scholarly journals Sunlight Exposure and Phototherapy: Perspectives for Healthy Aging in an Era of COVID-19

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (20) ◽  
pp. 10950
Author(s):  
Toshiaki Nakano ◽  
Kuei-Chen Chiang ◽  
Chien-Chih Chen ◽  
Po-Jung Chen ◽  
Chia-Yun Lai ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Skin Cancer ◽  
Vitamin D3 ◽  
Healthy Aging ◽  
Near Infrared ◽  
Sunlight Exposure ◽  
Infrared Light ◽  
Clinical Value ◽  
Full Spectrum ◽  
The Impact

Most humans depend on sunlight exposure to satisfy their requirements for vitamin D3. However, the destruction of the ozone layer in the past few decades has increased the risk of skin aging and wrinkling caused by excessive exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation, which may also promote the risk of skin cancer development. The promotion of public health recommendations to avoid sunlight exposure would reduce the risk of skin cancer, but it would also enhance the risk of vitamin D3 insufficiency/deficiency, which may cause disease development and progression. In addition, the ongoing global COVID-19 pandemic may further reduce sunlight exposure due to stay-at-home policies, resulting in difficulty in active and healthy aging. In this review article, we performed a literature search in PubMed and provided an overview of basic and clinical data regarding the impact of sunlight exposure and vitamin D3 on public health. We also discuss the potential mechanisms and clinical value of phototherapy with a full-spectrum light (notably blue, red, and near-infrared light) as an alternative to sunlight exposure, which may contribute to combating COVID-19 and promoting active and healthy aging in current aged/superaged societies.

scholarly journals Roles of Low Temperature Sputtered Indium Tin Oxide for Solar Photovoltaic Technology

Materials ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (24) ◽  
pp. 7758
Author(s):  
Susana Fernández ◽  
José Pablo González ◽  
Javier Grandal ◽  
Alejandro F. Braña ◽  
María Belén Gómez-Mancebo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Tin Oxide ◽  
Indium Tin Oxide ◽  
Near Infrared ◽  
Crystalline Silicon ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Superior Performance ◽  
Solar Photovoltaic ◽  
Full Spectrum ◽  
P Type ◽  
The Impact

Different functionalities of materials based on indium tin oxide and fabricated at soft conditions were investigated with the goal of being used in a next generation of solar photovoltaic devices. These thin films were fabricated in a commercial UNIVEX 450B magnetron sputtering. The first studied functionality consisted of an effective n-type doped layer in an n-p heterojunction based on p-type crystalline silicon. At this point, the impact of the ITO film thickness (varied from 45 to 140 nm) and the substrate temperature (varied from room temperature to 250 °C) on the heterojunction parameters was evaluated separately. To avoid possible damages in the heterojunction interface, the applied ITO power was purposely set as low as 25 W; and to minimize the energy consumption, no heat treatment process was used. The second functionality consisted of indium-saving transparent conductive multicomponent materials for full spectrum applications. This was carried out by the doping of the ITO matrix with transition metals, as titanium and zinc. This action can reduce the production cost without sacrificing the optoelectronic film properties. The morphology, chemical, structural nature and optoelectronic properties were evaluated as function of the doping concentrations. The results revealed low manufactured and suitable films used successfully as conventional emitter, and near-infrared extended transparent conductive materials with superior performance that conventional ones, useful for full spectrum applications. Both can open interesting choices for cost-effective photovoltaic technologies.

scholarly journals Public Awareness and Behaviour in Great Britain in the Context of Sunlight Exposure and Vitamin D: Results from the First Large-Scale and Representative Survey

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (18) ◽  
pp. 6924 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kevin Burchell ◽  
Lesley E. Rhodes ◽  
Ann R. Webb
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Vitamin D ◽  
Great Britain ◽  
Skin Cancer ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Public Awareness ◽  
Sunlight Exposure ◽  
Representative Survey ◽  
The Public ◽  
Public Health Messages

In recent years, UK public health messages about the risks of sunlight exposure (skin cancer) have been increasingly balanced by messages about its benefits (vitamin D production). Currently, data about the effects of this shift on public knowledge, awareness, and behaviour are scant. Thus, the objective of this paper is to report the findings of the first large-scale and representative survey of the awareness, knowledge, and behaviour of adults in Great Britain (England, Scotland, and Wales) (n = 2024) with respect to sunlight exposure, vitamin D, and sunburn and skin cancer. The findings suggest that the public in Great Britain is much more aware of public promotion of the risks of sunlight exposure than its benefits. That said, knowledge about sunlight exposure and vitamin D is fairly strong, though not with respect to the detail of the ‘little and often’ approach. However, the survey also suggests that levels of sunlight exposure among the public are often excessive. The survey indicates that knowledge and behaviour are both less satisfactory among men and people in lower socio-economic groups. The paper concludes with recommendations for public health communications and for research in this area.

