In recent years, with the increasing research and development of the LED industry which contains GaN, it is expected that there will be a large amount of related wastes in the future. Especially the gallium has extremely high value of economic, therefore, it is necessary to establish the recycling system of the GaN waste. However, GaN is a direct-gap semiconductor and with high energy gap, high hardness, and high melting point make it difficult to recycle. Therefore, this study will analyze the physical characteristics of LED wastes containing GaN and carry out various leaching method to leach the valuable metals from the waste optimally. Different acids are used to find out the best reagent for leaching the gallium. Different experimental parameters are discussed such as the effect of the different acid agents , concentration, pressure, solid-liquid mass ratio, temperature, and time which influence the leaching efficiency of the gallium. In this study, various leaching methods which effect the leaching efficiency of the gallium are compared and the advantages and disadvantages are discussed. Finally, pressurized acid leaching method is preferred to leach the GaN waste, and hydrochloric acid is used as the leaching solution because of its better leaching efficiency of gallium. Eventually, the leaching efficiency of the gallium can reach to 98%.

Solid-state lighting has been replacing conventional lighting in the market, raising concerns for implementing an efficient end-of-life management system. Since LED waste streams have not been quite dominant, characterization studies (product-level characteristics, component-wise information, bill of materials, diversity, and differences) are inconsistent and having substantial gaps. This study investigates the end-of-life LED lamp literature, focusing on the bill-of-materials, and reveals that the characterization procedure suffers from a severe lack of sample representativeness. Consequently, characterization results are widely varied and not generalizable. Moreover, most of the studies did not inform and document the detailed sample characteristics, precluding the possibility of identifying reasons for variation. Combining available information from the recent studies, we present a mass distribution at the component level, exemplifying the prospect for meeting EU regulatory limit and the need for more insight at the lamp and component level. To fill the disconnection between lamp level characteristics and component and material content, we propose a characterization protocol that carefully documents lamp, component, and material level information by establishing a lamp-component–material composition nexus. The protocol may help researchers, policymakers, and industrial stakeholders conduct a systematic characterization, analyze complexities and prepare for a sustainable solution.

Color plays an important part in human activities, affects circadian cycle and decision making process. Therefore, it is important to investigate human judgment under different color of illumination, especially, because color perception is subjective. In this study, we developed required instrumentation to control the red (R), green (G), Blue (B) and Amber (A) colored light emitting diode (LED) lamp for carrying out Magneto Encephalography (MEG) brain scan. We developed a software to generate all the colors in the visual spectrum, predefined white light combinations and saturation of an illuminated objects by using RGBA color pallet. The lamp is required to control from outside of the MEG electromagnetically shielded room with the LED lamp located inside the MEG room. Hence, USB is used for the communication mode. The feasibility of using LED lamp with MEG brain scanner has been validated for bio-medical and psychological MEG experiments.

The halotolerant photoautotrophic marine microalga Dunaliella salina is one of the richest sources of natural carotenoids. Here we investigated the effects of high intensity blue, red and white light from light emitting diodes (LED) on the production of carotenoids by strains of D. salina under nutrient sufficiency and strict temperature control favouring growth. Growth in high intensity red light was associated with carotenoid accumulation and a high rate of oxygen uptake. On transfer to blue light, a massive drop in carotenoid content was recorded along with very high rates of photo-oxidation. In high intensity blue light, growth was maintained at the same rate as in red or white light, but without carotenoid accumulation; transfer to red light stimulated a small increase in carotenoid content. The data support chlorophyll absorption of red light photons to reduce plastoquinone in photosystem II, coupled to phytoene desaturation by plastoquinol:oxygen oxidoreductase, with oxygen as electron acceptor. Partitioning of electrons between photosynthesis and carotenoid biosynthesis would depend on both red photon flux intensity and phytoene synthase upregulation by the red light photoreceptor, phytochrome. Red light control of carotenoid biosynthesis and accumulation reduces the rate of formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) as well as increases the pool size of anti-oxidant.

