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This study aims to provide new data on the chemical composition and biological properties of Corrigiola telephiifolia, demonstrating the influence of different extraction solvents and geographic locations on these properties. It presents novel findings on the phytochemical contents, antioxidant activity, and antimicrobial effects of various fractions of Corrigiola telephiifolia Pourr. roots collected from three distinct regions in Morocco. Our results reveal significant variations in TPC, TFC, and antioxidant activity depending on the extraction fraction and geographic origin. Notably, The fraction of raw extract exhibited the highest TPC values in all sampled sites (44.76±0.05 in Agouray, 35.89±0.02 in Sefrou, and 14.99±0.03 mg GAE/g dw in Azrou). The peak values of TFC were recorded in the fraction of raw extracts for all sampling sites (20.80±0.01 in Agouray, 18.62±0.01 in Sefrou, and 11.54±0.01 mg QAE / g dw in Azrou). The highest values of FRAP were recorded in the fraction of raw extract of Agouray (2.00±0.00). Furthermore, the hexane fraction showed the highest DPPH and Chelating power with IC50 respectively equal to 0.46±0.02 mg. mL-1 and 0.10±0.00mg. mL-1. All fractions showed significant and variable antibacterial activities. The highest anti-microbial activity was recorded in in ethyl acetate fraction of the sample from Agouray against E. coli (MIC=0.039). The highest anti-microbial effect was recorded also in ethyl acetate fraction against E. coli and P. aeruginosa, and raw fraction against B. subtilis and P. aeruginosa (MBC= 0.313 against both microorganisms). Agouray consistently demonstrated superior results across multiple parameters, indicating it as the best region for the highest phytochemical and bioactive properties. This study evaluated the chemical compounds and biological properties of C. telephiifolia pourr. and demonstrated the effect of the sampled area and solvent.

This study delves into the influence of varying solvent compositions on the extraction of Total Phenolic Compounds (TPC) and the antioxidant activities of extracts from Mentha suaveolens subsp. timija leaves and stems. The extraction process is conducted using ultrasound-assisted extraction via an ultrasonic bath. Employing a surface mixture design approach, we explored the singular use of Water (W), Methanol (M), and Ethanol (E), as well as their combinations. The outcomes demonstrate that solvents' compositions significantly influence the extraction of Total Phenolic Content (TPC), with noteworthy synergistic effects observed in specific combinations, such as a ratio of W:M (1/2:1/2). The scavenging activity of DPPH and the Total Antioxidant Capacity (TAC) were also evaluated, indicating that certain combinations of solvents, particularly those involving Methanol and water, enhance the antioxidant activities. The results reveal that solvent compositions significantly influence TPC extraction, with notable synergistic effects observed in specific mixtures, such as W:M (1/2:1/2). The Pareto chart analysis highlights the substantial contributions of Methanol, Ethanol, and Water to TPC recovery and antioxidant activities. The findings underscore the importance of solvent optimization for extracting bioactive compounds, providing valuable insights for researchers and industries seeking to harness the full potential of this species in various applications.

Abstract This study investigated the influence of cadmium (Cd) and copper (Cu) heavy metals on germination, metabolism, and growth of zucchini seedlings (Cucurbita pepo L.). Zucchini seeds were subjected to two concentrations (100 and 200 μM) of CdCl2 and CuCl2. Germination parameters, biochemical and phytochemical attributes of embryonic axes were assessed. Results revealed that germination rate remained unaffected by heavy metals (Cd, Cu). However, seed vigor index (SVI) notably decreased under Cd and Cu exposure. Embryonic axis length and dry weight exhibited significant reductions, with variations depending on the type of metal used. Malondialdehyde and H2O2 content, as well as catalase activity, did not show a significant increase at the tested Cd and Cu concentrations. Superoxide dismutase activity decreased in embryonic axis tissues. Glutathione S-transferase activity significantly rose with 200 μM CdCl2, while glutathione content declined with increasing Cd and Cu concentrations. Total phenol content and antioxidant activity increased at 200 μM CuCl2. In conclusion, Cd and Cu heavy metals impede zucchini seed germination efficiency and trigger metabolic shifts in embryonic tissue cells. Response to metal stress is metal-specific and concentration-dependent. These findings contribute to understanding the intricate interactions between heavy metals and plant physiology, aiding strategies for mitigating their detrimental effects on plants.

