Search

This study examines the effect of TiO₂ doping on the catalytic performance of copper ferrite (CuFe₂O₄) nanoparticles in degrading methyl green dye under visible light. Copper ferrite nanoparticles were synthesized and doped with varying TiO₂ concentrations. The catalysts were characterized using XRD, SEM, EDX, and BET surface area analysis. The TiO₂-doped copper ferrite catalysts showed significantly enhanced catalytic activity compared to undoped copper ferrite. The optimal doping concentration of 10 wt% TiO₂ achieved a degradation efficiency of 92 % for methyl green dye after 60 min of irradiation. The BET surface area increased with TiO₂ doping, contributing to the improved catalytic performance. Reusability tests over five cycles indicated a slight decrease in efficiency, attributed to the loss of active sites. These results indicate that TiO₂ doping effectively enhances the catalytic properties of copper ferrite, making it a viable option for environmental remediation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A substrate-based production system is a simple and low-cost method for arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungal inoculum production. However, it is time-consuming and typically yields low numbers of AM fungal spores due to several factors affecting plant growth efficiency. Our study investigated the use of light-emitting diode (LED) technology to expedite AM fungal spore production in planta. We performed experiments with Rhizophagus irregularis inoculated in maize (Zea mays L.), contrasting LED light with greenhouse (GH) conditions. Our results exhibited a significant improvement in AM fungal colonization and spore production, as well as a reduction in the production period from 120 to 90 days under the LED light condition. This was achieved using a red-and-blue light ratio of 60:40 with a total light intensity of 300 µmol m−2 s−1. The LED light treatments improved maize growth by increasing nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) concentrations in shoots and roots, respectively. Our gene expression analyses revealed that in AMF-inoculated plants, genes related to photosynthesis were significantly upregulated under LED light compared to the GH condition. Moreover, LED increased the expression of marker genes linked to the AM fungi-related cell cycle, indicating enhanced AM fungal growth during symbiosis. These findings advance our comprehension of LED applications in agriculture, offering promising prospects for acceleration of AM fungal spore production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent work has demonstrated that exposure to artificial light at night (ALAN) may alter mosquito feeding behavior and so must be considered a moderator of vector-borne disease transfer. Anopheles funestus mosquitoes are a primary malaria vector in sub-Saharan Africa, but no study to date has tested the impact of ALAN on their feeding behavior. Here we test if the exposure to commonly used household lights (compact fluorescent lights, light-emitting diodes, and incandescent lights) alters Anopheles funestus feeding. Mated, unfed female mosquitoes were exposed to a light treatment, at the onset of darkness, followed by a blood-feeding assay. The light treatments consisted of a 30-min light pulse of one of the three household lights, each in individual experimental containers, versus controls. All three household lights resulted in a reduction in the percentage of females taking a blood meal, but only mosquitoes exposed to incandescent light showed a statistically significant reduction in feeding of 19.6% relative to controls which showed a 42.8% feeding rate. Our results suggest that exposure to some household lights during the night may have an immediate inhibitory effect on Anopheles funestus feeding. By helping identify which light types lead to a suppression of feeding, the findings of this study could provide insight necessary to design household lights that can help minimize mosquito feeding on humans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract This study investigates the influence of LED radiation intensity on the photodeposition of gold nanoparticles onto TiO2 substrates, examining their physicochemical properties and photocatalytic activities. Utilizing a range of radiation intensities and wavelengths, TiO2-Au composites were synthesized and characterized through techniques such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with energy dispersive X-ray (EDX), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The deposition process, markedly enhanced by shorter wavelengths and higher intensities, efficiently formed gold nanoparticles. This research distinctly highlights observable morphological changes in the nanoparticles; increased radiation intensity not only augmented the size but also altered their shape from spherical to hexagonal. These morphological transformations significantly improve the composites’ light absorption and catalytic properties due to the surface plasmon resonance of the gold nanoparticles. Photocatalytic assessments, using metronidazole as a model pollutant, demonstrated that composites prepared with higher LED intensities showed significantly enhanced degradation capabilities compared to those synthesized with lower intensities. The findings underscore that manipulating photodeposition parameters can critically influence the structural and functional properties of TiO2-Au composites, potentially advancing their applications in environmental remediation and solar energy utilization.

