Fluorescent Light Research Articles

Predictive value of cell population data with Sysmex XN-series hematology analyzer for culture-proven bacteremia.

Cell population data (CPD) parameters related to neutrophils, such as fluorescent light intensity (NE-SFL) and fluorescent light distribution width index (NE-WY), have emerged as potential biomarkers for sepsis. However, the diagnostic implication in acute bacterial infection remains unclear. This study assessed the diagnostic value of NE-WY and NE-SFL for bacteremia in patients with acute bacterial infections, and those associations with other sepsis biomarkers. Patients with acute bacterial infections were enrolled in this prospective observational cohort study. For all patients, a blood sample, with at least two sets of blood cultures, were collected at the onset of infection. Microbiological evaluation included examination of the blood bacterial load using PCR. CPD was assessed using Automated Hematology analyzer Sysmex series XN-2000. Serum levels of procalcitonin (PCT), interleukin-6 (IL-6), presepsin, and CRP were also assessed. Of 93 patients with acute bacterial infection, 24 developed culture-proven bacteremia and 69 did not. NE-SFL and NE-WY were significantly higher in patients with bacteremia than in those without bacteremia (p < 0.005, respectively), and were significantly correlated with the bacterial load determined by PCR (r = 0.384 and r = 0.374, p < 0.005, respectively). To assess the diagnostic value for bacteremia, receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was used. NE-SFL and NE-WY showed an area under the curve of 0.685 and 0.708, respectively, while those of PCT, IL-6, presepsin, and CRP were 0.744, 0.778, 0.685, and 0.528, respectively. Correlation analysis showed that the levels of NE-WY and NE-SFL were strongly correlated with PCT and IL-6 levels. This study demonstrated that NE-WY and NE-SFL could predict bacteremia in a manner that may be different from that of other indicators. These findings suggest there are potential benefits of NE-WY/NE-SFL in predicting severe bacterial infections.

Intraoperative glioma characterization using time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy.

2072 Background: Extent of surgical resection significantly improves progression-free and overall survival in glioma patients. Due to the infiltrative nature of gliomas, tumor margin detection is often difficult, and current intraoperative visualization methods are limited. Time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy (TRFS) has the potential of differentiating glioma from normal brain tissue, thereby maximizing extent and safety of resection. Methods: Twenty-seven preoperative patients diagnosed with glioma met inclusion criteria for an IRB-approved study aimed to assess the accuracy of TRFS relative to tissue histopathology for differentiating glioma from normal cortex (NC), normal white matter (NWM), and white matter with edema (WME). A multi-channel TRFS system was developed for in vivo brain tissue and tumor characterization during glioma surgery. A custom-designed fiber optic probe was used to deliver ultrafast laser pulses to tissue regions of interest and collect fluorescence signals, with simultaneous registration to intraoperative neuronavigation. The fluorescence light was collected using a photomultiplier tube and digitized across six wavelength bands. Biopsies were taken at each measurement site for evaluation by a blinded neuropathologist to determine the accuracy of TRFS, which was calculated using parameters derived from the recorded fluorescence pulse and used to characterize tissue signatures. Results: During surgical resection of 27 patients, 162TRFS measurements were collected in vivo followed by biopsy of the same tissue. Samples from brain tumors (39 low grade gliomas (LGG, WHO grade I to III), 35 high grade gliomas (HGG, WHO grade IV)) were compared with 47 samples of normal brain tissue (NC and NWM). The time-resolved system was able to differentiate LGG from normal tissue with 97% sensitivity and 93% specificity (93% PPV and 98% NPV). When all tumor grades were tested, the sensitivity dropped to 91% (96% PPV and 86% NPV), which we believe reflects the heterogeneity of HGG. HGG alone showed a sensitivity of 83% and specificity of 93% (91% PPV and 88% NPV). Normal cortex had the fastest decays across all wavelength bands among different tissue types, WME had longer decays compared to other tissue types at all wavelengths, and HGG had a variable but predictably different fluorescence decay pattern. Conclusions: TRFS is an intraoperative tool that can distinguish glioma from normal brain tissue and has the potential to maximize safe surgical resection.

