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The world is not going to be the same. COVID-19 was the catalyst for the worlds Largest ever remote work experience, and clear trends show that we are at the beginning of a new world. The goal of the hands-on work is to help students understand theory, teach them the scientific process and manipulative techniques, and generate interest and motivation in science. To achieve these goals, students must first recall the mathematical model of the physical phenomenon to be studied, perform manipulations to measure the physical phenomenon, demonstrate the compatibility between the theoretical and measured results and conclude with an analysis. At the end of the session, students are evaluated on the scientific quality of their work and receive a grade. Our challenge is to make this methodology available on a digital platform to allow learning for all, regardless of time or place. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The physical training education systems of the faculties of science focus on practical manipulations. Remote Labs are a recent approach used for educating experimental manipulations by using the performance of information and communication technologies. This article presents a real remote laboratory using low-cost embedded systems addressed to engineering and undergraduate students. The manipulation is based on the electronic control system to change the temperature with a plate-form, which is developed to permit students and teacher access to this manipulation. Our purpose of this study is the development of a control system to improve current educational systems in Moroccan universities by managing practical manipulations for a large number of students, based on a web from anywhere and anytime. Measuring and Monitoring of Temperature changes is a new experience of a remote monitoring system that will be allowed the users to access the experiment thought a specific web site. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amelogenesis imperfecta (AI) is a clinically and genetically heterogeneous group of diseases characterized by enamel defects. The authors have identified a large consanguineous Moroccan family segregating different clinical subtypes of hypoplastic and hypomineralized AI in different individuals within the family. Using targeted next-generation sequencing, the authors identified a novel heterozygous nonsense mutation in COL17A1 (c.1873C>T, p.R625*) segregating with hypoplastic AI and a novel homozygous 8-bp deletion in C4orf26 (c.39_46del, p.Cys14Glyfs*18) segregating with hypomineralized-hypoplastic AI in this family. This study highlights the phenotypic and genotypic heterogeneity of AI that can exist even within a single consanguineous family. Furthermore, the identification of novel mutations in COL17A1 and C4orf26 and their correlation with distinct AI phenotypes can contribute to a better understanding of the pathophysiology of AI and the contribution of these genes to amelogenesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amelogenesis imperfecta (AI) is a clinically and genetically heterogeneous group of diseases characterized by enamel defects. The authors have identified a large consanguineous Moroccan family segregating different clinical subtypes of hypoplastic and hypomineralized AI in different individuals within the family. Using targeted next-generation sequencing, the authors identified a novel heterozygous nonsense mutation in COL17A1 (c.1873C>T, p.R625*) segregating with hypoplastic AI and a novel homozygous 8-bp deletion in C4orf26 (c.39_46del, p.Cys14Glyfs*18) segregating with hypomineralized-hypoplastic AI in this family. This study highlights the phenotypic and genotypic heterogeneity of AI that can exist even within a single consanguineous family. Furthermore, the identification of novel mutations in COL17A1 and C4orf26 and their correlation with distinct AI phenotypes can contribute to a better understanding of the pathophysiology of AI and the contribution of these genes to amelogenesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Amelogenesis imperfecta is an inherited disease characterized by generalized structural abnormalities of the enamel on all teeth, including both primary and permanent dentition. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case report of a rare association of amelogenesis imperfecta, platyspondyly, and bicytopenia.Case Presentation: A 5-year-old Moroccan boy was examined in the Centre for Dental Consultation and Treatment, Faculty of Dentistry, Rabat. He was a child of consanguineous parents (first degree). The child failed to thrive (-4 standard deviation score) and displayed delayed overall development. A dental examination revealed a hypoplastic amelogenesis imperfecta with a bacterial biofilm deposit on tooth surfaces. A complete blood count revealed bicytopenia (normocytic-normochromic anemia with thrombocytopenia). A radiographic examination of the spinal column showed a deviation of the spine in the frontal plane in the form of thoracolumbar scoliosis. The interpedicular distance was not expanded; but a mild platyspondyly exists, especially pronounced in T11 and T12.Conclusions: No other family