Oilseeds development in Morocco in the current international context

Oilseeds are grown mainly for the extraction of vegetable oils and for its by-products needed in livestock feed and in other industrial uses. The oils obtained from them are becoming a staple food used in daily cooking in several countries, and as a result the world demand is constantly increasing. This situation, combined with the exponential increase in the world population and other cyclical factors, is leading to a surge pricing, especially in importing countries. This increase in prices is fueled by soaring oil prices and disruption in supplies following Covid-19 pandemic and geopolitical tensions in the Black Sea. Morocco is directly impacted by these fluctuations given that the country imports almost its total needs in vegetable oils, oilseeds and meals. The high dependence on imported vegetable oils and oilseed products has a detrimental effect on the economy of Morocco and weighs heavily on the country's trade balance. Considering their increasingly important role in society, the development of a local oilseed sector to reduce Morocco's dependence on imports and cope with the vagaries of global markets has never been more topical in the current context of sustainable agriculture and food sovereignty.

Ethnobotanical study on the use of medicinal plants with antiviral interest, case of SARS-CoV-19, in the region of Seraidi (Annaba, north-east Algeria)

The taxonomic diversity and the richness of the region of Seraidi (North-East Algeria) in medicinal plants, as well as the appearance of diseases of viral origin, in particular, the current pandemic of SARS-CoV-2, led us to the realization of an ethnobotanical survey of plants with antiviral interests. The survey was conducted based on a pre-established quiz, with 120 people from different categories of the population of Seraidi, with the aim of listing the medicinal plants used in the treatment of viral diseases and collecting as much information as possible on this subject. After analyzing, the information provided by the people interviewed, we listed 32 species belonging to 20 families, of which the Lamiaceae family is the most represented. Older women are the most affected by the use of plants;people without a higher intellectual level have the most knowledge about the use of plants with antiviral interest. The leaf is the most widely used organ, in the form of a decoction or infusion, administered orally.

COVID-19 monthly pandemic evolution in Algeria

Our study's objective was to retrospectively evaluate the pandemic Coronavirus Infection Disease first appeared in 2019 (COVID-19) in Algeria from July 2020 until February 2022 by studying the evolution and relationship between three variables: the number of new cases, the number of new deaths, and the number of cases hospitalized in intensive care. Data were obtained from "Our world in Data Organisation" (https://ourworldindata.org/coronavirus) on 01 March 2022. They were proceeded by descriptive and multivariate analysis. The correlation between the three variables and the analysis of individual principal components (PCA) were conducted. The number of new cases shot up the month of January 2022 with 33685 cases, the peak number of cases in intensive care was recorded in July 2021 with 1261 cases whereas the number of new deaths reached its peak in the month of August 2021 with 1015 cases. A significant linear dependence has been identified between the number of new cases and the number of cases in intensive care (R2>0.5). The PCA analysis allowed us to distinguish the months of August 2020, November 2020, July 2021, August 2021, September 2021, and January 2022. They were characterized by high levels of new confirmed cases, new deaths and/or cases in intensive care. During the study period, the pandemic COVID-19 in Algeria passed by three waves characterized by peaks in the number of new cases and new deaths.

Assessment of occupational stress among hospital pharmacy staff during the SARS-cov2 pandemic (COVID-19)

Objective: The Covid-19 viral pneumonia epidemic represents a major public health issue for all hospital structures, including hospital pharmacy, which has an essential role in dealing with this crisis. This study aims to explore the level of stress perceived by hospital pharmacy staff during this pandemic. Method: This is a cross-sectional study that evaluated 82 health professionals in hospital pharmacies in Morocco, using a snowball sampling technique. It evaluated their socio-demographic characteristics, working conditions, perceived stress scale (PSS), emotions and concerns during the epidemic. Statistical analysis was performed using statistical package for social science (SPSS). Results: The majority of participants were women (74.4%) and hospital pharmacists (67%). More than half of the participants showed moderate levels of stress (73.2%). Among the variables examined, only protective measures and information about the situation via the superiors showed a significant association with the PSS value (P = 0.036) and the level of stress according to the ANOVA test and the Chi-2 test respectively. Conclusion: In this study, hospital pharmacy staff showed moderate levels of stress at the beginning of the Covid-19 epidemic. It should be noted that socio-demographic traits had no impact on stress. Consideration of social and health conditions and stress management would help reduce professional stress among hospital pharmacy staff during the pandemic.

