title: Droplet evaporation method as a new potential approach for highlighting the effectiveness of ultra high dilutions.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study sought to verify whether the droplet evaporation method (DEM) can be applied to assess the effectiveness of ultra-high dilutions (UHDs). We studied the shape characteristics of the polycrystalline structures formed during droplet evaporation of wheat seed leakages.
  
  
  METHODS
  The experimental protocol tested both unstressed seeds and seeds stressed with arsenic trioxide 5mM, treated with either ultra-high dilutions of the same stressor substance, or with water as a control. The experimental groups were analyzed by DEM and in vitro growth tests. DEM patterns were evaluated for their local connected fractal dimension (measure of complexity) and fluctuating asymmetry (measure of symmetry exactness).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Treatment with arsenic at UHD of both stressed and non-stressed seeds increased the local connected fractal dimension levels and bilateral symmetry exactness values in the polycrystalline structures, as compared to the water treatment. The results of in vitro growth tests revealed a stimulating effect of arsenic at UHD vs. control, and a correlation between the changes in growth rate and the crystallographic values of the polycrystalline structures was observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results indicate that polycrystalline structures are sensitive to UHDs, and so for the first time provide grounds for the use of DEM as a new tool for testing UHD effectiveness. DEM could find application as a treatment pre-selection tool, or to monitor sample conditions during treatment. Moreover, when applied to biological liquids (such as saliva, blood, blood serum, etc.), DEM might provide information about UHD effectiveness on human and animal health.
authors.affiliation: Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Bologna, Viale Fanin 42, 40127 Bologna, Italy. Electronic address: maria.kokornaczyk@unibo.it.
authors.forename: Maria Olga
authors.initials: MO
authors.lastname: Kokornaczyk
authors.affiliation: Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Bologna, Viale Fanin 42, 40127 Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Grazia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Trebbi
authors.affiliation: Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Bologna, Viale Fanin 42, 40127 Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Dinelli
authors.affiliation: Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Bologna, Viale Fanin 42, 40127 Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Ilaria
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Marotti
authors.affiliation: Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Bologna, Viale Fanin 42, 40127 Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Valeria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Bregola
authors.affiliation: Italian National Health System, Lombardy District, ASL, Corso Italia 19, 20122 Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Daniele
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Nani
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Therapy, Faculty of Medicine, Chieti University, Via dei Vestini 31, 66013 Chieti, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Borghini
authors.affiliation: Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Bologna, Viale Fanin 42, 40127 Bologna, Italy. Electronic address: lucietta.betti@unibo.it.
authors.forename: Lucietta
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Betti
mesh_terms: D000077237:Arsenic Trioxide; D001152:Arsenicals / Q000737:chemistry; D002623:Chemistry Techniques, Analytical / Q000379:methods*; D003460:Crystallization; D018525:Germination / Q000187:drug effects; D008853:Microscopy / Q000379:methods*; D010087:Oxides / Q000737:chemistry; D012639:Seeds / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects; D014908:Triticum / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D001152:Arsenicals; D010087:Oxides; D014867:Water; D000077237:Arsenic Trioxide
keywords: Arsenic trioxide; Droplet evaporation method; Fluctuating asymmetry; Fractal dimension; Polycrystalline structures; Ultra high dilutions; Wheat seedling growth