The development of low-cost, autonomous scientific instrumentation is crucial for enhancing environmental education and research, particularly in settings with limited resources. This paper presents METEORO v2, a low-cost Internet of Things (IoT) weather station designed to address the need for accessible scientific instrumentation in educational settings. The system overcomes common durability and energy autonomy challenges by integrating a robust physical structure with an optimized power management system. Architected around an ESP32 microcontroller utilizing a deep-sleep strategy and a 6W solar panel, the station provides continuous monitoring of precipitation, wind speed, UV radiation, air quality, temperature, humidity, and pressure. Data is transmitted via Wi-Fi to a Firebase cloud database and visualized through a responsive web interface. This work provides a replicable and affordable model for a sensing platform that serves as both an effective pedagogical tool and a reliable scientific instrument.

Sustainable photolyzers for activation of peroxosulfuric acids in the reclaiming treatment of municipal wastewater.

Stenochlaena palustris, commonly known as kalakai, is a tropical fern widely distributed across Southeast Asia andtraditionally valued as both a vegetable and a herbal remedy. Recent studies have highlighted its diversepharmacological properties, supported by bioactive compounds such as flavonoids, alkaloids, and phenolics. Theseconstituents contribute to antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antifungal, and wound-healing activities, while evidence also suggests potential benefits in anaemia, diabetes, cancer, malaria, and maternal health. Additional findings indicate protective roles against heavy metal toxicity, ultraviolet radiation, and metabolicdisorders, including obesity. Despite these promising results, current research remains largely limited to in vitroandsmall-scale in vivo studies, with insufficient clinical validation. Standardised extraction protocols, comprehensivesafety assessments, and well-designed clinical trials are essential to confirm efficacy and ensure safe application. Overall, Stenochlaena palustris represents a promising natural resource that integrates traditional knowledge withemerging therapeutic potential.

Biomimetic polydopamine-intercalated MgAl-layered double hydroxide for effective skin photoprotection and photodamage recovery.

Climatic Factors and Inflammatory Skin Disorders.

Smartphone-integrated quantitative determination of bilirubin using luminescent carbon nanoparticles.

ACE1-targeting peptide Acein ameliorates UV-induced skin damage and aging in vivo and in vitro via downregulation of the pro-aging factor CLEC4G.

Stress test of magnetite nanoparticles synthesized by controlled precipitation for the degradation of dyes under UV and visible radiation

Estimation of 1 km all-sky erythemal ultraviolet radiation and daily dose based on MODIS data and ancillary information: algorithm development, global product generation, and accuracy assessment

Efficient recycling of spent Ni-Cd batteries through photocatalytic assisted leaching using TiO2 nanopowder.

Introduction/Objectives More than 500 million people work outdoors with significant exposure to solar radiation, particularly ultraviolet (UV) radiation. The International Agency for Research on Cancer has classified UV radiation as a carcinogenic agent for humans. However, to date, no adequate methods have been established to estimate long-term exposure to this physical agent, nor has any exposure limit value been defined. It is known, however, that UV radiation contributes to 65-90% of skin cancers, with a particular impact on the incidence of squamous cell carcinoma due to cumulative exposure, often resulting from occupational activities. The aim of this study is to identify the professional activities of a sample of patients diagnosed with this pathology and followed up in a Dermatology consultation, characterize their occupational sun exposure, and assess its relationship with the disease. Methods This study included 105 patients with a histopathological diagnosis of squamous cell carcinoma in 2022 who were followed up in a Dermatology consultation at a central hospital in Portugal. Data collection was carried out through a review of medical records and structured questionnaire-based interviews, conducted in person during consultations, as well as by telephone for clarification of additional information. Descriptive statistical analysis was performed, and the following statistical tests were applied: Χ², Fisher’s exact test, Student’s t-test, and logistic regression. Results The mean age of the sample was 81 years. A total of 89 (85%) individuals had phototype I or II. Around 68% of participants reported having significant occupational sun exposure. The most exposed professional activities included agriculture (n=24; 23%), construction (n=18; 17%), vehicle driving (n=12; 11%), and cleaning/domestic work (n=7; 7%). The mean age at diagnosis was 79 years. For each additional year of occupational UV radiation exposure, the risk increased by 1.18 times (95% CI 1.102-1.272). Discussion/Conclusion To our knowledge, this is the only Portuguese study that has evaluated, in a sample of the Portuguese population, the impact of occupational Ultraviolet radiation exposure on the development of squamous cell carcinoma. The findings highlight the need for greater investment in health promotion and prevention measures, including collective strategies such as avoiding work in direct sunlight during peak hours, implementing work breaks, and working in shaded areas. Additionally, individual protective measures should be encouraged, including the use of personal protective equipment such as sunglasses, wide-brimmed hats, appropriate clothing, and sunscreen. KEY WORDS: Ultraviolet Radiation, Occupational Exposure, Risk, Squamous Cell Carcinoma, Occupational Safety and Health, Occupational Medicine

