Light Intensity Conditions Research Articles

Impact of red and blue monochromatic light on the visual system and dopamine pathways in juvenile zebrafish

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

Cut Flower Yields and Qualities of Rosa hybrid L. Affected by Supplementary LED Lighting at Night under High Temperature and Low Light Intensity Conditions

Cut Flower Yields and Qualities of Rosa hybrid L. Affected by Supplementary LED Lighting at Night under High Temperature and Low Light Intensity Conditions

Evaluation of the Effect of Growth Factors on Chlorophylls a and b Production from Microalgae.

Microalgae contain two main groups of pigments: chlorophylls and carotenoids. Chlorophyll is a green pigment that absorbs light energy and transforms it into chemical energy to facilitate the synthesis of organic compounds. This pigment serves as a valuable primary source for biotechnological input products in the food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic industries due to its high antioxidant properties and coloring capabilities. The objective of this research was to evaluate the effect of growth factors (CO2 concentration, light color, and light intensity) through a Taguchi L4 experimental design on cell growth and the cellular content of chlorophyll a and b in Chlorella sorokiniana, followed by validation of the method using Haematococcus pluvialis microalgae as an additional study model. Cell growth was quantified using the optical density spectrophotometric technique at a wavelength of 550 nm. For the quantification of chlorophylls, a cell extract was obtained using a 90% pure acetone solution, and subsequently, the concentrations of chlorophylls a and b were quantified using spectrophotometric techniques at wavelengths of 647 nm and 664 nm, according to the method described by Jeffrey and Humphrey. The experimental results indicated that controlling conditions of low CO2 addition, purple light, and low light intensity increases both cell growth and the concentration of chlorophylls a and b within the cells. The implementation of this chlorophyll quantification method allows for quick, simple, and precise determination of chlorophyll content, as the wavelengths used are at the absorbance peaks of both types of chlorophylls, making this technique easily reproducible for any microalgae under study.

Multi-Characteristic Opsin Therapy to Functionalize Retina, Attenuate Retinal Degeneration, and Restore Vision in Mouse Models of Retinitis Pigmentosa.

Retinal degeneration 1 and 10 (rd1 and rd10) mice are useful animal models of retinitis pigmentosa (RP) with rapidly and slowly progressive pathologies, respectively. Our study aims were to determine the effect of adeno-associated viral vector 2 (AAV2)-delivered multi-characteristic opsin (MCO-010; under the control of a metabotropic glutamate receptor-6 promoter enhancer) on the morphological and functional characteristics of vision in both rd1 and rd10 mice. Various retinal measures of MCO-010 transduction and electrophysiological, behavioral, and other routine blood analyses were performed in the rd1 and/or rd10 mice after intravitreal injection of 1µL of MCO-010 or AAV2 vehicle. Functional tests included electroretinogram, visually evoked potential, and behavior assay (optomotor and water maze). Retinal thickness, intraocular pressure, and plasma cytokine levels were also determined. Following intravitreal MCO-010 injection, approximately 80% of bipolar cells were transduced in the retina, and no alterations in retinal thickness were observed at 4months post-injection. However, retinal thickness significantly decreased in control mice. MCO-010 treatment increased head movements and induced faster navigation of mice to the platform in a water-maze test. The MCO-010 gene therapy helped preserve visually evoked electrical response in the retina and visual cortex. No ocular toxicity, immunotoxicity, or phototoxicity was observed in the MCO-010-treated mice, even under chronic intense light conditions. Intravitreal MCO-010 was well tolerated in rd1 and rd10 mice models of RP, and it appeared to attenuate retinal photoreceptor degeneration based on retinal structure and functional outcome measures. As reported here, optogenetic treatment of the inner retina attenuates further retinal degeneration in addition to photosensitizing higher order neurons, and this disease-modifying aspect should be evaluated in optogenetic clinical trials.

Genome-wide investigation of WRKY gene family in Lavandula angustifolia and potential role of LaWRKY57 and LaWRKY75 in the regulation of terpenoid biosynthesis.

