Search

We present a comprehensive study using dissipative particle dynamics simulations to investigate phase separation kinetics (PSK) in three-dimensional (3d) polymeric fluids under random photo-illumination. We consider two scenarios: polymer blends with active radicals at one end of each immiscible chain and block copolymer (BCP) melts with photosensitive bonds linking incompatible blocks. The phase separation (PS) is induced by temperature quench of the initial homogeneously mixed system. Simultaneously, the system experiences random photo-illumination, simulated by two concurrent random events: (a) the recombination of active radicals in polymer blends and (b) the breaking of photosensitive bonds in BCP chains. Variations in the bond-breaking probability, Pb, mimic the change in light intensity. The length scale follows power law growth, R(t) ∼ tϕ, where ϕ represents the growth exponent. Increasing Pb results in a gradual transition in growth kinetics from micro-PS to macro-PS, accompanied by corresponding transition probabilities for both systems. Micro-PSK dominates the evolution process at low Pb values. The scaling functions exhibit data overlap for most scaled distances, indicating the statistical self-similarity of evolving patterns. Our study enhances the understanding of PSK in polymeric fluids, revealing the impact of photosensitive bonds and active radicals. Furthermore, it suggests the potential for designing novel polymeric materials with desired properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Air refractive index alteration is an important research technique used to examine blast density and pressure. However, precise time-course measurements of refractive index changes at a fixed point caused by air blast waves are challenging due to the necessity for high precision and noise immunity. This study proposes a dual-probe, dual-frequency fiber-optic displacement interferometer that achieves nanometer-level accuracy and can tolerate light intensity fluctuations and transmission-fiber interference. The specially designed sensor enables the measurement of refractive index at a fixed point resulting from explosive-driven air blast waves, further allowing for obtaining the pressure and density information. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crystals of trans-3,3′-dimethylazobenzene (DMAB) exhibit crawling motion on solid surface upon simultaneous exposure to ultraviolet (UV) and visible light from opposite directions. In this study, the shape and velocity during the photoinduced crawling motion of DMAB crystals are successfully controlled by irradiation light intensities. A higher intensity of the visible light than the UV light causes the crystals to be spread shape and move slower (∼1 μm min−1). In contrast, a stronger UV light allows them to be droplet-like shape and move faster (∼4 μm min−1). The shape and velocity can be varied by adjusting the light intensities. Shape transformation is effectively applied to cargo capture–carry–release tasks. In particular, spread-shaped crystals capture silica particles over a wide area, whereas droplet-like crystals gather and transport them. This result suggests that a multifunctional soft transporter composed of a single component does not require complex fabrication, thereby contributing to the fields of soft robotics and microfluidics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An innovative elastic crystal based on barbituric acid derivatives (HBDT), which uniquely alters its fluorescence intensity under light exposure is developed. This crystal exhibits significant bending under 365 nm, 450 nm, white light, and sunlight while retaining its elasticity post‐bending. The photomechanical effect of this crystal is driven by intermolecular [2+2] cycloaddition reactions, resulting in light‐activated fluorescence enhancement. These properties open new avenues for applications in robotic arms, information identification, and optical waveguides, presenting a groundbreaking approach for sustainable and flexible crystal applications in material science and optical technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The circadian clock is a cell-autonomous process that regulates daily internal rhythms by interacting with environmental signals. Reports across species show that infection can alter the expression of circadian genes; however, in teleosts, these effects are influenced by light exposure. Currently, no reports analyze the direct effects of bacterial exposure on the zebrafish clock. Using zebrafish Z3 cells, we demonstrate that exposure to heat-killed Streptococcus pneumoniae (HK-Spn) augments the expression of core repressive factors in a light- and time-dependent manner. In constant darkness, HK-Spn highly upregulated cry1a, per3, and per1b expression. In the presence of light, HK-Spn exposure rapidly and strongly upregulated per2 and cry1a, and this was proportionally increased with light intensity. The combinatorial effect of light and HK-Spn on per2 and cry1a was not duplicated with H2O2, a known byproduct of light exposure. However, the ROS inhibitor N-acetyl cysteine was sufficient to block HK-Spn augmentation of per2, cry1a, and per3. These findings demonstrate that exposure to an inactive bacteria influences the expression of zebrafish clock genes under different light conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary Photoprotection in plants includes processes collectively known as nonphotochemical quenching (NPQ), which quench excess excitation‐energy in photosystem II. NPQ is triggered by acidification of the thylakoid lumen, which leads to PsbS‐protein protonation and violaxanthin de‐epoxidase activation, resulting in zeaxanthin accumulation. Despite extensive study, questions persist about the mechanisms of NPQ. We have set up a novel analytical pipeline to disentangle NPQ induction curves measured at many light intensities into a limited number of different kinetic components. To validate the method, we applied it to Chl‐fluorescence measurements, which utilised the saturating‐pulse methodology, on wild‐type (wt) and zeaxanthin‐lacking (npq1) Arabidopsis thaliana plants. NPQ induction curves in wt and npq1 can be explained by four components (α$$ \alpha $$, β$$ \beta $$, γ$$ \gamma $$ and δ$$ \delta $$). The fastest two (β$$ \beta $$ and γ$$ \gamma $$) correlate with pH difference formed across the thylakoid membrane in wt and npq1. In wt, the slower component (α$$ \alpha $$) appears to be due to the formation of zeaxanthin‐related quenching whilst for npq1, this component is ‘replaced’ by a slower component (δ$$ \delta $$), which reflects a photoinhibition‐like process that appears in the absence of zeaxanthin‐induced quenching. Expanding this approach will allow the effects of mutations and other abiotic‐stress factors to be directly probed by changes in these underlying components. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A nonporous [Pb(tadt)]n (tadt = 1,3,4‐thiadiazole‐2,5‐dithiolate) coordination polymer, KGF‐9, with a 2D infinite (−Pb−S−)n structure has been previously reported as a precious‐metal‐free photocatalyst for selective CO2‐to‐formate conversion under visible light. In the present work, a microwave (MW)‐assisted solvothermal reaction is used to synthesize KGF‐9 with improved physicochemical properties and catalytic activity. Compared with KGF‐9 prepared by the previously reported methods, that prepared by the new synthesis route exhibited a greater specific surface area, greater crystallinity, and greater photoconductivity. These improved properties led to a drastic increase of the apparent quantum yield (AQY) for selective formate production, from 2.6 to 25% at 400 nm; this AQY represents a record‐high value among reported heterogeneous photocatalysts for CO2‐to‐formate conversion. Interestingly, the AQY for formate production is unchanged irrespective of the light intensity (0.04–14 mW cm−2), indicating little contribution of charge accumulation in the bulk during the reaction (i.e., indicating efficient charge transport to surface reactants). When composited with Ketjen Black, KGF‐9 enabled the electrochemical conversion of CO2 to formate in aqueous solution while maintaining a high selectivity. A high‐rate reduction of CO2 to formate with a total absolute current density of 200–300 mA cm−2 is achieved, with a Faradaic efficiency (FE) of >90%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Grading of oil palm fresh fruit bunches (FFB) plays a vital role in the postharvest operation as it directly influences the extraction rate of oil palm, thereby ensuring quality control in the estate and mill. Currently, manual grading based on visual assessment is employed, but it has limitations mainly due to subjective judgment-influenced factors such as visual resemblance, light intensities, and differences in colors across ripeness categories. Hence, an automated oil palm fruit grading system in postharvest technology is proposed to