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Chicken vision is sensitive to ultraviolet (UV) light containing the UVA spectrum, while UVB plays a key role in the endogenous production of vitamin D3. However, commercially available light sources are typically deficient in the UV spectrum and thus may not adequately fulfill the lighting requirements of indoor-housed laying hens. We hypothesized that supplementary UVB light may improve egg production and egg quality, and bone health during early lay relative to UVA supplementation or standard control lighting. To investigate the effects of UV light supplementation, an experiment was conducted on 252 ISA Brown hens during 16 to 27 weeks of age. Birds were housed in eighteen pens (14 hens/pen) under three different light treatment groups each with six replications: (i) UVO: standard control lighting with LED white light, (ii) UVA: control lighting plus supplemental daylight with an avian bulb, and (iii) UVA/B: control lighting plus a supplemental full spectrum reptile bulb containing both UVA and UVB wavelengths. Hen-day egg production and egg quality, blood parameters including plasma Ca and P, and serum 25(OH)D3, and hen body weight and external health scoring were measured at different age points; while bone quality was assessed at the end of the experiment at 27 weeks. Data were analyzed in JMP® 16.0 using general linear mixed models with α level set at 0.05. Results showed that UVA and UVA/B supplemented birds reached sexual maturity (50% production) 3 and 1 day earlier, respectively, than control birds. There was a trend for UV lights to increase hen-day egg production (P = 0.06). Among egg quality traits, only eggshell reflectivity and yolk index were affected by UV lights (P = 0.02 and 0.01, respectively); however, most of the egg quality traits changed over age (all P < 0.01). Post-hoc tests showed higher serum 25(OH)D3 in the UVA/B group relative to control hens (P < 0.05); but there was no treatment effect on plasma Ca and P or on bone quality parameters (all P > 0.05). A significant interaction was observed between light treatment and age for the number of comb wounds (P = 0.0004), with the UV supplemented hens showing more comb wounds after 24 weeks. These results demonstrated that supplemental UVA/B light had minimal effects on egg production and egg quality, whereas, UVA/B exposure may increase vitamin D3 synthesis during the early laying period. The optimum duration of exposure and level of intensity needs to be determined to ensure these benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While adult stomatopod crustaceans are relatively well studied, understanding of larval stomatopod ecology is lacking, largely due to difficulties studying larvae in their natural habitat. This study investigated how light environment (i.e. spectral composition) and time of day affected prey consumption in two species of larval stomatopod, Gonodactylaceus falcatus (Forskål, 1775) and Gonodactylellus sp. Individual larvae were placed with 20 Artemia nauplii prey in feeding chambers treated to produce different light environments with respect to ultraviolet (UV) light: full spectrum light UV+, full spectrum UV–, and a dark control. Chambers were lowered to a depth of 3 m for 2 hours at three times of day (noon, twilight, and night) to test 1) if larval feeding rates changed at different times of day and 2) if UV vision was involved in prey capture. We found that light was important for successful feeding, with both species eating significantly more in lighted treatments than the dark controls during daytime experiments. Gonodactylellus sp. also had a significantly higher feeding rate at twilight in the UV+ treatment than in the dark control. Both species showed decreased consumption at night compared to daytime rates, and decreased consumption in all dark controls. This study is one of the first to examine how ecological conditions affect feeding behavior in larval stomatopods. Our results suggest that light is important for larval stomatopod feeding, with differences between species in daily feeding activity periods. There was also a difference in total consumption between the two species, with the slightly larger Gonodactylaceus falcatus consuming nearly double the prey items as Gonodactylellus sp. at peak feeding times. Follow up studies should incorporate a variety of prey types to test how feeding changes based on food source and density. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the high death toll of the COVID-19 pandemic, reported rates of adherence to adaptive preventive health behaviours during the early wave of the pandemic were suboptimal for reducing the risk of disease spread. Additionally, some have adopted practices with the intention of preventing infection that have harmful consequences. Protection Motivation Theory (PMT), consisting of perceived vulnerability, severity, response efficacy, and self-efficacy, has been used to predict intentions to engage in behaviours in past pandemics, and can be extended to the COVID-19 outbreak. Three hundred and thirty-three American adults completed a survey in May 2020 through Amazon's Mechanical Turk. Ten behaviours recommended by the CDC and WHO and two 'maladaptive' behaviours presented in the media were selected for investigation. Binary logistic regressions were conducted to assess the impacts of demographic variables and PMT constructs on behaviour frequency. Perceived severity and vulnerability were not significant predictors of behaviour frequency. Behaviour specific response efficacy and self-efficacy were significant predictors of 11/12 (odds ratios: 2.70–6.22) and 10/12 (odds ratios: 2.59–4.64) behaviours, respectively. Age, gender, education, political ideology, perceived severity, and perceived vulnerability were generally unimportant predictors. Beliefs about the effectiveness of the behaviour and one's ability to carry out that behaviour consistently seem to be more important in predicting how often someone engages in that behaviour than the perceived dangerousness of COVID-19 and one's believed susceptibility to infection. These results suggest that interventions trying to modulate the likelihood of engaging in preventive behaviours should focus on the effectiveness of these behaviours in reducing risk of spread and the individual's ability to engage in these behaviours frequently rather than the dangerousness of the COVID-19 pandemic and the individual's risk of becoming infected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Mycobacterium abscessus (MABS) group are environmental organisms that can cause infection in people with cystic fibrosis (CF) and other suppurative lung diseases. There is potential for person-to-person airborne transmission of MABS among people with CF attending the same care centre. Ultraviolet light (band C, UV-C) is used for Mycobacterium tuberculosis control indoors; however, no studies have assessed UV-C for airborne MABS.Aim: To determine whether a range of UV-C doses increased the inactivation of airborne MABS, compared with no-UVC conditions.Methods: MABS was generated by a vibrating mesh nebulizer located within a 400 L rotating drum sampler, and then exposed to an array of 265 nm UV-C light-emitting diodes (LED). A six-stage Andersen Cascade Impactor was used to collect aerosols. Standard microbiological protocols were used for enumerating MABS, and these quantified the effectiveness of UV-C doses (in triplicate). UV-C effectiveness was estimated using the difference between inactivation with and without UV-C.Findings: Sixteen tests were performed, with UV-C doses ranging from 276 to 1104 μW s/cm2. Mean (±SD) UV-C effectiveness ranged from 47.1% (±13.4) to 83.6% (±3.3). UV-C led to significantly greater inactivation of MABS (all P-values ≤0.045) than natural decay at all doses assessed. Using an indoor