LIFI was first introduce by Professor Harald Haas on July 2011. Light fidelity (LI-FI) may be a technology which uses light as a medium to travel from one place to a different. It uses Light like Light Emitting Diode (LED) visible radiation Communication (VLC) for data Transferring and Internet connection. LIFI may be a technique which uses light as a medium because it uses light to travel it's 20 times faster than any WIFI within the world. during this paper we speak about things like what's LIFI and the way it's better then WIFI why we want LIFI and What changes did bring LIFI in our Future LIFI. How it'll make IOT devices far better than before The Technique to implement LIFI and also the problem we face of implementation of LIFI

In recent years, photobiomodulation (PBM) has been recognized as a physical therapy in wound management. Despite several published research papers, the mechanism underlying photobiomodulation is still not completely understood. The investigation about application of blue light to improve wound healing is a relatively new research area. Tests in selected patients evidenced a stimulation of the healing process in superficial and chronic wounds treated with a blue LED light emitting at 420 nm; a study in animal model pointed out a faster healing process in superficial wound, with an important role of fibroblasts and myofibroblasts. Here we present a study aiming at evidencing the effects of blue light on the proliferation and metabolism in fibroblasts and keratinocytes. Different light doses were used to treat the cells, evidencing inhibitory and stimulatory effects. Electrophysiology was used to investigate the effects on membrane currents, while Raman spectroscopy revealed the mitochondrial Cytochrome C (Cyt C) oxidase dependence on blue light irradiation. In conclusion, we observed that the blue LED light can be used to modulate the activity of human fibroblasts, and the effects in wound healing are particularly evident when studying the fibroblasts and keratinocytes co-cultures.

More than 1.1 billion people lack access to electricity in the world, among them 600 million are in sub-Saharan African countries. The socio-economic life of the rural communities is highly affected by electricity supply. The demanding Interest for growth and development in developing countries led to a renewed interest in solar lights. Liter of the night light is a solar-powered light that is constructed from waste plastic bottles which light up the rural community. This paper is about experimental analysis of liter of night light for potential use in rural electrification. The technology uses environmentally friendly and locally available materials. The system is provided with battery storage, which allows it to operate for 13.5 hours continuously at full charge. Solar radiation is converted by PV solar panel to electric current. Circuit board is developed and fabricated to regulate and deliver a consumable amount of voltage by the rechargeable lead-acid battery. After testing five different solutions, the study found out that vinegar solution as the optimal solutions for the technology that can deliver 27lux of light to the surrounding. Simultaneously the study found out, that the light that is emitted from the bottle bulb is a function of volume, depth and solution type. And for this relationship curves are developed. And, the technology can be used for rural communities as it is.

The Hennovation project, an EU H2020 funded thematic network, aimed to explore the potential value of practice-led multi-actor innovation networks within the laying hen industry. The project proposed that husbandry solutions can be practice-led and effectively supported to achieve durable gains in sustainability and animal welfare. It encouraged a move away from the traditional model of science providing solutions for practice, towards a collaborative approach where expertise from science and practice were equally valued. During the 32-month project, the team facilitated 19 multi-actor networks in 5 countries through 6 critical steps in the innovation process: problem identification, generation of ideas, planning, small scale trials, implementation and sharing with others. The networks included farmers, processors, veterinarians, technical advisors, market representatives and scientists. The interaction between the farmers and the other network actors, including scientists, was essential for farmer innovation. New relationships emerged between the scientists and farmers, based on experimental learning and the co-production of knowledge for improving laying hen welfare. The project demonstrated that a practice-led approach can be a major stimulus for innovation with several networks generating novel ideas and testing them in their commercial context. The Hennovation innovation networks not only contributed to bridging the science-practice gap by application of existing scientific solutions in practice but more so by jointly finding new solutions. Successful multi-actor, practice-led innovation networks appeared to depend upon the following key factors: active participation from relevant actors, professional facilitation, moderate resource support and access to relevant expertise. Farmers and processors involved in the project were often very enthusiastic about the approach, committing significant time to the network’s activities. It is suggested that the agricultural research community and funding agencies should place greater value on practice-led multi-actor innovation networks alongside technology and advisor focused initiatives to improve animal welfare and embed best practices.

We revisit the argument that link the efficiency of a solar cell to its reverse operation as a LED, in the case where the material is organic. In organic cells, exciton transport is an intermediate process between sunlight absorption and the generation of electric current. We show that quenching exciton radiation can be beneficial to cell efficiency, without contradicting the general rule prevailing for semiconductor cells. Our treatment allows us to discuss both bulk heterojunction and planar junctions.

