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UV-A radiation contributes to photoaging/photocarcinogenesis by generating inflammation and oxidative damage. Current photoprotective strategies are limited by the availability/utilization of UV-A filters, highlighting an unmet need. Cannabidiol (CBD), having anti-inflammatory/antioxidant properties via regulation of nuclear erythroid 2–related factor, heme oxygenase 1, and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma, could potentially mitigate damage from UV-A exposure. This is a prospective, single-center, pilot clinical trial (NCT05279495). Nineteen participants applied nano-CBD (nCBD) or vehicle (VC) cream to randomized, blinded buttock sites twice daily for 14 days; then, the treated sites were irradiated with ≤3× UV-A minimal erythema dose. After 24 hours, punch biopsies were obtained for histology, immunohistochemistry, and real-time polymerase chain reaction. At 24 hours, 21% of participants had less observed erythema on CBD-treated skin than on VC skin. Histologically, nCBD-treated skin had reduced UV-A–induced epidermal hyperplasia than VC (P =.01). Immunohistochemistry detected reduced cytoplasmic/nuclear 8-oxoguanine glycosylase 1 staining in nCBD-treated skin compared with VC (P <.01). Quantitative mtDNA polymerase chain reaction demonstrated that UV-A–induced deletion of ND4 (proxy:4977 bp deletion; P =.003) and ND1 (proxy:3895 bp deletion; P =.002) was significantly reduced by in vivo nCBD treatment compared with VC. Small sample size is this study's limitation. Topically applied nCBD cream reduced UV-A–induced formation of a frequent mutagenic nuclear DNA base lesion and protected against mtDNA mutations associated with UV-A–induced skin aging. To our knowledge, this trial is the first to identify UV-protective capacity of CBD-containing topicals in humans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Abstract Background Acanthamoeba keratitis (AK) is the most challenging corneal infection to treat, with conventional therapies often proving ineffective. While photoactivated chromophore for keratitis-corneal cross-linking (PACK-CXL) with riboflavin/UV-A has shown success in treating bacterial and fungal keratitis, and PACK-CXL with rose bengal/green light has demonstrated promise in fungal keratitis, neither approach has been shown to effectively eradicate AK. This case study explores a novel combined same-session treatment approach using both riboflavin/UV-A and rose bengal/green light in a single procedure. Case presentation A 44-year-old patient with active AK in the left cornea, unresponsive to 10 months of conventional treatment according to American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) guidelines, was treated using same-session sequential PACK-CXL with riboflavin/UV-A (365 nm) irradiation (10 J/cm2) and rose bengal/green light (522 nm) irradiation (5.4 J/cm2) in a single setting. The procedure was repeated twice due to persistent signs of inflammation and infection. After three combined same-session PACK-CXL treatments, the patient’s cornea converted to a quiescent scar, and symptoms of ocular pain, photophobia, epiphora, and blepharospasm resolved. Confocal microscopy revealed no detectable A canthamoeba cysts. The patient currently awaits penetrating keratoplasty. Conclusions The same-session combination of riboflavin/UV-A and rose bengal/green light PACK-CXL effectively treated a patient with confirmed AK that was resistant to conventional medical therapy, suggesting that using two chromophores in a single procedure may represent a future treatment alternative for AK.

This study examined the protective effects of Spirulina platensis (SP) on African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) against ultraviolet radiation-A (UV-A) induced oxidative stress, immunotoxicity, and histological damage. Recognized for its nutritional value and environmental benefits, SP was evaluated as a potential bioremediation agent. The experiment involved four groups: a control group, a UV-A-exposed group, a UV-A + 100 mg/L SP group, and a UV-A + 200 mg/L SP group, with UV-A exposure for 1 h daily over 3 days. Serum markers of oxidative stress (superoxide dismutase (SOD), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), and malondialdehyde (MDA)) and immune responses (lysozyme (LYZ) and phagocytic activity (PhA)) were measured. UV-A exposure significantly decreased SOD and TAC levels and increased MDA levels. However, SP treatment countered these effects, raising SOD and TAC levels while lowering MDA levels in both SP-treated groups. Similarly, the UV-A-induced reduction in LYZ and PhA activities was reversed by SP treatment, returning to near control levels. Histological analysis showed substantial tissue damage in UV-A-exposed fish, which was mitigated in SP-treated groups, with higher SP concentrations offering greater protection. These results suggest that SP effectively reduces oxidative stress, boosts immune responses, and preserves tissue integrity in UV-A-exposed African catfish. Overall, this study highlights the potential of SP as a valuable bioremediation agent in aquaculture, promoting fish health and resilience to environmental stressors. SP emerges as a promising candidate for enhancing sustainable aquaculture practices through its protective and ameliorative properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Objectives: With the increasing prevalence of Crohn's disease (CD), treatment options for patients who fail conventional and advanced therapy are highly needed. Therefore, we explored the safety and efficacy of extracorporeal photopheresis (ECP) using 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) and blue light (405 nm). Methods: Patients with active CD who failed or were intolerant to biological therapy were eligible. Mononuclear cells (90 mL) were collected from each patient using a Spectra Optia® apheresis system and diluted with 100 mL of 0.9% sodium chloride in a collection bag. The cells were incubated with ALA at a concentration of 3 millimolar (mM) for 60 min ex vivo and illumination with an LED blue light (405 nm) source (BLUE-PIT®) before reinfusion to the patient. Recording of vital signs and adverse events were regularly performed. At week 13, we assessed the patients with colonoscopy, the Harvey Bradshaw Index (HBI), the Inflammatory Bowel disease Health Related Quality of Life Questionnaire, and the measurement of serum C-reactive protein and fecal calprotectin (FC) levels. Biopsies of the intestines were taken for immunohistochemistry. Results: Seven patients were included. Four patients completed the treatments, with a total of 24 treatments. Three of the four patients achieved a favorable response, including a lower HBI, lower FC levels, and/or endoscopic improvement. No significant adverse events were observed. The remaining three patients received only one, three, or five treatments due to technical difficulties, medical reasons, or the withdrawal of informed consent. Conclusions: ALA-based ECP appears safe and seems to give some clinical improvement for the patients with active CD who failed to respond to conventional and advanced therapies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Disinfection with LED lamps is a promising ecological and economical substitute for mercury lamps. However, the optimal time/dose relationship needs to be established. Pathogen inactivation by UV-A primarily relies on induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation and subsequent oxidative damage. While effective against bacteria and enveloped viruses, non-enveloped viruses are less sensitive. In this study, we explored the disinfection properties of 10 W UV-A LED, emitting in the 365–375 nm range. UV-A at high values of irradiance (~ 0.46 W/cm2) can potentially induce ROS formation and direct photochemical damage of the pathogen nucleic acids, thus improving the disinfection. The UV-A inactivation was evaluated for the bacterium Escherichia coli (E. coli), non-enveloped RNA bacteriophage MS2, and enveloped mammalian RNA virus—Semliki Forest virus (SFV). The 4 log10 reduction doses for E. coli and SFV were 268 and 241 J/cm2, respectively. Furthermore, in irradiated E. coli, ROS production positively correlated with the inactivation rate. In the case of MS2 bacteriophage, the 2.5 log10 inactivation was achieved by 679 J/cm2 within 30 min of irradiation. The results demonstrate significant disinfection efficiency of non-enveloped virus MS2 using high-irradiance UV-A. This suggests a potential strategy for improving the inactivation of UV-A-unsusceptible pathogens, particularly non-enveloped viruses. Additionally, the direct UV-A irradiation of self-replicating viral RNA from SFV led to a significant loss of viral gene expression in cells transfected with the irradiated RNA. Therefore, the virus inactivation mechanism of high-irradiance UV-A LED can be partially determined by the direct damage of viral RNA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ultraviolet radiation is a non‐ionizing radiation produced by longer wavelength energy sources with lower frequency and is categorized into UV‐A, UV‐B, and UV‐C. Minimal exposure to this radiation has several health benefits, which include treating microbial contaminations and skin therapies. However, the antimicrobial action of low‐dose UV‐A during pathogenic bacterial infections is still unrevealed. In this study, the impact of low‐dose UV‐A as pre‐ or post‐treatment using the model organism, Caenorhabditis elegans with candidate pathogens (Acinetobacter baumannii and Staphylococcus aureus) mediated infections was investigated. The results indicated enrichment of metabolites, reduced level of antioxidants, increased expression of dopamine biosynthesis and transportation, and decrease in serotonin biosynthesis when the organism was exposed to low‐dose UV‐A for 5 min. This, in turn, elevated the expression of candidate regulatory proteins involved in lifespan determination, innate immunity, and cAMP‐response element binding protein (CREB), which appear to increase the lifespan and brood size of C. elegans during A. baumannii and S. aureus infections. The findings suggested that the low‐dose UV‐A treatment during A. baumannii and S. aureus infections prolonged the lifespan and increased the egg‐laying capacity of C. elegans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

