Search Results (43)

Moroccan oil shale ash (MOSA) represents an underutilized industrial by-product, particularly in the Rif region, where its high mineral content has often led to its neglect in value-added applications. This study highlights the successful conversion of MOSA into amorphous mesoporous silica (AS-Si) using a sol–gel process assisted by polyethylene glycol (PEG-6000) as a soft template. The resulting AS-Si material was extensively characterized to confirm its potential for environmental remediation. FTIR analysis revealed characteristic vibrational bands corresponding to Si–OH and Si–O–Si bonds, while XRD confirmed its amorphous nature with a broad diffraction peak at 2θ ≈ 22.5°. SEM imaging revealed a highly porous, sponge-like morphology composed of aggregated nanoscale particles, consistent with the nitrogen adsorption–desorption isotherm. The material exhibited a specific surface area of 68 m²/g, a maximum in the pore size distribution at a pore diameter of 2.4 nm, and a cumulative pore volume of 0.11 cm³/g for pores up to 78 nm. DLS analysis indicated an average hydrodynamic diameter of 779 nm with moderate polydispersity (PDI = 0.48), while a zeta potential of –34.10 mV confirmed good colloidal stability. Furthermore, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and DSC suggested the thermal stability of our amorphous silica. The adsorption performance of AS-Si was evaluated using methylene blue (MB) and ciprofloxacin (Cipro) as model pollutants. Kinetic data were best fitted by the pseudo-second-order model, while isotherm studies favored the Langmuir model, suggesting monolayer adsorption. AS-Si could be used four times for the removal of MB and Cipro. These results collectively demonstrate that AS-Si is a promising, low-cost, and sustainable adsorbent derived from Moroccan oil shale ash for the effective removal of organic contaminants from aqueous media. Full article

The reduction in disaster risk in urban regions due to natural hazards (e.g., earthquakes, landslides, floods, and tropical cyclones) is primarily a development matter that must be treated within the scope of a broader urban development framework. Natural hazard assessment is one of the turning points in mitigating disaster risk, which typically contributes to stronger urban resilience and more sustainable urban development. Regarding this challenge, our research proposes a new approach in the signal processing chain and feature extraction from microtremor data that focuses mainly on the Horizontal-to-Vertical Spectral Ratio (HVSR) so as to assess liquefaction potential as a natural hazard using AI. The key raw seismic features of site amplification and resonance are extracted from the data via bandpass filtering, Fourier Transformation (FT), the calculation of the HVSR, and smoothing through the use of moving averages. The main novelty is the integration of machine learning, particularly stacked ensemble learning, for liquefaction potential classification from imbalanced seismic datasets. For this approach, several models are used to consider class imbalance, enhancing classification performance and offering better insight into liquefaction risk based on microtremor data. Then, the paper proposes a liquefaction detection method based on deep learning with an autoencoder and stacked classifiers. The autoencoder compresses data into the latent space, underlining the liquefaction features classified by the multi-layer perceptron (MLP) classifier and eXtreme Gradient Boosting (XGB) classifier, and the meta-model combines these outputs to put special emphasis on rare liquefaction events. This proposed methodology improved the detection of an imbalanced dataset, although challenges remain in both interpretability and computational complexity. We created a synthetic dataset of 1000 samples using realistic feature ranges that mimic the Rif data region to test model performance and conduct sensitivity analysis. Key seismic and geotechnical variables were included, confirming the amplification factor (Af) and seismic vulnerability index ($K_g$) as dominant predictors and supporting model generalizability in data-scarce regions. Our proposed method for liquefaction potential classification achieves 100% classification accuracy, 100% precision, and 100% recall, providing a new baseline. Compared to existing models such as XGB and MLP, the proposed model performs better in all metrics. This new approach could become a critical component in assessing liquefaction hazard, contributing to disaster mitigation and urban planning. Full article

