Search

There is significant environmental concern about chlorinated organic compounds (COCs) in wastewater, surface water, and groundwater due to their low biodegradability and high persistence. In this work, 1,2,4-trichlorobenzene (124-TCB) was selected as a model compound to study its abatement using wet peroxide oxidation at neutral pH with goethite as a heterogeneous catalyst, which was enhanced with visible monochromatic light-emitting diode (LED) light (470 nm). A systematic study of the main operating variables (oxidant and catalyst concentration and irradiance) was accomplished to investigate their influence in the abatement of 124-TCB in water. The reaction was carried out in a well-mixed reactor of glass irradiated by a visible LED light. The hydrogen peroxide concentration was tested from 0 to 18 mM, the goethite concentration within the range 0.1–1.0 g·L−1 and the irradiance from 0.10 to 0.24 W·cm−2 at neutral pH. It was found that this oxidation method is a very efficient technique to abate 124-TCB, reaching a pollutant conversion of 0.9 when using 0.1 g·L−1 of goethite, 18 mM of H2O2, and 0.24 of W·cm−2 . Moreover, the system performance was evaluated using the photonic efficiency (ratio of the moles of 124-TCB abated and the moles of photons arriving at the reactor window). The maximum photonic efficiencies were obtained using the lowest lamp powers and moderate to high catalyst loads. Fil: Lorenzo, David. Universidad Complutense de Madrid; España Fil: Santos, Aurora. Universidad Complutense de Madrid; España Fil: Sánchez-Yepes, Andrés. Universidad Complutense de Madrid; España Fil: Conte, Leandro Oscar. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe. Instituto de Desarrollo Tecnológico para la Industria Química. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Instituto de Desarrollo Tecnológico para la Industria Química; Argentina Fil: Domínguez, Carmen María. Universidad Complutense de Madrid; España

The use of polymer solar cells (PSCs) for indoor dim-light energy harvesting has attracted significant interest for low power consumption electronics such as the Internet of Things. However, the photostability study and degradation mechanism under indoor artificial light is far behind than those under full sun illumination (standard AM 1.5G), which is crucial for the successful commercialization of indoor PSCs. Herein, the operational lifetime and photodegradation mechanism of PTB7-Th:PC70BM-based inverted PSCs degraded under standard AM 1.5G and 1000 lux LED 2700K light sources were compared. A high power conversion efficiency (PCE) of up to 16.19% and a long operational lifetime (T80) of 3060 min were achieved by LED-irradiated devices, higher and more stable than that of AM 1.5G-irradiated devices with PCE of 9.98% and T80 of only 260 min. Using impedance spectroscopy and three resistive-capacitive equivalent circuit model, we were able to identify the most suffered layer. Our results demonstrate that PSCs have potential practical applications as high performance and a high stable indoor power source.

The biosynthesis of anthocyanins has been shown to be influenced by light quality. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the light-mediated regulation of fruit anthocyanin biosynthesis are not well understood. In this study, we analysed the effects of supplemental red and blue light on the anthocyanin biosynthesis in non-climacteric bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus L.). After 6 days of continuous irradiation during ripening, both red and blue light elevated concentration of anthocyanins, up to 12- and 4-folds, respectively, compared to the control. Transcriptomic analysis of ripening berries showed that both light treatments up-regulated all the major anthocyanin structural genes, the key regulatory MYB transcription factors and abscisic acid (ABA) biosynthetic genes. However, higher induction of specific genes of anthocyanin and delphinidin biosynthesis alongside ABA signal perception and metabolism were found in red light. The difference in red and blue light signalling was found in 9-cis-epoxycarotenoid dioxygenase (NCED), ABA receptor pyrabactin resistance-like (PYL) and catabolic ABA-8'hydroxylase gene expression. Red light also up-regulated expression of soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein receptor (SNARE) domain transporters, which may indicate involvement of these proteins in vesicular trafficking of anthocyanins during fruit ripening. Our results suggest differential signal transduction and transport mechanisms between red and blue light in ABA-regulated anthocyanin and delphinidin biosynthesis during bilberry fruit ripening.

This study evaluated the effects of different light spectra (white light, WL, blue light, BL and red light, RL) on the root morphological traits and metabolites accumulation and biosynthesis in Sarcandra glabra. We performed transcriptomic and metabolomic profiling by RNA-seq and ultra-performance liquid chromatography−electrospray ionization−tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-ESI-MS/MS), respectively. When morphological features were compared to WL, BL substantially increased under-ground fresh weight, root length, root surface area, and root volume, while RL inhibited these indices. A total of 433 metabolites were identified, of which 40, 18, and 68 compounds differentially accumulated in roots under WL (WG) vs. roots under BL (BG), WG vs. roots under RL (RG), and RG vs. BG, respectively. In addition, the contents of sinapyl alcohol, sinapic acid, fraxetin, and 6-methylcoumarin decreased significantly in BG and RG. In contrast, chlorogenic acid, rosmarinyl glucoside, quercitrin and quercetin were increased considerably in BG. Furthermore, the contents of eight terpenoids compounds significantly reduced in BG. Following transcriptomic profiling, several key genes related to biosynthesis of phenylpropanoid-derived and terpenoids metabolites were differentially expressed, such as caffeic acid 3-O-methyltransferase) (COMT), hydroxycinnamoyl-CoA shikimate hydroxycinnamoyl transferase (HCT), O-methyltransferase (OMT), and 1-deoxy-D-xylulose-5-phosphate synthetase (DXS). In summary, our findings showed that BL was suitable for growth and accumulation of bioactive metabolites in root tissue of S. glabra. Exposure to a higher ratio of BL might have the potential to improve the production and quality of S. glabra seedlings, but this needs to be confirmed further.

Parsley is an aromatic herb native to the Mediterranean region and treasured for its phytochemical profile and bioactive properties. Developmental stage at harvest is a factor that modulates the nutritional quality of vegetables, including young greens. Accordingly, an experiment under strictly controlled conditions was carried out to compare the mineral macronutrient and phytochemical composition as well as the antioxidant activity of plain-leaf parsley (Petroselinum crispum cv. Comune 2) at two different harvest maturity stages, microgreens and baby greens. Macronutrients, carotenoids (lutein and β-carotene) and polyphenols were quantified through ion chromatography, high-performance liquid chromatography with a diode-array detector (HPLC-DAD) and UHPLC-Q-Orbitrap high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS), respectively. Microgreens accumulated more potassium and phosphorus, whereas baby greens accumulated more calcium and magnesium, and 65.5% less nitrate. In addition, microgreens provided 1.8-fold more lutein and 2.8-fold more β-carotene, whereas baby greens provided 183.6% more total ascorbic acid, 64.2% more total polyphenols and 170.3% higher hydrophilic antioxidant activity. Based on the culinary and phytonutritive scope of the consumers, different harvest maturity stages can be opted for and production schemes designed. Future studies are warranted to appraise the importance of ontogeny as a determinant factor for the composition and bioactive value of additional micro-herb genotypes, including underutilized Mediterranean species.

Artificial lighting is a key factor in Closed Production Plant Systems (CPPS). A significant light-emitting diode (LED) technology attribute is the emission of different wavelengths, called light recipes. Light recipes are typically configured in continuous mode, but can also be configured in pulsed mode to save energy. We propose two nonlinear models, i.e., genetic programing (GP) and feedforward artificial neural networks (FNNs) to predict energy consumption in CPPS. The generated models use the following input variables: intensity, red light component, blue light component, green light component, and white light component, and the following operation modes: continuous and pulsed light including pulsed frequency, and duty cycle as well energy consumption as output. A Spearman's correlation was applied to generate a model with only representative inputs. Two datasets were applied. The first (Test 1), with 5700 samples with similar input ranges, was used to train and evaluate, while the second (Test 2), included 160 total datapoints in different input ranges. The metrics that allowed a quantitative evaluation of the model's performance were MAPE, MSE, MAE, and SEE. Our implemented models achieved an accuracy of 96.1% for the GP model and 98.99% for the FNNs model. The models used in this proposal can be applied or programmed as part of the monitoring system for CPPS which prioritize energy efficiency. The nonlinear models provide a further analysis for energy savings due to the light recipe and operation light mode, i.e., pulsed and continuous on artificial LED lighting systems.

The effect of artificial lights mounted on the headrope trawl net on the catch of deep water rose shrimp (Parapenaeus longirostris), European hake (Merluccius merluccius), and Atlantic horse mackerel (Trachurus trachurus) was tested in a survey carried out on-board a commercial trawler off the SW Sicilian coast. A total of 18 repeated nocturnal hauls, alternating without (control) and with (test) LED lights (10 green and 10 white) according to the fishers’ setup, were conducted. Overall, the test net catch rates were not significantly higher than those of the control net (Kruskal-Wallis test, p > 0.05), except for P. longirostris (p < 0.05). Conversely, the two-tailed Kolmogorov–Smirnov test revealed statistical differences in the size structure of P. longirostris, M. merluccius, and T. trachurus between the test and control nets (p < 0.05). Using generalised linear mixed models, the test net was found to yield higher catches of undersized individuals of the three species and adults of P. longirostris than the control net. Our study results are discussed in the context of the exploitation and management of Mediterranean trawl fisheries.

Recent improvements in light-emitting diode (LED) technology afford an excellent opportunity to investigate the relationship between different light sources and plant metabolites. Accordingly, the goal of the present study was to determine the effect of different LED (white, blue, and red) treatments on the contents of glucosinolates (glucoiberin, gluconapin, sinigrin, gluconasturtiin, 4-methoxyglucobrassicin, 4-hydroxyglucobrassicin, glucobrassicin, and neoglucobrassicin) and phenolic compounds (4-hydroxybenzonate, catechin, chlorogenic acid, caffeate, gallate, sinapate, and quercetin) in Brassica juncea sprouts. The sprouts were grown in a growth chamber at 25 &deg, C under irradiation with white, blue, or red LED with a flux rate of 90 &mu, mol&middot, m&minus, 2&middot, s&minus, 1 and a long-day photoperiod (16 h light/8 h dark cycle). Marked differences in desulfoglucosinolate contents were observed in response to treatment with different LEDs and different treatment durations. In addition, the highest total desulfoglucosinolate content was observed in response to white LED light treatment, followed by treatment with red LED light, and then blue LED light. Among the individual desulfoglucosinolates identified in the sprouts, sinigrin exhibited the highest content, which was observed after three weeks of white LED light treatment. The highest total phenolic contents were recorded after one week of white and blue LED light treatment, whereas blue LED irradiation increased the production of most of the phenolic compounds identified, including 4-hydroxybenzonate, gallate, sinapate, caffeate, quercetin, and chlorogenic acid. The production of phenolics decreased gradually with increasing duration of LED light treatment, whereas anthocyanin accumulation showed a progressive increase during the treatment. These findings indicate that white LED light is appropriate for glucosinolate accumulation, whereas blue LED light is effective in increasing the production of phenolic compounds in B. juncea sprouts.

Plant secondary metabolites are known to have a variety of biological activities beneficial to human health. They are becoming more popular as a result of their unique features and account for a major portion of the pharmacological industry. However, obtaining secondary metabolites directly from wild plants has substantial drawbacks, such as taking a long time, posing a risk of species extinction owing to over-exploitation, and producing a limited quantity. Thus, there is a paradigm shift towards the employment of plant tissue culture techniques for the production of key secondary metabolites in vitro. Elicitation appears to be a viable method for increasing phytochemical content and improving the quality of medicinal plants and fruits and vegetables. In vitro culture elicitation activates the plant’s defense response and increases the synthesis of secondary metabolites in larger proportions, which are helpful for therapeutic purposes. In this respect, light has emerged as a unique and efficient elicitor for enhancing the in vitro production of pharmacologically important secondary metabolites. Various types of light (UV, fluorescent, and LEDs) have been found as elicitors of secondary metabolites, which are described in this review.

This study investigated the behaviour and commercial catchability of snow crab (Chionoecetes opilio) in response to different low-powered LED lights under laboratory and field conditions. We created a novel choice-experiment in a laboratory setting in which we investigated the behaviour of snow crab in response to coloured LED lights. The results showed that snow crab movement was dependent on light colour, with animals choosing to move toward blue and white lights, away from purple lights, and no detectable effect for green and red lights. We then conducted two field experiments to investigate the effect of the same LED lights on the catch rates of commercial traps during the 2016 snow crab fishery on the east coast of Newfoundland and Labrador. Results from the first field experiment showed that adding white and purple LED lights into baited traps significantly improved Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) by 77% and 47% respectively. Results from the second field experiment showed that unbaited traps equipped with only LED lights (no bait), could also catch snow crab in comparable amounts to traditional baited traps, with soak time and depth explaining some of the variation in CPUE. Taken together, these experiments suggest that fishing enterprises can improve their catching performance and profitability by adding LED lights to their traps, or by using LED lights as a bait replacement.

Publisher's version (útgefin grein)., Background: Diatoms, which can accumulate large amounts of carotenoids, are a major group of microalgae and the dominant primary producer in marine environments. Phaeodactylum tricornutum, a model diatom species, acquires little silicon for its growth although silicon is known to contribute to gene regulation and play an important role in diatom intracellular metabolism. In this study, we explored the effects of artificial high-silicate medium (i.e. 3.0 mM sodium metasilicate) and LED illumination conditions on the growth rate and pigment accumulation in P.Tricornutum, which is the only known species so far that can grow without silicate. It's well known that light-emitting diodes (LEDs) as novel illuminants are emerging to be superior monochromatic light sources for algal cultivation with defined and efficient red and blue lights. Results: Firstly, we cultivated P.Tricornutum in a synthetic medium supplemented with either 0.3 mM or 3.0 mM silicate. The morphology and size of diatom cells were examined: The proportion of the oval and triradiate cells decreased while the fusiform cells increased with more silicate addition in high-silicate medium; the average length of fusiform cells also slightly changed from 14.33 μm in 0.3 mM silicate medium to 12.20 μm in 3.0 mM silicate medium. Then we cultivated P.Tricornutum under various intensities of red light in combination with the two different levels of silicate in the medium. Higher biomass productivity also achieved in 3.0 mM silicate medium than in 0.3 mM silicate medium under red LED light irradiation at 128 μmol/m2/s or higher light intensity. Increasing silicate reversed the down-regulation of fucoxanthin and chlorophyll a under high red-light illumination (i.e. 255 μmol/m2/s). When doubling the light intensity, fucoxanthin content decreased under red light but increased under combined red and blue (50:50) lights while chlorophyll a content reduced under both conditions. Fucoxanthin accumulation and biomass productivity increased with enhanced red and blue (50:50) lights. Conclusion: High-silicate medium and blue light increased biomass and fucoxanthin production in P.Tricornutum under high light conditions and this strategy may be beneficial for large-scale production of fucoxanthin in diatoms., This research was supported by the Icelandic Technology Development Fund (163922-0611), Landsvirkjun Energy Research Fund and NYU Abu Dhabi faculty research funds (AD060).

Highlights • Pigment production and accumulation is dependent of high C:N ratios in F. oxysporum and A. chevaleri. • Red pigment content of F. oxysporum in terms of Absorbance units per gram of biomass increased in 191% through use of blue light. Different light wavelengths stimulate synthesis of additional pigments in A. chevalieri with highest accumulation in red and UV-light. • Stimulation of pigment production in co-culture is species – specific, being only accomplished in A. chevalieri. With a rise higher that 500% of a pigment obtained in green light., In addition to plant-derived, fungal pigments have become an alternative in respect to synthetic ones. Besides Monascus sp., several pigment-producing fungi do not have culture conditions well-established yet. In this research, media composition, light wavelength and co-culture were evaluated, results were reported in Absorbance Units per gram of biomass (AU/Bgr). For Fusarium oxysporum a C:N ratio above 7 was advantageous, using both complex and defined media; blue LED light increased the AU/Bgr value from 18013 to 344; co-culture did not enhance pigment production. In Aspergillus chevalieri a high C:N ratio with glucose as carbon source was ideal. When exposing cultures to light, UV and red light gave the highest pigmentation; moreover, differential UV-VIS spectra in all wavelengths suggested production of additional pigments. Particularly a pigment observed when cultured in green light was also found in co-culture with yeast and there was an improvement of AU/Bgr value of 52549%. This is the first report regarding light effect and co-culture for these fungi, as well as C:N ratio for A. chevalieri.

This study proposed two novel Combined Denitrification and Biofloc Technology (CDBFT) systems (one under blue LED light (L1) and the other without light (C1), each containing a denitrification (DE) reactor and a biofloc-based reactor) for the enhanced total nitrogen (TN) removal. Long-term operation (110 days) suggested that simultaneous nitrification and denitrification was achieved in both C1 and L1. Significantly higher total nitrogen removal efficiency (TNRE) was observed in L1-CDBFT (92.2%) than C1-CDBFT (87.5%, P < 0.05; after day 14). Further 24-hour nitrogen transformation test showed the boosted nitrate removal of L1-BFT than C1-BFT. High-throughput sequencing analysis revealed that phyla Rotifera and Nematoda which were indispensable for aquatic animal larviculture, were only found in L1-BFT. Nevertheless, CDBFT effluent from both systems was suitable for tilapia culture based on water quality, biofloc characteristics and tilapia survival rates. Overall, this study highlights the significance of developing CDBFT for TN removal especially under lights.

TiO2 is employed as both photocatalytic and structural materials, leading to its applications in external coatings or in interior furnishing devices, including cement mortar, tiles, floorings, and glass supports. The authors have already demonstrated the efficiency of photoactive micro-sized TiO2 and here its industrial use is reported using the digital printing to coat porcelain gres slabs. Many advantages are immediately evident, namely rapid and precise deposition, no waste of raw materials, thus positively affecting the economy of the process. Data for the thin films deposited by digital printing were compared with those obtained for the conventional spray method. The use of metal-doped TiO2 is also reported so that the photoactivity of these materials can be exploited even under LED light. The digital inkjet printed coatings exhibited superior photocatalytic performance owing to both higher exposed surface area and greater volume of deposited anatase, as well as the greater areal distribution density of thinly and thickly coated regions. Moreover, the presence of TiO2 doped silver increased the efficiency of the materials in NOx degradation both under UVA and LED lights.

Seed quality is an important issue in forestry as it is an essential parameter in the production of high quality planting material. Many factors may hinder the harvesting of high quality seeds, including an insufficient number of sunny days, external conditions in temperate climate zones, and fungal pathogens affecting development of seedlings. We undertook to develop a procedure maximizing seed protection and promoting the optimum physiological development of seedlings by examination of the impact of seed pelleting (a general seed protection method) on germination rates and seedling development of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.). Germination of pelleted seeds was examined in relation to substrate (water vs. soil) and LED light spectrum (white vs. red-blue). Several dormancy breaking treatments were applied: stratification/scarification, and growth regulator treatments including gibberellic acid (GA3), indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and 1-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA), to stimulate seed germination. Experiments included independent tests for each treatment (stratification/scarification and plant growth regulators), and combinations of both stratification/scarification and phytohormone treatments. The impacts of these treatments and various controlled germination conditions on the fluorescence of chlorophyll were analyzed using the maximum efficiency of photosystem II photochemistry parameter (Fv/Fm). In addition, chlorophyll a and b content in Scots pine seedlings germinated from pelleted seeds, were quantified using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The combined stratification/scarification and growth regulator treatment was the most effective germination promoting method for pelleted Scots pine seeds. Scots pine seeds are highly likely to be photoblastic. The best germination rate, while maintaining optimal physiological parameters, was achieved in acidic soil (pH 5.0) with white LED light.

Anoectochilus roxburghii is a wild edible species and has been traditionally used for a wide range of diseases in many countries. Our research aims to find the optimal light-emitting diode (LED) lighting conditions to improve the growth and development of A. roxburghii seedling at the acclimation stage. Two-month-old explants were cultured under the various lighting conditions including red (R), blue (B), BR (one blue: four red), BRW151 (one blue: five red: one white), BRW142 (one blue: four red: two white), and fluorescent lamp (FL). The results showed that the lighting conditions not only affect the growth and morphology of plants but also the accumulation of total flavonoids. Single wavelengths (B or R LED) inhibited the growth and secondary biosynthesis of A. roxburghii, while the BR LED showed an enhancement in both growth and biomass accumulation. A. roxburghii plants were grown under BR LED light has average plant height (7.18 cm), stem diameter (17.6mm), number of leaves (5.78 leaves/tree), leaf area (4.67 cm2), fresh weight (0.459 g/tree), dry matter percentages (11.69%), and total flavonoid (1.811 mg/g FW) is considered to be superior to FL lamps and other LEDs in the experiment. This indicates that both blue and red wavelengths are required for the normal growth of A. roxburghii. To learn more about how light affects flavonoid biosynthesis, we evaluated the expression of genes involved in this process (pal, chs, chi, and fls) and found that BR LED light enhances the expression level of chi and fls genes compared to fluorescent lamps (1.18 and 1.21 times, respectively), leading to an increase in the flavonoid content of plant. Therefore, applying BR LED during in vitro propagation of A. roxburghii could be a feasible way to improve the medicinal value of this plant.

Illuminance levels have been standardized and regulated for many purposes. However, the effects of correlated colour temperature of lighting have received little attention in the field. This study investigated the effects of correlated colour temperature of lighting on the brightness sensation, lighting perception, and cognitive performance of 60 students under ambient light emitting diodes (LED) lighting conditions (CCT: 3000 K, 4000 K, and 5700 K, illuminance: 650 lx and 1050 lx) in an actual university classroom. An increase in correlated colour temperature (CCT) led to an increase in brightness sensation. However, increased CCT did not linearly increase lighting comfort. A CCT of 4000 K was considered as the optimum for lighting comfort in educational settings. But in comparison to comfort, higher levels of perceptual properties, satisfaction and acceptance were not affected by CCT from 3000 K to 5700 K. Scores on the working memory test were significantly affected by CCT and illuminance level in men only. The effects of gender appeared in glare sensation and the working memory test. Women were sensitive to glare sensation and had a lower mean score in the working memory test than men. Optimal CCT is more beneficial than increased illuminance in moderately ambient indoor lighting, as it provides better lighting comfort. Further research can look at the long-term effects of CCT on lighting perception depending on brain processing levels and more diverse and in-depth cognitive performance.

Chickpea transformation is an important component for the genetic improvement of this crop, achieved through modern biotechnological approaches. However, recalcitrant tissue cultures and occasional chimerism, encountered during transformation, hinder the efficient generation of transgenic chickpeas. Two key parameters, namely micro-injury and light emitting diode (LED)-based lighting were used to increase transformation efficiency. Early PCR confirmation of positive in vitro transgenic shoots, together with efficient grafting and an extended acclimatization procedure contributed to the rapid generation of transgenic plants. High intensity LED light facilitate chickpea plants to complete their life cycle within 9 weeks thus enabling up to two generations of stable transgenic chickpea lines within 8 months. The method was validated with several genes from different sources, either as single or multi-gene cassettes. Stable transgenic chickpea lines containing GUS (uidA), stress tolerance (AtBAG4 and TlBAG), as well as Fe-biofortification (OsNAS2 and CaNAS2) genes have successfully been produced.

Stress has profound effects on animals, particularly if it occurs during reproduction or embryonic development. The cuttlefish Sepia officinalis is an economically and scientifically important species that is often cultured in captivity. The effects of stressors applied to reproducing females and developing embryos were investigated and compared by measuring the number and quality of eggs produced by females in a typical captive setting with females subjected to stress during egg-laying (confined space and repeated removal from the water) as well as comparing the hatching size and success of embryos subjected to naturally occurring (predator cues) and artificial (random bouts of bright LED light) stressors. Stressed females produced significantly fewer eggs and fewer of those eggs hatched. In addition, nearly a quarter of stressed mothers laid mostly white eggs lacking the dark pigment typical of this species. In contrast to maternal stress, stressors applied directly to embryos had no effect on hatching rate and neither maternal nor embryonic stress was associated with differences in hatching size. Our results suggest that reducing stress during egg-laying can increase aquacultural egg yields in S. officinalis and that the presence of pigment-less (white) eggs is a sign of maternal stress during egg-laying.

The study presents the results regarding the photocatalytic behavior of some water-based styrene-acrylic coatings containing TiO2 nanoparticles sensitized with metal-phthalocyanine tetracarboxylic acids. Coating materials have been studied in terms of color characteristics, photocatalytic behavior, and resistance to self-degradation depending on the structure of phthalocyanine sensitizers. Coatings that were exposed to Xenon light showed degradation of the organic sensitizer rather than of the binder. Photocatalytic tests using methylene blue as a standard contaminant indicated that the coating containing TiO2 nanoparticles sensitized with Fe(III) phthalocyanine tetracarboxylic acids showed the highest efficiency both in ultraviolet or visible light. In this case, the UV light induced a photodegradation rate that was greatly increased of about fifty times comparatively with that induced by LED light and was determined by two different mechanisms, but side reactions like methylene blue and sensitizer self destruction are possible to occur simultaneously. Photocatalytic materials of this type are suitable to be used as decorative coatings especially for indoor applications.

The objective of this study is to investigate the eff ects of irradiation from light-emitting diodes (LEDs) on several fruits during storage. To improve storage and increase the contents of some bioactive compounds, apple, tomato and red bell pepper fruits were exposed to yellow light emitted from the diodes at 590 nm. The contents of ascorbic acid, total phenolics, total flavonoids and several pigments were investigated, along with the antioxidant potential. The colour parameters (L*, a* and b*) and firmness of the fruit were also determined. After 7 days of LED light irradiation, there was significantly higher total phenolic content and antioxidant potential in apple peel extracts. The irradiated fruit of tomato had significantly higher levels of total phenolic compounds, and the fruit of red bell pepper had significantly higher antioxidant potential. LED light had no effects on the colour parameters, although there was a tendency to accelerate colour development. Apple fruit irradiated with LED light was significantly less firm. Among twelve analysed pigments, significantly more β-carotene was detected in LED light-irradiated apple and bell pepper fruit, more α-tocopherol and γ-tocopherol in bell pepper fruit, and more lutein in apple peel and bell pepper fruit. The applied LED light slightly accelerated the ripening of the studied fruit, and affected the synthesis of some of the secondary metabolites.

This paper presents the approach and study of an intelligent electrical consumer, in the analyzed case a road lighting system, powered by renewable energy sources, to achieve energy efficiency. The consumer is equipped with sensors, controlled by a microcontroller unit and can autonomously working. If one of the main objectives is to achieve a better energy efficiency for the electrical consumer, the supply from a renewable energy source makes the consumer environmental friendly. The first aspect of the study is to present the lighting system and the working principle. The LED based lighting modules represents in the modern days the most efficient and reliable lighting system. The renewable energy power system is based on a solar photovoltaic system and represents an alternative supplying way for the lighting systems. Between these two systems, the lighting and the power supply system, a command and control unit has to operate to ensure an accurate system management. The command and control unit has to monitor the available or stored energy from the solar PV system, to read the sensors values that supervise the environment and traffic behavior, and to command the switching of the lighting system for an optimal lighting level and for energy efficiency.