Influence of light-emitting diodes on the efficiency of valuable woody plants micropropagation

The article presents the results of studying the effect of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) on the efficiency of micropropagation of valuable woody plants. Commercial use of micropropagation requires optimization of various parameters, including light quality and lighting regime. Nowadays, LED have become an alternative source of illumination for plant tissue culture, including woody plants. Recently, along with medicinal herbaceous plants, tree crops have also become widely used as a source of various pharmaceuticals. Therefore, it is promising to optimize the technology of micropropagation for the rapid and massive production of valuable woody plants. The current research focused on analysing the effects of different LEDs on Paulownia sp. micropropagation: white (W), red (R), blue (B), mixed red and blue (R:B), and the Fitotron climate chamber. The fluorescent light was used as a control. Micropropagation efficiency was evaluated using the following parameters: height, number of axillary buds, length of internodes, number and length of roots, and photosynthetic pigment content. P. tomentosa produced the greatest number of roots under R LEDs, while hybrid Paulownia Sieb.Zucc. × Elongata - under W and R LEDs. In hybrid Paulownia Sieb.Zucc. × Elongata, the most intense leaf and internode formation was observed under R:B and R LEDs. The content of chlorophyll a and b in P. tomentosa leaves was significantly higher under R LED, while in HP leaves - under B LED. The obtained results are an important contribution to the commercial use of Paulownia and other valuable woody plants for mass production of plant material with biologically active properties.

The Value of Indocyanine Green Image-Guided Surgery in Patients with Primary Liver Tumors and Liver Metastases.

Successful R0 resection is crucial for the survival of patients with primary liver cancer (PLC) or liver metastases. Up to date, surgical resection lacks a sensitive, real-time intraoperative imaging modality to determine R0 resection. Real-time intraoperative visualization with near-infrared light fluorescence (NIRF) using indocyanine green (ICG) may have the potential to meet this demand. This study evaluates the value of ICG visualization in PLC and liver metastases surgery regarding R0 resection rates. Patients with PLC or liver metastases were included in this prospective cohort study. ICG 10 mg was administered intravenously 24 h before surgery. Real-time intraoperative NIRF visualization was created with the SpectrumTM fluorescence imaging camera system. First, all liver segments were inspected with the fluorescence imaging system and intraoperative ultrasound for identification of the known tumor, as well as additional lesions, and were compared to preoperative MRI images. PLC, liver metastases, and additional lesions were then resected according to oncological principles. In all resected specimens, the resection margins were analyzed with the fluorescence imaging system for ICG-positive spots immediately after resection. Histology of additional detected lesions, as well as ICG fluorescence compared to histological resection margins, were assessed. Of the 66 included patients, median age was 65.5 years (IQR 58.7-73.9), 27 (40.9%) were female, and 18 (27.3%) were operated on laparoscopically. Additional ICG-positive lesions were detected in 23 (35.4%) patients, of which 9 (29%) were malignant. In patients with no fluorescent signal at the resection margin, R0 rate was 93.9%, R1 rate was 6.1%, and R2 rate was 0% compared to an ICG-positive resection margin with an R0 rate of 64.3%, R1 rate of 21.4%, and R2 rate of 14.3% (p = 0.005). One- and two-year overall survival rates were 95.2% and 88.4%, respectively. The presented study provides significant evidence that ICG NIRF guidance helps to identify R0 resection intraoperatively. This offers true potential to verify radical resection and improve patient outcomes. Furthermore, implementation of NIRF-guided imaging in liver tumor surgery allows us to detect a considerable amount of additional malignant lesions.

