Search Results (1,083)

Ultraviolet (UV) radiation is a significant environmental stressor that exerts profound impacts on insect physiology, behaviour and survival. Although some insects can use UV light for spatial orientation and navigation, it can induce DNA damage, oxidative stress, and impair critical biological functions, ultimately reducing ecological fitness. Sclerodermus alternatusi Yang (Hymenoptera: Bethylidae) is a dominant ectoparasitoid of the early instar larvae of Monochamus alternatus and plays a key role in the biological control of this pest in forestry systems; however, it faces intense UV exposure in the field environment. Despite its ecological importance, the molecular mechanisms underlying its responses to UV-induced stress remain poorly understood. In this study, newly emerged adult wasps (within 24 h post-eclosion) were exposed to UVA (365 nm) and UVC (253.7 nm) radiation for 9 h under controlled laboratory conditions. Total RNA was extracted from treated and control individuals for transcriptomic analysis using RNA-Seq. A total of 505 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified; gene ontology enrichment analysis revealed that UVA exposure significantly upregulated genes involved in cellular respiration and oxidative phosphorylation, suggesting an enhanced metabolic response. Furthermore, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis revealed that UV stress modulates energy metabolism through the activation of oxidative phosphorylation and thermogenesis-related pathways, highlighting the reallocation of energy resources in response to UV-induced stress. To validate the RNA-Seq data, four representative DEGs were selected for quantitative real-time PCR (RT-qPCR) analysis. The qPCR results were consistent with the transcriptomic trends, confirming the reliability of the sequencing data. Collectively, this study provides a comprehensive overview of the molecular response mechanisms of S. alternatusi to UV stress, offering novel insights into its environmental adaptability and laying a theoretical foundation for its application in biological pest control under field conditions. Full article

Skin photoaging, marked by structural and functional changes, is mainly caused by long-term ultraviolet (UV) exposure. This study sought to create hydroxytyrosol (HT)-loaded soluble microneedles (HT MNs) and thoroughly assess their anti-photoaging effects and underlying mechanisms in vitro and in vivo. The optimized HT MNs, featuring tips with 10% HT + 5% hyaluronic acid (HA) and a backing layer of 10% polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP), demonstrated robust mechanical strength (withstanding an axial force of 10 N without fracture), adequate penetration depth (>200 μm), and efficient skin self-recovery post-removal. In vitro, HT MNs notably boosted cell viability, reduced reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, and suppressed senescence-associated β-galactosidase (A-β-Gal) expression in UVA-exposed human skin fibroblasts (HSF). In vivo, in a UVA + UVB-irradiated mouse model, HT MNs significantly enhanced skin hydration and elasticity, increased collagen density (confirmed by Masson staining), decreased malondialdehyde (MDA) content, and elevated the activities of glutathione (GSH), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px). Western blot analysis further revealed that HT MNs upregulated the expression of collagen type I alpha 1 (COL1A1), elastin (ELN), hyaluronan synthase 2 (HAS2), and filaggrin (FLG), while downregulating matrix metalloproteinase 1. Overall, these findings suggest that HT MNs effectively mitigate UV-induced photoaging through antioxidant, anti-senescence, and extracellular matrix (ECM)-regulating mechanisms, underscoring their potential as a novel transdermal anti-photoaging therapy. Full article

The biological effects of radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMFs) remain an unresolved scientific issue with important societal relevance, particularly in the context of the global deployment of fifth-generation (5G) wireless technologies. The skin is continuously exposed to both RF-EMFs and ultraviolet (UV) radiation, a well-established inducer of oxidative stress and DNA damage, making it a relevant model for assessing combined environmental exposures. In this study, we investigated whether post-exposure to 5G RF-EMFs (3.5 and 28 GHz) modulates ultraviolet A (UVA)-induced genotoxic stress in human keratinocytes (HaCaT) and murine melanoma (B16) cells. Post-UV RF-EMF exposure significantly reduced DNA damage markers, including phosphorylated histone H2AX (γH2AX) foci formation (by approximately 30–50%) and comet tail moments (by 60–80%), and suppressed intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation (by 56–93%). These effects were accompanied by selective attenuation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) phosphorylation (reduced by 55–85%). The magnitude of molecular protection was comparable to that observed with N-acetylcysteine treatment or pharmacological inhibition of p38 MAPK. In contrast, RF-EMF exposure did not reverse UV-induced reductions in cell viability or alterations in cell cycle distribution, indicating that its protective effects are confined to early molecular stress-response pathways rather than downstream survival outcomes. Together, these findings demonstrate that 5G RF-EMFs can facilitate recovery from UVA-induced molecular damage via redox-sensitive and p38-dependent mechanisms, providing mechanistic insight into the interaction between modern telecommunication frequencies and UV-induced skin stress. Full article

