1.5, and 3% w/v). The treatments with 3% cupuassu flour presented the highest percentages of protein, fat, fiber, and carbohydrates, compared with the samples containing pulp. On the other hand, the addition of pulp increased water retention capacity and color parameters (L*, a*, b*, and C*) and decreased pH and syneresis on day 0 of storage. During storage, the samples with pulp showed increases in pH values, consistency index, and apparent viscosity. In comparison, cupuassu flour addition decreased syneresis values and increased L* and b* during storage, as did pulp. In addition, sample HPHF (10% pulp and 3% cupuassu flour), based on just-about-right, penalty, and check-all-that-apply analyses, improved some sensory attributes of the fermented milk beverage, such as brown color, acid taste, bitter taste, cupuassu flavor, and firm texture. It can be concluded that cupuassu pulp and flour addition improves the physicochemical and sensory quality of fermented milk beverages and can provide nutritional value to the product.

ABANICCO: A New Color Space for Multi-Label Pixel Classification and Color Analysis.

Classifying pixels according to color, and segmenting the respective areas, are necessary steps in any computer vision task that involves color images. The gap between human color perception, linguistic color terminology, and digital representation are the main challenges for developing methods that properly classify pixels based on color. To address these challenges, we propose a novel method combining geometric analysis, color theory, fuzzy color theory, and multi-label systems for the automatic classification of pixels into 12 conventional color categories, and the subsequent accurate description of each of the detected colors. This method presents a robust, unsupervised, and unbiased strategy for color naming, based on statistics and color theory. The proposed model, "ABANICCO" (AB ANgular Illustrative Classification of COlor), was evaluated through different experiments: its color detection, classification, and naming performance were assessed against the standardized ISCC-NBS color system; its usefulness for image segmentation was tested against state-of-the-art methods. This empirical evaluation provided evidence of ABANICCO's accuracy in color analysis, showing how our proposed model offers a standardized, reliable, and understandable alternative for color naming that is recognizable by both humans and machines. Hence, ABANICCO can serve as a foundation for successfully addressing a myriad of challenges in various areas of computer vision, such as region characterization, histopathology analysis, fire detection, product quality prediction, object description, and hyperspectral imaging.

Antibiofilm activity and NMR-based metabolomic characterization of cell-free supernatant of Limosilactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938.

The microbial biofilm has been defined as a "key virulence factor" for a multitude of microorganisms associated with chronic infections. Its multifactorial nature and variability, as well as an increase in antimicrobial resistance, suggest the need to identify new compounds as alternatives to the commonly used antimicrobials. The aim of this study was to assess the antibiofilm activity of cell-free supernatant (CFS) and its sub-fractions (SurE 10 K with a molecular weight <10 kDa and SurE with a molecular weight <30 kDa), produced by Limosilactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938, vs. biofilm-producing bacterial species. The minimum inhibitory biofilm concentration (MBIC) and the minimum biofilm eradication concentration (MBEC) were determined via three different methods and an NMR metabolomic analysis of CFS and SurE 10K was performed to identify and quantify several compounds. Finally, the storage stability of these postbiotics was evaluated by a colorimetric assay by analyzing changes in the CIEL*a*b parameters. The CFS showed a promising antibiofilm activity against the biofilm developed by clinically relevant microorganisms. The NMR of CFS and SurE 10K identifies and quantifies several compounds, mainly organic acids and amino acids, with lactate being the most abundant metabolite in all the analyzed samples. The CFS and SurE 10 K were characterized by a similar qualitative profile, with the exception of formate and glycine detected only in the CFS. Finally, the CIEL*a*b parameters assess the better conditions to analyze and use these matrices for the correct preservation of bioactive compounds.

Construction of graphene quantum dots ratiometric fluorescent probe by intermolecular electron transfer effect for intelligent and real-time visual detection of ofloxacin and its L-isomer in daily drink.

The design of intelligent and real-time sensing devices is significant in the medical drug monitoring field, but it is still highly challenging. Here, ratiometric fluorescent detections of ofloxacin (OFL) and its L-isomer levofloxacin (LEV) constructed from tri-doped graphene quantum dots (T-GQDs) are reported, and the detection limits reach as low as 46/67 nM toward OFL/LEV due to the intermolecular electron transfer (intermolecular ET) effect. After adding OFL/LEV, the generation of electrostatic bond provides a channel for the intermolecular ET from the edge of T-GQDs to OFL/LEV, resulting in the fluorescence quenching at 414 nm and the fluorescence promoting at 498 nm. Furthermore, a smartphone can be used for the visual and quantitative detection of OFL and LEV by identifying the RGB values of test paper and drink samples. This work not only reveals the physics mechanism of ratiometric detection, but also develops a convenient smartphone diagnostic for OFL and LEV.

