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Introduction: Photokeratoconjunctivitis (PKC) is primarily caused by welding. However, inappropriate use of germicidal lamps, which have been widely used following the COVID-19 outbreak, can also cause PKC. Our goal in this study was to investigate the incidence of and changes in the causes of PKC during the coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.Methods: We conducted a single-center, retrospective observational study. The health records of patients who visited the emergency department in a tertiary care hospital from January 1, 2018–December 31, 2021 and were diagnosed with PKC, were reviewed. We then conducted an analysis to compare the characteristics of PKC before and after COVID-19 began and the features of PKC caused by welding and germicidal lamps.Results: There were 160 PKC cases with a clear etiology before the COVID-19 pandemic and 147 cases during the COVID-19 pandemic. No significant differences in age and gender were detected between the two groups. The incidence of PKC induced by the use of germicidal lamps during the COVID-19 pandemic was significantly higher (10.2%) than the incidence before the pandemic (3.1%). The ratio of females to males in the germicidal lamp subgroup was significantly higher than the ratio in the welding subgroup. Limitations included incomplete information due to the retrospective nature of the study, underestimation of incidence, and possible recall bias.Conclusion: In the era of COVID-19, clinicians should be aware of the hazards of germicidal lamps. Although the COVID-19 pandemic seems to show signs of easing, new infectious diseases that require protective measures could still emerge in the future. Therefore, injuries related to germicidal lamps deserve more public health attention.

