Isothermal sorption techniques play a pivotal role in enhancing the quality, preservation, and safety of local food products in the Sahel. By elucidating the relationship between food moisture content and environmental relative humidity, these techniques offer critical insights for moisture management in arid and semi-arid regions. This study aims to demonstrate the contribution of isothermal sorption to sustainable food security in the Sahel and to support the development of resilient local agri-food systems. The methodology involves determining sorption isotherms, which describe the equilibrium moisture content of food products at constant temperature and varying relative humidity. These isotherms serve as a foundation for optimizing drying protocols that maintain nutritional and sensory attributes, designing storage systems that inhibit microbial and insect proliferation, and selecting packaging materials based on each product's hygroscopic properties. The study focuses on key local staples—millet, sorghum, cowpea, cassava, and moringa—whose post-harvest stability is essential for regional food systems. It also accounts for product-specific factors, such as composition, structural characteristics, pretreatment methods, and temperature, which influence sorption behavior. Key outcomes include extended shelf life, reduced post-harvest losses, and improved food safety. These benefits contribute to the economic valorization of local products and the strengthening of food supply chains. However, the study acknowledges significant challenges: the experimental determination of sorption isotherms remains time-consuming and costly, and the results are highly product-specific, necessitating tailored approaches for each food item.
The present study aims at determining the length-weight relationship, sex ratio, relative weight, gonadosomatic indices and length at 50% maturation for the Indian mackerel, Rastrelliger kanagurta (Cuvier, 1817). A total of 791 specimens were collected from Salalah in the Dhofar region during the years 2007 to 2009. For both sexes, a common length-weight relationship was derived from the analysis, that is $W=0.00001×L^{3.4}$. It was found that the Omani Indian mackerel spawned during August to November and the lengths at 50% maturation were 271 mm for the combined sexes, 267.5 mm for the females and 277.5 mm for the males. The relative condition weight was positively proportion to the gonadosomatic index. The mean sex ratio for the entire fish sample of 0.56±0.1 was significantly different from the anticipated theoretical sex ratio of 0.5 $(X^2 = 8.77; \;df = 1; \;p<0.05)$.
The aim of this study is to quickly assess the physicochemical parameters of plantain wine and to be acquainted about the microorganisms genera involved in the fermentation. Numbers of fermented beverage are locally produced in several areas of the Republic of Congo by using local materials. The plantain seems to be a fruit of choice in the manufacture of fermented baverage. This study allow to improve the fermentation carried out in a traditional way with pH values around 4.5±0.4. In addition we showed that plantain wine contain more sugar that desert banana by allowing to obtain 16° of alcohol from plantain and 9° from dessert Banana. Finally the plantain wine contain a couple of Mineral composition including Ca, Fe, Cu, K, F and PO3. This wine showed a very interresting profile in terms of beverage preservation.
The aim of this study was to increase the Coenzyme $Q_{10}$ $(CoQ_{10})$ yield from Rhodobacter sphaeroides via genetic engineering pathway. $CoQ_{10}$ plays important roles in many biological processes and has been proven to be effective in the treatment of many diseases. In the present study, the ubiG gene located in $CoQ_{10}$ biosynthesis pathway was effectively overexpressed in Rb. Sphaeroides to increase $CoQ_{10}$ production. The growth of host cells was slightly influenced by overexpressing ubiG. The crude $CoQ_{10}$ production was enhanced by 58.31% compared to that from the control. The ubiG mRNA level was significantly increased compared to the wild type harboring empty vector as measured by qRT-PCR. Moreover, the crude $CoQ_{10}$ exhibited strong anti-oxidant activity as measured in vivo by zone of inhibition assay.
In this study, the anti-QS activity of regional floral honey from the southeast region of Argentina was investigated using the bacterial model (Chromobacterium violaceum. In addition, the anti-QS activity of quercetin, myricetin and luteolin was evaluated in an acidic medium. Two of the tested honey samples had the capacity to exert a notable anti-QS effect on (C. violaceum. The effect of quercetin on the anti-QS activity at pH 5.8 was higher than myricetin and luteolin. The results obtained from the identification of quercetin, myricetin and luteolin of the honey extracts by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) showed that quercetin was the main flavonoid followed by myricetin and luteolin. It was observed that honey with high values of quercetin and high value of free acidity, exerted a greater effect on the inhibition of QS. Thus, we can conclude that an umbral value of pH seems to be necessary to increase the anti-QS activity of quercetin.
