The photocatalysis process over N-doped TiO2 under visible light is examined for Pb(II) oxidation to form the less toxic and handleable PbO2 suggesting a new method for Pb(II) remediation. The doping TiO2 with N element was conducted by simple hydrothermal technique and using urea as the N source with various concentrations. The doped photocatalysts were characterized by DRUVS, XRD, FTIR and SEM-EDX instruments. Photocatalysis of Pb(II) through batch experiment was performed for evaluation of the doped TiO2 activity under visible light, with applying various fractions of N doped, photocatalyst weigh, irradiation time, and solution pH. The research results attributed that N doping has been successfully performed, that shifted TiO2 absorption into visible region, allowing it to be active under visible irradiation. The photocatalytic removal of Pb(II) under visible ligth over N-TiO2 showed more effective than that of over the un-doped photocatalyst. The removal of Pb(II) has notably taken place through oxidation, that may form PbO2. The highest photocatalytic oxidation of Pb(II) 15 mg/L in 25 mL of the solution could be reached by using TiO2 doped with 10%w of N, 15 mg of N-TiO2 weight, 30 minutes of time, and at pH 8, suggesting a feseable method for Pb(II) remediation.

The novel ternary composites, BiOBr-TiO2-attapulgite (BTA), were synthesized using a simple hydrothermal and water-bath method, exhibiting excellent photocatalytic performance to mul-tiple xanthates. For BTA photocatalyst, TiO2 and BiOBr were uniformly loaded on the surface of acid-activated attapulgite. As a widely used collector in mining processes, sodium ethyl-xanthate (SEX) was selected as the target pollutant due to its high toxicity. The BTA ternary photocatalyst demonstrated significantly higher adsorption and photocatalytic degradation performance compared to TiO2 nanoparticles, BiOBr nanosheets, and BiOBr-TiO2 heterojunction. Structural characterization and experimental results indicated that the exceptional photocatalytic degrada-tion efficiency of BTA was mainly attributed to the formation of heterojunction between BiOBr and TiO2, as well as the presence of additional active adsorption sites provided by attapulgite. Free radical scavenging experiments and EPR results confirmed that the photogenerated holes were the predominant active species to photodegrade SEX throughout the entire experiment. The LC-MS results provided insight into potential degradation pathways of SEX. This research demonstrates that BTA, as a novel triple composite material, achieves rapid and complete degradation to 20 mg/L SEX within 20 min. This work presents a novel approach to synthesize mineral-based photo-catalysts, which have broad prospects for application in flotation wastewater treatment.

In order to apply visible light communication systems in different scenarios, this article utilizes an excellent temperature adjustable light source mixed with RGB LEDs, and applies it in a visible light communication system. It utilizes color division multiplexing technology to achieve three-channel communication, thereby improving the communication bandwidth of the system. The communication system adopts three constant current driving circuits to control the duty cycle of Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) of each channel, thereby changing the proportion of RGB LEDs, and obtaining different color temperatures to achieve the purpose of color control for mixed color LEDs. The experimental results show that when adjusting the color temperature, the change in luminous flux is very small, with fluctuations of less than 2.24%; When adjusting the brightness, the color temperature fluctuation is within 40K, which is less than the 50K color temperature limit that the human eye can distinguish, and the average color temperature error is 0.609%; Color tolerance less than 5.5×10-3 indicates good dimming effect, and the communication performance of the system is better in the high color temperature range, which is significantly superior to the low color temperature range. When the error rate is below 3.8×10-3, the total modulation bandwidth of the three channels reaches 11.7 MHz.

The communication link between the base station and the mobile sensor networks, such as multi-agent systems for collaborative tasks which include ground mobile robots and drones, is crucial for localization and success of tasks in indoor environments. The Power-domain Non-Orthogonal Multiple Access (P-NOMA) is an emerging multiplexing technique that enables the base station to accumulate signals for different agents using the same time-frequency channel. The environment information such as distance from the base station is required at the base station to calculate communication channel gains and allocate suitable signal power to each agent. The accurate estimate of the position for power allocation of P-NOMA in a dynamic environment is challenging due to changing location of the end-agent and shadowing. In this paper, we take advantage of the two-way Visible Light Communication (VLC) link to: (1) estimate the position of the end-agent in a real-time indoor environment based on the signal power received at the base station and (2) allocate resources using the Simplified Gain Ratio Power Allocation (S-GRPA) scheme with the look-up table method. In addition, we use the Euclidean Distance Matrix (EDM) to estimate the location of the end-agent whose signal was lost due to shadowing.

Semiconductor materials have been shown to have better photocatalytic behavior and can be utilized for the photodegradation of organic pollutants. In this work, three-dimensional flower-like SnS₂ were synthesized by a facile hydrothermal method. Core-shell structured SiO₂@α-Fe₂O₃ nanocomposites were then deposited on the top of the SnS₂ flowers. The as-synthesized nanocomposites were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) and photoluminescence spectroscopy (PL). The photocatalytic behavior of the SnS₂-SiO₂@α-Fe₂O₃ nanocomposites was observed by observing the degradation of methylene blue (MB). The results show an effective enhancement of photocatalytic activity for the degradation of MB especially for the 15 wt. % SiO₂@α-Fe₂O₃ nanocomposites on SnS₂ flowers.

The SBA-15 loaded with methylene blue was successfully prepared by sample adsorption of methylene blue in SBA-15 and is characterized by an XRD, SEM, FTIR, and BET. The photocatalytic activity for methyl orange (MO) degradation was investigated under visible light irradiation under LEDs. Experimental results demonstrate that the SBA-15-MB exhibited higher photocatalytic activity than SBA-15 under visible light irradiation. The degradation efficiency of MO (50 ppm) by SBA-15-MB could reach 80% within 180 min under 25W LED visible light. The photocatalytic activity of SBA-15 could be attributed to the excitation of methylene blue by visible light, the transfer of electrons from methylene blue to SBA-15, and the production of radicals at the surface of SBA-15.

The LED light source is an important light source for indoor visible light communication. It has the characteristics of a large divergence angle and a high transmission rate. Therefore, using LED as the light source for visible light full-duplex communication can not only satisfy the lighting requirements but also transmit information at high speed. To analyze the factors that affect the optical power of the indoor single-light source visible light communication uplink receiving end, an indoor visible light communication model was established, and mathematical calculation formulas were derived based on the model establishment, and the maximum movable range formula of the retroreflective end under specific conditions was derived; The reliability of the formula was verified with the help of Zemax simulation software. Theoretical analysis and experimental results show that increasing the movement range of the retroreflective end can be achieved by increasing the lens diameter, reducing the focal length, and increasing the link distance.

The ternary Bi2MoO6-reduced graphene oxide (rGO)-TiO2 catalyst were synthesized using a simple hydrothermal method. The improvement of the photocatalytic decomposition efficiency of Bi2MoO6-rGO-TiO2 composite is 92.3% than the pure and binary photocatalyst. The effects of operational parameters like catalyst ratio, the different catalyst, different ratio rGO and different pH, have been analyzed. As prepared ternary photocatalyst is low Photoluminescence and high photocurrent density responsible, it exhibited that photon-induced electron and hole-recombination were suppressed and also charged separation is effective. The present study shows the rGO is an excellent electron transfer performance and enhanced the photocatalytic reaction stability.

This study evaluated the use of filtration and UV-A photocatalysis for the reduction of particulate matter (PM) and airborne bacterial pathogens in swine barns. Two MERV filters (8 and 15) were used to mitigate PM concentrations measured at the PM 1, PM 2.5, respirable PM, and PM 10 ranges. Filtration was also used to generate different levels of airborne pathogens to be treated by UV-A. Results show that MERV 8 and 15 filters effectively reduced PM concentrations (96-98%) in air exhausted from a swine barn (p ranged from < 0.01 to 0.04). UV-A photocatalysis did not mitigate PM concentrations. UV-A photocatalysis treatment reduced measured colony-forming units (CFUs) by 15-95%. The CFU percent reduction was higher when airborne PM concentration was low. The numeric results suggested a real mitigation effect despite p-values that did not meet the usual statistical cut-off of <0.05 for significance due to the large variability of the CFU control samples. Normalization of measured airborne pathogen concentrations by smaller PM size range concentrations led to emerging significant treatment differences for CFUs. A significant decrease (~60% reduction; p < 0.03) in the concentration of viable airborne bacteria was shown for all PM below the 10-micron range.

Visible light communication (VLC) can offer the advantages of license and electromagnetic interference (EMI) free wireless transmission. As optical signal does not interference with the radio-frequency (RF) signal, VLC can be used to augment RF wireless communication to provide extra communication capacity while without degrading the performance of both signals. In order to achieve high performance VLC transmission, optical alignment between the optical transmit (Tx) and receiver (Rx) is very critical to enhance the received signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). Optical beam-steering at the Tx can be utilized to ensure narrow optical beam can reach the Rx; however, complicated and active tracking are required. Lenses or compound parabolic concentrators (CPCs) can be install in front of the Rx for focusing to enhance the SNR. However, these will limit the Rx field-of-view (FOV) and making the VLC transmission more subjected to misalignment issue. Hence, many creative optical antennas have been proposed and demonstrated using special optical materials as well as special Rx to enhance the FOV of VLC systems. However, they have their limitations, such as data rates and FOVs. In this work, we put forward and demonstrate a bi-direction free-space VLC system supporting multiple moveable Rxs using a light-diffusing optical fiber (LDOF). The downlink (DL) signal is launched from an head-end or central office (CO) far away to the LDOF at the client side via a free-space transmission. When the DL signal is launched to the LDOF, which acts as an optical antenna to re-transmit the DL signal to different moveable Rxs. The uplink (UL) signal is sent via the LDOF towards the CO. In a proof-of-concept demonstration, the LDOF is 100 cm long and the free space VLC transmission between the CO and the LDOF is 100 cm. 210 Mbit/s DL and 850 Mbit/s UL transmissions, meeting the pre-forward-error-correction bit error rate (pre-FEC BER = 3.8 × 10−3) threshold are achieved.

The presence of azo dyes in textile effluents is an issue of major concern due to their potential impact on the environment and human health. In this study we investigate the photocatalytic degradation under visible light of Reactive Violet 5 (RV5), an azo dye widely used in the textile industry. A preliminary screening of different titania-based catalysts was carried out to identify the best candidate for RV5 removal. The selected catalyst was then tested in a stirred and aerated lab-scale reactor illuminated with a light LED source (λmax = 460 nm). The effects of pH, catalyst load and hydrogen peroxide additions on the efficiency of dye removal were evaluated. Under the best conditions (pH 10, 3 g/L of catalyst and 60 mM hydrogen peroxide), the dye solution was completely decolorized in about 2 h. Overall, the results obtained suggest that the proposed process may represent a suitable method for the removal of RV5 from textile effluents.

Mesoporous TiO2/reduced graphene oxide/Ag (TiO2/RGO/Ag) ternary nanocomposite with effective electrons transfer pathway is obtained by an electrostatic self-assembly method and photo-assisted treatment. Compared with bare mesoporous TiO2 (MT) and mesoporous TiO2/RGO (MTG), the ternary mesoporous TiO2/RGO/Ag (MTGA) nanocomposite exhibited superior photocatalytic performance for the degradation of MB under visible light, and the degradation rate reached 0.017 min-1, which was 3.4 times higher than that of MTG. It is proposed that Ag nanoparticles can form the local surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) to absorb the visible light and distract the electrons into MT, and RGO can accept the electrons from MT to accelerate the separation efficiency of carriers. The establishment of MTGA ternary nanocomposite make the three components act synergistic effect to enhance the photocatalytic performance.

The retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) is a monolayer of epithelial cells lying between the neural retina and the choroid and is essential for photoreceptor function and viability. Quail Coturnix japonica is a convenient experimental animal model for the study of age and pathological retina processes to an accelerated time regime. The three main types of pigment granules present in the RPE are melanin-containing melanosomes, lipofuscin-containing lipofuscin granules, and mixed melanolipofuscin granules containing both melanin and lipofuscin. It’s known that with aging and pathology in RPE cells the content of melanosomes decreases but lipofuscin and melanolipofuscin granules accumulate. We examined melanolipofuscin granules in macular areas of the quail retina by transmission electron microscopy in young, middle-aged, and old birds, and in middle-aged birds irradiated with blue LED light (450 nm, 4 J/cm2). It has been shown that during photooxidative stress caused by the action of blue light on the quail eye, active fusion of melanosomes and lipofuscin granules occurs with formation of various types, including giant, mixed melanolipofuscin-like granules. Irradiation result in almost twofold decrease in the number of lipofuscin granules and synchronous increase in the number of melanolipofuscin-like granules. Increased accumulation of melanolipofuscin-like granules was also observed in non-irradiated old birds. It is assumed that the decrease in the number of melanosomes in the RPE during aging and photo-oxidative stress is associated with their fusion with lipofuscin granules and subsequent degradation of melanin by reactive oxygen species formed in melanolipofuscin-like granules. The disappearance of melanin deprives the RPE cells of light-filtering and antioxidant protection, and significantly increases the risk of their oxidative stress.

Yield calculation is an important link in modern precision agriculture, which is an effective means to improve breeding efficiency, and adjust planting and marketing plans. With the continuous progress of artificial intelligence and sensing technology, yield calculation schemes based on image processing technology have many advantages such as high accuracy, low cost, and non-destructive calculation, and have been favored by a large number of researchers. This article reviews the research progress of crop yield calculation based on remote sensing images and visible light images, describes the technical characteristics and applicable objects of different schemes, and focuses on detailed explanations of data acquisition, independent variable screening, algorithm selection and optimization. Common issues are also discussed and summarized. Finally, solutions are proposed for the main problems that have arisen so far, and future research directions are predicted, with the aim of achieving more progress and wider popularization of yield calculation solutions based on image technology.

The utilization of titanium dioxide (TiO2) as a photocatalyst for the treatment of wastewater has attracted significant attention in the environmental field. Herein, we have prepared a NH2-MIL-125-derived TiO2@N-doped C Visible Light Catalyst through an in-situ calcination method. The nitrogen element in the organic connector is released through calcination, simul-taneously doping into the sample, thereby enhancing its spectral response to cover the visible region. The as-prepared TiO2@N-doped C catalyst exhibited preserved cage structure even after calcination, thereby alleviating the optical shielding effect and further augmenting its photo-catalytic performance by increasing the reaction sites between the catalyst and pollutants. The calcination time of the TiO2@N-doped C-450 °C catalyst was optimized to achieve a balance be-tween the TiO2 content and nitrogen doping level, ensuring efficient degradation rates for basic fuchsin (99.7%), Rhodamine B (89.9%), and tetracycline hydrochloride (93%) within 90 minutes.

It is known that during the process of aging there is a significant decrease in the number of melanosomes in the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells of the human eye. We have previously shown that the interaction of melanin melanosomes with superoxide radicals results in its oxidative degradation with the formation of water-soluble fluorescent products. In the present study, we show using fluorescence analysis, HPLC, and mass spectrometry, that visible light irradiation of melanolipofuscin granules isolated from RPE cells of the human eye results in the formation of water-soluble fluorescent products of oxidative degradation of melanin, in contrast to lipofuscin granules and melanosomes irradiation. The formation of these products occurs as a result of oxidative degradation of melanin by superoxide radicals, which are generated by the lipofuscin part of the melanolipofuscin granule. We identified these products both in the composition of melanolipofuscin granules irradiated with visible light, and in composition of non-irradiated but oxidized by superoxide radicals, melanosomes. In melanolipofuscin granules irradiated with visible light, ions that could be associated to melanin oxidative degradation products were identified by applying principal component analysis of time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS) data. Degradation of the intact melanosomes by visible light is also possible; however, this requires significantly higher irradiation intensities than for melanolipofuscin granules. It is concluded that the decrease in the concentration of melanin in RPE cells of the human eye with age is due to its oxidative degradation by reactive oxygen species generated by lipofuscin as part of melanolipofuscin granules under the action of light.

There is an urgent demand worldwide for the development of highly selective adsorbents and sensors of heavy metal ions and other organic pollutants. Within these environmental and public health frameworks, we are combining the salient features of clays and chelatant polymers to design selective metal ion adsorbents. Towards this end, the ion imprinting approach has been used to develop a novel nanohybrid material for the selective separation of Cu2+ ions in aqueous solution. The Cu2+-imprinted polymer/ montmorillonite nanocomposite (IIP/Mt) and non-imprinted polymer/montmorillonite nanocomposite (NIP/Mt) were prepared by radical photopolymerization process in the visible light. Ion imprinting was indeed important as the recognition of copper ions by IIP/Mt was significantly superior to that of NIP/Mt that is the nanocomposite synthesized in the same way but in the absence of Cu2+ ions. The adsorption process as batch study was investigated under the experimental condition affecting same parameters such as contact time, concentration of ions metals and pH. The adsorption capacity of Cu2+ ions is maximized at pH 5. Removal of Cu2+ ion achieved equilibrium within 15 minutes; the results obtained were found to be fitted by the pseudo-second order kinetics model. The equilibrium process was well described by the Langmuir isothermal model and the maximum adsorption capacity was found to be 23.6 mg/g.

A visible-light photoredox functionalization of 3,4-dihydro-1,4-benzoxazin-2-ones through a Friedel-Crafts reaction with indoles using an inexpensive organophotoredox catalyst is described. The reaction uses a dual catalytic system formed by a photocatalyst simple and cheap, 9,10-phenanthrenedione, and a Lewis acid, Zn(OTf)₂. 5W white LEDs are used as visible-light source and oxygen from air as a terminal oxidant, obtaining the corresponding products with good yields. The reaction can be extended to other electron-rich arenes.

Zeolite Y with microporous and hierarchical structure containing Ti–Ni and Ti–Co oxides were obtained as active photocatalysts. Different Ti amounts (5, 10% TiO2) were supported, followed by loading of Ni or Co oxides (5 %). The X-ray diffraction evidenced the presence of TiO2 as anatase. N2 adsorption-desorption results showed type IV isotherms, for hierarchical zeolite Y samples, and a combination of type IV and I isotherms, for zeolite Y samples. UV–Vis diffuse reflectance spectra showed shift of absorption band to visible with increasing of Ti loading and especially after Co and Ni addition. A significant effect of the support was evidenced for Ti and interaction with Co/Ni species. The zeolite Y support stabilizes Ti in the 4+ oxidation state while hierarchical zeolite Y support favored the formation of Ti 3+ species and oxidation of Co and especially of Ni to 3+. Photocatalytic activity, under UV and visible light, was evaluated in degradation of amoxicillin, used as a model test. The photocatalytic mechanism was investigated using ethanol, p-benzoquinone and KI as ·OH, ·O2- radicals and hole (h+) scavengers. The best results were obtained for the immobilized Ni-Ti species on hierarchical zeolite Y support.

For the traditional indoor visible light communication heterogeneous network switching algorithm is only concerned with the research of vertical switching algorithm, however, the research of horizontal vertical collaborative switching combined with multi-carrier modulation technology is seldom mentioned, based on the above, this paper proposes a horizontal-vertical collaborative switching strategy based on the residency time of the communication blind area. Firstly, we use asymmetrically clipped optical OFDM (ACO-OFDM) for signal processing to reduce the bit error rate (BER) of the system by reducing the multipath interference generated during signal transmission.Secondly, the BER is used to determine the communication blind area and to calculate its dwell time. Finally, the threshold time is set as the channel interruption time in the communication blind zone, and the horizontal-vertical cooperative switching is performed by comparing with the dwell time. The simulation results show that the average network throughput is 195.28Mbps, and the average number of handovers is 1.35. Compared with instant vertical handover (IVHO) scheme and dwell vertical handover (DVHO) scheme, the average network throughput is improved by 37.21% and 28.45%, respectively, and the average switching times are reduced by 28.05% and 5.27%, respectively.

In this study, divalent Yb2+-doped silica fiber was fabricated using rod-in-tube technology. The fiber core of Yb2+-doped silica glass was prepared by high-temperature melting technology under vacuum conditions. The spectroscopic properties of the Yb2+-doped glass and fiber were studied. The experiments indicate that divalent Yb2+-doped glass has a high quantum efficiency and superbroadband fluorescence in the visible region with an excitation wavelength of 405 nm. In additionally, the results suggest that Yb2+-doped fiber has a potential for application in visible fiber laser and fiber amplification.

Spherical microparticles of TiO₂ were synthesized by the ionic liquid-assisted solvothermal method at different reaction time (3, 6, 12 and 24h). The properties of the prepared photocatalysts were investigated by means of UV-vis diffuse-reflectance spectroscopy (DRS), BET surface area measurements, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The results indicated that the efficiency of phenol degradation was related with a time of the solvothermal synthesis as determined for TiO₂_EAN(1:1)_24h sample. Microparticles of TiO₂_EAN(1:1)_3h formed during the only 3h of synthesis time revealed really high photoactivity under visible irradiation – 75%. This value increased to 80% and 82% after 12h and 24h, respectively. The photoactivity increase was accompanied by the increase of the specific surface area thus pores size, as well as ability to absorb UV-vis irradiation. The high efficiency of phenol degradation of IL-TiO₂ photocatalysts was ascribed to the interaction between the surface of TiO₂ and ionic liquid components (carbon and nitrogen).

We present a Machian model of Quantum Cosmology with full dark matter and light speed expansion and rotation. During galaxy formation and evolution, fraction of dark matter transforms to visual matter with a relation of the form, m_vis = constant * (m_dark)^2/3. Using this relation and replacing MOND’s ‘critical acceleration’ with “current cosmic maximum angular acceleration”, galactic flat rotation speed range of (50 to 500) km/sec can be fitted well. Estimated flat rotation speeds of DD168, Milky Way and UGC12591 are 49.96 km/sec, 199.66 km/sec and 521.75 km/sec respectively. Based on these striking coincidences, it is possible to say that, MOND’s approach is implicitly connected with cosmological estimation of 95% invisible matter. Considering galactic total matter and current cosmic maximum angular acceleration, galactic working radii, angular velocity and visual matter density can be estimated. Even though, this model is free from ‘big bang’, ‘inflation’, ‘dark energy’, ‘flatness’ and ‘red shift’ issues, at 2.722 K, estimated present Hubble parameter is 66.24 km/sec/Mpc, cosmic radius is 146.3 times the Hubble radius, angular velocity is 146.3 times lower than the Hubble parameter and cosmic age is 146.3 times the Hubble age. With future observations and advanced telescopes, it may be possible to see far distant galaxies and very old stars far beyond the current observable cosmic radius.

The synergic features and enhancing strategies for various photopolymerization systems are reviewed by kinetic schemes and the associated measurements. The important topics include: (i) photo crosslinking of corneas for the treatmnet of corneal deseases using UVA-light (365 nm) light and riboflavin as the photosensitizer; (ii) synergic effects by a dual-function enhancer in a 3-initiator system; (iii) synergic effects by a 3-initiator C/B/A system, having an electron-transfer and oxygen-mediated energy-transfer pathways; (iv) copper-complex (G1) photoredox catalyst in G1/Iod/NVK systems for free radiical (FRP) and cationic photopolymeriation (CP); (v) radical-mediated thiol-ene (TE) photopolymerizations; (vi) superbase photogenerator based-catalyzed thiol−acrylate Michael (TM) addition reaction; and the combined system of TE and TM usinghual wavelength; (vii) dual-wavelength (UV and blue) controlled photopolymerization confinement (PC); (viii) dual-wavelength (UV and red) selectively controlled 3D printing; and (ix) 3-wavelength selectively controlled in 3D printing and additive manufacturing (AM). With minimum mathematics, we present ( for the first time), the synergic features and enhancing strategies for various systems of multi-commponents, initiators, monomers, and under one- two- and there-wavelength light. Therefore, this Review provides not only the bridging between modeling and measurements, but also guidances for further experimantal stuides and new applications in 3D printings and additive manufacturing (AM), based on the innovative concepts (kinetics/schemes).