The impact of near-infrared light on dopaminergic cell survival in a transgenic mouse model of parkinsonism

2013 ◽  
Vol 1535 ◽  
pp. 61-70 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sivaraman Purushothuman ◽  
Charith Nandasena ◽  
Daniel M. Johnstone ◽  
Jonathan Stone ◽  
John Mitrofanis
Keyword(s):  
Mouse Model ◽  
Cell Survival ◽  
Transgenic Mouse ◽  
Near Infrared ◽  
Transgenic Mouse Model ◽  
Infrared Light ◽  
Near Infrared Light ◽  
Dopaminergic Cell ◽  
The Impact

scholarly journals Psychosocial Working Conditions and Social Participation. A 10-Year Follow-Up of Senior Workers

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (17) ◽  
pp. 9154
Author(s):  
Pia Hovbrandt ◽  
Per-Olof Östergren ◽  
Catarina Canivet ◽  
Maria Albin ◽  
Gunilla Carlsson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Working Conditions ◽  
Social Participation ◽  
Healthy Aging ◽  
Working Life ◽  
Psychosocial Working Conditions ◽  
Public Health Survey ◽  
The Impact

Social participation is important for health, and it is well known that high strain jobs impact negatively on mental and physical health. However, knowledge about the impact of psychosocial working conditions on social participation from a long-term perspective is lacking. The purpose of this study was to investigate the associations between different job types and social participation from a long-term perspective. A comprehensive public health questionnaire “The Scania Public Health Survey”, was used, and psychosocial working conditions were measured with a Swedish translation of the Job Content Questionnaire. Based on data from 1098 working respondents aged 55 at baseline and a 10-year follow-up when the respondents were not working, the analyses revealed that social participation varied by job type. Jobs with high decision latitude, as in active and relaxed jobs, seem to predict high social participation, even after cessation of employment. Besides that, the result suggests that high social participation during working life is a predictor of high social participation from a long-term perspective which promotes healthy aging. Incentives for working longer are strongly related to good working conditions. A supportive work environment with possibilities for employees to participate in decision making, i.e., high control, is vital for a sustainable working life. This may contribute to an extended working life and may also support social participation prior to retirement as well as after retirement and thus to healthy aging.

Deriving a Ultraviolet-Visible-Near-Infrared-Active Photocatalyst from Calcination of an Mg/Zn/Al/Er-Hydrotalcite-Like Compound

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (11) ◽  
pp. 7169-7177 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhuozhuo Qin ◽  
Wenxia Liu ◽  
Huabin Chen ◽  
Jun Chen ◽  
Zhenzhen Li
Keyword(s):  
Hydroxyl Radicals ◽  
Near Infrared ◽  
Active Species ◽  
Infrared Light ◽  
Chemical Compositions ◽  
Particle Sizes ◽  
Superoxide Anions ◽  
Full Spectrum ◽  
Photocatalytic Activities ◽  
Multi Phase

Developing full-spectrum photocatalysts that harvests solar light from ultraviolet to near-infrared light has aroused great interest in photodegradation of organic pollutants, due to the imminent energy crisis and growing pollution issues. Herein, we report an excellent full-spectrum photocatalyst derived from calcination of an Mg/Zn/Al/Er-hydrotalcite-like compound. The photocatalyst is a stable multi-phase oxide consisting of various syntrophic Er3+-doped metal oxides with different particle sizes and morphology. Its ultraviolet (UV) photocatalytic activity is maximized by increasing the fraction of Zn2+ and sustaining the pure hydrotalcite-like phase with an appropriate fraction of Mg2+ in preparing the Mg/Zn/Al/Er-hydrotalcite-like precursor. The visible and NIR photocatalytic activities are triggered by an indirect excitation involving an up-conversion process. The major active species of the photocatalyst in the photodegradation of methyl orange are superoxide anions and photogenerated holes. Nevertheless, hydroxyl radicals also play a moderate role in the photodegradation process. This work finds a new way to prepare full-spectrum photocatalysts with tunable chemical compositions via an environmentally friendly hydrotalcite-like precursor.

scholarly journals Inter-Device Periocular Recognition Under Near-Infrared Light

2016 ◽  
Vol 21 (4) ◽  
pp. 33-44
Author(s):  
Michał Włodarczyk ◽  
Paweł Krotewicz ◽  
Damian Kacperski ◽  
Wojciech Sankowski ◽  
Kamil Grabowski
Keyword(s):  
Feature Extraction ◽  
Near Infrared ◽  
Local Binary Patterns ◽  
Extraction Methods ◽  
Infrared Light ◽  
Scale Invariant ◽  
Histograms Of Oriented Gradients ◽  
Decision Module ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Periocular Recognition