Violet‐emitting perovskite quantum dots (QDs) are of great significance for theoretical and experimental research aimed at promoting the development of environmentally friendly violet light‐emitting diodes (LEDs). Nevertheless, the synthesis of violet perovskite QDs via ligand‐assisted reprecipitation is challenging due to the significant bandgap. A simple and economical cryo‐bonding ligand‐assisted reprecipitation (Cb‐LARP) method is proposed as a means of synthesizing deep violet lead‐free organic‐inorganic hybrid perovskite (OIHP) QDs, with the objective of increasing the bandgap in the material. The MA3Bi2Br9 QDs synthesized by the Cb‐LARP method exhibit bright violet luminescence at 400 nm, with a PLQY of 50.1%. Moreover, the photoluminescence peak of the QDs can be adjusted from 402 to 393 nm by modifying the final reaction time. It is noteworthy that the MA3Bi2Br6Cl3 QDs exhibited ultraviolet emission at 379 nm, corresponding to a PLQY of 35.4%. Similarly, the emission peak of the QDs can be tuned from 379 to 376 nm by changing the final reaction time. The results demonstrate that the deep violet emitting OIHP QDs have been successfully synthesized. This study provides a theoretical reference for short‐wavelength perovskite materials and an experimental reference for the study of violet and UV quantum‐dot light‐emitting diode devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One problem limiting marine biotechnology in low-income countries is lack of durable, inexpensive equipment to sterilise seawater to develop species for research and application (e.g., in medicine and feed production). Autoclaves flounder in low-income countries due to socioeconomic limitations on the maintenance of the equipment. Hence, the objective of this paper was to propose a bench-top ultraviolet (UV) sterilisation apparatus for seawater. The apparatus was fabricated with polyvinyl chloride materials to hold and release filtered seawater into a sterilisation chamber fitted with UV lamp that emits monochromatic light at 254 nm. These materials are relatively cheap and easy to ensemble from local sources. Tests conducted on polluted, tropical seawater collected from the Elmina fishing harbour, near Cape Coast, Ghana show that the apparatus has a disinfection efficiency of 99.6% in 60 minutes, which is similar to the efficiency achieved by autoclave and other expensive methods. The new apparatus can therefore be used to sterilise media for mariculture research and biotechnology applications in resource-constrained environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Achyranthes japonica Nakai (AJN) is a medicinal plant known to be beneficial for the joints. Since it takes at least two years from sowing to harvesting in an open field, new AJN cultivation strategies are needed to shorten the production period and improve quality. In this study, high-quality AJN is produced as microgreens in a vertical farm using a commercial ginseng soil mix (Myeongpum-Insamsangto, Shinsung Mineral Co., Ltd., Goesan, Republic of Korea) and controlled environmental conditions. The cultivation conditions included a temperature of 23 ± 2 °C, relative humidity of 50 ± 10%, and a photosynthetic photon flux density of 170 ± 15 µmol·m−2·s−1. Pre-harvest intermittent UV-B exposure, with an intensity of 1.0 ± 0.3 W/m−2, was applied for one day before harvest to evaluate its effects, using controlled environmental conditions in the vertical farm. Ultraviolet-B (UV-B) irradiation increases secondary metabolite levels in plants; however, the effect of UV-B on 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E), an indicator of AJN, is unclear. Therefore, we aimed to investigate whether UV-B treatment of AJN microgreens affected growth and secondary metabolites. The treatment group was set to 12 h of continuous UV-B treatment during the day, two 6 h UV-B treatments, and four 3 h UV-B treatments to confirm the effectiveness of regular and intermittent treatment and recovery. Short-term UV-B treatment before harvesting increased phenols, flavonoids, antioxidant capacity, and 20E levels without affecting AJN biomass. The intermittent 6 h UV-B irradiation with a 6 h recovery time stimulated 20E content by approximately 1.4 times compared to the control. These study findings indicate that short-term UV-B treatment before harvesting, an appropriate recovery time, and intermittent UV-B exposure are more effective at increasing 20E content than continuous treatment. This approach provides a promising strategy for improving the nutritional and health benefits of AJN microgreens in vertical farming systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analyses were combined to clarify the ultraviolet light-induced surface changes of WO3 in air. Identical-location STEM (IL-STEM) analysis showed that the WO3 particle surface was covered with an amorphous thin film after ultraviolet irradiation in air. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis showed that hydrocarbon decomposition and the formation of carboxyl/hydroxyl species occurred. These results suggested that the amorphous thin films consisted of photocatalytic oxidative species of hydrocarbon. The IL-STEM analysis could detect small light-induced changes. This technique will be useful for the microscopic characterization of photocatalysis or photoinduced hydrophilic conversion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Indoor farming systems enable plant production in precisely controlled environments. However, implementing stable growth conditions and the absence of stress stimulants can weaken plants' defense responses and limit the accumulation of bioactive, health-beneficial phytochemicals. A potential solution is the controlled application of stressors, such as supplemental ultraviolet (UV) light. To this end, we analyzed the efficiency of short-term pre-harvest supplementation of the red–green–blue (RGB, LED) spectrum with ultraviolet B (UV-B) or C (UV-C) light to boost phytochemical synthesis. Additionally, given the biological harm of UV radiation due to high-energy photons, we monitored plants' photosynthetic activity during treatment and their morphology as well as sensory attributes after the treatment. Our analyses showed that UV-B radiation did not negatively impact photosynthetic activity while significantly increasing the overall antioxidant potential of lettuce through enhanced levels of secondary metabolites (total phenolics, flavonoids, anthocyanins), carotenoids, and ascorbic acid. On the contrary, UV-C radiation-induced anthocyanin accumulation in the green leaf cultivar significantly harmed the photosynthetic apparatus and limited plant growth. Taken together, we showed that short-term UV-B light supplementation is an efficient method for lettuce biofortification with healthy phytochemicals, while UV-C treatment is not recommended due to the negative impact on the quality (morphology, sensory properties) of the obtained leafy products. These results are crucial for understanding the potential of UV light supplementation for producing functional plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The recombinantelastin engineering bacteria was constructed by genetic engineering technology, and then recombinant elastin was obtained by fermentation purification technology. The recombinante lastin was characterized and identified by N-terminal sequencing of amino acids, molecular wght determination, analysis of amino acid composition, protein purity analysis, endotoxicity determination, infrared spectroscopy and circular dichroism analysis. To explore the roles of recombiant elastin in UVB-induced skin photoaging, the effects of recombinant elastin on the adhesion ability and cell viability of L929 mouse embryonic fibroblasts, as well as the effects of recombinant elastin on the expression levels of Collagen, Collagen, Elastin and matrix metalloproteinase 1 MMP-1, were investigated in the model of UVB-induced L929 cell photoaging. The results showed that the secondary structure of recombinant elastin was similar to that of natural elastin. The recombinant elastin showed certain cell viability and no cytotoxicity at 0.1 mg/mL, which significantly promoted the adhesion and proliferation of L929 cells. Additionally, recombinant elastin could also improve the mRNA transcription levels of Collagen, Collagen and Elastin in UVB irradiated cells by down-regulating the expression of MMP-1 in UVB irradiated cells, thus protecting L929 cells from light damage. That was why recombinant elastin could improve the survival rate of photodamaged fibroblasts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research work investigates surface morphology, plasma plume intensity and the hardness of palladium thin film deposited on silicon substrates under the action of laser light. For this purpose, a pulsed Nd:YAG laser (1064 nm, 10 mJ, 12 ns) was used to irradiate the specimen with repetitive laser pulses. The experiment was repeated under the illumination with UV light. The surface morphology of the specimens was examined through an Optical and Field-Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy showing thermal conduction, exfoliation, crater formation, re-deposition of the material, ripples formation, debris, heat-affected zone, holes formation and the formation of nanoparticles. The diameter and the depth of the crater formed on non-UV illuminated Pd thin film were greater than the crater formed on UV illuminated Pd thin film, because of its higher absorption. The photographs of the plasma plume were captured with a computer-controlled image capture system and examined by image processing software. The intensity of UV-illuminated Pd thin film was higher than non-UV illuminated Pd thin film because UV illumination induces defects in the specimen that have additional electronic states. These defects cause higher absorption and more ionization of the target material and emerge a more luminous plasma plume. A nanoindentation test was applied on the material surface to investigate the mechanical properties such as hardness and elastic modulus of the target specimen. The hardness and elastic modulus of the material were increased by cumulative laser shots. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The behaviour and welfare of animals in captivity is of great importance to zoological collections, captive breeding programmes, food production and keepers of companion animals. Artificial lighting is commonly deficient in UV wavelengths, and use of such lighting for indoor animal enclosures could have significant impacts on the behaviour and welfare of animals to which UV wavelengths are visible. This includes birds, reptiles and fish, but also insects. Here we investigated the effect of UV-present and UV-absent light environments on the behaviour of Vanessa cardui , a butterfly that possesses a trichromatic visual system typical of many insects. We conducted behavioural experiments using a free-flight arena divided in half, where each half could be subjected to UV+ or UV− illumination. When lighting conditions for the two arena halves were the same, we found no significant differences in activity between UV+ and UV− light environments. However when lighting conditions for the two arena halves were different, butterflies showed a significant preference for the UV+ over the UV− half. This remained the case even when the overall intensity of UV+ illumination was less than that of UV− illumination. Our results suggest that UV-deficient artificial lighting conditions do not themselves affect the activity of butterflies, but that given a choice, butterflies prefer lighting that contains UV. Based on these findings, captive light environments can be designed that use supplementary lighting or filters to improve the welfare of captive insects, and the visitor experience. • Artificial light often lacks ultraviolet wavelengths that many animals use. • This may impact animal welfare in captivity. • Butterfly activity did not differ under UV-present and UV-absent lighting. • However, butterflies were attracted to UV-present lighting when given a choice. • These findings can inform the design of lighting for butterfly houses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plants face a wide range of biotic and abiotic stress conditions, which are further intensified by climate change. Among these stressors, increased irradiation in terms of intensity and wavelength range can lead to detrimental effects, such as chlorophyll degradation, destruction of the PSII reaction center, generation of ROS, alterations to plant metabolism, and even plant death.Here, we investigated the responses of two citrus genotypes, Citrus macrophylla (CM), and Troyer citrange (TC) to UV‐B light‐induced stress, by growing plants of both genotypes under control and UV‐B stress conditions for 5 days to evaluate their tolerance mechanisms.TC seedlings had higher sensitivity to UV‐B light than CM seedlings, as they showed more damage and increased levels of oxidative harm (indicated by the accumulation of MDA). In contrast, CM seedlings exhibited specific adaptive mechanisms, including accumulation of higher levels of proline under stressful conditions, and enhanced antioxidant capacity, as evidenced by increased ascorbate peroxidase activity and upregulation of the CsAPX2 gene. Phytohormone accumulation patterns were similar in both genotypes, with a decrease in ABA content in response to UV‐B light. Furthermore, expression of genes involved in light perception and response was specifically affected in the tolerant CM seedlings, which exhibited higher expression of CsHYH/CsHY5 and CsRUP1‐2 genes.These findings underscore the importance of the antioxidant system in citrus plants subjected to UV‐B light‐induced stress and suggest that CsHYH/CsHY5 and CsRUP1‐2 could be considered genes associated with tolerance to such challenging conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ultraviolet (UV) light is the most pervasive environmental mutagen and the primary cause of skin cancer. Genome sequencing of melanomas and other skin cancers has revealed that the vast majority of somatic mutations in these tumors are cytosine‐to‐thymine (C>T) substitutions in dipyrimidine sequences, which, together with tandem CC>TT substitutions, comprise the canonical UV mutation "signature". These mutation classes are caused by DNA damage directly induced by UV absorption, namely cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers (CPDs) or 6‐4 pyrimidine‐pyrimidone photoproducts (6‐4PP), which form between neighboring pyrimidine bases. However, many of the key driver mutations in melanoma do not fit this mutation signature, but instead are caused by T>A, T>C, C>A, or AC>TT substitutions, frequently occurring in non‐dipyrimidine sequence contexts. This article describes recent studies indicating that UV light causes a more diverse spectrum of mutations than previously appreciated, including many of the mutation classes observed in melanoma driver mutations. Potential mechanisms for these diverse mutation signatures are discussed, including UV‐induced pyrimidine‐purine photoproducts and indirect DNA damage induced by UVA light. Finally, the article reviews recent findings indicating that human DNA polymerase eta normally suppresses these non‐canonical UV mutation classes, which can potentially explain why canonical C>T substitutions predominate in human skin cancers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cutaneous field cancerization (CFC) refers to a skin region containing mutated cells' clones, predominantly arising from chronic exposure to ultraviolet radiation (UVR), which exhibits an elevated risk of developing precancerous and neoplastic lesions. Despite extensive research, many molecular aspects of CFC still need to be better understood. In this study, we conducted ex vivo assessment of cell differentiation, oxidative stress, inflammation, and DNA damage in CFC samples. We collected perilesional skin from 41 patients with skin cancer and non-photoexposed skin from 25 healthy control individuals. These biopsies were either paraffin-embedded for indirect immunofluorescence and immunohistochemistry stain or processed for proteins and mRNA extraction from the epidermidis. Our findings indicate a downregulation of p53 expression and an upregulation of Ki67 and p16 in CFC tissues. Additionally, there were alterations in keratinocyte differentiation markers, disrupted cell differentiation, increased expression of iNOS and proinflammatory cytokines IL-6 and IL-8, along with evidence of oxidative DNA damage. Collectively, our results suggest that despite its outwardly normal appearance, CFC tissue shows early signs of DNA damage, an active inflammatory state, oxidative stress, abnormal cell proliferation and differentiation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The European corn borer, Ostrinia nubilalis (Hubner), relies on multimodal sensory information to find food, mates, mating and ovipositional grounds. Successful phytosanitary monitoring demands for the bait for the field traps to obtain the most reliable representation of pest abundance. Attraction to light and blend of key components of host plant odor, was tested both in the laboratory and field conditions. Ultraviolet light, which was the most effective in the wind tunnel experiments, was further tested in the field alone and in combination with bisexual lure. Bisexual lure, being attractive in the lab, as well as in the field, did not improve responses to ultraviolet in both experimental designs. All three baits attracted significantly more females than males in the field. Wind tunnel experiments revealed that ultraviolet elicited the shortest response latencies either alone or paired with the odor bait. The lack of synergistic effect between attractive light and odor stimuli is an important issue for pest monitoring. The possible reasons for the observed lack of synergy are the hierarchy of behavioral responses to different stimuli or the intensities of both stimuli are critically important for attractivity of combined stimulus and differ from separately presented ones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Osteopontin (OPN) is a pro-inflammatory protein that influences bone remodelling, wound healing, angiogenesis, allergic inflammation, and skin diseases such as psoriasis, contact dermatitis and skin cancer. However, the role of OPN in the skin remains unclear. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the role of OPN in the skin, particularly in the context of ultraviolet (UV) irradiation-induced inflammation. OPN expression and its effects on inflammatory modulators were assessed in human skin, in a mouse model and in vitro, using a UV source emitting both UVB and UVA radiation, which collectively contribute to UV-induced skin inflammation. OPN expression increased in human and mouse skin after UV irradiation. Compared with wild-type mice, UV irradiation-induced skin phenotypes, such as erythema and skin thickening, were alleviated in OPN−/− mice. In addition, the number of immune cells recruited to the skin after UV irradiation and the expression of inflammatory cytokines and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) were observed to be decreased in the skin of OPN−/− mice compared with that of wild-type mice. By contrast, the degree of skin inflammation was higher in the hOPN KI mice than in wild-type mice. Treatment with recombinant OPN increased the expression of MMP-1 and inflammatory cytokines in human dermal fibroblasts and epidermal keratinocytes in vitro. Our results suggest that OPN may play a regulatory role in UV-induced skin inflammation.

