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International audience; The Alboran Basin may be subject to tsunami hazards. If such an event were to occur, it is expected that the urbanised and densely populated areas of northern Moroccan coastline would be affected. Precise inundation hazard maps are needed for tsunami risk management in this region. In this article, we argue that the diversity of hazard mapping methods ensures the robustness of the scientific knowledge about the exposure of a territory. Hence, the main objective of this study is to analyse the exposure of the plain of Martil (north of Morocco), by using four hazard mapping methods to create inundation maps for two scenarios of tsunamis generated by extreme submarine mass failure (SMF) in the Alboran Sea, of 0.9 km3 and 3.8 km3 respectively. A digital terrain model of the plain was used to explore four methods of inundation mapping. The static method identified 4.32 km2 and 19.83 km2 of flooded areas for each scenario using water height values as inundation thresholds. The hybrid and the volumetric methods use the volume of water to determine the inundation extent. For the first scenario, 3.51 km2 of the plain were inundated using the hybrid method, and 20.11 km2 for the second scenario. The results of the volumetric methods are 2.32 km2 and 7.82 km2 respectively for the first and second scenario. Finally, the fourth method relies on numerical hydrodynamic modelling of tsunami inundation (Freshkiss3d® code). With this method, 4.55 km2 of the plain were flooded in the first scenario, and 24.12 km2 for the second. The comparison of the results highlights that the most sensitive areas to tsunami inundation are the lowest topographic ones, being the beaches and the wadis floodplains. This result raises questions on the current coastal development and the preparedness of its population, thus calling for more attention to engage on tsunami risk management related questions.

For thousands of years, humans have domesticated different plants by selecting for particular characters, often affecting less-known traits, including the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted by these plants for defense or reproduction. The fig tree Ficus carica has a very wide range of varieties in the Mediterranean region and is selected for its traits affecting fruits, including pollination, but the effect of human-driven diversification on the VOCs emitted by the receptive figs to attract their pollinator (Blastophaga psenes) is not known. In the present study, VOCs from receptive figs of eight varieties in northern Morocco, were collected at different times within the manual pollination period and analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Genetic analyses using microsatellite loci were performed on the same varieties. Despite strong inter-varietal differences in the quantity and relative proportions of all VOCs, the relative proportions of the four pollinator-attractive VOCs showed limited variation among varieties. There was no significant correlation between genetic markers and chemical profiles of the different varieties. While diversification driven by humans has led to differences between varieties in VOC profiles, this paper suggests that throughout the process of domestication and varietal diversification, stabilizing selection has maintained a strong signal favoring pollinator attraction.

Research Article - UN DECADE ON ECOSYSTEM RESTORATION The degradation of riparian ecosystems occurring throughout the past decades has motivated efforts aimed at the restoration of these ecosystems. The success of active revegetation approaches to restoration requires appropriate selection of reproductive material, which in turn requires knowledge of seed traits and germination. Alnus glutinosa (L.) Gaertn. (common alder) is a key riparian tree widely used in restoration projects, and has recently been classified as comprising three species: A. glutinosa; A. lusitanica Vít, Douda, & Mand ak; and A. rohlenae Vít, Douda, & Mand ak. To help guide restoration species selection, we assessed differences among populations of these species by (1) investigating seed weight, morphology, and germination success from a large population set and (2)modeling germination success in each species in relation to morphological traits and environmental conditions. Seedswere collected from 12 populations encompassing the latitudinal extremes of the species complex, and were then characterized and germinated. Ploidy levels and species were distinguished using cytometric analysis. Site-level climatic data and seed morphology datawere used to model germination success for each species. All seed traits differed between populations and one morphological-trait (seed weight-to-area ratio) differed significantly between the three species. Germination modeling showed that the southwestern species, A. lusitanica, responded positively to high temperature extremes, suggesting tolerance to the climate changes projected for southern Europe. Populations of A. lusitanica located at the latitudinal rear edge of commonalder’s distribution appear to show establishmentfacilitating adaptations, and therefore may contribute to ecological restoration efforts under a range of environmental conditions info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion

International audience; The Northern Atlantic coastline of Morocco is potentially exposed to tsunamis, like that triggered by the large Lisbon event (November 1 st , 1755), also known as the most destructive event in Moroccan history. In this work, we used MIRONE software to simulate tsunami phenomenon in the Southwest Iberian Margin region, combining a series of bathymetric and topographic grid layers with an initial water elevation generated using Mansinha's formulations and assuming an instantaneous seabed movement. For this investigation, we considered four scenarios, associated with four potential seismic sources for the 1755 earthquake located in the Gulf of Cadiz. Thus, for each scenario, we obtained a map showing the results of the simulation (distance traveled, wave displacement speed, evolution of wave heights from offshore to coastal areas and arrival travel times). These maps showed that cities like Mohammedia, Casablanca and El-Jadida, were important stakes that could be impacted by a tsunami originating from these sources. For these cities, we thus determined the traveling water columns and the inland distances that could be reached by this inundation. The results show that these cities are potentially threaten by maximum water elevation exceeding 20 m in some locations, with a worse scenario characterized by flow depth and inundation distance ranging from 6 m to 10, and 1.8 km to 4.6 km, respectively. These results should also be useful for the authorities, emergency, and decision planners to develop tsunami protection and risk awareness among the coastal communities of Morocco.

International audience; In this article, an optically transparent array antenna, integrated in organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs), is proposed for mm-wave 5G applications. This antenna is designed by using the ITO film printed on a glass substrate with the measured optical transparency of 75 %. The proposed array antenna covers the 26 GHz (26.48-28.16 GHz) for the mm-wave 5G applications. The peak gain is increased from 5.94 dB to 8.4 dB by applying the array antenna technique. The spectral power distribution (SPD) of the OLED with and without antenna is measured in the visible spectrum. The OLED luminance decreased by 34 % after antenna integration. Therefore, to solve this problem and increase the optical transparency, the mesh technique will be used.

International audience; In the framework of the European project ODYSSEA, the Moroccan Association leader of the Marine Observatory of Al Hoceima AGIR, has successfully performed two glider missions in the South Alboran Sea. The vehicle was a SeaExplorer glider (manufactured and commercialized by ALSEAMAR, France) equipped with a CTD probe (GPCTD, seabird) and a novel microplastic sensors (LEITAT). These glider missions, permitted the acquisition of hydrological parameters at an unprecedented high spatio-temporal resolution for the area, and to fill a huge data gap. The first glider mission was mainly dedicated to the sampling of the western gyre of the Alboran Sea (WAG), a major dynamical structure of the area. During this mission the glider dived following a typical sawtooth trajectory within the water-column, from the surface and up to 500 m-depth. Glider data revealed the vertical structure of the WAG and provided an interesting insight of its dynamics (water-currents, variability, etc.), supplementing information obtained by satellite. To our knowledge, this pioneer work is among on the first oceanographic survey entirely dedicated to the study of the WAG.

International audience; RESUME : Le développement de l'Internet des Objets (l'IdO) à bande étroite (NB-IoT) a radicalement changé le concept de communication pour la transmission des données. Dans le contexte médical, la transmission de la station de base vers la liaison descendante (dispositifs médicaux et patients) utilise soit la modulation linéaire ou non linéaire. L'évolution de la conformité et de la norme NB-IoT sans fil rend la conception et le développement d'appareils médicaux IoT de plus en plus difficiles. Pour développer un DM IoT de récepteurs très sensibles, robuste capable de répondre aux besoins des patients pour récolter leur information clinique , une approche d'analyser la sensibilité des DMs à multiples facettes est nécessaire. Ce papier présente une analyse de performance de la sensibilité des dispositifs médicaux (DMs) ,le taux d'erreur sur les bits (BER) en fonction de la sensibilité de réception. Le bon choix de ces deux types de modulation, la taille des paquets ainsi que les espacements des sous-porteuses (ESP en kHz) dans la bande permettent d'améliorer considérablement la sensibilité DM de réception. Mots clés : sensibilité de réception. dispositifs médicaux connectés, modulation linéaire ou non linéaire , l'Internet des Objets à bande étroite.

