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Objective: The main objective of this study is the evaluation of RPPW anaerobic digestion feasibility at laboratory scale under Mesophilic condition. The experiment is conducted using a two-stage biofilm digester of 5 L capacity with mobile support material. Results: Anaerobic treatment of wastewater from recycled pulp and paper industry in Morocco was tested using a laboratory-scale anaerobic biofilm digester that operated under mesophilic conditions over a 70-day. Chemical oxygen demand (COD) efficiency, volatile and total solid (VS, TS) elimination of the substrate during the process were: 78%, 52% and 48% respectively. The system was stable throughout its operating cycle with an optimum pH (7.24), alkalinity (1750 mg CaCO3/L) and a volatile fatty acid value (760 mg/L). The experimental daily biogas production measured reaches a value of 5 L/day with a composition of 71% methane, 27.6% carbon dioxide, 0.2 oxygen and 7713 ppm of the H2S. The study results show that the anaerobic biofilm reactor is a suitable technique for recycled pulp and paper wastewater (RPPW) treatment. The reactor shows high performances in terms of process stability, removal efficiency (> 70%) and biogas production. Conclusion: Anaerobic digestion is an efficient waste treatment technology that uses natural anaerobic decomposition to reduce the volume of waste while producing biogas. However, research is needed to strengthen microbial metabolism, biochemistry and the functioning of the rector to improve biogas production. The RPPW AD experiment with biofilm digester technology was stable throughout the operation period. The digester knows an overloaded in the last phase of the experiment which leads to an inhibition of biogas production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An energy audit is a primary step toward improving energy efficiency at the facility level and ensuring a clean production. The pulp and paper sector is one of the most energy-intensive industries in Morocco. This article aimed at identifying energy conservation opportunities at a Small and Medium-sized paper industry. The audit results together with their financial viability are presented regarding the analysis of energy consumption and electrical quality issues. The paper introduces an action plan for a more efficient energy use of some specific applications such as furnaces and compressed-air installations as well. The recommended energy efficiency measures have the potential of saving about 347.85 MWh of electrical energy and 101.78 MWh of thermal energy corresponding to reductions of 11.48% and 2.22%, respectively. The total investments related to the application of the action plan is approximately 290.53 kMAD and the global payback period does not exceed one year. It was also shown that a total quantity of 283.39 t of CO 2 emissions can be saved annually. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since 2012, Moroccan kingdom had established new laws concerning the regulation of the waste water quality that should require certain qualifications to be thrown to nature. The problem was that by making the choice of having an anaerobic treatment trough an UASB (for Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket) to get rid of the pollution we were confronted to an important sensitivity related to the dosing of the different reagents made to regulate the nutrition of the anaerobic cultures which ensure the pollution degradation. This paper was made to reduce the gap between the doses of reagents that are injected in every stage of the treatment and the doses that should be injected to insure the environmental requirement at the output of the station by considering the HRT "hydraulic retention time" and the large variability of the waste water composition that heads to the station, normally we can't rely on the analyses made at the output of the treatment to adjust the doses that's why we chose to combine the analyses made at the input of the treatment with the ratios mentioned earlier to find a way to adjust the doses to avoid an excessive injection or a lack of nutriment that may reduce the effectiveness of the treatment. This way, it will be economically and environmentally optimized to correct the doses just in time according to the input composition of the waste water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the phenomenon of "digital plagiarism" and its effects on scientific research in Moroccan universities. It subscribes itself in the recent research work that focuses on university students and Information Technology in this "soft age," if one may name it as such. Amid the catastrophic plummeting reading rates, the massive digital youth migration to and dense immersion into the e-content abyss, and the consequent extensive dependence on web-generated information without regular sound verification and/or academic documentation, this paper attempts to identify the causes of that phenomenon and specify the ways Moroccan university students, especially undergraduates, use online content relevant to doing/writing their graduation research papers.

Background: In order to obtain their medical degree, medical students in Morocco are required to carry out a research project and provide a thesis outlining its methodology and findings. However, little is known about the scientific output of these theses. The aim of the present study was to explore and evaluate the characteristics and publication patterns in scientific-indexed journals of medical theses written by medical students in Morocco. Methods: Data was extracted from registered theses between 2011 and 2021 in four medical schools that have an open-source documents archiving platform. Publication of these theses was assessed in 2022 using a search strategy in three indexed databases; Pubmed, Scopus and Web of science. Results: 9807 theses were registered between 2011 and 2021, 41% of them in the faculty of medicine of Rabat. 99.1% of these theses were written in French, 61.7% were reporting a retrospective case series, and 38.9% of them covered surgical disciplines. 83 (0.8%) of the registered theses were published in a scientific-indexed journal, and half of the papers (49.4%) was written in French. The graduate student was the paper's lead author in 54.2% of the papers. The articles driven from the theses were published after a mean delay of 1.49 ± 1.34 years and the targeted journals had a mean SJR score of 0.69 ± 1.21. The total number of detected citations of the 83 published papers was 216. Conclusion: The publication rate of Moroccan medical theses is very low when compared to other countries, which leads to question the real benefit of this time and resources consuming educational activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores the traditional cultivation of kif in Northern Morocco, with a specific focus on the historically significant regions of Ketama, Beni Sedath, and Beni Khalid. Recently, this topic has garnered substantial controversy and drawn attention from both national and international public opinion and political spheres. Initially, the paper delves into the early history and geographical expansion of kif cultivation in Morocco. Subsequently, it presents a comprehensive review of key legislation governing this crop. Finally, the paper provides insights into the perspectives of local farmers regarding the new laws impacting kif cultivation. This multifaceted approach offers a thorough understanding of the cultural, legal, and social dimensions of kif cultivation in Northern Morocco. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Morocco, socioeconomic fields are vulnerable to weather extreme events. This work aims to analyze the frequency and the trends of temperature and rainfall extreme events in two contrasted Moroccan regions (the Tensift in the semi-arid South, and the Bouregreg in the sub-humid North), during the second half of the 20th century. This study considers long time series of daily extreme temperatures and rainfall, recorded in the stations of Marrakech and Safi for the Tensift region, and Kasba-Tadla and Rabat- Sale for the Bouregreg region, data from four other stations (Tanger, Fes, Agadir and Ouarzazate) from outside the regions were added. Extremes are defined by using as thresholds the 1st, 5th, 90th, 95th, and 99th percentiles. Results show upward trends in maximum and minimum temperatures of both regions and no generalized trends in rainfall amounts. Changes in cold events are larger than those for warm events, and the number of very cold events decrease significantly in the whole studied area. The southern region is the most affected with the changes of the temperature regime. Most of the trends found in rainfall heavy events are positive with weak magnitudes even though no statistically significant generalized trends could be identified during both seasons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Star dunes are the tallest dunes on Earth and are amongst the larger and more spectacular aeolian landforms. Although they are widespread in modern sandy deserts, star dunes are rarely recognised in the rock record probably due to a lack of suitable sedimentary models. This paper presents a new sedimentary model for the structure of a star dune at Erg Chebbi in Morocco (Sahara Desert) on the basis of ground-penetrating radar (GPR) surveys. Individual sedimentary structures in star dunes are similar to those in linear or barchanoid dunes, likely leading to misidentification in the rock record. However, the suite of features described in this paper will permit identification of star dunes in future studies of the rock record. Optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating shows that accumulation of the Erg Chebbi star dune post-dates the end of the African Humid Period (AHP). At the base of the dune, there is an ~ 8000-year hiatus in the record. Since then, the dune has grown rapidly to create a 100 m high dune within the past 1000 years and is migrating towards the west. Changes in the cross-strata support the idea that star dune construction was accompanied by a change in the wind directions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article aims to discuss gender identification processes as a dialectic of autonomy and dependence with respect to the production of hegemonic models of masculinity. The analysis which are proposed in this paper are based on results from a prolonged qualitative research on sexual conducts and construction of masculinities among young Moroccan and Muslim immigrant men living in Europe (France and Italy). By discussing specific case studies, I will analyse predatory masculinity -- one of the hegemonic representations of "being a man" among the young people interviewed -- as a gender performance where heterosexuality is conceived as an "essential" attribute of men. The text will first explore how this model of masculinity is configured as a normative reference by scientific literature on Islamic masculinities and among the young Moroccans I met. Then, I will show how this model allows the production of different social relations, especially between men, in homosocial spaces within immigrant milieu, and between Morocco and Europe. Finally, I will study the case of those young men who come to terms with this predatory model of masculinity in order to negotiate subordinate sexual orientations, such as homosexual. The paper will try to show how young men both develop new margins of manoeuvre to perform their masculinities and experience the coercive power of gender norms according to their social backgrounds and family origins. The main purpose of the text is an attempt to highlight both constricting and productive power of heterosexuality and its plural forms of expression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Tobacco use is the major preventable cause of premature death worldwide, responsible for about 8 million deaths per year, mostly in low- and middle-income countries, such as Morocco. Adolescents' tobacco use is a matter of concern, because early initiation increases the risk of becoming a lifelong user. There exists a notable gap in the synthesis of evidence concerning tobacco use among Moroccan adolescents. Thus, the purpose of this study was to provide a comprehensive view of the prevalence of tobacco products' use and associated factors among adolescents in Morocco. Methods: We systematically searched PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science and ScienceDirect for relevant studies reporting prevalence rates of tobacco products' use among Moroccan adolescents, published until June 2024, using inclusion and exclusion criteria in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Additional searches were completed on other sources to reach unpublished reports. The Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Checklist was used to assess the quality of included studies. Results: After the final screening, 22 papers met the inclusion criteria. Life-time prevalence of tobacco use ranged from 7.8% to 20.4% for cigarettes smoking, from 10.6% to 21.9% for waterpipe, from 7.9% to 9.1% for chewing tobacco and from 9.2% to 12.4% for snuff. The last 12-month prevalence of cigarette smoking was comprised between 6.9% and 10.8%. As for the prevalence of current use, ranges of (1.8%-16.4%) and (4.9%-8.4%) were noted for cigarettes and waterpipe, respectively. The most commonly highlighted risk factors for tobacco use included male sex, older age, having friends or family members who use tobacco and low perception of risk associated with tobacco use. Conclusion: Our findings reveal an alarming situation of tobacco use among Moroccan adolescents. Therefore, it is crucial that all stakeholders engage in concerted efforts to develop and implement evidence-based preventive interventions among early adolescents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the substantial rise in wind power generation, the direct-drive permanent magnet synchronous generator has emerged as a leading technology for efficient variable speed operation, meeting grid demands effectively. This paper presents a comparative analysis of control strategies for permanent magnet synchronous generator based wind turbine using real variable wind speed data from a 2 MW of Tetouan wind farm in Morocco. The proposed approach is based on evaluating two primary control