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Light-assisted Li-O 2 batteries exhibit a high round-trip efficiency attributable to the assistance of light-generated electrons and holes in oxygen reduction and evolution reactions. Nonetheless, the excitonic effect arising from Coulomb interaction between electrons and holes impedes carrier separation, thus hindering efficient utilization of photo-energy. Herein, porphyrinic metal-organic frameworks with (Fe 2 Ni)O(COO) 6 clusters are used as photocathodes to accelerate exciton dissociation into charge carriers for light-assisted Li-O 2 batteries. The coupling of Ni 3d and Fe 3d orbitals boosts ligand-to-metal cluster charge transfer, and hence drives exciton dissociation and activates O 2 for superoxide ( • O 2 - ) radicals, rather than singlet oxygen ( 1 O 2 batteries with a low total overvoltage of 0.28 V and round-trip efficiency of 92% under light irradiation of 100 mW cm 2 batteries with a low total overvoltage of 0.28 V and round-trip efficiency of 92% under light irradiation of 100 mW cm -2 . This work highlights the excitonic effect in photoelectrochemical processes and provides insights into photocathode design for light-assisted Li-O 2 batteries., (© 2024 Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

To promote Agaricus sinodeliciosus var. Chaidam ZJU-TP-08 growth and metabolites accumulation, a novel integrated strategy was developed by adopting high levels of metal ions coupled with light treatment. The results revealed that yellow and blue light could significantly promote biomass and exopolysaccharides production, respectively. Furthermore, the yellow–blue light shift strategy could stimulate exopolysaccharides formation. Ca2+ ions coupled with blue light mostly promoted exopolysaccharides production related to oxidative stress, which was 42.00% and 58.26% higher than that of Ca2+ ions coupled with the non-light and dark cultivation without Ca2+ ions in 5-L bioreactor. RNA-seq was performed to uncover the underlined molecular mechanism regulated by light-induced gene expressions in exopolysaccharides biosynthesis and oxidative stress. The findings of this work provide valuable insights into adopting metal ions coupled with the light-assisted method for the macrofungus submerged fermentation for exopolysaccharides production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, gas sensing electronic devices have always attracted wide attention in the field of environment, industry, aviation and others. In order to improve the gas sensing properties, many micro- and nano-fabrication technologies have been proposed and investigated to develop high-performance gas sensing devices. It is worth noting that light irradiation is an effective strategy to enhance gas sensitivity, shorten the response and recovery time, reduce operating temperature. In this review, firstly, the latest research advances of gas sensors based on different micro-nanostructure materials under UV light and visible light activation is introduced. Then, the gas sensing mechanism of light-assisted gas sensor is discussed in detail. Finally, this review describes the present application of gas sensors with improved properties under light activation assisted conditions and the perspective of their applications.

Photobiomodulation (PBM) refers to the beneficial effect produced from low-energy light irradiation on target cells or tissues. Increasing evidence in the literature suggests that PBM plays a positive role in the treatment of retinal diseases. However, there is great variation in the light sources and illumination parameters used in different studies, resulting in significantly different conclusions regarding PBM’s therapeutic effects. In addition, the mechanism by which PBM improves retinal function has not been fully elucidated. In this study, we conducted a narrative review of the published literature on PBM for treating retinal diseases and summarized the key illumination parameters used in PBM. Furthermore, we explored the potential molecular mechanisms of PBM at the retinal cellular level with the goal of providing evidence for the improved utilization of PBM in the treatment of retinal diseases.

The impact of different light irradiation was studied on photocatalytic degradation of 2‐chlorophenol (2‐CP) using mesoporous titania nanoparticles (MTNs) prepared by microwave‐assisted methods. The photoactivity of MTNs was also compared with pretreated commercial TiO2 and Degussa P25 (P25). The reactions were conducted for 2.5 hr under UV‐A, UV‐C, sunlight, and visible light using a batch reactor. The catalysts were characterized by X‐ray powder diffractometer, UV–Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, photoluminescence, Brunauer–Emmett–Teller method, field‐emission scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The characterization results confirmed that MTN consisted a composition of 21% rutile phase and 79% anatase phase with Ti3+ site defects (TSDs) and oxygen vacancies (OVs) in their structures because of their anionic surfactant nature, microwave heating, and high calcination temperature during the catalyst preparation. Besides, the photoactivity of MTN upon degradation of 2‐CP under sunlight has exhibited the best performance with 100% degradation followed by UV‐A, visible light, and UV‐C with degradation of 96, 52, and 39%, respectively. MTNs showed a remarkable performance due to their mixed‐phase crystalline structures as well as the formation of TSDs and OVs, which improved the charge migration, lowered the band gap energy, and reduced the rate of electron–hole recombination, thus succeeded to be activated under a wide range of light responses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A binary composite ceramic Na 0.5 Bi 0.5 TiO 3 :0.002 Er-0.3CaTiO 3 :0.003 Pr (NBT:Er-0.3CT:Pr) was fabricated by a conventional solid state reaction route. The effect of sintering temperature on the microstructure and phase structure of the ceramics has been investigated. And the basic electrical properties such as dielectric properties and ferroelectric performances of the ceramics were examined. Macro long-ranged ferroelectric order cannot be induced via electric field in the composite ceramics. And under local electric field using PFM, obvious ferroelectric switching is identified in the ceramics. Furthermore, the up-conversion luminescence, photochromic reaction, and luminescence modulation have been achieved in the ceramics. Additionally, photo-stimulated luminescence and thermal luminescence are obtained. The present study indicates that optical properties are tightly related to the sintering temperature. The prepared ceramic NBT:Er-0.3CT:Pr owns a piezoelectric performance and multi luminescence properties, which can widen the applications of ferroelectric ceramics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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A partially fluorinated surfactant, CF-S, was prepared using p-trifluoromethyl aniline as the starting material. Its UV-Vis spectrum was measured. The photoisomerization of CF-S was studied. The surface tension of the CF-S solution was measured. The corresponding physicochemical parameters were calculated. The properties of CF-S were compared with those of CH-S, a