Most coastal urban environments are characterised by a large concentration of shipping ports, walkways, and other built infrastructures. These are commonly associated with high levels of artificial light at night (ALAN), a pervasive anthropogenic driver that erodes natural light cycles and impacts the ecology of benthic communities. However, it is not well known whether the spatial configuration of coastal built structures may influence the effects of light pollution on community structure. Here, we conducted field surveys in natural rocky habitats and on breakwaters directly lit by streetlights (ALAN), and in matched unlit zones (without-ALAN), along the coast of northern and central Chile (20°S-32°S), to examine the influence of light pollution on the diel activity and density of the intertidal grazer guild and on the biomass of their main food resource, biofilm, in both habitat types. The patchy distribution of artificial light on the breakwaters seems to allow the co-occurrence of diurnal and nocturnal grazers at night, resulting in no major alteration of grazer densities with light pollution. The density and night-time activity of diurnal grazer species increased in parallel with an increase in the biofilm biomass under lit conditions in the topographically more homogeneous natural rocky habitat. On the lit breakwaters, biofilm also increased but no change in grazer densities was found, most likely related to the presence of dark zones. Our results indicate that the influence of coastal streetlight pollution on benthic grazers can be dampened by the presence of among-boulder interstices in the built structure. Increases in biofilm, the main food of grazers, by artificial light, may reinforce grazing pressure in both rocky habitats. Promoting a balanced mix of built habitats and conserving urban natural rocky shores while reducing coastal light pollution from streetlights could help prevent impacts on different functional groups due to accelerated urban infrastructure expansion.
Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is promising but limited by its dependence on specialized photosources, clinic-based administration, and prolonged post-treatment light avoidance due to phototoxicity side effects. Here, we report mild-sunlight-activated PDT (SunPDT) microneedle patches incorporating polymeric photosensitizers with an intrinsic "on-off" reactive oxygen species (ROS)-generating mechanism, enabling bio-safe, deep-tissue, and self-administered PDT without fixed clinic visits and strictly prolonged light avoidance post-treatment. Rationally designed photosensitizers generate robust ROS under low-intensity mild sunlight (12 mW cm-2) excitation, and feature an intrinsic "on-off" ROS generation mechanism that confines ROS generation to lesions, even when photosensitizers diffuse into surrounding healthy tissues. Microneedle-enabled deep photosensitizer delivery and excitation by the near-infrared component of sunlight together allow self-administered treatment of deep-seated lesions without scheduled clinic visits. Importantly, the SunPDT patch's triple-safety design, low-intensity mild sunlight excitation, local delivery of photosensitizer by microneedles, and an intrinsic "on-off" ROS generation mechanism, eliminate post-treatment prolonged light avoidance, ensuring bio-safe PDT. Using female psoriatic mice as a proof-of-concept model, our "on-off" SunPDT microneedle patches achieve high therapeutic efficacy and patient-friendly, self-administered treatment, and outperform clinical Protoporphyrin IX patches, which demonstrate weaker effects and require prolonged light shielding. Therefore, this study establishes a promising design for a lifestyle-integrated PDT platform.
In nature, photosynthesis is driven by solar light and a large proportion of the visible spectrum is absorbed by the light harvesting complexes (LHCs), which then transfer the energy to the reaction center. Inspired by nature, we implemented a light harvesting energy transfer cascade within biomimetic lipid bilayers of liposomes built with DPPC (1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine), using membrane-anchored fluorescein, 2-(3,6-dihydroxy-9H-xanthen-9-yl)-5-dodecanamidobenzoic acid (FlC12) as primary absorber and membrane anchored eosin Y, hexadecyl 2-(2,4,5,7-tetrabromo-3,6-dihydroxy-9H-xanthen-9-yl)benzoate (EYC16), as energy acceptor to sensitize oxygen and generate the reactive oxygen species 1O2. Finally, the model substrate nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) is oxidized by 1O2 within the compartmentalizing liposome nanoreactors. It was observed that our metal-free LHC system has only a minor effect on the photooxidation rate of NADH when the nanoreactor membrane is functionalized symmetrically. By contrast, asymmetric membrane functionalization of the liposome nanoreactor membranes leads to acceleration by 16% to 27% when using multi-colored light emitting diodes (LED) or simulated solar light, respectively.
