Souss-Massa Region Research Articles

Optimizing SVM for argan tree classification using Sentinel-2 data: A case study in the Sous-Massa Region, Morocco

The development of efficient classifiers for land cover remains challenging due to the presence of hyperparameters in the model. Conventional approaches rely on manual tuning, which is both time-consuming and impractical, often leading to suboptimal results. This study aimed to optimize the hyperparameters of the Support Vector Machine (SVM) algorithm using the grid search method to map the distribution of the Argan forest in the Souss-Massa region of Morocco from Sentinel-2 satellite image. To achieve this, we examined the C parameter for the linear function, as well as the C and gamma parameters for the radial RBF and sigmoid functions. Similarly, we explored the C, gamma, and degree parameters for the polynomial function chosen using the grid search method. These parameters are compared with the default hyperparameters of each SVM function. The results are validated using the cross-validation method and by the following scores: accuracy, precision, recall, F1 score, and Cohen’s Kappa. The experiments were conducted using the Earth Engine Python API in Google Colab (Google Collaboratory). In addition, experimental results indicate that the hyperparameters selected by grid search yield higher scores than the default hyperparameters. The best results were achieved using the hyperparameters of the polynomial base kernel, specifically with C = 10, degree = 2, and gamma = 10. Accuracy = 96.61%.

Assessing the health and yield of argan trees in Morocco’s unique ecosystem: a multispectral and machine learning approach

ABSTRACT This research is focused on developing an AI model that utilizes multispectral camera data from the Souss-Massa region. The model aims to estimate the yield and identify a range of diseases in Argan trees through meticulous on-field investigations. Initially, the work is focused on understanding the resistance of Argan plants against different diseases, based on non-irrigated and irrigated Argan trees as well as planted ones. The results show that disease resistance is high in the case of non-irrigated Argan trees and low in the case of irrigated trees. In addition, we conducted a detailed study of the Argan trees to provide a comprehensive view of the plant’s health. Utilizing machine-learning techniques, the yield estimation model suggests that it is possible to achieve up to 97% accuracy in yield estimation, processing data at an impressive rate of 33 images per second. After careful consideration and analysis, we have concluded that machine counting is the most suitable technique for Argan plants. Machine counting and disease detection offer high precision, fast and efficient data processing and cost-effectiveness. Additionally, it is less labour-intensive and can be easily integrated into the existing production process.

Residual levels of pesticides in filet green beans from Souss-Massa, Morocco.

A total of 30 samples of filet green beans (Phaseolus vulgaris) from various popular markets in the Souss-Massa region (Morocco) were analyzed during 2021 for the presence of pesticide residues. We performed a QuEChERS extraction (Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged, and Safe) combined with Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) and Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS/MS). The method was validated in accordance with SANTE 11312/2021 guidelines. The results of this survey indicated that 8 out of 30 green bean samples are positives (0.015 to 0.112mg/kg). Azoxystrobin was the most frequently detected pesticide, occurring in 5 samples. For authorized pesticides, none of the samples exceeded the European Maximum residue level (EU MRL) in green beans, but residue of fipronil-unauthorized substance was detected in one sample at 0.027mg/kg. Hence, it is important to increase inspections for locally marketed fresh green beans and align agricultural practices with regulatory requirements.

The Arganeraie Biosphere Reserve (ABR): entrepreneurship in ecotourism, opportunities and constraints

The objective of this paper is to determine the role that the dynamics of tourism entrepreneurship play in the sustainable development of the ABR territories, mainly in rural areas, by identifying the entrepreneurial process and the implications of the specificities of rural tourism entrepreneurship; that is, the criteria to be operationalized in the context of ecotourism activities to promote eco-responsible development. After having evoked the theoretical and conceptual aspects relating to entrepreneurship, ecotourism and the ABR space using a literature review, an investigative study, an exploratory qualitative study, was then carried out among tourism stakeholders spread over the Souss Massa region, in the Arganier territory. At the end of our survey, we found that the ecotourism sector remains underdeveloped in the ABR, and only marginally contributes to the local economy. The tourism activity undertaken shows insufficient dynamism to propel the development of tourism and sustainable economic development of the ABR. Entrepreneurship in ecotourism would offer economic opportunities while preserving the natural environment and the cultural richness of the ABR.