Accurately modelling the propagation of radiant intensity in aqueous environments poses significant challenges for both academia and industry, due to complex interactions like absorption, scattering, and reflection. This study aims to improve the accuracy of optical modeling in water-based systems by comparing experimental data with numerical simulation techniques, addressing the need for more reliable simulation methods in multiple applications like treatment of water and environmental monitoring.Implementation has been done by analyzing how the method compares with the discrete ordinate method, radiometry, and actinometry. The study further quantifies the effect of the photoreactor quartz tube on measured intensity for multiple wavelengths. Losses in light intensity are estimated to be 10 ± 0.5% for FX-1 265 source. In contrast, the simulation in a water medium showed an increase of up to 64% in the light intensity delivered to the central part of the tube due to internal reflections and scattering. Model predictions from ray tracing successfully compared with the Discrete Ordinate Method (DOM) and experimental data (within ± 6%), ensuring the accurate design of complex systems for water disinfection. The data from simulations is seen to tackle challenges faced in complex radiation modeling and demonstrates that the method can be utilized as a useful tool for optimization and prediction.

One problem limiting marine biotechnology in low-income countries is lack of durable, inexpensive equipment to sterilise seawater to develop species for research and application (e.g., in medicine and feed production). Autoclaves flounder in low-income countries due to socioeconomic limitations on the maintenance of the equipment. Hence, the objective of this paper was to propose a bench-top ultraviolet (UV) sterilisation apparatus for seawater. The apparatus was fabricated with polyvinyl chloride materials to hold and release filtered seawater into a sterilisation chamber fitted with UV lamp that emits monochromatic light at 254 nm. These materials are relatively cheap and easy to ensemble from local sources. Tests conducted on polluted, tropical seawater collected from the Elmina fishing harbour, near Cape Coast, Ghana show that the apparatus has a disinfection efficiency of 99.6% in 60 minutes, which is similar to the efficiency achieved by autoclave and other expensive methods. The new apparatus can therefore be used to sterilise media for mariculture research and biotechnology applications in resource-constrained environments.