enhance the grading process and improve productivity while maintaining operational cost efficiency. This work involves developing an improved object detection model based on the You Only Look Once model to accurately identify four grades of oil palm FFB, namely, ripe, unripe, underripe, and overripe. The proposed model incorporated several improvements, including a hybrid feature extractor comprising mobile inverted bottleneck module and densely connected neural network. Additionally, it employs a spatial pyramid pooling structure to expand the receptive field and utilizes the complete intersection over union function for bounding box regression. The results indicate that the proposed model obtains a remarkable mAP of 94.37% and an F1-score of 0.89. Besides, the model performs real-time detection at a faster rate of 4.8 FPS on a limited-capacity embedded device, NVIDIA Jetson Nano. The comprehensive experimental results confirm the superiority of the proposed model over various detection models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Management decisions about store atmosphere, such as temperature, or light intensity in retail establishments can be made based on solutions from machine learning methods. These conditions determine whether the customer will stay in the store longer and whether his shopping cart will reach the desired high value. Previous literature research associates certain atmospheric factors with customers' propensity to make purchasing decisions and allows us to identify what influences the customer during shopping and to what extent. The article aims to reveal the feasibility of using machine learning methods to make management decisions based on store atmosphere parameters. When deciding on the conditions in a retail establishment, applicable health and safety regulations should also be considered. This was used to set limits on the input parameters for the model. The authors identified 3 atmospheric factors and, based on them, proposed two types of models: regression and classification models, predicting how long customers stay in an establishment and can classify it into categories: short, medium and long. These models can then be used to create a model that optimizes the parameters in the facility to achieve a minimum given time a customer stays in the facility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates caffeine degradation and mineralisation using Fenton and photo-Fenton processes through a 2k Factorial Design. Key parameters varied include Fe2+ concentration (2 and 10 mg/L), H₂O₂ concentration (50 and 500 mg/L), light intensity (0 and 96 W), and reaction time (0 and 60 min) to optimise degradation. The experimental setup featured a 1 L glass contact column in a UV-controlled chamber with an initial caffeine concentration of 20 mg/L. Results revealed that Fenton was inefficient, achieving only 12% degradation and 9% mineralisation, with dimethylparabanic acid as the main by-product. Conversely, photo-Fenton attained 88% degradation and 40% mineralisation, demonstrating the significant influence of UV light. Energy consumption varied from 3.33 to 50 kWh.m−3. Optimal conditions identified were 10 mg/L Fe2+, 50 mg/L H₂O₂, 96 W UV intensity, and a 60-minute reaction time, highlighting the effectiveness of advanced photo-Fenton oxidation for caffeine treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The new halogen‐free donor polymer PCN6 is constructed using 2‐ethylhexyl‐4,6‐dibromo‐3‐cyano‐thieno[3,4‐b]thiophene as acceptor (A) block, and is compared in detail with the commercially available PTB7‐Th. It is found that PCN6 has a wider film absorption (300–700 nm) and lower highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) energy levels (−5.52 eV) than PTB7‐Th (−5.34 eV), suggesting a great advantage of the monocyano‐functionalized modification strategy in terms of molecular absorption and energy level tuning. The performance difference between PCN6:Y6‐ and PTB7‐Th:Y6‐based organic solar cells (OSCs) is compared by a series of studies including light intensity dependence, carrier mobility, AFM, TEM, and GIWAXS. The results show that PCN6:Y6‐based OSCs have stronger crystallinity, better charge transport, higher and more balanced carrier mobility, and less exciton complex loss. Therefore, the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of PCN6:Y6‐based OSCs reaches 11.34%, while the PCE of PTB7‐Th:Y6‐based OSCs is only 9.02%. These results suggest that 2‐ethylhexyl‐4,6‐dibromo‐3‐cyano‐thieno[3,4‐b]thiophene is an excellent A block for the construction of halogen‐free donor polymers with low HOMO energy levels, and also demonstrate that the introduction of cyano in the conjugated backbone of polymers is a good strategy to achieve high‐performance OSCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Single-pixel detectors are popular devices in optical sciences because of their fast temporal response, high sensitivity, and low cost. However, when being used for imaging, they face a fundamental challenge in acquiring high-dimensional information of an optical field because they are essentially zero-dimensional sensors and measure only the light intensity. To address this problem, we developed a cascaded compressed-sensing single-pixel camera, which decomposes the measurement into multiple stages, sequentially reducing the dimensionality of the data from a high-dimensional space to zero dimension. This measurement scheme allows us to exploit the compressibility of a natural scene in multiple domains, leading to highly efficient data acquisition. We demonstrated our method in several demanding applications, including enabling tunable single-pixel full-waveform hyperspectral light detection and ranging (LIDAR) for the first time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Although blue light is known to produce leaves with high photosynthetic capacity, the role of the blue‐adjacent UV‐A1 (350–400 nm) in driving leaf photosynthetic acclimation is less studied. Tomato plants were grown under hybrid red and blue (RB; 95/5 μmol m−2 s−1), as well as four treatments in which RB was supplemented with 50 μmol m−2 s−1 peaking at 365, 385, 410 and 450 nm, respectively. Acclimation to 365–450 nm led to a shallow gradient increase in trait values (i.e., photosynthetic capacity, pigmentation and dry mass content) as the peak wavelength increased. Furthermore, both UV‐A1 and blue light grown leaves showed efficient photoprotection under high light intensity. When treated plants were transferred to fluctuating light for 5 days, leaves from all treatments showed increases in photosynthetic capacity, which were strongest in RB, followed by additional UV‐A1 treatments; RB grown leaves showed reductions in maximum quantum yield of photosystem II, while UV‐A1 grown leaves showed increases. We conclude that both UV‐A1 and blue light effectively trigger photosynthetic and photoprotective acclimation, the extent of acclimation becoming stronger the longer the peak wavelength is. Acclimatory responses to UV‐A1 and blue light are thus not distinct from one another, but follow a continuous gradient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SUMMARY Domestication has dramatically increased crop size and biomass, reflecting the enhanced accumulation of photosynthates. However, we still lack solid empirical data on the impacts of domestication on photosynthetic rates at different light intensities and on leaf anatomy, and of the relationships of photosynthesis with aboveground biomass. In this study, we measured the photosynthetic rate at three photosynthetic photon flux densities of 2000 (high), 1000 (moderate) and 400 μmol m−2 sec−1 (low light intensity), dark respiration, relative chlorophyll content (SPAD), leaf morphology, and aboveground biomass in 40 wild, 91 semiwild, and 42 domesticated cotton genotypes. The study was replicated for two years (growing years 2018 and 2019). During the first domestication stage (transition from wild to semiwild genotypes), domestication led to higher photosynthetic rates measured under high light intensity, higher SPAD, larger leaf area (LA), and lower leaf mass per unit area (LMA), contributing to greater aboveground biomass accumulation in both study years. During the second domestication stage (transition from semiwild to domesticated genotypes), domestication significantly enhanced photosynthesis under low light intensity and reduced LMA, which were associated with increased aboveground biomass in both study years. In conclusion, photosynthesis improvement at different light intensities has been a gradual domestication phase specific process with the rate of photosynthesis enhanced under high light during the first domestication stage, and under low light during the second domestication stage. We argue that these differences reflect a higher proportion of LA photosynthesizing under low light due to enhanced canopy expansion at the second domestication stage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In