Archive color photographs—particularly of sites where sediment is no longer available—are an underused resource that potentially contains detailed paleoenvironmental information. To investigate this potential, two sets of digital images were taken, at different times, of loess, glaciolacustrine, and deep-sea sediments. The first image set was taken using standard digital cameras. Lighting conditions and sediment surface preparation varied, in a similar way to characteristics likely to be encountered in archive photographs. The second image set was taken by a high-resolution, line-scan camera with an integrated light source. CIELAB (Commission Internationale de l'Eclairage) color reflectance data were obtained from both image sets and analyzed by cross correlation. Of the three reflectance parameters (L*, a*, and b*), L* reflectance is the most compromised by differences in ambient lighting or moisture content. Textural distinctions appear to be an important factor influencing the cross correlations and produce multiple, relatively weak solutions for the glaciolacustrine sediments, whereas the texturally uniform loess and deep-sea sediments produce a single, best-fit solution. Comparison of a* reflectance records from an undated marine sequence with a chronologically constrained sequence from the same site indicates the potential to apply color reflectance to produce preliminary age models.

The paper discusses the Garboldisham macehead: an unusual decorated macehead carved from red deer antler. The macehead was found in the 1960s deposited in a tributary of the river Little Ouse, Norfolk and is decorated with three spirals, making it especially significant. This paper reports on the analysis of the decoration using digital imaging, discusses a new radiocarbon date recently obtained for the artefact, and discusses its significance alongside other dated antler maceheads.

In many temples in and around Kyoto, sets of wall and slide door paintings and folding screen paintings, which are designated either national treasures or important cultural properties of Japan, have been replaced in situ by high-quality digital reproductions. The original paintings, in turn, are now largely out of sight, placed in storage spaces within temples and museums. Vanguard projects of this nature were conducted in the mid-1990s. Since the mid-2000s, however, and without adequate review of the merits and demerits of such replacement, the practice has accelerated, and numerous sets of slide door paintings have been replaced by reproductions produced for the most part by two competing corporations. The process and implication of such digital replacement require far greater attention and discussion than has to date taken place. Accordingly, this article seeks to clarify the current status of, and problems arising from, the digitization projects taking place in and around Kyoto.

Autoradiography is a radioisotope-based technique that allows absorbed and translocated herbicide to be visualized. Autoradiographs are traditionally produced with X-ray film and exposure times of several weeks. Phosphorescence imaging (PI) was investigated as an alternative autoradiography procedure. Smallflower morningglory plants were root-exposed to a series of 14C-atrazine concentrations, producing a series of increasing foliar radioactivity concentrations (i.e., dosage) that ranged from marginal to excessive with respect to autoradiography. Autoradiographs were subsequently produced from these 14C-atrazine-dosed plants using both the X-ray film and the PI technique. Autoradiographs from both techniques were of excellent quality and nearly identical when the dosage was ∼20 to 70 Bq/mg. However, PI produces an acceptable image in dosages either above or below this optimum range. A 1-d exposure time was sufficient with PI, and longer exposure times were not detrimental to image quality. In contrast, a 3-wk exposure time was required with X-ray film. Autoradiographs of selected herbicides are presented to further demonstrate the utility of PI.

The aim of this study was to examine the suitability of digital image analysis, using the KS400 software system, for the morphometric evaluation of the tissue response after prosthesis implantation in an animal model. Twenty-four female pigs aged 10 weeks were implanted with infrarenal Dacron® prostheses for 14, 21, 28, and 116 days. Following the explantation and investigation of the neointima region, the expression of beta-1-integrin, the proliferation rate by means of Ki-67 positive cells, and the intima thickness were evaluated as exemplary parameters of the tissue response after implantation. Frozen tissue sections were immunohistochemically stained and subsequently examined using computer-aided image analysis. A maximum expression of 32.9% was observed for beta-1-integrin 14 days after implantation, gradually declining over time to 9.8% after 116 days. The proliferation rate was found to be 19% on day 14, increasing to 39% on day 21 with a subsequent gradual decline to 5% after 116 days. The intima thickness increased from 189.9 μm on day 14 to 1228.0 μm on day 116. In conclusion, digital image analysis was found to be an efficient and reproducible method for the morphometric evaluation of a peri-prosthetic tissue response.