Color vision assessment‐1: Visual signals that affect the results of the Farnsworth D‐15 test

The Farnsworth D‐15 test (D‐15) is commonly used to screen for moderate to severe congenital color vision deficiency. The aim of this study was to establish reliable D‐15 statistics for normal, deutan and protan subjects, and to investigate the different visual signals one can use to carry out the test, even in dichromats and rod monochromats. Six hundred and seventy‐four subjects were examined using the D‐15, the Colour Assessment and Diagnosis test and the Nagel anomaloscope. A rod monochromat and five dichromats were tested using the standard D‐15 protocol before the caps were separated into two groups and subjects were asked to repeat the task. D‐15 spectral radiance data, measured under D65 illumination, were used to estimate differences in photoreceptor excitations for each of the caps. When no crossings and up to two adjacent transpositions on the D‐15 results diagram are accepted as a pass, 100% of normal trichromats, 54% of deutans and 43% of protans pass the D‐15. A rod monochromat and two protanopes and deuteranopes were able to complete the D‐15 when the caps were separated into two groups, despite severe loss or even complete absence of color vision. When up to two adjacent transpositions are accepted 50% of color deficient subjects, some with severe red/green loss, pass the D‐15. While the D‐15 is normally used to screen for moderate to severe color deficiency, subjects with severe loss can still use combined, residual red/green, yellow/blue and luminance signals to pass.     

Color vision assessment‐2: Color assessment outcomes using single and multi‐test protocols

The main purpose of this study was to produce reliable, color assessment outcomes to examine the extent to which single and multi‐test protocols in use meet current clinical and occupational needs. The latter include the detection of small changes in chromatic sensitivity as the earliest signs of retinal and/or systemic disease, and the need to assess the class of color vision in congenital deficiency and to quantify severity of loss. Color vision was assessed using Ishihara (IH), Farnsworth Munsell D‐15, City University (CU, 2nd ed.) and Holmes‐Wright type A (HW‐A) lantern tests. All subjects also carried out Colour Assessment and Diagnosis and Nagel anomaloscope tests. The sample included 350 normal trichromats, 1012 deutans and 465 protans (age 31.1 ± 12.4, range 10‐65 years). The results reveal the trade‐off between sensitivity and specificity, depending on the number of errors accepted as a pass on the IH test. The D‐15 and CU tests pass all normals and almost 50% of subjects with color vision deficiency. The HW‐A lantern passes all normals, 22% of deutans and 1% of protans. The multi‐test protocols designed to identify protans and to pass only subjects with mild color loss, pass over 50% of protans and deutans. Many of the subjects who fail exhibit less severe loss of color vision than others who pass. When high sensitivity for detection of congenital deficiency is achieved, single‐test protocols fail many normal trichromats. Multi‐test protocols produce large variability and fail to achieve desired aims.     

Practical color barrier‐free illumination for deuteranopia using LEDs

Here, we propose a color barrier‐free illumination consisting of white, red, and blue LEDs for people with deuteranopia‐type defects in color perception. Color perceptions of 20 volunteers with normal vision and four examinees of deuteranopia were evaluated by both the Ishihara test for color blindness and the Farnsworth Panel D‐15 test under color barrier‐free illumination. The illumination was comparably effective, not only for discriminating between red and green but also for discrimination of the hues on a color chip continuously. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Col Res Appl, 40, 218–223, 2015     

Test/retest and inter‐test agreement of color aptitude measures

The color discrimination capacity of color vision normal observers can be assessed using color aptitude tests (CATs), although data on the test/retest reliability and inter‐test agreement of such tests using appropriate statistical measures is limited. In this study, 32 color vision normal observers twice performed each of five CATs, being the Farnsworth‐Munsell 100 hue test, HVC Color Vision Skills Test, inter‐Society Color Council Color Aptitude Test, the Nagel Anomaloscope (Nagel), and a custom designed two‐color discrimination test. Two methods of determining the Nagel matching range were used based on the initially accepted matching range or on repeated measures. The test/retest performance of each test was determined using the method outlined by Bland and Altman[Lancet 1986;1:307–310] and the inter‐test agreement was analyzed using the same method, after converting test scores into z score units. No test was found to have a significant systematic alteration in test performance between test and retest. Test/retest performance was generally poor, indicating that tests can only reliably classify observers into very broad performance bands. All tests failed to show inter‐test agreement, and our data indicate a primary reason for this: as test/retest performance is generally poor, inter‐test agreement must also be poor as no test can agree more with another test than it agrees with itself. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Col Res Appl, 40, 224–231, 2015     

