XRF analysis searching for fingerprint elemental profile in south-eastern Sicily tomatoes.

The implementation of analytical techniques able to certify food quality and origin in a fast and non-destructive way is becoming a widespread need in the agri-food sector. Among the physical non-destructive techniques, X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectrometry is often used to analyze the elemental composition of biological samples. In this study, X-ray fluorescence (XRF) elemental profiles were measured on tomato samples belonging to different geographical areas in Sicily (Italy).

Applications of Delayed Luminescence for tomato fruit quality assessment across varied Sicilian cultivation zones.

The food industry places significant emphasis on ensuring quality and traceability as key components of a healthy diet. To cater to consumer demands, researchers have prioritized the development of analytical techniques that can rapidly and non-invasively provide data on quality parameters. In this study, we propose to use the Delayed Luminescence (DL), an ultra-weak and photo-induced emission of optical photons, as a tool for a rapid evaluation of quality profile associated with fruit ripening, in support of traditional analysis methods.

Effect of Astaxanthin on Tissue Transglutaminase and Cytoskeletal Protein Expression in Amyloid-Beta Stressed Olfactory Ensheathing Cells: Molecular and Delayed Luminescence Studies.

Astaxanthin, a natural compound of , possesses antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor and immunomodulatory activities. It also represents a potential therapeutic in Alzheimer's disease (AD), that is related to oxidative stress and agglomeration of proteins such as amyloid-beta (Aβ). Aβ is a neurotoxic protein and a substrate of tissue transglutaminase (TG2), an ubiquitary protein involved in AD.

Synergic pro-apoptotic effects of Ferulic Acid and nanostructured lipid carrier in glioblastoma cells assessed through molecular and Delayed Luminescence studies.

Herein, we assessed the effect of Ferulic Acid (FA), a natural antioxidant with anti-cancer effect, on the human glioblastoma cells through molecular and Delayed Luminescence (DL) studies. DL, a phenomenon of ultra-week emission of optical photons, was used to monitor mitochondrial assessment. The effect of FA loaded in nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs) was also assessed.

Dynamic changes in cytoskeleton proteins of olfactory ensheathing cells induced by radiofrequency electromagnetic fields.

Several evidences have suggested the ability of radiofrequency electromagnetic fields to influence biological systems, even if the action mechanisms are not well understood. There are few data on the effect of radiofrequency electromagnetic fields on self-renewal of neural progenitor cells. A particular glial type that shows characteristics of stem cells is olfactory ensheathing cells (OECs).

Impact of structure on the delayed luminescence of d-Glucose-based polymer chains.

Glucose is a natural chemical compound and is one of the most abundant organic molecules in nature. Plants and algae are able to produce it from water and carbon dioxide during photosynthesis, using energy of photons coming from the sun. It is very important in life processes because, in energy metabolism, Glucose is the most important source of energy in all organisms.

Non-destructive evaluation of watermelon seeds germination by using Delayed Luminescence.

The evaluation of optical properties of biological samples is gaining increasing interests both in scientific and commercial fields concerning agriculture and food processing. The optical techniques can indeed be able to provide information on quality assessment in a fast and non-destructive way. This feature makes them suitable for automatic management of control processes.

Exploring the behaviour of water in glycerol solutions by using delayed luminescence.

The crucial role of water in the engine of life have encouraged many researchers in studying, both theoretically and experimentally, the possible "structure" of water. Many properties of water have been related to the interplay between two distinct and interconverting structural species, namely the low-density water (LDW) and the high-density water (HDW). Supported by the results obtained with other aqueous solutions, this paper deals with the possibility of using the ultra-weak delayed luminescence (DL) to investigate water structuring in a mixture with glycerol, characterized only by hydrogen bonds between the various molecules.

Effects of Ion Irradiation on Seedlings Growth Monitored by Ultraweak Delayed Luminescence.

The optical technique based on the measurement of delayed luminescence emitted from the biological samples has demonstrated its ability to provide valid and predictive information on the functional status of various biological systems. We want to extend this technique to study the effect of ionizing radiation on biological systems. In particular we are interested in the action of ion beams, used for therapeutic purposes or to increase the biological diversity.