Synthesis and characterization of coumarin based 1, 3, 4-oxadiazole: Exploring optoelectronic applications, thermal properties and theoretical study

A novel 1,3,4-oxadiazole linked coumarin dyes have been synthesised and are characterised by IR, NMR and Mass analysis. Several coumarin and oxadiazole derivatives have been patented for a variety of optoelectronic applications such as; fluorescent materials, photographic sensitizers, optical brighteners and organic light emitting diodes etc. Hence these new class of organic compounds were examined for their fluorescent properties and found to emit green light in the visible region of the spectrum with very high stokes shift values. The electronic structure of synthesized coumarin-based donor-π-acceptor (D-π-A)-type organic dyes has been examined by using Density Functional theory (DFT). TGA and DSC analysis of the compounds shows that, they are highly stable (>250 °C).

S-Cone Photoreceptors Regulate Daily Rhythms and Light-Induced Arousal/Wakefulness in Diurnal Grass Rats (Arvicanthis niloticus).

Beyond visual perception, light has non-image-forming effects mediated by melanopsin-expressing, intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells (ipRGCs). The present study first used multielectrode array recordings to show that in a diurnal rodent, Nile grass rats (Arvicanthis niloticus), ipRGCs generate rod/cone-driven and melanopsin-based photoresponses that stably encode irradiance. Subsequently, two ipRGC-mediated non-image-forming effects, namely entrainment of daily rhythms and light-induced arousal, were examined. Animals were first housed under a 12:12 h light/dark cycle (lights-on at 0600 h) with the light phase generated by a low-irradiance fluorescent light (F12), a daylight spectrum (D65) stimulating all photoreceptors, or a narrowband 480 nm spectrum (480) that maximized melanopsin stimulation and minimized S-cone stimulation (λmax 360 nm) compared to D65. Daily rhythms of locomotor activities showed onset and offset closer to lights-on and lights-off, respectively, in D65 and 480 than in F12, and higher day/night activity ratio under D65 versus 480 and F12, suggesting the importance of S-cone stimulation. To assess light-induced arousal, 3-h light exposures using 4 spectra that stimulated melanopsin equally but S-cones differentially were superimposed on F12 background lighting: D65, 480, 480 + 365 (narrowband 365 nm), and D65 - 365. Compared to the F12-only condition, all four pulses increased in-cage activity and promoted wakefulness, with 480 + 365 having the greatest and longest-lasting wakefulness-promoting effects, again indicating the importance of stimulating S-cones as well as melanopsin. These findings provide insights into the temporal dynamics of photoreceptor contributions to non-image-forming photoresponses in a diurnal rodent that may help guide future studies of lighting environments and phototherapy protocols that promote human health and productivity.

Elicitation and Enhancement of Phenolics Synthesis with Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles and LED Light in Lilium candidum L. Cultures In Vitro

In this study, we identified and determined the content of phenolic compounds in Lilium candidum adventitious bulbs formed in vitro. HPLC analysis revealed the presence of four phenolic acids: chlorogenic, caffeic, p-coumaric, and ferulic acid. Phenolic acid content was assessed in adventitious bulbs formed in vitro on media supplemented with zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs at 25, 50, and 75 mg/L) under fluorescent light (FL) or in darkness (D). The second experiment analyzed the effects of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) of variable light spectra on the formation of adventitious bulbs and their contents of phenolic acids. Spectral compositions of red (R; 100%), blue (B; 100%), red and blue (RB; 70% and 30%, respectively), a mix of RB and green (RBG) in equal proportions (50%), and white light (WLED, 33.3% warm, neutral, and cool light, proportionately) were used in the study. FL and D conditions were used as controls for light spectra. Bulbs grown in soil served as control samples. The most abundant phenolic acid was p-coumaric acid. Treatment with LED light spectra, i.e., RB, RBG, WLED, and B, translated into the highest p-coumaric acid concentration as compared with other treatments. Moreover, all the bulbs formed in light, including those grown on the media supplemented with ZnO NPs and under FL light, contained more p-coumaric acid than the bulbscales of the control bulbs grown in soil. On the other hand, control bulbs grown in soil accumulated about two to three times higher amounts of chlorogenic acid than those formed in vitro. We also found that the levels of all examined phenolics decreased under FL, R, and D conditions, while the bulblets formed in vitro under RB light showed the highest phenolic content. The use of ZnO NPs increased the content of p-coumaric, chlorogenic, and caffeic acid in the bulblets formed under FL as compared with those grown in darkness.