The aim of this work was to investigate a new, simple one-pot combustion synthesis technique for creating sulphur-based CuS/ZnS p-n heterojunction nanocomposite photocatalysts. The study examined the photocatalytic activity and reusability of these nanocomposites in removing rhodamine B (RhB) dye under visible light irradiation. Various methods of characterisation were employed to determine the properties of the materials, including particle morphology, crystalline phases and bandgap energy. The intrinsic reaction parameters, such as catalyst loading, pH level of the solution, and initial pollutant concentration, were varied to establish the optimal photo-degradation conditions. The results showed that a binary CuS/ZnS catalyst with a 10 gL-1 loading, at pH 5, degraded 97% of 5 ppm RhB dye after 270 minutes of visible light irradiation. Addition-ally, this composite catalyst exhibited excellent chemical stability and reusability, achieving 83% RhB dye removal after five recycling runs. Scavenger tests identified the photogenerated holes (h+) and superoxide free radicals (•O2) as the primary reactive species responsible for degradation. This study provides valuable insight into the design of highly efficient nanomaterials for removing organopollutants in wastewater, and a possible reaction mechanism is proposed.

The monitoring of sick newborns is a challenging task that health care providers in Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICU) must contend with each day. Conventionally, newborns are monitored via probes that are affixed to their skin and attached to processing monitors (Fig.1). However, an alternative exists in contactless imaging to record such physiological signals (Physio-Markers), surface changes and internal structures which can be used independently of, or in conjunction with conventional monitors. Advantages of contactless monitoring methods include: i) quick data generation; ii) lack of contact with skin, which reduces skin breakdown and decreases risk of infection; and iii) minimizing the number of probes and monitors affixed to the skin, which allows greater body surface-area for other care. This paper is an attempt to build a foundation for and to provide a vision of the potential neonatal clinical applications of technologies that use non-contact modalities such as Visible Light Imaging (VLI), Near InfraRed Spectrum (NIRS), and Thermal Imaging (TI) using InfraRed Spectrum (IRS).

The present study investigates the relationship between the local structure, photocatalytic ability, and cathode performances in sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) and lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) using Ni-substituted goethite nanoparticles (Ni_xFe_1-xOOH NPs) with a range of 'x' values from 0 to 0.5. The structural characterization was performed applying various techniques, including X-ray diffractometry (XRD), Thermogravimetry differential thermal analysis (TG-DTA), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XANES/EXAFS), both measured at room temperature (RT), and ⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy recorded at RT and at low temperatures (LT) from 20 K to 300 K, Brunauer-Emmett-Teller surface area measurement (BET), and diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS). In addition, the electrical properties of Ni_xFe_1-xOOH NPs were evaluated by impedance spectroscopy. XRD showed the presence of goethite as the only crystalline phase in prepared samples with x ≤ 0.20, and goethite and α-Ni(OH)₂ in the samples with x > 0.20. Sample with x = 0.10 (Ni10) showed the highest photo-Fenton ability with a first-order rate constant value (k) of 15.8×10^-3 min^-1. The ⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer spectrum of Ni0, measured at RT, displayed a sextet corresponding to goethite, with an isomer shift (δ) of 0.36 mm s^-1 and a hyperfine magnetic distribution (B_hf) of 32.95 T. Moreover, the DC conductivity decreased from 5.52×10^-10 to 5.30×10^-12 (Ω.cm)^–1 with 'x' increasing from 0.10 to 0.50. Ni20 showed the highest initial discharge capacity of 223 mAh g^-1, attributed to its largest specific surface area of 174.0 m² g^-1. In conclusion, Ni_xFe_1-xOOH NPs can be effectively utilized as visible-light-activated catalysts and active cathode materials in secondary batteries.

In the dynamic landscape of 6G and smart cities, Visible Light Communication (VLC) assumes critical significance for IoT (Internet of Things) applications spanning diverse sectors. The escalating demand for bandwidth and data underscores the need for innovative solutions, positioning VLC as a complementary technology within the electromagnetic spectrum. This paper focuses on the relevance of VLC in the 6G paradigm, shedding light on its applicability across smart cities and industries. The paper highlights the growing efficiency of lighting LEDs in infrastructure, facilitating the seamless integration of VLC. The study then emphasizes VLC’s robustness in outdoor settings, demonstrating effective communication up to 10 meters. This resilience positions VLC as a key player in addressing the very last meter of wireless communication, offering a seamless solution for IoT connectivity. By introducing an a freely available open-source simulator combined to an alternative waveform, UFMC, the study empowers researchers to dimension applications effectively, showcasing VLC’s potential to improve wireless communication in the evolving landscape of 6G and smart cities.

When lighting photographic scenes, light sources are often coupled with light-shaping attachments to alter the original light. While the colour rendering properties of the light sources are known, the effect of the added modifiers has not yet been fully investigated. In this research, the effects of light-shaping attachments such as snoot, beauty dish and a range of softboxes on the colour rendering index of the original light sources are investigated using a series of spectrophotometric measurements. The results outline the effects of each light-shaping attachment and provide guidance on the usability of the modifiers used when it comes to accurate colour rendering.

As the problem of light pollution becomes more serious, more and more scholars pay attention to this issue and carry out related research. In the perspective of cities, the measurements of light pollution mainly focus on the brightness of the sky or artificial lighting on the ground. However, there is lack of research on the whole urban space. With the two-dimensional brightness analyses, this paper processes the changes of the light environment of the whole urban space into image quantization. It gets the 3D and 2D light environment changes of luminance distribution, color temperature distribution and chromaticity in the three space layers, the ground layer, the urban canopy layer and the sky layer, from dusk with natural light to night with artificial lighting completely. It is found that the brightness difference between the light environments among the three city levels gradually reduces with the measuring time, and the final values maintain at 0.11~0.25 cd/m². In the ground layer, the light environment is mainly affected by the lighting facilities, and vegetation can prevent the light from scattering up. The light environment of the urban canopy layer is the brightest in the whole city space and has the largest influence on the sky layer. The color concentrates in the range of yellow and red. The color temperature near the ground distributes in 3000K~15000K, and near the sky distributes in 2300K~2700K which is warmer than the natural night sky. The sky brightness of Dalian city is about 951 times than the natural night sky.

As solar energy is a low-cost and clean energy source, there has been a great deal of interest in how to harvest it. To absorb solar energy efficiently, we have designed a broadband metamaterial absorber based on the principle of Fabry–Pérot (FP) cavity and surface plasmon resonances (SPRs). We propose a broadband perfect absorber consisting of a four-layer structure of silica-tungsten-silica-titanium (SiO2-W-SiO2-Ti) for the incident light wavelength range of 300–2500 nm. The structure achieves perfect absorption of incident light in the wavelength range of 351.8–2465.0 nm (absorption >90%), with an average absorption of 96.3%. The advantage of our proposed structure is that it combines the characteristics of both high and broadband absorption and has a high overall absorption efficiency for solar radiation. It is also independent of polarization and insensitive to incident angle. We investigated how absorption was affected by different structures, materials, geometrical parameters, and refractive indices for different dielectric materials, and we explored the reasons for high absorption. This structure is refractory and ultra-thin, and it offers a good trade-off between bandwidth and absorption. It therefore has premium application prospects and value.

The color and NIR spectrum are key to build an oil estimation model, thus it requires individual olives clustering before the Sohlext oil extraction method can be applied. The objective was to analyze an OC estimation model of individual olives, based on cluster of similar color and NIR spectrum in different combination of the first and/or the second season. This study was performed with Chilean Arbequina olives in 2016 and 2017. The descriptor of the cluster consisted of the 3 color channels of c1, c2, c3 color model plus 11 reflectance points between 1710 and 1735 nm of each olive, normalized with the Z-score index. Clusters of similar color and NIR spectrum were formed with the k-means++ algorithm, leaving a sufficient amount of olives to be able to perform the Sohlext analysis of OC, as reference value. The estimation models were based on the Support Vector Machine. The test was carried out with the Leave One-Out Cross Validation in different training-testing combinations. The best model predicted the OC with 6% and 13%deviation respect to the real value in one season by itself and when one season tested with another season, respectively. The use of clustering in estimation model is discussed.

A dual-platform colorimetric and ratiometric chemosensor, namely 6-(2-hydroxynaphthalen)-N-n-butyl-naphthalimide (HNA), based on Schiff base constructed from N-n-butyl-4-amino-1,8-naphthalimide and 2-hydroxy-1-naphthaldehyde has been designed and fabricated for detecting fluoride anion (F−) in DMSO solution. HNA is a colorimetic and ratiometric probe with superior selectivity and sensitivity. The color changes of HNA from yellow to purple was observed by the naked eyes in the presence of F−. The absorbance in the UV-Vis spectra of HNA was decreasing in 422 nm, while gradually increasing in 583 nm by adding F−. The limit of detection (LOD) of HNA for detecting F− is low to 0.61 μM and the binding model of HNA and F− is in 3:2 stoichiometry. Meanwhile, HNA can be used to detect F− in real samples. Finally, the mechanism of HNA for the detection of F− was investigated. The present work indicated that HNA would be a superior potential chemosensor in monitoring F− selectively and sensitively.

Drug abuse is a major issue worldwide. Methylphenidate (MPH) and alprazolam (ALZ) are commonly prescribed drugs for the treatment of ADHD and anxiety disorders, respectively. The limited studies suggest that abusers primarily use benzodiazepines to counteract adverse effects associated with methylphenidate usage. The main aim of this study was to investigate the interaction of drugs with DNA using spectroscopic methods. Female Wistar rats were administered with MPH (10, 20, 40 mg/kg) and ALZ (5, 10, 20 mg/kg) alone and in combination for a period of 28 days. The FT-IR and UV results reveal some spectral changes in a dose-dependent manner, which indicates interactions of drugs with DNA. Thus, the changes in spectral peaks provide some insight into the mechanism of the interaction of drugs with DNA.

ZnO films with Ti atoms incorporated (TZO) in a wide range (0-18 at. %) have been grown by reactive co-sputtering on silicon and glass substrates. The influence of the titanium incorporation in the ZnO matrix on the structural and optical characteristics of the samples has been determined by Rutherford backscattering spectroscopy (RBS), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The results indicate that the samples with low Ti content (< 4 at. %) exhibit the wurtzite-like structure, with the Ti+4 ions substitutionally incorporated into the ZnO structure, forming Ti-doped ZnO films. In particular, very low concentration of Ti (<0.9 at. %) leads to a significant increase of the crystallinity of the TZO samples. Higher Ti contents give rise to a progressive amorphization of the wurtzite-like structure so samples with high Ti content (≥18at. %), displays an amorphous structure indicating the XPS analysis a predominance of Ti-O-Zn mixed oxides. The energy gap, obtained from absorption spectrophotometry, increases from 3.2 eV for pure ZnO films to 3.6 eV for those with the highest Ti content. Ti incorporation in the ZnO samples below 0.9 at. % rises both, the blue (380 nm) and green (550 nm) bands of the photoluminescence (PL) emission, thereby indicating a significant improvement of PL efficiency of the samples.

The study of emission, propagation, and reflection of balls in Newtonian mechanics, employing the laws of conservation of momentum and energy when the mass of balls converges to zero, concludes that the kinematics of light is like that of massless balls. The kinematics of light explains why light speed is the constant in each inertial frame in which the light source and reflective mirror are at rest, why the laws of physics have the same form in each inertial frame, and why any experiment in an inertial frame cannot prove the motion of that the other inertial frame. The theory of special relativity misapplies symmetry observed in phenomena to two inertial frames; therefore, it duplicates a physics phenomenon from one inertial frame, considered stationary, into another. Moreover, Lorentz’s transformation offers light speed at the constant in the moving and opposite direction of the inertial frame but is variable in any other direction. Therefore, the theory of special relativity rejects itself with these unacceptable conclusions.