Health emergency plan applied to a hospital pharmacy during the COVID-19 pandemic: feedback from the Moroccan National Institute of Oncology

Objectives: A pandemic is a health disaster that can lead to the disruption of hospital's health care activities. The objective of this work is the presentation of a health emergency plan model applicable to the hospital pharmacy in times of crisis, and the description of the Moroccan National Institute of Oncology's pharmacy experience in fighting COVID-19 pandemic. Method: Establishment of a set of procedures for pharmaceutical organization as a part of a health emergency plan, the creation of a device whose endowment allows the rapid management of 25 simultaneous patient's health care, and a system for managing the risks of shortages. In addition, all the missions carried out by the pharmacy during the COVID-19 pandemic were presented and discussed. Results: Three medical endowment lists of essential therapeutic products were created, with a total of 125 references. The terms of supplies are defined by a procedure for deploying health emergency plan's pharmacy. An interhospital pharmaceutical inventory monitoring system was also put in place during the COVID-19 pandemic. Conclusion: In time of crisis, supply systems are severely disrupted and shortages in therapeutic products are common. An emergency plan is an organization of multidisciplinary actions to deal with a health disasters in which the hospital pharmacy plays a decisive role.

Mountain tourism - towards a more sustainable path

This study highlights the important role that tourism can play in valuing the natural and spiritual heritage of mountains, and the cultural diversity and traditional practices of mountain peoples. Particularly when linked to nature and rural tourism, mountain tourism can make a valuable contribution to promoting sustainable food systems and adding value to local products. Developing sustainable tourism in mountains requires reducing its negative environmental and social impacts and addressing the challenges posed by climate change. The COVID-19 pandemic has already brought about major changes in the mountain tourism sector and substantial losses for communities and businesses. However, consumer appetites for destinations that are outdoors and less crowded have increased in the wake of the pandemic, and these changes usher in new opportunities for mountain destinations to rebuild a greener and more sustainable form of tourism and rethink their products and services. For this to happen, the following measures will be critical: innovation and development of year-round tourism experiences;investments in infrastructure, particularly for the digitalization of mountain tourism services;strengthening multi-level-governance, partnerships and active community participation;and ensuring regular assessments of the impact of tourism on mountains, the effective management of waste and resources, and clearer practices for defining and managing the carrying capacity of highland destinations. Nineteen case studies are featured, which highlight solutions being implemented or tested in mountain regions around the world.

The fishery and aquaculture sectors affected by the COVID-19 crisis in the Maghreb

According to five national reports prepared by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Subregional Office for North Africa, the Maghreb fishery and aquaculture sectors experienced a significant decline in activity in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The reports are based on a survey conducted in four Maghreb countries: Algeria, Mauritania, Morocco and Tunisia, which all experienced a drop in production and income in 2020. The reports also showed that consumption shifted towards canned, frozen and processed fish at the expense of fresh products, especially at the beginning of the pandemic. This consumer behaviour impacted fish demand and prices.

[Comparative study of patients hospitalized for SARS-CoV-2 infection in two consecutive waves in Tunisia]. / Étude comparative de patients hospitalisés pour une infection SARS-CoV-2 au cours de deux vagues consécutives en Tunisie.