Radiographers’ attitudes toward the principles of patient radiation protection in the Souss Massa region of Morocco

Introduction: Radiographers play a vital role in patient radiation protection. Their training, supervision, and involvement in radiation protection programmes require greater attention from all stakeholders. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted between March and August 2023 to assess Radiographers’ attitudes toward the principles of patient radiation protection in the Souss Massa region of Morocco. An anonymous questionnaire containing 22 questions was sent to 80 radiographers practicing in the Sous Massa region. Results: 67.5% of the radiographers confirmed that they did not use a guide to radiological procedures. 85% of them confirmed that they had checked for the possibility of pregnancy each time a woman of childbearing age was involved in a conventional X-ray, compared with 97.5% who checked for the possibility of pregnancy in a CT scan. 97.5 % of our participants said that they automatically (without medical advice) repeated the X-ray examination if the image was not interpretable. 90% of radiographers said that they did not report parameters for dose estimation for each conventional X-ray examination, and 72.5% did not report data for dose estimation for CT-scan examinations. The results showed no association between gender and professional experience on the one hand and radiographers’ practices on the other. Nevertheless, there is an association between the workplace and certain radiographers’ practices, indicating the lack of a regional strategy aimed at standardizing procedures and radiation protection practices at the level of all radiology departments. Conclusion: It is vital to launch a patient dose management program in the Souss Massa region and campaigns to raise radiographers’ awareness of recommended patient radiation protection practices.

Epidemiological, clinical, biological and evolutionary profile of scorpion envenomed children under one year to 15 years in the Souss Massa region of Morocco

Morocco is one of the main countries affected in North African with the scorpion envenomations. Faced with the threat, significant morbidity and a major risk of death especially in children, a detailed identification of scorpionic profile of stings remains important for health authorities at national or even regional level. The current study aims to establish the epidemiological, clinical, biological and evolutionary data of the scorpionism by analyzing 383 cases of scorpion stings in children from three age groups (<1 year, 1–5 years and >5 years), admitted at the Regional Hospital Hassan II-Agadir in the Souss Massa region during the period of 9 years and 10 months from January 2013 to October 2022. Our results showed that patients under 1 year of age presented the most severe cases and had the highest mortality rate. However, the clinical signs and symptoms observed illustrated severe damages to vital systems, particularly the cardiovascular, neurological and pulmonary systems, although the signs associated with the latter were present only in cases admitted in grades 2 and 3 for the three age categories studied. Fluctuations in vital constants (temperature and peripheral oxygen saturation, blood pressure, heart rate and respiratory rate), biochemical parameters (ASAT, ALAT, urea and blood creatine, as well as blood sugar) and CBC results revealed major functional disturbances in vital organs, especially in envenomated cases admitted in grade 3. A positive correlation was mentioned between the state of evolution and the various epidemiological parameters, digestive symptoms, as well as signs and symptoms linked to hemodynamic state, general and neurological state. The main interest is to illustrate the seriousness of scorpion envenomations, especially in the high-risk population, for whom an improved therapeutic approach in health centers will undoubtedly be reinforced, and the admission of immunotherapy, as a fundamental part of the treatment, remains important.

