Characterization of the Phytochemical Composition and Bioactivities of Anacyclus maroccanus Ball. and Anacyclus radiatus Loisel Aerial Parts: Preliminary Evidence for the Possible Development of Moroccan Plants

In the present study, the phytochemical composition and bioactivities of A. maroccanus (AM) and A. radiatus (AR), two ecotypes collected in the Demnate road and Essaouira regions, respectively, were studied to highlight a pharmacological interest and to enable possible pharmaceutical development. To this end, methanolic and ethyl acetate extracts were prepared for each ecotype by fractionation; next, their phytochemical composition was evaluated by spectrophotometric and chromatographic analysis. Moreover, in line with the available evidence for Anacyclus spp. and their traditional use, a screening of bioactivities, including antioxidant, hypoglycemic, antiglycative, chelating, and antibacterial activities, was performed. The extracts were characterized by high amounts of polyphenols, tannins, and flavonoids, especially in the methanolic extracts; these samples were also enriched in carotenoids despite a lower chlorophyll content. Chlorogenic acid and rutin were the major identified compounds. The extracts also showed interesting hypoglycemic, antiglycative, and antibacterial properties, although with differences in efficacy and potency. Present results provide more scientific basis to the ethnopharmacological uses of Anacyclus spp. and suggest a further interest in AM and AR ecotypes as natural sources of bioactive compounds and/or phytocomplexes for possible pharmaceutical and nutraceutical developments.     

Effect of Natural Deep Eutectic Solvents on trans-Resveratrol Photo-Chemical Induced Isomerization and 2,4,6-Trihydroxyphenanthrene Electro-Cyclic Formation

trans-Resveratrol is a natural bioactive compound with well-recognized health promoting effects. When exposed to UV light, this compound can undergo a photochemically induced trans/cis isomerization and a 6π electrochemical cyclization with the subsequent formation of 2,4,6-trihydroxyphenanthrene (THP). THP is a potentially harmful compound which can exert genotoxic effects. In this work we improved the chromatographic separation and determination of the two resveratrol isomers and of THP by using a non-commercial pentafluorophenyl stationary phase. We assessed the effect of natural deep eutectic solvents (NaDES) as possible photo-protective agents by evaluating cis-resveratrol isomer and THP formation under different UV-light exposure conditions with the aim of enhancing resveratrol photostability and inhibiting THP production. Our results demonstrate a marked photoprotective effect exerted by glycerol-containing NaDES, and in particular by proline/glycerol NaDES, which exerts a strong inhibitory effect on the photochemical isomerization of resveratrol and significantly limits the formation of the toxic derivative THP. Considering the presence of resveratrol in various commercial products, these results are of note in view of the potential genotoxic risk associated with its photochemical degradation products and in view of the need for the development of green, eco-sustainable and biocompatible resveratrol photo-stable formulations.     

Noether symmetry approach in matter-dominated cosmology with variable G and Λ

In the framework of renormalization-group improved cosmologies, we use the Noether symmetry approach to get exact and general integration of the matter-dominated cosmological equations. This is performed by using an expression of Λ = Λ (G) determined by the method itself. We also work out a comparison between such a model and the concordance ΛCDM model as to the magnitude–redshift relationship, hence showing that no appreciable differences occur.     

Quantum logics seen as quantum testability theories

We confute logical relativism and forward an alternative epistemological thesis according to which nonstandard truth-theories are considered theories of some metalinguistic concepts which do not coincide with truth, this latter concept being exhaustively described by Tarski's truth theory. We illustrate our viewpoint by showing that quantum logics can be interpreted as quantum physical theories of the metalinguistic concept of testability in the framework of a suitable classical language (with Tarskian semantics).     

Reconciling local realism and quantum physics: A critique to Bell

A metatheoretical generalized principle (MGP) is stated that formalizes an operational non-standard way of looking at the laws of physics. In quantum physics MGP leads to the invalidation of Bell's inequality without renouncing a minimal form of realism or locality. Therefore, the violation of Bell's inequality predicted by quantum physics does not appear to be paradoxical if MGP is accepted.Dipartimento di Fisica dell'Università-Lecce, Italy. Translated from Teoreticheskaya i Matematicheskaya Fizika, Vol. 99, No. 2, pp. 285–291, May, 1994.     

On the spectrum of the Heisenberg Hamiltonian

The quantum, antiferromagnetic, spin-1/2 Heisenberg Hamiltonian on thed-dimensional cubic lattice ^d is considered for any dimensiond. First the anisotropic case is considered for small transversal coupling and a convergent expansion is given for a family of eigenprojections which is complete in all finite-volume truncations. Then the general case is considered, for which an upper bound to the ground-state energy is given which is optimal for strong enough anisotropy. This bound is expressed through a functional involving the statistical expectation value at finite temperature of a certain correlation function of an Ising model defined on the lattice ^d itself.     

Nonlinear wave propagation in constrained solids subjected to thermal loads

The classical mathematical treatment governing nonlinear wave propagation in solids relies on finite strain theory. In this scenario, a system of nonlinear partial differential equations can be derived to mathematically describe nonlinear phenomena such as acoustoelasticity (wave speed dependency on quasi-static stress), wave interaction, wave distortion, and higher-harmonic generation. The present work expands the topic of nonlinear wave propagation to the case of a constrained solid subjected to thermal loads. The origin of nonlinear effects in this case is explained on the basis of the anharmonicity of interatomic potentials, and the absorption of the potential energy corresponding to the (prevented) thermal expansion. Such “residual” energy is, at least, cubic as a function of strain, hence leading to a nonlinear wave equation and higher-harmonic generation. Closed-form solutions are given for the longitudinal wave speed and the second-harmonic nonlinear parameter as a function of interatomic potential parameters and temperature increase. The model predicts a decrease in longitudinal wave speed and a corresponding increase in nonlinear parameter with increasing temperature, as a result of the thermal stresses caused by the prevented thermal expansion of the solid. Experimental measurements of the ultrasonic nonlinear parameter on a steel block under constrained thermal expansion confirm this trend. These results suggest the potential of a nonlinear ultrasonic measurement to quantify thermal stresses from prevented thermal expansion. This knowledge can be extremely useful to prevent thermal buckling of various structures, such as continuous-welded rails in hot weather.     

A critical experimental study of the classical tactile threshold theory

Background  

The tactile sense is being used in a variety of applications involving tactile human-machine interfaces. In a significant number of publications the classical threshold concept plays a central role in modelling and explaining psychophysical experimental results such as in stochastic resonance (SR) phenomena. In SR, noise enhances detection of sub-threshold stimuli and the phenomenon is explained stating that the required amplitude to exceed the sensory threshold barrier can be reached by adding noise to a sub-threshold stimulus. We designed an experiment to test the validity of the classical vibrotactile threshold. Using a second choice experiment, we show that individuals can order sensorial events below the level known as the classical threshold. If the observer's sensorial system is not activated by stimuli below the threshold, then a second choice could not be above the chance level. Nevertheless, our experimental results are above that chance level contradicting the definition of the classical tactile threshold.