model of the hospital environment, it was estimated that UV-C doses in the range studied here could be safely delivered in clinical settings where patients and staff are present.Conclusion: This study provides empirical in-vitro evidence that nebulized MABS are susceptible to UV-C inactivation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The differential effects of UV-B on the inhibition or activation of protective mechanisms to maintain cells photosynthetically active were investigated in native microalgae. Four strains were used, including two Chlorella sorokiniana strains, F4 and LG1, isolated from a Mediterranean inland swamp and a recycled cigarette butt's substrate, respectively, and two isolates from an Ecuadorian highland lake related to Pectinodesmus pectinatus (PEC) and Ettlia pseudoalveolaris (ETI). Monocultures were exposed to acute UV-B (1.7 W m−2) over 18 h under controlled conditions. UV-B-untreated microalgae were used as the control. Comparative physiological responses, including photosynthetic pigments, non-enzymatic antioxidants, and chlorophyll a fluorescence, were evaluated at specific time points. Results showed that UV-B significantly compromised all the physiological parameters in F4, thereby resulting in the most UV-B-sensitive strain. Contrarily, UV-B exposure did not lead to changes in the PEC physiological traits, resulting in the best UV-B-resistant strain. This could be attributed to the acclimation to high light habitat, where maintaining a constitutive phenotype (at the photosynthetic level) is strategically advantageous. Differently, LG1 and ETI at 12 h of UV-B exposure showed different UV-B responses, which is probably related to acclimation, where in LG1, the pigments were recovered, and the antioxidants were still functioning, while in ETI, the accumulation of pigments and antioxidants was increased to avoid further photodamage. Consequently, the prolonged exposure in LG1 and ETI resulted in species-specific metabolic regulation (e.g., non-enzymatic antioxidants) in order to constrain full photoinhibition under acute UV-B. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The special photochromic mechanism of spiro-oxazine (SO) refers to low thermostability and weak fatigue resistance. High light transmittance and biocompatibility are the two advantages of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), but it does not perform well in terms of tensile strength. Here, a new type of SO (1-(4'methacryloyloxybutyl)- 3,3-dimethyl-9'-hydroxy- 3H-spiro-naphthyl oxazine) was synthesized and introduced as a photochromic monomer into methyl methacrylate (MMA) system, which is an environment-friendly method. Compared with other photochromic polymers that have been reported, the advantages of this material mainly perform in the following areas: (1) The active group was introduced into the N-alkyl chain of SO and copolymerized with PMMA, and the fading rate of the photochromic polymer was dropped by 76.3% compared to SO. (2) Physical and chemical methods were used to improve the flexibility of PMMA-SO. The tensile strength of polymers has been reduced to 3.92 MPa. It also has a high elongation of 269.84% at a break. (3) PMMA-SO still has a significant fatigue resistance after 25 cycles of UV and visible light irradiation. In the future, it has potential applications in the fields of smart glass, data storage, biomimetic materials, and so on. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Escherichia coli O157: H7 is a representative foodborne pathogen that causes haemorrhagic colitis, bloody diarrhea, and fatal haemolytic uraemic syndrome. Previously, only conventional heat treatment was used to pasteurised food; however, this method decreases food quality, including colour change, denatures proteins, and causes lipid oxidation. Therefore, emerging technologies to inactivate pathogens in food that affect food quality minimally have been researched and developed. This review aims to compile research since 2018 and briefly describe the inactivation mechanisms of emerging technologies such as microwave, radio frequency, ohmic heating, superheated steam, ionising radiation (gamma irradiation, electron beam, and X-rays), high pressure, ultraviolet light, pulsed light, ultrasound, gas treatment, plasma, and combination treatments. Pulsed electric field and electrolysed water were excluded because few research papers were published after 2018. In addition, the shortcomings of emerging technologies in the control of E. coli O157: H7 and the directions for emerging technology research are presented. Taking advantage of emerging technologies with many benefits will significantly improve food safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents the results of the first study stage aimed at analyzing the luminescent properties of the main and minor minerals composing the apatite–nepheline ores and host rocks in the deposits of the Khibiny rock massif (Kola Peninsula, Russia). The main purpose of the work was a search of a stable identification feature providing fast and safe determination of fluorapatite in the mineral mixture of apatite–nepheline ores and solving technological tasks, namely sampling the borehole walls in open pits. The first stage includes studies carried out on pure mono-fractions of four minerals occurring in fluorapatite deposits and possessing obvious luminescent properties: fluorapatite, nepheline, calcite, and sodalite. The authors have revealed luminescence spectra of these minerals and established correlation of their spectral characteristics with the literature data and their consistency. However, the high intensity of sodalite luminescence in a wide band can complicate identification of fluorapatite by the luminescence spectrum in many cases. Therefore, it is reasonable to use the color and intensity of luminescence rather than spectral characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Actinobacteria are known to produce a variety of secondary metabolites with skin-protective properties. This study aimed to investigate the photoprotective and antigenotoxic properties against UVB of extracts obtained from Cutibacterium acnes strains. Bacterial growth was measured spectrophotometrically and the constant maximum growth rate (μ) value to each strain, were calculated. In vitro photoprotection efficacy was evaluated using in vitro indices such as sun protection factor (SPFespectrophotometric) and critical wavelength (λc). UVB-antigenotoxicity was also evaluated using the SOS Chromotest. Correlation analysis was used to examine the relationship between SPFespectrophotometric and extract concentration and the %GI estimates. Among the studied strains, one showed low (6.0 ≤ SPFespectrophotometric ≤ 14.9) and eight showed media (15.0 ≤ SPFespectrophotometric ≤ 29.9) UVB photoprotection efficacy. All of them resulted in broad-spectrum (UVA–UVB) photoprotection (λc > 370 nm). In total, two C. acnes ecotypes with different growth rates were evidenced, but the protective metabolites in the extracts were produced without the influence of growth rate. Photoprotective efficacy depended on the extract concentration and was correlated with antigenotoxicity. We demonstrated that C. acnes extracts can be used as sunscreen ingredients that reduce UVB-induced genotoxicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Skin characteristics show great variation from person to person and are affected by multiple factors, including genetic, environmental, and physical factors, but details of the involvement and contributions of these factors remain unclear. Objectives: We aimed to characterize genetic, environmental, and physical factors affecting 16 skin features by developing models to predict personal skin characteristics. Methods: We analyzed the associations of skin phenotypes with genetic, environmental, and physical