Search Results (3,476)

Background/Objectives: Anterior direct composite restorations are evaluated through instrumental color matching, clinician appraisal, and patient perception, but these endpoints may diverge by age. This cross-sectional study compared adolescents/young adults (AYA, 15–25 years) with adults/elderly (AE, 50–75 years) for spectrophotometric color difference (ΔE*ab), patient and clinician aesthetic ratings, patient–clinician agreement, and oral-health-related quality of life (OHRQoL). Methods: Consecutive recall patients with at least one anterior direct composite restoration placed ≥6 months earlier were screened; 128 were enrolled, and 126 completed all assessments (AYA n = 64; AE n = 62). Participants completed the OHIP-14 and aesthetic visual analogue scale (VAS) before receiving any USPHS, clinician VAS, or spectrophotometric feedback. A separate clinician, masked to patient scores and spectrophotometric outputs but not to patient age, recorded clinician VAS and modified USPHS criteria. Results: AE restorations showed higher ΔE*ab than AYA restorations (4.8 ± 1.6 vs. 3.2 ± 1.1; p < 0.001), whereas AYA reported lower patient VAS (72.4 ± 12.3 vs. 81.6 ± 10.8; p < 0.001) and higher OHIP-14 psychosocial burden (7.2 ± 2.8 vs. 4.0 ± 2.3; p < 0.001). Clinician VAS was higher in AYA (85.2 ± 7.3 vs. 79.4 ± 8.9; p < 0.001). Patient VAS correlated modestly with ΔE*ab (ρ = −0.38 in AYA; ρ = −0.31 in AE) and more strongly with psychosocial OHIP-14 scores (ρ = −0.54 and −0.47, respectively). Patient-clinician agreement was poor in AYA (ICC = 0.26) and moderate in AE (ICC = 0.58), with larger negative patient-minus-clinician discrepancies in AYA. Exploratory mediation statistically decomposed the age-related patient-satisfaction difference more through patient–clinician discrepancy than through ΔE*ab; causality cannot be inferred. Conclusions: Younger patients may experience dissatisfaction and psychosocial burden despite better instrumental color match. Assessment of anterior composites should combine objective shade measurement with patient-centered expectation clarification, and longitudinal studies should test temporal mechanisms and communication interventions. Full article

Microbial inactivation is essential for extending the shelf life of raw milk. Radio frequency (RF) thermal pasteurization has emerged as a promising technology for small-scale dairy processing. This study aimed to determine optimal RF temperature–time conditions, evaluate their effects on milk quality across milk from different species of cows, and assess economic feasibility. Raw milk from Holstein Friesian, Jersey, and Brown Swiss cows was treated using a dielectric heating system (40.68 MHz) at 72–92 °C for 20–100 s. The results were compared with conventional low-temperature long-time (LTLT) pasteurization of untreated milk. The optimal condition was 92 °C for 50 s, reducing the aerobic plate count from 5.80 to 0.69 log CFU/mL (a 5.11 log reduction), with no detection of Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus, and Escherichia coli. RF treatment did not significantly affect milk composition (p > 0.05), and color changes remained within acceptable limits. Milk stored at 4 °C maintained quality and safety for up to 28 days. Economic analysis indicated a net present value of USD 134,721.78, a benefit–cost ratio of 3.25, and a payback period of 6.8 months, confirming economic feasibility. These findings demonstrate that RF pasteurization can improve processing efficiency and support sustainable dairy production. Full article

Magnetic anomaly detection is vulnerable to environmental noise and insufficient prior target information, making non-periodic anomaly signals difficult to detect at low-signal-to-noise-ratio (SNR) conditions. This paper proposes a detection method based on a multi-parameter-constrained mirror dual-branch biased monostable stochastic resonance (SR) system. Nonlinear odd-order bias terms are introduced into the conventional biased monostable potential function to build a multi-parameter-controllable SR model. This improves regulation of potential-well width, depth, and wall morphology, enhancing noise-energy utilization and responses to non-periodic features. Considering peak-type, valley-type, and bipolar anomaly morphologies, a mirror dual-branch SR structure is developed to cooperatively detect features with different polarities. To preserve temporal waveforms and time–frequency structures during parameter optimization, a composite metric combining the correlation coefficient and wavelet-domain image structural similarity index is constructed. Multi-fidelity robust Bayesian optimization is used to obtain a unified robust parameter set for the magnetic anomaly signal family. Experiments with simulated colored noise and measured geomagnetic noise show that the proposed method effectively recovers magnetic anomaly features under strong noise. At −19 dB SNR, its detection probability remains above 80%. Compared with orthogonal basis function decomposition, empirical mode decomposition, and complete ensemble empirical mode decomposition with adaptive noise, the method achieves better noise suppression, feature preservation, and detection performance under low-SNR conditions. Full article