(380) “Setting the Mood: Improving the Experience for Male Patients during Penile Assessment”

Abstract Introduction Penile duplex Doppler ultrasound (PDDU) is an important test to diagnose and guide treatment recommendations for peyronie’s Disease and erectile dysfunction. When patients do not achieve optimal rigidity during their evaluation we may be underestimating their degree of curvature and erection response which can impact treatment recommendations. Objective To evaluate specific examination conditions that may negatively impact the patient experience in men undergoing PDDU. Methods We developed a survey to evaluate patient experience during PDDU. Specific questions addressed preferences regarding the type of clinician performing the examination (physician versus advanced practice provider), provider gender, and specific modifiable conditions about the examination room. The survey was administered to thirty-five consecutive patients at a single academic practice. Patients were asked to complete portions of the survey before and after the examination to limit bias. Results 113 patients completed the survey. Prior to starting the testing, 48% of patients (n=54) had no provider preference, whereas 43% (n=49) preferred a physician as the performing clinician. 70% of patients (n=79) had no provider gender preference. All patients received at least a single dose of intracavernosal erectogenic medication at the start of their assessment. After completing PDDU, 40% of patients (n=45) reported that room conditions negatively impacted their ability achieve an adequate erectile response in the clinic. As shown in Figure 1, bright fluorescent overhead lighting (29%) and hallway noise (21%) were the most frequent contributing factors. When asked about opportunities to improve future patient experience, 38% (n=43) recommended dimming the room lights, 31% (n=35) would enjoy a warm blanket, and 36% (n=41) would favor gentle music or background sounds. 32% (n=36) felt that using call button, as opposed to routine staff checks to verify erectile response, would be desirable. Despite these preferences, the mean overall patient experience on a scale of 0-10 (0=poor, 10=excellent) was high at 9.3 (SD 1.2). Conclusions Despite high patient-reported satisfaction, we found that patients undergoing PDDU for PD and ED reported a preference towards (i) softer/dimmer lights, (ii) sound machine to drown out hallway noise, (iii) aa warm blanket, (iv) a call system to alert staff of a satisfactory erectile response. Further investigations are necessary to determine whether these simple modifications can improve the patient experience and exam efficiency. Disclosure No

Reactive Oxygen Species Produced by 5-Aminolevulinic Acid Photodynamic Therapy in the Treatment of Cancer.

Cancer is the leading cause of death worldwide and several anticancer therapies take advantage of the ability of reactive oxygen species to kill cancer cells. Added to this is the ancient hypothesis that light alone can be used to kill cancer cells. 5-aminolevulinic acid-photodynamic therapy (5-ALA-PDT) is a therapeutic option for a variety of cutaneous and internal malignancies. PDT uses a photosensitizer that, activated by light in the presence of molecule oxygen, forms ROS, which are responsible for the apoptotic activity of the malignant tissues. 5-ALA is usually used as an endogenous pro-photosensitizer because it is converted to Protoporphyrin IX (PpIX), which enters into the process of heme synthesis and contextually becomes a photosensitizer, radiating a red fluorescent light. In cancer cells, the lack of the ferrochelatase enzyme leads to an accumulation of PpIX and consequently to an increased production of ROS. PDT has the benefit of being administered before or after chemotherapy, radiation, or surgery, without impairing the efficacy of these treatment techniques. Furthermore, sensitivity to PDT is unaffected by the negative effects of chemotherapy or radiation. This review focuses on the studies done so far on 5-ALA-PDT and its efficacy in the treatment of various cancer pathologies.