Industrial deployment of photocatalysis for recalcitrant wastewater treatment remains constrained by economic uncertainty and scale-up limitations. This study first reviews the current technological routes and application status of photocatalytic processes and then addresses the key obstacles through a quantitative techno-economic assessment (TEA) of a full-scale (10,000 m³/d) photocatalytic wastewater treatment plant. A process-level model integrating mass- and energy-balance calculations with equipment sizing was developed for a 280 kW UVA-LED reactor using Pt/TiO₂ as the benchmark catalyst. The framework quantifies capital (CAPEX) and operating (OPEX) expenditures and evaluates the overall economic performance of the photocatalytic treatment system. Sensitivity analysis reveals that the catalyst replacement interval and electricity tariffs are the principal economic bottlenecks, whereas improvements in catalyst performance alone provide limited cost leverage. Furthermore, the analysis indicates that supportive policy mechanisms such as carbon-credit incentives and electricity subsidies could substantially enhance economic feasibility. Overall, this work establishes a comprehensive integrated TEA framework for industrial-scale photocatalytic wastewater treatment, offering actionable design parameters and cost benchmarks to guide future commercialization. Full article

Pollen identification is critical for melissopalynology (honey authentication), ecological monitoring, and allergen tracking, yet manual microscopic analysis remains labor-intensive, subjective, and error-prone when multiple grains overlap in realistic samples. Existing automated approaches often fail to address multi-grain scenarios or lack systematic comparison across classical and deep learning paradigms, limiting their practical deployment. This study proposes a subinstance-based classification framework combining YOLOv12n object detection for grain isolation, independent classification via classical machine learning (ML), convolutional neural networks (CNNs), or Vision Transformers (ViTs), and majority voting aggregation. Five classical classifiers with systematic feature selection, three CNN architectures (ResNet50, EfficientNet-B0, ConvNeXt-Tiny), and three ViT variants (ViT-B/16, ViT-B/32, ViT-L/16) are evaluated on four datasets (full images vs. isolated grains; raw vs. CLAHE-preprocessed) for four berry pollen species (Ribes nigrum, Ribes uva-crispa, Lonicera caerulea, and Amelanchier alnifolia). Stratified image-level splits ensure no data leakage, and explainable AI techniques (SHAP, Grad-CAM++, and gradient saliency) validate biological interpretability across all paradigms. Results demonstrate that grain isolation substantially improves classical ML performance (F1 from 0.83 to 0.91 on full images to 0.96–0.99 on isolated grains, +8–13 percentage points), while deep learning excels on both levels (CNNs: F1 = 1.000 on full images with CLAHE; ViTs: F1 = 0.99). At the instance level, all paradigms converge to near-perfect discrimination (F1 ≥ 0.96), indicating sufficient capture of morphological information. Majority voting aggregation provides +3–5% gains for classical methods but only +0.3–4.8% for deep models already near saturation. Explainable AI analysis confirms that models rely on biologically meaningful cues: blue channel moments and texture features for classical ML (SHAP), grain boundaries and exine ornamentation for CNNs (Grad-CAM++), and distributed attention across grain structures for ViTs (gradient saliency). Qualitative validation on 211 mixed-pollen images confirms robust generalization to realistic multi-species samples. The proposed framework (YOLOv12n + SVC/ResNet50 + majority voting) is practical for deployment in honey authentication, ecological surveys, and fine-grained biological image analysis. Full article

