A Basic Study on the Performance Evaluation of a Movable Light Shelf with a Rolling Reflector That Can Change Reflectivity to Improve the Visual Environment.

In recent years, the need for comfortable visual environments in indoor spaces has increased energy use in buildings. There have been diverse studies on using a light shelf to solve this problem. It is an effective system that allows external natural light deep into indoor spaces through reflection. However, prior studies have used light shelves with a fixed reflectivity, and there are few studies on improving the visual environment through light shelf control. Therefore, this study proposes a movable light shelf with a rolling reflector that can change the reflectivity. To achieve these objectives, we conducted a performance evaluation of the system's ability to save energy and improve the visual environment. This study built a real scale testbed and conducted a performance evaluation by deriving values for lighting energy consumption, uniformity, and luminance contrast depending on the light shelf variables. We conclude that (1) the light shelf system achieved an energy savings of 13.6% and 5.7%, respectively, compared to a fixed type light shelf, whose reflectivity cannot be changed, and a traditional movable light shelf; (2) in terms of improving the visual environment, results suggest that the visual environment could be improved using a light shelf by deriving light shelf variables that disturb indoor uniformity; and (3) the results verified glare generation conditions by deriving luminance contrast caused by the variables of light shelf angle and its reflectivity.

[New lighting technology and our eyes]. / Les nouveaux éclairages et nos yeux.

The retina is the neurosensitive layer of the eye. In this tissue, photoreceptors convert light into nerve signals to be relayed to the brain. Despite retinal specialization in the treatment of light, excessive exposure can cause retinal damage, called retinal phototoxicity. In recent years, lighting devices rich in wavelengths of high energy (blue light) appeared, raising new concerns about retinal protection against light damage. We focus here on light-induced ocular diseases and the possible influence on visual health of new lighting technologies.

TITLE: Les nouveaux éclairages et nos yeux. ABSTRACT: Dans la rétine, couche neurosensorielle de l'œil, les photorécepteurs transforment le signal lumineux en influx nerveux interprétable par le cerveau. Malgré sa spécialisation dans le traitement des signaux lumineux, la rétine peut subir des dommages, à la suite d'une exposition excessive à la lumière ; on parle alors de phototoxicité rétinienne. Ces dernières années, l'apparition de dispositifs d'éclairage riches en longueurs d'onde de forte énergie (ce que l'on nomme lumière bleue), remet le problème de la phototoxicité rétinienne à l'ordre du jour. Nous discutons des pathologies oculaires induites par la lumière et de la possible influence des nouvelles technologies d'éclairage sur notre santé visuelle.

Bed and rise times during the Age of Enlightenment: A case report.

Studies have shown that our modern electrical lighting environment reduces naturally occurring seasonal variations in sleep-wake rhythms, such as longer sleep during the winter versus summer. However, less is known about how timing and duration of sleep were affected by the seasons in the premodern era, before the invention of electrical lighting. The Swedish researcher Olof Hiorter collected and documented geophysical data every hour during wakefulness in Uppsala, Sweden, between December 1746 and November 1747. In this way, his bed and rise times could be approximated. The data revealed that Hiorter's rise times occurred around 1 hr before sunrise in winter versus 1 hr after sunrise in summer. No such association was observed between the time of sunset and Hiorter's bedtimes. Finally, the time in bed was about 3.5-4 hr shorter in summer compared to winter. This 273-year-old case report suggests that time in bed and rise times of people from the premodern era exhibited seasonal variations.

Mercury Pollution, Treatment and Solutions in Spent Fluorescent Lamps in Mainland China.

With the increasing awareness of energy conservation and environmental protection, high energy-consuming incandescent lamps have been largely withdrawn from the stage of mainland China's lighting industry because the main raw material for electricity production-coal-produces mercury pollution when burned and energy-saving fluorescent lamps have made considerable progress. However, fluorescent lamps emit mercury, which still causes environmental pollution. In this work, the existing problems in the development of fluorescent lamps, and in the collection and treatment of spent fluorescent lamps were analyzed. The contributions of various external factors to the above problems were evaluated based on fuzzy theory. Finally, solutions to control the pollution of mercury from fluorescent lamps and spent fluorescent lamps were proposed. Results show that the biggest problem that causes mercury pollution is the first among three factors: energy conservation and mercury emission from fluorescent lamps and spent fluorescent lamps, spent fluorescent lamp collection and spent fluorescent lamp treatment. The best way to solve these problems is by developing an energy-saving and environment-friendly light emitting diode (LED) industry in mainland China.

