Room Light Research Articles

Optimizing Coziness and Productivity: An All-Encompassing Ergonomic Investigation on Diners and Restaurant Operators in Dense Urban Living Environments

This research aims to determine and optimize the welfare of visitors and food stall owners in dense urban environments, especially in the context of dense residential areas in big cities. As ergonomics research, its main focus is to assess the physical and psychological conditions of visitors and food stall owners operating in dense urban environments. This research method involves a detailed analysis of ergonomic aspects, including room layout, furniture design, lighting and acoustics, taking into account the unique demands of dense housing. In addition, in-depth interviews with food stall owners and observations of visitor behavior were conducted to understand the non-physical aspects that influence their well-being. The research location is in the Paseban area, Central Jakarta. The results of this research provide an in-depth understanding of how environmental conditions can influence comfort and productivity in food stalls, both from the perspective of visitors and owners. The practical implications of these findings can serve as a guide for architects, designers and policy makers in improving the design of public spaces in dense urban environments, with the ultimate goal of improving the welfare of local communities. This study makes a significant contribution to our understanding of how ergonomics can be applied effectively to improve the quality of life amidst the challenges of dense housing in large cities.

MISO: Monitoring Inactivity of Single Older Adults at Home Using RGB-D Technology

A new application for real-time monitoring of the lack of movement in older adults’ own homes is proposed, aiming to support people’s lives and independence in their later years. A lightweight camera monitoring system, based on an RGB-D camera and a compact computer processor, was developed and piloted in community homes to observe the daily behavior of older adults. Instances of body inactivity were detected in everyday scenarios anonymously and unobtrusively. These events can be explained at a higher level, such as a loss of consciousness or physiological deterioration. The accuracy of the inactivity monitoring system is assessed, and statistics of inactivity events related to the daily behavior of older adults are provided. The results demonstrate that our method achieves high accuracy in inactivity detection across various environments and camera views. It outperforms existing state-of-the-art vision-based models in challenging conditions like dim room lighting and TV flickering. However, the proposed method does require some ambient light to function effectively.

Design and building of a room light control System based on iot arduino cloud

The development of Internet of Things (IoT) technology opens up various opportunities to improve efficiency and convenience in various aspects of life, including in the management of electrical devices in the room. One of the innovative solutions that utilizes IoT technology is the Arduino Cloud-based room light control system using the NodeMCU ESP8266 microcontroller. This system is specifically designed to improve the efficiency of using room lights in the PLC laboratory of the Electrical Engineering department. This research aims to design and develop an Arduino Cloud-based IoT room light control system that can be controlled remotely using an Android device, PC, or laptop. NodeMCU ESP8266, as the core of this system, is a microcontroller that can connect with IoT, allowing users to control room lights via WiFi network. With this system, it is expected that users can control the PLC laboratory room lights in the Electrical Engineering department more easily, practically, and efficiently. In addition, this system is also expected to help save energy usage in the room. This research uses the method of designing and making a room light control system based on IoT Arduino Cloud. The research stages include system design, hardware and software development, and system testing. The test results show that the developed room light control system is able to turn on and off four lights in the PLC laboratory room via WiFi network using an Android device. In addition, this system is also equipped with an On/Off switch that can be used in the event of internet communication disruption. Thus, the IoT Arduino Cloud-based room light control system using the NodeMCU ESP8266 microcontroller is proven to provide convenience and efficiency for users in managing lighting in the PLC laboratory of the Electrical Engineering department, while helping to save energy.