strategies: the adaptive fuzzy-proportional-integral controller and the conventional proportional-integral controller aimed at enhancing the wind turbine's output power. The simulation performed on MATLAB-Simulink indicates that pitch control mechanisms play a crucial role in optimizing power generation, also demonstrating its ability to achieve satisfactory performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accurate power load forecasting can facilitate effective distribution of power and avoid wasting power so as to reduce costs. Power load is affected by many factors, so accurate forecasting is more difficult, and the current methods are mostly aimed at short-term power load forecasting problems. There is no good method for long-term power load forecasting problems. Aiming at this problem, this paper proposes an LSTM-Informer model based on ensemble learning to solve the long-term load forecasting problem. The bottom layer of the model uses the long short-term memory network (LSTM) model as a learner to capture the short-term time correlation of power load, and the top layer uses the Informer model to solve the long-term dependence problem of power load forecasting. In this way, the LSTM-Informer model can not only capture short-term time correlation but can also accurately predict long-term power load. In this paper, a one-year dataset of the distribution network in the city of Tetouan in northern Morocco was used for experiments, and the mean square error (MSE) and mean absolute error (MAE) were used as evaluation criteria. The long-term prediction of this model is 0.58 and 0.38 higher than that of the lstm model based on MSE and MAE. The experimental results show that the LSTM-Informer model based on ensemble learning has more advantages in long-term power load forecasting than the advanced baseline method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Short-lived climate pollutants (SLCPs) have significant effects on climate, human health, and the environment. In Morocco, steps are being taken to reduce SLCP emissions, but effective policymaking requires a thorough understanding of emission sources and trends. In this paper, we present a study on the production of a database on SLCP emissions in Morocco, as well as the development of scenarios to project these emissions using LEAP software. The results of this analysis allow us to better understand the emissions sources and evaluate the impact of different emission reduction policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes a home energy management system able to achieve optimized load scheduling for the operation of appliances within a given household. The system, based on the genetic algorithm, provides recommendations for the user to improve the way the energy needs of the home are handled. These recommendations not only take into account the dynamic pricing of electricity, but also the optimization for solar energy usage as well as user comfort. Historical data regarding the times at which the appliances have been used is leveraged through a statistical method to integrate the user's preference into the algorithm. Based on real life appliance consumption data collected from a household in Morocco, three scenarios are established to assess the performance of the proposed system with each scenario having different parameters. Running the scenarios on the developed MATLAB script shows a cost saving of up to 63.48% as compared to a base scenario for a specific day. These results demonstrate that significant cost saving can be achieved while maintaining user comfort. The addition of supplementary shiftable loads (i.e., an electric vehicle) to the household as well as the limitations of such home energy management systems are discussed. The main contribution of this paper is the real data and including the user comfort as a metric in in the home energy management scheme. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper uses data from three Moroccan household surveys between 2001 to 2013 to address issues related to the so-called "Arab inequality puzzle". Welfare inequalities are low and declining in Arab countries and exist against a growing sense of dissatisfaction and frustration. The paper hypothesizes that welfare inequality plays a role in explanation, if seen through the lens of absolute measures and notably absolute polarization. The paper argues that the relatively worsened perception of their welfare among poor, vulnerable, and lower middle-class Moroccan households mirrors the ongoing hollowing out of the welfare distribution's middle and its growing polarization. The results of a multi-logit regression indicate that polarization is significantly and asymmetrically correlated to perception: the poorer are the households, the more polarization links negatively to their perceived welfare; and the richer are the households, the more polarization will positively correlate with their perception. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Irrigation is crucial for crop cultivation and productivity. However, traditional methods often waste water and energy due to neglecting soil and crop variations, leading to inefficient water distribution and potential crop water stress. The crop water stress index (CWSI) has become a widely accepted index for assessing plant water status. However, it is necessary to forecast the plant water stress to estimate the quantity of water to irrigate. Deep learning (DL) models for water stress forecasting have gained prominence in irrigation management to address these needs. In this paper, we present a comparative study between two deep learning models, ConvLSTM and CNN-LSTM, for water stress forecasting using remote sensing data. While these DL architectures have been previously proposed and studied in various applications, our novelty lies in studying their effectiveness in the field of water stress forecasting using time series of remote sensing images. The proposed methodology involves meticulous preparation of time series data, where we calculate the crop water stress index (CWSI) using Landsat 8 satellite imagery through Google Earth Engine. Subsequently, we implemented and fine-tuned the hyperparameters of the ConvLSTM and CNN-LSTM models. The same processes of model compilation, optimization of hyperparameters, and model training were applied for the two architectures. A citrus farm in Morocco was chosen as a case study. The analysis of the results reveals that the CNN-LSTM model excels over the ConvLSTM model for long sequences (nine images) with an RMSE of 0.119 and 0.123, respectively, while ConvLSTM provides better results for short sequences (three images) than CNN-LSTM with an RMSE of 0.153 and 0.187, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Groundwater is a valuable shared resource in the Moulouya Basin, but it has been in decline due to recent years of low rainfall and rapid population growth. To support socio-economic development, there is increased demand for this precious resource. This paper presents a standard methodology for delimiting potential groundwater zones using geographic information systems (GIS), an integrated analytical hierarchy process (AHP), and remote sensing