In agriculture, one of the most crucial elements for sustained plant production is light. Artificial lighting can meet the specific light requirements of various plants. However, it is a challenge to find optimal lighting schemes that can facilitate a balance of plant growth and nutritional qualities. In this study, we experimented with the light intensity required for plant growth and nutrient elements. We designed three light intensity treatments, 180 μmol m−2 s−1 (L1), 210 μmol m−2 s−1 (L2), and 240 μmol m−2 s−1 (L3), to investigate the effect of light intensity on lettuce growth and quality. It can be clearly seen from the radar charts that L2 significantly affected the plant height, fresh weight, dry weight, and leaf area. L3 mainly affected the canopy diameter and root shoot ratio. The effect of L1 on lettuce phenotype was not significant compared with that of the others. The total soluble sugar, vitamin C, nitrate, and free amino acid in lettuce showed more significant increases under the L2 treatment than under the other treatments. In addition, the transpiration rate and stomatal conductance were opposite to each other. The comprehensive evaluation of the membership function value method and heatmap analysis showed that lettuce had the highest membership function value in L2 light intensity conditions, indicating that the lettuce grown under this light intensity could obtain higher yield and better quality. This study provides a new insight into finding the best environmental factors to balance plant nutrition and growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the influence of LED radiation intensity on the photodeposition of gold nanoparticles onto TiO2 substrates, examining their physicochemical properties and photocatalytic activities. Utilizing a range of radiation intensities and wavelengths, TiO2-Au composites were synthesized and characterized through techniques such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with energy dispersive X-ray (EDX), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The deposition process, markedly enhanced by shorter wavelengths and higher intensities, efficiently formed gold nanoparticles. This research distinctly highlights observable morphological changes in the nanoparticles; increased radiation intensity not only augmented the size but also altered their shape from spherical to hexagonal. These morphological transformations significantly improve the composites' light absorption and catalytic properties due to the surface plasmon resonance of the gold nanoparticles. Photocatalytic assessments, using metronidazole as a model pollutant, demonstrated that composites prepared with higher LED intensities showed significantly enhanced degradation capabilities compared to those synthesized with lower intensities. The findings underscore that manipulating photodeposition parameters can critically influence the structural and functional properties of TiO2-Au composites, potentially advancing their applications in environmental remediation and solar energy utilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Green synthesis of silver nanoparticles using Moringa oleifera (AgNPs/MO) was carried out to produce nanoscale antifungal agents which are used as photosensitizing agents in photoantimicrobial therapy. This study focused on investigating the potential of AgNPs/MO producing some toxic radical compounds that inhibit the growth of Candida albicans biofilms. The inhibition mechanism uses the principle of photoinactivation treatment which combines a photosensitizer with an LED light source at a power of 100 mW for 60 - 300 s of exposure. Quantitative data analyzed were the number of viable cells and radical compounds, formed by malondialdehyde (MDA) level. It is investigated through staining the XTT (2,3-Bis-(2-Methoxy-4-Nitro-5-Sulfophenyl)-2H-Tetrazolium-5-Carboxanilide) and TBARS (Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances). The results show that the maximum wavelength of AgNPs is 440 nm while the Moringa oleifera has 2 peaks at 425 and 635 nm. The maximum effect occurred in the group of photosensitizer AgNPs/MO combined LED with percentage inactivation about 76.80 % for blue LEDs and 76.20 % for red LEDs. The group of LED irradiation without photosensitizer obtained about 51.85 % for blue LEDs and 50.04 % for red LEDs. The MDA level group of AgNPs/MO combined LED also produced MDA levels of 1.772 nmol/mL for blue LED and 1.617 nmol/mL for red LED. Meanwhile, the application of photoantimicrobial using only LEDs produced MDA levels of only 1.353 nmol/mL for blue LEDs and 1.347 nmol/mL for red LEDs. This research has shown that the green synthesis of AgNPs/MO has a good potential to inhibit the growth of Candida albicans biofilms as a photosensitizer agent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the winter season, citrus nursery production faces challenges including shorter days, lower light levels, and lower temperatures that delay vegetative budbreak and scion shoot growth. With the goal of improving the production cycle in the citrus nursery, we investigated the effect of supplemental LED light on the production of bud-grafted citrus trees during short winter days. Three experiments were conducted under different temperature conditions. "Washington" Navel sweet orange (Citrus sinensis) was budded on Carrizo citrange (C. sinensis × Poncirus trifoliata) and Rubidoux trifoliate (P. trifoliata) rootstocks in early December. Light treatments included no supplemental light, day-length extension to 16 h with LED light, and night interruption (1 h of LED light at night). Day-length extension and night interruption were studied with and without preconditioning plants with the respective light treatments for 6 weeks before grafting. Day-length extension increased the scion growth, but only when supplemental heating was provided, implying that low temperatures are a limiting factor for plant growth. Growth effects were stronger when the Navel scion was grafted on Carrizo compared to Rubidoux, likely because of the higher dormancy of the latter rootstock. Night interruption did not affect scion budbreak or growth under any of the tested conditions. Preconditioning enhanced scion growth in some instances. The results suggest that the use of supplemental LED light to extend the day length may increase plant growth during the short winter days, but the effects are limited under low-temperature conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tomato is a widely cultivated and economically important crop worldwide. This study aimed to test the effect of light spectra used in indoor cultivation on the growth, biochemical profile, and resistance of Solanum lycopersicum ‘Bawole Serce’ seedlings against Alternaria alternata, Alternaria solani and Botrytis cinerea. During the phase of first leaf emergence, the seedlings were transferred to a semi-sterile growth room with a controlled environment (20°C, 18-h photoperiod, 50 μmol · m−2 · s−1 PPFD, 65% RH) for a 3-week cultivation period. Five light treatments differing in red/blue (R/B) light ratio were tested: I (LED tube; R/B 5.55), II (fluorescent tube; R/B 0.72), III (fluorescent tube; R/B 1.19), IV (LED panel; R/B 0.51), V (LED panel; R/B 0.20). The best parameters in terms of shoot length, shoot fresh and dry weights, and number of leaves were obtained in treatment I, in contrast to IV and V. Plants from treatments IV and V had the smallest leaf area, perimeter, vertical length, and horizontal width. As for the root system, the highest fresh weight, area, length of the longest root, total length, and the number of root tips and forks were found in treatments I and II. The least developed root systems were observed in IV and V. The greatest chlorophyll, carotenoids and anthocyanins accumulation was enhanced by treatment II. Treatments I−III stimulated the biosynthesis of phenolic compounds. The highest superoxide dismutase activity was detected in plants from treatments I and II. As for A. alternata and A. solani, the level of disease symptoms was significantly higher for treatments IV and V than for I-III. The highest/lowest level of B. cinerea infection was found in treatments II/I, respectively. The least susceptible to infection by all tested pathogens were leaves from treatment I. Light spectrum composition is of practical importance for tomato seedling production.