Introduction/framework/objectives There are several ophthalmological pathologies that can arise and/or worsen under certain work conditions, and it is also possible that some diseases at this level can cause changes in the ability to work. The aim of this article was to summarize the most relevant publications at this level. Methodology This is a Literature Review, initiated through a search carried out in May 2024 in the databases “CINALH plus with full text, Medline with full text, Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effects, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Cochrane Methodology Register, Nursing and Allied Health Collection: comprehensive, MedicLatina and RCAAP”. Content According to the literature consulted, the main work situations that can cause ophthalmological problems are contact with some chemical agents (“dry eye”/decreased tear production, as well as hypoxia of the retina and/or optic nerve) or the Valsalva maneuver (which can cause detachment of the retina and/or vitreous, a situation that is reasonably prevalent in tasks involving loads/efforts). Ultraviolet radiation possible potenciates situations like cataracts and pterigium. In turn, the eye pathologies most likely to cause changes in work performance appear to be keratoconus, “dry eye”, glaucoma, cataracts, conjunctivitis, pterygium and diabetic retinopathy. Discussion and Conclusions If the Occupational Health and Safety team is aware of the interaction between ophthalmological diseases and work, the diseases are less likely to arise and/or worsen and the quality of life, satisfaction and performance/productivity of employees will be greater, as well as greater profit for the employer. KEYWORDS: ophthalmological diseases/pathologies, retinal/vitreous detachment, glaucoma, keratoconus, “dry eye”, cataract, conjunctivitis, pterygium, diabetic retinopathy, occupational health, occupational medicine, occupational nursing and occupational safety.

The paper summarizes modern methods for forming protective and decorative coatings on construction materials using low-temperature plasma. The evolution of plasma treatment technologies is analyzed, and the key factors affecting the quality and service life of the resulting coatings are identified. It is shown that the use of plasma spraying and plasma remelting leads to a significant increase in coating adhesion to the substrate, improvement of surface appearance, reduction in water absorption, and enhancement of chemical resistance. It has been established that due to the localized high-energy воздействие of plasma, a dense fine-crystalline surface layer with reduced porosity and high structural homogeneity is formed. This, in turn, increases the wear resistance and frost resistance of the treated materials, as well as their resistance to aggressive environments and ultraviolet radiation. It is noted that surface pretreatment and the selection of the sprayed material composition play a decisive role in achieving stable performance characteristics of the coatings. Special attention is paid to the influence of process parameters—plasma discharge power, plasma torch travel speed, distance to the treated surface, and the composition of the plasma-forming gas—on the formation of the structure and physicochemical properties of the surface layer. It is shown that optimization of these parameters makes it possible to purposefully control the coating thickness, surface roughness, and the level of residual stresses.

Efficient water management is critical due to increasing global water scarcity. This paper proposes an IoT-based smart irrigation and soil monitoring system that automates irrigation using real-time sensing and cloud connectivity. Soil moisture, soil temperature, air temperature, humidity, and UV radiation are measured, while weather forecast data supports predictive irrigation decisions. Sensor data is transmitted to a cloud platform, enabling remote monitoring and pump control through a mobile or web interface. The system reduces water usage and energy consumption by irrigating only when required, improving crop productivity and minimizing manual intervention. The integration of IoT and predictive analytics provides a scalable and sustainable solution for precision farming.