Dendrimer Modification Strategy Based on the Understanding of the Photovoltaic Mechanism of a Perovskite Device under Full Sun and Indoor Light

The wide-band-gap inorganic CsPbI2Br perovskite material provides a highly matched absorption range with the indoor light spectrum and is expected to be used in the fabrication of highly efficient indoor photovoltaic cells (IPVs) and self-powered low-power Internet of Things (IoT) sensors. However, the defects that cause nonradiative recombination and ion migration are assumed to form leakage loss channels, resulting in a severe impact on the open-circuit voltage (VOC) and the fill factor (FF) of IPVs. Herein, we introduce poly(amidoamine) (PAMAM) dendrimers with multiple passivation sites to fully repair the leakage channels in the devices, taking into account the characteristics of IPVs that are extremely sensitive to nonradiative recombination and shunt resistance. The as-optimized IPVs demonstrate a promising PCE of 35.71% under a fluorescent light source (1000 lux), with VOC increased from 0.99 to 1.06 V and FF improved from 75.21 to 84.39%. The present work provides insight into the photovoltaic mechanism of perovskites under full sun and indoor light, which provides guidance for perovskite photovoltaic technology with industrialization prospects.

Potential for Mitigation of Cave Lampenflora Using Benzalkonium Chloride or UV-C

Artificial illumination in caves visited by tourists (“show caves”) gives rise to growth of photosynthetic biofilms, termed “lampenflora.” Besides being unsightly, these biofilms can damage speleothems, and thus finding a safe and effective means of controlling lampenflora is an important consideration in cave management. A variety of different physical and chemical means of biofilm mitigation have been proposed and tested. Here we tested benzalkonium chloride (BAC), a quaternary ammonium cationic detergent commonly used in pharmaceuticals and cosmetics, and germicidal UV light (UV-C) for lampenflora control. Algae and cyanobacteria derived from Carlsbad Cavern, USA, were cultivated in the lab and inoculated onto smooth calcium carbonate (CaCO3) tiles and incubated under fluorescent lighting to simulate lampenflora; these were then treated with BAC or UV-C in various concentrations and intensities, respectively. A 1–10% BAC solution prevented biofilm growth, and repeated treatments with a 1% solution bleached preformed photosynthetic pigments. Germicidal UV-C (≥ 3200 mJ cm−2) also bleached preformed biofilms. BAC may be especially useful for bleaching thick localized growths, since high concentrations are required and toxicity to non-toxic organisms could be an issue; whereas UV-C could more easily be applied to broader areas, e.g., the tens of square meter areas in the immediate vicinity of the lamps at Carlsbad Cavern and other show caves.

Fluorescent Light Energy (FLE) Generated through Red LED Light and a Natural Photoconverter Gel as a New, Non-Invasive Approach for Facial Age Control: A Pilot Study

This study, for the first time, evaluated the safety and efficacy of a new natural-based topical gel containing a spirulina extract. This photoconverter gel generates fluorescent light energy (FLE) via a red LED light device, which is proven to be effective for age control of facial skin. This was a one-centre, observational, uncontrolled pilot trial. Eight healthy female subjects aged 35 to 65 years old, with Fitzpatrick skin types II–V were recruited. The duration of the study was five treatment sessions of one treatment every seven days, with a final follow-up at one month after the last treatment session. The images and the related data were acquired with the SONY® Mod. DSCRX10M3, the Canfield VISIA Facial Imaging System®, and QUANTIFICARE 3D® analysis. Patient compliance was excellent (100%) and the treatment was described as warm and pleasant by the patients. After 30 days, VISIA parameters such as wrinkles, texture, red areas, and Trueskin Age® had improved. The safety and efficacy of the FLE treatment assessed in this trial were achieved for overall rejuvenation of facial skin, focusing on wrinkles evaluated via the specific VISIA algorithms.

OC-004 CAN AI HELP IN EARLY PREDICTION OF SURGICAL SITE INFECTIONS?

