Contribution to the ethnobotanical study of antidiabetic medicinal plants of the Central Middle Atlas region (Morocco)

An ethnobotanical survey of medicinal plants was carried out in the Central Middle Atlas in the years 2013 and 2014 to establish the catalog of medicinal plants used in traditional medicine in the treatment of diabetes. Thus, 1560 people were interviewed, using questionnaires. The latter enabled us to gather information on traditional healing practices of the local population including scientific name, French name, vernacular name, plant parts used , therapeutic indications , revenues and mode of administration. The results show that 76 medicinal species were inventoried in the study area. These plant species are included into 67 genus and 40 families. The most represented families are: Lamiaceae (12 species), Asteraceae and Brassicaceae species with 14 each. Of 76 medicinal species found in the region, four species are reported for the first time in the traditional treatment of diabetes in Morocco. They are Pistacia atlantica, Ptychotis verticillata, Anacyclus pyrethrum, Alyssum spinosum, Cistus albidus, Juniperus thurifera, Ephedra nebrodensis, Thymus algeriensis, Th. munbyanus, Th. zygis, Abelmoschus esculentus, Fraxinus augustifolia, Sorghum vulgare and, Eriobotrya japonica. The leaves are the most used organs (38%). The decoction is the dominant mode of preparation (50%) and administration is mostly for oral use (97%).

L’instabilité dynamique pendant le Toarcien dans le Moyen Atlas (Maroc): mise en évidence de glissements synsédimentaires dans le synclinal de Bou Angar

During the Toarcian, shelves undergo block-faulting with mechanisms of tilting. It results the break up of the Middle Atlas basin in subsident sectors separated by resistant ridges. This device is highlighted by strong variations of facies, more or less extended lacunar zones, reefs aligned on the ridges and of synsedimentary tectonics structures. Within the framework of mapping survey carried out in the south-west of Middle Atlas, a meticulous prospection of Bou Angar synclinal allowed the description of a new outcrop of Toarcian. This one offers good examples of extensional structures and bio-accumulations. These data, supplemented by other witnesses of the dynamic instability in the rest of the Middle Atlas, permit to propose a paleogeographic map of the Middle Atlas basin during the Toarcian.

Electrical signature of modern and ancient tectonic processes in the crust of the Atlas mountains of Morocco.

The Atlas Mountains in Morocco are considered as type examples of intracontinental chains, with high topography that contrasts with moderate crustal shortening and thickening. Whereas recent geological studies and geodynamic modeling have suggested the existence of dynamic topography to explain this apparent contradiction, there is a lack of modern geophysical data at the crustal scale to corroborate this hypothesis. Newly-acquired magnetotelluric data image the electrical resistivity distribution of the crust from the Middle Atlas to the Anti-Atlas, crossing the tabular Moulouya Plain and the High Atlas. All the units show different and unique electrical signatures throughout the crust reflecting the tectonic history of development of each one. In the upper crust electrical resistivity values may be associated to sediment sequences in the Moulouya and Anti-Atlas and to crustal scale fault systems in the High Atlas developed during the Cenozoic times. In the lower crust the low resistivity anomaly found below the Mouluya plain, together with other geophysical (low velocity anomaly, lack of earthquakes and minimum Bouguer anomaly) and geochemical (Neogene-Quaternary intraplate alkaline volcanic fields) evidence, infer the existence of a small degree of partial melt at the base of the lower crust. The low resistivity anomaly found below the Anti-Atlas may be associated with a relict subduction of Precambrian oceanic sediments, or to precipitated minerals during the release of fluids from the mantle during the accretion of the Anti-Atlas to the West African Supercontinent during the Panafrican orogeny ca. 685 Ma).

Electrical signature of modern and ancient tectonic processes in the crust of the Atlas mountains of Morocco.

The Atlas Mountains in Morocco are considered as type examples of intracontinental chains, with high topography that contrasts with moderate crustal shortening and thickening. Whereas recent geological studies and geodynamic modeling have suggested the existence of dynamic topography to explain this apparent contradiction, there is a lack of modern geophysical data at the crustal scale to corroborate this hypothesis. Newly-acquired magnetotelluric data image the electrical resistivity distribution of the crust from the Middle Atlas to the Anti-Atlas, crossing the tabular Moulouya Plain and the High Atlas. All the units show different and unique electrical signatures throughout the crust reflecting the tectonic history of development of each one. In the upper crust electrical resistivity values may be associated to sediment sequences in the Moulouya and Anti-Atlas and to crustal scale fault systems in the High Atlas developed during the Cenozoic times. In the lower crust the low resistivity anomaly found below the Mouluya plain, together with other geophysical (low velocity anomaly, lack of earthquakes and minimum Bouguer anomaly) and geochemical (Neogene-Quaternary intraplate alkaline volcanic fields) evidence, infer the existence of a small degree of partial melt at the base of the lower crust. The low resistivity anomaly found below the Anti-Atlas may be associated with a relict subduction of Precambrian oceanic sediments, or to precipitated minerals during the release of fluids from the mantle during the accretion of the Anti-Atlas to the West African Supercontinent during the Panafrican orogeny ca. 685 Ma).