Light exposure is an important factor influencing the Escherichia coli survival in agricultural soils. This study evaluated the combined effects of soil moisture and light exposure on the survival of E. coli in agricultural soil under a controlled diurnal environment. For this, soil mesocosms were inoculated with E. coli TVS353 and maintained at three moisture levels (100%, 75%, and 50% field capacity (FC)) and two light conditions (diurnal and complete dark), with a 14 h day at 25 ℃ and a 10 h night at 15 ℃. Soil samples were enumerated for E. coli on days 0, 1, 3, 7, 14, 28, 35, 56, and every 7 days thereafter, and survival dynamics were analyzed using linear mixed-effect analysis and a biphasic microbial survival model. Across all treatments, E. coli declined significantly over time (p <0.0001). Overall, E. coli survived up to 140 days under higher soil moisture levels (100% and 75% FC) and in dark conditions, whereas survival was 63 to 70 days at 50% FC in the diurnal environment. Biphasic survival modeling revealed higher initial inactivation rate constants under low-moisture and low-light exposure conditions. This study represents one of the first attempts to quantitatively assess the effect of light exposure on E. coli survival in agricultural soils across varying moisture levels.
Light pollution has been implicated in liver health. This study aimed to investigate the association between bedroom nighttime light pollution and the risk of hepatic encephalopathy (HE) in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). A total of 454 HCC patients were enrolled from communities. Bedroom nighttime light intensity was measured using an illuminometer (lux) at baseline, 2 months, and 4 months. Sleep quality was assessed at these three time points using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. These data at different time points were averaged separately for subsequent analyses. All patients were followed up for 12 months from baseline (unless death occurred), and HCC-related adverse outcomes were recorded. Multivariate logistic and Cox regression were adopted for statistical analysis. The results indicated that higher mean bedroom nighttime light intensity (> 50 lx) was significantly associated with an increased risk of both overt HE and minimal HE. Furthermore, it was associated with impaired liver function, esophagogastric variceal bleeding, and elevated HCC-related mortality. Notably, interaction analysis revealed that age and TNM stage may modify the aforementioned associations to some extent. In conclusion, bedroom nighttime light pollution is linked to an elevated risk of HE and may represent a potential risk factor warranting future validation.
Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) emerge as promising neuromodulatory biomaterials due to their tunable optical properties, biocompatibility, and ability to cross the blood-brain barrier. Here, we investigated the behavioral and neuroprotective effects of citrate-stabilized AuNPs (~ 19 nm) coated with PEG3350 and irradiated under white (AuWL+PEG) or green light (AuGL+PEG), compared with non-irradiated PEGylated AuNPs (AuNP+PEG). Comprehensive physicochemical analyses demonstrated that green-light irradiation enhanced surface plasmon resonance (SPR) activity, improved PEG adsorption, and yielded superior colloidal stability relative to white-light irradiation. In vivo evaluation in Wistar rats revealed that AuGL+PEG produced robust anxiolytic-like effects in the elevated plus maze, significantly enhanced spatial working memory in the Y-maze, and improved performance in the radial arm maze, approaching the efficacy of donepezil. In the forced swimming test, AuGL+PEG also produced the most favorable antidepressant-like profile, reducing immobility without locomotor confounds. Biochemically, AuGL+PEG markedly enhanced antioxidant capacity, increasing SOD, CAT, GPX, and GSH levels while reducing lipid peroxidation (MDA), consistent with restored redox homeostasis. Acetylcholinesterase inhibition was significantly greater in irradiated groups, supporting improved cholinergic signaling. Toxicological evaluation indicated no major systemic or hematological toxicity at the administered doses. Collectively, the findings demonstrate that light-engineered PEGylated AuNPs, particularly those activated with green light, exhibit potent neuroprotective and cognition-enhancing effects mediated by plasmonic surface optimization, antioxidant defense reinforcement, and cholinergic modulation. These results identify AuGL+PEG as a promising candidate nanomaterial for future applications in neuromodulation, cognitive enhancement, and the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.