Clinical characteristics and hospitalization factors in pneumothorax patients: Clinical and therapeutic perspectives from Souss Massa Region

&lt;b&gt;Introduction:&lt;/b&gt; This study aims to investigate the clinical characteristics, therapeutic approaches, and factors influencing length of hospital stay of pneumothorax (PNO) cases.&lt;br /&gt; &lt;b&gt;Materials &amp;amp; methods: &lt;/b&gt;This study employed a retrospective approach. Data were collected from January 2019 to April 2023, encompassing sociodemographic information, toxic habits, medical history, clinical signs, PNO characteristics, treatment modalities, evolution, and complications.&lt;br /&gt; &lt;b&gt;Results&lt;/b&gt;: The study encompassed 158 PNO cases, predominantly males (89.2%) with a median age of 51 years [33-62]. Primary spontaneous pneumothorax accounted for 62.0% of cases, while secondary spontaneous pneumothorax (PSS) constituted 33.5% with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease as the leading cause (34.0%), followed by tuberculosis (20.8%). Drainage was the primary treatment (91.8%), with favorable outcomes in 84.2% of cases. PSS cases were associated with unfavorable evolution and longer hospital stays. Factors associated with prolonged hospitalization included female gender, PSS, total PNO, and surgical treatment.&lt;br /&gt; &lt;b&gt;Conclusions&lt;/b&gt;: This study provides valuable insights into factors influencing prolonged hospitalization of PNO cases in Souss Massa Region. Understanding these factors can aid healthcare professionals in optimizing patient management and improving outcomes.

Contribution to the optimization of citrus (Citrus clementina Hort. Ex Tanaka) fruit fertilization using mobile lysimetry in orchards of the Souss-Massa region, Morocco

The growth and development of citrus trees and the quality of their fruits are significantly influenced by the essential role of mineral plant nutrition. This study aimed to improve the productivity of the citrus (Citrus clementina Hort. Ex Tanaka) orchards by optimizing mineral nutrition through well-monitored fertilization and fertigation aspects using lysimetry. The first phase consisted of studying the behavior of the nutrients in the soil solution at the high root concentration level, analysis of the nutritional status of five varieties of clementines (Sidi Aissa, Cadoux, Orogrande, Nules, and Nour), and the variation of leaf composition in major elements (Nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, and calcium) for the five varieties along phenological stages, through the exploitation of the results of analyses carried out for the management of mineral nutrition in 47 plots of citrus fruit in the Souss-Massa region with the use of lysimetry. The results obtained in this first part revealed an important variation of the nutrients in the soil solution (55.24%) in terms of water inputs, fertilizers, and edaphic conditions, as well as a large variation of foliar compositions (62.98%). The second phase, consisting of regular monitoring of the mineral nutrition dynamics targeting the “Nules” variety grafted on “Citrus macrophylla” affirmed the importance of the citrus fertilization approach for determining the availability, distribution, nutrient interactions in soil solution and plant response by regular leaf diagnostics. Thus, mobile lysimetry offered a powerful tool for achieving both productivity and sustainability in citrus fertilization programs.

‘Rain has to do with God’s will’: Religion and perceptions of environmental change in a Muslim community in the Souss-Massa region of Morocco

In recent decades, increasing attention has been paid to environmental mobility in Morocco by policy-makers, non-governmental organisations, academics, and Islamic leaders. However, most empirical research on risk perceptions and religious views has relied on findings from Western and Christian communities, while data from Muslim communities or within communities strongly adherent to Islam are relatively rare. Nonetheless, Muslim communities are, globally, those most affected by climate change. These results are based on 38 in-depth interviews with Muslims in the Souss-Massa region of Morocco. Our analyses show how religious beliefs affect the ways in which people perceive and cope with environmental change. Nevertheless, religious beliefs do not necessarily imply that respondents automatically relate environmental change exclusively to God and that action is deemed unnecessary. Rather, we give a more nuanced image by presenting five different cultural repertoires which our respondents use when talking about climate and environmental changes.

100 Years After the Discovery of Insulin and in the Era of New Generations of Insulins, What Do Our Patients and Care Staff Know About Insulin Therapy?

