Continuous Light Research Articles

“Light battery” role of long afterglow phosphor for round-the-clock environmental photocatalysis

Owing to its convenient, sustainable and green process, photocatalysis has become a feasible technique for solving environmental pollution issues. So far, significant achievements have been realized in photocatalytic pollutant elimination. Nevertheless, photocatalytic processes require a continuous external light illumination to drive photoredox reactions, seriously prohibiting their applications in darkness. In this context, exploring a photocatalyst with reliable photocatalytic activity in dark condition is therefore highly meaningful and an ultimate target of photocatalysis technique. Recently, long afterglow phosphor has aroused great attention due to its “light battery” role for driving catalytic reactions in dark conditions. To be specific, long-afterglow phosphor or long-afterglow phosphor/semiconductor composite can be used as a photocatalyst to simultaneously promote the photoredox processes and store extra photoexcited charges in the trapping states upon light irradiation. When the light illumination terminates, a gradual release of the charges from trapping states occurs in long-afterglow phosphor, which can continuously spur photoredox reactions under the dark environment and even maintains the photocatalysis around the clock. In this work, we comprehensively reviewed the recent advances of long afterglow phosphor based round-the-clock photocatalysts in environmental pollutant elimination. Meanwhile, the inherent mechanism of long afterglow photocatalysis was discussed in depth. More importantly, the relationship between the improved long afterglow photocatalytic capability and the engineering of long afterglow system is correlated systematically. Finally, the ongoing challenges and future prospects for the mass production and commercial utilization of round-the-clock photocatalysts are analyzed and outlooked.

Effect of Probiotics in Stress-Associated Constipation Model in Zebrafish (Danio rerio) Larvae.

The pathophysiology of functional bowel disorders is complex, involving disruptions in gut motility, visceral hypersensitivity, gut-brain-microbiota interactions, and psychosocial factors. Light pollution, as an environmental stressor, has been associated with disruptions in circadian rhythms and the aggravation of stress-related conditions. In this study, we investigated the effects of environmental stress, particularly continuous light exposure, on intestinal motility and inflammation using zebrafish larvae as a model system. We also evaluated the efficacy of probiotics, specifically Bifidobacterium longum (B. longum), at alleviating stress-induced constipation. Our results showed that continuous light exposure in zebrafish larvae increased the cortisol levels and reduced the intestinal motility, establishing a stress-induced-constipation model. We observed increased inflammatory markers and decreased intestinal neural activity in response to stress. Furthermore, the expressions of aquaporins and vasoactive intestinal peptide, crucial for regulating water transport and intestinal motility, were altered in the light-induced constipation model. Administration of probiotics, specifically B. longum, ameliorated the stress-induced constipation by reducing the cortisol levels, modulating the intestinal inflammation, and restoring the intestinal motility and neural activity. These findings highlight the potential of probiotics to modulate the gut-brain axis and alleviate stress-induced constipation. Therefore, this study provides a valuable understanding of the complex interplay among environmental stressors, gut function, and potential therapeutic strategies.

Integrated transcriptome and metabolome analysis reveals anthocyanin biosynthesis mechanisms in pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) leaves under continuous blue light irradiation

BackgroundDifferent metabolic compounds give pepper leaves and fruits their diverse colors. Anthocyanin accumulation is the main cause of the purple color of pepper leaves. The light environment is a critical factor affecting anthocyanin biosynthesis. It is essential that we understand how to use light to regulate anthocyanin biosynthesis in plants.ResultPepper leaves were significantly blue–purple only in continuous blue light or white light (with a blue light component) irradiation treatments, and the anthocyanin content of pepper leaves increased significantly after continuous blue light irradiation. This green-to-purple phenotype change in pepper leaves was due to the expression of different genes. We found that the anthocyanin synthesis precursor-related genes PAL and 4CL, as well as the structural genes F3H, DFR, ANS, BZ1, and F3’5’H in the anthocyanin synthesis pathway, had high expression under continuous blue light irradiation. Similarly, the expression of transcription factors MYB1R1-like, MYB48, MYB4-like isoform X1, bHLH143-like, and bHLH92-like isoform X3, and circadian rhythm-related genes LHY and COP1, were significantly increased after continuous blue light irradiation. A correlation network analysis revealed that these transcription factors and circadian rhythm-related genes were positively correlated with structural genes in the anthocyanin synthesis pathway. Metabolomic analysis showed that delphinidin-3-O-glucoside and delphinidin-3-O-rutinoside were significantly higher under continuous blue light irradiation relative to other light treatments. We selected 12 genes involved in anthocyanin synthesis in pepper leaves for qRT-PCR analysis, and the accuracy of the RNA-seq results was confirmed.ConclusionsIn this study, we found that blue light and 24-hour irradiation together induced the expression of key genes and the accumulation of metabolites in the anthocyanin synthesis pathway, thus promoting anthocyanin biosynthesis in pepper leaves. These results provide a basis for future study of the mechanisms of light quality and photoperiod in anthocyanin synthesis and metabolism, and our study may serve as a valuable reference for screening light ratios that regulate anthocyanin biosynthesis in plants.