surfactant without fluorine. It was found that the surface activity of CF-S was significantly stronger than that of CH-S. After UV light irradiation, CF-S showed higher cmc and γcmc, lower Γmax and greater ᴀmin. The wettability of CF-S to quartz was measured. The fluorinated surfactant can improve the hydrophobicity of the quartz surface. The contact angle of CF-S on the quartz surface was decreased by UV light irradiation. So the wettability of CF-S was increased. The Zeta potential of the quartz particles was measured in the CF-S solution. After adding CF-S into the solution, the Zeta potential of the quartz particles was increased. After UV irradiation, the Zeta potential of quartz was decreased. Some adsorbed surfactants were desorbed from the quartz surface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study reports on the development and testing of novel bleaching agents containing co-doped metaloxide nanoparticles (NP; 0%, 5%, 10% v/w) and hydrogen peroxide (HP, 0%, 6%, 15%, and 35%). Bovine blocks (n = 200, A = 36 mm2) were obtained and randomly distributed into experimental groups (n = 10/group). NPs were incorporated into gels before bleaching (3 sessions, 7 days apart, 30 min/session, irradiated with violet light-LT). Color changes (ΔE00, ΔWID), mineral content (CO32−, PO43−), and topography were assessed (spectrophotometer, ATR-FTIR, and AFM) before and after bleaching procedures (14 days). Metabolic status and three-dimensional components of non-disrupted Streptococcus mutans biofilms were investigated using a multimode reader and confocal microscopy. The results indicate that ΔE00 and ΔWID significantly increased with NPs’ concentrations and LT. The enamel’s mineral ratio was adversely impacted by HP, but alterations were less pronounced when using NP-containing gels. The enamel’s topography was not damaged by the bleaching protocols tested. The bioluminescence results show that bleaching protocols do not render latent antibacterial properties to enamel, and the confocal microscopy results demonstrate that the 3-dimensional distribution of the components was affected by the protocols. The proposed nanotechnology improved the bleaching efficacy of experimental materials independent of hydrogen peroxide or irradiation and did not adversely impact the enamel’s surface properties or its chemical content.

Light-assisted in-office tooth bleaching methods use higher concentrations of hydrogen peroxide in conjunction with supplemental light to fasten and enhance the effect of tooth whitening. Tooth bleaching treatment using hydrogen peroxide is a chemical process that occurs by oxidative decomposition of chromophores, that is, breakdown of these colored light absorbing organic molecules. Radiation sources used to catalyze the bleaching process have included halogen lamps, plasma arc lamps, mercury vapor lamps, LEDs and lasers. Laser light can follow four possible interactions with the hard dental tissues. Absorption can result in a range of photochemical processes such as photothermal effect, fluorescence, photooxidation or photodynamic effects. Other possible interactions are transmission of laser energy through the dental tissues, reflection of the beam from the surface of the tooth and scattering of the light into the dental tissues. The essential elements of laser light that determine its reaction with the dental tissues are the wavelength of the radiant energy (nm) emitted by the laser, the power density of the beam (W/cm2) and the temporal characteristics of the beam energy, such as continuous versus pulsed delivery, pulse repetition rate and pulse duration. There are various parameters that can enhance hydrogen peroxide-based bleaching. In particular, these are alkaline pH environment, thermal enhancement, photothermal effects, photoxidation, direct photobleaching, photolysis, photodissociation, Fenton reaction, photocatalysis and photodynamic effects. Dentists should be aware of the advantages and disadvantages of tooth bleaching methods and able to make decisions offering in-office tooth bleaching with adjunct light based on sound evidence and well-controlled scientific studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of fluorescence light irradiation on the changes in the levels of volatiles, especially acetaldehyde and formaldehyde, were determined in red and white wines. Three different red or white wine brands were mixed and subjected to light irradiation for 5 days. Generally, the levels of total volatiles in white wine were higher than those in red wine were and decreased during light irradiation. The level of 1,1,6‐trimethyl‐1,2‐dihydronaphthalene, an aromatic compound commonly found in aging wine, decreased significantly following light irradiation (p < 0.05), whereas those of acetaldehyde and formaldehyde increased significantly in white wine (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the formaldehyde content in white wine was higher than that in red wine. Thus, light irradiation promotes the decomposition of major volatiles to a greater degree in white wine than in red wine. This implies that white wine may require more attention and caution against light exposure than red wine. Practical Application: Red and white wines are two globally consumed alcoholic beverages; several factors influence their quality. This study evaluates the effects of light irradiation on the profiles of headspace volatiles, such as formaldehyde and acetaldehydes, which are harmful chemicals. Generally, the levels of total headspace volatiles decreased during storage, while those of acetaldehyde and formaldehyde increased markedly in white wine. This increase in aldehyde levels suggests that wines should not be exposed to light irradiation. The results of this study will help wine producers, distributors, and consumers maintain wines with low contents of acetaldehyde and formaldehyde. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, we put forward a prescription of achieving spin selective electron transfer by means of light irradiation through a tight-binding (TB) magnetic chain whose site energies are modulated in the form of well known Aubry–Andre–Harper (AAH) model. The interaction of itinerant electrons with local magnetic moments in the magnetic system provides a misalignment between up and down spin channels which leads to a finite spin polarization (SP) upon locating the Fermi energy in a suitable energy zone. Both the energy channels are significantly affected by the irradiation which is directly reflected in degree of spin polarization as well as in its phase. We include the irradiation effect through Floquet ansatz and compute spin polarization coefficient by evaluating transmission probabilities using Green's function prescription. Our analysis can be utilized to investigate spin dependent transport phenomena in any driven magnetic system with quasiperiodic modulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cleavage pattern of a vertebrate's embryo is either holoblastic (complete) or meroblastic (partial). Sturgeon and other basal bony fishes represent a transition of the cleavage pattern. To understand the transition, it is essential to develop an effective technique for the inhibition of specific blastomere cleavage. So far, various studies have demonstrated