UV-B radiation can substantially impact plant growth. To study UV-B effects, broadband UV-B tubes are commonly used. Apart from UV-B, such tubes also emit UV-A wavelengths. This study aimed to distinguish effects of different UV-B intensities on Arabidopsis thaliana wildtype and UVR8 mutant rosette morphology, from those by accompanying UV-A. UV-A promotes leaf-blade expansion along the proximal–distal, but not the medio-lateral, axis. Consequent increases in blade length: width ratio are associated with increased light capture. However, petiole length is not affected by UV-A exposure. This scenario is distinct from the shade avoidance driven by low red to far-red ratios, whereby leaf blade elongation is impeded but petiole elongation is promoted. Thus, the UV-A mediated elongation response is phenotypically distinct from classical shade avoidance. UV-B exerts inhibitory effects on petiole length, blade length and leaf area, and these effects are mediated by UVR8. Thus, UV-B antagonises aspects of both UV-A mediated elongation and classical shade avoidance. Indeed, this study shows that accompanying UV-A wavelengths can mask effects of UV-B. This may lead to potential underestimates of the magnitude of the UV-B induced morphological response using broadband UV-B tubes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A mixed metal oxide W-TiO2 nanopowder photocatalyst was prepared by using the sol–gel method with a broad range of elemental compositions x = CW/(CW + CTi), including TiO2 and WO3. The material was structurally characterized and evaluated in adsorption and photocatalytic processes by testing its removal capacity of a representative pollutant methylene blue (MB) in aqueous solutions and under UV-A and sunlight illuminations. The nanopowders appeared to be more effective adsorbents than pure TiO2 and WO3 materials, showing a maximum at 15 mol% W, which was set as the tungsten solubility limit in anatase titania. At the same time, the photocatalytic decomposition of MB peaked at 2 mol% W. The examination of different compositions showed that the most effective MB removal took place at 15 mol% W, which was attributed to the combined action of adsorption and heterogeneous photocatalysis. Moreover, MB decomposition under sunlight was stronger than under UV-A, suggesting photocatalyst activation by visible light. The pollutant removal efficiency of the material with 15 mol% W was enhanced by a factor of ~10 compared to pure TiO2 at the beginning of the process, which shows its high potential for use in depollution processes in emergency cases of a great pollutant leak. As a result, a Wx=0.15-TiO2 catalyst could be of high interest for wastewater purification in industrial plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

UV light is known to cause damage to biomolecules in living tissue. Tissues of the eye that play highly specialised roles in forming our sense of sight are uniquely exposed to light of all wavelengths. While these tissues have evolved protective mechanisms to resist damage from UV wavelengths, prolonged exposure is thought to lead to pathological changes. In the lens, UV light exposure is a risk factor for the development of cataract, which is a condition that is characterised by opacity that impairs its function as a focusing element in the eye. Cataract can affect spatially distinct regions of the lens. Age-related nuclear cataract is the most prevalent form of cataract and is strongly associated with oxidative stress and a decrease in the antioxidant capacity of the central lens region. Since UV light can generate reactive oxygen species to induce oxidative stress, its effects on lens structure, transparency, and biochemistry have been extensively investigated in animal models in order to better understand human cataract aetiology. A review of the different light exposure models and the advances in mechanistic understanding gained from these models is presented.

Introduction: Clinical examination is an integral part of the dental practice, as it provides valuable information that helps a proper diagnosis and treatment planning. However, sometimes, clinical examination with the naked eye alone may not be sufficient to identify all relevant findings. In such cases, the use of aids like UV radiation can be helpful. Materials and methods: The use of UV-A (395nm) radiation in dentistry is still not completely understood and practically not implemented. Results and discussion: The present paper shows that UV radiation, specifically UV-A radiation, can be used to highlight important findings during oral examination. By using UV-A radiation, dental professionals can improve their clinical examination, leading to better diagnosis and treatment planning. Conclusions: This article will explore how the use of UV-A 395nm light can significantly aid clinicians in diagnosing dental ailments and provide a clearer visualization of the teeth for effective treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In spite of its variety of biological activities, the clinical exploitation of human NGF (hNGF) is currently limited to ocular pathologies. It is therefore interesting to test the effects of hNGF in preclinical models that may predict their efficacy and safety in the clinical setting of ocular disorders and compare the effects of hNGF with those of its analogs. We used a human retinal pigment cell line, ARPE-19 cells, to investigate the effects of hNGF and its analogs, mouse NGF (mNGF) and painless NGF (pNGF), on cell viability under basal conditions and after exposure to oxidative stimuli, i.e., hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and ultraviolet (UV)-A rays. The effects of hNGF and pNGF were also tested on the gene expression and protein synthesis of the two NGF receptor subtypes, p75 neurotrophic receptors (p75NTR) and tyrosine kinase A (TrkA) receptors. We drew the following conclusions: (i) the exposure of ARPE-19 cells to H2O2 or UV-A causes a dose-dependent decrease in the number of viable cells; (ii) under baseline conditions, hNGF, but not pNGF, causes a concentration-dependent decrease in cell viability in the range of doses 1–100 ng/mL; (iii) hNGF, but not pNGF, significantly potentiates the toxic effects of H2O2 or of UV-A on ARPE-19 cells in the range of doses 1–100 ng/mL, while mNGF at the same doses presents an intermediate behavior; (iv) 100 ng/mL of hNGF triggers an increase in p75NTR expression in H2O2-treated ARPE-19 cells, while pNGF at the same dose does not; (v) pNGF, but not hNGF (both given at 100 ng/mL), increases the total cell fluorescence intensity for TrkA receptors in H2O2-treated ARPE-19 cells. The present findings suggest a vicious positive feedback loop through which NGF-mediated upregulation of p75NTR contributes to worsening the toxic effects of oxidative damage in the human retinal epithelial cell line ARPE-19. Looking at the possible clinical relevance of these findings, one can postulate that pNGF might show a better benefit/risk ratio than hNGF in the treatment of ocular disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

