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Description of the subject. Alginate beads that release semiochemical compounds are interesting biological control devices used to attract the natural enemies of aphids in infested crops. Little information, however, is available about the impact of climatic factors on the release of semiochemicals from this diffusive system. Objectives. The objective of this scoping study was to investigate the impact of temperature, relative humidity and wind speed, on the release of E-β-caryophyllene from alginate beads. Method. The impact of the three climatic factors on the release of E-β-caryophyllene from alginate beads was evaluated using a Box-Behnken experimental design and a laboratory scale volatile collection system. The influence of relative humidity on bead water content and size, with and without this semiochemical, was also investigated using a gravimetric method and an easy-to-use photographic device, respectively. Results. The results showed that an increase in temperature caused a significant increase in the E-β-caryophyllene release rate. Neither relative humidity nor airflow, however, had a significant effect on the release of this semiochemical when relative humidity and wind speed ranged from 33% to 75% and from 6.61 x 10-4 m·s-1 to 2.05 x 10-2 m·s-1, respectively. The isotherm curves obtained were characteristic of food products and biopolymer materials. The isotherm shapes were not modified by the incorporation of the semiochemical into alginate beads, and showed an important increase in water content when relative humidity values exceeded 85%. Fortunately, this water content increase did not affect bead size, which facilitates the calculation of E-β-caryophyllene release. Conclusions. The present study shows for the first time the impact of the three main climatic factors on the release of E-β-caryophyllene from alginate beads. It allows learning more about how these biological control devices operate in order to optimize future field trials.

A microbioassay was developed for evaluating the in vitro antifungal activity of 30 preselected essential oils. A template based on 10 serial dilutions with eight replicates per dilution arranged on two 96-well ELISA plates was used as a reproducible and standardized design to identify the in vitro effectiveness of these essential oils against Penicillium italicum Wehmer, Penicillium digitatum Sacc. and Colletotrichum musea (Berk. & M.A. Curtis) Arx, three postharvest fungal pathogens, on fruits. Growth of mycelium was monitored by measuring optical density (492 nm). Cinnamomum zeylanicum, Cinnamomum verum and Eugenia caryophyllus were found to be still active against all the three pathogens even at 100 ppm. Compared to other methods, this microbioassay proved to be a rapid, reproducible, and efficient method for testing the efficacy of essential oils that inhibit spore germination in P. italicum, P. digitatum and C. musea. The assay requires relatively small amounts of essential oils.

Main models used in logistic regression. Regression is a commonly used technique for decribing the relationship between a response variable and one or more explanatory variables. When the response variable is a categorical variable, usual regression based on ordinary least squares should be replaced by logistic regression. Binary logistic regression should be used to perform a regression on a dichotomous response. Nominal polytomous logistic regression applies to a categorical response variable that has more than two levels with no natural ordering. And ordinal polytomous logistic regression is used when the response is a categorical variable that has more than two levels with a natural ordering. This note gives an overview of these logistic regression methods and describes three models commonly used when performing ordinal logistic regression. These models are illustrated by an example related to oak decline in the Walloon Region (Belgium).

The research performed on yam processing mainly concerns the production of crisps and flour. However, its transformation into deep-frozen French fries does not necessitate any other equipment than those used for potatoes. The industrial process of production of frozen French fries traditionally includes a pre-frying step. These steps contribute to the development of color and crispness, and the oil partially absorbed inhibits dehydration during the freezing step. The aim of this study was to optimize frying conditions of deep-frozen fried yam (Dioscorea cayenensis var Kponan) slices. The effect of pre-frying time and temperature, final frying time and temperature on the oil uptake, texture, dry matter and colour of the fried yam slices has been studied. Frying conditions optimized with Box-Behnken experimental design were short pre-frying and frying conditions at high temperature characterized by pre-frying temperature at 157-170°C during 5-9s and frying temperature at 181-188°C for 2min 15s-2min 30s; or long pre-frying and frying conditions at low temperature characterized by pre-frying temperature at 150-158°C during 10-15s and frying temperature 170-177°C for 3-3min 15s. An adiabatic system was also developed by means of an insulator in which the core temperature of fried yam slices can be maintained constant at about 55°C after 15min of cooling, facilitating texture measurements at constant temperature. The present results may help in choosing the yam slices frying condition to be applied in order to achieve the desirable fried yam slices quality, required for protection against certain diseases like obesity. These models may also provide guidance as to how to control these quality parameters by altering four key environmental factors, pre-frying temperature and time and, final frying temperature and time. This process can also be commercialized and does not necessitate any other cost for equipment than those used for potatoes French fries and might be an interesting way of added value processing for this highly perishable yam tuber. Key words: yam slices fried, frying, optimization, INTRODUCTION The market of potato French fries has increased over recent years in tropical and northern hemisphere countries [1]. Frying process of these western starchy food materials has been extensively [...]

