Search Results (2,509)

LED-based trapping may improve whitefly management, but light conditions that attract pests may also affect beneficial predators. This study evaluated how wavelength, irradiance, and temperature influence the phototactic behavior of Bemisia tabaci Middle East-Asia Minor 1 (MEAM1) and its predator Serangium japonicum (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae). Adults were tested in Y-tube assays across multiple wavelength–irradiance combinations at 25 ± 1 °C, followed by temperature-dependent experiments at 20, 25, 30, and 35 °C under selected settings. B. tabaci MEAM1 consistently showed strong positive phototaxis. At irradiances of 100, 200, 400, 600, and 800 µW cm⁻², positive phototaxis was highest under 480 nm light, whereas at 1000 µW cm⁻², it was highest under 520 nm light. For S. japonicum, negative phototaxis was highest under 440 nm at 200 µW cm⁻² and under 400 nm at 600, 800, and 1000 µW cm⁻², and this avoidance weakened as temperature increased. Under a strict predator-safe criterion, 400 nm at 600 µW cm⁻² was the best coordinated setting at 20–30 °C, whereas 440 nm at 600 µW cm⁻² was the best strict predator-safe setting at 35 °C. These results indicate that selective LED trapping should be deployed as a temperature-aware strategy rather than as a single fixed setting. The findings provide a basis for improving the compatibility of physical and biological control in B. tabaci management. Full article

Nanobubbles have attracted increasing interest in food systems because they can modify gas dispersion, interfacial transport, washing performance, preservation processes, and the structures of dispersed matrices. However, their behavior cannot be interpreted based on bubble size alone. Proteins, polysaccharides, lipids, salts, colloidal particles, gas composition, and processing conditions can alter interfacial adsorption, gas transfer, bubble persistence, and matrix organization in food systems. This review examines the physicochemical mechanisms proposed to explain nanobubble persistence and functionality, with an emphasis on surface charge, interfacial adsorption, gas supersaturation, confinement, and interactions with food biopolymers. A central distinction is made between passive nanobubble-containing systems and externally activated systems involving hydrodynamic cavitation, ultrasound, plasma, pressure fluctuations, and reactive gases. Under passive conditions, nanobubbles mainly act as gas–liquid interfaces that influence local transport and adsorption. In activated systems, microbial inactivation, reactive oxygen species formation, and apparent mass-transfer enhancement often arise from external energy input, gas chemistry, turbulence, and transient supersaturation rather than from nanobubbles alone. Interfacial stability is used here as an organizing concept to connect nanobubble persistence, food-matrix interactions, generation methods, characterization limitations, and interpretation of reported technological effects. Current methods, such as dynamic light scattering and nanoparticle tracking analysis, provide useful size and concentration estimates but cannot unambiguously distinguish nanobubbles from protein aggregates, fat droplets, micelles, polysaccharide assemblies, and other colloidal structures in complex matrices. Therefore, reliable interpretation requires complementary methods, appropriate controls, and standardized reporting of gas composition, generation method, energy input, matrix properties, and processing conditions. Thus, nanobubble-containing technologies show promise for food processing; however, their value depends on the separation of nanoscale interfacial effects from concurrent hydrodynamic, chemical, and matrix-dependent phenomena. Full article

