Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Lance S. Conway, Kenneth A. Sudduth, Newell R. Kitchen, Stephen H. Anderson
Summary: The integration of reflectance sensors into commercial planter or tillage components has allowed for detailed quantification of spatial soil variability. However, there is limited knowledge regarding sensor performance and reproducibility. A study conducted in Missouri, USA in 2019 aimed to investigate the accuracy of sensors in estimating soil organic matter (OM) and the repeatability of sensor output across different sensing dates.
PRECISION AGRICULTURE
(2023)
Article
Astronomy & Astrophysics
Yan Zhuang, Hao Zhang, Pei Ma, Te Jiang, Yazhou Yang, Ralph E. Milliken, Weibiao Hsu
Summary: Light reflection from intact rocks has been less studied compared to light scattering by small particles. With the availability of high-resolution spectral images obtained by modern space-borne and in-situ sensors, it is important to understand the spectral feature links between rocks and crushed powders made from them.
Article
Materials Science, Ceramics
Shanqi Xu, Jie Zhang, Yin Zhang, Wei Zhu, Anping Wang, Shuxian Zhuang
Summary: A novel, eco-friendly yellow mixed oxide inorganic pigment composed of Bi2O3-ZnO-CaO was successfully synthesized using a solid-state reaction. The pigment showed light yellow color and was rare earth-free, with good chemical stability. It exhibited superior near-infrared solar reflectance and thermal insulation performance, making it suitable for energy-saving applications in building coatings.
CERAMICS INTERNATIONAL
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Prince Chapman Agyeman, Ndiye Michael Kebonye, Vahid Khosravi, John Kingsley, Lubos Boruvka, Radim Vasat, Charles Mario Boateng
Summary: This study applies two methods to rapidly monitor zinc concentration in agricultural soil, one using visible near-infrared (Vis-NIR) and machine learning algorithms, and the other using Vis-NIR, soil chemical properties, and machine learning algorithms. The results show that the second method performs better in predicting zinc concentration.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Yueying Li, Yan Ma, Wenyuan Liu, Zhoufu Wang, Hao Liu, Xitang Wang, Hengyong Wei, Shenghao Zeng, Nian Yi, Gary J. Cheng
Summary: Colored non-toxic near-infrared (NIR) reflective and infrared radiative pigments, such as yttrium ferrite (YFeO3), with controllable crystalline structures were successfully synthesized in this study. The effects of crystalline and microstructural properties on the optical performance of YFeO3 pigments were investigated for the first time. Different crystalline forms of YFeO3 particles exhibited distinct optical absorption and reflection properties, highlighting their potential for energy-saving applications.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Arash Kamal, Majid Abdouss, Majid Mazhar
Summary: This study investigated factors affecting the near-infrared reflectance of perylene-bisimide derivatives, validating some and rejecting others. The NIR properties of the synthesized pigments show a correlation with the imide substitution structure, but a direct relationship cannot be established.
JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL TECHNOLOGY AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Changku Kang, Sehyeok Im, Won Young Lee, Yunji Choi, Devi Stuart-Fox, Blanca Huertas
Summary: The research found that the reflectance of European butterflies is correlated with climatic factors, particularly in terms of thermal adaptation, with more prominent variations in the near-infrared wavebands. The thermal environment also influences the difference in reflectance between the dorsal and ventral surfaces of butterflies, potentially due to the modulation between heating and cooling requirements.
Article
Soil Science
Zefang Shen, Haylee D'Agui, Lewis Walden, Mingxi Zhang, Tsoek Man Yiu, Kingsley Dixon, Paul Nevill, Adam Cross, Mohana Matangulu, Yang Hu, Raphael A. Viscarra Rossel
Summary: Mining can cause disturbances to the soil, but miniaturised spectrometers can accurately estimate soil properties for rehabilitation at a lower cost.
Article
Materials Science, Ceramics
Luomeng Chao, Jiaxin Li, Lihong Bao, Sihua Ha, Lihua Peng, Jinyan Niu, Jia Liu, Yonghong Ma
Summary: The near-infrared (NIR) region is responsible for almost half of the solar thermal radiation contribution, leading to significant energy consumption for cooling buildings when it enters indoors. Alkali tungsten bronzes, as a typical NIR shielding material, have shown great potential application but need improvement in their shielding ability at the low wavelength NIR region. This study prepared nanocrystalline lanthanum tungsten bronze through a solid-state reaction method, which displayed strong NIR absorption in the low wavelength range. The nanocrystalline lanthanum tungsten bronze also exhibited promising photocatalytic properties, and its electronic structure and optical properties were further investigated through first principles calculation. The excellent optical properties of nanocrystalline lanthanum tungsten bronze make it expected to play an important role in energy-saving windows.