The interaction between light and the eye is both essential and potentially harmful. Light regulates ocular development, supports vision, and influences systemic physiology, yet it can also induce photochemical damage. Determining whether chronic exposure to high-energy visible (HEV) light contributes to age-related ocular disease remains challenging. Randomized clinical trials, the gold standard for medical evidence, are largely infeasible for exposures that are lifelong, ubiquitous, and potentially harmful. Instead, researchers rely on a spectrum of evidence, from cellular and animal models to case studies, cohort studies, and expert consensus, each with unique advantages and limitations. This review categorizes existing evidence according to study design, evaluates its strengths and weaknesses, and considers how converging findings might inform clinical practice. We conclude that while acute light injury is well established, the long-term impact of low-level HEV exposure remains largely and necessarily inferential. Definitive evidence is difficult to obtain but improvements in exposure assessment and integration across different categories of evidence have led to a cautious but reasonable conclusion on the potential harms of long-term exposure.
Viscoelastic hydrogels crosslinked by dynamic bonds hold great promise for mimicking the matrix dynamics of native tissues in cell culture and tissue engineering. Yet, their application in light-based bioprinting remains largely unexplored due to the incompatibility between reversible bond formation and photocrosslinking. This study addresses this key challenge by presenting a new class of photocrosslinkable, hydrazone-based bioinks developed from two modified polymers (Gel-A-DAAM and Gel-C-DAAM). These polymers are designed to enable reversible bond formation within hydrogel networks by attaching polymerizable groups to the polymer backbone via modular hydrazone conjugation chemistry. The resulting materials exhibit distinct mechanical properties depending on their hydrazide substituent, swelling medium, incubation temperature, and incubation time. Storage moduli of produced hydrogels vary between 0.08 - 1.2 kPa, which spans multiple scales of physiologically relevant tissue environments. The novel bioinks are suitable for droplet-based bioprinting followed by light-based crosslinking, and support cell spreading of human fibroblasts. Notably, the morphology of encapsulated cells varies with different hydrazide substituents, highlighting the potential of the developed bioink system to systematically investigate cell-matrix interactions. The combination of biological tunability and printability positions this system as a promising platform for fabricating next-generation tissue-mimetic constructs using advanced bioprinting technologies.
The coral holobiont functions as a complex biogeochemical system, sustained by intricate metabolic exchanges between the host and its associated microbiome. While the taxonomic diversity of these communities is well documented, the specific metabolic roles and biogeochemical contributions of microorganisms across distinct coral compartments, particularly within the endolithic habitats, remain poorly understood. Using RNA-seq, we investigated the active microbiome of healthy stony coral Porites lutea, focusing on the coral tissue, the green endolithic algal layer (Ostreobium layer), and the deeper coral skeleton. We identified distinct, metabolically active communities within these compartments and highlight substantial metabolic redundancy across carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur pathways. Our study provides the first transcriptomic evidence of Ostreobium's ability to transfer fixed carbon to other holobiont members and the coral host. We highlight the critical roles of diverse coral holobiont members in nutrient cycling and maintaining homeostasis through scavenging of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species. This study provides a novel molecular-level understanding of the functional roles played by diverse coral holobiont members in their respective compartments and underscores that corals harbor distinct microbiomes with wide-ranging functions. Video Abstract.
Survival estimates for frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD)-related syndromes by incorporating fluid biomarkers are essential to better assess their prognostic value and explore how they might inform long-term outcomes in FTLD. Population-based registries provide valuable data for these predictions. The aim of the present study was to assess whether NfL and GFAP levels correlate with mortality risk in a population-based registry of incident FTLD. Incident cases with FTLD-spectrum, occurring between 2018 and 2020, were followed for up to six years. Survival and hazard analysis according to biomarkers levels were conducted. Median survival was 6 years from symptom onset and 3 years from diagnosis. While FTD-ALS phenotype showed significantly shorter survival, no differences were observed among bvFTD, PPAs, and CBS/PSP. Biomarkers were significantly associated with survival. Higher plasma GFAP (HR = 1.006, 95%CIs 1.001-1.012; p = 0.026) and plasma NfL (HR = 1.027, 95%CIs 1.003-1.053; p = 0.025) were associated with increased mortality risk in bvFTD, PPAs, and CBS/PSP. These results highlight the potential of NfL and GFAP as valuable biomarkers for assessing prognosis in FTLD and underscore the importance of incorporating biomarker analysis into clinical practice for more accurate patient management. Further studies are needed to refine prognostic models for FTLD.
