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The article discusses abstract art and the camera-less photographic installations of American artist Alison Rossiter. Topics explored include the use of expired photographic paper by Rossiter to create photograms, the photo paper processing techniques of Rossiter to produce abstract images, and the factors being considered by Rossiter in her artistic titling practice.

The aim of this study was to compare three gunshot residue (GSR) collection methods used in conjunction with chemographic detection applied by different regional Swiss police services. The specimens were collected from the hands of a shooter with either filter paper (Filter method) or adhesive foil. The adhesive foil was then either applied against photographic paper during visualisation (AF Photo method) or coated with a layer of polyvinyl alcohol (AF PVAL method). The experiments involved two conditions of the examined hands, i.e. dry and humidified. The residues were revealed using the sodium rhodizonate test (SRT). Preliminary tests assessing the possibility of conducting a confirmatory Scanning Electron Microscopy coupled to Energy Dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM/EDX) analysis after the chemographic test were performed on a number of specimens by cutting positive spots and mounting them on stubs. Obtained results were compared in terms of effectiveness - number of positive spots, time requirements, quality of subsequent SEM-EDX analysis, ease of use and cost. The Filter method generally yielded a high-quality detection with both dry and humidified hands, as well as a simple, quick and efficient confirmation by SEM/EDX. The AF Photo performed well on dry hands, but not on humidified hands. The AF PVAL method performance was lower compared to the other methods in both examined conditions of the hands. The SEM/EDX analysis showed that the Filter and AF PVAL method provided satisfactory results when a sufficient carbon coating thickness was applied to the cuttings. It was also observed that the thinner the PVAL layer, the better the quality of the spectra and obtained images in SEM/EDX. Furthermore, the surface of the photographic paper did not seem to be conductive, even after the application of a thick layer of carbon. In conclusion, the Filter method gave the best overall results, but its application required slightly more time and expertise than the two other methods. • The Filter method had a high-quality detection with both dry and humidified hands. • The adhesive foil with photo paper performed better on dry than humidified hands. • The adhesive with a PVAL method did not perform as well as the other methods. • Both Filter and PVAL methods provided satisfactory SEM/EDX analysis. • SEM/EDX analysis preparation was more tedious for the AF Photo and PVAL methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The feasibility of the application of image/signal processing for measuring, marking, matching, and sorting vast quantities of data derived from materials typically found in artworks is presented through four case studies. Different patterns produced by canvas weave structures, surface textures of historic photographic papers, chain line intervals in Rembrandt's printing papers, and watermark variations have been subjected to different modes of computational analysis. The art-historical implications that result from computer-generated algorithms – including dating, attribution, authenticity, and workshop practices – can be considered as "computational connoisseurship." The case studies discussed point to future areas for research. Finally, because of the need for statistically meaningful datasets of images, a practical means of recording internal paper structure is introduced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The characterization and estimation of the Hölder regularity of random fields has long been an important topic of Probability theory and Statistics. This notion of regularity has also been widely used in image analysis to measure the roughness of textures. However, such a measure is rarely sufficient to characterize textures as it does not account for their directional properties (e.g., isotropy and anisotropy). In this paper, we present an approach to further characterize directional properties associated with the Hölder regularity of random fields. Using the spectral density, we define a notion of asymptotic topothesy which quantifies directional contributions of field high-frequencies to the Hölder regularity. This notion is related to the topothesy function of the so-called anisotropic fractional Brownian fields, but is defined in a more generic framework of intrinsic random fields. We then propose a method based on multi-oriented quadratic variations to estimate this asymptotic topothesy. Eventually, we evaluate this method on synthetic data and apply it for the characterization of historical photographic papers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A limitation of paper-based devices that employ optical readout is that they can only be used for assays in the visible range of the electromagnetic spectrum. This work describes the first paper-based analytical devices that can be used for UV absorption photometric assays without scientific equipment. The devices consist of a transparent cellulose film (cellophane) as a reaction vessel and photometric cuvette and a photosensitive paper as a detector of UV irradiation. The analytes or their derivatives absorb part of the incident UV irradiation on the cellophane surface while the transmitted irradiation passes through the cellophane and photoreduces the surface of the photosensitive paper, producing an image. In this manner, the "colorimetrically invisible" UV absorption signaling is transformed into a visible image that can be captured and processed with common imaging devices. The analytical utility of these devices is demonstrated, as a proof-of-concept, for six UV-absorption model assays. The results show that cellophane-analytical devices are suitable for high-sensitivity measurements but exhibit a relatively large standard deviation, dictating multiple trials to correct the accuracy of the results. Technical aspects related to the improvement of the devices and the quality of analytical