UV-A- or UV-B-enriched growth light was given to basil plants at non-stress-inducing intensities. UV-A-enriched growth light gave rise to a sharp rise in the expression of PAL and CHS genes in leaves, an effect that rapidly declined after 1–2 days of exposure. On the other hand, leaves of plants grown in UV-B-enriched light had a more stable and long-lasting increase in the expression of these genes and also showed a stronger increase in leaf epidermal flavonol content. UV supplementation of growth light also led to shorter more compact plants with a stronger UV effect the younger the tissue. The effect was more prominent in plants grown under UV-B-enriched light than in those grown under UV-A. Parameters particularly affected were internode lengths, petiole lengths and stem stiffness. In fact, the bending angle of the 2nd internode was found to increase as much as 67% and 162% for plants grown in the UV-A- and UV-B-enriched treatments, respectively. The decreased stem stiffness was probably caused by both an observed smaller internode diameter and a lower specific stem weight, as well as a possible decline in lignin biosynthesis due to competition for precursors by the increased flavonoid biosynthesis. Overall, at the intensities used, UV-B wavelengths are stronger regulators of morphology, gene expression and flavonoid biosynthesis than UV-A wavelengths. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) can be programmed to provide specialized light sources and spectra for plant growth. UV-A (397.6 nm), blue (460.6 nm), green (520.7 nm), and red (661.9 nm) LED light sources were used to study the effects of different monochromatic lights on the growth, antioxidant system, and photosynthetic characteristics of Spathiphyllum floribundum 'Tian Jiao' (a shade-loving species) and Chrysanthemum morifolium 'Huang Xiu Qiu' (a sun-loving species). This research revealed that green and blue light could enhance the morphological indicators, Chl a/b, photosynthetic electron transfer chain performance, and photosystem activity of S. floribundum, blue and red light could enhance the solution protein, Chl a, and photosynthetic electron transfer chain performance of C. morifolium, red and UV-A light viewed the highest SOD and CAT activities of S. floribundum (275.56 U·min·g−1; 148.33 U·min·g−1) and C. morifolium (587.03 U·min·g−1; 98.33 U·min·g−1), respectively. Blue and green light were more suitable for the growth and development of the shade-loving plant S. floribundum, while red and blue light were more suitable for the sun-loving plant C. morifolium. UV-A light could be used for their stress research. The research revealed the different adaptation mechanism of different plants to light environmental conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

DEAD-box RNA helicases are ATP-dependent RNA binding proteins and RNA-dependent ATPases that possess weak, nonprocessive unwinding activity in vitro, but they can form long-lived complexes on RNAs when the ATPase activity is inhibited. Ded1 is a yeast DEAD-box protein, the functional ortholog of mammalian DDX3, that is considered important for the scanning efficiency of the 48S pre-initiation complex ribosomes to the AUG start codon. We used a modified PAR-CLIP technique, which we call quicktime PAR-CLIP (qtPAR-CLIP), to crosslink Ded1 to 4-thiouridine-incorporated RNAs in vivo using UV light centered at 365 nm. The irradiation conditions are largely benign to the yeast cells and to Ded1, and we are able to obtain a high efficiency of crosslinking under physiological conditions. We find that Ded1 forms crosslinks on the open reading frames of many different mRNAs, but it forms the most extensive interactions on relatively few mRNAs, and particularly on mRNAs encoding certain ribosomal proteins and translation factors. Under glucose-depletion conditions, the crosslinking pattern shifts to mRNAs encoding metabolic and stress-related proteins, which reflects the altered translation. These data are consistent with Ded1 functioning in the regulation of translation elongation, perhaps by pausing or stabilizing the ribosomes through its ATP-dependent binding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report on the degradation mechanisms and dynamics of silicone encapsulated ultraviolet A (UV-A) high-power light-emitting diodes (LEDs), with a peak wavelength of ${\mathrm {365~ \text {n} \text {m} }}$ . The stress tests were carried out for a period of 8665 hours with forward currents between ${\mathrm {350~ \text {m} \text {A} }}$ and ${\mathrm {700~ \text {m} \text {A} }}$ and junction temperatures up to 132°C. Depending on stress condition, a significant decrease in optical power could be observed, being accelerated with higher operating conditions. Devices stressed at a case temperature of 55 °C indicate a decrease in radiant flux between 10- ${\mathrm {40~\%}}$ varying with measurement current, whereas samples stressed at higher case temperatures exhibit crack formation in the silicone encapsulant accompanied by electromigration shorting the active region. The analyzed current and temperature dependency of the degradation mechanisms allows to propose a degradation model to determine the device lifetime at different operating parameters. Additional stress test data collected at different aging conditions is used to validate the model’s lifetime predictions.

The goal of the current study was to evaluate the effects of gamma ray, UV-C, UV-A (ultraviolet) treatments as seed priming on the growth, yield, quality, and the storage ability of cauliflower heads. The seeds were exposed to the following treatments: 50 and 75 kGy (gamma ray), UV-C for 15, 30, 45 minutes, and UVA for 15, 30, 45 minutes. Plant growth and yield parameters were evaluated at the harvest time. The cauliflower heads from previous treatments were stored at 5° C for 16 days to evaluate their shelf-life traits. The results indicated that gamma ray, UV-C, and UV-A treatments enhanced the plant growth characteristics including plant height, leaf length, number of leaves, plant fresh weight, SPAD reading, and plant dry weight. Additionally, the cauliflower seeds treated with different treatments showed higher total yield, head diameter, and head weight than the control plants. The storage ability including weight loss, total soluble solids, and antioxidant capacity during refrigerated storage of cauliflower heads was not affected by the different treatments, however UVA treatment enhanced vitamin C and phenolic compounds compared to the control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The lipid profile of skin is fundamental in the maintenance of the protective barrier against the external environment. Signaling and constitutive lipids of this large organ are involved in inflammation, metabolism, aging, and wound healing, such as phospholipids, triglycerides, FFA, and sphingomyelin. Skin exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation results in a photoaging process that is an accelerated form of aging. UV-A radiation deeply penetrates the dermis and promotes damage to DNA, lipids, and proteins by increasing the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Carnosine, an endogenous β-alanyl-L-histidine dipeptide, demonstrated antioxidant properties that prevent photoaging and modification of skin protein profiling, making carnosine a compelling ingredient to consider for use in dermatology. The aim of this research was to investigate the modification of skin lipidome after UV-A treatment in presence or not of topic administration of carnosine. Quantitative analyses based on high-resolution mass spectrometry of nude mice skin-extracted lipids resulted in several modifications of barrier composition after UV-A radiation, with or without carnosine treatment. In total, 328 out of 683 molecules showed significant alteration—262 after UV-A radiation and 126 after UV-A and carnosine treatment versus controls. Importantly, the increased oxidized TGs after UV-A radiation, responsible of dermis photoaging, were completely reverted by carnosine application to prevent the UV-A damage. Network analyses also showed that the production of ROS and the calcium and TNF signaling were modulated by UV-A and carnosine. In conclusion, lipidome analyses attested the carnosine activity to prevent the UV-A damage, reducing the lipid oxidation, the inflammation, and the dysregulation of lipid skin barrier. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The antimicrobial efficacy of novel photodynamic inactivation and nanobubble technologies was evaluated against Vibrio parahaemolyticus and Aeromonas hydrophila as two important aquatic microbial pathogens. Photodynamic inactivation results showed that LED (470 nm) and UV-A (400 nm)-activated curcumin caused a complete reduction in V. parahaemolyticus at 4 and 22 °C, and a greater than 2 log cfu/mL reduction in A. hydrophila, which was curcumin concentration-dependent (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the photodynamic approach caused a greater than 6 log cfu/mL V. parahaemolyticus reduction and more than 4 log cfu/mL of A. hydrophila reduction in aquaponic water samples (p < 0.05). Our results with the nanobubble technology showed that the nanobubbles alone did not significantly reduce bacteria (p > 0.05). However, a greater than 6 log cfu/mL A. hydrophila reduction and a greater than 3 log cfu/mL of V. parahaemolyticus reduction were achieved when nanobubble technology was combined with ultrasound (p < 0.05). The findings described in this study illustrate the potential of applying photodynamic inactivation and nanobubble-ultrasound antimicrobial approaches as alternative novel methods for inactivating fish and shellfish pathogens.