features in 1472 Japanese females aged 20–80 years. We focused on 16 skin characteristics, including melanin, brightness/lightness, yellowness, pigmented spots, wrinkles, resilience, moisture, barrier function, texture, and sebum amount. As genetic factors, we selected 74 single‐nucleotide polymorphisms of genes related to skin color, vitamin level, hormones, circulation, extracellular matrix (ECM) components and ECM‐degrading enzymes, inflammation, and antioxidants. Histories of ultraviolet (UV) exposure and smoking as environmental factors and age, height, and weight as physical factors were acquired by means of a questionnaire. Results: A linear association with age was prominent for increase in the area of crow's feet, increase in number of pigmented spots, decrease in forehead sebum, and increase in VISIA wrinkle parameters. Associations were analyzed by constructing linear regression models for skin feature changes and logistic regression models to predict whether subjects show lower or higher skin measurement values in the same age groups. Multiple genetic factors, history of UV exposure and smoking, and body mass index were statistically selected for each skin characteristic. The most important association found for skin spots, such as lentigines and wrinkles, was adolescent sun exposure. Conclusion: Genetic, environmental, and physical factors associated with interindividual differences of the selected skin features were identified. The developed models should be useful to predict the skin characteristics of individuals and their age‐related changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Different strategies have been developed over the years to improve the safety of foods without compromising on their quality. Ultraviolet (UV) light has shown potential to meet these expectations. However, due to environmental and safety concerns regarding the use of UV mercury lamps, UV-light emitting diode (LED) devices have emerged more recently, which may be more suited to applications in the food industry. Thus, further evaluation of UV-LED technology is required. In this review, challenges involving the application of UV-LED technology as a disinfection strategy in the food chain are described. Stress-related mechanisms induced by UV light exposure in microorganisms and their potential consequences are reviewed. Moreover, other future challenges associated with the inactivation of foodborne pathogens and spoilage microorganisms are considered, together with the impact of the application of UV-LED technology on the quality of food. UV-LEDs have been shown to inactivate a wide range of foodborne pathogens and spoilage microorganisms. However, there are limited studies assessing the effectiveness of UV-LED on products to enhance food safety. Additionally, further studies are required to explore the impact of sublethal exposure to UV-LEDs and the potential consequences of UV-LED exposure in different microorganisms at various wavelengths. Furthermore, UV-LEDs can negatively affect some physicochemical attributes of food. Thus, more attention should be paid to the underlying mechanism of quality changes induced by UV-LEDs. • Challenges in applying UV-LED in food for microbial inactivation are reviewed. • The impact of UV-LED on food quality attributes is discussed. • Microbial stress-related mechanisms when exposed to UV-LED light are reviewed. • A better understanding of DNA-repair mechanisms induced by UV-LED is required. • The effect of UV-LED on food safety and quality requires further investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our team has developed and tested a solid-state solar simulating lamp for use with space simulation vacuum chambers. Unlike traditional lamps, our system uses solid-state light-emitting diodes (LEDs) to generate the light. The emission wavelengths of the LEDs can be selected and controlled so that their combined output better approximates the profile of the solar spectrum. Though our system can accommodate visual or infrared LEDs, we focused our efforts on generating ultraviolet (UV) light in the 265-400 nanometer (nm) range. Compared to deuterium lamps, the LEDs are advantageous because they can be selected and controlled such that the output profile of the lamp better approximates the irradiance of the sun. Deuterium lamps are most intense at 200 nm with their intensity decreasing by more than 90% as the spectrum approaches 400 nm. Light from the sun is of relatively low intensity in the 200-250 nm range, but its intensity increases by more than 2000% from 250 nm to 400 nm. The modular design of our lamp (Figure 1) allows it to individually control the current to each of 80 strings of LEDs, totaling to 904 individual UV LEDs in a compact, circular pattern designed to shine through an 11.5-inch-diameter chamber window. The light from each LED is collimated using a 6-millimeter-diameter silica ball lens, and the array has a combined nominal optical power output of 90 watts (W). Because UV LEDs are relatively inefficient, creating the 90W of optical power requires 1800W of electrical power. The waste heat from the LEDs is managed by a liquid-cooled plate and external chiller. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thermal treatment is used to inactivate microbes in soymilk, but it increases the amount of advanced glycation end products (AGEs). Therefore, this study examined if ultraviolet light with thermo‐sonication (UVTS) and Ecklonia cava extract (EX) could provide an alternative process to prevent AGEs formation in processed soymilk. A coiled tube UV reactor was used simultaneously with an ultrasonic generator for UVTS treatment, while an autoclave was employed for thermal treatment. UVTS treatment was examined at different temperatures and flow rates to achieve a 5‐log reduction of pre‐inoculated Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhimurium in soymilk. After confirming EX's anti‐glycation effects against fructosamine, ɑ‐dicarbonyl compounds, protein carbonyl content, and AGEs formation, it was added to soymilk before the UVTS. The ɑ‐dicarbonyl compounds (glyoxal and methylglyoxal) and AGEs (Nε‐(1‐carboxymethyl)‐l‐lysine [CML] and Nε‐(1‐carboxyethyl)‐l‐lysine [CEL]) in soymilk increased after autoclaving (AC). Compared with AC, the UVTS with.05% EX decreased glyoxal, methylglyoxal, CML, and CEL by 78%, 82%, 32%, and 59%, respectively. These results indicated that UVTS with EX could be an alternative pasteurization process for soymilk that minimizes AGEs formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Slovenia is one of the countries that have been most affected by the autumn/winter 2020/21 wave of the COVID-19 pandemic regarding the incidence and excess mortality among the general population as well as regarding the incidence among health care workers and nursing personnel. The World Health Organization has underestimated the importance of the airborne spread of SARS-CoV-2 and the recommended safety measures have not been entirely sufficient. When people breathe, talk, sing, cough, or sneeze, they emit respiratory droplets of various sizes, most of which are always smaller than 1 μm. Respiratory droplets smaller than 5 μm stay airborne in indoor spaces for a long time and travel over distances much longer than 2 m. Thus, an infected person in an indoor environment creates an infectious aerosol that may infect other people without close interpersonal contact. This short review presents the mathematical model and internet application by authors from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology for calculating the safe time before probable airborne infection occurs in indoor spaces. The importance of ventilation, air filtration, air humidity, and air disinfection by ultraviolet light is briefly discussed. The principles of preventing the airborne spread of SARS-CoV-2 are summarized.