With the growing demand for eco-friendly food packaging, poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT)/polylactic acid (PLA) composite films have emerged as promising biodegradable alternatives, but their inherent limitations (e.g., poor antioxidant capacity, weak UV stability, and insufficient antimicrobial activity) hinder practical applications. This study aimed to address these drawbacks by incorporating Rosmarinus officinalis L. extract (RM) as a natural multifunctional additive. PBAT/PLA/RM blend films with RM concentrations of 0.1%, 0.3%, 0.5%, and 1% were fabricated via melt extrusion and blown film processing. Key characterizations were conducted to evaluate thermal stability, mechanical properties, morphology, antioxidant activity, UV-shielding performance, antimicrobial efficacy, and biodegradability. The results showed that RM significantly enhanced the antioxidant capacity of the films, with the highest DPPH radical scavenging activity achieved at 0.3% RM. UV-blocking performance improved incrementally with increasing RM concentration, and films containing ≥0.5% RM filtered over 90% of UVA and UVB radiation. All composite films met biodegradability standards, with over 90% degradation observed after 240 days of composting, though RM prolonged the initial degradation stage by inhibiting early microbial activity. However, the antimicrobial effect of RM was limited, and concentrations exceeding 1% caused film stickiness, impeding processing. This work demonstrates that RM is a viable natural additive for functionalizing PBAT/PLA films, offering enhanced antioxidant and UV-shielding properties while maintaining biodegradability, thus providing a promising solution for sustainable food packaging. Full article

Keratoconus is a progressive, non-inflammatory corneal ectasia characterized by stromal thinning and conical protrusion. Corneal collagen cross-linking (CXL) remains the only proven treatment to halt its progression. This review compares the mechanisms, efficacy, and safety of standard (Dresden), accelerated, and transepithelial (including iontophoretic) protocols, with particular emphasis on pediatric keratoconus. Studies from PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science were comprehensively reviewed. Standard CXL remains the gold standard due to its strong biomechanical effect and long-term stability. Accelerated protocols reduce treatment time while maintaining comparable outcomes in selected patients, though the stiffening effect may be shallower. Transepithelial and iontophoretic approaches improve comfort and reduce complications but show reduced efficacy. Future perspectives include oxygen supplementation, customized fluence modulation, and pharmacologic enhancers to improve riboflavin diffusion and oxygen availability. Full article

The need for contrasting Healthcare-Associated Infections requires the promotion and support of alternative disinfection techniques. Due to the antimicrobial potential of UV, devices equipped with UVC, UVB and UVA lamps or LEDs have been developed in recent years for domestic, everyday use. In this study, four bacterial strains (S. aureus, E. faecalis, E. coli, and P. aeruginosa) were exposed to different doses of near-UVA radiation at 405 nm, with an average irradiance of 21 mW/cm², using an experimental multi-LED device. Bacterial suspensions were irradiated under both sub-lethal and non-sub-lethal stress conditions. When using only near-UVA light, the highest abatement effect was observed on P. aeruginosa (2.4 log₁₀). Treatment with osmotic stress, in combination with light irradiation, was effective on all bacterial strains (mean abatement of 2.76, 5.46, 5.31, and 1.5 log₁₀ on E. coli, E. faecalis, P. aeruginosa, and S. aureus, respectively). In heat stress conditions at 4 °C, P. aeruginosa and S. aureus species were the most susceptible (2.76 and 5.5 log₁₀), whereas at 45 °C all species, except E. faecalis (0.58 log₁₀), achieved significant reduction. The addition of exogenous photosensitive porphyrins produced a reduction in total concentrations from the lowest doses for S. aureus and P. aeruginosa, while for E. coli and E. faecalis, the reductions did not exceed 1 log₁₀ abatement. Near-UVA radiation at 405 nm has a high disinfectant potential when combined with certain sub-lethal stress conditions. The most significant germicidal effect was achieved with the use of exogenous porphyrins in S. aureus and P. aeruginosa species. This study opens perspectives on the possible future application of near-UVA radiation in disinfection in order to limit the spread of healthcare-related infections. Full article