CERAMICS INTERNATIONAL
(2023)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Charlotte Delrue, Sander De Bruyne, Marijn M. Speeckaert
Summary: Traditional renal biomarkers are insensitive for early detection of kidney disease. Infrared spectroscopy offers a label-free and non-destructive method for quick and inexpensive diagnosis of kidney disorders. This review provides an overview of the applications of near- and mid-infrared spectroscopy in patients with acute kidney injury and chronic kidney disease.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Jana Ziljak Grsic, Silvio Plehati, Ivana Ziljak Stanimirovic, Tomislav Bogovic
Summary: This study investigates the reflection and absorption properties of acrylic dyes and related materials in the visible and near infrared range. The aim is to understand their application in fine arts and simulate them for printing purposes. Two groups of acrylic dyes were examined using spectroscopy to determine their light absorption properties in the visible and near infrared regions. Measurements were taken with forensic cameras equipped with 24 light filters in the range of 400-1000 nm. The study aimed to gain insights into the properties of acrylic paints and simulate their behavior for artistic and printing purposes.
APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL
(2023)
Article
Forestry
Hisashi Abe, Yohei Kurata, Ken Watanabe, Peter Kitin, Miho KoJIMA, Kenichi Yazaki
Summary: This study measured light transmittance and reflectance in 21 conifer species and found variations in transmittance values among different species and between sapwood and heartwood within certain species. The results also revealed peaks or shoulders in certain wavelength ranges and differences in transmittance patterns among different genera. The anatomical characteristics of wood and the presence of secondary metabolites were found to influence light transmittance.
Review
Ophthalmology
Georges Sukkarieh, Raphael Lejoyeux, Yannick LeMer, Sophie Bonnin, Ramin Tadayoni
Summary: Near-infrared reflectance (NIR) retinal imaging provides better visualization of structures in the outer retina, retinal pigment epithelium, and choroid. It has several advantages, including easy acquisition with structural spectral domain optical coherence tomography, patient comfort, and improved contrast and spatial resolution. It can aid in the diagnosis and follow-up of various chorioretinal diseases and has clinical applications in ocular inflammatory disease, vascular and acquired disease, degenerative disease, tumors, systemic conditions, toxic and traumatic disease, optic nerve head conditions, and physiological findings.
SURVEY OF OPHTHALMOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Santo Orlando, Mario Minacapilli, Mauro Sarno, Alessandra Carrubba, Antonio Motisi
Summary: Current Proximal Sensing technologies lack internal radiometric calibration and require per-session calibration against a reference target. The described instrument overcomes this dependence by adopting active illumination of the target surface, allowing monitoring of soil and low vegetation surfaces by a radiometrically pre-calibrated imaging camera. It captures multispectral images in different spectral domains and can characterize various surfaces.
COMPUTERS AND ELECTRONICS IN AGRICULTURE
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Kensei Ichiba, Kai Okazaki, Yuma Takebuchi, Takumi Kato, Daisuke Nakauchi, Noriaki Kawaguchi, Takayuki Yanagida
Summary: In this study, undoped and Nd-doped BSO crystals with different Nd doping levels were synthesized by the floating zone method. It was found that the samples exhibited similar photoluminescence and X-ray-induced scintillation properties, with variations in PL quantum yield and afterglow levels based on the Nd doping level.
Article
Ecology
Sebastian Mader, Jonathan Goldenberg, Federico Massetti, Karen Bisschop, Liliana D'Alba, Rampal S. Etienne, Susana Clusella-Trullas, Matthew D. Shawkey
Summary: The impact of climate change on global biodiversity is well-established, but the differential effect of climate change on populations within the same species is often overlooked. This study focuses on color-polyphenic lizards and finds that darker populations are more likely to adapt to future climate conditions. These findings highlight the importance of considering population variation when studying responses to climate change and developing effective conservation strategies.
FUNCTIONAL ECOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Jonathan Goldenberg, Karen Bisschop, Liliana D'Alba, Matthew D. Shawkey
Summary: Biological rules describe general patterns within and across species, but their applicability in our rapidly changing environment is uncertain due to contradicting predictions and altered environmental conditions caused by climate change.
Article
Ornithology
Svana Rogalla, Michael P. J. Nicolai, Viki Vandomme, Robin Teifel, Susana Clusella-Trullas, Liliana D'Alba, Matthew D. Shawkey
Summary: Nest care and brooding in sunbirds, which was previously believed to be solely performed by females, might involve the participation of males as well, according to our observation of a male Amethyst Sunbird with a brood patch during a ringing session in South Africa.
JOURNAL OF ORNITHOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Aude Cincotta, Michael Nicolai, Hebert Bruno Nascimento Campos, Maria McNamara, Liliana D'Alba, Matthew D. Shawkey, Edio-Ernst Kischlat, Johan Yans, Robert Carleer, Francois Escuillie, Pascal Godefroit
Summary: The study on well-preserved soft tissues in Mesozoic fossils provides valuable insights into the evolution of feathers. Recent research on pterosaurs reveals the presence of branched feathers, suggesting that feathers originated in the ancestor of pterosaurs and dinosaurs in the Early Triassic. However, the homology between pterosaur structures and feathers is still debated. Furthermore, diverse melanosome geometries related to the skin and feathers have been found in pterosaurs, indicating the early genetic regulation of feather color and shape, which has deep evolutionary origins.