Anacyclus pyrethrum (L.) Lag. is a Moroccan endemic species well appreciated as a remedy against toothache, digestive disorders, and as a tonic agent for the nervous system. This work aims to select the best solvents for extracting antioxidants and optimize their extraction using a surface mixture design. In this study, eleven solvents with different polarities were screened for their efficiency to extract total phenolic compounds and other molecules endowed with antioxidant activity. The antioxidant activity was measured using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging and total antioxidant activities. The selected solvent was subjected to response surface methodology using a simplex axial mixture design to optimize the extraction of polyphenols and antioxidants. The results showed a significant influence of solvent nature on extraction. Water, ethanol, chloroform, and methanol were the most effective solvents to achieve good polyphenol yields. The best yield is obtained using the tertiary mixture “water-methanol-ethanol”. The anti-radical activity in A. pyrethrum was significantly influenced by the extraction solvent's nature and the mixture's nature. The percentage of inhibition of DPPH was higher in both extracts obtained with the ternary mixture and binary mixtures “water-methanol” and “water-ethanol”. the best total antioxidant capacity was observed for pure water, followed by binary mixtures including water. This study revealed a good synergetic effect between water and both ethanol and methanol on extraction efficiency. Furthermore, the ternary mixture with the following proportions: water 75%; ethanol 11%; methanol 14% was the most efficient.

Abstract The phenolic compound content, the antioxidant and α-amylase inhibition potentials of different extracts of the Plectranthus amboinicus, P. barbatus and P. ornatus were evaluated. We also evaluated the influence of plant growth and harvest time on the chemical composition of the essential oil (EO) of P. amboinicus, its antioxidant and anti-Candida activities and the α-amylase and lipoxygenase inhibitions. The turbo-extract of P. barbatus showed the greatest phenolic compound content and antioxidant activity. No α-amylase inhibition activity was observed in the analyzed extracts, but the turbo-extraction and refluxing extracts possessed high antioxidant activities. Protected cultivation and morning harvest conditions gave the best antioxidant activities, which was associated to the highest carvacrol content. P. amboinicus EO antioxidant activity could contribute to the reduction of oxidative stress in diabetes. Causal Candida strains of diabetic foot ulcers showed sensitivity to P. amboinicus EO. C. albicans and C. dubliniensis were the most sensitive of the selected Candida strains. Turbo-extracts or refluxing of the three species extracts and the EO of P. amboinicus should be considered as a potential candidate for the management the complications of type 2 diabetes.

Abstract In the present work, we are assessing the geographical origin and cultivar‐related changes on olive oil quality and composition in East Algeria. Fruits from the main local olive varieties (Sigoise and Chemlal) were harvested in autumn 2019 growing season from three different geographic areas: semiarid (Setif), arid (Batna), and Saharan (Eloued). Obtained results showed that Chemlal and Sigoise olive oils from Eloued area were the most enriched in tocopherols and phenolic contents, respectively. Sigoise olive oil from Batna area showed the highest values of pigments (carotenoids, chlorophylls). Identified fatty acids using gas chromatography (GC) coupled with mass spectrometry (MS) indicated that Chemlal cultivar olive oil from Batna was the most enriched in saturated fatty acid. However, higher levels of monounsaturated fatty acid were recorded for olive from Eloued and Setif areas. Sigoise cultivar oil displayed higher contents of unsaturated fatty acid in Batna, but higher levels of polyunsaturated fatty acid from Eloued location. These outcomes highlighted an actual impact of geographical location on each cultivar olive oil chemical proprieties. According to these data and relative to the International Olive Council (IOC) standards, all the analyzed olive oils could be categorized as extra virgin olive oils. Overall, statistical analysis showed that physicochemical parameters were influenced by the cultivar, the region of collection, as well as the interactions between them.