This paper describes the use of a new obtrusive light module of the Illumina v2 model to estimate the light that may enter bedroom windows. We used as input to the model, 1- the sources’ flux and spectrum derived from the color images taken by astronauts from the international space station, 2- an association between source spectrum and angular emission, and 3- a per zone inventory of obstacles properties and lamp height. The model calculate the spectral irradiance incident to buildings’ windows taking into account for the orientation of the street. By using the color information from an ISS image, we can classify pixels as a function of their spectra. With the same image, it is also possible to determine the upward photopic radiance for each pixel. Both serve as inputs to the model to calculate the spectral irradiance on any window. By having the spectral irradiance, it is possible to determine the Melatonin Suppression Index and the photopic irradiance on the window. Such information can later be used to perform epidemiological studies. The new methodology is applied to the case of Montréal in Canada for a set of houses’ locations. The computations are made for 2013 (pre-LED era).

The use of several light-related variables, such as the Secchi disc depth, the euphotic depth, and in particular, the diffuse attenuation coefficient (Kd), is deeply rooted in phytoplankton research, but these are not the most appropriate indicators of the amount of light available for photosynthesis. We argue that the variable of interest for phytoplankton is the mean light intensity in the mixed layer (Im), which represents the mean light to which phytoplankton cells are exposed throughout their life cycle, while being continuously mixed in the mixed layer. We use empirical data collected in different coastal ecosystems in southern Portugal to demonstrate why Im should be the preferred metric instead of the deeply rooted Kd. We show that, although the relationship between Im and Kd is inversely proportional, it is not always strong or even significant. Different Im values can be associated to the same Kd, but distinct Im have different physiological effects of phytoplankton. Therefore, Kd does not capture the amount of light available for photosynthesis, given that, unlike Im, Kd calculation does not consider the depth of the mixed layer. Therefore, we urge phytoplankton researchers to consider the measurement and calculation of Im when evaluating light-related processes in phytoplankton ecology.

The current study investigated the impacts of light quality and different levels of fertility on mineral nutrient concentrations in shoot and root tissues of Chinese kale (Brassica oleracea var. alboglabra). ‘Green Lance’ Chinese kale were grown under: 1) fluorescent/incandescent light; 2) 10% blue (447 ± 5 nm) / 90% red (627 ± 5 nm) LED light; 3) 20% blue / 80% red LED light; and 4) 40% blue / 60% red LED light as sole-source lighting at two different levels of fertility. All plants were harvested 30 d after seeding, and shoot and root tissues were analyzed for mineral nutrients. Lighting and fertility interacted to influence kale shoot and root mineral nutrient concentrations. Results indicate sole-source LED lighting used in production can impact mineral nutritional values of baby leafy greens now popular for the packaged market.

This study aimed to investigate the atherogenicity (quality) of LDL particles in patients with acute and recovered from COVID-19 infection. The participants were adults, aged 18 years or older of both sexes. Those with positive RT-PCR results at baseline were included in the Acute COVID-19 group (n=33), and those with negative RT-PCR six months after acute infection, were included in the Recovered COVID-19 group (n=30). The LDL quality was evaluated using three validated methods: Z-scan, UV-visible spectroscopy, and Lipoprint. The Recovered COVID-19 group showed significantly higher numbers of large LDL particles (less atherogenic) than the Acute COVID-19 group (P&lt;0.05). We also found that COVID-19 infection was associated with the oxidative modification of LDL particles. D-dimer and CRP levels were correlated with Z-scan results and antioxidant-amount estimate. Moreover, we noticed that the infection left a sequel in LDL quality, even after six months of recovery. These findings highlight the importance of monitoring lipids during and after recovery from COVID-19 infection, and their potential deleterious effect on the LDL profile might correlate with the progression of atherosclerosis and poor clinical outcomes.

Azo dyes are the most widely used synthetic dyes in the printing and dyeing process. However, the discharge of untreated azo dyes poses potential threat for human health and aqueous ecosystem. Herein, we fabricated a novel heterogenous catalyst - activated carbon fiber-supported ferric alginate (FeAlg-ACF) . Together with peroxymonosulfate (PMS) and visible light, this photocatalytic oxidation system was used to remove an azo dye - azophloxine. The results indicated that the proposed catalytic oxidation system can remove 100% azophloxine within 24 min, while under the same system, the removal rate was only 92 % and 84 % when ferric alginate was replaced with ferric citrate and ferric oxalate respectively, which showed the superiority of activated carbon fiber-supported ferric alginate. The degradation of azophloxine is achieved by the active radicals (SO4•− and •OH) released from PMS and persistent free radicals from activated carbon fiber. After treating for 24 min, the total organic carbon of azophloxine solution (50 μmol/L) decreased from 1.82 mg/L to 79.3 μg/L and the nitrate concentration of ions increased from 0.3 mg/L to 8.6 mg/L. That is, up to 93.5% azophloxine molecules were completely degraded into inorganic compounds. Consequently, potential secondary contamination by intermediate organic products during catalytic degradation was prohibited. The azophloxine removal ratio was kept almost constant after seven cycles, indicating the recyclability and longevity of this system. Furthermore, the azophloxine removal was still promising at high concentrations of Cl-, HCO3-, CO32-. Therefore, our proposed system is potentially effective to remove dye pollutants from seawater. It provides a feasible method for the development of efficient and environmental friendly PMS activation technology combined with FeAlg-ACF, has significant academic and application value.

A multiscale model that enables quantitative understanding and prediction of the size effect on scattering properties of micro- and nanostructures is crucial for the design of LED surface textures optimized for high light extraction efficiency (LEE). In this paper, a hybrid process for combining full-wave finite-difference time-domain simulation and a ray-tracing technique based on a bidirectional scattering distribution function model is proposed. We apply this method to study the influence of different pattern sizes of a patterned sapphire substrate on GaN-based LED light extraction from the microscale to the nanoscale. The results show that near-wavelength–scaled patterns with strong diffraction are not expected to enhance LEE. By contrast, microscaled patterns with optical diffusion behavior have the highest LEE at a specific aspect ratio, and subwavelength-scaled patterns that have antireflection properties show marked enhancement of LEE for a wide range of aspect ratios.

Emission, propagation, and reflection of light as mechanical phenomena in inertial frames are based on the behavior of balls at the limit when their mass is zero. The kinematics of massless balls is like that of balls with mass. Light as a wave or particle is a massless entity. Therefore, it is natural to apply the kinematics of the massless balls to light. Consequently, the kinematics of light depends on its kinetics of electromagnetic nature and its kinematics of mechanical nature in its interactions of emission and reflection with the matter. The study of the physics phenomena in the frame at absolute rest includes those in the inertial frames. Considering this and applying the emission, propagation, and reflection of light as mechanical phenomena in the vacuum of the frame at absolute rest, this study derives formulas for the speed of the wavefront of a ray of light reflected by a fixed and moving mirror when the light comes from a fixed and moving source. The derived formulas apply to the modified Michelson interferometer, employed independently by R. Tomaschek and D. C. Miller in their experiments.

Increased exposure to artificial light at night can affect human health including disruption of melatonin production and circadian rhythms and extend to increased risks of hormonal cancers and other serious diseases. In addition, multiple negative impacts on fauna and flora are well documented, and it is a matter of fact that artificial light at night is a nuisance for ground-based astronomy. These impacts are frequently linked to the colour of the light or more specifically to its spectral content. Artificial light at night is often mapped by using space borne sensors, but most of them are panchromatic and thus insensitive to the colour. In this paper, we suggest a method that allows high resolution mapping of the Artificial light at night by using ground-based measurements with the LANcube system. The device separates the light detected in four bands (Red, Green, Blue, and Clear) and provides this information for six faces of a cube. We found relationships between the LANcube’s colour ratios and 1- the Melatonin Suppression Index, 2- the StarLight Index and 3- the Induced Photosynthesis Index. We show how such relationships combined with data acquisition from a LANcube positioned on the top of a car can be used to produce spectral indices maps of a whole city in a few hours.

Infrared and visible image fusion technologies are used to characterize the same scene by diverse modalities. However, most existing deep learning-based fusion methods are designed as symmetric networks, which ignore the differences between modal images and lead to the source image information loss during feature extraction. In this paper, we propose a new fusion framework for the different characteristics of infrared and visible images. Specifically, we design a dual-stream asymmetric network with two different feature extraction networks to extract infrared and visible feature maps respectively. The transformer architecture is introduced in the infrared feature extraction branch, which can force the network to focus on the local features of infrared images while still obtaining their contextual information. And the visible feature extraction branch uses residual dense blocks to fully extract the rich background and texture detail information of visible images. In this way, it can provide better infrared targets and visible details for the fused image. Experimental results on multiple datasets indicate that DSA-Net outperforms state-of-the-art methods in both qualitative and quantitative evaluations. In addition, we also apply the fusion results to the target detection task, which indirectly demonstrates the fusion performances of our method.

Ongoing investigations have highlighted that MIM of Mg shows high potential for mass production of small lightweight components as well as of degradable implants with complex geometry. However, prior research activities have shown that Mg reacts sensitively to atmosphere impurities like oxygen and specific thermal decomposition products of the used backbone polymers. Polyethylene based polymers reveal a negative influence on sintering of Mg while polypropylene based polymers behave uncritically. This work is highlighting that when hydrogen instead of argon atmosphere is used during sintering, the negative influence caused by carbon residuals at the particle boundaries can be prevented. Mg-0.9Ca elongation increased with a slight decrease in UTS revealing a strengthening effect of the carbon residuals at the particle boundaries. For pure Mg UTS could be increased from 7 MPa up to 80 MPa with elongation of 6% showing the positive effect of hydrogen on the sintering of Mg.

Ocular light exposure has important influences on human health and well-being through modulation of circadian rhythms and sleep, as well as neuroendocrine and cognitive functions. Current patterns of light exposure do not optimally engage these actions for many individuals, but advances in our understanding of the underpinning mechanisms and emerging lighting technologies now present opportunities to adjust lighting to promote optimal physical and mental health and performance. A newly developed, SI-compliant standard provides a way of quantifying the influence of light on the intrinsically photosensitive, melanopsin-expressing, retinal neurons that mediate these effects. The present report provides recommendations for lighting, based on an expert-scientific consensus and expressed according to this new measurement standard. These recommendations are supported by a comprehensive analysis of the sensitivity of human ‘non-visual’ responses to ocular light, are centred on an easily measured quantity (melanopic equivalent daylight (D65) illuminance), and provide a straightforward framework to inform lighting design and practice.

In this work, an energy-saving smart light controlling system has been proposed that can main-tain the desired intensity of light in a room automatically. Unlike the conventional light control system, the proposed system splits a large room into several zones and analyzes the light inten-sity of each zone; hence, the controlling unit adjusts the light intensity to the desired level. The main controlling unit consists of a light sensor, a motion sensor, a relay with a driver unit, an LCD display, etc. for controlling light efficiently to reduce the power waste. The sensors meas-ure the intensity of light, based on the standard light intensity data chart the controller units make a decision how many light bulbs are needed to be switched ON/OFF in a particular zone. Moreover, the system automatically switched-OFF all light bulbs when there is nobody in the room. Proteus design suite 8.0 is used to design and simulation of the proposed system. Moreo-ver, the PCB layout is designed using ExpressPCB version 7.5.0. The proposed system is capable of minimizing the power loss by up to 44% in comparison to the conventional light manage-ment system.