Coniferous forests represent one of the most valuable ecosystems worldwide, due to the ecological and economic services they provide. Pinus pseudostrobus Lindl., is one of the most promising species for its use in reforestation programs, so it was proposed in this work to evaluate the effect of different LED light spectra on the induction of photomorphogenic responses. To this end, the effects of different light sources (red LED, blue LED, red + blue LED, white LED, and fluorescent light) on the induction and characteristics of callus formed from transverse thin cell layers (tTLC) of hypocotyls of P. pseudostrobus in vitro plantlets were evaluated. The best results in terms of callus characteristics formed were obtained from hypocotyl segments grown on a WPM medium containing 1 mg L-1 of BAP and 3 mg L-1 of 2,4-D, under a blue LED light spectrum. Evaluating technologies to solve challenges that limit forest production such as recalcitrance of forest species is important to sustain the services provided by species as important as forest conifers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bacopa monnieri, a cognitive-enhancing herb crucial in health supplements, faces quality variations and contamination by toxic substances in conventional field cultivation, which hinders industrial use. Here, indoor cultivation of diploid (2x) and tetraploid (4x) B. monnieri using hydroponic and soil systems was studied. Soil cultivation promoted longer shoot lengths but resulted in lower biomass and chlorophyll contents compared to hydroponic cultivation. Conversely, soil cultivation significantly elevated total phenolics, total triterpenoids, bacoside A3, and bacopaside X contents in both lines, showing 1.7- to 3.3-fold increases over hydroponic cultivation. Furthermore, 4x plants grown in soil had higher bacopaside II and total bacoside contents than hydroponically grown plants, with 2- and 1.5-fold increases, respectively. Yet, no significant differences were observed in growth and pigment between 2x and 4x lines under the same system. Similarly, no significant differences in bioactive compound productions were found between 2x and 4x hydroponically grown plants. However, in soil, 4x plants exhibited higher total phenolic content, bacopaside II, and total bacoside contents compared to 2x plants. Interestingly, 2x plants grown in soil were the top performers for bacoside production per plant. These findings optimize cultivation practices to meet industry demands, warranting further research into large-scale production techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The spike growth phase is critical for the establishment of fertile floret (grain) numbers in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Then, how to shorten the spike growth phase and increase grain number synergistically? Here, we showed high‐resolution analyses of floret primordia (FP) number, morphology and spike transcriptomes during the spike growth phase under three light regimens. The development of all FP in a spike could be divided into four distinct stages: differentiation (Stage I), differentiation and morphology development concurrently (Stage II), morphology development (Stage III), and polarization (Stage IV). Compared to the short photoperiod, the long photoperiod shortened spike growth and stimulated early flowering by shortening Stage III; however, this reduced assimilate accumulation, resulting in fertile floret loss. Interestingly, long photoperiod supplemented with red light shortened the time required to complete Stages I–II, then raised assimilates supply in the spike and promoted anther development before polarization initiation, thereby increasing fertile FP number during Stage III, and finally maintained fertile FP development during Stage IV until they became fertile florets via a predicted dynamic gene network. Our findings proposed a light regimen, critical stages and candidate regulators that achieved a shorter spike growth phase and a higher fertile floret number in wheat. Summary statement: A light regimen could achieve a 'shorter spike growth phase' and 'higher fertile floret number' in wheat by regulating gene expression, assimilate accumulation and morphology development in the critical stages of floret development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The tomato variety 'Micro Tom' is used as an experimental material in a fully artificial light-type plant factory. An LED light with adjustable illumination modes was used as the light source and a pure white LED light was used as the control. Different illumination mode, such as pure red light, pure blue light, mixed red and blue light, and alternating red and blue light were used as supplementary light. The influence of different red and blue supplemental lighting modes on the growth, development, and fluorescence characteristics of greenhouse tomatoes was explored. The results showed that: (1) in all treatments, the growth indicators and fruit weight of the tomato plants increased to a certain extent. The dynamic change of chlorophyll fluorescence was significantly affected by supplementary light. Pure red light supplementation had the greatest effect on the increase in plant height, stem thickness, leaf area, and yield of the tomato plants. Alternating red and blue light supplementation at intervals of 1h or 6h significantly promoted the increase in chlorophyll content and the improvement of PSII photosynthetic performance. (2) During the vegetative growth stage of tomatoes, under pure red light supplementation, the relative growth rate and absolute growth rate of plant height increased by 106.8% and 60% respectively compared to the control. The relative growth rate and absolute growth rate of stem thickness increased by 50% and 80% respectively. 44 days after sowing, the leaf area of the tomato plants under pure red light supplementation increased by 92.1% compared to the control.(3) During the reproductive growth period of tomatoes, compared with the control, 83 days after sowing, the number of fruits set under pure red light supplementation increased by 73.6%. The horizontal and vertical diameters and volume of tomato fruit increased by 34.4%, 35.3%, and 129.6% respectively.(4) Compared with the control, 44 days after sowing, the chlorophyll content in tomato leaves under alternating red and blue light supplementation at intervals of 1h or 6h increased by 30.3% and 31.8% respectively. 83 days after sowing, the performance index (PIABS) of tomato plants after alternating red and blue light supplementation at intervals of 1h or 6h increased by 100% and 30% respectively compared to the control. The electron transfer efficiency (ETo/CS) of PSII after alternating red and blue light supplementation at intervals of 1h or 6h increased by 16% and 23% respectively compared to the control. In summary, pure red light supplementation can effectively promote the growth and development of facility tomatoes. Alternating red and blue light supplementation at intervals of 1h or 6h significantly affects the fluorescence characteristics of tomatoes. In the future, the most suitable supplementary lighting mode can be chosen based on different production objectives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was to understand the effect of LED light intensity, color, and illumination pattern on the growth of and bacteriorhodopsin (BR) accumulation in archaeon Halobacterium halobium. Experimental results showed that archaeon growth and BR content increased with increasing white light intensity. Green and white LED lights were found to be the most effective for archaeon growth and BR accumulation; here, effectiveness is defined based on photons shined on the bioreactor. The 12-h light/12-h dark cycle illumination pattern resulted in longer lag phase but achieved higher final cell growth and BR accumulation than continuous white light or an instant flash of light/dark illumination. The fade pattern that had smooth transitioning among green, blue, and red lights was better than the jump pattern without transitioning. The highest cell dry weight and BR content of H. halobium were 1.84 g l-1 and 11.76 mg l-1, respectively, under 29.85 µmol/m2s LED white light illumination. The green LED light of 1.39 µmol/m²s had the highest energy-specific conversion effectiveness and saved energy consumption by 84 and 87% per cell biomass and BR dry weight, respectively, compared to the worst case of LED white light of 29.85 µmol/m2s. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tomato is a widely cultivated and economically important crop worldwide. This study aimed to test the effect of light spectra used in indoor cultivation on the growth, biochemical profile, and resistance of Solanum lycopersicum 'Bawole Serce' seedlings against Alternaria alternata, Alternaria solani and Botrytis cinerea. During the phase of first leaf emergence, the seedlings were transferred to a semi-sterile growth room with a controlled environment (20°C, 18-h photoperiod, 50 µmol · m-2 · s-1 PPFD, 65% RH) for a 3-week cultivation period. Five light treatments differing in red/blue (R/B) light ratio were tested: I (LED tube; R/B 5.55), II (fluorescent tube; R/B 0.72), III (fluorescent tube; R/B 1.19), IV (LED panel; R/B 0.51), V (LED panel; R/B 0.20). The best parameters in terms of shoot length, shoot fresh and dry weights, and number of leaves were obtained in treatment I, in contrast to IV and V. Plants from treatments IV and V had the smallest leaf area, perimeter, vertical length, and horizontal width. As for the root system, the highest fresh weight, area, length of the longest root, total length, and the number of root tips and forks were found in treatments I and II. The least developed root systems were observed in IV and V. The greatest chlorophyll, carotenoids and anthocyanins accumulation was enhanced by treatment II. Treatments I-III stimulated the biosynthesis of phenolic compounds. The highest superoxide dismutase activity was detected in plants from treatments I and II. As for A. alternata and A. solani, the level of disease symptoms was significantly higher for treatments IV and V than for I-III. The highest/lowest level of B. cinerea infection was found in treatments II/I, respectively. The least susceptible to infection by all tested pathogens were leaves from treatment I. Light spectrum composition is of practical importance for tomato seedling production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A substrate-based production system is a simple and low-cost method for arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungal inoculum production. However, it is time-consuming and typically yields low numbers of AM fungal spores due to several factors affecting plant growth efficiency. Our study investigated the use of light-emitting diode (LED) technology to expedite AM fungal spore production in planta. We performed experiments with Rhizophagus irregularis inoculated in maize (Zea mays L.), contrasting LED light with greenhouse (GH) conditions. Our results exhibited a significant improvement in AM fungal colonization and spore production, as well as a reduction in the production period from 120 to 90 days under the LED light condition. This was achieved using a red-and-blue light ratio of 60:40 with a total light intensity of 300 µmol m−2 s−1. The LED light treatments improved maize growth by increasing nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) concentrations in shoots and roots, respectively. Our gene expression analyses revealed that in AMF-inoculated plants, genes related to photosynthesis were significantly upregulated under LED light compared to the GH condition. Moreover, LED increased the expression of marker genes linked to the AM fungi-related cell cycle, indicating enhanced AM fungal growth during symbiosis. These findings advance our comprehension of LED applications in agriculture, offering promising prospects for acceleration of AM fungal spore production.

We aimed to determine the efficacy of the various available oral, topical, and procedural treatment options for hair loss in individuals with androgenic alopecia. Using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines, a systematic review of the National Library of Medicine was performed. Overall, 141 unique studies met our inclusion criteria. We demonstrate that many over the counter (e.g. topical minoxidil, supplements, low-level light treatment), prescription (e.g. oral minoxidil, finasteride, dutasteride), and procedural (e.g. platelet-rich plasma, fractionated lasers, hair transplantation) treatments successfully promote hair growth, highlighting the superiority of a multifaceted and individualized approach to management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In agriculture, one of the most crucial elements for sustained plant production is light. Artificial lighting can meet the specific light requirements of various plants. However, it is a challenge to find optimal lighting schemes that can facilitate a balance of plant growth and nutritional qualities. In this study, we experimented with the light intensity required for plant growth and nutrient elements. We designed three light intensity treatments, 180 μmol m−2 s−1 (L1), 210 μmol m−2 s−1 (L2), and 240 μmol m−2 s−1 (L3), to investigate the effect of light intensity on lettuce growth and quality. It can be clearly seen from the radar charts that L2 significantly affected the plant height, fresh weight, dry weight, and leaf area. L3 mainly affected the canopy diameter and root shoot ratio. The effect of L1 on lettuce phenotype was not significant compared with that of the others. The total soluble sugar, vitamin C, nitrate, and free amino acid in lettuce showed more significant increases under the L2 treatment than under the other treatments. In addition, the transpiration rate and stomatal conductance were opposite to each other. The comprehensive evaluation of the membership function value method and heatmap analysis showed that lettuce had the highest membership function value in L2 light intensity conditions, indicating that the lettuce grown under this light intensity could obtain higher yield and better quality. This study provides a new insight into finding the best environmental factors to balance plant nutrition and growth.