Dunaliella salina is a rich source of 9-cis β-carotene, which has been identified as important in the treatment of retinal dystrophies and other diseases. We previously showed that chlorophyll absorption of red light photons in D. salina is coupled to oxygen reduction and phytoene desaturation and increases the pool size of β-carotene [1]. Here we show for the first time that growth under red light also controls conversion of extant all-trans β-carotene to 9-cis β-carotene by β-carotene isomerases. Cells illuminated with red light from a light emitting diode (LED) during cultivation contained a higher 9-cis β-carotene content compared to cells illuminated with white or blue LED light. The 9-cis/all-trans β-carotene ratio in red light treated cultures reached >2.5:1 within 48 hours and was independent of light intensity. Illumination using red light filters that eliminated blue wavelength light also increased the 9-cis/all-trans β-carotene ratio. With norflurazon, a phytoene desaturase inhibitor which blocked downstream biosynthesis of β-carotene, extant all-trans β-carotene was converted to 9-cis β-carotene during growth with red light and the 9-cis/all-trans β-carotene ratio was ~2:1. With blue light under the same conditions, 9-cis β-carotene was likely destroyed at a greater rate than all-trans β-carotene (9-cis/all-trans ratio 0.5:1). Red light perception by the red light photoreceptor, phytochrome, may increase the pool size of anti-oxidant, specifically 9-cis β-carotene, both by upregulating phytoene synthase to increase the rate of biosynthesis of β-carotene and to reduce the rate of formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and by upregulating β-carotene isomerases to convert extant all-trans β-carotene to 9-cis β-carotene.

Air polution level measurement sometime needs tricky instrumentation, costly, and use chemical reagent that could bad impact to environment, it also time consuming for analysis. In other hand, air polution level measurement, include nitrogen dioxide (NO2) needs accuracy, rapid and environment friendly for its analysis and measurement. Differential Optical Absorption Spectroscopy (DOAS) develop as spectrum measurements both UV and visible, transmitted by specific canal using absorption Lambert Beer’s Law principal. On this basic method, NO2 measurement needs light source with 330 – 500 nm wavelength, it is possible to use cheap blue-LED for this measurement. This research intends to calibrate prototype instrumentation for measuring NO2 by DOAS based using Blue-LED (375 nm) passed in continual gas container. NO2 emission simulated in laboratory scale by reacting copper (Cu) with nitric acid (HNO3) result NO2 gas formation. Blue-LED spectrum analysed by compact CCD Spectrometer for its absorbance spectrum, then calibrated with NO2 measurement using USEPA Method 7B standard that is commonly used in testing laboratory as standard method for NO2 measurement. It has good corelation between spectrum absorbance in CCD Spectrometer to USEPA Method 7B with more than 95% linierity. As rapidity of this measurement and shown good accuracy, more development for this method could carry fast, accurate, cheap, also environmentally friendly method for NO2 measurement.

The present study analyzed light emitting diodes (LEDs) as an output load and used a Taylor series to describe the characteristic curve based on the exponential characteristic of voltage and current. A prototype circuit of a flyback LED driver system was established to verify whether the theory is consistent with actual results. This study focused on the exponential relationship of LED voltage and current. Conventional simulations usually used linear models to present LED loads. However, the linear model resulted in considerable error between simulation and actual characteristics. Therefore, this study employed a Taylor series to describe the nonlinear characteristic of an LED load. Through precise calculations with Mathcad computation software, the error was effectively reduced. Moreover, the process clarified the influence of temperature on LEDs, which benefited the characteristic analysis of the entire system. Finally, a realized circuit of 120-W flyback LED drivers was established for conducting theory verification, including theoretic analysis and evaluation of the system design process of the flyback converter. The circuit simulation software SIMPLIS was used to demonstrate the system model, which enabled quick understanding of the system framework established in this study. Regarding LEDs, a commercially available aluminum luminaire was used as the output load. The measured results of the actual circuit and the simulation results were remarkably consistent. For the same system at the same temperature, the error between the simulation and actual results was less than 3%, which proved the reliability of the Taylor series simulation.