Background: Tuberculosis remains a significant global health issue, and the rise of drug-resistant strains is becoming increasingly concerning. Currently, treatment options are limited to systemic regimens; however, developing topical drug delivery systems could offer advantages for treating cutaneous tuberculosis (CTB) when applied directly to the lesions. We developed topical emulsions using the self-emulsification mechanism that combine fixed doses of isoniazid (INH) and rifampicin (RIF) using a quality-by-design approach. Methods: Preformulation studies pertaining to drug solubility in various solvents, the construction of pseudoternary diagrams to identify self-emulsification regions for each tested excipient combination, and the preparation of checkpoint formulations were conducted and visually examined. Formulations displaying no physical instabilities were subsequently exposed to characterization experiments, including droplet size determination, zeta potential, size distribution, viscosity, pH, self-emulsification, cloud point, robustness to dilution, and thermodynamic stability assessment. Three selected formulations were consequently subjected to membrane release experiments, followed by skin diffusion studies, and INH and RIF stability in these emulsions was determined, because these drugs have a known interaction. Conclusions: While incorporating essential oils in a topical formulation improved RIF solubility, it also resulted in several instabilities. RIF exhibited greater susceptibility to degradation under higher temperatures and lower pH conditions. However, drug release from all formulations tested was confirmed. Notably, olive oil microemulsions demonstrated the most favorable characteristics for dermal drug delivery; nonetheless, drug diffusion into and through the skin (which was not desired) could not be quantified. Despite these challenges, the findings indicate that topical drug delivery systems using the self-emulsification process can facilitate the direct treatment of CTB. Full article

Income inequality impedes rural economic development. As the digital economy advances, e-commerce (EC) offers a novel solution to reduce rural income inequality. Based on the framework of the equality of opportunity theory, this research utilizes data from China Rural Revitalization Survey, using the RIF model and mediation effect model to investigate the influence and mechanisms of e-commerce operations (EOs) on the farmers’ income gap (FIG), while also analyzing the heterogeneity of EO’s effects on the FIG. Consequently, the impact of the varying scales and modes of EOs on the FIG is further examined. The findings indicate that EO can substantially diminish the FIG, as corroborated by robustness and endogeneity tests. The findings of the intermediate effect indicate that EO diminishes the FIG by reducing the disparity in labor endowment. The heterogeneity study results indicated that EOs are more effective in reducing the FIG in western China, major grain-producing areas, and mountainous areas. Further discussion reveals a stronger reduction effect of large-scale and platform EC. This study provides micro-level evidence that the digital economy empowers farmers for sustainable development and prosperity. The government should improve rural EC support and create a mechanism for disadvantaged rural populations. To reduce EC development discrepancies and promote farmer equity, specific assistance programs for undeveloped regions are needed. Local governments can also strengthen skill training programs for farmers, especially low-income ones, to boost labor skills. Finally, they can assist rural EC’s transformation to large scale and flat, maximize its role in employment, and narrow the FIG. Full article

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), tuberculosis (TB) remains a significant global health challenge, with approximately 10 million new cases and 1.4 million deaths reported in 2020. TB disproportionately affects low- and middle-income countries, where factors such as migrant population, malnutrition, type 2 diabetes, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) co-infection, and COVID-19 exacerbate its impact. TB also leads to substantial economic losses due to decreased productivity and high healthcare costs. Despite advances in treatments, TB remains a major public health issue, particularly in poorer regions. In Mexico, TB is considered a moderate-incidence disease, with higher prevalence in border states, mainly due to population displacements. Effective TB control requires collaboration between Mexico and the United States of America given the high cross-border human movement, like in the Baja California State that reported predominantly pulmonary TB cases. Effective management of TB involves rapid diagnosis and identification of antibiotic resistance. Techniques such as PCR, high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT), and/or Xpert MTB/RIF have enhanced diagnostic accuracy. Future perspectives about TB management focus on developing new drugs and vaccines to combat drug-resistant strains, and the comorbidities associated, which must be addressed to reinforce of health public programs. Full article

The Rif Cordillera, an Alpine orogen in the Western Mediterranean, was developed by the interaction of Eurasian and African (Nubia) plates. Neotectonic deformations of the Rif foreland influence the relief, especially in post-nappe basins and their boundaries with Jurassic and Cretaceous carbonate mountain massifs, and they contribute to highlighting the recent evolution of the Cordillera. The topographic and hydrological lineaments of these basins were characterised on the basis of multi-scale morphostructural data analysis, supported by digital mapping and GIS. They were correlated with geological structures, essentially with fractures. The outcrops of the Upper Tortonian and Messinian deposits depict well-defined geometric shapes with roughly rectilinear boundaries, as defined by their contacts with the massive and rigid rocks of the Jurassic and Cretaceous series. Upper Tortonian deposits evidence major regional N70°E and N40°E lineaments, which are obliquely intersected by late structures. Messinian N120°E and N25°E lineaments, associated with N140°E lineaments, are also recognised. The interpretation of these lineaments as faults indicates the activity of two systems of transtensive sinistral and then dextral brittle shearing that correspond to two episodes of neotectonic deformation that played a decisive role in shaping the reliefs of the Eastern Rif. These deformations are particularly relevant to isolate basins and likely have a key role during the closure of the South Rifian corridor during the Mediterranean Messinian Salinity crisis. Full article

