Fez-Meknes Region Research Articles

Mapping and modeling groundwater potential using machine learning, deep learning and ensemble learning models in the Saiss basin (Fez-Meknes region, Morocco)

The Saïss basin in the Fez-Meknes region of Morocco, covering approximately 2100 km2, faces increased water demand due to population growth, economic development, and climate change, making groundwater a crucial resource. This study aims to delineate areas with groundwater potential (GWP) and evaluate the performance of various machine learning, deep learning, and hybrid ensemble models in predicting GWP. Using a dataset of 440 springs and wells, and 20 groundwater conditioning factors (GWCF) including topographical, hydrological, geological, and hydrogeological features, the study employed multi-collinearity analysis, variance inflation factor (VIF), tolerance (Tol) assessments, and an Information Gain (IG) test to analyze these factors. The study compared the performance of three machine learning algorithms (Gaussian Naive Bayes (GNB), k-Nearest Neighbors (KNN), Gradient Boosting Classifier (GBC)), three deep learning algorithms (Deep Learning Neural Networks (DLNN), Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN), Recurrent Neural Networks (RNN)), and a hybrid ensemble model (Random Forests (RF), Support Vector Machine (SVM), Logistic Regression (LR)) using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC-AUC) as the evaluation metric. The results showed that the hybrid ensemble model had the highest AUC of 0.86, followed by GBC (AUC = 0.85), DLNN (AUC = 0.84), CNN (AUC = 0.83), KNN (AUC = 0.79), RNN (AUC = 0.78), and GNB (AUC = 0.75). The study revealed that 45% of the Saïss Basin exhibits high to very high GWP, particularly in Ain Taoujdat, Haj Kaddour, and Boufekrane districts, with lithology, slope, and transmissivity being the most influential factors. The resulting GWP map can guide decision-makers in planning well and borehole drilling for drinking water and agriculture, as well as artificial recharge projects, thus promoting sustainable groundwater management in the Saïss basin.

Physicochemical Characterization of Moroccan Honey Varieties from the Fez-Meknes Region and Their Antioxidant and Antibacterial Properties.

Honey, with its varied and extensive characteristics, is a complex and diverse biological substance that has been used since ancient times. The aim of this study is to thoroughly characterize the physicochemical, phytochemical, and biological properties of four floral honey varieties from the Fez-Meknes region in Morocco, with the goal of promoting the valorization of Moroccan honey in skincare and cosmetic products. The analyses of their physicochemical characteristics encompass various parameters such as pH, acidity, density, water content, Brix index, conductivity, ash content, hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) content, and color. The levels of polyphenols range from 22.1 ± 0.4 to 69.3 ± 0.17 mg GAE/100 g of honey, measured using the Folin-Ciocalteu method for polyphenol quantification. Additionally, the estimation of flavonoid quantities in 100 g of honey, conducted using the aluminum trichloride method, reveals values ranging from 3.6 ± 0.2 to 7.2 ± 0.6 mg QE. Furthermore, it is noteworthy that honey exhibits high levels of glucose and relatively low concentrations of proteins. The quantitative evaluation of antioxidant effects, carried out through the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl free-radical-scavenging method and the ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) method, highlights the strong antioxidant capacity of multifloral honey, characterized by low inhibitory concentration values (IC50 = 30.43 mg/mL and EC50 = 16.06 mg/mL). Moreover, all honey varieties demonstrate antibacterial and antifungal properties, with multifloral honey standing out for its particularly pronounced antimicrobial activity. The correlation analyses between phytochemical composition and antioxidant and antibacterial activities reveal an inverse relationship between polyphenols and IC50 (DPPH) and EC50 (FRAP) concentrations of honey. The correlation coefficients are established at R2 = -0.97 and R2 = -0.99, respectively. Additionally, a significant negative correlation is observed between polyphenols, flavonoids, and antifungal power (R2 = -0.95 and R2 = -0.96). In parallel, a marked positive correlation is highlighted between antifungal efficacy, DPPH antioxidant activity (R2 = 0.95), and FRAP (R2 = 0.92). These results underscore the crucial importance of phytochemical components in the beneficial properties of honey, meeting international quality standards. Consequently, honey could serve as a natural alternative to synthetic additives.

