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This scientific investigation explores the conversion of olive pomace waste from Moroccan oil mills into valuable biomass energy via pyrolysis. The study involves three pivotal parts: Our research encompasses a multifaceted approach, beginning with a comprehensive review of olive pomace, pyrolysis, gasification, and biomass combustion to establish a robust foundational knowledge base. Following this, we embark on developing a physical and mathematical model for pyrolysis alongside determining crucial thermo-physical properties, thus setting the stage for subsequent simulations. In the final phase, our study conducts intricate simulations of the pyrolysis process, precisely calculating gas and solid temperatures at multiple pivotal points while accounting for fluctuations in solid temperature due to gas interactions. Employing a TDMA (Thomas Algorithm) approach to iteratively solve the system's equations, we simultaneously derive temperature values for both gas and solid phases. Notably, our research integrates critical thermal data, including the initial assumption of a uniform solid temperature at 293 K, an incoming gas temperature of 600 K, and an existing gas temperature post-pyrolysis of 514.52 K, while considering non-uniform solid temperatures. This comprehensive research underscores the potential of pyrolysis as a sustainable biomass energy source, addressing waste management concerns and championing environmental sustainability.

Dans ce manuscrit, l’inventaire ainsi que les usages thérapeutiques des plantes médicinales spontanées poussant dans le versant nord de l’Atlas d’Azilal (Maroc) ont été répertoriés. 66 espèces végétales spontanées sont utilisées en phytothérapie dont 14 espèces ont un usage fréquent. Les Gymnospermes ne sont représentées que par trois espèces, tandis que les Angiospermes sont représentées par 63 espèces dont 55 sont des dicotylédones et huit sont des monocotylédones. Les familles végétales, bien représentées dans la région explorée, sont les Lamiaceae et les Asteraceae. A la base de l’enquête ethnobotanique, nous avons recensé 25 plantes médicinales spontanées destinées au traitement des affections digestives, huit plantes pour traiter les troubles uro-génitaux, cinq espèces sont connues pour leurs effets sur le système nerveux, 14 plantes sont utilisées contre les affections métaboliques, 11 plantes pour soigner les maladies de l’appareil respiratoire et 26 plantes sont employées pour les soins la peau et les cheveux.

The Barbary macaque Macaca sylvanus is a generalist and opportunistic feeder with a highly flexible diet. Diets of Barbary macaque groups reflect the seasonal availability of different food categories. These abilities allow them to adapt to a wide range of habitats. The natural food of this primate include leaves, fruits, roots, bark, seeds, acorns, herbs, animal prey, bryophytes and lichen. In Morocco, several groups of Barbary macaques live in tourist sites, where they are affected by the presence of visitors providing food to them. Human food can become part of the diet of these groups and in few cases; macaques have become dependent on humans for survival. This work report data on the diet composition of the Barbary macaque group living in the tourist site of Ouzoud, in the central High Atlas of Morocco. We observed the group continuously from dawn to dusk during 2007-2012. We used instantaneous scan sampling at 15-min intervals. The diet of the study group includes essentially spontaneous and agricultural plants, human food, animal prey and lichens. On average, the study group spent 27% of the daily feeding time on eating leaves, 10% on fruits, 6% on seeds, 8% on roots and barks, 17% on herbs, 21% on human food and 11% on eating other items. The flora contributing to diet of the study group includes 87 species of angiosperms and gymnosperms, from theses 52 species are wild plants and 35 are agricultural plants. Conservation effort of Barbary macaques should consider the inclusion of human food in the diet of groups living in tourist sites.