International audience; Marchica Lagoon, a Ramsar site on the Mediterranean coast of Morocco, is experiencing the impacts of watershed pollution, which includes pollutants from the domestic, agricultural, industrial, and mining sectors. Restoration actions were undertaken around this lagoon during the last decade in order to protect its ecological value and to develop tourist activity. To conserve the biodiversity in the lagoon, it is important to assess the environmental state of this ecosystem. This study aims to evaluate the ecotoxicological state of sediments through the post restoration characterization of the trace elements Pb, Cu, Zn, Cr, Co, and Ba, as well as their correlation to the major elements, grain size, and total organic carbon, sampled during two campaigns (the wet and dry seasons of 2018) across a sampling network of thirteen stations. Multivariate analysis and ecotoxicological risk assessment of the trace elements using the sediment quality guidelines and five pollution indices (geoaccumulation index (Igeo), enrichment factor (EF), contamination factor (CF), pollution-load index (PLI), and mean effect range median quotient (m-ERM-Q)) revealed contamination of the lagoon by Pb, Zn, and Cu, and minimal pollution by Cr, Co, and Ba. The distribution of the biological-risk index reveals that four zones of the lagoon may present a high probability of toxicity, thus constituting potential risk areas for aquatic organisms: during the wet season, the area in the northwestern sandbar border, the southwest eutrophication zone, and the mouth of the stream valley conveying industrial discharges; and during dry season, the northwestern eutrophication zone. Despite the restoration actions achieved around the lagoon, the lead, zinc, and copper concentrations increased, and their variation was significant between group stations. The biodiversity conservation of Marchica Lagoon requires continuous monitoring and assessment, as well as the implementation of an integrated management plan with restoration actions, not only around the lagoon, but also at its watershed level.

The development of 5G (fifth generation) mobile communication systems was initiated to meet the expected need for higher data rates. In this article, a new 28/38 GHz dual-band “inverted-F” array antenna for 5G applications is proposed. This antenna can be integrated in OLEDs (Organic Light Emitting Diodes) panels which can be used both for lighting or display. This 5G antenna, composed of 32 elements, has the advantage of a dual-band and compact structure. Each element of the array antenna has the shape of an “inverted-F” antenna. This array antenna can cover the 28 GHz band (27.94–28.83 GHz) and the 38 GHz band (37.97–38.96 GHz) with mutual coupling between the elements less than −35 dB. The characteristics of the end fire radiation beams were obtained by employing an array of 32 “inverted-F” antenna elements on the upper and lower portions of the PCB (Printed Circuit Board). The suggested design has a gain of approximately 16.52 dB at 28.38 GHz and 15.35 dB at 38.49 GHz, which is suitable for 5G mobile communications.

International audience; The integrated berth allocation and quay crane assignment and allocation is among the most addressed problems in the maritime related literature. The accuracy of this problem solutions depends on the precision of the resource's capacity estimation. Accordingly, in this paper, we investigate how the estimation error impacts the problem solutions. We focus on the quay cranes as being the main resources involved in serving the port customers vessels. We modelled the problem and tested different estimation errors scenarios for a dataset of instances. Computational results illustrated clearly the variation pattern of the problem solutions error over the capacity estimation error.

International audience; Drainage network patterns influence the hydrological response of the watersheds and must be taken into account in the management of the water resource. In this context, it is important to identify the factors that control the configuration of drainage networks in and beyond specific climatic conditions. Here, we study 318 basins spread over three sectors (arid, semi-arid, and semi-humid) of Morocco where seven drainage network patterns have been identified. From each basin, 14 parameters were extracted, describing the relief, geology, morphometry, drainage network, land cover, precipitation, and time of concentration (Tc). Principal component analysis (PCA) and discriminant analysis (DA) processing were performed on the entire database and on each sector separately. The results show that the drainage network pattern is a feature of the landscape that contributes significantly to the variance of the basins. They suggest that the distribution of network patterns is controlled by the relationship between the different parameters, mainly those related to the relief, more than by the variations of each parameter taken individually. The network discrimination rate is 63.8%, which improves when each sector is treated separately. Confusion in discrimination are similar across all sectors and can be explained by similar conditions (active tectonic, deformation, and uplift) or transitions from one network pattern to another, due to the landscape evolution of certain sectors. A contribution of climatic variables appears locally but was attributed to a statistical coincidence, these parameters presenting a distribution close to that of the relief and geology variables.