that diatom-derived polyunsaturated aldehyde (PUA), 2,4-decadienal (DD)—a model aldehyde for experimental studies—adversely affects the developing embryos of several aquatic species. In this study, we employed DD for inhibition of cleavage of a definite blastomere in sturgeon embryos under various conditions. The effective treatment was found to be a combination of DD injection (0.01 v/v) and visible light (44.86–91.15 W m−2). Notably, DD injection or light irradiation alone cannot inhibit cleavage. Furthermore, spatial RNA localization analysis using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR)-tomography revealed that the localized pattern of selected maternal messenger ribonucleic acids (mRNAs) remained constant along the animal–vegetal (A-V) axis, which suggests that RNA localization is completed by the end of oogenesis and that early embryonic cleavage is not required for A-V asymmetry preservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Autophagy plays an important role in maintenance of cellular homeostasis and nutrient translocation under normal condition and is up-regulated under abiotic and biotic stress for degradation of damaged or dysfunctional cell constituents in plants. Several lines of evidence indicated that treatments of salt and heat stress on plants induce ROS production leading to activation of autophagy for removal of potentially highly toxic denatured proteins in mesophyll cells. In this study, we examined whether autophagy is involved in protection of photosynthesis activity of soybean leaf under chilling by monitoring a photosynthesis parameter and ROS production. Photosynthesis System II activity (Fv/Fm) and SPAD values significantly decreased under chilling and light irradiation whereas those values were affected marginally under chilling and dark. Significant reactive oxygen species (ROS) production were detected by diaminobenzidine (DAB) and nitroblue tetrazolium chloride (NBT) staining in soybean leaf under chilling and light irradiation but not under chilling and dark, indicating that excess ROS production including H2O2 and O2 - damaged photosynthesis activities in soybean leaf. Reduction of Fv/Fm levels in chilling and light irradiation-treated soybean leaf were enhanced in the presence of an autophagy inhibitor 3-metyladenine, but alleviated in the presence of an autophagy activator, acetyl carnitine, compared with that in the absence of those reagents. These results indicated that autophagy is involved in maintenance of photosynthesis activities in soybean leaf damaged by ROS produced under chilling and light irradiation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environmentally persistent free radicals (EPFRs) in humic substances play an essential role in soil geochemical processes. Light is known to induce EPFRs formation for dissolved organic matter in aquatic environments; however, the impacts of light irradiation on the variation of EPFRs in soil humic substances remain unclear. In this study, humic acid, fulvic acid, and humin were extracted from peat soil and then in situ irradiated using simulated sunlight. Electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy results showed that with the increasing irradiation time, the spin densities and g-factors of humic substances rapidly increased during the initial 20 min and then gradually reached a plateau. After irradiation for 2h, the maximum spin density levels were up to 1.63 × 1017, 2.06 × 1017, and 1.77 × 1017 spins/g for the humic acid, fulvic acid, and humin, respectively. And the superoxide radicals increased to 1.05 × 1014–1.46 × 1014 spins/g while the alkyl radicals increased to 0.47 × 1014–1.76 × 1014 spins/g. The light-induced EPFRs were relatively unstable and readily returned back to their original state under dark and oxic conditions. Significant positive correlations were observed between the concentrations of EPFRs and reactive radical species (R2= 0.65–0.98, p < 0.05), which suggested that the newly produced EPFRs contributed to the formation of reactive radical species. Our findings indicate that under the irradiation humic substances are likely to be more toxic and reactive in soil due to the formation of EPFRs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The improvement of catalytic efficiency of catalyst is a challenging topic especially for solid catalyst that has restrained surface to contact reactants. Herein, we reported an effective way to improve the catalytic efficiency by designing composites catalyst (to induce synergistic effect) and performing the reaction under united technologies (to make cooperative contribution). As a model case, La–Fe–O mixture (abbreviated as LFO) and graphitic carbon nitride (abbreviated as g-CN) composites (LFO@CN- n , where n means the molar ratio of the precursors of LFO to g-CN) were synthesized and used as photo-Fenton catalysts for oxidation removal of dyes in wastewater. Results showed that LFO@CN-16, with g-CN loading of 69%, has the properties of both LFO and g-CN, and exhibits high efficiency for dyes oxidation in the presence of H 2 O 2 and light irradiation, with 98% rhodamine B conversion within 25 min, for example. Mechanistic studies suggested that •OH radicals produced from H 2 O 2 are the reaction intermediates, which participate both in the Fenton- and the photo-catalytic processes. Moreover, the catalyst can be reused for at least 5 cycles with no appreciable loss of activity, and can be applied to various organic dyes containing benzene-like cyclic structures with high efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: This work reports a new method for the use of lasers for the selective killing of bacteria targeted using light‐absorbing Silver nanoparticles (Ag‐NPs) conjugated with a specific antibody against the Gram‐positive bacterium Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus). Methods and Results: Ag‐NPs were synthesized using a chemical reduction method and characterized with respect to their surface plasmon resonance, surface morphology via transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and dynamic light scattering (DLS). The bacterial surface was targeted using 20 nm Ag‐NPs conjugated with an anti‐protein A antibody. Labelled bacteria were irradiated with blue visible laser at 2·04 W/cm2. The antibacterial activity of functionalized Ag‐NPs was investigated by fluorescence microscopy after irradiation, and morphological changes in S. aureus after laser treatment were assessed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The laser‐irradiated, functionalized Ag‐NPs exhibited significant bactericidal activity, and laser‐induced bacterial damage was observed after 10 min of laser irradiation against S. aureus. The fluorescence microscopic analysis results supported that bacterial cell death occurred in the presence of the functionalized Ag‐NPs. Conclusions: The results of this study suggest that a novel method for the preparation of functionalized nanoparticles has potential as a potent antibacterial agent for the selective killing of resistant disease‐causing bacteria. Significance and Impact of the Study: This study shows that Ag‐NPs functionalized with a specific antibody, could be used in combination with laser radiation as a novel treatment to target resistant bacterial and fungal pathogens with minimal impact on normal microflora. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Magnetite ( Fe 3 O 4 ) nanoparticles with different particle sizes (9.9–29.1 nm) were prepared by using the aerial oxidation method under light irradiation with various wavelengths at room temperature. The photocatalytic degradation of orange II using Fe 3 O 4 nanoparticles as photocatalysts was evaluated. Experimental results showed that the particle sizes of Fe 3 O 4 nanocrystals decreased gradually with the decreasing wavelengths of light irradiation. With the decrease in the size of the samples, the Fe 3 O 4 nanoparticles exhibited a large surface area and high adsorption. Furthermore, the small-particle-sized Fe 3 O 4 sample could cause an appropriate red shift of the spectra and promote the decomposition of H 2 O 2 , and produce high-content ∙ OH radicals, which lead to an improvement of photodegradation efficiency of orange II. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ultrasmall silver nanoclusters (Ag NCs) with rich surface chemistry and good biocompatibility are promising in antibacterial application, however, further development of Ag NCs for practical settings has been constrained by their relatively weak antibacterial activity. Using the nutritionally-rich medium for bacteria (e.g., Luria-Bertani (LB) medium) to coat active Ag NCs could further improve their antibacterial activity. Here, we provide a delicate design of a highly efficient Ag NCs@ELB antibacterial agent (ELB denotes the extract of LB medium) by anchoring Ag NCs inside the ELB species via light irradiation. The as-designed Ag NCs with bacterium-favored nutrients on the surface can be easily swallowed by the bacteria, boosting the production of the intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS, about 2-fold of that in the pristine Ag NCs). Subsequently, a higher concentration of ROS generated in Ag NCs@ELB leads to enhanced antibacterial activity, and enables to reduce the colony forming units (CFU) of both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria with 3–4 orders of magnitude less than that treated with the pristine Ag NCs. In addition, the Ag NCs@ELB also shows good biocompatibility. This study suggests that surface engineering of active species (e.g., Ag NCs) with nutritionally-rich medium of the bacteria is an efficient way to improve their antibacterial activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

2 H -azirines have represented versatile building motifs in the domain of organic chemistry owing to their excellent reaction activity induced by the high strain of the three-membered ring species. Over the past decades, brilliant achievements have been made in 2 H -azirine chemistry involving the construction as well as the transformation of such functional compounds. In the presence of transition metals, strong bases or oxidants, 2 H -azirines could be converted into the corresponding products under harsh reaction conditions. Different from traditional catalytic methods, the utilization of photochemistry has proved to be an extremely fascinating protocol that facilitates the construction of 2 H -azirine blocks from diverse substrates and further conversion into various derivatives with interesting biological activities. In this regard, more and more light-driven synthetic approaches featuring high efficiency and mild conditions have been developed. Herein, we summarized the accessibility and applications of 2 H -azirines as powerful precursors or key intermediates for the synthesis of biologically promising molecules in the presence of photocatalytic conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Successful fabrication of Au/ZPC catalyst. • Excellent optical and photothermal conversion performances of Au/ZPC. • Higher catalytic activities under laser heating than oil bath heating. • Local heating effect plays a major role in the photothermal catalytic reduction process. Photothermal catalysis has attracted increasing attention due to the efficient utilization of sustainable solar energy and high catalytic activity. However, its practical application is still limited due to the complex synthesis and low surface area of photothermal materials, as well as the challenges of distinguishing the effects of hot electrons and localized heating. To solve these issues, ZIF-8 derived porous carbon (ZPC) nanocrystals were constructed as high surface area photothermal materials and then decorated with Au nanoparticles as the catalytic components. Au/ZPC nanocomposites are prepared by the assembly of ZIF-8, the pyrolysis and in-situ Au reduction process. They are composed of rhombic dodecahedron-shaped ZPC with an average diameter of ∼120 nm, where Au nanoparticles (2–8 nm) are dispersed well on the surface or within the pore structure of ZPC. Besides, Au/ZPC exhibits a wide range of light absorption between 200 and 1100 nm and high photothermal efficiency of 45 %. With 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) reduction reaction as a model system, Au/ZPC catalyst exhibits a 2-fold increase in the rate of 4-NP reduction when exposed to an 808 nm laser irradiation, in comparison to thermocatalysis at the same temperature. Furthermore, the activation energy for the reduction of 4-NP via photothermal catalysis was much lower than that of thermocatalysis (74.16 vs. 104.26 kJ mol−1). By excluding hot electrons effects by transient absorption (TA) spectra, we can establish that the increase of photothermal catalysis rate should result from the localized heating which can decrease the energy barriers for the reduction of 4-NP. Additionally, Au/ZPC displays high stability and maintains remarkable activity even after five cycles. This study may provide some new perspectives for the design and development of efficient photothermal catalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Blended regio-regular P3HT–ZnO nanoparticles are a hybrid material developed as an active layer for hybrid solar cells. The study of the hopping mechanisms and diffusion rates of regio-regular P3HT–ZnO nanoparticles is significant for obtaining intrinsic charge transport properties that provide helpful information for preparing high-performance solar cells. The temperature dependences of the parallel and perpendicular diffusion rates in regio-regular P3HT–ZnO nanoparticles determined from muon spin relaxation measurements were investigated by applying various longitudinal fields. We investigated the effect of light irradiation on the diffusion rates in regio-regular P3HT–ZnO nanoparticles. We found that with increasing temperature, the parallel diffusion rate decreased, while the perpendicular diffusion rate increased. The ratio of the parallel to perpendicular diffusion rate (D‖/D⊥) can be used to indicate the dominant charge carrier hopping mechanism. Without light irradiation, perpendicular diffusion dominates the charge carrier hopping, starting at 25 K, with a ratio of 1.70×104, whereas with light irradiation, the perpendicular diffusion of the charge carrier starts to dominate at the temperature of 10 K, with a ratio of 2.40×104. It is indicated that the additional energy from light irradiation affects the diffusion, especially the charge diffusion in the perpendicular direction.

The retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) is the major source of cytokines in the retina regulating the intraocular immune environment, and a primary target of photodamage. Here, we examined 27 types of cytokines secreted by ARPE-19 cells exposed to visible light and incubated with aflibercept or ranibizumab, which are two anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) antibodies. The cells were cultured for 24 h in the dark or under 2000 lux irradiation from a daylight-colored fluorescent lamp, and cytokine levels in the culture supernatant were measured. In the light-irradiated culture, the levels of IL-9, IL-17A and bFGF were higher, and the levels of IL-6, IL-7, IL-8 and MCP-1 were lower than those in the dark culture, while there was no significant difference with the VEGF-A level. In subgroup analyses of the light-irradiated culture, the bFGF level under 250 to 2000 lux irradiation was elevated in a light intensity-dependent manner. In culture exposed to blue, green or red light, the bFGF level was elevated by blue light and was high compared to that by green or red light. In culture with aflibercept or ranibizumab in the dark, the levels of IL-6, IL-8, bFGF and MCP-1 were increased, and the IL-12 level decreased synchronously with a reduction in the VEGF-A level. Our findings indicate that continuous irradiation of visible light and VEGF suppression may be an influential factor in expression patterns of inflammatory cytokines secreted by human RPE cells.

In this work, we perform a numerical study of magnetoresistance in a one-dimensional quantum heterostructure, where the change in electrical resistance is measured between parallel and antiparallel configurations of magnetic layers. This layered structure also incorporates a non-magnetic spacer, subjected to quasi-periodic potentials, which is centrally clamped between two ferromagnetic layers. The efficiency of the magnetoresistance is further tuned by injecting unpolarized light on top of the two sided magnetic layers. Modulating the characteristic properties of different layers, the value of magnetoresistance can be enhanced significantly. The site energies of the spacer is modified through the well-known Aubry–André and Harper (AAH) potential, and the hopping parameter of magnetic layers is renormalized due to light irradiation. We describe the Hamiltonian of the layered structure within a tight-binding (TB) framework and investigate the transport properties through this nanojunction following Green’s function formalism. The Floquet–Bloch (FB) anstaz within the minimal coupling scheme is introduced to incorporate the effect of light irradiation in TB Hamiltonian. Several interesting features of magnetotransport properties are represented considering the interplay between cosine modulated site energies of the central region and the hopping integral of the magnetic regions that are subjected to light irradiation. Finally, the effect of temperature on magnetoresistance is also investigated to make the model more realistic and suitable for device designing. Our analysis is purely a numerical one, and it leads to some fundamental prescriptions of obtaining enhanced magnetoresistance in multilayered systems.

OBJECTIVE: Although the natural compound curcumin exerts antitumor properties in vitro, its clinical application is hampered due to rapid metabolism. Light exposure following curcumin application has been demonstrated to improve curcumin's bioavailability. Therefore, this investigation was directed towards evaluating whether light exposure in addition to curcumin application enhances curcumin's efficacy against bladder cancer cell adhesion and migration. MATERIALS AND METHODS: RT112, UMUC3, and TCCSUP cells were incubated with low curcumin concentrations (0.1-0.4 μg/ml) and then exposed to 1.65 J/cm2 visible light for 5 min. Controls remained untreated or were treated with curcumin or light alone. Cell adhesion to Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), to immobilized collagen or fibronectin and chemotactic behavior, integrin α and β receptor expression with functional relevance, as well as focal adhesion kinase (total and phosphorylated FAK) were evaluated. RESULTS: Curcumin plus light, but neither curcumin nor light alone, significantly altered tumor cell adhesion and suppressed chemotaxis. Integrin α and β subtypes were dissimilarly modified, depending on the cell line. Suppression of pFAK was noted in RT112 and UMUC3, but not in TCCSUP cells. The integrins α3, α5, and β1 were involved in curcumin's regulation of adhesion and migration. Blocking studies revealed α3, α5, and β1 to be associated with TCCSUP adhesion and migration, whereas α5 and β1, but not α3 contributed to UMUC3 adhesion and migration. Integrin α5 and β1 controlled RT112 chemotaxis as well, but only α5 was involved in the RT112 adhesion process. CONCLUSIONS: Combining curcumin with light exposure enhances curcumin's anti-tumor potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Light is an important factor that can induce the growth of varieties of organisms including fungi and their secondary metabolites. The evolutions of biomass, carotenoids, lipid production, compositions and contents of fatty acid and amino acid in Rhodotorula mucilaginosa were investigated under different light irradiation conditions. The results indicated that irradiation with 1700 lx could promote the growth and glucose assimilation of R. mucilaginosa, compared to the dark control, while the trial with 3500 lx had certain inhibiting effects. The carotenoids concentrations and percentages of unsaturated fatty acid (USFA, C16:1 and C18:1) increased with the improvement of irradiation intensity. Conversely, the proportions of saturated fatty acids (C16:0, C18:0 and C20:0) were decreased. The relative contents of amino acid and total protein were reduced under illumination compared to dark control. Conclusively, irradiation could change the cell growth and metabolites of the pigmented fungus, which implied that there may be a photoinduced mode exists in R. mucilaginosa similar to that of Neurospora crassa, and it also could be applied to regulate the biosynthesis and production of valuable components such as carotenoids and USFA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study demonstrates the effect of light irradiation on the esterification of oleic acid catalyzed by immobilized Pseudomonas cepacia lipase. The reaction rates of all the experiments under light irradiation were found to be higher than dark conditions. The kinetics of reactions supported the Ping‐Pong Bi‐Bi mechanism with dead end inhibition by both the alcohol and acid