Proboscideans and other vertebrates from Anchrif, Morocco

The paleontological richness of Morocco has been scientifically known since at least the early 20th century. The region of the Middle Atlas, more specifically the Boulemane area, has been however only sparsely studied since the 60’s when it supplied various vertebrate fossils from the Middle Jurassic.In the beginning of the 2000’s some fossil bones were discovered in a new fossil-site near the village of Taghrout, in the Boulemane area and in September 2013 a Moroccan-Portuguese expedition made excavations in the site with the help locals from the village of Taghrout. The site is Pleistocene in age and is located on a rare bone bearing small high-altitude sedimentary basin, non-charted in previous geological maps. The excavations yielded new bone material from large mammals. The most common findings are elephants ascribed to the genus Elephas, but artiodactyls, turtles, and in-situ hominid Acheulean tools were also collected. During the excavation campaign the Jurassic sites were revisited and new dinosaur trails and possible crocodilomorph bones were discovered. Surface collection of in a cave near Taghrout with Holocene mammal material, including the genera Canis, Capra, Bos, Panthera and Hystrix was also conducted and its fossils elements identified.

Jurassic sedimentary record and tectonic evolution of the northwestern corner of Africa

The history of the opening seaway from the westernmost Tethys to the Central Atlantic is traced by the analysis of the sedimentary facies development in the external Rif basin of Northern Morocco and the geological and seismic data from the Moroccan Atlantic continental margin. In the Rif basin, after the early Sinemurian, sedimentary facies dated by ammonites, foraminifers and brachiopods, indicate a progression of rapid subsidence resulting from extensional tectonic (tilted blocks, escarpment fault breccias, neptunian dykes etc.) from the N and NE to the S and SW. From the Toarcian to the Bajocian, deltas progress from the W and SW into the `'Rides sud-rifaines'' realm. From the late Bathonian to the Oxfordian, deep-sea fans develop in the external Rif. During the same period, deltaic sediments fill in the Middle Atlas basin of Eastern Morocco and progress into the external Rif. The top of the Jurassic is characterised by carbonate deposits. At the northwestern corner of Africa, the subsidence of the sedimentary basins by rifting is initiated in the late Triassic; however, at the Mazagan transect of the Atlantic continental margin, the tectonic pattern characteristic of a passive continental margin appears clearly only in the early Jurassic. At the foot of the Mazagan escarpment, the sedimentary record shows a foundering of the first bloc during early to middle Lias. A thermal uplift phase is indicated by emersion of the African margin shoulder in late Liassic, and thermal relaxation starts in the middle Jurassic. The morphology of this transect, compared with the conjugate side of the American continent is most easily explained by the uniform sense simple shear model.

The endemic flora of Morocco

Morocco is characterized by high vascular plant diversity with an estimated 4200 species and subspecies of which 22% are endemic. This study presents an updated list of the endemic species in the Moroccan flora following the classification of APG III, including comments on their geographical distribution and ecoregions. The endemic flora contains 879 species and subspecies in 55 families and 287 genera. Three new combinations are proposed. The High Atlas, Middle Atlas and the Rif mountains are the three richest floristic regions for endemic species, but the endemics are not restricted to these floristic regions only. Conservation efforts are therefore necessary in both the Mediteranean and Saharan ecoregions to preserve the biodiversity and botanical richness of Morocco. In this updated checklist we propose a new combination (Verbascum demnatensis) and a new name (Verbascum hamidoui) in the genus Verbascum (Scrophulariaceae).

The historic geographical atlas of the middle and modern ages. : A series of maps and plans, chronologically arranged, delineating the migrations of the German and Asiatic nation, and the rise and fall of all the states, kingdoms, and empires, founded by them in Europe, western Asia, northern Africa, and America, from the fall of the western Roman empire, to the abdication of Napoleon. With special maps illustrative of English history. /

Mode of access: Internet.