Informing solar blind radioluminescence imaging through a calibrated spectrum

While direct radiation detection methods offer great insight into the origin of ionizing particles and photons, their use to locate contaminated areas or concealed radioactive sources can lead to undue exposure of personnel and equipment to ionizing radiation or the potential for contamination. These same sources induce ultraviolet (UV) optical photon fluorescence in air – a process referred to as radioluminescence – that may be imaged from low dose regions over larger attenuation lengths than ionizing radiation. However, most optical detection methods are limited to low lighting conditions to image the more abundant ultraviolet-A (UV-A) photons. To extend this capability to room light or daytime conditions, the solar blind region (Ultraviolet-C (UV–C), <280 nm) can be tapped. Though the emission yield of UV-C photons is roughly two orders of magnitude lower than that in the UV-A regime, the UV-C offers dramatic improvements in signal-to-noise ratios under bright lighting conditions due to decreased background interferences. The yield of specific UV-C lines, if present in the literature at all, varies widely, which has a large impact in modeling and analyzing standoff UV-C measurement scenarios. Thus, we have captured improved radioluminescence spectra over 250–400 nm and identified observed emission peaks in ambient air. Many of the UV-C photons produced by ionizing radiation excitation result from high-energy, molecular nitrogen Gaydon-Herman transitions which have had limited study to date for this application. Relating these findings to published UV-A yields, we estimate emissions between 0.15 and 0.19 photons/MeV over 250–280 nm. We also use a commercial corona-discharge imaging camera to demonstrate outdoor UV-C radiation mapping of alpha and gamma emitters from 50 to 75 m standoffs, respectively. The imaged “counts” are compared to optically modeled values and show the same trend over distance.

The Glowport - Illuminated vitrectomy trocar cannulas.

The use of small-gauge trocar cannulas during transconjunctival sutureless pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) facilitates the smooth transition of instruments into the posterior segment and reduces trauma. However, room lighting is routinely dimmed during PPV, thereby making cannula visualization difficult and hence compromising efficient instrument exchange. We report the use of a frugal, fluorescent "glow-in-the-dark" ring placed over vitrectomy cannulas to visualize the cannula entry, thereby providing a smooth and efficient instrument exchange. We 3D-printed phosphorescent rings of optimum inner diameter to comfortably fit around the trocar cannula (The Glowport). Two such rings are fitted into the two trocar cannulas prior to surgery initiation. The cannulas are then passed via sclerostomy as performed in routine PPV. The light from the fiberoptic endo-illuminator is focused over the rings for approximately 5 seconds to activate the photoluminescence. Under mesopic conditions, the fluorescence provides visualization of the cannula entry and helps in the facilitation of smooth entry and exchange of instruments into the globe for performing vitreoretinal surgical procedures, which helps in reducing ocular touch errors as well as surgical time. The Glowport is a frugal device retrofitted onto the trocar cannulas and helps in the smooth entry and exchange of instruments under darkroom conditions, which are required in vitreoretinal surgery.

Relative foveal dark adaptation: a potential method for assessing macular health.

Dark adaptation measures photoreceptor recovery following intense light stimulation. Time to recovery reflects retinal function. We describe a novel method of relative foveal dark adaptation using an iPhone. Data from a small number of healthy subjects were studied to assess reproducibility, effects of age, and consider potential clinical utility. Relative foveal dark adaption was studied in 6 normal subjects across ages from 20 to 81 years and across differing testing conditions. Foveal bleaching is produced by fixating a bright white circle on an iPhone for variable times. After foveal bleaching an annular surround appears to complete a bullseye stimulus with surround initially brighter than centre. As the fovea recovers the centre regains brightness. Relative foveal dark adaptation, the time for the visual anchor to shift from surround to centre, was studied across a range of bleaching times, ages, and testing conditions. Dispersion of dark adaptation times grows with increasing age. Foveal bleaching for 30 s was as effective as longer times. Testing times with a 30 s bleach were less than 1 min. Foveal dark adaptation was reproducible within each subject and was unaffected by ambient room lighting, pupil size, and light attenuation. Repeat, immediately sequential testing was similarly reproducible except after long bleaching. This method of dark adaptation is intuitive, repeatable, and relatively unaffected by testing condition. Testing times are brief, requiring only an iPhone screen positioned at reading distance. Relative foveal dark adaptation may be a useful tool to assess macular health.

The red thread of information across more-than-human love

Love is a cornerstone of the multispecies family. It has implications for how companion animals and their human companions know and treat each other. Descending through the universe of living to the universe of information, this paper aims to understand information in the deep engagement between humans and companion cats and dogs. A phenomenological lens of Information Experience and Posthumanism is combined with ethnographic methods to guide the research. I start with the represented affective information in human-animal material and embodied encounters, including in relation to human beds, house doors, room lights, animal cuddles, and touch. Then, I describe human and animal ways of understanding the inner and emotional lives of the other as another existential layer of information interaction in these encounters. To inform the examination of loving and living with cats and dogs, I show how human participants, who have more power in the relationship, learn to give their animals more agency and let the animal be through informational activities of recognizing species differences, imitation, and considering the animal’s best interests within the family. The study provides insights for applying love as a way of understanding information in more-than-human relations, highlighting meaningful information shared between lovers (or knowers), encompassing both humans and animals, as they contribute to each other’s information making and taking.