The need for more effective antimicrobials is critical for the food industry to improve food safety and reduce spoilage of minimally processed foods. The present study was initiated to develop an efficient and novel antimicrobial approach which combines physical treatments (UV-A or mild heat) and generally recognized as safe lauroyl arginate ethyl (LAE) to inactivate surrogate strains, including Escherichia coli and Listeria innocua Synergistic inactivation of bacteria resulted in an ∼6-log reduction of target bacteria, while individual treatments resulted in 5-log reduction. Further mechanistic study revealed that oxidative stress is responsible for synergistic inactivation between LAE and UV-A, while both membrane damage and oxidative stress are responsible for the synergistic combination between LAE and mild heat. The mode of action of LAE was further compared to that of polymyxin B and analyzed using artificial membrane model systems and the addition of antioxidants. The proposed combination of LAE and common physical treatments may improve food preservation, food safety, and current sanitation processes for the food industry and the inactivation of pathogenic strains in biomedical environments.

As an indispensable element in the morphology and phytochemical profile of plants, UV-A has proved to help promote the growth and quality of kale. In this study, UV-A supplementation in different photoperiods (light period supplemental UVA = LS, dark period supplemental UVA = DS, and light-dark period supplemental UVA = LDS) contributed to yielding greater biomass production (fresh weight, dry weight, and plant moisture content), thus improving morphology (plant height, stem diameter, etc.) and promoting higher phytochemicals content (flavonoids, vitamin c, etc.), especially glucosinolates. To fathom its mechanisms, this study, using RNA-seq, verified that UV-A supplementation treatments signally generated related DEGs of plant hormone signal pathway, circadian rhythm plant pathway, glucosinolate pathway, etc. Moreover, 2047 DEGs were obtained in WGCNA, illustrating the correlations between genes, treatments, and pathways. Additionally, DS remarkedly up-regulated related DEGs of the key pathways and ultimately contributed to promoting the stem diameter, plant height, etc., thus increasing the pigment, biomass, vitamin c, etc., enhancing the antioxidant capacity, and most importantly, boosting the accumulations of glucosinolates in kale. In short, this study displayed new insights into UV-A supplementation affected the pathways related to the morphology and phytochemical profile of kale in plant factories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Corneal ulcers are one of the most common ocular disorders in veterinary ophthalmology and several factors can negatively influence the efficacy of the currently available therapeutic options, leading to a loss of corneal transparency and, thus, vision. Twenty-five dogs with clinical signs of corneal ulcers were randomised to receive either corneal phototherapy (16 dogs; study group) or topical standard medical therapy (9 dogs; control group). The riboflavin/UV-A corneal phototherapy (PACK-CXL) consisted in the application of a riboflavin ophthalmic solution (Visioflavin®; Vision Engineering Italy srl, Rome, Italy) onto the cornea for 20 min followed by 30 mW/cm2 UV-A irradiance for 3 min using a point-of-care UV-A device (Vetuvir®; Vision Engineering Italy srl, Rome, Italy). The complete healing of the ulcerative lesion was defined as the complete restoration of the corneal epithelial integrity with negative fluorescein staining. The corneal phototherapy achieved complete corneal healing in all the dogs by 20.5 ± 7.8 days. In the control group, only two dogs achieved complete healing by 21.5 ± 15.6 days. This intervention may represent a valid option to hasten corneal wound healing and a clinical resolution of ulcerative keratitis in dogs.

$\mathrm{TiO}_2$_Pd prepared by the incipient wet impregnation (IWI) method was successfully used as a photocatalyst for the degradation of an emerging water pollutant, clofibric acid (CA). It exhibits an improved photoactivity in comparison with different commercial titania in the degradation of CA (25 ppm). The irradiation intensity, photocatalyst dose, CA concentration and influence of water quality and of some salts in the reaction medium were systematically examined to understand their effects on the process efficiency. A total pollutant decomposition and a high mineralization yield (78%) were achieved in 50 and 190 min, respectively, in the optimal conditions, which is very promising for practical applications.