Vision is our primary sense as the human eye is the gateway for more than 65% of information reaching the human brain. Today’s increased exposure to different wavelengths and intensities of light from Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) sources could induce retinal degeneration and accompanying neuronal cell death. Damage induced by chronic phototoxic reactions occurring in the retina accumulates over years and it has been suggested to be responsible for the etiology of many debilitating ocular conditions. In this work, we examined how LED stimulation affects vision by monitoring changes in the expression of death and survival factors as well as microglial activation in LED-induced damage (LID) of the retinal tissue. We found an LED exposure-induced increase in the mRNA levels of major apoptosis-related markers -BAX, Bcl-2, and Caspase-3 and an accompanying wide-spread microglial and Caspase-3 activation. Everyday LED light exposure was accounted for all the described changes in the retinal tissue of mice in this study, indicating that overuse of non-filtered direct LED light can have detrimental effects on the human retina as well.

Patients with heart failure have difficulty in self-care management, as daily monitoring and recognizing symptoms do not readily triggers an action to avoid hospital admissions. The purpose of this study was to understand the impact of a nurse-led complex intervention on symptom recognition and fluid restriction. A latent growth model was designed to estimate self-care management and quality of life changes on patients with heart failure and assessed by a pilot study, for three months, to sixty-three patients (33 control, 30 intervention). Patients in the control group had a higher risk of hospitalisation (IRR 11.36; p<.001) and emergency admission (IRR 4.24; p<.001) at three-months follow-up. Analysis of the time scores demonstrated that the intervention group had a clear improvement in self-care behaviours (βSlope. Assignment_group=-.881; p<.001) and in the quality of life (βSlope. Assignment_group=1.739; p<.001). This study supports that a nurse-led program on symptom recognition and fluid restriction can have a positive impact on self-care behaviours and quality of life in patients with heart failure.

A typical white-light light-emitting diode (LED) can achieve a sunlight-like spectral profile in the visible spectrum by means of using an optical filter, with an inverted transmission profile to the white LED, fabricated using a deposition coating process. The unfiltered white LED generates white light by mixing light emitted by a blue LED (450 nm) with emission from the yellow phosphorescence excited by the blue light and differs significantly from the characteristics of the full-spectrum natural light. In this study, the spectral characteristics of the filtered LED light can be improved to reach a general color rendering index value (Ra) of 95.6 at the D65.

We report on the design, characterization and validation of a spherical irradiation system for inactivating SARS-CoV-2, based on UV-C 275 nm LEDs. The system is designed to maximize ir-radiation intensity and uniformity, and can be used for irradiating a volume of 18 liters. To this aim: (i) several commercially available LEDs have been acquired and analyzed; (ii) a complete optical study has been carried out in order to optimize the efficacy of the system. (iii) The re-sulting prototype has been characterized optically, and tested for the inactivation of SARS-CoV-2 for different exposure times, doses and surface types. Results indicate that a 99.9% inactivation can be reached after 1 minute of treatment with a dose of 83.1 J/m2.

Patients with heart failure have difficulty in self-care management, as daily monitoring and recognizing symptoms do not readily trigger an action to avoid hospital admissions. The purpose of this study was to understand the impact of a nurse-led complex intervention on symptom recognition and fluid restriction. A latent growth model was designed to estimate self-care management and quality of life changes on patients with heart failure and assessed by a pilot study, for three months, to sixty-three patients (33 control, 30 intervention). Patients in the control group had a higher risk of hospitalisation (IRR 11.36; p<.001) and emergency admission (IRR 4.24; p<.001) at three-months follow-up. Analysis of the time scores demonstrated that the intervention group had a clear improvement in self-care behaviours (βSlope. Assign-ment_group=-.881; p<.001) and in the quality of life (βSlope. Assignment_group=1.739; p<.001). This study supports that a nurse-led program on symptom recognition and fluid restriction can have a positive impact on self-care behaviours and quality of life in patients with heart failure.