Monitoring ocular disease via optical nanostructures potentially applicable to corneal contact lens products

Ocular diseases can cause vision problems or even blindness if they are not detected early. Some ocular diseases generate irregular physical changes in the eye; therefore, reliable diagnostic technology for continuous monitoring of the eye is an unmet clinical need. In this study, a pulsed laser (Nd:YAG) was used to create optical nanostructures on a hydrogel-based commercial contact lens. Simulations were used to determine the spacing of the nanostructures, which were then produced and tested on the lens in ambient humidity and fully hydrated environments. The nanostructures produced a 4° diffraction angle difference in response to the environmental changes. Vision obstruction was considered while designing the nanostructure features on the lens. The curved nanostructures exhibited a series of visible rainbow colors with an average range of 8° under normal room light. A spherical surface was also used to simulate the human eye, and application of a force (curvature change) caused the nanostructure spacing to change, influencing the visible color of the contact lenses. A smartphone camera application was used to measure the progress of ocular diseases by analyzing the RGB color values of the visible color. The nanostructures were also responsive to K+ ion variations in artificial tear fluids, with a 12 mmol L−1 sensitivity, which may allow the detection of ocular ionic strength changes.

Advancements in Remote Alpha Radiation Detection: Alpha-Induced Radio-Luminescence Imaging with Enhanced Ambient Light Suppression.

Heavy nuclides like uranium and their decay products are commonly found in nuclear industries and can pose a significant health risk to humans due to their alpha-emitting properties. Traditional alpha detectors require close contact with the contaminated surface, which can be time-consuming, labour-intensive, and put personnel at risk. Remote detection is urgently needed but very challenging. To this end, a candidate detection mechanism is alpha-induced radio-luminescence. This approach uses the emission of photons from radio-ionised excited nitrogen molecules to imply the presence of alpha emitters from a distance. Herein, the use of this phenomenon to remotely image various alpha emitters with unparalleled levels of sensitivity and spatial accuracy is demonstrated. Notably, the system detected a 29 kBq Am-241 source at a distance of 3 m within 10 min. Furthermore, it demonstrated the capability to discern a 29 kBq source positioned 7 cm away from a 3 MBq source at a 2 m distance. Additionally, a 'sandwich' filter structure is described that incorporates an absorptive filter between two interference filters to enhance the ambient light rejection. The testing of the system is described in different lighting environments, including room light and inside a glovebox. This method promises safer and more efficient alpha monitoring, with applications in nuclear forensics, waste management and decommissioning.

Smart System for Differently-Abled Persons Applying Internet of Things (IoT)

This study investigates the potential of Internet of Things (IoT) to enhance daily life through the seamless connection of smart devices, with a primary focus on improving convenience and efficiency. It adopts an innovative approach that combines both descriptive and developmental methods to design a specialized system catering to the needs of differently abled individuals. The research adheres to the Prototyping Model and culminates in the creation of an assistive device aimed at empowering differently abled individuals to manage household appliances and room lighting. Various research techniques, such as interviews and surveys, are employed to enhance accessibility and control for this marginalized group, ultimately leading to an enhancement in their quality of life. The system leverages the ESP8266 microcontroller board, programmed through the Arduino IDE, to activate a four-channel relay module via the Blynk IoT mobile app, automation, or voice commands through Google Assistant. It operates seamlessly both online and offline, enabling users to control devices even without an internet connection. To sum up, this smart system offers a practical and user-friendly solution that significantly improves the lives of differently abled individuals by addressing their distinct requirements and enhancing their control over household appliances and lighting.

Physical environment and blood glucose level of diabetic patients: A cross-sectional study.