substrates. Moreover, circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy was used to analyze the effect of light on lipase enzyme. The CD spectroscopic studies confirmed that the conformational changes in the secondary structure of the lipase enzyme increased the reaction rate of light‐illuminated experiments, which might have opened up the active sites of enzymes and thus, resulted in higher reaction rates compared to dark reactions. These results have successfully demonstrated that the light illumination positively influenced the rate of P. cepacia enzyme‐catalyzed esterification reactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a novel silk fibroin films with robust mechanical properties was fabricated by dissolving silk under ultraviolet light (Uv-light) in ionic liquid. Uv-light irradiation can promote the transformation of the silk fibroin structure from the α-helix to the β-sheet, thereby the strength of the film was enhanced. The wavelength of the Uv-light, the irradiation time and the distance from the light source all have an effect on the strength of the silk fibroin film. Under the optimum conditions, the strength of silk fibroin film could reach 23.7Mpa, which was nearly 85% higher than that of the conventional system. In the meantime, the wettability and swellability of the film were investigated. The results showed that groups with oxygen atoms on the surface of silk fibroin film increased after irradiation, and its wettability and swellability increased significantly, which was more conducive to cell adhesion. Furthermore, the silk fibroin film exhibit excellent biocompatibility, supporting L-929 (mouse fibroblasts) adhesion and proliferation. The study provides a new direction for the preparation of high-strength silk fibroin films, as well as its application in life sciences. • A new method for preparing robust silk fibroin film under the synergism of ILs and Uv-light. • [Bmim]Ac is the excellent ILs for silk fibroin film. • With the content of β-sheet increasing, the strength of silk fibroin film enhance • The Strength of silk fibroin film could be increased 85% • The wettability and swellability of the film were excellent • The silk fibroin film exhibit biocompatibility [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solution-processed metal oxide semiconductors have superior electron mobility and stability than solution-processed organic semiconductors. However, their fabrication requires a very-high-temperature and long-time annealing process. In this study, we utilized deep ultraviolet (DUV) light to decrease both the temperature and time of the annealing process. High external energy is required to break the organic bonds in a metal oxide film, which is generally supplied by a high-temperature annealing process carried out for a long duration. Alternatively, the required high energy can be supplied more efficiently by irradiating the metal oxide film with DUV light for a shorter duration. In this work, we used DUV light whose peaks at 172 nm instead of the generally used mercury lamp, peaking at 254 and 185 nm. Owing to this difference, thin film transistors (TFTs) could be fabricated on silicon wafers at a lower temperature and shorter duration as compared to the conditions used in previous studies. Various conditions, such as the heating temperature, duration of DUV irradiation, and N 2 flow rate, were optimized to control the heating temperature so as to achieve a mobility of 4.44 cm2/V·s and on–off ratio of 2 × 107, which are much higher than those of a transistor annealed at 300 °C for 30 min (mobility, 1.31 cm2/V·s and on–off ratio, 7 × 105). Image 1 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Syntheses and characterization of α-Keggin- and α 2 -Dawson-type diplatinum(II)-coordinated polyoxotungstates. • Hydrogen evolution from aqueous TEOA solution under light irradiation in the presence of diplatinum(II) complex and eosin Y. • Cs 6 [α 2 -P 2 W 17 O 61 { cis -Pt(NH 3) 2 } 2 ]∙13H 2 O (Cs-P 2 W 17 -Pt-NH 3) exhibited the highest activities. • Cs-P 2 W 17 -Pt-NH 3 suppressed the decomposition of eosin Y, with faster formation of the heteropoly blue species. The tetramethylammonium and cesium salts of diplatinum(II) complexes composed of mono-lacunary α-Keggin- and α 2 -Dawson-type polyoxotungstates, [(CH 3) 4 N] 4 H[α-AlW 11 O 39 { cis -Pt(NH 3) 2 } 2 ]⋅11H 2 O (TMA-AlW 11 -Pt-NH 3), [(CH 3) 4 N] 4 H[α-BW 11 O 39 { cis -Pt(NH 3) 2 } 2 ]⋅9H 2 O (TMA-BW 11 -Pt-NH 3), Cs 4 [α-GeW 11 O 39 {Pt(bpy)} 2 ]⋅10H 2 O (bpy = 2,2′-bipyridine; Cs-GeW 11 -Pt-bpy), Cs 3.5 H 0.5 [α-GeW 11 O 39 {Pt(phen)} 2 ]⋅3H 2 O (phen = 1,10-phenanthroline; Cs-GeW 11 -Pt-phen), and Cs 6 [α 2 -P 2 W 17 O 61 { cis -Pt(NH 3) 2 } 2 ]⋅13H 2 O (Cs-P 2 W 17 -Pt-NH 3), were synthesized and characterized by X-ray crystallography, elemental analysis, TG/DTA, FTIR, and solution {1H and 31P} NMR spectroscopy. The characterization results showed that the two platinum(II) moieties, [ cis -Pt(NH 3) 2 ]2+, [Pt(bpy)]2+, and [Pt(phen)]2+, were coordinated to the mono-vacant site of [XW 11 O 39 ](12−n)− (X n+ = Al3+, B3+, and Ge4+) and [α 2 -P 2 W 17 O 61 ]10−. When the eight platinum(II) compounds, [(CH 3) 4 N] 3 [α-PW 11 O 39 { cis -Pt(NH 3) 2 } 2 ]⋅10H 2 O (TMA-PW 11 -Pt-NH 3), [(CH 3) 4 N] 4 [α-SiW 11 O 39 { cis -Pt(NH 3) 2 } 2 ]·13H 2 O (TMA-SiW 11 -Pt-NH 3), [(CH 3) 4 N] 4 [α-GeW 11 O 39 { cis -Pt(NH 3) 2 } 2 ]·11H 2 O (TMA-GeW 11 -Pt-NH 3), TMA-AlW 11 -Pt-NH 3 , TMA-BW 11 -Pt-NH 3 , Cs-GeW 11 -Pt-bpy , Cs-GeW 11 -Pt-phen , and Cs-P 2 W 17 -Pt-NH 3 were used as photocatalysts for hydrogen evolution from aqueous triethanolamine (TEOA) solution under the light irradiation, Cs-P 2 W 17 -Pt-NH 3 exhibited the highest activities among the eight diplatinum(II) compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Light provides a potential approach to modulate magnetism due to the low energy consumption, which could be used for the development of optical-magnetic coupling devices, data storage technology and quantum computation technology. In this work, NiFe 2 O 4 nanocrystals with inverse spinel structure confined in non-magnetic Al 2 O 3 film are synthesized. Based on theoretical calculation and experimental validation, it is revealed that the NiFe 2 O 4 nanocrystals experience compressive strain from Al 2 O 3 film. The compressive strain can be partially relaxed, leading to the formation of disorder layers at the surfaces of strained NiFe 2 O 4 nanocrystals, which provide an ideal platform to modulate magnetism optically. A remarkable light-modulated ferromagnetism in the strained NiFe 2 O 4 nanocrystals is observed. This work demonstrates a novel approach to optically engineer the ferromagnetic properties for applications in next generation