Abstract Background The use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in healthcare has the potential to transform medical diagnosis, including the detection of surgical site infections (SSI). Real-time monitoring of surgical sites and early detection of infection through AI can lead to prompt treatment, improving patient outcomes and reducing healthcare costs and spread of infections in healthcare facilities. Aim This study aimed to determine the use of AI in the early detection of surgical site infections and its impact on patient recovery. Materials and methods The study analysed patients admitted to the hospital over the past year with SSIs. A novel AI device was used to image the wound and detect presence of infection through fluorescence lights that identify bacteria through bioluminescence. Targeted tissue cultures were taken, antibiotics were administered. Some wounds required targeted debridement. Daily dressings were done followed by secondary suturing. Results A total of 34 patients were included in the study, with a mean age of 52.4 years and 14 female and 20 male patients. 25 patients reported pus from the wound, 9 had serous discharge, and 19 had slough present. In 85.2% of patients, the AI device's gram stain for bacteria in the wound was similar to the tissue culture report. The mean time for wound healing was 39.52 days. Conclusion Our study suggests that AI devices can accurately identify the gram stain of bacteria in a wound, leading to prompt antibiotic treatment for patients with SSIs. This could have significant benefits in improving patient outcomes and healthcare costs.

Effects of different artificial photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) sources and intensity on the growth and nutrient uptake in Ulva prolifera and Neopyropia yezoensis

Fluorescent lamps and semiconductor light-emitting diodes (LEDs) lamps are commonly used as artificial light sources in the indoor algae cultivation system. In this study, we tested the effect of two types of fluorescent lamps (T8 and T5) and white LED lamp on the growth, photosynthesis, and nutrient uptake rates of Neopyropia yezoensis and Ulva prolifera under three photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) conditions (80, 150 and 300 μmol photon m2 s−1). White LED and T8 fluorescent light induced the highest and the lowest growth rates, respectively, in both species under each PAR. The effect of T5 fluorescent light on growth rate depends on the species and PAR. Interestingly, the T8 fluorescent light significantly increased the uptake rate of phosphorus under all PARs and nitrogen uptake rate was enhanced under 150 μmol photon m2 s−1 in U. prolifera, which was not observed in N. yezoensis. Our results suggest that white LED lamp is a more economical and efficient artificial light source than fluorescent lamps because of their highest enhancement of growth. The optimal PAR of T5 fluorescent light for growth is lower than T8 fluorescent light in the cultivation of U. prolifera. T8 fluorescent increases phosphorous uptake rate in U. prolifera.

Effect of postruminal supply of linseed oil in dairy cows: 2. Milk fatty acid profile and oxidative stability.

Our objective was to study the effect of increasing postruminal supply of linseed oil (L-oil), as a source of cis-9, cis-12, cis-15 18:3, on milk fatty acid profile and to assess the resulting impact on the development of volatile degradation products during the storage of homogenized milk. Five Holstein dairy cows fitted with a rumen cannula were randomly distributed in a 5 × 5 Latin square design. Abomasal infusion of L-oil was performed at the rate of 0, 75, 150, 300, and 600 ml/d during periods of 14 d. The concentration of cis-9, cis-12, cis-15 18:3 in milk fat increased linearly with L-oil dose. Concentrations of primary (conjugated diene and triene hydroperoxides) and secondary oxidation products (1-octen-3-one, propanal, hexanal, trans-2 + cis-3-hexenals, cis-4-heptenal, trans-2, cis-6-nonadienal trans-2, trans-4-nonadienal) increased during 11 d of storage at 4°C of homogenized milk under fluorescent light. The magnitude of the increase (difference between final and initial measurements) was linearly greater for all nine lipid oxidation products evaluated in response to increasing level of infusion. Results of the current experiment have shown that milk enriched in cis-9, cis-12, cis-15 18:3 via postruminal supply of L-oil is highly prone to oxidative degradation. This low oxidative stability, exposed under controlled experimental conditions, would represent a major obstacle to those who aim to market milk enriched in polyunsaturated fatty acids.

First Report of Scab Disease Caused by Venturia effusa on Pecan in Anhui Province of China.