To determine the correlation between physical environment and blood glucose levels in diabetic patients. The quantitative, cross-sectional study was conducted from July to October 2022 at the Rejosari Pekanbaru Community Health Centre, Indonesia, and comprised diabetic patients of either gender with a disease history of at least 3 years. Environmental temperature was considered acceptable at 18-20°C, while environmental light was considered acceptable at 60-120 lux. Random blood glucose level <60mg/dL was taken as low, 70-130 mg/dL normal, and >140 mg/dL high. The correlation between physical environment and blood glucose level was worked out. Data was analysed using SPSS 20. Of the 125 subjects, 89(71.2%) were females and 36(28.8%) were males. There were 45 patients aged 56-65 years and 11(8.8%) were aged <11 years. Overall, 90(72%) patients had high random blood sugar and 35(28%) had normal level. The disease duration was <5 years in 79(63.2%) cases and >5 years in 46(36.8%). Of the 80(64%) patients who lived in an unacceptable living room temperature, 63(78.8%) had high random blood glucose levels (p=00042). Of the 73(58.4%) patients who lived in an unacceptable living room light, 59(80.8%) had high random blood glucose (p=0.016). A significant effect of temperature and light was found on blood glucose levels in diabetic patients.

The Impact of Sick Building Syndrome and Physical Air Quality on Staff Productivity in the Hospital's Outpatient Room of Rumah Sakit Umum Daerah Haji Indonesia

Introduction: The concept of SBS as an occupational health problem is related to air pollution, inadequate ventilation, and indoor air quality in office buildings. Lighting in the RSUD Haji Building still does not meet general and local lighting standards. Complaints of eye fatigue are also felt by administrative staff in the outpatient room of the RSUD Haji Indonesia. This research aimed to examine how physical air quality and sick building syndrome give impact to officer productivity in the outpatient room of the RSUD Haji Indonesia. Methods: This kind of study used a cross-sectional design and was observational. Simple random sampling was utilized in the sampling process, and logistic and linear regression were used to analyze the data. Results and Discussion: Lighting in outpatient rooms that is 100% compliant with standards. The percentage of rooms without proper temperature norms was 21.42%. The rate of rooms with inadequate noise requirements was 17.86%. Spaces without 50% relative humidity norms. SBS symptoms: 10.3% of respondents said they always had itchy skin, and 27.6% said they frequently experienced extreme stress and exhaustion symptoms. Conclusion: There was no effect of temperature, lighting, or noise in the room regarding the sick building syndrome symptoms of officers in the outpatient room, except humidity. However, most workers felt SBS symptoms. Officer productivity was not impacted by the physical quality of the air or by sick building syndrome symptoms.

Design Thinking in Lighting Design to Meet User Needs

In the age of noticing the adverse effects of our activities on the climate, we pay more and more attention to designing sustainable solutions. Assumptions made during such sustainable designs often do not fulfil user needs. Therefore, we frequently encounter discrepancies, such as higher energy consumption and user modifications in the building systems compared to the design and use stages. To mitigate these problems in the lighting design context, the author describes the proposed lighting design method based on the Design Thinking methodology and concerns the commonly applied basic lighting design process. As an example design, an office room interior and lighting design are presented using the Design Thinking method described by the author. The utilised method allowed us to learn about problems that are only sometimes typical for offices and enter them into the design scope. The article contains a detailed analysis and comparison of normative requirements with users’ needs, collected from four room users and six guests. The discrepancies between the sustainable design and use stages presented in the article can be considered reduced, and users’ interference in the operation of devices will be eliminated due to meeting users’ needs and thus achieving sustainable goals.

