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The loss of agro-biodiversity, climate changes and food insecurity are major challenges in the Mediterranean countries with potentially multidimensional consequences. With respect to salinity, approximately 18 million ha, corresponding to 25 % of total irrigated land in the Mediterranean area, are salt affected. Intensive cropping and the excessive use of expensive inputs such as water and fertilizers aggravate this situation. Understanding how we could improve crop productivity in salinized environments is therefore critical to face these challenges. Our comprehension of fundamental physiological mechanisms in plant salt stress adaptation has greatly advanced over the last decades. However, many of these mechanisms have been linked to salt tolerance in simplified experimental systems whereas they have been rarely functionally proven in real agricultural contexts. The sustainability of farming systems in salt affected Mediterranean soils can be effectively achieved by the use of salt-tolerant halophyte plants even more effective through the use of intercropping, crop rotation and aquaponics.. Moreover, if these halophyte plants are removed from the soil to grow other species, pressure on generating salt-tolerant crop plants would be reduced and much healthier crop plants would be cultivated in less stressed saline soils. This paper will focus on the sustainable practices based on the cultivation of halophytes in saline soils by highlighting some experimental activities carried out at laboratory and field levels in the last few years.

Arbi is one of the main local goat breeds in Tunisia, representing an important economic resource in arid and hot areas where cattle and sheep cannot thrive successfully. In the current work, we have characterized the mitochondrial diversity of 26 Arbi goats by partially sequencing the mitochondrial D-loop region. These sequences plus 10 retrieved from GenBank were analyzed with the DnaSP v.5.10.1, evidencing the existence of 12 different haplotypes. Nucleotide and haplotype diversities were 0.02 and 0.96. Moreover, median-joining network analysis showed that all D-loop sequences from Arbi goats correspond to haplogroup A and that in general they do not cluster with sequences from other goat breeds. The high diversity that has been observed in North African goats is compatible with the maritime diffusion of the Neolithic package 10,000–7000 YBP. Moreover, there are evidences that local Tunisian breeds have been extensively crossed with highly productive transboundary breeds in order to improve meat and milk yields. These uncontrolled crossing practices may lead to the loss of alleles that play key roles in the adaptation of Tunisian local breeds to a harsh environment.

Airborne fungi are one of the major components of aeromycobiota known to produce several fungal diseases in fruits. Their presence in indoor environment of warehouses may limit the storage period of apples. Qualitative and quantitative analyses of airborne fungal spores were conducted using gravity settling techniques to detect fungal airspora present in the atmosphere of two apple warehouses in Tunisia. In this study, 375 fungal isolates were obtained and purified. Phylogenetic analysis of calmodulin, beta-tubulin and ITS regions coupled with phenotypic characterization helped to identify 15 fungal species. Penicillium exhibited the highest diversity with ten species detected (Penicillium allii, P. chrysogenum, P. citrinum, P. expansum, P. italicum, P. polonicum, P. solitum, P. steckii, P. sumatraense and P. viridicatum), followed by four species of Aspergillus genus (Aspergillus europaeus, A. flavus, A. niger and A. pulverulentus) and Alternaria alternata. In vivo experiments confirmed the pathogenicity of 13 species at room temperature and under cold-storage conditions. Among them, A. europaeus, A. pulverulentus, P. allii and P. sumatraense were described for the first time as pathogens on apples. The present study identified the major airborne fungi associated with postharvest rot in apple storage facilities in Tunisia and may help in efficient control of postharvest and storage fruit diseases.

Farmyard manure, an amendment traditionally used for improving the fertility of sandy soils in arid climates, is becoming scarce and expensive. Its shortage makes it necessary to evaluate, at field scale, the suitability and medium-term performance of other cheap, highly available substitutes. A field trial was established to analyze the effects of a single application of three organic residues on barley yield and nutrient uptake and selected soil properties after two consecutive harvests. Municipal solid waste compost (MSWC), sewage sludge compost (SSC) and farmyard manure (FYM) were tested at rates of 0, 20, 40 and 60 t ha−1. Adding all three organic amendments increased organic matter, cation exchange capacity and available P, Ca, Mg and K in the soil, the grain yield (up to 51%), and the barley plants’ nutrient contents. After the second harvest, a positive residual effect of the amendment was observed in plant yield (up to 77%) and nutrient contents. MSWC and SSC induced slight increases on the extractable fractions (BCR protocol) of Co, Cu and Ni, relative to the unamended soil. The results demonstrate the positive immediate and residual effect of the amendments evaluated as fertilizers for agricultural purposes.

[EN] The use of mine waste and tailing in concrete and mortar has widely expanded in the past years. Several studies aim to contribute to the recovery of these rejects and preserve natural raw materials, on the other hand, to improve the physio-mechanical performance of concrete. In the present investigation, the impacts of Pb-Zn and F-Ba as fine aggregate replacement in mortar were analyzed. The outcomes indicated that substitution materials affect the mechanical strength and gamma radiation shielding properties of the mortar. In this regard, the compressive strength of samples made with substitutions of 5%, 10% and 20% of F-Ba tailings were slightly decreased with those of the reference test. However, the replacements with Pb-Zn tailings cause a significant strength decrease of mortar samples (from 68% to 94%). On the contrary, the flexural strength was improved adding one of these types of tailing. Concerning the absorption properties for gamma radiation, obtained results show that incorporation of these solid residues increases the attenuation of gamma rays. The mortars made with F-Ba tailings are more effective than others. The influence of tailings is significant mainly between 0.122 and 0.622 MeV and the highest attenuation is observed for Sample 5′ and 6′. This could be explained by the relative content of heavy minerals in each waste. Furthermore, the half thickness decreases with the increase of mine tailings percentage. The difference is more marked at high energies up to 0.15 MeV. Subsequently, the obtained materials could be utilized for shielding against gamma radiation.