techniques. Seven parameters that monitor the presence and mobility of groundwater, including drainage density, lithology, slope, precipitation, land use/land cover, distance to river, and lineament density, were incorporated into a raster data model using ArcGIS software. AHP-based expert knowledge was used to prepare a groundwater potential index and assign weights to the thematic layers. The study classified the area into five zones of varying groundwater potential: very high (26%), high (51%), moderate (13%), poor (9%), and very poor (1%). The accuracy of the model was validated by comparing the Groundwater Potential Zones map with data from 96 wells and boreholes across the basin. The validity of the results was confirmed by comparing them with the specific yield of the aquifer in the study area, yielding a high correlation coefficient (R2) of 0.79. The analysis revealed that 89.5% of the boreholes were situated in the high and very high potential zones, demonstrating the reliability and robustness of the employed approach. These findings can aid decision-making and planning for sustainable groundwater use in the water-stressed region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the last decades, Morocco has recorded substantial urbanization and faced challenges related to urban sprawl and encroachment on fertile lands. This paper reviews several studies assessing urban sustainability development in 27 Moroccan urban areas using the UN's Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) indicator 11.3.1, i.e., the ratio of Land Consumption Rate (LCR) to Population Growth Rate (PGR). Among the 27 urban areas reviewed, analysis of SDG 11.3.1 data revealed that only 7 exhibited trends towards sustainable urban development, while the remaining 20 showed a divergence from the sustainability objectives. We analyze the studies, conducted between 2020 and 2023, describing in depth the relationship between LCRs and PGRs, and provide a comprehensive summary of the SDG 11.3.1 outcome, discussing along the way methodological variations, and introducing a new concept for the evaluation of urban land consumption. The review reveals disparate regional urban development trends, emphasizing the need for local land tenure rules. Additionally, the study discusses how the SDG 11.3.1 reacts under the influence of several parameters such as land characteristics, climate, and geographic location. While the study acknowledges the limitations of SDG 11.3.1, it found that the indicator provides valuable insights into trends and comparisons, and should offer assistance to stakeholders, urban planners, and decision makers in their pursuit of sustainable development. However, these identified limitations underscore the need for a more comprehensive and multidimensional urban sustainability development indicator, capable of better addressing the complexities of the urban environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Morocco’s exploration of nuclear energy aligns with both climate goals and national energy ambitions, offering a promising low-carbon alternative to conventional fossil fuels. Despite the nation’s significant strides in renewable energy, nuclear power remains understudied, revealing a critical literature gap. This research underscores the global imperative to transition to net-zero emissions and the pivotal role nuclear energy plays in addressing climate change. Within the context of Morocco’s 2030 plan, which prioritizes renewable energy, nuclear energy stands as an underexplored aspect, lacking comprehensive research. To bridge this gap, the study employs a PESTLE analysis to examine the political, economic, societal, technological, legal, and environmental factors influencing Morocco’s nuclear energy landscape. The integration of insights from various sources, including press releases, reports, and scientific publications, ensures a holistic and well-informed perspective on Morocco’s nuclear industry. The paper concludes by providing an overview of nuclear energy use on different scales, accompanied by a detailed discussion of the PESTLE analysis outcomes. This approach seeks to contribute valuable insights for informed decision-making and strategic planning in the realm of nuclear energy development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Sidi Bouzid escarpment is one of the geosites that present high educational and tourism values in the Safi Province, extending for several kilometers along the Atlantic coast southwest of the city of Safi, Safi Province, Marrakech-Safi region, Morocco. It offers panoramic views over the town and the Atlantic Ocean, as well as a beautiful beach much frequented by holidaymakers. The sedimentary and paleontological information preserved in the rocks that form the escarpment makes a valuable contribution to paleobiogeographic and paleoclimatic interpretations and stratigraphic correlations on a regional and global scale. This paper focused on promoting and popularizing earth sciences among students at universities, research centers, colleges, schools, and the general public by developing an educational program adapted to the Sidi Bouzid geosite. Survey was employed to collect the data, the results of which was used to evaluate the effectiveness of the educational program. The results showed that the program had a significant impact on all visitor categories since it offered visitors a holistic view of how geological processes shaped the Earth, revealing the interconnections between many components of the Earth system (geosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere, and biosphere). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Human resources for health (HRH) play a pivotal role in effective health system operation, yet various impediments challenge sustainable development. This scoping review aimed to explore these challenges and potential solutions in aligning the health workforce to meet the evolving healthcare needs of the Moroccan population. Methods: We conducted a scoping review searching PubMed, Science Direct, Cairn and Google Scholar for relevant articles published between 2014 and 2023. Additionally, non-peer-reviewed literature sourced from Ministry of Health consultations and allied websites was included. Results: Among the nineteen studies meeting our inclusion criteria, the majority were cross-sectional and predominantly focused on challenges faced by nurses. While some papers delineated multiple HRH challenges (5/19), the rest addressed specific challenges. The identified challenges span organizational and personal levels. Organizationally, the focus was on training, lifelong learning, continuing education, health coverage and shortages, and job satisfaction. At a personal level, HRH in the public health sector encountered challenges such as burnout, stress, and broader occupational health concerns. Conclusions: The reviewed publications underscored a spectrum of challenges necessitating robust policy interventions. Despite promising developments in the Moroccan healthcare system, addressing the unequal urban-rural HRH distribution, augmenting funding, and enhancing HRH quality of life stand as pivotal imperatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Morocco, despite