Delayed luminescence to monitor programmed cell death induced by berberine on thyroid cancer cells.

Correlation between apoptosis and UVA-induced ultraweak photon emission delayed luminescence (DL) from tumor thyroid cell lines was investigated. In particular, the effects of berberine, an alkaloid that has been reported to have anticancer activities, on two cancer cell lines were studied. The FTC-133 and 8305C cell lines, as representative of follicular and anaplastic thyroid human cancer, respectively, were chosen.

Ultra-weak delayed luminescence in cancer research: a review of the results by the ARETUSA equipment.

The study of the photoinduced ultraweak photon emission in the optical wavelength range, namely the Delayed Luminescence, from human cells and tissues has an increasingly growing interest in view of its possible application in optical biopsy. Due to the low level, dedicated experimental set-up are necessary to reveal such photoluminescence signal. The paper reviews the results obtained in the field of cancer research, by using the experimental equipment for fast ultraweak luminescence analysis ARETUSA developed at the National Southern Laboratories of the National Nuclear Physics Institute (LNS-INFN), in Catania, Italy.

Mitochondrial respiratory complex I probed by delayed luminescence spectroscopy.

The role of mitochondrial complex I in ultraweak photon-induced delayed photon emission [delayed luminescence (DL)] of human leukemia Jurkat T cells was probed by using complex I targeting agents like rotenone, menadione, and quercetin. Rotenone, a complex I-specific inhibitor, dose-dependently increased the mitochondrial level of reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH), decreased clonogenic survival, and induced apoptosis. A strong correlation was found between the mitochondrial levels of NADH and oxidized flavin mononucleotide (FMNox) in rotenone-, menadione- and quercetin-treated cells.

Delayed luminescence: a novel technique to obtain new insights into water structure.

Fully understanding the structure of water is a crucial point in biophysics because this liquid is essential in the operation of the engines of life. Many of its amazing anomalies seem to be tailored to support biological processes and, during about a century, several models have been developed to describe the water structuring. In particular, a theory assumes that water is a mixture of domains constituted by two distinct and inter-converting structural species, the low-density water (LDW) and the high-density water (HDW).

Detailed analysis of apoptosis and delayed luminescence of human leukemia Jurkat T cells after proton irradiation and treatments with oxidant agents and flavonoids.

Following previous work, we investigated in more detail the relationship between apoptosis and delayed luminescence (DL) in human leukemia Jurkat T cells under a wide variety of treatments. We used menadione and hydrogen peroxide to induce oxidative stress and two flavonoids, quercetin, and epigallocatechin gallate, applied alone or in combination with menadione or H(2)O(2). 62 MeV proton beams were used to irradiate cells under a uniform dose of 2 or 10 Gy, respectively.

Effects of menadione, hydrogen peroxide, and quercetin on apoptosis and delayed luminescence of human leukemia Jurkat T-cells.

Menadione (MD) is an effective cytotoxic drug able to produce intracellularly large amounts of superoxide anion. Quercetin (QC), a widely distributed bioflavonoid, can exert both antioxidant and pro-oxidant effects and is known to specifically inhibit cell proliferation and induce apoptosis in different cancer cell types. We have investigated the relation between delayed luminescence (DL) induced by UV-laser excitation and the effects of MD, hydrogen peroxide, and QC on apoptosis and cell cycle in human leukemia Jurkat T-cells.

Generalization of DT equations for time dependent sources.

New equations for paralyzable, non paralyzable and hybrid DT models, valid for any time dependent sources are presented. We show how such new equations include the equations already used for constant rate sources, and how it's is possible to correct DT losses in the case of time dependent sources. Montecarlo simulations were performed to compare the equations behavior with the three DT models.

Time-resolved spectral measurements of delayed luminescence from a single soybean seed: effects of thermal damage and correlation with germination performance.