data are elucidated and discussed. [Display omitted] • Transparent paper-based devices perform UV absorbance photometric assays. • Photographic paper is used as a detector of UV light. • The colorimetrically invisible UV light is transformed into a visible pattern. • High throughput measurements in a microzone plate format. • UV absorbance assays without scientific equipment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Silver nanowires (AgNWs) have inspired many research interests due to their better properties in optical, electric, and flexible applications. One such exploitable use is as the electrical conductive fillers for print electronics. In this paper, AgNWs with mean a diameter of 80 nm and mean length of 13.49 μm were synthesized using the polyol solvothermal method. A sonication-induced scission process was used to obtain AgNWs with a length range of 7.64–11.21 μm. Further AgNWs inks were prepared with the as-synthesized AgNWs as conductive fillers in anhydrous ethanol. The conductive inks were coated on resin coated photographic paper substrate using the knife coating process and dried at room temperature. The effects of the number of layers of AgNWs coating, the concentration of AgNWs, and the length of AgNWs on the microstructure and electrical properties of samples were investigated by scanning electron microscopy and using the four-point probe method. The results show that the conductivity of the AgNWs coating increases with the increase in the number of layers in the AgNWs coating, concentration and length of the AgNWs.

This paper presents F2C, a cooperative resource management system for Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS) clouds. Inspired by group-buying mechanisms in real product and service markets, F2C advocates a group of cloud tenants (called tenant coalition) to buy resource capacity in bulk and share the resource pool in the form of virtual machines (VMs). Tenant coalitions leads to vast opportunities for fine-grained resource sharing among multiple tenants. However, resource sharing, especially for multiple resource types, poses several challenging problems in pay-as-you-use cloud environments, such as sharing incentive, free-riding, lying and economic fairness. To address those problems, we propose Reciprocal Resource Fairness (RRF) , a novel resource allocation mechanism to enable fair sharing on multiple resource types within a tenant coalition. RRF is implemented in two complementary and hierarchical mechanisms: inter-tenant resource trading and intra-tenant weight adjustment. RRF satisfies several highly desirable properties to ensure fairness. We implement F2C in Xen platform. The experimental results show F2C is promising for both cloud providers and tenants. For cloud providers, F2C improves VM density and cloud providers’ revenue by 2.2X compared to the current IaaS cloud models. For tenants, F2C improves application performance by 45 percent and guarantees 95 percent economic fairness among multiple tenants. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

An X-ray fluorescence method to determine whether sulfur is present in 19th century photographs due to intentional toning or to environmental deterioration is proposed. In the 19th century salted paper print photographic process, AgCl formed on the surface of a sheet of paper was exposed to sunlight in contact with a negative, leading to the printing out of a Ag image that was fixed by immersing it in a sodium thiosulfate solution or hypo. The improper execution of the fixing in these photographs may result in the presence of sulfur, mostly manifested in image fading, irregular staining, and discoloration. Also, 19th century artists produced salted paper prints with a variety of image tonalities, for example, by using an artificially aged thiosulfate bath. The presence of sulfur in photographs may also be due to sulfur-containing environmental pollutants. Therefore, knowledge about the location and amounts of sulfur is important to understand the artistic technique and/or the deterioration processes. In this study, the amounts of sulfur and the silver to sulfur signal ratios were determined for a salted paper print made in the laboratory following a 19th century procedure and for two artistic salted paper photographs using X-ray fluorescence and standards prepared with different amounts of retained hypo and quantified by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy. The amounts of sulfur and the normalized silver to sulfur ratios for the artistic photographs were evaluated based on the results obtained in the samples prepared in the laboratory and in the context of the 19th century practices. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Surface textures of a large collection of photographic papers dating from 1896 to the present were measured using a laser scanning confocal microscope (LSCM) with four different objective lenses. Roughness characterization parameters were calculated from the texture measurements and were compared with gloss measurements. Characterization by the area-scale fractal dimension (Das) and the area-scale fractal complexity (Asfc) provided the strongest correlations between gloss reflectance and surface texture. The measurements with the 5× and 10× objectives, which contained many large-scale, spiky measurement artifacts that distorted the measurement, resulted in the strongest correlations (R2 > 0.8) compared to the 20× and 50× (R2 < 0.5). The presence of spiky artifacts in the measurements, which increases when the magnification of the objective lens is decreased, appears to amplify surface features in such a way to improve the correlations. SCANNING 37:204-217, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many long-term geomagnetic observation results recorded on photographic bromide paper have not yet been fully digitized. To that end, we developed a method to automatically convert photographic records to one-minute digital data. We applied our method to the observation records of Kakioka Magnetic Observatory and confirmed that the resolution of time and amplitude could be greatly improved by numerical conversion compared with conventional data conversion by hand scaling. Our results suggest that highly precise digitization of analog magnetograms is possible.