The species of Artemisia are well known in the Mediterranean region, especially in Morocco, for their traditional uses and health benefit. In this study, we were interested in two species of Artemisia, namely A. herba alba Asso and A. mesatlantica Maire. These species were collected from different soils of the Central Middle Atlas (loamy, stony, limestone and rocky soil) with different atmospheres. Extraction of essential oils from the leaves and flowering tops was carried out by hydrodistillation in Clevenger apparatus. Chemical composition analysis was further carried out using gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Principal component analysis (PCA) was performed to determine the similarities and dissimilarities in the chemical compositions of these six essential oils. The results obtained showed that the essential oil contents extracted from the flowering tops vary from one species to another according to the place of harvest, altitude, soil type and climate. The essential oil yield is between 0.84% and 2.19% (mL/100 g). Chemical analysis revealed that the chemotype of A. herba alba in limestone soil with a subhumid to humid atmosphere is trans-thujone (33.78%), while camphor (46.19%) is for limestone soil with a semi-arid atmosphere, vetivenic acid (14.91%) and davana ether (14.64%) are for limestone soil with a semi-arid and arid atmosphere and camphor (18.39%) is for loamy and stony soil with a semi-arid atmosphere. As for A. mesatlantica from a rocky soil on limestone with a subhumid to humid atmosphere, the main component is camphor (44.86%), and that of limestone soil with a subhumid to the humid atmosphere trans-thujone (41.08%). In addition, HCA affirmed the PCA and allowed us to distinguish between four groups. Our findings observed differences in the chemical compositions of the isolated essential oils most likely related to many factors such as the climates in the regions of the samples collected, altitudes and soil types.

In this work, we consider the nonparametric estimation of the probability density function for nonnegative heavy-tailed (HT) data. The objective is first to propose a new estimator that will combine two regions of observations (high and low density). While associating a gamma kernel to the high-density region and a BS-PE kernel to the low-density region. Then, to compare the proposed estimator with the classical estimator in order to evaluate its performance. The choice of bandwidth is investigated by adopting the popular cross-validation technique and two variants of the Bayesian approach. Finally, the performances of the proposed and the classical estimators are illustrated by a simulation study and real data.

In Morocco, many applications in ethnomedicine on Ajuga iva (L.) have been recognized as able to treat various pathologies such as diabetes, stress, and microbial infections. The objective of this work is to carry out phytochemical, biological, and pharmacological investigations on the extracts of Ajuga iva leaves in order to confirm its therapeutic effects. The phytochemical screening carried out on the different extracts of Ajuga iva showed its richness in primary (lipids and proteins) and secondary metabolites (flavonoids, tannins, reducing compounds, oses, and holoside. The best contents of polyphenols, flavonoids, and tannins evaluated by spectrophotometric methods were found in the hydroethanolic extract (69.850 ± 2.783 mg EAG/g DE, 17.127 ± 0.474 mg EQ/g DE, 5.566 ± 0.000 mg EQC/g DE), respectively. Analysis of the chemical composition of the aqueous extract by LC/UV/MS revealed 32 polyphenolic compounds including ferulic acid (19.06%), quercetin (10.19%), coumaric acid (9.63%), and apigenin-7-(2-O-apiosylglucoside) (6.8%). The antioxidant activity of Ajuga iva extracts was evaluated by three methods (DPPH*, FRAP, CAT). The hydroethanolic extract recorded the strongest reducing power: DPPH* (IC50 = 59.92 ± 0.7 µg/mL), FRAP (EC50 = 196.85 ± 1.54 (µg/mL), and CAT (199.21 ± 0.37 mg EAG/gE). A strong correlation between phenolic compounds and antioxidant activities was confirmed by the determination of Pearson’s coefficient. The antimicrobial activity of Ajuga iva studied by the microtiter method revealed potent antifungal and antibacterial qualities against Candida parapsilosis and Staphylococcus aureus BLACT. An in vivo oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) using normal rats revealed that the antihyperglycemic action of the aqueous extract significantly reduced postprandial hyperglycaemia at (30 min, p < 0.01) and area under the curve (AUC glucose), p < 0.01. Similarly, the aqueous extract, tested on pancreatic α-amylase enzyme activity in vitro and in vivo significantly inhibited pancreatic α-amylase activity with IC50 = 1.52 ± 0.03 mg/mL. In conclusion, the extract from Ajuga iva could be a good source of bioactive molecules, which exhibit potent antioxidant and antimicrobial activity, as well as strong antidiabetic activity, for applications in the pharmaceutical industry.