Performance of the Ishihara,D‐15, and City University colour vision test as a function of intraocular straylight

Three colour vision tests, the Ishihara test, the City University Test (CUT), and the D‐15 test were studied as a function of induced intraocular straylight, using a commercially available light‐scattering filter. Thirty young individuals (aged 17‐28 years) with no ocular abnormalities and normal colour vision participated in the study. Intraocular straylight was estimated in all individuals using a psychophysical compensation method with the C‐Quant straylight meter, with and without the light‐scattering filter which caused an increase in intraocular straylight typical of that found for cataract. Under normal viewing conditions all the subjects passed each of the 3 tests with no errors. When viewing the Ishihara test plates through the filter, 10 out of the 30 observers made at least 1 error. Three subjects also made errors on the desaturated CUT test plates, but all subjects still passed the D‐15 test with the filter. The errors in the Ishihara test correlated with the amount of intraocular straylight, as measured with the C‐Quant. This study indicates that interpretation of the Ishihara test in a clinical environment will be made more difficult in individuals with higher levels of straylight.     

Theoretical considerations on small color differences ascribed to the standard observer made on the basis of individual color‐matching functions

An analytical method to determine how color‐matching functions influence the perception of chromaticity differences is proposed. We show that, as a consequence of the observer metamerism, a metameric color‐match perceived by one observer may appear to be a significant mismatch to a different observer. It is also shown that, on average, the differences between the color‐matchings made by two different observers can be estimated to be in the order of 2 CIELAB units. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Col Res Appl, 34, 194–200, 2009     

Color association research on red‐green dichromats in the color ergonomics of user interface interaction

With the development of our modern information society, digital products have become integrated into daily life. Research on the color ergonomics of user interfaces is a pressing issue. However, color‐vision‐deficient individuals (CVDIs), who account for 4.25% of the population, must use interfaces designed for individuals with normal color vision; the demands of CVDIs have not been sufficiently addressed. In this article, we investigate color associations in the color ergonomics of user interface interaction in a manner that aims both to improve interaction efficiency and to meet the psychological needs of CVDIs. First, we study color physiological cognitions in the color interactions of user interfaces for red‐green dichromats (RGDs) to determine the single‐color, two‐color, and three‐color combinations with high discrimination for a later experiment. Second, we explore the psychological–cognition relationships of colors in user‐interface interactions for RGDs. In an experiment involving 10 pairs of association semantemes and corresponding colors, the experimental results show that RGDs have different color cognitions caused by specific visual color expressions and unconscious environmental influences. Therefore, this article argues that RGD design should consider not only the habitual colors of solidified cognitions but also instinctive color associations. Finally, based on the results of previous experiments, we apply association color to the new interface design of computer security software (360 Total Security) for RGDs. Experimental results indicate that the application of color association in our new design can improve both interaction efficiency and CVDI user experience. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Col Res Appl, 41, 547–563, 2016     

Detection and modification of confusing color combinations for red‐green dichromats to achieve a color universal design

Color‐vision deficiency is a relatively common genetic condition, which often leads to the obstruction of necessary information in colored images. It is important to minimize such inconvenient effects in communication using colored images from a universal design perspective. The universal design principle stipulates that all environments and products should be usable by all people, regardless of age, physical attributes, and ability. This article proposes a method to detect color combinations in a given image that would confuse color dichromats, and suggests a way in which to modify them to make the image easily distinguishable for both normal and dichromatic observers. Confusing color combinations were detected based on a color‐difference calculation using simulations of how the color would appear to dichromats. The confusing colors were then modified based on the minimization of an evaluation function, which was defined as the sum of the degree of confusion and the degree of color change from the original image. Several colored images obtained by the proposed method were compared with the originals by red–green dichromatic observers who judged them to be clearer, thereby confirming that the proposed method was effective for color rendering for universal design. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Col Res Appl, 33, 203–211, 2008     