Abstract With the widespread application of drone technology, energy management of drone swarms has become a key challenge in ensuring sustained and efficient operations. To optimize the energy consumption of drone swarms, researchers have proposed the energy balance plane routing algorithm. This algorithm uses ultraviolet light for low visibility communication and has shown promising results in managing the energy of drone swarms. To address the issues of uneven cluster head distribution and reduced energy consumption in other algorithms, an improved non-uniform clustering energy balancing routing algorithm is proposed. Compared to existing algorithms, the improved non-uniform clustering energy balancing routing algorithm achieved the lowest average communication consumption among 5 nodes and prolonged node failure time. The performance of the research method has been verified through simulation experiments, which is of great significance in maintaining energy consumption balance and can improve the energy efficiency and sustainability of the network. This study can provide more effective solutions for the development and application of drone technology, promoting its widespread application and promotion in various fields.

Introduction: Photokeratoconjunctivitis (PKC) is primarily caused by welding. However, inappropriate use of germicidal lamps, which have been widely used following the COVID-19 outbreak, can also cause PKC. Our goal in this study was to investigate the incidence of and changes in the causes of PKC during the coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Methods: We conducted a single-center, retrospective observational study. The health records of patients who visited the emergency department in a tertiary care hospital from January 1, 2018-December 31, 2021 and were diagnosed with PKC, were reviewed. We then conducted an analysis to compare the characteristics of PKC before and after COVID-19 began and the features of PKC caused by welding and germicidal lamps. Results: There were 160PKCcases with a clear etiology before the COVID-19 pandemic and 147 cases during the COVID-19 pandemic. No significant differences in age and gender were detected between the two groups. The incidence of PKC induced by the use of germicidal lamps during the COVID-19 pandemic was significantly higher (10.2%) than the incidence before the pandemic (3.1%). The ratio of females to males in the germicidal lamp subgroup was significantly higher than the ratio in the welding subgroup. Limitations included incomplete information due to the retrospective nature of the study, underestimation of incidence, and possible recall bias. Conclusion: In the era of COVID-19, clinicians should be aware of the hazards of germicidal lamps. Although the COVID-19 pandemic seems to show signs of easing, new infectious diseases that require protective measures could still emerge in the future. Therefore, injuries related to germicidal lamps deserve more public health attention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plastic pollution is a rising environmental issue, with millions of tons of plastic debris collecting in the world's seas and on its shores. Hyperspectral imaging (HSI) has become increasingly widely used as a more precise approach that can identify targets in remote sensing aquatic missions. The interference from other beach materials, and the need for proper identification of litter types can make identifying dumped plastics on sand-surrounded beaches challenging. This study lays the groundwork for a physical laboratory setting for images captured by a hyperspectral (HS) imager. The suggested testing setup included the development of a fluorescence signature for the target theater of operations (low-density polyethylene (LD-PE) and wood surrounded by sand) for detecting polymers in a simulated beach environment using the laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) approach. Initially using broadband-spectrum light, strong sample diffuse reflectance contrast is observed in the imaging at wavelengths between 400 and 460 nm. Next, a dedicated LIF system for plastic litter discovery was developed using an ultraviolet (UV) laser source. Initial findings show that there is a distinct fluorescence signal for plastics at 450 nm and at 750 nm for wood. Our pilot studies support current efforts to determine the optimum spectral signature that these polymers will appear with clarity on shorelines using an inexpensive imagery combined with our UV LIF approach, which may have an impact on applications for the detection of beach pollution. The knowledge gained from this study can be used to construct reliable aerial conventional cameras for plastic waste environmental monitoring and management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Ultraviolet (UV) light is a known trigger of both cutaneous and systemic disease manifestations in lupus patients. Lupus skin has elevated expression of type I interferons (IFNs) that promote increased keratinocyte (KC) death after UV exposure. The mechanisms by which KC cell death is increased by type I IFNs are unknown. Methods: Here, we examine the specific cell death pathways that are activated in KCs by type I IFN priming and UVB exposure using a variety of pharmacological and genetic approaches. Mice that overexpress Ifnk in the epidermis were exposed to UVB light and cell death was measured. RNA-sequencing from IFN-treated KCs was analyzed to identify candidate genes for further analysis that could drive enhanced cell death responses after UVB exposure. Results: We identify enhanced activation of caspase-8 dependent apoptosis, but not other cell death pathways, in type I IFN and UVB-exposed KCs. In vivo, overexpression of epidermal Ifnk resulted in increased apoptosis in murine skin after UVB treatment. This increase in KC apoptosis was not dependent on known death ligands but rather dependent on type I IFN-upregulation of interferon regulatory factor 1 (IRF1). Discussion: These data suggest that enhanced sensitivity to UV light exhibited by lupus patients results from type I IFN priming of KCs that drives IRF1 expression resulting in caspase-8 activation and increased apoptosis after minimal exposures to UVB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mammalian melanin is produced in melanocytes and accumulated in melanosomes. Melanogenesis is supported by many factors derived from the surrounding tissue environment, such as the epidermis, dermis, and subcutaneous tissue, in addition to numerous melanogenesis-related genes. The roles of these genes have been fully investigated and the molecular analysis has been performed. Moreover, the role of paracrine factors derived from epidermis has also been studied. However, the role of dermis has not been fully studied. Thus, in this review, dermis-derived factors including soluble and insoluble components were overviewed and discussed in normal and abnormal circumstances. Dermal factors play an important role in the regulation of melanogenesis in the normal and abnormal mammalian skin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: DIC is a widely used optical method that uses cameras to track the motion of an applied random surface pattern to measure the full-field deformation. Due to its non-contacting nature, DIC is very preferable to be used in the areas of high temperature experimental mechanics. One of the biggest challenges of DIC at extreme temperatures is the blackbody radiation emitted from the glowing surface of the specimen. This glow from the blackbody radiation of the specimen is relatively higher at longer wavelengths and lower at shorter wavelengths. Objective: Previously, studies have shown the usefulness of using shorter wavelength of lights such as blue filtered light (450 nm) and UV-A filtered light (365 nm) for high temperature measurements. By contrast, this study uses UV-C filtered technique which utilizes even shorter wavelength of filtered light (UV-C, 254 nm) to demonstrate its effectiveness at elevated temperatures. Methods: Four different DIC techniques using an unfiltered blue light (200–1000 nm), a blue filtered light (450 nm), a UV-A filtered light (365 nm), and a UV-C (254 nm) filtered light have been performed at extreme temperatures in this study. Results: It was found that the techniques using unfiltered blue, blue filtered, and UV-A filtered lights could only go up to a temperature of 900 °C, 1200 °C, and 1600 °C respectively before showing significant saturations in the images. Conclusions: The new UV-C DIC showed no sign of saturation even up to a temperature of 1600 °C while providing comparable axial displacement and coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) data and therefore demonstrating the usefulness of this method in higher temperatures. We also include helpful recommendations for how to produce speckle patterns having sufficient contrast at UV-C wavelengths. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the widespread application of drone technology, energy management of drone swarms has become a key challenge in ensuring sustained and efficient operations. To optimize the energy consumption of drone swarms, researchers have proposed the energy balance plane routing algorithm. This algorithm uses ultraviolet light for low visibility communication and has shown promising results in managing the energy of drone swarms. To address the issues of uneven cluster head distribution and reduced energy consumption in other algorithms, an improved non-uniform clustering energy balancing routing algorithm is proposed. Compared to existing algorithms, the improved non-uniform clustering energy balancing routing algorithm achieved the lowest average communication consumption among 5 nodes and prolonged node failure time. The performance of the research method has been verified through simulation experiments, which is of great significance in maintaining energy consumption balance and can improve the energy efficiency and sustainability of the network. This study can provide more effective solutions for the development and application of drone technology, promoting its widespread application and promotion in various fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Commercial titanium dioxide is successfully plasma‐treated under ambient conditions for different periods, leading to reduced crystallite size and the creation of oxygen vacancies. Density functional theory‐based calculations reveal the emergence of additional localized states close to the conduction band, primarily associated with under‐coordinated titanium atoms in non‐stoichiometric titanium‐oxide systems. The plasma‐treated samples exhibit improved photocatalytic performance in the degradation of methylene blue compared to untreated samples. Moreover, the 4‐hour plasma‐treated photocatalyst demonstrates commendable stability and reusability. This work highlights the potential of cost‐effective plasma treatment as a simple modification technique to significantly enhance the photocatalytic capabilities of titanium‐oxide materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acetamiprid is a novel nicotinic pesticide widely used in modern agriculture because of its low toxicity and specific biological target properties. The objective of this study was to understand the photolysis pattern of acetamiprid in the water column and elucidate its degradation products and mechanism. It was observed that acetamiprid exhibited different photolysis rates under different light source conditions in pure water, with ultraviolet > fluorescence > sunlight; furthermore, its photolysis half-life ranged from 17.3 to 28.6 h. In addition, alkaline conditions (pH 9.0) accelerated its photolysis rate, which increased with pH. Using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry, five direct photolysis products generated during the exposure of acetamiprid to pure water were successfully separated and identified. The molecular structure of acetamiprid was further analyzed using density functional theory, and the active photodegradation sites of acetamiprid were predicted. The mechanism of the photolytic transformation of acetamiprid in water was mainly related to hydroxyl substitution and oxidation. Based on these findings, a comprehensive transformation pathway for acetamiprid was proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ultraviolet-C (UV-C) germicidal light can effectively inactivate airborne pathogens and mitigate the transmission of infectious diseases. As the application of UV-C for disinfection gains popularity, practical estimation of UV irradiance is essential in determining the UV fluence (dose) and designing tubular UV lamp configurations for indoor air treatment. It is generally understood that the inverse square (~1/d²) law (i.e., irradiance is proportional to the inverse square of the distance) applies well to point light sources. However, there has been a recognition that the ~1/d² law does not work well for tubular light sources in the commonly defined near-field applications where the UV source is relatively close to the treated air. Therefore, practical near-field irradiation estimation is needed for designing portable air cleaners and heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) ducts with built-in UV light bulbs. This research investigated UV-C light irradiance from tubular (L = 0.9 m) light bulbs at near distances inside an air cleaner prototype duct under three power output (1-, 4-, and 8-bulb) scenarios and conducted theoretical estimation based on a line-source irradiation model. Similarly sized visible fluorescent bulbs were used as a reference. The data were fitted on both ~1/d² and ~1/d correlation of irradiance with distance. Both measured and line source estimated data fit better (i.e., evaluated by R-square, standard errors, root mean squared errors) with the ~1/d than the ~1/d² relationship in the near distance. Although the differences between the measured and the modeled were observed, the pattern of light distribution generally follows an inverse relationship (~1/d) with distances (d) shorter than two tubular bulb lengths (d < 2L). The pattern applies to both UV and visible light tested in this study. It is recommended that the inverse (~1/d) correlation be used for near-distance estimation of light distribution, especially for disinfection purposes in air ducting for indoor air quality improvement and airborne disease mitigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This paper aims to study the effect of ultraviolet (UV) light on the corrosion behavior of BC550 weathering steel in simulated marine atmospheric environment. Design/methodology/approach: The effect of UV light on the corrosion behavior of BC550 weathering steel in simulated marine atmospheric environments were investigated by the corrosion weight gain experiment, in situ electrochemical noise, scanning electron microscope and X-ray diffraction. Findings: UV light accelerated the corrosion process of BC550 weathering steel in the simulated marine atmospheric environment during the first 168 h. The maximum influence factor of UV light was 0.32, and it was only 0.08 after 168 h of corrosion process. Originality/value: As the extension of corrosion time, the thickness and density of the corrosion product layer increased, which weakened the acceleration effect of UV light. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To determine the absorbance coefficient of the thin porcine cornea to ultraviolet-A radiation (365 nm) submitted for crosslinking. Methods: This in vitro, benchtop experiment using cadaver tissue study analyzed 12 porcine corneal lamellas, which were obtained using a microkeratome after mechanical de-epithelization and separated into three thickness groups: 180, 300, and 360 µm. The corneal thickness values were measured by anterior-segment optical coherence tomography. All lamellas had ultraviolet-A (365 nm) absorbance measured with a 96-well plate spectrophotometer using an ultraviolet transparent microplate before riboflavin instillation and pre- and post-crosslinking according to the Dresden protocol. Results: The ultraviolet absorbance profiles of the 180, 300, and 360 µm groups were obtained as α-coefficients of 12.85, 76.55, and 120.27, respectively. A theoretical formula was calculated though a statistical analysis that demonstrated the correlation between stromal lamellar thickness and ultraviolet absorbance. Conclusions: Corneal thickness and ultraviolet-A spectral absorbance of corneal lamellas showed linear correlation. These findings can potentially contribute to the optimization of ultraviolet-A application during crosslinking, making the treatment of corneas with thickness <400 µm safe and personalized energy delivery for each corneal thickness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Meat is highly susceptible to contamination with harmful microorganisms throughout the production, processing, and storage chain, posing a significant public health risk. Traditional decontamination methods like chemical sanitizers and heat treatments often compromise meat quality, generate harmful residues, and require high energy inputs. This necessitates the exploration of alternative non-ionizing technologies for ensuring meat safety and quality. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of the latest advancements, limitations, and future prospects of non-ionizing technologies for meat decontamination, with a specific focus on ultrasonication. It further investigates the comparative advantages and disadvantages of ultrasonication against other prominent non-ionizing technologies such as microwaves, ultraviolet (UV) light, and pulsed light. Additionally, it explores the potential of integrating these technologies within a multi-hurdle strategy to achieve enhanced decontamination across the meat surface and within the matrix. While non-ionizing technologies have demonstrated promising results in reducing microbial populations while preserving meat quality attributes, challenges remain. These include optimizing processing parameters, addressing regulatory considerations, and ensuring cost-effectiveness for large-scale adoption. Combining these technologies with other methods like antimicrobial agents, packaging, and hurdle technology holds promise for further enhancing pathogen elimination while safeguarding meat quality.

