Polynomial Triangles Revisited

A polynomial triangle is an array whose inputs are the coefficients in integral powers of a polynomial. Although polynomial coefficients have appeared in several works, there is no systematic treatise on this topic. In this paper we plan to fill this gap. We describe some aspects of these arrays, which generalize similar properties of the binomial coefficients. Some combinatorial models enumerated by polynomial coefficients, including lattice paths model, spin chain model and scores in a drawing game, are introduced. Several known binomial identities are then extended. In addition, we calculate recursively generating functions of column sequences. Interesting corollaries follow from these recurrence relations such as new formulae for the Fibonacci numbers and Hermite polynomials in terms of trinomial coefficients. Finally, properties of the entropy density function that characterizes polynomial coefficients in the thermodynamical limit are studied in details.Comment: 24 pages with 1 figure eps include

Looking Out, Looking In: Contemporary Artists from Morocco

This is the catalogue of the exhibition "Looking Out, Looking In: Contemporary Artists from Morocco" held at Faye G., Jo, and James Stone Gallery 855 Commonwealth Avenue from February 8, 2019 – March 31, 2019. The exhibition is curated by Cynthia Becker, Associate Professor of African Art, Boston University Department of History of Art and Architecture and Nadia Sabri, Professor of Art History and curator, Faculty of Education Sciences, University of Mohammed V in Rabat, Morocco. Participating artists are Hassan Darsi, Wiame Haddad, Hassan Hajjaj, Randa Maroufi, Safaa Mazirh, Lamia Naji, and Nour Eddine Tilsaghani.Looking Out, Looking In: Contemporary Artists from Morocco brings together seven diverse Moroccan photographers and videographers for the first time. Each works in a unique style and comes from a different background, but what links them is their exploration of how seeing is not always equated with knowing. They recognize that the process of looking is a political act and seek to emphasize the ambiguity of meaning contained within the visual. Some artists consider how Moroccan society is looked at by outsiders and confront the historical biases inherent in the colonial gaze. Others imagine a world without borders, making sense of the boundaries that divide nation-states. Some consider aspects of Moroccan culture hidden from public view due to political oppression. Each uses their art to contemplate the moral and emotional experiences of looking in at oneself in response to looking out at the complex social issues that impact Morocco today.The exhibition is co-sponsored with Boston University’s African Studies Center, the Boston University Arts Initiative, the Institute for the Study of Muslim Societies & Civilizations, the Department of History of Art & Architecture. The Boston University Art Galleries programs are supported in part through a grant from the Boston Cultural Council and administered by the Mayor’s Office of Arts and Culture

A Meta-Analysis of fMRI Studies on Emotion Processing in Major Depressive Disorder

The processing of an emotional stimulus involves a multi-step process that includes appraising and identifying a stimulus as well as producing an affective state in response. Many individuals with depressive disorders such as major depressive disorder (MDD) experience impairments related to emotion processing, likely caused by changes in the structure and function of brain regions important for emotion processing. However, the precise neural differences underlying emotion processing impairments in MDD remain unclear given conflicting findings in the neuroimaging literature. This lack of clarity has hindered the development of novel neurostimulation treatments for MDD, which require targeting of specific brain areas. In an effort to better identify specific areas of the brain to target for stimulation treatment, I conducted a meta-analysis of the functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) literature to date regarding emotion processing in MDD. The meta-analysis of fMRI studies examined emotion processing in healthy controls and individuals with MDD using the tool GingerALE. Results showed clusters of hyperactivity in the amygdala and portions of the ventral basal ganglia, a finding that held true when limiting the analysis to only those studies that utilized negative stimuli. Additional exploratory results showed a cluster of hypoactivity in the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. These results help to shed light on neural changes underlying emotion processing in MDD, and may serve to inform future neurostimulation clinical trials

New records of Orchids from Morocco

The exploration of the Rif Valley (Morocco) during 2010 revealed the presence of some new taxa and records from Morocco. The new taxa are: Orchis langei subsp. magrebensis and Ophrys neglecta var. riphaea. Ophrys neglecta var. neglecta and Ophrys numida have been detected for the first time in Morocco

What All Americans Should Know About Women in the Muslim World: Clarifying Stereotypes About Muslim Women in Morocco

