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Effect of civet-derived bacteria and fermentation duration on basic physical characteristics of robusta green coffee beans
No full textThis study investigates the effect of civet-derived bacterial fermentation on the yield, moisture content, and density of Robusta green coffee beans. The research focused on basic physical characteristics as preliminary indicators of bean quality before further chemical and sensory evaluation. Robusta coffee cherries were fermented using civet-derived bacteria at three inoculum concentrations (0%, 50%, and 100%) and for different fermentation durations (1, 2, and 3 days). The resulting beans were analyzed for yield, bulk density, and moisture content. The experiment was arranged in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with two factors: civet-derived bacterial concentration and fermentation duration, each replicated three times. Data were analyzed using ANOVA followed by DMRT at a 5% significance level. The results showed that the civet-derived bacterial concentration significantly affected the yield and density, but did not influence the moisture content of the green coffee beans. In contrast, fermentation duration and its interaction with bacterial concentration had no significant effects on any of the observed parameters. The highest yield (38.06%) and stable physical characteristics were obtained at the 50% inoculum concentration, indicating that moderate bacterial activity provided the most efficient mucilage degradation without causing excessive bean-mass loss. These findings suggest that civet-derived bacterial fermentation at a moderate concentration can enhance the physical quality and structural integrity of Robusta green coffee beans, serving as a potential pre-treatment step for improving their chemical and sensory properties
Prioritising the sub-watersheds of the Oued El Abid basin upstream of Oum Er-Rbia using Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process (FAHP) and geographic information systems (GIS)
No full textStudying watersheds is essential for understanding their morphological and hydrological dynamics, especially those located in mountainous areas with significant elevations and steep slopes, such as the Oued El Abid, one of the secondary watersheds in the Upstream Oum Er-Rbia basin. The study area includes 45 sub-watersheds. The aim of this study is to identify their priorities based on processing their morphometric characteristics using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and the Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process (FAHP). To prioritise the sub-watersheds, 18 morphometric indicators were analysed, including cadastral, geometric, and linear indicators. The (FAHP) approach enabled us to categorise these sub-watersheds according to their need for intervention. The study results revealed that 6 sub-watersheds were of high priority, 9 were of medium priority, 11 were of medium priority, and 19 sub-watersheds were of weak or very weak priority. These results confirm the benefits of using Geographic Information Systems and the Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process to determine their priorities for implementing interventions, in order to protect them from risks and enhance their sustainability
Des capteurs plasmo-photoniques pour la sécurité sanitaire des produits agricoles
No full textLa co-intégration de guides d’onde plasmonique et photonique sur une puce silicium suivant une configuration interférométrique à branche unique, dite bimodale permet d’atteindre une sensibilité inégalée lors de la détection de traces de molécules. Des puces fabriquées à bas coût et un prototype d’instrument complet démontrent leur capacité à détecter des contaminants d’intérêt pour le secteur agricole
A pristine, star-forming complex at
No full textWe report the discovery of a faint (M1700 ≃ −12.2), oxygen-deficient, strongly lensed ionizing source – dubbed Lensed And Pristine 2 (LAP2) – at a spectroscopic redshift of z = 4.19. LAP2 appears to be isolated and lies very close to the caustic produced by the lensing galaxy cluster Abell 2744. It was observed with the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) NIRSpec MSA in prism mode as part of the UNCOVER program. The NIRSpec spectrum reveals prominent Lyα (7.1σ), clear Hα (6.2σ), tentative Hβ (≃2.8σ) emissions and no detectable [O/II
Heard-text recall and listening effort under irrelevant speech and pseudo-speech in virtual reality
No full textIntroduction: Verbal communication depends on a listener’s ability to accurately comprehend and recall information conveyed in a conversation. The heard-text recall (HTR) paradigm can be used in a dual-task design to assess both memory performance and listening effort. The HTR paradigm uses running speech to simulate a conversation between two talkers. Thereby, it allows for talker visualization in virtual reality (VR), providing co-verbal visual cues like lip-movements, turn-taking cues, and gaze behavior. While the HTR in a dual-task design has been investigated under pink noise, the impact of more realistic irrelevant stimuli, such as speech, that provide temporal fluctuations and meaning compared to noise, remains unexplored.
Methods: In this study (N = 24), the HTR task as primary task was administered in an immersive VR environment under three noise conditions: silence, pseudo-speech, and speech. Participants performed a vibrotactile secondary task to quantify listening effort in a dual-task design.
Results: The results indicate an effect of irrelevant speech on memory and speech comprehension as well as secondary task performance, with a stronger impact of speech relative to pseudo-speech.
Discussion: The study validates the sensitivity of the HTR in a dual-task design to background speech stimuli and highlights the relevance of linguistic interference-by-process for listening effort, speech comprehension, and memory
Sexe et genre dans la recherche biomédicale
No full textL’intérêt de la recherche sexo-spécifique a déjà été démontré dans de nombreux domaines des soins de santé. Elle permet de disposer de traitements avec un même niveau de preuve pour les femmes que pour les hommes, ou plus généralement, quels que soient le genre ou le sexe des personnes. C’est pourquoi le recrutement et la participation de femmes et d’hommes, et idéalement de sujets divers en termes de sexe et/ou genre, aux essais cliniques sont essentiels. Pourtant, ces paramètres varient d’une étude à l’autre, souvent sans justification scientifique, et les analyses stratifiées sont rares. Il existe plusieurs obstacles, réels mais surmontables, à l’inclusion des femmes dans la recherche biomédicale
Evaluating the morphology contribution and modeling of solidification time for icephobic surface design
No full textThis study proposes a freezing time calculation model on textured surfaces for icing phenomena and icephobic design. A microstructure was generated on as-received PDMS thin films using a lithography method, followed by a low-energy chemical compound coating. Surfaces after treatment exhibited excellent water-repellent performance with high apparent contact angle and droplet mobility. Anti-icing investigations revealed that the freezing time on microstructured PDMS increased by ∼27% compared to flat PDMS, and the ice adhesion strength was reduced by up to ∼40% depending on surface morphology. A custom-built apparatus equipped with a high-speed camera enabled accurate measurement, which was then compared with predicted freezing time extracted from the proposed calculation model, showing a reliable correlation. The results demonstrate consistent agreement between surface topology, freezing behavior, and adhesion, underscoring the theoretical foundation for icephobic surface design. This work advances understanding of anti-icing mechanisms and offers a quantitative pathway for practical applications
Integrating Indigenous Governance into Nature-Based Solutions for Climate and Biodiversity Resilience
No full textThe accelerating climate crisis underscores the limitations of state-centric and technocratic approaches to environmental governance. Although Nature-Based Solutions (NbS) are increasingly promoted as strategies for climate adaptation and biodiversity conservation, prevailing frameworks often neglect Indigenous governance systems that have long sustained ecosystems through customary law, ecological knowledge, and cultural values. This article positions Indigenous governance as a pivotal dimension of NbS, emphasizing its capacity to integrate ecological stewardship with social justice and intergenerational equity. Drawing on the case of the Ammatoa Kajang community in South Sulawesi, Indonesia, the study illustrates how Indigenous forest classifications and customary norms safeguard ecological balance while reinforcing cultural resilience. Employing a mixed-methods approach, combining ethnography, geospatial analysis, and reflective narrative. The research demonstrates that Indigenous-led governance provides legitimacy and inclusivity frequently absent in state-driven conservation initiatives. The findings highlight the importance of legal pluralism and co-management models that recognize Indigenous rights, thereby advancing NbS that are ecologically robust, socially just, and culturally sustainable