Purpose: To investigate the effects of riboflavin and/or ultraviolet-A (UV-A) irradiation on the cell viability of ex-vivo-cultured rat limbal stem cells (LSCs). Methods: LSCs of male Wistar rats (N = 12 eyes) were cultured, and immunofluorescence staining was performed to evaluate them. After characterization, these cells were assigned to four groups of control (C), a group that was exposed to UV-A radiation (UV), a group that was treated with riboflavin (R), and a group that cotreated with both UV-A and riboflavin (UV+R). To determine the cell viability of LSCs, these cells were subjected to MTT assay on days 1, 3, and 7 after exposure to UV-A and/or riboflavin. The duration of exposure to UV-A and riboflavin was similar to levels used during the conventional corneal collagen cross-linking procedure. Results: Compared with the viable cells in the control group, there was a significant decrease (P < 0.0001) in the number of LSCs in the UV group during all study days. In the R group, the level of viable LSCs was as same as the level of viable LSCs in the C group. Combined treatment with UV-A plus riboflavin significantly decreased the survival of LSCs on days 1 and 3 (P < 0.0001, P < 0.001, respectively) compared with the control group. Interestingly, in the UV+R group, the photosensitizing effect of riboflavin significantly decreased the cytotoxic effect of UV irradiation 7 days after exposure. Conclusion: These results suggest that the administered UV energy in the presence or absence of riboflavin can damage LSCs. Likewise, riboflavin could decrease the toxic effect of UVA on LSCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water pollution has become a serious environmental issue. The textile industries using textile dyes are considered to be one of the most polluting of all industrial sectors. The application of solar-light semiconductor catalysts in wastewater treatment, among which TiO2 can be considered a prospective candidate, is limited by rapid recombination of photogenerated charge carriers. To address these limitations, TiO2 was tailored with graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) to develop a heterostructure of g-C3N4@TiO2. Herein, a simple hydrothermal synthesis of TiO2@g-C3N4 is presented, using titanium isopropoxide (TTIP) and urea as precursors. The morphological and optical properties and the structure of g-C3N4, TiO2, and the prepared heterostructure TiO2@g-C3N4 (with different wt.% up to 32%), were analyzed by various laboratory methods. The photocatalytic activity was studied through the degradation of methylene blue (MB) aqueous solution under UV-A and simulated solar irradiation. The results showed that the amount of g-C3N4 and the irradiation source are the most important influences on the efficiency of MB removal by g-C3N4@TiO2. Photocatalytic degradation of MB was also examined in realistic conditions, such as natural sunlight and different aqueous environments. The synthesized g-C3N4@TiO2 nanocomposite showed superior photocatalytic properties in comparison with pure TiO2 and g-C3N4, and is thus a promising new photocatalyst for real-life implementation. The degradation mechanism was investigated using scavengers for electrons, photogenerated holes, and hydroxyl radicals to find the responsible species for MB degradation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant secondary metabolism, as well as the growth and development of specific photomorphogenic responses, can be induced by UV light. The effects of UV-A and UV-B irradiations on the antioxidant activity and fluorescence characteristics of Glycine max L. seeds were investigated for two different exposure periods (1, 3 h). The antioxidant activity and photoluminescent characteristics of irradiated seeds were evaluated by the DPPH (2,2'-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical) assay and excitation-emission matrices (EEMs) fluorescence spectroscopy, respectively. The DPPH scavenging activity significantly increased with exposure time in the UV-A treated seeds, while variations were observed after UV-B treatment. EEM showed three main peaks characterized with excitation/emission 280/355 nm (Peak A), 290/400 nm (Peak B), and 370/465 nm (Peak C). The most prominent change in fluorescence intensity was observed in peak B. Obtained results indicate that the type of UV radiation, as well as period of exposure, induce biochemical and biophysical changes in the soybean seeds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Insects can be exposed to ultraviolet (UV) radiation throughout their lifecycle when they rest, forage, and mate. The negative effects that such highly energetic photons can have on insect fitness are not well‐known, especially for natural exposure during the adult stage. Adult insects are considered to be more resistant to UV radiation than their immature stages, but this assumption is supported by only a few studies on a restricted set of pest species. We conducted the first investigation of the vulnerability of parasitoid adults to UV exposure, by assessing the longevity and potential fecundity of female Telenomus podisi Ashmead and Trissolcus utahensis Ashmead (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae) receiving low doses of UV‐A and visible radiation daily in the laboratory. Parasitoids died up to 2× faster with increasing levels of UV radiation, and, to a lesser extent, of visible radiation. There was no effect of UV radiation on maximum egg load resulting from oogenesis in early adulthood. This study on beneficial insects indicates that the physiological consequences of cumulative exposure to even mild doses of more energetic optical radiation, particularly in the UV range, should not be underestimated in natural and managed ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ostrinia furnacalis (Guenée) is a major insect pest in maize production that is highly adaptable to the environment. Small heat shock proteins (sHsps) are a class of chaperone proteins that play an important role in insect responses to various environmental stresses. The present study aimed to clarify the responses of six O. furnacalis sHsps to environmental stressors. In particular, we cloned six sHsp genes, namely, OfHsp24.2 , OfHsp21.3 , OfHsp20.7 , OfHsp21.8 , OfHsp29.7 , and OfHsp19.9 , from O. furnacalis. The putative proteins encoded by these genes contained a typical α-crystallin domain. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction was used to analyze the differences in the expression of these genes at different developmental stages, in different tissues of male and female adults, and in O. furnacalis under UV-A and extreme temperature stresses. The six OfsHsp genes were expressed at significantly different levels based on the developmental stage and tissue type in male and female adults. Furthermore, all OfsHsp genes were significantly upregulated in both male and female adults under extreme temperature and UV-A stresses. Thus, O. furnacalis OfsHsp genes play important and unique regulatory roles in the developmental stages of the insect and in response to various environmental stressors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Health care-associated infections (HAIs), albeit being the most frequent adverse event in health care, are mostly preventable through hand hygiene (HH). Given the extremely low HH compliance among healthcare workers (HCWs), educational initiatives aimed at this group are crucial. This study used an ultraviolet (UV)-based technology to assess the efficacy of an educational and training program on HH for HCWs in a second-level hospital in southern Italy., Methods: A quasi-experimental study was conducted between November 2020 and February 2022. Participants were asked to rub their hands with an UV-labelled disinfectant solution before having digital images of both sides of their hands taken under UV-A light, using a device that recorded the solution's distribution on each surface before and after the training session. The instrument recorded the percentage of surface covered (quantitative data) for each measurement along with the eventual passing of the 95% threshold (qualitative data)., Results: Following the training session, we observed a significant increase in the number of valid procedures as well as the mean coverage (expressed as the percentage of surface covered) for each surface examined. From 16.9% in the pre-interventional phase to 48.7% in the post-interventional phase, the percentage of HCWs who exceeded the 95% threshold on both sides of hands increased significantly (p<0,001)., Conclusions: The findings of our study show that the training intervention was effective in raising participants HH performance. Secondly, they suggest that giving HCWs immediate visual feedback on their progress throughout the learning process could help increase HH adequacy., Competing Interests: Conflicts of interest: None to declare

Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) can be programmed to provide specialized light sources and spectra for plant growth. UV-A (397.6 nm), blue (460.6 nm), green (520.7 nm), and red (661.9 nm) LED light sources were used to study the effects of different monochromatic lights on the growth, antioxidant system, and photosynthetic characteristics of Spathiphyllum floribundum ‘Tian Jiao’ (a shade-loving species) and Chrysanthemum morifolium ‘Huang Xiu Qiu’ (a sun-loving species). This research revealed that green and blue light could enhance the morphological indicators, Chl a/b, photosynthetic electron transfer chain performance, and photosystem activity of S. floribundum, blue and red light could enhance the solution protein, Chl a, and photosynthetic electron transfer chain performance of C. morifolium, red and UV-A light viewed the highest SOD and CAT activities of S. floribundum (275.56 U·min·g−1; 148.33 U·min·g−1) and C. morifolium (587.03 U·min·g−1; 98.33 U·min·g−1), respectively. Blue and green light were more suitable for the growth and development of the shade-loving plant S. floribundum, while red and blue light were more suitable for the sun-loving plant C. morifolium. UV-A light could be used for their stress research. The research revealed the different adaptation mechanism of different plants to light environmental conditions.

Se evaluaron los cambios en la radiación transmitida a través de films fotoselectivos (FS) fluorescentes y el impacto de estos cambios sobre la producción de tres cultivares de rosa para corte Fuego Negro, Maroussia y Anna. Se observó que los FS nuevos o expuestos a la radiación solar vs. noFS disminuyen la transmisión de radiación azul (A) (-28,4 a -32,9%, respectivamente), incrementan el R produciendo una relación R:RL mayor (+3,6%), si bien transmiten algo menos de radiación fotosintéticamente activa que los noFS nuevos. El número de rosas producidas fue significativamente mayor bajo el FS vs. noFS en los tres cv (+24, +32 y +36% en Anna, Fuego Negro y Maroussia, respectivamente), con un peso fresco y seco (PF y PS) significativamente mayor y tallos florales más largos en Anna y Maroussia (50,69 y 43,91 cm vs. 38,91 y 40,04 cm en invierno y primavera, respectivamente), y pimpollos significativamente más largos y de mayor PF y PS en los tres cv. Mayor relación R:RL y menor UV-A y A en la radiación transmitida por films FS aumentaron la cantidad y calidad de determinados cultivares de rosas mostrando una alternativa a los reguladores químicos de crecimiento.

