Alicia Ayerdi Gotor

Linseed, Linum usitatissimum L., oil is highly valued for its nutritional and industrial properties, which is due to its unique profile in fatty acids and of minor components such as tocopherols and phytosterols. In this study, we investigated the effects of genotype, growing year, and location on the content and composition of these compounds in L. usitatissimum oil, with a focus on understanding their variability under field conditions. Ten genotypes were cultivated over three growing seasons (2013–2015) in one southern (Lavaur) and two northern (Airaines and Poix-de-Picardie) locations in France. Oil was extracted using a modified protocol and analyzed via high-performance liquid chromatography for tocopherols and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry for phytosterols. Our results revealed a mean total tocopherol content of 403.7 mg/kg oil, with γ −tocopherol as the dominant isoform (397.4 mg/kg oil), and a mean total phytosterol content of 396.7 mg/100 g oil. Notably, genotype accounted for 49% of tocopherol variability, whereas environmental factors, especially location and year, contributed significantly to phytosterol variation (up to 44% variance). The adverse effects of the hotter, drier 2015 season on both compound classes underscore the impact of abiotic stress on oil quality. These findings provide a framework for breeding programs aimed at optimizing L. usitatissimum oil for both nutritional enhancement and industrial applications.

The Moroccan coastline has been the focus of attention for researchers studying the national algal flora, with the aim of preserving these invaluable natural resources. Since the year 2000, these resources have stimulated great interest in the creation of new drugs, as well as their integration into food supplements and foods. Therefore, this study aims to explore the phytochemistry of a series of extracts derived from Caulerpa prolifera. To ensure better extraction of the various metabolites present, two extraction methods, namely maceration and the Soxhlet method, were employed using solvents of varying polarity (hexane, ethyl acetate, methanol, and water). The chemical composition of the extracts was analyzed using GC-MS for fatty acids and HPLC-DAD for phenolic compounds. Antioxidant activity was evaluated using DPPH and β-carotene bleaching assays, while antidiabetic potential was assessed by in vitro inhibition of α-amylase and α-glucosidase. In addition, Molecular docking models were employed to assess the interaction between the bioactive molecules and the human pancreatic α-amylase and α-glucosidase enzymes. Vanillin, p-coumaric acid, sinapic acid, 7,3′,4′-flavon-3-ol, and kaempferol were the most abundant phenolic compounds. Anti-diabetic and antioxidant effects were highly significant.

Agriculture is dealing with numerous challenges of increasing production while decreasing the amount of chemicals and fertilizers used. The intensification of agricultural systems has been linked to the use of these inputs which nevertheless have negative consequences for the environment. With new technologies, and progress in precision agriculture associated with decision support systems for farmers, the objective is to optimize their use. This review focused on the progress made in utilizing machine learning and remote sensing to detect and identify crop diseases that may help farmers to (i) choose the right treatment, the most adapted to a particular disease, (ii) treat diseases at early stages of contamination, and (iii) maybe in the future treat only where it is necessary or economically profitable. The state of the art has shown significant progress in the detection and identification of disease at the leaf scale in most of the cultivated species, but less progress is done in the detection of diseases at the field scale where the environment is complex and applied only in some field crops.

We report the synthesis of two novel halogenated nitro-arylhimachalene derivatives: 2-bromo-3,5,5,9-tetramethyl-1-nitro-6,7,8,9-tetrahydro-5H-benzo[7]annulene (bromo-nitro-arylhimachalene) and 2-chloro-3,5,5,9-tetramethyl-1,4-dinitro-6,7,8,9-tetrahydro-5H-benzo[7]annulene (chloro-dinitro-arylhimachalene). These compounds were derived from arylhimachalene, an important sesquiterpene component of Atlas cedar essential oil, via a two-step halogenation and nitration process. Characterization was performed using ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectrometry, complemented by X-ray structural analysis. Quantum chemical calculations employing density functional theory (DFT) with the Becke3-Lee-Yang-parr (B3LYP) functional and a 6-31++G(d,p) basis set were conducted. The optimized geometries of the synthesized compounds were consistent with X-ray structure data. Frontier molecular orbitals and molecular electrostatic potential (MEP) profiles were identified and discussed. DFT reactivity indices provided insights into the compounds’ behaviors. Moreover, Hirshfeld surface and 2D fingerprint analyses revealed significant intermolecular interactions within the crystal structures, predominantly H–H and H–O contacts. Molecular docking studies demonstrate strong binding affinities of the synthesized compounds to the active site of protein 7B2W, suggesting potential therapeutic applications against various isolated smooth muscles and neurotransmitters.

The turfgrass plays a crucial role in landscaped ecosystems, including sports fields, golf courses, residential lawns, and parks. However, various turfgrass species face diverse abiotic stresses, including salinity as irrigation with fresh water becomes unavailable. These challenging environmental conditions can result in growth inhibition, damage to cellular structure, and metabolic disturbances. Therefore, the use of salt-tolerant turfgrass species or varieties proves to be one of the most effective methods to mitigate salinity issues. With this aim, a greenhouse experiment was conducted at the experimental station of the Faculty of Sciences in Oujda. The objective was to investigate the impact of saline stress on the morphological and physiological behavior of six grass species widely used in green spaces in Morocco, particularly in the eastern region irrigated with 3 concentrations of saline water. The results revealed that the species A. stolonifera, F. arundinacea, and C. dactylon exhibited some tolerance to salinity, especially at a dose of 3 g/l of NaCl, while the species L. perenne was found to be the most sensitive to saline stress, regardless of the applied dose. Concentrations of 6 g/l and 9 g/l of NaCl led to the decline of all studied species six months after application.

In this research, the chemical compositions of various extracts obtained from Ulva lactuca, a type of green seaweed collected from the Nador lagoon in the northern region of Morocco, were compared. Their antioxidant and anti-diabetic properties were also studied. Using GC–MS technology, the fatty acid content of the samples was analyzed, revealing that palmitic acid, eicosenoic acid, and linoleic acid were the most abundant unsaturated fatty acids present in all samples. The HPLC analysis indicated that sinapic acid, naringin, rutin, quercetin, cinnamic acid, salicylic acid, apigenin, flavone, and flavanone were the most prevalent phenolic compounds. The aqueous extract obtained by maceration showed high levels of polyphenols and flavonoids, with values of 379.67 ± 0.09 mg GAE/g and 212.11 ± 0.11 mg QE/g, respectively. This extract also exhibited an impressive ability to scavenge DPPH radicals, as indicated by its IC₅₀ value of 0.095 ± 0.12 mg/mL. Additionally, the methanolic extract obtained using the Soxhlet method demonstrated antioxidant properties by preventing β-carotene discoloration, with an IC₅₀ of 0.087 ± 0.14 mg/mL. Results from in-vitro studies showed that extracts from U. lactuca were able to significantly inhibit the enzymatic activity of α-amylase and α-glucosidase. Among the various extracts, methanolic extract (S) has been identified as the most potent inhibitor, exhibiting a statistically similar effect to that of acarbose. Furthermore, molecular docking models were used to evaluate the interaction between the primary phytochemicals found in these extracts and the human pancreatic α-amylase and α-glucosidase enzymes. These findings suggest that U. lactuca extracts contain bioactive substances that are capable of reducing enzyme activity more effectively than the commercially available drug, acarbose.

The present document describes the simulation of building a quadcopter and modelling its potential flight. The titles do not correspond to the real work, and there is no study of the capacity of this quadcopter to fulfill any of the utilities relate...

Precision agriculture is a reality in agriculture and is playing a key role as the industry comes to terms with the environment, market forces, quality requirements, traceability, vehicle guidance ...