Background/Objectives: With the increasing incidence of drug counterfeiting and the emergence of personalized medicine, the need for unique marking of solid dosage forms, e.g., tablets, has attracted considerable interest in the current research and development landscape. Besides traditional printing methods, laser marking offers several advantages, as it eliminates the need for organic solvents and enables the generation of precise patterns. However, laser exposure may raise safety concerns regarding the stability of photosensitive drugs in the irradiated dosage forms. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to test the photoprotective effect of titanium dioxide (TiO₂) and its various alternatives, e.g., talc, calcium carbonate (CaCO₃), zinc oxide (ZnO), and black iron oxide (Fe₃O₄), alongside a ready-to-use reference formulation, Opadry^® Brown, which contains TiO₂ (titanium-containing, TC) on nifedipine, a light-sensitive model drug. Methods: Laser marking or short-term laser ablation at different wavelengths (193 nm, 248 nm, 532 nm, and 781 nm) was applied to different coating formulations. As a positive control, prolonged exposure to daylight was applied. The properties and photostability of these formulations were evaluated using several analytical methods (i.e., surface profilometry, Raman spectroscopy, and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)). Results: The TiO₂, ZnO, Fe₃O₄, and Opadry^® TC Brown coatings maintained their color during the long-term study under all conditions. Furthermore, the prepared formulations exhibited different ablation depths and morphological changes depending on the coating and laser type. HPLC measurements confirmed significant differences in the protective ability of various pigments against sunlight and different types of lasers. Nevertheless, the obtained Raman spectra were not in complete agreement with HPLC results, which can be attributed to spectral overlap between key nifedipine degradation markers and excipient signals in the tablet core. Conclusions: Overall, laser treatment of tablets containing photosensitive drugs may induce API decomposition; however, this effect can be minimized or avoided by careful selection of the appropriate combination of laser type and photoprotective pigment. Under the applied experimental conditions, Ti:Sa laser treatment was associated with the lowest degree of nifedipine degradation among all formulations, while ZnO-containing coatings demonstrated the most consistent photoprotective performance against the majority of the tested laser types, while Fe₃O₄-containing coatings provided superior protection during prolonged sunlight exposure and Nd:YAG laser irradiation. Full article

Cyanobacteria are increasingly recognised as photosynthetic chassis for sustainable metabolic engineering because oxygenic photosynthesis generates ATP and NADPH via the photosynthetic electron transport chain, which drive CO₂ fixation through the Calvin–Benson–Bassham cycle into carbon intermediates that can be redirected toward engineered heterologous pathways. Their genetic tractability, CO₂-fixing capacity, ecological adaptability, and relatively simple cellular organisation make them attractive platforms for developing low-carbon biotechnological processes. This review explores recent progress in engineering cyanobacteria for heterologous pathway construction, critically evaluating genetic tools including transformation methods, genome integration strategies, promoter systems, and CRISPR-based editing, with specific emphasis on challenges of direct relevance to phototrophic chassis: host–pathway metabolic compatibility, precursor supply, cofactor balancing between photosynthetic output and heterologous pathway demand, and achieving genetic stability in polyploid cyanobacterial genomes. The review also addresses key limitations with mechanistic context: metabolic burden from multi-gene pathway expression reduces growth rate and selects against producing cells; polyploidy delays complete chromosomal segregation of engineered constructs; slow photoautotrophic growth constrains volumetric productivity; native regulatory networks resist carbon flux redirection; and cultivation constraints—including light attenuation in dense cultures and mismatches between photosynthetic ATP/NADPH supply and heterologous pathway demand—further limit achievable yields. Full article

Temperate broadleaved forests support diverse arthropod communities, but canopy-dwelling insects in European lime (Tilia cordata Mill.) stands are still poorly known. We surveyed light-attracted canopy insects in six T. cordata Genetic Conservation Units and related protected stands across Lithuania. One modified, solar-powered UV light trap was installed in the canopy (10–15 m) at each site and operated twice per month from June to August in 2023 and 2024. We used diversity metrics, similarity indices, multiple regression, and non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) together with PERMANOVA to examine the structure of insect communities and assess the influence of environmental factors. In total, 6031 individuals representing 295 insect species were recorded, with higher abundance, species richness and Shannon diversity in 2024 than in 2023. Across both years and all sites, Shannon H diversity index ranged from 3.21 to 3.92. Sørensen indices indicated moderate species similarity among sites and distinct species composition at the Ukmergė genetic reserve. The 20 most abundant taxa comprised over 60% of all individuals, and dominance structure changed markedly between years: Serica brunnea dominated in 2023 but was nearly absent in 2024. Regression revealed a significant positive effect of air temperature on insect abundance (about a 31% increase per 1 °C), while precipitation had no significant effect on insect abundance. NMDS and PERMANOVA showed strong spatial structuring, with sites explaining most of the variation, and weaker but significant temporal and site-by-year effects. Overall, insect diversity metrics showed non-significant correlations with T. cordata genetic diversity parameters. Results demonstrate that mature T. cordata forest stands are important reservoirs of canopy insect diversity and highlight pronounced spatial heterogeneity, interannual dynamics, and temperature sensitivity of canopy assemblages in Lithuanian forests. Full article