The date palm Phoenix dactylifera, a tropical and subtropical tree, belonging to the family Palmae (Arecaceae) is one of mankind’s oldest cultivated plants. Date palm has long been one of the most important fruit crops in the arid regions of the Arabian Peninsula, North Africa, and the Middle East. Dates are a major food source and income source for local populations in the Middle East and North Africa, and play significant roles in the economy, society, and environment in these areas. Date fruits have gained great importance in human nutrition owing to their rich content of essential nutrients and various biological activities (hepatoprotective, anti-genotoxic, nephroprotective, anti-allergic, neuroprotective, antiviral, antifungal. The aim of this work is to figure out set up a sample preparation method to address the composition and to explore the different activities of dates (fruit and seed) by using “green” extractions methods and to assess the differences between the varieties coming from different localities. From the seeds, oil has been extracted by a supercritical CO2 and analyzed by GC-MS. To set up the extraction conditions to have the best extract, a chemometric optimization was done. Different ranges of pressure (100-300 bar), temperature (40-80°C) and co-solvent (Ethanol: 0-10%) were chosen, then a statistical analysis was done to determine the optimum conditions (100 bar, 40°C and 10% ethanol). The oil of each extract obtained was analyzed by gas chromatography to determine the profile in fatty acids. The main fatty acid found in all the varieties was myristic acid (C14:0). In order to determine the lipid class composition of the oil, the extracts had been analyzed by HPLC-ELSD. From the pulp the extraction was operated by Pressurized liquid extraction (PLE). The same methodology of optimization has been used; the variables were temperature (50-150°C) and solvent composition (Ethanol 100%, water 100%, water/Ethanol 50%). To get the optimum conditions

Coastal transitional waters are exposed to many anthropogenic threats. This study aims to assess the trace metals' pollution status of transitional waters by evaluating its biological effects in the clam Venerupis decussata. Among the studied sites along the Tunisian littoral, South Tunis and Boughrara were the most impacted, since clams from these two lagoons presented significant differences in: (i) trace metal contents, (ii) in-cell hydrogen peroxide, (iii) enzymatic and non-enzymatic defenses, (iv) damage to lipids and proteins, and (v) protein post-translational modifications. These changes related to evident histopathological traits. PCA showed a clear separation between the digestive gland and gills tissues and illustrated an impact gradient in Tunisian coastal lagoons. Water temperature was revealed as an added natural stressor that, when concurring with high pollution, may jeopardize an ecosystem's health and contribute to the accumulation of hazardous metals in organisms.

Alginate nanocomposite films incorporating sepiolite (Sep) modified with myrtle berries extract (MBE) rich in polyphenols were prepared by solution casting method. The effects of different extract concentrations on the film properties were determined by measuring physicochemical, mechanical and antioxidant properties of the films. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra indicated that strong interactions between the polyphenols present in the MBE and sepiolite were involved in the films. The results suggested that incorporation of Sep-MBE hybrids into the films improved elongation at break, tensile strength, water vapor and UV barrier properties compared to the control film. The antioxidant activity of the films was significantly improved and raised with increasing content of MBE. The release kinetics results of MBE polyphenols from the active films into alcoholic food simulant indicated that the addition of Sep-MBE hybrids to alginate film is able to slow the release of MBE polyphenols. This study revealed the benefits of incorporation of Sep-MBE hybrids into the alginate films and their potential application as active packaging films or coating material.

Thermal analysis confirmed the presence of the phase transition at T = 320 K in the Cs2SeO4·H6TeO6 (CsSeTe) material. The structural study carried out at T = 360 K shows that this compound passes from the monoclinic system with the space group P21/c at room temperature, to the trigonal system with the space group R3¯m. At room temperature, the anionic groups are well ordered and stable, whereas after the transition at T = 320 K, the selenate groups change their orientation and the tellurate polyhedra change their positions. The high-temperature vibrational studies, carried out in a temperature range of 289–353 K, confirm the presence and nature of the transition detected by thermal analysis. The conductivity evolution versus temperature shows the presence of an ionic–protonic conduction phase transition at T = 490 K.

Soils from arid and semi-arid ecosystems are generally very low in organic matter content, poor in nutrients and typically with sandy texture. The application of different organic amendments has been proposed as an adequate approach to improve the quality of these soils for their use in agriculture. The use of organic wastes of different origins (agricultural, industrial, urban, etc.) as soil amendments has a dual goal: i) improving soil fertility and quality, ii) reducing the environmental problem that poses the disposal of these residues. However, despite of the beneficial effects of these residues, undesirable changes may also occur in agricultural soils after their addition. For example, the presence of various pollutants of anthropogenic origin in organic wastes may cause adverse effects on soil microbiota. Generally, the arid and semi-arid soils of Tunisia are well characterised. However, the use of organic amendments to improve the quality of these soils has been scarcely investigated. Soil biochemical properties, and specifically soil enzyme activities, have been often used to investigate the impact of different amendments on soil quality, because they are highly sensitive to human or environmental perturbations. In this work, the results of a field trial established for investigating the effectiveness of three organic residues (composted municipal solid waste, composted sewage sludge and farmyard manure) to improve the quality of one agricultural soil from Tunisia are reported. The soil had a sandy texture, alkaline pH (pH 8.3) and was very poor in organic matter (0.21 and 0.03% of total C and N, respectively). Each of the organic residues was applied in triplicate at three different doses in nine sub-plots randomly distributed; three untreated sub-plots were also established for comparison. One, 6 and 18 months after the soil amendments, surface (0-20 cm) soil samples were collected from all the treated and untreated subplots. The soil samples were analyse

A new organic–inorganic hybrid salt[C4H12N2]4·Pb2Cl11·Cl·4H2O, containing [Pb2Cl11]7−anions, has been synthesized and characterized by several techniques. X-ray diffraction study shows that the compound crystallizes in the orthorhombic system and Pnnm space group with a = 8.210 (5), b = 25.782 (5), c = 9.467 (5) Å and V = 2003.9 (17) Å3.The structure of the title compound can be described by organic-inorganic layers extending parallel to the (a, b) plane at z = 0 and z = ½. These layers are built up by means of hydrogen bonds forming a three-dimensional network. Intermolecular interactions were investigated by Hirshfeld surfaces. Scanning electronic microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) were carried out. Vibrational assignments of the title compound are discussed by FT-IR and FT-Raman spectroscopic studies and DFT calculations allowed the attribution of the spectral bands. The optical study was also investigated by UV–Vis absorption and photoluminescence spectroscopy. The thermal behavior was studied by TGA/DTA analysis.

The crystal structure of new organic-inorganic hybrid (2-hydroxyethyl)piperazine-1,4-diiumtetrachloromercurate (II), [C6H16N2O]HgCl4, was determined by X-ray diffraction analysis. In the atomic arrangement, the different entities are held together through N-H⋯Cl, C-H⋯Cl and O-H⋯Cl hydrogen bonds to form ribbons. The powder XRD pattern was in good relation with the results of single crystal structure analysis. This compound was also investigated by scanning electronic microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray, infrared spectroscopy and differential thermal analysis. DFT calculations allowed the attribution of the IR bands. Intermolecular interactions were investigated by Hirshfeld surfaces. The thermal analysis shows that this compound is stable below 380 ​K.