Pre-harvest foliar application of chitooligosaccharide (COS) was evaluated for its impact on the flavor quality of Cabernet Gernischt wines. COS was applied at the young berry (YB) and early veraison (EV) stages across the 2022 and 2023 vintages. Physicochemical parameters, phenolic compounds, color index, volatile composition, and sensory quality were systematically analyzed. In 2022, alcohol content and total acidity increased in both treatment groups, total phenols increased in the EV group but decreased in the YB group. In 2023, alcohol and acidity showed opposite trends between the two treatment groups, while phenolic compounds decreased. COS treatment increased wine lightness and yellow tone but reduced red tone and color saturation. In 2022 vintage, YB treatment increased total volatiles with 8.18% and terpenoids with 138.91%, while esters increasing by 34.72–53.60%. In 2023 vintage, total volatiles decreased by approximately 15%, with esters significantly decreasing by 26.60% (YB) and alcohols by 25.96% (EV), while fatty acids increased by 32.70% (EV). OPLS-DA identified key aroma compounds, including phenethyl acetate, ethyl caprate, heptyl acetate, and isoamyl acetate. Aroma wheel analysis showed that fruity and floral notes were enhanced in 2022 but reduced in 2023, with the EV stage consistently performing better. Overall, COS application at the early veraison stage represents a promising strategy for modulating wine flavor quality. Full article

Background: The influence of surface sealants on the color stability of composite resin restorations remains controversial. This in vitro study evaluated the effect of two surface sealants on the color stability of a nanohybrid composite resin exposed to staining beverages. Methods: Ninety specimens of Enamel Plus HRi Bio Function (BF2) composite resin were divided into three groups: without sealant, with Embrace™ WetBond™ Seal-n-Shine™, and with Ena Bond Seal. Specimens were immersed in black tea, Coca-Cola^®, red wine, orange juice, coffee, or distilled water for 40 h. Color measurements were obtained before and after immersion using the OptiShade colorimeter in accordance with the CIELAB color system. Results: Significant differences were observed according to both the staining solution and the surface sealant applied (p < 0.001). Red wine produced the highest color changes in all groups, while coffee and black tea also caused clinically perceptible discoloration. The Seal-n-Shine™ group exhibited the highest ΔE values and greater color variation compared with the control group. In contrast, the Ena Bond Seal group exhibited chromatic behavior closer to that of the unsealed composite resin. Conclusions: Color stability was significantly influenced by both the staining solution and the applied surface sealant. Full article

For the first time, twenty spun polychrome glass figurines (considered as tangible cultural heritage objects) stylistically assigned to workshops of the city of Nevers from the 17th to 19th centuries have been analyzed at the Musée de la Faïence et des Beaux-Arts of Nevers using non-invasive XRF and Raman spectroscopy. The results are compared with those previously obtained for figurines assigned to the Perrot’s Orléans workshop. A wide variety of glass compositions is observed, ranging from lead-free to lead-rich compositions, which are attributed to the preparation technique that involves mixing glass stems of different origins during the creation of the figurine. White opacification is achieved with Ca₂Sb₂O₇. The cobalt source is consistently arsenic-rich, but its composition becomes more complex during the 18th century, indicating the use of different cobalt sources. A variety of lead-tin and Naples yellow pigments are identified. Metal nanoparticles are used for pink, ruby, and carnation colors. The detection of associated arsenic and/or tin supports the identification of the use of gold nanoparticles. Cassiterite and arsenates of lead/calcium/potassium are also detected in a few figurines, probably from a different workshop. This latter opacifier, being more frequent in previously studied artifacts assigned to Orléans, suggests that the assignment to Nevers could be questioned. Aventurine glass is present in two objects. Full article