In the winter season, citrus nursery production faces challenges including shorter days, lower light levels, and lower temperatures that delay vegetative budbreak and scion shoot growth. With the goal of improving the production cycle in the citrus nursery, we investigated the effect of supplemental LED light on the production of bud-grafted citrus trees during short winter days. Three experiments were conducted under different temperature conditions. “Washington” Navel sweet orange (Citrus sinensis) was budded on Carrizo citrange (C. sinensis × Poncirus trifoliata) and Rubidoux trifoliate (P. trifoliata) rootstocks in early December. Light treatments included no supplemental light, day-length extension to 16 h with LED light, and night interruption (1 h of LED light at night). Day-length extension and night interruption were studied with and without preconditioning plants with the respective light treatments for 6 weeks before grafting. Day-length extension increased the scion growth, but only when supplemental heating was provided, implying that low temperatures are a limiting factor for plant growth. Growth effects were stronger when the Navel scion was grafted on Carrizo compared to Rubidoux, likely because of the higher dormancy of the latter rootstock. Night interruption did not affect scion budbreak or growth under any of the tested conditions. Preconditioning enhanced scion growth in some instances. The results suggest that the use of supplemental LED light to extend the day length may increase plant growth during the short winter days, but the effects are limited under low-temperature conditions.

Artificial seed production is a valuable technology for commercial plant production and provides a viable option for preserving elite plant germplasm. The objective of this study was to determine the optimal concentrations of sodium alginates (3%, 4%, and 5%) and calcium chloride (75 mM, 100 mM, and 150 mM) for encapsulating Phalaenopsis orchid protocorms. The second objective was to determine the optimal temperature (4, 20, and 25 °C), light spectra (blue, red, green, far-red, white, and darkness), and storage duration (30, 60, 90, and 180 days) for preserving synthetic seeds. The optimal alginate concentration for producing uniform, circular, and sufficiently strong artificial seeds with the highest germination percentage was found to be 4% in a 100 mM calcium chloride solution. The synthetic seeds stored at 25 °C for 180 days had the shortest germination initiation time (2.33 days), the highest germination percentage (100%), and the highest number of leaves, roots, and protocorm-like bodies. The study on synthetic seeds found that storing them in darkness for 90 days is the most effective treatment, considering the interaction between light spectra and storage period. It is recommended to use green light during storage only when quick germination is necessary. Key Message: Artificial seeds of Phalaenopsis made of 4% alginate with 100 mM CaCl2 had the highest germination rate. The best storage condition was 25 °C for 180 days under LED lights, particularly green light. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Light plays a crucial role in photosynthesis, which is an essential process for plantlets produced during in vitro tissue culture practices and ex vitro acclimatization. LED lights are an appropriate technology for in vitro lighting but their effect on propagation and photosynthesis under in vitro condition is not well understood. This study aimed to investigate the impact of different light spectra on growth, photosynthetic functionality, and stomatal characteristics of micropropagated shoots of Persian walnut (cv. Chandler). Tissue-cultured walnut nodal shoots were grown under different light qualities including white, blue, red, far-red, green, combination of red and blue (70:30), combination of red and far-red (70:30), and fluorescent light as the control. Results showed that the best growth and vegetative characteristics of in vitro explants of Persian walnut were achieved under combination of red and blue light. The biggest size of stomata was detected under white and blue lights. Red light stimulated stomatal closure, while stomatal opening was induced under blue and white lights. Although the red and far-red light spectra resulted in the formation of elongated explants with more lateral shoots and anthocyanin content, they significantly reduced the photosynthetic functionality. Highest soluble carbohydrate content and maximum quantum yield of photosystem II were detected in explants grown under blue and white light spectra. In conclusion, growing walnut explants under combination of red and blue lights leads to better growth, photosynthesis functionality, and the emergence of functional stomata in in vitro explants of Persian walnuts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exposure to light-emitting diode (LED) light is a primary cause of retinal damage, resulting in vision loss. Several plant-derived substances, such as lutein and quercetagetin (QCG), show promise in supporting eye health. In this study, the impact of lutein/zeaxanthin (L/Z, Lutemax 2020) and QCG were evaluated individually and together in a rat model of LED-induced retinal damage. A total of 63 Wistar rats were allocated into nine groups (n = 7). For 28 days, the rats received L/Z (10 or 20 mg/kg BW), quercetin (QC, 20 mg/kg BW), QCG (10 or 20 mg/kg BW), or a mixture of different lutein and QCG dosages, after which they were exposed to LED light for 48 h. LED exposure led to a spike in serum malondialdehyde (MDA) and inflammatory cytokines, as well as an increase in retinal NF-κB, ICAM, GFAP, and MCP-1 levels (p < 0.0001 for all). It also reduced serum antioxidant enzyme activities and retinal Nrf2, HO-1, GAP43, NCAM, and outer nuclear layer (ONL) thickness (p < 0.0001 for all). However, administering L/Z and QCG, particularly a 1:1 combination of L/Z and QCG at 20 mg/kg, effectively reversed these changes. The treatment suppressed NF-κB, ICAM, GFAP, and MCP-1 while enhancing Nrf2, HO-1, GAP43, and NCAM and preventing ONL thickness reduction in LED-induced retinal damage rats. In conclusion, while LED light exposure caused retinal damage, treatment with L/Z, QC, and QCG, particularly a combined L/Z and QCG regimen, exhibited protective effects on the retina. This is possibly due to the modulation of neuroplasticity markers and nuclear transcription factors in the rats' retinal cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mevacor/Poly(vinyl acetate-co-2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) drug carrier systems (MVR/VAC-HEMA) containing different Mevacor (MVR) contents were prepared in one pot by free radical copolymerization of vinyl acetate with 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate using an LED lamp light in the presence of camphorquinone as a photoinitiator and Mevacor as a drug filler. The prepared material was characterized by FTIR, 1H NMR, DSC, SEM and XRD methods. Different parameters influencing the efficiency in the Mecvacor-water solubility and the drug delivery of this system, such as the swelling capacity of the carrier, the amount of Mevacor loaded and the pH medium have been widely investigated. The results obtained revealed that the Mevacor particles were uniformly dispersed in their molecular state in the copolymer matrix forming a solid solution; the cell toxicity of the virgin poly(vinyl acetate-co-2-hydroxy ethyl methacrylate) (VAC-HEMA) and MVR/VAC-HEMA drug carrier system exhibited no significant effect on their viability when between 0.25 and 2.00 wt% was loaded in these materials; the average swelling capacity of VAC-HEMA material in water was found to be 45.16 wt%, which was practically unaffected by the pH medium and the solubility of MVR deduced from the release process reached more than 22 and 37 times that of the powder dissolved directly in pH 1 and 7 media, respectively. The in vitro MVR release kinetic study revealed that the MVR/VAC-HEMA system containing 0.5 wt% MVR exhibited the best performance in the short gastrointestinal transit (GITT), while that containing 2.0 wt% is for the long transit as they were able to considerably reduce the minimum release of this drug in the stomach (pH1). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Policosanols (PCs) are long-chain linear aliphatic alcohols that are present in the primary leaves of cereal crops, such as barley and wheat, sugar cane wax, and beeswax. PCs have been used as a nutraceutical for improving hyperlipidemia and hypercholesterolemia. However, the PC content in mutant wheat lines has not been investigated. To select highly functional wheat sprouts with a high content of PCs in wheat mutant lines developed via gamma-irradiated mutation breeding, we cultivated the sprouts of wheat mutant lines in a growth chamber with white LED light (6000 K) and analyzed the PC content in these samples using GC-MS. We studied the PC content in 91 wheat sprout samples: the original variety (Woori-mil × D-7; WS01), commercially available cv. Geumgang (WS87) and cv. Cheongwoo (WS91), and mutant lines (WS02–WS86 and WS88–WS90) developed from WS01 and WS87. Compared to WS01, 18 mutant lines exhibited a high total PC content (506.08–873.24 mg/100 g dry weight). Among them, the top 10 mutant lines were evaluated for their PC production after cultivating under blue (440 nm), green (520 nm), and red (660 nm) LED light irradiation; however, these colored LED lights reduced the total PC production by 35.8–49.7%, suggesting that the cultivation with white LED lights was more efficient in promoting PCs' yield, compared to different LED lights. Therefore, our findings show the potential of radiation-bred wheat varieties as functional foods against hyperlipidemia and obesity and the optimal light conditions for high PC production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carotenoids are an important component of the human diet, and fruit is a primary source of carotenoids. The synthesis and regulation of carotenoids in fruit are important contributors to the formation of fruit quality. In China, strawberry is one of the main seasonal fruits grown in the winter. Previous studies have shown that light has a significant effect on the metabolism of anthocyanins, sugars, and polyphenols in strawberry. However, the understanding of the role of light in regulating the metabolism of carotenoids in strawberry remains limited. This study investigated the effects of blue, red, yellow-green, and white light on carotenoid metabolism in strawberry. Blue light treatment promoted the synthesis of multiple carotenoids, including lutein, compared with the other three treatment groups. The RNA sequencing data revealed that blue light treatment promoted the expression of lycopene ε-cyclase (LCYE), and the transient overexpression of LCYE in strawberry fruit promoted lutein accumulation in strawberry. Overall, the results suggest that blue light can promote the synthesis of lutein in strawberry by inducing the expression of LCYE.