In more than 60 families of angiosperms, the self- and cross-fertilization is avoided through a complex widespread genetic system called self-incompatibility (SI). One of the major puzzling issues concerning the SI is the evolution of this system in species with complex polyploid genomes. Among plums, one of the first fruits species to attract human interest, polyploid species represent enormous genetic potential, which can be exploited in breeding programs. However, molecular studies in these species are very scarce due to the complexity of their genome. In order to study the SFB gene [the male component of gametophytic self-incompatibility system (GSI)] in plum species, 36 plum accessions belonging to diploid and hexaploid species were used. A total of 19 different alleles were identified; 1 of them was revealed after analyzing sequences. Peptide sequence analysis allowed identifying the five domains features of the SFB gene. Polymorphism analysis showed a subtle difference between domesticated and open pollinated Tunisian accessions and suggested a probable influence of the ploidy level. Divergence analysis between studied sequences showed that a new specificity may appear after 5.3% of divergence at synonymous sites between pairs of sequences in Prunus insititia, 6% in Prunus cerasifera, 8% and 9% in Prunus domestica and Prunus salicina respectively. Furthermore, sites under positive selection, the ones more likely to be responsible for specificity determination, were identified. A positive and significant Pearson correlation was found between the divergence between sequences, divergence time, fixed substitutions (MK test), and PSS number. These results supported the model assuming that functionally distinct proteins have arisen not as a result of chance fixation of neutral variants, but rather as a result of positive Darwinian selection. Further, the role that plays recombination can not be ruled out, since a rate of 0.08 recombination event per polymorphic sit

Coxsackievirus B4 (CV-B4) is suspected to be an environmental factor that has the intrinsic capacity to damage the pancreatic beta cells and therefore causes insulitis and type 1 diabetes (T1D). Although vaccination against CV-B4 could reduce the incidence of this chronic auto-immune disease, there is currently no therapeutic reagent or vaccine in clinical use. By the employment of the Bac-to-Bac® vector system to express the major viral capsid protein, we contributed towards the development of a CV-B4 vaccine by producing CV-B4 virus-like particles (VLPs) from recombinant baculovirus in infected insect cells. In fact Western blot and Immunofluorescence analysis detected the viral protein 1 (VP1) in the cells resulting from the construction of a recombinant bacmid DNA carrying the key immunogenic protein then transfected in the insect cells. Sucrose gradient ultracentrifugation fractions of the infected cell lysates contained the recombinant protein and the electron microscopy demonstrated the presence of VLPs in these sucrose fractions. This study clearly shows for the first time the expression of CVB4 VP1 structure protein alone can form VLPs in the baculovirus-infected insect cell keeping conserved both characteristics and morphology.

In this work, we investigated the chromosome number and genome size of two Mediterranean Amaranthaceae species, namely Atriplex mollis from southern Tunisia and A. lanfrancoi (formerly Cremnophyton lanfrancoi) from Malta. The two species were found to be diploid (2n=18) for all examined populations. This result is different from that previously reported for Cremnophyton lanfrancoi Brullo and Pavone (2n=20). Genome size showed that both species have a close mean amount with 2C=3.41 and 3.51 pg, respectively. Two groups were distinguished with regard to genome size (P<0.01). It should, however, be noted that the majority of populations, with the exception of those from Djerba and Chbika, may be intermediate between the two basic groups. Moreover, the difference does not appear to depend on geographical distribution and environmental aspects. It would rather depend on chromosome rearrangements. The morphological similarities, the monophyly of Atriplex including A. lanfrancoi, previously ranked in genus Cremnophyton, sharing the same chromosome number and the same genome size, support the placement of Cremnophyton within the genus Atriplex.

The damages observed in Tunisian citrus orchards have prompted studies on the Pseudomonas spp. responsible for blast and black pit. Prospective orchards between 2015 and 2017 showed that the diseases rapidly spread geographically and to new cultivars. A screening of Pseudomonas spp. isolated from symptomatic trees revealed their wide diversity according to phylogenetic analysis of their housekeeping rpoD and cts genes. The majority of strains were affiliated to Pseudomonas syringae pv. syringae (Phylogroup PG02b), previously described in Tunisia. However, they exhibited various BOX-PCR fingerprints and were not clonal. This work demonstrated, for the first time in Tunisia, the involvement of Pseudomonas cerasi (PG02a) and Pseudomonas congelans (PG02c). The latter did not show significant pathogenicity on citrus, but was pathogenic on cantaloupe and active for ice nucleation that could play a role in the disease. A comparative phylogenetic study of citrus pathogens from Iran, Montenegro and Tunisia revealed that P. syringae (PG02b) strains are closely related but again not clonal. Interestingly P. cerasi (PG02a) was isolated in two countries and seems to outspread. However, its role in the diseases is not fully understood and it should be monitored in future studies. The diversity of pathogenic Pseudomonas spp. and the extension of the diseases highlight that they have become complex and synergistic. It opens questions about which factors favor diseases and how to fight against them efficiently and with sustainable means.

We report the results of a detailed theoretical investigation of small K2 +-doped He clusters. The structural characteristics and stabilities of such cations are determined from ab initio electronic structure calculations at the MRCI+Q level of theory. The underlying interactions show a multireference character and such effects are analyzed. The interaction potentials are constructed employing an interpolation technique within the inverse problem theory method, while the nuclear quantum effects are computed for the trimers, their spatial arrangements are discussed, and information was extracted on the orientational anisotropy of the forces. We found that energetically the most stable conformer corresponds to linear arrangements that are taking place under large amplitude vibrations, with high zero-point energy. We have further looked into the behavior of higher-order species with various He atoms surrounding the cationic dopant. By using a sum of potentials approach and an evolutionary programming method, we analyzed the structural stability of clusters with up to six He atoms in comparison with interactions energies obtained from MRCI+Q quantum chemistry computations. Structures containing Hen motifs that characterize pure rare gas clusters, appear for the larger K2 +-doped He clusters, showing selective growth during the microsolvation process of the alkali-dimer cation surrounded by He atoms. Such results indicate the existence of local solvation microstructures in these aggregates, where the cationic impurity could get trapped for a short time, contributing to the slow ionic mobility observed experimentally in ultra-cold He-droplets

The influence of the probiotic strain “Lactobacillus plantarum TN8” bacterium and dietary fiber, namely barley beta-glucan concentrate (BBC), in raw beef sausage on microbiological, color and textural analyses was studied using a Box- Behnken design. Twenty seven treatments representing different replacement levels for meat and sodium nitrite with the L. plantarum TN8 strain and BBC fiber were studied. Results showed that reformulated sausages contained low levels of nitrite even at 0.1% application and the probiotic strain decreased the microbial load for up to 10 days at 4 °C. The newly formulated sausages affected positively a* and b* values. The optimized conditions (75 g/kg meat; 0.1 g/kg nitrite, 0.25% fiber and 5 × 107 CFU/g of probiotic TN8) in the final product decreased chewiness and elasticity. These parameters were influenced by fiber and nitrite levels including interactions.