large-scale industrial and agricultural production environments, many nodes of the Internet of Things (IoT) were deployed. These nodes are of various types and contain a wide range of domain-related themes, and their distribution is of theme and hierarchy. Starting from the thematic and hierarchical nature of the IoT, this paper proposes the concept of local thematic structure in wireless sensor networks (WSN), and establishes a hierarchical model of the thematic structure in WSN, presenting methods of thematic structure identification, hierarchical structure identification, and hierarchical aggregation of theme messages in WSN. A real-time monitoring system for WSN based on Kafka was established through simulation experiments on agricultural greenhouse WSN (including four themes: temperature, humidity, light intensity, and CO2 concentration). The experimental results have substantiated the objective existence of thematic structure in WSN, as well as the efficacy of the message hierarchy transmission models and algorithms derived from the thematic structure.The research results can be extended and applied to the management of graphically structured scenarios such as the urban brain, smart communities, and intelligent transportation, which is of universal significance to the development of the intelligent IoT in the era of the IoT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current research focus on visualizing terrain features emphasizes quantification and detailed simulation, without adequately considering the impact of spatial–temporal variations in the terrain on human cognition. However, advancements in visualization technology, such as efficient and rapid construction of large‐scale three‐dimensional (3D) terrain scenes, real‐time dynamic display, and free‐roaming from any viewpoint, currently provide ample technical support for visualizing spatial–temporal information. Therefore, this article proposes a 3D terrain viewing model that considers the spatial–temporal changes in light intensity and incident direction in a terrain scene, based on the principles of radiometry and computer graphics theory and supported by the physically based rendering techniques. This model aims to accurately represent the subtle variations in real‐world terrain surfaces and highlight the key elements of hill terrain. Theoretically, this model provides a foundation for the virtual reconstruction of real‐world terrain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently, most of the studies establish the relationship between night-time light intensity (NTLI) and gross domestic product (GDP) only in the temporal dimension or spatial dimension, without combining both of them or considering real spatio-temporal modelling. Moreover, few studies verify the spatio-temporal heterogeneity of the model. To solve the aforementioned problems, this paper is the first to propose using the geographically and temporally weighted regression model (GTWR) for coupling NTLI and GDP. The NTLI derived from NPP-VIIRS satellites and GDP statistics for 14 urban agglomerations in China from 2013 to 2020 were systematically studied by comparing four methods, including OLS (ordinary least squares), GWR (geographically weighted regression model), TWR (time-weighted regression model), and GTWR. It is found that the GTWR model has the highest coefficient of determination. This finding proves that 'the spatio-temporal nature of material movement is inseparable from each other' and verifies the superiority, correctness, and scientific validity of the GTWR model. The implications of this paper include 1) demonstrating the superiority of the GTWR model (i.e. three-dimensional spatio-temporal model) in fitting the relationship between NTLI and GDP of urban agglomerations; 2) solving the problem of insufficient sample size of the single dimension of NPP-VIIRS through the spatio-temporal model; 3) quantitatively detecting the spatio-temporal heterogeneity of urban agglomerations and analysing the high non-stationarity urban agglomerations by GTWR and spatio-temporal cube with spatio-temporal hot spot analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, the environmental problems caused by microplastics (MPs) as novel pollutants have received widespread attention, and photocatalytic technology can degrade MPs into small molecule compounds such as aldehydes and ketones. Among the existing catalysts, graphitic phase carbon nitride (g-C3N4) shows great potential in degrading pollutants due to its unique properties. In this paper, the structure, preparation method, modification method, mechanism of degradation of MPs and influencing factors of g-C3N4 are systematically reviewed. It is summarized that ·OH, h+, and ·O2− are the main active species in the degradation of MPs by g-C3N4, and the external conditions such as pH, light intensity, and the morphology of MPs themselves can affect the degradation of MPs. However, g-C3N4 photocatalytic degradation of MPs is still only in the laboratory stage at this stage, and problems such as the degradation of MPs in actual water bodies have not been carried out, so how to solve the above problems is the focus of future research in the field of g-C3N4 photocatalytic degradation of MPs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Lettuce holds a prominent position in the year‐round supply of vegetables, offering a rich array of health‐beneficial substances, such as dietary fiber, phenolic compounds, lactucopicrin and lactucin. As such, its flavor has garnered increasing attention. Balancing the enhancement of beneficial compounds with the reduction of undesirable taste is a key focus of scientific research. To investigate short‐term management to improve the nutritional quality and flavor of lettuce, combinations of different light intensities (200, 500 and 800 μm ol m−2 s−1) and temperatures (10 and 22 °C) were applied separately to 'Lollo Rosso' and 'Little Butter Lettuce' for 7 days before harvest. RESULTS: The results obtained showed that increasing light intensity at low temperatures decreased nitrate content and increased soluble sugar, soluble protein, anthocyanin and phenolic compound content. In the case of lettuce flavor, the bitterness‐related metabolites such as lactucin and lactucopicrin were reduced with high light intensity at a low temperature of 10 °C. With this combination, the fructose and glucose contents increased, significantly improving lettuce flavor. CONCLUSION: Higher light intensity combined with low temperature for 7 days before harvest effectively improved the nutritional quality and flavor of lettuce, suggesting its great potential for use in horticultural practices. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heterojunctions formed between undoped and Eu‐doped NiO nanofibers (NFs) and n‐Si were fabricated by electrospinning the NiO:Eu NFs onto Si. Since the photoresponse of the Eu‐doped NiO‐containing device was better than the undoped one, the study focused on the doped NiO‐containing device. This was explained by the increase in electron kinetics in terms of the active role of Eu in bonding with the 4f orbitals and the s, d, and f states of NiO. Electro‐optical measurements of the NiO:Eu NFs/n‐Si heterojunction were performed in the visible region depending on the light intensity and in the UV and NIR regions for 10 mW/cm2 powers. It was observed that the device exhibits a good level of rectification properties and responds very well to all lights. At all three light sources, the heterojunction photodetector exhibited self‐powered behavior. Furthermore, for 10 mW/cm2 light intensity, the NiO:Eu NFs/n‐Si photodetector achieved R values of 1.84 A/W at 365 nm, 0.98 A/W at 395 nm, and 1.54 A/W at 850 nm, while it is 0.12 A/W for visible light. Besides, the device showed an external quantum efficiency of 625% and this was attributed to the photocurrent gain. In self‐driven mode, D* values have been determined as 3.0 × 1012 Jones, 2.6 × 1012 Jones, and 2.9 × 1012 Jones for 365, 395, and 850 nm, respectively. The performance of NiO under UV light was attributed to the absorption of NiO under UV light, as well as the very good excitation of (Eu3+) ions by UV light. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cultivation of Haematococcus pluvialis is pivotal in the biotechnological production of astaxanthin, a powerful antioxidant with extensive applications in the nutraceutical, pharmaceutical, and aquaculture industries. Astaxanthin accumulation is known to be enhanced under stress conditions. Recent advancements have highlighted the efficacy of mixotrophic cultivation in enhancing both biomass production and carotenoid accumulation. The aim of this work is to evaluate the effect of mixotrophic conditions induced by BWW on biomass growth and carotenoid accumulation. To this aim, experiments carried out with different light intensities and cultivation time were specifically designed. This study displays the effective production of carotenoids by H. pluvialis using brewery wastewater (BWW) as an organic source able to sustain mixotrophic conditions. Various ratios of BWW were combined with the BG11 medium. When H. pluvialis was cultivated solely in BWW or in the control medium BG11, both the biomass and astaxanthin contents were reduced compared to the higher values obtained in their blended mixtures. In particular, the BWW-BG11 1:1 system exhibited the highest values of biomass (5.46 g L−1) and astaxanthin content (2.32%) compared to both undiluted BWW (3.34 g L−1 and 1.95%) and the control BG11 (3.65 g L−1 and 0.65%), respectively. BWW significantly boosted the growth rate and metabolic activity of H. pluvialis. This dual approach not only accelerates biomass accumulation but also enhances the synthesis of carotenoids, particularly astaxanthin. The integration of mixotrophic strategies into H. pluvialis cultivation systems presents a promising avenue for optimizing the commercial production of astaxanthin, ensuring higher yields and cost-effectiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a model of the growth rate and elemental stoichiometry of phytoplankton as a function of resource allocation between and within broad macromolecular pools under a variety of resource supply conditions. The model is based on four, empirically-supported, cornerstone assumptions: that there is a saturating relationship between light and photosynthesis, a linear relationship between RNA/protein and growth rate, a linear relationship between biosynthetic proteins and growth rate, and a constant macromolecular composition of the light-harvesting machinery. We combine these assumptions with statements of conservation of carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, and energy. The model can be solved algebraically for steady state conditions and constrained with data on elemental stoichiometry from published laboratory chemostat studies. It interprets the relationships between macromolecular and elemental stoichiometry and also provides quantitative predictions of the maximum growth rate at given light intensity and nutrient supply rates. Themodel is compatible with data sets from several laboratory studies characterizing both prokaryotic and eukaryotic phytoplankton from marine and freshwater environments. It is conceptually simple, yet mechanistic and quantitative. Here, the model is constrained only by elemental stoichiometry, but makes predictions about allocation to measurable macromolecular pools, which could be tested in the laboratory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Obesity (overweight) is a widespread concern not only in high‐income nations but also in low‐income countries across sub‐Saharan Africa (SSA). Although many studies attribute this trend to economic development triggering a shift in nutrition patterns within SSA, they tend overlook a critical factor: the level at which these determinants are measured. Assessing them nationally while drawing comparisons with individual‐level obesity data introduces a statistical challenge known as the ecological fallacy. To address this, we utilize local‐level night light data as a proxy for local economic development. Analyzing demographic and health surveys from 44 SSA countries spanning the period 1992–2019, we find that local development is associated with a 0.002% increase in the body mass index of women. In addition, we find that night light intensity is associated with 0.2%–0.3% increases in probabilities of a woman being overweight and obese. Our results remain robust when we employ an instrumental variable approach by using a control function based on peer effect. In terms of policy implication, our research highlights that local development may entail potential health costs, emphasizing the need for African governments to invest in healthcare and also build physical infrastructure that can promote active lifestyles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polymer optical fibers (POFs), including side‐emitting POF (SEPOF) and end‐emitting POF (EEPOF) are developed for luminous textiles. The SEPOF is more common for usage but suffers from significant intensity decay, which limits its effective usage length. In contrast, the EEPOF can provide a much more stable side illumination behavior than SEPOF since the light is largely confined within the EEPOF, while its side illumination requires special treatment. In this work, 0.5 mm diameter EEPOFs were firstly assembled into bundles with 10 EEPOFs (B10) and 15 EEPOFs (B15), and then twisted. The morphology, tensile properties, and side illumination behavior of the twisted EEPOF bundles are evaluated. With an increased twisting degree, the initial modulus of twisted sample B10 increases (due to shortening of bundle diameter) from 1.06 to 1.17 GPa while the initial modulus of twisted sample B15 decreases from 1.01 to 0.91 GPa. The increased twisting degree also results in the higher flexibility (indirectly connected with modulus) of the twisted EEPOF bundles. Besides, the increased twisting degree results in a higher side illumination intensity meantime causes a decreased side illumination intensity along the light penetration path. When the twisting degree is low (e.g., 10 T m−1), the highest decrease rate of side illumination intensity along the light penetration path is found. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The most concerning recent ocean changes in temperature issues are known as marine heat waves. Under these conditions, it is important to evaluate the effects of temperature on zooplankton. In this study, we investigated the growth rates of three dominant copepod species (Eucalanus bungii, Metridia pacifica, and Neocalanus plumchrus) in the northern North Pacific under three different temperature conditions (3, 7, and 11°C) using an artificial cohort method. Experimental conditions for 42 hour incubations were set to light intensity and photoperiod corresponding to 50 m depth. The dissolved oxygen solubility after rearing ranged from 69.2% to 102.1%, suggesting sufficient conditions for copepod growth. Chlorophyll a increased in 83% of the experiments, indicating that the food conditions were sufficient for the copepods. The mean proportion of dead specimens evaluated using neutral red was 10.2%, corresponding with the reported values in the field. Thus, it can be concluded that the laboratory-rearing conditions used in this study provided sufficient food, and the only effect evaluated would be that of the three different temperatures. Since the developmental time for each stage is longer than the rearing period, it is important to conduct experiments with a large number of individuals to obtain accurate growth rate results. The specific growth rates of E. bungii and M. pacifica increased with increasing temperature. In contrast, N. plumchrus showed the highest growth rate under moderate water temperature conditions. In terms of weight units (dry, carbon, and nitrogen), the carbon weight-specific growth rates were higher than those of the other two units, a common characteristic of the three species. This reflected lipid accumulation during the late copepodite stages. The interspecies differences in growth rate responses to water temperature reflect species-specific differences in temperature tolerance or the optimum temperature for each species. As E. bungii and M. pacifica reproduce near the surface layer through income breeding, their temperature tolerance or optimum temperature is expected to be high. However, because the reproduction of N. plumchrus occurs in the cold deep layer by using capital breeding, its temperature tolerance and optimum temperature would be lower than those of the former two species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The development of the zebrafish visual system is significantly influenced by exposure to monochromatic light, yet investigations into its effects during juvenile stages are lacking. This study evaluated the impacts of varying intensities and durations of red and blue monochromatic light on the visual system and dopamine pathways in juvenile zebrafish. Methods: Juvenile zebrafish were exposed to red (650 nm) and blue (440 nm, 460 nm) monochromatic lights over four days at intensities ranging from 500 to 10,000 lx, for durations of 6, 10, and 14 h daily. A control group was maintained under standard laboratory conditions. Post-exposure assessments included the optokinetic response (OKR), retinal structural analysis, ocular dopamine levels, and the expression of genes related to dopamine pathways (Th, Dat, and Mao). Results: (1) OKR enhancement was observed with increased 440 nm light intensity, while 460 nm and 650 nm light exposures showed initial improvements followed by declines at higher intensities. (2) Retinal thinning in the outer nuclear layer was observed under the most intense (10,000 lx for 14 h) light conditions in the 440 nm and 650 nm groups, while the 460 nm group