Tailoring the Buried Interface by Dipolar Halogen-Substituted Arylamine for Efficient and Stable Perovskite Solar Cells.

Improving the quality of the buried interface is decisive for achieving stable and high-efficiency perovskite solar cells. Herein, we report the interface engineering by using dipolar 2,4-difluoro-3,5-dichloroaniline (DDE) as the adhesive between titanium dioxide (TiO2) and MAPbI3. By manipulation of the anchoring groups of DDE, this molecule not only passivated defects of TiO2 but also optimized the energy level alignment. Furthermore, the perovskite film on the modified TiO2 surface showed improved crystallinity, released residual stress, and reduced trap states. Therefore, these benefits directly contribute to achieving a power conversion efficiency of up to 22.10%. The unencapsulated device retained 90% of initial power conversion efficiencies (PCE) after continuous light illumination for 1000 h and 93% of initial PCE after exposure to air with a relative humidity of 30-40% for over 3000 h. Moreover, the performance of PSCs based on FA0.15MA0.85PbI3 has also increased from 20.48 to 23.51%. Our results demonstrate the effectiveness and universality of dipolar halogen-substituted arylamine (DDE) for enhancing PSC performance.

Amplified frequency-shifted interferometry fiber loop ringdown glucose sensors using side-polished fiber

An amplified frequency-shifted interferometry fiber loop ringdown (FSI-FLRD) sensor is proposed for the concentration measurement of glucose solutions. It detects glucose concentrations by measuring the ringdown distance of the continuous light in the fiber ringdown loop (RDL) instead of the ringdown time of the pulsed light in the loop as in traditional FLRD glucose sensors. A bidirectional erbium-doped fiber amplifier (Bi-EDFA) and a segment of side-polished fiber (SPF) are respectively inserted into the RDL to compensate the loop attenuation and to act as the sensing probe. The proposed optical sensor was tested with glucose solutions in the concentration range from 0 to 14 % at room temperature, which exhibits a linear response with a sensitivity of 0.0013 km−1/% (4.12x10−4 dB/%) for the 0–8 % glucose solutions. Additionally, it also achieved a system stability of 0.75 %, with a measuring resolution of around 2.63 %. The experimental results show the proposed sensor has simple structure, low cost, robust stability and good resolution, and it is a suitable alternative for the detection of glucose concentrations in biological detection, component analysis and on-line quality control in food industry.

Effects of melatonin and metformin on the ovaries of rats with polycystic ovary syndrome