A key requirement for the development of highly efficient silicon nanowires (SiNWs) for use in various kinds of cutting-edge applications is the outstanding passivation of their surfaces. In this vein, we report on a superior passivation of a SiNWs surface by bismuth nano-coating (BiNC) for the first time. A metal-assisted chemical etching technique was used to produce the SiNW arrays, while the BiNCs were anchored on the NWs through thermal evaporation. The systematic studies by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectra (EDX), and Fourier Transform Infra-Red (FTIR) spectroscopies highlight the successful decoration of SiNWs by BiNC. The photoluminescence (PL) emission properties of the samples were studied in the visible and near-infrared (NIR) spectral range. Interestingly, nine-fold visible PL enhancement and NIR broadband emission were recorded for the Bi-modified SiNWs. To our best knowledge, this is the first observation of NIR luminescence from Bi-coated SiNWs (Bi@SiNWs), and thus sheds light on a new family of Bi-doped materials operating in the NIR and covering the important telecommunication wavelengths. Excellent anti-reflectance abilities of ~10% and 8% are observed for pure SiNWs and Bi@SiNWs, respectively, as compared to the Si wafer (50–90%). A large decrease in the recombination activities is also obtained from Bi@SiNWs heterostructures. The reasons behind the superior improvement of the Bi@SiNWs performance are discussed in detail. The findings demonstrate the effectiveness of Bi as a novel surface passivation coating, where Bi@SiNWs heterostructures are very promising and multifunctional for photovoltaics, optoelectronics, and telecommunications.

Lead sulfide (PbS) nanocubes are produced by a very simple solvothermal procedure that uses a unique molecule, ethylenediamine, as solvent and capping ligand to control the size and shape of the nanocrystals. Detailed structural, optical, and photoelectrochemical evaluation confirms the suitability of these nanoparticles for photocapacitive applications, when synergistically combined with spin‐coated BiVO4 photoelectrodes, as derived from the estimated energy diagram. Furthermore, the p–n junction facilitates the photo‐oxidation of PbS nanoparticles under light irradiation. In the dark, the photogenerated charges are released providing an electric output response with a solar‐to‐current efficiency of 0.042%, storing extra energy to the H2 produced by water splitting when the BiVO4 photoanode works under illumination. Herein, the importance of the synthetic route and methodology to ensemble materials for advanced solar energy storage applications is highlighted.

[EN] The glucose isomerase GICA from Caldicoprobacter algeriensis was immobilized by ionic adsorption on polymethacrylate carriers (Sepabeads EC-EA and EC-HA) or covalent attachment to glyoxal agarose. The Sepabeads EC-HA yielded the highest recovery of activity (89%). The optimum temperature and pH of immobilized GICA were 90 °C and 7.0, respectively, similar to the corresponding values of free enzyme. Nevertheless, the adsorbed enzyme displayed higher relative activity at acidic pH, greater thermostability, and better storage stability, compared to the free form. Moreover, the immobilized enzyme showed an excellent operational stability, in 15 successive 3 h reaction cycles at 85 °C under a batch reactor, preserving 83% of its initial activity. Interestingly, a continuous process for High Fructose Syrup (HFS) production was established with the adsorbed GICA using a packed bed reactor during eleven days at 70 °C. HPAEC-PAD analysis showed a maximum bioconversion rate of 49% after 48 h of operation.

Asparagus cultivation produces enormous amounts of biomass (leaves, stems, fruits, roots and rhizomes) that currently lacks of economic value at the time that implies an environmental challenge. From the bioeconomy point of view an added-value must be given to these co-products to shift their consideration from waste to chance. They are rich in phytochemicals, such as flavonoids, fructans and saponins, which can be easily extracted and purified by green and environmental friendly processes. Those bioactive extracts are of great interest for several industrial sectors. The exploitation of this biomass will represent an increase in the incomes of asparagus growers and life standard enhancement of rural areas.

Olive leafy biomass constitutes an attractive source of biological substances, such as oleuropein, which can be valuable for the production of functional extracts. The incorporation of this valorization in a biorefinery requires understanding how feedstock and extraction conditions affect the phenolic composition. Therefore, in this study, the phenolic composition of olive leaves from nine cultivars has been explored through using conventional maceration and ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE). Two-way ANOVA suggested that both factors have a strong influence in the total extraction yield, total phenol content (TPC), and antioxidant activity of the extracts, but only the varietal type affected the solubilization levels. Pearson correlation showed different correlation trends between the TPC and the antioxidant activity depending on the extraction method. Hence, an in-depth analysis by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry was performed. It showed that maceration and UAE provided the same solubilization of oleuropein. Nonetheless, the cultivar and extraction method affected the qualitative and quantitative phenolic composition of the extracts, including the content of oleuropein and some novel phenolic compounds. Furthermore, using principal component analysis, the extracts were clustered in four main groups, which could be useful for further standardization in potential biorefineries placed in Tunisia.

A novel hybrid material, [C10H22N2]3·PbCl5·3Cl·3H2O, has been synthesized and its structure was determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. In the atomic arrangement, the different entities are held together through NH⋯Cl, OH⋯Cl and OH⋯O hydrogen bonds to form a three-dimensional network. Intermolecular interactions were investigated by Hirshfeld surfaces. The powder XRD data confirms the phase purity of the crystalline sample. The resulting IR spectrum calculated by the DFT/B3LYP/LanL2DZ method, is similar to the experimental spectrum allowing a good correlation between the experimental and theoretical wavenumbers. The optical properties in the UV–visible region have been explored by the UV–visible absorption. The photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy, which was investigated at room temperature, exhibited one emission at 426 nm. Thermal analysis discloses a phase transition at 435 K and the decomposition of the sample starts from 554 K.

The new organic-inorganic compound, (C9H14N)2[SnCl6], has been synthesized and characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction at room temperature. Structural analysis indicates that this compound crystallizes in the monoclinic system with C2/m space group. The NH⋯Cl hydrogen bonds between (C9H14N)+ cations and [SnCl6]2- dianions contribute to the cohesion and the stability of the atomic arrangement. Hirshfeld surface analysis was used to investigate intermolecular interactions, as well 2D finger plots were conducted to reveal the contribution of these interactions in the crystal structure quantitatively. Furthermore, the room temperature Infrared (IR) spectrum of the title compound was analyzed on the basis of data found in the literature. The optical properties of the crystal were studied using optical absorption UV–visible and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy, which were investigated at room temperature exhibited one band at 237 nm and a photoluminescence emission at 407 nm. Experimental room-temperature X-ray studies were supported by theoretical methods using the DFT/B3LYP methods with the LanL2DZ basis set. The X-ray powder is in agreement with the X-ray structure. To determine molecular electrical transport properties we studied the energy difference between Occupied, HOMO, and Lowest Unoccupied, LUMO orbitals. Moreover, this compound was characterized by thermal analysis between 300 and 750 K and shows that the compound remains stable up to the temperature 383 K. Finally, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis is reported to determine the degree of oxidation of tin in this compound and analyze the surface chemistry of (C9H14N)2[SnCl6].