Static (SLS) and dynamic (DLS) light scattering techniques are assessed for their capacity to detect colloidal particles with diameters between d = 0.1 and 0.8 µm at very low concentrations in seawater. The detection limit of the apparatus was determined using model monodisperse spherical polystyrene latex particles with diameters 0.2 µm and 0.5 µm. It is shown that the concentration and size of colloids can be determined down to about 10^-6 g/L. Seawater obtained from different locations in western Europe was characterized using light scattering. It was found that seawater filtered through 0.45 µm pore size membrane filters was within the experimental error the same as that of ultrapure Milli-Q water containing the same amount of sea salt and no colloids could be detected with DLS. When the seawater was filtered through 0.8 µm pore size filters, colloidal particles were detected. The measurements show that the concentration of colloids in the seawater samples is not higher than 10^-6 g/L and that they have an average diameter of about 0.6 µm. We stress that these particles are not necessarily nanoplastics.

With the growing size and use of night lights time series from the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite Day/Night Band (DNB), it is important to understand the stability of the dataset. All satellites observe differences in pixel values during repeat observations. In the case of night lights data, these changes can be due to both environmental effects and changes in light emission. Here we examine the stability of individual locations of particular large scale light sources (e.g. airports, prisons) in the monthly composites of DNB data from April 2012 to September 2017. The radiances for individual pixels of most large light emitters are approximately normally distributed, with a standard deviation of typically 15-20% of the mean. We observe geospatial autocorrelation in the monthly variations for nearby sites, while the correlation for sites separated by large distances is small. This suggests that local factors contribute most to the variation in the pixel radiances, and furthermore that averaging radiances over large areas will reduce the total variation. A better understanding of the causes of temporal variation would improve the sensitivity of DNB to lighting changes.

Genetic engineering and directed evolution are effective methods to address the low yield and poor industrialization level of microbial target products. The current research focus is on how to efficiently and rapidly screen beneficial mutants from constructed large-scale mutation libraries. Traditional screening methods such as plate screening and well plate screening are severely limited in their development and application due to their low efficiency and high costs. In the past decade, microfluidic technology has become an important high-throughput screening technology due to its fast speed, low cost, high automation, and high screening throughput, and it has developed rapidly. Droplet-based microfluidic high-throughput screening has been widely used in various fields such as strain/enzyme activity screening, pathogen detection, single-cell analysis, drug discovery, and chemical synthesis, and has been widely applied in industries such as materials, food, chemicals, textiles, and biomedicine. In particular, in the field of enzyme research, droplet-based microfluidic high-throughput screening has shown excellent performance in discovering enzymes with new functions, improved catalytic efficiency or stability, acid-base tolerance, etc. Currently, droplet-based microfluidic high-throughput screening technology has achieved high-throughput screening of enzymes such as glycosidase, lipase, peroxidase, protease, amylase, oxidase, and transaminase, as well as high-throughput detection of products such as riboflavin, coumarin, 3-dehydroquinate, lactic acid, and ethanol. This article reviews the application of droplet-based microfluidics in high-throughput screening, with a focus on high-throughput screening strategies based on UV, visible, and fluorescence spectroscopy, including labeled optical signal detection screening, as well as label-free electrochemical detection, mass spectrometry, Raman spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance, etc. Furthermore, the research progress and development trends of droplet-based microfluidic technology in enzyme modification and strain screening are also introduced.

The term ‘biodynamic’ lighting is proposed as a term to capture the true aspiration of ‘life-centric’ lighting: good human and non-human outcomes for all life-sustaining behaviours on earth driven by good design for phototropism, phototaxis, photoperiodism and circadian entrainment. While future studies are necessary to consolidate this aspiration, it is clear that lighting has immediate potential to better support planetary health. As many aspects of animal, human and plantbehaviour and survival are being perturbed by widespread exposure to artificial light at night (ALAN), lighting professionals are in the middle, attempting to make design decisions that directly affect these life forms. This paper empowers readers with fundamental understandings of how light information is used by these life forms in a way crucial for development, growth and survival. The paper then provides a process for life-centric lighting design by drawing inspiration from an existing process for human-centric lighting design which can dovetail with decision-making processes that are within the workflow of lighting professionals. Holistic consideration of life-centric lighting design should look beyond altruism and romanticism by firmly rooting itself into pragmatism about long-term considerations for planetary health. Key references are consolidated and synthesized with goals of supporting knowledge translation into pragmatic lighting strategies in a manner useful for lighting professionals. While the scientific community remains sceptical about the term ‘biodynamic’ – which is argued to be developed through mysticism instead of scientific methodology – this paper counter argues that with appropriate use, the term has the potential to comprehensively capture this aspiration.

The Sun is a frame at relative rest in which sunlight travels at the emitted speed c. Earth travels at the revolving speed v in this frame. The reflection of light as a mechanical phenomenon applies to the modified Michelson interferometer employed by Miller in his experiments with light from the Sun. Unlike the Tomaschek experiments, which use light from stars that may travel in the Universe at velocities different from that of the Sun, the fringe shifts in the Miller experiments are predictable. Based on Michelson's derivation, Miller expected in his experiments at Mount Wilson a 1.12 fringe shift and observed a fringe shift of 0.08 in 1921 and 0.088 in 1925. The reflection of light as a mechanical phenomenon predicts zero fringe shift for Miller's experiment agreeing only with his observations at the Cleveland laboratory in 1924.

Studies on crop response to light quality [red (R) to far-red (FR) light ratio] often recommend early weed removal to reduce the effects of shade avoidance responses on crop yield. However, it is unclear whether crops are able to distinguish reflected light quality of kin from that of non-kin. We evaluated the response of sugarbeet (Beta vulgaris L.) to reflected FR light from sugarbeet, common lambsquarters (Chenopodium album L.), Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.), alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.), and bare soil (control) under outdoor conditions in 2016 and 2017. Treatments were completely randomized with 10 replications per treatment. The study methods ensured there was no direct resource competition. The reflected R:FR of plant species ranged from 0.06 (common lambsquarters) to 0.24 (sugarbeet) compared to 0.7 for the bare soil. In both 2016 and 2017, there were 2 to 4 more leaves in the sugarbeet surrounded by soil compared to sugarbeet surrounded by neighboring species. There was up to 47, 57, 43, and 23% reduction in sugarbeet leaf area, shoot dry weight, root diameter, and root dry weight, respectively, due to reflected R:FR light from neighboring species. Sugarbeet did not respond differently to reflected light quality of kin compared to non-kin.

Blazars show rapid and high amplitude variability. In this work , Fermi daily light curve of 130 sources are analyzed, distribution of daily variability are compared with each other by using Kolmogorov-Smirnov (K-S) test. results show: 1)Some pairs of the distributions are similar; 2) In most cases, the distributions are not Gaussian.

In this work, we'll present the power spectra density, auto-correlation function, dentrended fluctuation analysis and multifractal spectrum are performed to the daily light curves of Blazars monitored by Fermi LAT. Some signs of power law are found.

The increasing enhancement in the modulation accuracy of spatial light modulators has garnered significant attention towards real-time control technology for light fields based on these modulators. It has been empirically demonstrated that this technology possesses a remarkable capability to generate vector beams with arbitrary complex amplitude distributions. Nevertheless, past studies indicate that the generation of only one vector beam at a time has been observed. The simultaneous generation of numerous vector light fields can give rise to several challenges, including compromised picture quality, limited single mode operation, and intricate optical path configurations. In pursuit of this objective, we present a novel methodology that integrates the coding methodology of modified off-axis interferometric holography with the idea of optical superposition. This technique facilitates the concurrent generation of several vector beams. In this study, we present a demonstration of the simultaneous creation of twelve vector beams using a single spatial light modulator (SLM) as a proof of concept. Significantly, this technology has the ability to generate an unlimited quantity of vector light fields concurrently, under the assumption that the resolution of the SLM does not impose any limitations. The findings indicate that the imaging quality achieved by this technology is of a high standard. Furthermore, it is possible to separately control the beam waist radius, topological charge, polarization order, and extra phase of each beam.

Modeling and design of fiber lasers facilitate the process of their practical realization. Of particular interest during the last few years is the development of lanthanide ion-doped fiber lasers which operate at wavelengths exceeding 2000 nm. There are two main host glass materials considered for this purpose, namely fluoride and chalcogenide glasses. Therefore, this study concerns comparative modeling of fiber lasers operating within the infrared wavelength region beyond 2000 nm. In particular, the convergence properties of selected algorithms, implemented within various software environments, are studied with a specific focus on the central processing unit (CPU) time and calculation residual. Two representative fiber laser cavities are considered: one is based on a chalcogenide-selenide glass step-index fiber doped with trivalent dysprosium ions whilst the other is a fluoride step-index fiber doped with trivalent erbium ions. The practical calculation accuracy is also assessed by comparing directly the results obtained from the different models.

Derivation of light paths in the Michelson interferometer is based on the hypothesis that the speed of light does not change after reflection by a mirror in motion. The Michelson-Morley experiment predicts a fringe shift of 0.40. The same fringe shift is predicted for a particular Michelson interferometer in which the beam splitter of the interferometer makes an angle of 45° with the direction of light from the source. Light behaves like a wave and also as a particle. Thus, it is reasonable to consider the reflection of light as a mechanical phenomenon. With this hypothesis, the speed of light changes after reflection, and the predicted fringe shift for the particular Michelson interferometer is zero which is in accordance with the result of the Michelson-Morley experiment. Apparently, light travels in any inertial frame as if this particular interferometer belongs to a fixed frame. The velocity of light is considered independent of the velocity of its source, which is in accordance with astronomers’ observations of the binary stars, and the experiment performed at CERN, Geneva, in 1964.

Ensuring safe, high-quality food is an ongoing priority, yet consumers face heightened risk from foodborne pathogens due to extended supply chains and climate change in food industry. Nanomaterial-based assays are popular and have recently been developed to ensure food safety and high quality. This review discusses strategies for using nanomaterials in colorimetric biosensors. Localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) biosensors are commonly utilized for colorimetric biosensing. Several emerging technologies aimed at simple and rapid immunoassays for onsite applications have been introduced in the food industry. In the foreseeable future, field-friendly colorimetric biosensors could be adopted in food monitoring systems. The onsite and real-time detection of possible contaminants and biological substances in food and water is essential to ensure human health safety.

Indoor crop cultivation systems such as vertical farms or plant factories necessitate artificial lighting. Light spectral quality can affect plant growth and metabolism and, consequently, the amount of biomass produced and the value of the produce. Conflicting results on the effects of light spectrum in different plant species and cultivars make it critical to implement a singular lighting solution. In this study we explored the response of green and red leaf lettuce cultivars (’Aquino’, CVg, or ‘Barlach’, CVr, respectively) to long-term blue-enriched light application (WB). Plants were grown for 30 days in a growth chamber with optimal environmental condi-tions (temperature: 20°C, relative humidity: 60%, ambient CO2, Photon Flux Density (PFD) of 260 µmol m-2 s-1 over an 18-h photoperiod). At 15 days after sowing (DAS) white spectrum LEDs (WW) were compared to WB (λPeak = 423 nm) maintaining the same PFD of 260 µmol m-2 s-1. At 30 DAS, both lettuce cultivars resulted adapted to the blue light variant, though the adaptive re-sponse was specific to the variety. Rosette weight, light use efficiency and maximum operating efficiency of PSII photochemistry in the light, Fv/Fm’, were comparable between the two light treatments. Significant light quality effect was detected on stomatal density and conductance (20% and 17% increase under WB, respectively, in CVg) and, on the modified anthocyanin re-flectance index (mARI) (40% increase under WB, in CVr). Net photosynthesis response was gen-erally stronger in CVg compared to CVr; e.g. net photosynthetic rate, Pn, at 1000 µmol m-2 s-1 PPFD increased from WW to WB by 23% in CVg, compared to 18% in CVr. Results obtained suggest the occurrence of distinct physiological adaptive strategies in green and red pigmented lettuce cultivars to adapt to the higher proportion of blue light environment.