Pecan (Carya illinoinensis) is a world-famous nut tree which widely cultivated in China. Quanjiao County, located in Anhui province, is reputed to be the capital of pecan production in China. Since 2019, typical scab symptoms were observed on most pecan cultivars in orchards located in the regions of Quanjiao (32°5'7.08″ N, 118°16'2.91″ E). In April, dark brown to black lesions of scab could be observed on both the abaxial and adaxial surface of the lamina, and were often associated with the veins or midrib. In July, small, brownish, and circular lesions ranging from 1 to 2 mm in diameter were observed at the end of stems and shoulder of the fruit. In the surveyed orchards, disease incidence on the leaves reached more than 35%. While, according to the number of infected nut clusters, disease incidence ranged from 40 to 60% on the infected fruits. Using a sterilized scalpel, conidia were scraped from the surface of a single lesion from the infected leaves or fruits, and a dilute spore suspension was prepared in sterile distilled water, of which 100 microliters was spread on 1% water-agar plate (Bock et al. 2014). The conidia were incubated at 25°C for 48 h under fluorescent lights with a 12-hphotoperiod. Single germinated conidia were selected and transferred into potato dextrose agar (PDA) plate to obtain monospore isolates. From 2019 to 2020, more than 20 isolates were obtained from the infected leaves and fruits. Incubated at 24°C for 6 weeks in darkness on PDA, the colonies were gray-black with circular morphology and floccose texture, which were consistent with the characteristics of Venturia effusa described previously (Gottwald 1982). The conidia were pyriform to ellipsoid, zero to one septate, smooth, attenuated towards apex and base, base truncate, pale brown and 10.08 to 18.14 × 4.86 to 9.56 μm (n = 50) in size. To further identify the isolates, the regions of internal transcribed spacer (ITS), beta-tubulin 2 (TUB2) and translation elongation factor 1 alpha (EF1-a) were amplified and sequenced from genomic DNA for the three representative isolates (AH-81 and AH-82 from the infected leaves, and AH-41 from the infected fruits), respectively (White et al. 1990; Young et al. 2018; Bensch et al. 2006). Sequences of them were deposited in GenBank under nos. OP199056 to OP199058 (ITS), OP566581 to OP566583 (TUB2) and OP566578 to OP566580 (EF1-a). Multilocus phylogenetic analysis revealed that three isolates and V. effusa were clustered in the same clade, indicating high genetic similarity between these organisms. Their morphological and molecular characteristics were consistent with those for V. effusa. The pathogenicity of three isolates were tested on two-year-old container-grown pecan seedlings, which were grown in the nursery. The conidial suspension with a concentration of 5 × 105 conidia/ml was sprayed evenly on the surface of leaves of a healthy pecan seedling, and each isolate inoculated four pecan seedlings. The pathogenicity experiment was repeated three times. The plants inoculated with sterile water were used a negative control. The inoculated plants were enclosed in plastic bags for 2 days, and kept in the nursery greenhouse. Four weeks after inoculation, a similar symptom of scab was observed on leaves of cultivar Mahan, and V. effusa was isolated again from inoculated leaves with the frequency of 100% by the single-spore isolation, whereas no symptoms were observed on the control plants. To our knowledge, this is the first report of V. effusa as a scab pathogen on pecan in Anhui Province of China and underscores the need for monitoring this disease and developing disease control strategies to prevent severe reduction in the value of fruit.

Muon Puzzle in Ultra-High Energy EASs According to Yakutsk Array and Auger Experiment Data

The lateral distribution of particles in extensive air showers from cosmic rays with energy above $10^{17}$ eV registered at the Yakutsk complex array was analyzed. Experimentally measured particle densities were compared to the predictions obtained within frameworks of three ultra-high energy hadron interaction models. The cosmic ray mass composition estimated by the readings of surface-based and underground detectors of the array is consistent with results based on the Cherenkov light lateral distribution data. A comparison was made with the results of direct measurement of the muon component performed at the Pierre Auger Observatory. It is demonstrated that the densities of muon flux measured at Yakutsk array are consistent with results of fluorescent light measurements and disagree with results on muons obtained at the Auger array.

