Assessment of beach litter pollution in Egypt, Tunisia, and Morocco: a study of macro and meso-litter on Mediterranean beaches.

We conducted surveys of Mediterranean beaches in Egypt, Morocco, and Tunisia including 37 macro-litter (> 25 mm) and 41 meso-litter (5-25 mm) assessments. Our study identified key litter items and assessed pollution sources on urban, semi-urban, tourist, and semi-rural beaches. Macro-litter concentration averaged 5032 ± 4919 pieces per 100 m or 1.

Hybrid Model with Wavelet Decomposition and EfficientNet for Accurate Skin Cancer Classification.

Faced with anomalies in medical images, Deep learning is facing major challenges in detecting, diagnosing, and classifying the various pathologies that can be treated via medical imaging. The main challenges encountered are mainly due to the imbalance and variability of the data, as well as its complexity. The detection and classification of skin diseases is one such challenge that researchers are trying to overcome, as these anomalies present great variability in terms of appearance, texture, color, and localization, which sometimes makes them difficult to identify accurately and quickly, particularly by doctors, or by the various Deep Learning techniques on offer.

The burden of headache disorders in the adult population of Morocco: estimates, and a health-care needs assessment, from a cross-sectional population-based door-to-door survey.

Background: We have previously shown headache disorders to be prevalent in in the adult general population of Morocco, especially migraine (30.8%) and headache on ≥ 15 days/month (H15+; 10.5%).

Enhanced antimicrobial and biofilm disruption efficacy of the encapsulated Thymus pallidus and Lavandula stoechas essential oils and their mixture: A synergistic approach.

The antimicrobial and antibiofilm properties of plant essential oils (EOs) have aroused significant interest for their potential as effective alternatives or supplements in combating microbial infections and biofilm-associated challenges. For these applications, EOs must be encapsulated to overcome some key technical limitations, including high volatility, poor stability, and low solubility. This study aimed to develop microencapsulated EOs derived from two valuable Moroccan medicinal plants, Lavandula stoechas L.

Enhanced YOLOv8 Ship Detection Empower Unmanned Surface Vehicles for Advanced Maritime Surveillance.

The evolution of maritime surveillance is significantly marked by the incorporation of Artificial Intelligence and machine learning into Unmanned Surface Vehicles (USVs). This paper presents an AI approach for detecting and tracking unmanned surface vehicles, specifically leveraging an enhanced version of YOLOv8, fine-tuned for maritime surveillance needs. Deployed on the NVIDIA Jetson TX2 platform, the system features an innovative architecture and perception module optimized for real-time operations and energy efficiency.

HLA Class I (A and B) Allele Polymorphism in a Moroccan Population Infected with Hepatitis C Virus.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is one of the major health burdens worldwide. Its course depends on the virus itself and the host's immune responses. The latter are conditioned by immunogenetic factors, in particular human leukocyte antigens (HLAs), whose role in determining the outcome of infection varies according to populations and ethnic groups.

Key concepts and a world-wide look at plant recruitment networks.

Plant-plant interactions are major determinants of the dynamics of terrestrial ecosystems. There is a long tradition in the study of these interactions, their mechanisms and their consequences using experimental, observational and theoretical approaches. Empirical studies overwhelmingly focus at the level of species pairs or small sets of species.

Effect of Substituents on Chitosan-Derived Sustainable Corrosion Inhibitors: Experimental and Computational Studies of Inhibition and Adsorption Performance.

This work involves the synthesis of two chitosan derivatives by reacting chitosan, extracted from shrimp shells in eastern Morocco, with 2-nitrobenzaldehyde via a Schiff base reaction. An amino derivative of chitosan was then produced by reducing the imine group created by sodium borohydride. We investigated the molecular weight (), crystallinity index (), and degree of deacetylation () of the isolated chitosan, among other characteristic features.

Integrated 3D geo-environmental assessment of acid-forming materials in historic coal waste piles for sustainable management.

Coal mining produces coal mine waste rock (CMWR), posing significant environmental risks, including acid mine drainage (AMD) if unmanaged. The Jerada Mine in eastern Morocco has accumulated CMWR since it began operations in 1936, with no rehabilitation efforts until 2001. This study assessed the stability of the T08 pile, which has been deposited over five decades across various oxidation zones.

Tracing metals in Mediterranean and Atlantic Sardina pilchardus: Unveiling impacts on food safety.

This study evaluates the concentration of metals and trace elements (Al, Cd, Cu, Fe, Li, Pb, Zn) in the muscle tissue of Sardina pilchardus from three northeast Atlantic localities (Lisbon, Canary Islands, Rabat) and two western Mediterranean sites (Málaga, Cartagena) to assess food safety and environmental impact. A total of 100 sardines were sampled between January and June 2019, with specimens collected, homogenized by size and weight, and analyzed for metal content using Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES). Results show significant geographical variation in metal concentrations, with Cartagena exhibiting the highest levels due to industrial and urban activities, while the Canary Islands had the lowest, likely influenced by geographical isolation and stringent environmental regulations.

Round Window Accessibility Prediction in Cochlear Implant Surgery.

Background: Clear identification of the round window (RW) through the facial recess is a key surgical step for successful cochlear implantation (CI) surgery, which may be very challenging in some cases. Objective is to predict round window (RW) accessibility during CI surgery using high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT).

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed preoperative HRCT scans of 142 patients who underwent CI surgery via the standard posterior tympanotomy approach at our ENT Head and Neck Surgery department.