According to "Never Events", insulin administration errors are serious preventable adverse events that should not have occurred if adequate preventive measures had been implemented. The event "insulin administration error" is on the ANSM list published in 2012. The National Health Service's (NHS) "Never Events insulin" has developed a module on insulin therapy management entitled "Preventing insulin-related medication errors". Proper use and knowledge of insulin management can prevent these events. Our study presents the results of a survey designed to assess both the knowledge of healthcare personnel and a group of diabetic patients in the Souss Massa region of Morocco. Our survey was an opportunity to re-educate our patients and review the knowledge of a group of staff interviewed, underlines the important deficit in knowledge and practice of nursing staff and insulin-treated patients, suggests that urgent intervention should be considered, particularly with young nursing staff, and also to review the therapeutic education of insulin-treated diabetics in order to improve their knowledge and better prepare them for the advent of new generations of insulin.

Geographic distribution of the scorpion fauna in the central Moroccan region of Souss-Massa with potential implications for public health

Despite the medical importance of North African scorpions, many aspects of their ecology which may be important to understand envenoming patterns throughout their range, remain understudied. The region of Souss-Massa in central Morocco exhibits a high incidence of scorpion envenomings, with 29 437 cases reported between 2005 and 2010, resulting in 32 deaths. In the present study, we provide an updated inventory of scorpions occurring throughout the Souss-Massa region, with additional information about their distribution and notes on preferred habitats for each species observed. Sampling was carried out at 39 stations over a three-year period: June and August 2020, April and June 2022, and July and August 2023. Twelve species belonging to two families were recovered over the course of the study. The families Buthidae and Scorpionidae were represented by eleven and a single species respectively. Overall, this represents 71% of all species reported to occur in the Souss-Massa region. Apart from Androctonus mauritanicus, A. bourdoni, A. sergenti and Hottentotta gentili which are present in and around human dwellings, all other species were found in uninhabited areas. Apart from Scorpio mogadorensis, all the species of scorpions we recovered can cause severe envenomation with potentially fatal outcomes. Field-based ecological investigations should be encouraged to gain a more accurate and comprehensive understanding of scorpion distribution patterns and habitat preference. In turn, this will inform the health-science community of the etiological factors responsible for scorpion envenoming.

Nível de conhecimento das habilidades comportamentais dos enfermeiros e técnicos de saúde: estudo exploratório

ABSTRACT Objective: To assess the knowledge level of nurses and healthcare technicians regarding soft skills (SS) and to identify the most crucial SS. Method: This is a quantitative exploratory study with an analytical focus, encompassing 350 nurses and healthcare technicians in the Souss-Massa region. Results: Approximately half of participants (49.7%) exhibited some understanding of SS, with only 12.3% having received any training on the subject. According to participants, the top 10 SS are communication, teamwork, stress management, problem-solving, conflict management, honesty, decision-making, adaptability, lifelong learning, and confidence. Additionally, the prediction model indicates a significant association between SS knowledge and experience (p &lt; 0.001), academic level (p &lt; 0.001), and SS training (p &lt; 0.001). Conclusion: Nurses and healthcare technicians possess knowledge of SS despite the absence of formal training. Identifying the most important SS in this field is, therefore, invaluable for integration into training programmes for both healthcare professionals and students. Furthermore, additional studies are recommended on SS development and assessment.

Artificial intelligence for forecasting sales of agricultural products: A case study of a moroccan agricultural company

This paper presents a study focused on the analysis of phytosanitary treatment sales in the Souss Massa region of Morocco. The objective of the study is to predict the sales of agricultural products, particularly crop protection solutions, aiming to optimize supply chain operations and meet customer demand effectively. Data for this study are collected from multiple sources, including the Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system called Microsoft Dynamics AXAPTA used by a leading agricultural company operating in the region. Information such as the date of sale, farming type, climate, and specific sales locations within the Sous Massa region is gathered. Machine learning techniques are applied for forecasting. Various regression models, including the Gradient Boosting Regressor algorithm, are employed to determine the most accurate predictor. Evaluation of the models reveals promising results, with a Mean Absolute Error (MAE) of 0.0035 and a Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) of 0.0066. The results obtained by applying various regression models, including the Gradient Boosting Regressor algorithm, demonstrate promising prediction scores. These findings contribute to the field of sales prediction in the agricultural industry while considering the impact of climate conditions, farming practices, and regional factors.