Since its use for photochemical water splitting reported first in 1972, TiO2 is one of the most extensively studied photocatalysts for a diverse range of applications. Monodoping or codoping of the catalyst is a proven strategy to enhance the functionality of TiO2 under solar or visible light. However, the use of three or more dopants in the development of more efficient and visible light active photocatalysts has not been investigated widely, especially for microbial disinfection. Boron/cerium/silver tridoped TiO2 photocatalysts with curated amounts of the dopants (B = 1, 2 at.%, Ce = 0.1 at.%, Ag = 0.06 at.%), synthesized by the ecofriendly EDTA-citrate method, were evaluated for the disinfection of water using Enterococcus faecalis under UV-A irradiation and degradation of levofloxacin antibiotic under solar light. The catalyst characterization revealed that the spherical nanoparticles had a crystallite size of ~ 13 nm and bandgap energy values of 2.8–2.9 eV. 2B-0.1Ce-0.06Ag-TiO2 is the best catalyst for microbial disinfection with a log reduction and kinetic rate constant ~ 30 and ~ 4.5 times higher than those values determined for the other codoped or monodoped catalysts, confirming an enhanced performance. Regarding levofloxacin degradation, the best performing catalyst is 1B-0.1Ce-0.06Ag-TiO2 with degradation of 99% and 83% COD reduction in 100 min. The tridoped photocatalysts are very effective in the inactivation of Enterococcus faecalis, thus solving the problem of antimicrobial resistance in waters containing antibiotic residues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Different intensities of UV-A (6, 12, 18 μmol·m−2s−1) were applied in a plant factory to evaluate the combined influences of supplemental UV-A and red and blue light (Red:Blue = 1:1 at PPFD of 250 μmol·m−2 s−1) on the biomass, antioxidant activity and phytochemical accumulation of kale. Supplemental UV-A treatments (T1: 6 μmol·m−2 s−1, T2: 12 μmol·m−2 s−1 and T3: 18 μmol·m−2 s−1) resulted in higher moisture content, higher pigment content, and greater leaf area of kale while T2 reached its highest point. T2 treatment positively enhanced the antioxidant capacity, increased the contents of soluble protein, soluble sugar and reduced the nitrate content. T1 treatment markedly increased the content of aliphatic glucosinolate (GSL), whereas T2 treatment highly increased the contents of indolic GSL and total GSL. Genes related to GSL biosynthesis were down-regulated in CK and T3 treatments, while a majority of them were greatly up-regulated by T1 and T2. Hence, supplemental 12 μmol·m−2 s−1 UV-A might be a promising strategy to enhance the growth and quality of kale in a plant factory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

UV-A is the main ultraviolet component of natural (solar) radiation. Despite it, its effect on phototrophs is studied less than UV-B. Effects of UV-A on photosynthetic apparatus of three carotenoid-producing microalgae were elucidated. Photosynthetic activity was studied using chlorophyll fluorescence analysis. Cell extracts were evaluated by absorbance spectroscopy. On the one hand, there were some common features of three strains. In all cases the changes involved PSII primary photochemistry and antennae size. All strains accumulated UV-absorbing polar compounds. On the other hand, some responses were different. Upregulation of non-photochemical quenching was observed only in B. aggregatus BM5/15, whereas in other cases its level was low. H. rubicundus BM7/13 and Deasonia sp. NAMSU 934/2 accumulated secondary carotenoids, whereas B. aggregatus BM5/15 accumulated primary ones. Microscopic features of the cultures were also different. H. rubicundus BM7/13 and Deasonia sp. NAMSU 934/2 were represented mostly by solitaire cells or small cell clusters, lacking their green color; the cells of B. aggregatus BM5/15 formed aggregates from green cells. Cell aggregation could be considered as an additional UV-protecting mechanism. Finally, the strains differed by their viability. B. aggregatus BM5/15 was most resistant to UV-A, whereas massive cell death was observed in two other cultures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

UV-A radiation (320–400 nm) is an abiotic stressor that may be used to enhance the production of beneficial secondary metabolites in crops such as leafy vegetables. However, tradeoffs between enhanced phytochemical contents and overall growth/yield reductions have been reported. The responses varied depending on the UV-A intensity, spectral peak, exposure time, species, and varieties. We quantified the changes in growth, morphology, photosynthesis, and phenolic contents of sweet basil grown under a base red/blue/green LED light with four supplemental UV-A intensity treatments (0, 10, 20, and 30 W·m−2) in an indoor environment over 14 days. The objective was to determine whether UV-A radiation could be utilized to improve both yield and quality of high-value sweet basil in a controlled production environment. Biomass harvested at 14 days after treatment (DAT) was highest under mild-intensity UV-A treatment of 10 W·m−2 and lowest under high-intensity UV-A treatment of 30 W·m−2. The total leaf area and the number of leaves were significantly lower under the 30 W·m−2 treatment than under the 10 and 20 W·m−2 treatments at 14 DAT. The maximum quantum efficiency of photosystem II (PSII) for photochemistry (Fv/Fm) showed a gradual decrease under the 20 and 30 W·m−2 treatments from 3 to 14 DAT, whereas Fv/Fm remained relatively constant under the 0 and 10 W·m−2 treatments over the entire 14 days. The leaf net photosynthesis rate showed a significant decrease of 17.4% in the 30 W·m−2 treatment compared to that in the 10 W·m−2 treatment at 14 DAT. Phenolic contents (PAL enzyme activity, total phenolic concentration, and antioxidant capacity) were the highest under the 20 W·m−2 treatment, followed by the 10, 30, and 0 W·m−2 treatments. Overall, our results indicate that the biomass production and accumulation of beneficial phenolic compounds in sweet basil varied depending on the intensity and duration of UV-A application. Mild UV-A radiation (10–20 W·m−2) can be a beneficial stressor to improve sweet basil yield and quality over relatively long-term cultivation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Corneal ulcers are one of the most common ocular disorders in veterinary ophthalmology and several factors can negatively influence the efficacy of the currently available therapeutic options, leading to a loss of corneal transparency and, thus, vision. Twenty-five dogs with clinical signs of corneal ulcers were randomised to receive either corneal phototherapy (16 dogs; study group) or topical standard medical therapy (9 dogs; control group). The riboflavin/UV-A corneal phototherapy (PACK-CXL) consisted in the application of a riboflavin ophthalmic solution (Visioflavin®; Vision Engineering Italy srl, Rome, Italy) onto the cornea for 20 min followed by 30 mW/cm² UV-A irradiance for 3 min using a point-of-care UV-A device (Vetuvir®; Vision Engineering Italy srl, Rome, Italy). The complete healing of the ulcerative lesion was defined as the complete restoration of the corneal epithelial integrity with negative fluorescein staining. The corneal phototherapy achieved complete corneal healing in all the dogs by 20.5 ± 7.8 days. In the control group, only two dogs achieved complete healing by 21.5 ± 15.6 days. This intervention may represent a valid option to hasten corneal wound healing and a clinical resolution of ulcerative keratitis in dogs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Vitamin D may have a role in immune responses to viral infections. However, data on the association between vitamin D and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) severity have been limited and inconsistent. Objective We examined the associations of predicted vitamin D status and intake with risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 severity. Methods We used data from periodic surveys (May 2020 to March 2021) within the Nurses' Health Study II. Among 39,315 participants, 1768 reported a positive test for SARS-CoV-2 infection. Usual vitamin D intake from foods and supplements were measured using a semiquantitative, pre-pandemic food-frequency questionnaire in 2015. Predicted 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] concentration were calculated based on a previously validated model including dietary and supplementary vitamin D intake, UV-B, and other behavioral predictors of vitamin D status. Results Higher predicted 25(OH)D concentrations, but not vitamin D intake, were associated with a lower risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Comparing participants in the highest quintile of predicted 25(OH)D concentrations with the lowest, the multivariable-adjusted OR was 0.76 (95% CI: 0.58, 0.99; P -trend = 0.04). Participants in the highest quartile of UV-B (OR: 0.76; 95% CI: 0.66, 0.87; P -trend = 0.002) and UV-A (OR: 0.76; 95% CI: 0.66, 0.88; P -trend < 0.001) also had a lower risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection compared with the lowest. High intake of vitamin D from supplements (≥400 IU/d) was associated with a lower risk of hospitalization (OR: 0.51; 95% CI: 0.29, 0.91; P -trend = 0.04). Conclusions Our study provides suggestive evidence on the association between higher predicted circulating 25(OH)D concentrations and a lower risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Greater intake of vitamin D supplements was associated with a lower risk of hospitalization. Our data also support an association between exposure to UV-B or UV-A, independently of vitamin D and SARS-CoV-2 infection, so results for predicted 25(OH)D need to be interpreted cautiously. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