remained unaffected. (3) Dopamine levels increased with higher intensities in the 440 nm group, whereas the 460 nm group exhibited initial increases followed by decreases. The 650 nm group displayed similar trends but were statistically insignificant compared to the control group. (4) Th expression increased with light intensity in the 440 nm group. Dat showed a rising and then declining pattern, and Mao expression significantly decreased. The 460 nm group exhibited similar patterns for Th and Dat to the behavioral observations, but an inverse pattern for Mao. The 650 nm group presented significant fluctuations in Th and Dat expressions, with pronounced variations in Mao. Conclusions: Specific red and blue monochromatic light conditions promote visual system development in juvenile zebrafish. However, exceeding these optimal conditions may impair visual function, highlighting the critical role of dopamine pathway in modulating light-induced effects on the visual system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Breaking‐wave induced bioluminescence is a critical component of the biogeochemical process in the ocean. Understanding bioluminescence is important for monitoring red tides caused by bioluminescent microorganisms. In this study, we present the first numerical effort to quantify bioluminescent light intensity based on high‐fidelity direct numerical simulations of breaking waves and a quantitative bioluminescent model. The dynamics of breaking waves are extensively validated through comparison with existing studies. We find that the time‐averaged and Lagrangian‐averaged shear stress saturates as surface tension effects decrease and wave steepness increases. The spatial distribution of light intensity correlates with the wave crest overturning and air bubbles generated in plunging breakers. Furthermore, we observe that the maximum light intensity asymptotically approaches the emission of single cells, suggesting the potential for cost‐effective prediction models in future studies. Plain Language Summary: Marine microorganisms, such as dinoflagellates, flash when stimulated by mechanical forces caused by breaking waves. Understanding this phenomenon, also known as the 'blue tears' of ocean, is helpful for predicting 'red tides', a hazardous algal blooms caused by dinoflagellates. We use computer simulations to determine how much light is emitted when breaking waves stimulates bioluminescence. Our analysis show that there is an upper limit for the level of the mechanical force in breaking waves. We also find that the maximum bioluminescence light intensity is similar to that emitted by a single cell. Key Points: A numerical framework is developed to quantify bioluminescence stimulated by ocean surface breaking wavesThe time‐averaged and Lagrangian‐averaged shear stress saturates as surface tension effects decrease and wave steepness increasesMaximum bioluminescent light intensity asymptotically approaches single cell emission at the time of flashing [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Light is a critical environmental factor in plants, encompassing two vital aspects: intensity and quality. To assess the influence of different light intensities on Origanum majorana L., pots containing the herb were subjected to four levels of light intensity: 20, 50, 70, and 100% natural light. After a 60-day treatment period, the plants were evaluated for metabolite production, including total sugar content, protein, dry weight, antioxidant indices, expression of monoterpenes biosynthesis genes, and essential oil compounds. The experimental design followed a randomized complete blocks format, and statistical analysis of variance was conducted. Results: The results indicated a correlation between increased light intensity and elevated total sugar and protein content, which contributed to improved plant dry weight. The highest levels of hydrogen peroxide and malondialdehyde (MDA) were observed under 100% light intensity. Catalase and superoxide dismutase enzymes exhibited increased activity, with a 4.23-fold and 2.14-fold increase, respectively, under full light. In contrast, peroxidase and polyphenol oxidase enzyme activities decreased by 3.29-fold and 3.24-fold, respectively. As light intensity increases, the expression level of the 1-deoxy-D-xylulose 5-phosphate reductoisomerase (DXR) gene increases. However, beyond a light intensity of 70%, the DXR gene expression level decreased. Furthermore, the expression levels of the cytochrome P450 genes CYP71D178 and CYP71D179 exhibited an increasing trend in response to elevated light intensity. Essential oil content increased from 0.02 to 0.5% until reaching 70% light intensity. However, with further increases in light intensity, the essential oil content decreased by 54 to 0.23%. Conclusions: These findings emphasize the importance of balancing plant growth promotion and stress management under different light conditions. The research suggests that sweet marjoram plants thrive best in unshaded open spaces, resulting in maximum biomass. However, essential oil production decreases under the same conditions. For farmers in areas with an average light intensity of approximately 1700 µmol m−2s−1, it is recommended to cultivate sweet marjoram in shade-free fields to optimize biomass and essential oil production. Towards the end of the growth cycle, it is advisable to use shades that allow 70% of light to pass through. The specific duration of shade implementation can be further explored in future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study the emergence of chemical intelligence in proteinoid–ZnO nanocomposites through their interaction with visible light. When these novel materials are exposed to light, they display electrical spiking behaviour that is similar to the action potentials of neurons. We examine the influence of various light conditions, such as wavelength, intensity, and duration, on the photo-response of these nanocomposites. The results indicate that higher light intensity and longer duration are associated with increased frequency and amplitude of voltage spikes. Furthermore, blue light is more effective than red light in this regard. This light-dependent behaviour indicates a form of chemical intelligence, in which the material learns and responds to external stimuli. The results of our research emphasise the potential of proteinoid–ZnO nanocomposites to develop bio-inspired, light-sensitive systems, which can lead to advancements in areas such as photocatalysis, unconventional computing, and adaptive materials. This study enhances the understanding of chemical intelligence and how it is demonstrated in synthetic nanomaterials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the use of biotechnology, hydrogen can be produced from wastewater rich in short-chain fatty acids. A previous study revealed the ability of Rhodobacter sphaeroides KKU-PS1 to produce biohydrogen from substrates mimicking succinate fermentation effluent. However, the process still requires optimization. Before illumination optimization, due to high concentration of the effluent, various effluent dilution factors ranging from 10 to 100 were compared, and the optimal dilution factor was determined to be 50. Light-emitting diode (LED) setups consisting of bands and tubes were compared, and various illuminated surface-to-volume ratios (S/V) were obtained. LED tubes were subsequently used for light intensity optimization in the range of 5–23 klux, revealing optimum light intensity at 15 klux, yielding 2202 mL H 2 /L and 13.8 mL H 2 /L/h as the cumulative hydrogen and maximum output rate, respectively. The lighting protocol at 15 klux and with a 6h–6h light-dark cycle improved the total light conversion efficiency by up to 3.1%. The study successfully optimized the process, with results rivalling those of a previous study using malate. [Display omitted] • Photofermentation can convert acidic fermentation effluents to hydrogen energy. • Dilution factor of 50 produced H 2 profile that was comparable to higher dilutions. • Cumulative H 2 peaked at 2202 mL H 2 /L at maximum rate of 13.8 mL H 2 /L/h with 15 klux. • Light saturation point was observed at 15–23 klux with similar H 2 productivity. • 6h–6h light-dark cycle achieved the highest light conversion efficiency of 3.1% at 240 h. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary Plants rely on solar energy for growth through photosynthesis, yet excessive light intensity can induce physiological damage. Despite the considerable harm, inadequate attention has been directed toward understanding how plant‐associated microorganisms mitigate this stress, and the impact of high light intensity on plant microbial communities remains underexplored. Through this Viewpoint, we aim to highlight the potential of microbial communities to enhance plant resilience and understand how light stress can shape plant microbiome. A full understanding of these dynamics is essential to design strategies that take advantage of microbial assistance to plants under light stress and to effectively manage the impact of changing light conditions on plant–microbe interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Drought‐related die‐off events have been observed throughout Europe in Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.). Such events are exacerbated by carbon starvation that is, an imbalance of photosynthetic productivity and resource usage. Recent evidence suggests that optically measurable photosynthetic pigments such as chlorophylls and carotenoids respond to water stress (WS). However, there is a lack of measurements using imaging spectroscopy, and the mechanisms linking xanthophyll‐related changes in reflectance captured by the photochemical reflectance index (PRI) and chlorophyll changes in red edge position (REP) to WS are not understood. To probe this, we conducted a greenhouse experiment where 3‐year‐old Pinus sylvestris saplings were subjected to water limitation and followed using hyperspectral imaging (HSI) spectroscopy, water status and photosynthetic measurements. Carotenoids (e.g., xanthophyll cycle) and chlorophylls responded to WS, which was observed using the HSI‐derived indices PRI and REP respectively. The spatial‐temporal response in these two pigment‐reflectance groupings differed. The spatial distribution of PRI represented the light intensity around the time of the measurement, whereas REP reflected the daily averaged light intensity over the experimental course. A further difference was noted upon rewatering, where the carotenoid‐related PRI partially recovered but the chlorophyll‐related REP did not. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

1. The objective of this study was to determine if rearing broilers under variable light intensity (VLI) impacted their welfare or productivity.2. Ross 308 broilers (n = 7,256) were reared until 35 d of age and exposed to a uniform intensity of 10 lux (CON) or VLI with low intensity areas of 2–5 lux proximal to the walls and high intensity areas of 84–133 lux proximal to feeders.3. The data were analysed as a complete randomised design using an analysis of variance. Significance was declared when p ≤ 0.05.4. Applying VLI resulted in increased feed intake early in life but had no impact on body weight. Overall efficiency was improved in the CON treatment. Mortality diagnoses of skeletal problems were reduced under VLI. Treatment had no impact on footpad, hock or gait score, heterophil to lymphocyte ratio or melatonin concentration. Birds performed certain behaviours in specific locations within the room, independent of light intensity treatment.5. In conclusion, raising broilers under VLI had little impact on production or most welfare parameters assessed in this study. However, satisfying the bird’s preference for different light intensities may improve welfare. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accumulation of edible biomass by crop plants relies on maintenance of a high photosynthetic rates across the photoperiod, with assimilation rate (A) generally responding to increasing light intensity in a hyperbolic fashion. In natural environments light fluctuates greatly over the course of the day, however in Controlled Environmental Agricultural (CEA) systems, light intensity can be supplemented or precisely controlled using LEDs to create near optimum conditions. In such indoor growth environments light is often delivered as a square wave and recommendations to horticulturalists are given in the form of Daily Light Integrals (DLI). However, this does not take into account the slow photosynthetic induction at the start of the photoperiod and the decline of A towards the end of the photoperiod, which has been demonstrated by several previous studies. Square wave light regimes therefore potentially cause suboptimal photosynthetic utilization of the applied lighting and waste electricity. Here we have adapted light recipes to gradually increase and decrease in intensity to take account of these findings. We demonstrate that, utilising a sinusoidal light regime capped at 250 mm m-² s-1, it is possible to increase edible biomass of rocket (by ca. 20%) compared to square wave delivered at 250 at the same DLI. Additionally, this can be achieved using less electricity (0.6%), therefore reducing energy costs and improving profitability. We suggest that capping maximum light intensity at 250 µmol m-² s-¹ improves the operating efficiency of PSII photochemistry (Fq'/Fm') also known as the photosynthetic efficiency by maintaining A later in the photoperiod. We show that a higher electron transfer rate (ETR) is maintained in these treatments over the photoperiod compared to higher light intensity caps, resulting in a greater Daily Photochemical Integral (DPI). We attribute this to less NPQ due to a greater sink capacity for the end products of electron transport, ATP and NADPH, as A is kept high for longer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

IoT sensors are crucial for visualizing multidimensional and multimodal information and enabling future IT applications/services such as cyber-physical spaces, digital twins, autonomous driving, smart cities and virtual/augmented reality (VR or AR). However, IoT sensors need to be battery-free to realistically manage and maintain the growing number of available sensing devices. Here, we provide a novel sensor design approach that employs metasurfaces to enable multifunctional sensing without requiring an external power source. Importantly, unlike existing metasurface-based sensors, our metasurfaces can sense multiple physical parameters even at a fixed frequency by breaking classic harmonic oscillations in the time domain, making the proposed sensors viable for usage with limited frequency resources. Moreover, we provide a method for predicting physical parameters via the machine learning-based approach of random forest regression. The sensing performance was confirmed by estimating the temperature and light intensity, and excellent determination coefficients larger than 0.96 were achieved. Our study affords new opportunities for sensing multiple physical properties without relying on an external power source or requiring multiple frequencies, which markedly simplifies and facilitates the design of next-generation wireless communication systems. Metasurface-based sensors provide a battery-free sensing solution for maintaining numerous IoT devices with little human resources. However, the conventional method exploited resonant mechanisms associated with multiple physical parameters through different frequencies, although available frequencies were strictly limited. We report the first sensor design approach using circuit-based metasurfaces that offer a higher degree of freedom to design time-varying scattering profiles associated with multiple physical properties at a single frequency. Our prototype detects light intensity and temperature with an excellent determination coefficient above 0.96 via a machine-learning technique. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Degenerative eye diseases cause partial or complete blindness due to photoreceptor degeneration. Optogenetic gene therapy is a revolutionary technique combining genetics and optical methods to control the function of neurons. Due to the inherent risk of photochemical damage, the light intensity necessary to activate Opto-mGluR6 surpasses the safe threshold for retinal illumination. Conversely, red-shifted lights pose a significantly lower risk of inducing such damage compared to blue lights. We designed red-shifted Opto-mGluR6 photopigments with a wide, red-shifted working spectrum compared to Opto-mGluR6 and examined their excitation capability in vitro. ROM19, ROM18 and ROM17, red-shifted variants of Opto-mGluR6, were designed by careful bioinformatics/computational studies. The predicted molecules with the best scores were selected, synthesised and cloned into the pAAV-CMV-IRES-EGFP vector. Expression of constructs was confirmed by functional assessment in engineered HEK-GIRK cells. Spectrophotometry and patch clamp experiments demonstrated that the candidate molecules were sensitive to the desired wavelengths of the light and directly coupled light stimuli to G-protein signalling. Herein, we introduce ROM17, ROM18 and ROM19 as newly generated, red-shifted variants with maximum excitation red-shifted of ~ 40nm, 70 nm and 126 nm compared to Opto-mGluR6. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In underground mine environments, factors such as low light intensity, diffusion of dust particles, and coal slurry coverage interfere with coal gangue identification. To further realize coal-gangue sorting underground, we analyzed the coal-gangue visual characteristics coupled with the above factors. The analysis reveals that both smoke environments and coal slurry coverage tend to make the coal-gangue visual features more consistent. There are still differences in coal-gangue visual features under smoke environments, while coal slurry coverage leads to gangue exhibiting coal-related feature information. To improve the detection capability of coal gangue in underground environments, this study adopts a coal gangue recognition method based on the DG module and YOLOX-PSB network: Utilize the DG module to achieve dehazing and then use the YOLOX-PSB model for object detection. The proposed method was validated through ablation experiments, and the results showed that the detection accuracy reached 99.6%, with an FPS of 98. The proposed method enables real-time detection and exhibits the best robustness in complex environments, realizing reliable and efficient performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

