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Halophytic plants possess a huge range of active constituents and medicinal benefits. In this study, extracts (water, ethanol, ethyl acetate, dichloromethane, and n-hexane) of two halophytes of the genus Petrosimonia (P. brachiata and P. nigdeensis) were investigated for their phytochemical profiles and pharmacological properties. The phytochemical profiles of both species were investigated using an untargeted metabolomics approach based on high-resolution mass spectrometry. The two species show different polyphenolic profiles and these are influenced by the different extraction solvents used. The same extracts were used for different bioactivity assays. The results show that all extracts yielded total flavonoid and phenolic contents of 11.14–24.22 mg GAE/g and 3.15–22.03 mg RE/g, respectively. While extracts of both species demonstrated a radical scavenging ability in the ABTS assay (16.12–98.02 mg TE/g), only the polar and moderately polar extracts (water, ethanol, and ethyl acetate) showed scavenging potential in the DPPH assay (4.74–16.55 mg TE/g). A reducing potential was also displayed by all extracts in the CUPRAC and FRAP assays (26.02–80.35 mg TE/g and 31.70–67.69 mg TE/g, respectively). The total antioxidant capacity of the extracts ranged from 0.24 to 2.17 mmol TE/g, and the metal chelating activity ranged from 14.74 to 33.80 mg EDTAE/g. The water extracts possessed a higher metal chelating power than the other extracts. All extracts acted as inhibitors of acetylcholinesterase (0.16–3.85 mg GALAE/g) and amylase (0.11–1.28 mmol ACAE/g). Moreover, apart from the water extracts, the other extracts also showed anti-butyrylcholinesterase activity (0.73–2.86 mg GALAE/g), as well as anti-tyrosinase (36.74–61.40 mg KAE/g) and anti-glucosidase (2.37–2.73 mmol ACAE/g) potential. In general, the water extracts were found to be weak inhibitors of the tested enzymes, while the ethanol extracts mostly showed an inhibitory effect. The obtained findings revealed the antioxidant and enzyme inhibitory properties of these two species and demonstrated that the solvent type used affected the pharmacological properties of the extracts and hence, can be useful to further investigate the active constituents yielded in the extracts and understand the mechanisms involved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The collection of single‐photon emission from a quantum dot (QD) in a Bragg waveguide through a photonic wire bond (PWB) via free‐space resonant frequency pumping at 1.6 K is demonstrated. The in‐fiber single photons show a small multiphoton contribution, quantified by a low second order photon autocorrelation value of gcorr(2)(0)=(5.9±0.8)×10−3$g_{{\mathrm{corr}}}^{(2)}\;(0) = ({5.9 \pm 0.8})\; \times {10^{ - 3}}$ (background‐corrected) or graw(2)(0)=(9.5±1.4)×10−2$g_{{\mathrm{raw}}}^{(2)}(0)\; = ({9.5 \pm 1.4})\; \times {10^{ - 2}}{\mathrm{\;}}$(raw data). The decay time of the QD is measured to be τ=440${\mathrm{\tau \;}} = {\mathrm{\;}}440$ ps. The PWB obviates the need for in‐cryostat alignment of the single‐photon source with an optical fiber and thus offers a route to scalable integration of quantum photonic devices in a cryogenic environment. Uniquely, the approach combines the QD‐waveguide technique, enabling resonant driving of individual QDs without the need for cross‐polarization filtering, and the PWB for deterministic, alignment‐free coupling of single‐photon sources to optical fibers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rise of the Internet of Things (IoT) has enabled the development of measurement systems dedicated to preventing health issues and monitoring conditions in smart homes and workplaces. IoT systems can support monitoring people doing computer-based work and avoid the insurgence of common musculoskeletal disorders related to the persistence of incorrect sitting postures during work hours. This work proposes a low-cost IoT measurement system for monitoring the sitting posture symmetry and generating a visual alert to warn the worker when an asymmetric position is detected. The system employs four force sensing resistors (FSR) embedded in a cushion and a microcontroller-based read-out circuit for monitoring the pressure exerted on the chair seat. Java-based software performs the real-time monitoring of the sensors' measurements and implements an uncertainty-driven asymmetry detection algorithm. The shifts from a symmetric to an asymmetric posture and vice versa generate and close a pop-up warning message, respectively. In this way, the user is promptly notified when an asymmetric posture is detected and invited to adjust the sitting position. Every position shift is recorded in a web database for further analysis of the sitting behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L., Asteraceae) is a popular vegetable leafy crop playing a relevant role in human nutrition. Nowadays, novel strategies are required to sustainably support plant growth and elicit the biosynthesis of bioactive molecules with functional roles in crops including lettuce. In this work, the polyphenolic profile of lettuce treated with glutamic acid (GA), humic acid (HA), and their combination (GA + HA) was investigated using an untargeted metabolomics phenolic profiling approach based on high-resolution mass spectrometry. Both aerial and root organ parts were considered, and a broad and diverse phenolic profile could be highlighted. The phenolic profile included flavonoids (anthocyanins, flavones, flavanols, and flavonols), phenolic acids (both hydroxycinnamics and hydroxybenzoics), low molecular weight phenolics (tyrosol equivalents), lignans