1) Background: Parents are increasingly fascinated by alternative weaning methods, such as ba-by-led or vegetarian weaning. However, international pediatric societies are still cautious to-wards alternative weaning methods, due to their significant risk of nutritional deficiencies. The aim of this study is to describe the attitude of Italian pediatricians towards unconventional weaning, with particular regard to vegetarian and baby-led. (2) Methods: A 20-question ques-tionnaire was sent to Italian pediatricians, from January to December 2019; (3) Results: Responses were received from 73/1000 (7.3%) pediatricians. The vast majority of surveyed pediatricians (78.1%) is familiar with baby-led and vegetarian weaning, but only 24.7% is in favor of their practice. A significant number of pediatricians (63.0%) received request from parents for an al-ternative weaning regimen. (4) Conclusions: The survey revealed a significant gap between pedi-atricians’ attitude and parental demand concerning unconventional weaning. This could signifi-cantly impair the alliance between parents and pediatricians with the risk to expose infants and children to severe nutritional deficiencies due to self-management by parents with poor surveil-lance from health professionals.

The importance of oxygen in the winemaking process is widely known, as it affects the chemical aspects and therefore the organoleptic characteristics of the final product. Hence, it is evident the usefulness of a continuous and real-time measurements of the levels of oxygen in the various stages of the winemaking process, both for monitoring and for control. The WOW project has focused on the design and the development an innovative device for monitoring the oxygen levels in wine. This system is based on the use of an optical fiber to measure the luminescent lifetime variation of a reference metal/porphyrin complex, which decays in presence of oxygen. The developed technology results in a high sensitivity and low cost sensor head that can be employed for measuring the dissolved oxygen levels at several points inside a wine fermentation or aging tank. This system can be complemented with dynamic modeling techniques to provide predictive behavior of the nutrient evolution in space and time given few sampled measuring points for both process monitoring and control purposes. The experimental validation of the technology has been first performed in a controlled laboratory setup to attain calibration and study sensitivity with respect to different photo-luminescent compounds and alcoholic or non-alcoholic solutions, and then in an actual case study during a measurement campaign at a renown Italian winery.

If the world’s countries seriously tackle the climate targets agreed in Paris, their citizens are likely to experience substantial changes in production, consumption and employment. We present a long-run post-Keynesian model for studying the potential implications of a major transition on macroeconomic stability and employment. It is a demand-led model in which firms have considerable but not absolute freedom to administer prices, while household consumption exhibits inertia. Firms continually seek input-saving technological improvements that, in the aggregate, tie technological progress to firms' cost structure. Together with firm pricing strategies and wage setting, the productivities of different inputs determine the functional income distribution. Saving and investment, and production and purchase of consumption goods, are undertaken by different economic actors, driven by income and capacity utilization, with the possibility that productive capacity exceeds, or falls short of, effective demand. The model produces business cycles and long waves driven by technological change. We present results for a “downshifting” scenario in which households voluntarily withdraw labor and discuss the implications of downshifting for stability, growth, and employment. We contrast the downshifting scenario with ones in which households reduce consumption without withdrawing from the labor pool.

The full impact of COVID-19 on policing, crime and disorder is slowly being fully unraveled. However, there remains a number of areas of policing that are yet to be examined in detail. Two of these areas include the impact on the intrinsically linked, volume of police recorded intelligence reports, and the use of stop and search. In this study we examine them symbiotically and frame them in the context of the intelligence led policing model, in particular in an effort to understand how national lockdowns in the United Kingdom affected both proactive policing approaches and the underpinning intelligence cycle. To achieve this, we use data from freedom of information requests regarding the annual levels of recorded police intelligence over a 10-year period for 20 police services. To supplement this, we examine overall national monthly volumes of stop and search activity over a 5-year period. Finally, we then use a case study approach of 3 police services to further explore changes in the conduct of stop and search such as the officer defined ethnicity, grounds for search and disposal outcomes. The findings indicate that both recorded intelligence reports and stop and search increased dramatically during periods of lockdown, despite widespread decreases in crime and social mobility. Changes in proportional impact are identified for White and Black citizens, searches for controlled drugs and the no further action disposal, but these are not consistent across police services. Potential causes and implications are then discussed and again, framed within the context of the impact on the intelligence led policing model and wider policing environment.