Ants, plants, and hemipterans in tritrophic mutualisms represent closer approximations to real ecosystems compared to twofold mutualisms, playing a critical role in ecosystem functioning. Although habitat degradation is a useful framework for investigating the stability of mutualisms, few studies have focused on such mutualistic interactions in degraded grassland. In this study, we conducted both a field and a greenhouse experiment to assess the effect of grassland degradation on the organization of ant–plant networks and ant-hemipteran-plant tritrophic interactions in the light and severely degraded grassland of Songnen Plain, China. In general, we found that severe degradation of grassland changed the spatial distribution pattern of ant–plant networks from uniform to aggregation and increased the species diversity within these networks and facilitated the Lasius flavus-aphid/mealybugs-Artemisia scoparia tritrophic mutualisms. L. flavus improves individual plant performance by increasing plant height, reducing soil moisture content, and facilitating seed transportation of A. scoparia. These advantages enhance plant fitness and population spread of A. scoparia, consequently boosting its dominance within degraded grassland habitats. In turn, the well-developed root of A. scoparia attracted more L. flavus and aphid/mealybugs by providing living space and food. Our findings enhance the understanding of tritrophic mutualisms and their mechanisms in the context of grassland degradation, thus providing valuable information for the conservation, management, and restoration of degraded grassland. Full article

Introduction: The entry and accumulation of fish inside the suction tubes of hydroelectric power plants can pose risks to these animals. To protect ichthyofauna, repulsion systems employing diverse methodologies have been developed. Objective: The main objective of this study was to investigate the dissuasive effectiveness of a bubble and light barrier on ichthyofauna. Methodology: The experiment consisted of video recording in three stages, performed in triplicate: before activating the barrier, while the barrier was active, and after deactivating it. The movement of five juvenile Amazonian species (Cichlasoma amazonarum, Dianema urostriatum, Pimelodus blochii, Brycon spp., and Colossoma macropomum) was analyzed across the three stages by counting individuals in specific sectors every 15 s. A total of 30 specimens of each species were used, with 10 individuals allocated to each aquarium. Results: Barrier activation induced repulsion in Pimelodus blochii, Brycon spp., and Colossoma macropomum, but attraction in Cichlasoma amazonarum and Dianema urostriatum. The study reveals that the tested species respond dissimilarly to stimuli from the behavioral barrier. Conclusions: These findings address a research gap regarding native species′ responses to behavioral barriers. They underscore the importance of understanding regional ichthyofauna behavior for designing optimized bubble and light barrier systems to enhance method efficacy. The observed effectiveness highlights the potential of this robust, low-cost technology for ichthyofauna protection in hydroelectric plants. Full article

Graphene–plasmonic electro–optic (EO) modulators have attracted significant interest for compact and energy-efficient integrated photonic systems due to their electrically tunable optical response and strong light–matter interaction. In this work, an ultra-thin silicon-on-insulator (SOI) graphene–plasmonic slot modulator (G-PSM) is investigated using a combined semi-analytical and numerical framework. The analysis integrates finite-temperature Kubo conductivity modeling, perturbation-based effective-index analysis, overlap-factor evaluation, eigenmode analysis, and full-wave simulations to study the influence of silicon thickness on the EO performance of the proposed structure. The obtained results demonstrate that geometry engineering strongly affects modal confinement, overlap enhancement, effective-index perturbation, transmission characteristics, extinction ratio (ER), insertion loss (IL), energy-per-bit consumption, and EO bandwidth. Under optimized operating conditions, the proposed G-PSM achieves an effective refractive-index variation of approximately $3.1\times {10}^{-3}$, an ER of approximately 3.5 dB, an IL of 1.5–2 dB, an energy-per-bit consumption of approximately 7.5 fJ/bit, and a 3 dB EO bandwidth approaching 200 GHz. Strong electromagnetic confinement is achieved inside the plasmonic slot region near the graphene-active layer, enabling efficient electro–absorptive and electro–refractive modulation. Excellent agreement between the semi-analytical calculations and numerical simulations validates the developed framework and confirms the suitability of the proposed ultra-thin SOI G-PSM for compact broadband EO modulation in future integrated photonic systems. Full article