【Objective】The light condition is one of the key factors that affect the tissue culture efficiency of Anthurium andraeanum. The effects of different LED light quality ratio and light intensity on different stages of A. andraeanum tissue culture were studied to explore these light conditions suitable for each stage of tissue culture of A. andraeanum and provide an important technical reference for efficient tissue culture of A. andraeanum.【Method】The new A. andraeanum cultivar Fuxing was used as the experimental material, and the effects of different proportions of red and blue LED light ratio and light intensity on callus induction, proliferation culture and strong seedling culture of A. andraeanum Fuxing were analyzed.【Result】The LED red light quality was more suitable for the callus induction of A. andraeanum Fuxing, the 10% R light quality condition with light intensity of 100 lx had the highest callus induction rate of 79.58%, and the callus mass was yellow-green, compact, large in volume and good in state, which was suitable for the callus induction of A. andraeanum Fuxing leaves. The light quality ratio of R ∶ B = 3 ∶ 1 was suitable for callus proliferation culture of A. andraeanum Fuxing, and the proliferation coefficient was the highest (6.44) when the light intensity was 600 lx. Compared with WL light conditions, R ∶ B = 4 ∶ 1 light quality ratio was more suitable for the callus bud differentiation culture of A. andraeanum Fuxing, when the light intensity was 1 000 lx, the number of callus proliferation and differentiation was 19.44, and the buds were short and strong with good growth potential, without yellow leaf phenomenon. The light quality ratio suitable for the tissue culture seedling culture of A. andraeanum Fuxing at the strong seedling stage was R∶B = 4∶1, the light intensity was 900 lx, the number of roots of the strong seedlings of was more, with an average of 5.67, the plant height was 2.88 cm, the stem diameter was 1.44 mm, the leaf length was 11.69 mm, the leaf width was 8.54 mm, the plant leaf was large, the SPAD value was 39.23, the chlorophyll content of the leaf was higher, and the overall growth of the plant was robust without yellow leaf phenomenon.【Conclusion】LED light conditions have an impact on callus induction, proliferation culture, and strong seedling culture of A. andraeanum Fuxing in tissue culture. According to the lighting requirements at different stages of A. andraeanum tissue culture, selecting appropriate LED light quality ratio and light intensity conditions can effectively improve the callus induction rate, proliferation rate and tissue culture seedling production quality of A. andraeanum in tissue culture, and provide technical support for the efficient and standardized production of new A. andraeanum cultivar Fuxing.

Bacopa monnieri, a cognitive-enhancing herb crucial in health supplements, faces quality variations and contamination by toxic substances in conventional field cultivation, which hinders industrial use. Here, indoor cultivation of diploid (2x) and tetraploid (4x) B. monnieri using hydroponic and soil systems was studied. Soil cultivation promoted longer shoot lengths but resulted in lower biomass and chlorophyll contents compared to hydroponic cultivation. Conversely, soil cultivation significantly elevated total phenolics, total triterpenoids, bacoside A3, and bacopaside X contents in both lines, showing 1.7- to 3.3-fold increases over hydroponic cultivation. Furthermore, 4x plants grown in soil had higher bacopaside II and total bacoside contents than hydroponically grown plants, with 2- and 1.5-fold increases, respectively. Yet, no significant differences were observed in growth and pigment between 2x and 4x lines under the same system. Similarly, no significant differences in bioactive compound productions were found between 2x and 4x hydroponically grown plants. However, in soil, 4x plants exhibited higher total phenolic content, bacopaside II, and total bacoside contents compared to 2x plants. Interestingly, 2x plants grown in soil were the top performers for bacoside production per plant. These findings optimize cultivation practices to meet industry demands, warranting further research into large-scale production techniques.

The public is increasingly concerned about the safety of fruit, so the production and preservation of high-quality fresh fruit is becoming more and more important. This work evaluated the use of a 405 nm light emitting diode (LED) for postharvest preservation of fresh green grapes under tropical temperatures of 29 ± 1 °C. LED exposure to green grapes was done for various lengths of time (0, 24, and 48 hours), corresponding to different dosages of 0, 0.7, and 1.4 kJ/cm2. After 7 days of testing, the results found that 95%, 75%, and 5% of the grapes had been invaded by microorganisms, which matched the pretreatment with LED light at 0 h, 24h, and 48 h. According to the first-order kinetic model, the constant rate of weight loss (k) was 0.039 ± 0.005 (control, LED-0h), 0.037 ± 0.009 (LED-24h), 0.062 ± 0.005 (day−1) (LED-48h), with all p-value < 0.001. Compared to the control condition, weight loss was mostly unaffected by LED-24h. No appreciable color changes were seen for LED-24h and 48h, indicating that the fruit has retained its original color as well as its freshness. In control samples, however, one-third of L* and a* values were reduced from baseline. The control samples are susceptible to fungus infection like Guignardia bidwellii, however, color development and morphology showed that LED-48h with an irradiation dose of 1.4 kJ/cm2 had outstanding anti-fungal effectiveness. These LEDs are a possible replacement for fluorescent lights in fruit market showcase and storage rooms, serving as both a source of illumination and protection against microbial contamination.