The WRKY transcription factors are integral to plant biology, serving essential functions in growth, development, stress responses, and the control of secondary metabolism. Through the use of bioinformatics techniques, this research has effectively characterized 207 members of the WRKY family (LaWRKY) present in the entire genome of Lavandula angustifolia. Phylogenetic analysis classified LaWRKYs into three distinct categories based on conserved domains. Collinearity analysis revealed tandem repeats, segmental duplications, and whole genome duplications in LaWRKYs, especially for segmental duplication playing a significant role in gene family expansion. LaWRKYs displayed distinct tissue-specific expression profiles across six different tissues of L. angustifolia. Particularly noteworthy were 12 genes exhibiting high expression in flower buds and calyx, the primary sites of volatile terpenoid production, indicating their potential role in terpenoid biosynthesis in L. angustifolia. RT-qPCR analysis revealed a notable increase in the expression levels of most examined LaWRKY genes in flower buds in response to both intense light and low-temperature conditions, whereas the majority of these genes in leaves were primarily induced by drought stress. However, all genes exhibited downregulation following GA treatment in both flower buds and leaves. Overexpression of LaWRKY57 (La13G01665) and LaWRKY75 (La16G00030) in tobacco led to a reduction in the density of glandular trichomes on leaf surfaces, resulting in changes to the volatile terpenoid composition in the leaves. Specifically, the content of Neophytadiene was significantly elevated compared to wild-type tobacco, while compounds such as eucalyptol, cis-3-Hexenyl iso-butyrate, and D-Limonene were produced, which were absent in the wild type. These findings provide a valuable reference for future investigations into the biological functions of the WRKY gene family in L. angustifolia.

Optimal Light Intensity for Lettuce Growth, Quality, and Photosynthesis in Plant Factories.

In agriculture, one of the most crucial elements for sustained plant production is light. Artificial lighting can meet the specific light requirements of various plants. However, it is a challenge to find optimal lighting schemes that can facilitate a balance of plant growth and nutritional qualities. In this study, we experimented with the light intensity required for plant growth and nutrient elements. We designed three light intensity treatments, 180 μmol m-2 s-1 (L1), 210 μmol m-2 s-1 (L2), and 240 μmol m-2 s-1 (L3), to investigate the effect of light intensity on lettuce growth and quality. It can be clearly seen from the radar charts that L2 significantly affected the plant height, fresh weight, dry weight, and leaf area. L3 mainly affected the canopy diameter and root shoot ratio. The effect of L1 on lettuce phenotype was not significant compared with that of the others. The total soluble sugar, vitamin C, nitrate, and free amino acid in lettuce showed more significant increases under the L2 treatment than under the other treatments. In addition, the transpiration rate and stomatal conductance were opposite to each other. The comprehensive evaluation of the membership function value method and heatmap analysis showed that lettuce had the highest membership function value in L2 light intensity conditions, indicating that the lettuce grown under this light intensity could obtain higher yield and better quality. This study provides a new insight into finding the best environmental factors to balance plant nutrition and growth.

The Thickness Changes of Anatomical Ornamental Monocotyledon Plant Leaves Affected by the Interactions between Plant Types and Light Intensity

The different levels of light intensity affect the anatomical thickness of monocotyledon ornamental plant leaves. The aim of this research was to determine the anatomical thickness of several monocotyledon ornamental plant leaves under different light intensities. The research used a factorial complete randomized design with two main factors, namely plant type and different light intensity, repeated three times. The first factor was the plant type, which consisted of six plant species of monocotyledon ornamental plants which were Chlorophytum laxum, Dracaena reflexa, Rhoeo discolor, Aglaonema commutatum, Cordyline fruticosa and Hymenocallis littoralis. The second factor was light intensity, which consisted of high light intensity (open areas) and low light intensity (shaded areas). The observation was carried out on preserved leaf anatomy made using the paraffin method with modification. The observation variables were the total thickness of the leaf, upper and lower epidermis, mesophyll (for undifferentiated mesophyll), and palisade and sponge (for differentiated mesophyll). Data were analyzed using analysis of variance followed by the LSD test if the treatment was significant. Correlation tests were carried out between total leaf thickness and each leaf anatomical part under conditions of high and low light intensity. The results showed that the interaction between plant types and light intensity influenced the total thickness of the leaves, upper and lower epidermis, and palisade. The plant types independently influenced the mesophyll and sponges, while the light intensity independently influenced only the mesophyll but not the sponge thickness. Hymenocallis littoralis was the only plant that showed thicker under low light intensity, with an increase in the thickness of the upper and lower epidermis. The palisade mainly influenced leaf thickness changes in the differentiated mesophyll.

