Elucidating the crystal-chemistry of Jbel Rhassoul stevensite (Morocco) by advanced analytical techniques

The composition of Rhassoul clay is controversial regarding the nature of the puremineral clay fraction which is claimed to be stevensite rather than saponite. In this study, the raw and mineral fractions were characterized using various techniques including Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance (MAS NMR). The isolated fine clay mineral fraction contained a larger amount of Al (>1 wt.%) than that reported for other stevensite occurrences. The 27Al MAS NMR technique confirmed that the mineral is stevensite in which the Al is equally split between the tetrahedral and octahedral coordination sites. The 29Si NMR spectrum showed a single unresolved resonance indicating little or no short-range ordering of silicon. The chemical composition of the stevensite from Jbel Rhassoul was determined to be ((Na0.25K0.20 (Mg5.04Al0.37Fe0.20&0.21)5.61(Si7.76Al0.24)8O20(OH)4). This formula differs from previous compositions described from this locality and shows it to be an Al-bearing lacustrine clay mineral

Coût indirect de la prise en charge des personnes vivant avec le VIH : L’exemple des patients du CHU de Casablanca

According to the latest statistics from the World Health Organization, more than 37.7 million people living with HIV at the end of 2020 and around two thirds of those infected are in the African region. According to the IHME, the burden of disease is estimated at more than 47 million years of life lost due to morbidity and premature mortality. Since the introduction of ARV in Morocco in 1998, the Ministry of Health has provided free care to PLHIV with additional support from the Global Fund, which generates significant economic costs, thus constituting an important health issue public. As the number of people infected with HIV increases, so do the costs of care. The direct cost linked to care is known, what about the indirect cost. It is therefore important to estimate the indirect cost of care in order to assess the economic consequences of HIV infection. This present work was carried out at the Ibn Rochd University Hospital in Casablanca. The objective was to estimate the indirect cost of HIV care. Data collection was carried out using NADIS software and the inpatient registry. The annual indirect cost of HIV including the cost linked to early mortality and the cost linked to absenteeism was estimated at 15,911,814.47 Dhs. The majority of costs are due to early mortality. Estimating the indirect costs of people living with HIV is crucial for effective management of the epidemic and for better and adequate allocation of resources. This will contribute to a better quality of life for people living with the disease and to reducing the social and economic impact of the epidemic on society.   Keywords: Indirect cost; HIV; Morocco JEL Classification: I10; I18 Paper type : Research Intervention  Selon les dernières statistiques de l’Organisation mondiale de la santé, plus de 37,7 millions de personnes vivant avec le VIH à la fin de 2020 et environ deux tiers des personnes infectées se situent dans la région Africaine. Selon l’IHME, le fardeau de la maladie estimé à plus de 47 millions d’années de vies perdues à cause de la morbidité et de la mortalité prématurée. Depuis l’introduction de l’ARV au Maroc en 1998, le Ministère de la santé assure gratuitement la prise en charge des PVVIH avec un appui complémentaire du fonds Mondial, ce qui génère d’importants coûts économiques, constituant ainsi un enjeu important en santé publique. À mesure que le nombre de personnes infectées par le VIH augmente, les coûts de la prise en charge augmentent également. Le coût direct lié à la prise en charge est connu, qu’en est-il du coût indirect. Il est donc important d’estimer le coût indirect de la prise en charge afin d’évaluer les conséquences économiques de l’infection à VIH. Ce présent travail a été mené au niveau du CHU Ibn Rochd de Casablanca. L’objectif était d’estimer le coût indirect de la prise en charge du VIH. La collecte des données a été effectuée à partir du logiciel NADIS et du registre des patients hospitalisés. Le coût indirect annuel du VIH comprenant le coût lié à la mortalité précoce et le coût lié à l’absentéisme ont été estimés à 15 911 814,47 Dhs. La majorité des coûts est due à la mortalité précoce. L'estimation des coûts indirects des personnes vivant avec le VIH est cruciale pour une gestion efficace de l'épidémie et pour une meilleure allocation adéquate des ressources. Cela contribuera à une meilleure qualité de vie pour les personnes vivant avec la maladie et à la réduction de l'impact social et économique de l'épidémie sur la société.   Mots clés : Coût indirect ; VIH ; Maroc JEL Classification : I10 ; I18 Type de l’article : Recherche interventio

Age and depositional environment of the Draa Sfar massive sulfide deposit, Morocco

The Draa Sfar mineralization consists of two main stratabound orebodies, Sidi M’Barek and Tazacourt, located north and south of the Tensift River (“Oued Tessift”), respectively. Each orebody is comprised by at least two massive sulfide lenses. The hosting rocks are predominantly black shales, although minor rhyolitic rocks are also present in the footwall to the southern orebody. Shales, rhyolitic volcanic rocks, and massive sulfides are all included into the Sarhlef Series, which is recognized as one of the main stratigraphic units of the Moroccan Variscan Meseta. Hydrothermal activity related with an anomalous thermal gradient, together with a high sedimentation rate in a tectonically driven pull-apart marine basin, favored the accumulation of organic-rich mud in the deepest parts of the basin and the sedimentary environment suitable for massive sulfide deposition and preservation. This took place by replacement of the hosting unlithified wet mud below the sediment–water interface. Geochemical data suggest a sedimentary environment characterized by oxic water column and anoxic sediment pile with the redox boundary below the sediment–water interface. The low oxygen availability within the sediment pile inhibited oxidation and pyritization of pyrrhotite. Biostratigraphic analysis, based on the palynological content of the hosting black shales, restricts the age of the sulfides to the Asbian substage (mid-Mississippian). This age is consistent with earlier geochronological constraints