A test of uniformities in the OSA‐UCS and the NCS

In the OSA‐UCS (Optical Society of America–Uniform Color Scales), except for colors on the boundary of the three‐dimensional solid (L, j, g), each color is surrounded by the 12 nearest neighboring colors that are supposed to be perceptually equally different (local uniformity). In the Swedish NCS (Natural Color System), colors are arranged so as to gradually vary in each of the three perceptual attributes: hue, ?; blackness, s; and chromaticness, c. The gradual change in an attribute may correspond to change of color difference from one to the next with a constant step (local uniformity). In each of these color‐order systems, the uniformity was tested by a color‐difference formula d? based on color‐component differences. When a coordinate is fixed (e.g., j in OSA‐UCS, or c in NCS), d? for neighboring pairs turned out fairly constant. However, systematic differences were found between d? in one coordinate and d? in another coordinate. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Col Res Appl, 28, 277–283, 2003; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/col.10162     

Manifestation of depressive tendency in color perception and colors utilized in creating a self‐portrait

There are a large number of studies on color and its influence upon human emotions, but there have been only a few studies on the correlation between color and depressive mental disorders. This study used color preference, association, and creation of self‐portraits to explore the relationship between color and depressive tendency. In this study, 337 freshman design students participated in the experiment, and the center for epidemiologic studies‐depression scale (CES‐D) was used to determine the extent of depression in the subjects. After classifying the subject as “depressive tendency” and “no depressive tendency,” the semantic differential scale and color association methods were used to explore the subjects' emotional, cognitive, and perceptive responses to Munsell 14 colors. In the final portion of the study, the 233 subjects created a colored self‐portrait. The main conclusions found by this study are: (1) when color is used to determine whether subjects have depressive tendency, then the three colors of Yellowish Red, Purple, and Dark Gray are important discriminant variables. (2) those who have depressive tendency (DT) or do not have depressive tendency (NoDT) have similar results in color association, except when viewing dark Gray in association with abstract concepts, wherein DT subjects chose more negative emotional words such as “hopeless,” “fear,” and “depression”; (3) among the 233 self‐portraits, the existence of depressive tendency correlated with the colors used on the face in the self‐portrait. From the above conclusions, this study finds that there is much association between depressive tendency and color perception. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Col Res Appl, 34, 84–92, 2009.     

Screening for Amidases: Isolation and Characterization of a Novel D‐Amidase from Variovorax paradoxus

Using racemic tert‐leucine amide as sole nitrogen source in minimal medium, 162 strains were isolated by enrichment techniques and shown to contain amidase activity. Among these isolates three D ‐amidase producers were found and identified as Variovorax paradoxus (two strains) and Klebsiella spec. The D ‐amidase from Variovorax paradoxus was purified to homogeneity by three chromatographic steps. With dl ‐Tle‐amide as substrate Michaelis Menten kinetics were observed with a K_M of 0.74 mM, a K_I of 640 mM and a V_max of 1.4 U/mg. The amidase has a broad pH‐optimum between 7 and 9.5 and a temperature optimum at 47–49 °C. The amidase hydrolyzed amino acid amides as well as carboxamides and 2‐hydroxy acid amides. The stereoselectivity of the reaction was variable, however. Hydrolyzing dl ‐Tle‐amide the enantiomeric ratio E was >200 resulting in D ‐Tle with an ee of >99% and up to 47% conversion. Similar results were obtained with dl ‐Leu‐amide and dl ‐Val‐amide while dl ‐Phe‐amide was hydrolyzed with an enantiomeric ratio E of only 5.     