Abstract Periocular biometrics is a relatively new field of research, and only several publications on this topic can be found in the literature. It can become a promising feature that can be used independently or as a complement to other biometrics. In this work, the recognition rates of periocular biometrics on a single acquisition device and inter-device database is verified and the impact of different image sources on the performance of recognition algorithms is investigated. For this purpose a NearInfrared Light database was collected. The database contains images taken by two acquisition devices. In order to test the periocular biometric trait, three feature extraction methods are chosen: Histograms of Oriented Gradients, Local Binary Patterns and Scale Invariant Feature Transform. The fusion of these methods is also proposed and it is tested on inter-device database. The feasibility of applying periocular recognition as an individual decision module for a biometric system is assessed. Experimental results yield Equal Error Rate of 17.65 for right eye using inter-device database of 640 gallery periocular images for each eye side taken from 32 different individuals (20 images per individual for each eye side). These results are obtained by the optimal weighted sum fusion of the three feature extraction methods.

Fabrication of a full-spectrum-response Cu2(OH)2CO3/g-C3N4 heterojunction catalyst with outstanding photocatalytic H2O2 production performance via a self-sacrificial method

2019 ◽  
Vol 48 (1) ◽  
pp. 182-189 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zheng Li ◽  
Nanni Xiong ◽  
Guizhou Gu
Keyword(s):  
Near Infrared ◽  
Production Performance ◽  
Infrared Light ◽  
H2o2 Production ◽  
Full Spectrum ◽  
Near Infrared Light ◽  
The Past ◽  
Photocatalytic Reactions ◽  
Spectrum Response

Over the past few decades, near infrared light (NIR), as an important part of sunlight, has seldom been utilized in photocatalytic reactions.

scholarly journals The Potential of Visible and Far-Red to Near-Infrared Light in Glaucoma Neuroprotection

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (13) ◽  
pp. 5872
Author(s):  
Loredana Bergandi ◽  
Francesca Silvagno ◽  
Giulia Grisolia ◽  
Antonio Ponzetto ◽  
Emilio Rapetti ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Optic Nerve ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Near Infrared ◽  
Ganglion Cells ◽  
Nerve Repair ◽  
Treatment Strategies ◽  
Neuronal Cell ◽  
Infrared Light ◽  
Near Infrared Light ◽  
The Impact

Alternative treatment strategies are necessary to reduce the severity of glaucoma, a group of eye conditions that progressively damage the optic nerve and impair vision. The aim of this review is to gain insight into potentially exploitable molecular mechanisms to slow down the death of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs), a fundamental element in the pathophysiology of all forms of glaucoma, and to stimulate adult optic nerve repair. For this purpose, we focus our analysis on both visible and far-red to near-infrared light photobiomodulation (PBM) as phototherapeutic agents, which were recently proposed in RGCs, and on the nerve lamina region neural progenitor cell (ONLR-NPC) niche. Both are suggested as potential strategies in glaucoma neuroprotection. We discuss the impact of beneficial molecular effects of PBM on both mitochondrial derangement and the alteration of ion fluxes that are considered important causes of RGC damage, as well as on the stimulation of progenitor cells. We suggest these are the most promising approaches to prevent excessive neuronal cell loss. We describe the experimental evidence supporting the validity of PBM therapy which, despite being a safe, non-invasive, inexpensive, and easy to administer procedure, has not yet been fully explored in the clinical practice of glaucoma treatment.

scholarly journals CAREGIVING SURVEILLANCE AT THE CDC: PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S188-S188
Author(s):  
Valerie J Edwards ◽  
C Grace Whiting
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Surveillance System ◽  
Healthy Aging ◽  
National Level ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Surveillance Data ◽  
Public Health Issue ◽  
Behavioral Risk ◽  
The Impact

Abstract As the U.S. population ages, caregiving has emerged as an important public health issue affecting an increasing proportion of American families. In 2015, an estimated 17.7 million people provided assistance to family members and friends. Although caregiving can have positive aspects, many studies have found that caregivers report more health difficulties than non-caregivers. The importance of population-based information is central to public health’s ability to respond effectively to this growing public health problem. The Alzheimer’s Disease and Healthy Aging Program at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has made surveillance of caregivers a priority area. To this end, the development and use of a caregiving module for the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) was undertaken. The BRFSS is one of the largest telephone-based health surveillance system in the world, and collects information from the public across a broad range of health topics. This platform therefore provides a unique opportunity to capture health status data from caregivers as well as the option of comparing caregivers to non-caregivers. The Caregiver Module consists of 9 questions that address the characteristics of care and the type of assistance provided. The objective of this symposium is to describe the development of the current caregiving module (Dr. Bouldin), present relevant findings from the previous three years of surveillance data (Drs. Edwards and Taylor), and to discuss future directions for caregiver surveillance and CDC-developed resources to facilitate date utilization (Dr. McGuire). The discussant will describe the impact and status of national-level surveillance data

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document