The effect of reduced street lighting on road casualties and crime in England and Wales: controlled interrupted time series analysis.

BACKGROUND: Many local authorities in England and Wales have reduced street lighting at night to save money and reduce carbon emissions. There is no evidence to date on whether these reductions impact on public health. We quantified the effect of 4 street lighting adaptation strategies (switch off, part-night lighting, dimming and white light) on casualties and crime in England and Wales. METHODS: Observational study based on analysis of geographically coded police data on road traffic collisions and crime in 62 local authorities. Conditional Poisson models were used to analyse longitudinal changes in the counts of night-time collisions occurring on affected roads during 2000-2013, and crime within census Middle Super Output Areas during 2010-2013. Effect estimates were adjusted for regional temporal trends in casualties and crime. RESULTS: There was no evidence that any street lighting adaptation strategy was associated with a change in collisions at night. There was significant statistical heterogeneity in the effects on crime estimated at police force level. Overall, there was no evidence for an association between the aggregate count of crime and switch off (RR 0.11; 95% CI 0.01 to 2.75) or part-night lighting (RR 0.96; 95% CI 0.86 to 1.06). There was weak evidence for a reduction in the aggregate count of crime and dimming (RR 0.84; 95% CI 0.70 to 1.02) and white light (RR 0.89; 95% CI 0.77 to 1.03). CONCLUSIONS: This study found little evidence of harmful effects of switch off, part-night lighting, dimming, or changes to white light/LEDs on road collisions or crime in England and Wales.

Reduced street lighting at night and health: A rapid appraisal of public views in England and Wales.

Financial and carbon reduction incentives have prompted many local authorities to reduce street lighting at night. Debate on the public health implications has centred on road accidents, fear of crime and putative health gains from reduced exposure to artificial light. However, little is known about public views of the relationship between reduced street lighting and health. We undertook a rapid appraisal in eight areas of England and Wales using ethnographic data, a household survey and documentary sources. Public concern focused on road safety, fear of crime, mobility and seeing the night sky but, for the majority in areas with interventions, reductions went unnoticed. However, more private concerns tapped into deep-seated anxieties about darkness, modernity 'going backwards', and local governance. Pathways linking lighting reductions and health are mediated by place, expectations of how localities should be lit, and trust in local authorities to act in the best interests of local communities.

Nighttime lights and population changes in Europe 1992-2012.

Nighttime satellite photographs of Earth reveal the location of lighting and provide a unique view of the extent of human settlement. Nighttime lights have been shown to correlate with economic development and population but little research has been done on the link between nighttime lights and population change over time. We explore whether population decline is coupled with decline in lighted area and how the age structure of the population and GDP are reflected in nighttime lights. We examine Europe between the period of 1992 and 2012 using a Geographic Information System and regression analysis. The results suggest that population decline is not coupled with decline in lighted area. Instead, human settlement extent is more closely related to the age structure of the population and to GDP. We conclude that declining populations will not necessarily lead to reductions in the extent of land development.

Effects of light quality on the accumulation of phytochemicals in vegetables produced in controlled environments: a review.

Phytochemicals in vegetables are important for human health, and their biosynthesis, metabolism and accumulation are affected by environmental factors. Light condition (light quality, light intensity and photoperiod) is one of the most important environmental variables in regulating vegetable growth, development and phytochemical accumulation, particularly for vegetables produced in controlled environments. With the development of light-emitting diode (LED) technology, the regulation of light environments has become increasingly feasible for the provision of ideal light quality, intensity and photoperiod for protected facilities. In this review, the effects of light quality regulation on phytochemical accumulation in vegetables produced in controlled environments are identified, highlighting the research progress and advantages of LED technology as a light environment regulation tool for modifying phytochemical accumulation in vegetables.