Bismuth tungstate (Bi₂WO₆) is a typical bismuth-based visible-light-responsive semiconductor photocatalyst that has attracted significant attention in the fields of environment remediation and energy conversion. In this paper, to address the issues of high photogenerated carrier recombination rate and limited visible-light-response range of Bi₂WO₆, various modification strategies are highlighted, including morphology control, element doping, heterojunction construction, carbon material compositing, and coupling with functional materials such as metal–organic frameworks (MOFs), covalent organic frameworks (COFs), or conductive polymers. Furthermore, the structure–activity relationships are discussed. On this basis, the latest application progress of Bi₂WO₆-based photocatalysts in fields such as pollutant degradation, antibacterial activity, and energy conversion and storage is summarized. Finally, prospects are put forward regarding the existing shortcomings and future development directions in the application of Bi₂WO₆-based photocatalysts, aiming to provide a systematic theoretical reference for the design and application of high-performance Bi₂WO₆-based photocatalysts. Full article

Building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) have achieved a high level of technical maturity. In spite of that, the installed capacity remains limited. To stimulate the integration of solar panels in the built environment, aesthetical features like color and freedom in size and shape are of key importance for architects and building owners. Multilayer interference coatings are an attractive coloring technique for solar panels, as they are known for their high solar transmission and tuneable reflection peak. The latter gives rise to an intense metallic reflection color. In this study, the outdoor performance of colored versus non-colored BIPV panels was investigated, and a method has been developed to measure the color variation of the solar panels with respect to outdoor conditions, viewing angles and tilt angles of the setup. A limited performance loss of 15% was measured for colored solar panels compared to their black counterparts, caused by a reduction in generated photocurrent due to light loss. Outdoor color measurements showed that the cloudiness of the sky and the tilt angle of the setup are key parameters causing a color variation from yellow-green to blue-green. In addition, the developed method and tailored measurement setup have proven their value in quantifying color appearance of colored BIPV in realistic and varying outdoor conditions. Full article

Silver nanowire (AgNW) networks have attracted significant attention as leading candidates for flexible transparent electrodes owing to their unique combination of high electrical conductivity, optical transparency, and mechanical compliance. This review presents an overview of recent developments in AgNW-based transparent electrode technologies, with particular emphasis on strategies to improve network conductivity and long-term reliability, including junction engineering, surface modification, encapsulation approaches, and composite structure design. Representative applications in flexible optoelectronic systems, such as organic light-emitting devices, transparent heating elements, and electrochromic platforms, are also discussed. Finally, current challenges and future research directions toward scalable manufacturing and practical implementation of high-performance AgNW electrodes are outlined. Full article

Indoor visible light communication (VLC) has attracted increasing attention as a promising wireless access technology because of its large unlicensed bandwidth and dual functionality of illumination and data transmission. However, practical VLC systems are vulnerable to line-of-sight (LoS) blockage caused by user mobility, human shadowing, and indoor obstacles, which may degrade link reliability and service continuity. Although hybrid VLC/RF networks can improve robustness by using RF transmission as a backup link, excessive RF fallback under severe optical blockage may overload the bandwidth-limited RF interface and reduce the service quality of RF-associated users. To address this issue, this paper investigates a risk-aware illumination-constrained resource allocation scheme for hybrid VLC/RF indoor networks under random optical blockage. A unified system model is developed by considering Lambertian optical propagation, random optical blockage, RF backup transmission, and working-plane illumination constraints. Based on this model, a joint user association and power allocation problem is formulated under QoS, transmit-power, and illumination requirements. The proposed scheme evaluates VLC service utility under blockage uncertainty, controls RF fallback to avoid excessive backup-link loading, allocates VLC/RF transmission power, and performs illumination feasibility adjustment to preserve the required lighting level. Simulation results show that, under severe blockage conditions, the proposed scheme reduces the outage probability to approximately 0.26, compared with 0.68 for VLC-only transmission and 0.47 for threshold-based VLC/RF switching. For a 20-user network, the proposed scheme achieves an average sum rate of approximately 277 Mbps, maintains a 100% illumination compliance ratio, and achieves higher energy efficiency than the benchmark schemes. Further RF backup analysis shows that the proposed scheme can maintain the service quality of RF-associated users by avoiding excessive RF fallback. These results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed framework for reliable and illumination-feasible hybrid VLC/RF indoor communication. Full article