International audience; Objectives: This study sought to assess the respective effects of aldosterone and blood pressure (BP) levels on myocardial fibrosis in humans.Background: Experimentally, aldosterone promotes left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy, and interstitial myocardial fibrosis in the presence of high salt intake.Methods: The study included 20 patients with primary aldosteronism (PA) (high aldosterone and high BP), 20 patients with essential hypertension (HTN) (average aldosterone and high BP), 20 patients with secondary aldosteronism due to Bartter/Gitelman (BG) syndrome (high aldosterone and normal BP), and 20 healthy subjects (HS) (normal aldosterone and normal BP). Participants in each group were of similar age and sex distributions, and asymptomatic. Cardiac magnetic resonance including cine and T1 mapping was performed blind to the study group to quantify global LV mass index, as well as intracellular mass index and extracellular mass index considered as a measure of myocardial fibrosis in vivo.Results: Median plasma aldosterone concentration was as follows: PA = 709 pmol/l (interquartile range [IQR]: 430 to 918 pmol/l); HTN = 197 pmol/l (IQR: 121 to 345 pmol/l); BG = 297 pmol/l (IQR: 180 to 428 pmol/l); and HS = 105 pmol/l (IQR: 85 to 227 pmol/l). Systolic BP was as follows: PA = 147 ± 15 mm Hg; HTN = 133 ± 19 mm Hg; BG = 116 ± 9 mm Hg; and HS = 117 ± 12 mm Hg. LV end-diastolic volume showed underloading in BG and overloading in patients with PA (63 ± 13 ml/m2 vs. 82 ± 15 ml/m2; p < 0.0001). Intracellular mass index increased with BP across groups (BG: 36 [IQR: 29 to 41]; HS: 40 [IQR: 36 to 46]; HTN: 51 [IQR: 42 to 54]; PA: 50 [IQR: 46 to 67]; p < 0.0001). Extracellular mass index was similar in BG, HS, and HTN (16 [IQR: 12 to 20]; 15 [IQR: 11 to 18]; and 14 [IQR: 12 to 17], respectively) but 30% higher in PA (21 [IQR: 18 to 29]; p < 0.0001) remaining significant after adjustment for mean BP.Conclusions: Only primary pathological aldosterone excess combined with high BP increased both extracellular myocardial matrix and intracellular mass. Secondary aldosterone excess with normal BP did not affect extracellular myocardial matrix. (Study of Myocardial Interstitial Fibrosis in Hyperaldosteronism; NCT02938910).

The aim of the present paper is to evaluate and discuss the Energy wind potential of five major cities in Northern Morocco. The theoretical analysis is based on stochastic models of Weibull and Rayleigh using Probability Density Function approach. Various statistical indicators such as the determination coefficient (R²), Chi square error (χ²), root mean square error (RMSE) and mean bias error (MBE) are considered. Then, a numerical simulation of the potential electrical power is carried out using the Enercon E103/2350 wind turbine model. The results show that Weibull is more accurate than Rayleigh, especially for Tetuan and Al-Hoceima cities. Concerning electrical energy production, only the sites of Tetouan and Tangier gave interesting values.

This paper presents the design of a compact size band patch antenna for 5G wireless communications. This wideband antenna was designed on a glass substrate (12 × 11 × 2 mm3) and is optically transparent and compact. It consists of a radiation patch and a ground plane using AgHT-8 material. The antenna design comprises rectangular shaped branches optimized to attain the wideband characteristics. The calculated impedance bandwidth is 7.7% covering the frequency range of 25 to 27 GHz. A prototype of the antenna and various parameters such as return loss plot, gain plot, radiation pattern plot, and voltage standing wave ratio (VSWR) are presented and discussed. The simulated results of this antenna show that it is well suited for future 5G applications because of its transparency, flexibility, light weight, and wide achievable frequency bandwidth near the millimeter wave frequency band.

Lattice Boltzmann Method ( LBM ) has been applied for the simulation of a mixed convection heat transfer of two dimensional Newtonian fluid in a square cavity driven by a periodically oscillating lid. The top wall is maintained at higher variable temperature. The developed LBM code in Matlab, is applied for the oscillating lid to simulate the fluid flow and heat transfer in cavity, was validated using various Reynolds and Grashof numbers. Nusselt number was calculated for various pertinent dimensionless groups. Fluid flow and heat transfer characteristics were examined in the domain of Reynolds number, Grashof number, the dimensionless lid oscillation frequency and different values of temperature. Such that: 10 2 ⩽ Re ⩽ 10 3 , 10 2 ⩽ Gr ⩽ 10 6 , 0.1 ⩽ ω ⩽ 5 , the Prandtl number was fixed as 0.71 . The results show that the variation of the Reynolds and Grashof numbers has an effect on energy transport process and drag force behavior depending on the conduct of the velocity cycle. Moreover the variation of Rayleigh number and period of the heated portion has an effect on the transfer rate on convective structures.