The present research reports the findings of the study that sought to examine the in-service training needs of in-service EFL teachers in the language testing and assessment field. With this aim, four domains of language testing and assessment field were identified which were classroom-focused LTA, knowledge of testing and assessment, purposes of testing, and content and concepts of LTA. Quantitative research design was employed in this study and quantitative data was collected through a questionnaire. A total of 300 in-service EFL teachers working in different formal and non-formal education institutions participated in this study. The quantitative data was analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results indicated that these in-service EFL teachers need an intermediate level of further training in the LTA field. The area where need for training was expressed more was "content and concepts of LTA" and "classroom-focused LTA" was the domain where need for in-service training was revealed less. The findings of this study will serve as needs analysis for in-service programs and will be beneficial for curriculum development, teacher education programs, and more specifically assessment courses offered in pre- and INSET programs.

This study was planned with the aim of conducting a comprehensive literature analysis of preschool STEM education research and evaluating future opportunities. Scoping Review was conducted by analyzing 29 articles in journals published by Springer, Taylor & Francis, Elsevier, and SAGE, which were obtained using combinations of the keywords "STEM," "STEM education," "kindergarten," and "preschool." The results show that the literature on STEM research in preschool, which has largely developed in the United States, has grown in recent years, forming a relatively new and expanding field. It is concluded that preschool STEM education research promises to be a popular field in the future. Studies in which different STEM activities were carried out were identified along with the examinations. In these studies, activities focus on games, teacher roles, or program and model development. For such activities, factors such as the role of sample groups in the process and their impact on the process should be determined. In other words, there is a need for studies focusing on the evaluation dimension of STEM education in preschool education.

The aim of the study is to identify variables that explain students' academic performance, determine their relative importance, and consequently, develop an index to distinguish advantaged and disadvantaged schools in pursuit of educational equality. By using this index, we intend to build a model for evaluating schools' overall performance based on their equality of opportunity. The research is structured within the quantitative research paradigm and the relational research design has been adopted. The research was carried out in 52 secondary schools and analysis were performed on data collected from 1143 students, 1600 teachers and 141 school administrators. While collecting the data, a monitoring exam was used to measure student achievement, which is the dependent variable. Data on independent variables were collected with student, teacher, and administrator surveys. Hierarchical linear modelling and ratio analysis were employed while analysing the data. It was found that student-level variables explain success more than school-level variables. Twenty different variables in total at the student and school level were found to be effective on student achievement. Based on these variables, a school advantages index was created. It has been observed that schools with a high school advantage index are also better off in terms of average school achievement. However, when evaluated together with the school advantages index, it was revealed that the effectiveness order of the schools changed. Our suggestion is that education systems need to have a more holistic approach to evaluate school performances. To provide both fair and radical equality of opportunity, each school should chart a course considering its own conditions regarding the education of disadvantaged students.

This study examined the relationships between word reading and rapid automatized naming (RAN) for objects and letters in Arabic-speaking children with and without dyslexia to determine potential modulating effects of color on naming by comparing children's performance on color and black-white RAN plates. Participants were 114 Arabic-speaking third graders who were tested for word and pseudoword reading accuracy, word reading fluency, rapid automatic naming, and letter scanning and searching abilities. Comparative analyses showed that while children with dyslexia did not differ from controls on the RAN object color task, they did show slower average naming speeds than the controls on the black-white version of the objects task. Similarly, the children with dyslexia showed slower average naming speeds than controls on both the color and black-white versions of the RAN letters task. In addition, hierarchical regression analyses showed that word reading accuracy, word reading fluency and pseudoword reading were significantly predicted by RAN black-white objects and RAN letters both versions after controlling for Age, IQ and visual search. Furthermore, group predicted the interference in letter RAN but not in object RAN. Findings of the current study have implications for the positive impact of color on object-naming tasks.

BACKGROUND: Nursing students are subjected to many stressors during their clinical practicums. Emotional intelligence (EI) could act as a real stress regulator. In this perspective, we sought to study the relationship between stress and EI in a sample of Moroccan nursing students. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was conducted using the descriptive correlational method. The statistical population consisted of the nursing students of the Higher Institute of Nursing Professions and Health Techniques of Tetouan in Morocco during the academic year 2021-2022. Among them, 146 participants were selected on the basis of simple random sampling. Participants completed a self-administered questionnaire addressing sociodemographic factors, perceived stress (the Perceived Stress in Clinical Practice Scale), and emotional intelligence (Wong and Law Emotional Intelligence Scale test). Descriptive statistics were used and Pearson's correlation coefficient was applied to assess the correlation between stress and EI, and to compare them according to socio-demographic characteristics. A linear regression analysis was calculated to analyze the effect of independent variables on perceived stress and EI. For the analysis, a level of 0.05 was chosen. RESULTS: The overall mean age of the students was 20.02 ± 1.12 years. Participants had moderate levels of perceived stress (M = 2.42 ± 0.77) and high levels of EI (M = 3.79 ± 1.09). A significant positive correlation between perceived stress and EI was found (r = 0.741, P < 0,05). The regression model shows that EI, education level, and clinical practice setting can explain changes in perceived stress levels and are effective and significant factors (P < 0,001). CONCLUSION: EI has been shown to be a protective factor against stress in nursing students. Those with well-developed EI have lower levels of stress. Therefore, it is suggested that a mindfulness-based training program be incorporated into the nursing curriculum to develop emotional skills and combat stress in students.