Thin, disposable, antibacterial, heat-pressed photocatalytic plastic films

The production of several different thin, highly flexible, disposable, antibacterial, photocatalytic plastic films is described. A thin layer of a semiconductor photocatalyst, SC, powder is partially embedded in a thin (ca. 30 μm), highly flexible film of low-density polyethylene, LDPE, by heat-pressing the two together. The resulting SC/LDPE film is then tested for photocatalytic activity, via the photo-oxidised bleaching of methylene blue, MB, and photocatalysed antibacterial activity, via its inactivation of Escherichia coli, E. coli. The SCs tested include, P25 TiO2, high surface area Tronox rutile TiO2, low surface area rutile TiO2, ZnO and WO3. The MB test results reveal photocatalytic activities of the SC/LDPE films are, P25 TiO2 > ZnO > rutile TiO2 ≈ Tronox rutile TiO2 > WO3, which suggest the kinetics depend largely on the redox potential of the photogenerated conductance band electrons. In contrast, the E. coli deactivation results show that the order of activities of the SC/LDPE films, in the dark and (with an increased rate) upon illumination, are, Tronox rutile TiO2 > P25 TiO2 > ZnO > WO3 > rutile TiO2, which is similar to the variation in roughness factor, Rf. It appears that rough films are better at deactivating E. coli, not only under illumination, via both a photocatalytic and thermal mechanism, but also in the dark, via a ‘bed-of-nails’/shear stress physical mechanism. Encouragingly, in most cases, the photocatalysed antibacterial activity exhibited by the SC/LDPE films is not much (ca. 74 %) lower when a cool white fluorescent rather than UVA lamp is used (UVA irradiance = 47 μW/cm2 and 1.5 mW/cm2, respectively). The Tronox rutile TiO2 film was also found to be effective in deactivating another Gram-negative bacterium and, to a lesser extent, two Gram-positive bacterial species. The potential of these thin plastic films with a notable antibacterial activity under room light and in the dark is discussed briefly.

Lengthened circadian rhythms in mice with self-controlled ambient light intensity

Laboratory animals are typically maintained under 12-h light and 12-h dark (12:12 LD) conditions with a daytime light intensity of ~ 200 lx. In this study, we designed an apparatus that allowed mice to self-select the room light intensity by nose poking. We measured the behavioral rhythms of the mice under this self-controlled light regimen. The mice quickly learned the relationship between their nose pokes and the resulting changes in the light intensity. Under these conditions, the mice exhibited free-running circadian behavior with a period of 24.5 ± 0.4 h. This circadian period was ~ 1 h longer than that of the same strain of mice when they were kept in constant darkness (DD) after 12:12 LD entrainment, and the lengthened period lasted for at least 30 days. The rhythm of the light intensity controlled by the mice also exhibited a similar period, but the phase of the illuminance rhythm preceded the phase of the locomotor activity rhythm. Mice that did not have access to the light controller were also entrained to the illuminance cycle produced by the mice that did have access to the light controller, but with a slightly delayed phase. The rhythm was likely controlled by the canonical circadian clock because mice with tau mutations in the circadian clock gene CSNK1E exhibited short periods of circadian rhythm under the same conditions. These results indicate that the free-running period of mice in the wild may differ from what they exhibit if they are attuned by forced light cycles in laboratories because mice in their natural habitats can self-control their exposure to ambient light, similar to our experimental conditions.

ISCEV standard for clinical pattern electroretinography (2024 update)

The pattern electroretinogram (PERG) is a localized retinal response evoked by a contrast-reversing pattern, usually a black and white checkerboard, which provides information about macular and retinal ganglion cell function. This document, from the International Society for Clinical Electrophysiology of Vision (ISCEV; www.iscev.org) presents an updated and revised Standard for clinical PERG testing. This replaces the 2013 and all earlier versions. Minimum protocols for basic PERG stimuli, recording methods and reporting are specified, to promote consistency of methods for diagnosis and monitoring purposes, while responding to evolving clinical practices and technology. The main changes in the updated ISCEV Standard for clinical PERG include expanded guidance about large stimulus fields, stimulus parameters for simultaneous PERG and pattern visual evoked potential recording, baseline drift correction, and use of consistent ambient room lighting. These changes aim to provide a clinically relevant document about current practice which will facilitate good quality recordings and inter-laboratory comparisons.

Planning of renewable energy regional heating system based on demand side uncertainty

Effective planning of renewable energy district heating systems is essential to facilitate the energy transition and achieve environmental goals. In the face of demand-side uncertainty, the complexity of system planning increases significantly. To address this challenge, a new approach has been adopted to optimize heating systems by precisely analyzing and managing demand-side variables. Using simulation experiments to quantitatively assess uncertainty factors, it is found that room temperature, unit ventilation, equipment power, and lighting power had significant effects on system energy consumption, ranging from −17% to 12%. According to these factors, a series of optimization measures are formulated, and then a set of optimization scheme based on demand-side uncertainty is implemented. The experimental results show that the scheme can effectively reduce the daily power output, reduce the total cost input by 7.1%, and achieve a total emission reduction of 4.0% in environmental protection. The optimization strategy proposed in this study significantly reduces energy consumption and costs, and reduces carbon emissions, providing a new solution for the environmental protection and intelligent heating system.