Programmable Crowding and Tunable Phases in a Binary Mixture of Colloidal Particles under Light-Driven Thermal Convection.

We employ photothermally driven self-assembly of colloidal particles to design microscopic structures with programmable size and tunable order. The experimental system is based on a binary mixture of "plasmonic heater" gold nanoparticles and "assembly building block" microparticles. Photothermal heating of the gold nanoparticles under visible light causes a natural convection flow that efficiently assembles the microscale building block particles (diameter 1-10 μm) into a monolayer. We identify the onset of active Brownian motion of colloidal particles under this convective flow by varying the conditions of light intensity, gold nanoparticle concentration, and sample height. We realize a crowded assembly of microparticles around the center of illumination and show that the size of the particle crowd can be programmed using patterned light illumination. In a binary mixture of gold nanoparticles and polystyrene microparticles, we demonstrate the formation of rapid and large-scale crystalline monolayers, covering an area of 0.88 mm2 within 10 min. We find that the structural order of the assembly can be tuned by varying the surface charge of the nanoparticles and the size of the microparticles, giving rise to the formation of different phases-colloidal crystals, crowds, and gels. Using Monte Carlo simulations, we explain how the phases emerge from the interplay between hydrodynamic and electrostatic interactions, as well as the assembly kinetics. Our study demonstrates the promise of self-assembly with programmable shapes and structural order under nonequilibrium conditions using an accessible setup comprising only binary mixtures and LED light.

A Bayesian deep learning approach for video-based estimation and uncertainty quantification of urban rainfall intensity

Accurate, high-resolution spatiotemporal estimates of rainfall intensity (RI) are essential for effective prevention and control of urban flooding. Traditional methods are often costly and provide inadequate coverage. Meanwhile, the associated uncertainty of RI estimates is often overlooked, potentially leading to poor decisions in management of urban floods. Here we examine the potential of video imagery recorded by surveillance cameras in urban areas, for providing real-time estimates of RI. Specifically, we propose the use of Bayesian deep learning (DL) to estimate RI and its related uncertainty in a real-time manner. Our DL approach combines the strengths of convolutional neural network (CNN) and long short-term memory (LSTM) to construct a suitable model for this task, and uses variational inference to quantify the uncertainty of the CNN-LSTM model. The proposed approach is tested using video imagery captured under various light-intensity conditions, including daytime, nighttime, early morning, and early evening, and evaluated via experiments using both random samples and independent rainfall events. Further, we show that the temporal processing provided by the LSTM network is important to achieve good performance of RI estimation. The results indicate the strong potential for leveraging urban camera networks to obtain high-precision spatiotemporal RI estimates at low cost, which can be extremely valuable for implementing effective flood control measures and planning emergency responses in the urban areas.

Evaluation of Chemical and Physical Triggers for Enhanced Photosynthetic Glycerol Production in Different Dunaliella Isolates.

The salt-tolerant marine microalgae Dunaliella tertiolecta is reported to generate significant amounts of intracellular glycerol as an osmoprotectant under high salt conditions. This study highlights the phylogenetic distribution and comparative glycerol biosynthesis of seven new Dunaliella isolates compared to a D. tertiolecta reference strain. Phylogenetic analysis indicates that all Dunaliella isolates are newly discovered and do not relate to the D. tertiolecta reference. Several studies have identified light color and intensity and salt concentration alone as the most inducing factors impacting glycerol productivity. This study aims to optimize glycerol production by investigating these described factors singularly and in combination to improve the glycerol product titer. Glycerol production data indicate that cultivation with white light of an intensity between 500 and 2000 μmol m-2 s-1 as opposed to 100 μmol m-2 s-1 achieves higher biomass and thereby higher glycerol titers for all our tested Dunaliella strains. Moreover, applying higher light intensity in a cultivation of 1.5 M NaCl and an increase to 3 M NaCl resulted in hyperosmotic stress conditions, providing the highest glycerol titer. Under these optimal light intensity and salt conditions, the glycerol titer of D. tertiolecta could be doubled to 0.79 mg mL-1 in comparison to 100 μmol m-2 s-1 and salt stress to 2 M NaCl, and was higher compared to singularly optimized conditions. Furthermore, under the same conditions, glycerol extracts from new Dunaliella isolates did provide up to 0.94 mg mL-1. This highly pure algae-glycerol obtained under optimal production conditions can find widespread applications, e.g., in the pharmaceutical industry or the production of sustainable carbon fibers.