Metasurfaces have emerged as a powerful platform for subwavelength light manipulation, attracting widespread interest for their potential to replace bulky optical components. However, most metasurfaces are statically designed with fixed functionalities. Here, we demonstrate a high-efficiency tunable meta-waveplate by heterogeneously integrating a phase-change Sb₂Se₃ layer with a piezoelectric MEMS mirror. Leveraging the reversible amorphous–crystalline transition of Sb₂Se₃, combined with MEMS-enabled nanoscale air gap tuning, the metasurface achieves dynamic switching among zero-, half-, and quarter-waveplate functionalities at the communication wavelength of 1550 nm. The device exhibits stable polarization conversion performance under various rotation angles. Furthermore, we developed a nano-quarter-waveplate library on this platform, which provides extensive phase control over the reflected field and enables programmable beam deflection. This tunable architecture opens new avenues for adaptive photonics with dynamically switchable functionalities. Full article

Perovskite light-emitting diodes (PeLEDs) have attracted considerable attention due to their outstanding electroluminescent properties and have achieved remarkable progress. However, charge injection imbalance remains a major obstacle limiting the performance of near-infrared (NIR) PeLEDs. Herein, we propose inserting a poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)-poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) buffer layer between ITO and Zinc oxide (ZnO) to reduce electron injection. This layer also acts as a substrate to modulate ZnO surface roughness, thereby improving perovskite film quality. Through this optimization, the device’s external quantum efficiency (EQE) increases from 20% to 22%, and its T₅₀ operational lifetime extends from 3.4 h to 17.8 h. Importantly, we successfully integrate the PEDOT:PSS buffer layer into scalable fabrication, demonstrating NIR-PeLEDs with a uniform emission area of 2500 mm². Full article

The pathophysiological basis of Parkinson’s disease (PD) remains incompletely understood. However, the influence of environmental factors, such as continuous cadmium exposure, requires further investigation. Notably, common comorbidities such as iron deficiency anemia (IDA), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and zinc deficiency are linked with increased cadmium bioavailability, and elevated blood cadmium levels have been reported in individuals with PD. Cd (II) deposits in the midbrain, causing the accumulation of inflammatory lipids, which promote neuronal destruction. Cd-treated animals develop Parkinson-like syndromes, and cadmium exposure is associated with neuronal loss and disruption of dopaminergic receptor expression. Neurofilament light chain (NfL), a biomarker of neurodegeneration, has been found to be elevated in patients with Parkinson’s disease and correlates with Cd blood concentrations. Iron deficiency promotes the secretion of FGF-23, which depletes vitamin D levels, further increasing the risk of PD. Moreover, COPD and IDA are two well-known examples of systemic hypoxia, which attracts metals bound to transferrin, such as cadmium and iron, leading to increased metal accumulation in various tissues, including the brain. Lead levels are also elevated in individuals with IDA, contributing to the risk of PD. Additionally, Cd exposure is associated with a reduced abundance of Lachnospiraceae in stool and decreased levels of butyrate, both of which are characteristic features of patients with Parkinson’s disease. Therefore, this review aims to explore how COPD, IDA, and zinc deficiency—known risk factors for Parkinson’s disease—lead to an increased cadmium burden and contribute to the onset and progression of the disease. Full article