The evolution of endoillumination.

Advances in endoillumination over the last decade have been numerous and were necessary to allow transition to smaller-gauge vitrectomy systems. Advances in light sources and their associated filters have resulted in safer, more powerful light sources that provide enough output to drive small fibers for 27-gauge surgery, chandeliers, and lighted instrumentation. Filtered light can also be used to enhance tissue visualization. This chapter will review the history and advances in light sources.

UV emissions from low energy artificial light sources.

Energy efficient light sources have been introduced across Europe and many other countries world wide. The most common of these is the Compact Fluorescent Lamp (CFL), which has been shown to emit ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) are an alternative technology that has minimal UV emissions. This brief review summarises the different energy efficient light sources available on the market and compares the UV levels and the subsequent effects on the skin of normal individuals and those who suffer from photodermatoses.

[Photodynamic diagnostics of the bladder: current study results]. / Die photodynamische Diagnostik der Harnblase : Aktuelle Studienergebnisse.

The diagnosis and follow-up of bladder cancer is based on the so-called golden standard of urine cytology and white light endoscopy. In recent years fluorescence endoscopy, also known as photodynamic diagnosis (PDD), of the urinary bladder has become more and more popular. The rising interest in this procedure becomes clear when looking at the current literature. Nowadays, there are studies on PDD from all over Europe and the USA. This article gives an up to date review of these new studies and shows new developments in the outpatient use of PDD.

Photodynamic therapy: superficial and interstitial illumination.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is reviewed using the treatment of skin tumors as an example of superficial lesions and prostate cancer as an example of deep-lying lesions requiring interstitial intervention. These two applications are among the most commonly studied in oncological PDT, and illustrate well the different challenges facing the two modalities of PDT-superficial and interstitial. They thus serve as good examples to illustrate the entire field of PDT in oncology. PDT is discussed based on the Lund University group's over 20 yr of experience in the field. In particular, the interplay between optical diagnostics and dosimetry and the delivery of the therapeutic light dose are highlighted. An interactive multiple-fiber interstitial procedure to deliver the required therapeutic dose based on the assessment of light fluence rate and sensitizer concentration and oxygen level throughout the tumor is presented.

The infant incubator in the neonatal intensive care unit: unresolved issues and future developments.

Since the 19th century, devices termed incubators were developed to maintain thermal stability in low birth weight (LBW) and sick newborns, thus improving their chances of survival. Remarkable progress has been made in the production of infant incubators, which are currently highly technological devices. However, they still need to be improved in many aspects. Regarding the temperature and humidity control, future incubators should minimize heat loss from the neonate and eddies around him/her. An unresolved issue is exposure to high noise levels in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Strategies aimed at modifying the behavior of NICU personnel, along with structural improvements in incubator design, are required to reduce noise exposure. Light environment should be taken into consideration in designing new models of incubators. In fact, ambient NICU illumination may cause visual pathway sequelae or possibly retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), while premature exposure to continuous lighting may adversely affect the rest-activity patterns of the newborn. Accordingly, both the use of incubator covers and circadian lighting in the NICU might attenuate these effects. The impact of electromagnetic fields (EMFs) on infant health is still unclear. However, future incubators should be designed to minimize the EMF exposure of the newborn.

Puesta el día en iluminación / Update in lighting

A la hora de planificar la iluminación en una clínica dental, es muy importante lograr la funcionalidad de un buen sistema sin olvidar la estética, ni los posibles riesgos derivados de la misma. La iluminación en la clínica depende de varios factores los cuales interaccionan al unísono, es por tanto esencial prestarles una completa atención y cuidado minucioso, para conseguir así la optimización al completo de nuestro trabajo (AU)

When planning the lighting in a dental clinic, it is very important to achieve the functionality of a good system without forgetting aesthetics, or the possible risks that may be derived from it. Lighting in the clinic depends on various factors which interact simultaneously; therefore, it is essential to give it full attention and meticulous care, in order to attain the complete optimization of our work (AU)