Introduction: Since December 2019, a novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) has triggered a global pandemic with a heavy medical and societal-economic toll. The health consequences were not similar during the successive waves that affected several countries. The aim of our study was to compare the sociodemographic, clinical and evolutionary features of COVID-19 patients hospitalized at the Military Hospital of Tunis (HMPIT) during the 2nd and 3rd waves that affected the country. Patients and methods: Observational prospective study involving 1,527 COVID-19 patients hospitalized at HMPIT over 11 months, divided into two periods: from July 2020 to December 2020 called the second wave (V2) and from January 2021 to May 2021 called the third wave (V3). We compared the epidemiological data, the clinical form and the evolution of the patients for each period. Results: The number of hospitalized patients was 636 during V2 compared to 891 during V3. Average age was 63.5 ± 15.3 years during V2 versus 65.8 ± 17.8 years during V3 (P = not significant [NS]). The percentage of young adults [18-40 years] was 6.5% during V2 compared to 6.7% during V3 (P = NS). The gender ratio (M/F) was 1.59 for V2 and 1.42 for V3 (P = NS). Comorbidities were present in 65% of V2 patients and 66.3% of V3 patients (P = NS), with hypertension being the most prevalent one in both groups (47.2% for V2 versus 44.9% for V3; P = NS), followed by overweight, dyslipidemia and diabetes (33% for V2 versus 39.3% for V3; P = 0.012). The median duration between symptoms onset and hospitalization was 7 days [5-10] during V2 versus 8.5 days during V3 [5-12] (P = 0.0004). The severe clinical form was present in 49% of patients admitted during V2 compared to 34.8% during V3 (P < 10-3). The critical form represented 18.6% of cases during V2 against 16.8% during V3 (P = NS). The average hospital length of stay in COVID units (outside of intensive care unit) was 8.4 ± 5.4 days during V2 and 9.8 ± 5.7 days during V3. The average length of stay was significantly longer for the intensive care unit (11.3 ± 3.4 days for V2 versus 13.8 ± 3.9 days for V3; P = 0.01). The case fatality rate was 24.5% during V2 and 20.7% during V3 (P = NS). Median age of death was 70.2 years [42-88] during V2 and 70.4 years [22-96] during V3 with 2 patients less than 40 years of age (1%) for the latter period. The gender ratio (M/F) of deceased patients was 3.21 for V2 and 1.5 for V3 (P = 0.001). The case fatality rate was higher in the intensive care unit (65.4% for V2 versus 69.7% for V3; P = NS). Causes of death were dominated by ARDS (acute respiratory distress syndrome) for both periods (55.1% for V2 versus 70.8% for V3; P = 0.002), followed by septic shock (12.8% for V2 versus 10.8% for V3; P = NS) and multi-organ failure (9.6% for V2 versus 7.0% for V3; P = NS). Conclusion: This study revealed a decrease in severe and critical clinical forms during the 3rd wave, as well as a decrease in the case fatality rate compared to the previous wave, due to improved management and vaccination. On the other hand, the percentage of ARDS was significantly higher during this wave probably related to the beginning of circulation in our country of the Delta variant causing more severe clinical cases.

MENA Energy Trends, Global Energy Warming, and COVID-19 Crisis: An Investigation Analysis from Oil, Gas, Regional Economy, and Labor Productivity

With the complex presence of important natural reserves, energy is considered as the main key ingredient to facilitate economic development in the Middle East, GCC, and Maghreb regions. Expectations for a rapidly growing economy in the next decade will likely cause an increase in the fraction of energy consumed domestically, limiting what is available for export. Considered as the home of global oil and gas reserves, the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region is the cornerstone of the global energy architecture, and the global low-carbon energy transition poses critical questions to MENA oil and gas producers. Unfortunately, as the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic sweeps across the world, growth in the MENA region was projected to fall to 2.8% in 2020, lower than the growth rates during the 2008 global financial crisis and the 2015 oil price shock. Before the coronavirus (COVID-2019), the sharp drop in oil and gas prices that began in 2015 fostered MENA hydrocarbon producers to launch ambitious economic reform programs in all regions. The main goal of these programs was not only to increase the diversification of investment sectors to boost national and regional economies but also to encourage the development of the nonhydrocarbon sector. This article argues for a new challenge investigation and analysis to figure out with current MENA policy options and future prospects, as well as the present impact of COVID-19, in addition to the public policies that encourage diversification economy sector to avoid entire dependence on oil and gas in export are dressed. It also deals with the investigation of the pressing need to create job opportunities for a large and youthful population and the new definition of the possibility of the world moving more aggressively towards low-carbon integration. [ FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of Mathematical Problems in Engineering is the property of Hindawi Limited and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full . (Copyright applies to all s.)