Since the recent legalization of medical and recreational use of cannabis (Cannabis sativa L.) in many regions worldwide, there has been high demand for research to improve yield and quality. With the paucity of scientific literature on the topic, this study investigated the relationships between light intensity (LI) and photosynthesis, inflorescence yield, and inflorescence quality of cannabis grown in an indoor environment. After growing vegetatively for 2 weeks under a canopy-level photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) of ≈ 425 μmol·m-2·s-1 and an 18-h light/6-h dark photoperiod, plants were grown for 12 weeks in a 12-h light/12-h dark ‘flowering’ photoperiod under canopy-level PPFDs ranging from 120 to 1800 μmol·m-2·s-1 provided by light emitting diodes. Leaf light response curves varied both with localized (i.e., leaf-level) PPFD and temporally, throughout the flowering cycle. Therefore, it was concluded that the leaf light response is not a reliable predictor of whole- plant responses to LI, particularly crop yield. This may be especially evident given that dry inflorescence yield increased linearly with increasing canopy-level PPFD up to 1800 μmol·m-2·s-1, while leaf-level photosynthesis saturated well below 1800 μmol·m-2·s-1. The density of the apical inflorescence and harvest index also increased linearly with increasing LI, resulting in higher-quality marketable tissues and less superfluous tissue to dispose of. There were no LI treatment effects on cannabinoid potency, while there were minor LI treatment effects on terpene potency. Commercial cannabis growers can use these light response models to determine the optimum LI for their production environment to achieve the best economic return; balancing input costs with the commercial value of their cannabis products.

Silicon light funnels are three-dimensional subwavelength structures in the shape of inverted cones with respect to the incoming illumination. Light funnel arrays can serve as an efficient absorbing layers on account of their light trapping capabilities associated with the presence of high density complex Mie modes. Specifically, light funnel arrays exhibit broadband absorption enhancement of the of the solar spectrum. In the current study, we numerically explore the optical coupling between surface light funnel arrays and underlying substrates. We show that the absorption in LF array-substrate complex is higher than the absorption in LF arrays of the same height (~10% increase). This, we suggest, imply that a LF array serves as an efficient surface element that imparts additional momentum components to the impinging illumination, and hence optically excites the substrate by near-field light concentration, excitation of traveling guided modes in the substrate and mode hybridization.

The relativistic effects of the dynamical properties of light at angular incidence were analyzed from the perspectives of Bohr indeterminacy and Heisenberg uncertainties and statistical dispersion. It was found that these effects report minimal uncertainties that agree with one or the other according to the angular range of incidence and that decrease with increasing refringence of the medium, constituting a specific relativistic uncertainty at angular incidence. An anomaly is indicated for the uncertainty principle in the Quantum Theory (QT) setting for small angles of incidence, where the accuracy of the angular position does not imply an increase in the uncertainty of the linear momentum. The anomalies arise because TQ does not predict the alternation between the classical and relativistic regimes of photon inertia at angular incidence. Specific relativistic uncertainty particularizes the uncertainty principle in the transmission of light between media pairs at angular incidence for the relativistic scenario, considering an observer that registers the relativistic effects of measurements that interfere with the observed system, in another inertial referential.

In any region of a space, the gravitational field cannot be eliminated. The speed of light in a vacuum has never been observed and cannot be observed with current technology. Till now, only the speed of light in a gravitational field has been observed. It results in that all the observed speed of light are always being varied by the gravity. Here, it is presented that light could be dispersion in a gravitational field analogous to the dispersion of light in the Newtonian prism experiment. The relativistic mass density on the surface of a neutron star is on the level of 10¹⁷kg/m³ while on the surface of the Earth is only 10^-7kg/m³, the effect of the gravitational field acting on the speed of light by a neutron star is much larger than that by the Earth. Therefore, the dispersion of light in strong gravitational field could be generally observed from the image of a star and it should have been observed through the double-image gravitational lensing and the spectroscopic binary system. And, it should affect the observed numbers, spectrogram, size and distance of the celestial objects.

Water pollution is the main problem in the current scenario which is being faced by mankind due to the industrial and commercial effects. Industrial effluents contain heavy metals and inorganic ions like nitrates and phosphate ions. These ions are being included in waterways through industrial runoff. When the concentration of these hazardous pollutants increases in aquatic flora and fauna causes severe health problems. So remediation of these toxicants from water reserves is of chief importance. Conventional processes along with modern processes are being used for the treatment of industrial wastes. Photo-degradation is a modern method used for the degradation of inorganic ions due to its environmentally friendly nature and cost-effectiveness. In a recent study Aluminum oxide (Al2O3) nanoparticles were synthesized via a green approach at different pH by using Cymbopogan citratus (lemongrass) plant extract and these nanoparticles were used for the removal of inorganic ions from wastewater. The nanoparticles of different pH showed different % degradation of the inorganic ions in acidic medium removal of inorganic waste was less, in basic media % degradation was more as compared to acidic media but maximum % degradation was observed in neutral media like that average % degradation 91% and 81% was observed for nitrate and phosphate ions. The maximum absorbance occurred at 212nm and Al2O3 nanoparticles showed absorbance from 210nm-217nm. The R2 values of pseudo1st, 2nd, and BMG models were 0.956, 0.837, 0.7007 0.95, 0.896, and 0.756 for the nitrate and phosphate ions. Characterizations of synthesized particles were investigated by using UV-visible spectroscopy and other analytical methods like X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The statistical analyses were done using Simple Linear regression (SLR).

We emphasize the point that, standard model of cosmology is basically a model of classical general relativity and it seems inevitable to have a revision with reference to quantum model of cosmology. Utmost important point to be noted is that, ‘Spin’ is a basic property of quantum mechanics and ‘rotation’ is a very common experience. In this context, we propose five assumptions in line with Planck mass as the baby universe. We appeal that, 1) Universe can be modeled as a time-reversed black hole (a white hole) with rotation and light speed expansion, and 2) ‘Light speed expanding cosmic space’ can be called as ‘Flat space’. With reference to light speed expansion, if one is willing to re-define cosmic red shift as [z/(1+z)], without considering Lambda cosmology model of matter density fractions, light travel distances can be reproduced with a marginal error of +8.6% at z =1.2, (i.e. traditional light travel distance is 8.6% higher than our estimate), 0% at z = 11.5 and -5.5% at z = 1200.( i.e. traditional light travel distance is 5.5% lower than our estimate). Advantages of our model are, 1) A quantum model of cosmology can be developed with unification of general theory of relativity and quantum mechanics. 2) Tension in estimating the current Hubble parameter can be eliminated via scaled Hawking’s black hole temperature formula with great confidence. 3) Galactic dark matter and visible matter can be studied in a unified manner. 4) Galactic light travel distances can be estimated very easily without matter density fractions. 5) Big Bang and Inflation like non-general relativistic concepts can be relinquished with further study.

When a limb suffers a fracture, rupture, or dislocation, it is traditionally immobilized with plaster. This may induce discomfort in the patient, excessive itching and sweating, which creates the growth of bacteria, leading to an unhygienic and difficulty to keep clean from treatment. Furthermore, if the plaster remains for a long period, it may cause lesions in the joints and ligaments. To overcome all these disadvantages, orthoses have emerged as important medical devices to help patients in rehabilitation, as well as for self-care of deficiencies in clinics and daily life. Traditionally, these devices are produced manually, which becomes time-consuming and error prone. From another point-of-view, it is possible to use imageology (X-ray or computed tomography) to scan the human body; a process that may help orthoses manufacturing but induces radiation to the patient. To overcome this great disadvantage, several types of 3D scanners, without any kind of radiation have emerged. This article describes the use of various types of scanners capable of digitizing the human body, to produce custom orthoses. Studies have shown that photogrammetry is the most used and most suitable 3D scanner for the acquisition of the human body in 3D. With this evolution of technology, it is possible to decrease the scanning time and it will be possible to introduce this technology in clinical environment.

Lignin has emerged as a promising eco-friendly multifunctional ingredient for cosmetic applications, due to its ability to protect against ultraviolet radiation, antioxidant, and antimicrobial properties. However, its typical dark color and low water solubility limit its application in cosmetics. This study presents a simple process for obtaining light-colored lignin (LCLig) from alkaline black liquor of sugarcane bagasse (SCB), involving an oxidation treatment with hydrogen peroxide, followed by precipitation with sulfuric acid. The physico-chemical characterization, antioxidant and emulsifying potential, safety and stability in an oil-in-water emulsion were performed. A high-purity lignin (81.6%) with improved water solubility was obtained, as result of the balance between the total aromatic phenolic units and the carboxylic acids. In addition, the antioxidant and emulsifying capacities of the LCLig were demonstrated. The color reduction treatment did not compromise the safety of lignin for topical cosmetic applications. The emulsion was stable in terms of organoleptic properties (color, pH, and viscosity) and antioxidant activity, over 3 months at 4, 25 and 40°C.

Neurofilament light chain (Nf-L) is a well-known biomarker for axonal damage, however the corresponding circulating Nf-L analyte in CSF is poorly characterized. We, therefore, isolated new monoclonal antibodies against synthetic peptides, and these monoclonals were characterized for their specificity on brain-specific intermediate filament proteins. Two highly specific antibodies, ADx206 and ADx209, were analytically validated for CSF applications according to well-established criteria. Interestingly, using three different sources of purified Nf-L proteins, a significant impact on interpolated concentrations was observed. With a lower limit of analytical sensitivity of 100 pg/ml using bovine Nf-L as the calibrator, we were able to quantify the Nf-L analyte in each sample and these Nf-L concentrations were highly correlated to the Uman diagnostics assay (Spearman rho= 0.97, P<0.001). In the clinical diagnostic groups, the new Nf-L ELISA could discriminate patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD, n=20) from frontotemporal lobe dementia (FTD, n=20) and control samples with subjective cognitive decline (SCD, n=20). Henceforth, this novel Nf-L ELISA with well-defined specificity and epitopes can be used to enhance our understanding of harmonizing the use of Nf-L as a clinically relevant marker for neurodegeneration in CSF.

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.

Hyperspectral imaging data holds great potential for the different stages of the mining life cycle in active and post-mining environments. However, the technology has yet to reach the stage of large-scale industrial implementation and acceptance. While hyperspectral satellite imagery can achieve high spectral resolution, signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and global availability with break-through satellite systems like EnMAP, EMIT and PRISMA, limited spatial resolution poses chal-lenges for sectors like mining, which require decimetre to centimetre scale resolution for applica-tions such as reconciliation, ore/waste estimates, geotechnical assessments and environmental monitoring. Hyperspectral imaging from drones (referred to herein as Uncrewed Aerial Systems; UASs) offers high spatial resolution data relevant to the camp/ mine scale, with the capability for frequent, user-defined re-visit times. This has been made possible by the miniaturization of hy-perspectral imaging systems. Collection of data in the visible to near and shortwave infrared (VNIR-SWIR) wavelength regions enables the detection of different minerals and surface altera-tion patterns potentially revealing crucial information for exploration, extraction, re-mining, waste remediation, and rehabilitation. In this paper, we provide a review of relevant studies de-ploying hyperspectral imaging in or applicable to the mining sector, especially for the use of hy-perspectral VNIR-SWIR Uncrewed Aerial Systems. Where required, we draw on previous in-sights derived from satellite or ground-based systems. We also discuss UAS survey planning, and sampling considerations for validation and interpretation.

GaN ultraviolet photodetector with metal-semiconductor-metal structure is achieved by growing on a periodic trapezoid column-shape patterned sapphire substrate using metalorganic chemical vapor deposition. Under 5-V reverse bias, the photodetector fabricated on such patterned sapphire substrate exhibits a lower dark current, a higher photocurrent, and a 476 % enhancement in the maximum responsivity as compare with those of the photodetector fabricated on conventional flat sapphire substrate. It is also found that the much larger UV-to-visible rejection ratio and the fact that responsivity drops in a smaller cut-off region are observed from photodetector fabricated by using a periodic trapezoid column-shape patterned sapphire substrate. These phenomena may all be attributed to the reduction of threading dislocation density and the improved quality of GaN film, as well as the internal reflection and/or scattering effect on the interface between GaN film and the periodic trapezoid column-shape pattern of the substrate.