Extensive photochemical restructuring of molecule-metal surfaces under room light

The molecule-metal interface is of paramount importance for many devices and processes, and directly involved in photocatalysis, molecular electronics, nanophotonics, and molecular (bio-)sensing. Here the photostability of this interface is shown to be sensitive even to room light levels for specific molecules and metals. Optical spectroscopy is used to track photoinduced migration of gold atoms when functionalised with different thiolated molecules that form uniform monolayers on Au. Nucleation and growth of characteristic surface metal nanostructures is observed from the light-driven adatoms. By watching the spectral shifts of optical modes from nanoparticles used to precoat these surfaces, we identify processes involved in the photo-migration mechanism and the chemical groups that facilitate it. This photosensitivity of the molecule-metal interface highlights the significance of optically induced surface reconstruction. In some catalytic contexts this can enhance activity, especially utilising atomically dispersed gold. Conversely, in electronic device applications such reconstructions introduce problematic aging effects.

Uniform vs. uneven lighting: Accommodation of multiple users’ preferences in study rooms

Uniform lighting in public spaces like study rooms in libraries, is still a common practice. However, uniformly lit spaces are unable to simultaneously meet the needs of multiple users and can create dull environments. The objective of this research is to analyze users’ behavior under different lighting conditions in study rooms and investigate whether alternative lighting designs, which step away from uniformity, could be more beneficial than uniform lighting, from a human performance and well-being perspective. A uniformly lit study room in the library of KTH was chosen as the main case study of this investigation and was thoroughly analyzed and evaluated through qualitative and quantitative research. Under the initial hypothesis that the lighting in this study room does not meet its users’ needs and fails to create an inspiring and comfortable environment, three additional study rooms in different Swedish libraries were comparatively analyzed through observations, interviews, and questionnaires, so as to better understand individual users’ needs and lighting preferences in study rooms. The research revealed the existence of various types of users with different personal preferences regarding lighting in order to feel comfortable and alert. A new conceptual lighting proposal is presented for the study room in KTH library, following an uneven lighting approach that utilizes different lighting zones to accommodate individual needs and affect the sense of comfort, alertness, and ultimately, the well-being of multiple types of users.

Vision screening using the Acuidrive device

ABSTRACT Clinical relevance Understanding devices used for vision screening, including their potential utilisation and validity, will facilitate proper utilisation of this technology. Background The Acuidrive is a self-illuminated, hand-held, visual acuity screening device intended for use in policing, with visual acuity assessed roadside to identify drivers who may not meet vision standards for driving. The target is presented binocularly at 24 cm, and +4.00 D lenses eliminate the accommodation requirement. This study investigates its validity and applicability relative to the Early Treatment of Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) chart. Methods There were 36 participants, half younger adults aged 18–30 years and half older adults aged 50–70 years. The subjects underwent binocular visual acuity testing using the Acuidrive device and an ETDRS chart displayed on a monitor. Eyes were corrected for distance using lenses in a trial frame, and additional trial lenses provided four blur levels: zero, +0.50 DS, +1.00 DS and +1.50 DS. Luminances for the devices were similar at approximately 100 cd/m2. ETDRS chart measurements were conducted both with room lighting on and off. Results The Acuidrive device underestimated the ETDRS visual acuity across all blur levels, with mean differences of 0.24 ± 0.07 logMAR and 0.18 ± 0.10 logMAR for room lights on and off, respectively. To predict ETDRS visual acuity of poorer than 0.34 logMAR (6/12=), a screening level of 0.50 logMAR (6/19) with the Acuidrive device provided high sensitivity and specificity (86% and 79% with lights-on, and 85% and 78% with lights-off). Visual acuity was better for the older group than the younger group by approximately 0.10 logMAR. Conclusion There was an offset of 0.2 logMAR (two lines) between visual acuity measures for the Acuidrive device and an ETDRS chart. The Acuidrive device has the potential to be a viable screening tool with refinement to its construction.