Light plays a crucial role in photosynthesis, which is an essential process for plantlets produced during in vitro tissue culture practices and ex vitro acclimatization. LED lights are an appropriate technology for in vitro lighting but their effect on propagation and photosynthesis under in vitro condition is not well understood. This study aimed to investigate the impact of different light spectra on growth, photosynthetic functionality, and stomatal characteristics of micropropagated shoots of Persian walnut (cv. Chandler). Tissue-cultured walnut nodal shoots were grown under different light qualities including white, blue, red, far-red, green, combination of red and blue (70:30), combination of red and far-red (70:30), and fluorescent light as the control. Results showed that the best growth and vegetative characteristics of in vitro explants of Persian walnut were achieved under combination of red and blue light. The biggest size of stomata was detected under white and blue lights. Red light stimulated stomatal closure, while stomatal opening was induced under blue and white lights. Although the red and far-red light spectra resulted in the formation of elongated explants with more lateral shoots and anthocyanin content, they significantly reduced the photosynthetic functionality. Highest soluble carbohydrate content and maximum quantum yield of photosystem II were detected in explants grown under blue and white light spectra. In conclusion, growing walnut explants under combination of red and blue lights leads to better growth, photosynthesis functionality, and the emergence of functional stomata in in vitro explants of Persian walnuts.

Previous pepper studies indicated that biomass production and the amounts of bioactive compounds were dependent on light sources, maturity processes and pepper genotypes. However, the above topic has received little attention in supplemental light versus cultivar combinations under a hydroponic growing system. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the biomass production (fruit, root, stem and leaf) and fruit bioactive compounds (vitamin C, total flavonoid content and antioxidant capacity-AC-FRAP, total polyphenol-TPC) of two pepper cultivars ('Fehérözön'-Fö and 'Szegedi 80'-S80) in three fruit maturity stages (green, beaker and red) under two LED light treatments (full-F and blue-white-BW spectrums) in a deep water culture hydroponic system. The stem biomass and water use for total and fruit biomass were significantly different for cultivars and light treatments. Light treatments, maturity stages and cultivars had significant effects on fruit biomass production and on all bioactive compounds. However, the results on the bioactive compounds varied according to the green, beaker and red maturity stages of the two pepper cultivars. In correlation analyses, 30 pair-variables correlated significantly and nine showed values r > 0.9 for fruit weight versus (vs.) vitamin C, fruit weight vs. AC-FRAP, fruit weight vs. TPC, vitamin C vs. AC-FRAP, vitamin C vs. TPC, AC-FRAP vs. TPC, and flavonoid vs. TPC. This study suggested that additional lights and maturity features of cultivar genotype strongly determined the biomass and bioactive compounds of pepper under a deep water culture hydroponic system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Titanium-doped zinc ferrite was used as a photo catalyst for breaking down C-C and C-H bonds of methylene blue dye as a model for the decomposition of organic pollutants. Different concentrations of Ti were used to impede into the spinel structure of zinc ferrite by in situ addition during the preparation. Different characterization techniques were used to characterize the prepared materials including the deep analysis of the electronic spectra, which proved the surface modification of ferrite due to the Ti doping. In addition, we make a comparison study of photo degradation using ordinary UV irradiation and commercial LED light irradiation, which gives very promising results. A correlation between the structure and the photo catalytic behavior of the materials is assigned. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: One of the most important subtropical fruits in Iran is Japanese persimmon. Persimmon is a climacteric fruit and continues to ripening after the harvest. One of the main quality components in persimmon fruit is its appearance due to the presence of different carotenoid pigments. Persimmon has also high antioxidant capacity. The use of LED lights is one of the most important commercial techniques to increase the quality and postharvest life of the fruits. In the present study, the effect of LED lights on the coloring and antioxidant capacity of persimmon fruit was studied. Research method: The Karaj genotype of persimmon was harvested at commercial stage and exposed to white and red LED lights (at intensity of 40-60 candle/W) up to 21 days at 10°C and 80% RH, as the control fruit was stored at dark conditions. Findings: The results showed that the samples of red LED light had higher color index and lower hue° and L * values as compared to control or white LED light samples. Therefore, the red light induced the coloring in persimmon fruit, but the white light did not show such an effect. Also, both white and red LED lights have resulted in better preservation and increased antioxidant capacity in persimmon fruit as compared to control. Research limitations: No limitations were encountered. Originality/Value: based on the results of this experiment, LED lights are effective treatments in maintaining and increasing the quality of Japanese persimmon at the postharvest stage, and have potential to further investigation and commercialization.

The effects of different light-emitting diode (LED) lights on saffron growth and photosynthetic characteristic were explored. Physiological mechanisms were explained by chlorophyll a fluorescence transient curves (OJIP) and JIP-test parameters. A decrease in the red to blue light ratio resulted in negative effects, particularly for monochromatic blue (B) LED light; saffron seedlings showed reduced chlorophyll accumulation, inhibited leaf elongation, and decreased photosynthetic performance. In the OJIP curve, the higher positive K-band observed for B LED light indicated that oxygen-evolving complex activation significantly decreased. B LED light inhibited the electron transport between primary quinone acceptor and secondary quinone acceptor as well as the existence of reducing plastoquinone centers, and increased energy dissipation of reaction centers. Otherwise, the red to blue light ratio of 2:1 had a positive effect on saffron cultivation, resulting in the longest leaf lengths, highest chlorophyll content, and photosynthetic characteristics. This study provides theoretical guidance for saffron agricultural practices.