Aims: Oxidative stress is central to the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease (PD), but the mechanisms involved in the control of this stress in dopaminergic cells are not fully understood. There is increasing evidence that selenoproteins play a central role in the control of redox homeostasis and cell defense, but the precise contribution of members of this family of proteins during the course of neurodegenerative diseases is still elusive. Results: We demonstrated first that selenoprotein T (SelT) whose gene disruption is lethal during embryogenesis, exerts a potent oxidoreductase activity. In the SH-SY5Y cell model of dopaminergic neurons, both silencing and overexpression of SelT affected oxidative stress and cell survival. Treatment with PD-inducing neurotoxins such as 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) or rotenone triggered SelT expression in the nigrostriatal pathway of wild-type mice, but provoked rapid and severe parkinsonian-like motor defects in conditional brain SelT-deficient mice. This motor impairment was associated with marked oxidative stress and neurodegeneration and decreased tyrosine hydroxylase activity and dopamine levels in the nigrostriatal system. Finally, in PD patients, we report that SelT is tremendously increased in the caudate putamen tissue. Innovation: These results reveal the activity of a novel selenoprotein enzyme that protects dopaminergic neurons against oxidative stress and prevents early and severe movement impairment in animal models of PD. Conclusions: Our findings indicate that selenoproteins such as SelT play a crucial role in the protection of dopaminergic neurons against oxidative stress and cell death, providing insight into the molecular underpinnings of this stress in PD. Antioxid. Redox Signal. 24, 557–574.

Generally, node groups in dense wireless networks (WNs) often pose the problem of communication between the central node and the rest of the nodes in a group. Adaptive Network Coded Cooperation (ANCC) for wireless central node networks adapts precisely to an extensive and dense WN, at this level the random linear network coding (RLNC) scheme with Low-Density Parity-Check (LDPC) are used as the essential ANCC evolution. This paper suggests two phases effective technique then studies the influence of the randomly chosen number of coded symbols which are correctly received in the second phase on bit error rate (BER). The proposed technique also focuses on the role of dispersion impact related to the LDPC code generating matrix. The results of the simulation allow selecting the best compromise for the best BER.

International audience; This letter proposes an accurate parameter extraction method based on the Levenberg-Marquardt algorithm for a silicon carbide (SiC) power mosfet model. An improved compact model uses this method to study the static behavior of SiC power mosfets according to the temperature and the input voltage. The simulation results obtained with this proposed method fit perfectly the measurements and accurately describe the static behavior of 1200 V Gen 2 SiC mosfets. The extracted model parameters (threshold voltage, saturation region transconductance, and transverse electric field parameter) are evaluated to analyze the temperature impact and understand the physical behavior of 1200 V Gen 2 SiC power mosfet.

International audience; Callus induction was successfully carried out from several explants of carob (Ceratonia siliqua L.). Callogenesis from the apex was tested on three different media containing Woody Plant Medium (WPM), Murashige and Skoog (MS) or Schenk and Hildebrandt (SH) macronutrients supplemented with two different hormonal solutions: benzylaminopurine (BAP) at 4.44 µM alone, or 2.22 µM of BAP plus 5 µM of 2-naphthalineacetic acid (NAA). Primary callus formation was obtained on a medium containing 88% WPM macronutrients. Callus formation from other parts of the plant was as follows: − Cotyledon embryos extracted from immature seeds (85% success rate on WPM medium, containing 4.44 µM BAP and 5 µM NAA); − Cotyledon leaves taken from 7-day-old seedlings, obtained from in vitro germination of seeds (62% success rate on WPM medium, containing 4.44 µM BAP and 5 µM NAA); − Hypocotyls taken from 7-day-old seedlings (55% success rate on WPM containing 2.22 µM BAP and 5 µM NAA); − Differentiated leaves taken from mature tree (84% success rate on WPM medium, containing 4.44 µM of BA and 2.26 µM of NAA).In general, production of primary calli and their growth after transplantation was better on WPM medium supplemented with 2.5 µM NAA and 2.22 µM BAP.

Located in the North of Morocco, Bouhachem forest (about 8000 ha) is threatened by increased deforestation. In order to assure the sustainable management of this forest, the study of its landscape dynamic has been conducted, with emphasis on the role of cannabis cultivation and deforestation. For this, forest inventory was done, satellite images covering 26 years period were analysed, interviews of stakeholders conducted and the archives on the management of the forest checked. The forest basal area is 34.6 m²/ha in average. Canopy closure, stand density, rock exposition, and stump density average values were respectively 43%, 1001 stem/ha, 24% 187 stump/ha, for a wild stump rate of 18.7%. The total forest cover has shrunk by 11% between 1984 and 2010.The main reasons of forest depletion are: demographic explosion, erosion land slide, illegal logging and cannabis cultivation around which are gravitating an increased demand of forest resources, livestock grazing, corruption, poor surveillance, forest fire. Keywords : Bouhachem forest, livestock grazing, corruption, remote sensing and GIS, model of deforestation