UV-A radiation (320–400 nm) is an abiotic stressor that may be used to enhance the production of beneficial secondary metabolites in crops such as leafy vegetables. However, tradeoffs between enhanced phytochemical contents and overall growth/yield reductions have been reported. The responses varied depending on the UV-A intensity, spectral peak, exposure time, species, and varieties. We quantified the changes in growth, morphology, photosynthesis, and phenolic contents of sweet basil grown under a base red/blue/green LED light with four supplemental UV-A intensity treatments (0, 10, 20, and 30 W·m−2) in an indoor environment over 14 days. The objective was to determine whether UV-A radiation could be utilized to improve both yield and quality of high-value sweet basil in a controlled production environment. Biomass harvested at 14 days after treatment (DAT) was highest under mild-intensity UV-A treatment of 10 W·m−2 and lowest under high-intensity UV-A treatment of 30 W·m−2. The total leaf area and the number of leaves were significantly lower under the 30 W·m−2 treatment than under the 10 and 20 W·m−2 treatments at 14 DAT. The maximum quantum efficiency of photosystem II (PSII) for photochemistry (Fv/Fm) showed a gradual decrease under the 20 and 30 W·m−2 treatments from 3 to 14 DAT, whereas Fv/Fm remained relatively constant under the 0 and 10 W·m−2 treatments over the entire 14 days. The leaf net photosynthesis rate showed a significant decrease of 17.4% in the 30 W·m−2 treatment compared to that in the 10 W·m−2 treatment at 14 DAT. Phenolic contents (PAL enzyme activity, total phenolic concentration, and antioxidant capacity) were the highest under the 20 W·m−2 treatment, followed by the 10, 30, and 0 W·m−2 treatments. Overall, our results indicate that the biomass production and accumulation of beneficial phenolic compounds in sweet basil varied depending on the intensity and duration of UV-A application. Mild UV-A radiation (10–20 W·m−2) can be a beneficial stressor to improve sweet basil yield and quality over relatively long-term cultivation.

As an indispensable element in the morphology and phytochemical profile of plants, UV-A has proved to help promote the growth and quality of kale. In this study, UV-A supplementation in different photoperiods (light period supplemental UVA = LS, dark period supplemental UVA = DS, and light-dark period supplemental UVA = LDS) contributed to yielding greater biomass production (fresh weight, dry weight, and plant moisture content), thus improving morphology (plant height, stem diameter, etc.) and promoting higher phytochemicals content (flavonoids, vitamin c, etc.), especially glucosinolates. To fathom its mechanisms, this study, using RNA-seq, verified that UV-A supplementation treatments signally generated related DEGs of plant hormone signal pathway, circadian rhythm plant pathway, glucosinolate pathway, etc. Moreover, 2047 DEGs were obtained in WGCNA, illustrating the correlations between genes, treatments, and pathways. Additionally, DS remarkedly up-regulated related DEGs of the key pathways and ultimately contributed to promoting the stem diameter, plant height, etc., thus increasing the pigment, biomass, vitamin c, etc., enhancing the antioxidant capacity, and most importantly, boosting the accumulations of glucosinolates in kale. In short, this study displayed new insights into UV-A supplementation affected the pathways related to the morphology and phytochemical profile of kale in plant factories.

BACKGROUND: Stevia rebaudiana is a high value crop due to the strong commercial demand for its metabolites (steviol glycosides) but has limited geographical cultivation range. In non‐native environments with different daylength and light quality, Stevia has low germination rates and early flowering resulting in lower biomass and poor yield of the desired metabolites. In this study, artificial lighting with light‐emitting diodes (LEDs) was used to determine if different light quality within and outside of the photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) range can be used to improve germination rates and yields for production of steviol glycosides for the herbal supplement and food industry. RESULTS: Plants treated with red and blue light at an intensity of 130 μmol m−2 s−1 supplemented with 5% of UV‐A light under a 16‐h photoperiod produced the most desirable overall results with a high rate of germination, low percentage of early flowering, and high yields of dry leaf, stevioside and rebaudioside A, 175 days after planting. CONCLUSION: While red and blue light combinations are effective for plant growth, the use of supplemental non‐PAR irradiation of UV‐A wavelength significantly and desirably delayed flowering, enhanced germination, biomass, rebaudioside A and stevioside yields, while supplemental green light improved yield of biomass and rebaudioside A, but not stevioside. Overall, the combination of red, blue and UV‐A light resulted in the best overall productivity for Stevia rebaudiana. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chinese kale baby leaves were hydroponically cultured under the basal light (Red: white LEDs = 2:3 at PPFD of 250 μmol·m−2·s−1) with different supplemental lighting, including individual ultraviolet-A (UV-A, 380 ± 10 nm, 20 μmol·m−2·s−1), far-red (FR, 735 ± 10 nm, 30 μmol·m−2·s−1) light, and their combination (UF) radiation in an artificial light plant factory. Effects of supplemental light qualities on morphology and physiology as well as health-promoting compounds of Chinese kale baby leaves were investigated. Application of UV-A and FR presented a positive effect on biomass, with a pronounced increase in petiole length, stem diameter, main stem length, and leaf area. Notably, plants under UF grew more vigorously than under other treatments. Higher levels of FRAP, vitamin C, total phenolic, and flavonoid were observed in plants under UV-A, while no striking changes or a decreasing trend recorded under FR and UF. Moreover, UV-A enhanced the glucosinolates (GLs) accumulation in Chinese kale baby leaves by increasing the predominant GLs (glucoraphanin and glucobrassicin) contents. RT-qPCR results indicated that UV-A upregulated the gene expressions of transcription factors and core structure genes related to GLs biosynthesis. However, downregulated or unchanged gene expressions of GLs biosynthesis-related genes in Chinese kale baby leaves were observed in FR and UF. Therefore, UV-A was benefited for the production of functional substances, while FR was conducive to a significant increase in crop yield. The combination of UV-A and FR, as a balance between yield and production of secondary metabolite, provided a new perspective for the application of artificial light in horticultural crop production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hamamelis virginiana L. a rich source of both condensed and hydrolyzable tannins, utilized to treat dermatological disorders. Since no experimental and clinical data is available for its use as oral formulation in skin related disorders, the purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of Hamaforton™ (Hamamelis virginiana extract) metabolites on gene dysregulation induced by ultraviolet A radiation in cultured human dermal fibroblasts. A combination of in vivo and ex vivo experimental designs has been exploited in order to take into account the polyphenol metabolic transformation that occurs in humans. 12 healthy volunteers received either a capsule of Hamaforton™ or a placebo in a randomized, blinded crossover trial. After Hamaforton™ ingestion, the kinetic of appearance of galloyl derivatives was measured in plasma. Then, in the ex vivo experiment, the serum isolated after supplementation was used as a source of Hamaforton™ metabolites to enrich the culture medium of dermal fibroblasts exposed to ultraviolet A radiation. Three different gallic acid metabolites (4-O-methyl gallic acid, 4-O-methyl gallic acid sulphate and trimethyl gallic acid glucuronide) were identified in volunteer plasma. While, ultraviolet A irradiation of dermal fibroblasts affected the expression of extracellular matrix genes, the presence of Hamaforton™ metabolites in the culture media did not affect the expression of most of those genes. However, the activation of the expression of 10 different genes involved in repair processes for the maintenance of skin integrity, suggest that the metabolites can play a role in damage recovery. To our knowledge, this is the first study that demonstrates the bioavailability of Hamaforton™ phenolic compounds, and the effects of its metabolites on cultured dermal fibroblast response to ultraviolet A irradiation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chinese kale baby leaves were hydroponically cultured under the basal light (Red: white LEDs = 2:3 at PPFD of 250 μmol·m−2·s−1) with different supplemental lighting, including individual ultraviolet-A (UV-A, 380 ± 10 nm, 20 μmol·m−2·s−1), far-red (FR, 735 ± 10 nm, 30 μmol·m−2·s−1) light, and their combination (UF) radiation in an artificial light plant factory. Effects of supplemental light qualities on morphology and physiology as well as health-promoting compounds of Chinese kale baby leaves were investigated. Application of UV-A and FR presented a positive effect on biomass, with a pronounced increase in petiole length, stem diameter, main stem length, and leaf area. Notably, plants under UF grew more vigorously than under other treatments. Higher levels of FRAP, vitamin C, total phenolic, and flavonoid were observed in plants under UV-A, while no striking changes or a decreasing trend recorded under FR and UF. Moreover, UV-A enhanced the glucosinolates (GLs) accumulation in Chinese kale baby leaves by increasing the predominant GLs (glucoraphanin and glucobrassicin) contents. RT-qPCR results indicated that UV-A upregulated the gene expressions of transcription factors and core structure genes related to GLs biosynthesis. However, downregulated or unchanged gene expressions of GLs biosynthesis-related genes in Chinese kale baby leaves were observed in FR and UF. Therefore, UV-A was benefited for the production of functional substances, while FR was conducive to a significant increase in crop yield. The combination of UV-A and FR, as a balance between yield and production of secondary metabolite, provided a new perspective for the application of artificial light in horticultural crop production.