Stratigraphy and palaeoenvironment of Early Jurassic dinosaur-bearing volcaniclastic deposits from Toundoute (Province of Ouarzazate, Haut-Atlas, Morocco)

The Early Jurassic dinosaur site of Toundoute which yielded the basal sauropod Tazoudasaurus naimi is examined in the light of its stratigraphic, sedimentological and palaeoenvironmental context. A thin succession of Early Liassic marine carbonates (probably Hettangian-Sinemurian in age) is continuously overlain by continental beds with dinosaurs. These latter are assumed to be of Middle to Late Liassic age. The continental deposits include a large part of volcanoclastics, different from the Triassic basalts. The Jurassic volcanoclastics originated from an unknown but obviously close eruption centre. The continental sediments (channels and flood plain) were deposited under tropical climate conditions with alternating humid and dry episodes. The bones occur as isolated or partly articulated elements (parts of carcasses). The two bone-beds are related to typical mud-flows. This type of transport protected the bones from erosion, and favoured their burying and fossilization.

Atlas interactivo de mortalidad de Andalucía (AIMA)

Until now, mortality atlases have been static. Most of them describe the geographical distribution of mortality using count data aggregated over time and standardized mortality rates. However, this methodology has several limitations. Count data aggregated over time produce a bias in the estimation of death rates. Moreover, this practice difficult the study of temporal changes in geographical distribution of mortality. On the other hand, using standardized mortality hamper to check differences in mortality among groups. The Interactive Mortality Atlas in Andalusia (AIMA) is an alternative to conventional static atlases. It is a dynamic Geographical Information System that allows visualizing in web-site more than 12.000 maps and 338.00 graphics related to the spatio-temporal distribution of the main death causes in Andalusia by age and sex groups from 1981. The objective of this paper is to describe the methods used for AIMA development, to show technical specifications and to present their interactivity. The system is available from the link products in www.demap.es. AIMA is the first interactive GIS that have been developed in Spain with these characteristics. Spatio-temporal Hierarchical Bayesian Models were used for statistical data analysis. The results were integrated into web-site using a PHP environment and a dynamic cartography in Flash. Thematic maps in AIMA demonstrate that the geographical distribution of mortality is dynamic, with differences among year, age and sex groups. The information nowadays provided by AIMA and the future updating will contribute to reflect on the past, the present and the future of population health in Andalusia.

Sous un même toit? La formation et la transformation des maisonnées dans le Sud du Maroc : le cas des Ammeln (Tafraout, Anti-Atlas)

Thèse réalisée en cotutelle avec l'École des Hautes Études en Sciences Sociales (EHESS, Paris).

Atlas of cancer mortality in the United Arab Emirates aided by application of geographic information system methods

The aim of this study was to determine cancer mortality rates for the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and to create an atlas of cancer mortality for the UAE. This atlas is the first of its kind in the Gulf country and the Middle East. Death certificates were reviewed for a period from January 1, 1990 to December 31, 1999 and cancer deaths were identified. Cancer mortality cases were verified by comparing with medical records. Age-adjusted cancer mortality rates were calculated by gender, emirate/medical district and nationality (UAE nationals and overall UAE population). Individual rates for each emirate were compared to the overall rate of the corresponding population for the same cancer site and gender. Age-adjusted rates were mapped using MapInfo software. High rates for liver, lung and stomach cancer were observed in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and the northern emirates, respectively. Rates for UAE nationals were greater compared to the overall UAE population. Several factors were suggested that may account for high rates of specific cancers observed in certain emirates. It is hoped that this atlas will provide leads that will guide further epidemiologic and public health activities aimed at preventing cancer. ^

