Search Results (168)

The technical challenge of balancing radiant illuminance and the angular diameter of the simulated sun remains unsolved, preventing the realization of a solar simulator with both a 32′ angular diameter and a solar constant irradiance. This paper proposes a direct solar radiation simulation method using grating anomalous dispersion and a technological implementation scheme. This new architecture consists of a spectrally modulated optical engine, a diffractive combining system, and a multi-aperture imaging reconstruction system. We designed an optical system for simulating direct solar radiation, which achieves a high degree of reproducibility of natural direct solar radiation characteristics. The performance of this system was verified through simulation, with the results indicating that the solar direct radiation simulator achieves an angular diameter of 31.7′ while maintaining radiant illuminance above a solar constant. Additionally, the system spectral match to both the extraterrestrial (AM0G) and terrestrial global (AM1.5G) solar spectra, along with its uniformity, complies with an A+ grade. The studied direct solar radiation simulation is currently the only instrument capable of achieving a solar constant of an angular diameter less than 32′. This research revolutionizes the structure and principle of the traditional solar simulator, makes up for the deficiencies of the existing solar simulation technology, further improves the theoretical system of solar direct radiation simulation, and has far-reaching scientific significance for the development and application of solar simulation technology. Full article

Watermelon chlorotic stunt virus (WmCSV), a bipartite begomovirus, poses a severe and expanding threat to global cucurbit and watermelon production, driving an urgent need to unravel its genetic diversity indices and evolutionary complexities. To elucidate its evolutionary history, this study investigated the genetic diversity, evolutionary dynamics, and global dispersal of its genomic components, DNA-A (WmA) and DNA-B (WmB). The analyses uncovered striking contrasts between the components. WmB exhibited markedly greater genetic diversity (π = 0.0508 vs. 0.0119 for WmA), a slightly faster evolutionary rate (1.26 × 10⁻⁴ vs. 1.44 × 10⁻³ substitutions/site/year), and a far more complex recombination profile, with 34 events detected compared to only one in WmA. The abundance of recombination breakpoints in WmB underscores its central role in shaping genomic variability and adaptive potential. Phylogenetic analyses of both components unveil eight robustly supported clades per segment, predominantly shaped by geographical boundaries, hinting at localized evolutionary trajectories with constrained long-distance gene flow, with the exception of Oman. Bayesian time-scaled phylogenies and phylogeographic reconstructions further illuminate distinct dissemination pathways, suggesting an intriguing origin, with WmA likely emerging from the United States and WmB tracing back to Saudi Arabia, while the Middle East emerges as a dynamic epicenter for regional spread and subsequent incursions into the Americas. Together, these findings reveal contrasting evolutionary forces driving WmCSV diversification and provide critical insights into its origins and ongoing global emergence. Full article

Background: Trifocal and extended depth-of-focus (EDoF) multifocal intraocular lenses (MIOLs) are currently widely used after cataract surgery to restore vision at multiple distances. In vitro studies of MIOLs are necessary to evaluate their optical behavior providing surgeons with evidence to support the appropriate selection of the best lens for each patient. Methods: The FineVision POD F, Acriva Trinova Pro C, AT LARA 829MP, and AcrySof IQ Vivity lenses were assessed using a dedicated optical bench. Optical quality was quantified using the through-focus modulation transfer function (TF-MTF) and the area under the modulation transfer function (MTFa), both calculated from the point spread function (PSF). Halo formation was qualitatively analyzed. Results: The FineVision POD F and Acriva Trinova Pro C lenses exhibited trifocal behavior, with optical performance varying according to pupil size and wavelength. The AT LARA 829MP lens functioned as a low-addition bifocal under monochromatic green light but demonstrated EDoF characteristics under polychromatic illumination. The AcrySof IQ Vivity lens displayed an EDoF profile derived from the superposition of multiple closely spaced foci under polychromatic evaluation. Halo assessment revealed lens-dependent differences, with the AcrySof IQ Vivity showing the smallest halo extent. Conclusions: This in vitro study demonstrates differences in the optical and chromatic performance of trifocal and EDoF IOLa. Trifocal designs showed variable behavior related to diffraction orders the use but generally favored far vision under mesopic conditions, with similar trends observed in EDoF lenses. EDoF designs produced fewer halos than trifocals. These quantitative findings may translate into clinically relevant effects, supporting MIOL selection tailored to patient needs and improving the predictability and personalization of surgical outcomes toward greater spectacle independence. Full article