Organic Acid-Based Chelate Trace Mineral Supplement Improves Broiler Performance, Bone Composition, Immune Responses, and Blood Parameters.

Organic acid-based trace minerals are known to have more bioavailability, possibly due to fewer antagonism reactions in the lumen. A 42-day study was conducted to assess the supplementation of manganese (Mn), zinc (Zn), selenium (Se), iron (Fe), and copper (Cu) from different sources. To that end, a total of 1248-day-old As-hatched Arbor Acres chickens were examined for performance, histology, bone integrity, and plasma biochemical parameters. Experimental groups were as follows: basal diet supplying 50, 75, 100, and 120% of trace mineral requirements using an inorganic trace mineral supplement (ITM50, ITM75, ITM100, ITM120); basal diet supplying 33, 66, and 100% of trace mineral requirements using an organic acid-based trace mineral supplement (OAT33, OAT66, OAT100); plus a basal diet supplying 100% of trace mineral requirements using an amino acid-based chelated trace mineral supplement (ATM100%) as control positive. According to results, birds' fed OAT66 had the highest (P < 0.05) average daily body weight gain (ADG), average daily feed intake (ADFI), and lower feed conversion ratio (FCR). Feeding OAT66 increased (P < 0.05) villus length to crypt depth ratio, compared to OAT33 and ITM100 by 26% and 19%, respectively. The relative weight of the bursa enhanced by 22% in birds' receiving OAT supplement, compared to those received ITM supplement (P < 0.05). The plasma uric acid was reduced by 42% (P < 0.001) in birds fed with OAT66 and OAT100 when compared to those fed ITM50. Overall, our results indicated that the same performance could be achieved by using lower levels of organic trace minerals.

synr: An R package for handling synesthesia consistency test data.

Synesthesia is a phenomenon where sensory stimuli or cognitive concepts elicit additional perceptual experiences. For instance, in a commonly studied type of synesthesia, stimuli such as words written in black font elicit experiences of other colors, e.g., red. In order to objectively verify synesthesia, participants are asked to choose colors for repeatedly presented stimuli and the consistency of their choices is evaluated (consistency test). Previously, there has been no publicly available and easy-to-use tool for analyzing consistency test results. Here, the R package synr is introduced, which provides an efficient interface for exploring consistency test data and applying common procedures for analyzing them. Importantly, synr also implements a novel method enabling identification of participants whose scores cannot be interpreted, e.g., who only give black or red color responses. To this end, density-based spatial clustering of applications with noise (DBSCAN) is applied in conjunction with a measure of spread in 3D space. An application of synr with pre-existing openly accessible data illustrating how synr is used in practice is presented. Also included is a comparison of synr's data validation procedure and human ratings, which found that synr had high correspondence with human ratings and outperformed human raters in situations where human raters were easily mislead. Challenges for widespread adoption of synr as well as suggestions for using synr within the field of synesthesia and other areas of psychological research are discussed.

Effect of Neodymium-Doped Yttrium Aluminum Garnet (Nd:YAG) Laser Enamel Pre-Treatment on the Whitening Efficacy of a Bleaching Agent.

BACKGROUND: There are a number of different substances and treatments that are effective in mitigating the negative effects of tooth bleaching. It is essential, however, to consider whether or not the presence of these factors affects the efficiency of the bleaching agent. AIM: The purpose of this study is to determine how the pretreated enamel with a Neodymium-Doped Yttrium Aluminum Garnet (Nd:YAG) laser affects the bleaching effect of hydrogen peroxide at a concentration of 35%. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Thirty samples were prepared from human-extracted permanent anterior teeth and stained using a tea solution. Based on the pre-treatment protocol, the samples were split into two equal groups (n = 15): In Group I, samples were submerged in saline solution for five minutes, while in Group II, Nd:YAG laser treatment was performed. Following pretreatment, samples from both groups were bleached with 35% hydrogen peroxide. Colour analysis of all samples was done before and after bleaching using a spectrophotometer. For the colour analysis, the CIE L*a*b* (Commission Internationale de l'Eclairage) System of colour measurement was used. For statistical analysis, Student t-tests (two-tailed, unpaired) were used to compare the means of two groups on a continuous scale. RESULTS: Samples from both groups became lighter in colour following bleaching. After bleaching, there was no discernible difference in the total colour change between the two groups. CONCLUSION: The application of the Nd:YAG laser before bleaching did not influence the whitening efficacy of 35% hydrogen peroxide.