Advanced oxidation processes have attracted considerable attention for wastewater treatment, air purification, CO2 reduction and many more pollution control applications. Environmentally friendly (K0.5Na0.5)NbO3 (abbreviated as 'KNN') is emerging as a lead-free photocatalyst due to its good piezoelectric response and high Curie temperature. In this work, KNN photocatalysts were synthesized by two methods i.e. solid-state and sol-gel routes and abbreviated as KNN-SS and KNN-SG, respectively. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) confirmed the orthorhombic structure for both the samples. Morphological studies were done using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Average particle size was estimated using ImageJ software which is to be around 1.38 ​μm and 278 ​nm for KNN-SS and KNN-SG samples respectively. Zeta potential measurements estimated the average surface charge on the particles i.e. 67.099 ​mV for KNN-SS and 69.115 ​mV for KNN-SG samples. Tauc’ plot was employed to find the optical bandgap, which was estimated around 3 ​eV for both the samples. Photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy confirmed that KNN-SG sample has a lower recombination rate than KNN-SS sample as it exhibited lower emission intensity. Better photocatalytic result of 92.8 ​% degradation of methylene blue dye in just 80 ​min has been observed for KNN-SG sample, indicating smaller particle size causes delayed recombination, which enhances higher photodegradation of the material. Lead-free ferroelectric KNN samples with smaller particle sizes can be a promising candidate for these effluents.

Abstract Ultraviolet (UV) light is the most pervasive environmental mutagen and the primary cause of skin cancer. Genome sequencing of melanomas and other skin cancers has revealed that the vast majority of somatic mutations in these tumors are cytosine‐to‐thymine (C>T) substitutions in dipyrimidine sequences, which, together with tandem CC>TT substitutions, comprise the canonical UV mutation “signature”. These mutation classes are caused by DNA damage directly induced by UV absorption, namely cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers (CPDs) or 6‐4 pyrimidine‐pyrimidone photoproducts (6‐4PP), which form between neighboring pyrimidine bases. However, many of the key driver mutations in melanoma do not fit this mutation signature, but instead are caused by T>A, T>C, C>A, or AC>TT substitutions, frequently occurring in non‐dipyrimidine sequence contexts. This article describes recent studies indicating that UV light causes a more diverse spectrum of mutations than previously appreciated, including many of the mutation classes observed in melanoma driver mutations. Potential mechanisms for these diverse mutation signatures are discussed, including UV‐induced pyrimidine‐purine photoproducts and indirect DNA damage induced by UVA light. Finally, the article reviews recent findings indicating that human DNA polymerase eta normally suppresses these non‐canonical UV mutation classes, which can potentially explain why canonical C>T substitutions predominate in human skin cancers.

Context: Pterygium is a very common ocular surface disorder. Tear film dysfunctions have been reported in subjects with pterygium. Aim: We aim to study the correlation between pterygium and dry eye disease in patients with unilateral pterygium. Settings and Design: A case–control study of patients with unilateral pterygium was undertaken after ethical clearance from the institutional ethics committee. Subjects and Methods: Eighty-seven patients with unilateral pterygium were included in the study. Tear film break-up time (TBUT), Rose Bengal staining (RBS), and Schirmer’s test 1 were performed in both eyes of the patients. Test results were compared with contralateral normal eye of the same patient. Statistical Analysis Used: Data were analyzed using t-test and Chi-square test. P

Abstract During the COVID pandemic caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, studies have shown the efficiency of deactivating this virus via ultraviolet light. The damage mechanism is well understood: UV light disturbs the integrity of the RNA chain at those locations where specific nucleotide neighbors occur. In this contribution, we present a model to address certain gaps in the description of the interaction between UV photons and the RNA sequence for virus inactivation. We begin by exploiting the available information on the pathogen’s morphology, physical, and genomic characteristics, enabling us to estimate the average number of UV photons required to photochemically damage the virus’s RNA. To generalize our results, we have numerically generated random RNA sequences and checked that the distribution of pairs of nucleotides susceptible of damage for the SARS-CoV-2 is within the expected values for a random-generated RNA chain. After determining the average number of photons reaching the RNA for a preset level of fluence (or photon density), we applied the binomial probability distribution to evaluate the damage of nucleotide pairs in the RNA chain due to UV radiation. Our results describe this interaction in terms of the probability of damaging a single pair of nucleotides, and the number of available photons. The cumulative probability exhibits a steep sigmoidal shape, implying that a relatively small change in the number of affected pairs may trigger the inactivation of the virus. Our light-RNA interaction model quantitatively describes how the fraction of affected pairs of nucleotides in the RNA sequence depends on the probability of damaging a single pair and the number of photons impinging on it. A better understanding of the underlying inactivation mechanism would help in the design of optimum experiments and UV sanitization methods. Although this paper focuses on SARS-CoV-2, these results can be adapted for any other type of pathogen susceptible of UV damage.

Underwater Wireless Optical Communication (UWOC) holds significant implications in the realms of marine scientific observation, marine military security, and marine resource utilization. Overcoming the challenges associated with cross-medium information transmission represents a pivotal research frontier within the domain of underwater Internet of Things (IoT). This paper investigates the across water-air-interface ultraviolet light uplink communication in the presence of waves. Different degrees of diffuse-line-of-sight and different sizes of waves are studied in the communication link to assess their impact on transmission performance. Using non-return-to-zero on-off keying (NRZ-OOK) modulation, a data transmission of 17.4 Mbit/s is achieved with a lateral displacement of 5 cm in still water, and 17.1 Mbit/s data transmission is achieved under aligned 12 mm wave amplitude condition. A method is proposed to reduce the dependence on relay in across water-air-interface communication when the optical transmitter and receiver are not aligned, and the effectiveness of using ultraviolet light communication under large wave conditions is demonstrated. Bit error rate and received optical power indicate that increasing wave size and deviation of the transceivers both result in channel attenuation in the water-air-interface channel, thus degrading link performance.