Ethnobotanical survey of medicinal plants used in north-central Morocco as natural analgesic and anti-inflammatory agents

For centuries, the Moroccan population has relied on herbs as medicine to treat a variety of diseases, especially inflammation and pain-related ones. To the best of our knowledge, no survey had ever been conducted to address this subject in the Fez-Meknes region of Morocco. Thus, a survey was conducted of 544 interviewees, using a semi-structured ethnopharmacological survey designed with “Why-How” questions about plants used, their vernacular names, parts used, mode of preparation, and mode of administration. Fidelity level (FL), relative frequency of citation (RFC), frequency of citation (FC), informant consensus factor (ICF), and family importance value (FIV) were calculated. A total of 104 plant species belonging to 49 families used for inflammatory and pain treatment were documented. Lamiaceae (16 species) was the most used family and Curcuma longa L. (RFC=0.069) was the most frequently prescribed by local traditional healers and herbalists. Leaves were the most used part for herbal remedies, appearing in 30.8 % of preparations. Decoctions and infusions were the most popular preparation methods with percentages of 38.3 % and 19.2 %, respectively. Inflammations and pain in the digestive system had the largest widespread affections (IFC= 0.729) in the Fez-Meknes region. The findings of this study uncovered a reliable and original source of ethnomedicinal data pertaining to plants used to treat inflammation and inflammatory pain in the Fez-Meknes region, which could serve as a credible source of knowledge to determine new-based phytomedicines.

Ethnobotanical knowledge of Medicinal plants in Fez-Meknes region: Origin of used species, plant-disease associations, used parts, and preparation forms

Ethnobotanical knowledge of Medicinal plants in Fez-Meknes region: Origin of used species, plant-disease associations, used parts, and preparation forms

Comprehensive survey of the impact of HIV infection on quality of life and socio-economic status of Moroccan patients in Fez-Meknes region

Comprehensive survey of the impact of HIV infection on quality of life and socio-economic status of Moroccan patients in Fez-Meknes region

The Territorial Planning Process of the Fez-Meknes Region from a Gender Perspective: An Exploratory Study

Since 2015, Morocco has become aware of the imperative to integrate the gender dimension into the territorial planning process. In this context, the region, as a key actor in territorial management, is called upon to take into account the gender approach during the elaboration of its Regional Development Programme (RDP) as a planning tool in accordance with Law 111-14 concerning regions in Morocco. This article aims to understand how the gender approach is integrated by stakeholders in the process of drawing up the RDP by analysing the specific interests and needs of women and men. Analysis of the various phases of the RDP elaboration process from a gender perspective, including preparation, diagnosis, strategic vision, action planning, budgeting, and finally, the implementation and monitoring-evaluation phase, led us to adopt a qualitative methodology. This approach was implemented through the mobilization of a single case study focusing on the RDP of the Fes-Meknes region for the period 2016-2021. Consequently, we conducted semi-structured interviews with a sample of 15 key informants directly involved in the elaboration of the RDP at its different stages. The results indicate that little account is taken of the specific needs of women at all stages of the process, from preparation to implementation and monitoring-evaluation. This is due to several factors, including the scarcity of sex-disaggregated data at the regional level, the ambiguity of the new legal text on the concept of gender and its integration into the RDP, the ineffectiveness of organizational mechanisms related to gender issues, the lack of knowledge and tools for gender-sensitive planning, as well as the weakness of the 'gender culture' among members of the regional council (RC).

Assessing Panonychus ulmi (Acari: Tetranychidae) Infestations and Their Key Predators on Malus domestica Borkh in Varied Ecological Settings

This study investigates the infestation dynamics of Panonychus ulmi McGregor 1916 and its associated predators in Malus domestica borkh orchards across three towns in Morocco: Midelt, Ait Sebaa, and Imouzzer-Kender, situated in the Fez-Meknes and Draa-Tafilalt regions. Ait Sebaa (Fez-Meknes region), characterized by high temperatures and a lower altitude, exhibited a substantial increase in P. ulmi and its predators. In contrast, Midelt (Draa-Tafilalt region), with the highest altitude, demonstrated lower mite counts. Imouzzer-Kender (Fez-Meknes region), at an intermediate altitude, showed moderate mite levels. Detailed findings reveal a positive correlation between P. ulmi and temperature, as well as with phytoseiid mites. Conversely, a negative correlation exists between P. ulmi and altitude. Additionally, a positive correlation between phytoseiid mites and temperature is identified. Overall, this study provides valuable information on the ecological interactions between mites, temperature, altitude and humidity in distinct Moroccan regions, highlighting the need to take regional specificities into account in pest management strategies.

Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT) Analysis of Hemodialysis Electronic Health Record Implementation.