Lighting is one of the important management factors affecting the health and welfare of birds. The objective of this study was to assess the effects of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) on production, reproduction, blood metabolites, immunology, and hepatic sterol regulatory element binding protein-1 (SREBP1) gene expression in broiler breeders. One-day-old Ross 308 female breeder chicks (n=100) were randomly assigned to 20 light-proof pens and reared under five lighting regimens, including green (GL) or white (WL) LED at two exposure photophases (8 or 12 hours) as a 2 × 2 factorial experiment plus a control group (incandescent lamp at 8L:16D duration; CON). The LED color affected the feed intake during the rearing period, being higher in white than in green light; however, green light resulted in more medium and large white follicles on the ovaries, higher mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration, and plasma cholesterol level. In WL8 lighting, the relative weight of the bursa of Fabricius was higher (P=0.05) than in CON birds. Plasma cholesterol level in GL12 was higher compared to CON. Conventional and WL12 regimens resulted in lower plasma alkaline phosphatase activity. Twelve hours of GL lighting resulted in higher eggshell weight and strength while it caused a small but significant decrease in egg shape index. Greater numbers of medium white (MWF) and large white (LWF) follicles were recorded in GL12 birds, and there were more small white follicles (SWF) in GL8 group (P=0.05). The GL12 and CON lighting resulted in higher concentrations of WBC and Hb compared with WL. Hepatic expression of SREBP1 was higher in WL8 birds. The results indicated that green LED improved egg quality while white LED caused higher relative weight of bursa and hepatic SREBP1 expression, indicating the LED light may be beneficial to broiler breeder productivity. However, more studies are required to substantiate these findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Novel Z-scheme rGO/Bi 12 O 15 Cl 6 /InVO 4 ternary heterojunction photocatalyst was successfully prepared using reduced graphene oxide (rGO) as the electronic medium. The optimum sample 0.3% rGO/Bi 12 O 15 Cl 6 /InVO 4 can degrade 99.1% Rhodamine B (RhB) and 77.48% tetracycline (TC) in 75 min, and can inactivate Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and Escherichia coli (E. coli) within 30 min under the LED light. The crystal structure, morphology, composition, specific surface area, photoelectric chemical properties, and photodegradation properties were studied. Compared with binary Bi 12 O 15 Cl 6 /InVO 4 and single photocatalyst, rGO/Bi 12 O 15 Cl 6 /InVO 4 ternary heterojunction photocatalyst presented the best degradation and antibacterial performance, which is mainly due to the introduction of rGO, which can enhance the absorption of photons, and the separation and migration efficiency of photoexcited carriers. The capture experiment of active substances showed that both h+ and •O 2 − were the main active substances in the photocatalytic process. The probable photocatalytic degradation pathway of TC was proposed by mass spectrometry (MS) determination of the intermediate. The experimental results show that Z-scheme rGO/Bi 12 O 15 Cl 6 /InVO 4 is a promising photocatalyst. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Objective] The light condition is one of the key factors that affect the tissue culture efficiency of Anthurium andraeanum. The effects of different LED light quality ratio and light intensity on different stages of A. andraeanum tissue culture were studied to explore these light conditions suitable for each stage of tissue culture of A. andraeanum and provide an important technical reference for efficient tissue culture of A. andraeanum. [Method] The new A. andraeanum cultivar Fuxing was used as the experimental material, and the effects of different proportions of red and blue LED light ratio and light intensity on callus induction, proliferation culture and strong seedling culture of A. andraeanum Fuxing were analyzed. [Result] The LED red light quality was more suitable for the callus induction of A. andraeanum Fuxing, the 10% R light quality condition with light intensity of 100 lx had the highest callus induction rate of 79.58%, and the callus mass was yellow-green, compact, large in volume and good in state, which was suitable for the callus induction of A. andraeanum Fuxing leaves. The light quality ratio of R ∶ B = 3 ∶ 1 was suitable for callus proliferation culture of A. andraeanum Fuxing, and the proliferation coefficient was the highest (6.44) when the light intensity was 600 lx. Compared with WL light conditions, R ∶ B = 4 ∶ 1 light quality ratio was more suitable for the callus bud differentiation culture of A. andraeanum Fuxing, when the light intensity was 1 000 lx, the number of callus proliferation and differentiation was 19.44, and the buds were short and strong with good growth potential, without yellow leaf phenomenon. The light quality ratio suitable for the tissue culture seedling culture of A. andraeanum Fuxing at the strong seedling stage was R∶B = 4∶1, the light intensity was 900 lx, the number of roots of the strong seedlings of was more, with an average of 5.67, the plant height was 2.88 cm, the stem diameter was 1.44 mm, the leaf length was 11.69 mm, the leaf width was 8.54 mm, the plant leaf was large, the SPAD value was 39.23, the chlorophyll content of the leaf was higher, and the overall growth of the plant was robust without yellow leaf phenomenon. [Conclusion] LED light conditions have an impact on callus induction, proliferation culture, and strong seedling culture of A. andraeanum Fuxing in tissue culture. According to the lighting requirements at different stages of A. andraeanum tissue culture, selecting appropriate LED light quality ratio and light intensity conditions can effectively improve the callus induction rate, proliferation rate and tissue culture seedling production quality of A. andraeanum in tissue culture, and provide technical support for the efficient and standardized production of new A. andraeanum cultivar Fuxing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Chinese Journal of Applied Entomology is the property of Chinese Journal of Applied Entomology, Editorial Department 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.)

Light intensity and spectrum have a direct effect on the growth and development of plants and on the qualitative characteristics of their productions. LED technology seems to offer interesting prospects for its possible use in confined environments (growth chambers, bioreactors, greenhouses, etc). On the basis of these considerations, we tested the effects on the in vitro growth and development of micropropagated pineapple (Ananas comosus (L.) Merr.) plantlets using four different light spectra: (1) fluorescence light (FL—control); (2) white LED (WL—blue 20%, green 36%, red 38%, far red 6%, and UV 1%); (3) predominantly red LED (RL—blue 12%, green 19%, red 61%, and far red 8%); (4) Red/Blue LED (RL/BL—67% red and 33% blue) and two light intensities: 80 and 100 μmol m−2s−1 (16/8 h light/dark photoperiod). A. comosus showed a different morphogenetic response to the light spectra and their intensity and to their interaction. Among the LED lights to date tested, at 80 μmol m−2s−1 the best results on shoot multiplication were obtained under the RL light and to a lesser extent under the WL. This last treatment resulted also in a significant improvement in shoot quality in terms of secondary shoot dry weight and total chlorophyll concentration when compared to all the other light spectra tested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Light-emitting diode (LED) is a process by which specific sequences of low-energy light are employed to regulate cellular activity without a thermal effect. The aim of this study was to evaluate the use of LED light in the treatment of radiodermatitis. Materials and Methods: This was a prospective study that included twenty patients with chronic or acute radiation dermatitis regardless of the grade or underlying neoplasia. All these patients received two LED sessions per week according to the following protocol: 660 + 850 nm, total fluence: 36 J/cm2, total energy: 21.6 KJ. The evolution was judged from the data of the clinical examination and photography. Results: Three patients had chronic radiodermatitis (CRD) and seventeen patients had acute radiodermatitis (ARD). The lesions appeared after ten sessions on average: a cumulative dose of 26.7 Gy. Evolution after LED treatment: For CRD, no significant improvement was noted. For ARD, regression of erythema and epidermalization of the lesions were observed after an average of six sessions (2–8 sessions). Discussion: Vitro studies have demonstrated that LED light accelerates wound healing by increasing procollagen synthesis and decreasing inflammatory mediators. In our study. we noticed an improvement in patients with ARD regardless of the site or the underlying neoplasia. However, no improvement was observed in patients with CRD. Conclusion: LED therapy may be an effective therapeutic option in the management of ARD, yet studies with a larger sample are necessary [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To report a case of macular injury caused by short-term exposure to a handheld high-intensity light emitting diode (LED) light. Design: Interventional case report. Participant: A patient with macular injury caused by short-term exposure to the light of a handheld high-intensity LED device. Intervention: The patient was examined and followed for 3 months after exposure with ophthalmologic examinations (including funduscopy, optical coherence tomography [OCT], fluorescein angiography [FA], and multifocal electroretinography [mfERG]). The injured eye was treated with one retrobulbar injection of 20 mg triamcinolone acetonide at 5 days after exposure. Main outcome measures: Visual acuity, ophthalmoscopic, and OCT findings. Results: 3 days after exposure, the best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) of the right eye was 6/20. OCT revealed the acute stage of the injury with eminence of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). BCVA was improved to 16/20 and 20/20 at 19 and 33 days after exposure, respectively. OCT results of follow-ups at five days, 19 days, 33 days and 3 months after exposure have demonstrated the restoration process of the injury. Conclusions: Short-term exposure to high-intensity LED light may cause damage to the retina. As the expansion of LED use in modern life, education and supervision are of urgent need for public health.