Ultraviolet radiation is responsible for actinic keratoses (AKs) and neoplastic changes surrounding AKs, known as the field of cancerization (FoC). If fields are not appropriately identified and treated, patients remain at risk for developing precancerous lesions and malignant transformation. To assess the relationship between FoC and the number of AKs. A cross-sectional study was performed on patients with AKs and FoC. Fields were measured, and field characteristics were recorded. One hundred patients (mean age 71.2 years; 23% female) with 148 FoC participated. Fields were dry (96%), depigmented (79%), and scaly (88%). Mean number of AKs per field was 6.8 [standard deviation (SD) = 7.3]. Mean FoC size was 75.3 cm2 (SD = 75 cm2). One hundred and eleven (75%) of the 148 fields exceeded the Food and Drug Administration recommendations for AK field treatment (≤25 cm2). Number of AKs positively correlated with FoC size (P < .0001). Mean FoC size and the mean number of AKs differed among Investigator Global Assessment (IGA) grades (1-3; P = .0396 and P = .0254, respectively). IGA grade positively correlated with FoC size (P = .0041) and average number of AKs (P = .0022). When selecting AK therapy, dermatologists may consider FoC size, number of AKs, location, IGA grade, and individual risk factors.

Since the first report in 1972, several studies have documented an association between Parkinson's disease (PD) and melanoma. Up to 20-fold increased risk of melanoma was reported in PD patients, while a personal/family history of melanoma was linked to a 1.85-fold PD risk. Neurons and melanocytes, which both derive from the neuroectodermal crest, share biological pathways that may be dysregulated in both diseases. In particular, accumulation of the alpha-synuclein (α-syn, SNCA) protein, a pathological hallmark of PD, is also observed in melanoma. Indeed, dysregulated α-syn proteostasis is known to disrupt several biological pathways which can co-incidentally, albeit paradoxically contribute to both neurodegeneration and hyper-proliferative cell growth. These include abnormalities in dopamine (DA), melanin, and iron metabolism, oxidative stress, DNA damage/repair response, inflammation, as well as alterations in mitochondrial function, and cell-clearing machinery. Although α-syn depletion was shown to attenuate melanoma cell proliferation and neurodegeneration, it remains unclear whether α-syn accumulation is a mere culprit of disease, if it represents a common outcome from shared upstream mechanisms, or, finally, a compensatory response to cellular stress. In an effort to elucidate how α-syn bridges melanomagenesis and the neurodegenerative events of PD, this review discusses specific cellular and molecular pathways related to α-syn proteostasis, including environmental factors implicated in melanocytic transformation, such as UV radiation. Addressing open questions and establishing novel experimental models remain essential for developing effective therapeutic approaches to target melanoma and PD without overlooking their comorbidity.

Micro- and nanoplastics (MNPs) occur in aquatic environments and accumulate in fish. MNPs can also adsorb other contaminants present in aquatic environments, and there is limited information on exposure scenarios involving MNP and pesticide mixtures. Ultraviolet (UV) radiation and chemical oxidation of MNPs can affect the sorption properties of MNPs and chemicals, thus altering the exposure and effects on fish. Our study investigated the toxicity and bioaccumulation of a lindane and dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (DDE) mixture adsorbed onto pristine and weathered polyethylene (PE) MNPs. Three different PE MNP types were used: microplastics (2-10 μm), oxidized microplastics (10-15 μm), and a MNP mixture (0.2-9.9 μm), and additionally each type was UV-aged for comparisons. RTgutGC cells, derived from rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) intestine, were used to evaluate the role of the particle type on pesticides bioaccumulation and toxicity. Results showed that UV aging did not affect the agglomeration in solution but decreased the MNP's capacity to adsorb the pesticides (i.e., non-aged adsorbed 35% and 69% and UV-aged adsorbed 9.7% and 63% of lindane and DDE, respectively) likely due to a shift in MNPs hydrophobicity and consequently reduced the cytotoxicity of the pesticide MNPs mixture. Nanoplastics induced approximately 20% more lysosomal damage than microplastics, suggesting a distinct toxicity mechanism. Fluorescently labeled MNPs accumulated in intestinal cells which confirmed the internalization. Finally, bioaccumulation of DDE decreased approximately 2 to 8-fold in cells coexposed with all particle types, although lindane was not detected in the cells. Overall, our study indicated that MP and NPs reduce bioavailability of pesticides, but UV aging and particle fragmentation to nano size increased their bioaccumulation and toxicity in fish intestinal cells.

