Hyperspectral Imaging Reveals Differential Carotenoid and Chlorophyll Temporal Dynamics and Spatial Patterns in Scots Pine Under Water Stress.

Drought-related die-off events have been observed throughout Europe in Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.). Such events are exacerbated by carbon starvation that is, an imbalance of photosynthetic productivity and resource usage.

Research on the NI-MLA Method for Enhancing the Spot Position Detection Accuracy of Quadrant Detectors Under Atmospheric Turbulence.

The distorted spots induced by atmospheric turbulence significantly degrade the spot position detection accuracy of the quadrant detector (QD). In this paper, we utilize angular measurement and homogenization characteristics of non-imaging microlens array (NI-MLA) systems, effectively reducing the distortion degree of the spots received on the QD target surface, thereby significantly enhancing the spot detection accuracy of the QD. First, based on the principles of geometric optics and Fourier optics, it is proved that the NI-MLA system possesses the angular measurement characteristic (AMC) within the paraxial region while deriving and verifying the focal length of the system.

Photoprotective Effects of Yeast Pulcherrimin.

Sunscreen products can protect the skin against the harmful effects of UV radiation, including reddening, aging, and cancer. The aim of this research was to evaluate the photoprotective effects of yeast pulcherrimin, an iron-chelating dipeptide. We first investigated the cytotoxicity of pulcherrimin produced by yeast on the human keratinocyte HaCaT cell line, using the PrestoBlue assay.

Few-femtosecond time-resolved study of the UV-induced dissociative dynamics of iodomethane.

Ultraviolet (UV) light that penetrates our atmosphere initiates various photochemical and photobiological processes. However, the absence of extremely short UV pulses has so far hindered our ability to fully capture the mechanisms at the very early stages of such processes. This is important because the concerted motion of electrons and nuclei in the first few femtoseconds often determines molecular reactivity.

Unraveling Oxygen Vacancies Effect on Chemical Composition, Electronic Structure and Optical Properties of Eu Doped SnO.

The influence of Eu doping (0.5, 1 and 2 mol.%) and annealing in an oxygen-deficient atmosphere on the structure and optical properties of SnO nanoparticles were investigated in relation to electronic structure.

Keratoconus.

Keratoconus is a progressive eye disorder primarily affecting individuals in adolescence and early adulthood. The ectatic changes in the cornea cause thinning and cone-like steepening leading to irregular astigmatism and reduced vision. Keratoconus is a complex disorder with a multifaceted aetiology and pathogenesis, including genetic, environmental, biomechanical and cellular factors.

The effect of mucoadhesive polymers on ocular permeation of thermoresponsive in situ gel containing dexamethasone-cyclodextrin complex.

Dexamethasone (DXM) is a commonly used corticosteroid in the treatment of ocular inflammatory conditions that affect more and more people. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of the combination of hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HPBCD), in situ gelling formulations, and other mucoadhesive polymers, i.e.

Evaluating microplastic emission from takeaway containers: A Micro-Raman approach across diverse exposure scenarios.

Based on inconsistencies observed in literature regarding microplastic levels released by takeaway plastic containers, this study investigates the release from takeaway containers composed of polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS), and polyethylene terephthalate (PET). To simulate real-world conditions, experiments were conducted using Milli-Q water at room temperature, 100 °C, and at pH 4.5.

Biodegradable ICG-Conjugated Germanium Nanoparticles for Near-Infrared Dual-Modality Imaging and Photothermal Therapy.

Theranostics, by integrating diagnosis and therapy on a single platform, enables real-time monitoring of tumors during treatment. To improve the accuracy of tumor diagnosis, the fluorescence and photoacoustic imaging modalities can complement each other to achieve high resolution and a deep penetration depth. Despite the superior performance, the biodegradability of theranostic agents plays a critical role in enhancing nanoparticle excretion and reducing chronic toxicity, which is essential for clinical applications.

Symmetrically Fluorinated D-π-A Structured Cyanine Dye for Highly Efficient NIR-II Imaging-Guided Cancer Phototheranostics.

Near-infrared-II (NIR-II) fluorescence imaging-guided photothermal therapy (PTT) represents a cutting-edge approach for precise tumor diagnosis and treatment, providing real-time therapeutic efficacy evaluation. However, a significant challenge lies in the creation of phototheranostic agents that provide robust imaging and efficient photothermal conversion. To address this, a donor-π-acceptor (D-π-A) structure heptamethine cyanine derivative, IR1116, that confers a strong intramolecular charge transfer effect is developed.

Real-ambient PM induced corneal epithelial barrier disruption through Wnt/β-catenin signaling.

Continued daily exposure to fine particulate matter (PM) is linked to increasing risks of ocular surface diseases. However, further study is needed to understand how real-ambient PM disrupts the barrier function of the corneal epithelial layers and its underlying mechanism. In our study, we utilized a real-ambient PM exposure system to investigate its effects on the corneal epithelial barrier in C57BL/6Jmice over 4 and 8 weeks.