of magnetic nano-devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • Long exposure to nitrogen exhaustion had minor effects on total lipid accumulation. • Total lipids were reduced under light and darkness after nitrogen replenishment. • Total lipid reduction lagged behind nitrogen replenishment under nitrogen depletion. • Total lipids were primarily utilised upon replenishment under nitrogen exhaustion. • Immediate crude protein accumulation was observed after nitrogen replenishment. Abstract Cultivation conditions influence microalgal cellular components, such as lipid accumulation under nutrient depletion, high light irradiation and salinity stress. In this study, indigenous microalgal consortia were cultivated in batch mode using an actual treated effluent. The temporal response of cellular components to the variations in nitrogen concentration and influence of light irradiation on the response were investigated. Prolonged exposure of indigenous microalgal consortia to nitrogen exhaustion had minor effects on total lipid accumulation and enhancement of energy content. Nitrogen replenishment was followed by immediate crude protein accumulation for growth recovery. Total lipid reduction was observed under light and dark conditions after nitrogen replenishment. A one-day lag after nitrogen replenishment in the total lipid reduction was revealed under nitrogen depletion; meanwhile, under nitrogen exhaustion, lipids were utilised as the primary carbon and/or energy source after replenishment, as represented by the decrease from 10.8% to 9.04% within 6 h after the replenishment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Combinations of semiconductor nanoparticles (NPs) with noble metal NPs enable an increase in the photoactivity of semiconductor NPs into the visible and near-infrared regions. The design rationale of the semiconductor-metal hybrid nanostructures for the optimization of charge carrier separation and reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation remains unclear. In this study, the interactions of Au nanorods (AuNRs) with TiO2 NPs were modulated by controlling their surface charges. Positively charged AuNRs formed aggregates with the negatively charged TiO2 NPs (AuNR@CTAB/TiO2) upon mixing, suggesting that Schottky junctions may exist between Au and TiO2. In contrast, negatively charged AuNRs (AuNR@PSS) remained spatially separated from the TiO2 NPs in the mixed suspension (AuNR@PSS/TiO2), owing to electrostatic repulsion. We used electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy to detect the separation of charged carriers and ROS generation in these two mixtures under simulated sunlight irradiation. We also explored the role of dissolved oxygen in charge carrier separation and ROS generation by continuously introducing oxygen into the AuNR@CTAB/TiO2 suspension under simulated sunlight irradiation. Moreover, the generation of ROS by the AuNR@CTAB/TiO2 and AuNR@PSS/TiO2 mixtures were also examined under 808 nm laser irradiation. Our results show that the photogenerated electrons of excited semiconductor NPs are readily transferred to noble metal NPs simply by collisions, but the transfer of photogenerated hot electrons from excited AuNRs to TiO2 NPs is more stringent and requires the formation of Schottky junctions. In addition, the introduction of oxygen is an efficient way to enhance the photocatalytic activity of semiconductor NPs/noble metal NPs system combinations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Highlights • Gas sensing response/recovery kinetics of NO sensing by ZnO with light irradiation and Au catalytic effect at room temperature. • Molecular dynamics consideration for adsorption and desorption to explain the detection of ppm level gas concentrations. • The nano-effect in varying thicknesses of ZnO. Abstract ZnO thin-films with precisely controlled thicknesses were fabricated by the atomic layer deposition and their NO gas sensing properties were investigated at different temperatures, and in particular, under light irradiation of various energy and intensity at room temperature with and without Au catalyst. The molecular dynamics of NO and O 2 during the response and recovery cycles in relation with the NO sensing performance in air environment was elaborated using the energy diagram modelled for adsorption and desorption kinetics of the gas molecules. The blue light irradiation combined with Au catalytic effect greatly enhanced the NO response rate, but delayed the recovery rate in the air environment via molecular dynamic interference from the environmental oxygen. The optimum condition for NO sensing was obtained for the film thickness, light energy and intensity. Critical issues for the stable sensor operation such as concentration dependence, gas selectivity, and humidity effect were also reported. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Due to the significant public health risks, there is substantial scientific interest in the increasing abundance of antibiotic-resistance bacteria (ARB) and the spread of antibiotic-resistance genes (ARGs) in aquatic environments. To clearly understand the mechanism of ARG transfer, this study examined the conjugative transfer of genes encoding resistance to cephalosporin (b l a C T X ) and polymyxin (mcr-1) from two antibiotic-resistant donor strains, namely E. coli DH5α (CTX) and E. coli DH5α (MCR), and to a streptomycin-resistant receptor strain (E. coli C600 (Sm)). Conjugative transfer was specifically studied under different light irradiation conditions including visible light (VL), simulated sunlight (SS) and ultraviolet light (UV 254nm). Results show that the conjugative transfer frequency was not affected by VL irradiation, while it was slightly improved (2–10 fold) by SS irradiation and extremely accelerated (up to 100 fold) by UV irradiation. Furthermore, this study also explored the link between ARG transfer and stress conditions. This was done by studying physiological and biochemical changes; oxidative stress response; and functional gene expression of co-cultured AR- E. coli strains under stress conditions. When correlated with the transfer frequency results, we found that VL irradiation did not affect the physiological and biochemical characteristics of the bacteria, or induce oxidative stress and gene expression. For SS irradiation, oxidative stress occurred slowly, with a slight increase in the expression of target genes in the bacterial cells. In contrast, UV irradiation, rapidly inactivated the bacteria, the degree of oxidative stress was very severe and the expression of the target genes was markedly up-regulated. Our study could provide new insight into the underlying