A novel hybrid compound, based on iron, fluoride and 8-hyroxyquinoline, and formulated as (8HQN)6[Fe4F18] (QF1), has been obtained by hydrothermal method and characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction (SCXRD), powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), Hirschfeld surface, IR spectroscopy, photoluminescence (PL), thermal analysis and magnetic study. (QF1) crystalizes in trigonal space group R3c with cell parameters a = 17.9239(5) Å, b = 17.9239(5) Å, c = 30.6196 (11) Å, V = 8519.1(5) Å3, and Z = 6. The crystal structure of (QF1) is built up from isolated tetramers [Fe4F18]6− surrounded by six cations 8HQN+. The cohesion between these entities is performed via NH⋯F and OH⋯F hydrogen bonds to form a three-dimensional network. Hirshfeld surface analysis was used to investigate intermolecular interactions, as well 2D finger plots were conducted to reveal the contribution of these interactions in the crystal structure quantitatively. IR spectra confirmed the presence of 8-hydroxyquinoleine molecules. The photoluminescence studies of (QF1) show a significate green emission at 2.14 eV associated with radiative recombination of excitons confined within the organic part when it was excited in UV–visible wavelength in the solid state at room temperature. Finally, the magnetic analysis shows that (QF1) has a paramagnetic behavior above 100 K.

Crystal structure of Fe2F5(H2O)(Htaz)(taz)(Hdma) which crystallizes in the triclinic sys-tem space group P1 with unit cell parametersa= 8.8392(5) A ̊,b= 9.1948(5) A ̊,c= 9.5877(5) A ̊,a= 82.070(3)°,b= 63.699(3)°,c= 89.202(3)°,Z= 2, andV= 690.91(7) A ̊3, was synthesizedunder hydrothermal conditions at 393 K for 72 h, by a mixture of FeF2/FeF3, 1,2,4-triazole mole-cule (Htaz), and hydrofluoric acid solution (HF 4%) in dimethylformamide solvent (DMF). Themain feature of this material is the coexistence of two oxidation states for iron atoms (Fe2+,Fe3+) in the unit cell, which associate by opposite fluorine corners of FeF5N and FeF2N4octahe-dra, and/or triazole molecule which originates the 2D produces material. The structure determina-tion, performed from single crystal X-ray diffraction data, lead to theR1/WR2reliability factors0.031/0.087. Thermal stability studies (TG/DTG/DTA) show that the decomposition provides inthe temperature range 473–773 K and no mass loss was detected before 473 K. Mass spectrometry(MS) has been used. The optical absorption of the solid was measured at the correspondingkmaxusing UV–vis diffuse-reflectance spectrum.

The photochemistry of the ethyl radical following excitation to the 3p Rydberg state is investigated in a joint experimental and theoretical study. Velocity map images for hydrogen atoms detected from photoexcited isotopologues CH3CH2, CH3CD2 and CD3CH2 at 201 nm, are discussed along with high-level ab initio electronic structure calculations of potential energy curves and non-adiabatic coupling matrix elements (NACME). A novel mechanism governed by a conical intersection allowing prompt site-specific hydrogen-atom elimination is presented and discussed. For this mechanism to occur, an initial rovibrational excitation is allocated to the radical permitting to access this reaction pathway and thus to control the ethyl photochemistry. While hydrogen-atom elimination from cold ethyl radicals occurs through internal conversion into lower electronic states followed by slow statistical dissociation, prompt site-specific Ca elimination into CH3CH + H, occurring through a fast non-adiabatic crossing to a valence bound state followed by dissociation through a conical intersection, is accessed by means of an initial ro-vibrational energy content into the radical. The role of a particularly effective vibrational promoting mode in this prompt photochemical reaction pathway is discussed.

We present a theoretical study on the potential energy surface and bound states of He-A2+ complexes, where A is one of the alkali Li or Na atoms. The intermolecular interactions were systematically investigated by high-level ab initio electronic structure computations, and the corresponding raw data were then employed to reproduce accurate analytical expressions of the potential surfaces. In turn, we used these potentials to evaluate bound configurations of the trimers from nuclear quantum calculations and to extract information on the effect of orientational anisotropy of the forces and the interplay between repulsive and attractive interaction within the potential surfaces. The spatial features of the bound states are analyzed and discussed in detail. We found that both systems are going under large amplitude stretching and bending motions with high zero-point energies. Despite the large differences in the potential well-depths, the correct treatment of nuclear quantum effects provides insights on the effect of different strength of the ionic interaction on the spectral structure of such cationic alkali van der Waals complexes, related to the mobility of ions and the formation of cold-molecules in He-controlled environments.

During the last decade, S-genotyping has been extensively investigated in fruit tree crops such as those belonging to the Prunus genus, including plums. In plums, S-allele typing has been largely studied in diploid species but works are scarcer in polyploid species due to the complexity of the polyploid genome. This study was conducted in order to analyze the S-genotypes of 30 diploid P. salicina, 17 of them reported here for the first time, and 29 hexaploid plums (24 of P. domestica and 5 of P. insititia). PCR analysis allowed identifying nine S-alleles in the P. salicina samples allocating the 30 accessions in 16 incompatibility groups, two of them identified here for the first time. In addition, pollen tube growth was studied in self-pollinated flowers of 17 Tunisian P. salicina under the microscope. In 16 samples, including one carrying the Se allele, which has been correlated with self-compatibility, the pollen tubes were arrested in the style. Only in one cultivar (“Bedri”), the pollen tubes reached the base of the style. Twelve S-alleles were identified in the 24 P. domestica and 5 P. insititia accessions, assigning accessions in 16 S-genotypes. S-genotyping results were combined with nine SSR loci to analyze genetic diversity. Results showed a close genetic relationship between P. domestica and P. salicina and between P. domestica and P. insititia corroborating that S-locus genotyping is suitable for molecular fingerprinting in diploid and polyploid Prunus species.

The preparation of a new drug delivery system (DDS) based on the combination of two natural polymers chitosan (CS) and high-esterified pectin (HEP) and beidellite (Bd) was proposed. Diclofenac sodium was chosen as model drug and was loaded in the nanocomposite by means of intercalation solution technique. The samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction, Thermal analysis, Infrared spectroscopy and high resolution transmission electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersive X-Ray analysis. Drug loading capacity and encapsulation efficiency of the clay polymer nanocomposite was quantified. UV–Vis spectroscopy (276 nm) was used as the drug quantification technique throughout the whole study. In vitro drug release profile in simulated intestinal fluid was also evaluated. Results demonstrated the formation of diclofenac polymorph during the drug loading process, thus obtaining a new crystal form of the drug possessing different physico-chemical properties with respect to the diclofenac sodium salt form. Moreover, the in vitro release study showed that the bionanocomposite elaborated could form a network aiming for a modified release of diclofenac. Consequently, Na-Bd/CS/HEP nanocomposite proved to be a promising formulation to control anionic drug release process.

