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Objectives: This study aimed to comprehensively assess the weight status, snack consumption, and physical activity levels among primary schoolchildren, with a focus on both rural and urban areas. Methods: This cross‐sectional study surveyed 557 primary schoolchildren aged 6 to 12 years, covering general identification (age, gender), anthropometric measurements (body weight, height, waist, and hip circumference), food patterns (frequency of food consumption), and sports activities. Results: Using CDC body mass index thresholds, we identified a 25% prevalence of obesity and over 17% for overweight, revealing a significant urban–rural disparity. In urban areas, boys had a higher obesity rate (32.58%), while girls had a higher overweight rate (15%). Conversely, in rural regions, girls had a higher obesity rate (24.82%), and boys had a higher overweight rate (22.3%). Dietary analysis showed that over 86% consumed three daily meals, but distinctions in snack choices, such as chips, wafers, and biscuits, were noted between urban and rural areas. Additionally, urban schoolchildren were more likely to participate in sports activities compared to their rural counterparts, with rates of 70.22% versus 55.08%, respectively. Conclusion: Findings provide valuable insights into the health and food behaviors of primary schoolchildren and can inform interventions and strategies to promote healthier lifestyles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scale insects are pests affecting citrus crops in the Mediterranean basin, but their significance is often overlooked in some countries due to insufficient information about the threat they pose to this type of cultivation. In Algeria, various studies have aimed to identify and highlight the most harmful species impacting citrus orchards. This research specifically focuses on compiling a list of species affecting orange orchards in three regions of Guelma province (northeast Algeria) which are Boumahra Ahmad, El Fedjoudj and Guelma. Branch samples with their leaves were collected from all cardinal directions of the trees as well as from the center of the canopy during the winter-spring period from 2014 to 2018 while examining the climatic influence on their presence. Seventeen species were identified, with Aonidiella aurantii (Maskell, 1879), Parlatoria ziziphi (Lucas, 1853) and Coccus pseudomagnoliarum (Kuwana, 1914) being dominant and Lepidosaphes beckii (Newman, 1869), Saissetia oleae (Olivier, 1791) and Saissetia coffeae (Walker, 1852) considered rare. Non-parametric richness estimators (Chao 1, Chao 2, Jack 1 and Boot) suggest the potential presence of additional species, reaching 20.15 ± 0.96, indicating that the count may extend to 21 scale insects in the surveyed orchards. Spearman correlation analysis applied to species and climatic conditions reveals their influence on species abundance, but not on their diversity. We observed a positive impact on relative humidity and a negative impact on average temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present research was taken out to assess the physiological, biochemical, and photosynthetic responses of the chickpea (Cicer arietinum L) to the combination of clay-bentonite and saline water in greenhouse conditions, at four concentrations of NaCl (0, 50, 100 and 200 mM). A substantial decrease in all the studied parameters (germination rate, root and stem length, fresh weight or dry weight, relative water content and chlorophyll content) was observed when salinity was increased. However, the application of various NaCl concentrations improved the total soluble protein and soluble sugar content in plants cultivated in the substrate without bentonite. The imposition of 50 mM NaCl with bentonite increased total soluble protein content. In contrast, the 100 and 200 mM treatment led to decreased total soluble protein content. The use of the bentonite did not produce any changes into depreciating of the effect of NaCl stress. On the other hand, salinity-bentonite exacerbated a reduction in physiological and biochemical processes of chickpea. Indeed, the K+/Na+ ratio decreased in all organs of plants with increasing NaCl doses. This ratio is slightly in favor of K+ only in substrate without bentonite. Our findings indicated that salinity-bentonite exacerbated a reduction in physiological and biochemical processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study deals with the importance and enhancement of plant extracts on the development of phytopathogenic fungi. It was carried out to evaluate the antifungal activity of the methanolic and ethanolic extract of alanda (Ephedra alata subsp. alenda (Stapf) Trab. [1905]), originating from the arid regions collected from the saoura region on May month of 2018's year. The test was tested on mycelial growth of three Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. albedinis (Foa), strains of the causal agent of Bayoud disease on date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.), with three different concentrations of methanolic and ethanolic extracts. The results revealed a significant (P<0.05) on mycelial growth of Foa strains. The values of the inhibition rate vary between 25,4 and 70,6% by methanolic extract effect and between 28,3 and 70,9% by ethanolic extract. In comparison between these two plant extracts, the similarity of inhibition was observed, while, between concentrations, the two concentrations 10-1 and 10-2 g / ml have important antifungal activity than the third concentration 10-3 g / ml, in all two extracts. Findings in this study confirmed that the extract of this plant can be used as natural fungicide against bayoud disease in Algerian palm groves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Six isolates of Botrytis cinerea were isolated from leaves and stems of different tomato varieties taken from four areas in the northwest of Algeria where tomato is mostly grown in greenhouses and high tunnels. The purpose of this research was to determine the effect of two salts, NaCl and CaCl2, on three stages of Botrytis cinerea’s life cycle. All isolates tested were stimulated in 50 to 150 ppm; NaCl was the most effective treatment to increase mycelial growth at two tested concentrations. However, at 300 ppm concentration, CaCl2 completely inhibited the growth of mycelium; they reach 34.78% for the isolate TR46 and 26.72% for isolate F27. The sodium and calcium salts stimulated conidia production in liquid culture. We noticed that the effect of calcium chloride on sporulation was average while sodium chloride. In the medium containing 50 ppm, calcium chloride and sodium chloride increased the germination capacity of most isolates compared with the control. Other calcium salts, at 100 or 300 ppm, decreased the germination percentage of the conidia. With the exception of sodium salts, the inhibitions of germination reduce at 150 or 300 compared with the control. Conidial germination was slightly inhibited by sodium chloride only when the concentration was over 300 ppm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Scientific data suggest that early exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) affect -repro, -neuro, -metabolic systems, to which are added other notions such as mixtures, window and duration of exposure, trans-generational effects, and epigenetic mechanisms. Methods: In the present narrative review, we studied the relationship between exposure to EDCs with the appearance and development of obesity. Results: Exposure to EDCs like Bisphenol A during the early stages of development has been shown to lead to weight gain and obesity. EDCs can interfere with endocrine signaling, affect adipocytes differentiation and endocrine function and disrupt metabolic processes, especially if exposure occurs at very low doses, in the mixture, during early development stages for several generations. Conclusion: Exposure to EDCs is positively associated with obesity development. Moreover, the use of integrative approaches which mimicking environmental conditions are necessary and recommended to evaluate EDCs' effects in future studies., (© 2021 The Author(s).)