The aim of this research is to profile the chemical composition of the essential oil (EO) extracted from the aerial parts of Origanum elongatum (O. elongatum) and to evaluate its antioxidant, antibacterial and insecticidal activities on Ceratitis capitata adults. Gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC/MS) revealed a total of 27 constituents in EO of O. elongatum, which accounted for 99.08% of its constituents. Carvacrol (57.32%) was a main component, followed by p-cymene (14.70%) and γ-terpinene (9.84%). The antioxidant activity of O. elongatum EO was investigated using DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl), FRAP (Ferric reducing antioxidant power), and TCA (the total antioxidant capacity) methods. This EO exhibited a remarkable antiradical and reducing power against DPPH (IC50 = 2.855 ± 0.018μL/mL), FRAP (EC0.5 = 0.124 ± 0.013µL/mL) and TCA (IC50 = 14.099 ± 0.389 mg AAE/g of the EO). The antibacterial tests in vitro, using the disc and dilution methods, were carried out on nine pathogenic bacteria isolated from the hospital patients, such as Enterococcus faecalis, Serratia fonticola, Staphylococcus aureus, Acinétobacter baumannii, Klebsiella oxytoca, Klebsiella pneumoniae sensible, E.coli sensible, E.coli resistante, and Enterobacter aerogenes. The EO demonstrated a considerable antibacterial activity with minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) from 2 to 8 µL/mL against all strains except Staphylococcus aureus (MIC = 32 µL/mL). Regarding the insecticidal activity, the fumigation test indicated a high efficacy (100% mortality), and a lethal dose of LD50 = 17 ± 0.53 μL/L air was found after 24 h of exposureTherefore, O. elongatum EO could be utilized as a natural antioxidant, antibiotic and biopesticides.

This article presents the development of a novel fault-tolerant control strategy. For this task, a bicausal bond graph model-based scheme is designed to generate online information to the inverse controller about the faults estimation. Secondly, a new approach is proposed for the fault-tolerant control based on the inverse bicausal bond graph in linear fractional transformation form. However, because of the time delay for fault estimation, the PI controller is used to reduce the error before the fault is estimated. Hence, the required input that compensates the fault is the sum of the control signal delivered by the PI controller and the control signal resulting from the inverse bicausal bond graph for fast fault compensation and for maintaining the control objectives. The novelties of the proposed approach are: (1) to exploit the power concept of the bond graph by feeding the power generated by the fault in the inverse model (2) to suitably combining the inverse bicausal bond graph with the PI feedback controller so that the proposed strategy can compensate for the fault with a very short time delay and stabilize the desired output. Finally, the experimental results illustrate the efficiency of the proposed strategy.

The present work was aimed to study the toxicity of the essential oils of three aromatic and medicinal plants on the tomato leaf miner Tuta absoluta and the Medfly Ceratitis capitata as an alternative to conventional pesticides. We carried out a phytochemical and insecticide study of T. zygis L., S. officinalis L. and M. suaveolens Ehrh. essential oils (EOs) through the study of their chemical composition and their toxicity on C. capitata adults and T. absoluta larvae. The extraction of the EOs by hydrodistillation showed yields of 3.87 ± 0.03, 4.09 ± 0.23 and 4.35 ± 0.11 for T. zygis, S. officinalis L. and M. suaveolens Ehrh., respectively. The identification of the chemical composition of the EOs by GC/MS showed that oxygenated monoterpenes constituted the most abundant group for all the extracted EOs. The major compounds were rather diversified depending on plant species. In fact, the S. officinalis L. EO mainly contained trans-thujone (21.80 %), the M. suaveolens Ehrh. EO mainly contained piperitenone oxide (71.19%), and carvacrol (61.60%) was the main component of the T. zygis L. EO. An insecticidal effect was observed for the three studied EOs on C. capitata adults and T. absoluta larvae. The observed LD50 values were 0.80 µL/mL and 11.04 µL/mL for M. suaveolens and S. officinalis, respectively, on T. absoluta larvae. For C. capitata adults, the obtained LD50 values were 0.9 µL/mL and 11.78 µL/mL for M. suaveolens and T. zygis, respectively. The presented findings could contribute to the development of biopesticides for plants as a component of integrated pest management strategies in citrus and tomato crops.

