The purpose of the present study was to evaluate if main domestic vector mosquitoes, Aedes albopictus as a diurnal species and Culex pipiens as a nocturnal species, have correlation between reflecting luminous intensity of colors and preference for blood feeding activity. Laboratory evaluations were performed and the mosquito preferences were compared to three different color brightness such as light, primary, and dark for five fundamental color series including red, yellow, green, blue, and purple. The test bodies selected for these experiments were BioGents Sentinel traps (BG traps) with 20g dry ice in each falcon tube, which covered outside of the traps attached with three different luminous intensities such as light, primary, and dark for each different color of paper sheets. In each experiment, a pair of BG traps was placed 0.6 m away from each other in a 1.8 m x 3.7 m x 1.8 m screened enclosure. The enclosure maintained at 26±2℃, 65±5% RH, and 100 lux illumination. Evaluations were performed for two hours between 10:00 and 16:00 for each 25 Ae. ablopictus females and 15 hours from 18:00 to 9:00 for each 25 Cx. pipiens females. Each experiment was replicated four times. As a result, reflecting luminous intensity (L-value) affected and correlated negatively to the preference of the two mosquito species but the fundamental colors, green-red (a-value) and blue-yellow (b-value) were not correlated significantly to the preference (p=0.05). Aedes ablopictus females were preferred for feeding activity more to lower L-values of the colors and correlated negatively between color preference of the mosquitoes and the L-values such as r = -0.584 (p=0.003) for red, r = -0.606 (p=0.002) for yellow, r = -0.620 (p=0.001) for green, and r = -0.463 (p=0.023) for blue except purple (r = -0.129; p=0.549). Similarly, Cx. pipiens females were correlated negatively such as r = -0.590 (p=0.002) for red, r = -0.564 (p=0.005) for yellow, r = -0.687 (p=0.000) for green, r = -0.623 (p=0.001) for blue, and r = -0.689 (p=0.000). In conclusion, the color brightness were negatively correlated to the feeding activity of the two vector mosquito species but not the wavelength of visible ray. Also, the mosquito females preferred significantly darker ones in the same color series (p<0.05) except purple for Ae. ablopictus females.
Long-range visual marine aids to navigation are not required for current marine navigational practices. Therefore, the objective of this study was to develop a minimum luminous range for major lighthouses that are still in existence to sustain the operation of the lighthouses in the future. Two steps were involved in the determination of the minimum luminous range, namely the modification of the existing geographical range formula, and the finding of a strong linear correlation between the light intensity and the luminous range with the lowest gradient possible in a graph. The application of the minimum luminous range would eliminate the loom of light beyond the geographical range of the lighthouse. This approach was applied to seven major lighthouses in Peninsular Malaysia, which resulted in a minimum luminous range of between 12 nm to 14 nm, which was a reduction from the existing range of 18 nm to 25 nm. The validation of the minimum luminous range was performed in two ways; using a Full Mission Ship Simulator (FMSS), and matching the proposed minimum luminous range with the lighting system available. The results of the validation by using the FMSS between the luminous range of 25 nm and 14 nm showed that the light could be sighted and identified at 58.7 nm and 58.6 nm, respectively, which was, therefore, not significant. The validation by matching with the lighting equipment available in the market showed that the eight-tier VLB-44, which has replaced the rotating lighting system in the US since 2008, was highly matched with the proposed minimum luminous range. This further validated the minimum luminous range. The minimum luminous range is sufficient for current navigational uses and may reduce the costs for procuring and maintaining lighting systems, and will be able to sustain the operations of lighthouses in this GNSS age.
This study was conducted to investigate the growth characteristics and functional materials of baby vegetables as affected by different LEDs and luminous intensity at Anseongsi, Gyeonggi Province, in 2014. Test crops were beet, chicory, spinach, red leaf lettuce, crown daisy and red mustard purchased from the seed company of Dongbu Hannong and Jinheung. Growth characteristics were measured and the content of functional materials was analyzed 40 days after seeding at plug plate. Treatment of Red+Blue (4:1) at 150 µmol m-2 s-1 luminous intensity showed the highest number of leaves in five baby vegetables of beet, chicory, red leaf lettuce, crown daisy and red mustard. The highest shoot length of chicory, spinach, red leaf lettuce, crown daisy and red mustard was obtained from the treatment of Red+Blue (4:1) at 150 µmol m-2 s-1 luminous intensity. Fresh weight and dry weight of all six baby vegetables were the highest in treatment of Red+Blue (4:1) at 150 µmol m-2 s-1 luminous intensity. Content of chlorophyll a and chlorophyll b of spinach, red leaf lettuce and red mustard showed the highest in Fluorescent lamp at 150 µmol m-2 s-1 luminous intensity whereas other crops did not show definite trend under different LEDs lights and luminous intensity. The highest total content of anthocyanins and polyphenol were obtained from the treatment of Red+Blue (4:1) at 150 µmol m-2 s-1 luminous intensity in all six baby vegetables. Free radical scavenging activity was highest in all six vegetable crops at 150 µmol m-2 s-1 luminous intensity, but it was not different significantly between LEDs.As a result, the growth and the content of functional material of baby vegetables are generally to be increased in Red+Blue (4:1) at 150 µmol m-2 s-1 luminous intensity. Mixed light of Red+Blue is thought to give good effect on the growth and the content of functional material in baby vegetable crops. Because there are many differences in regard of LED lights, crop varieties, cultivation and experi-mental methods in their impact on the growth and functional materials of baby vegetables among researchers, it is considered that a more precise studies are needed for the crop responses to LED light and luminous intensity.