Background: Cardiorenal syndrome (CRS) reflects bidirectional heart–kidney injury whose mechanisms extend far beyond hemodynamics. High-throughput genomics and multi-omics now illuminate the molecular circuits that couple cardiac and renal dysfunction. Methods: We narratively synthesize animal and human studies leveraging transcriptomics, proteomics, peptidomics, metabolomics, and non-coding RNA profiling to map convergent pathways in CRS and to highlight biomarker and therapeutic implications. Results: Across acute and chronic CRS models, omics consistently converge on extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling and fibrosis (e.g., FN1, POSTN, collagens), immune–inflammatory activation (IL-6 axis, macrophage/complement signatures), renin–angiotensin–aldosterone system hyperactivity, oxidative stress, and metabolic/mitochondrial derangements in both organs. Single-nucleus and bulk transcriptomes reveal tubular dedifferentiation after cardiac arrest-induced AKI and myocardial reprogramming with early CKD, while quantitative renal proteomics in heart failure demonstrates marked upregulation of ACE/Ang II and pro-fibrotic matricellular proteins despite near-normal filtration. Human translational data corroborate these signals: urinary peptidomics detects CRS-specific collagen fragments and protease activity, and circulating FN1/POSTN and selected microRNAs (notably miR-21) show diagnostic potential. Epigenetic and microRNA networks appear to integrate these axes, nominating targets such as anti-miR-21 and anti-fibrotic strategies; pathway-directed repurposing exemplifies dual-organ benefit. Conclusions: Genomics and multi-omics recast CRS as a systems disease driven by intertwined fibrosis, inflammation, neurohormonal and metabolic programs. We propose a translational framework that advances (i) composite biomarker panels combining injury, fibrosis, and regulatory RNAs; (ii) precision, pathway-guided therapies; and (iii) integrated, longitudinal multi-omics of well-phenotyped CRS cohorts to enable prediction and personalized intervention. Full article

Bow-tie microwave diodes have proven to be effective sensors of electromagnetic radiation across a wide wavelength range, from centimeter-scale radio waves to micrometer-scale mid-infrared radiation. Their operation is based on electron heating by strong electric fields. However, the experimental data obtained so far remain inconclusive, and the exact nature of the voltage detected by bow-tie diodes is not yet fully understood. In this work, we extend the investigation of the electrical properties of bow-tie diodes based on modulation-doped semiconductor structures with a wide spacer. The analysis focuses on the influence of diode metal contact geometry, illumination conditions, and orientation relative to the crystallographic axes. To elucidate the origin of the voltage detected by bow-tie diodes, we compare theoretical predictions of their electrical parameters—including voltage sensitivity, electrical resistance, asymmetry of the I–V characteristic in weak electric fields, and the nonlinearity coefficient of the I–V characteristic in strong electric fields—with corresponding experimental results. The results of our investigations indicate that, for most diodes, the detected voltage originates from electron heating by the microwave electric field, as evidenced by the polarity of the detected voltage matching the thermoelectric emf of hot carriers. Full article

The study of dialects leads very naturally to the study of their geographic distribution and the nature of the distribution, e.g., by examining whether the distribution is based simply on geographic distance or on relatively distinct dialect regions. Dialectal dynamics poses the further question of why the distribution takes the form it does. Does variation arise through migration, i.e., due to the relative lack of communication among people who live far from one another? Sociolinguists have shown convincingly that variation is often employed to indicate identification with others, leading to the adoption of speech habits and changes in the distribution of variation. Purely linguistic processes may push some varieties toward change while others are more resistant, and contact with other languages and dialects, including particularly standard languages, almost inevitably results in changes. This volume examines studies in the area of dialectal dynamics, including studies focused on methods that promise to illuminate this complex field. Full article