Delayed luminescence from a single dry soybean seed was investigated in both spectral and time domains, under different excitation wavelengths. Emission spectra were collected, under 337 nm laser excitation, from native and artificially deteriorated seeds and the time-dependence of different spectral components was analyzed in detail. The single seed viability was evaluated through observation of germination properties after imbibition and compared with different parameters related to the luminescence kinetics.

Corresponding measurements of delayed luminescence and impedance spectroscopy on acupuncture points.

Measurements of impedance spectroscopy and delayed luminescence have been performed on the acupuncture points PC4 and PC8 and other two control points of ten volunteers. The results show that there is a highly significant difference between the imaginary parts of the impedance of the acupunctural points and that of the control points. The same difference has not be observed in the values of the total number of counts of delayed luminescence.

Laser-ultraviolet-A induced ultra weak photon emission in human skin cells: A biophotonic comparison between keratinocytes and fibroblasts.

Photons participate in many atomic and molecular interactions and processes. Recent biophysical research has discovered an ultraweak radiation in biological tissues. It is now recognized that plants, animal and human cells emit this very weak biophotonic emission which can be readily measured with a sensitive photomultiplier system.

Single Photon Avalanche Diodes: Towards the Large Bidimensional Arrays.

Single photon detection is one of the most challenging goals of photonics. In recent years, the study of ultra-fast and/or low-intensity phenomena has received renewed attention from the academic and industrial communities. Intense research activity has been focused on bio-imaging applications, bio-luminescence, bio-scattering methods, and, more in general, on several applications requiring high speed operation and high timing resolution.

Single seed viability checked by delayed luminescence.

Time resolved spectral components of delayed luminescence (DL) from single dry soybean seeds were measured using a device with single photon sensitivity. The seeds were aged by a thermal treatment to change their viability. A correlation was observed between the seeds viability and some DL parameters, i.

Spectral analysis of Delayed Luminescence from human skin as a possible non-invasive diagnostic tool.

In vivo measurements of Delayed Luminescence (DL), the low-level photo-induced emission which lasts for a longer time after switching off the excitation light, have been performed on human skin, with the aim to develop a technique for optical biopsy. Preliminary tests have been performed on healthy volunteers, measuring the time decays of the spectral components (lambda(emiss) = 400-800 nm) starting 10 mus after switching off the excitation (lambda(exc) = 337 nm). Significant differences in the decay trends of DL from different subjects were revealed and quite a good reproducibility for the same subject was observed.

Laser-ultraviolet-A-induced ultraweak photon emission in mammalian cells.

Photobiological research in the last 30 yr has shown the existence of ultraweak photon emission in biological tissue, which can be detected with sophisticated photomultiplier systems. Although the emission of this ultraweak radiation, often termed biophotons, is extremely low in mammalian cells, it can be efficiently increased by ultraviolet light. Most recently it was shown that UV-A (330 to 380 nm) releases such very weak cell radiation in differentiated human skin fibroblasts.

Spectral analysis of laser-induced ultraweak delayed luminescence in cultured normal and tumor human cells: temperature dependence.

The emission spectrum of ultraviolet A laser induced ultraweak delayed luminescence in cell cultures of mammalian cells depended on the temperature during irradiation and photonic measurements. A new method using a sophisticated photomultiplier system was developed in order to find differences between normal and tumor cells. The maximal peak of the emitted light for cultures measured at low temperature of 10 degrees C was near 510 nm in the green visible region while following irradiation at 32 degrees C this maximum was shifted to yellow-orange at 570 nm both in normal and melanoma cells.

Solid state approach in biophoton research.

Main characteristics of the delayed luminescence (DL) emitted in the seconds range from biological systems is analyzed. The correlation between change in DL and cell's organization, and similarity with some characteristics of DL from solid state system suggest to connect DL in biological system to decay of collective electron states, formed during energy and charge transport along the macromolecular ordered structures which form the cell. Results of a proposed soliton model are discussed, together with some phenomenological evidence which emphasize the possibility of using DL measurements as an intrinsic probe in biophysical investigations.