Lymph nodes are central hubs of immune regulation and coordination, serving as primary sites for antigen presentation, lymphocyte activation, and the orchestration of adaptive immune responses. The composition and activation state of lymph node-resident immune cells critically shape both local and systemic immunity. Comprehensive immunophenotyping of these populations is therefore essential for understanding immune organization and functional heterogeneity. Here, we present an optimized protocol for the characterization of mouse lymph node-associated immune populations using 14-color multiparametric flow cytometry. The method combines lymph node isolation based on anatomical landmarks with mechanical dissociation and enzymatic digestion to generate high-quality single-cell suspensions suitable for downstream analysis. Furthermore, the described flow cytometry panel and gating strategy enable reliable identification and quantification of major lymphoid subsets, including helper CD4⁺ and cytotoxic CD8⁺ T cells with their differentiation states, as well as natural killer (NK) cells across distinct maturation stages. Although optimized for assessing lymphocyte maturation after lipopolysaccharide (LPS) challenge, the protocol serves as a reproducible platform for broad immunophenotyping of T and NK cell subsets in mouse lymphoid tissues under experimental conditions. Full article

The valorization of winemaking by-products is a sustainable strategy consistent with circular bioeconomy principles and current public health priorities. This study aimed to evaluate residual oenological yeast sediment from local Moldovan grape varieties, Viorica and Fetească Regală, as a multifunctional ingredient and partial fat replacer in muffins. Sunflower oil was replaced with wine lees (WL) at 20%, 35%, and 50%, and the obtained products were analyzed in terms of physicochemical, nutritional, microbiological, colorimetric, and sensory characteristics. WL incorporation reduced the caloric value by up to 10% and decreased lipid content, while contributing to higher protein and dietary fiber levels. Moisture values remained within acceptable limits, whereas titratable acidity increased with the substitution level (p < 0.05). Muffin density showed a slight increase, and water absorption capacity improved markedly, reaching 269%, mainly due to the fiber-rich composition of WL. Color analysis indicated reduced lightness and increased redness, associated with yeast pigments and thermal reactions during baking. Microbiological results showed lower total viable counts with increasing WL addition; however, the 50% substitution level exceeded the permissible limits for yeasts and molds. Sensory evaluation indicated that the muffin with 20% WL was the most acceptable sample. Overall, WL may be considered a promising sustainable ingredient for developing reduced-fat muffins with improved nutritional value. Full article

Urban building color research has long been anchored in the “dominant-color” paradigm, which describes only the basic attributes of the most prevalent color and overlooks multi-color compositional relationships, thereby failing to reach evaluative dimensions such as color combination quality and spatial order. This study proposes a Fundamental–Compositional–Spatial (FCS) evaluation framework for building color quality, organizing ten indicators into three hierarchical layers: fundamental attributes, compositional structure, and spatial association. Using the Macao Special Administrative Region as an empirical case and drawing on building façade color data extracted from 8163 street-view sampling points, we systematically quantify the city-wide building color quality. Results show that (1) at 76.8% of the sampling points the dominant-color share lies within only 13–21%, so the dominant color holds no absolute areal advantage, and there is a significant intrinsic tension between colorfulness and harmony (r = −0.363) within the compositional structure; (2) Macao’s building colors are dominated by warm hues (warm-to-cool ratio ≈ 4.5:1), with saturation and value forming a systematic co-variation between a “dark-yet-colored” and a “bright-yet-colorless” mode, and color contrast exhibiting pronounced positive spatial autocorrelation (Moran’s I = 0.456); and (3) clustering based on the six C+S-layer indicators identifies four color-quality types—Subdued-Transitional (38.1%), Vibrant-Fragmented (13.5%), Dark-Harmonious (45.6%), and Monotonous-Clustered (2.7%)—whose spatial distribution is broadly consistent with the city’s historical construction strata. The study demonstrates that a multi-dimensional color-evaluation approach based on street-view big data can effectively transcend the limitations of dominant-color analysis and provides an operational technical pathway for fine-grained cognition and differentiated governance of urban color. Full article