2D/3D van der Waals heterostructures provide an excellent platform for high-performance optoelectronic systems by combining the intrinsic properties of 2D and 3D materials. In this study, we fabricate and study a type II ReS2/Si van der Waals 2D/3D vertical heterojunction with multi-mode photodetection. In the dark, the heterojunction exhibits diode-like behavior with a low reverse current and a high rectification ratio of ∼103. Under illumination, the device shows a linear response to the light intensity. The ReS2/Si photodetector exhibits stable and repeatable switching behavior and can be operated in self-powered mode with a responsivity of about 0.10 mA/W at 10 mW incident power and a time response of 300 μs. Based on first-principles calculations, we propose a model to elucidate the photoconduction mechanisms occurring in the ReS2/Si heterostructure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Disruptions in power quality have a negative impact on many energy consumers. These include lighting, where interference manifests itself, among others, in the form of light flickering. The article presents phenomena accompanying the operation of modern light sources against the background of exemplary results of studies on the flicker of conventional light sources, such as incandescent or fluorescent lamps. The flickering effect of light generated in modern lamps can occur under stable voltage conditions in the supply network. The main subjects of the conducted research were solid-state light sources—light-emitting diode (LED) lamps, currently available on the lighting market. To assess the effects of these phenomena, it is necessary to use measures other than those traditionally used. The method used allows for the measurement of flicker resulting from both power supply disturbances and the properties of modern light sources. Using the developed measurement system, it is possible to record temporal changes in flicker coefficients resulting from, for example, changing supply voltage conditions. Due to the possibility of flickering light from sources offered by different manufacturers, as shown by research, it is advisable to carry out measurements at the place of use of the lighting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intensity-interrogation surface plasmon resonance (I-SPR) provides the fastest imaging speed among various SPR techniques, including wavelength, phase, and angle-based detection. It also integrates easily with other devices and has substantial practical application potential. However, I-SPR's reliance on direct detection of reflected light intensity renders it sensitive to light source fluctuations and detector dark noise, and its dynamic range is relatively limited. To address these challenges, we have developed a multi-channel I-SPR sensing platform featuring rapid wavelength interval selection technology. This system optimizes the sensing wavelength according to the refractive indices of different samples, mitigating issues related to inconsistent SPR signals from various biomolecules. Our improved I-SPR technology enables high-throughput biomolecular detection with a refractive index range size of 2.035 × 10−2 for dynamic monitoring, reaching a leading role among the existing I-SPR technologies. This represents the widest linear dynamic range for I-SPR to date. Experimental results on protein binding kinetic constants KD are consistent with those obtained from commercially available instruments. We believe that this study is expected to accelerate the development of SPR technology toward broader biological applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Channelrhodopsins (ChRs) are light-gated ion channels widely used to optically activate or silence selected electrogenic cells, such as individual brain neurons. Here, we describe identifying and characterizing a set of anion-conducting ChRs (ACRs) from diverse taxa and representing various branches of the ChR phylogenetic tree. The Mantoniella squamata ACR (MsACR1) showed high sensitivity to yellow-green light (λmax at 555 nm) and was further engineered for optogenetic applications. A single amino-acid substitution that mimicked red-light-sensitive rhodopsins like Chrimson shifted the photosensitivity 20 nm toward red light and accelerated photocurrent kinetics. Hence, it was named red and accelerated ACR, raACR. Both wild-type and mutant are capable optical silencers at low light intensities in mouse neurons in vitro and in vivo, while raACR offers a higher temporal resolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photothermocatalytic dry reforming of methane (DRM) offers a promising strategy for converting solar energy into fuel. However, the high light intensity required for high fuel production rates and thermodynamically more favorable coking side reactions limit this strategy. Herein, a nanocomposite of La‐doped Al2O3 supporting Ru nanoparticles (NPs) (Ru/La‐Al2O3) is synthesized. At relatively low light intensity (80.2 kW m−2), Ru/La‐Al2O3 obtains high production rates of CO and H2 per gram of Ru (rRu, CO and rRu, H2, 8410.19 and 7181.94 mmol gRu−1 min−1) with light‐to‐fuel efficiency (η, 26.6%), and completely prohibits coking. In striking contrast, the reference catalyst without La doping (Ru/Al2O3) exhibits lower rRu, CO, rRu, H2, η and produces large amounts of coke. The improved photothermocatalytic performance stems from the fact that reactive oxygen species and carbonate species are involved in the oxidation of carbon species (rate‐determining steps of DRM) through two different reaction pathways, which significantly increases catalytic activity and prevents the carbon species from polymerizing into coke. Additionally, light not only enhances the DRM on Ru NPs and the oxidation reaction between carbonate species and carbon species but also promotes the dissociation of CH4 and desorption of H2, which improves the catalytic activity and product selectivity of Ru/La‐Al2O3. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oyster larvae in the settlement stage, referred to as pediveligers, initially have a light sensor eyespot to perceive light wavelength and intensity. Based on this ontogenetic characteristic of oyster larvae, this study investigated the effects of light wavelength and intensity on larval phototaxis in the Pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas. The eyespots of pediveligers were characterized with wavelength-dependent light absorbance, measured by a microspectrophotometer system, and phototaxis was analyzed with the following processes. Horizontal larval phototaxis was observed under lighting conditions with six light wavelengths and three intensities using light-emitting diodes: 5, 15, and 25 W/m2 for near-ultraviolet light and four visible light wavelengths or 25, 50, and 100 lx for near-infrared light. Pediveligers were subjected to each lighting condition for 15 min, and then their distribution inside the experimental container was estimated. The eyespot exhibited maximum absorbance at a visible red light wavelength of approximately 638 nm. The larvae had a propensity for positive phototaxis under red light and negative phototaxis under blue light. The phototactic response varied with the light intensities. The obtained results indicate a possible mechanism for maintaining optimal water depth for the settlement of C. gigas larvae using light wavelength and intensity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The disappearance of canopy-forming algae in coastal habitats exposes crustose coralline algae (CCA) to varying light conditions during the transition from foliose macroalgal habitats to barren ground by physical, chemical, or biological interaction. We hypothesized that the sudden increase in light intensity, resulting from the absence of canopy-forming algae, leads to photodamage in CCA related to inhibition of growth. To test this, a 4-week indoor incubation experiment was conducted under different light intensities (20-, 60-, 120-, and 250-μmol photons m−2 s−1). Results revealed that CCA can acclimate to limited light environments, with the efficiency of PSII significantly reduced at higher light levels. Photoprotective mechanisms were activated under