its heavy reliance on imported fossil fuels, which made up 68% of electricity generation in 2020, has recognised its significant renewable energy potential. The Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) commitment is to reduce emissions by 45.5% from baseline levels with international assistance and abstain from constructing new coal plants. Moreover, the Green Hydrogen Roadmap aims to export 10 TWh of green hydrogen by 2030, as well as use it for local electricity storage. This paper critically analyses this Roadmap and Morocco's readiness to reach its ambitious targets, focusing specifically on an energy trilemma perspective and using OSeMOSYS (Open-Source energy Modelling System) for energy modelling. The results reveal that the NDC scenario is only marginally more expensive than the least-cost scenario, at around 1.3% (approximately USD 375 million), and facilitates a 23.32% emission reduction by 2050. An important note is the continued reliance on existing coal power plants across all scenarios, which challenges both energy security and emissions. The assessment of the Green Hydrogen Scenarios highlights that it could be too costly for the Moroccan government to fund the Green Hydrogen Roadmap at this scale, which leads to increased imports of polluting fossil fuels for cost reduction. In fact, the emission levels are 39% higher in the green hydrogen exports scenario than in the least-cost scenario. Given these findings, it is recommended that the Green Hydrogen Roadmap be re-evaluated, with a suggestion for a postponement and reduction in scope. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: In this paper, we present the first diagnostic of the wintering birds in the wetlands of the Saïss plain and its adjacent Atlas Mountains (north–center of Morocco). The study revealed an unexpected diversity of bird species, for which we provide the population size, with their variations, over five years (2017–2018 to 2022–2023). Among these birds, we found four remarkable species: Oxyura leucocephala (endangered), Aythya ferina (vulnerable), Aythya nyroca (near-threatened) and Limosa limosa (near-threatened). In addition, we illustrated the wetland changes during the last 20 years (2003–2023), mainly the habitat loss for wintering waterbirds. Moroccan wetlands host up to half a million wintering birds and provide a stopover for tens of thousands of migrants, while they are inhabited by few nesting species. Most of this avifauna prefers to use the large coastal wetlands or reservoirs, while many species are dispersed across hundreds of small inland wetlands of various types. In this study, we monitored the wintering avifauna of 11 wetlands of the Saïss plain and its adjacent Atlas Mountains (north–center of Morocco), during six wintering seasons (2017–2018 to 2022–2023), with the objective of assessing the importance of this region as a waterbird wintering area. Using the richness of the species, we determine the bird population changes during this pentad and between the different types of wetlands (natural, human-made, and natural wetlands). During this study, we recorded 51 species, belonging to 17 families, among which exist four remarkable birds: the endangered Oxyura leucocephala, the vulnerable Aythya ferina and the near-threatened Aythya nyroca and Limosa limosa. Bird diversity is higher in human-made ecosystems than in peri-urban and natural ecosystems, while the populations' size is similar in urban and non-urban wetlands. With regard to bird conservation, these inland wetlands, mainly the small ones, are threatened by recurrent droughts and various anthropic stressors, which we describe using our observations of the two last decades (2003–2023). The loss of habitat is significant, reaching 348.5 hectares, while the impacts of reduced precipitation and temperature increase are particularly evident in the mountainous natural lakes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the creation of the European Neighbourhood Policy, the EU has aimed to create a ring of stability outside its borders, in its eastern and southern neighbourhoods. In this challenging landscape, going from east to south, one of the few European successes in terms of neighbourhood policy has been Morocco, country which became a privileged partner of the EU. The paper assesses Morocco's successful cooperation with the EU, which cannot be separated from the developments regarding Western Sahara. The paper argues, by using a neo-realist approach, that the EUMoroccan success story can be explained through the lens of history and the mutual search for security enhancement. Even though the Moroccan case study presents specific characteristics, a security centred approach could benefit the EU in relation to other neighbour countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper mainly consisted of studying the difficulties of the distance learning applied by Moroccan Vocational Training Department. An online questionnaire was completed by 286 trainees studying in the Moroccan Specialized Institutes of Applied Technology. A Multiple Correspondence Analysis (MCA), using SPSS Statistics, was conducted to analyze the pattern of relationships of model's variables. Also, the Chi-Square test of independence was used to determine if there is a significant relationship between the nominal variables. The findings revealed that many institutes' students find serious difficulties in following and understanding theirs professional training from homes. They do not attend their virtual classrooms in some distance learning's platforms such as Microsoft Teams, which need a high cost of internet connection's fees and a previous training and support program. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper introduces a framework aimed at analyzing the water-energy-food nexus (WEF) within the context of sustainable farming practices utilizing renewable energy sources, specifically Solar PV, to optimize water management efficiency. The focus lies on investigating the interplay between the water-energy-food nexus and both technical and institutional factors. The study particularly delves into the utilization of distributed energy systems and microgrids for electricity distribution. To achieve the objectives outlined, the framework is applied to a case study involving an off-grid farm in Morocco, aligned with the country's "Green Morocco Plan" of 2008. The study employs the AnyMOD open-source modeling framework in combination with the publicly available decision support tool CropWat (Version 8.0). Through this coupling, a linear optimization model is created to assess various irrigation practices, thus evaluating the energy and water supply variations across different crop growth stages. By employing scenario analysis, the study reveals that the integration of a smart microgrid alongside storage technologies proves beneficial in terms of reducing overall system costs. This integration presents cost-effective solutions and enables the establishment of a sustainable energy supply driven by renewable energy resources. Furthermore, the investigation highlights that constraining irrigation to specific hours of the day results in