Achyranthes japonica Nakai (AJN) is a medicinal plant known to be beneficial for the joints. Since it takes at least two years from sowing to harvesting in an open field, new AJN cultivation strategies are needed to shorten the production period and improve quality. In this study, high-quality AJN is produced as microgreens in a vertical farm using a commercial ginseng soil mix (Myeongpum-Insamsangto, Shinsung Mineral Co., Ltd., Goesan, Republic of Korea) and controlled environmental conditions. The cultivation conditions included a temperature of 23 ± 2 °C, relative humidity of 50 ± 10%, and a photosynthetic photon flux density of 170 ± 15 µmol·m−2·s−1. Pre-harvest intermittent UV-B exposure, with an intensity of 1.0 ± 0.3 W/m−2, was applied for one day before harvest to evaluate its effects, using controlled environmental conditions in the vertical farm. Ultraviolet-B (UV-B) irradiation increases secondary metabolite levels in plants; however, the effect of UV-B on 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E), an indicator of AJN, is unclear. Therefore, we aimed to investigate whether UV-B treatment of AJN microgreens affected growth and secondary metabolites. The treatment group was set to 12 h of continuous UV-B treatment during the day, two 6 h UV-B treatments, and four 3 h UV-B treatments to confirm the effectiveness of regular and intermittent treatment and recovery. Short-term UV-B treatment before harvesting increased phenols, flavonoids, antioxidant capacity, and 20E levels without affecting AJN biomass. The intermittent 6 h UV-B irradiation with a 6 h recovery time stimulated 20E content by approximately 1.4 times compared to the control. These study findings indicate that short-term UV-B treatment before harvesting, an appropriate recovery time, and intermittent UV-B exposure are more effective at increasing 20E content than continuous treatment. This approach provides a promising strategy for improving the nutritional and health benefits of AJN microgreens in vertical farming systems.

Scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analyses were combined to clarify the ultraviolet light-induced surface changes of WO3 in air. Identical-location STEM (IL-STEM) analysis showed that the WO3 particle surface was covered with an amorphous thin film after ultraviolet irradiation in air. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis showed that hydrocarbon decomposition and the formation of carboxyl/hydroxyl species occurred. These results suggested that the amorphous thin films consisted of photocatalytic oxidative species of hydrocarbon. The IL-STEM analysis could detect small light-induced changes. This technique will be useful for the microscopic characterization of photocatalysis or photoinduced hydrophilic conversion.

Ultraviolet light (UV) irradiation crosslinked linear low‐density polyethylene (LLDPE)/ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) composites with different blending ratios were prepared using benzophenone (BP) as photoinitiator and triallyl isocyanurate (TAIC) as crosslinking agent. The irradiation time was determined, the effects of rubber‐plastic ratio on the crystallization behaviors, mechanical properties, crosslinking properties and electrical properties of LLDPE/EPDM composites were investigated. The results show that with the increase of EPDM content, the crystalline structure of LLDPE/EPDM composite become looser and the crystallinity decreased. The blending of EPDM and LLDPE results in two different aggregation states of the same crystalline form. With the increase of LLDPE content, the crosslinking efficiency, tensile strength, and energy storage modulus show a significant upward trend. When two polymers simultaneously exist in the material, if the difference between the contents of two polymers is large, the breakdown strength of the composite is relatively lower. The relaxation polarization of LLDPE/EPDM at low frequencies increases with the content of EPDM, thus leading to the increase of loss factor at low frequencies. A novel UV crosslinked modified EPDM insulating material with high production efficiency and improved insulation performances has been developed for use as an insulating layer for flexible power cables. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the COVID pandemic caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, studies have shown the efficiency of deactivating this virus via ultraviolet light. The damage mechanism is well understood: UV light disturbs the integrity of the RNA chain at those locations where specific nucleotide neighbors occur. In this contribution, we present a model to address certain gaps in the description of the interaction between UV photons and the RNA sequence for virus inactivation. We begin by exploiting the available information on the pathogen's morphology, physical, and genomic characteristics, enabling us to estimate the average number of UV photons required to photochemically damage the virus's RNA. To generalize our results, we have numerically generated random RNA sequences and checked that the distribution of pairs of nucleotides susceptible of damage for the SARS-CoV-2 is within the expected values for a random-generated RNA chain. After determining the average number of photons reaching the RNA for a preset level of fluence (or photon density), we applied the binomial probability distribution to evaluate the damage of nucleotide pairs in the RNA chain due to UV radiation. Our results describe this interaction in terms of the probability of damaging a single pair of nucleotides, and the number of available photons. The cumulative probability exhibits a steep sigmoidal shape, implying that a relatively small change in the number of affected pairs may trigger the inactivation of the virus. Our light-RNA interaction model quantitatively describes how the fraction of affected pairs of nucleotides in the RNA sequence depends on the probability of damaging a single pair and the number of photons impinging on it. A better understanding of the underlying inactivation mechanism would help in the design of optimum experiments and UV sanitization methods. Although this paper focuses on SARS-CoV-2, these results can be adapted for any other type of pathogen susceptible of UV damage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents developed hardware and software solutions based on the application of machine vision technology. The hardware and software solutions were created in order to generate a database of HSV-color value for the main ore types, host rocks, and minerals to define criteria for the in-process identification of the Khibiny apatite in testing the walls of blasting boreholes. The hardware ensures a multi-parametric assessment of the optical characteristics of samples and minerals located on their surface. The designed software solution allows the user to control the measurement process; systematize a description of the textural and structural features of the sample under study; and process images of the core surface. The resultant database of HSV-color value for the main ores and rocks of the Khibiny massif and their constituent minerals will provide an opportunity to search for criteria for the in-process identification of the Khibiny apatite in a mineral mixture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The photon-to-photon conversion process has attracted great attention as it can carry out the conversion of photons in different wavelength regions and use the characteristics of different bands to achieve a variety of applications, including solar cells, temperature measurement, information security, luminous display, and biomedicine. According to the process of converting photons of different energy, the photon-to-photon conversion process can be simply divided into two categories: the downconversion process converting high-energy photons to lower-energy photons and the upconversion process converting the low-energy photons to higher-energy photons. Nanoscale materials and devices used in photon-to-photon conversion have been widely concerned and have been successfully applied in many fields, while the corresponding summaries of the representative work are very few as far as we know. In this review, recent advances and progress in photon-to-photon conversion in nanoscale materials and devices and their applications are summarized. Around this field, we then analyzed and summarized the prospects and challenges for its development in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Xeroderma pigmentosum (XP) variant cells are deficient in the translesion synthesis (TLS) DNA polymerase Polη (eta). This protein contributes to DNA damage tolerance, bypassing unrepaired UV photoproducts and allowing S‐phase progression with minimal delay. In the absence of Polη, backup polymerases perform TLS of UV lesions. However, which polymerase plays this role in human cells remains an open question. Here, we investigated the potential role of Polι (iota) in bypassing ultraviolet (UV) induced photoproducts in the absence of Polη, using NER‐deficient (XP‐C) cells knocked down for Polι and/or Polη genes. Our results indicate that cells lacking either Polι or Polη have increased sensitivity to UVC radiation. The lack of both TLS polymerases led to increased cell death and defects in proliferation and migration. Loss of both polymerases induces a significant replication fork arrest and G1/S‐phase blockage, compared to the lack of Polη alone. In conclusion, we propose that Polι acts as a bona fide backup for Polη in the TLS of UV‐photoproducts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ozone gas is widely used in hospitals as well as homes to control COVID-19 infection owing to its cost-effectiveness. Safety standard value and the tolerable value of ozone gas are set at 0.05 ppm and 0.1 ppm, respectively, in developed countries; however, this value was principally determined for healthy individuals, and the risks associated with ozone gas inhalation in patients with pulmonary diseases remains unknown. Recently, we demonstrated that 0.1 ppm ozone gas exposure significantly aggravates the symptoms of acute lung injury in mice. In the present study, we further examined the influence of ≤ 0.1 ppm ozone gas exposure on percutaneous oxygen saturation (SpO2) and pro-inflammatory responses in a mouse model of asthma. Female BALB/c mice were subjected to repetitive intranasal sensitization of Dermatophagoides farinae to generate a mouse model of asthma. Inhalation exposure of ozone gas (0.1, 0.03, 0.01 ppm), generated using an ultraviolet lamp, was performed for five consecutive days immediately before the final sacrifice. There were no abnormal findings in control mice exposed to 0.1 ppm ozone; however, 0.1 ppm ozone exposure significantly reduced the SpO2 level in asthmatic mice. Histological evaluation and gene expression analysis revealed that pro-inflammatory cytokine levels were significantly increased in mice exposed to 0.1 ppm ozone, indicating that 0.1 ppm ozone exposure affects the development of asthma symptoms. Notably, 0.03 and 0.01 ppm ozone exposure did not have any effects even in asthmatic mice. Our findings indicate that the tolerable level of ozone gas should be adjusted for individuals based on a history of respiratory disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to settle the environmental issues with the accelerated development of industrial field, the present work was executed with gaseous ethylbenzene as the target pollutant, and zero-valent iron (Fe0) was selected as the catalyst of the Fenton reaction instead of Fe2+. The catalytic capacity of UV/Fe0/H2O2 system was evaluated by the degradation of gaseous ethylbenzene. Considering the complexity of actual reaction, various factors on the degradation efficiency were inquired systematically in this work such as initial H2O2 concentration, pH and [H2O2/Fe0] molar ratio. The changes in concentration of H2O2 and iron substance were analyzed thoroughly in the degradation process. Simultaneously, the GC-MS was conducted to study the intermediate adducts in the solution at different reaction phases. To sum up, the 48 μm industrial grade Fe0 was served as the catalyst. The removal efficiency of gaseous ethylbenzene in UV365/Fe0/H2O2 system could reach 67.5% within 45 min when 100 mmol·L-1 H2O2 was introduced, and the molar ratio of [H2O2]/[Fe0], initial pH value were adjusted to 40 and 3, respectively. Liquid intermediates were detected in different time periods, such as toluene, phenethyl alcohol, acetophenone, benzaldehyde, 1-propanol and methyl vinyl ketone, and no gaseous intermediates were detected. Moreover, the insufficient concentration of H2O2 after 45 min reduced the removal efficiency, and the stable concentration of H2O2 in the system could degrade ethylbenzene gas efficiently for a long time. Continuous leaching of Fe2+ from Fe0 could enable excellent iron cycling performance in this reaction system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of the Chinese Society of Rare Earths is the property of Editorial Department of Journal of the Chinese Society of Rare Earths 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.)

Cyclamen mite is a nearly global pest of strawberry, inhabiting concealed spaces within folded leaves and flower buds emerging from plant crowns. It feeds on new plant tissue causing leaf discoloration and deformation, stunted plants, fruit bronzing and cracking, and yield losses at high population levels. Because ultraviolet-C (UV-C) irradiation is a promising new tool for disease and pest management in strawberry, and because there are few control options for cyclamen mite, we tested the direct, short-term effects of UV-C on cyclamen mite populations in potted strawberry plants in a controlled environment. Results from three experiments showed few differences in cyclamen mite populations on controls versus plants treated with UV-C (0.237 W m−1) for 3 or 4 weeks. In the second experiment, using a different strawberry cultivar and directing the UV-C from above the plant crown only, there was indication of a mild effect that may be due to some direct mortality and/or indirectly to plant defenses. However, longer-term studies will need to be conducted to determine whether pre-infestation exposure to UV-C can enable strawberry plants to better resist or tolerate cyclamen mite populations. Direct mortality did not occur as in previous experiments with pests, like twospotted spider mite, that live primarily on opened leaves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal der Deutschen Dermatologischen Gesellschaft is the property of Wiley-Blackwell 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.)

Summary: Background: Visible blue light (wavelength 400–495 nm) is a promising new treatment option for both psoriasis and atopic dermatitis (AD). Whilst previous clinical trials featured various devices and blue light at a variety of wavelengths, none of these interventions were challenged in objective clinical criteria. Patients and Methods: Eighty‐seven patients diagnosed with AD were enrolled in AD‐Blue, an international, prospective, double‐blinded, three‐armed (415 nm vs. 450 nm vs. sham control), randomized trial designed to investigate the safety and efficacy of prototype full‐body blue light devices. Results: Full‐body irradiation with 450 nm blue light but not 415 nm had a significant impact on itch (Itch‐VAS, –1.6 ± 2.3; p = 0.023 vs. sham irradiation). PO‐SCORAD values also decreased significantly in response to irradiation at 415 nm (–11.5 ± 18.4; p = 0.028 vs. sham irradiation). None of the other outcome measures (EASI, SCORAD, IGA, DLQI) changed significantly. No safety signals were observed. Evaluation of skin transcriptomes, cytokine levels in serum, and ELISpots from peripheral blood mononuclear cells isolated from a subset of patients revealed moderate decreases in IL‐31 in response to irradiation with blue light. Conclusions: Despite its favorable safety profile and moderate reductions in itch and IL‐31 levels, full‐body blue light irradiation did not lead to an amelioration of any of the objective measures of AD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]