Structure and Catalytic Performance of Mg‐SBA‐15‐Supported Nickel Catalysts for CO2 Reforming of Methane to Syngas

A series of Mg‐modified SBA‐15 mesoporous silicas with different MgO contents were successfully synthesized by a simple one‐pot synthesis method and further impregnated with Ni. The Mg‐modified SBA‐15 materials and supported Ni catalysts were characterized by N₂ physisorption (BET), X‐ray diffraction (XRD), temperature‐programmed desorption of CO₂ (CO₂‐TPD), temperature‐programmed H₂ reduction (H₂‐TPR), and temperature‐programmed hydrogenation (TPH) techniques and used for methane dry reforming with CO₂. CO₂‐TPD results proved that the addition of Mg increased the total amount of basic sites which was responsible for the enhanced catalytic activity over the Mg‐modified Ni catalyst. The excellent catalytic stability of Ni/8Mg‐SBA‐15 was ascribed to less coking and higher stability of the Ni particle size due to the introduction of Mg.     

Saturation‐specific pattern of acquired colour vision deficiency in two clinical populations revealed by the method of triads

Subjective colour spaces were reconstructed for persons occupationally exposed to mercury (Hg) and patients with diabetes mellitus type 2, two groups at risk for acquired colour‐vision deficiency, and compared with healthy normal trichromats. Judgments of colour dissimilarity were collected with the method of triads, applied to a composite assortment of colour samples. These were drawn from two widely used colour arrangement tests—10 hues from the Farnsworth D‐15 test and five from the Lanthony Desaturated D‐15d test, ensuring that the assortment sampled two levels of lightness and saturation. The data were analyzed with maximum‐likelihood multidimensional scaling (MDS) and within a novel individual‐differences MDS model to estimate subject‐specific parameters. The MDS solutions for the two clinical groups showed a compression along a blue‐yellow axis, limited however to desaturated hues. This result was confirmed by the individual‐differences model. In addition, the clinical groups were found to place significantly higher weights on the lightness differences between stimuli, conceivably to compensate for their reduced chromatic discrimination. The specific form of colour‐space distortion in the clinical groups indicated an increase in their thresholds for blue‐yellow signals, providing insights into the nature of impairment mechanisms. The results have implications for stimuli and diagnostic procedures for testing individual differences in color vision, and for analyzing the responses. This approach is sensitive to distinctive patterns of subtle colour‐vision impairment underestimated by the conventional D‐15d test. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Col Res Appl, 39, 125–135, 2014     

Changes in contrast thresholds with mean luminance for chromatic and luminance gratings: A reexamination of the transition from the DeVries–Rose to Weber regions

We have examined the influence of the mean luminance level on the detection thresholds for luminance and red–green chromatic gratings for three different spatial frequencies. The changes in detection thresholds according to the mean luminance level reflect the two different regions, the DeVries–Rose and Weber ranges, found in previous studies. The results for luminance gratings suggest that the transition luminance is proportional to the spatial frequency of the grating. Predictions based on the constant‐flux hypothesis indicate, however, that the transition luminance is proportional to the square of the spatial frequency of the grating and so do not describe the distributions of luminance contrast thresholds adequately. For chromatic gratings, we obtained the same transition luminance for the two lowest spatial frequencies, showing that luminance and chromatic mechanisms behave differently as far as the dependence of the transition luminance on spatial frequency is concerned. Our results suggest that the transition luminance is related to the peak spatial frequency of visual mechanisms that respond to luminance and chromatic gratings. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Col Res Appl, 29, 177–182, 2004; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/col.20003     

Synthesis, 3D‐QSAR,and Structural Modeling of Benzolactam Derivatives with Binding Affinity for the D2 and D3 Receptors

A series of 37 benzolactam derivatives were synthesized, and their respective affinities for the dopamine D₂ and D₃ receptors evaluated. The relationships between structures and binding affinities were investigated using both ligand‐based (3D‐QSAR) and receptor‐based methods. The results revealed the importance of diverse structural features in explaining the differences in the observed affinities, such as the location of the benzolactam carbonyl oxygen, or the overall length of the compounds. The optimal values for such ligand properties are slightly different for the D₂ and D₃ receptors, even though the binding sites present a very high degree of homology. We explain these differences by the presence of a hydrogen bond network in the D₂ receptor which is absent in the D₃ receptor and limits the dimensions of the binding pocket, causing residues in helix 7 to become less accessible. The implications of these results for the design of more potent and selective benzolactam derivatives are presented and discussed.     