Review
Immunology
Garima Kulshreshtha, Liliana D'Alba, Ian C. Dunn, Sophie Rehault-Godbert, Alejandro B. Rodriguez-Navarro, Maxwell T. Hincke
Summary: This review discusses the structure, function, and microbiome of the eggshell cuticle, as well as its potential impact on food safety and pathogen transmission. It provides insights into the physiological and microbiological characteristics of the cuticle in egg-laying birds and reptiles, highlighting its protective role in innate immunity.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Martin J. Whiting, Brenden S. Holland, J. Scott Keogh, Daniel W. A. Noble, Katrina J. Rankin, Devi Stuart-Fox
Summary: The study found that Jackson's chameleons introduced to Hawaii experienced pronounced character release of color signals, displaying more conspicuous social color signals during male contests and courtship, being less cryptic in response to bird and snake predators, and showing greater change between display and antipredator color states.
Editorial Material
Behavioral Sciences
Devi Stuart-Fox
BEHAVIORAL ECOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Ornithology
S. V. A. N. A. ROGALLA, M. A. T. T. H. E. W. D. SHAWKEY, L. I. L. I. A. N. A. D'ALBA
Summary: Plumage coloration can have significant effects on a bird's energy budget by affecting heat transfer and solar heating. The thermal properties of feather coloration can influence thermoregulation and flight performance. Recent studies suggest that feather coloration can reduce the energetic costs of flight.
Article
Evolutionary Biology
Laura Ospina-Rozo, Ann Roberts, Dew Stuart-Fox
Summary: This article proposes a standardized set of measurements, parameters and terminology to describe the optical properties of natural objects. By studying the case of Christmas beetles, previously unrealized diversity in visible and near-infrared reflectance was discovered.
BIOLOGICAL JOURNAL OF THE LINNEAN SOCIETY
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Lu-Yi Wang, Amanda M. Franklin, Andrew F. Hugall, Iliana Medina, Devi Stuart-Fox
Summary: To predict future colour-climate relationships, it is important to differentiate thermal drivers of reflectance from other evolutionary drivers. This study compares the relationships between climate and coloration in UV-Vis and NIR light separately.
GLOBAL ECOLOGY AND BIOGEOGRAPHY
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Deok-Jin Jeon, Seungmuk Ji, Eunok Lee, Jihun Kang, Liliana D'Alba, Matthew D. Shawkey, Jong-Souk Yeo
Summary: Using electron microscopy, optical modeling, and biomimicry, it is shown that variations in the thickness of feather nanostructures in Eurasian jay wing covert feathers create periodic color variations. It is also found that even in the presence of melanin, the white color of Eurasian jay feathers is produced due to a sufficiently thick spongy layer reflecting all visible wavelengths. Inspired by the Eurasian jay, a method for mimicking periodic color variations in synthetic materials is described.
ADVANCED OPTICAL MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Deok-Jin Jeon, Seungmuk Ji, Eunok Lee, Jihun Kang, Jiyeong Kim, Liliana D'Alba, Marie Manceau, Matthew D. Shawkey, Jong-Souk Yeo
Summary: The thickness of the keratin cortex plays a significant role in producing colors in feathers, with the position of the major reflectance peak determined by the cortex thickness. Specifically, the common pheasant has the appropriate keratin cortex thickness to produce blue and green structural colors. This finding provides a general principle of structural color production and sheds light on the evolution of brilliant iridescent colors in the common pheasant.
ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Jonathan Goldenberg, Federico Massetti, Liliana D'Alba, Matthew D. Shawkey
Summary: Substrate properties can affect the thermal balance of organisms, and the colored integument, alongside other factors, may influence heat transfer via differential absorption and reflection. Bright ventral colors occur more frequently in low c(p) substrates, especially in larger body-sized individuals, possibly to better modulate heat transfer with the surrounding environment. Dorsal brightness, on the other hand, is not associated with body size or any substrate thermal property, suggesting other selection pressures.
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Devi Stuart-Fox, Leslie Ng, Mark A. Elgar, Katja Holtta-Otto, Gerd E. Schroder-Turk, Nicolas H. Voelcker, Gregory S. Watson
Summary: Nature offers abundant inspiration for advanced materials, thanks to evolutionary innovations accumulated over millions of years. To make the most of these biological solutions, a holistic understanding of multifunctional biological systems and leveraging nature's defining feature - diversity - is necessary.
NATURE REVIEWS MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Jamie Dunning, Anvay Patil, Liliana D'Alba, Alexander L. Bond, Gerben Debruyn, Ali Dhinojwala, Matthew Shawkey, Lukas Jenni
Summary: Until recently, it was believed that communication in nocturnal and crepuscular species mainly relied on acoustic and chemical channels, unlike diurnal birds that use contrasting plumage patches and complex feather structures. However, our study on the Eurasian woodcock revealed that these low-light birds have evolved intensely white plumage patches within their inconspicuous plumage for visual communication. The intense reflectance of the bright white tail feather tips is a result of a disordered nanostructure composed of keratin and air, as well as the flattening, thickening, and arrangement of the barbs that enhance light reflection.
JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY INTERFACE
(2023)