Indoor horticulture requires a substantial quantity of electricity to meet crops extended photoperiodic requirements for optimal photosynthetic rate. Simultaneously, global electricity costs have grown dramatically in recent years, endangering the sustainability and profitability of indoor vertical farms and/or modern greenhouses that use artificial lighting systems to accelerate crop development and growth. This study investigates the growth rate and physiological development of cherry tomato plants cultivated in a pilot indoor vertical farm at the Agricultural University of Athens’ Laboratory of Farm Structures (AUA) under continuous and disruptive lighting. The leaf physiological traits from multiple photoperiodic stress treatments were analyzed and utilized to estimate the plant’s tolerance rate under varied illumination conditions. Four different photoperiodic treatments were examined and compared, firstly plants grew under 14 h of continuous light (C-14L10D/control), secondly plants grew under a normalized photoperiod of 14 h with intermittent light intervals of 10 min of light followed by 50 min of dark (NI-14L10D/stress), the third treatment where plants grew under 14 h of a load-shifted energy demand response intermittent lighting schedule (LSI-14L10D/stress) and finally plants grew under 13 h photoperiod following of a load-shifted energy demand response intermittent lighting schedule (LSI-13L11D/stress). Plants were subjected also under two different light spectra for all the treatments, specifically WHITE and Blue/Red/Far-red light composition. The aim was to develop flexible, energy-efficient lighting protocols that maintain crop productivity while reducing electricity consumption in indoor settings. Results indicated that short periods of disruptive light did not negatively impact physiological responses, and plants exhibited tolerance to abiotic stress induced by intermittent lighting. Post-harvest data indicated that intermittent lighting regimes maintained or enhanced growth compared to continuous lighting, with spectral composition further influencing productivity. Plants under LSI-14L10D and B/R/FR spectra produced up to 93 g fresh fruit per plant and 30.4 g dry mass, while consuming up to 16 kWh less energy than continuous lighting—highlighting the potential of flexible lighting strategies for improved energy-use efficiency. Full article

Sustainable farmland management is vital for global food security and for mitigating environmental degradation and climate change. While individual practices such as crop rotation and no-tillage are well-documented, this review synthesizes current evidence to illuminate the critical synergistic effects of integrating four key strategies: crop rotation, conservation tillage, organic amendments, and soil microbiome management. Crop rotation enhances nutrient cycling and disrupts pest cycles, while conservation tillage preserves soil structure, reduces erosion, and promotes carbon sequestration. Organic amendments replenish soil organic matter and stimulate biological activity, and a healthy soil microbiome boosts plant resilience to stress and enhances nutrient acquisition through key functional groups like arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMFs). Critically, the integration of these practices yields amplified benefits that far exceed their individual contributions. Integrated management systems not only significantly increase crop yields (by up to 15–30%) and soil organic carbon but also deliver profound global ecosystem services, with a potential to sequester 2.17 billion tons of CO₂ and reduce soil erosion by 2.41 billion tons annually. Despite challenges such as initial yield variability, leveraging these synergies through precision agriculture represents the future direction for the field. This review concludes that a holistic, systems-level approach is essential for building regenerative and climate-resilient agroecosystems. Full article

In recent years, microalgae have gained significant biotechnological importance as a sustainable source of various metabolites of industrial interest. Among these, paramylon, a polysaccharide produced by the microalga Euglena gracilis, stands out for its diverse applications in biomedicine and pharmaceuticals. E. gracilis is an adaptable secondary eukaryote capable of growing photoautotrophically, heterotrophically and mixotrophically. During photoautotrophic growth, varying light conditions impact biomass and paramylon production. To investigate the effects of varying illumination more thoroughly, we designed and built a modular photobioreactor that allowed us to simultaneously evaluate the photoautotrophic growth of E. gracilis under twelve different light conditions: seven single-spectrum lights (ultraviolet, royal blue, blue, green, red, far-red, and infrared) and five composite-spectrum lights (3000 K, 10,000 K, and 30,000 K white lights, amber light, and “Full-spectrum” light). The 24-day growing kinetics were recorded, and the growth parameters were calculated for each light regime. Both growth curves and pigment composition present differences attributable to the light regime used for cell culture. Additionally, photosynthetic and respiratory machinery functionality were proven by oximetry. Finally, our results strongly suggest that the far-red component enhances paramylon production during the stationary phase. Full article