Short‐beam and three‐point‐bending tests for the study of shear and flexural properties in unidirectional‐fiber‐reinforced epoxy composites

The bending properties of composite materials are often characterized with simply supported beams under concentrated loads. The results from such tests are commonly based on homogeneous beam equations. For laminated materials, however, these formulas must be modified to account for the stacking sequence of the individual plies. The horizontal shear test with a short‐beam specimen in three‐point bending appears suitable as a general method of evaluation for the shear properties in fiber‐reinforced composites because of its simplicity. In the experimental part of this work, the shear strength of unidirectional‐glass‐fiber‐reinforced epoxy resin composites was determined in different fiber directions with the short‐beam three‐point‐bending test. Also, the elastic constants and flexural properties of the same materials were determined from bending experiments carried out on specimens in the 0, 15, 30, 45, 60, 75, and 90° fiber directions with high span–thickness ratios. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 93: 63–74, 2004     

Chromaticity changes of inorganic pigments in Chinese traditional paintings due to the illumination of frequently‐used light sources in museum

Optical radiation can cause permanent damage to the color of Chinese traditional paintings, which have extremely high responsivity in the museum illumination. In order to obtain quantitative influence laws of artificial illumination on inorganic pigments in Chinese traditional paintings and provide basis for choosing light sources, a long periodic illumination experiment was carried out to examine how prolonged exposure of three light sources (tungsten halogen, metal halide and white light emitting diodes), frequently‐used in museums, affect the chromaticity of five inorganic pigments [azurite (blue), cinnabar (red), orpiment (yellow), ancient graphite (black), clam shell powder (white)], commonly used in Chinese traditional paintings. Through the experiment, we found that the illumination causes a color change to inorganic pigments, and the degree of which is related to the photochemical stability of pigments and the high energy shortwave radiation in the light source spectrum. We also obtain the color change laws of the five pigments and the quantitative relationships of color damage for different painting types. These results can provide data basis for related research on Chinese traditional painting illumination and choice basis for light sources in museum lighting designs.     

Effects of hue,saturation, and brightness on color preference in social networks: Gender‐based color preference on the social networking site Twitter

Account information for over 1 million Twitter users was downloaded and analyzed to determine color preference. Blues were found to be the most preferred color, whereas greens were least preferred. Distinct gender‐specific differences were found. Males preferred blues to a greater extent than females, whereas females preferred magentas to a much greater extent than males. Males preferred darker colors to a greater extent than women. Density plots within hue, saturation, and brightness space summarize the distribution of color choices and illustrate color preferences for both males and females. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Col Res Appl, 38, 196–202, 2013.     

Thermal deactivation and inhibition of D‐Amino acid oxidase in permeabilized cells of the yeast Trigonopsis variabilis

The inhibition of D ‐amino acid oxidase contained in permeabilized cells of the yeast Trigonopsis variabilis by α‐keto acids (pyruvic acid, phenylpyruvic acid and 4‐methylthio‐2‐oxobutanoic acid), products of the transformation of the corresponding D ‐amino acids, was studied. In all cases, inhibition was of the mixed type and significant differences with respect to the inhibition shown by the enzyme from other sources such as pig kidney or the yeast Rhodotorula gracilis were observed. A study was also made of the thermal deactivation of the enzyme contained in permeabilized cells of T variabilis in the temperature range 30–50 °C in sodium phosphate and Tris hydroxylmethyl aminomethane + CaCl₂ buffers. A deactivation mechanism with two steps in series is proposed to account for the variation in activity with time. The results suggest that the enzyme shows greater stability in phosphate buffer, with half‐lives between 7.6 days at 30 °C and 8.6 h at 50 °C. Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry