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Beamline B21 at the Diamond Light Source synchrotron in the UK is a small‐angle X‐ray scattering (SAXS) beamline that specializes in high‐throughput measurements via automated sample delivery systems. A system has been developed whereby a sample can be illuminated by a focused beam of light coincident with the X‐ray beam. The system is compatible with the highly automated sample delivery system at the beamline and allows a beamline user to select a light source from a broad range of wavelengths across the UV and visible spectrum and to control the timing and duration of the light pulse with respect to the X‐ray exposure of the SAXS measurement. The intensity of the light source has been characterized across the wavelength range enabling experiments where a quantitative measure of dose is important. Finally, the utility of the system is demonstrated via measurement of several light‐responsive samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present an in-vacuum mechanical chopper running at high speed and integrated into a magnetic levitating motor for modulating optical beams up to 200 kHz. The compact chopper rotor allows fast acceleration (10 kHz s−1 as standard) for rapid tuning of the modulation frequency, while 1 mm diameter slots provide high optical throughput for larger infrared beams. The modulation performances are assessed using a reference visible laser and the high brightness, broadband, infrared (IR) beam of synchrotron radiation at the MIRIAM beamline B22 at Diamond Light Source, UK. For our application of IR nanospectroscopy, minimizing the temporal jitter on the modulated beam due to chopper manufacturing and control tolerances is essential to limit the noise level in measurements via lock-in detection, while high modulation frequencies are needed to achieve high spatial resolution in photothermal nanospectroscopy. When reaching the maximum chopping frequency of 200 kHz, the jitter was found to be 0.9% peak-to-peak. The described chopper now replaces the standard ball-bearing chopper in our synchrotron-based FTIR photothermal nanospectroscopy system, and we demonstrate improved spectroscopy results on a 200 nm thickness polymer film. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Culicoides biting midges (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) are biological vectors of internationally important arboviruses and inflict biting nuisance on humans, companion animals and livestock. In temperate regions, transmission of arboviruses is limited by temperature thresholds, in both replication and dissemination of arboviruses within the vector and in the flight activity of adult Culicoides. This study aims to determine the cold-temperature thresholds for flight activity of Culicoides from the UK under laboratory conditions. Methods: Over 18,000 Culicoides adults were collected from the field using 4 W down-draught miniature ultraviolet Centers for Disease Control traps. Populations of Culicoides were sampled at three different geographical locations within the UK during the summer months and again in the autumn at one geographical location. Activity at constant temperatures was assessed using a bioassay that detected movement of adult Culicoides towards an ultraviolet light source over a 24-h period. Results: The proportion of active adult Culicoides increased with temperature but cold temperature thresholds for activity varied significantly according to collection season and location. Populations dominated by the subgenus Avaritia collected in South East England had a lower activity threshold temperature in the autumn (4 °C) compared with populations collected in the summer (10 °C). Within the subgenus Avaritia, Culicoides scoticus was significantly more active across all temperatures tested than Culicoides obsoletus within the experimental setup. Populations of Culicoides impunctatus collected in the North East of England were only active once temperatures reached 14 °C. Preliminary data suggested flight activity of the subgenus Avaritia does not differ between populations in South East England and those in the Scottish Borders. Conclusions: These findings demonstrate seasonal changes in temperature thresholds for flight and across different populations of Culicoides. These data, alongside that defining thresholds for virus replication within Culicoides, provide a primary tool for risk assessment of arbovirus transmission in temperate regions. In addition, the study also provides a comparison with thermal limits derived directly from light-suction trapping data, which is currently used as the main method to define adult Culicoides activity during surveillance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the recent increase in research into ferroelectric, anti‐ferroelectric and piezoelectric materials, studying the solid‐state properties in situ under applied electric fields is vital in understanding the underlying processes. Where this behaviour is the result of atomic displacements, crystallographic insight has an important role. This work presents a sample environment designed to apply an electric field to single‐crystal samples in situ on the small‐molecule single‐crystal diffraction beamline I19, Diamond Light Source (UK). The configuration and operation of the cell is described as well as its application to studies of a proton‐transfer colour‐change material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a novel sunlight activable photocatalyst system based on the synergistic effect between a double Z-scheme g-C3N4–WO3–Bi2WO6 nanocomposite and long-lasting phosphorescent SrAl2O4:Eu2+,Dy3+ nanoparticles has been designed, synthesized and successfully applied for the removal of environmental pollutants. It is especially suitable for removing dye pollutants under cloudy weather similar to the conditions in the United Kingdom and Iranian north provinces. The developed photocatalyst system in this work is based on the following important factors; the first factor is applying the double z-scheme structure of the g-C3N4–WO3–Bi2WO6 photocatalyst to prevent fast electron–hole recombination and hence, enhance the photocatalytic efficiency of the proposed system. The second factor is applying long-lasting phosphorescent SrAl2O4 nanoparticles in the photocatalyst composition and hence, enhancing the population of the excited electrons on the photocatalyst surface. The emitted photons from SrAl2O4 nanoparticles are absorbed by the g-C3N4–WO3–Bi2WO6 photocatalyst particles, increasing the photo absorption efficiency of the photocatalyst. This effect enhances the population of the excited electrons on the photocatalyst surface, increasing the photocatalytic reaction speed. In addition, applying phosphorescent SrAl2O4 nanoparticles also retains the photocatalytic activity of the photocatalyst during the night or when the light sources are off, because the phosphorescence of these nanoparticles can last up to 10 hours. These nanoparticles play the role of tiny lamps for excitation of the photocatalyst particles during the night or during cloudy weather. The proposed system was able to remove up to 98% of the environmental pollutants such as dyes in less than 20 min. In addition, its advantages for removing dye pollutants under simulated cloudy weather were confirmed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Drug discovery relies on quick and reliable MX experiments. • Innovation at Diamond has increased throughput and quality of crystallographic data. • Diversification of beamline offer expands the landscape of drug targets that can be studied. • Integrated facilities and non-MX instruments give a comprehensive structural investigation. • Industrial partners have been pivotal to the development of MX at Diamond. A detailed understanding of the interactions between drugs and their targets is crucial to develop the best possible therapeutic agents. Structure-based drug design relies on the availability of high-resolution structures obtained primarily through X-ray crystallography. Collecting and analysing quickly a large quantity of structural data is crucial to accelerate drug discovery pipelines. Researchers from academia and industry can access the highly automated macromolecular crystallography (MX) beamlines of Diamond Light Source, the UK national synchrotron, to rapidly collect diffraction data from large numbers of crystals. With seven beamlines dedicated to MX, Diamond offers bespoke solutions for a wide variety of user requirements. Working in synergy with state-of-the-art laboratories and other life science instruments to provide an integrated offering, the MX beamlines provide innovative and multidisciplinary approaches to the determination of structures of new pharmacological targets as well as the efficient study of protein-ligand complexes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

B21 is a small‐angle X‐ray scattering (SAXS) beamline with a bending magnet source in the 3 GeV storage ring at the Diamond Light Source Ltd synchrotron in the UK. The beamline utilizes a double multi‐layer monochromator and a toroidal focusing optic to deliver 2 × 1012 photons per second to a 34 × 40 µm (FWHM) focal spot at the in‐vacuum Eiger 4M (Dectris) detector. A high‐performance liquid chromatography system and a liquid‐handling robot make it possible to load solution samples into a temperature‐controlled in‐vacuum sample cell with a high level of automation. Alternatively, a range of viscous or solid materials may be loaded manually using a range of custom sample cells. A default scattering vector range from 0.0026 to 0.34 Å−1 and low instrument background make B21 convenient for measuring a wide range of biological macromolecules. The beamline has run a full user programme since 2013. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Large-scale full solar spectrum irradiation system is an important part of the solar simulator. Irradiation non-uniformity is one of the key technical indexes for the large-scale solar simulator. Some technical problems about difficultly meeting the national standard and the poor optical spectra matching property of light sources exist in traditional solar simulators. Regarding the present issues of the large-scale solar simulators, a full-spectrum irradiation system was designed, and the irradiation uniformity of the system was simulated by using the software Zemax. An innovative concept, irradiance decay pattern, is put forward, and the irradiation uniformity is optimized in this way. A plasma light source produced by Solaronix, Switzerland is used, and the spectrum of full-spectrum solar irradiation system can reach Level A of IEC standard. The irradiance of the proposed system was tested by using a spectral radiometer in the full-spectrum scope. The test results show, when the irradiance is 280 W/m2, the irradiance nonuniformity is 5. 7% if the irradiance decay pattern is switched on, or 8. 4% if the pattern is off. Referring to the national standard GB/T12637—90 General specification for solar simulator, in the effective radiation area of 2 400 mm × 6 000 mm, the irradiance uniformity is better than Level C, and almost reaches Level B. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vegetation optical properties have a direct impact on canopy absorption and scattering and are thus needed for modeling surface fluxes. Although Plant Functional Type (PFT) classification varies between different land surface models (LSMs), their optical properties must be specified. The aim of this study is to revisit the time-invariant optical properties table of the Simple Biosphere (SiB) model (later referred as SiB-table) presented 30-years ago by Dorman and Sellers (1989) which has since become adopted by many LSMs. This revisit was needed as much of the data underlying the SiB-table was not formally reviewed or published or was based on older papers or personal communications (i.e. the validity of the optical property source data cannot be inspected due to missing data sources, outdated citation practices, and varied estimation methods). As many of today's LSMs (e.g. Community Land Model (CLM), Jena Scheme of Atmosphere Biosphere Coupling in Hamburg (JSBACH), and Joint UK Land Environment Simulator (JULES)) either rely on the optical properties of the SiB-table or lack references altogether for those they do employ, there is a clear need to assess (and confirm or correct) the appropriateness of those being used in today's LSMs. Here, we use various spectral databases to synthesize and harmonize the key optical property information of PFT classification shared by many leading LSMs. For forests, such classifications typically differentiate PFTs by broad geo-climatic zones (i.e. tropical, boreal, temperate) and phenology (i.e. deciduous vs. evergreen). For short-statured vegetation, such classifications typically differentiate between crops and grasses and by photosynthetic pathway. Using the PFT classification of the CLM (version 5) as an example, we found the optical properties of the visible band (VIS; 400-700 nm) to be appropriate. However, in the near-infrared and shortwave infrared bands (NIR+SWIR; e.g. 701-2500 nm, referred as NIR) notable differences between CLM default and measured estimates were observed, thus suggesting that NIR optical properties need updating in the model. For example, for conifer PFTs, the measured mean needle albedo estimates in NIR were 62 % and 78 % larger than the CLM default parameters, and for PFTs with flat-leaves, the measured mean leaf albedo values in NIR were 20 %, 14 % and 19 % larger than the CLM defaults. We also found that while the CLM5 PFT-dependent leaf angle definitions were sufficient for forested PFTs and grasses, for crop PFTs the default parameterization appeared too vertically oriented thus warranting an update. In addition, we propose using separate bark reflectance values for conifer and deciduous PFTs and introduce the concept and application of photon recollision probability (p). The p may be used to upscale needle spectra into shoot spectra to meet the common assumption that foliage is located randomly within the canopy volume (behind canopy radiative transfer calculation) to account for multiple scattering effects caused by needles clustered into shoots. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article talks about StudioFRACTAL's lighting design for transport interchange King's Cross Square, the first all-light emitting diode (LED) scheme for a major public space in Great Britain. Topics discussed include how lighting was designed to create a strong visual identity, the focus of the lighting design on incorporating lighting into the built environment, and the involvement of many layers of lighting to the scheme from a number of directions.

The article presents a study on pedestrian 'zebra' crossings implemented by local authorities in Great Britain. It makes reference to a paper by Chris Ridout which won the 2011 annual mini-papers competition at the Institution of Lighting Professionals (ILP) Western Region. Photographs are presented to pinpoint the strengths and weaknesses in the crossing design and suggest solutions to designs which have been found to be defective for their purposes.

The article presents an analysis of the legal, regulatory and advisory measures being taken in different countries and cities to counter unwanted light including light pollution, light spill and light nuisance. The pros and cons of British legislation for the prevention of light pollution and light nuisance is highlighted. Proposals for improvements are offered.

The article features lighting designs of DPA Lighting Design for two British public squares. It is reported that lighting goals of Brixton's Windrush Square were to encourage recreational use of space and promote safety that included illumination of Tate Library and positioning SeeSaw columns with iGuzzini MaxiWoody projectors at the eastern and southern borders. With Tudor Square in Sheffield, it is reported that a central lighting concern is to knit together disparate architectural elements.

In UK offices, a ubiquitous target for lighting 'design' is an illuminance of 500 lux on the working plane. This article questions the basis for the 500 lux standard and suggests that a reduced illuminance would not affect visual performance. However, lighting design should also consider expectations and if a reduced illuminance leads to perceived gloom then this could affect motivation to carry out work tasks. Evidence is presented which suggests that the brightness of a space may be maintained, despite a reduction in illuminance, through the choice of lamp spectral power distribution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses a study to determine the how lighting systems can improve social housing. It references a masteral thesis completed in 2009 at the Bartlett School of Architecture. It proposes that the quality of lighting in homes can have an effect on behavior and quality of life, and emphasizes the benefit of a functional approach to artificial lighting for interior spaces. The study presents an overview of Social Housing in Great Britain and details of the lighting experiment.

This paper examines how the lighting of roads in the UK might be changed so as to preserve the benefits while minimising energy consumption. It is divided into four sections, these being changes in technology, changes in patterns of use, changes in standards and contracts and changes in the basis of design. Useful changes in technology and patterns of use are available now, but their use will raise the question as to whether or not environmental considerations can override conventional financial constraints. Changes in standards and the basis of design are much more long term. Comparisons of road lighting standards used in different countries show significant differences that deserve examination. As for the basis of design, consideration of the importance of light to fatal and personal injury accidents of different types suggests that road lighting should be concentrated where pedestrians are common, not where speeds are highest. Ultimately, considering carefully what problem road lighting is intended to solve and whether or not road lighting is the best answer is the key to minimising the energy consumption of road lighting without diminishing road safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The amount of energy used to light homes in the UK continues to rise, despite the availability of compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs and significant policy efforts to reduce energy demand for domestic lighting. This paper examines household lighting demand, in the UK, from a socio-technical perspective, drawing on recent in-depth interview data. This research indicates that mood lighting is becoming increasingly significant, that a desire to have stylish interiors can override environmental principles, and that household lighting practices are heavily influenced by the media. The paper concludes that lighting policy must place greater emphasis on engaging with those involved in the design and promotion of household lighting, if we are to significantly reduce energy demand in this sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reports on the Diamond Light Source Ltd., the largest scientific facility to be constructed in Great Britain. The facility was built to advance research in areas from medicine to biology to the physical and chemical sciences and earth and environmental sciences. The Diamond Light Source produces very bright beams of light mainly in the soft and X-ray regime which enables scientists to dig deep into the basic structure of materials to the atomic and molecular scale. The facility was constructed into two phases. The first phase cost 260 million pounds which consisted of the main synchroton building, the first seven beam lines, and the office building. The second phase which is said to be completed in 2011 costs 120 million pounds and consists of the construction of 15 beamlines.

This paper reviews the progress of daylighting in school buildings. It examines the publications that discuss daylighting design for school buildings in early 1874. It also traces the developments of the open-air school movement from 1900 up to the 1930s and describes research at the present day in the context of an emphasis on environmental factors defining healthy and comfortable buildings for education. The regulations and standards of lighting in schools in the different periods in Britain are summarized. The review reveals that there is a need to examine the relationships between the responses of school occupants and the quantity of daylighting. The conclusion of the paper gives an overall summary of daylighting in schools and identifies gaps in current knowledge. In addition, it provides the authors' opinions for future lighting research in schools. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the daylighting in historic buildings and new museums in Great Britain. According to the author, this period has seen the introduction of cheap and a lot of electrical illumination, accompanied with the rise of conservation concerns. The author said that, while earlier galleries were designed to maximize the use of daylight, the relative controllability of electric light sources has presented an easier route to the maintenance of a stable environment.

The article discusses the works and recommendations of the Departmental Committee on Lighting in Factories in Great Britain. It also provides an overview on the Fifth Report of the Committee issued in the autumn of 1940. The development of lighting in factories since 1901, and the importance of good industrial lighting on health and production efficiency are also mentioned in the article. It was believed that general standard of lighting in factories rise, however, improvement is still needed in many quarters, and the importance of bringing about the issue hardly needs emphasizing.

Summary: Vitamin D is essential for bone health and is produced by the skin in response to ultraviolet radiation (UVR) from sunlight. UVR is also the main cause of skin cancer, the UK's most common type of cancer. Therefore, there have been several concerns that sun protection methods such as using sunscreen can affect vitamin D production. Researchers from the QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute in Australia, and the Australian National University, systematically reviewed for the first time all published experimental studies, field trials, and observational studies published between 1970 and 2017, totalling 75 studies, in order to understand the effect of sunscreen use on vitamin D levels. The researchers found that while the experimental studies (using artificial light sources in a laboratory setting) support the theoretical risk that sunscreen use may affect vitamin D, the weight of evidence from field trials and observational studies (taking place in real‐life situations involving natural sunlight) suggests that the risk is low. The researchers explain that the conditions in the experimental studies did not reflect those of the real world, so the results cannot be used to inform practical recommendations for the public. The authors of this review concluded that there is little evidence that sunscreen, when used in real‐life settings, decreases vitamin D levels and in some cases sunscreen use was associated with higher vitamin D levels. Therefore, concerns about vitamin D levels should not interfere with skin cancer prevention advice. Future trails should consider high sun protection factor sunscreens which are now widely recommended. Linked Article: Neale et al. Br J Dermatol 2019; 181:907–915 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the highlights of a forum organized by the Institution of Lighting Professionals (ILP) in Great Britain. Mike Simpson of Philips discussed the need for a more unified approach to the introduction of scotopic/photopic (S/P) ratios in Europe. Alistair Scott of Designs for Lighting discussed the basics of S/P ratios. INSET: S/P ratios.

The article focuses on the Institution of Lighting Professionals (ILP) Technical Report on the Central Management Systems (CMS) in Great Britain. It discusses guidelines on the selection, operation and maintenance of CMS for street lighting , particularly in rural and urban environments. Also examined are the benefits by way of energy savings, increases in lamp light and reductions in lamp replacement costs.

The article presents news briefs related to engineering. LED developer Bridgelux Inc. has designed a series of interchangeable light modules like a standard bulb. The British Ministry of Defence has signed a new deal with wind energy industry to fund the installation of new radar technology. Two leading producers of specialty metals, Titanium Metals Corp. and Aubert & Duval, will work with Strathclyde University in Glasgow, Scotland, to establish the Advanced Forming Research centre (AFRC).

The article presents the statement of Great Britain Foreign Secretary David Miliband during the gathering for the Inter-Academy Panel at the Royal Society on January 12, 2010. It mentions that Miliband call for the greater connection between science and politics. Miliband believes that science has a significant role in the international relations and diplomacy and that diplomacy can also help scientific progress. Moreover, he talks on the synchrotron light sources (SESAME) project in Jordan.

The article offers information on two meetings that are considered helpful to the development of plans for the proposed New Light Source (NLS) facility in Great Britain. These are the meeting of 140 scientist that would be held at the Royal Society in London, England on April 24, 2009 and the meeting of the project's International Technical Advisory Committee from June 4-5. It cites that the light source is expected to generate high-intensity ultra-short pulses of coherent radiation.

The article reports that Her Majesty The Queen, accompanied by His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh, officially opened the Diamond Light Source on October 19, 2007. It mentions that the Royal party toured the synchrotron machine, and were shown how the powerful light is produced and exploited. It notes that the Diamond Light Source represents a joint venture, co-funded by the United Kingdom Government via the UK's Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC).

The author reflects on the importance of light-emitting diode (LED) lamps and daylighting for the safety of the cyclists in the road in Great Britain. He highlights the increase number of killed and injured cyclists than pedestrians or drivers due to the lack of cycle lane, high-visibility clothing and lighting source. The author notes that some cyclists riding at night with lamps attached to the handlebars or in the front wheel hub.

The article presents the author's views on the lighting industry. The author states that the industry is in a period of flux, with impacts of recession and effects on local authorities. According to the author, a cohesive lighting industry is needed by the British government such that correct guidance can be offered.

The author presents his comments on the article on British Lighting legislation. He expresses his agreement with the need to continue working in the field for he believes that light pollution causes many environmental and ecological problems. He describes English statutory nuisance legislation as problematic, questioning its power to address light pollution and citing its failure to protect against the ecological and environmental problems.

The article discusses the futuristic visions offered by LED technology in Great Britain. Due to more immediate concerns, the article questions the potential of LED technology. It cites central management systems as a more fruitful investment. CMS systems' role in controlling lighting stock remotely is cited. British councils are implementing their own CMS system.

The article reports on the development of the first X-ray laser light at 1.5 Å at Stanford's Linac Coherent Light Source (LCLS) in Great Britain in 2009. It cites that the LCLS free-electron laser could create light by using free-flying electrons in a vacuum. It adds that it is brighter compared to other human-made source of X-rays.

The article offers information on the research conducted on developing a new technique in rapidly identifying where nutrients are located in cereal grains in Great Britain. Researchers used high intensity X-rays at the Diamond Light Source facility to reveal the location and abundance of iron and other nutrients in the experimental genetically-modified (GM) wheat strains.

The article reports that the Science and Technology Facility Council (STFC) has launched a study to build the case for a light source following the international review of the need for light sources in Great Britain. According to the article, the New Light Sources (NLS), based on photon source technique, will allow Great Britain to conduct studies of the microscopic motions that occur within matter of all kinds.

The article reports on pursuit of clients for neuroscientists and sociologists for the designing of happy spaces which refers to rooms that are specifically designed to invoke positive emotions and feelings. According to Yorkshire Newspaper of Great Britain, studies have shown that factors including room layout, symmetry of architecture, lighting, and the position of doors have an effect on brain function, mood and health. Relative to this, sociologist John Zeisel and his research partner Peter Barrett in the Center for Research and Innovation in the Built and Human Environment in Salford University, have been asked to assist in the designing of Manchester elementary school.

The article reports that the United Kingdom's research council, the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC), decided to form a new Photon Science Department. It mentions that the new department will coordinate the operation and development of STFC's light source facilities and associated science. It notes that the Photon Science Department puts together the expertise in both the STFC's Central Laser Facility and the Synchrotron Radiation Department will be led by Mike Dunne.

The article focuses on the observation of Saturn's daylight occultation from Great Britain. It is reported that the second of the two lunar occultations in 2007 occurred in May 22. This occultation took place at a much more sociable hour than that in March. Observation reveals that Saturn ingress occurred at about 19:00 UT. However, the egress took place approximately one hour later on the bright lunar limb bordering Mare Smythii.

The article features the microscope accessory PKL pole stand by Meiji Techno in Great Britain. It provides users with a very bright and even transmitted light source. It is has high value in use solutions at a very attractive price. It has a very bright and transmitted source with a high color temperature. It is designed to provide users with an extended working distance with an "F" focusing holder.

Reports on the construction phase of the Diamond Light Source in Great Britain. Generation of synchrotron light; Applications of the light source; Requirements of the Diamond Light Source building.