Many birds, including macaws, are highly visual animals able to detect a wide band of light wavelengths ranging into ultraviolet A, but in captivity, full-spectrum lighting is not universally employed. Where purpose-made bird lighting is used, this is typically made with the provision of ultraviolet B radiation and vitamin D3 synthesis in mind. Limited research in this field suggests behavioural and physiological benefits of broad-spectrum lighting provision, but more work is needed to broaden the taxonomic scope and to investigate its impacts on understudied areas of husbandry, including behavioural management. We compared the duration of time a bonded pair of blue-throated macaws at ZSL London Zoo opted to remain in an inside den after being recalled from an outdoors flight aviary, with and without the presence of artificial lighting in the form of High Output T5 Fluorescent lamps, which are rich in UVA and UVB wavelengths as well as those visible to humans. We hypothesized that the birds would remain inside for longer when T5 lighting was on, as they would be more visually comfortable. Using randomization analyses, we show that, over 54 trials split between winter and spring, the mean duration spent inside after recall increased from 81.04 to 515.13 s with the presence of the lighting unit, which was highly statistically significant. Our results are likely to be explained by much higher visibility of indoor surroundings creating a more hospitable indoor environment for the birds and will have implications for captive macaw management.

Excellent mechanical properties and biocompatibility resulted in titanium and titanium alloys being widely used in the medical field. However, the biological activity of atitanium surface will gradually fade with increasing exposure time, which affects its final osseointegration. As an effective surface modification method, ultraviolet (UV) photofunctionalization does not change the surface morphology of implants and is a suitable surface treatment for many brands of implants. This article summarizes the research progress on the effect of UV photofunctionalization technology on the characteristics of titanium surfaces, biological activity and implant osseointegration, as well as its current clinical applications. Studies have shown that the superhydrophilicity of the titanium surface and improved biological activity endowed by UV photofunctionalization can accelerate and enhance bone formation, resulting in a higher success rate of implant surgery. Therefore, UV photofunctionalization has great potential for clinical chairside applications.

• Ultraviolet-induced NO removal by Fe(II)EDTA with exposed (0 0 1) facets nF-TiO 2. • NO was removed through catalytic oxidation-complexation synergism. • NO is mainly converted into NO 3 –, NO 2 –, NH 4 +, N 2 , and N 2 O. • UV/Fe(Ⅱ)EDTA/5F-TiO 2 system shows great potential for practical applications. Ferrous ethylenediaminetetraacetate (Fe(II)EDTA) accompanied by regeneration is thought to be a very efficient method to remove nitric oxide (NO) from flue gas. However, Fe(II)EDTA regeneration requires a large amount of regenerant consumption. For this purpose, anatase titanium dioxide with exposed (0 0 1) facets by fluorination (nF-TiO 2) was synthesized and combined with Fe(II)EDTA solution for NO removal with ultraviolet light (UV). The result showed that 5F-TiO 2 with approximately 30 % (0 0 1) facets exposed can significantly promote NO removal of Fe(II)EDTA under UV irradiation, with an average removal efficiency of up to 94.83 % over a 60-minute period. The mechanism study indicated that the excellent removal performance of 5F-TiO 2 was mainly because the moderate co-exposure of its (0 0 1) and (1 0 1) facets could greatly suppress the electron hole recombination rate, accelerate the Fe(Ⅱ)EDTA/Fe(III)EDTA cycle, and form catalytic oxidation-complexation synergism denitrification. Under this synergistic effect, NO from simulated flue gas was mainly transformed to NO 3 –, NO 2 –, NH 4 +, N 2 , and N 2 O. Subsequently, NO removal performance using UV/Fe(Ⅱ)EDTA/5F-TiO 2 under different parameters demonstrated that appropriate oxygen concentration (3 vol%), suitable 5F-TiO 2 mass (0.5 g), low temperature (30 ℃), and weak acidic environment (pH = 4) were favorable for NO removal. The kinetics demonstrated that NO removal by the UV/Fe(Ⅱ)EDTA/5F-TiO 2 system was a pseudo-first-order process. Finally, UV/Fe(II)EDTA/5F-TiO 2 denitrification technology shows great potential in practical applications. This work offers a new route for the green and low-cost application of Fe(Ⅱ)EDTA denitrification in flue gas treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of physical treatments (ultrasound, microwave, ultraviolet light, and magnetic fields) on the activities of peroxidases from rice bran and soybean meal to degrade aflatoxins B 1 and M 1 in milk. The effects of physical treatments on peroxidase activities were evaluated. Peroxidases (0.015 U mL−1) were added to milk contaminated with aflatoxins B 1 and M 1 (5 ng mL−1) under refrigeration (4 °C, 24 h), and residual concentrations of mycotoxins were quantified. Physical treatments increased peroxidase activities from rice bran and soybean meal extracts. The most efficient treatment was ultraviolet light (365 nm, 45 min) applied to peroxidases extracted from rice bran; degradation increased by 16.7% and 10.6%, reaching 78.2% and 71.2% aflatoxins B 1 and M 1 in milk, respectively. Therefore, using low-cost peroxidase physically treated by ultraviolet light can be an alternative for the food indstry to mitigate aflatoxins B 1 and M 1 in milk. • Physical treatments may increase peroxidase activities. • Peroxidases from rice bran and soybean meal degrade aflatoxins B 1 and M 1 in milk. • UV light is the most efficient treatment to increase aflatoxins B 1 and M 1 degradation. • 78.2% of aflatoxin B 1 and 71.2% of aflatoxin M 1 has been degraded. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, an ultraviolet light-driven YPrO 3 photocatalyst was successfully synthesized via the sol-gel method, utilizing yttrium nitrate hexahydrate (Y(NO 3) 3 ·6H 2 O) and praseodymium nitrate hexahydrate (Pr(NO 3) 3 ·6H 2 O) as the yttrium and praseodymium sources, respectively, with oxalic acid dihydrate (H 2 C 2 O 4 ·2H 2 O) serving as an auxiliary solvent. In addition, the prepared samples were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy(XPS), thermogravimetric and differential scanning calorimetry (TG-DSC), ultraviolet visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (UV VisDRS), and an electrochemical workstation. Also, the photocatalytic activity of YPrO 3 samples was explored by using methyl orange (MO) solutionas a model pollutant to simulate wastewater under varying synthesis temperatures and illumination durations. The material with the highest degradation efficiency was subjected to cycling and recovery experiments to assess its stability. Furthermore, the photocatalytic mechanism of YPrO 3 was investigated. Experimental results revealed that pure YPrO 3 samples could be effectively synthesized at calcination temperatures ranging from 850 °C to 1000 °C, with the sample prepared at 900 °C exhibiting the optimal photocatalytic activity. This sample possessed an average grain size of 4–5 μm. Under UV light irradiation for 90min, the YPrO 3 sampleprepared at 900°Cachieved approximately 80 % degradation of methyl orange at an initial concentration of 5 mg/L. After five consecutive cycles, the degradation rate remained as high as 70.39 %, with no change in the crystal structure, indicating excellent stability. The photocatalytic mechanism of YPrO 3 was found to involve the synergetic effect of superoxide radicals and photogenerated holes in degrading pollutants. In conclusion, YPrO 3 could be a promising photocatalyst with excellent performance, holding broad application prospects. As shown in the figure, YPrO 3 catalyst generates photo generated electrons and holes through light excitation. The photo generated electrons can react with O 2 to generate •O 2 −, h+, and •O 2 − as active species that act on methyl orange solution, decomposing it into small molecular structures to complete the degradation process of the dye. [Display omitted] • YPrO 3 was prepared by a sol-gel method. • The prepared YPrO 3 showed good photocatalytic behavior. • The photocatalytic mechanism was explored in detail. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: To determine the association of sunlight exposure and PCR positivity of SARS-COV-2 samples. METHODOLOGY: This Quasi-Experimental Study was carried out at PAQSJIMS – Gambat, District Khairpur, Sindh, Pakistan. This experiment was conducted during the summer season from April - September 2020 with consecutive sampling techniques. The average temperature of the study during the given period was 41°C. Sample Size was 8 PCR positive Covid-19 Patients (Each sample divided into 12 portions) (6 controls and 6 test samples) and re-tested by PCR. Six control samples were kept in a laboratory environment. In contrast, six were kept in sunlight (each for a differing duration, i.e., 0, 5, 15, 30, 60, and 120 minutes), and the emperature and humidity levels were recorded. The experiment samples underwent a PCR test (along with its time-matched control), and SARS-COV-2 positivity was recorded. Following the experiment, the samples were discarded as per safety regulations. Both male and female covid-19 patients (PCR positive) aged 18 years and above were included, Patients enrolled in treatment trials were excluded. RESULTS: Among the eight samples (each tested in six different batches after exposure to sunlight for varying amounts of time), most, i.e., 45 93.75%), tested positive for SARS-COV-2. However, there may be a relationship between the length of exposure to sunlight and PCR positivity of the samples since all three samples that tested negative were exposed to sunlight for more at least 30 minutes, all controls (placed in the laboratory and not exposed to sunlight, tested positive). CONCLUSION: There is no significant association between sunlight exposure and PCR positivity of SARS-COV-2 : samples.

Background: Members of the Mycobacterium abscessus complex have now emerged as clinically significant respiratory pathogens in people with cystic fibrosis (CF), potentially leading to increased disease severity, antibiotic treatment, and persistence dilemmas. Many of these species are resistant to disinfectants and biocides commonly used to clean and disinfect the hospital environment, thus necessitating the need to examine innovative ways to eliminate these organisms from such environments. It was, therefore, the aim of this study to examine the individual effect of ultraviolet-c (UVc) light (λ = 254 nm) and ozone (O3) on the growth of the M. abscessus complex organisms, as well as on seven other clinically significant CF pathogens, including Achromobacter spp., Burkholderia gladioli, Burkholderia cenocepacia, Burkholderia multivorans, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia. Methods: Bacterial isolates (n = 46), including M. abscessus complex (n = 6) (M. abscessus subsp abscessus [n = 2], M. abscessus subsp. bolletii [n = 2], M. abscessus subsp. massiliense [n = 2]), and other CF pathogens (n = 40) including Achromobacter spp., B. gladioli, B. cenocepacia, B. multivorans, P. aeruginosa, S. aureus, and S. maltophilia, were exposed for 1 h to UVc light (254 nm), as well as to ozone (O3; 26 ppm). Results: UVc light inactivated all M. abscessus complex organisms (n = 6), as well as the 40 isolates from the other genera and species. No bacterial species tested was able to survive the UVc treatment. O3 was unable to inactivate all isolates of M. abscessus subsp. abscessus (n = 2), M. abscessus subsp. bolletii (n = 2), and one isolate of M. abscessus subsp. massiliense, but killed one strain of M. abscessus subsp. massiliense. Overall, O3 inactivated only 20% of total isolates, allowing the posttreatment growth of the remaining 80% of isolates. There was no difference in the growth dynamic of P. aeruginosa from the environmental waters which had received O3 treatment and the control (untreated with O3). Bacterial growth, while occurring post-O3 treatment, was not as prolific in all remaining organisms, as in the untreated controls, demonstrating some but limited antibacterial effect. Conclusions: From the data presented by this study, UVc light at 254 nm was effective at eliminating all organisms examined, including members of the M. abscessus complex. Given the refractory nature of these organisms against conventional wet chemical disinfection, UVc potentially offers a physical method to control and eliminate the survival of these organisms on health-care surfaces and fomites. For many CF species examined in this study, these data represent the first reports of the organisms susceptibility to UVc light. Further work is now required to establish time/distance parameters incorporated into newly designed innovative devices, to allow disinfection protocols to be optimized, and delivered to exploit this vulnerability with these nontuberculous mycobacterial organisms, as well as with the other bacterial species examined.

Ultraviolet-C (UV-C) irradiation is a well-recognized technology for improving blueberry postharvest quality, and previous literature indicates that it has the potential for dual-use as an antimicrobial intervention for this industry. However, the practicality and feasibility of deploying this technology in fresh blueberry fruit are significantly hindered by the shadowing effect occurring at the blossom-end scar of the fruit. The purpose of this study was to determine if treating the blueberry fruit within a chamber fitted with UV-Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) emitting a peak UV-C at 275 nm could minimize this shadowing and result in improved treatment efficacy. Ten blueberry fruits were dip-inoculated with E. coli at a concentration of 105 CFU/mL and irradiated within the system at doses of 0, 1.617, 3.234, 9.702, and 16.17 mJ/cm2 (0, 30, 60, 180, and 300 s). Statistical analysis was performed to characterize the extent of microbial survival as well as the UV-C inactivation kinetics. A maximum of 0.91–0.95 log reduction was observed, which attenuated after 60 s of treatment. The microbial inactivation and survival were thus modeled using the Geeraerd-tail model in Microsoft Excel with the GInaFIt add-in (RMSE = 0.2862). Temperatures fluctuated between 23 ± 0.5°C and 39.5°C ± 0.5°C during treatment but did not statistically impact the treatment efficacy (P = 0.0823). The data indicate that the design of a UV-LED system may improve the antimicrobial efficacy of UV-C technology for the surface decontamination of irregularly shaped fruits, and that further optimization could facilitate its use in the industry.