To study the combined and isolated effects of melatonin and metformin in the ovarian tissue of rats with PCOS. Experimental study using a rat model of PCOS induced by continuous light exposure. Forty adult female rats were divided into 5 groups: physiological estrus phase (Sham); permanente estrus with PCOS induced by continuous lighting exposure for 60 consecutive days (control); with PCOS treated with melatonin; with PCOS treated with metformin; with PCOS treated with melatonin + metformin. After 60 days of treatments, all rats were killed, and ovaries were collected and processed for paraffin-embedding. Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded sections were stained with hematoxylin and eosin or subjected to immunohistochemistry for proliferation (Ki-67) and apoptosis (cleaved caspase 3) detection markers. Federal University of São Paulo, Brazil. Forty adult female Wistar rats (Rattus norvegicus albinus). Number of corpus luteum and ovarian cysts, number of ovarian follicles (primary and antral follicles), number of interstitial cells, percentage of ovarian follicles (primary and antral follicles), and of interstitial cells immunostained to cleaved caspase-3 and Ki-67. Absence of corpus luteum, a higher number of cysts, and increased nuclear volume and area of interstitial cells, along with a decrease in primary and antral follicle numbers, were noticed in the control group compared with the Sham group. Melatonin and metformin treatments attenuated these effects, although the combined treatment did not mitigate the increased number of cysts and ovaries induced by PCOS. An increase in theca interna cell apoptosis was observed in the control group, whereas melatonina and metformin treatments reduced it significantly. A higher percentage of caspase-3-immunostained granulosa cells was noted in the Sham and all treated groups compared with the control group; no aditive effects on ovarian cell apoptosis were observed in the combined treatment. The percentage of Ki-67- immunostained granulosa cells was significantly higher in the control group compared with the Sham group. However, the combined treatment, not melatonin and metformin alone, mitigated this effect. A higher percentage of Ki-67-immunostained interstitial cells was observed in all treated groups compared with the Sham and control groups, whereas no additive effects in that immunoreactivity were observed in the combined treatment. Melatonin and metformin may improve ovarian function in rats with PCOS. The combined melatonin and metformin treatment is more effective in attenuating excessive granulosa cell proliferation, but it is not more effective in improving ovarian function than these drugs applied alone in rats with PCOS.

Effect of sacubitril/valsartan on the hypertensive heart in continuous light-induced and lactacystin-induced pre-hypertension: Interactions with the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system

This study investigated whether sacubitril/valsartan or valsartan are able to prevent left ventricular (LV) fibrotic remodelling and dysfunction in two experimental models of pre-hypertension induced by continuous light (24 hours/day) exposure or by chronic lactacystin treatment, and how this potential protection interferes with the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS). Nine groups of three-month-old male Wistar rats were treated for six weeks as follows: untreated controls (C), sacubitril/valsartan (ARNI), valsartan (Val), continuous light (24), continuous light plus sacubitril/valsartan (24+ARNI) or valsartan (24+Val), lactacystin (Lact), lactacystin plus sacubitil/valsartan (Lact+ARNI) or plus valsartan (Lact+Val). Both the 24 and Lact groups developed a mild but significant systolic blood pressure (SBP) increase, LV hypertrophy and fibrosis, as well as LV systolic and diastolic dysfunction. Yet, no changes in serum renin-angiotensin were observed either in the 24 or Lact groups, though aldosterone was increased in the Lact group compared to the controls. In both models, sacubitril/valsartan and valsartan reduced elevated SBP, LV hypertrophy and fibrosis and attenuated LV systolic and diastolic dysfunction. Sacubitril/valsartan and valsartan increased the serum levels of angiotensin (Ang) II, Ang III, Ang IV, Ang 1–5, Ang 1–7 in the 24 and Lact groups and reduced aldosterone in the Lact group. We conclude that both continuous light exposure and lactacystin treatment induced normal-to-low serum renin-angiotensin models of pre-hypertension, whereas aldosterone was increased in lactacystin-induced pre-hypertension. The protection by ARNI or valsartan in the hypertensive heart in either model was related to the Ang II blockade and the protective Ang 1–7, while in lactacystin-induced pre-hypertension this protection seems to be additionally related to the reduced aldosterone level.

Growth of a Sub-Centimeter-Sized CsPbBr3 Bulk Single Crystal Using an Anti-Solvent Precipitation Method

A facile and low-cost strategy to fabricate CsPbBr3 single crystals is essential for developing perovskite optoelectronic devices. Herein, we have presented a room temperature anti-solvent precipitate method for growing sub-centimeter-sized CsPbBr3 single crystals. The as-prepared CsPbBr3 single crystal has an orthorhombic structure, and phase transition occurs as the measured temperature increases. The as-grown CsPbBr3 single crystal also shows abundant surface morphologies including footsteps, precipitated crystals, cracks, and pits. Subsequently, a metal–semiconductor–metal (MSM)-structured photodetector was fabricated based on the CsPbBr3 single crystal. Under 525 nm green light illumination, the photodetector exhibits an obvious response and the photocurrent linearly increases with the increase in the light intensity. The rise time of the photodetector increases from 0.82 s to 2.19 s as the light intensity is enhanced from 15 mW/cm2 to 160 mW/cm2, indicating that more time is required to reach to a stable photocurrent. However, the decay time is as fast as ~0.82 ms, irrelevant of the light intensity. The photocurrent, under continuous light illumination, was further studied and this indicates that a stronger light intensity can accelerate the attenuation of the device.