This study investigated the impact of conventional chlorhexidine (CHX) and anti-discoloration system (ADS)-containing CHX mouthrinses on the color stability of diverse dental polymers, both alone and in combination with coffee. Specimens (n = 180) were prepared from a nanohybrid composite (Charisma Diamond; Kulzer GmbH, Hanau, Germany), a monochromatic composite (Vittra Unique APS; FGM Dental Group, Joinville, Brazil), and a dual-cure alkasite (Cention Forte; Ivoclar Vivadent, Schaan, Liechtenstein). Following a 14-day cycle of mouthrinse immersion (2 min/daily) and coffee exposure (15 min/daily at 85 °C), color changes (ΔE₀₀) were analyzed using the CIEDE2000 system. All materials exhibited significant discoloration across all protocols (p < 0.001). Cention Forte showed the highest susceptibility to staining, particularly in the CHX + coffee group (ΔE₀₀ = 21.10), while Charisma Diamond remained the most stable (0.95–8.60). Conventional CHX (Kloroben; Drogsan Pharmaceuticals, Ankara, Turkey) induced significantly higher staining than ADS-CHX (Curasept ADS; Curasept S.p.A., Saronno, Italy) across all materials (p < 0.05). Notably, ADS technology significantly inhibited coffee-induced pigmentation in Cention Forte (p = 0.003) and Charisma Diamond (p = 0.046), effectively reducing the synergistic staining layer. In conclusion, while coffee consumption dramatically increases discoloration following CHX use, ADS technology serves as a protective barrier, reducing pigment adhesion. For patients with high dietary pigment intake, ADS-containing mouthrinses offer a significant clinical advantage in preserving the aesthetic longevity of polymeric restorations. Full article

In this study, spent coffee grounds (SCGs) were incorporated into polylactic acid (PLA) filaments and 3D-printed parts to investigate their effects on thermal, physical, and mechanical properties. Differential scanning calorimetry showed that SCG addition slightly reduced the glass transition temperature of PLA while markedly increasing its crystallinity, whereas thermogravimetric analysis revealed a moderate decrease in degradation onset temperature that remained well above the processing and printing temperatures, ensuring safe fabrication. Tensile testing indicated that SCG incorporation led to noticeable reductions in filament strength and stiffness, whereas the elongation at break was only weakly affected because of counteracting plasticization effects. For the printed parts, SCGs imparted a dark brown coloration, decreased density, and increased moisture uptake due to their porous and hydrophilic nature, while tensile, flexural, and impact strengths were reduced and the tensile modulus and elongation at break remained statistically similar across the 0–20 wt% range. These findings indicate that SCGs can be effectively incorporated to tailor the crystallinity, color, and density of PLA-based 3D-printed composites, albeit with trade-offs in strength and impact performance. Full article

Raw lacquer, a natural polymer derived from the bast of lacquer trees (Toxicodendron vernicifluum), is renowned as the “King of Coatings” due to its exceptional film-forming properties, abrasion resistance, corrosion resistance, and biocompatibility. However, its inherent limitations—including stringent drying conditions, slow curing rates, deep coloration, and difficult application—have severely restricted its modernization and widespread adoption. This review systematically summarizes recent research advances in the modification and application of raw lacquer, focusing on four major modification strategies: (1) Nanocomposite modification—incorporating functional nanofillers such as Al₂O₃, cellulose nanofibrils (CNF), polydopamine (PDA) melanin-like nanoparticles, and SiO₂ to significantly enhance film hardness, compactness, UV-aging resistance, and drying kinetics. (2) Chemical structure modification—employing molecular design strategies including aminoanthraquinone grafting, tung oil blending, water-based emulsification, and terpene/allyl group functionalization to improve hydrophobicity, flexibility, fast-drying properties, and achieve dual photo/oxygen curing. (3) Biomass synergistic composites—utilizing natural polymers such as chitosan and lignin, along with bio-inspired adhesion mechanisms (e.g., PDA), to confer advanced functionalities including antibacterial and antifouling properties. (4) Curing behavior regulation—precisely controlling drying kinetics through inorganic salt ion microenvironment engineering, nonionic surfactants, and salicylaldehyde Schiff base-based driers. Building upon these foundations, this review further expands on the emerging high-value applications of modified lacquer in preventive conservation of cultural heritage, advanced functional coatings (anti-corrosion, super-hydrophobicity, flame retardancy), biomedical materials (hemostasis, antibacterial activity, drug-controlled release, water treatment adsorption), and intelligent responsive flexible electronics. Finally, addressing challenges including weak fundamental research, bottlenecks in green industrialization, and lack of standardization, future development directions are proposed encompassing interdisciplinary innovation, sustainable modification strategies, integration of multifunctional intelligent systems, and big data-driven research paradigms, aiming to provide theoretical guidance and technical references for the high-value utilization and modernization of lacquer resources. Full article