Due to the complexity of blood glucose dynamics and the high variability of the physiological structure of diabetic patients, implementing a safe and effective insulin dosage control algorithm to keep the blood glucose of diabetic patients within the normal range (70–180 mg/dL) is currently a challenging task in the field of diabetes treatment. Deep reinforcement learning (DRL) has proven its potential in diabetes treatment in previous work, thanks to its strong advantages in solving complex dynamic and uncertain problems. It can address the challenges faced by traditional control algorithms, such as the need for patients to manually estimate carbohydrate intake before meals, the requirement to establish complex dynamic models, and the need for professional prior knowledge. However, reinforcement learning is essentially a highly exploratory trial-and-error learning strategy, which is contrary to the high-safety requirements of clinical practice. Therefore, achieving safer control has always been a major challenge for the clinical application of DRL. This paper addresses this challenge by combining the advantages of DRL and the traditional control algorithm—model predictive control (MPC). Specifically, by using the blood glucose and insulin data generated during the interaction between DRL and patients in the learning process to learn a blood glucose prediction model, the problem of MPC needing to establish a patient’s blood glucose dynamic model is solved. Then, MPC is used for forward-looking prediction and simulation of blood glucose, and a safety controller is introduced to avoid unsafe actions, thus restricting DRL control to a safer range. Experiments on the UVA/Padova glucose kinetics simulator approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) show that the time proportion of adult patients within the healthy blood glucose range under the control of the model proposed in this paper reaches 72.51%, an increase of 2.54% compared with the baseline model, and the proportion of severe hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia events is not increased, taking an important step towards the safe control of blood glucose. Full article

The United Nations and the World Health Organization provide clear guidelines to ensure water security for urban and rural populations. Common contaminants include bacteria and a variety of organic contaminants, such as medications and agricultural runoff. The rapid advancement of point-of-use water treatment is crucial to align with these international recommendations. While some problems are chronic and require long-term solutions, others are transient contamination issues that occur without warning and frequently lead to boil water advisories that can last for extended periods. In these cases, providing reliable water security requires solutions that can be deployed rapidly, are affordable, and can be implemented at the point of use with minimal operator training. Our research explores the state of the art in photocatalysis as a method for purifying water from organic contaminants and bacteria. We present a comparative analysis of various catalysts, supports, and light sources, along with our perspective on the benefits of flow systems. Practical solutions require flow techniques that are portable and can address at least the recommended survival requirements of ~7.5 L per capita per day for small communities, schools, or small hospitals. In this perspective, we propose that flow-compatible modified TiO₂ catalysts can offer practical solutions implemented with either solar light or LED sources in the UVA or visible region. Full article

The activation of TRPV1 and TRPA1 by UVA light is a complex process involving channel modulation by reactive oxygen species (ROS). The present study describes staurosporine and midostaurin, two protein kinase inhibitors, as photosensitizers that can modulate the activity of TRPV1 and TRPA1 in a UVA light-dependent manner. Patch-clamp and calcium imaging were used to investigate effects of staurosporine and midostaurin on recombinant human (h) TRPV1 and TRPA1 in HEK 293T cells and on native mouse dorsal root ganglion (DRG) cells. Staurosporine applied alone did not induce channel activation, but co-application with UVA light activated both TRPV1 and TRPA1. Staurosporine with UVA light also potentiated TRPV1-mediated membrane currents induced by heat and protons. Midostaurin induced the UVA light-independent activation and sensitization of TRPV1 and TRPA1, and this effect was strongly potentiated by UVA light. Effects induced by both staurosporine and midostaurin were reversed by the reducing agent dithiothreitol (DTT). Midostaurin induced a calcium influx in TRPA1-expressing DRG neurons. Our results show that staurosporine and midostaurin modulate the activity of TRPV1 and TRPA1 channels in the presence of UVA light. These photosensitizing properties can be relevant when staurosporine is used for in vitro experiments, and they may account for the phototoxic side effects of midostaurin. Full article