The Nephrology Department of Hassan II Hospital in Fez, Morocco, has implemented an Electronic Medical Record (EMR) system for managing patients undergoing acute hemodialysis. This initiative aims to digitize patient monitoring and enhance the management of acute dialysis within the department. Conducting strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) analysis - assessing strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats - was crucial to identifying and understanding the internal strengths and weaknesses, as well as the external opportunities and threats. This article outlines the SWOT analysis findings that may impact the project's success and shape decision-making. It also discusses strategies that could be implemented to allocate resources, mitigate risks, and capitalize on potential advantages. This study involved a multidisciplinary team, including professors, nephrologists, nephrology residents, and a healthcare information system engineer. Brainstorming sessions were held during the specification drafting phase to pinpoint both internal and external factors affecting the project. User feedback during testing further refined these factors, ensuring the project's alignment with real-world needs and challenges. The study identifies the project's strengths as providing safe and immediate access to information, along with strong communication between the department (application users) and the project manager. The significant EMR weakness is the lack of logistical resources and the absence of a long-term maintenance plan for the application. The opportunity presented by this EMR implementation is its functionality's potential to evolve, enabling the solution to be deployed in other dialysis centers across the region. The project's threat is the potential abandonment of EMR use by future practitioners. These SWOT analysis findings enable the development and implementation of strategies to reduce the current deployment's vulnerabilities and ensure the success of future HIS implementations in the nephrology network of the Fez-Meknes region, Morocco.

Patients' perceptions of the announcement of cancer diagnosis in Morocco "Cancer patients cases treated in the Fez-Meknes Region".

The announcement of a cancer diagnosis represents a real turning point, significantly and pessimistically changing the patient's vision of his future. The task of the healthcare professional in communicating bad news is complex. It requires careful use of words, establishing a relationship of trust, a patient approach, and encouraging the person affected by cancer to express their emotions. This is a sociological study of a series of cancer patient cases designed to reveal the different perceptions and experiences of cancer patients with regard to the announcement of the diagnosis of cancer by healthcare professionals. This descriptive qualitative study was done in 2022. The participants were selected from cancer patients cases treated in the Fès-Meknès Region. Participants in this study were 35 patients selected using a purposeful sampling method. Data were collected using in-depth semi-structured interviews. The qualitative content analysis approach was used to analyze the data using Atlas.ti software. A double suffering has been observed among cancer patients with regard to the announcement of their cancer diagnosis. In addition to the intensification of negative feelings and distress at the time of the announcement, dissatisfaction has been observed with the way in which the cancer diagnosis is communicated. The announcement does not address the holistic needs of the cancer patient, particularly with respect to health literacy. This finding is justified by limitations in relation to the basic training of the medical and nursing cops with regard to the announcement of the diagnosis. This event represents a critical moment, requiring a multidisciplinary approach and involving various professionals involved in cancer management. Health professionals need to develop the skills necessary to accurately but smoothly announce a cancer diagnosis in order to maintain hope regardless of prognosis. Thus, an indispensable aspect to take into account in diagnostic communication is the cancer patient's level of literacy.

Performance evaluation of Machine Learning algorithms for LULC classification: A case study of Fez-Meknes region

Significant advancements have been made in remote sensing technologies, with increasingly refined applications in creating LULC maps. The integration of Machine Learning-based approaches has been explored to develop LULC maps with varying levels of precision, leveraging diverse satellite imagery. However, the task of producing LULC maps for extensive areas like the Fez-Meknes region, covering an area of approximately 40,075 km2, can be challenging using traditional methodologies. Thus, this study prioritized the major objective of establishing a reference for extracting LULC information. This endeavour involves the comparative assessment of the performance of different LULC classification approaches: Recursive Partitioning (Rpart), k-nearest neighbors (KNN), random forest (RF), Linear Discriminant Analysis (LDA), support vector machine (SVM), and extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost). For map production, remote sensing data and a supervised classification algorithm based on LANDSAT images of the Fez-Meknes region were employed. The accuracy of the generated maps was assessed using overall accuracy and Kappa coefficient. This methodology holds the potential to be replicated in other regions, utilizing a variety of available remote sensing satellite images to generate LULC maps. Essentially, the approach proposed in this study will be a valuable tool for planners, facilitating the acquisition of LULC maps at various time intervals. This will facilitate the classification of land cover types in a faster and more cost-effective manner.