This study aimed to determine the impact of various pressures on the functional composition of OCH (Odonata, Coleoptera, and Heteroptera) in streams within the northwest Rif region of Morocco. We examined how OCH traits respond to human-induced pressures in selected stream sites in Morocco’s northwestern Rif region. OCH specimens were collected from 36 sites using a Surber sampler with dimension of 20 × 20 cm and mesh size of 500 µm over the course of two years, from 2021 to 2023. We measured physico-chemical and hydraulic parameters such as temperature, pH, DO, and NO-3. Sixty-seven trait attributes from 11 trait classes were assigned to the collected OCH taxa at the family level. Following the delineation of sites along the gradient of impacts in the study area, we categorized 7 sites as slightly impacted sites (SISs), 19 sites as moderately impacted sites (MISs), and 10 sites as heavily impacted sites (HISs). We successfully identified and categorized the traits as either vulnerable or tolerant based on RLQ models. Traits such as reproductive cycles per year and tegument respiration, which were positively correlated with SISs in the RLQ model and also positively correlated with depth and chlorine, were identified as vulnerable traits. Crawling locomotion and full water swimming were identified as tolerant traits. The distribution patterns of the OCH taxa revealed a robust correlation between the taxa and the sampling sites. Notably, taxa such as Nepidae, Naucoridae, and Corixidae exhibited widespread distribution and a strong association with the SISs. On the other hand, traits related to living macroinvertebrate food sources and reproduction in vegetation, specifically clutches, exhibited a negative correlation with total dissolved solids. Incorporating OCH functional traits into biomonitoring programs allows for a more comprehensive assessment of river ecosystems. This approach provides a nuanced understanding of how different stressors impact the community composition and overall ecological health. Full article

The port of Tangier Med is essential due to its strategic location, as it is an important trading center linking Europe, North America, and Africa. However, the increased rates of downstream sediment transportation put pressure on the sustainable future of the port. Thus, assessing the existing erosion rates and future improvement scenarios is imperative for planning sustainable management at the catchment level. We utilize the Erosion Potential Model (EPM) combined with the Intensity of Erosion and Outflow (IntErO) algorithm to assess the erosion and outflow intensity and to distinguish the sediment-producing areas in the R’mel watershed. The port’s proximity at the bottom of the slope opposite the R’mel Dam is relevant in this context. Initial results show an average erosion rate of 13 t/ha/year. Quarry operations were identified as the primary sediment source, as indicated by the factors contributing to erosion. The qualitative PAP/RAC (Priority Actions Program/Regional Activity Center) model was used to assess the development trends in the watershed, confirming a clear tendency toward irreversible degradation in the quarry areas. Considering that the mined carbonate lithology represents 23.77% of the total area of the catchment, the situation in the region could deteriorate if quarry operations continue. The simulation of quarry rehabilitation scenarios through land use and land cover change (LULC) with IntErO shows that reforestation of quarries can significantly reduce erosion rates (4.78 t/ha/year) compared to their conversion to agricultural land. This study underlines the effectiveness of IntErO, based on the EPM model, in quickly and effectively mapping and quantifying water erosion. Full article

This study endeavors to produce a comprehensive land cover map for Morocco, addressing the absence of such a detailed map in the country. Our research encompasses ecological and climatic aspects specific to Morocco, while the methods used can be adapted to various regions and countries, considering their unique climatic conditions and land cover types. A combination of MODIS and Landsat datasets was employed to create a 5 km resolution Land Use and Land Cover (LULC) map for the entire nation. The process involved the aggregation and advanced processing of these datasets using surface processes algorithms. The resulting LULC map is the first of its kind for Morocco, shedding light on land cover distribution nationwide. It shows that approximately 13.5% of the country is covered by forests, predominantly in the Atlas and Rif mountains, Rabat–Sale, and the southern regions. Grasslands occupy over 16% of the study area, mainly in the north-east and west. Urban areas, including major cities like Casablanca, Rabat, and Marrakech, span nearly 3400 km². Moreover, large areas of shrublands and bare lands are evident across the country, while agricultural lands account for almost 20% of the national territory, mainly in the interior plains and north-western Atlantic coast. This study forms a crucial basis for ecological and climatic research in Morocco and serves as a valuable reference for various disciplines such as agriculture, natural resource management, and climate modeling. The mapping of biophysical parameters for each land cover class is a key feature of our research, and these parameters will be instrumental in a subsequent study examining the impact of urban development on surface climate in Morocco. Overall, our study underscores the importance of understanding biophysical parameters in addressing environmental and societal challenges. Full article