Analysis of cell growth, photosynthetic behavior and the fatty acid profile in Tetraselmis subcordiformis under different lighting scenarios

Tetraselmis has been investigated as a potential source of lipids. This microalga possesses good growth characteristics and can be used to develop viable platforms for fatty acid production. This research aims to evaluate the effect of high photon flux density with light-dark cycles and light wavelength on biomass production and fatty acid profile in Tetraselmis subcordiformis. A low light control and treatments with high photon flux density with different light-dark cycles (24:0 h, 12:12 h, 1:1 h, and 15:15 min) and different light wavelength (white, green, red, and blue) were evaluated to determine cell concentration, nutrient consumption, chlorophyll content, photosynthetic yields, lipid content, and fatty acid profile. Significant differences were found in all variables, except for phosphate consumption. High photon flux density promotes cell growth with T. subcordiformis reaching biomass productivities of 0.10 g L-1 day-1 when continuous white light is used. However, no differences were observed in biomass productivities and lipid content for all high photon flux density treatments. On the other hand, red light resulted in higher cell growth, with a productivity of 0.12 g L-1 day-1, and the highest lipid content was achieved under white light. There was a significant effect on the fatty acid profile under different light conditions, with palmitic acid, oleic acid, and eicosapentaenoic acid being the most abundant. This study demonstrated that cellular growth and fatty acid profiles in T. subcordiformis can be influenced by different lighting schemes in the cultivation.

Pattern effect suppression of pulse signals based on pre-signal control method

By using the pre-signal light as the control light, we propose a method to suppress the transient effect of erbium-doped fiber amplifiers for low-frequency pulse signals. The pattern effect of the pulse signals within the low frequency range (400–1000 Hz) and 1550 nm band is relieved, and the optical surge coefficient Cs decreases to about 0.54 dB. Experimental results show that the proposed method has better performances in suppressing pattern effect in comparison with the conventional continuous light control scheme and higher output gain compared to the compensation pulsed light method. Our proposed pattern effect suppression approach based on the pre-signal control method is anticipated to find promising applications in the field of optical communications.

Facile Tailoring of Metal-Organic Frameworks for Förster Resonance Energy Transfer-Driven Enhancement in Perovskite Photovoltaics.

Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) has demonstrated its potential to enhance the light energy utilization ratio of perovskite solar cells by interacting with metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) and perovskite layers. However, comprehensive investigations into how MOF design and synthesis impact FRET in perovskite systems are scarce. In this work, nanoscale HIAM-type Zr-MOF (HIAM-4023, HIAM-4024, and HIAM-4025) is meticulously tailored to evaluate FRET's existence and its influence on the perovskite photoactive layer. Through precise adjustments of amino groups and acceptor units in the organic linker, HIAM-MOFs are synthesized with the same topology, but distinct photoluminescence (PL) emission properties. Significant FRET is observed between HIAM-4023/HIAM-4024 and the perovskite, confirmed by spectral overlap, fluorescence lifetime decay, and calculated distances between HIAM-4023/HIAM-4024 and the perovskite. Conversely, the spectral overlap between the PL emission of HIAM-4025 and the perovskite's absorption spectrum is relatively minimal, impeding the energy transfer from HIAM-4025 to the perovskite. Therefore, the HIAM-4023/HIAM-4024-assisted perovskite devices exhibit enhanced EQE via FRET processes, whereas the HIAM-4025 demonstrates comparable EQE to the pristine. Ultimately, the HIAM-4023-assisted perovskite device achieves an enhanced power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 24.22% compared with pristine devices (PCE of 22.06%) and remarkable long-term stability under ambient conditions and continuous light illumination.

Diel Cycle Proteomics: Illuminating Molecular Dynamics in Purple Bacteria for Optimized Biotechnological Applications.