Assessment of physicochemical and microbiological quality using the SEQ-Eau approach for groundwater in the Saïss basin (Fez-Meknes region, Morocco)

The Saïss water table is one of Morocco's major agricultural regions. Its water resources satisfy domestic, agricultural, industrial, and tourist needs. The present work focuses on the technique used to detect spatiotemporal variations in the overall physicochemical, microbiological, and heavy metal quality of groundwater in the Saïss basin, as assessed by the SEQ-Eau water quality system. A total of 28 samples were collected during high and low water periods, respectively. The results show that 25% of the stations present average quality during the dry season, and are located mainly in the southern part of the Meknes plateau in the El Hajeb, Boufekrane, and Agouray regions, while this pollution is reduced during the wet season with a percentage of 7.14%. However, the poor quality of groundwater indicates that 75% and 92.85% occupy almost the entire rest of the basin during the dry and wet seasons. Mapping of nitrate pollution of groundwater indicates that the lowest nitrate concentrations were recorded in the southwest part of the aquifer. The highest values were recorded in the center of the study area, with a maximum value of 118 mg/l, which exceeds the Moroccan standard due to the anthropogenic impact of agriculture and water use.

Phytochemical Composition, Antibacterial and Antifungal Activities of Essential Oil of Juniperus phoenicea from Fez-Meknes Region, North Central Morocco

Phytochemical Composition, Antibacterial and Antifungal Activities of Essential Oil of Juniperus phoenicea from Fez-Meknes Region, North Central Morocco

Integration of Environmental Procedures and Team Cohesion: Survey of Tourism Industries in the Fez Meknes Region

This article studies the impact of integrating environmental actions at the level of tourism industries, focusing on the tourism sector in Morocco. It examines the impact of integrating environmental processes on the management of these industries and on team cohesion. The paper identifies the concepts of environmental management and team cohesion. To juxtapose the literature with the field, we conducted a field survey in Morocco's oldest region, Fez-Meknes, where tourism is important and local industries took advantage of the absence of tourists during the COVID-19 period to implement several environmental actions. By implementing these processes, tourist industries can improve their brand image and make considerable savings. On the other hand, they need to consider the impact of these new practices on team cohesion. Our article will attempt to examine the relationship between the implementation of environmental initiatives and the cohesion of players in the tourism industries of the Fez-Meknes region.

Assessment of the Impacts of Plant Growth-Promoting Micro-Organisms on Potato Farming in Different Climatic Conditions in Morocco

Environmental concerns are gradually reducing the global yield capacity of agricultural systems, with climate change representing the most significant challenge. Globally, Potatoes are the most essential non-cereal crop. Therefore, understanding the potential impacts of climate change on potato production is crucial for maintaining future global food security. This study aims to explore the roles played by PGPMs in two distinct regions, which are characterized by different climatic conditions, to assess their influence on two potato varieties, namely Siena and Bellini. Inoculation with these strains, particularly the Aureobasidium pullulans strains Ach1-1 and Ach1-2, resulted in significant improvements in growth and yield. In 2018, impressive yields of 194.1 kg/0.05 ha and 186.6 kg/0.05 ha were recorded for the two strains, with the Ain Taoujdate site achieving yields of 157.1 kg/0.05 ha and 151.1 kg/0.05 ha for each of the two strains. Additionally, further observations revealed that the Siena variety is more susceptible to rot than the Bellini variety. However, Ach1-1 and Ach1-2 strains had a significant effect on this rot, showcasing their potential to mitigate this negative issue in the Bellini variety. These promising results underscore the potential of PGPMs to enhance potato production in the Fez–Meknes region of Morocco, contributing to global food security amid climate change.

IoT-based smart irrigation management system using real-time data

<p>An adequate water supply is essential for the growth and development of crops. When rainfall is insufficient, irrigation is necessary to meet crop water needs. It is a crucial and strategic aspect of economic and social development. To combat climate change, there is a need to adopt irrigation management techniques that increase and stabilize agricultural production while saving water, using intelligent agricultural water technologies. Internet of things (IoT) based technologies can achieve optimal use of water resources. This article introduces a smart realtime irrigation management system based on the internet of things. It provides optimal management of irrigation decisions using real-time weather and soil moisture data, as well as data from precipitation forecasts. The proposed algorithm is developed in real-time based on the IoT, enabling us to guide irrigation and control the amount of water in agricultural applications. The system uses real-time data analysis of climate, soil, and crop data to provide flexible planning of the irrigation system’s use. A case study from the Fez-Meknes region in Morocco is presented to demonstrate the proposed system’s effectiveness</p>

Traditional Knowledge of Medicinal Plants Used for Cosmetic Purposes in The Fez-Meknes Region

Traditional Knowledge of Medicinal Plants Used for Cosmetic Purposes in The Fez-Meknes Region

Phytochemical evaluation and in-vitro antibacterial activity of ethanolic extracts of Moroccan Lavandula x intermedia leaves and flowers