Anacyclus pyrethrum (L.) (Asteraceae) is an important annual medicinal herb and is widespread in Morocco and Algeria. Most of its parts are used in traditional medicine and the roots are the most important parts used. The present review gives an account of the updated information on its phytochemical and pharmacological properties. We have collected the essential characteristics and the different scientific data of the A. pyrethrum species, and reviewed its potential. It is seen from the literature that A. pyrethrum is a rich source of the phytochemical constituents such as alkaloids (pellitorin) and n-alkylamides. This species also contains pyrethrins, sesamin, traces of essential oils and a wide range of other chemical compounds. These active substances possess antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activities. The plant has an antidiabetic, insecticidal and immunostimulatory effect, as well as an aphrodisiac and antioxidant potentials, and various other important medicinal properties. Many traditional uses are also reported in previous research such as for rheumatism, sciatica, colds, neuralgia and paralysis. This species is considered to be a sialagogue, and used in the treatment of stomach ailments, diseases of inflammation of the mouth, against cysts in the genital tract and to relieve toothaches. Thus, further research must be carried out in order to establish any relationship between the traditional uses, phytochemistry and toxicity. Moreover, A. pyrethrum is quite promising as a medicinal agent, so further clinical trials should be performed to prove its efficacy.

This work was planned to investigate the bacteria isolated from broiler chickens head suffered from naked eye pathological lesions. Out of 200 examined head lesions, the result revealed that the major pathogens associated with swollen head syndrome (SHS) were Escherichia coli, Streptococcus dysgalactiae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Antimicrobial sensitivity pattern against 11 different antimicrobials proved that isolates were resistant to most of the tested antimicrobial agents. PCR was applied on 4 MDR E. coli, 4 S. dysgalactiae and 2 P. aeruginosa for detection of some resistance and virulence genes. The results of E. coli isolates revealed that blaTEM gene was the most prevalent in all isolates (100%) followed by tetA (A), aada1, aada2 and aacC genes. Meanwhile tetA (B) gene was found in 3 (75%), while aadB gene was not detected in any isolates. All S. dysgalactiae proved to harbour 16srRNAgene also all S. dysgalactiae were 100% positive for tuf gene followed by speF gene which found in 2 isolate (50%). The results of PCR of P. aeruginosa isolates revealed that toxA gene was the most prevalent gene found in all isolates (100%) followed by lasI. Then, phzM gene was found in one isolate (50%).

Propolis is known to possess antioxidant activity. However, there is no information on this activity in emulsions O/W. The protective effect of propolis on the oxidation and rheological properties of emulsions O/W containing wheat germ and almond oils was evaluated. Emulsions O/W were prepared with different concentration of propolis extract, almond oil and wheat germ oil. All emulsions physically stable without phase separation were stored at 37 °C for 9 weeks. Chemical composition of propolis was established by Gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry. Rheological characterization of different emulsions was performed evaluating consistency index and flow behavior index. The oxidation was monitored by measuring the lipid hydroperoxides and thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) methods. Flavonoids, phenolic acid esters, and aromatic acids were the main groups of compounds found in propolis. The results showed that popolis was good antioxidant in the concentration of 0.02 and 0.04% when lipid phase was constituted by almond oil. The rheological behavior is typical of a non-Newtonian fluid, being almond oil more adequate for having a higher stable O/W emulsion. Keywords: Emulsion, Flavonoids, Phenolic acid esters, Almond oil, Wheat germ oil, Natural antioxidant

A statistical simplex centroid design methodology was applied to determine the effects of different solvents and their mixtures on the yield, total polyphenol content, 2′2-dipheny-l-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity, and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) of extracts from the waste of Cannabis sativa. The different extractor solvents (ethanol, methanol, water, and hexane) and their binary and ternary combinations were evaluated. The experimental results and their response surface models showed that the highest TPC yield values occur with the binary interaction between water and ethanol around the proportion of (ethanol, 70%; water, 30%). The desirability function showed that the optimal conditions were for TPC extraction ternary mixtures which consisted of 75% ethanol, 12.5% methanol, and 12.5% water. Ternary mixtures including water and binary mixture (ethanol 50% to 75%) yielded extracts with the best DPPH antioxidant activity, whereas pure methanol was the best solvent for extracting molecules with FRAP antioxidant capacity. The desirability function including all responses showed that the optimal solvent mixture consisted of 25% ethanol and 75% methanol.