The synthesized WO 3 /g-C 3 N 4 /BiOI photocatalyst followed a double S-scheme transfer process. The active species in the photocatalytic antibacterial process were h+, e−, OH and O2− under LED light. The double S-scheme structure promotes the separation efficiency of electron-hole pairs and increases the redox capacity of the heterojunction, which further improves the antibacterial performance for E. coli and S. aureus. [Display omitted] • Novel double S-scheme WO 3 /g-C 3 N 4 /BiOI photocatalyst was synthesized. • WO 3 /g-C 3 N 4 /BiOI can remove E. coli in 12 min and S. aureus in 20 min. • The active species are h+, e−, OH and O 2 −. • Double S-scheme promotes the electrons and holes separation. • Double S- scheme increases the redox capacity of the heterojunction. In recent years, the threat to human health from bacteria in wastewater has attracted attention, and photocatalytic technology has emerged as a promising strategy for inactivating bacteria in water. Therefore, it is of great research value to develop a novel high-efficiency photocatalytic system with the visible light response. We successfully designed a double S-scheme heterojunction composite WO 3 /g-C 3 N 4 /BiOI (WCB) in this paper. The preparation of WCB composites was demonstrated by a series of characterizations, including X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The antibacterial effects of photocatalysts against representative Gram-negative strain Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Gram-positive strain Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) were tested under LED light irradiation. The novel photocatalyst presented excellent antibacterial properties, inactivating E. coli in 12 min and S. aureus in 20 min. The bacterial cell inactivation process was studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy (CLSM). Active species capture experiments show that the active species present in the WCB composites in the process of inactivating bacteria are h+, e−, OH and O 2 −. In conclusion, the synthesized double S-scheme WCB photocatalyst exhibits remarkable photocatalytic antibacterial activity under LED light and has broad prospects for practical application in water antibacterial treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The innovation of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) has provided a new opportunity to grow plants in controlled environments. In this study, the plantlets of two genotypes of lemon balm were put for seven weeks in an incubator containing LED lamps with red, blue, red + blue (70:30 ratio), and white light spectrum with a light intensity of 300 μmol m-2 s-1 and with a light cycle of 16 hours of light and 8 hours darkness and temperature of 25±2°C, and to compare with these conditions; some plantlets were also put in the greenhouse. The plantlets grown in incubators with red + blue LED lamps had higher activity of some antioxidant enzymes including catalase, guaiacol peroxidase, and ascorbate peroxidase, higher amounts of phenolic compounds and the valuable active substance of rosmarinic acid (the latter only in Ilam genotype), and phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL) enzyme activity than the plantlets grown in the greenhouse. However, in the Isfahan genotype significant difference in the content of rosmarinic acid was observed only between white LED light with other LED and greenhouse lights. Overall, according to the results of the current study, it can hope to use LED light sources to improve the growth and qualitative and quantitative properties of the medicinal plant, lemon balm, and also to create high-quality plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nitrate accumulation is a major factor for the secondary salinization of greenhouse soil in China. Our previous study pointed out that a low ratio of red:far-red light (R:FR) can improve salt tolerance in pakchoi under excessive nitrate stress. However, the nitrogen metabolism mechanism is still unclear. To detect the effect of a low R:FR ratio on nitrogen metabolism of pakchoi under excessive nitrate stress, two extra additions of nitrogen of 80 mmol·L−1 NO3− (H80) and 160 mmol·L−1 NO3− (H160) with/without a low R:FR ratio (R:FR = 0.7) were set, and the growth index, chlorophyll content, key enzymes in nitrogen metabolism, nitrate and glutamic acid content and NRT gene expression level of pakchoi leaves were examined. The results indicated that a low ratio of R:FR could alleviate the reduction in growth and chlorophyll content in pakchoi under high-level nitrogen stress (H80 and H160). The activity of nitrate reductase (NR), glutamine synthetase (GS) and glutamine synthetase (GOGAT) decreased under H80 and H160 conditions, except of NR with the H80 treatment. The activity of glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) increased under H80 treatment, but decreased under H160 treatment. However, the activity of GDH decreased further by reducing the ratio of R:FR. Excessive nitrate stress increased the nitrate content, and a low R:FR ratio could inhibit nitrate accumulation. However, the change in glutamic acid content was significantly increased under a low R:FR ratio without stress. Under the high-nitrogen level treatment (H160), the use of a low ratio of R:FR increased NRT gene expression. Therefore, a low R:FR ratio (R:FR = 0.7) could effectively promote the growth of pakchoi and improve its nitrogen metabolism, thus alleviating the stress effect of a high level of nitrogen in pakchoi. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Major losses of fresh tomatoes happen during post-harvest storage due to prompt senescence and diseases. The aim of the research was to evaluate the effects of different spectra of LED lights on the post-harvest preservation of ascorbic acid, lycopene, and total soluble solids, the weight and size of tomato fruits, as well as to determine the optimal exposure time and distance of irradiation and extension of shelf-life. Therefore, experiments were carried out in a climate chamber with shelves equipped with three different light spectra: red light-emitting diodes, red–blue–white light-emitting diodes, and ultraviolet-light-emitting diodes. Light treatment had a certain positive effect on the firmness, size, and mass of samples. Thus, tomato fruits (Panekra) exposed to the spectra of LED lights demonstrated a better quality of firmness and mass compared to the control samples (non-preserved) of tomatoes. The treatments with RL significantly improved the concentration of lycopene than FL and UV-LED lights, although the highest concentration of lycopene was observed in the control samples for the first 7 days of the storage. After 21 days, the ascorbic acid content in the red spectrum was found to be much higher than in the other two spectra and control samples, coming in at about 1.8 mg/100 mL compared to 1.0 mg/100 mL for the control samples. Total soluble solids also increased significantly after preservation, rising from 3.9 °Brix in the control samples to roughly 7.3 °Brix in samples preserved using the full spectrum after 21 days. Overall, the results of the study demonstrated that tomato preservation using the investigated techniques induced lycopene concentration, ascorbic acid, and total soluble solids concentrations. The results derived from this study provide highly useful information in the field of post-harvest preservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have previously shown that the phototherapy of hyperbilirubinemic neonates using blue-green LED light with a peak wavelength of ~478 nm is 31% more efficient for removing unconjugated bilirubin from circulation than blue LED light with a peak wavelength of ~452 nm. Based on these results, we recommended that the phototherapy of hyperbilirubinemic newborns be practiced with light of ~480 nm. Aim: Identify and discuss the most prominent potential changes that have been observed in the health effects of phototherapy using either blue fluorescent- or blue LED light and speculate on the expected effects of changing to blue-green LED light phototherapy. Search the phototherapy literature using the terms neonate, hyperbilirubinemia, and phototherapy in the PubMed and Embase databases. Transitioning from blue fluorescent light to blue-green LED light will expose neonates to less light in the 400–450 nm spectral range, potentially leading to less photo-oxidation and geno-/cytotoxicity, reduced risk of cancer, and decreased mortality in extremely low-birthweight neonates. The riboflavin level may decline, and the increased production and retention of bronze pigments may occur in predisposed neonates due to enhanced lumirubin formation. The production of pre-inflammatory cytokines may rise. Hemodynamic responses and transepidermal water loss are less likely to occur. The risk of hyperthermia may decrease with the use of blue-green LED light and the risk of hypothermia may increase. Parent–neonate attachment and breastfeeding will be positively affected because of the shortened duration of phototherapy. The latter may also lead to a significant reduction in the cost of phototherapy procedures as well as the hospitalization process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum L.) are widely cultivated and consumed, but ripening should be carried out in controlled storage conditions to extend their shelf life and avoid economic losses. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of visible artificial light on the ripening and quality of fresh market tomatoes stored at a low temperature and high humidity. The postharvest performance with respect to the ripening of organically grown tomatoes in the Toscano cultivar, with a long storage life, was studied in the presence and the absence of visible LED light. The maturation kinetics of the tomatoes was modeled using the Power Law equation. Results showed that tomatoes stored in the presence of light exhibited an increased respiration rate and a faster preclimacteric phase. Lycopene content, total soluble solids, and maturity index increased in the presence of light. Hence, light increased the postharvest ripening of tomatoes, affecting their shelf life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]