Selective synthesis of geometrical isomers remains a paramount challenge in coordination chemistry with profound implications for development in optoelectronics and catalysis. Herein, we report an operationally simple strategy for the selective synthesis of fac and mer isomers of heteroleptic ruthenium(II) complexes with a general formula [Ru(CN)(N'N')(DMSO)(Cl)]PF6 from a single common precursor [Ru(CN)(DMSO)2(Cl)2] by exploiting photoinduced linkage isomerization of the DMSO ligand. Ambient-temperature reactions in the dark selectively afford the fac isomer, whereas identical reactions under blue light irradiation exclusively yield the thermodynamically more stable mer isomer. The resulting isomeric pairs exhibit distinct electronic structures and provide a foundation for the rational design of heteroleptic complex libraries with tailored properties for applications in photocatalysis, luminescent materials, and redox-active catalysis.
The increasing detection of trace organic micropollutants (OMPs) in water is intensifying the need for efficient and sustainable treatment. Ultraviolet-based advanced oxidation processes (UV-AOPs) have emerged as an important class of options for OMP control, but diversification of UV sources and wavelengths complicates selection. This review integrates mechanistic insights and performance metrics to guide UV-AOP design and source selection. Krypton-chloride excilamps emitting at 222 nm represent an emerging far-UVC source with growing research interest, but are constrained by low wall-plug efficiency and short lifetimes. Low-pressure mercury lamps remain a robust choice for large-scale applications, whereas ultraviolet light-emitting diodes offer flexible wavelength combinations and modularity but still suffer from limited wall-plug efficiency. Shorter wavelengths enhance direct photolysis and radical formation in peroxide-based systems, while activation of free chlorine is favored at 265-300 nm and chlorine dioxide responds most strongly in the UVA. In real waters, dissolved organic matter, nitrate, halides, and carbonate alkalinity redistribute photons and reshape reactive species pathways, often attenuating gains observed in clean matrices. Faster degradation does not necessarily translate into lower electrical energy per order. No single type of UV source is universally optimal; implementation should be application driven, matching wavelength-oxidant combinations to matrix conditions while balancing performance and energy efficiency across diverse treatment contexts.
Skin photoaging is predominantly induced by ultraviolet (UV) irradiation. Intense pulsed light (IPL) is a commonly employed non-ablative treatment for photoaging. However, the effects and mechanisms of IPL on UV-induced skin photoaging remain insufficiently understood. In this study, we aimed to examine the anti-photoaging effects of IPL and elucidate the underlying mechanisms. This study revealed that UV triggered extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK) together with c-jun NH2-terminal kinase (JNK), while selectively suppressed UV-induced ERK phosphorylation while activating JNK in human skin keratinocytes. The different ERK/JNK expression patterns induced by UV and IPL resulted in distinct c-fos/c-jun (activator protein 1) phosphorylation, cyclin D1 expression, and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) secretion. In vivo, IPL inhibited MMP expression in guinea pig skin and promoted c-fos/c-jun phosphorylation, epidermal proliferation, and collagen remodeling. These findings indicated that ERK was involved in IPL rejuvenation by regulating c-fos, c-jun, cyclin D1, and MMPs, providing a potential target for skin rejuvenation.