This study aimed to analyze the relationship of both positive socioemotional resources [emotional intelligence (EI) and social support] and negative states (test anxiety and depression) with academic adjustment, as measured by academic performance and self-concept, among Moroccan adolescents. The participants were 845 students from Morocco (372 boys, 473 girls; mean age 15.58 years; SD = 1.69; range = 13–18) who were attending secondary education (79.8%) or high school. The participants completed a questionnaire that included scales to measure the variables of interest, adapted for and validated in Moroccan adolescents. A multiple mediation serial model with four mediator variables confirmed that academic self-concept was positively and directly predicted by EI, academic performance, and social support, whereas test anxiety and depression had a negative effect. Second, EI predicted self-concept through its indirect effects on test anxiety and academic performance, social support, and depression. EI was the most protective factor. This model has good performance in explaining the variation in test anxiety (1.6%), depression (14.2%), social support (9.5%), academic performance (6.8%), and self-concept (35.7%). This study helps clarify the relationship of positive and negative socioemotional states with the academic performance of adolescents in Morocco. This study contributes to the literature by enhancing knowledge of adolescents in societies that, like Morocco, have a less elaborated tradition at these levels of education and that are considering education in their agenda as a way of enhancing national development and promoting EI to allow youth development in a healthier society.

Magnetization, Curie temperature and isothermal entropy change have been measured in Gadolinium 3 μm thick films. We present the comparison between the structural and magnetic properties of samples deposited either at room temperature or at 550°C onto silicon substrate (100) with a thermally oxidized layer. The results are discussed using as a reference, data from bulk Gd single crystals. As compared to bulk values, the room temperature grown film shows lower Curie temperature ( ∼ 280 K) and weaker entropy change ( ∼ 6.8 Jkg−1K−1) under application of magnetic field ramp from 0 to 5 Tesla. On the contrary the 550○C deposited film shows a Curie temperature ( ∼ 293 K) and a maximum isothermal entropy change ( ∼ 8.9 Jkg−1K−1) both in good agreement with values expected for bulk samples. The behavior of the room temperature deposited samples are briefly discussed and compared with similar effects observed in bulk samples with different degree of purity and homogeneity.

Água-mel is a honey-based traditional product typically produced in southern Portugal. The evolution of some parameters during its production using two distinct containers (aluminium and stainless steel with a water cooling system) and two heating sources (gas heating and electricity) were evaluated. All parameters, except moisture, increased over time, reaching a ‘plateau’ after 8 h of heating. Moisture, free acidity, HMF (hydroxymethylfurfural), colour, melanoidins, phenols and glucose depended on the producer and procedure for obtaining água-mel. Kinetic parameters and correlation coefficients were determined. In general, changes in parameters during água-mel production followed zero- and/or first-order kinetics, depending on the producer and heating system.

Aims: The aim of this study was to try to explain the pathogenesis of proximal hypospadias based on anatomical and histological findings. Methods: During 9 years, we performed systematic biopsies (in the lateral areas of the urethral plate, as well as under this plate) in 81 patients treated for proximal hypospadias. The histological study was performed by routine coloring, hematoxylin and eosin, and Masson's trichrome, which colors the collagen fibers in blue, and monoclonal antibody against alpha-smooth muscle actin. Results: There is a fibrosis tissue abnormally present on the ventral side of the penis. This tissue consists of a mixture of fibrous connective tissue, nerve nets, short vessels, and smooth muscle fibers. The penis' dartos does not contain smooth muscle fibers. These fibers can come from a blood vessel or spongy tissue which existed during the neonatal period in the distal part of the penis before disappearing. Conclusions: The proximal hypospadias is due presumably to avascular necrosis of the distal part poorly vascularized of the corpus spongiosum.