Household Gender Roles and Slow-Onset Environmental Change in Morocco: A Barrier or Driver to Develop Migration Aspirations?

We study how slow-onset environmental changes impact the adaptive capacity of rural women living in the Souss-Massa region of Morocco. Given the immobility of many women in rural regions, we especially focus upon the internal migration aspirations of rural woman. In this way our study aims to shed light on the interrelationships between environmental change, gender relations and social and migration aspirations in a gradually environmentally degrading region. Based on Carling’s aspiration/ability model, we analyse how slow-onset environmental changes influence the internal migration aspirations and trajectories of rural women, taking into account important background factors such as household characteristics, land heritage systems and migration networks. Our study is based on 38 interviews with inhabitants of the Souss-Massa region of Morocco that (used to) work in the agricultural sector, of which 15 interviews were conducted with rural women. Our findings show the ambiguous role of slow-onset environmental changes in the development of migration aspirations of rural women in a Moroccan rural context and underscores that environmental changes should be taken into account in migration decision making processes, both for internal and international migration.

The role of the cooperative model in sustainable development: Case of agricultural cooperatives in the SOUSS MASSA region in Morocco

The question of sustainable development is generally based on the activity of economic actors in implementing the challenges of the sustainable development model. In developing countries in Morocco, and which continues to exist with my new industrialized countries, cooperatives are one of the engines of growth and development, allowing initially reducing the scale of precariousness, inequalities and underdevelopment between regions and cities. At this level, cooperatives have several commitments; in particular, respect for the environment through compliance with standards that serve to assess the latter is capacity to satisfy the needs of its customers, the repair of wealth and the rise in inequalities. . In this work, we seek to ensure that sustainable development is strongly linked to the development of the cooperative model.

Argan Oil Trade and Access to Benefit Sharing: A Matter of Economic Survival for Rural Women of the Souss Massa, Morocco

Poverty eradication, environmental conservation, and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals cannot be achieved without the input and participation of disadvantaged communities in developing mitigation strategies. Over the last few decades, the markets for natural resources as niche products have grown exponentially. Morocco’s production and international sales of argan oil are set to exceed current figures within the decade. We interviewed presidents of cooperatives in several villages in the Souss Massa region of Morocco to assess the current status of the argan oil trade, in particular women’s roles in production, their economic status, and whether they have access to benefit sharing (ABS). Our results reveal that control over the argan oil trade has shifted into intermediaries that supply larger corporations, and that the survival of cooperatives and women’s access to vital income are increasingly threatened. We argue thatthe implementation of ABS is essential to preserve women’s access to income and their traditional knowledge associated with oil extraction processes and to ensure the conservation of argan ecosystems as prescribed by the Nagoya Protocol.

A GIS-based multi-criteria decision-making approach for site suitability analysis of solar-powered hydrogen production in the Souss-Massa Region, Morocco

The transition towards sustainable energy systems underscores the significance of hydrogen production through renewable resources. This study investigates the potential for solar-hydrogen conversion in the Souss-Massa region using a comprehensive approach that integrates the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) and Geographic Information System (GIS) tools. Ten distinct criteria, grouped into technical and economic categories, are evaluated to identify optimal areas for hydrogen generation, with environmental criteria being used as exclusion factors. Hydrogen production potential emerges as the primary determinant, with the western region, emerging as a focal point for solar-hydrogen projects. A comparative analysis between AHP and Fuzzy AHP (FAHP) results demonstrates the robustness of the methodology. Sensitivity analysis sheds light on the impact of criteria weighting on suitability outcomes, providing valuable insights for decision-makers and energy stakeholders. The study further quantifies avoided CO2 emissions and presents compelling Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) such as the Levelized Cost of Hydrogen (LCOH) and the Levelized Cost of Electricity (LCOE). The LCOE is found to be as low as 35.75 $/MWh, positioning the proposed solar-hydrogen conversion selected location as a cost-effective energy site. The LCOH for the designated location stands at 2.9 $/kg, reflecting its competitive stance. These findings collectively underscore the environmental and economic viability of sustainable hydrogen production in the Souss-Massa region.