The Huanggangliang area in Inner Mongolia is a major fluorite and polymetallic ore district in China. Its skarn-type deposit yields rare color-change fluorite, yet the coloration and photochromic mechanisms remain poorly studied. Five faceted samples were characterized by conventional gemological tests, EDXRF, UV-Vis, Raman, PL, TL, and FTIR to determine their composition, spectral features, and defects. The results indicate two distinct color-forming mechanisms. Group I is dominated by f-f transitions of rare-earth elements with color-center synergy, showing a strong gray-blue to blue-violet color change and a characteristic absorption peak at ~580 nm in the UV-Vis spectrum. Group II is dominated by high-concentration irradiated color centers. Its deep blue-violet color and weak color change are attributed to colloidal induced by long-term endogenous α, β, and γ irradiation from radioactive Th. The lack of additional Raman peaks and a broad UV-Vis absorption peak at ~595 nm, along with multiple UV color-center peaks, weak fluorescence, and thermoluminescence, all confirm the presence of high-concentration electron traps. This study establishes the composition–spectrum–color relationship, reveals the control of ore-fluid evolution on mechanism differentiation, and provides a scientific basis for identifying and analyzing color-change fluorite. Full article

Impatiens walleriana is a widely cultivated ornamental species extensively used in landscaping and garden design, with its vibrant floral colors constituting one of the primary determinants of its ornamental value. We found in preliminary observations that treatment of I. walleriana seeds with colchicine at 60 mg L⁻¹ induced significant flower color variation, with petals changing from purple to pink. Based on this, the present study used the wild-type (purple) and induced mutant plants (pink) of I. walleriana as materials, and systematically elucidated the molecular regulatory mechanism underlying its flower color variation via integrated analysis of targeted metabolomics and transcriptomics. Metabolomic analysis identified 84 anthocyanin-related metabolites. Metabolite composition and accumulation levels differed significantly between Iw-MU and Iw-WT. Pelargonidin, peonidin, and petunidin were markedly elevated in Iw-MU, while procyanidins accumulated to higher levels in Iw-WT. These metabolic differences may serve as the key metabolic basis for the petal color transition to pink. Transcriptomic analysis identified a total of 689 differentially expressed genes, of which 386 were upregulated and 303 were downregulated. Subsequent functional annotation and enrichment analysis revealed that the flavonoid biosynthesis pathway played a key regulatory role in flower color variation. Among these, the significant downregulation of key anthocyanin biosynthetic genes, DFR and ANS, likely suppressed the production of colored anthocyanins. In contrast, the expression levels of ANR and LAR genes were significantly upregulated, which may drive the metabolic flux to shift toward proanthocyanidin biosynthesis. This study elucidated the metabolomic composition characteristics and key regulatory genes associated with the floral color transition from pinkish-purple to light pink in I. walleriana, as well as clarified the core metabolic pathways and molecular regulatory mechanisms underlying this variation. These findings provide a theoretical foundation for the genetic improvement of flower color and the breeding of new cultivars in I. walleriana. Full article

Atmospheric microplastics are increasingly recognized as emerging contaminants in urban air, yet evidence from Philippine cities outside Metro Manila remains limited. This study provides a preliminary roadside baseline assessment of airborne microplastics in Cagayan de Oro City, southern Philippines. Atmospheric particles were collected from 12 roadside stations distributed across four urban roads, with three stations per road, during a standardized dry-season midday sampling period, and were subsequently subjected to alkaline digestion, microscopic screening, and ATR-FTIR confirmation. Of 99 visually suspected particles, 44 were verified as synthetic polymers and retained in the final dataset. Mean atmospheric microplastic concentrations ranged from 0.0079 to 0.0212 items m⁻³, with J.R. Borja Street showing the highest concentration and Nazareth Street the lowest. Abundance did not differ significantly among roads, whereas particle shape, color, and polymer composition showed significant differences within the confirmed dataset, while size-class distribution did not. Fibers were the dominant morphology (56.8%), transparent particles were the most common color class (52.3%), and polypropylene and polyethylene terephthalate were the predominant polymers. Taken together, the findings confirm the presence of airborne microplastics across roadside environments in Cagayan de Oro City and suggest that, under the sampled conditions, spatial variation was more evident in particle characteristics than in overall abundance. This study contributes an initial polymer-confirmed roadside dataset for a secondary Philippine city and highlights the value of composition-based assessment in urban air quality monitoring. Full article