Towards a peer-to-peer decision support system during epidemics. COVID-19 as an example

During an epidemic/pandemic caused by an unknown virus such as SRAS-CoV-2, the aetiological agent of COVID-19, health practitioners cannot predict the behavior of the virus and therefore the course of the disease. They also cannot predict how patients will react to different treatments. In this paper, authors propose a distributed system's architecture for predicting the course of the disease and patient reactions for treatments, using real-time data of patients with the same disease from all over the world. The system uses geographic and the "Patient, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome/s" (PICO) questions classification of patients. It shares information with inspiration from peer-to-peer download model and uses a semantic model to save and compare clinical questions. The system also proposes to generate personalized self-tests that can be made available to the population to reduce the panic caused by the epidemic. The operation of the system is illustrated by an example of a patient with COVID-19.

Extraversion versus développement agricole autocentré: Le cas des pays du Maghreb

The 2007-2008 food crisis and the most recent one associated with the covid-19 pandemic renewed the debate on agricultural and food policies in southern countries, particularly around the export versus local production dilemma. Having adopted structural adjustment programs since the mid-1980s, and subsequently consolidated the liberalization of their agricultural policies, the Maghreb countries were not immune from the 2006-2008 food crisis and have suffered the full brunt of the effects of the Covid-19 crisis. These crises have highlighted the risks of heavy dependence on imports and the fragility of food security based on international trade. They therefore invite a rethinking of choices in terms of agricultural and food policies by paying more attention to national food production.

Distance learning in Moroccan universities during confinement period from the students' viewpoint

This study aims to assess the reality of distance learning in Moroccan universities in exceptional circumstances imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic, which forced the Moroccan government to suspend face-to-face study and compensate for it by distance learning for preserving the students' pedagogical continuity. The inclusion of interactive platforms for the benefit of students to ensure pedagogical communication with professors and the monitoring of lessons through them is among the most important decisions in Moroccan universities. However, this teaching style has defined several obstacles and problems, which we have tried to assess through a student opinion survey questionnaire to identify their opinions on the extent to which university distance learning has achieved the objectives set by the Moroccan education system. The importance of the study lies in the fact that the student is the center of the teaching-learning process, which makes knowing his attitudes towards distance education one of the things that must be studied and analyzed. This may enable officials to monitor realistic data and restructure the education system to achieve successful educational outcomes. First, the study concluded that the students encountered material and financial difficulties related to the logistical means and Internet connection, which negatively affected the students' motivation toward distance learning. Then, the study concluded that the digital content available to students was ineffective. Finally, the researchers concluded that the distance learning option could not compensate for face-to-face teaching in Moroccan universities.

Agriculture and fisheries support policies in Algeria - a strategic prospective towards sustainable food security 2035

Covid-19 and the Ukrainian crisis have put the question of the "food emergency" back on everyone's agenda. If the need to ensure food security is unanimous in Algeria, this is however not the case for the future orientation of public policies in this area. This work attempts to contribute to this debate through a strategic prospective analysis to 2035 identifying new orientations for policies to support agricultural and fisheries production systems. It demonstrates that it is necessary, in order to better prepare for these "long and short time" challenges, to act now and to go further "than instead of" marginal adjustments. Also, these new policies must accompany "a double paradigm shift" that of the food model and the agricultural and fisheries production systems. The establishment of a cross-cutting food security policy in Algeria therefore appears to be essential to promote and succeed in this new dynamic.