Globally, anthropogenic sound and artificial light pollution have increased to alarming levels. Evidence suggests that these can disrupt critical processes that impact ecosystems and human health. However, limited focus has been given to the potential effects of sound and artificial light pollution on microbiomes. Microbial communities are the foundations of our ecosystems. They are essential for human health and provide myriad ecosystem services. Therefore, disruption to microbiomes by anthropogenic sound and artificial light could have important ecological and human health implications. In this mini-review, we provide a critical appraisal of available scientific literature on the effects of anthropogenic sound and light exposure on microorganisms and discuss the potential ecological and human health implications. Our mini-review shows that a limited number of studies have been carried out to investigate the effects of anthropogenic sound and light pollution on microbiomes. However, based on these studies, it is evident that anthropogenic sound and light pollution have the potential to significantly influence ecosystems and human health via microbial interactions. Many of the studies suffered from modest sample sizes, suboptimal experiments designs, and some of the bioinformatics approaches used are now outdated. These factors should be improved in future studies. This is an emerging and severely underexplored area of research that could have important implications for global ecosystems and public health. Finally, we also propose the photo-sonic restoration hypothesis: does restoring natural levels of light and sound help to restore microbiomes and ecosystem stability?

With the progression of AI, embedding advanced AI technologies into small robotics and mobile devices has become essential, driving research towards lightweighting AI models. Our study enhances the EPINET depth estimation model for light field images, aiming for compactness and faster inference while preserving accuracy. We conducted two-step experiments aimed at enhancing inference efficiency: Initially, by adjusting input streams and convolution layers, we simplified the CNN model, achieving faster inference times at the cost of reduced accuracy. To address this reduction in accuracy, we then applied knowledge distillation, allowing the simplified model to learn from the original model’s more complex patterns. In our quantitative experiments using two error metrics, MSE (Mean Squared Error) and BadPix, we identified optimal knowledge positions and evaluated the required complexity for the student model. As a result, our method improved MSE by 21% and BadPix by 14% compared to training without it. Furthermore, the student model achieved an inference speed 13% faster than the teacher model and surpassed its accuracy by 10% in MSE. Additionally, we demonstrated that repeatedly applying our approach could further enhance both model compactness and accuracy.

Due to the ongoing climate change plants face multiple stress factors (mainly the abiotic ones) simultaneously, which means that the reduced yields of critical crops (including wheat, rice, or barley) can be expected. Therefore, our understanding of the light and temperature sensing mechanisms and related signaling is of primary importance. Herein we present a review focused on the direct sensing (ensured via photoreceptors) of light, which is the main abiotic factor driving the development, phenology, and especially resistance against oxidative stress via the increased accumulation of protective metabolites of crops. Thus, in the following text, special attention is paid to the description of the plant photoreceptors, their mode of action, ranges of perception, and related signaling pathways leading to the activation of target transcription factors. These finally lead to alterations in the expression of target genes related to photoprotection. Due to the focus of our research, genes related to the production of phenolic compounds (PheCs) were selected as a representative group of target genes having a UV-screening, and antioxidative function meaning that their activation and activity of resulting proteins can significantly contribute to the increased tolerance of plants against stress cues.

Supplemental light is widely applied in greenhouses for promotions of the product and flavors of strawberries in global markets. Present selections of colored lights are, however, quite empirical or qualitative, from the aspect of photometry or colorimetry. The accurate control of chromatic parameters of supplemental light and their chromatic influences on fruit quality has been under-studied. In this study, color parameters including correlated color temperatures (CCTs) and illuminance of supplement lights are precisely controlled using a digitally color-coding method. We systematically investigate the chromatic effect of supplemental light on five parameters of strawberries: plant height, single weight, fruit hardness, soluble solids, and titratable acids. Results show that the supplement light generally lowers down the single weight and the fruit hardness, increases the plant height, the contents of soluble solids and titratable acids. The chromatic dependences for the five parameters are different and might be strengthened, weakened, or shifted by light illuminance. We demonstrate the beneficial roles of supplemental light in accelerating the maturation and enhancing the flavor of strawberries in greenhouses cultivation. The results pro-vide valuable guidance for the effective cultivation of strawberries. Moreover, the controlling method for accurate colors is ready for the implementation of supplemental lights in other fruits or plants.

Prosthetic attack is a problem that must be prevented in the current finger vein recognition application. To solve this problem, a finger vein living detection system was established in this article. The system first captures short-term static finger vein video by uniform near-infrared lighting, segments the veins by Gabor filters with current removing, calculates the multi-Scale spatial-Temporal maps(MSTmap) from the selected vein blocks, and trains the MSTmaps in the proposed Light-ViT network for the liveness detection. The MS maps are used to extract the coarse feature and Light-ViT is used to refine the liveness feature and predict the liveness result. Light-ViT, featuring an enhanced L-ViT backbone as its core, is constructed by interleaving multiple MN blocks and L-ViT blocks. This architecture effectively balances the learning of local image features, controls network parameter complexity, and substantially improves the accuracy of liveness detection. The accuracy of the Light-ViT network is verified to be 99.63% on the self-made living / prosthetic finger vein video dataset. This proposed system can also be directly applied to the finger vein recognition terminal after the model lightweighting.

Light enables vision and exerts widespread effects on physiology and behaviour, including regulating circadian rhythms, sleep, hormone synthesis, affective state, and cognitive processes. Appropriate lighting in animal facilities may support welfare and ensure that animals enter experiments in a controlled physiological and behavioural state. Proper consideration of light during experimentation - both when it is explicitly employed as an independent variable and as a general feature of the environment - has the potential to provide more informative experimental designs and more reliable outcomes, contributing to Reduction and Refinement, helping to ensure more ethical animal use, and improving data quality. As such, it is unfortunate that ambient light for animals is typically quantified in units (lux) designed for human observers. We report the consensus views of an expert working group, with expertise spanning mammalian photobiology, neurobiology and animal husbandry and welfare, convened in February 2023 to agree upon metrics for light appropriate for non-human mammals and their application to improve animal welfare and the quality of animal research. We conclude that species-specific versions of the recently standardised a-opic metrology represent the best available approach to quantifying light. We provide methods for measuring these quantities; practical guidance for their implementation in husbandry and experimentation; and quantitative guidance on appropriate light exposure for laboratory mammals.

In this study, we explore the potential of using a straightforward neural network inspired by the retina model to efficiently restore low-light images. The retina model imitates the neurophysiological principles and dynamics of various optical neurons. Our proposed neural network model reduces the computational overhead compared to traditional signal-processing models while achieving results similar to complex deep learning models from a subjective perceptual perspective. By directly simulating retinal neuron functionalities with neural networks, we not only avoid manual parameter optimization but also lay the groundwork for constructing artificial versions of specific neurobiological organizations.

Drought stress inducing pollen sterility can reduce crop yield worldwide. The regulatory crosstalk associated with the effects of drought on pollen formation at the cellular level have not been explored in detail so far. In this study, we performed morphological and cytoembryological analysis of anther perturbations and examined pollen development in two spring barley genotypes that differ in earliness and drought tolerance. The Syrian breeding line CamB (drought-tolerant) and the European cultivar Lubuski (drought-sensitive) were used as experimental materials to analyze the drought-induced changes in yield performance, chlorophyll fluorescence kinetics, the pollen grain micromorphology and ultrastructure during critical stages of plant development. In addition, fluctuations in HvGAMYB expression were studied, as this transcription factor is closely associated with the anthers development. In the experiments, the studied plants were affected by drought, as was confirmed by the analyses of yield performance and chlorophyll fluorescence kinetics. However, contrary to our expectations, the pollen development of plants grown under specific conditions was not severely affected. The results also suggest that growth modification, as well as the perturbation in light distribution, can affect the HvGAMYB expression. This study showed that the duration of the vegetation period can influence plant drought responses and, as a consequence, the processes associated with pollen development as every growth modification changes the dynamics of drought effects as well as the duration of plant exposition to drought.

This article attempts to assess the light pollution of parking lots, using the proprietary measure-ment method with a drone. The main requirements, reflective features of parking lots and typical light curves of luminaires used in lighting this type of areas were presented. Calculations and simulations for various types of luminaires were performed, and then the obtained results were verified in real conditions. The main factors influencing the increase in light pollution were pre-sented and it was proved that it is possible to use the developed measurement method in order to assess the light pollution degree.

An axiomatic theory is proposed that reconciles the existence of an absolute scale for time (Planck time) and special relativity. According to this theory speed of light c becomes a variable which is proposed to be taken as the fifth dimension.

Although the vegetative stage of indoor cannabis production can be relatively short in duration, there is a high energy demand due to higher light intensities (LI) than the clonal propagation stage and longer photoperiods than the flowering stage (i.e., 16 – 24 hours vs. 12 hours). While electric lighting is a major component of both energy consumption and overall production costs, there is a lack of scientific information to guide cultivators in selecting a LI that corresponds to their vegetative stage production strategies. To determine the vegetative plant responses to LI, clonal plants of ‘Gelato’ were grown for 21 days with canopy-level photosynthetic photon flux densities (PPFD) ranging between 135 and 1430 µmol·m^-2·s^-1 on a 16-hour photoperiod (i.e., daily light integrals of ≈ 8 to 80 mol·m^-2·d^-1). Plant height and growth index responded quadratically; the number of nodes, stem thickness, and aboveground dry weight increased asymptotically; and internode length and water content of aboveground tissues decreased linearly with increasing LI. Foliar attributes had varying responses to LI. Chlorophyll content index increased asymptotically, leaf size decreased linearly and specific leaf weight increased linearly with increasing LI. Generally, PPFD levels of ≈ 900 µmol·m^-2·s^-1 produced compact, robust plants that are commercially relevant, while PPFD levels of ≈ 600 µmol·m^-2·s^-1 promoted plant morphology with more open architecture – to increase airflow and reduce the potential foliar pests in compact (i.e., indica-dominant) genotypes.

In the last 10 years, carbon dots (CDs) synthesized from renewable organic resources have been gathered a considerable amount of attention in different fields for their peculiar photoluminescent properties. Moreover, the synthesis of CDs fully responds to the principles of the circular chemistry and the concept of safe-by-design. This review will focus on the different strategies for the incorporation of CDs in organic light-emitting devices (OLEDs) and on the study of the impact of CDs properties on the OLEDs performance. The main current research outcomes and highlights are summarized to guide users towards the fully exploitation of use these materials in optoelectronic applications.

Night-time lights interact with human physiology through different pathways starting at the retinal layers of the eye, from the signals provided by the rods, the S-, L- and M-cones, and the intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells (ipRGC). These individual photic channels combine in complex ways to modulate important physiological processes, among them the daily entrainment of the neural master oscillator that regulates circadian rhythms. Evaluating the relative excitation of each type of photoreceptor generally requires full knowledge of the spectral power distribution of the incoming light, information that is not easily available in many practical applications. One such instance is wide area sensing of public outdoor lighting; present-day radiometers onboard Earth-orbiting platforms with sufficient nighttime sensitivity are generally panchromatic and lack the required spectral discrimination capacity. In this paper we show that RGB imagery acquired with off-the-shelf digital single-lens reflex cameras (DSLR) can be a useful tool to evaluate, with reasonable accuracy and high angular resolution, the photoreceptoral inputs associated with a wide range of lamp technologies. The method is based on linear regressions of these inputs against optimum combinations of the associated R, G, and B signals, built for a large set of artificial light sources by means of synthetic photometry. Given the widespread use of RGB imaging devices, this approach is expected to facilitate the monitoring of the physiological effects of light pollution, from ground and space alike, using standard imaging technology.