Reliable early-stage yield forecasts are essential in precision viticulture, enabling timely interventions such as harvest planning, canopy management, and crop load regulation. Since grape yield is directly related to the number and size of bunches, the early detection of inflorescences and bunches, carried out even before flowering, provides a valuable foundation for estimating potential yield far in advance of veraison. Traditional yield prediction methods are labor-intensive, subjective, and often restricted to advanced phenological stages. This study presents a deep learning-based approach for detecting grapevine inflorescences and bunches during early development, assessing how phenological stage and illumination conditions influence detection performance using the YOLOv11 architecture under commercial field conditions. A total of 436 RGB images were collected across two phenological stages (pre-bloom and fruit-set), two lighting conditions (daylight and artificial night-time illumination), and six grapevine cultivars. All images were manually annotated following a consistent protocol, and models were trained using data augmentation to improve generalization. Five models were developed: four specific to each condition and one combining all scenarios. The results show that the fruit-set stage under daylight provided the best performance (F1 = 0.77, R² = 0.97), while for inflorescences, night-time imaging yielded the most accurate results (F1 = 0.71, R² = 0.76), confirming the benefits of artificial lighting in early stages. These findings define optimal scenarios for early-stage organ detection and support the integration of automated detection models into vineyard management systems. Future work will address scalability and robustness under diverse conditions. Full article

The S-band (i.e., 2–4 GHz) is essential in multiple fields of radio astronomy, ranging from pulsar and solar studies to investigations of the early universe. The Italian 64 m fully steerable Sardinia Radio Telescope (SRT) is a system designed to operate in a wide frequency band ranging from 300 MHz to 116 GHz. Recently, the Astronomical Observatory of Cagliari (OAC) has been developing a new cryogenic seven-beam S-band radio receiver. This paper describes the design, fabrication and electromagnetic characterization of the feed horn for this new receiver. It has been designed to observe the sky in the 3–4.5 GHz frequency range and it will be composed of seven feed horns arranged in a regular hexagonal layout with a central element. The feed horns are optimized for placement in the primary focus and consequently illuminate the 64 m primary mirror of the SRT. The electromagnetic characterization of the single feed horn is crucial to verify the receiver’s performance; for this reason, a single feed horn has been manufactured to compare the measured reflection coefficient and the radiated far-field diagram with the results of the electromagnetic simulations, performed using the CST^® Suite Studio 2024 and Ansys HFSS^® Electromagnetics Suite 2021 R1 (To make the S-parameters and the radiation diagram measurement procedure feasible, the single feed horn has been connected to two adapters: a circular-to-rectangular waveguide adapter and a coax-to-rectangular waveguide adapter. The results of the measurements performed in the anechoic chamber are in very good agreement with the simulated results. Additionally, the feed horn phase center position is evaluated, merging the measurements and simulations results for an optimal installation on the primary focus of the SRT. Full article

As far as history tells, people have set efforts both to improve the conditions and to change the visual outfit of the skin, nails, and hair. The first information on nail cosmetics is found in ancient China and Egypt, where various nature-derived compositions were used for changing the colour of the nails. Nowadays more mechanically and chemically durable systems for nail polishes are elaborated. This review focuses on the latest achievements in the field of UV-curable nail polishes. Herein, the polymerization mechanisms of various systems (acrylates, as well as epoxides and thiols) occurring in nail polishes are described. Besides plausible side reactions of the polymerization process are characterized. Thus, the main drawbacks for forming a uniform, perfect layer are illuminated. For effective curing, the choice of photoinitiators may be crucial; thus, various types of photoinitiators as well as their main advantages and disadvantages are characterized. Ensuring effective adhesion between the substrate (human nail) and the polymer film is one of the challenges for the nail polish industry—thus the plausible interactions between the adhesion promoters and the keratin are described. Regarding the film-forming agents, a comprehensive overview of the composition of the traditional UV-curing nail polishes is provided, but the main emphasis is devoted to alternative, nature-derived film-forming agents that could introduce renewable resources into nail cosmetics. Additionally, this review gives short insight into the latest innovations in UV-curing nail cosmetics, like (1) nail polishes with improved pealability, (2) covalently polymer-bonded dyes and photoinitiators, thus reducing the release of the low-molecular compounds or their degradation products, and (3) UV-curing nail polishes as delivery systems for nail treatment medicine. Full article