The protective effect of Argan oil and its main constituents against xenobiotics-induced toxicities.

Background: Argan oil (AO) is a vegetable oil extracted from the fruits of Argania spinosa L. tree, belonging to the Sapotaceae family, primarily found in Morocco. Research studies have demonstrated that AO exhibits diverse pharmacological properties, including antioxidant, antimicrobial, anticancer, antiinflammatory, antidiabetic, antihypercholesterolemic, antiatherogenic, and immunomodulatory effects.

Jael's syndrome: Removal of a retained intracranial kitchen knife blade - A case report.

Background: Jael's syndrome is defined as an intentional injury caused by a knife in the skull or the face. It is a rare yet challenging situation in clinical practice. Initial triage is the key to optimal management.

Extraction of chitin and chitosan from Hermetia illucens breeding waste: A greener approach for industrial application.

Sustainably exploiting the waste of the black soldier fly (BSF) to produce chitin and chitosan remains a challenge. This work valorizes the pupal cases of BSF for chitin and chitosan extraction. Four chemical extraction processes have been employed.

Delayed Traumatic Tricuspid Valve Regurgitation Caused by Blunt Chest Trauma: A Case Report and Literature Review.

Traumatic tricuspid regurgitation (TTR) is an uncommon cause of acute right ventricular dysfunction. The surgical approach can be complex, and repair tends to have a lower success rate when right heart failure symptoms are present. We present a case of a 56-year-old man with chronic isolated tricuspid valve flail and severe TTR due to high-energy blunt chest trauma from a vehicle accident 24 years prior.

Microplastics in soil: A comprehensive review of occurrence, sources, fate, analytical techniques and potential impacts.

Through their accumulation in soils, microplastics have recently become a matter of concern. The aim of this review is to assemble and investigate the recent studies about microplastics in soil by focusing on their sources, occurrence, fate in soil, and analytical methods. The objective is also to clarify and elucidate their potential impacts on soil fauna, plants and microorganisms.

Potentialities of semi-continuous anaerobic digestion for mitigating antibiotics in sludge.

The behavior and removal of roxithromycin (ROX), oxytetracycline (OTC), chlortetracycline (CTC), and enrofloxacin (ENR) were investigated during the steady state of sludge anaerobic digestion (AD) in semi-continuous mode (37 °C). Sludge was spiked at realistic concentrations (50 μg/L of each antibiotic) and then used to feed the bioreactor for 80 days. Antibiotics were extracted from the substrate and digested sludge samples by accelerated solvent extraction (ASE).

Molecular investigation of tick-borne pathogens from different regions of Morocco.

Tick-borne pathogens are a worldwide threat to public health that can only be mitigated by knowledge on tick-host associations coupled with surveillance of their infection by pathogenic microorganisms. This information is not equally available throughout tick vector distribution range and is deficient in some geographical areas. In this study we did a molecular survey of tick-borne pathogens associated with different tick species in Morocco.

Integration of FTIR Spectroscopy, Volatile Compound Profiling, and Chemometric Techniques for Advanced Geographical and Varietal Analysis of Moroccan Eucalyptus Essential Oils.

Eucalyptus essential oil is widely valued for its therapeutic properties and extensive commercial applications, with its chemical composition significantly influenced by species variety, geographical origin, and environmental conditions. This study aims to develop a reliable method for identifying the geographical origin and variety of eucalyptus oil samples through the application of advanced analytical techniques combined with chemometric methods. Essential oils from Eucalyptus globulus and Eucalyptus camaldulensis were analyzed using Gas Chromatography-Flame Ionization Detection (GC-FID) and Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) Spectroscopy.

In Vitro Antimicrobial Activity of Volatile Compounds from the Lichen (L.) Zopf. Against Multidrug-Resistant Bacteria and Fish Pathogens.

Lichens are symbiotic organisms with unique secondary metabolism. Various metabolites from lichens have shown antimicrobial activity. Nevertheless, very few studies have investigated the antimicrobial potential of the volatile compounds they produce.

Successful Management of Intraoperative Cardiac Arrest in a Patient With Undiagnosed Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy.

Intraoperative cardiac arrest presents a significant challenge in surgical settings, particularly in patients with undiagnosed cardiac conditions. This report details the case of a 62-year-old male patient who experienced cardiac arrest during elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy, attributed to previously undiagnosed hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). The patient exhibited no prior cardiac symptoms and was assessed as low risk preoperatively.

Self-Assessment of Psychosocial Care Proficiency among Nurses and Oncologists at the Mohammed VI University Hospital Center (Morocco).

 In Morocco, cancer is a disease with a concerning incidence to the point that patients are diagnosed at advanced stages. As a result, patient care requires a holistic approach, integrating medical treatment and appropriate psychosocial support to improve their well-being. This study aimed to evaluate the psychosocial care competencies of oncology healthcare professionals at the Mohammed VI University Hospital Center (CHU) in Marrakech.

Self-efficacy and health warnings as predictors of smoking cessation intent among Moroccan adolescents: Evidence from the Global Youth Tobacco Survey data.

Introduction: According to the literature, quitting tobacco before the age of 30 years would mitigate almost all tobacco-related hazards. In this respect, understanding behavioral patterns associated with the process of individual change to a healthier behavior is likely to contribute to tobacco control and avoidance of the related health risks, as well as to promote healthier behaviors, especially during adolescence.

Methods: This study is a secondary dataset analysis utilizing the 2016 Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS) data for Morocco.