Integrated multi-omic analysis reveals the carbon metabolism-mediated regulation of polysaccharide biosynthesis by suitable light intensity in Bletilla striata leaves

Bletilla striata, valued for its medicinal and ornamental properties, remains largely unexplored in terms of how light intensity affects its physiology, biochemistry, and polysaccharide formation. In this 5-month study, B. striata plants were exposed to three different light intensities: low light (LL) (5–20 μmol m−2·s−1), middle light (ML) (200 μmol m−2·s−1), and high light (HL) (400 μmol m−2·s−1). The comprehensive assessment included growth, photosynthetic apparatus, chlorophyll fluorescence electron transport, and analysis of differential metabolites based on the transcriptome and metabolome data. The results indicated that ML resulted in the highest plant height and total polysaccharide content, enhanced photosynthetic apparatus performance and light energy utilization, and stimulated carbon metabolism and carbohydrate accumulation. HL reduced Chl content and photosynthetic apparatus functionality, disrupted OEC activity and electron transfer, stimulated carbon metabolism and starch and glucose accumulation, and hindered energy metabolism related to carbohydrate degradation and oxidation. In contrast, LL facilitated leaf growth and increased chlorophyll content but decreased plant height and total polysaccharide content, compromised the photosynthetic apparatus, hampered light energy utilization, stimulated energy metabolism related to carbohydrate degradation and oxidation, and inhibited carbon metabolism and carbohydrate synthesis. Numerous genes in carbon metabolism were strongly related to polysaccharide metabolites. The katE and cysK genes in carbon metabolism were strongly related not only to polysaccharide metabolites, but also to genes involved in polysaccharide biosynthesis. Our results highlight that light intensity plays a crucial role in affecting polysaccharide biosynthesis in B. striata, with carbon metabolism acting as a mediator under suitable light intensity conditions.

Design and Performance Analysis of Photovoltaic Power Generation Light Emitting Diode Device

This research focuses on an independent photovoltaic power generation system with supercapacitor energy storage as the study subject. The model is simplified, and the photovoltaic power generation light emitting diode (LED) device is designed based on the given parameters. This system selects a Boost-type step-up converter for the supercapacitor charging circuit, capable of achieving Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT). The supercapacitor discharge circuit employs an LM2596 series regulator to power the rated load LED (12 V, 1 W), providing good linear regulation capability. In designing other hardware components of the device, the characteristics of a photoresistor are utilized to implement an automatic load switch circuit. An efficient single-chip integrated circuit LM2575 series is used as a regulator to convert the voltage across the supercapacitor terminals to +15 V and +5 V. Considering the need to collect the output voltage of the photovoltaic cell array and the voltage across the supercapacitor terminals, a resistor divider method is used to sample these two voltages. The sampling circuit includes a resistor divider circuit and a linear optocoupler isolation circuit. An HNC-25LTS series Hall current sensor is used for current sampling to measure AC, DC, and pulse signals under electrical isolation conditions. The supercapacitor, solar photovoltaic panel, control unit, and the main circuit for supercapacitor charging and discharging have been assembled in the experiment. Connecting the charging and discharging circuit with the photovoltaic panel and LED, the system provides power to the LED during the night. Under varying light intensity and temperature conditions, the photovoltaic output voltage waveform, PWM waveform, and Boost circuit output voltage waveform remain stable when reaching the MPPT point. The output power with added MPPT control at different times is compared. The results indicate that the designed system has effectively achieved the functionality of MPPT for solar energy.

Design and Augmentation of a Deep Learning Based Vehicle Detection Model for Low Light Intensity Conditions

Design and Augmentation of a Deep Learning Based Vehicle Detection Model for Low Light Intensity Conditions

Interactive Effect of Fertilization and Biochar on the Growth of Juniperus scopulorum under Various Shading and Irrigation Conditions