A collection of Pseudomonas strains was isolated in different regions of Tunisia in the period 2016–2017 from the fruits and leaves of Citrus sinensis cv. ‘Valencia Late’ and Citrus limon cv. ‘Eureka’ plants with symptoms of blast and black pit disease. A phylogenetic analysis of the housekeeping gene rpoD was used for strain identification at the species level. The results demonstrated the affiliation of these strains with the genus Pseudomonas and revealed the presence of 11 strains representing two putative new species in two monophyletic branches. These strains were analyzed morphologically and genotypically by multilocus sequence analyses of the rpoD, gyrB and 16S rRNA (rrs)gene sequences, and their phenotypic characteristics by API 20NE and Biolog GEN III. Plant pathogenic properties were confirmed on fruits and detached leaves of C. limon cv. ‘Eureka’. Fatty acids and WC MALDI-TOF MS major protein profiles were determined. The genomes of both representatives were sequenced. The average nucleotide index and genome-to-genome distance from KC12 and E10B are below the cut-off established for a described species. These results support the conclusion that the strains KC12, KC17, KC20, KC22, KC24A, KC25 and KC26 represent a novel species of Pseudomonas, for which the name of Pseudomonas kairouanensis is proposed. The type strain is KC12 (=CECT9766 and CFBP 8662). The strains E10B, E10AB, E10CB1 and Iy3BA represent another novel species of Pseudomonas for which the name of Pseudomonas nabeulensis is proposed; the type strain is E10B (=CECT9765 and CFBP 8661).

[Purpose]: The purpose of this paper is to investigate the influence of different dietary fibers on color, nutritional, physico-chemical, sensory and textural properties of fresh sausage., [Design/methodology/approach]: This study was undertaken to determine the effects of partial beef meat substitution (15, 10.5 and 6 percent) at different combinations: barley beta-glucan concentrate (BBC at 1 percent) alone, carrot fiber (ID809 at 1 percent) alone and a mixture of both fibers (BBC and ID809 at 0.5 percent of each), on the quality of fresh sausage., [Findings]: Results revealed that the supplementation of dietary fibers generally decreased protein contents and increased moisture. Color parameters were significantly affected by the addition of dietary fibers. Meat substitution with dietary fibers tended toward red coloration, which enhanced sensory properties of fresh sausages, especially general acceptability. Fresh sausages formulated with a mixture of dietary fibers recorded good firmness. Indeed, it increased extrusion force values and provided a greater hardness at sensory level. This manuscript reports that beef sausage formulated with a mixture of BBC and ID809 and reduced beef meat rate improved acceptability to consumer., [Originality/value]: The paper approaches a new subject that may be relevant to functional food. There are few research works to evaluate consumer preferences of new product developments and to achieve healthier and more economic fresh sausages formulated with a mixture of two fibers after reducing beef meat content.

The present study aims to characterize black-barred (Hemiramphus far) skin gelatin (BG) gel enriched or not with its hydrolysate (BGH) in terms of their rheological and micro-structural properties, as well as to evaluate their effect on smooth hound fillet quality during chilled storage. The results of the rheological properties showed that peptides addition influenced elastic and loss modulus as observed from temperature sweep. Based on the microstructure, BG gel had a fine network with small voids that were filled by the presence of BGH peptides. On the other hand, when used as coating agents for smooth hound fillets, BG and BG-BGH showed that, in comparison to control group, fish spoilage was significantly delayed in coated samples. In fact, after 8 days of storage, samples coated with BG and BG+BGH showed the lowest weight loss levels, and preserved their initial water activity (a) values. In addition, fillet coating was able to significantly reduce TVB-N content and oxidation process, as reflected by the low malondialdehyde and carbonyl contents. Furthermore, compared to the control group, all the treatments were found to reduce the degree of microbial deterioration of the fillets, leading to low the free amino acids and nucleotides contents in wrapped fish samples. Therefore, gelatin coating helps to prevent fish fillets from deterioration and oxidation processes.

Leuconostoc lactis AV1 strain isolated from a Tunisian avocado was characterized as a dextran producer. The promoter PdsrLL and the dsrLL gene encoding the DsrLL dextransucrase responsible for the dextran synthesis were transcriptionally fused to the mCherry coding gene generating the pRCR20 plasmid. Upon plasmid transfer, both AV1n and the dextran non-producing Leuconostoc mesenteroides CM70 became red due to expression of the mCherry from the PdsrLL-dsr-mrfp transcriptional fusion. Characterization of the polymers present in cultures supernatants revealed that the DsrLL encoded from pRCR20 in the recombinant bacteria was able to synthesize dextran. The production of dextran by the DsrLL in AV1n increased in response to low temperature, reaching 10-fold higher levels at 20∘C than at 37∘C (4.15 g/L versus 0.41 g/L). To analyze if this stress response includes activation at the transcriptional level and if it was only restricted to Leuconostoc, AV1n was transformed with plasmids carrying either the PdsrLL-mrfp fusion or the PdsrLS of Lactobacillus sakei MN1 fused to the mrfp gene, and the influence of temperature and carbon source on expression from the Dsr promoters was monitored by measurement of the mCherry levels. The overall expression analysis confirmed an induction of expression from PdsrLL upon growth at low temperature (20∘C versus 30∘C and 37∘C) in the presence of sugars tested (sucrose, glucose, maltose, and fructose). In addition, the presence of sucrose, the substrate of Dsr, also resulted in activation of expression from PdsrLL. A different behavior was detected, when expression from PdsrLS was evaluated. Similar levels of fluorescence were observed irrespectively of the carbon source or temperature, besides a sequential decrease at 30∘C and 20∘C, when sucrose was present in the growth medium. In conclusion, the two types of regulation of expression of Dsr presented here revealed two different mechanisms for environmental adaptation of Leuconostoc and L

Eight bacterial strains expressing high-levels of rock phosphate solubilization were isolated from Tunisian agricultural soils. 16S rDNA sequencing assigned these strains to four genera, Pseudomonas, Bacillus, Serratia, and Burkholderia. Both qualitative and quantitative assays were performed to study their plant-growth promoting abilities. Five strains released inorganic phosphorus up to 600 µg ml with rock phosphate as sole phosphorus source. They displayed additional capabilities of producing phytases (16.1–24.8 Uml), IAA (till 39.6 µg ml) and siderophores (9–81.1%). When tested on Medicago truncatula on sterile stand, two strains were discarded since they did not show significant enhancement. The remaining bacterial strains, Pseudomonas corrugata SP77, Pseudomonas koreensis LT62, and Pseudomonas frederiksbergensis G62, were further tested on Medicago in two phosphorus-deficient soils amended with Tunisian rock phosphate. The three strains induced significant enhancement in shoot dry weight and nodule fresh weight; however, the best results were observed with SP77 and the consortium. The increase in shoot dry yield ranged from 40 to 134% and from 13 to 87% for soil 1 and soil 2, respectively. The biomineralization of rock phosphates by these elite strains will constitute an eco-friendly alternative to chemical fertilizer, mainly in neutral and alkaline soils.