This paper proposes an applied method by which to fuse multiple independently developed scenarios to serve as a basis for strategic studies in the national security operations research community. First, it describes the need to fuse scenarios methodically as a consequence of the evolution of global security conditions and as a matter of logic that might be otherwise overlooked. Second, it proposes applying Structured Scenario Fusion (SSF), a method that uses three stylized tables to systematically and transparently record the process of scenario fusion. Third, it provides an example application set in a hypothetical study of future security conditions in Somalia. It concludes that SSF offers a promising way to improve the pedigree, realism, and logic of assumptions underpinning scenario-based strategic studies, as well as the quality of strategic decisions and plans thereby justified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Historical references of silver gelatin photographic paper sheet size and thickness were collected to determine standardized dimensions in use during the 20th century. A total of 32 sizes and three thicknesses were determined to be de facto standards. Despite periodic attempts to create international standards, manufacturers of photographic paper resisted broad standardization and instead relied on traditional and aesthetic norms, many dating back to the origins of photography. Five aspect ratios were found to dominate these sizes, implying that image scaling was a major factor for determining dimensions. By contrast, standards that emerged from the papermaking industry had a small impact on sizes of silver gelatin paper. The identified de facto standards were distilled from a larger population of great diversity, with numerous non-standard sizes appearing and disappearing over time. This diversity is less pervasive with regard to thickness, with single and double weight sizes dominating throughout the century and a medium weight option gaining ground after the 1940s. In all cases, the three dimensions of a finished photograph, X, Y, and Z, reflect practical and aesthetic decision-making. When compared with the de facto standards determined in this research, these dimensions can provide insight into the working practice and intentions of photographers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This vignette examines the business of Philadelphia photographer James McClees who successfully made the transition from daguerreotypes to paper photography. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of the American Institute for Conservation is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

As a cheap and abundant porous material, cellulose filter paper was used to immobilize nano-TiO2 and denoted as TiO2/cellulose paper (TCP). With high adsorption capacity for Cu(II) (more than 1.65 mg), TCP was used as an adsorbent, photocatalyst, and colorimetric sensor at the same time. Under the optimum adsorption conditions, i.e., pH 6.5 and 25 °C, the adsorption ratio of Cu(II) was higher than 96.1%. Humic substances from the matrix could be enriched onto TCP but the interference of their colors on colorimetric detection could be eliminated by the photodegradation. In the presence of hydroxylamine, neocuproine, as a selective indicator, was added onto TCP, and a visual color change from white to orange was generated. The concentration of Cu(ll) was quantified by the color intensity images using image processing software. This fully integrated visual analysis system was successfully applied for the detection of Cu(n) in 10.0 L of drinking water and seawater with a preconcentration factor of 104. The log-linear calibration curve for Cu(II) was in the range of 0.5-50.0 μg L-1 with a determination coefficient (R2) of 0.985 and its detection limit was 0.073 p% L-1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Five unprocessed historic platinum photographic papers were characterized by a combination of Raman, FTIR and XRF spectroscopies to gain insight into their manufacturing processes and obtain information that can help identify the use of similar papers in works of art in a non-invasive manner. The analysis of one of these papers, ‘Japine Platinotype for Sepia Tones,’ showed a sensitized surface layer in the recto consistent with the use of a parchmentization process of the paper substrate, and that the verso presents a slightly modified surface. Raman and FTIR measurements revealed that this surface layer in Japine is composed mainly of amorphous cellulose. No gelatin or other surface coatings were found to be present in Japine. In the rest of the papers studied, the sensitizer was found to have been applied directly onto the paper fibers and no gelatin or gums were observed as sizings. Relatively larger amounts of mercury were detected in Japine, confirming the use of a Hg salt in a sepia-type platinum paper. The combined use of Raman and XRF provides information that can help discriminate platinum photographic processes involving parchmentization in works of art in a non-invasive manner. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Do hybrid drive are the future? Limited resources of fossil fuels causing increasingly frequent questions about the future of propulsion systems. In this paper, on the basis of available information, was described the basic structure, types, and the potential benefits of multisources drive systems. The author's intention is to initiate a discussion which type of drive system: hydraulic, pneumatic, mechanical, electrical, is potentially the best solution to use in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For scanning analog aerial photographs, digital photogrammetry requires specific and expensive photogrammetric scanners. However, we only have a simple A4 format scanner useful for solving some special photogrammetric tasks applied for analyzing the possibilities of scanning photographic material. The paper investigates the peculiarities of scanning analog aerial photos using the scanner processing pictures smaller than an A4 format. The achieved results are compared with digital data obtained using a professional photogramrnetric scanner. Experimental photogrammetric measurements have showed that the results of aerial photographs scanned by a nonprofessional scanner satisfy accuracy requirements for topographic mapping at a scale of 1:5000. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simulating the reflectance of electronic paper (e-paper) using cholesteric liquid crystals, we found that the e-paper's black color was tinged red with the light reflected on the electrode. To make the black color achromatic, we optimized the interfacial reflectance of electrodes by changing their thickness. Finally, we developed some new e-paper improved black color. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An innovative approach to date fiber-based gelatin silver prints using near-infrared spectroscopy (NIR) and multivariate analysis is presented. NIR spectra were acquired for 152 film stills printed in the USA between 1914 and 1986, and partial least square (PLS) analysis was used to correlate the spectra with the year the photographs were printed. Principal component analysis and spectral interpretation helped clarify the underlying correlation between the print date and the composition and ageing of the photographic papers. The method was successfully validated with an independent set of 66 film stills printed in the USA, and a prediction error (root mean square error of prediction) of 6 years was achieved. The method was also tested on films stills printed in Germany and Russia, as well as amateur prints and photographs in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art. The prediction error was significantly larger, with the exception of the amateur prints, due to differences in the composition and/or properties of the papers depending on their geographical origin and purpose as confirmed by discriminant analysis. [Figure not available: see fulltext.] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Silver ink was written directly on photographic paper by robotic writing technique. The AgNPs-photographic paper substrate possessed good SERS activities, reproducibility and uniformity, as well as high stability among four months. Furthermore, AgNPs-photographic paper was used as a substrate to detect the SERS spectra of thiram residues in fruit juice and peels directly without any pretreatments. [Display omitted] • Silver ink was written on photographic paper by robotic writing technique. • The detection limit for thiram absorbed on AgNPs-photographic paper was 0.024 ppb. • The substrates exhibited good reproducibility with RSD less than 10%. • The substrate had good uniformity with RSD of 14.34% by 120 points. • AgNPs-photographic paper was used as a substrate to detect thiram in fruit juice and peels. With the widespread application of pesticide in agriculture, pesticide residues in food have posed serious health risks to human. There is an urgent requirement to detect pesticide residues in food. In this work, a sensitive and effective method was employed to measure thiram residues in fruit using surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) technique. Silver ink was written on photographic paper (AgNPs-photographic paper) directly by robotic writing technique. The AgNPs-photographic paper substrates possessed good SERS activities and high stability among four months. A good linear response between the peaks intensities and the logarithmic concentrations of thiram was obtained with the limit of detection (LOD) of 0.024 ppb. The substrates also exhibited excellent reproducibility with relative standard deviation (RSD) value less than 10% from ten different substrates. SERS mapping was tested to characterize the uniformity of AgNPs-photographic paper, and the RSD value was calculated to be 14.34% at 1377 cm−1 measured by 120 points. The LOD values of apple and peach juice adulterated with thiram were 0.0024 and 0.024 ppm, respectively. The LOD values of thiram residues on apple and peach peels were both 0.25 ng/cm2. It was demonstrated that the substrates prepared by robotic writing technique had great potential for practical application in food safety inspection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This paper presents recent modifications of the Leak Before Break procedure of the A16 appendix from French RCC-MR nuclear code and the improvements that will be proposed. The first part of the study deals with the prediction of the crack size at penetration. In the case of small initial defect the validity of the Master Curve used in the A16 appendix is confirmed for pipes. For large initial defects, a correction to the A16 procedure is proposed to take into account the effect of large initial crack length on its size at penetration. The second part of this paper focuses on the crack shape evolution after penetration, which is characterized by two stages: first straightening of the crack shape and then crack growth at both inner and outer surfaces. This typical behaviour is confirmed by numerical and experimental works for which particular loading conditions have been investigated. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Measurement of short-term and long-term deflections is a necessary step towards understanding and evaluating the status of a bridge. In this paper, a novel non-contact weighted-stretched-wire (NCWSW) system is developed for measuring the deflection of a bridge. Also some factors related to the system are addressed. The proposed system is promising due to some attractive features such as high precision, low implementation cost and suitability for continuous monitoring. The efficiency and reliability of NCWSW system are investigated both analytically and experimentally. A realistic NCWSW system has been used in the monitoring of a real-world bridge. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The preservation of early 20th century, late 19th century albumen prints is of great concern to collection managers and conservators of photographic materials. Attenuated Total Reflection Fourier Transform Infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopic imaging is presented for the first time as analytical methodology for the study of albumen photographs. This paper shows the feasibility of obtaining FTIR images of samples from albumen photographs with a high spatial resolution using a Ge ATR objective coupled with an infrared microscope. The improved spatial resolution compared to FTIR images obtained by the reflection method is due to the high refractive index of the ATR crystal, which gives a high numerical aperture and hence, a higher spatial resolution. The technique reveals detailed information on the organic functional group distribution in the individual layers of embedded cross sections and is used complementary to visual microscopy and scanning electron microscopy/energy dispersed X-ray spectroscopy. The main results of the study are discussed with regard to their historical and artistic significance, and they are compared with data from historical and conservation literature. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Copyright of Journal of the American Institute for Conservation is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Abstract: In this paper, we give some characterizations of the integral and Carleson type measure both associated with higher radial derivative for holomorphic functions of and spaces in the unit ball of . As applications, some sharp forms of the relations between Dirichlet type spaces and spaces are shown by means of higher radial derivative, Carleson type measure and constructive methods for the cases of determinism and randomization, respectively. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: In this paper, we consider the polyharmonic system in , for , , with , , but not both equal to 1, where is the polyharmonic operator. Set , , for , we prove the nonexistence of positive solutions. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: In this paper, we study a boundary feedback system of a class of nonuniform undamped Timoshenko beam with both ends free. We give some sufficient conditions and some necessary conditions for the system to have exponential stability. Our method is based on the operator semigroup technique, the multiplier technique, and the contradiction argument of the frequency domain method. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This paper develops the notion of implicit Lagrangian systems and presents some of their basic properties in the context of Dirac structures. This setting includes degenerate Lagrangian systems and systems with both holonomic and nonholonomic constraints, as well as networks of Lagrangian mechanical systems. The definition of implicit Lagrangian systems with a configuration space makes use of Dirac structures on that are induced from a constraint distribution on as well as natural symplectomorphisms between the spaces , , and . Two illustrative examples are presented; the first is a nonholonomic system, namely a vertical disk rolling on a plane, and the second is an L–C circuit, a degenerate Lagrangian system with holonomic constraints. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This paper focuses on the process of constructing identity and place within the context of the emergence of Los Angeles as a "world city. This construction of place and identity is riddled with tension and conflict. Issues of identity politics, territoriality and power relationships provide the context of social interaction in the construction of place and identity. The paper uses a case study that examines the development of little San Salvador, an inner city enclave or neighborhood of Los Angeles, California to explore this dialectical relationship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]