Circadian rhythms, characterized by approximately 24 h cycles, play a pivotal role in enabling various organisms to synchronize their biological activities with daily variations. While ubiquitous in Eukaryotes, circadian clocks remain exclusively characterized in Cyanobacteria among Prokaryotes. These rhythms are regulated by a core oscillator, which is controlled by a cluster of three genes: kaiA, kaiB, and kaiC. Interestingly, recent studies revealed rhythmic activities, potentially tied to a circadian clock, in other Prokaryotes, including purple bacteria such as Rhodospirillum rubrum, known for its applications in fuel and plastic bioproduction. However, the pivotal question of how light and dark cycles influence protein dynamics and the expression of putative circadian clock genes remains unexplored in purple non-sulfur bacteria. Unraveling the regulation of these molecular clocks holds the key to unlocking optimal conditions for harnessing the biotechnological potential of R. rubrum. Understanding how its proteome responds to different light regimes-whether under continuous light or alternating light and dark cycles-could pave the way for precisely fine-tuning bioproduction processes. Here, we report for the first time the expressed proteome of R. rubrum grown under continuous light versus light and dark cycle conditions using a shotgun proteomic analysis. In addition, we measured the impact of light regimes on the expression of four putative circadian clock genes (kaiB1, kaiB2, kaiC1, kaiC2) at the transcriptional and translational levels using RT-qPCR and targeted proteomic (MRM-MS), respectively. The data revealed significant effects of light conditions on the overall differential regulation of the proteome, particularly during the early growth stages. Notably, several proteins were found to be differentially regulated during the light or dark period, thus impacting crucial biological processes such as energy conversion pathways and the general stress response. Furthermore, our study unveiled distinct regulation of the four kai genes at both the mRNA and protein levels in response to varying light conditions. Deciphering the impact of the diel cycle on purple bacteria not only enhances our understanding of their ecology but also holds promise for optimizing their applications in biotechnology, providing valuable insights into the origin and evolution of prokaryotic clock mechanisms.

128 Impact of different levels of dark-cutting severity on the retail color and color stability of beef longissimus lumborum steaks

Abstract Dark-cutting beef is hallmarked by a dark red to almost purple color present within the interface of the ribeye between the 12th and 13th rib of the beef carcass. Yet, the shade or degree of darkness present within the ribeye can vary widely and have a substantial impact on the color and biochemical traits of the steaks. However, limited studies have compared color characteristics of different degrees of dark-cutting during retail display. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of the visual degree of dark cutting at the time of grading on the retail color and color stability attributes of beef longissimus lumborum steaks. Beef strip loins (IMPS #180) were collected from two different Midwestern beef processors over the course of two collections. Strip loins (n = 8/treatment) were identified based on the degree of dark-cutting present within the ribeye to represent one-half dark, two-thirds dark, full dark, and a control of USDA Choice. At 48 to 60 h postmortem, loins were fabricated from the anterior end into 2.54 cm steaks and randomly assigned to retail display or d 0 lab analysis. Steaks designated for retail display were placed into Styrofoam trays and overwrapped with polyvinyl chloride film, and placed into retail display in coffin style display cases under continuous lighting for 5 d. Steaks designated for d 0 analysis were evaluated for pH, bloom, oxygen consumption, and metmyoglobin reducing activity. All color measurements were taken using a HunterLab MiniScan EZ spectrophotometer. The data were analyzed using the PROC GLIMMIX procedure of SAS at an α < 0.05. Two-thirds and full dark-cutter steaks had a greater (P < 0.05) pH than half and normal steaks on d 0. Moreover, full dark-cutter steaks had a decreased (P < 0.05) bloomed L* value and were darker in color on d 0 than normal and half steaks. Full dark-cutter steaks had a greater (P < 0.05) oxygen consumption and metmyoglobin reducing activity on d 0 than normal and half steaks. Full and two-third steaks had a decreased (P < 0.05) a* value and were less red in color on d 0 of retail display than normal and half steaks. All degrees of dark-cutters had a reduced change in redness than USDA Choice steaks. These results indicate color stability activity can be dependent on the degree of dark-cutting, with full and two-thirds dark-cutters being similar in biochemical activity.