Several life history trait that could influence the fitness of the insects are compared between insecticide-susceptible and malathion-specific resistant populations of the red flour beetle (Tribolium castaneum). Results suggested that egg fertility and egg-to-adult development time did not differ susceptible and resistant populations.

The multicoloured Asian ladybeetle, Harmonia axyridis (Pallas), aggregates inside dwellings during winters to survive the cold. This beetle uses chemical cues coming from congeners to select an overwintering site. Recent research has shown that they preferentially gather at places where conspecifics previously laid a substrate marking made up of saturated and unsaturated hydrocarbons. Some authors have reported that H. axyridis colonizes the same overwintering sites from 1 year to another. Herein, the hypothesis that this substrate marking is used by H. axyridis to settle in the same aggregation sites from one winter to another was tested. To this aim, the temporal modification in the chemical profile of the hydrocarbon marking was studied by performing chromatographic analyses. After 1 year, the overall profile was modified qualitatively and quantitatively: the unsaturated hydrocarbons were no longer detected while some saturated hydrocarbons were still present in large quantities. In a behavioural assay conducted in the laboratory, the 12-month-old marking did not induce the aggregation of H. axyridis. This result indicates that the chemical markings left by conspecifics during a previous aggregation period in an overwintering site are not sufficient to induce the gathering of the newly arriving individuals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agricultural management practices influence soil structure, but the characterization of these modifications and consequences are still not completely understood. In this study, we aim at improving water retention and hydraulic conductivity curves using both classical soil techniques and X-ray microtomography in the context of tillage simplification. We show a good match for retention and conductivity functions between macroscopic measurements and microtomographic information. Microtomography highlights the presence of a secondary pore system. Analysis of structural parameters for these pores appears to be significant and offers additional clues for objects differentiation. We show that relatively fast scans supply not only good results, but also enhance near saturation characterization, making microtomography a highly competitive instrument for routine soil characterization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The research performed on yam processing mainly concerns the production of crisps and flour. However, its transformation into deep-frozen French fries does not necessitate any other equipment than those used for potatoes. The industrial process of production of frozen French fries traditionally includes a pre-frying step. These steps contribute to the development of color and crispness, and the oil partially absorbed inhibits dehydration during the freezing step. The aim of this study was to optimize frying conditions of deep-frozen fried yam (Dioscorea cayenensis var Kponan) slices. The effect of pre-frying time and temperature, final frying time and temperature on the oil uptake, texture, dry matter and colour of the fried yam slices has been studied. Frying conditions optimized with Box-Behnken experimental design were short pre-frying and frying conditions at high temperature characterized by pre-frying temperature at 157-170°C during 5-9s and frying temperature at 181-188°C for 2min 15s-2min 30s; or long pre-frying and frying conditions at low temperature characterized by pre-frying temperature at 150-158°C during 10-15s and frying temperature 170-177°C for 3-3min 15s. An adiabatic system was also developed by means of an insulator in which the core temperature of fried yam slices can be maintained constant at about 55°C after 15min of cooling, facilitating texture measurements at constant temperature. The present results may help in choosing the yam slices frying condition to be applied in order to achieve the desirable fried yam slices quality, required for protection against certain diseases like obesity. These models may also provide guidance as to how to control these quality parameters by altering four key environmental factors, pre-frying temperature and time and, final frying temperature and time. This process can also be commercialized and does not necessitate any other cost for equipment than those used for potatoes French fries and might be an interesting way of added value processing for this highly perishable yam tuber. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent technological development of molecular methods has led to the proliferation of new rapid PCR or reverse-transcriptase (RT)-PCR-derived diagnostic tests for plant viruses. Nevertheless, for routine use, the reliability of all these new methods is not widely established and there is still an apprehension to adopt them in official diagnostic for certification of plant material. This is partly because of the lack of confidence in the obtained results and the poor knowledge on the reproducibility and limits of the RT-PCR protocols. There is a lack of information on the adequate risk assessment in the use of this new technology. An interlaboratory evaluation of two RT-PCR duplex protocols for the detection of four different fruit tree viruses was performed to address these questions. Identical samples were sent as crude extract preparation to each of the participant laboratories. Samples were coded to ensure a double-blind test. General principles of result analysis are described, for example calculation of parameters such as specificity, sensitivity, repeatability, reproducibility, likelihood ratios and post-test probabilities. These parameters and the integration of the protocols within official certification scheme are discussed. Finally, guidelines for researchers desirous of validating their new plant virus diagnostic protocols through interlaboratory evaluation are suggested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Respirometric tests have been undertaken on sediments in aerated lagoons and waste stabilization ponds to quantify their oxygen demand and to determine the main factors governing the process. Factors such as seasonal variations, temperature, substrate, sediment layer thickness, density of macro-invertebrates and suspended sediments were investigated. The results showed that temperature and substrate concentration are the main factors that influence sediment oxygen demand; followed by spatial heterogeneity and resuspension of sediments, whereas the density of macro-invertebrates could have an effect in summer (hotseason). Sediment layer thickness had no effect. A model of sedimentoxygen demand is developed for the two main factors (temperature andsubstrate) with an r2 of 0.98. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microbial lipopeptides are synthesized by nonribosomal peptide synthetases and are composed of a hydrophobic fatty acid chain and a hydrophilic peptide moiety. These structurally diverse amphiphilic molecules can interact with biological membranes and possess various biological activities, including antiviral properties. This study aimed to evaluate the cytotoxicity and antiviral activity against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) of 15 diverse lipopeptides to understand their structure-activity relationships. Non-ionic lipopeptides were generally more cytotoxic than charged ones, with cationic lipopeptides being less cytotoxic than anionic and non-ionic variants. At 100 µg/mL, six lipopeptides reduced SARS-CoV-2 RNA to undetectable levels in infected Vero E6 cells, while six others achieved a 2.5- to 4.1-log reduction, and three had no significant effect. Surfactin, white line-inducing principle (WLIP), fengycin, and caspofungin emerged as the most promising anti-SARS-CoV-2 agents. Detailed analysis revealed that these four lipopeptides affected various stages of the viral life cycle involving the viral envelope. Surfactin and WLIP significantly reduced viral RNA levels in replication assays, comparable to neutralizing serum. Surfactin uniquely inhibited viral budding, while fengycin impacted viral binding after pre-infection treatment of the cells. Caspofungin demonstrated a lower antiviral effect compared to the others. Key structural traits of lipopeptides influencing their cytotoxic and antiviral activities were identified. Lipopeptides with a high number of amino acids, especially charged (preferentially anionic) amino acids, showed potent anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity. This research paves the way for designing new lipopeptides with low cytotoxicity and high antiviral efficacy, potentially leading to effective treatments., Importance: This study advances our understanding of how lipopeptides, which are molecules mostly produced by bacteria, with both fat and protein components, can be used to fight viruses like severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). By analyzing 15 different lipopeptides, researchers identified key structural features that make some of these molecules particularly effective at reducing viral levels while being less harmful to cells. Specifically, lipopeptides with certain charged amino acids were found to have the strongest antiviral effects. This research lays the groundwork for developing new antiviral treatments that are both potent against viruses and safe for human cells, offering hope for better therapeutic options in the future., Competing Interests: P.J. is a scientific adviser to the Lipofabrik Company, a member of the Elephant Vert Group.