The rapid molecular test (RMT) performed on the GeneXpert^® system is widely used as a control strategy and surveillance technique for tuberculosis (TB). In the region of the Americas, TB incidence is slowly increasing owing to an upward trend in Brazil, which is among the high TB-burden countries (HBCs), ranking in the 19th position. In this context, we aimed to (i) describe the implementation and history of RMT-TB (Xpert^® MTB/RIF and Xpert^® MTB/RIF Ultra) in Brazil; (ii) to evaluate the national RMT laboratory distribution, TB, and resistance to RIF detection by RMT; and (iii) to correlate these data with Brazilian TB incidence. The quantitative data of Xpert^® MTB/RIF and Xpert^® MTB/RIF Ultra assays performed in the pulmonary TB investigation from 2014 to 2020 were provided by the Brazilian Ministry of Health. A spatial visualization using ArcGIS software was performed. The Southeast region constituted about half of the RMT laboratories—from 39.4% to 45.9% of the total value over the five regions. Regarding the federal units, the São Paulo state alone represented from 20.2% to 34.1% (5.0 to 8.5 times the value) of RMT laboratories over the years observed. There were significant differences (p < 0.0001) in the frequency of RMT laboratories between all years of the historical series. There was an unequal distribution of RMT laboratories between Brazilian regions and federal units. This alerts us for the surveillance of rapid molecular detection of TB in different parts of the country, with the possibility of improving the distribution of tests in areas of higher incidence in order to achieve the level of disease control recommended by national and worldwide authorities. Full article

The northwest-southeast convergence of the Eurasian and Nubian (African) plates in the western Mediterranean region propagates inside the Nubian plate and affects the Moroccan Meseta and the neighboring Atlasic belt. Five continuous Global Positioning System (cGPS) stations were installed in this area in 2009 and provide significant new data, despite a certain degree of errors (between 0.5 and 1.2 mm year⁻¹, 95% confidence) due to slow rates. The cGPS network reveals 1 mm year⁻¹ North/South shortening accommodated within the High Atlas Mountains, and unexpected 2 mm year⁻¹ north-northwest/south-southeast extensional-to-transtensional tectonics within the Meseta and the Middle Atlas, which have been quantified for the first time. Moreover, the Alpine Rif Cordillera drifts towards the south-southeast against its Prerifian foreland basins and the Meseta. In this context, the geological extension foreseen in the Moroccan Meseta and Middle Atlas agrees with a crustal thinning due to the combined effect of the anomalous mantle beneath both the Meseta and Middle-High Atlasic system, from which Quaternary basalts were sourced, and the roll-back tectonics in the Rif Cordillera. Overall, the new cGPS data provide reliable support for understanding the geodynamic mechanism that built the prominent Atlasic Cordillera, and reveal the heterogeneous present-day behavior of the Eurasia-Nubia collisional boundary. Full article

Background: Rifampicin resistance (RR) is a major challenge in the clinical management of tuberculosis (TB), but data on its prevalence are still sparse in many countries. Our study aimed at estimating the prevalence of RR-TB in Kajiado County, Kenya. Secondary objectives were to estimate the incidence of pulmonary TB in adults and the rate of HIV-TB coinfection. Methods: We conducted an observational study in the context of the ATI-TB Project, carried out in Kajiado. The project was based on an active-case-finding campaign implemented with the aid of village chiefs, traditional healers and community health volunteers. Diagnosis relied on Xpert MTB/RIF, including a mobile machine that could be used to cover areas where testing would otherwise be difficult. Results: In sum, 3840 adults were screened for active TB during the campaign. RR cases among all TB diagnoses were 4.6%. The annual incidence of pulmonary TB among adults was 521 cases per 100,000 population. The rate of HIV coinfection was 22.2% among pulmonary TB diagnoses. Conclusion: The prevalence of RR-TB was four times that what could be inferred from official notifications in Kajiado, and higher than overall prevalence in Kenya. In addition, our estimate of incidence of pulmonary TB in adults in Kajiado significantly differed from cases notified in the same area. In contrast, the rate of HIV coinfection was in line with national and regional data. TB diagnostic capability must be strengthened in Kajiado to improve patients’ management and public health interventions. Full article