Far-red Light and Nitrogen Concentration Elicit Crop-specific Responses in Baby Greens under Superelevated CO2 and Continuous Light

Baby greens are becoming increasingly popular in the consumer market because of their desired flavor and leaf size. The short life cycles and fast response times to environmental stimuli make baby greens ideal for testing environmental conditions for space crop production. Additionally, far-red (FR) light has been used for microgreen and baby green research to enhance stem elongation, leaf expansion, and biomass; however, how it interacts with nutrient solution nitrogen (N) concentrations remains unclear. During this ground-based study, we characterized how FR light and N concentrations influenced the growth and morphology of Chinese cabbage (Brassica rapa var. chinensis cv. Tokyo Bekana) and kale (Brassica oleracea var. sabellica cv. Red Russian) baby greens under similar superelevated CO2 and low relative humidity to levels observed in spaceflight. Plants were subject to combinations of four sole-source light spectra and three N concentrations (75, 125, and 175 mg⋅L−1). At the same total photon flux density (PFD) of 200 μmol⋅m−2⋅s−1, we maintained the same blue and green PFDs at 25 μmol⋅m−2⋅s−1 each; the remaining 150 μmol⋅m−2⋅s−1 comprised four red (R) and FR PFD combinations (FR: 0, 25, 50, and 75 μmol⋅m−2⋅s−1). Increasing the FR PFD enhanced the typical shade-avoidance morphology of Chinese cabbage ‘Tokyo Bekana’ and kale ‘Red Russian’, exhibiting leaf length increases of 20% to 26% and 31% to 61%, respectively. Edible biomass did not increase with increasing FR PFDs for either species, regardless of the N concentration. Increasing the N concentration increased the Chinese cabbage ‘Tokyo Bekana’ fresh mass and dry mass by 32% to 59% and 37% to 74%, respectively, except under 25 μmol⋅m−2⋅s−1 of FR light, with which shoot fresh mass increased by 55% with an increasing N concentration from 75 to 125 mg⋅L−1; however, the shoot dry mass was unaffected. Increasing the N concentration did not affect kale ‘Red Russian’ growth under various FR PFDs. We conclude that partially substituting incremental FR light for R light elicits the shade-avoidance response, with little influence on the growth, of Chinese cabbage ‘Tokyo Bekana’ and kale ‘Red Russian’ baby greens under superelevated CO2 and continuous light, and that the former, but not the latter, crop can benefit from increased N fertilization.

ULTRASAT: A Wide-field Time-domain UV Space Telescope

The Ultraviolet Transient Astronomy Satellite (ULTRASAT) is scheduled to be launched to geostationary orbit in 2027. It will carry a telescope with an unprecedentedly large field of view (204 deg2) and near-ultraviolet (NUV; 230–290 nm) sensitivity (22.5 mag, 5σ, at 900 s). ULTRASAT will conduct the first wide-field survey of transient and variable NUV sources and will revolutionize our ability to study the hot transient Universe. It will explore a new parameter space in energy and timescale (months-long light curves with minutes cadence), with an extragalactic volume accessible for the discovery of transient sources that is >300 times larger than that of the Galaxy Evolution Explorer (GALEX) and comparable to that of the Vera Rubin Observatory’s Legacy Survey of Space and Time. ULTRASAT data will be transmitted to the ground in real time, and transient alerts will be distributed to the community in <15 minutes, enabling vigorous ground-based follow up of ULTRASAT sources. ULTRASAT will also provide an all-sky NUV image to >23.5 AB mag, over 10 times deeper than the GALEX map. Two key science goals of ULTRASAT are the study of mergers of binaries involving neutron stars, and supernovae. With a large fraction (>50%) of the sky instantaneously accessible, fast (minutes) slewing capability, and a field of view that covers the error ellipses expected from gravitational-wave (GW) detectors beyond 2026, ULTRASAT will rapidly detect the electromagnetic emission following binary neutron star/neutron star–black hole mergers identified by GW detectors, and will provide continuous NUV light curves of the events. ULTRASAT will provide early (hour) detection and continuous high-cadence (minutes) NUV light curves for hundreds of core-collapse supernovae, including for rarer supernova progenitor types.