members presented amelogenesis imperfecta, bicytopenia, or platyspondyly. The consanguineous marriage suggested an autosomal recessive mode of inheritance. Further studies are necessary to clarify the genetic defect producing this syndrome, and the symptomatic associations of amelogenesis imperfecta, platyspondyly and bicytopenia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil degradation and desertification processes in the Mediterranean basin reflect the interplay between environmental and socioeconomic drivers. An approach to evaluate comparatively the multiple relationships between biophysical variables and socioeconomic factors is illustrated in the present study using the data collected from 586 field sites located in five Mediterranean areas (Spain, Greece, Turkey, Tunisia and Morocco). A total of 47 variables were chosen to illustrate land-use, farm characteristics, population pressure, tourism development, rainfall regime, water availability, soil properties and vegetation cover, among others. A data mining approach incorporating non-parametric inference, principal component analysis and hierarchical clustering was developed to identify candidate syndromes of soil degradation and desertification risk. While field sites in the same study area showed a substantial similarity, the multivariate relationship among variables diverged among study areas. Data mining techniques proved to be a practical tool to identify spatial determinants of soil degradation and desertification risk. Our findings identify the contrasting spatial patterns for biophysical and socioeconomic variables, in turn associated with different responses to land degradation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Sehoul, Morocco, the use of marginal land for agriculture became a necessity for the local population due to increased poverty and the occupation of the best land by new owners. Desertification poses an additional threat to agricultural production on marginal slopes, which are often stony and degraded. In a participatory process embedded in the EU DESIRE research project, potential sustainable land management measures were selected to address land degradation and desertification. Promising experiences with no-tillage practices elsewhere in Morocco had motivated the Moroccan government to promote conservation agriculture throughout the country. This combination of crop rotation, minimal soil disturbance and soil cover maintenance, however, had not yet been tested on sloping degraded land. Field trials of grazing enclosure combined with no or minimum tillage were conducted on the plots of two farmers, and trial results were analyzed based on stakeholders’ criteria. Results suggest that increased soil cover with barley residues improved rainwater use efficiency and yields only slightly, although soil water was generally enhanced. Soil moisture measurements revealed that no-tillage was favorable mainly at soil depths of 5 cm and in connection with low-rainfall events (<20 mm); under these circumstances, moisture content was generally higher under no-tillage than under conventional tillage. Moreover, stakeholder discussion confirmed that farmers in Sehoul remain primarily interested in animal husbandry and are reluctant to change the current grazing system. Implementation of conservation agriculture is thus challenged both by the degraded, sloping and stony nature of the land, and by the socio-economic circumstances in Sehoul. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SUMMARY Objectives To calculate the hepatitis B surface antigen ( HBsAg) reactive rate for 2011 blood donors (BD) across Morocco. In addition, to monitor the profile of donors bearing the HBsAg during 2000 and 2011, we calculated the percentage of the prevalence in both sexes, in different age groups and in first-time replacement and regular BD from the Rabat Regional Blood Transfusion Centre. Background Hepatitis B is a viral infection that spreads through blood and other biological fluids. The hepatitis B virus remains one of the most common serious complications of transfusion. No information exists on the real prevalence of hepatitis B in Moroccan BD. Methods For the 2011 national HBsAg reactive rate, the percentage was calculated based on enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay ( ELISA) results of the 232 190 blood donations collected around the country. For the Rabat blood Centre, we calculated the hepatitis B sero-prevalence from donations made at the donors' suite during 2000 and 2011. Results The national prevalence of HBsAg was 1·34%. The HBsAg variations among different regions was between 0·43 and 2·86%. The Rabat donors' suite hepatitis B prevalence decreased from 2·47% in 2000 to 0·91% in 2011 ( P < 0·001). In both years, family/replacement donors were found as safe as first-time BD and female donors were the safest. Conclusions These results, presented for the first time in the country, mapped the hepatitis B distribution across Morocco in a healthy population. The findings of this study could be of great importance in setting up strategies for the recruitment of the BD and keeping blood safety at the highest level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]