Conidia of plant pathogenic fungi represent specialized dormant cells that ensure long-term survival, dispersal, and infection. However, the mechanisms that sustain conidial dormancy and longevity remain poorly understood. Here, we identify the mitochondrial heme A synthase gene Bccox15 as a critical regulator of mitochondrial respiration, redox homeostasis, and long-term conidial viability in the necrotrophic pathogen Botrytis cinerea causing gray mold diseases on broad spectrum of plant crops. Specifically, the Bccox15 expression is induced by light and is highly enriched in aerial hyphae, conidiophores, and developing conidia. Deletion of Bccox15 does not completely deprive initial conidiation, but markedly reduces conidial viability after long-term resting, leading to progressive defects in germination and virulence potential of the aged conidia. Ultrastructural and cytological analyses reveal that Δbccox15 undergo enhanced vacuolization, depletion of lipid droplets, and reduced trehalose accumulation in aged conidia. Moreover, Δbccox15 displays attenuated heme biosynthesis in conidia. These changes are accompanied by mitochondrial hypertrophy, decreased mitochondrial membrane potential, and disrupted mitochondrial organization. At the colony level, loss of Bccox15 results in sustained respiratory activity, elevated colony temperature, and excessive reactive oxygen species accumulation in aged cultures. Collectively, our findings demonstrate that Bccox15 is associated with coordinating mitochondrial respiration and maintaining conidial dormancy and longevity.
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This study examines the impact of a light-cycle shift regimen on corneal and conjunctival tissues in menopausal rats and evaluates the protective role of combined hormone therapy. Twenty-four menopausal female albino rats were randomly assigned to three groups (n = 8) following a 10-day acclimatization period. Group 1 (Control+Saline) was maintained under a 12:12 light/dark cycle. Light-cycle shift regimen was induced in Groups 2 and 3 using a rotating 7-day light-exposure sequence repeated over 21 days; this protocol consisted of 24 h of continuous light, 72 h of inverted dark-light timing, and 72 h of standard light-dark conditions. Groups 1 and 2 received saline, while Group 3 received 17β-Estradiol and drospirenone daily via oral gavage. After 31 days, eyes were enucleated for histological and immunohistochemical analyses of corneal, conjunctival, and palpebral tissues, including caspase-3 (Cas-3), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and PERIOD-2 (PER2) expression. Light-cycle shift regimen (Group 2) significantly increased corneal thickness (p < 0.001), conjunctival inflammation, and vascular congestion, with marked upregulation of Cas-3 and TNF-α and downregulation of PER2. Hormone therapy (Group 3) attenuated these effects, showing reduced corneal edema, diminished inflammatory infiltration, and partial normalization of molecular markers. Shifting light-dark cycles may aggravate inflammatory and apoptotic changes in the ocular surface during menopause. Estrogen-progestin therapy attenuates these alterations by modulating the expression of the circadian-associated protein PER2 and maintaining structural integrity. These findings suggest that hormone therapy may offer potential benefits for preserving ocular surface homeostasis in menopausal women experiencing sleep or circadian rhythm disturbances.
Chronic wounds, such as diabetic ulcers, represent a substantial clinical difficulty because of impaired healing, often resulting from vascular and nerve damage associated with hyperglycemia. Traditional treatments primarily offer supportive care but frequently fail to fully restore tissue function, highlighting the urgent need for advanced regenerative strategies. Stem cell-based therapies, especially those leveraging secretome and exosomes, have gained attention as effective alternatives to direct stem cell transplantation. These cell-free approaches offer several advantages, including low immunogenicity, reduced risk of tumour formation, and greater ease of production, handling, and storage. Secretome and exosomes facilitate wound healing by modulating inflammation, promoting angiogenesis, aiding extracellular matrix remodelling, and stimulating the migration and proliferation of skin cells. Exosomes are vital for intercellular communication, delivering key regenerative signals that trigger anti-inflammatory responses and neovascularisation. Photobiomodulation (PBM), a non-invasive technique using specific light wavelengths, further enhances stem cell function and boosts the therapeutic impact of their secretome by influencing gene and protein expression. When combined, PBM and stem cell-derived secretome or exosomes offer a powerful treatment approach for chronic wound repair by activating critical biological pathways involved in regeneration of damaged tissue. This review highlights the current research on the roles of stem cell secretome, exosomes, and PBM in chronic wound treatment, with a focus on their synergistic mechanisms and promising therapeutic potential.