The aim of this work was to compare the frying stability of refined olive pomace oil alone and blended with refined coconut oil during 60 successive sessions. Frying experiments were carried out at 180 °C and samples were evaluated by high-performance size-exclusion chromatography (HPSEC), measuring the polymers and polar compounds formed. The tocopherol content was also analyzed. At the end of the frying process, the lowest content of polymeric compounds (PC) and total polar compounds (TPC) were detected for the blend of refined olive pomace oil–refined coconut oil (ROPO/RCO) with 13.20% and 25%, respectively, compared to refined olive pomace oil (ROPO) pure with 16.9% and 34.5%, respectively. Hence, the present study based on PC and TPC as best quality indicators of frying oil degradation indicated that the frying behavior of ROPO pure significantly improved by the blending application with RCO and showed a higher chemical stability.

Atriplex mollis Desf. (Amaranthaceae), a North African endemic halophytic species, is further described in this study. Phylogenetic analysis based on a combined dataset of ITS and ETS rDNA and atpB-rbcL and trnK cpDNA showed that A. mollis is closely related to the Malta- and Gozo-endemic Cremnophyton lanfrancoi Brullo & Pavone. Given this close phylogenetic relationship, A. mollis is also considered among the oldest species of Atriplex, together with C. lanfrancoi. Molecular data also suggest that A. mollis in North Africa, C. lanfrancoi on Malta Island, and Atriplex cana Ledeb. in Eurasian semideserts constitute a separate clade within the tribe Atripliceae. As an 18-month-old shrub, A. mollis can reach a mean height of 44.06 ± 8.09 cm with a leaf area around 1.24 ± 0.15 cm2, and can produce seeds in order of 113.08 ± 28.52 g plant−1. The anatomy of A. mollis shows the presence of male and female developed flowers. Hermaphroditic flowers that may lead to the appearance of male flowers with underdeveloped female organs were rarely found. Three main shapes of ovule (campylotropous, amphitropous, and orthotropous) were found in A. mollis.

The parasitoid Diachasmimorpha longicaudata (Ashmead) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) is increasingly being used in integrated pest management (IPM) programs as a biological control agent in order to suppress tephritid fruit flies of economic importance. Innate and acquired behavioral responses—such as pest host fruit preference—of parasitoids can modulate their efficiency in the field and should be taken into consideration prior to parasitoid species’ selection for mass-rearing. We have assessed the influence of medfly-infested (two infestation ages, 1 and 4-d-old) and uninfested fruit species on host preference and efficiency of D. longicaudata by using a multistep assay including olfactory, laboratory and semi-field trials. We found that D. longicaudata was significantly more attracted to medfly-infested apples for both infestation ages, with the oldest being the most preferred. D. longicaudata exhibited a significant preference among the four fruits tested. The implications of these behavioral responses of D. longicaudata to medfly host fruits and infestation age are discussed in relationship to its use in IPM programs in the Mediterranean basin area.

Salt stress has become a major menace to plant growth and productivity. The main goal of this study was to investigate the effect of inoculation with the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF; Rhizophagus intraradices) in combination or not with plant growth‐promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR; Pseudomonas sp. (Ps) and Bacillus subtilis) on the establishment and growth of Sulla coronaria plants under saline conditions. Pot experiments were conducted in a greenhouse and S. coronaria seedlings were stressed with NaCl (100 mM) for 4 weeks. Plant biomass, mineral nutrition of shoots and activities of rhizosphere soil enzymes were assessed. Salt stress significantly reduced plant growth while increasing sodium accumulation and electrolyte leakage from leaves. However, inoculation with AMF, whether alone or combined with the PGPR Pseudomonas sp. alleviated the salt‐induced reduction of dry weight. Inoculation with only AMF increased shoot nutrient concentrations resulting in higher K+: Na+, Ca2+: Na+, and Ca2+: Mg2+ ratios compared to the non‐inoculated plants under saline conditions. The co‐inoculation with AMF and Pseudomonas sp. under saline conditions lowered shoot sodium accumulation, electrolyte leakage and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels compared to non‐inoculated plants and plants inoculated only with AMF. The findings strongly suggest that inoculation with AMF alone or co‐inoculation with AMF and Pseudomonas sp. can alleviate salt stress of plants likely through mitigation of NaCl‐induced ionic imbalance, thereby improving the nutrient profile.

Among the various tests commonly used for selecting probiotic microorganisms, the tolerance to gastrointestinal transit conditions remains being commonly used to evaluate the probiotic potential of the strains. Besides, the adhesion to epithelial cells and the competition with pathogens constitute significant traits for evaluating the colonization ability and functional performance of candidate strains. In this study, a total of 13 lactic acid bacteria strains isolated from human feces were first identified by biochemical tests and 16S rRNA gene sequencing, and then characterized in vitro for their tolerance to gastrointestinal conditions, hemolytic activity, and antibiotics sensibility. The isolates were identified as Lactobacillus fermentum (06), Lactobacillus rhamnosus (04), Lactobacillus plantarum (02), and Lactobacillus salivarius (01). The adhesion to epithelial cells HT29 was shown to be a strain-dependent character. L. fermentum 88 and L. plantarum 9, being the ones showing higher adhesion values. They were further characterized by determining their antimicrobial activity, hydrophobicity, co-aggregation, antioxidant activity, as well as the ability to inhibit the adhesion of pathogens to the human epithelial cell line HT29. Moreover, these two strains were able to reduce the adhesion of Escherichia coli to HT29 cells, although they failed for inhibiting the adhesion of other pathogens such as Cronobacter sakazaki or Salmonella enterica. These results point out the importance of considering the ecological fitness of the strains in selecting probiotic bacteria and the potential of some of the analyzed strains for the development of food products.

The new organic–inorganic hybrid material [Zn(H2O)6][{(CH2)6N4}ZnCl3]2·0.5H2O, is the second hydrate in this system, the first having been the hexahydrate. The new solid was prepared by slow evaporation of a solution of the reactants at room temperature and was structurally characterized by X-ray crystallography. This compound crystallizes in the trigonal system, space group P-3c1 with a = 9.8303(2)Å, c = 17.5460(2)Å, V = 1468.38(4)Å3 and with Z = 2. The complex was characterized by FT-IR, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential thermal analysis (DTA) and with a detailed analysis of Hirshfeld surfaces and fingerprint plots. The structural unit of the title compound consists of a [ZnII(H2O)6]2+ cation, two [ZnIICl3(hmt)]- anions and half of a water molecule, partially occupied and disordered [hmt is hexamethylenetetramine, (CH2)6N4]. Crystal packing is mediated by OH⋯N and OH⋯Cl hydrogen bonds between the anions and cations, and to a lesser extent by OH⋯O contacts, which are present only part of the time as a consequence of the partial occupancy of the isolated water molecules. The relationship between the packing in the new structure and that of the previous hexahydrate is described.