Recently, light traps using light-emitting diode (LED) lights have been applied to monitor or control insect pests. The oriental armyworm, Mythimna separata Walker, is an important insect pest that has caused damage to several cereal crops, including corn, wheat and rice. The present study aims to seek out a sensitive wavelength causing high phototactic response in M. separata. The study evaluated the phototactic responses of M. separata moths to several LED lights of different wavelengths and luminance intensities under laboratory condition. Results showed that green (520 nm) LED light resulted in significant phototactic response of M. separata moths compared to LED lights of other wavelengths. Additionally, the highest attraction rate of the moths to green LED light appeared in luminance intensity group of 200 lux compared to the other intensities groups. Experiments under optimum conditions based on the above experiments revealed that the green LED light exhibited the strongest attraction rate (64.44%) among all experimental groups. An experiment performed in a net cage also showed that green LED light resulted in the highest phototactic response of M. separata moths, 1.7 times more than a commercial black light used as control. These findings clearly demonstrate that M. separata moths have a high sensitivity to the green LED light. Therefore, a light trap equipped with green LED light could be useful for monitoring and controlling M. separata moths.

Light sources tend to affect images captured in any automatic optical inspection (AOI) system. In this study, the effectiveness of metal-halide lamps, quartz-halogen lamps, and LEDs as the light sources in AOI systems for the detection of the 3rd and 4th layers electrodes of thin-film-transistor liquid crystal displays (TFT-LCDs) is examined experimentally. The results show that the performance of LEDs is generally comparable or better than that of metal-halide and quartz-halogen lamps. The best optical performance is by the blue LED due to its spectrum compatibility with the time-delay-integration charged-coupled device (TDI CCD) sensor and its better spatial resolution. The images revealed by the blue LED are sharper and more distinctive. Since current LEDs are more energy efficient and environmentally friendly, using LEDs as the light source for AOI is very beneficial. As the blue LED performs the best, it should be adopted for AOI using TDI CCD sensors.

This article investigates if public investments in rural basic infrastructure represent the best strategy for boosting the local economy of rural communities from Romania. The article focuses on one specific program implemented under the Cohesion policy in the framework of the National Plan for Rural Development called Measure 322. Geographically, the research included a sample of rural communes from the North-Western Region of Romania. Moreover, the study also looks at other determinants of local economic development (LED) than infrastructure investments, with a focus on certain feature characterizing Romanian rural communities such as population size, isolation from urban centers, connection with European and national roads networks, educational stock, etc. The research included three steps, namely the construction of the LED Index, a cvasi-experimental research, and a regression model. Our main findings seem to suggest that while investments in infrastructure help the development gap between beneficiaries and non-beneficiaries remains relatively the same. In terms of determinants of LED, percentage of population with a university degree and connection to a European road are the most significant in the Romanian rural context.

The high-power Asymmetric half-bridge Converter (AHBC) LED constant current driver controlled by digital current mode is a fourth-order system. Static operating point, parasitic resistance, load characteristics, sampling effect, modulation mode and loop delay will have great influence on its dynamic performance. In this paper, the small-signal pulse transfer function of the driver is established by the discrete-time modeling method for the two operating points corresponding to the three modulation modes of the trailing edge, leading edge and double edge. And, the effects of parasitic parameters, delay effect, sampling effect and load effect are fully considered in modeling. For a large number of complex exponential matrix operations, the first order Taylor formula is used for approximate calculation after the coefficient matrix is obtained by substituting the data. Then, Matlab software is used to compare and analyze the discrete-time model and the discrete-average model. The results show that the proposed discrete-time model can more accurately characterize the resonant peak and high-frequency dynamic characteristics, and is very suitable for the design of high frequency digital controller.

The advancement of the pediatric traumatic brain injury (TBI) knowledge base requires biospecimens and data from large samples. This study seeks to describe a novel clinical research modality to establish best practices for enrolling a diverse pediatric TBI population and quantifying key information on enrollment into biobanks. Screening form responses were standardized and cleaned through Google Sheets. Data was used to analyze total individuals at each enrollment stage. R was utilized for final analysis, including chi-square goodness of fit and proportion statistical tests, to determine further significance and relationships. Issues throughout data cleaning shed light on limitations of the consent modality. Results suggest that through a diverse research team, the recruited sample exceeds traditional measures of representation (e.g. sex, race, ethnicity). Sex demographics of the study are representative of the local population. Screening for candidates is critical to the success of the consent modality. The consent modality may be modified to increase diversity of study population and accept bilingual candidates. Researchers must implement best practices, including increasing inclusivity of bilingual populations, utilizing technology, and improving participant follow-up, to improve health disparities for understudied clinical populations.