Chicken vision is sensitive to ultraviolet (UV) light containing the UVA spectrum, while UVB plays a key role in the endogenous production of vitamin D3. However, commercially available light sources are typically deficient in the UV spectrum and thus may not adequately fulfill the lighting requirements of indoor-housed laying hens. We hypothesized that supplementary UVB light may improve egg production and egg quality, and bone health during early lay relative to UVA supplementation or standard control lighting. To investigate the effects of UV light supplementation, an experiment was conducted on 252 ISA Brown hens during 16 to 27 weeks of age. Birds were housed in eighteen pens (14 hens/pen) under three different light treatment groups each with six replications: (i) UVO: standard control lighting with LED white light, (ii) UVA: control lighting plus supplemental daylight with an avian bulb, and (iii) UVA/B: control lighting plus a supplemental full spectrum reptile bulb containing both UVA and UVB wavelengths. Hen-day egg production and egg quality, blood parameters including plasma Ca and P, and serum 25(OH)D3, and hen body weight and external health scoring were measured at different age points; while bone quality was assessed at the end of the experiment at 27 weeks. Data were analyzed in JMP® 16.0 using general linear mixed models with α level set at 0.05. Results showed that UVA and UVA/B supplemented birds reached sexual maturity (50% production) 3 and 1 day earlier, respectively, than control birds. There was a trend for UV lights to increase hen-day egg production (P = 0.06). Among egg quality traits, only eggshell reflectivity and yolk index were affected by UV lights (P = 0.02 and 0.01, respectively); however, most of the egg quality traits changed over age (all P 0.05). A significant interaction was observed between light treatment and age for the number of comb wounds (P = 0.0004), with the UV supplemented hens showing more comb wounds after 24 weeks. These results demonstrated that supplemental UVA/B light had minimal effects on egg production and egg quality, whereas, UVA/B exposure may increase vitamin D3 synthesis during the early laying period. The optimum duration of exposure and level of intensity needs to be determined to ensure these benefits.

IntroductionWe describe a novel device for rapid and economical minimal erythema dose testing in patients undergoing ultraviolet (UV) light phototherapy for treatment of skin diseases.MethodsA minimal erythema testing device was designed and created using transparent plastic sheeting and printed patterns with increasing ink density, allowing for graded UV transmission of 100%, 80%, 60%, 40%, 20%, and 10% energy through six 10-mm square apertures. The plastic sheet was placed in a UV-impenetrable and Velcro-fitted adjustable sleeve, designed to fit easily onto a patient's arm. A pilot validation study was performed, comparing this device with a commercially available windowed device in which the dose is controlled by varying the UV exposure time through sequential opening of each window. The pilot was conducted on healthy skin of two human subjects with different Fitzpatrick skin types.ResultsIn our subjects, tested with one device on each forearm, the minimal erythema dose (MED), judged visually, was identical. However, the test device allowed MED testing in 3 min compared with 15 min for the traditional device. The test device is equally effective for use with ultraviolet-A (UVA), narrowband ultraviolet-B (NB-UVB) and broadband ultraviolet-B (BB-UVB) wavelengths. The test device is economical, with manufacturing cost of less than US $2.ConclusionWe designed an MED testing device that is quick, accurate, cost-effective, and easy to use in the setting of a busy phototherapy practice. This device therefore has many advantages over existing MED testing approaches.

Phytophotodermatitis results when skin is exposed to ultraviolet light after previous contact with a phototoxic compound. Wild parsnip (Pastinia sativa), a member of the Umbelliferae family, is an invasive plant species introduced to North America as a root vegetable. Although cultivated less commonly today, the plant is increasingly found growing wild in prairies and roadsides. The stems and leaves contain furocoumarins, which upon activation by UV light interact with oxygen. Resultant reactive oxygen species induce tissue damage manifesting initially as blistering and later as hyperpigmentation. We report the case of a woman who developed phytophoto-dermatitis after encountering wild parsnip on a midwestern prairie.

Gel manicures have become a popular beauty trend in recent years. The specially formulated nail polish must undergo curing under light-based units. The majority of these curing lamps emit high-intensity ultraviolet A, which can cause skin damage and increase the risk for skin cancers. Incorporating relevant information in patient education endeavors can help them practice avoidance, apply broad-spectrum sunscreen prior, or use nitrile exam gloves in order to prevent photoaging and skin cancer resulting from these procedures.

The friction characteristics of two-dimensional materials in the ultraviolet (UV) radiation environment are important to the reliability of two-dimensional material nano-structures of space equipment. A novel mechanism of UV light-sensitive nano-friction on graphene was proposed by ultraviolet vacuum irradiation modification using an atomic force microscope (AFM). The surface roughness, adhesion force, and friction of graphene were gradually reduced over a time of irradiation below 3 min. UV185 passes through graphene and causes photochemical reactions between its bottom layer and Si/SiO2 substrate, resulting in hydroxyl, carboxyl, and silanol suspension bonds and sp3-like bonds, which enhances the binding energy of graphene on the substrate and inhibits the out-of-plane deformation resulting in roughness and friction reduction. However, as the irradiation time increased to 5 min, the friction force increased rapidly with the aging effect and the breakdown of sp3-like bonds between the graphene–substrate interface. This study presents a new method of controlling nanofriction on graphene based on UV irradiation-sensitive posterities in vacuum conditions, which is essential to the application of two-dimensional materials in aerospace equipment, to improve anti-aging properties and wear reduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vitiligo is a hypopigmentation disease characterized by melanocyte death in the human epidermis. However, the mechanism of vitiligo development and repigmentation is largely unknown. Dermal fiber components might play an important role in vitiligo development and repigmentation. Indeed, our preliminary study demonstrated that elastin fibers were decreased in vitiliginous skin, suggesting that the elastin fiber is one of the factors involved in vitiligo development and repigmentation. To confirm our hypothesis, we investigated whether elastin fibers can be restored after treatment using phototherapy and/or autologous skin transplantation. Punch biopsies from 14 patients of stable nonsegmental vitiligo vulgaris were collected from nonlesional, lesional, and repigmented skin, and processed to dopa and combined dopa–premelanin reactions. Melanocytes positive to the dopa reaction and melanoblasts/melanocytes positive to the combined dopa–premelanin reaction were surveyed. Moreover, elastin fibers were detected by Victoria blue staining. Numerous melanocytes and melanoblasts were observed in the epidermis of repigmented skin after the treatment. Moreover, in the dermis of repigmented skin, elastin fibers were completely recovered or even upregulated. These results suggest that melanocyte loss in the vitiliginous skin, as well as melanocyte differentiation in repigmented skin, may be at least in part regulated by elastin fibers in the dermis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Nuts