The stereotypes about Muslims in Morocco as well as Morocco in general are widespread and often incorrect. The present paper combines both scholarly review and personal experience to clarify stereotypes about public space, work, education, and personal life, focusing specifically on women. Hopefully, this analysis will assist in educating the public about Muslims in Morocco and reveal the under-appreciated similarities between Moroccan and American women

EU-Morocco Negotiations on a Readmission Agreement: Obstacles to a Successful Conclusion. College of Europe EU diplomacy 07/2019

The European Union (EU) has increasingly sought to tackle irregular migration through cooperation with third countries. One of the key instruments in this regard have been EU readmission agreements (EURAs), which commit non-EU countries to take back irregular migrants. The European Commission obtained a mandate to negotiate an EURA with Morocco already in 2000, but negotiations have thus far remained inconclusive. This paper aims to shed light on the reasons for this failure. It argues that an EURA could not be concluded because the incentives offered by the EU have been insufficient, for instance in the case of legal migration and mobility, or they were granted despite the lack of cooperation. Considerable funding and the symbolically important ‘advanced status’ under the European Neighbourhood Policy were allocated to Morocco anyway because the EU is dependent on Morocco for migration control. This dependency puts the EU in a weak bargaining position as it cannot credibly withhold benefits in case of Morocco’s non-compliance. The credibility of the EU’s conditionality is further undermined by inconsistencies within its multilevel system of governance. The existence of bilateral alternatives to an EURA is particularly problematic in this regard. Based on these findings, the paper suggests that the EU should (1) conclude more readmission agreements with countries of origin to take some pressure off Morocco; (2) link the allocation of funding and the conclusion of new agreements to progress in the EURA negotiations; (3) lower its dependence on Morocco by enhancing its own border control capabilities; (4) relaunch the negotiations for a visa facilitation agreement and broaden their scope; and (5) increase coherence in order to present a united front to Morocco

The Impact of Liberalizing International Trade of Banking Services in Morocco

The purpose of this paper is to assess welfare effects of regulating the banking sector in Morocco along the European Union lines. The agreement between the EU and Morocco, signed in February 1996 and came into force in March 2000, provides for the gradual establishment of an industrial free-trade zone by 2012 and progressive liberalization of trade in agriculture. The agreement between Morocco and the EU foresees, in addition to that, to start negotiations for a free trade area in services. The agreement contains, however, no binding commitments. But Morocco is expected to deepen further its relationships with Europe within the framework of the Neighboring Policy. The relevance of the issue of banking services’ liberalization goes beyond Morocco’s agreement with the EU. On the one hand, Morocco’s free trade agreement with the US encompasses services, more specifically financial services, in addition to manufactured goods, agricultural products, intellectual property rights, and government procurement. This agreement is expected to come into force in 2006. On the other hand, under GATS, Morocco is projected to increase its commitments and opens up further its banking sector to foreign competition. The last commitments made by Morocco in Uruguay Round were mainly under commercial presence (mode 3) as compared to cross border supply (mode 1) and consumption abroad (mode 2). Except lending to finance investment in Morocco or commercial transactions with Morocco allowed under the mode 1, no commitment has been made in other items (Achy 2002). Hence, there is a real need to understand opportunities and challenges of liberalizing banking services on the Moroccan economy.Banking services, liberalization, Welfare effects, Morocco

Morocco and Sisterhood

Postcard from Suzanna Sumkhuu, during the Linfield College Semester Abroad Program at the American University Center of Provence in Marseilles, Franc

Bioactive secondary metabolites from the endophytic fungus Chaetomium sp. isolated from Salvia officinalis growing in Morocco

This study reports the chemical investigation and cytotoxic activity of the secondary metabolites produced by the endophytic fungus Chaetomium sp. isolated from Salvia officinalis growing in Morocco. This plant was collected from the Beni-Mellal Mountain in Morocco and belongs to the Lamiaceae family and is named in Morocco 'Salmia'. The endophytic fungus Chaetomium sp. was isolated from the tissues of the stem of this plant. The fungal strain was identified by PCR. The crude organic extract of the fungal strain was proven to be active when tested for cytotoxicity against L5178Y mouse lymphoma cells. Chemical investigation of the secondary metabolites showed that cochliodinol is the main component beside isocochliodinol. The structures of the isolated compounds were determined on the basis of NMR analysis (1H, 13C, COSY and HMBC) as well as by mass spectrometry using ESI (Electron Spray Ionisation) as source