Abstract. Fliou J, Spinola F, Riffi O, Zriouel A, Amechrouq A, Nalbone L, Giuffrida A, Giarratana F. 2023. Phytochemical evaluation and in-vitro antibacterial activity of ethanolic extracts of Moroccan Lavandula x intermedia leaves and flowers. Biodiversitas 24: 5788-5796. This study performed a preliminary evaluation of the phytochemical composition and in vitro antibacterial activity of ethanolic extracts of Lavandula x intermedia leaves and flowers collected in the Fez-Meknes region of Morocco. Phytochemical analyses comprised qualitative colorimetric determinations of alkaloids, anthraquinones, and terpenes and quantitative analysis of total polyphenols, flavonoids, and condensed tannins by UV spectrophotometer. Antibacterial activity was evaluated by determining minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) values against different ATCC bacterial strains. The phytochemical analysis showed a high amount of total polyphenols, flavonoids, and tannins in the leaf extract and a higher amount of terpenes based on colorimetric reaction than the flower extract. A positive colorimetric reaction for alkaloids and anthraquinones was detected for both extracts. The antibacterial activity of leaves and flower extract was not different against Gram-positive and Gram-negative strains (p<0.05). The results of the present study suggest the possible use of ethanolic extracts of L. x intermedia collected in the Fez-Meknes region of Morocco as a natural agent against bacterial pathogens.

Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Activities of Saponins Extracted from Marrubium vulgare L. Collected in Fez-Meknes Region in Morocco

Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Activities of Saponins Extracted from Marrubium vulgare L. Collected in Fez-Meknes Region in Morocco

Wind, solar and biogas power generation in water-stressed areas of Morocco considering water and biomass availability constraints and carbon emission limits

The energy sector of Morocco relies mainly on imported fossil fuels. The expensive import bills associated with fossils, as well as the global drive for greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction, have compelled the country to consider the utilization of renewable energy resources such as hydro, wind, and solar for energy generation. Power generation from wind and solar is highly intermittent hence require storage systems to guarantee supply security. Considering the abundant nature of sheep rearing in Morocco, power generation from sheep dung through anaerobic digestion (AD) can serve as an alternative power generation source to alleviate the intermittent situations of wind and solar since biomass supply for AD is not affected by the weather. Therefore, this paper evaluates the capability of hybrid power generation, using AD of sheep dung, wind, and solar in two selected areas of the Fez-Meknes region in Morocco. A mixed-integer linear programming model was implemented in A Mathematical Programming Language (AMPL) using a linear solver of CPLEX. The results of the analysis indicated that only standalone wind generation and hybrid wind/PV/biogas generation are able to meet the total load demand of the two study locations. The hybrid generation resulted in a total carbon emission of 349.30 and 3871.60 g/year at a cost of 13,088.38 and 145,394.13 $/year for Tazouta and Fez respectively in supplying the whole load of the study locations, whiles the standalone wind generator resulted in a total carbon emission of 274 and 2603 g/year at a total cost of 23,352 and 239,500 $/year for satisfying the electric load of these two regions respectively. The results shows that, hybrid solar/wind/PV is the most ideal for supplying power to the two study locations in terms of cost and load satisfaction, while the wind is the most ideal in terms of load satisfaction and carbon emissions.

Stakeholders’ Involvement, Organizational Learning and Social Innovation: Factors for Strengthening the Resilience of Moroccan Cooperatives in the Post-COVID-19 Era

The Moroccan cooperative sector is increasingly important, not only in the social and economic fabric of Morocco, but also in the sustainable development of the Kingdom. With the advent of COVID, the cooperative sector offers more inclusive and sustainable economic alternatives than ever before. In this context, organizational resilience is essential to preserve the sustainability of cooperatives and anticipate potential crises. This study addresses the following issue: What are the organizational factors necessary to strengthen the organizational resilience of the Moroccan cooperative in the Fez-Meknes region in times of COVID-19 crisis? The purpose of this paper was to test the hypothesized relationships between a set of latent constructs (actor involvement and mobilization, organizational learning in times of a crisis and social innovation) and the organizational resilience of cooperatives in times of a COVID-19 crisis. The methodology adopted is structural equation modeling based on the PLS-SEM method under the “SmartPLS Version 3” used on data collected through a printed questionnaire administered to 160 cooperatives in the Fez-Meknes region. The results show the significant and positive influence between the exogenous constructs on the strengthening of organizational resilience of cooperatives as an endogenous construct. The novelty of the study lies in the identification of the organizational resources needed to strengthen the organizational resilience of cooperatives in the Moroccan context. The results show that organizational resilience depends on three selected organizational factors: stakeholder involvement and mobilization, organizational learning in the times of a crisis and social innovation.