In this study, the antihypertensive activity of Purafect®-smooth hound viscera protein hydrolysate (VPH) and its peptide fraction with molecular weight (MW) below 1 kDa (VPH-I) was investigated. In addition, the lipase inhibitory activity, as well the anticoagulant potential, in vitro, were assessed. The antihypertensive effects of VPH and VPH-I were studied during 24 h (short-term effect) and 30 days (long-term effect) using high-salt (18% NaCl) and -fructose (10%) diet (HSFD)-induced hypertension. Data showed that, 4 h post-administration of VPH and VPH-I (200 mg/kg BW), the systolic blood pressure of rats was reduced by about 6 and 9 mmHg, respectively. These effects were similar to that obtained with Captopril (~9 mmHg at t = 4 h). On the other hand, exposing the rats to daily to HSFD, coupled to the administration of viscera peptides, was found to attenuate hypertension. In addition, the proteins’ treatments were able to correct lipid and glycemic disorders, by reducing the total cholesterol and triglyceride contents and resorting to the plasma glucose level, compared to the HSFD group. Overall, the present findings demonstrated the preventive effect of VPH-peptides from hypertension complications, as a result of their biological properties.

info:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublished

An investigation of the solid-state X-ray structure of the new organic–inorganic compound [C5H14N2]2PbCl6·3H2O shows a layered organization of the (PbCl6)4– anions, with (R2NH2)+ groups and water molecules developed in the [Citation001] plane at x = (2n + 1)/4. The crystal structure is stabilized by N − H···Cl, N − H···O, O − H···Cl, O − H···O, and C − H···Cl hydrogen bonds. The powder X-ray diffraction and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic (XPS) analyses confirm the phase purity of the crystal sample. The intermolecular contacts are quantified using the Hirshfeld surfaces computational method. The major inter-contacts contributing to the Hirshfeld surfaces are H…Cl, H…H, and O…H. The vibrational modes were identified and assigned by IR and Raman spectroscopies. The optical properties were investigated by UV–visible and photoluminescence spectroscopic studies. The compound was characterized by thermal analysis to determine its thermal behavior with respect to the temperature. Finally, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis is reported for analyzing the surface chemistry of [C5H14N2]2PbCl6·3H2O.

Three recombinant inbred populations (RIP-1, RIP-7 and RIP-10) were used to validate and saturate the target area involved in the resistance to Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. ciceris race 0 (Foc0) in chickpeas. With the aim of physically localizing the genetic area controlling Foc0 resistance, a new genetic map of the linkage group 5 (LG5) and a physical map of the Ca5 pseudomolecule were drawn up and compared. The genetic and physical between CaGM20820 and CaGM20889 (16759541–17501349 bp) within an interval of 2 cM comprising 27 annotated genes. Only two of the annotated genes in this region could mapping results obtained were useful to refine the position of the target area be involved in resistance mechanisms. The three RIPs were used to develop three pairs of near isogenic lines (NILs) for resistance/susceptibility to Foc0. NILs are a valuable tool for fine mapping, refining the target region and selecting candidate genes for resistance to Foc0. The information reported in this paper will help develop diagnostic markers, considered useful tools for MAS in chickpea breeding programs.

Chitosan (CS) and purified sodium beidellite (Na-Bd) were used to obtain a nanocomposite able to carry anionic pharmaceutical ingredients. Diclofenac sodium (DS) was chosen as a model drug and was loaded by intercalation solution technique. Solid state characterization of the resultant hybrids was performed, including X-ray diffraction, Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy, Thermal analysis and high resolution transmission electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersive X-Ray analysis. Drug loading capacity and encapsulation efficiency were quantified by measuring equilibrium concentration by UV–Vis spectroscopy at 276 nm. Solid-state characterization of the samples confirmed both chemical and physical interaction of DS with the nanocomposites. High drug loading along with a modified cumulative release of the drug in simulated intestinal fluid was obtained. The developed clay/polymer hybrids can act as potential candidates for the design of modified dosage forms of anionic drugs.

The date palm Phoenix dactylifera, a tropical and subtropical tree, belonging to the family Palmae (Arecaceae) is one of mankind’s oldest cultivated plants. Date palm has long been one of the most important fruit crops in the arid regions of the Arabian Peninsula, North Africa, and the Middle East. Dates are a major food source and income source for local populations in the Middle East and North Africa, and play significant roles in the economy, society, and environment in these areas. Date fruits have gained great importance in human nutrition owing to their rich content of essential nutrients and various biological activities (hepatoprotective, anti-genotoxic, nephroprotective, anti-allergic, neuroprotective, antiviral, antifungal. The aim of this work is to figure out set up a sample preparation method to address the composition and to explore the different activities of dates (fruit and seed) by using “green” extractions methods and to assess the differences between the varieties coming from different localities. From the seeds, oil has been extracted by a supercritical CO2 and analyzed by GC-MS. To set up the extraction conditions to have the best extract, a chemometric optimization was done. Different ranges of pressure (100-300 bar), temperature (40-80°C) and co-solvent (Ethanol: 0-10%) were chosen, then a statistical analysis was done to determine the optimum conditions (100 bar, 40°C and 10% ethanol). The oil of each extract obtained was analyzed by gas chromatography to determine the profile in fatty acids. The main fatty acid found in all the varieties was myristic acid (C14:0). From the pulp the extraction was operated by Pressurized liquid extraction (PLE). The same methodology of optimization has been used; the variables were temperature (50-150°C) and solvent composition (Ethanol 100%, water 100%, water/Ethanol 50%). To get the optimum conditions an antioxidant assay was run and the yield was evaluated and then analyzed by the same method as SFE. The

Here, a kinetic study of the thermal decomposition of synthesized hydrotalcite, Mg6 Al2 CO3 (OH)16·4H2O, has been carried out using thermogravimetric experiments in air atmosphere. It is shown that the thermal decomposition occurs in two well differentiated stages. The first one is a single-step dehydration process that comprises the release of four water molecules. On the other hand, the second stage is complex and corresponds to both dehydroxylation and decarbonation processes which occur simultaneously. The kinetic parameters describing all processes were calculated by means of a combined approach comprising isoconversional, model-fitting and deconvolution methods. It was concluded that dehydroxilation and decarbonization cannot be separated by TG experiments and the two stages contributing to the complex process do not apparently match the expected stoichiometry of the process. Therefore, it is proposed that such stages mark a change on the reaction mechanism due to the structural collapse of the laminar double hydroxide.