Seventy-eight common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) seed samples were collected from twenty-one field locations across six governorates (Ismailia, Sharkia, Port Said, South Sinai, North Sinai, and Suez) in the East Delta region of Egypt between 2021 and 2022. Thirty-five Rhizoctonia solani Kühn were isolated. Sharkia had the highest percentage of R. solani isolates (RS) from the collected samples (59%), followed by Ismailia, South Sinai, Suez, North Sinai, and Port Said (49.7%, 36.7%, 33%, 29.2%, and 27.8%, respectively). Pathogenicity tests proved that the seven highest-virulence strains of R. solani had a pre-emergence damping off ranging from 17% to 30% and a post-emergence damping off ranging from 11% to 20%. The seven most pathogenic isolates were identified using the Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) with code numbers as follows: R. solani RSA1, R. solani RIT2, R. solani RIF3, R. solani RSoR4, R. solani RNB5, R. solani RSzA6, and R. solani RPS11. Principle component analysis (PCA), which depends on the pathogenicity result and soil variables, revealed that soil texture and soil water holding capacity (MWHC) were the most effective factors in grouping and clustering the studied R. solani isolates from the different locations into two groups. From this study, it can be established that the biodiversity of R. solani in the East Delta area of Egypt depends on changes in the environmental conditions and soil variables. The soil type and pH variables have the greatest impact on R. solani diversity, followed by the humidity-holding ability and soil porosity. Full article

Objectives. Extrapulmonary tuberculosis (EPTB) can be difficult to diagnose, especially in severe forms. The Xpert MTB/RIF Ultra test introduced an additional category called trace to reference very small amounts of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC) DNA. The objective of our multicenter study was to evaluate whether the trace result on an extrapulmonary (EP) sample is a sufficient argument to consider diagnosing tuberculosis and starting treatment, even in severe cases. Methods. A retrospective, multicenter cohort study was conducted from 2018 to 2022. Patients strongly suspected of EPTB with a trace result on an EP specimen were included. Hospital records were reviewed for clinical, treatment, and paraclinical data. Results. A total of 52 patients were included, with a severe form in 22/52 (42.3%) cases. Culture was positive for MTBC in 33/46 (71.7%) cases. Histological analysis showed granulomas in 36/45 (80.0%) cases. An Ultra trace result with a presumptive diagnosis of TB led to the decision to treat 41/52 (78.8%) patients. All patients were started on first-line anti-TB therapy (median duration of 6.1 months), with a favorable outcome in 31/35 (88.6%) patients. The presence of a small amount of MTBC genome in EPTB is a sufficient argument to treat patients across a large region of France. Full article

The pericentromeric heterochromatin is largely composed of repetitive sequences, making it difficult to analyze with standard molecular biological methods. At the same time, it carries many functional elements with poorly understood mechanisms of action. The search for new experimental models for the analysis of heterochromatin is an urgent task. In this work, we used the Rif1 mutation, which suppresses the underreplication of all types of repeated sequences, to analyze heterochromatin regions in polytene chromosomes of Drosophila melanogaster. In the Rif1 background, we discovered and described in detail a new inversion, In(1)19EHet, which arose on a chromosome already carrying the In(1)sc⁸ inversion and transferred a large part of X chromosome heterochromatin, including the nucleolar organizer to a new euchromatic environment. Using nanopore sequencing and FISH, we have identified the eu- and heterochromatin breakpoints of In(1)19EHet. The combination of the new inversion and the Rif1 mutation provides a promising tool for studies of X chromosome heterochromatin structure, nucleolar organization, and the nucleolar dominance phenomenon. In particular, we found that, with the complete polytenization of rDNA repeats, the nucleolus consists of a cloud-like structure corresponding to the classical nucleolus of polytene chromosomes, as well as an unusual intrachromosomal structure containing alternating transcriptionally active and inactive regions. Full article