The Effect of Transcranial Photobiomodulation for Motor Performance Improvement in Patients with Brain Disorders

Background: Transcranial photobiomodulation (PBM) therapy has emerged as a promising alternative therapeutic option for the management of neurological and psychiatric disorders. However, the underlying mechanisms of PBM therapy and its effects on motor performance in brain disorders are not yet fully understood. The aim of this literature review is to provide a more detailed and evidence-based explanation of the rationale and intent behind the correlation between PBM therapy and its effects on motor performance in brain disorders. Methods: A literature search was performed in the databases "PubMed/Medline", "Scopus," and "Google Scholar" for all relevant English language papers. A combination of different keywords was used for the database search. Video articles, patents, review articles, book chapters, articles using other transcranial methods, non-transcranial PBM, and case reports were excluded. Results: Out of the 2174 papers, 18 addressed the effect of PBM on motor performance. Among these, four studies were on ischemic stroke models and individuals with stroke, six studies on models associated with traumatic brain injury (TBI), five studies on models associated with neurodegenerative diseases and Parkinson's disease, and four studies related to models and patients with central nervous system inflammation. All studies have shown that motor parameters improve with PBM. In two studies on healthy individuals, 65 showed improvement in motor function and 16 showed improvement in motor evoked potential. In most studies (n=10), the wavelength used was between 800 and 900 nm. Near-infrared or LED continuous light was used in most studies. However, two studies compared the effects of pulsed and continuous waves and found the superiority of pulsed over continuous waves. Conclusions: PBM therapy appears to be useful in brain injury, inducing changes at the behavioral, motor, cellular, and chemical levels. Recent studies suggest that PBM therapy may have potential benefits in improving motor performance in brain disorders, including stroke, traumatic brain injury, Parkinson's disease, and demyelination. However, further research is needed to determine the optimal parameters for PBM therapy and to investigate its effects on motor function in different brain disorders. Overall, PBM therapy appears to be a promising therapeutic option for brain injury and warrants further investigation.

Exposure to a winter photoperiod to produce large Atlantic salmon smolts (Salmo salar) increases energetic costs and reduces hypoxia tolerance during seawater transfer

A goal of salmon aquaculture is to produce larger, physiologically robust smolts to improve performance at time of seawater transfer and reduce time spent in marine net pens. However, little is known about whether standard processes to induce smoltification provide benefits in the production of large smolts. In Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) reared under continuous light (24 L:0D) we applied an artificial photoperiod treatment (8 weeks of 12 L:12D followed by 4 weeks of 24 L:0D before seawater transfer) at three sizes to produce fish of ∼150–200 g, ∼400–600 g, and ∼ 1200–1300 g at seawater transfer. We then measured O2 consumption (a proxy for metabolic rate) of photoperiod treated and control salmon (kept in constant 24 L:0D until time of seawater transfer) at three time points (in freshwater prior to seawater entry, 24 h after seawater entry, and 1 month after seawater entry) to assess impacts of photoperiod treatment and seawater transfer on performance. Consistent with known higher metabolic rates in smolts vs parr, photoperiod treatment (12 L:12D) increased minimum O2 consumption (ṀO2min) by ∼13% across all three sizes and at all time points measured. Increased ṀO2min was not solely a result of increased growth rates and was associated with lower hypoxia tolerance at time of seawater transfer in ∼500 g and ∼ 1200 g salmon. Transfer to seawater reduced maximum O2 consumption (ṀO2max) acutely in ∼200 g and ∼ 500 g salmon regardless of the photoperiod treatment (12 L:12D or 24 L:0D), consistent with potential ion and osmotic disturbances leading to an osmo-respiratory compromise 24 h after seawater transfer. For both sizes of ∼200 g and ∼ 500 g, ṀO2max recovered to freshwater levels 1 month after seawater transfer. In contrast, ∼1200 g salmon showed no significant changes in ṀO2max following seawater transfer. Overall, we showed little benefits of traditional photoperiod treatments (12 L:12D) on performance of large salmon following seawater transfer. In fact, photoperiod treatment (12 L:12D) may lead to negative impacts on large salmon by increasing ṀO2min and sensitivity to environmental stress such as hypoxia. Our results, combined with other recent studies, suggest that traditional photoperiod manipulations may be unnecessary for the development of larger Atlantic salmon smolts. However, further research is needed to fully understand impacts of photoperiod manipulations on physiological performance of larger salmon at time of seawater transfer.