ABSTRACT A rapid, nonthermal method for surface decontamination of aflatoxins B1, G1, B2, and G2 was developed using vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) photons emitted from an inductively coupled hydrogen plasma. The plasma, sustained at 18 Pa with input powers between 50 and 700 W, produced intense VUV emission in the 140–160 nm range (photon energy ≈ 8 eV) that was delivered to samples through an MgF₂ window with &gt; 80% transmittance. On quartz glass substrates coated with 40 ng of aflatoxin mix (film thickness ≈3 nm), VUV photons caused &gt; 90% degradation within 10 s of VUV exposure. When applied to artificially contaminated maize grains (≈20 µg kg⁻¹ AFB1/G1, 4 µg kg⁻¹ AFB2/G2), VUV treatment achieved up to 80% toxin removal in under 1 min as measured by HPLC, but the remaining (≈20%) persisted even after 10 min of VUV irradiation, which was explained by the inability of VUV photons to penetrate into micron‐scale grooves and crevices on the maize grain surface. These findings demonstrate that hydrogen‐plasma VUV radiation can rapidly inactivate surface‐bound aflatoxins on smooth substrates and agricultural commodities. However, the restricted penetration depth and vacuum chamber requirements limit bulk‐grain scalability. Hybrid approaches combining VUV pretreatment with mechanical agitation and enzymatic degradation may offer a more energy‐efficient, scalable solution for decontaminating porous food substrates.

The liquid-assisted grinding method synthesizes six novel europium complexes with "6-fluoro-7-piperazinyl-4-quinoline" (L) and heterocyclic ancillary ligands. This synthesis method is eco-friendly and less time-consuming. The prepared complexes were characterised by various spectroscopic techniques CHN analysis IR, UV-Vis, XRD, EDAX and SEM. IR and NMR spectroscopic techniques indicate the mode of coordination of the ligand and ancillary ligand with metal ions. UV-vis absorption and reflectance spectra of the all complexes give information about the optical properties and Urbach energy of the complexes. Photoluminescent properties in powder and solution state suggest that the complexes show ruby red emission under UV radiation. The 5D0 →7F2 transition is responsible for emitting ruby red color. The intensity of europium transitions increases with the introduction of an ancillary ligand along with L. Judd Ofelt parameter is also vital to define the symmetry of lanthanide coordination environment and lanthanide-ligand bond's nature in the complexes. The LUMPAC software also validates the JO parameters. Color purity and the CCT (correlated colour temperature) values indicate that the complexes with high color purity, warm red-light sources, are used in the illuminating OLEDs. The thermal stability of complexes is investigated by thermogravimetric analysis and temperature-dependent photoluminescence. The branching ratio and lasing aspect were also precisely derived. As a result of all characterisation, these complexes are used in photoluminescent and optoelectronic devices. Complexes are a strong contender for the antimicrobial and antioxidant agent because they have good biological properties.

In recent years, hybrid polymer/POSS (Polyhedral Oligomeric Silsesquioxane) systems have attracted particular attention, combining the advantages of organic and inorganic components. This paper reports on the thermal and thermo-oxidative degradation and weathering processes of these materials, as well as their impact on mechanical, chemical, and morphological properties. The paper discusses the physical and chemical changes occurring during degradation, the mechanisms of autoxidation, and the influence of environmental factors such as UV radiation, temperature, and humidity. Particular attention is paid to the role of POSS nanoparticles in polymer stabilization—their barrier function, free radical scavenging, and oxygen diffusion limitation. Methods for analyzing ageing processes are presented, including thermogravimetry coupled with infra-red spectroscopy (TG-FTIR), mechanical property testing, and yellowness index assessment. Material durability prediction models and their importance in designing composite lifespans in the context of the circular economy are also discussed. It is demonstrated that the appropriate type and concentration of POSS (typically 2–6 wt.%) can significantly improve polymer composites’ resistance to heat, radiation, and oxidizing agents, extending their service life and enabling more sustainable lifecycle management of products.