increased storage requirements and higher associated costs. In conclusion, the study underscores that enhancing the water-energy-food nexus through the integration of a renewable-based microgrid is a complex task. However, it significantly contributes to the development of sustainable farming solutions. This research sheds light on the challenges and opportunities associated with aligning renewable energy, water management, and agricultural practices, ultimately facilitating the pursuit of environmentally conscious and efficient farming methodologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present paper investigates one aspect of questionable research practices relating to Arabic L1 learners of foreign languages, namely the use of statistics. The objective of the paper is to argue that reproducible research requires adopting wise practices in linguistics and that the excessive focus on quantification does not seem to serve this purpose. Statistical significance tests in quantitative research are routinely used in linguistic inquiry as well as language teaching and learning studies with a view to supporting the relevant explanatory insights in linguistics. In this article, I will expose the misuse of statistics by doctoral students in English departments of Morocco working on Arabic L1 learners' data, by highlighting some practices that are at odds with international good practices in academic research in linguistics. I will take stock of the current questionable practices in this regard to dispel some of the misunderstanding about the use of statistics which is now gaining grounds lest this becomes an orthodoxy. I will argue that research on Arabic L1 learners' data should be focused more on exploration and discovery, as well as the validation of epistemological insights than on mere descriptive quantification geared to hypothesis verification. These areas of focus constitute the crux of academic research in linguistics, but they seem to be lost in statistics in doctoral students' theses. Recommendations and solutions are provided for enhancing transparency and improving reproducibility of doctoral research outcomes to advance theory building and the delivery of new research lines in linguistics as well as to avoid the risk of research waste, in line with the requirements of open science.

The widespread application of pesticides in Morocco's agriculture renders their monitoring in food and environmental samples very necessary. Recent years have witnessed a growing interest in reporting studies related to the monitoring of pesticide residues in food, water, groundwater, and soil as well as their quantitative health risk assessment. Most published studies have been done by university researchers. However, the lack of research reproducibility remains a problem that considerably limits the possibility of exploiting data from the literature. Our study involves an extensive literature review utilizing search engines with keywords like "pesticide residues," "monitoring," "vegetables and fruits," "water and soil," "risk assessment," and "Morocco" from 2009 to 2023. Analysis of pesticide residues in foodstuffs and environmental samples highlights concerns over compliance with EU regulations, the health risks associated with pesticide exposure, and the necessity for comprehensive monitoring and risk assessment strategies. This paper could help influence policies to develop a strategy and action plan for the sound management of pesticides, including measures to reduce their use, raise awareness, and monitor compliance. Also, this paper could be useful for scientists interested in understanding the current situation and challenges regarding pesticide residues in Morocco, as well as countries with which commercial links exist. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this paper is twofold: first, provide a comparative analysis of interregional and intraregional inequalities in terms of financial inclusion across Moroccan regions; second, explore the determinants of regional financial inclusion in a panel of 12 Moroccan regions. We used the principal component analysis methodology to construct our regional financial inclusion indexes, and the panel data estimation methodology to identify the determinants of regional financial inclusion. Our regional financial inclusion index shows that the majority of regions have a low level of financial inclusion. This is symptomatic of a very asymmetric distribution. For all regions, we found that intraregional inequalities in access to bank branches by locality/province or prefecture increase as we move away from the region’s main city. Empirical results indicated that a region’s human development level, as proxied by the Human Development Index (HDI), the size of its population, and the industrialization level of its economic fabric are the main determinants of a region’s financial inclusion level. The Moroccan financial system authorities have implemented several reforms (the banking law no. 2-91-967 of July 21, 1993) and strategies (National Financial Inclusion Strategy) aimed at promoting financial inclusion in Morocco; however, the increase in the level of financial inclusion at the macrolevel has not benefited all segments of the Moroccan population. This paper is original as, to our knowledge, it is the first to mobilize interregional and intraregional data, as opposed to previous studies that are national-level oriented. Given the mapping of interregional and intraregional inequalities in access to, and use of, formal financial services, policymakers can rely on our index to formulate useful financial inclusion policies and to target rural localities, provinces or prefectures, and priority regions in Morocco’s National Financial Inclusion Strategy. The financial system should provide financial services tailored to regional financing needs. Moroccan policymakers should focus on filling gaps in levels of regional human development, as the latter is a key factor in regional financial inclusion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Big Data (BD) scraping systems are among the recommended approaches for large-scale web data extraction. However, these systems for collecting large amounts of data face many challenges, including processing, storage, and data extraction reliability. Due to its potentials, cloud computing is becoming a viable solution to support BD scraping systems. This paper tenders a cloud based-web scraping framework for weather BD extraction and analysis. The aim is to extract weather BD from web sources, analyze this data and use it for visualization and forecasting purposes, and this by enabling elastic and on-demand resources. The framework is implemented using Selenium and Amazon Web Services and tested with Morocco weather data. The suggested cloud-based scrapper's performance and scalability analysis reveals that it provides more efficiency in terms of data collecting and analysis, as well as forecast quality, due to its capacity to leverage cloud resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose -- The aim of this paper was to empirically examine the impact of work motivation represented by introjected regulation on job satisfaction, which was