Uncovering genetic loci and biological pathways associated with age-related cataracts through GWAS meta-analysis.

Age-related cataracts is a highly prevalent eye disorder that results in the clouding of the crystalline lens and is one of the leading causes of visual impairment and blindness. The disease is influenced by multiple factors including genetics, prolonged exposure to ultraviolet radiation, and a history of diabetes. However, the extent to which each of these factors contributes to the development of cataracts remains unclear.

Expanding the Toolbox of Oxidants: Controllable Etching of Ultrasmall Au Nanoparticles toward Tailorable NIR-II Luminescence and Ligand-Mediated Biodistribution and Clearance.

Oxidant-driven and controllable etching of small-sized nanoparticles (NPs, < 3 nm) and tailorable modulation of their optical properties are challenging due to the high reactivity and complicated surface chemistry. Herein, we present a facile strategy for highly controllable oxidative etching of ultrasmall AuNPs and tailorable modulation of luminescence. The proper choice of a moderate oxidant, ClO, could not only selectively etch the Au(I)-thiolate motifs from the nanoparticle surface at the subnanometer scale but also retained a stable metallic core structure without aggregation, which impressively prompted the wide-range luminescent switching from the visible to second near-infrared (NIR-II) region.

Improved Standard Addition Method for Measuring Stable Isotopic Compositions and Its Application to Sulfur Isotope Composition.

The standard addition method (SAM) is widely used to measure the isotopic compositions of natural samples, particularly those with a complex matrix. However, traditional SAM has limitations for isotope systems with significant variations in isotope composition due to its reliance on approximation in calculation and the requirement for estimates of analyte isotopic compositions and accurate concentrations. To overcome the issues, our work proposes an improved SAM that explicitly calculates isotope ratio (i.

Coupling Effect of Elemental Carbon and Organic Carbon on the Changes of Optical Properties and Oxidative Potential of Soot Particles under Visible Light.

Soot particles, coming from the incomplete combustion of fossil or biomass fuels, feature a core-shell structure with inner elemental carbon (EC) and outer organic carbon (OC). Both EC and OC are known to be photoactive under solar radiation. However, research on their coupling effect during photochemical aging remains limited.

Toward 95.5% Efficient Red Emissive Carbon Dots: Oxidation State Enhancing Radiative Electron-Transition of Indole Fluorophore.

Red fluorescence carbon dots (CDs) are promising for diverse applications and have attracted tremendous research interest. However, it is still challenging to achieve red fluorescence CDs with high fluorescence quantum yields (QYs > 50%). Herein, three kinds of red fluorescence CDs with QYs of 53.

Double-channel sensors for high precision measurement of methane based on a dual-path Herriott cell.

A double-channel methane (CH) sensor was developed using a dual-pass multipass cell (DP-MPC) and a novel method that combines averaging dual-channel concentration signals with optimized detector gain configuration. This DP-MPC features two input/output coupling holes, resulting in absorption path lengths of approximately 95.8 m and 35.

Reengineering of Donor-Acceptor-Donor Structured Near-Infrared II Aggregation-Induced Emission Luminogens for Starving-Photothermal Antitumor and Inhibition of Lung Metastasis.

Electron acceptor possessing strong electron-withdrawing ability and exceptional stability is crucial for developing donor-acceptor-donor (D-A-D) structured aggregation-induced emission luminogens (AIEgens) with second near-infrared (NIR-II) emission. Although 6,7-diphenyl-[1,2,5] thiadiazolo [3,4-] quinoxaline (PTQ) and benzobisthiadiazole (BBT) are widely employed as NIR-II building blocks, they still suffer from limited electron-withdrawing capacity or inadequate chemo-stability under alkaline conditions. Herein, a boron difluoride formazanate (BFF) acceptor is utilized to construct NIR-II AIEgen, which exhibits a better overall performance in terms of NIR-II emission and chemo-stability compared to the PTQ- and BBT-derived fluorophores.

Predicted Concentrations and Optical Properties of Brown Carbon from Biomass Burning over Europe.

Black carbon (BC) and brown carbon (BrC) are light-absorbing carbonaceous aerosol components that can contribute to radiative forcing and thus affect the climate. In this study, we focus on the modification of aerosol optical properties associated with BrC emissions from biomass burning. BrC is simulated with the introduction of three new species in the three-dimensional chemical transport model PMCAMx-SR, two primary-absorbing (inert and reactive BrC) species, and one "photobleached" BrC species.

Terrestrial photosynthesis inferred from plant carbonyl sulfide uptake.

Terrestrial photosynthesis, or gross primary production (GPP), is the largest carbon flux in the biosphere, but its global magnitude and spatiotemporal dynamics remain uncertain. The global annual mean GPP is historically thought to be around 120 PgC yr (refs. ), which is about 30-50 PgC yr lower than GPP inferred from the oxygen-18 (O) isotope and soil respiration.