mechanisms and links between accelerated conjugative transfer and oxidative stress, as well as the altered expression of genes relevant to conjugation and other stress responses in bacterial cells. Graphical abstract Image 1 Highlights • The transfer frequency of b l a C T X and mcr-1 genes was not affected by VL irradiation. • Simulated sunlight and especially UV radiation stimulate ARG conjugative transfer. • The conjugative transfer links with bacterial oxidative stress and gene expression. • The conjugative transfer frequency was positive related to bacterial stress response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract We report in this work the enhancement effect of light irradiation on the electrochemistry and electrochemiluminescence (ECL) of luminol at the bare glassy carbon electrode (GCE). Light irradiation on the GCE surface induced the formation of hot electron-hole pairs. In alkaline solutions, hot holes can oxidize hydroxide anions to hydroxyl radicals that are capable of promoting the oxidation of luminol to generate larger current and stronger ECL. Moreover, the stability of current and ECL is also significantly improved upon light irradiation. This study provides a simple method to enhance the electrochemistry and ECL of luminol that have promise in improving the sensitivity of luminol-based chemical analysis and bioanalysis. Graphical abstract Unlabelled Image Highlights • Photocurrent was observed with luminol at bare glassy carbon electrode (GCE). • Illuminated GCE showed sensitizing effect on hydroxyl radical production. • Electrochemiluminescence (ECL) of luminol was greatly intensified by lighting up the GCE. • Light irradiation favored the stability of oxidation current and ECL of luminol. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the past seven years, we have been preparing the sample environment equipment and related devices for light irradiation experiments at the Materials and Life Science Experimental Facility (MLF) in Japan Proton Accelerator Research Complex (J-PARC). Two light sources are available at the facility: a xenon lamp (300 W) and a mercury lamp (250 W). Samples can be irradiated by homogeneous wide-area (25 mm × 25 mm) light using an optical fibre and a lens unit. The shutter of the light source can be controlled remotely from the operation cabin at the MLF. The timing of the opening and closing of the shutter is recorded using a photodetector and the data acquisition system at the MLF. Software for measuring the time-dependent neutron reflectivity is available. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This review focuses on the investigation and development of various support materials in TiO2 photocatalyst system with special emphasis on the photodecolorization of synthetic dyes. Efforts have been devoted to find suitable support material of TiO2 for improving its recovery efficiency and adsorption capability. The relationship between the structural characteristics and physicochemical reactivity properties of the supported TiO2 photocatalysis has been highlighted. The vicinity of photocatalysis and support system significantly accelerated the transfer step between adsorption and overall oxidative of decolorization process. Comparison of the photodecolorization with several synthetic dyes has been made and concluded that the photocatalytic activities have been influenced by the structural and surface properties of the photocatalyst.Graphical Abstract: [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, we put forward a prescription of achieving spin selective electron transfer by means of light irradiation through a tight-binding (TB) magnetic chain whose site energies are modulated in the form of well known Aubry–Andre–Harper (AAH) model. The interaction of itinerant electrons with local magnetic moments in the magnetic system provides a misalignment between up and down spin channels which leads to a finite spin polarization (SP) upon locating the Fermi energy in a suitable energy zone. Both the energy channels are significantly affected by the irradiation which is directly reflected in degree of spin polarization as well as in its phase. We include the irradiation effect through Floquet ansatz and compute spin polarization coefficient by evaluating transmission probabilities using Green’s function prescription. Our analysis can be utilized to investigate spin dependent transport phenomena in any driven magnetic system with quasiperiodic modulations.

• Light significantly improved nutrient removal in the SNDPR system. • Continuous light allows rapid establishment of partial nitrification (PN). • Intermittent light stably maintained PN performance by inhibiting NOB growth. • Intermittent light promoted dominant growth of Accumulibacter with high GAM. • Light inhibited NOB translation activity and enhanced GAM-related enzyme activity. Partial nitrification (PN) and high glycogen accumulating metabolism (GAM) activity are the basis for efficient nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) removal in simultaneous nitrification endogenous denitrification and phosphorus removal (SNDPR) systems. However, achieving these processes in practical operations is challenging. This study proposes that light irradiation is a novel strategy to enhance the nutrient removal performance of the SNDPR system with low carbon to nitrogen ratios (C/N of 3.3–4.1) domestic wastewater. Light energy densities (Es) of 55–135 J/g VSS were found to promote the activity of ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) and GAM, while inhibiting the activity of nitrite-oxidizing bacteria (NOB) and polyphosphate accumulating metabolism (PAM). Long-term exposure to different light patterns at Es of 55–135 J/g VSS revealed that continuous light rapidly achieved PN by inhibiting NOB activity and promoted the growth of glycogen accumulating organisms (GAOs), allowing the removal of above 82 % N and below 80 % P. Intermittent light maintained stable PN by inhibiting the activity and growth of NOB and promoted the growth of polyphosphate accumulating organisms (PAOs) with high GAM activity (Accmulibacer IIC-ii and IIC-iii), allowing the removal of above 82 % N and 95 % P. Flow cytometry and enzyme activity assays showed that light promoted GAM-related enzyme activity and the metabolic activity of partial Accmulibacer II over other endogenous denitrifying bacteria, while inhibiting NOB translation activity. These findings provide a new approach for enhancing nutrient removal, especially for achieving PN and promoting GAM activity, in SNDPR systems treating low C/N ratio domestic wastewater using light irradiation. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]