are widely consumed worldwide, mainly due to their characteristic flavor and texture, ease of consumption, and their functional properties. In addition, consumers increasingly demand natural or slightly processed foods with high quality. Consequently, non-thermal treatments are a viable alternative to thermal treatments used to guarantee safety and long shelf life, which produce undesirable changes that affect the sensory quality of nuts. Non-thermal treatments can achieve results similar to those of the traditional (thermal) ones in terms of food safety, while ensuring minimal loss of bioactive compounds and sensory properties, thus obtaining a product as similar as possible to the fresh one. This article focuses on a review of the main non-thermal treatments currently available for nuts (cold plasma, high pressure, irradiation, pulsed electric field, pulsed light, ultrasound and ultraviolet light) in relation to their effects on the quality and safety of nuts. All the treatments studied have shown promise with regard to the inhibition of the main microorganisms affecting nuts (e.g., Aspergillus, Salmonella, and E. coli). Furthermore, by optimizing the treatment, it is possible to maintain the organoleptic and functional properties of these products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A vacuum infusion process was implemented to produce composite specimens from a random glass filament mat and an acrylic modified polyester resin curable upon irradiation with ultraviolet (UV) light. Through localized irradiation with UV light during the reinforcement impregnation, the viscosity of the flowing resin was increased selectively. This allowed converging–diverging flow patterns with defined inclusions to be realized and racetracking along reinforcement edges to be suppressed. The approach is based on radical photopolymerisation. Here, the degree of cure and the viscosity of the resin increase under direct irradiation, such that the resin gels and the flow stalls in a matter of seconds, but remain unchanged in areas covered with an opaque mask. While this study is concerned with the feasibility of the process, potential practical applications are in flow control for Liquid Composite Moulding, that is, compensation for local variations in the fiber volume fraction and permeability of reinforcements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] The optoelectronic properties of gallium arsenide (GaAs) hold great promise in biosensing applications, currently being held back by the lack of methodologies reporting the spatially selective functionalisation of this material with multiple biomolecules. Here, we exploit the use of a photoreactive crosslinker - a diazirine derivative - for spatially selective covalent immobilisation of multiple bioreceptors on the GaAs surface. As a proof of principle we show the immobilisation of two proteins: neutravidin and endosulfine alpha protein. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy results showed the presence of the biomolecules on the GaAs regions selectively exposed to ultraviolet light. The approach presented here is applicable to the covalent attachment of other biomolecules, paving the way for using GaAs as a platform for multiplexed biosensing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Pathogen inactivation (PI) technologies for platelet concentrates and plasma are steadily becoming more established, but new PI treatment options for red blood cells (RBCs), the most commonly used blood component, still need to be developed. We present a novel approach to inactivating pathogens in RBC units employing ultraviolet C (UVC) light. Methods: Whole blood‐derived leukoreduced RBCs suspended in PAGGS‐C, a third generation additive solution, served as test samples, and RBCs in PAGGS‐C or SAG‐M as controls. Vigorous agitation and hematocrit reduction by diluting the RBCs with additional additive solution during illumination ensured that UVC light penetrated and inactivated the nine bacteria and eight virus species tested. Bacterial and viral infectivity assays and in vitro analyses were performed to evaluate the system's PI capacity and to measure the RBC quality, metabolic, functional, and blood group serological parameters of UVC‐treated versus untreated RBCs during 36‐day storage. Results: UVC treatment of RBCs in the PAGGS‐C additive solution did not alter RBC antigen expression, but significantly influenced some in vitro parameters. Compared to controls, hemolysis was higher in UVC‐treated RBC units, but was still below 0.8% at 36 days of storage. Extracellular potassium increased early after PI treatment and reached ≤70 mmol/L by the end of storage. UVC‐treated RBC units had higher glucose and 2,3‐diphosphoglycerate levels than controls. Conclusion: As UVC irradiation efficiently reduces the infectivity of relevant bacteria and viruses while maintaining the quality of RBCs, the proposed method offers a new approach for PI of RBC concentrates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Origins-of-life chemical experiments usually aim to produce specific chemical end-products such as amino acids, nucleic acids or sugars. The resulting chemical systems do not evolve or adapt because they lack natural selection processes. We have modified Miller origins-of-life apparatuses to incorporate several natural, prebiotic physicochemical selection factors that can be tested individually or in tandem: freezing-thawing cycles; drying-wetting cycles; ultraviolet light-dark cycles; and catalytic surfaces such as clays or minerals. Each process is already known to drive important origins-of-life chemical reactions such as the production of peptides and synthesis of nucleic acid bases and each can also destroy various reactants and products, resulting selection within the chemical system. No previous apparatus has permitted all of these selection processes to work together. Continuous synthesis and selection of products can be carried out over many months because the apparatuses can be re-gassed. Thus, long-term chemical evolution of chemical ecosystems under various combinations of natural selection may be explored for the first time. We argue that it is time to begin experimenting with the long-term effects of such prebiotic natural selection processes because they may have aided biotic life to emerge by taming the combinatorial chemical explosion that results from unbounded chemical syntheses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Skin cancers have become a significant public health problem and increasing over the years. Two crucial risk factors for skin cancers are; phenotypic traits and sun-induced ultraviolet exposure. The risk of disease can be significantly reduced with sun protection. This study aimed to determine the knowledge levels of sun protection and sun avoidance behaviors of healthcare professionals and other professionals who have not yet been diagnosed with any cutaneous cancer. Materials and Methods: Between February and August 2022, the participants without a diagnosis of malignancy were evaluated. Demographic and clinical characteristics of patients related to skin cancer, including age and gender, were recorded. The questionnaire was applied to each participant, including the level of knowledge about sun protection and sun protection habits. Results: The mean age was 37 years. Of the participants, 116 were healthcare workers, and 392 were other professionals. The knowledge of sun protection among healthcare workers was given by doctors significantly higher than in others. However, other professions obtained sun protection information primarily through media communication tools (p<0.0001). The knowledge of using sunscreen half an hour before going out in the sun was higher in healthcare workers (p=0.009). Also, knowledge of reapplying sunscreen after swimming was higher among healthcare workers (p=0.009). We determined that sunscreen use and