Performance evaluation of the national tuberculosis control program 2016–2020: Souss-Massa region, Morocco

BackgroundTuberculosis constitutes a public health problem in Morocco. In an environment where results-based management and the evaluation of public policies become an imperative; the evaluation of the performance of the national tuberculosis control program finds its interest. ObjectivesThis study aims to analyze the performance of the tuberculosis control program in the Souss Massa region, based on the systemic approach model over a five-year period 2016–2020. MethodsThis is a descriptive secondary data analysis carried out in the Souss-Massa region in southern Morocco over a five year period 2016–2020. Data collection was carried out through the health information system of the NTCP and the various periodic reports produced by the primary health care establishments and diagnostic centers for tuberculosis and respiratory diseases, the delegations and the regional health directorate of the Ministry of Health. ResultsThe incidence of tuberculosis has fluctuated between 63 and 72 cases/100,000 inhabitants; the average number of cases detected is 1871 cases per year; the survey completion rate is 57.10%; the therapeutic success rate varies between 82% and 89%, the treatment failure rate varies between 0.62% and 2.32%; the death rate varies between 0.63% and 2.92%; the failure rate for tuberculosis/HIV cases is between 3.10% and 6.09%. ConclusionsThe results of the program tracer indicators at the level of the Souss-Massa region show that the latter combs to achieve the target objectives.

Essai d’analyse des déterminants de la performance logistique pharmaceutique au Maroc

The aim of the present work is to shed light on the determining factors in the logistics performance of companies operating in the pharmaceutical sector in the Souss-Massa region. In order to maintain harmony between the object of our research and the methodological path taken to apprehend it, we have developed a conceptual model made up of thirteen variables spread over four levels stemming from the company's governance mechanisms, its logistics practices, its logistics tools and the company's structural contingency. Starting from a post-positivist paradigm that we have embedded in a hypothetico-deductive reasoning, the transition from the theoretical base to the empirical side of the study will be made through an investigation by third-order structural modeling with latent variables estimated according to the repeated indicators approach following a type II model (reflective-formative). In future work, this model will be tested on a designed sample of pharmaceutical industry partners (laboratories, dispatchers, pharmacies, etc.).

Utilisation du système d’information des ressources humaines (SIRH) dans l’entreprise: Cas d’un échantillon d’entreprises de la Région Souss-Massa au Maroc

The use of innovative tools in HRM is becoming more and more necessary to increase the efficiency of the HR function but also that of the organization. This is why today's organizations are increasingly resorting to the acquisition of HR solutions such as the human resources information system (HRIS). This tool, which often takes the form of an ERP or separate HR modules, is structured around administrative processes dedicated to keeping employee files, managing time and activities, payroll and benefits, etc., in order to focus on other HR activities with a higher value-added decision-making aspect such as GPEC, etc. The reason behind this study is to know the state of play in the use of the HRIS at the level of the Souss-Massa Region in Morocco. To do this, we have chosen to study a sample of companies in the private and semi-public sectors through a quantitative study based on a questionnaire which was carried out after seeing important aspects of previous studies on this subject. The survey concerned HR actors in these organizations. The main results of this research, mainly based on the CPA revealed that the HRIS is mainly focused on the traditional components such as payroll and benefits management, employee record keeping, time and activity management, recruitment and selection and monitoring and analysis of turnover.