illustrated by skill variety and task significance. This study was conducted relatedly to Moroccan call center operators, in the post-COVID-19 era in which motivational and satisfactory issues are still strongly faced by managers, mainly due to the operated hybrid working systems. Research methodology -- The chosen methodology was a quantitative one, based on the administration of a questionnaire to 158 call center operators, working in various Moroccan districts. The data analysis consisted of an exploratory factor analysis (EFA), followed by a full structural equation modelling (SEM). Findings -- The findings display that introjected regulation positively and significatively impacts skill variety, but not task significance, in a way that permitted to partly confirm the conceptual model built upon the central hypothesis, claiming that work motivation positively affects job satisfaction. Indeed, avoiding to experience feelings of shame and guilt in addition to seeking for conformity and approbation in a work context turned out to lead individuals to execute the assigned tasks by implementing their personal configuration of skills and talents in this regard. Research limitations -- This study admits methodological limitations as for instance the restricted sample size, and the adopted quantitative approach rather than a qualitative one, or even a mixed approach that could have opened more research tracks to be explored regarding the investigated relationship. Practical implications -- This study comes out with appealing practical implications willing to help managers to understand better the causality link between work motivation and job satisfaction. The main implication of this study is the illustration of how introjected regulation can predict and foster skill variety in a professional context, as the correspondent research hypothesis was empirically verified. Originality/Value -- Morocco is admittedly one of the poorest targeted populations for International Business and Management studies, hopefully this study can contribute in enriching the pre-existent studies in this regard. Also, work motivation and job satisfaction are usually seen as qualitative variables (using interviews, case studies...), hence a quantitative methodology is not commonly adopted in this perspective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The transport sector is one of the main contributors to global CO2 emissions and the transport sector in the Kingdom of Morocco is no exception. To combat this, two important agreements aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions were created, the Paris Agreement and the Nationally Determined Contributions. The adoption of battery electric vehicles is one way of helping to reduce transport-related emissions. However, there are several barriers to the adoption of battery electric vehicles in Morocco. The objective of this paper is to identify these barriers and to propose solutions to overcome them based on a survey of 209 responses that were analyzed using the Smart-PLS 4 approach. The study found that the financial attributes, maintenance, design, social reinforcement, and lack of incentives related to battery electric vehicles are the most significant factors that could cause the hindrance of the adoption of battery electric vehicles. Therefore, more affordable and attractive battery electric vehicles should be made more accessible. Moreover, increased technical training facilities should be mobilized to boost further efforts and increase experience in the field of BEV maintenance in Morocco. By implementing these solutions, Morocco can increase the uptake of battery electric vehicles and reduce its greenhouse gas emissions. This will help Morocco reach its Nationally Determined Contributions and protect the environment as well as the health of its population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Special Treatment / Különleges Bánásmód is the property of University of Debrecen and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Anaquel de Estudios Árabes is the property of Universidad Complutense de Madrid and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Most recent studies confirm a decreasing trend in water resources availability in the northern African region; the high competition between the sectors that use this vital resource, and the changing climate are considered as the main factors behind this situation. Under such very dynamic interactions between the natural resources, climate and the socioeconomic sectors, scientists from different perspectives have a challenging task to provide up-to-date and reliable insights to guide potential sustainable management strategies. Through the case of the Souss-Massa, the present study aims to provide state of the art scientific research on water resources. It is based on data from publications in the two databases Scopus and Web of Science, unpublished papers and reports as well as various theses. The Vosviewer data visualization tool was used to analyze different aspects of the publications, including the time distribution of water resources related research, the research topics as well as the different approaches adopted by the authors. In addition, this review summarizes results of previous research investigations carried out on the quantity and quality of water resources in relation to agriculture as well as to climate change and variability. The study showed that the period 2016–2021 was the most significant in terms of the number of research papers published. The maps of publications analyzed showed that researchers working in the area focus more on the study of the quality, chemical processing and the impacts of climate change on the availability of water resources. The results showed that Souss-Massa is a region where an important amount of research on climate and water has been carried out. Hence, to keep up with the rapid evolution of land use and other anthropogenic actions in the basin there remain several gaps in knowledge and constraints to address. In order to provide potential research opportunities in the Souss-Massa basin, in terms of scope and methods, this review identifies several gaps in research namely data quality and availability, as well as gaps in water resources modelling. A detailed discussion has been provided on the possibilities to develop and address the research gaps in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to examine the stakeholders' interaction in the water management system at the R'Dom Sub-basin (Morocco). For this purpose, The MACTOR participatory approach was implemented to involve all key water stakeholders and to analyze their interactions. The action system was characterized by the analysis of related water issues and relevant actors on the ground. Thus, ten actors and twelve objectives were identified and assessed in this study. The analysis of stakeholder role allowed to identify the typology of stakeholders according to their strategic objectives and to evaluate their power, influence and dependence, as well as their convergence in a global water cycle management. The results show a significant level of convergence among stakeholders, despite the existence of certain