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On the basis of the sampling surveys in Biskra province during 2012 and 2019, fourteen distinct types of galls induced by insects were found on various host plants. They were belonging to three insect orders, four families and twelve genera. Most of the galls were induced by eight species of gall midges (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae), recently recorded from Biskra province, of which two species Houardiella salicornia Kieffer, 1912 and Gephyraulus moricandiae Sylven & Solinas, 1989 are first recorded from Algeria. The only known gall-inducing psyllid species Rhodochlanis salsolae (Lethierry, 1874) from Biskra (Algeria) as well as three gall-inducing aphid species associated with Pistacia atlantica were detected for the first time in Biskra province. These phytophagous species are associated with ten host plant species of which, the family Chenopodiaceae have the highest number of gall insects. Majority of the gallers are of Mediterranean origin, considered as economically indifferent species.

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The purpose of this study was to look for carbon materials for composting with rabbit manure. Rabbit manure was composted with rice straw and mushroom residues. During the composting process, different related parameters were evaluated. Results showed that the rabbit manure could be normally co-composted with rice straw or with mushroom residues. The GI value showed that both composts could help seed growth. By comparing the effects of the two composts, the rabbit manure co-composted with rice straw had a much greater effect on improving seed growth. The results showed that co-composting rabbit manure with rice straw and mushroom residues was a much more efficient method to utilize the material. Rabbit manure mixed with rice straw has also been shown to compost much more efficiently than with mushroom residues.

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Regarding hemodialysis patients’ limitations in consuming different foods, providing them with a product with health-promoting effects is important. The objective of this study was to develop a functional food from whey protein for this disease condition and assess its sensory, chemical, and nutritional characteristics. Fermented and unfermented beverages were prepared as a mixture of whey protein concentrate (8.5%), permeate (1.4 % for fermented), mint flavor (0.01%), vitamin E (0.18%), and water. Ty17A starter was used for the fermented blend. After pasteurization, and homogenization, the blends were stored until the sensory, chemical, and nutritional evaluations were done. Data were analyzed by SPSS Software (version 16). The pH values of the fermented and unfermented beverages were 3.8 and 6.02, respectively. The medians of all sensory attributes were greater than 4 for the fermented and less than 3 for the unfermented beverages (except color). All sensory attributes other than the color were significantly different between beverages (P< 0.05). The overall acceptability of the unfermented beverage was less. No significant nutritional differences were seen between beverages. Some of the nutrients values in the beverages are desirable for hemodialysis patients (Protein: 7.9-8 g 100 g^-1, Fat: 0.4%, Trans fatty acids: 2%, Saturated fatty acids: 56.15% Phosphorus: 9.25-9.35 mg 100 g^-1, Potassium: 0.0295 %, Sodium: 62.5 mg 100 g^-1, and vitamin E: 400 mg 220 mL^-1). The microbial counts of both were safe. Vitamin E fortified fermented whey beverage might be a good recommendation for hemodialysis patients because of its protein quality, low fat, phosphorus, sodium, and potassium and high vitamin E contents.

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This study aimed to study the effect of different color combinations of LED light on the quantity of primordia, the formation of the fruiting body, and the yield of bioactive ingredients produced in solid culture C. militaris. The results show that appropriate color combinations and light intensities of Light-Emitting Diodes (LEDs) can significantly increase the quantity of primordia, promote the formation of fruiting bodies, and increase the yield of bioactive ingredients (cordycepin, adenosine, mannitol, and polysaccharides) in solid culture of Cordyceps militaris. LEDs have several advantages such as small size, long lifespan, fast response time, high efficiency and stability, and the ability to emit a narrow wavelength range of monochromatic light from a cold source. Our results show that both red and green-LEDs can shorten the period of primordia appearance. Red-LED increased the number of primordia and biological efficiency and red and blue LED combinations increased the biomass of the fruiting body. A light intensity of 1,000 Lux resulted in the fastest appearance of primordia, and the highest average fruiting body biomass and biological efficiency. Under different red and blue LED combinations, the highest amounts of cordycepin, adenosine, mannitol, and polysaccharide in the fruiting body of C. militaris were 15.63±0.72 (100 Lux), 23.17±1.22 (1,000 Lux), 19.84±0.84 (300 Lux), and 28.69±1.52 mg g^-1 (1,000 Lux), respectively. Appropriate color combinations and intensities of LED light can significantly increase the quantity of the primordium, promote the formation of the fruiting body, and increase the yield of bioactive ingredients produced in solid culture C. militaris.

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In the last decades, an increasing interest has been granted to halophytes due to their high phenolic content, which have therapeutic potential in the treatment and/or management of human health. Therefore, it is important to measure the halophyte total polyphenol content correctly and to valorize their antioxidant capacity. Ethanol extracts from thirty halophytes were analyzed to evaluate the Total Phenol Content (TPC). We employed three testing methods to prove their antioxidant potentialities, including DPPH^• (1-DiPhenyl-2-PicrylHydrazyl), ABTS^•+ (2,20-Azino-Bis-3-ethylbenzoThiazoline-6-Sulfonic acid) and IRP (Iron Reducing Power) assays. Results showed that plants exhibited different TPC, which varied significantly from 411.5 mg GAE g^-1 DW in Cynomorium coccineum to 6.02 mg GAE g^-1 DW in Ammophila arenaria. Concerning antioxidant activities, data revealed that Cynomorium coccineum (IC₅₀= 3.82 µg ml^-1 versus ABTS^•+) and Euphorbia paralias had the highest antiradical capacity (IC₅₀= 0.12 µg ml^-1 against DPPH^•) and exhibited the best efficient concentration with an EC₅₀ value= 9.57 µg mL^-1 for the IRP. Considering correlation between phenols and antioxidant tests, three groups were distinguished with a higher correlation coefficient between 0.78 and 0.98 for the first group. These data suggest the promising potentialities of the Mediterranean medicinal halophytes as valuable source of powerful antioxidants of industries, especially for Cynomorium coccineum, Carpobrotus edulis, Reaumuria vermiculata, Tamarix gallica, and Euphorbia paralias regarding their strong phenol content.
 

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Matrix Metalloproteinase-9 (MMP9) degrades the Extracellular Matrix (ECM), participates in mammary gland remodeling, and inhibits mammary epithelial cell apoptosis in goats. To investigate the transcriptional regulatory mechanism of the MMP9 promoter region, we analyzed the expression pattern of MMP9 in dairy goats by qRT‒PCR and cloned the promoter region by PCR. Deletion analysis indicated that the MMP9 gene core promoter region was located upstream of the transcription start site in the -715 bp to -926 bp region. We predicted three Specificity protein 1 (Sp1) binding sites in the MMP9 core promoter region, and performed targeted mutations on these three sites. The c.1863 G> A mutation in the MMP9 gene increased the promoter transcriptional activity and may be associated with an additional Serum Response Factor (SRF) transcription factor-binding site. Association analysis revealed that c.1863 G> A was significantly associated with milk fat percentage in dairy goats, which was significantly higher in goats with the AG genotype (4.71±0.02%) than in goats with the GG genotype (4.61±0.05%). This study lays a foundation for subsequent analysis of the transcriptional regulatory mechanism of MMP9 and exploration of its biological functions.