The global demand for landscape trees has been amplified with the increasing anthropogenic activity. South Korea has also witnessed a surge in demand for landscape plants, among others, Juniperus scopulorum gaining popularity for its ecological, economic, adaptability, and management attributes. However, the optimum management practice for high-quality Juniperus seedling production in South Korea remains unknown. This research was conducted on the one-to-two-years-old two cultivars of J. scopulorum, namely Blue Angel and Blue Heaven seedlings, to investigate the combined impacts of varying fertilizer concentrations (0 ppm, 150 ppm, 300 ppm) and biochar content (0% and 20%) under contrasting shading intensities (0%, 35%, 55%) and irrigation levels (200 ml, 400 ml, 800 ml). The study revealed that biochar and fertilizer amendment significantly (p < 0.01 and p < 0.05) enhanced the height and root collar diameter growth in Blue Angel and Blue Heaven in light shade intensity (0–35%) and higher irrigation (400–800 ml) conditions. Similarly, seedlings planted in 20% biochar and 300 ppm fertilizer yielded higher foliar, stem, and root biomass in low shade and higher irrigation conditions. The amount of shade and irrigation and their interactions significantly affected the morphological growth of seedlings for both cultivars, causing positive interaction with soil amendment (biochar and fertilizer application). These findings suggest that efficient seedling production of J. scopulorum management should focus primarily on light shading and moderate irrigation under biochar and higher fertilizer application. The research contributes valuable insights toward optimizing management practices and reducing costs associated with J. scopulorum seedling production in the region. Keywords: biochar, fertilizer, irrigation, Juniperus scopulorum, shading

Broadband Ultrafast Nonlinear Optical Limiting at a Porphyrin‐Based 2D Polymer

AbstractUltrafast lasers have significantly contributed to the advancement of research and technology; however, high‐intensity lasers bring potential risks to precision instruments and the human eye. Developing optical limiting (OL) devices capable of reasonably controlling laser energy to an acceptable energy level is imperative. Nevertheless, achieving both exceptional OL performance and broad‐spectrum laser intensity tunability proves highly challenging. In this work, the synthesis of a porphyrin‐based 2D polymer (Por‐2DP) using a template‐assisted self‐coupling polymerization, constructing a 2D framework through the carbon‐carbon single bond coupling of porphyrin monomer is presented. The resultant Por‐2DP demonstrates remarkable broadband nonlinear absorption performance, spanning the visible and near‐infrared spectral regions under an ultrafast pulse laser (35 fs) for the first time. OL thresholds at excitation wavelengths of 515, 800, and 1550 nm are determined to be 1.44, 0.48, and 0.54 mJ cm−2, respectively, surpassing reported 2D materials to date. Additionally, the Por‐2DP exhibits prominent photostability, enabling sustained operation under intense light conditions for a long time, thereby enhancing OL practical applicability. This study not only introduces a novel OL material and device but also promotes the application of innovative 2D organic polymers in NLO field.

Effect of light intensity on the survival of European spiny lobster (Palinurus elephas) larvae reared in aquaculture system

Light plays a crucial role in the growth, development, and survival of aquatic organisms. To evaluate the survival of European spiny lobster (Palinurus elephas) larvae in relation to different light intensities (26, 359, and 910 lux, equivalent to 0.35, 4.74, and 12.29 μmol·m−2·s−1, respectively), this study monitored the survival rates of reared spiny lobster from the early instar phyllosoma stages to their metamorphosis into the puerulus stage (111 days after hatching) at the three light intensities. The newly hatched larvae were cultured in 65-L Kreisel tanks with 200 individuals each (three replicates per treatment, i.e., light intensity). Phyllosoma stages I to III larvae showed no significant differences in survival rates under different light intensities. However, light intensity did have a significant impact on the survival rates of phyllosoma stages IV and V as well as the metamorphosis of phyllosoma VI into puerulus. The highest survival rates were observed under high and medium light intensity conditions. At the end of the experiment, the highest mean survival rate for stage VI, the metamorphosis into the puerulus stage, was 42.0 ± 2.52 % under high light intensity. These survival rates for reared pueruli were 84 times higher than those achieved in previous studies. The present study results show promise for the successful implementation of commercial scale rearing protocols for European spiny lobster and have implications for the design of crustacean larvae culture systems.