Background: In mesothelioma (MPM), clinical evidence indicates that the absolute eosinophil count negatively correlates with overall survival and response to standard chemotherapy. Since eosinophils poorly infiltrate MPM tumours, we hypothesised that endocrine rather than paracrine pathways mediate the therapeutic response. We thus studied the effect of eosinophil-associated factors on response to chemotherapy in mesothelioma., Methods: The culture supernatant conditioned by primary human eosinophils was added to mesothelioma cells in presence of the standard chemotherapeutic regimen. The effectiveness of an anti-eosinophil treatment was evaluated in a preclinical model of C57BL/6 mice transplanted with mesothelioma tumour cells., Findings: Supernatant of eosinophils differentiated from EOL1 cells or directly isolated from peripheral blood inhibited apoptosis induced by cisplatin and pemetrexed in 2D cultures and in spheroids. Transcriptomic analysis indicated that the anti-apoptotic effect mediated by eosinophils involved molecular interactions with the Charcot-Leyden Crystal protein or Galectin-10 (CLC-P/Gal10). The functional relevance of CLC-P/Gal10 was demonstrated by antibody-mediated depletion. Recombinant human CLC-P/Gal10 mimicked the anti-apoptotic activity of eosinophil-derived supernatants. In the mouse model, eosinophilia did not significantly affect tumour growth but altered the response to chemotherapy. Finally, pretreatment of eosinophilia with the anti-Siglec-F antibody before chemotherapy restored the effectiveness of the treatment., Interpretation: This study provides a mechanistic rationale to clinical evidence correlating the poor outcome of patients with mesothelioma and with eosinophil-derived CLC-P/Gal10, opening new prospects for intervention in this fatal solid tumour., Funding: Belgian Foundation against Cancer, Fonds National de la Recherche Scientifique (FNRS), Télévie, Foundation Léon Fredericq, ULiège., Competing Interests: Declaration of interests The authors declare no conflict of interest in the scope of this work. Beyond the scope of this study, RL declares consultancy fees from GSK and AstraZeneca, and grants from GSK AstraZeneca, Sanofi and Chiesi., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Low temperature storage as an alternative to anti-sprouting chemicals in potato storage may induce reducing sugars (RS) accumulation (i.e. glucose and fructose) in potato tubers. This phenomenon is called "cold induced sweetening" (CIS) and occurs in certain varieties. CIS leads to a decrease in the organoleptic qualities and darkening of processed potato and the accumulation of toxic molecules such as acrylamide. To identify potato varieties suitable for storage at low temperatures, we screened six commercial processing varieties: Lady Claire (LC), Verdi, Kiebitz (KB), Pirol, Agria and Markies for their CIS characteristics and sprout-forming potential after storage at 4 °C and 8 °C. Our findings reveal that 4 °C storage allows for efficient sprout reduction in all six tested varieties for up to 4.5 months of storage. Three CIS-resistant varieties, namely Verdi, Lady Claire and Kiebitz, were identified as able to be stored for up to four months at 4 °C with limited increase in glucose content. Conversely, Pirol, Agria and Markies showed an increase in glucose content with a decrease in storage temperature and can be considered as CIS-susceptible varieties. After processing into crisps, the CIS-susceptible varieties displayed poor crisp color quality (brown to black color crisps) after storage for two months at 4 °C compared to the storage at 8 °C, whereas the CIS-resistant varieties had good crisp color quality (pale yellow color crisps) after storage at both 4 and 8 °C. Interestingly, the trends of total RS and/or glucose content in the CIS-resistant and in the CIS-susceptible varieties were correlated with the trends in Vacuolar Invertase (VInv) gene expression for most varieties, as well as with the trends in acrylamide content after processing. In addition, reconditioning of Markies variety after storage at 4 °C by gradually increasing the temperature to 15 °C resulted in a significant decrease of VInv transcript levels (reduction of 80 %), acrylamide content (reduction of 75 %) and glucose content when compared to a storage at 4 °C without reconditioning. Those results demonstrate that the reconditioning technique is a key factor for a sustainable potato storage and for improving the quality of processed potatoes., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)