Photodegradation of Oxytetracycline Using Fluorescent Light Driven ZnO Quantum Dots Synthesised Via Microwave Method

In this study, Li+ ions capped zinc oxide quantum dots (ZnO QDs) was synthesised using the microwave method. The X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high-transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), UV–Visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (UV-DRS), and photoluminescence (PL) techniques were used to characterise the structural, morphological, optical properties of the ZnO QDs. The XRD analysis reveals that ZnO QDs have a hexagonal wurtzite structure with an average crystallite size of 9.9 nm. The morphology of ZnO QDs was observed to be quasi-spherically shaped with an average particle size of 10 nm. The PL analysis detected the presence of various defects. All these factors enhanced the photodegradation of oxytetracycline (OTC) under fluorescent light irradiation. Within 40 min, 88.3% of OTC was removed, which was higher compared to the bulk ZnO reported in the literature. This technology is aimed at small animal husbandries due to the photocatalyst synthesis method’s simplicity and the photocatalysis process’s requirements.

Spatially Addressable Multiplex Biodetection by Calibrated Micro/Nanostructured Surfaces

A challenge of any biosensing technology is the detection of very low concentrations of analytes. The fluorescence interference contrast (FLIC) technique improves the fluorescence-based sensitivity by selectively amplifying, or suppressing, the emission of a fluorophore-labeled biomolecule immobilized on a transparent layer placed on top of a mirror basal surface. The standing wave of the reflected emission light means that the height of the transparent layer operates as a surface-embedded optical filter for the fluorescence signal. FLIC extreme sensitivity to wavelength is also its main problem: small, e.g., 10 nm range, variations of the vertical position of the fluorophore can translate in unwanted suppression of the detection signal. Herein, we introduce the concept of quasi-circular lenticular microstructured domes operating as continuous-mode optical filters, generating fluorescent concentric rings, with diameters determined by the wavelengths of the fluorescence light, in turn modulated by FLIC. The critical component of the lenticular structures was the shallow sloping side wall, which allowed the simultaneous separation of fluorescent patterns for virtually any fluorophore wavelength. Purposefully designed microstructures with either stepwise or continuous-slope dome geometries were fabricated to modulate the intensity and the lateral position of a fluorescence signal. The simulation of FLIC effects induced by the lenticular microstructures was confirmed by the measurement of the fluorescence profile for three fluorescent dyes, as well as high-resolution fluorescence scanning using stimulated emission depletion (STED) microscopy. The high sensitivity of the spatially addressable FLIC technology was further validated on a diagnostically important target, i.e., the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of the SARS-Cov2 via the detection of RBD:anti-S1-antibody.

The Impact of Light Wavelength and Darkness on Metabolite Profiling of Korean Ginseng: Evaluating Its Anti-Cancer Potential against MCF-7 and BV-2 Cell Lines.

Korean ginseng is a source of functional foods and medicines; however, its productivity is hindered by abiotic stress factors, such as light. This study investigated the impacts of darkness and different light wavelengths on the metabolomics and anti-cancer activity of ginseng extracts. Hydroponically-grown Korean ginseng was shifted to a light-emitting diodes (LEDs) chamber for blue-LED and darkness treatments, while white fluorescent (FL) light treatment was the control. MCF-7 breast cancer and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced BV-2 microglial cells were used to determine chemo-preventive and neuroprotective potential. Overall, 53 significant primary metabolites were detected in the treated samples. The levels of ginsenosides Rb1, Rb2, Rc, Rd, and Re, as well as organic and amino acids, were significantly higher in the dark treatment, followed by blue-LED treatment and the FL control. The dark-treated ginseng extract significantly induced apoptotic signaling in MCF-7 cells and dose-dependently inhibited the NF-κB and MAP kinase pathways in LPS-induced BV-2 cells. Short-term dark treatment increased the content of Rd, Rc, Rb1, Rb2, and Re ginsenosides in ginseng extracts, which promoted apoptosis of MCF-7 cells and inhibition of the MAP kinase pathway in BV-2 microglial cells. These results indicate that the dark treatment might be effective in improving the pharmacological potential of ginseng.