Atlas visual de cincuenta y siete años de arquitectura

En 1929 aparece el primer número de AA (L’architecture d’aujourd’hui), en 1932 existe un número-Monografía sobre los hermanos Perret, escrita por Pierre Vago, en 1946 se consolida como revista mensual y bajo la fundación de Andre Bloc. El primer número de AA que tengo en mi biblioteca es el número 34 (febrero-Marzo) de 1951. Mediante la lectura observada de una colección como AA, la determinación de unos capítulos representativos y la elección de imágenes de su tiempo se explican estos 57 años de arquitectura, cuyos resultados de un proceso temporal disfrutamos desde hace aproximadamente veinte años. A principio de los años cincuenta un grupo de jóvenes arquitectos, denso e intercomunicado en los congresos CIAM se propone situar la realidad de la arquitectura en los principios y realidades de su tiempo y de los que se intuyen futuro. Resultados de la Segunda Gran Guerra no son solo tragedias humanas sino gran investigación y desarrollo concretada industrialmente, enormes movimientos de personas en Europa y una sociedad enormemente optimista en USA, todo esto producirá las grandes transformaciones sociales de los 60’ y sus concreciones tecnológicas, políticas y desarrollo. Muchos arquitectos, publicaciones, concursos o decisiones políticas o privadas han producido el catalogo de arquitecturas de estos años, desde el CIAM IX hasta el POMPIDOU, desde la casa GEHRY hasta el KUNSTHAL, desde BRASILIA hasta SIDNEY, desde COPLEJIDAD Y CONTRADICCIÓN hasta DELIRIOS DE NY, desde OSAKA hasta MUNICH. En todas han existido un esfuerzo enorme por concretar la realidad de nuestras aspiraciones desde las puramente ideológicas de introspección social, hasta las concreciones de imagen directa. Varias líneas he abierto en mi proceso de investigación, las he llamado “anillos” porque todas estas líneas tienen similitud con los “anillos de crecimiento” de los árboles en cuanto a como se presentan en la estructura de formación y ha la cantidad de información no solo interna sino externa que aportan sobre la estructura árbol, su medio y la historia. Igual que podemos saber las temperaturas o las pluviometría que cubrieron Europa en la edad media solo estudiando los anillos de crecimiento de nuestro árboles (su grosor), de igual forma repasando LOS CONCURSOS y sus resultados que existieron en los últimos cincuenta años, podemos entender las aspiraciones y concreciones de las sociedades y sus arquitectos en este tiempo. Cuatro capítulos, los mas determinantes son los elegidos para dar cuerpo a una TESIS de tamaño capaz: Las ideas, el futuro, las referencias y el presente son los capítulos que de forma visual intentan explicar el fruto arquitectónico, sus aspiraciones y sus concreciones. Las ideas sin ninguna duda, pertenecen a los padres de nuestro tiempo, son las del Team X, la reflexión sobre lo perecedero, las realidades programáticas, densidades o lo publico-privado son solo planetas en el universo de sus ideas. El futuro lo trazaron aquellos que empezaron a investigar, concretar o reflexionar sobre la incidencia tanto de los procesos industriales con sus nuevos materiales como de las nuevas concreciones urbanas que los movimientos migratorios producirían en las ciudades. Las referencias son las bibliotecas de carácter informativo-visual que han generado nuestro inventario icónico. El presente son las imágenes de referencia de nuestro tiempo-mediático, no solo las produce un arquitecto (en este caso R.Koolhas), pero si que es verdad que en las imágenes arquitectónicas de OMA se concreta todo el catalogo de arquitecturas del presente. ENGLISH SUMMARY The fisrt AA (l´Architecture d´Aujourd´hui) issue was published in 1929, three years later, in 1932, a monographic issue on Perret brothers was written by Pierre Vago and in 1946 the magazine was strongly established as a monthly publication under the direction of André Bloc. The oldest copy I own on my bookshelves is nº 34 printed in February-March 1951. While carefully reading a collection such as AA we are able to extract representative chapters and images that can explain a linear process lasting 57 years of fruitful architectural production of which consequences we have been enjoying the past twenty years. In the early fifties a compact group of young architects linked by the CIAM congress decided to encompass architectural reality to the needs and principles of their time. Not only big human tragedies arose from the Second World War but also some of the fastest industrial inventions due to a powerful will to development, that altogether with european migrations and a high standard of optimism in the United States headed to the peak transformations of the sixties and their technological and political development. A bunch of architects, magazines and architectural competitions sided by political and private decisions produced the architectural catalogue of those years, from CIAM IX to the Pompidou art centre, from Gerhy´s house to the Kunsthal museum, from Brasilia to Sidney, from “Complexity and Contradiction“ to “Delirious NY” and from Osaka all the way to Munich. All of them carried a vast effort towards the concretion of will, from social introspection to a more effective development of images. Several paths run across my investigation, namely “the rings”, as they tend to behave as a growing structure like a tree trunk, providing internal and external information not only of the vegetal element but also of the environment and events crossing its time. In the same direction as we are able to predict the weather in the Middle Age by means of studying our forests, we can use the architectural competitions ant their results for the past fifty years to understand the will and ambitions of these developing societies and their architects. To give shape to a sizeable thesis the selected information has been packed in four chapters: Ideas, Future, References and Present, each of them structured as an Image bank visualizing the architectural product, its will and specific ambition. The first group, Ideas, is devoted entirely to the step-fathers of present architecture, with ideas that belong to TEAM X and embrace the reflection about the transitory, the programmatic reality, density or the public-private debate as wandering planets of their ideal universe. The second group is dedicated to a Future that was traced by those engaged on industrial processes and new material investigation together with some others exploring new urban concretions brought to existence by the pressure of the after war migrations. The third group, References, have been shaped as a stock-list containing all our iconic cross-references. The last group, Present, brings together the icons of this media-time we live in and not only those produced by one single architect (Rem Koolhaas) even if his production embodies all architectural references at the moment.

History of England during the early and middle ages.

The atlas "to accompany the 'History of England'" was issued in 1883 under title: Historical maps of England during the first thirteen centuries.

Mitchell's school atlas

Map no. 12 (Great Britain and Ireland)--and no. 13 (Germany, Switzerland and Northern Italy): "Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1840 ..." Cover and all others maps "Entered according ... 1839."