sunscreen >30 sun protection factor were higher in healthcare workers (p<0.0001, p=0.001, respectively). It is noteworthy that there was an insufficient number of nevus screening in both groups. Conclusion: Although the level of knowledge of individuals about taking protective measures against sun exposure is high, it was observed that individuals' attitudes and behaviors related to sun protection were insufficient. Campaigns to encourage the public to protect themselves from the sun within a general health program through doctor-supported social media tools may contribute to the elimination of the deficiencies we have identified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This letter demonstrates a novel HEMT controlled ultraviolet light emitter by directly modifying the drain of AlGaN/GaN HEMTs. The selective epitaxial growth (SEG) p-GaN on HEMTs contacts with two dimensional electron gas (2DEG) to form a lateral p-GaN/2DEG junction, which utilizes the recombination of holes in p-GaN and high-density electrons in 2DEG to realize luminescence. Our results show that the ultraviolet light with a maximum intensity of 374.9 nm is emitted by the new devices, which is also able to realize color conversion by driving quantum dots (QDs). The new method shows an idea of converting electrical devices into light-emitting devices, which is different from the traditional integration. This work represents the first light emitting HEMT without integrated LEDs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ultraviolet (UV) light has been reported to have both pro-oncogenic and anti-oncogenic effects. Since patient pigmentation can influence the role of UV light exposure, we thought to investigate the recent trends in thyroid cancer incidence and survival with an emphasis on patient race and UV exposure. Patients diagnosed with thyroid cancer from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database were identified. A total of 284,178 patients were enrolled. Data were stratified according to population sex, race, and state. UV exposure data in Watt-Hours Per Square Meter for the state were obtained from the National Cancer Institute Cancer Atlas. Thyroid cancer incidence rate varied by race, ranging from 14.9 cases per 100,000 in Asian or Pacific Islanders and 14.7 per 100,000 in Caucasians, to 8.7 per 100,000 in African American and 8.0 per 100,000 in Native Americans. UV exposure was negatively correlated with thyroid cancer incidence when analyzed across all populations (r = −0.299, p = 0.035). UV exposure was most steeply negatively correlated with thyroid cancer rates in Black populations (r = −0.56, p < 0.001). Despite this, Black men had the worst 5-year survival rate when compared to other ethnic populations. Overall, UV exposure does not increase the risk of thyroid cancer and may serve as a protective factor in the development of thyroid cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The spread of SARS‐CoV‐2 has resulted in the shortage of filtering facepiece respirators (FFRs). As a result, the use of ultraviolet (UV) irradiation for disinfection and reuse of FFRs has been the topic of much investigation. In this article, a mathematical model is developed based on Kubelka's theory to determine light transmission in multilayer materials, such as N95 masks. Using this model, the predicted UV transmittance and absorbance of a N95 mask layers were found to be in close agreement with the experimental values. In addition, when the mask was exposed to UV equally from both surfaces, the estimated minimum UV irradiance inside the N95 mask was 14.5% of the incident irradiance, suggesting a significant degree of light penetration. The proposed model provides a simple and practical methodology for the design and use of UV decontamination equipment for FFRs and other multilayer materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work investigated byproduct formation and in vitro genotoxicity and cytotoxicity at four facilities using UV/chlorine advanced oxidation for potable reuse or drinking water treatment. In arguably the most common application of UV/chlorine, treating reverse osmosis permeate for potable reuse, organic byproduct formation was always either not detected or well-below typical drinking water levels. At a groundwater-source drinking water treatment plant, the trihalomethanes and haloacetic acids each increased by up to 12 μg/L through the UV reactor and 40 μg/L during secondary disinfection, but the final concentrations remained low relative to regulatory limits. Overall, and aside from the known pathways of chlorate formation, the UV/chlorine byproduct and in vitro toxicity formation observed in this study was lower than what is generally found in many chlor(am)inated drinking waters, although there was some observed shift to more brominated species, which might be deserving of future research, given their higher in vitro toxicity compared to typical chlorinated species.

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.

Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy (FECD), the leading indication for corneal transplantation in the U.S., causes loss of corneal endothelial cells (CECs) and corneal edema leading to vision loss. FECD pathogenesis is linked to impaired response to oxidative stress and environmental ultraviolet A (UVA) exposure. Although UVA is known to cause nonapoptotic oxidative cell death resulting from iron-mediated lipid peroxidation, ferroptosis has not been characterized in FECD. We investigated the roles of genetic background and UVA exposure in causing CEC degeneration in FECD. Using ungenotyped FECD patient surgical samples, we found increased levels of cytosolic ferrous iron (Fe 2+ ) and lipid peroxidation in end-stage diseased tissues compared with healthy controls. Using primary and immortalized cell cultures modeling the TCF4 intronic trinucleotide repeat expansion genotype, we found altered gene and protein expression involved in ferroptosis compared to controls including elevated levels of Fe 2+ , basal lipid peroxidation, and the ferroptosis-specific marker transferrin receptor 1. Increased cytosolic Fe 2+ levels were detected after physiologically relevant doses of UVA exposure, indicating a role for ferroptosis in FECD disease progression. Cultured cells were more prone to ferroptosis induced by RSL3 and UVA than controls, indicating ferroptosis susceptibility is increased by both FECD genetic background and UVA. Finally, cell death was preventable after RSL3 induced ferroptosis using solubilized ubiquinol, indicating a role for anti-ferroptosis therapies in FECD. This investigation demonstrates that genetic background and UVA exposure contribute to iron-mediated lipid peroxidation and cell death in FECD, and provides the basis for future investigations of ferroptosis-mediated disease progression in FECD., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest Sanjib Saha, Declarations of interest: none. Jessica M. Skeie, Declarations of interest: none. Gregory A. Schmidt, Declarations of interest: none. Tim Eggleston, Declarations of interest: none. Hanna Shevalye, Declarations of interest: none. Christopher S. Sales, Declarations of interest: none. Pornpoj Phruttiwanichakun, Declarations of interest: none. Apurva Dusane, Declarations of interest: none. Matthew G. Field, Declarations of interest: none. Tommy A. Rinkoski, Declarations of interest: none. Michael P. Fautsch, Declarations of interest: none. Keith H. Baratz, Declarations of interest: none. Madhuparna Roy, Declarations of interest: none. Albert S. Jun, Declarations of interest: none. Chandler Pendleton, Declarations of interest: none. Aliasger K. Salem, Declarations of interest: none. Mark A. Greiner, Declarations of interest: none., (Published by Elsevier B.V.)

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., Competing Interests: No competing interests were disclosed., (Copyright: © 2024 Uppinakudru AP et al.)