stakeholders who may be considered autonomous, given their low involvement in integrated water management. Furthermore, there was a limited involvement of stakeholders in certain strategic objectives such as capacity building, technical means, and awareness-raising actions. The paper shows the need to generate greater collaborative efforts among water stakeholders involved in the implementation of integrated water resources management in the R'Dom sub-basin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Moroccan banking system suffered a significant impact due to the extreme market conditions caused by the COVID-19 outbreak, which led to an increase in non-performance loans. This, in turn, reduced the value of banks' assets and their ability to meet their obligations, implicitly raising systemic risk. In such circumstances, the collapse of one financial institution could cause a series of bankruptcies and endanger the overall state of the economy. Given the limited attention devoted to the analysis of systemic risk in the Moroccan banking system, this paper aimed to fill this gap by analyzing the Moroccan banks' systemic risk exposure and assessing their stability during the COVID-19 crisis, using Quantile Regression Neural Network (QRNN) optimized by Adam algorithm to calibrate the Conditional Value at Risk (CoVaR). This study revealed a significant increase in systemic risk during the pandemic crisis and highlights the suitability of more complex QRNN in assessing systemic risk. The findings emphasize the need for regulators to pay close attention to banks' risk exposures when implementing measures to mitigate systemic risk, such as increasing banks' capital requirements or increasing the amount of high-quality liquid assets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inventory management presents numerous challenges for many supply chains as they are becoming more complex and composed of multiple stages. Using appropriate multi-echelon inventory management policies allows supply chains to deliver the required level of responsiveness efficiently by optimizing inventory levels across the entire network and improving customer service levels. This paper provides a Multi-Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) approach for the multi-echelon inventory system selection problem. The scope of this paper is limited to the case of Distribution systems. The suggested approach identifies for a given supply chain configuration, a set of selection criteria related to supply chain costs and overall responsiveness. These criteria are used to compare and choose the best alternative from different multiechelon distribution inventory system configurations by using a suitable MCDM method. Eight different multi-echelon distribution inventory system alternatives are generated. Each one is a combination of three main inventory policies: (i) replenishment policies, (ii) ordering policies, and (iii) safety stock allocation policies. The suggested approach is illustrated in the case of the pharmaceuticals products supply chain in the public sector in Morocco. Depending on the decision problem nature and other criteria, the AHP method proved to be the suitable MCDM method for selecting the best multi-echelon inventory system for the Moroccan pharmaceutical products supply chain. The analysis indicates that assigning inventory to the most downstream facilities close to patients and adopting an installation stock ordering policy implemented by a decentralized decision system is the best option for the supply chain considered in the case study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper deals with some of the most acute challenges for the Moroccan society. It is based on a short story titled Drought, by the Moroccan author Muhammed Zefzaf (d. 2001), analyzed from today's perspective. Zefzaf often wrote about social issues and the life in poor and marginalized strata of society, and this paper is the first result of a broader research in which his works are analyzed and put into today's context. The author of this paper has performed five field trips to Morocco since 2015, interviewed numerous residents of this country, and the results of this research are combined with the analysis of Zefzaf's work in order to present a picture of the development of certain segments of Moroccan society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phosphate rock (PR) is a finite mineral indispensible for fertilizer production and a major pollutant. High grade PR is obtained from deposits which took millions of years to form and are gradually being depleted. Over the past three years, global PR reserves as reported by US Geological Survey (USGS) have seen a massive increase, from 16 000 MtPR in 2010 to 65 000 MtPR in 2011. The bulk of this four-fold increase is based on a 2010 report by International Fertilizer Development Center (IFDC), which increased Moroccan reserves from 5700 MtPR as reported by USGS, to 51 000 Mt PR, reported as upgraded ("beneficiated") concentrate. IFDC used a starkly simplified clas10 sification compared to the classification used by USGS and proposed that agreement should be reached on PR resource terminology which should be as simple as possible. The report has profoundly influenced the PR scarcity debate, shifting the emphasis from depletion to the pollution angle of the phosphate problem. Various analysts adopted the findings of IFDC and USGS, and argued that that following depletion of reserves, uneconomic deposits (resources and occurrences) will remain available which will extend the lifetime of available deposits to thousands of years. Given the near total dependence of food production on PR, data on PR deposits must be transparent, comparable, reliable and credible. Based on an in-depth literature review, we analyze (i) how IFDC's simplified terminology compares to international best practice in resource classification and whether it is likely to yield data that meets the abovementioned requirements; (ii) whether the difference between ore reserves and reserves as concentrate is sufficiently noted in the literature, and (iii) whether the IFDC report and its estimate of PR reserves and resources is reliable. We conclude that, while there is a global development toward common criteria in resource reporting, IFDC's definitions contravene this development and - due to their vagueness and their lack of granularity - may cause more confusion than clarity. The difference between ore and concentrate is barely noted in the literature, causing a pervasive confusion and a high degree of error in many assessments. Finally, we conclude that the report presents an inflated picture of global reserves, in particular those of Morocco, where largely hypothetical and inferred resources have simply been converted to "reserves". In view of the essentiality of PR for food production, there currently is insufficient knowledge on the PR deposits available for extraction. Further research is required as to the quantity of PR deposits and their viability for future extraction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Natura Croatica is the property of Natura Croatica and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)