The variation of photonic orbital angular momentum at Compton scattering is characterized. We determine scattering matrix of a twisted light based on the fundamental conservation of orbital angular momenta. Numerical values for two different twisted light modes: Laguerre Gaussian and Bessel Gaussian, are generated and illustrated. Our analysis indicate that states of photonic orbital angular momentum are highly changeable at wide angle scattering but more consistent at small angle scattering.

In this study, the problem of overcoming the infinite energy barrier separating the bradyonic and tachyonic realms is investigated. Making use of the Majorana equation for particles with arbitrary spin and the Heisenberg uncertainty principle, it is proved that, under certain conditions of spatial confinement, quantum fluctuations allow particles with very small mass and velocity close to the speed of light to pass in the tachyonic realm, avoiding the problem of the infinite barrier (bradyon–tachyon tunnelling). This theoretical approach allows an avoidance of the difficulties encountered in quantum field theory when it is extended to particles with imaginary rest mass.

The compilation summarizes results so far gathered in a project that investigates the atom with classical (Newtonian) physics. It posits that the atom’s wave-particle dual nature is real, objective and intrinsic; the wave gives rise to the cosmic vacuum field while the particle, of course, manifests condensed matter. Light’s π radians oscillation manifests, on molar scale, significant radial tension in the vacuum field, the effect, amongst others, causes molecular matter to precipitate out of the vacuum – so-called ‘molecular outflow’. Cosmic vacuum field radial tension relates to molecular mass, in other words, a mass-radius (M-R) relationship is uncovered. It is argued that using the M-R relation it is possible to perform a valid simulation of the cosmic physical reality. The three states of matter are meaningfully accounted for using the atom’s e-m radiation wavelength. It is explained that force, be it of any kind whatsoever, originates in the atomic waveform, i.e., the cosmic vacuum field.

Inhibition of amyloid fibril formation could benefit patients with systemic amyloidosis. In this group of diseases, deposition of amyloid fibrils derived from normally soluble proteins leads to progressive tissue damage and organ failure. Although many small molecules have been proposed as inhibitors of amyloid formation, few have been successful in clinical trials. Amyloid formation is complex and several individual steps could be targeted by small molecules. However, the exact mechanism of action for a molecule is often not known, which impedes medicinal chemistry efforts to develop more potent molecules. Furthermore, commonly used assays are prone to artifacts that must be controlled for. Here, potential mechanisms by which small molecules could inhibit aggregation of immunoglobulin light chain dimers, the precursor proteins for AL amyloidosis are studied in assays that recapitulate different aspects of amyloidogenesis in vitro. One molecule reduced unfolding-coupled proteolysis of light chains, but no molecules inhibited aggregation of light chains or disrupted pre-formed amyloid fibrils. This work demonstrates the challenges associated with drug development for amyloidosis, but also highlights the potential to combine therapies that target different aspects of amyloidogenesis.

In this paper, we examine a modified Friedmann model designed to explain cosmic structures and late-time accelerated expansion of the universe, grounded in the spatial distribution of luminous matter. Through comprehensive simulations of our universe, we observe a notable surge in the formation rate of galaxies at redshift z≈1, characterized by a peak expansion rate in cosmic structures formed at z ≈0.9, reaching its zenith at z ≈2. Subsequently, a transition occurs before the onset of dark matter-induced accelerated expansion. The acceleration of the universe stands as an entrenched and virtually model-independent theoretical tenet, resilient to the ongoing debate surrounding the enigma of dark energy. A distinctive redshift transition zone marks the shift from cosmic deceleration to accelerated expansion. The transition is proportional to matter density and contingent upon the geometry of the universe. The influence of the cosmological constant on the evolution of cosmic structures in the CDM paradigm appears insufficient in curtailing the efficiency of late-time structure formation compared to the observed values in the modified model

Quality-changed behavior of ultraviolet light absorber (UVA: UV-326) in polymers (PP, HDPE, LDPE, PLA and PS) over time during degradation was studied with an enhanced degradation method (EDM) using sulfate ion radical in seawater. EDM was employed to homogeneously degrade the entire polymer samples containing the UVA. The PP and PS samples containing 5-phr UVA films whitened rapidly due to formation of numerous grooves or crushed particles. The UVA loss rate of PS with the higher Tg was much slower. The crystalline polymers, with the exception of PS, were similar in the behavior of the change in UVA loss rate with respect to degradation time. The significant increase in initial loss rate observed during EDM degradation was due to microplasticization. A similar increase in microplasticization rate occurred with the PS, but the intermolecular interaction between UVA and PS did not result in as pronounced its increase in loss rate as with other polymers. The UVA chemical structure was not altered by EDM degradation. These results revealed that the UVA leaching from the polymer matrix was the primary cause of the loss.

The lengthy maturation period is the key cause of the reduced hot pepper market value. An experiment was performed to assess the effects of R/B/W light qualities on reducing the maturation period. The maturation period was shortened by 16 days under 4R:1B:5W compared to the control. The appearance of the first flower is a limiting factor affecting the maturation period. It exhibited a dark purple color and an abnormal petal under 4R:1B:5W compared to the control, which was associated with increased contents of flavonoids, total organic acids, and phenolics and decreased total amino acid and carbohydrate contents. Plant hormone, flavonoid, ABC transporters, key metabolites (such as amino acid, carbohydrate, organic acid) was associated with first flower development. Ethylene response factors (ERFs) mediated by light, especially ERF021, were identified as potential hub regulators during the development of the first flower due to their involvement in all the associated metabolic pathways.

Defining the best conditions for the initial development of native species is one of the significant challenges to forest production. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate andiroba's physiological behavior and growth (Carapa guianensis Aubl.) seedlings at different shading levels. In a nursery seedling, C. guianensis seedlings grew on 0, 30, 50, and 70% shading, obtained with polyethylene screens. We measured at six plants per treatment. For the physiological data we measurement four times the total chlorophyll content, chlorophyll a/b ratio, maximum photochemical efficiency of photosystem II (Fv/Fm), maximum potential photosynthesis (A), stomatal conductance (gs), transpiration (E), intrinsic water use efficiency (WUEi), and carbon use efficiency (CUE), besides the growth parameters. While for growth rates parameters we developed six evaluation for as leaf area ratio (LAF), relative growth rates (RGR), and net assimilation rate (NAR). Chlorophyll content and Fv/Fm were inversely proportional to the light intensity. The other physiological and growth parameters showed better behavior in shaded environments, emphasizing the 50% treatment, with no significant difference between the 30% shading treatment. Therefore, the C. guianensis seedlings present growth plasticity under different shading levels, and we recommended producing seedlings at 50 or 30% shading.

The development and use of selenium and iodine elements in agriculture aim to enrich agricultural food products for humans. This study was carried out as a three-factor factorial experiment in a completely randomized design (CRD). Three concentrations of sodium selenate fertilizer (0, 2, 4 mg/l), three potassium iodate (0, 2, 4 mg/l), and two supplementary radiation levels (blue light and sunlight) were used. The results showed that the highest and the lowest (3.44 & 3.12 mg/g f.w) leaf protein value was related to blue light and sunlight treatments, respectively. In the blue light treatment, the maximum and the minimum (4.77 & 3.39 mg/g f.w) leaf sugar amount was observed at 4 and 0 mg/l of the iodine, respectively. At 0 mg/l of selenium, the highest and the lowest (8.63 & 5.34 mg/g f.w) leaf vitamin C amount was recorded at the 4 and 0 mg/l of iodine, respectively. In blue light + 0 mg/l of the selenium, the highest and the lowest (2.94 & 2.10 mg/g f.w) leaf flavonoid quantity was seen at 2 and 0 mg/l of the iodine, respectively. In the blue light conditions, (5.20%) leaf nitrogen content was achieved in the selenium 4 mg/l group. In the same conditions, the maximum and the minimum (3.09 & 2.18%) leaf potassium amount was attained at selenium 2 and 4 mg/l, respectively. Under blue light conditions, the highest and the lowest (0.58 & 0.24 mg/kg dry matter) leaf selenium level was observed at 4 and 0 mg/l, respectively. In sunlightradiation levels, the maximum and the minimum (0.36 & 0.25 mg/kg dry matter) leaf selenium level were found at 4 and 0 mg/l of selenium, respectively. In the blue light conditions, the most and the lowest (1.65 & 0.72 mg/kg dry matter) seed selenium content was related to 4 and 0 mg/l of the selenium, respectively. In the blue light conditions, the highest and the lowest (8.49 & 4.25 mg/kg dry matter) leaf iodine level was recorded at 4 and 0 mg/l of iodine, respectively. In the blue light conditions, the maximum and the minimum (30.56 & 20.62 mg/kg dry matter) seed iodine value was related to 4 and 0 mg/l of the iodine, respectively. In the sunlight, the most and the lowest (24.96 & 20.29 mg/kg dry matter) seed iodine amount was achieved at 4 and 0 mg/l of the selenium, respectively.

Current effort with light field displays is mainly concentrated on the widest possible viewing angle, while a single viewer only needs to view the display in a specific viewing direction. To make light field display a practical practice, a super multi-view light field display is proposed to compress the information in the viewing zone of a single user by reducing the redundant viewpoints. A quasi-directional backlight is proposed and a lenticular lens array is applied to achieve the restricted viewing zone. Eye-tracking technique is applied to extend the viewing area. Experimental results show that the proposed scheme can present vivid 3D scene with smooth motion parallax. Only 16.7% conventional light field display data are required to achieve 3D display. Furthermore, an illumination power of 3.5 watt is sufficient to lighten a 31.5-inch light field display，which takes up 1.5% of the illumination power required for planar display of similar configuration.

Transformers are increasing replacing older generation of deep neural networks due to their success in a wide range of application. The dominant approach of using transformers is to pre-train them on a large training dataset and then fine-tune them on a downstream task. However, as transformers becoming larger, the fine-tuning approach is become an infeasible approach for transfer learning. In this short survey, we list a few recent methods that makes using transformers based on transfer learning more efficient.

The aim of innovations in road safety is to contribute to better protection of road users and to minimize damage to their property. The main objective of the article is to identify disparities in the perception of an innovation element in road safety by road users based on their type of employment and the number of kilometers driven per year. The research will evaluate the attitudes of selected groups of road users based on the number of kilometers driven in a calendar year and whether driving a motor vehicle is their main job duty. The analysis involved 239 respondents using a paper questionnaire. Disparities in the perception of innovations in road safety were evaluated using contingency tables, chi-square tests, non-parametric tests, and Cramer's V. Road users feel much safer with a front braking light when crossing traffic of vehicles and pedestrians (71%); at pedestrian crossings (74%); when turning left (63.4%); as well as when crossing traffic of multiple vehicles (62.5%). Disparities among respondents based on the type of employment of the road user were not confirmed. Conversely, road users with a higher number of kilometers driven per year have a more positive perception of the innovation element at pedestrian crossings.

Numerical calculations of ultraviolet to near-infrared absorption spectra by cadmium selenide quantum dots (CdSe QDs) doped in anodic aluminum oxide pores were performed using a finite-difference time-domain model. The height, diameter, and periodic spacing of the pores were optimized. Light absorption by the dots was enhanced by increasing the height and decreasing the diameter of the pores. When the height was less than 1 μm, visible light absorption was enhanced as the spacing was reduced from 400 nm to 100 nm. No enhancement was observed for heights greater than 6 μm. Finally, the optical mode coupling of the aluminum oxide and the quantum dots was enhanced by decreasing the pore diameter and periodic spacing, and increasing the height. Laser ablation verified light absorption enhancement by the CdSe QDs. The experiment verified the improvement of the laser-induced damage ability with wavelength of 355-nm after aluminum alloy 6061 coated with functional films, which was fabricated based on numerical calculations.