Hamamelis virginiana L. a rich source of both condensed and hydrolyzable tannins, utilized to treat dermatological disorders. Since no experimental and clinical data is available for its use as oral formulation in skin related disorders, the purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of Hamaforton™ (Hamamelis virginiana extract) metabolites on gene dysregulation induced by ultraviolet A radiation in cultured human dermal fibroblasts. A combination of in vivo and ex vivo experimental designs has been exploited in order to take into account the polyphenol metabolic transformation that occurs in humans. 12 healthy volunteers received either a capsule of Hamaforton™ or a placebo in a randomized, blinded crossover trial. After Hamaforton™ ingestion, the kinetic of appearance of galloyl derivatives was measured in plasma. Then, in the ex vivo experiment, the serum isolated after supplementation was used as a source of Hamaforton™ metabolites to enrich the culture medium of dermal fibroblasts exposed to ultraviolet A radiation. Three different gallic acid metabolites (4-O-methyl gallic acid, 4-O-methyl gallic acid sulphate and trimethyl gallic acid glucuronide) were identified in volunteer plasma. While, ultraviolet A irradiation of dermal fibroblasts affected the expression of extracellular matrix genes, the presence of Hamaforton™ metabolites in the culture media did not affect the expression of most of those genes. However, the activation of the expression of 10 different genes involved in repair processes for the maintenance of skin integrity, suggest that the metabolites can play a role in damage recovery. To our knowledge, this is the first study that demonstrates the bioavailability of Hamaforton™ phenolic compounds, and the effects of its metabolites on cultured dermal fibroblast response to ultraviolet A irradiation.

Organic coatings can guarantee long-term protection of steel structures due to causing a physical barrier against water and oxygen. Because of their mechanical properties and resistances to heat and chemicals, epoxy resin-based coatings are widely used for corrosion protection. Despite of the aromatic backbone and the resulting susceptibility to UV degradation, epoxy resins are frequently used as binding agent in top layers of anti-corrosion coating systems. Consequently, these organic polymers are directly exposed to sunlight and thus UV radiation. The present study was designed to investigate if toxic effects of epoxy resin-based-coatings are changed by UV-A irradiation. For this purpose, two epoxide-based top coatings were examined with and without UV aging for their bacterial toxicity and estrogenicity. In addition, chemical analyses were performed to identify released compounds as well as photolytic degradation products and to assign toxic effects to individual substances. UV-A irradiation of epoxy resin based top coatings resulted in an overall decrease of acute and specific ecotoxicological effects but as well to the formation of toxic transformation products. Both, in leachates of untreated and UV-A irradiated coatings, 4tBP was identified as the main driver of estrogenicity and toxicity to luminescent bacteria. BPA and structural analogs contributing to estrogenic effects in leachates were formed by UV-A irradiation. The combination of HPTLC coupled bioassays and LC-MS analyses supported the identification of bioactive compounds in terms of an effect-directed analysis. The present findings indicate that epoxide-based coatings are less suitable for the application as top coatings and more UV stable coatings like aliphatic polyurethanes should be preferred.

The skin is an important barrier against external attacks from bacteria, radicals, or radiations. UV-A radiations cause significant impairment of this barrier, inducing inflammation, oxidative stress, and wrinkle formation, thereby promoting photoaging. Previous studies reported that carnosine, a potent antioxidant, and carbonyl scavenger agent, may prevent photoaging features in the skin of hairless mice exposed to UV-A radiations. In the present study, we used a quantitative proteomic approach to analyze the changes evoked by carnosine in the skin proteome of hairless mice exposed to UV-A. This approach allowed to quantify more than 2480 proteins, among them consistent differences were observed for 89 proteins in UV-A exposed vs control unexposed skins, and 252 proteins in UV-A-exposed skin preventively treated by carnosine (UVAC) vs UV-A. Several functional pathways were altered in the skins of UV-A exposed hairless mice, including the integrin-linked kinase, calcium signaling, fibrogenesis, cell migration and filament formation. An impairment of mitochondrial function and metabolism was observed, with an up-regulation of cytochrome C oxidase 6B1 and NADH: ubiquinone oxidoreductase S8. Skins pre-treated by carnosine were prevented from UV-A induced proteome alterations. In conclusion, our study emphasizes the potency of a proteomic approach to identify the consequences of UV radiations in the skins, and points out the capacity of carnosine to prevent the alterations of skin proteome evoked by UV-A. [Display omitted] • Biology of hairless mice skin, after UV-A, and after prevention carnosine's treatment and UV-A. • Quantitative proteomics and protein networking analyses to discover pathways regulated by UV-A and carnosine. • Carnosine's effect on UV-A damaged skin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]