Outdoor glass is subject to degradation due to environmental factors, which alter its physical and chemical properties depending on the exposure conditions. Studying glass weathering and the effectiveness and durability of conservation treatments is necessary for developing optimal conservation strategies for glass heritage objects. Here, an accelerated aging protocol based on actual environmental data is successfully employed to replicate weathering caused by rain runoff, temperature, humidity and UVA radiation in unsheltered conditions. Two types of silicate glass with traditional compositions were artificially aged to investigate the corrosion processes and produce representative weathered substrates for applying and aging protective treatments. The performance of two recently marketed Siox-5 sol–gel systems was compared with that of Paraloid B72. Glass specimens, as well as leaching rain solutions, were analyzed with different techniques, including SEM/EDS, FTIR-ATR, color measurements and MP-AES. The composition of the glass influences weathering patterns, which in turn affect coating adhesion and overall performance. Sol–gel coatings demonstrate good chemical stability and tend to adhere more effectively to degraded surfaces than to well-preserved ones. The coatings exhibit varying degrees of sensitivity to environmental factors, with one of the sol–gel systems generally performing better than the others under the considered exposure conditions. Full article

The microbial resistance era prompts researchers to find new effective antimicrobial agents. Trimetallic nanocomposites consisting of AuAg nanostructures and iron oxide nanoparticles can represent an efficient tool to inhibit bacterial growth as demonstrated here. The trimetallic nanocomposites, prepared by green chemistry approach, are grafted on a modified, plasma-treated, flexible polyethylene terephthalate (PET) substrate. Spectroscopic and microscopic characterization of the trimetallic nanocomposites grafted on modified PET together with antibacterial tests confirm the successful applicability of the newly developed material: a statistically significant antibacterial effect against E. coli is proven. This effect is further pronounced by a short time (5 min) UVA light (365 nm) irradiation. The present work thus reports on the feasible preparation of the brand-new material that is successfully used in E. coli colony growth regulations. The impact of small noble metal nanostructures containing Ag and UVA light-activated iron oxide particles on the bacterium can be combined and results in the improved antibacterial performance of the final material. Employing such material may represent a potential strategy for fighting against the development of bacteria resistance. Full article

Skin is constantly exposed to UV radiation. While topical sunscreens are the main preventative measure, oral photoprotective agents are emerging as promising systemic adjuncts, offering uniform, continuous protection. This study presents the results of two clinical trials designed to evaluate the efficacy of supplementation with a standardized coriander (Coriandrum sativum L.) seed oil (CSO) in mitigating UV-induced skin damage, in comparison with a placebo. The first trial investigated the effects of CSO supplementation on women with reactive skin, assessing UVA+B-induced skin erythema and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) release. The second trial included women of all skin types and, in addition to the outcomes mentioned above, examined UVA-induced lipoperoxidation. Measurements were taken before and after 56 days of supplementation. CSO supplementation led to a significant reduction in UV-induced skin erythema and associated TNF-α levels in both cohorts, with decreases of 11.8% and 24.1% in the reactive skin group and 18.1% and 18.7% in the cohort with all skin types, respectively. In women of all skin types, UV-induced skin lipoperoxidation was reduced by 31.9% at 4 h and by 69.9% at 24 h post-exposure. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study reporting the photoprotective efficacy of CSO. This finding is attributed to CSO’s high petroselinic acid content and its known anti-inflammatory properties. Full article

This study develops biodegradable chitosan (CS) films plasticized with natural deep eutectic solvents (NaDES) composed of choline chloride and glycolic acid (1:3 molar ratio). The same NaDES served as an effective extraction medium for bioactive compounds from hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna), which were incorporated into the chitosan matrix to enhance functionality. CS films with 44–70 wt% NaDES were evaluated, and the 50 wt% formulation exhibited the optimal mechanical and barrier performance. Upon extract incorporation, this film showed marked decreases in Young’s modulus (131→30 MPa) and tensile strength (24→12 MPa), relative to the extract-free counterparts, indicating enhanced flexibility. Stress–strain analyses confirmed a progressive reduction in stiffness with increasing NaDES content, evidencing its plasticizing effect. FTIR analysis revealed extensive hydrogen-bonding between CS and NaDES, alongside successful integration of polyphenolics extracted from hawthorn. Morphological analysis showed smooth, dense, homogeneous surfaces. Films exhibited strong UV absorption, with extract-loaded samples extending into the UVA and visible ranges, enhancing light-barrier properties. The presence of polyphenolic compounds enhanced the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging activity to nearly twice that of the neat CS films. These combined mechanical, optical, and antioxidant properties highlight the potential of these NaDES-based chitosan films for sustainable active packaging. Full article