Annual report 2021: CGIAR research program on policies, institutions, and markets

This report highlights the achievements in 2021 of the CGIAR Research Program on Policies, Institutions, and Markets (PIM). PIM had a productive final year centered on synthesizing and packaging findings to consolidate the program's legacy while continuing to respond to demand related to the impacts of COVID-19 and preparing the transition to the new CGIAR portfolio. Among other achievements, PIM findings and engagement contributed to Myanmar's response to COVID-19, South Africa's policies on resilience to climate change, Tunisia's policies for pastoral development, a reform of Nigeria's national agricultural research system, Ghana's fish seed and farm certification system, gender strategies for three agricultural value chains in Honduras, and genome editing guidelines for the agricultural sector in four African countries. PIM research informed policy documents of FAO, IFAD, One CGIAR, the UK Government, the World Bank and the World Food Programme. PIM tools enabled more equitable co-management of 76 protected areas in Peru and informed World Bank social protection projects.

COVID-19 and diffusion of rumors among Arab social media users: reasons and solutions

As the major source of information, social media has outpaced mainstream news channels. In these information overloaded days, differentiating rumors from facts is crucial and difficult. This study aims to explore the respondents' perception of the reasons for spreading rumors related to the Coronavirus on social media. Furthermore, it seeks to look at the respondents' perception of the ways of combating fake news related to the Coronavirus on social media. Lastly, the study attempts to know to what extent the respondents are satisfied with the performance of the media institutions in dealing with the Coronavirus. A cross-sectional survey design was used with a non-probability sample to explore the respondents' perceptions of the above-mentioned aims. A total of 1274 self-selected cases from Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Morocco, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, and the United Arab Emirates were investigated. The study finds that all respondents agree with the reasons listed in the survey about spreading rumors related to the Coronavirus on social media, except for the reasons of lacking transparency on behalf of the Ministry of Health and other official bodies and lacking accurate information about the Coronavirus. Moreover, the study confirms the respondents' beliefs that all listed ways effectively combat fake news related to the Coronavirus on social media. Furthermore, the study finds that the respondents are satisfied with the performance of the media institutions in dealing with the Coronavirus in their countries. With these findings, the study significantly contributes to the literature. It may assist various parties, such as the government and media organizations, in making the proper decision to combat the spread of rumors via social media.

Food behavior of the Algerian population at the time of the COVID-19: the first survey carried out in the western Algerian region

The world has been dealing with a coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic since January 2020, which is caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. To avoid the spread of the disease, drastic measures were implemented. These measures, however, can have a negative impact on people's health because they influence their behavior. The COVID-19 pandemic has had an impact on people's lifestyles, including food consumption, when combined with quarantine measures. In order to shed light on the Algerian population's food habits during the pandemic, an observational and descriptive epidemiological study on 640 people, whether or not they were infected with COVID-19, was conducted in the western region of Algeria. The study used an online and face-to-face interview questionnaire focused on the pandemic's elapsed period between February and September 2020. Our findings showed that half of our participants had influenza during the study period, but only 37.53% of them had COVID-19. As a result, almost all of our test-positive respondents (95%) followed a medical protocol automatically. Furthermore, 31.57% of them stated that they were following a specific diet to avoid COVID-19 contamination. This resulted in a clear shift in Algerian cuisine (70.31%), with processed foods (3.47%) and modern dishes (5%) made outside the home consumed at low levels, while consumption of vegetables (22.39%), fruits (15.87%), and traditional dishes (11.95%) increased. Vulnerable people, such as breastfeeding mothers, were faced with the double burden of nourishing their babies while being Covid-positive, causing 35/40 cases to discontinue breastfeeding completely. Overall, 83.09% of our participants were malnourished. This study is the first draft in the understanding of Algerians' dietary behavior during the COVID-19 pandemic, and it could be used effectively in the delineation of strategies for correction and support of citizens in underdeveloped countries.