GATA transcription factors play important roles in plant development as well as light and hormone responses. Carrot is a kind of valuable root vegetable. The above-ground part of the carrot is affected by light during growth, which in turn affects the growth status of taproots. The functions of GATA factors have been characterized in several plant species. Little is known about the GATA factors in carrot biological process. In this study, 30 GATA family members were first identified in the carrot genome and classified into four subfamilies, named A-GATA, B-GATA, C-GATA, and D-GATA. C-GATA and D-GATA have specific functional motifs suggesting evolutionary conservation among plants. Predicted cis-elements of GATA factors revealed their potential hormone-responsive and light-responsive functions. Among them, B-GATA has been studied extensively and is represented by the GNC and GNL genes. There were three GNC/GNL homologs in carrot: DcGATA18, DcGATA20, and DcGATA22. Functional analysis revealed that the GNC homolog gene DcGATA20 was mainly expressed in carrot leaves, followed by petioles, and was barely detectable in taproots. Overexpression of DcGATA20 exhibited promotion of chlorophyll accumulation and increased the expression levels of DcGUN4 and DcCHLI1, along with a significant increase in expression of the transcription factor, DcGLK1, which is important for chlorophyll synthesis. In addition, the expression of the chlorophyll degradation gene DcSGR1 (STAY GREEN 1) was decreased. These results indicated that GNC genes exhibit functional conservation in carrot and may be helpful for understanding other GATA members' functions.
Carotenoids are essential pigments in the plant photosynthetic apparatus, functioning in light harvesting, photoprotection, and signal transduction, and serving as precursors of vital nutrients such as vitamin A. Phytoene synthase (PSY) is the first rate-limiting enzyme in the plant carotenoid biosynthetic pathway, and its transcriptional regulation primarily depends on cis-acting promoter elements, associated transcription factors, and epigenetic status. The PSY promoter region contains core cis-elements as well as multiple light-, hormone-, and stress-responsive elements, which collectively function as key regulatory sites governing spatiotemporal expression. This review systematically summarizes recent advances in PSY promoter regulation by plant hormones (e.g., abscisic acid, ethylene, jasmonic acid), environmental factors (light signaling, temperature, salinity, and drought), and epigenetic mechanisms (DNA methylation, histone modifications, and chromatin remodeling). In addition, the application of transgenic and biotechnological approaches to PSY promoter regulation is further summarized. Including promoter sequence engineering with precise editing of cis-elements and promoter-targeted CRISPR activation/interference (CRISPRa/i) for tunable transcriptional control. Emphasis is placed on how these signals are integrated at the promoter level. Deeper insights into these mechanisms will provide both theoretical foundations and practical strategies for enhancing carotenoid accumulation and stress tolerance in crops through molecular design.
Excitons play a decisive role in governing light absorption, charge separation, and carrier utilization in low-dimensional photocatalysts. In this work, we present a comprehensive first-principles investigation of excitonic effects and their impact on photocatalytic water splitting in a SnS2/h-BN van der Waals (vdW) heterostructure. Density functional theory (DFT), combined with many-body perturbation theory (MBPT) within the GW approximation and the Bethe-Salpeter equation (BSE), is employed to determine the quasiparticle band edge alignment, exciton binding energies (EBEs), optical absorption, carrier effective masses, and solar-to-hydrogen (STH) conversion efficiency. The SnS2/h-BN heterostructure exhibits a staggered type-II band alignment with quasiparticle band edges straddling the redox potentials, ensuring thermodynamic feasibility for overall water splitting. Beyond band alignment, the heterostructure supports multiple optically active bright interlayer excitons with spatially separated electrons and holes at the interface. These interlayer excitons display reduced electron-hole (e-h) wave function overlap and favorable effective masses, particularly a highly dispersive SnS2-derived conduction band that enables efficient electron transport toward hydrogen evolution reaction sites. Despite their sizable binding energies, efficient exciton dissociation is promoted by strong interfacial electric fields and large conduction band offsets, leading to effective charge separation. Consequently, photogenerated carriers are selectively funneled to distinct catalytic surfaces, enabling spatially separated hydrogen and oxygen evolution. The synergistic enhancement of light absorption, carrier lifetime, and charge transport results in a markedly higher STH efficiency (11.04%) compared to that of pristine SnS2. This work underscores the necessity of explicit excitonic treatment and establishes exciton engineering in vdW heterostructures as a key strategy for the design of efficient photocatalysts for solar water splitting.