Cities in sub-Saharan Africa are growing at an unprecedented rate, resulting in the significant expansion of peri-urban spaces. Postcolonial planning reflects the instrumental rationale continued by colonial legacies and largely fails to take the realities of the peri-urban population into account. As the example of Maputo, the Mozambican capital, demonstrates, the consequences are far-reaching. Implementing individual land titling programs promotes the commodification of space and the individualization of collective life, while the modernist vision of a homogeneous physical order leads to the socio-spatial alienation of existing residents and large-scale displacements. Employing a life-world approach in Alfred Schütz’s tradition, this paper brings the everyday reality of peri-urban dwellers into focus, offering a renewed planning agenda. Building on place-based research and life-world analytical ethnography, the reconstruction of practices and experiences illuminates the “paramount reality” of everyday life in Maputo as necessary entry points for an urban planning agenda that reconciles both the life-world of the people and the instrumental realities of state and planning actors. Applying a life-world perspective to urban planning reveals a realistic and inclusive approach grounded in the experience and social reality of the people living in the “ordinary city”. Full article

Background: It has been reported that forest bathing significantly reduced negative emotions and increased the positive feelings in both healthy males and females, as well as increasing blood serotonin in healthy males, indicating the potential for a beneficial effect on depressive status. However, an improvement effect of forest bathing on participants with depression has not been reported so far. Therefore, in order to fill this gap, this study examined the effect of forest bathing on depression in female participants with depression/depressive tendencies. Methods: Thirty-one females aged 40.1 ± 2.4 years with depression/depressive tendencies were recruited after obtaining informed consent. The study employed a randomized crossover design to compare forest bathing with city walking. They participated in day trips to a Japanese cypress forest park and to a city area of Nagano Prefecture as a control in June 2023. On both trips, they walked 2.5 km (for 90 min) in the morning and afternoon, respectively, for a total of 5.0 km per day. Blood samples were taken at 4 pm for the measurements before forest bathing on the first day and after the walking in forest and unban sites on the second and third days, at the same hospital. Concentrations of oxytocin, IGF-1, serotonin and lactic acid in blood were measured. SDS scores were calculated and the POMS test and questionnaires for subjective fatigue symptoms and sleep quality were administered before and after each trip. Temperature, humidity and illuminance were also measured in the forest and urban environments. The Nippon Medical School Central Ethics Committee approved this study. Results: Forest bathing significantly decreased SDS scores compared to city walk and the baseline, and the effect lasted for one week after forest bathing. Forest bathing also significantly increased the concentrations of blood serotonin in participants who were not taking antidepressants, significantly increased the levels of oxytocin and IGF-1 in blood, significantly increased the scores for positive feelings, and reduced the scores for negative emotions compared with city walking in the POMS test. In addition, forest bathing reduced subjective fatigue symptoms and improved sleep quality. Conclusions: These findings provided scientific evidence to contribute to understanding forest bathing as a potential intervention for preventing depression, and future research on males should further explore these effects. Full article

This paper presents a comparison of different image fusion methods for matching visible-spectrum images with thermal-spectrum (far-infrared) images, aimed at enhancing person detection using convolutional neural networks (CNNs). While object detection with RGB images is a well-developed area, it is still greatly limited by lighting conditions. This limitation poses a significant challenge in image detection playing a larger role in everyday technology, where illumination cannot always be controlled. Far-infrared images (which are partially invariant to lighting conditions) can serve as a valuable complement to RGB images in environments where illumination cannot be controlled and robust object detection is needed. In this work, various early and middle fusion techniques are presented and compared using different multispectral datasets, with the aim of addressing these limitations and improving detection performance. Full article