persistent stress, leading to a reduction in encrusting area and CCA bleaching. This suggests that CCA coexist with canopy-forming algae in environments with sufficient light exposure, benefiting from the shade provided. However, if directly exposed to light due to the disappearance of canopy-forming algae, CCA faces extreme light stress and potential disappearance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The photodegradation and deadhesion of mussel-inspired polydopamine was reported from nanoscale disassembly to effective mineralization. Various PDA coated templates and PDA hollow structures can be photodegraded by this strategy. The patterned and gradient surfaces were prepared by the "top-down" method under the control of light scope and intensity, respectively. [Display omitted] Mussel-inspired polydopamine (PDA) coating has been utilized extensively as versatile deposition strategies that can functionalize surfaces of virtually all substrates. However, the strong adhesion, stability and intermolecular interaction of PDA make it inefficient in certain applications. Herein, a green and efficient photocatalytic method was reported to remove adhesion and degrade PDA by using TiO 2 -H 2 O 2 as photocatalyst. The photodegradation process of the PDA spheres was first undergone nanoscale disassembly to form soluble PDA oligomers or well-dispersed nanoparticles. Most of the disassembled PDA can be photodegraded and finally mineralized to CO 2 and H 2 O. Various PDA coated templates and PDA hollow structures can be photodegraded by this strategy. Such process provides a practical strategy for constructing the patterned and gradient surfaces by the "top-down" method under the control of light scope and intensity. This sequential degradation strategy is beneficial to achieve the decomposition of highly crosslinked polymers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In addition to leaves, photosynthesis can occur in other green plant organs, including developing seeds of many crops. While the majority of studies examining photosynthesis are concentrated on the leaf level, the role of other green tissues in the production of total photoassimilates has been largely overlooked. The present work studies the photosynthetic behavior of leaves and non-foliar (pericarps, coats, and cotyledons) organs of pea (Pisum sativum L.) plants at the middle stage of seed maturation. The Chl a fluorescence transient was examined based on OJIP kinetics using the FluorPen FP 110. A discrepancy was observed between the performance index (PIABS) for foliar and non-foliar plant tissues, with the highest level noted in the leaves. The number of absorbed photons (ABS) and captured energy flow (TRo) per reaction center (RC) were elevated in the non-foliar tissues, which resulted in a faster reduction in QA. Conversely, the energy dissipation flux per RC (DIo/RC and PHI_Do) indicated an increase in the overall dissipation potential of active reaction centers of photosystem II. This phenomenon was attributed to the presence of a higher number of inactive RCs in tissues that had developed under low light intensity. Furthermore, the expression of genes associated with proteins and enzymes that regulate ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (RuBisCo) activity was observed, including chaperonins Cpn60α and Cpn60β, RuBisCO activase, as well as phosphoribulokinase. The expression of these genes was found to differ between foliar and non-foliar tissues, indicating that the activation state of RuBisCO may be modified in response to light intensity. Overall, the present study provides insights into the mechanisms by which non-foliar green tissues of plants adapt to efficient light capture and utilization under low light conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Light is a key factor in moderating human alertness, both subjective and objective. However, the methodology applies in research on the effects of exposure to light of different wavelengths and intensities on objective and subjective alertness varies greatly and evidence on objective alertness in particular is still inconclusive. Thus, the present, highly standardized within-subject laboratory study on N = 44 healthy males explored how LED light of different intensities (dim vs. bright light) and wavelengths (red vs. blue) affected objective (reaction time/RT) as well as subjective (sleepiness) alertness in the morning after wake-up. Methods: Participants spent two separate nights in the laboratory and were exposed to either one of the two light intensities or colors for 60 min after wake-up. Additionally, they indicated their sleepiness on the Karolinska Sleepiness Scale and participated in an auditory RT task before and after light intervention. It was hypothesized that both bright and blue light would lead to greater subjective and objective alertness when compared to dim and red light, respectively. Results: Results indicated that average RTs were longer for participants in the bright light condition (p = 0.004, f2 = 0.07) and that RTs decreased post-light exposure irrespective of light being dim or bright (p = 0.026, f2 = 0.07). However, dim versus bright light and RT did not interact (p = 0.758, f2 = 0.07). Chronotype was a significant covariate in the interaction of dim versus bright light and subjective sleepiness (p = 0.008, f2 = 0.22). There was no difference in RTs when comparing exposure to red or blue light (p = 0.488, f2 = 0.01). Findings on subjective sleepiness and light of different wavelengths revealed that sleepiness was reduced after light exposure (p = 0.007, f2 = 0.06), although the wavelength of light did not appear to play a role in this effect (p = 0.817, f2 = 0.06). Conclusion: Hence, neither of the hypotheses could be confirmed. However, they indicated that evening types might benefit from exposure to bright light regarding sleepiness, but not morning types. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT This study aimed to evaluate the ability of Persian gum to encapsulate curcumin and enhance its stability in dairy products. Given the increasing interest in functional foods, this study investigated the incorporation of nanocapsules containing curcumin (CLN) into functional stirred yogurt (CLN‐Y). CLN was prepared with Persian gum (PG) at different levels and included in the yogurt formula (CLN‐Y1%, CLN‐Y2%, and CLN‐Y3%). The physicochemical properties, rheological characteristics, antioxidant activity (AA), survival of starter bacteria, and sensory properties of the yogurt were evaluated over a 21‐day storage period at 4°C. The results showed that CLN significantly improved AA (reduction of 7.31% in the control vs. 1.85% in CLN‐Y3%), viscosity, hardness, and water holding capacity (reduction of 2.27% in control vs. 1.14% in CLN‐Y3%), while reducing syneresis (an increase of 10.87% in control vs. 3.16% in CLN‐Y3%) during storage (p < 0.05). CLN concentration directly affected AA. Although CLN‐Y exhibited a yellowish color and lower light intensity than the control, the samples were well accepted during storage. Increasing CLN levels led to decreased taste, color, and overall acceptance scores, and a 3% concentration is recommended for yogurt formulation due to its potential to improve yogurt quality, provide antioxidant benefits, maintain probiotic viability, and achieve high consumer acceptance during storage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Synthesis of silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) using microalgae is gaining recognition for its environmentally friendly and cost-effective nature while maintaining high activity of NPs. In the present study, Ag NPs were synthesized using a methanolic extract of Chlorella vulgaris and subjected to calcination. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis showed a crystalline nature of the products with Ag2O and Ag phases with an average crystalline size of 16.07 nm before calcination and an Ag phase with 24.61 nm crystalline size after calcination. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) revealed the capping functional groups on Ag NPs, while scanning electron microscopy (SEM) displayed their irregular morphology and agglomeration after calcination. The organic coating was examined by energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) and thermogravimetric (TGA) analyses, confirming the involvement of the metabolites. The UV–Vis analysis showed a difference in optical properties due to calcination. Synthesized Ag NPs were applied for the photodegradation of hazardous dye Brilliant Blue R in visible light. Different values of light intensity, catalyst dose, initial dye concentration, and pH were tested to identify the optimal set of operating conditions. The highest degradation efficiency of 90.6% with an apparent rate constant of 0.04402 min−1 was achieved after 90 min of irradiation in the highest tested catalyst dosage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]