Uniform illumination is a key requirement in different research fields. However, this requirement is often difficult to achieve when high intensity is required at the same time. Recent advancements in LED lamps allow nowadays for compact and economical solutions. In this work we present a suitable solution for various laboratory purposes requiring stable, uniform and high intensity illumination. The system is composed of four identical high power white LED arrays of 30 mm diameter each, placed on a supporting and cooling structure having a minimum volume of 26 cm x 26 cm x 8 cm. A numerical model has been developed, based on a ray tracing software, in order to simulate the performances. These have then been experimentally validated with measurements of the power density map, carried out with a 1% uncertainty pyranometer. Data show that the built system is very stable over time and provides an illumination uniformity higher than 98%, on a surface of 50 mm radius, which reduces to 95% on a surface of 75 mm radius. The power density can be adjusted in the 390-1360 W m-2 range, not affecting uniformity.

In the U.S. 44% of low-income households struggle to pay their utility bills, affecting their ability to afford necessities such as food and health expenses. Several government and utility funded energy efficiency programs exist to assist those experiencing energy insecurity. In Salt Lake City, Utah, there is a high demand for, but low availability of, energy efficiency services in underserved neighborhoods creating an opportunity for creative community-based programs to fill this inherent gap. This pilot project, involving the exchanging of LED bulbs in Salt Lake City, highlights the development of a community-based energy efficiency program that aims to bring energy savings to a uniquely targeted portion of the city and determines its feasibility in addressing energy insecurity at a larger scale. Through the 8-month project duration, 1,432 bulbs were exchanged at 23 events reaching 181 households in low-income areas. Through a year of use, these bulbs are estimated to save residents approximately 18,219 USD in electricity bills and reduce CO2 emissions from power plants by 122.23 metric tons, in addition to a savings of 4,400 USD in social cost of carbon as defined by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Since this pilot reached less than 1% of households, we extrapolated a reach of 2%, 5%, and 7.5% and found substantial potential decreases in power plant emissions and financial savings. As this project is ongoing and being expanded, we discuss relevant findings that will help shape future community-based models so that they are appropriately deployed and more effective in alleviating local energy insecurity.

High efficacy LED lamps combined with adaptive lighting control and greenhouse integrated photovoltaics (PV) could enable the concept of year-round cultivation and become a feasible option even in the harsh climate of the Nordic countries. Meteorological satellite data of this region was analyzed in a parametric study to evaluate the potential of these technologies. The generated maps showed monthly average temperatures fluctuating from -20°C to 20°C throughout the year. The natural photoperiod and light intensity also changed drastically, resulting in monthly average daily light integral (DLI) levels ranging from 45-50 mol·m-2·d-1 in summer and contrasting with 0-5 mol·m-2·d-1 during winter. To compensate, growth room cultivation independent from outdoor conditions could be used in winter. Depending on the efficacy of the lamps, the electricity required for sole-source lighting at 300 µmol·m-2·s-1 for 16 hours would be between 1.4 and 2.4 kWh·m-2·d-1. Greenhouses with supplementary lighting could help start the cultivation earlier in spring and extend it further into autumn. The energy required for lighting highly depends on several factors such as the natural light transmittance, the light threshold settings and the lighting control protocol, resulting in electric demands between 0.6 and 2.4 kWh·m-2·d-1. Integrating PV on the roof or wall structures of the greenhouse could offset some of this electricity, with specific energy yields ranging from 400 to 1120 kWh·kWp-2·yr-1 depending on the region and system design.

Functional Near Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS) systems for e-health applications usually suffer of poor signal detection mainly due to a low end-to-end signal to noise ratio of the electronics chain. Lock-In Amplifiers (LIA) historically represent a powerful technique helping to improve performances in such circumstances. In this work it has been designed and implemented a digital LIA system, based on a Zynq® Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA), trying to explore if this technique might improve fNIRS system performances. More broadly, FPGA based solution flexibility has been investigated, with particular emphasis applied to digital filter parameters, needed in the digital LIA, and it has been evaluated its impact on the final signal detection and noise rejection capability. The realized architecture was a mixed solution between VHDL hardware modules and software ones, running within a softcore microprocessor. Experimental results have shown the goodness of the proposed solutions and comparative details among different implementation will be detailed. Finally a key aspect taken into account throughout the design was its modularity, allowing an ease increase of the input channels while avoiding the growth of the design cost of the electronics system.