The Barbary macaque (Macaca sylvanus) is limited to relict areas in Morocco and Algeria as isolated populations that occupy diverse habitats. This primate is categorized as endangered by the IUCN and is listed in CITES Appendix II. Deforestation, overgrazing and human interference represent the main causes of the decline of this species. The ecological plasticity of Barbary macaque is correlated with demographic characteristics of groups. This species represents an excellent biological indicator of the forest quality and the Barbary macaque demography can monitor the decline of this species and the degradation of its natural habitats. In Morocco, Barbary macaques live in many tourist sites. The behavior of macaques living in tourist sites is influenced by the presence of visitors providing food to them. Conservation efforts on behalf of this primate should consider the demography of groups living in tourist sites. The demography of the Barbary macaque group living in the tourist site of Ouzoud in the central High Atlas Mountains (Morocco) was studied from February 2003 to December 2008. The group size of the initial group increased from 25 to 40 individuals from February 2003 to February 2007. Between February and December 2007, the initial group was divided into two independent groups, consisting of 23 and 13 individuals. The births were the main factor of the growth of the initial group, a total of 33 infants were born in this group. During this period, three individuals were immigrated towards the initial group. On the contrary, a total of 25 individuals disappeared from the initial group. The overall and adult sex ratios of the initial group were in favor of females, and this group has sex ratios less than 0.83 during the 2003-2007 period. The overall and adult sex ratios of the new groups ranged from 0.60 to 1.00. The adult/juvenile ratio of the initial group was in favor of the adults and it ranged between 1.22 and 1.50. This ratio ranged from 1.00 to 1.09 in the two new groups. The causes of the initial group growth and fission are discussed according to several factors such as the habitat productivity, the natural and human food availability.

Conflict between local people and wild macaques is one of the greatest challenges to Macaca sylvanus conservation in Morocco. The objective of this study was to assess the human-Barbary macaque interaction in a tourist and a non-tourist sites in the central High Atlas Mountains of Morocco. From February 2004 to December 2009, we collected data on local people’s opinions about the advantages and disadvantages of Barbary macaque’s presence. Results showed that in the tourist site, the percent of interviewees who confirm the macaque’s presence and who recognize the picture of the local monkey are significantly higher than in the non-tourist site. Barbary macaques are viewed favorably in the tourist site for their benefits to tourism. On the contrary, they are viewed unfavorably in the non-tourist site and this is mainly due to crops raiding and the competition with livestock for food resources. Conservation efforts on behalf of this specie should consider the local people’s opinion regarding human-macaque conflict and the advantages and disadvantages of tourist activities.

The Barbary macaque (Macaca sylvanus) is categorized as endangered on the IUCN Red List. Today, the total Moroccan population is estimated to be between 5,000 and 6,000 macaques. In Morocco, there are many popular sites where visitors provide food to Barbary macaques. Conservation efforts should consider the seasonal variations in activity budgets, diet and terrestrial behavior of Barbary macaques in tourist sites. In this study, we present data on seasonal changes in terrestriality of different activities of a group of Barbary macaques in the tourist region of Ouzoud, in the central High Atlas of Morocco, from March 2007 to February 2008. We used instantaneous scan sampling at 15-min intervals. The behaviors included in the activity budget were grouped into ten activities and food items into seven categories. Overall activity budget calculated was 55.97 % for terrestrial behavior and 44.03 % for arboreal behavior. The group spent 54.38 % of their feeding time to feed terrestrially and 45.62 % arboreally. There were significant differences between percentage of daily records spent in all behaviors and feeding time spent eating different food categories. Barbary macaques in the study site can adjust the activity budget during the year by varying the time spent on an activity and the frequency of terrestriality of each behavior according to the season. Conservation effort of Barbary macaques should consider the seasonal variations in diet and the effects of tourism and provisioning on terrestriality and activity budgets of populations living in tourist sites.

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Aim: The aim of our experimental study was to determine the effect of exogenic nitrates on certain biological parameters in relation to renal insufficiency., Results: Chronic treatment of rats for 5 months with varying nitrate concentrations (50, 100, 150 and 500 mg/L) induced a dose-dependent reduction in plasma concentrations of total proteins and a dose-dependent increase in plasma urea concentrations and creatinine., Discussion: This histological study of the kidney shows that nitrates at doses of 150 and 500 mg/L cause a deterioration in the epithelia of the renal tubules., Conclusion: In conclusion, a high nitrate intake induces morphofunctional disturbances of the kidney and could thus be regarded as a causative factor in renal insufficiency.

Toxoplasma gondii is an ubiquitous parasite with a prevalence variable from country to country. In Morocco very few studies were devoted to this prevalence. To fill this gap we were interested to study the epidemiology of this parasite and to know the level of carriage by the different vectors which are the sources of contamination in humans. The study was done by directly detecting the cysts in the cerebral tissue of the 50 sheep killed and destined for consumption. The results of this preliminary study show that 30% of the cases carry the cysts of T. gondii. To confirm this result and verify the virulence, cerebral specimens were inoculated into mice. These findings are encouraging to complete this study with serological tests and to look for the parasite in cows and goats of this region.