Transmittance of PDMS film on the fluorescent performance and synergistic antifouling effect of SWLAP/PDMS composite coatings

The film-forming substances in waterborne silicone coatings play a crucial role in the properties of coatings. A novel waterborne fluorescent antifouling coating inspired by fluorescent coral was reported in this paper. A series of sky-blue waterproof long afterglow phosphor (SWLAP)/polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) composite coatings were prepared with different properties of hydroxy‑terminated silicone oil emulsion (HT-SOE). SWLAP is irradiated by sunlight during the day and emits fluorescence at night to interfere with the normal physiological activities of marine organisms. The high transmittance of PDMS films formed by HT-SOE contributes to the high fluorescence intensity of coatings. The adhesion behavior of marine bacteria and Navicula sp. on the coatings was studied under simulated alternative day-night, continuous light, and constant dark conditions. The results showed that the bacterial adhesion rate (BAR) and diatom removal rate (DRR) under simulated alternative day-night conditions of coatings was significantly decreased and increased, respectively. C-S20/5011 had the best static and dynamic antifouling performance. The BAR was only 2.46 % after 24 h and DRR reached 39.9 % after 48 h. Under continuous light or dark conditions, the antifouling abilities of coatings mainly depend on their surface performance and mechanical properties. The fluorescence effect played an important role in the synergistic antifouling mechanism. This study provides a new idea for environmentally friendly antifouling coatings and becomes an important step in the development of green and long-acting marine antifouling coatings.

Effects of Light Intensity and Photoperiod on Morphological Development and Photosynthetic Characteristics of Coriander

Coriander (Coriandrum sativum L.) is prized for its aroma and medicinal properties and is extensively employed in various cuisines. Light intensity and photoperiod greatly impact its phenological development. The application of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) in facility cultivation systems enables precise control of lighting conditions, leading to enhanced energy efficiency in coriander cultivation. This study investigated three levels of light intensity (133, 200, and 400 μmol·m−2·s−1) and three photoperiods (8L/16D, 16L/8D, and 24L) to comprehensively assess their effects on coriander’s morphological development, photosynthetic characteristics, and energy utilization efficiency. The objective was to identify a combination conducive to efficient and energy-saving coriander cultivation in PFALs. Results indicated that high light intensity (400 μmol·m−2·s−1) with continuous lighting (24L) reduces coriander’s photosynthetic capacity, while 24-h of continuous lighting can boost yield at the expense of energy efficiency. An 8-h photoperiod significantly decreases the yield compared to 16 h. Low light intensity inhibits plant development, indicating that 133 μmol·m−2·s−1 is suboptimal. For optimal efficiency and yield, a light intensity of 200 μmol·m−2·s−1 and a 16-h photoperiod are recommended in coriander PFAL cultivation. These findings advocate for the adoption of these specific conditions for the indoor cultivation of coriander within PFAL systems.

A multifunctional Eu-MOF with multi-color and proton conduction switching and its anti-counterfeiting applications

Lanthanide metal-organic frameworks (Ln-MOFs) have exhibited remarkable capabilities in color change, luminescence, proton conduction through the strategic modification of metal nodes, organic ligands and channels or pores. By modifying the electron-deficient bipyridinium to contain carboxylic acid moieties and coordinating them with the luninescent Eu3+ ion, a unique and versatile Eu-MOF has been synthesized. Under UV light conditions, the complex shows an obvious color change from colorless to blue, which is due to the formation of viologen radicals after photoinduced electron transfer (PIET) process. As we all know, the changed color is caused by the alteration of absorption intensity, ultimately impacting its luminescence as well. Thus, the bright and strong red fluorescence of this complex is quenched upon continuous UV light irradiation, which may be attributed to intramolecular energy transfer from the excited state of the europium ion to the colored state of the CV ligand. Based on the control of multiple colors of the complex, the designed encryption model can realize multiple anti-counterfeiting of real numbers. In addition, the conductivity of this compound increases significantly after UV illumination, showing excellent photo-modulated proton conductivity. In short, our work has proposed a multifunctional bipyridinium-based Ln-MOF with photochromism, photo-switchable photoluminescence and proton conduction, which offers valuable insights for the creation of versatile switchable materials based on MOFs.