Data-Driven Agriculture: Empowering Farmers with IoT and Analytics

Abstract: The agriculture industry faces daunting challenges like climate change, water scarcity, and pest outbreaks, hindering farmers from meeting the demands of a growing population. To tackle these issues, this project proposes a smart farming platform integrating IoT devices, data analytics, and a user-friendly interface. It aims to optimize crop management, boost yields, and conserve resources. The platform includes sensor nodes and IoT devices gathering data on soil moisture, temperature, humidity, light intensity, and atmospheric conditions. It leverages predictive analytics for real-time insights on crop health, growth patterns, and potential threats like diseases and pests. Early detection mechanisms using image recognition and AI algorithms will be employed. Weather forecasting integration helps in decision-making for agricultural operations. Crop-specific recommendations based on local conditions are provided. The platform offers a dashboard interface for real-time monitoring, notifications, and remote control of automated systems. Historical data analysis aids in identifying patterns and trends for future crop cycles.

UNDERWATER OBJECT SHAPE DETECTION BASED ON TONAL DISTRIBUTION AND EDGE DETECTION USING DIGITAL IMAGE PROCESSING

Underwater exploration activities always have their own charm, many exotic objects that exist in underwater ecosystems have not been mapped properly, due to the lack of related databases of the shapes and names of these underwater objects. Another factor that affects the visibility of objects related to the quantity of light intensity that enters under water, also not as much above the surface of the abundant water, especially during the day. This also hinders the process of documenting underwater objects. The main purpose of this study was to obtain the shape of underwater objects for several conditions of light intensity under water using a low cost digital image sensor camera. The method used in this research is to combine tonal distributions with object edge detection in digital image processing. The test results show that object detection tests in clear and turbid water can detect objects even though they are using a low-cost and low-resolution camera, but with the help of adequate lighting it can be done. From that it can be concluded that the detection of underwater objects is successful.

The Microcystis-microbiome interactions: origins of the colonial lifestyle.

Species of the Microcystis genus are the most common bloom-forming toxic cyanobacteria worldwide. They belong to a clade of unicellular cyanobacteria whose ability to reach high biomasses during blooms is linked to the formation of colonies. Colonial lifestyle provides several advantages under stressing conditions of light intensity, ultraviolet light, toxic substances and grazing. The progression from a single-celled organism to multicellularity in Microcystis has usually been interpreted as individual phenotypic responses of the cyanobacterial cells to the environment. Here, we synthesize current knowledge about Microcystis colonial lifestyle and its role in the organism ecology. We then briefly review the available information on Microcystis microbiome and propose that changes leading from single cells to colonies are the consequence of specific and tightly regulated signals between the cyanobacterium and its microbiome through a biofilm-like mechanism. The resulting colony is a multi-specific community of interdependent microorganisms.

A universal dual-channel ratiometric photoelectrochemical sensing platform with integrated ionic liquid-sensitized In2S3@BiOBr0.8I0.2/PEDOT photoanode and Cu@Cu2O photocathode

The generation, separation and interfacial reaction of photogenerated carriers are crucial to realize efficient photoelectrochemical (PEC) detection. However, fast electron-hole recombination and slow interfacial reaction dynamics remain challenges for constructing advanced PEC platforms. Herein, ionic liquids (i.e. 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate ([BMIm]BF4) and 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate ([BMIm]PF6)) are introduced as morphology modulator and supporting electrolyte into the synthesis of Cu@Cu2O and the heterogeneous combination of In2S3@BiOBr0.8I0.2 with electrochemically polymerized 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene (PEDOT), for constructing a PEC sensing platform. As their unique microstructure, the formed p-n junction and the doped ionic liquids benefit the charge separation/transfer, the resulted [BMIm]BF4 − In2S3@BiOBr0.8I0.2/ [BMIm]PF6 − PEDOT/AuNPs (i.e. Au nanoparticles) photoanode material and [BMIm]PF6 − Cu@Cu2O photocathode material show enhanced interfacial reaction dynamics and photo-conversion efficiency. In order to improve the accuracy and reliability of PEC detection, the potentially responsive photocathode and photoanode materials are integrated on the same indium tin oxide electrode for potential-resolved two-channel ratiometric PEC detection. By tuning the bias voltage, the cathode and anode currents can be well distinguished, and dual signals can be obtained during a single detection run and used as reference for each other. Then, a biometric sensing platform for vascular endothelial growth factor and epithelial cell adhesion factor is constructed by combining with aptamers and it demonstrates excellent analytical performance. Compared with the traditional PEC biosensors, the platform can effectively eliminate the detection errors caused by the fluctuation of excitation light intensity and preparation conditions. In addition, the platform is universal, by changing the recognition element, it can be applied to the detection of a variety of biomarkers.