Assessment of obesity risk factors in Algerian children during COVID-19 lockdown

COVID-19 is a global pandemic, which has subsequently spread rapidly at all the countries of the world. The first measures taken to limit its spread were the imposition of social distancing and the lockdown. Although these measures are essential, they have important impacts on the behavior of individuals, their health and their lifestyles. The purpose of this study was to know the effect of the confinement on children. We carried out a cross-sectional prospective study on 100 children from the commune of Constantine, Algeria, including 54 boys and 46 girls, aged from 5 to 14 years old. Anthropometric measurements and a validated questionnaire have been completed. Our results showed that lockdown had a negative impact on the physical activity of children (decreased from 79% to 25%). Additionally, daily sitting time in front of TV and computer screens has increased compared to the pre-lockdown period. The frequency of obesity by sex, according to the WHO 2007 z-score references, is more frequent in boys than in girls, whether before or during confinement with a non-significant difference between genders. The high frequency observed of childhood obesity during the lockdown was also associated with eating habits and socio-economic status. This study allowed us to know the negative effects of confinement and its relationship with obesity in children. However, if we really wish to circumscribe the evolution of the phenomenon, it is necessary to act on the various factors identified as each having a share of responsibility in its occurrence.

Impact of the COVID-19 health crisis on small farms and prospects for a sustainable food system in Tunisia

Covid-19 had a negative effect economically and socially in Tunisia, as illustrated by the highest mortality rate recorded in Africa in March 2020 and the economic growth rate estimated at -9.3% by the Central Bank of Tunisia in 2020. The main cause of this situation is the quarantine and the sudden halt of several activities resulting in the drop in domestic demand and the loss of Tunisia's main trading partners. The agricultural sector, and particularly small and family farms, forced to align with the quarantine measures since March 2020, have suffered the full impact of Covid-19. Indeed, the pandemic crisis put a strain on food supply chains: a complex network of interactions involving farmers, agricultural inputs, processing plants, retailers, and others. This study proposes to analyze the impact of the sanitary crisis, and of the national lockdown measures imposed since March 22, 2020, on small farms in the most vulnerable rural areas of Tunisia and on the functioning of small local chains. A survey based on the approach of the Participatory Systemic Rapid Diagnosis (PSRD) was conducted during the month of June 2020 just after 2 months of containment, with a sample of 240 farmers operating in local channels and distributed from north to south of Tunisia on 6 governorates the poorest and most vulnerable, according to the economic development indicator and poverty line. The results of this survey have shown that the health crisis has resulted in major disruptions to agricultural activities mainly at the level of supply chains of raw materials (treatment products, fertilizers, seeds, animal feed, ... etc.), and marketing channels due to the closure of weekly markets (leafy vegetables, small livestock, ... etc.). This dysfunction of the production system and local agricultural sectors has not only had an impact on farmers' incomes, which have dropped significantly compared to a normal year, but has also disrupted the functioning of the entire food system at the local level. Consequently, the need for a new model of production, processing, and marketing of food products is necessary.

Topic-based sentiment analysis of hotel reviews. (Special Issue: COVID-19.)

We developed a system for sentiment analysis of hotel reviews. The system uses topics to give accurate reports related to some qualities specified by the end-user. This system permits users to evaluate a given hotel services quality according to multiple criteria. Besides, a user can make different detailed comparisons between hotels. To achieve this goal, the proposed system decomposes complex opinions into sub-comments to extract the specified concept. Further, it translates non-English comments into the English language. After having tested the system by using two datasets, the obtained results are judged to be satisfactory.

Intelligent tourism system using prospective techniques and the mactor methodology: a case study of Tunisian tourism. (Special Issue: COVID-19.)

This paper proposes a managerial intelligence system for tourism by identifying its future necessary conditions. We use the managerial approach and the joint decision-making system to introduce cooperation among the actors in the Tunisian tourism system. The Mactor methodology was used to simulate the convergences and divergences between these actors. The results indicate that the model helps to define the system's future properties. The participation, without discrimination, of all tourism actors as a public-private partnership in the system's design and management is essential. The actors diverge in terms of piloting and financing the system, but they converge in terms of cooperating and participating in the management of the system. When there is such participation in management, the actors cooperate by sharing strategic information. In a public-private partnership framework, the state can intervene in the information market as a partner of economic actors rather than as the holder of a market monopoly.