and stilbenes. Overall, GA and HA treatments significantly modulated the biosynthesis of flavanols, lignans, low molecular weight phenolics, phenolic acids, and stilbene. Thereafter, antioxidant capacity was evaluated in vitro with 2,2-diphenyln-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2′-Azino-bis(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS), ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), and cupric ion reducing antioxidant capacity (CUPRAC) assays. In addition, this study examined the inhibitory properties of enzymes, including acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE), tyrosinase, alpha-amylase, and alpha-glucosidase. Compared to individual treatments, the combination of GA + HA showed stronger antioxidant abilities in free radical scavenging and reducing power assays in root samples. Moreover, this combination positively influenced the inhibitory effects of root samples on AChE and BChE and the tyrosinase inhibitory effect of leaf samples. Concerning Pearson's correlations, antioxidant and enzyme inhibition activities were related to phenolic compounds, and lignans in particular correlated with radical scavenging activities. Overall, the tested elicitors could offer promising insights for enhancing the functional properties of lettuce in agricultural treatments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: A mobile handheld snapshot hyperspectral imaging device was developed and tested for in vivo skin evaluation using a new spectral imaging technology. Methods: The device is equipped with four different LED light sources (VIS, 810 nm, 850 nm, and 940 nm) for illumination. Based on a diffractive optical element (DOE) combined with a CMOS sensor chip, a snapshot hyperspectral imager is achieved for the application on human skin. The diffractive optical element (DOE) consists of a two‐dimensional array of identically repeated diffractive microstructures. One hyperspectral image for all wavelength regions is taken within a few seconds. Complex recalculation of the VIS spectral distribution and image information from the received DOE image requires several minutes, depending on computing performance. A risk assessment on the irradiation sources shows no risk of harm due to the LED radiation. Results: Skin tone color patches experiments reproducibly deliver images and spectra of different skin tones. First in vivo use of the device identified pigmentation changes within the field of view. Conclusion: We present a working mobile snapshot hyperspectral imaging tool based on diffractive optical elements. This device or future developments thereof can be used for broad skin evaluation in vivo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: A handheld device was developed and qualified for in vivo human skin evaluation using laser speckle imaging technology. Methods: Each laser speckle device prototype allows the choice of up to three different laser wavelengths in the range of 400 nm to 800 nm in total. Speckle pattern analysis gives various speckle parameters, for example, speckle contrast, speckle size, speckle modulation or fractal dimension. The developed laser speckle device prototypes were evaluated investigating three skin issues. Results: We receive reproducible results from the speckle imaging device. For skin ageing, we found significant changes within three age groups. The effect of a methyl nicotinate treatment was clearly visible and quantifiable using a moorFLPI device as well as our speckle imaging device. In terms of basal cell carcinoma diagnosis, we found significant differences between normal and diseased skin, even though the number of samples was limited. Conclusion: As shown with first application examples, it was possible to demonstrate the potential of the method for skin evaluation in vivo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mutations in the pantothenate kinase 2 gene (PANK2) are the cause of pantothenate kinase-associated neurodegeneration (PKAN), the most common form of neurodegeneration with brain iron accumulation. Although different disease models have been created to investigate the pathogenic mechanism of PKAN, the cascade of molecular events resulting from CoA synthesis impairment is not completely understood. Moreover, for PKAN disease, only symptomatic treatments are available. Despite the lack of a neural system, Saccharomyces cerevisiae has been successfully used to decipher molecular mechanisms of many human disorders including neurodegenerative diseases as well as iron-related disorders. To gain insights into the molecular basis of PKAN, a yeast model of this disease was developed: a yeast strain with the unique gene encoding pantothenate kinase CAB1 deleted, and expressing a pathological variant of this enzyme. A detailed functional characterization demonstrated that this model recapitulates the main phenotypes associated with human disease: mitochondrial dysfunction, altered lipid metabolism, iron overload, and oxidative damage suggesting that the yeast model could represent a tool to provide information on pathophysiology of PKAN. Taking advantage of the impaired oxidative growth of this mutant strain, a screening for molecules able to rescue this phenotype was performed. Two molecules in particular were able to restore the multiple defects associated with PKAN deficiency and the rescue was not allele-specific. Furthermore, the construction and characterization of a set of mutant alleles, allowing a quick evaluation of the biochemical consequences of pantothenate kinase (PANK) protein variants could be a tool to predict genotype/phenotype correlation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]